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"We keep all our promises, be us against the world

In another life, I would make you stay

So I don't have to say you were the one that got away."

The One That Got Away

Katy Perry

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Chapter XX - This is Goodbye

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Victory horns blew loud and clear, making me jump, dropping a few berries. Sometimes I forget that I'm not in England anymore, this time I could have sworn the horns were the sounds of a train. It wasn't like I missed England much, just my mother. I don't know when I will see her next, or if I ever will. I wonder if knows of our whereabouts. If she received a letter in the mail informing her that all four of her disappeared without a trace from the place they were supposed to seek shelter. I do hope she doesn't worry about us. After all, if that victory horn means what I think it does. Our family will have one less thing to worry about.

I run across the camp, as fast my little legs could take me, abandoning the berry basket as it was only holding me back. The brightest smile comes to my face as I see my brown haired brother being guided through camp. His eyes were wide, looking at all the creatures as they bowed to him as he passed. They created a path, leading him directly to Aslan.

"Welcome, Edmund, the final Son of Adam." Aslan declared, loud enough for everyone to hear.

The crowd responded with large cheers, almost as excited as I am to see Edmund.

"Come, Edmund," Aslan requests, "We have some matters to discuss."

My smile faded slightly, knowing I will have to wait even longer to see him again. But right now I'm just so glad that he is safe, that's the most important thing. We saved him from the witch.

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The waiting was killing me. It was affecting my other siblings as well as we peered over to see Edmund and Aslan deep in discussion on the top of the hill. I nervously ate breakfast, letting my eyes follow Peter as he paced back and forth, barely eating. Even Susan, who was usually always level headed, played with her hair just to keep herself busy.

We all turned to Aslan as he began to descend the hill with Edmund next to him.

"What's done is done. There is no need to speak to Edmund about what is past." Aslan declared, putting the whole idea of behind us.

"Are you all right?" I ask Edmund as Susan and I pull him in for a hug.

"I'm a little tired," Edmund answered over our shoulders.

"Get some sleep," Peter advises with his arms crossed over his chest.

As Edmund headed for the tent, Peter came to his senses on what Aslan had just told us, making him drop his stubbornness. "And Edmund...try not to wander off."

Peter turns his attention back to us at breakfast. But just as Edmund is about to walk into our tent his eyes went wide.

He runs over to Edmund, grabbing him by the shoulders and guiding him in the opposite direction. "Um- Ed, you should probably crash in Susan and Lucy's tent."

I look back at Peter, throwing my arms up, "Oh come on! You two have your own tent!"

"Why? I thought it was our tent." Edmund protests.

"Um... well..." Peter stumbled, swallowing hard, failing to come up with a decent excuse on why Susan and I had to deal with Edmund while he enjoyed an entire tent to himself.

It wasn't until I heard Susan's cup break on the ground did I notice Ashton walk out of my tent, leaving Peter with no reason to finish his rambling. 

"I was wondering where you went after Ben fell asleep on the floor last night," I giggled looking between Ashton and Peter. Peter hand thrown his head back defeated as redness flowed to his cheeks.

Edmund seemed even more thrown off guard by the Ashton. His eyes only focused on her with his mouth slightly dropped open. Ashton was clearly shocked as well. Ed was looking at Ashton as if she was the only thing in the world.

Peter cleared his throat, "Ed?"

"Ashton?" Edmund barely breathed out, taking two steps towards her and wrapping his arms around her.

Ashton hesitated for a moment, before hugging him back.

"After you never returned, I feared you were killed. I was unsure if I would ever be able to apologize." He spoke quickly, still hugging her, "I'm so sorry, for everything. Not owning up when you took the blame and I'm especially sorry for treating you like a pawn... like her."

"I appreciate your apology, Edmund." She said, pulling away from the hug.

Edmund steps back, looking her deep in the eyes, before scanning the rest of her body as a marvel he never expected to meet again, "It's a miracle you got out with your life. I couldn't imagine having to bare that as long as you did. I hate to think I contributed to that evil."

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Peter shifted his weight to his opposite foot, severely uncomfortable with the situation.

"It's good to see you again, under better circumstances." She smiled at my brother. A genuine smile, with all rarity of it, "I wasn't exactly the most welcoming either..."

"A knife to the throat is not exactly the highlight of my first hours. It wasn't the worst of it though." He joked slightly.

"How exactly do you two know each other?" Peter interjects the reunion.

"They met in the witch's dungeon," I inform my other siblings. I didn't realize my mistake until Susan and Peter turned to me with puzzled looks. I glanced towards Ashton to see her sighing at what I just said.

"Lu, how do you know that?" Susan questioned.

Ashton had told me about her first encounter with Edmund during one of our secret meetings. I know that this is the right time to think of a quick excuse or lie but I have never been good at their of those.

"Ashton's been telling me the history of Narnia and all the stories and prophecies that go with it since she got here..." I admit to Peter and Susan, keeping my head down.

"Lucy!" Susan gasps, as I expected.

Ash drops her act fake confusion, "Something that was supposed to remain between us."

Susan sighs, turning away from me to look at Ashton, "I suppose it doesn't matter now because you should be on your way soon."

I turn to Ashton for an explanation, "What? Where? Why?"

"It's for the best little one," Ashton says, glancing up at Susan slightly as she does so. "It's not safe for me or for you if I remain here."

"Ed, you should get some sleep, I would say your goodbyes now." Susan advises before looking back at Peter and I. "All of you."

Edmund nods, saying a few more words to Ashton before she turned to me. I could feel my eyes stinging as I attempted to hold back tears. I ran to hug her, hold on tightly for a minute before she pulled away to get my attention.

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?" I whimper out.

She peers down at me with sad eyes, "I didn't want another reason to stay."

"Please, stay," I beg as a last hope.

"I must leave. But I'll tell you what," Ash starts with a smile before leaning forward and whispering the rest in her ear. A bright smile comes to my face as Ashton whispered in my ear softly, "I'll send ravens to you. They can carry letters from one place to another no matter the distance."

I nodded in agreement, hugging her one last time before deciding it was time to give Peter and Ashton a minute to themselves.

"I don't know how to say goodbye to you," I admit to her honestly.

She glances around making sure no one was looking at us, "Then don't."

All at once, catching me by surprise, she grabs the front my shirt, pulling me closer to abandon the space between us as my lips came to meet hers. My body filled with an intensity I had never felt before. I wrapped my arms around her waist, unwanting to see her leave when this is over. Only wishing to let this moment last even a second longer. But like all good things, it did not last forever. Our lips unlocked. I looked down at her as she descended from her tiptoes, reminiscing with her eyes closed for just a moment more.

No matter how long or how far she traveled. I would always remember her this way, fiercely bold in every way possible. Our last memory together isn't a sad one.  

She opened her eyes, glancing at me one last time before turning to meet Benvolio, who must have seen the whole incident. Under her breath, I heard Ashton tell Benvolio to 'shut up' before he let out a little chuckle, letting her onto his back. They rode off into the woods, leaving Narnia for good.

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Yes, I know this chapter is shorter than usual but everything happens for a reason.

B