Edmund, dusky twilight, just transition 'twix the hours

Victoriously thou hast come, through battling desperate powers.


Edmund had made a choice. He had decided to remain in Narnia and help his brothers and sisters end the Witch's reign. So why was he running away from the battle? Mr. Beaver called to him as he turned back toward the melee.

"Peter's not king yet!" He tossed over his shoulder as he ran. The Witch was evil and needed to be stopped. But that didn't mean that the Narnians had to do it alone. That Peter had to do it alone. He was only a boy.

Running as fast as his ten year old body could carry him, Edmund sprinted along the rise toward the Witch stalking Peter. Pausing only to shove that annoying dwarf to the side, he finally caught up to Her. With a battle cry heard by all, he leapt at the Witch, intent on destroying her wand. He missed. Oh, well done, Ed, Peter's voice ran through his thoughts. But no, Peter loved him; the girls loved him. The Witch had used him, had tried to convince him to betray his siblings in the cruelest possible way. Shaking his head to clear it (Peter wasn't the bad one…he was…She was), Edmund struck again, his aim true. The wand shattered, and the Witch glared fiercely at him, twirling his sword away before stabbing him through the gut.

As he fell, he thought he heard his name, but he couldn't be quite sure. Gasping for breath, he had no concept of time, nor any idea of how the battle was progressing. He couldn't feel his legs. Try not to wander off, Peter whispered in his mind. A cool drop, refreshing and invigorating, and the next thing he knew, Edmund was being crushed against Peter's armor.

"When are you going to learn to do as you're told?" Peter demanded through his tears. Peter crying? Over me? Edmund smiled, glad to be alive, and spotted the Lion approaching. As Lucy hurried off to administer her Cordial, Susan stood to ready a tent for them all, and Peter followed Lucy to thank Oreius, leaving Edmund alone with the Lion once again.

"Well done, child. You have come far, and shall be remembered for the good you do, rather than the mistake you made," Aslan purred against him as Edmund wrapped his arms around the fluffy mane.


Edmund had made a choice. He had decided not to return to his old friends. So what was he doing sitting with them? Ralph called to him as he stood from the table.

"I'm done." He tossed over his shoulder as he moved to sit beneath a nearby tree. Those boys were rotten, and needed to be taught to act correctly. But he didn't have the strength to do it. Not yet, not so soon. He was only a boy.

Walking quickly, but careful to avoid the appearance of running, Edmund feigned obliviousness to the person following him. Pausing only to extricate a book from his bag, he finally made it to the tree. Sensing the hit long before it landed, he ducked, ostensibly to set his bag down. The punch missed, hitting the tree instead. Oh, well done, Ed: Peter's voice, in a tone learned from Edmund, reserved for when he did something snarky and stupid. But no, Peter wasn't around. So Edmund was left to this fight on his own.

"Just don't leave, Pevensie, and it'll be fine. I'll graciously pretend this was a prank," Gabriel said grandly.

"Not a prank, leave me alone, I've had enough," Edmund remarked, dodging another blow as two more boys joined the fight, well away from the inquiring eyes of teachers. Not even remotely tempted to rejoin the gang (What would Peter say? What would Aslan say?), he paid the price and took a slight beating. The last hit was hard, and Edmund knew he was going to hit the ground before it even landed.

As he fell, he thought he heard his name, but he couldn't be quite sure. The three boys backed away, that he knew, but little else besides a calm, deadly voice somewhere over his head. A cool drop, refreshing and invigorating, and the next thing he knew, Edmund was sitting propped up against Peter, who shook his head fondly.

"It was the right thing to do, Ed. Maybe it will influence them. Ralph seemed inclined to follow. It was well done, and people will see the change, Ed, I promise they will. Just give them time."

In Edmund's mind, a Lion roared.

AN: Same. Thoughts are appreciated, always. Thanks!