[eleven: I'm sorry Susan]

There is such sadness in leaving a place of strong love, a place where fond memories grew as fast as the clover in the grass. I know I will savour each memory so strongly that it will almost live once more. I know that the strands of love will keep us together even when we are far apart. I only have to reach out with my mind and there you are, waiting to shower me with the love you always did. But right now it is my time to depart, to do what I was born to do, to make the changes and the sacrifices that are necessary. Don't think that me leaving means I love you less, know that it means I love you more.

After the incident that happened only a mere ten minutes ago, Edmund and Genevieve were still in the same position they were in before they got engaged - cuddling on Edmunds bed in the comfort of each others arms. They were both truly shocked by the response of the engagement to each other, Genevieve shocked most of all that she said yes despite her supposed betrothed marriage to Orion and that Edmund disregarded that fact in the first place. In that split moment where he was down on one knee pouring his heart out to the girl her mind went blank, her heart finally taking control and the iridescent glow in her other rings portrayed that as so.

She was in love with Edmund and to be completely honest, she didn't think anything could every make her fall out of love with him. When she six months ago first admitted to herself that she had an attraction towards the Just King, she had never imagined that it would progress this far into something so utterly beautiful to the eye and the heart. And yet she had realised something from her time with him and looking back on it now she was almost certain that she had liked him a lot longer than those six months and the clues of him liking her back as equally had always been there from the shy looks and red cheeks to the need to be close to another and the two words stay safe being their anchor in times of wrong. They needed each other and Genevieve knew that she would not be able to live without Edmund and the thought of ever leaving Narnia to go back to England frightened her to death because if he left, she would be hopeless - especially if she would have to rule Narnia alone.

"What are thinking about?" Edmund asked her softly as he brushed his hand through her hair as she cuddled further into his chest with a small sigh of content.

"It seems so obvious now." She whispered to him and he turned his head to look at her in confusion. "Our feelings I mean."

"Well I did just literally pour my heart out to you and asked you to marry me, I'm sorry if my feelings weren't clear after that." Edmund retaliated and Genevieve stifled a laugh as she turned to straddle him as she placed her arms around his neck, interlocking at the back.

"What I mean Ed is before that, before we even kissed for the first time."

"Before that?" Edmund repeated and she simply nodded her head at him and he looked at her quizzically. "What do you mean before that?"

"We're both incredibly broken people who just so happened to find each other and even though we shouldn't be attracted to each other we are, as if a safety pin is holding us together. Looking back on our past at the stares and the red cheeks and even our anchor-"

"Stay safe?" Edmund interrupted and she nodded towards him and his face made one of realisation. "We've really liked each other that long."

"I think so, just without realising." Genevieve said as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, something she did relatively often and Edmund smiled softly at her as she did it as he bit his lip slightly.

"Do you think Aslan knew?" Edmund asked her and she looked at him in confusion. "Knew that we would fall in love?"

Genevieve stayed quiet for a moment, immediately feeling guilty once again for not telling Edmund of her true purpose in Narnia. She had questioned this herself many times in the last few months and in all honesty she believed it. She believed that Aslan had brought her here for the sole purpose to be with Edmund and that is why her purpose was to protect him - not the whole of Narnia like everyone assumed. Genevieve lifted her gaze to him again and nodded and watched as his smile grew as her firmly placed his lips to hers again in happiness as he also believed that Aslan knew this would happen.

"But Ed, what do we do now?" Genevieve asked him and Edmunds face fell for a second, knowing exactly what had to be done despite the ache in his heart at the words he was about to say.

"We have to leave." He whispered and Genevieves eyes widened, not expecting Edmund to be so forward about it. "It's the only way that I can be with you Genevieve."

"But Ed this is your kingdom, your family-"

"None of which are complete without you." Edmund interrupted and Genevieves cheeks went crimson again as he took her hands and forced her to look at him. "I would never have come this far without you Genevieve and Narnia already has three wonderful monarchs and my family will understand I mean, Peter and Lucy have been betting on us getting together for years."

"But what about Susan?" Genevieve asked him and Edmund was silent for a moment before giving Genevieve's hands a gentle and reassuring squeeze.

"If Susan doesn't like it thats her problem not ours. I can't live a life without you Gen, I just can't do it." Edmund admitted and Genevieves eyes widened as she looked into his eyes that held so much sincerity and love that she smiled at him softly.

"You would risk all that for me?" Genevieve whispered as she looked to the floor, only for Edmund to cup her face and turn her to look into his eyes that said so many words.

"I would risk the world for you Genevieve. The truth is that if you don't risk anything, you risk more and I can't risk losing you Genevieve. Without you I'm better off dead." He stated confidently and it was Genevieves turn to cup his cheek as she let a tear fall down her own which melted the raven haired boys heart.

"I love you." She whispered as he wrapped her arms around his neck again as she sobbed into his shoulder, touched by his loving words towards her. She suddenly didn't feel lonely and irrelevant anymore because she had her anchor, her personal safety pin to keep her going and she was unwilling to let it go. "Ed?"

"Hmm?"

"Where would we go?" She repeated his words from earlier and he smirked at her softly before snaking his arms around her waist.

"Anywhere you want to go." He whispered as he pressed his forehead against hers, repeating her words and actions from earlier. "It doesn't matter as long as I'm with you."

They stayed in that position for a moment, both smiling fondly at each other, completely moved by the shared love they had for each other. They had never imagined that they would ever feel this way, especially in the position they were in ten years prior when they believed that they had nobody to lean on and that they were utterly alone. They now had each other, and neither were willing to trade the other for anything.

"So now what? Where do we really go Ed?" Genevieve asked and Edmund thought for a moment before an idea sprung into his head as he turned around to the love of his life, his soulmate and greeted her with an assuring smile.

"Remember when we were fifteen and we disappeared for two weeks, scared the life out of Susan and Peter who sent search parties out that still couldn't find us?" Edmund questioned and Genevieve made a face of recognition as she smiled at him.

"The little abandoned cottage we found about twenty minutes ride from here? Nobody's lived there for years." Genevieve said and Edmund nodded as he took her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze.

"You always said you loved it there. Maybe we could live there, start a life together." Edmund suggested and Genevieve smiled at him before her face fell as she disconnected their hands and she looked away. "What is it love?"

"What about the others? What if they come looking for us in the castle?"

"A goodbye letter will do for now, until we meet them again." Edmund whispered and Genevieve nodded as she got out of bed, stretched and walked over to the balcony. "Where are you going?"

"If we're leaving Ed, there are some things I'd like to take with me. I'll meet back here in twenty. I promise." She whispered as she walked back and placed a small kiss on his lips before pulling away and climbing down the balcony, giving Edmund one last wave.

+++

Within the next thirty minutes, Edmund and Genevieve were at the stables bidding goodbye to their horses as each carried two bags each for their walk to the cottage where they were hoping to live and escape from the problems reality had thrown at them. Genevieve threw her arms around Elizabeth and let a small sob escape her lips as she thought of leaving her despite it being the right thing to do.

"I'll miss you." She whispered to her horse before Edmund took her hand and they walked out of the stables, Genevieve sending a nod to Philip and giving one last look to Elizabeth as they left.

The two lifted their cloak hoods in the snow as they started walking in the direction of the cottage. They stopped at the edge of the grounds and they stared at the place they had lived happily for ten years and time stopped, as if Edmund and Genevieve's brains needed a photograph, a keepsake to give their strength in the rough times to come. Then, after time unmeasurable, a small bird sang, bringing them back into the moment, as if this feathered friend was the clock, the only time-keeper that mattered. The musical sound was a balm to their minds, a seed of nature's peace given so freely. Edmund squeezed Genevieve's hand and she looked at him and gave him a small smile as they ventured forward to commit to their future together.

+++

Susan returned to her room later in the afternoon, Lucy and Peter following her as they spoke heartily about the next ball that is to be held in hopes to promote Genevieves soon to be engagement to Orion.

"Susan you can't do this, Edmund's in love with her. Don't you care about his happiness?" Peter asked her and Susan sighed as she pulled at the braids in her hair as she looked at her older brother.

"Of course I do, but if I pull out of the deal now they may declare war on us. We're not fit for another war Pete." Susan returned and Peter sighed and followed his gaze to Lucy who was holding something in her hand.

"What's that Lu?" Peter asked her and Lucy looked at her siblings with wide eyes as she held the envelope in her hands, which were shaking.

"It's a letter addressed to Susan." She started and Susan's eyebrows rose in confusion as she urged her to continue. "It's in Edmunds writing."

Peter quickly took the envelope of Lucy and looked to Susan who urged him to open it. Peter quickly teared the envelope open and opened the letter, quickly scanning it as his eyes widened in shock and his eyes watering at what was said.

"What it is Peter?" Lucy asked and Peter quickly wiped his face before clearing his throat and reading aloud.

Dear Susan,

Genevieve and I, have made the tough decision to leave Cair Paravel forever in hopes to live our days together and live an inevitable future together - in marriage.

We know that we will be sacrificing a lot to do this but we find that it is now the only applicable option for us to follow due to the betrothed marriage between Genevieve and Orion that has tried to tear our relationship apart but only made it undoubtedly stronger.

However selfish it may seem, I am willing to give up my place as a King in Narnia for her and everything that surrounds my role because I am utterly in love with her and I have been for so long now hat I'm surprised I never tried to court her earlier. I know Peter and Lucy have seen for years how in love we are with each other and I recall them even placing bets on how soon we would get together but I was never really sure if you approved Su, and it's a sad thought to think about.

Leaving is killing my soul as sure as a dagger can stop a beating heart. It isn't easy to leave when it's the only option available. If there was no hope at all I would stay here by Narnias side and choose to die in the dark, for without what I have learnt in Narnia, I whol heartedly choose not to exist. If I stay here I lose Genevieve for sure. If I go there is the chance of togetherness and a peaceful life with love. I pray that you understand, pray that you know that I am doing this for and however incredibly selfish it seems, after what we've been though down we deserve to be happy.

I'm sorry Susan, but this is how our life must be now. I am wholeheartedly in love with Genevieve and we hope to get married when the heat of the betrothal has died down and I know that even if we don't end up married, she still wears the ring to remind everything how utterly in love we are with each other - and that's all I need.

We will never be too far away, please remember hat we love you, Peter, Lucy and how he whole of Narnia and wholeheartedly but we feel we must stop doing what's best for others and commit to what is best for us first, otherwise we will never truly be happy.

Our love goes to you and he others forever,

Edmund Pevensie

There was silence for a moment in Susans chambers before Lucy ran out the room, tears streaming down her cheeks. The oldest Pevensie turned to his sister with a disappointed look on his face as he placed the letter in her hands as he looked into her welling eyes.

"Maybe just this once you should start opening your eyes to the real things in life instead of just assuming that things that aren't real are." Peter stated before he walked out of the room in hopes of finding Lucy to calm her down.

Susan looked down at the letter in her hands and let a small sob escape her lips as tears streamed down her freckled cheeks. Peter was right; she was too obsessed with keeping Narnia peaceful that she didn't pay attention to the important things around her.

And now she's lost two of the most important people in her life.

Susan quickly raised and grabbed the key to her drawer from under her pillow and unlocked the drawer to find that Edmund's ring was gone but it had been replaced by something else.

It had been replaced with a charm of an arrow with a small note and Susan picked it up, her eyes scanning over it.

Remember who you really are

- g

Susan clutched the charm in her hand before taking a deep breath, allowing another tear to fall. Susan placed the charm on a chain and placed it around her neck as she grabbed her bow and quiver and walked out of the castle.

"Queen Susan, where are you going?" The centaur, Regulus asked her as she walked and Susan turned quickly to send him a small smile.

"I'll be back Regulus. Nothing clears a troubled mind better than shooting a bow."