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P E T E R
We've found an area to set up a campfire and get some rest. After traveling through Glasswater, Lucy almost getting attacked by a rogue bear, getting lost in the Black woods and another incident with Lucy where she thought she saw Aslan, some sleep was much needed.
I'm drawn out of my slumber by the sound of twigs snapping. I opened my eyes slowly, squinting to shield them from the morning sun. Rising my head and glancing around, I mentally do a body count, only to find that we were one short. Lucy.
I exhaled sharply making sure to grab Rhindon before jumping to my feet, thus, commencing my search for my youngest sister.
Thankfully, it doesn't take long for me to spot the head of long brown hair that unmistakably belonged to Lucy. Unfortunately, she doesn't spot the minotaur looming before her and steps forward. Her lips curling into a smile.
"Aslan?"
I rush forward to grab her, slapping a hand over her mouth before she could make another sound.
Lucky for us, the minotaur continues forward, unbeknownst to our presence.
I bring a finger to my lips, signalling for Lucy to stay silent before drawing my sword and starting to creep forward- heel first, then toes- just as how Nerissa taught me.
Just as I was about to bring my sword down on the minotaur, a sword shoots out and collides with mine.
I stumble back, the sudden attack taking me by surprise. A boy, about my age with raven hair, wields the sword, meeting me blow for blow as we continued to exchange attacks.
Taking another swing I disarm him quickly before taking the opportunity to swing again, but the boy ducks and sword sinks into the trunk of the tree.
I try tugging on my sword, but it doesn't budge. Searching the area, I pick up a large rock intending to hit my attacker over the head when Lucy's voice stops me.
"No!"
I noticed that he had managed to free my sword, holding it over his head menacingly. It was only when I started looking around when I noticed that we were surrounded, by Narnians.
I look at the boy standing in front of me before the pieces click into place. Between what the dwarf- whose name we've learned is Trumpkin- had told us, it was all starting to make sense.
"Prince Caspian?" I guess.
"Yes, and who are you?" He asks.
Before I get the chance to reply, Susan's voice yells, "Peter!"
We turn to see Susan, Edmund, and Trumpkin run up to us with Lucy in tow. When he looks back at me, his eyes light up with realisation.
"High King Peter?"
I let out a sigh, standing down, "I believe you called."
"Well, yes, but I...I thought you'd be older." He says.
"Well, if you'd like, we could come back in a few years."
"No!" He exclaims "No, that's alright. You're just not exactly what I expected." He drifts off, eyes lingering on Susan for a minute too long. It's not until Edmund interjects that he looks away.
"Neither are you." My brother says, gazing intently at a minotaur.
"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes, my King." A badger says.
"We have anxiously awaited your return, my liege." A mouse steps forward and says before offering me a bow and I return a small bow, "Our hearts and swords are at your service."
"Oh my gosh, he's so cute." I hear Lucy whisper to Susan.
"Who said that?" The mouse demands, pointing his sword at the crowd in front of him.
"Sorry." Lucy apologies.
"Oh, your majesty." The mouse greets, "With the greatest respect, I do believe courageous, courteous, or chivalrous might more befit a knight of Narnia."
"Well, at least we know some of you can handle a blade." I snide.
"Yes, indeed. And I have recently put it to good use acquiring weapons for your army, sire." Reepicheep replies.
"Good," I say, "Because we're going to need every sword we can get."
Caspian clears his throat, "We have a camp set up. We can take you there. My sister is awaiting our return as we speak."
I nod not giving his statement a second thought, "Let's not keep her waiting, then."
*
We arrive at the entrance of Aslan's How, where centaurs stood on either side, raising their swords to welcome us back to Narnia.
The sight sends a shiver down my spine. It sure does bring back memories and I couldn't help but wonder how much better it would be if Nerissa were here with me.
We enter the tunnel, where it was dimly lit with torches along the wall.
"It may not be what you're used to," Caspian spoke, "But it is defensible."
Susan runs her hands over the paintings on the wall, carefully observing them.
"Peter, you may want to see this." She calls as she furrows her brows at the painting. We join her as she stares intently at the drawings on the wall. "It's us." She mutters.
"What is this place?" Lucy asks Caspian.
"You don't know?" He asks picks up a torch, before leading them down the dark tunnel ahead of them.
As they reached the end of the tunnel, he lights a fire. My eyes follow the end of the flame as it spreads around the perimeter of the room.
The flame seemed to have brought the place to life again, the carvings of Narnians and Aslan now visible on the walls and in the center of it all, stood the cracked stone table.
Lucy stalks over the stone table, gently placing a hand on it.
"He must know what he's doing." She mumbled.
IÂ nod, "I think it's up to us now."
Silence followed as all our eyes shifted to the caving of Aslan just behind the stone table.
Until Caspian breaks the silence, "We have rooms set-up too. I'll show you to them."
We follow behind him as he leads us down another hall, showing my sisters to their rooms first then me and Edmund.
"Your room is at the end of the hall," Caspian says to me and I nod.
He then takes his leave, leaving me alone in the hallway. Spinning on my heels and heading towards my appointed room.
"Peter?" My steps falter upon hearing that familiar voice. The very same one that I've yearned to hear ever since we left.
My heart soars with hope as I slowly turn on my heels and that's when I see her, just as beautiful as I remember. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly as if she had ran here. There's no missing the fact that she was younger, much like I was.
I take a moment to drink in the sight of her. Her auburn hair seems longer than before, lying an inch above her waist. Her amber eyes burning are as bright as ever, shining with a layer of tears that I wished I could kiss away. If it was up to me, she'll never cry again.
"Nerissa," Her name leaves my lips and my legs move as if they had a mind of their own, not stopping until I have her in bundled up in my arms.
I wrap my arms around her, holding her against my chest as close as I could get her. Her scent hits me as I bury my nose in her hair. She smells like the sweet scent of a mix of vanilla and lavender, just as I remember. Reminding me again that as surreal as this all feels, she's here, really here, in my arms, right where I should be.
Nerissa hugs me back twice as hard as if she's afraid I'll disappear as soon as she lets go. The feeling of her arms around me grounds me and I revel in the feeling of having her warmth seeping through my shirt.
"Where have you been?" She sniffles against my shoulder, "I've been waiting for you to come back for so long."
"I'm sorry," I press a kiss to the crown of her head, "I'm so sorry, my darling. I didn't mean to leave you like that. We were by the lamppost and we didn't know that the path that we went down was going to lead us back to our world. I'm so sorry."
I pull back, cupping her face in my hands, wiping away the tears that wetted her cheeks with my thumb. "I swear to you, my love. If I'd known I never would've gone. I could never leave you."
She squeezes her eyes shut, shaking her head as if she could hardly believe what was right in front of her. Well, so could I, Darling. So could I.
"I know you wouldn't." She musters a shaky smile and whispers as she rests her forehead against mine, "I've missed you."
"And I've missed you." I say, kissing her on the forehead, "So incredibly much. You have no idea how many times I've tried to come back."
Her eyes start to water again as they bore into mine, "I thought I'd never see you again." Her lips quiver, "I thought I'd lost you."
The way her voice cracks has my heart in pieces and I silently vow never to leave her again.
"Don't be silly, my darling." I mutter, leaning close until our lips brush, "You'll never lose me. No matter where I am, I'll always find my way back to you." I chuckle, "Have you seen yourself? I don't think I could stay away even if I tried." I joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.
A smile graces her lips as she lets out a laugh. Oh boy, did I miss that laugh.
I ran my knuckles across her cheeks which were flushed from crying before kissing her there. Next, I brushed my fingertips across the faded scar that marked her right eye and planted a kiss there as well, then on her nose, then her chin. I pause when I reach her lips, letting my lips hover over hers.
My eyes roam over her face one last time as if I would forget what she looked like if I didn't stare hard enough. I let out a chuckle. As if I could ever. Nerissa owned every part of me; my body, my mind, my soul, and most importantly, my heart.
"What?" She asks, scrunching her nose at me and I can't help but plant a kiss on the tip it.
I shake my head, "Words cannot express how much I love you, my Darling."
She smiles against my lips, "I love you, too."
I smile back down at her as I lower my lips to hers, leaving just the barest of kisses on both corners, before finally claiming her lips. They were as soft as I remembered and they taste just as I remember. This...This was my home, she's my home.