Change

In the far distance, Lucy still saw the Calormene ships sail Western. The castle grounds were still covered with tribunals, little shops and whatever else you needed for a tournament being held in honour of a royal guest.

Lucy found Edmund sitting in a small pavilion in the garden, reading his book.
His back was leaned against the statue beside the bench, his knees were drawn up and his book was resting on his thighs.

He looked up when he heard her coming and smiled.

"Are you also hiding from the clean up chores?", he asked.

"No, I'm searching for someone who's not head over heels into the idea of Susan marrying", Lucy answered and plopped onto the bench beside her brother’s feet with a sigh.

Edmund chuckled unhappily.
"Well, you got me."

"Why is everyone so happy about it?", Lucy asked.
"Even Peter likes him!"

"He tolerates him", Edmund corrected.
"But only because he didn't have enough time to like him. But he's definitely not disapproving, especially since Susan talks so highly of our dear Prince."

"But…", Lucy started, but stopped talking.

Edmund sighed.
"I don't like him either."

"I also don't like the idea of Susan leaving forever", Lucy said.
"You know, she'd not be able to see us anymore, and we won't be able to visit her all the time."

Edmund nodded.

"And her throne will be empty, and her room will be empty and who will sit in the blue salon with Mrs. Beaver on Thursdays and knit blankets?"

Edmund put his feet off the bench and skidded over to Lucy and put his arm around her shoulder.

“And what about Corin?”, Lucy asked.
“He can’t just make day trips to Tashbaan like he makes them here.”

“Actually I’d be glad if he wouldn’t show up every other week and steal our food”, Edmund mumbled.

Lucy giggled.

“Let’s just wait until Susan goes to Tashbaan. Maybe she’ll hate it there so much that she won’t even consider marrying him anymore”, Edmund said louder.

Lucy smiled.
“I’m sorry, your Highness, but your country is quite literally terrible and I never want to see it again. I’m afraid I must decline your marriage proposal”, she said and laughed.

Edmund snorted.

“You’ll be going with her, right?”

“Yes”, Edmund sighed. “I’d rather spend that time with Corin than Rabadash and his wonderful father. But I’ll see if I can take Peridan with me, so I won’t be completely alone.”

“Oh, so everyone is just leaving me alone?”, Lucy asked.
“Mr. Tumnus is also going! And Peter will be at war."

"Corin can come and visit you", Edmund said, raising his eyebrows.

Lucy laughed.
"I bet Susan's going to ask him to come with her", she said.

"In that case, I'm staying", Edmund mumbled with a chuckle.

They fell silent.

"Everything's going to change", Lucy said then quietly. "I mean, if she will marry him."
Edmund silently agreed.

"What if", Lucy suddenly blurted out, "this is all just a giant plot so they can take reign over Narnia?"

Edmund burst out laughing.
"Now that, that is very unlikely", he said.

"But it's not impossible!"

"Nothing's impossible", Edmund said, still laughing.
"But some things would just be very absurd if they were happening, and this is one of them."

"But what if Rabadash was just here to spy on us?"

Edmund sighed laughing.

Lucy giggled.
"Okay, but what if-"

"How about we stop with the "what ifs"?", Edmund interrupted.

Lucy opened her mouth to say something, but she closed it again.

"Do you promise you'll protect her?", she asked then quietly.

"Course", Edmund said and smiled.