Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia. Narnia and everything that goes with it belongs to CS Lewis, who was a lot smarter than I am.
A/N: Thanks to all for your wonderful reviews! Just letting you know, this is an AU fic, so it doesn't follow the storyline exactly. The first four chapters will deal with school, and then I might write one telling about how Eustace first found out about Narnia. If you have any ideas or suggestions, let me know.
Edmund sighed as he walked into the dining hall, carrying his lunch. Most of his classes were easy enough, but his teachers, remembering all too well the pranks he'd pulled last term, had warned him that he was being watched. Biting his lip, Edmund looked for Lucy. He saw her near an empty table and headed for it, one hand gripping the piece of paper that he'd found in his jacket that morning: Just.
Setting his lunch on the table, Edmund looked at Lucy, who had her back to him. He opened his mouth to call out to her, but then he saw the two boys on both sides of her, and his words caught in his throat.
"…..hear that, kid?" one was asking.
"I heard you the first time you said that!" Lucy said sharply. "Now, if you'll excuse me…." She turned towards Edmund, but one of the boys grabbed her shoulder. In an instant, Edmund was there, shoving the boy away from his sister and stepping protectively in front of her. Both boys looked surprised, and then calm.
"Hey Ed," one said cheerfully. "Welcome back." Edmund recognized him: Roger. And the other boy was Roderick. Twins, making them twice as annoying.
"Roger," Edmund said stiffly.
"What gives, Pevensie?" Roderick demanded.
"This is my sister." Edmund said tensely.
"Oh!" Roger said, looking stunned. "But, I thought you wanted us to have fun with her when she got here."
"You'll go through me!" Edmund growled. Both boys drew back.
"Easy, Ed!" Roderick exclaimed. "We won't bother her, fine. Don't get so upset."
"Look here, Ed." Roger said, his eyes narrowing. "I'm not sure I like where this is going."
"I'm not like that anymore, Roger." Edmund said. "I'm through bullying." With that, he walked off.
"Thanks Edmund," Lucy said, squeezing his hand. He smiled at her and sat down. Lucy ate her lunch and then suddenly looked at him. "Did Peter give you anything?" she asked. Edmund pulled out his paper.
"I was about to ask you the same thing." He said, showing it to her. She handed him a slip of paper with the word Valiant on it.
"What do you suppose Peter's trying to tell us?" Lucy asked.
"I think he's reminding us of what Aslan said. Do you remember, at the coronation? 'Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen in Narnia'. I think Peter's telling us to not change just because we're not in Cair Paravel." Edmund said thoughtfully. Lucy nodded. They finished their lunch and then Edmund headed for his next class, history. To his delight, the first thing he saw was a sword case, with two broadswords in it! Nearly bursting with joy, he ran over to them and stared.
"Interested in swordsmanship, are we, Master Pevensie?" asked a voice. Starting, Edmund turned, and wasn't surprised to see his old professor there.
"Yes sir." He said, smiling. "I worked some with swords during the summer."
"Then perhaps you wouldn't mind showing the class what you learned," Professor Markham suggested as the rest of the class entered.
"Not at all!" Edmund exclaimed, eyeing the swords greedily. His fingers itched for the feel of a sword. The bell rang just then, signaling the start of the period.
"Attention, everyone! Yes, welcome back to history, hopefully you all remember me." Markham said, causing a few laughs. "Ahem, to continue our study of the medieval period, we're going to talk about warfare. And to start us off, Master Pevensie and another young person will duel to give us an example of what it looks like."
"I'll fight him sir," said a familiar voice. Edmund looked up. Roderick was grinning at him. Markham nodded.
"Very well, let's get you both into the armor."
Edmund went over and speedily strapped on the armor, loving the feel of the chain mail on his shoulders again. He grabbed a sword and turned to face Roderick, who was just grabbing his sword. The bully gripped his sword with both hands and took up a warrior's stance. Edmund held his in one hand and twirled it easily, his eyes locked on his opponent while his mind flew back to all the battles he'd done. Orieus' instructions flew through his mind, reminding him of their presence. Roderick stepped forward, and Edmund instinctively stepped back. Roderick lunged with a roar. Edmund easily blocked the blow and then parried. Roderick shoved the sword aside and then thrust with his own. Back and forth they went, armor jingling and clanking, swords ringing, feet a blur. Several times, their blows got too close to one another and a girl cried out for them to be careful. Even Professor Markham paled a bit at some of the blows. Roderick suddenly swung low, near Edmund's shins. Edmund leapt above it, and then landed. Roderick lunged and then yelped in pain. Several girls suddenly shrieked, for there was Roderick's sword: stuck in the wall of the classroom! Edmund's sword was instantly at Roderick's chest as both boys panted heavily.
"Yield!" Edmund ordered in a fierce whisper.
"I yield," Roderick gasped. Edmund lowered his sword and stepped back.
"Aren't you going to finish 'im off, Ed?" called a voice, causing several boys to dissolve in rowdy laughter. Edmund shook his head.
"He's unarmed and we're both tired. It's not sportsmanlike." He said, sheathing his sword and turning his back on his enemy. Professor Markham nodded, satisfied.
"Well done, both of you. A lesson in combat as well as chivalry. Well done." He said.
"The match was just and fair."
Edmund's heart swelled with pride at these words, for one of them was his own title:
Just.
Hopefully this isn't getting too cheesy! Please review!
