Hello! And welcome to the first chapter of Marching On.
My last name doesn't even start with the letter 'L'. So I hope everyone knows that all original characters and story belong to C.S. Lewis, not me.
I hope you enjoy reading this updated version.
This Nor' Wind morning in Narnia was cold, the world brilliantly white from last night's massive snowfall. It was something I learned all too early that morning as Lucy bounced into my room, opening all of the curtains to let the blinding white shine in. At first, I thought it a terribly rude awakening, which made me grouchy, but when she told me that Susan and Peter were eating breakfast at that very moment; I appreciated her for helping me not be late for the day.
When we arrived in the private dining room, I saw both my older siblings glance at us as their movements paused in place for a split second. Susan smiled being the first one to have actually greeted me officially. "Good morning!"
I mumbled morning back as I slumped down into my chair, still not fully awake.
My brother saw my actions and commented with a smile. "Long night?"
"The wind kept me up," I explained.
"There's a spectacular amount of snow on the ground," my sister mentioned.
"And many drifts since there was apparently the wind last night," Peter added. I sighed as Susan passed me the bacon. It seemed to be unfair that I was the only one who'd had a hard time sleeping.
"Yes, Peter, wind. It whooshes through the cracks in the windows," I said sarcastically; I was not ready for my brother's humor this morning.
"Oh Peter just gives Edmund a few moments of silence to wake himself up," Susan suggested in my favor. I drank some of my tea, hoping it would help wake me.
I was slightly surprised that Peter listened to Susan's suggestion. It stayed quiet throughout almost the entire breakfast. By then I was awake for the day.
After breakfast, dear Lucy asked Peter and me to accompany her on a walk through the snow-frosted gardens. After a good bundling up in cloaks and boots and scarves, we ventured out into the wintery landscape. She wondered around, golden curls bouncing behind her, mesmerized by the beautiful transformation this snowfall worked on the gardens. The trees and bushes were covered entirely with the frozen white powder. The small pond was frozen enough to ice skate on later. Lucy kept walking slowly as she looked at the gardens. We followed closely behind her.
It was the first major snowfall that winter, and my feet sunk into the snow, making it harder to walk than in the beach's deep, beautiful sand.
Peter must have taken notice. "For being light on your feet in practice, you are certainly sinking into the snow."
"I'm on my toes when I fight," I excused myself as we continued to walk. After a few more steps, my entire left leg sunk into the deep snow.
"Would you like to get snowshoes?" Lucy asked as she turned around, coming to help me up.
"So much for cat-like steps," commented my brother.
I sighed, "No, I'm fine. I'll step a little lighter."
We continued without me falling into the snow. Then Lucy's mischievous stare came. I prayed she was not going to start a snowball fight.
Alas, I suppose all hopes are meant to be crushed, especially when Lucy and snow are concerned. One cold, snowy burst hit the side of my head. I threw one back at her, though I missed terribly. I could hear her laugh. Then, one giant hunk of snow hit my back. Peter had joined in the fight. We threw more and more at each other: fleeing, dodging them too. I ran over to a clearing where the snow drifted. I thought I could use the drift as a wall. When I tried to cross the drift, I soon found myself in it. I yelped in surprise as I noticed I wasn't on top in the snow—I was under it. For the barest of moments, I feared I was buried alive, but when I looked up, I could see the light blue winter sky.
"Ed?" I heard my brother call out.
"A little help!" I yelled in return. I didn't know how I was going to get out of this drift.
Peter must have hurried over because it wasn't long when I saw his face peek over the top of the drift. He looked around in surprise for a moment, and then suddenly, he fell flat on his face next to me.
"It's a little deep," I laughed.
"You're telling me this now?" He sighed in feigned irritation. I smiled in response before Peter groaned and began to dig himself out, leaving me behind in the powdery trap.
"Peter!" I exclaimed as I tried to move all the snow he left as Peter dug.
"You can get out yourself," he chuckled. I began to dig myself out; soon though we are both out of the snowdrift. Lucy stood watching in amusement as we both rose out of the drift covered in snow.
"I think we should go back. You both look like you need to get warm," my sister giggled.
"Sounds like a wonderful idea." Peter walked to one of the exits of the gardens and back to Cair with his arms tightly hugging himself. I returned with Lucy, who took more time to enjoy the landscape. As we walked through the doors, a reviving rush of heat escaped. Peter stood to wait for us with the snow already melting off his cloak. I tried my best to shake most of the snow off and stomp my boots on the ground so the keepers wouldn't have much of a mess.
"What should we do now?" I asked my brother.
He paused for a moment before answering me. "Get some hot chocolate. And find Susan."
"Susan said she was going to be in the library," added Lucy.
Peter and I nodded as we unfasten our snowy cloaks. I knew it was going to be a slow day. I had already finished everything that needed to be prepared for council tomorrow. There was not anything to be done since everything addressed at the last meeting was already settled. I do not know if Peter still had work to do; however, I know Susan would probably bring it up if it weren't finished. I didn't worry about whether the preparations that Peter was working on were finished in time. He had never come with unfinished work and so had I. We usually had a decent amount of time to complete everything needed.
After all three of us had tucked our cloaks and boots away, we made our way to Susan (stopping in the kitchen to obtain mugs of steaming chocolate). We entered the leather smelling library to see her sitting in front of us with a decently large book cracked open. I tried not to come into the library saying that the musty, damp smell was making me sick to my stomach. Peter didn't buy my excuse, though, and when he goes in there, I always see his anger and frustration melt away.
Lucy took a seat next to her scanning one of the pages Susan was reading. Susan turned the page and marked her place before she closed the book, hoping to find another time to read again. Lucy sighs in frustration; I assume it was because she was not able to find what Susan was reading about.
"It is a history of an Archenlander's first time on Lone Islands with King Gale. I'm almost done, and you can read next Lucy if you want," Susan said before she glanced at me. I sat down on the other end of the reading desk.
"Why is your hair soaked?" Susan asked me.
"We went outside and had a snowball fight," I replied.
"Edmund managed to get himself trapped in a snowdrift," added Peter with a laugh. He'll probably never let me live it down. Susan giggled herself, making me feel more embarrassed.
"You fell down in it as well," I tried to defend myself.
"But I dug myself out." Peter retorted with a grin.
"I assume quite a bit of snow fell last night?" Susan asked Lucy.
Lucy nodded. "And the Owls haven't come yet."
"They were likely caught in the storm. They'll come eventually," assured Susan; I nodded in support of Susan's answer.
"I believe many will be late for council tomorrow because they were caught in the storm as well," said Peter as he looked at the shelf of books.
"I thought everything was ready even if it's postponed?" asked Susan.
"I have everything finished. I don't know if Edmund does."
I nodded quickly, I finished last night.
"It won't be postponed long. Smokefeather is the only member unaccounted for, and when the Owls arrive I assume he will be with them," added Peter.
I sat there lost in thought after the conversation ended. Smokefeather and his family always came before Christmas, except for the first year I met them. They were late because the wind was so strong. Now it's Nor' Wind, and they have never been this late before. It made me wonder if it was something else was slowing them down. I hoped it wasn't serious. Oreius did not favor having to conduct affairs in snow, and neither did I. Winter is the time the Witch's loyalists are strongest, and they knew this season is a haunting one for the soldiers and me.
"Edmund?" I felt a tap on my shoulder. I jolted in surprise, only to see it was Peter.
"Care for a game of chess?" he asked. I looked at my sisters, who were reading a book together. I agreed, knowing there was not much else to do except wait for everyone to arrive for council. I thought both my brother and I hoped there was nothing terribly wrong which would prevent Smokefeather and his family from coming. We both didn't want such an event to happen, so I assumed Peter actually really wanted to play chess because he wanted to distract himself from his imagination.
I tried to add fuel to the competition "I have a feeling I'm going to win this one."
Peter turned to look at me, accepting my challenge. "We'll see. I have many more years of playing chess, Ed."
Of course, he would try to use my age against me. I hoped to prove him wrong that day.
And there's chapter one! Yay!
I would like to thank Tonzura123, AlwaysABrandNewDay, and Lady of Stromness Mountain for all their editing/beta-ing, nitpicking (I appreciate it), and answering my countless questions. Also I would like to thank .elysium for the motivation they gave me.
Quick thing for the confused reader: Nor'Wind is actually the month of January in Elecktrum's Narnia calendar. So I would like to give her credit for the work and I hope you don't mind me using it. I also want to credit Fierce Queen who has the months posted on her profile.
Last note! I think when I revised, and even wrote this chapter originally I threw grammar out the window. I was constantly changing the tense and it took a while to fix everything. This story is being written in past tense. So, if you see any grammar mistake (especially a tense switch-up) please let me know. It is appreciated.
Thanks for reading!