Disclaimer: Narnia and its characters are not mine. No infringement intended upon the property of C.S. Lewis, Disney, Walden Media, or anyone else involved.
Author's Note: All mistakes are that of the author. Thank you to all who reviewed.
Summary: A cunning new foe emerges, endangering Narnia and the Pevensie siblings. When Peter is targeted, the Kings and Queens seek to unlock the mystery of the threat in time to save what is precious.
—oo0O0oo—
Smoke and Mirrors, Chapter 2
"Peter, help us! Please." Trying to reach them in the darkness was impossible. Peter's limbs were leaden, and the gloom around him seemed a viscous hindrance.
"Peter!" The cries became more frantic as they faded away. Struggling against invisible bonds, Peter couldn't get to them.
"Peter!"
Peter sat up suddenly, only to have pain shoot through his body. Gasping, he realized someone had a grip on his upper arms. Confused as to why he was hurt and terrified that he couldn't help those that called to him, he fought.
"Peter, calm down! It's me, Edmund. Please!" Peter focused on the face of his brother, shadowed in the flickering light of a dying fire. Realizing he was at home, Peter stilled and wrapped his arms around a burning midsection. Memory flooded his mind; a half-groan escaped his lips.
"Easy, Peter. You were dreaming and wouldn't wake up. Here." Edmund had one arm around his brother and the other holding a cup. "It's only water, you don't need to make a face like a child."
Finishing the water and pulling at the sweat-stuck nightshirt, Peter looked at Edmund. "Why are you here?"
"Watching over you, in case you do something daft." Edmund grinned in the face of his older brother's glare.
It was still dark outside, although dawn couldn't be far off. "Has there been any news?"
Edmund shook his head. "Nothing more interesting than the lack of news I told you about at supper. I fear that the morning's council will be more of the same."
The brothers were quiet for a minute. "What were you dreaming about?"
"I don't know." Edmund started to protest, but Peter went on, "Really, I can't remember. Fragments of a dream; I just can't get to wherever I'm supposed to be."
"You shouldn't have dreamt after taking the healer's sleep draught," Edmund commented.
"Maybe it wore off," Peter suggested. Edmund frowned but didn't press the subject.
"You scared the life out of me yesterday," Edmund said, as though he was remarking on the weather. It occurred to Peter this was the first time he'd be alone with his brother since the attack.
"It wasn't my idea of a wonderful morning, either," Peter said by way of apology.
"Oreius and Sammesun have set security for all of us," Edmund offered. Sammesun was the faun in charge of defenses of Cair Paraval and the royal family. Peter's jaw tightened at the news; he hated the forced protection, but nodded in acquiescence. Silence.
"I'm ok, Ed, really."
"I know."
Peter put an arm around Edmund and pulled the younger boy toward his uninjured side. For a second, Ed resisted then accepted the comfort his brother was offering. The stayed that way for a long while as the sky grew grey with false dawn.
—oo0O0oo—
In the silence of the Lesser Audience Hall, Peter drew a breath, then stifled a wince as it pulled on healing wounds. One heartbeat went by, then another, and suddenly everyone was talking at once.
Susan rose and spoke with a castle attendant; she would see that their guest was provided for, Peter thought. Lucy was already listening to birds enlisted to help with communications throughout Narnia. Edmund was engaged in verbal sparring with some of the more outspoken members of the council.
Peter considered the report from the disheveled badger he had just received: an attack on a northern military outpost. Details were sketchy, something the badger was repeatedly apologetic for, but preliminary reports indicated heavy casualties, including the families of those who were assigned to that post. Catching Oreius's eye, Peter nodded.
Centuars are good for a great many things, not the least of which is getting attention, Peter thought as the conversations came to a spluttering end in the wake of a thundering of Oreius's hooves.
"Lucy, what have our winged friends told you?" Peter asked as Susan returned to her seat.
"Mainly they confirm the Badger's report; they indicate a well-armed force struck just as the birds began their morning song. Beyond that, there are some conflicting stories. Most of the birds scattered in the confusion, and all from the area are terribly frightened."
That is the trouble with birds, Peter thought, all flights of fancy. Judging from the look on Edmund's face, he was having similar thoughts.
"We will send a force to investigate what we can. This may be related to yesterday's incident; since the tracking force has been unsuccessful, we cannot yet know what we are dealing with." Peter's voice dropped as he directed the last at the hothead pair Edmund had been dealing with. The mountain goats looked back unabashed.
"Your Majesty, your trial from yesterday no doubt weighs heavily on your mind, as they do on all Narnians, but I must remind you we have had these incidents before. We should not react with undue force," the smiling fox, Rotarit, voiced his opinion smoothly.
Lucy does not like him, Peter thought, watching his youngest sister's shoulders tighten almost unnoticeably. I wonder if she realizes she doesn't like him.
"Nor should we fail to take this threat seriously," Edmund spoke up, arms crossed. "We have destroyed renegade groups before; not all who were sympathetic to the Witch were defeated during the Battle of Beruna. It is imperative we deal with this immediately and effectively. I fear diplomatic dances will have little effect here."
Cautious nods from around the room showed most in favor of Edmund. Rotarit smiled again. "Of course, King Edmund, I would hate for more to be injured in what could be perceived as…youthful enthusiasm. It is always the concern of the old creatures."
And then more nods. Half the council is still in the habit of agreeing, Peter thought. It is, after all, what got them through the 100 Year Winter.
"No one is suggesting a thoughtless reaction, Rotarit," Susan's sweet smile turned all to her. "A calculated, trained forced to investigate is precisely what we need. Information, ladies and gentlemen, is sorely needed. We cannot respond to threat without knowing what that threat is."
Bless Susan and her common sense; the fact that she uses her gentle demeanor to hide the core of steel doesn't hurt us either. Peter sought Edmund's eye, silently communicating his plans. A nod from his brother confirmed that he had come to the same conclusion.
Rising, Peter drew the attention of the council. "We shall send a unit to investigate the attack. The unit will be lead by King Edmund; he will detail which squadrons will form the unit. Diplomatic dance or battle blades, King Edmund has Narnia's utmost faith."
—oo0O0oo—
"They would make an eight hour affair of spilt milk." Edmund flung open the door to Peter's study.
An hour after the decision, Edmund was dressed in Narnian colors, slapping gloves into the palm of his hand, a gesture of pure frustration. Leaning back in his chair, Peter surveyed his little brother.
"You have what you need?"
"Yes. We're prepared and assembled."
"Do I need to tell you to be careful?"
Edmund flashed a cheeky grin. "Course not, milord High King, I'm the picture of restraint and caution."
Peter snorted and came around the desk. "I'll see you and your unit off; if nothing else I can prove I'm not about to fall over dead." Edmund raised an eyebrow, his expression speaking volumes about the health of his elder brother.
"As you wish, o Magnificent One."
Peter smacked Edmund upside the head.
As the unit disappeared, a light cloud of dust behind them, Peter tried to ignore the feeling that now his brother really was out of his reach, darkness or no.
—oo0O0oo—
A scream rocked the pristine halls of Cair Paravel.
Peter entered his sister Lucy's sitting room to find the younger girl in Susan's arms. Two guards were already searching the room for hidden dangers. Sheathing Rhindon, Peter walked over to the girls, trying to calm his racing heart.
"Lu, what's the matter?" A guard, returning from the sleeping chambers, shook his head slightly, indicating nothing amiss. Peter motioned for them to resume their posts.
Lucy swallowed audibly, then pointed to a parcel that had dropped to the floor. Peter picked up the torn paper; out dropped a rabbit's foot, stained red with blood. From inside the package, Peter pulled a note: For Luck, Lucy the Valiant. The words had been written in blood.
Roughly, Peter shoved the 'gift' back into the wrapping. Anger made his grey eyes storm; making his way to the door, he issued orders to the guards who hastened to do their King's bidding.
"Lucy, did someone bring you the package to you or was it here when you got back from luncheon?" Lucy straightened at the question, getting herself under control.
"It was here when I came back; I didn't think anything of it. Mr. Tumnus often sends me packages—it's almost a game."
"Was anything out of place when you got back?"
Lucy shook her head. Sammesun arrived then and was brought up to speed. Taking over the investigation, he removed the offending article, ordered the room to be examined again, and sent off a number of inquiries for palace staff. That taken care of, Peter was free to see to his sisters.
"I'm alright, Peter. Susan, if I have any more tea I'll positively float away." Curled up the armchair in Susan's room, Lucy looked far more herself. Mr. Tumnus had just arrived, and Peter and Susan were needed elsewhere.
Dropping a kiss on her forehead, Peter reluctantly made his way to the door. Just as he turned the corner, he caught a glimpse of Lucy, blood on her hands, holding them out entreatingly. Blinking, he looked again, Lucy still in the chair with Mr. Tumnus offering to play on his pipes. Shaking his head, Peter continued down the hall hoping someone would have answers.
—oo0O0oo—
"Peter?" Susan peeked into the room. "Edmund is on his way back."
Peter pulled himself from the map he had been studying, gingerly stretching. "That didn't take long. Was anything sent with the messenger?"
Susan shook her head as she slipped her arm through her brother's. Waiting on the steps of Cair Paravel, the siblings could see Edmund at the head of a group of Narnians. Terrified, Peter saw blood on Edmund's tunic and a hasty bandage around his head as Philip came to halt.
"—you're alright!" Lucy's words forced Peter's attention to his youngest sibling. Looking at the brother she now embraced, Peter saw no traces of blood or bandage, just the grime from the road and lines of worried exhaustion. Swiping at he eyes, he went to offer a hand Edmund.
"I have news," Edmund stated without preamble. "I need the council assembled."
Walking to the Council Chamber, Edmund let out an annoyed noise. "Pete, stop looking at me like that; I'm fine. Hungry, but fine."
Chastened, the High King busied himself with preparations to the council, but not without sneaking looks at his younger brother. It seems I have a much too active imagination lately, Peter reasoned with himself.
With the Council assembled, Edmund gave his account of the destruction of the northern outpost.
"Trained fighters, as we suspected. Disciplined troops and efficient kills. It appears they took the scouts down undetected and infiltrated the fort," Edmund's voice was devoid of emotion, the tautness of his voice the only indication of his feelings. "Most of our people were caught unaware in the night, and the emergency escapes had all been compromised. Our people were never able to launch a coordinated counter attack, nor were they able to retreat through the standard escape paths. There are 6 survivors, all injured; the rest of the posting was killed."
Pausing to take a drink, Edmund continued, "I have concluded this is connected to the attempt on the High King's life." Mummers spread through the room. Edmund held up a hand for silence. "On a wall in the common area, written in the blood of its defenders, was a threat to the Kings and Queens of Narnia, promising more bloodshed if the Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve continued to sit upon thrones."
"Taken in conjunction with the assassination attempt and the threat Queen Lucy received—"
"What threat?" Edmund's voice cut off Sammesun.
Sammesun explained the earlier events and concluded, "Two is coincidence, three points to conspiracy. I am of the mind that we have a new, serious security threat. We will immediately place the utmost safeguards on our Kings and Queens."
"With your permission, Your Majesties, I will send squadrons to look for renegades." Oreius's displeasure with the turn of events was clear. Edmund and Peter both nodded; Oreius had handled similar hunts before with a brutal efficacy.
Edmund looked to Peter to conclude the meeting with the normal flurry of delegations, but found the eldest sibling strangely preoccupied. Unnerved by his brother's odd behavior, Edmund stood and dismissed the Council before hauling his brother out of the room.
"Ed, what are you doing?" Peter asked as they entered a private sitting room.
"What am I doing? What were you doing? Were you even paying attention in there?" The stress of Edmund's day was making him short tempered.
"Yes, Edmund, I heard what you and the others said. You handled the council effectively; there was no reason for me step in." Which sounded so unlike Peter, Edmund gaped at his brother.
Peter avoided his brother's eyes; in truth he felt like he was loosing his mind. He was continually second guessing himself throughout the council; worse he thought he saw palace attendants on the floor, bleeding from slashed throats. Collapsing into the padded chair, he pacified Edmund, "I think I'm still a little rattled from yesterday. And, Aslan, do those marks sting."
Hearing his brother admit he was in pain cut through Edmund's frustration. Sighing, "Why don't we get some supper? Everyone's already doing what is needed. Did you have any luck with the reports from the last weeks?"
"No, but I want you too look at them." Peter started toward the door. "I feel like there should be a pattern to them, but I can't find it."
"Peter," Edmund put his hand on the door to prevent Peter from opening it. "No one who did not know the layout of the northern fort could have collapsed all the emergency escapes; they were made by badgers and beavers and all manner of creatures. Even I couldn't remember them all without help."
Dark eyes met grey ones as the Kings of Narnia contemplated the implications of such a statement. With a nod of acknowledgement, Peter pulled open the door and they exited the room.
—oo0O0oo—
"Really, Your Majesty, this is for the best," Sammesun reasoned. Peter resisted tapping his foot in irritation.
"I am not sleeping in a different room, no matter how secure you claim it to be."
"King Peter, the interior rooms are there for a reason. No windows mean one less way for an assailant to breach the security, and safeguarding the throne is the responsible course of action."
Peter narrowed his eyes at Sammesun's words, suspecting correctly the faun had chosen them to maneuver the king. "Queens Lucy and Susan are going to move; there is no reason for me to move as well."
Sammesun drew a large breath, but whatever else he intended to say was interrupted by Edmund darting up the stairs.
"Ah, Sammesun, I see you found him. Now Pet—"
"Your Majesties, Mr. Sammesun," A breathless cheetah sketched a hasty bow. "Come quickly, Queen Susan…"
"Where?"
"Her quarters, King Edmund."
The brothers raced off, Sammesun close on their heels.
The scene in Susan's room eerily resembled that of Lucy's from earlier. Susan stood in the middle of room, calmly speaking to a guard. Only those that knew her well would have detected the undercurrent of anger in her voice.
"Peter, Edmund. Ah, and Mr. Sammesun, just the faun for the job." Queen Susan was clearly in control. "I believe I have another piece of the puzzle." With a gesture, she indicated a tray with evening tea.
"I did not see who brought it, and neither did my lady's maid."
At first glance, there appeared to be nothing wrong, but then a drop of something red fell from the petals of an artfully arranged single rose in a bud vase. Blood, Peter thought nauseated. The rose petals have been coated with blood.
"It is blood," Sammesun confirmed what they already knew. "No note this time, however."
Susan reached toward the flower. "There doesn't have to be, I believe the point was made."
Peter watched his sister, then started in surprise when she turned her hand to him, thorns imbedded in her palm, rivulets of blood running down to the sleeves of her gown. He took a step toward her and grasped her wrist, pulling her away from the flower.
"Peter!" Susan exclaimed. "I wasn't going to touch it, honestly."
Peter looked down at his sister's unblemished hand. Releasing it as though her skin burned him, he retreated hastily into Edmund. "Peter, watch where you are going." Edmund's hands went around his brother in an attempt to steady them both. The contact on Peter's wounds centered him, and he became aware of the eyes on him.
"Sorry, Ed. Susan, shall we join Lucy in the rooms Sammesun has prepared for you? I'm sure Sammesun can handle things from here." Words tumbled out of Peter's mouth, in an attempt to hide his discomfort. Without waiting for an answer, the High King steered his sister out of the room.
"Susan! They wouldn't let me leave." Lucy's indignation was clear as the entered the windowless, interior room. "Are you alright?"
"Fine, Lucy, I'm fine. I'm not sure about Peter, though," Susan said, rounding on her older brother. Peter was methodically going through the room, looking for anything that might endanger his sisters.
"They've already been over this room," Lucy told him. Not giving any appearance he'd heard her, Peter finished his search and turned to face a confused Lucy and a resolved Susan.
"Peter, really, have a seat and some tea." Susan motioned toward a chair. Peter jerked his head once and started to pace, trying not to look at anyone. Looking at one of his sisters for too long resulted in a bizarre double image of bleeding hands held out to him and ghastly, pleading faces. I'm going insane, he thought.
"Edmund, reason with him," Susan greeted the younger king as he came into the room.
Without responding, Edmund hooked an arm around his brother, ignoring the faint grunt of pain, and unceremoniously pushed him into a chair. With his free hand he poured wine from a flask into a goblet and thrust it in Peter's direction. "Drink."
Perhaps surprised into submission, Peter did as he was told. Lucy wrinkled her nose; she didn't like spirits and much preferred the sweet fruit juice of Narnia. Susan shot Edmund a look as if to say that was not the preferred solution to the problem. He shrugged and went back to watching his brother.
"I already told Sammesun we will all be sleeping here tonight."
Peter looked at Edmund from the corner of his eye; he couldn't think of a logical protest.
"You're being very bossy," Peter replied finally, twisting the now empty goblet in his hand. The wine had relaxed him enough that the iron self-control he was fighting for remained out of reach. He was suddenly aware that his wounds stung terribly; the yawn that just escaped his lips had pulled on the gashes in his side.
"Come Lucy, let's change for bed." With that Susan took the younger girl out of the room.
"Peter, take off your shirt and let me change the dressings on the wounds. Or I can get a Healer." Such a choice was no choice at all, and Peter struggled out of his shirt.
"If I asked you what was wrong," Edmund began as he sliced through old bandages, "is there any chance you would tell me?"
"I am tired," Peter hissed as Edmund spread salve on his wounds. "I told you about the dreams, and the lack of sleep is causing my mind to play tricks on me. There is nothing that you and the girls are not also worried about." That's all true, Peter justified to himself.
"Hold still, I'm almost done." Peter held his breath to keep from flinching away from Edmund who was wrapping a fresh bandage around the injuries.
"I don't know what is driving you to such distraction, Peter, but I wish you would confide in someone. This new foe is bold and cunning, and I am beginning to have doubts that my charms will not be enough for victory," Edmund's impish grin won a returning smile from Peter. But then blood trickled from Edmund's nose into the smiling mouth. No! Peter screamed mentally as he crushed Edmund to his chest.
"Ouff. Peter, kind of need to breathe," Edmund complained as he returned his brother's embrace. When Peter pulled back, Edmund face was clean and whole.
Later that night, his siblings' even breathing telling him they were all asleep, Peter rationalized the visions. Stress does strange things to the body and lack of sleep makes even the hardiest of souls more susceptible, Peter thought, It is the lack of answers and continued threats that's effecting me so. It will pass. As his eyes drifted shut, he thought he saw a shadow, darker than dark, drift overhead. Nonsense, now I'm creating monsters. High Kings are not afraid of monsters lurking in cupboards. But that night Peter dreamed of a black darker than night disrupted only by rivers of blood.
—oo0O0oo—
Author's note: Next chapter to be posted within a week. Thanks for reading! -Narelena
