A/N: This here would be a drabble fic I actually wrote a couple months ago, but I've been away for most of July so unable to post until now. There are fifty drabbles total (it was actually a complete accident that I reached that number - I certainly wasn't aiming for a particular amount) and so I'm posting this in 5 installments. Hope you enjoy!
Mirrored – Part One
one.
The sun rises in a flash of colour and sound, the air fresh from a midnight rain. The scents of the royal garden float tantalizingly through the windows of the Cair. Susan pauses on her way down to the sunroom (and Lucy's birthday brunch) to watch as the fauns begin pegging the great red tent in the castle grounds.
In the distance she can see curling grape vines and a dancing crowd and knows that Bacchus and Silenus draw near to celebrate the youngest queen's fifteenth birthday. There will be a romp tonight, and dancing and singing and laughing as long as the moon shines in the sky.
A satisfied smile rests on Susan's face as she leaves the window. It is so very pleasing when events go as planned.
two.
There is only one thing that could rouse Edmund from his bed at such an unearthly hour, and it is the combined threat of his two elder siblings' anger and his youngest sister's disappointment. This triple hit occurs rarely, for which Edmund is most thankful.
Unfortunately, today is one such occasion.
The promising smell of crisp bacon and warm pancakes lead him down through the halls. Edmund yawns and rubs at his eyes and attempts to pull off a kingly facade when passing others - "Morning people," Edmund thinks in disgust - but he still is not quite awake enough to see where his footsteps lead him.
There is a shout of alarm as Edmund turns the corner to collide with someone - a very dirty, very teary, very familiar someone, and then suddenly Lucy's arms are tight around his waist and she's sobbing and he isn't at all sure why he ever got out of bed.
three.
"I - I snuck out for a drink at the tavern," Lucy sobs, "I've done it before, I thought I'd be fine. But someone - someone must have followed me. I was hit from behind - there was no warning - and when I woke -" She breaks off then, overwhelmed. Edmund's arms tighten around her protectively.
Finally, the tears slow once again, and Lucy continues, "When I woke, I was in a - a dark room. I must have been there for ages before-" She stops again and Edmund waits impatiently.
"Before?" he prods when it seems she will not continue.
"Before I escaped," she finishes tightly, and Edmund knows there is much more to it than that, but he also knows Lucy is in no state to explain.
four.
Peter is listing off all the reasons he should not be frustrated with Edmund. Top of the list, and most easy to recall, is of course, Lucy's birthday. Unfortunately, that is the same reason - or at least, part of the reason - why Peter is frustrated in the first place.
But Aslan help him, he had warned Edmund not to be late. Peter had warned him, Susan had warned him, and even Lucy had very slyly managed to receive a promise from her brother. Edmund knew better than to annoy all three siblings at once.
To Peter's right Lucy is playing with her tea cup, not yet appearing too concerned. Peter forces himself to calm down. It could be his brother ran into an unavoidable delay on the way to the sun room, after all.
And then Edmund enters the room with his youngest sister and Peter rises to his feet so fast his chair topples to the ground behind him.
five.
There is one minute of absolute silence, broken only by the clatter of Peter's chair as it falls to the floor. No one can speak. Susan is staring at Peter who stares at Edmund who stares at Lucy who stares at Lucy. Lucy stares back at Lucy. Susan sees her sister (sisters?) and blanches. Edmund and Peter both at the same moment reach for their swords. Both Lucy-at-the-table and Lucy-in-the-doorway are shaking, lips moving silently, mouthing over and over, "Aslan, Aslan".
six.
The mist gathers slowly at first, much less noticeable than the ice that creeps its way up the windows. The cold, too, is easier to notice, freezing each person's breath the moment it passes through their lips. But as the fog begins to billow upwards in a high column, the Kings and Queens see it and stumble away.
The mist-column forms a shape, becoming a tall woman with slender waist and pointed face and long hair, and Edmund's breath is expelled in a large, white cloud.
"Jadis," Peter growls and steps forward, but the woman raises a hand.
"Not her," she says, and the voice is, indeed, different. "Just one of her many pupils. You may call me the Ice Witch."
seven.
"You are faced with a test," the mist-woman declares. "Before you stand two copies of the same girl. Each are identical in words and memories. One is the impostor; the other, your Valiant Queen. Choose wisely, my sovereigns."
With a shout, Peter leaps across the room, drawing his sword to slash at the woman. The mist swells at the disturbance and sinks to the floor. Peter is left panting and facing an empty wall.
The voice echoes about the room, cold and mocking, "Do you really believe it to be so simple, my king?"
eight.
One Lucy is pristine in her birthday gown with her golden hair in ringlets; the other's face is bruised beneath the smudges of dirt, her hair tangled and filthy, her dress ripped. Clean-Lucy stands white-faced at the table, holding on for support; dirty-Lucy sags against the doorframe, her cheeks ashen.
"Lucy," Susan begins, and in unison both girls chorus, "Yes?" They glance at each other in shock and quickly avert their eyes.
nine.
Edmund knows he cannot allow an impostor to wander the castle, not if the witch is in control. He also knows neither Peter nor Susan would ever give the order that is needed.
His heart is pounding in his ears, but he ignores it. Now is not a time for feelings; now is a time for protecting his family. Edmund coughs once to clear his throat and calls hoarsely, "Guards!"
They enter the room in an instant and tense at the sight that awaits them. Edmund closes his eyes to gather his strength and orders, "Lock them up."
The guards don't move, and he says it again, louder, "Lock them up!"
The identical girls look so very brave as they are ushered from the room, and he hates himself for doing what must be done.
ten.
Lucy has been to the dungeons before, but never as a prisoner. It is strange how menacing the cells are from the inside. She is trying not to think about what had happened, but it is hard when she stares across the hallway to the cell opposite and sees herself - a mirror copy in expression, looks, and posture... Lucy hastily uncrosses her ankles.
It is terribly frightening to think that she may be the impostor, unable to remember a single detail of her former life. Her hands look so familiar, but do they belong to her or someone else?
She glances up again at the other-Lucy, and sees that the girl has also uncrossed her ankles. A jolt of shock runs through her, and Lucy crosses hers again quickly.