The mid-morning sunlight shone down on the Dawn Treader. It didn't seem like just minutes ago, a shadow demon and his minions invaded it, and were on the cusp of disaster. Raina heaved softly from exhaustion, as she dropped to her knees. Her head pounded as her heart raced. She felt 3 pairs of arms wrap around her to steady her, as she got to her feet and straightened herself. Her head felt woozy, as her vision slid in and out of focus. Caspian steadied her, as she came back to herself.

'You okay there? That was a whole lot of light if I'm being honest.' He joked as Raina looked up and glared at him.

'I'll deal with you later. I need to lie down for a sec, or a day.' Raina said, softly.

Just as Caspian and Lucy tried to escort her to her quarters, Edmund stepped in, wrapping his arm around her waist, giving his friend and his sister a look, telling them to back off. They pursed their lips, amused as they watched Edmund and Raina leave. Eustace was gagging.

'So uncivilised..' He muttered under his breath, as he scuttled away.

Raina's vision blurred for a moment as she stumbled forward, Edmund's arms catching her before she met the ground. Her pounding head distracted her from the hurt and anger pouring out of Edmund's eyes. As they reached her room, she reached for her hammock, as she turned back to Edmund, taken aback by the look in his eyes. They had darkened, but the creases in his brow spoke of pain, pain so deep and cutthroat, she felt panic arise in her chest.

'Ed-'

'Later.' Edmund said, shortly, as he helped her onto the hammock, and left the room, carefully shutting the door. As Raina collapsed on the hammock, too tired to run after him, her racing mind calmed and the calming breeze lulled her into a sleep, so deep, she didn't have nightmares.

As she sunk into her much needed rest, Edmund hung back outside her door, his head a flurry of thoughts, anxieties and bubbling anger. He needed the truth, whether she stayed or not.

He deserved at least that.

**********

A feeling of control washed over her limbs as she stirred. Warmth rushed through her bones as she felt the afternoon sun pore through the open window, as the smell of the ocean permeated her senses. It seemed peaceful, normal, okay.

Before she realised her last thought before drifting away.

Before she could even think about it, a knock came at Raina's door, startling her from her thoughts. She shook it off and slowly got to her feet, as she walked to the door and opened it. It swung open to reveal Caspian and Lucy, concerned frowns etched on their faces.

'Hey, are you feeling better?' Lucy asked, touching Raina's arm carefully.

'Yeah, you gave us quite a scare there.' Caspian admitted. Raina turned to him and gave him a tight-lipped smile.

'I'm mildly sleepy, but that's in-line with how I usually am, so otherwise I'm fine, don't worry.'

Caspian cocked an eyebrow at that as Lucy shook her head.

'Yeah, I wouldn't call spitting a boatload of light out of you at a shadow demon and passing out, fine, but whatever you say.' Caspian rambled as Raina yawned and rubbed her temples.

'Agree to disagree, Caspian.' She mumbled as she gestured for them to come inside. As they sat down, Raina faced the two of them.

'Guys, listen...' She began, her voice low and alarming.

'What happened with the Umbra Regem?' She asked, simply. Caspian and Lucy completely froze up, faces paling at the question. Raina noticed as she felt her heart break for the two, knowing exactly what kind of horrors they witnessed.

'I know.' She breathed. She sat down on a chair.

'It's- well there's no words to describe it to be honest.'

Lucy nodded at that, her eyes distant, as Caspian twiddled his thumbs.

Raina got up and took both their hands.

'But you have to know: what he's showing you is not real. It is not real.' Raina assured. 'Your biggest strength is knowing that everything he says is a lie, no matter what.' She continued, almost as if convincing herself as well.

Lucy turned to Raina at that.

'But what if what he shows us is more real than anything? What if he's showing what is about to happen?' She asked, her voice haunted.

Caspian swallowed as Lucy's words washed over him. Raina noted the tension in the room, knowing all too well what they felt.

Before she could say anything, another knock came at the door. The three royals exchanged confused looks, as Raina went to the door. It swung open to reveal Edmund. His hands were in fists, and his hair was messy, as if he had repeatedly run his fingers through his hair. Raina knew he only did that when he was really anxious or angry.

Or both.

Edmund said nothing as his dark brown orbs bore into Raina's, searchingly. She gulped under the intensity of his gaze.

'Edmund, you can come in, you know?' Caspian sassed, as Lucy chuckled slightly. Edmund flashed a glare in Caspian's direction, as Raina felt nervousness take over.

'C-come in, Ed.' She stuttered out, as she stepped to the side, to let him in. He paused a moment before stepping inside, and shutting the door behind him. The quiet thud of the door was enough for Raina to jump slightly.

'Ed! How are you feeling?' Caspian asked, trying to break the tension. Edmund turned to him, a strange look on his face.

'Top of the world.' He said, in a monotonous voice, his eyes fixated on Raina, who fidgeted uncomfortably in his presence. Lucy observed the two with a worried face.

'Ed, is everything alright?' Lucy asked, cautiously.

Edmund didn't answer as he walked towards Raina, his palms fisting. Raina didn't realise it, until he was barely a foot away from her. She jumped, slightly at the closeness.

Edmund fixed her with a piercing gaze, even more piercing than normal, and that was concerning. Raina felt herself shrink.

'Do you need something?' Raina asked him. Edmund tilted his head slightly.

'Yes. I did.' He said in a low tone.

He was breathing heavily as he spoke. Raina felt alarm bells going off in her head. She knew the Umbra Regem did something, she was trying to figure out what.

'It's the Umbra Regem, isn't it? God, that asshole, Edmund-' Raina began speaking, as she paced the room.

'Anything he shows you, anything he says, it's all a lie. None of it is real, okay? If this is about that, believe me when I say it's all a lie.' Raina reassured.

'He just plays on your anxieties and makes them spiral out of control, trust me, none of what you saw was real or could ever be real.' Raina rambled on, but stopped short as she noticed Edmund's eyes had darkened. His dark brown eyes were now practically black.

He stepped closer to her, anger practically pouring out of him, so much so, Lucy and Caspian began inching towards the door.

'And why should I ever trust you?'

Edmund's hauntingly low voice triggered goosebumps on Raina's neck and arms.

'Wh-what?'

Edmund's palms were in tight fists as he faced the girl who practically took his heart and crushed it in her palm.

'Why did you leave, Raina?' He asked.

Raina froze up, as her palms began to fist as well.

'Without any explanation at all?'

Raina couldn't speak, as she felt guilt wash over her like a truck.

'We should go-' Lucy said, quietly, when Edmund raised a hand.

'No need, Lu. Don't you want to know why Raina upped and left, out of nowhere?' Edmund inquired.

Raina looked at Lucy, who had a familiar expression of hurt on her face. The guilt gripped her like a vice.

'One moment, you say you care. And in the next? You just vanished into thin air. And now? You're back, pretending like nothing happened.' Edmund spat, his voice growing louder.

'You...' Edmund pointed an accusatory finger at Raina, who recoiled.

'You made me promise to never leave. And I promised you.'

Raina felt tears build in her eyes, as she recalled her last happy moment with him.

'You never made any such promise.'

'Edmund, I-' Raina couldn't get the words out as the real reason she cut him out came rushing at her.

'No. You're not talking your way out of this.' Edmund growled, but behind that voice was hurt.

'I trusted you, with everything. There was nothing you didn't know, and there was nothing I could ever not trust you with.' Edmund said, his voice reeked of pain. Lucy felt tears build in her eyes, remembering how Raina abandoned them too. Caspian wrapped an arm around Lucy's shoulders, as he eyed the now estranged couple, warily.

Raina felt paralysed as everything that happened came back at her. Her mother, her father, her grandmother, their faces swarmed her memory, just as they were wrenched away from her in a moment.

'Edmund, I didn't mean to hurt you-'

'Well, you hurt me plenty!' Edmund shouted back just as Raina tried to speak. Silence prevailed for a few moments, as the tension peaked.

'Did you ever really care, Raina?' Edmund asked, softly. Raina turned to him, her expression haunted.

'Wh-what?'

'It's a simple question. Did you ever really care about me?' He repeated, his voice cracking, but he masked with anger.

'Of course I care about you!' Raina screamed, hurt.

'Oh, is that right?' Edmund taunted, as she walked closer to her.

'Then pray tell, why did you leave?!' Edmund shouted. Raina looked away, tears building in her eyes, as her past swirled before her eyes.

'As I see it, I don't think you ever cared about me.' Edmund said, his voice so low, only Raina could hear. She didn't look at him.

'I care about you, Edmund-' Raina tried to speak, when Edmund cut her off.

'NO YOU DON'T! BECAUSE WHEN YOU CARE ABOUT SOMEONE YOU DON'T ABANDON THEM, WITH NO EXPLANATION AT ALL!' Edmund yelled, as Raina jumped back.

'You know, Raina, I've known you for a while, and there are many, many things I can say about you, but I never thought I'd call you a selfish liar.' Edmund admitted, anger and pain lacing his voice.

That made Raina's head snap up, as Lucy's and Caspian's eyes widened. Raina's guilt was replaced by anger. She looked at Edmund with a kind of bitterness she never thought she possessed.

'You have no idea what happened.' She said in a low tone. Edmund didn't seem fazed, as he cocked an eyebrow, challenging her.

'Oh? Well pray tell, cause from what I can tell, I admitted to caring about you, you pretended to care, and the very day you made me promise not to leave, you left. You're selfish, and you lied. Am I missing anything?' Edmund sassed. Raina balled her fists, trying to keep her composure.

'Stop assuming you know what happened.' Raina spoke through gritted teeth.

'Then tell me! Why did you leave Raina?' Edmund yelled.

'Why did you leave? What other reason could you possibly have?' Edmund went on, as Raina heaved from her anger and pain.

'I-I can't-'

'Oh now you can't speak? That's bloody brilliant timing, now isn't it?' Edmund sassed again, as Lucy interjected, noting how disturbed Raina looked.

'Ed, stop, maybe we should-' She warned but Edmund waved it off.

'Lu, I need to know. I don't care who she is, but I deserve to know what the hell happened.' Edmund said, his voice soft.

'You wouldn't understand..' Raina whispered, her voice a pained gasp.

'Oh great, more excuses!'

'Ed, stop-' Caspian warned, just as Edmund rounded on Raina.

'Why did you leave? Why did you leave-'

'Edmund, please-'

'WHY DID YOU LEAVE RAINA? WHY DID YOU ABANDON ME, YOU SELFISH-'

'BECAUSE I LOST MY FAMILY!' Raina screamed so loud, the room appeared to shake. All eyes were on Raina, confused, shocked, worried.

'You want the truth, Edmund?! Well, here you fucking go!' Raina screamed, completely fed up with Edmund, not having strength to fight anymore.

'The day I came back from school, my grandmother died of a heart attack. My dad died on the battlefield, and mum lost her fight with cancer.' Raina spat, her voice laced with pain, anguish, and trauma. Edmund stared at her as the words registered. Lucy clapped a hand over her mouth out of shock, as Caspian watched, tears building in his eyes.

'I became an orphan that day..' Raina's voice became quiet, as she stared into the distance.

'I couldn't give up. When I saw my grandmother's body on the ground, I tried to bring her back to life. I used my powers, I tried so hard, I..' She trailed off, her voice shaking.

'Didn't work. Next thing I know, both my parents are dead. Brilliant pick-me-up.' Raina spat, bitterly.

'Police were in and out of the house for weeks, until I relocated to Manchester with my aunt. Only I know the horrors I witnessed every single day since.' Raina spoke, her voice haunted. A shadow cast over her face as she recalled those days. She turned to Edmund, her face a mask of scorn.

'So I'm sorry, Edmund, that I was so selfish to not reply to your letters, and not reach out to you, because I was busy reconciling the fact that I lost almost my entire family in 24 hours, on top of previous horrors from being in Narnia, you know, from almost being killed multiple times?' Raina spoke, patronisingly, even as the tears spilled from her eyes. The colour drained from Edmund's face, and his eyes, as tears built.

'I might be a liar, but you called me selfish for putting myself first for once...Edmund, after we're done with our work in Narnia, I don't ever, EVER, want to see you again.' Raina spat in his face, as she speed walked away from him, stopping in front of Lucy and Caspian, hurt, pity, and shock written all over their faces.

'Cut the shit, I don't need your pity. Well, at least you know the truth.' Raina shrugged, before barging out of the room, leaving the remaining occupants in utter disbelief. Edmund grabbed a chair to prevent himself from falling.

'Did...did that just really happen?' Edmund asked, his voice quivering. Lucy came up to him, anger prevalent in her features.

'What's wrong with you? Why did you say all that to her?' She asked. Edmund faced her.

'I just- I needed to know and now-' Edmund cut himself off, as he realised the depth of the trauma Raina suffered every single day for almost 3 years. His heart crumbled, as he threatened to fully break down.

'She was going through all this herself...' Caspian said to himself, eyes widening, as he shook his head. Lucy and Edmund looked at him.

'I know what it's like to lose a father so abruptly, but an entire family, I...can't begin to imagine..' Caspian trailed off.

'She hates me, doesn't she?' Edmund said to no one in particular.

'Ed-'

'She said she never wants to see me again...' He continued, tears falling freely from his eyes.

'Edmund..' Caspian placed a hand on his shoulder.

'I always fuck everything up, don't I?'

(A/N WOOOOO WOW that was some tea. here we have climax pt 1 of say, 3? i'm not sure lol. i really hope you enjoyed this one, and i hope i delivered on the 'doozy' aspect of this chapter, i know i hyped it up a lot but you know, i'm really hoping i did what i said i would. so now, raina is just done with edmund, the latter will now drown himself in guilt over his actions. man, writing this chapter took a solid week and a half damn. i really hope you guys will stick around for the ending, i know i'm not updating the fic as much as i should, but i'm literally in the middle of finals rn, so i'm doing my best. thanks so much for all the love so far, and i'll see you in the next chapter!)

please do vote on the chapters guys, it would really help my fanfic!