"What did you say your name was again?" Peter asked with a slight narrow of his eyes.
"Hero," she replied with her chin up high as she looked him straight in the eyes.
"Hero? But. . .you're a girl - "
"Dear Aslan," she rolled her eyes, turning on...
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xiii. SUPERMARKET FLOWERS I took the supermarket flowers from the windowsill Threw the day-old tea from the cup Packed up the photo album Matthew had made Memories of a life that's been loved
IT'S BEEN A DAY AFTER THE WAR. Hero hasn't seen Peter all day, so she's been playing around with Edmund. The Pevensie had wanted to play some pranks, while Hero had wanted to do her sword fight routines. Edmund had called her boring, so she's taken up the challenge on joining him on playing some pranks. Earlier this morning, the Narnians entered the castle on horse along with Hero and Caspian. The former sat alongside Peter per his request and he would cheekily sneak kiss on her cheek whenever she wasn't looking.
The sun would be setting in a few hours from now, and Hero and Edmund had come from running away from a very furious Narnian they had pranked. Hero breathed heavily, a large smile on her face as she and Edmund laughed.
"I've got to admit, this is definitely more exciting than sword fighting." Hero raised her hands in fake defeat.
Edmund jumped his eyebrows jokingly. "Told you so, Herlissa."
She playfully glared at him as her eyes caught a familiar boy walking from a distance. "Hey, I'll be back," she told Edmund who waved her off before sprinting over to Caspian and sneaking up to him from behind. Without warning, she jumped on his back and threw her arms around his neck as she screamed into his ear.
Caspian swore as he jolted in surprise before quickly holding onto her to support her. He rolled his eyes upon seeing Hero before helping her down to her feet. He slung an arm across her shoulders and pulled her with him. "I should've known it was you. Where've you been all day?"
Hero laughed and walked with him, hooking an arm around his waist. "Playing with Edmund."
Caspian snorted, his lips pulling up to a grin and showing off his dimples. "No wonder you've gone mischievous on me."
Hero huffed. "Oh, please. I'm always mischievous on you."
The pair continued to talk as they walked down the steps at the courtyard and saw Aslan talking to Peter and Susan. Hero's large smile faltered upon seeing the Pevensie girl's tear stained face. Hero tilted her head slightly to the side in confusion before her eyes drifted to Peter and her heart stopped as she took in the devastated look on his face.
She shared a glance with Caspian as they approached the lion and the High King and Queen. Caspian cleared his throat and said, "We are ready. Everyone has assembled."
Aslan gave him a nod and a gesture for Peter and Susan to go ahead with them. Hero waited for Peter to reach her, but just as he took her hand in his, Aslan called for Hero.
"I'll meet you there," she told Peter with a grin, about to walk over to the Great Cat, but was stopped by Peter who gripped her wrist tighter. She turned to him and saw the same devastated look from earlier. "Hey, don't worry, I won't be going anywhere. I'll be right back, okay?"
Peter searched her eyes, the blue painfully bright, as he sighed and slowly let go of her hand. He watched the oblivious girl skip over to Aslan with a large smile as he whispered under his breath. "That's the point. I won't be back."
"Pete, you coming?" Caspian asked as the blonde nodded in response. With a heavy, broken heart, Peter followed after Caspian and his sister.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" Hero smiled at the lion, walking alongside him as she basked in the warm feeling of the sun hitting her skin.
"Herlissa, do you remember your sword?"
She nodded. "Yeah, I got it when I was ten I think? Well, at least I think I looked ten."
Aslan nodded. "I gave that to you as a present."
"I knew it!" Hero laughed. "I knew it, but no one believed me."
"It is that belief that has made you worthy of my present—your sword." Aslan paused and turned to her. "Now, I must ask. Do you have any memory of your years as a child?"
Hero hesitated before shaking her head. "No, I don't. I can't remember anything."
Aslan smiled gently at her. "That's because you came into this world through a path that was magical."
Hero's eyes widened. "You mean like the Pevensies? Peter told me he came to Narnia through a wardrobe. Some place called Spare Oom."
Aslan's chuckle rumbled the earth. "Spare room, child."
Hero flushed. "Oops?"
"Your mother was a war veteran in the world where the Kings and Queens of the Old come from. Where you come from. She has been in service since she was in her teenage years. She was a stubborn girl, that one. She met your father in the lands of war and they fell in love. You came along afterwards, but their Commander didn't take a liking to children. So, she had to send you away. Your mother heard of a land deep past the dark forest—a land that was safe for you. She went through it, unknowing that it was a hidden path to Narnia."
Hero didn't even realize that she had fallen against the wall to brace herself as she hung onto every word Aslan was saying. She savored every detail he told her about her mother. In her opinion, her mother sounded bloody brilliant and badass.
"As soon as she entered Narnia, she was surrounded by a pack of wolves. There was nothing she could do to save herself. The trees saved you, for it was not your time to leave yet. Your mother, however, stood her ground and fought them with a branch. She died a hero. A warrior." Aslan let out a grieved sigh. "She was strong just like you."
Hero swallowed roughly as she spoke quietly. "Why are you telling me this?"
Aslan gave her a look, one that she couldn't decipher. "For a reason you will soon find out. But now is not the moment. All in good time, child." He turned to head back to the direction Peter, Susan, and Caspian left. "Now come, we must head to the assembly."
Hero had a terrible feeling gnawing inside her, but with an obedient nod, she followed after Aslan.
A/N
Hey guys! I know this chapter is super short, but I needed a chapter solely about Hero's past and where she came from. And there's a reason why Aslan decided to tell her that she came from the world the Pevensies are from. Her mother is cool af. It runs in the blood.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter because there're three chapters left!! Any guesses on how the next chapter goes?
Don't forget to fan, vote, and comment your thoughts!
