✿ ( 𝐈𝐃𝐘𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐂 ) ✿
❝ ✧ * 𝖜𝖗𝖎𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖇𝖞: 𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗻𝗮 * ✧ ❞
ASTORIA couldn't get over the fact that she had actual Narnian blood running through her veins. Her parents died nobly, for the sake of Narnia and it's people.
Some part of her also wondered what would have happened if her parents lived on. And how did she even end up in London? Who transported her from Narnia to England?
Her whole life had been a fib. A complete and utter lie. Everything that she ever believed in and knew had essentially gone down the drain.
There were too many questions left unanswered. Maybe Aslan could answer them all. Lucy still believed that the great lion was still alive. But the tomb... Faith. Faith. Astoria had to believe that Aslan was still alive. For her sake. For the Pevensie's sake. And the Narnian's sake.
"The boys and their sword fighting. I could never understand it," Susan chuckled, diverting Astoria away from her pondering. "They are exceptionally good, but they have been at it for ages."
The two friends watched Caspian and Peter's training session as the two dueled and couldn't help but wishing to wield her own sword.
"I would love to try sword fighting," Astoria commented.
"Really?" Susan raised a brow. "Are bows and arrows, daggers, and combat not enough for you?"
Astoria shrugged. "Well, try something new right? The skill set itself could be particularly useful when in danger."
Susan thought about it for a couple of second before nodding her head in agreement. "You're right. I think that I will stick to my bow though. I love my arrows."
***
Caspian ended up winning the duel, and the two took a break huffing and sweating furiously from the intense sword fight he and Peter had.
Astoria trotted up time Caspian as he sat on a large stone, sweating profusely. "Hello there Caspian." She greeted. "Congrats on the duel."
"Hello, Astoria," He greeted back, "Thank you very much. Peter is quite the extraordinary swordsman."
"Speaking of swords... I would like you to teach me how to wield a sword. It will be good skill to have in my back pocket for the upcoming battle."
"Erm... sure. Why not?" Caspian mused.
He tossed Astoria a spare sword, and the two went over the details about sword-fighting, dueling, and the tips and tricks on how to wield it.
Eventually the two began the practical aspect of fighting, which Astoria was found to be quite talented at as well.
After practicing, Astoria and Caspian decided to have a proper and fair duel, and much to Astoria's dismay, she lost terribly.
"What a complete and utter waste of time sword-fighting is!" She yelled exasperated, as she threw the sword on the ground, landing with with a loud clang.
"You're just bad at it." Caspian chuckled.
Astoria rolled her eyes. "Just like you are at everything else."
***
The day of the invasion arrived, and everyone was clearly on edge, even though though they discussed their plan numerous times. Even Peter, which was surprising for Astoria seeing as he always seemed so confident.
Just as they were about to leave for the castle, Peter pulled Astoria to the side. "You aren't going." He said firmly.
"What?!" She asked.
"I said 'You aren't going'."
"Why?! I want to help! You guys need me! I am not going to stand here like a doll just for show, while you lot are going into danger!"
"That's exactly my point. We are going into danger. We might die. If we don't make it back," He paused and took a deep breath, "you are going to have to finish what we are starting."
Astoria's breath hitched at her throat, unable to speak.
"Please, Astoria."
"Okay..." she whispered. Peter wrapped her into a tight hug, and the two stood there for what seemed like years. "I'll go say goodbye to the others now. Good luck Peter. Bring Caspian back to the throne, and you better destroy that god awful uncle of his."
"Love you, Tori."
"Love you too, Peter."
Astoria broke away from the hug, and walked up to Susan. "Stay safe, Susan. Peter asked me not to go. You better shoot as many of those bastards as you can."
"Goodbye Astoria." Susan smiled lightly.
She walked up to Edmund and embraced the shorter boy into a tight hug as well. Although the two were never close, she still thought of him as a brother and loved him as much as Susan and Peter, nonetheless. "You better go kick some arse, little bro." She said as she ruffled his hair. When he said his goodbye, Astoria ran over to Caspian and engulfed him into a tight hug.
Caspian could not even describe how fast his heart was beating and the immense amount of butterflies zooming through his stomach as of the moment. He had grown to quite like the girl. The two spent a lot of their free time and training together, and they became quite close.
"Stay safe, Caspian."
"If I don't make it—"
Astoria interrupted him before he could speak any further, "Don't talk like that, Caspian! You are going to survive. You are going to get back your throne from that arsehole uncle of yours. And you're going to come back to me, right here, after everything is over, okay?"
Caspian took a deep breath before lightly smiling. "Of course, Astoria."
"Good luck, Caspian." She said, letting go of him. She then braved it and kissed his cheek, before timidly off towards Lucy and the other Narnians that were staying behind.
Peter and Susan were standing behind Caspian watching the scene unfold, smirking. "He's absolutely smitten." Peter whispered to Susan. "I hope I'm invited to their wedding."
"Let them do their thing, Peter!" Susan whisper-snapped, still smirking at Caspian's flushed face.
"Alright, let's get a move on!" Peter yelled at the army.
The army then left the How and disappeared into the forest as Lucy and Astoria watched, nervously.
"I hope they'll be okay." Lucy whispered.
Astoria engulfed her little sister-from-another-mother into a tight embrace. "Me too, Lucy." She paused, sucking in a sharp breath. "Me too."