Author's Note: Thank you very much to Lilagirl and Queen Su for reviewing! Its nice to know someone is reading my story! This chapter is mainly Edmund centric (he is my favourite character all) and there is a smidgen of Susan and Edmund bonding as you dont see that all that often. Read and REVIEW! Please!

It was raining. Edmund stared out of the window with a sour expression on his face. He hated it when it rained. The wetness and greyness always made him severely depressed. Fortunately, rain was usually a rare occurrence in Narnia – it was either sunny or snowing – so he didn't have to be miserable that often. Rain always brought the day's activities to a halt: he couldn't go riding, he couldn't go sword fighting, and he couldn't go walking. He was confined to the indoors. That wasn't all bad, he could go to the library and do some reading but eventually that became tedious and all he wanted to do was venture outside.

The idea of the freezing cold rain drenching him; soaking his skin until even his bones felt heavy with water, was not the least bit inviting. Whenever he could avoid it, Edmund never went out in the wet. What could make rain even worse was if there was a storm, complete with forked tongues of lightning lashing across the darkened sky and thunder booming hungrily overhead. Each time the heavens rumbled, the young King would flinch and beg for sunshine – any kind of relief.

When he was little, Peter had often taunted him for his dislike (even fear) of the rain and storms. He remembered times when his older brother had taken his favourite tin soldier out into the garden and left it there to rust unless Edmund plucked up the courage to go fetch it in. Sometimes Susan would take pity on him and go get it for him. Peter would just laugh.

That was a far cry from the man Peter had grown into now. He was a King – a High King – who ruled the lands fairly and well. He was loved by his people and his siblings. The older boy would never dream of hurting Edmund in such a way again, not after he'd seen what his mocking of his younger brother could do. No one ever mentioned Edmund's fear of rain, not to his face anyway, they just didn't go out when the weather was bad anymore.

Edmund supposed he should really be thinking about more important things rather than his contempt for rain. For instance, he should probably be contemplating the prophecy Peter had imparted onto him last night. Really, something that significant should be consuming all his thoughts – the downfall of the kingdom, it didn't bear thinking about.

After the four Pevensies had taken their thrones at Cair Paravel, no one had ever assumed things would be easy from then on in. Just one example of the obstacles the children had faced was getting their people to trust them, to believe them the rightful sovereigns of Narnia. Peter especially had had a monstrous time of seeking allies in other kingdoms and fighting off opposition to his appointment as High King. Many Narnians had viewed him as too young and inexperienced to lead a country well but somehow, the young man had proved them wrong. It was obviously in his blood and in his nature, because it was his destiny, to rule over his people with success.

Now all that the siblings had fought for was in jeopardy. A prophecy predicted that they could lose not only the kingdom but even their lives. There was no way Edmund would allow either of his sisters to be harmed, nor Peter as a matter of fact – though he was fairly certain the High King could look after himself. Therefore, the four needed to do all that was in their power to defeat this boy who will be 'the bringer of bad luck and terrible chaos'. Unfortunately, they had no idea who or where he was. All they knew was that he was born on the Eleventh Night of Winter, two days ago, which suggested that he was merely a baby. That didn't make much sense if he was meant to be this evil usurper. However, Edmund knew that one could not always take the meaning of a prophecy at face value, there were often underlying messages and coded clues for one to decipher. Very rarely were prophecies easy to understand – they had learnt that from plenty of Foresight's previous visions.

Still, they needed to be aware and prepared for any attack or information that may come their way.

As Edmund was lost, deep in thought, as he gazed out at the rain, someone entered the room behind him. They cleared their throat politely so as not to startle the young King. The dark haired boy turned, his brown eyes landing on the slender figure of his older sister. She was dressed in one of her flowing gowns and, as usual, looked stunning. This particular dress was sapphire-blue and contrasted beautifully with her pale features. Susan practically floated across the room towards her brother.

He watched her, expectantly, from his perch in the window seat. She sat down elegantly beside him and offered him a small, unsure smile. Hesitant as to how to react, Edmund waited.

"Edmund," Susan began her voice uncertain. The boy looked at her encouragingly. It wasn't often his sister confided in him but obviously something was on her mind so he was willing to help her. "I would have talked to Peter but…"

"He's busy?" Edmund suggested gently.

"Yes," the Queen nodded, "But I needed to speak to someone and Lucy is really too young to understand." Edmund refrained from adding 'so he was the next best thing' and listened intently. Susan glanced at him before taking a deep breath. "This prophecy…it's worrying me, Edmund. I mean all this talk of battling some unknown foe that is destined to defeat us. It just reminds me of when we were told we would fight the White Witch and win….and we did. Will the same thing happen to us? I know Peter has sent out scouts and soldiers to search for this boy but…I'm not sure we're safe."

Edmund observed his sister wringing her hands nervously in her lap. That's what she did when she was tense and fretting. Her voice would remain completely calm and in control but her body would betray her true feelings. She needed his support right now, some words of reassurance. He'd never been particularly good at that but he could try – for his Susan's sake.

"We're the good guys, Su," Edmund said slowly, "The prophecy described this boy as bringing chaos and terror upon Narnia. That's not a good thing. When were told our prophecy it foretold us triumphing for the greater good. Good trumps evil; every time."

"But who's to say we are the good side?" Susan asked her voice pained. Edmund wracked his brain for a moment and was glad when his mind suddenly supplied the answer, as clear as day.

"Because Aslan said we were. No one can deny that Aslan is as good anyone can be. What he says is the truth and people believe it…"

"I think we should go home."

"Home?" Edmund looked confused at Susan's abrupt admittance. "This is our home."

"No, Ed, our home was in Finchley, with Mother." The older girl stared at her brother, her greenish-blue eyes trying to get across her point; make her brother understand. "Even if there is a slim chance that we don't beat this boy, I don't want to risk it. I couldn't stand it if any of you were hurt."

Edmund watched his sister with puzzled brown eyes. He understood that she didn't want them to get hurt but to go home, that was unthinkable, Narnia was their home. Susan shot him an exasperated look, seeing that she was going to get nowhere with the coal-headed boy, and rose to her feet – the skirt of her dress billowed out around her.

"I will see you at supper," Susan said and left. In her wake she left a very bewildered Edmund who then decided he should go and make himself useful at one of the many meetings Peter held. Maybe that would take his mind off the less pleasant things in his life: like looming death threats and rain.

Uhm....review and it will truly make my day!