Edmund's POV

"Are you sure you're 18?" The soldier sitting in front of me said, looking me up and down. I straightened my shoulders slightly. I spent enough time in line to prepare me for this conversation.

"Why? Do I look older?" I responded quickly, ready for the understandable question. I felt older than 18, that was definite, and I cursed the fact that I had been thrown back into the body of a young boy, rather than the king I knew I was. The man looked me over again before holding out his hand. I passed him my registration. He opened it, reading over it before pausing at the spot I knew he would. He glanced back up at me.

"Alberta Scrubb?" He asked.

"That's a typographical error." I said. "It's supposed to be Albert A. Scrubb." I was quite fond of the lie I had weaved. No one would question it if I threw in some embarrassment on my part. Even now, I could see some belief come into the soldier's eyes and he opened his mouth to say something before someone else spoke over the noise of the Enlistment Area.

:Edmund," I turned to see Lucy standing in the doorway, weighed down with bags. She gave me a pointed look that I know only Susan could have taught her. "You're supposed to be helping me with the groceries." The men behind me in line laughed as the soldier closed my registration card and passed it back to me without a word. What little dignity I had left soon diminished as the man behind me grabbed my head and shook it.

"Better luck next time, eh squirt?" He said, earning laughter from the other men behind him. I straightened my hat, holding back from throwing a punch like I know Peter would have done and followed my little sister out of the building.

"Squirt? He barely had two years on me." I snapped as soon as we got outside. I grabbed some of the bags from Lucy, walking with her to her bike. "I'm a king! I've fought wars...I've led armies..."

"Not in this world." Lucy reminded me calmly. I huffed.

"Yeah, instead I'm stuck here doing battle with Eustace Clarence Scrubb." I spat out our cousin's name like it was a bad taste. "If anyone so deserved a name." I looked up, expecting Lucy to laugh, only to see her staring wistfully behind me, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"What are you doing?" I asked and her gaze snapped back to me.

"Nothing." She said quickly. I furrowed my brow and she turned quickly, grabbing the handlebars of the bike. "Come on, then!" I glanced behind me, not finding anything but a soldier flirting with a woman, before following my sister down the street.

We walked down the road in silence before turning into the yard of our Aunt and Uncle's house. Lucy grabbed a crate from the bike, walking inside while I grabbed the rest of the things.

"Hello! I'm home!" Lucy called through the house as I entered behind her. She headed for the kitchen, passing by our uncle who, as always, sat in his chair in the study, his large nose buried in the paper. "Hello, Uncle Harold. I tried to find some carrots, but all they had were turnips again. "Shall I start making soup? Aunt Alberta's on her way home." His only response was flipping his paper and coughing. "Uncle Harold." Lucy put some edge to her voice, something she had done a lot as Queen of Narnia. When our uncle still didn't respond, I glared in his direction, sticking my tongue out.

"Father!" I whirled around at my cursed cousin's voice, finding him standing on the stairs. "Edmund's making faces at you!" I opened my mouth to spit back an insult when Eustace brought a straw to his lips, shooting a spit ball straight into my neck.

"Why you little..." I ran after him, skipping the steps two at a time.

"Father, he's gonna hit me!" Eustace yelled, running up the steps. Just before I reached him, Lucy called from the kitchen excitedly.

"Edmund, look!" She ran out into the study, holding up a letter. "It's from Susan."

****

I sat on Lucy's bed next to her as she opened up the letter, reading it aloud.

"'I do wish you were here with us. It's been such an adventure, but nothing like our times in Narnia. America is very exciting, except we never see Father. He works so very hard. I was invited to the British consul's tea party this week by a naval officer. Who happens to be very handsome. I think he fancies me.' Hmm." Lucy smiled but I rolled my eyes. All Susan cared about anymore was men, acting less and less like the Queen she had been in Narnia. I stood up, walking over to the painting of the ocean that hung on Lucy's wall, noticing a ship sailing in the distance that I hadn't noticed before. "'Peter's been doing well. He still misses Annabelle, I think that's understandable. But he's finally decided to move on with his studies. Professor Digory is planning to send for him some time in the coming weeks.'"

"'It seems the Germans have made the crossing difficult right now.'" Lucy continued. "'Time are hard. Mother hopes you both won't mind another few months in Cambridge.'" I turned away from the painting as Lucy looked up.

"Another few months? How will we survive?" She exclaimed as I sat back down next to her, taking the letter and reading it over.

"You're lucky." I muttered. "At least you've got your own room. I'm stuck with mullet mouth." Lucy sighed and stood up.

"Susan and Peter are the lucky ones. Off on adventures."

"Yeah, they're the eldest, and we're the youngest." I said, laying down on the bed. "We don't matter as much."

"Do you think I look anything like Susan?" Lucy asked as I read the letter over for the third time before tossing it to the side and sitting up.

"Lucy, have you seen this ship before?"I asked, walking back over to the painting. My sister turned away from the mirror, joining me by the painting.

"Yes. It's very Narnian-looking, isn't it?"

"Yeah..." I sighed. "Well, just another reminder that we're here and not there."

"I wonder how Anna is doing..." Lucy murmured.

"There once were two orphans, who wasted their time, believing in Narnian nursery rhymes." I whirled around to see Eustace standing in the doorway.

"Please let me hit him." I growled, stepping forward. Lucy grabbed my wrist.

"No!" She pleaded. I pulled out of her grasp, but remained where I was.

"Don't you ever knock?" I snapped.

"It's my house." He shrugged. "I'll do as I please. You're just guests."

I rolled my eyes and Lucy and I turned our gazes back on the painting. Behind me, I heard Eustace walk further into the room.

"What's so fascinating about that picture anyways?" He asked. "It's hideous." The bed creaked as he sat down.

"You won't see it from the other side of the door." I said, struggling to keep my voice steady.

"It looks like the water's actually moving." Lucy commented.

"What rubbish. See? That's what happens when you read all those fanciful novels and fairytales of yours." Eustace snapped.

"There once was a boy called Eustace, who read books full of facts that were useless." I sang and Lucy laughed.

"People who read fairytales are always the sort who become a hideous burden to people like me, who read books of real information." Eustace said and I turned to glare at him.

"Hideous burden?" I yelled, walking towards him. He stood up, straightening his shoulders to look taller. "I haven't seen you lift a finger since we've been here." Eustace moved towards the door, but I slapped my hand on it, closing it before he could leave "I have a right mind to tell your father it was you who stole Aunt Alberta's sweets."

"Liar." Eustace snapped.

"Oh, really?" I asked, ignoring an exclamation from Lucy. "I found them under your bed and you know what? I licked every one of them." Eustace's face contorted with disgust.

"Ooh! I'm infected! With you!" He yelled. Just as I was about to scold him some more, water splashed onto the both of us. I looked up to see water flooding from the painting on the wall.

"What's going on here?" He exclaimed. I stepped towards the painting.

"Lucy! Do you think?" I looked at her, seeing the same excitement I was feeling reflected in her eyes.

"It's some kind of trick." Eustace said behind me. "Stop it or I'll tell mother!" When neither one of us turned, Eustace began shouting for Aunt Alberta. Water poured out onto the floor, quickly filling the room and submerging our shoes.

"I'll just smash the rotten thing." Eustace pushed passed me, ripping the painting of the wall.

"No, Eustace!" I shouted, Lucy and I grabbing either side of the painting, trying to wrestle it away from him as the water rushed out even faster. "No!"

"Eustace, please stop it!" Lucy begged over the sound of the water.

"Let go of me!" Eustace yelled.

"Put it down! Let go!" Lucy said. Eustace dropped it to the floor, the water filling the room up to our waists. The furniture floated around as I waded to the door, trying to pull it open. Water rushed around me and a current swept me off my feet, dragging me under water. I swam up, my head breaking the surface to see the water had nearly reached the ceiling. I spotted Lucy and Eustace struggling to stay above before all of us were dragged under again. I dodged passed the furniture as I saw towards the surface again. I reached the open air, gasping for breath.

As I opened my eyes, I was met with blue skies and sunshine. Lucy, Eustace, and I were floating in a great expanse of water, with no land in sight, all signs of Lucy's room gone.

"Edmund!" Lucy shouted as Eustace began shouting questions as to where we were. Suddenly, Lucy let out a scream. "Swim!" A shadow casted over the water and I looked up to see a large ship sailing towards us. I turned, swimming out of its path as fast as I could.

"What's going on?" Eustace shouted.

"Come on! Keep swimming!" Lucy screamed at him.

"Edmund!" Eustace screamed as the current from the ship pulled him under. Lucy disappeared under the water just after him. I swam faster.

"It's all right! I've got you!" I heard a voice call in the distance and I turned to see none other than Caspian holding Lucy's head above the water.

"Caspian!" She exclaimed.

"Lucy!" He said in surprise. A man swam up to me, holding Eustace above the water.

"It's all right, boys. You're safe now." He reassured.

"We're in Narnia?" I asked.

"Yes, you're in Narnia!" Caspian yelled. We began swimming towards the ship, the man holding Eustace having to drag him along.

"I don't want to go! I don't want to go!" He cried. "I want to go back to England!"

Ropes were lowered down for us over the side of the boat and we were pulled out of the water. I coughed up the water from my lungs as someone wrapped a blanket around my shoulders.

"That was thrilling." Lucy laughed, a look of wonder in her eyes. Caspian led her further onto the ship.

"How on earth did you end up here?" He asked.

"I have no idea." Lucy answered honestly.

"Caspian!" I called after them and the King turned. He smiled widely.

"Edmund!" He rushed over, hugging me. "It's great to see you."

"Good to see you." He responded as we walked over to Lucy.

"Didn't you call for us?"

"No. Not this time." Caspian said.

"Well, whatever the case, I'm just glad to be here." I said honestly. Our reunion was cut short as Eustace screamed behind us. I turned to see him writhing around on the floor, something crawling on him. I recognized the furry creature as Reepicheep.

"Don't touch me!" Eustace shouted. "Get that thing off me!" He grabbed hold of the mouse, tossing him a few feet away. He landed at our feet.

"Reepicheep!" Lucy greeted and the mouse turned.

"Oh! Your Majesties!" He bowed lowly.

"Hello, Reep. What a pleasure." I said.

"The pleasure is all mine!" He responded, standing straight. "But first, what to do about this...this... hysterical interloper?" He motioned to Eustace, who had gotten on his hands and knees, coughing up water.

"That giant rat thing just tried to claw my face off!" Eustace shouted to anyone who would listen.

"I was merely trying to expel the water from your lungs, sir." Reepicheep explained. Eustace's face paled and he stood up.

"It talked! Did you see... anyone just hear that? It just talked!"

"He always talks." A crewmate offered before Caspian spoke.

"Actually, it's getting him to shut up that's the trick." He said with a smile as everyone laughed. 

"Look, I don't know what kind of prank this is, but I want to wake up right now!" Eustace shouted.

"Perhaps we could throw him back." Reepicheep suggested quietly as Eustace kept shouting. I nodded, considering it before Lucy elbowed me.

"Edmund!" She scolded.

"I demand to know just where the blazes am I?" Eustace snapped. A minotaur stepped forward.

"You're on the Dawn Treader. The finest ship in Narnia's navy." Eustace swayed on his feet before fainting, crashing to the ground. The men on board erupted with laughter. "Was it something I said?" The minotaur asked as Caspian approached. The king shook his head.

"See to him, will you?" The minotaur nodded and picked up my unconscious cousin, taking him below deck. Caspian walked towards the stairs, stepping onto the third one.

"Men! Behold our castaways!" He announced. "Edmund the Just and Lucy the Valiant, High King and Queen of Narnia!" The crew lowered to one knee and I stood a little taller.

I was home.