[eighteen: see you later]

Genevieve woke up in the exact same way she had in the last two weeks and Edmund was beginning to worry.

He watched as she stumbled to the corner of the room, unaware that with each step her stomach tightened and ached all the more. She kept swallowing, and her throat kept clenching, but no matter what she could not stop the warm feeling rising through her chest. Then she could taste it at the back of her mouth as Genevieve ran to the bathroom before her knees buckled over. A warm, clouded, cream coloured liquid spilled from her mouth, and sizzled as it splashed into the toilet as Genevieve coughed at the distaste in her mouth, tears springing from her eyes.

Edmund was quick to react as he rushed out of their shared bed and into the bathroom where he held his wife's hair back for her as she vomited for the third time in the past hour. Never had he ever seen her so ill and week, especially since their marriage five years ago it seemed she was the healthiest person in Narnia - until about two weeks ago. Edmund urged her to see someone about it, but Genevieve always shrugged him off claiming that he didn't have to worry and that she was fine and she always held a smile on her face as she said that which confused Edmund completely.

How can she be so calm when she's so heavily ill?

"I don't have to go you know," Edmund said as he directed his wife of four years over to their bed and ensured she was okay. "I can stay and look after you."

"Ed come on, your siblings don't see you as much anymore and you've been bragging about this white stag for half a year now and you finally have the chance to find it." Genevieve said as she smiled at her husband who only looked at her in worry. "Besides, I'll be okay. Mrs. Beaver is coming over with the twins so I won't be alone Ed. You need to stop worrying."

"I can't stop worrying Gen." Edmund said as he moved a piece of hair behind her ear. "Isn't it weird how old the twins are now? I remember when we used to look after them when they were babies. I wish we could go back and relive those times."

"Guess you won't be waiting long."

"Hmm? What was that?"

"Oh, I said I can't believe its been that long." Genevieve said and plastered a fake smile in Edmund's direction. "Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Edmund asked her seriously as he felt her forehead, relieved that it wasn't burning hot with fever.

"Ed honestly I'm okay." She whispered as she took his hands. "Go with your family. I'll be fine."

"Okay." Edmund whispered as he pressed his lips to Genevieve's forehead before going to get changed.

After changing appropriately to hunt the white stag, Edmund walked over to his wife again and sat at her bedside still unsure of whether he should leave and hunt the notorious white stag or stay and look after his wife. He knew she was ill and he didn't understand why she wouldn't do anything about it and why she was acting slightly distant towards him.She was acting differently.

And he didn't like it.

"Are you one hundred per-"

"Ed I'm honestly okay." Genevieve smiled as she cupped Edmund's cheek and sent him a small smile.

"Okay. Wish me luck?" Edmund teased before pressing his lips to his wifes. As they pulled apart he watched as Genevieve placed something around his neck and saw that it was her mothers locket - her last memory of her mother.

"My mother always told me that whether she was here or not she would always protect me from harm and guide me in the right direction. This locket has always been my good luck charm so use it Ed."

"I love you." Edmund muttered as he kissed his wife's cheek before she wrapped her arms around him as if she was afraid to let go.

"I love you too."

"I'll see you later." Edmund said before he walked out the bedroom door.

Little did the two know that later wouldn't be as soon as they thought.

+++

The four adult Pevensies were riding their horses through the familiar woods they had grown fond of over the last fifteen years they had spent in Narnia. In the Autumn breeze they were looking for the White Stag, a Narnian treasure that they had hoped to admire and also to bond together as a family of four again - which they hadn't done as much recently due to Genevieve's sudden illness. Edmund suddenly slowed down as the others gathered forward and Edmund stared at his horse and stroked his mane, confused at why Philip seemed so out of energy.

"Are you all right, Philip?"

"I'm not as young as I once was." Philip said solemnly and Edmund nodded as Susan rode back, staring between Edmund and his horse with a smile on her face.

"Come on, Ed." She said and Edmund only sent her a small smile as he waved her off.

"Just catching my breath."

"That's all we'll catch at this rate." Susan teased as she and Edmund rode back into course with Lucy and Peter who strode ahead confidently.

"What did he say again, Susan?" Lucy asked teasingly.

"You girls wait in the castle. I'll get the stag myself."

"Yeah and that's when Genevieve shut him down. We all know its impossible without her." Peter said and they all laughed together before Peter noticed the locket around Edmund's neck. "Her mother's locket?"

"Yeah, she never parts with it." Edmund muttered as he twisted the locket in his hand. "Aslan knows how broken she would be if she lost it or it was taken from her."

"Then why do you have it?" Lucy asked in confusion as she stared in confusion.

"She said it should give me good luck." Edmund muttered, unaware that Peter had noticed something and quickly dismounted his horse.

"What's this?" Peter asked as they all dismounted their horses and stared at what Peter had discovered. They looked curiously at the top of a metal post that was covered in vines with a light that seemed to glimmer in the sunlight. It was familiar to them all but they were unaware where from.

"As if from a dream." Susan muttered as she looked from it to Lucy who held a smile on her face.

"Or a dream of a dream. Spare Oom." Lucy smiled before she ran off in a direction, leaving her siblings dazed and confused.

"Lucy!"

"Not again."

"Lu?"

"Come on!"

The four siblings walked simultaneously through the trees, unaware as the branches got denser and the leaves suddenly began to merge into fur coats - the discreet smell of fir being replaced with the dust of an old wardrobe.

"These aren't branches." Peter muttered as he ventured forward, unaware that he had stepped on someone.

"Ow! Ooh!"

"They're coats." Susan said and ventured forward.

"Susan, you're on my foot!"

"Peter, move off!"

Their heavily older and more mature voices suddenly changed into those of young children, the same voices that had haunted them for years before they reached the years of puberty that helped them grown into the adults they were only moments ago.

"Stop shoving."

"Stop it! I'm not on your toe!"

As they continued to argue, the four hadn't realised that the floor to the forest had dissipated and all four children fell out of the wardrobe into the spare room they had once been familiar with those fifteen years ago. They looked at themselves, each other and then the door as the Professor walked in with a smile on his face, a cricket ball in his hand.

"Oh! There you are. What were you all doing in the wardrobe?" He asked and the four glanced at each other before turning back to the Professor.

"You wouldn't believe us if we told you, sir." Peter laughed before the Professor threw a cricket ball to Peter.

"Try me some." The Professor said as he looked at Edmund with confusion. "Where did you get that?"

Edmund looked down at his neck and his eyes widened at what he saw as his heart filled with guilt.

There around his neck, was Genevieve's mothers locket.

+++

As the night dawned over the English skies Edmund approached the wardrobe, opened the door and looked inside only to find the back of the wardrobe and no majestic land on the other side. The tears flowed unchecked down his cheeks and dripped from his chin. He was too sad to cry out or wail, he just stood there as still as a statue while the magnitude of his loss and guilt swept over him. Only then did a voice speak directly to him, making him turn around timidly.

"I don't think you'll get back in that way. You see... I've already tried." The Professor said and Edmund only looked at him with pleading eyes.

"I need to go back Professor, you don't understand." Edmund sniffed as he looked back at the wardrobe, his hands fiddling with the locket that was still around his neck. Edmund slumped down to the floor as he sits and stares at the wardrobe, allowing another tear to fall from his eyes.

"Don't worry boy, it won't be the end." The Professor said as he sent him a smile, making Edmund's head snap up to meet his eyes.

"You think I'll get to go back?"

"Oh, I expect so. But it'll probably happen when you're not looking for it. All the same as I said to your sister..." The Professor whispered as he looked at the boy. "best to keep your eyes open."

The Professor walked out of the room and Edmund only stared at the wardrobe and placed his hand on the wood of the wardrobe, holding a singular locket in his hand as he leaned his forehead against the wardrobe.

"I'm so sorry Genevieve, I'm so so sorry." He whimpered before he removed his hand and wiped his eyes.

Edmund began to walk out the room and upon reaching the door, Edmund became very aware as the wardrobe door opened a crack and an illuminating light shone out. He listens carefully and is able to hear Aslan roar along with a faint scream which caused Edmund's head to snap to the wardrobe in horror upon recognising it immediately.

"Until we meet again." He whimpered as he walked out the room, leaving the wardrobe forever.