Romeo || Edmund Pevensie

There Is A Happy Land

There had never been a sleepless night such as this in all of the years that Aramis had lived. The Berunian hills had slowly become covered by soldiers, like a blanket of metal and flesh, and yet, it was hardly midday. This has been decided king before now, and there was no where else that could ever fill this place.

     The prospect of battle had played upon Aramis' mind more often than not. His thoughts were not a stranger to battle tactics, but there was where they had to stay. He was unable to fight, as was the disposition of a spirit. Of course, he had known about this for some time. Although, he would not have realised his attachment to the Pevensie's would be so strong, which did complicate his decisions.

     It was frightening to see so many lives up for taking. Though they did not know what Jadis had planned, they could be sure it was brutal. Some of them were going to die, that was the truth. That was why Aramis could not stay.

     He had joined them that morning, as the sun rose, making sure each and every person was in their place. Whilst he was there, nothing would go wrong. He would not let it. It was also where he would say goodbye, as for many of them, it would be the last.

     Susan and Lucy had not joined them by the battlefield, and despite knowing where they would be, it was somewhere in the back of his mind. Instead, Peter and Edmund were the ones who mattered. They were in front of him, concrete and real.

     "It has been an honour to serve." Aramis bowed his head, Peter following suite in the customary way. "If you will allow me?"

  "Of course." The eldest replied. During his few days in camp, the young king had become aware of the importance of spiritual customs. To deny one, harmed their soul so greatly it was difficult to recover.

     Gently, Aramis took Peter's bowed head in his hands, and kissed his forehead. Then, just as softly, he did the same with Edmund.

     "Won't you be there?" Edmund questioned, fright filling his voice. His time in Narnia had been cruel, and when reunited, Aramis had been close. Perhaps that was wrong.

  "I am afraid I am not allowed to fight, my King..." He regretted the choice, but would never challenge it. "It goes against all that I am."

  "Will you find us, when you come back?"

  "Of course I will." The star patted down the rogue hairs upon his head. It was a sign of courtesy more than anything else. "Now, I will see your sisters. They must be lonely too."

  "Thank you." Peter nodded.

  "No, thank you, my king." Aramis would not accept the gratitude, as they should have known by now. "You are fighting for us, and our world. Thank you both."

The journey to the stone table was not as long as one might have thought. Aramis knew the land like the back of his hand, and everything he did was with the upmost confidence. When he arrived there, he saw the girls sleeping beside the body of the most majestic lion to have ever lived.

Aslan had been roughly shaven, and stripped of status. Yet, in death, contentment seemed to find him, which made it all slightly easier to witness. Aramis was glad to not have been there during their so-called 'ceremony'. The girls were brave to have attempted it.

As softly as he could manage, Aramis awoke them. They could not sleep forever, as tempting the offer might have been. Lucy hugged him tightly, to which, it was reciprocated. She was only young, and shouldn't have seen them that way. If it was down to him, then she would have been sheltered from death her whole life. He was too late on that front, but could at least offer her comfort when she needed it.