Okay, #1 Disclaimer, I own none of Narnia and none of this knowledge of heraldry. I looked it up online, #2 it is 2:30, it took me two hours to look up this information and write it. #3 I know there might be some inaccuracies, but my beta is busy and will get busier with the other stories I have come up with, #4 I don't want to wait to put this up. #5 review the content and #6 email me character flaws if you see any, I am really winging it on this and don't want to screw up Edmund, this is my first time doing anything with him. So enjoy my first oneshot:
Edmund had just found the library, it had been a week since the coronation. He was wandering around searching for a book that he had not read, hoping to unwind after a long day. He had just about given up his search when he spotted a book on Heraldry. At first he couldn't figure out what it meant, until he looked at the cover and saw several coats of arms.
Smiling to himself he opened to the table of contents and found that the majority of the book was on the charge (symbols) of a coat of arms. Deciding to find what the Lion meant, he skimmed through, quickly realizing it was in alphabetical order. He stopped ever once in a while to read a particularly interesting charge, such as:
The Apple is often connected with such qualities as liberality, felicity, and peace. Many times found on a Rabbit's banner or perhaps a Squirrels.
A Baguette or gem ring is often a sign of Fidelity. Often used by dwarves, particularly red dwarves…
To display a Bear is to claim strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of one's kindred. Many admirable qualities of a bear's which they have graciously allowed to be used by others.
A Bow shows readiness for battle, rarely used in Narnia, but often found on an Archenland Coat of Arms.
To have a Cat is to have liberty, vigilance, forecast, and courage. Vary rarely used…
The Candle is the bringer of light, and is also connected with life and spirituality. Many use it in connection with Aslan…
A displayed Dragon shows that one is a valiant defender of treasure, or has valour and is protective. Most famous is the use of a Dragon by the Inhabitants of the Lone Island and those beyond…
A Fox is one who will use all that he/she may possess of wisdom and wit in his/her own defense, to use a fox in a coat of arms is more often than not associated with such evils as Jadis or perhaps with Calormen…
The charging Griffin is a symbol of valour and death-defying bravery, or vigilance. Many Nights of Narnia and Archenland used this symbol, but the overuse of it has caused certain limitations to be enacted due to an excess of hand to hand combats between Archenlanders and Narnians over positions of honor…
When one has Holly they have Truth. To misuse or abuse such symbol is to marked untrustworthy, it is common to not mix holly and fox's on a coat of arms, after the death of…
A Hunting Horn is a spirited one who is fond of the chase, or one of high pursuits. Despite being seen embroidered on one of Bacchus' wild girls clothing, it should not be confused with such symbols of revelry and drunkenness as…
Finally he found what the lion meant, "One with Dauntless courage, and one that is not intimidated by an enemy. Commonly used to represent Aslan..." Almost immediately his thoughts went to the Lion and his conversation with him before returning to his brother and sisters.
He was tempted to stop, but instead went on to see the colors. All the colors were listed on a single page. Gold was the first one, making it easy to find, it was "generosity and elevation of mind," soon after was red. When he looked at the definition for Red, one word stuck out to him, sacrifice. That one word he couldn't get out of his head, he looked at it and thought of two words, "generosity" and "sacrifice". They went together, "generous sacrifice", tears gathered in his eyes as his mind raced back to when he first heard of what Aslan did for him but a few days ago. He looked up, realizing for the first time that he stood before one of his banners, the lion standing before him.
He stood before that banner and wept, letting tears fall much more freely than he ever would have in England. He watched it, barely noticing the numbing pain in his legs after hours of watching. Finally, long after the tears had subsided, Edmund knelt before the banner, gently removing his crown and placed it on the floor before him, right at Aslan's feet. He drew his sword, holding it as a cross before himself and whispered to Aslan's image the same oath he spoke to him shortly after the coronation. Except this time his voice lacked all strength or courage, spoken less to Aslan as to remind himself of all he pledged, "King over all Kings, My Lord, the deed that you have done for me… I can never repay nor return to you, but I can give you my life to be lived for you as well as I can, in whatever service I may. I take this offered crown knowing I must live each day to earn it, for I do not deserve it. May I never forget what you have given me."
That night, much later than he should have, Edmund walked away, but that pledge stayed with him, and the knowledge he gained of the banner he claimed as his own. Each morning he came to do his daily work, he thought of what Aslan gave and what was asked of him. Every night he stumbled to bed after a hard day, he thought of what Aslan gave and what he did that day. During each battle fought before that banner, he thought of what Aslan gave and what he could give for every soldier fighting with him. From that day forward he never forgot what was given for him.
