The King's Quest
Summery: One year after they defeated the White Witch and became the Kings of Narnia, Peter sends his younger brother on a potentially dangerous quest to give him a chance to prove himself.
Author's notes: This is my first ever Narnia fanfiction. I haven't written much fanfiction in the last ten years. I started an NCIS one two years ago – but unfortunately never had the time to finish – so I took it down.
The other day, however, I decided to watch the latest movie adaption of Narnia (all three movies), and I've also read quite a few Narnia fics. I couldn't help coming up with this story (by the way, I have already completed it on my computer so that there's no danger that I will abandon it like I unfortunately did with the NCIS one).
About the story: I am afraid that this will mostly just feature Edmund, for he's always been my favourite Narnia character.
Since it's been up to twenty years since I read the books, I guess this story is mainly influenced by the movies and – thanks, guys, for the inspiration – other fanfiction I read.
Disclaimer: I just borrowed most of the characters mentioned in the following fiction ... It happened for the purpose of enterteining myself and everybody else who shall read this!
This chapter is being reposted after it was edited by the lovely Realismandromance (aka Susannah) who was so kind as to offer me (not being a native English speaker) her help with this. Thank you so much!
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It was a most beautiful morning at Cair Paravel – one of the warmest in that spring so far. The sun shone rather strongly – considering that it had still been snowing only a couple of weeks ago – and the pleasant sounds of birds singing filled the air.
Mixing up with the birds was the noise of metal clashing on metal, coming from the training grounds down in the castle courtyard. High King Peter the Magnificent of Narnia smiled to himself, squinting slightly against the blinding sunlight, as he watched the two dissimilar opponents sparring on the grass just below his feet. He had made himself comfortable on the stone wall that bounded the training grounds. On the wall's other side was the wide stone terrace, where he and his siblings liked to sit in the sun on the rare occasion when no duties had to be seen to. His feet were dangling at least ten feet above the ground. When standing on the terrace behind, though, the wall would only reach up to his hips.
"Do they have to use their actual swords for training?" said a familiar female voice next to him. "I thought you practised with wooden ones – at least for now."
"We used to," said Peter, trying to hold back a grin. He hadn't heard his sister approach. "However, Oreius seems to have decided that it was time to take the next step." He turned around to look at her. "Anyway, Su, it isn't as if we'd never fought with a proper blade before, as you may remember." He knew that Susan most certainly did remember. It had been only a year since they had defeated the White Witch.
"And it isn't as if either of you haven't been wounded before." She stepped closer to the wall, leaning forward on it, propped on her slender arms, fingers unconsciously clawing at the stones.
Peter watched her for a while. He noticed that with every clash of the swords down below, she winced slightly at the harsh sound.
"He's not bad, though," she admitted, finally. Just at that moment, their younger brother attacked his sparring partner, a young faun, again.
He was rather a bulky, muscular chap for a faun. Fauns in general were neither big nor broad in build, but in comparison Edmund was still small, and the Faun he was fighting at this moment seemed to dwarf him.
The faun, Alroy, was quick on his feet and strong. He easily parried every one of the young king's attacks and dealt a few of his own at his eleven-year-old human opponent – one of which was so close to hitting that it had Susan positively sweating just by looking at it.
He, too, Peter realised. "Careful there, Ed!" he found himself shouting, causing his younger brother to lose concentration for a second to look over.
It was one second too much. With a quick, long-practised movement, Alroy disarmed Edmund and forced him to the ground.
"Well done, Sire." He held out a hairy arm to pull the boy to his feet again. "You want revenge?"
"Of course," Edmund retorted, without needing time to think about it. He sounded a little out of breath, but Peter smirked, knowing Edmund wasn't ready to give in yet, and unable to hide the pride that he felt at how his little brother was developing.
"He's gaining confidence," he said to Susan.
"A little too much for my liking," replied his sister, the Gentle Queen. "And it's about the only thing he seems to be gaining." Her voice sounded thoroughly concerned as she continued. "I mean, shouldn't he be bigger by now?"
"Su, honestly – you worry too much! He's eleven, for Aslan's sakes!"
His sister wasn't intending to let it go. "You were bigger at eleven, I'm sure –" she pressed on.
"You had better not let him hear that –"
"But what with all this training for hours and hours – and every day, too – where's he to take the energy from to grow?"
Swinging his feet over the wall to face his sister properly, Peter shook his head. "Really, you're being ridiculous now, Su." He pushed a few strands of too-long hair from his slightly sweaty forehead and decided that now was as good a time as ever to confront Susan with his recently made plans for their younger brother. "Actually, Oreius and I talked the other day and we're both thinking it was time for Edmund to take on the King's Quest."
Susan paled. "You cannot be serious, Peter. After all, he is only eleven –"
"– and fully capable of holding his own in a fight, as you can see." He pointed at the two figures below, as they chased each other back and forth as if it was nothing more than a very peculiar dance.
But his sister didn't bother to look that way. Instead, she straightened herself up to her full height, arms crossed in front of her chest, and gave her big brother a stern look. "No."
"Sorry, Su, but –"
"I forbid it."
Peter stood up and copied her stance. "You're overruled here, Susan."
"But Peter, it's not possible. He'll never be able to –"
"It wasn't impossible for me last summer, was it?"
"Yes, but you're –"
"What?"
For lack of having a better argument, Susan settled for "older".
"Yeah, but what if I had been eleven? Would you have let me?"
"I dunno."
"Yeah, you do." He gripped her gently by the shoulders. "I know you would have let me. And I even know why."
Susan pouted at little. "So now you're reading my mind?"
"No, but I know a little bit about you."
"Do tell."
"Well ... let's put it this way ... as I am the eldest, I would be the first to make all experiences and I'm the one you measure yourself against. If I can do something at a certain age, you'll believe it is possible. But when it comes to either Edmund or Lucy, you would judge by the fact: if either I had done it before or if you yourself would have felt able at achieving it at their age –"
Peter paused and searched for his sister's eyes. She didn't object to his words, and so he went on, "– you must realise that everybody is their own person. Each of us can achieve something that another might not. Or, not at that age."
Susan knew already that she was fighting a losing battle, he was sure of that. But still he pressed on.
"You know, Su, these past months I have been thinking a lot, and I suppose it is time we gave Edmund the chance to achieve something that I haven't done before him. Something to set himself apart from me."
"But you also went on the King's Quest –"
"At thirteen, not at eleven."
"And why do you think it's necessary that Edmund does it now and doesn't wait until he's thirteen, too?"
"As I said, I've been thinking it through. Remember what happened a year ago – the witch and all?"
Susan paled visibly. "How could I forget?"
"Have you ever wondered what made Edmund make that bad decision, to ... join her forces?"
"He was just being himself – then." Susan bit her lip. It wasn't a nice thing to say, but it was the truth.
"Yeah, but what made him become that way?"
Susan shrugged. She probably had an idea of what reasons were behind their little brother's beastly behaviour a year ago. But she didn't say anything, leaving it to Peter to give his explanation.
"Here's my guess. It was in large parts because of me. The easiest explanation would be that he was trying to set himself apart from me. And chose the wrong way to do so."
"You're not to be held responsible for Edmund's behaviour, Peter."
"Well, to some extent, I think I was responsible. I mean, it was my job to protect all of you, but I forgot that didn't mean that I had to watch over every step you were taking. I admit, Edmund was the most difficult of all of you to look after, what with the risks he took – just think about that night, when the air-raids began! But still, I should have let him know – at least from time to time – that I trusted him to do the right thing. Instead, I watched his every move, and at the slightest mistake, I reprimanded him no end. We used to get along well – before Dad went away. Remember, Su?"
She did – he could see it from the look on her face.
"But with Dad away and all of you being my responsibility, I think I took my job of looking after you a little too seriously. However, I am prepared to make up for it now. In Edmund's case, that would be to let him know that I think him capable of mastering this challenge."
"But Peter, I really don't think it has to be this, does it?"
His hands, still on her shoulders, squeezed gently. "Be honest with yourself, Susan: If I were eleven, would you – as my little sister – have trusted me if I said I was ready to go?"
"I suppose I would have, yes."
"Then trust me when I'm telling you that Edmund is ready for it, too. Will you?"
"I'll try."
"You need to stop looking up at me while at the same time you're looking down on him."
Susan nodded. "Okay. I'll do my best." There was moment of silence, then she asked, "Does he know of your plans, yet?"
"No," said Peter.
He turned around to look across the wall again, just in time to see his brother duck away from a hearty strike that Alroy had directed at him. A second later, Edmund struck back so fast that, with a clever turn of his sword, he managed to disarm his bigger and stronger sparring partner. Pressing on, he forced his opponent to his knees and into surrender.
Peter grinned, clapping loudly and turning to Susan to wink at her. "He'll be fine."
X
"The King's Quest?" said Edmund, dark eyes shining with excitement, making Peter want to smile. But instead he put on a stern expression. The truth was that he wasn't nearly as confident about his decision as he had let on that morning, when he had been talking to Susan. Not because he didn't think his brother to be capable of the task, but he knew from his own experience that things did not always go as planned. What if Edmund came across any unexpected trouble? What if he was indeed too young to be prepared if he met such trouble? Peter would never forgive himself for sending Edmund into unexpected danger – and neither would Susan and Lucy. Or Aslan.
Aslan. Peter suppressed a sigh. The Great Lion would not let anything happen to Edmund, would He? He would tell Peter if He thought it too early. Or not tell, really, rather more like letting him know ... somehow.
They were sitting together in Peter's study: a small, yet cosy enough room in the castle's western wing. There was a narrow tapestry on the stone wall, all beautiful Narnian colours, which was pretty much the only bit of decoration – unless you counted the big wooden desk and the thick curtains that hung by the window. The late afternoon sun shone into the room, brightening it up.
"This is not meant to be for fun, Edmund," the High King lectured his brother gently. "It is meant for a king to prove himself worthy as a guardian for his people. You'll be travelling to Narnian borders in all directions and all by yourself. There you will have to find the Three Stones – which Oreius is already having set up as we speak. And you'll have to bring them back here."
"Yes, I know," Edmund huffed impatiently. He was already getting more excited by the minute. It was obvious that he found it difficult to still. Longingly, his eyes darted to the window time and time again, looking at the distant forest behind the window glass, as if he couldn't wait to get out there. "You've done it last summer and all the rules were explained to us. I know what I'll have to do."
"Good," said Peter. "Because you're to leave tomorrow. Get prepared."
"On my way," his brother replied, slipping out of his chair. He was almost through the door and out of the room when he turned back once more. "Pete?"
"Hmm?"
"Does Susan know I'll be going?"
The High King smirked. "Told her this morning."
"Really? She agreed? How did you convince her? After all, I suppose I would have gone at some point, but so soon – I'd never have guessed she'd let me –"
"I don't think that I have convinced her at all, really."
Edmund's eyebrows went up at this, questioningly. "But –"
"In fact, I think you did that, yourself, Ed."
"How?"
"We were watching you fight Alroy this morning. You did quite well. Susan had to admit that. The only thing she's not too happy with is your skill when it comes to archery."
Edmund pulled a face. Archery was not one of his favourite disciplines.
"However, that's to be expected," Peter continued, laughing at his brother's grimace. "No one's good at that from her point of view. Not an expert at it myself, I must admit. But Susan thinks it would be useful if you could hunt yourself a meal from time to time."
"Did you?" asked Edmund. "I mean, did you have to when you were out there?"
"To be honest, I didn't try hunting much. Do not worry, though, little brother, you won't starve –"
"Tell that to Susan, will you?"
"– Narnia is full of friendly creatures and Talking Beasts that are always ready to offer their hospitality to their king. Or any human being, or any other being in need of a hot meal and a warm place to sleep."
Edmund grinned. "You make it sound like it's nothing more than a walk in the park. Wonder why Susan made such a fuss of it when you were out there."
"Now, now." Putting on a serious expression, Peter folded his arms across his chest. "Be sure not to underestimate this. As I said, you will be travelling to the borders. And believe me - the closer to the borders you get, the fewer Talking Beast and other friendly creatures you'll meet. And I promise you that you will get hungry and exhausted and you will have moments when you think you can't go on – but you always must."
"Aslan shall be with me," mumbled Edmund.
"I shall hope so," agreed Peter. "But now – what are you waiting for? Preparations must be made. Off you go!" He practically shooed his brother out of the room, thinking it best to leave the preparations to be done by Edmund himself and – no doubt – by Susan, who would make sure he packed properly. Pushing away any last bit of doubt he had about this, Peter stretched out his legs underneath the desk and leaned back in his chair, trying to be as pleased with himself as he wanted everybody else to think he was.
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