The Two of Us

The Return Part 1

Alice and Edmund are in a carriage, on their way back to Cair Paravel. Alice has her hands in her lap, sitting up nervously. The fact that they were getting closer to Cair Paravel every second was crazy. Every now and then, Edmund would smile at her for comfort. She needed to know that everything was going to be fine.

The familiar silver gates were finally in sight. When the wheels of the carriage spun past the entrance, Alice felt her stomach churn. The feeling was far too familiar. It was like the day she first came to Cair Paravel. This time, however, there was no King Peter to greet her at the door.

There were a number of servants who took their baggage, offering them to take them to their rooms. None of the servants looked familiar at all. They could have been the same servants from when Alice was there, but they now looked far too different. They were much skinnier, much paler. Many of them looked like they were going to collapse any second.

"No, it's alright. We can carry our own bags. Please, just lead us to where we'll be staying." Edmund says. The servants didn't even recognize him. He was their King, once upon a time.

The servant bowed before turning to lead the way. They were obviously lead to two separate rooms. The room Alice was to stay in for the next few days was obviously much smaller than her room when she was the King's future wife. The servants unlocked the door, carefully placing her things into the trunk by the bed.

Closing the door, they left her to observe the room in silence. So many things have changed. She left her room, hoping too many things have not changed.

"Alice!"

She heard her name being called from across the hallway. It was Susan. She ran across the hallway to greet her best friend. It had been months since they had last seen each other. They hug for a long time before either of them say anything.

"Lucy wants to see you. She's in her room."

Susan takes Alice down the hallway, taking several turns. Alice has forgotten her way around the castle hallwaysㅡ it was almost like a maze. Finally, Susan stops at a particular door, slightly larger than the rest. She opens the door, revealing a well-decorated room.

Alice steps in, eyes settling on Lucy. Her hair has grown much longer, and she has grown much taller now. She almost looked old enough to marry. Without a word, the younger girl runs towards Alice, squeezing her tightly.

"Where have you been, Alice?!"

Most of the questions Lucy asked Alice were difficult to find an answer to. She couldn't be too honest.

"I miss you, Lucy." she whispered, fingers running through the younger girl's hair.

"Then why didn't you come back?"

"Lucy!" Susan stepped in. "Enough questions. Alice might feel exhausted from her journey. It took more than two days to get here."

Lucy slowly nodded, releasing Alice from her embrace. "Rest well, then."

Alice smiled warmly before leaving the room. Honestly, she didn't want to rest. She felt restless. Instead, she made her way towards the back garden. Perhaps now was a good time to make a visit to the Sanctuary.

She rode her horse for a couple of miles until she made it to the area. The leaves of the trees have grown crazily. The entrance seemed to have been untouched for months. She parts the opening, revealing the place she once found comforting.

The grass has been overgrown. Weeds were everywhere. The only thing left the same had been the lagoon. The water was still clean and crystal clear, but it didn't look like it was going to be like that forever. Slightly hurt and disappointed, Alice sat down slumped against a tree.

"You didn't even come back once, did you?"

She felt crazy, talking to herself. But it did help her feel much better letting out the things she wanted to say to Peter.

"I bet you didn't miss me at all."

The next second, she found herself sobbing.

"And it's all my fault."

The girl wept. She knew it was her fault that all things have changed. Had she stayed, her relationship with Peter may have just improved through time. She just wasn't patient enough. And because of her impatience, she had lost everything she once had in Cair Paravel. Not only her throne and alliance, but a man who loved her for real.

* * *

It was already late in the afternoon when Alice had returned to the castle. The hallways were filled with guests, all of them unfamiliar. She walked through, slightly bowing her head to everyone on the way. She found her way towards Edmund, who looked relieved to see her.

"Oh, Alice! There you are. I've been looking for you everywhere."

Alice smiled slightly. "Sorry. I was just wandering around for a while."

Edmund didn't question it. "Peter wants to see us."

Alice nodded, slightly hesitant. She couldn't argue. Walking beside Edmund, the two of them made their way towards Peter's throne room. The thought of meeting Peter and his future wife had made Alice feel nervous.

The doors opened slowly, revealing two figures across the other room. Alice and Edmund walked towards them at a moderate pace before bowing before them. Alice avoided any eye contact with Peter. Her eyes were fixed on the lady sitting beside him. Elizabeth, his future Queen.

She had fair hair, unlike Alice. There was an obvious difference in their appearance. Perhaps their personalities, too. Peter introduced the two guests to his fiancée, who just sat and smiled. Her smile was polite, although slightly forced. Anyone who didn't notice must have been stupid.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Edmund. And this is your future wife?"

Alice stiffened, not looking for Peter's response. "Actually, I'm just a friend of his. Alice, Queen of Valhalla."

The other royal clicked her tongue. "Right. I think I should have known that... Sorry."

Edmund obviously sensed that Alice didn't want to stay in the room for any longer, so tried cutting much of thr conversation short. After a while, the pair were finally allowed to leave the room.

Alice sighed heavily, walking ahead of Edmund. "I shouldn't have come here. I shouldn't have come back."

Luckily, there was really no one around to hear any part of the conversation. Edmund caught up quickly.

"And why is that? You said yourself that you were over Peter. What's bothering you now?"

"I don't know, Edmund." her voice almost broke into a cry. "I don't know. But whatever I'm feeling, it hurts and I hate it, okay? I want to leave right now. If I do stay, I doubt I'd enjoy the occasion anyway."

Edmund grabbed her wrist, stopping her from walking ahead. He tugged on her wrist slightly, forcing her to face him. "Listen to me, Alice. You don't know what you're doing. What you're doingㅡ you're running away. And this isn't the first time, either. Last time you ran away was when you returned to Valhalla." Edmund paused for effect. "And I'm sure you have regrets from that, even until now. You can't do this again, Alice. Trust me. You have to face it this time, somehow. You may regret leaving, but staying for the wedding won't hurt."

Alice cut him off, "It will hurt, Edmund. It'll kill me. And you know that!"

Her voice echoed through the hallway. She sighed, wishing she hadn't yelled. "Sorry, Edmund."

"No, it's okay." He messed up his hair for a bit, before looking at her again. "But you have to stay. You don't have to understand, but you have to trust me. If you leave now, what will that tell Peter? You told me you wanted to show him you were over him. Now is your only chance, Alice."

She was nodding, a forced smile forming on her face. She had to thank Edmund for giving her the talk she needed. She felt guilty for yelling at him. "You're right, Edmund. I'll... retire to my room early. I'll see you later."