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"Why you gotta show up lookin' so good just to hurt me?

Why you wanna stop this whole damn world from turning?"

Mercy

Brett Young

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Chapter II - Back From Gone

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The two men tapped their staff in sync attracting the attention of every soul in the room to the door as protocol states. I looked to Susan who practically plans all of the events herself. From what I know we all of the guests have been accounted for.

"Introducing, his royal majesty, Prophesied Son of Adam, Knight of Narnia, King Edmund the Just."

The brightest smile comes to my face as I see Edmund step out, fully prepared for the ball in his finest suit and his crown. Even from afar, I could tell that he had grown much since I last saw him, which included a respectable amount of facial hair. He stood proudly alone for a second before raising his elbow nobly.

"And prophesied Prodigy, Knight of Narnia, Lady Ashton of the Western Wood returning from their travels around the land."

The ballroom cheered upon their return but I did not. My body went into some sort of trance with my mouth slightly agape, looking at the girl that ran out of these halls two years ago, walking down the stairs, escorted by my little brother. They both smiled kindly looking down at everyone from the top of the stairs. Ashton wore a light blue dress, decorated with sequins. Her blonde hair was curled slightly, falling over her bare shoulders. I turned my head, afraid I would get caught staring but as I looked around the room I noticed, no one could take their eyes off the two of them.

Everyone in the room bowed for Edmund and Ashton. I gathered myself, bowing as a sign of respect, even though I outranked both of them as High King. Ashton and Edmund bowed back together.

The crowd parted, making way for them to come up to the thrones. Lucy and Susan rush to my brother, hugging him at the same time. Edmund then walked towards me, standing in front of me, sharing a moment before I hugged him as well. Over Edmund's shoulder, I saw Ashton hug my youngest sister. Her eyes met mine and she offered a small smile that I returned.

"How were your travels? Oh, you must tell me everything!" Lucy exclaimed to Ashton.

"Of course," Ashton agreed, "How about at breakfast tomorrow?

"Perfect." Lucy smiled, looping her arm under Ashton's to introduce her to friends.

I turned my attention back to Edmund as he pulled away, "It's great to have you back, brother."

He smiled and sat down on his throne, for the first time since his coronation. He rested his arms on the sides, unused to the feeling. I sat down next to him, hoping to get tales of his adventures but instead I was once again swarmed with the next girl. Edmund had made me forget that this was my courting ball for a few minutes.

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"Lucy, why is everyone looking at me like they are preparing for battle?" I ask, not intimidated by the small girls in dresses that outlined the dance floor.

Lucy chuckled a bit at this, "They are checking you out, the competition."

"What?"

"You do know this is Peter's and Susan's courting ball, correct?" Lucy asks me curiously.

"Yes, but Peter and I, that's history. If I'm being honest, I'm really just here to see you." I tell her with a smile.

"Mhm. You dressed up like that to see me?" She questioned, making me roll my eyes.

"And to dance, of course," I tell her, pulling her to the dance floor, hoping she would dance with me. And as the cheerful, polite girl she is, she never turns down a dance.

Lucy and I took over the center of the floor, under the grand chandler. The music picked up making it more suitable for us. Soon more people joined, including Edmund who had to squeeze away from the girls surrounding Peter and a few who had discovered they would be too young for Peter, deciding to go for the younger brother instead. Edmund met Lucy and I in the middle, just in time for the switching of the partners. Edmund made a funny face, as he started dancing with his sister. It was really a sweet sight.

As I was spun around by a nice smiled older gentlemen I noticed a dark brown haired girl standing off to the side. She was clapping along to the music but did not join. It didn't take long for me to realize that the girl was the wild child of the Loxley family, Alyssa, known to strictly friends as Allie, Hood, it was different seeing her without her bow and arrow across her back and dirt on her knees. Her dress and light makeup only emphasized her natural beauty. As I expected, she was accompanied by her older brother. Edmund and I had met all of the Loxley children on a visit to Loxley, instantly Ashton could see the attraction and chemistry between Edmund and Allie. Everyone else did in the manor as well, causing the older brother protective side to come out of all five of the Loxley boys. Edmund learned to keep his distance, in public at least, there were mornings when I found him coming back from the woods just before sunrise. In the beginning, I believed he just couldn't sleep or went hunting in the morning. But then I saw the same tired look on Robin Hood's daughter at breakfast and nearly spit out my drink at the table.

Unfortunately, the day came that we had to depart and Allie wasn't even present for our farewells Edmund refrained from talking about it. Brushing it off as nothing happened but he never made the mistake of growing too close to anyone on the road again.

"You look too gorgeous to be standing there all night, Allie" I compliment the usually energetic young girl while Lucy is containing Edmund. I pull her towards the dance floor, pleading, "Come dance with me."

She instantly tries to pull away and protest, "I'm not much of a dancer, Ash."

"Maybe you just haven't had the right partner." I persuade.

Allie tries to make excuses, "Isn't tradition female and male dance?"

"I've never been one for tradition." I shrug, "Why would we waste a minute waiting for a boy when we can dance now?"

She finally gives in and we laugh together while we begin to dance. That's when I spy Ed spot us and his eyes grow larger. He misses a step making Lucy stepped on his toe. He scrunches up his face to avoid groaning aloud, focusing back on the dance with his sister. That's when an idea struck my mind.

I snap my fingers, sending a small shock into this leg.

"What, Ash?" He inquires as he tilted head in confusion to look at me, knowing the small bit of electricity my powers.

I spun Allie outward as in the dance routine which happened to be in his direction.

She laughed unknowingly as her dress flared around her. With a small flick of my hand, a thin layer of ice clung to the floor under her heel. Allie, who was already clumsy, lost her balance quickly. Edmund's reflexes that earned him the first blade of defense in the army now came into play as he launched out to catch the girl.

He caught her, of course. A shy smile and blushing flooding both of their faces. Lucy became my partner, leaving Edmund and Allie in each other's arms. Allie gathered herself, stepping back. I could see her shakes her head, attempting to walk away before Ed grabbed her hand with a pleading look. She gave in, allowing her king a dance.

"Oh, me next!" Lucy jokes.

I sigh squeezing her hand, "Lu, the last time I saw you, you were thirteen and still losing baby teeth. Give me a day or two before I see you flirting with any boys that I'm sure will be unworthy of the joy you bring to their lives."

"Every male is here for Susan anyway. No one looks at me that way." Lucy denies.

"Trust me, a girl as pretty and kind as you, everyone is looking," I assure her with full sincerity.

"Sure, whatever you say Ash." Lucy brushes my comments off.

"I'm serious! I'm guessing they are intimidated by your beauty and power, not to mention two older King brothers. One day, Lu." I promise.

A man with a tray of delicious smelling food walked by. Lucy must have seen my eyes follow him as we were dancing, "When was the last time you ate something that you didn't have to hunt?"

"So long I began thinking that Edmund was a decent cook," I claimed to make Lucy laugh. We both know Edmund could not even boil water correctly.

She laughed, leaving the dance floor to get something to eat with me at the tables filled with food. A server offered me a drink which I kindly declined. After eating so much I felt I would be full forever, Lucy introduced me to the few people I had not met, which included Claudia of Archenland, the girl who I had now recovered from my lapse in magically control, and her brother. I felt the need to apologize to the incredibly sweet girl, but I think it would better it to go down as an unexplainable occurrence, instead of the White Witch's daughter losing control of her unmatched power.

Lucy then brought me back to the dance floor where we finished the night.

"One more dance, Ash." She begged.

"I am not used to the nightlife of the Queen, one more dance and I'm afraid I will pass out of exhaustion," I admit, dramatically.

"Fine, I will let you sleep." She agreed, "But I will see you in the morning for breakfast to hear all about your travels."

"Until then, Lu." I smiled. She let me go, the party had begun to disperse at this point, the night teasing us with the hope of sleep.

I looked for Edmund, finding him still taking to Allie off to the side of the dance floor. My eye next found Peter who stood to talk to Claudia of Archenland and an older man who I assumed was her father. I thankfully kept my powers in check this time, going up the stairs I had used to enter the ball.

To claim myself tired would be an understatement. The moment I got off into my room floor I threw all ladylike courtesies out the window. If I struggled with the clasps on my heels for a second longer I might have just cut them off. The idea of sleeping in a bed, a real bed for the first time in over two years excites me beyond belief. I heard footsteps outside my door and smiled as I fiddled with the earrings that seemed to be weighing down my head.

"Ed, when you have to tell your kids how their mother quite literally fell into your arms. Make sure you mention that their Auntie is your best friend ever." I commented, hearing him wallow in the doorway trying to think of a way to thank me.

"Auntie, huh?" A completely different voice spoke up.

"Peter!" I jumped, "I thought you were Edmund."

"Were you expecting him? I mean, you two seem close." Peter mentioned, playing with a ring on his index finger.

"It was a wild two years, we met so many new people, young, old, book smart, battle smart. It was nice to have Ben and Edmund as a constant. We fought for each other. That loyalty and trust isn't something that happens overnight." I said a bit more negative points than I intended. I told a breathe, noticing Peter sucked in the air as well. I came to my senses, changing the mood, "Believe it or not, I think Ben really needed a friend other than me."

I walked to my balcony, absorbing the views and personally needing to get out of the trapped feeling I left inside.

He stepped forward, joining me on the balcony and making the trapped feeling comes back, "Miles of Narnia land could be spread out in front of me but I could always spot a break in the clouds and I knew exactly where the group was." Peter told me.

"Clear skies helped them sleep at night," I told him, thinking of the soldiers. Something told me he was avoiding something.

"With all due respect," I started genuinely, "Peter, why are you here?"

"I wanted to apologize for everything I said the night before you left. I never should have said that to you. It was terrible and untrue." Peter admits.

"It's alright. It's long in the past, Peter, we were two different people back then." I tell him, holding a grudge is a waste of energy and there are far bigger things to worry about now. All is forgiven, that doesn't mean I'll forget. "Cair Paravel has certainly prospered since the last time I was here. No doubt thanks to you and the queens."

He smiled gratefully, "I hear your travels were equally as successful. Ed mentioned to me you found all of the children of Loxley."

A smile came to my face as I thought of the kids, "More or less, I had the pleasure of meeting all of them with the exception of one, a boy, Theo. Though we know he had an extremely closed adoption in Beruna. Every trail back to him was a dead end. Just knowing they all found a home is amazing." I smiled just thinking about them going up in a better place than where they started.

"That really is amazing, Ash," Peter said, wholeheartedly. Not even realizing the nickname that fell from his lips.

My mouth opened to speak but the commotion at the door stopped me

"Ashton!" Ed yells, busting in the room, "You are so lucky I... Peter? I'm sorry, did I interrupt anything? I can leave?"

"No, I was just on my way out." Peter answers politely, "It was good seeing you again, sleep well."

Likewise." I replied kindly as Peter took his exit.

"What was that about?" Ed instantly starts questioning me as soon as Peter walked out.

I brush it off, walking to my vanity to take out my earrings, "Don't worry about it."

"Oh come on." Ed begs, "He just spent the night with hundreds of women practically begging him to court her and at the end of the night he ends up in your bedroom."

"Oh Tash, don't say it like that." I cringed at the idea of anyone else repeating it like that, only starting the chambermaid's favorite new rumor.

"It's the truth." He states.

"We are not children anymore. He just apologized, like a mature adult. Don't twist the truth into some bad rumor." I told him, making him groan with disappointment as he plopped down on my bed with exhaustion.

"Don't fall asleep on my bed, because I will push you onto the floor," I comment, dead serious though. I have barely seen a bed in the past two years, I intend on sinking into my sheets for the next few hours in complete peace.

"Wait!" His head shot up as I was about to push him off, "You can not use your powers to push people into unwanted situations." I sighed, knowing what this was about. "Allie could have gotten hurt if I didn't catch her."

"But you did. No harm, no foul." I defend myself, not regretting a single bit. "I trusted you could manage that much on your own since I have to do everything else for you."

"You do not." He fights back.

"Do too."

"Do not."

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