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✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩🔮The Prophecy🔮✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

"Seems to me that you need to retrain," Peter taunted Edmund with a smirk, as their swords clashed.

"I wouldn't be certain about that, High King Peter," Edmund challenged, unshakable in his claim, as he bound their weapons and swiped Peter's sword upwards.

The two brothers chuckled, throwing strikes at each other and the sounds of their sword clashing together echoed. Peter, using his taller height to his advantage, seized the opportunity to get his younger brother to lose his balance. To his astonishment, Edmund rolled on the ground brilliantly, and picked himself off the ground smoothly.

"I still know your tricks, Peter," Edmund grinned, striking back.

Their swords met once again, before Edmund swiped it up and hit it out of his hands.

"And I'm still the best sword fighter in Narnia," he announced proudly.

"So you are," Peter smirked in agreement, picking his sword and keeping it tucked away, "Looks like I'm the one who needs to retrain."

"But of course, you still hold the title of High King," Edmund praised with humility, "for your great leadership."

The sound of murmurs and chatters a mile away caused the brothers to turn their heads, meeting eyes with their sisters and Charlotte.

"Your dress is lovely, were there any more?" Lucy asked.

"Oh I'm not sure, Edmund was the one who helped me find it," Charlotte revealed, giving them a little twirl as they walked together.

Edmund did a double take at the girl wearing her mother's steel blue medieval dress. He blinked twice, taking in the view before him. She resembled the luminous beauty the moon would emit every night, which appeared brighter than broad daylight at that very moment. Though she did not significantly change anything else, he could not resist fixing his gaze on her with admiration.

Susan, gaining Peter's attention, gestured towards Edmund with her eyes, and Lucy was placing a hand over her mouth to stop herself from giggling.

Peter smirked slyly, recalling how Edmund was rummaging his chest wildly earlier on, despite having found different outfits that he could have worn, but was persistent to find his supposedly favourite blue outfit until he located it deep in his chest.

Charlotte herself noticed that they had donned similar shades of blue, and felt her cheeks heating up. She lowered her gaze shyly, realising that he looked charming in his clothes and how he smoothly slid his sword into its casing by his side.

"When you're done staring, Edmund, we really need to find out what's going on in Narnia," Peter cleared his throat, walking to lead their sisters.

Edmund frowned at his older brother, eager to argue but Peter had already left his side. Annoyed, he ended up rolling his eyes. Charlotte approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Brothers," Edmund shrugged his shoulders with an annoyed groan.

"I think you're blessed to have siblings," Charlotte smiled encouragingly at him.

"I suppose you're right," Edmund agreed, realising it was probably insensitive to be complaining about siblings in front of an only child, "by the way, he was just teasing the way I looked at you. Er- I mean, I think you look nice, that's all."

"Thank you," Charlotte placed a hand over her lips, giggling softly, "let's go."

"So you've chosen sword I see," Edmund spoke, noticing her father's sword hanging by her side, "it's a good choice."

"I figured to take something from my father since I'm wearing my mother's dress," Charlotte explained, "besides, we can go back there after we've found out what's going on."

"Well, if we happen to find a crossbow, I'll gladly teach you. Might let you feel closer to your mother," Edmund suggested.

"That'd be brilliant!"

He noticed her face light up at his offer, and she broke into a wide grin. Upon seeing the excitement in her face, he could not resist smiling himself. She surely was stirring up something in him that he could not quite explain. He just felt better about making her feel better, as compared to the awkward encounter on back at Cair Paravel.

"Charlotte," Peter broke the silence after a while, realising they still knew so little about the girl, "so why did you move from London?"

"Oh, well, erm," Charlotte stammered lightly, trying to find the words to say, "you know, with the war going on.."

She appeared hesitant, keeping her head low. The Pevensie siblings looked at each other, wondering how to carry on the conversation. That was until Edmund lightly shook his head as a warning, and they sheepishly carried on walking.

"We understand," he spoke in a hushful manner, "you don't have to talk about it if you don't wish to."

"Susan!" Lucy suddenly yelled, pointing to a boat on a nearby lake about a stone's throw away.

Two armed soldiers rowed it, and carried a tied-up dwarf, all ready to hurl him into the water. Susan wasted no hesitation firing an arrow almost perfectly at the boat, causing Charlotte to gasp in shock. This caught the attention of the unidentified soldiers, looking back at Susan as the rest emerged into their view behind her.

"Drop him!" Susan commanded fiercely, holding a glare at them.

Both of them kept their eyes glued to Susan. The dwarf's muffled voice could be heard from the distance between them. Without warning, they did as told. Unfortunately, it was not as they expected. The dwarf had been hauled into the water instead, prompting Peter and Edmund to bolt off instantly to his rescue.

One of the armed soldiers carried a crossbow but Susan shot her arrow straight into the soldier's chest accurately. Alarmed by her accurate shooting, the other soldier leapt into the water.

Moments later, Peter resurfaced with the dwarf, lifting him back to land. Edmund returned with the now unoccupied boat, while Lucy cut off the ropes to release the dwarf.

The stubby man choked up water, gasping for air in sheer desperation. Then, he turned to Susan with a stern glare.

"Drop him?!" He snapped madly, "that's the best you can come up with?"

They all exchanged awkward glances with each other, taken aback by the dwarf's ungrateful attitude.

"A simple thank you would suffice," Susan replied dryly.

"They were doing fine drowning me without your help," the dwarf argued, pointing towards the lake.

"Maybe we should have let them," Peter riposted immediately, upset by the way his sister was being treated.

"Why are they trying to kill you anyway?" Lucy questioned curiously, lightly tilting her head.

"They're Telmarines," he explained, "it's what they do."

"Pardon me," Charlotte stepped forward, "but what are Telmarines?"

"Have you been living under a rock?" He replied rudely, "they're humans from Earth. Found a way in after the Golden Age."

"Telmarines?" Edmund repeated, looking at his siblings briefly, "in Narnia?"

"Where have you been for the last few hundred years?" The dwarf shot him a dry glance.

"It's a bit of a long story," Lucy said, trying to lighten the mood.

He looked back at the five of them and examined them standing before him, before an idea suddenly dawned on him.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," he spoke with his sarcastic attitude, "you're it? You're the Kings and Queens of Old?"

Peter stuck out a hand confidently for him to shake, "High King Peter, the Magnificent."

"You could've have left off that last bit," Susan said awkwardly, slightly annoyed by her brother's typical show-off behaviour.

The dwarf let out a chuckle in agreement, "probably."

"You might be surprised," Peter said, drawing out his sword.

"Oh, you don't want to do that, boy," the dwarf warned him.

"Not me," Peter said, gesturing towards Edmund, "him."

"Edmund?" Charlotte asked in disbelief.

"Oh, he can take him," Peter insisted, "I'm sure of it. You can, can't you, Ed?"

Edmund looked at his brother, and then at the dwarf. He drew out his sword calmly, with a relaxed smile, positioning it at the ready.

When Peter handed the dwarf his sword, the dwarf barely held it, letting the tip of the sword fall to the ground.

Edmund looked back at Charlotte, who was watching him anxiously. He pulled a smirk and raised his eyebrows, silently hinting her that he was capable of fighting the stubby dwarf, who seemed to find Peter's sword heavy.

"Peter, you can't possibly," Charlotte suggested, looking at the two opponents uncomfortably.

"I'm the best sword fighter in Narnia," Edmund reminded her boastfully, "I can handle anything."

"Edmund!" Lucy called out.

The boy quickly shifted his focus on the dwarf who already started his first strike, and barely defended himself. He quickly ducked, astonished that the dwarf did not find the sword heavy at all and had tricked him. He certainly realised he was not prepared in analysing his opponent's strengths.

"Best sword fighter, you say?" The dwarf taunted him, before abruptly elbowing him, causing Edmund to stumble backwards and groan in agony.

"Edmund!" Charlotte cried out, but Peter placed an arm in front of her to stop her from approaching his younger brother.

"Whoa, are you alright?" The dwarf taunted again, feigning concern for the young teenager before he mercilessly threw another strike, causing Edmund to dodge and switch sides with him.

Seeing the dwarf's bum in his view, Edmund lightheartedly slapped it with his sword, causing Lucy to burst into giggles. The dwarf looked back at him with widened eyes.

Edmund took a quick glance at his new lady friend, who still seemed concerned for him, and threw a flirtatious wink before shifting his attention back to his opponent. After all, it was probably her first time seeing a sword fight up close. He made a mental note to be careful not to let his guard down this time.

The dwarf growled and threw another strike which Edmund blocked quickly. Refusing to lose a fight, he then threw his strike, and kept hitting against the dwarf's sword, eliminating his time to regain his composition at all, until he finally swiped his sword away. The dwarf stared at him in disbelief, and fell in exhaustion to the ground.

"Beards and beadsticks!" He exclaimed, "Maybe that horn worked after all."

The group of five exchanged looks with each other, all of them equally clueless.

"What horn?" Susan asked.

"Why, your horn of course," the dwarf revealed, "it is believed that when one blows the horn of Queen Susan, the kings and queens of old will be summoned."

"But... Who blew it then?" Charlotte asked.

"Prince Caspian," the dwarf revealed, "he's a Telmarine. His uncle, Lord Miraz, sits on the throne. He's the one who got the soldiers to drown me. Prince Caspian needed your help because the Telmarines were after him. He's hiding deep in the woods, I last saw him at the shuddering woods. He's hiding with my good friends, Nikabrik and Trufflehunter."

"But there's something that doesn't add up," he gestured towards Charlotte, "you aren't a Queen of Narnia."

"I'm not," Charlotte agreed, "but my parents were."

"Your parents?" He hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

He then noticed Charlotte's bracelet hanging on her wrist.

"Let me see that," he commanded.

Charlotte obliged, taking it off and handing it to him. He examined it closely, before his eyes widened. The dwarf let out a gasp, pointing at Charlotte.

"King Simon, and Queen Audrey," he whispered.

"You recognise it?" Charlotte asked.

"Of course, the oaktree leaves, and the primroses," he nodded.

"You're the offspring," he deduced with an equanimous tone, handing it back to her, "from the prophecy."

"What prophecy?" Charlotte asked, looking to the rest of them who were equally lost, as she took back her bracelet.

The dwarf sighed, and began reciting a chant.

"With a blow of the horn, Kings and Queens of Old return, with an offspring who mourns, to claim the land the Narnians yearn."

"I knew there was a reason for your coming!" Lucy exclaimed excitedly.

"And you wanted to blame me for bringing her with us," Edmund scoffed at Peter.

"Alright," Peter raised his hands in defence, "I'm sorry, Ed."

"There's more," the dwarf interrupted them impatiently.

"The offspring's sacrifice, should they fail, would greatly suffice, and the Narnians shall prevail."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Charlotte waved a hand, backing away, "hang on for a second."

"Sacrifice?" Edmund repeated in disbelief.

"That's a bit brutal, don't you think?" Peter raised his voice.

"Not to mention the eerie fact that it actually rhymes this time, as compared to the last time we were here," Susan shuddered, crossing her arms.

"What kind of sacrifice?" Lucy asked, tilting her head slightly with a frown on her face.

"No one knows what it means," the dwarf shrugged, "I thought it was a mere superstition, one that would never come true. But if the Kings and Queens of Old are here, then the prophecy must be real."

Peter looked at Charlotte, who was trembling all over, "It's too high a demand to ask of a human. We were only asked to fight in the Golden Age."

"Come on," the dwarf urged, "the sooner we get you to Prince Caspian, the sooner we would sort this out."

"You haven't told us your name," Susan spoke up.

"It's Trumpkin," he answered, "I don't need to ask for yours, except maybe you, your Highness."

"It's Charlotte," Charlotte replied, baffled by how he addressed her, "your Highness?"

"Yes," he responded, "your Highness."

"What do you mean your Highness?" Charlotte asked.

"Don't be daft," he said dryly, "you are royalty by your lineage, Princess Charlotte."