Disbeliever

Up and down.

Shade.

The pencil moved at a quick speed as it maneuvered over the paper with ease. It was shading in the shadow that had been cast across the grassy clearing. The occupant of the pencil was hard at work as she tried to appear calm and collected.

Madeline's eyes darted up to her companion who had provided the shadow for her. It was her newest and decidedly dearest friend…

Edmund Pevensie.

It had been several weeks since their run in with the thug and the kindly old woman they, well rather he, had saved. And since then the two had become closer. Edmund had called upon her, just as he had promised and slightly awkward meetings became easier as the two bonded.

And it gave Madeline all the time in the world to observe her friend and see how different he truly was from any other man she had ever met. Besides having a regal posture he had an imposing personality. He knew what he wanted and was very stubborn till he possessed it.

He was naturally a quiet man, but that suited Madeline. Often times they would sit in absolute silence for hours. Just sitting next to each other, no speaking or communicating. And Madeline enjoyed it every time.

She looked down at her paper as she began work on shading Edmund's slightly ruffled hair as it fell over his closed eyes. He was sitting casually against the trunk of a tall larch tree as he lounged comfortably, the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, sprawled in his lap with the book still open.

Once she was done with his hair she perfected his face. Making sure that his sturdy cheekbones stood out against his skin as she created a dimple on his chin. She leaned down closely to her paper as she gently placed the tip of the pencil underneath his drawn lips as a freckle appeared in the far left corner.

She looked between her drawing of Edmund and the true Edmund as she had to smile at the likeness between the two.

"You're staring." Edmund murmured, his eyes still closed.

"I'm drawing." Madeline corrected as Edmund lazily opened one eye to look at his artistic friend.

"Let me see." He commented as he reached his long arm forward to snatch her sketchpad from her.

"No!" Madeline cried out as she jumped back and hugged her beloved sketchpad to her chest. Edmund opened his other eye and raised an eyebrow so high that it disappeared into his hair covering his forehead.

Madeline blushed as she looked away and embarrassedly whispered.

"I don't like anyone seeing my drawings." Edmund looked at her for a moment before nodding as he yawned loudly.

"Late night?" Madeline asked as Edmund nodded and clarified.

"I couldn't sleep."

"Why not?" Madeline asked as she set her sketchpad down next to her in the grass. Edmund shrugged and stared ahead.

"I just…couldn't." Madeline could see something was troubling her intrusive friend but before she could ask a strong breeze ripped through the clearing. It ruffled her papers as several of her older sketches flew out and started blowing around the clearing.

"Oh bugger!" Madeline cried jumping up and running after her masterpieces. She ran all around the clearing, grabbing paper as she went as a particular one kept eluding her by floating mockingly ahead as she chased after it.

"I got you!" She cried in triumphant as her fingers grabbed the paper and she snapped it up into her grasp. She gave a happy sigh, wiped her brow and turned only to see Edmund flipping idly through her sketches.

"Edmund!" She cried out angrily as she raced over and snatched back her sketches.

"I thought I told you not to look at this!" She scolded as she sat back down and started cramming her papers back into the sketchpad as Edmund gave an apologetic smile.

"I couldn't help myself, honestly." He started to pout but Madeline would have nothing to do with him.

"It's a crime to look through other people's things!" She spat at him as she cradled her pad, she was self conscious of her work and she didn't want someone as Edmund to see them.

"No, a crime is keeping your fantastic drawings to yourself. They're so lifelike, except I believe you made me handsomer than I am in real life." He stated thoughtfully as Madeline giggled, the anger slowly seeping away as she settled back down. She looked down as she quietly admitted.

"I do like to draw."

"If you like to draw so much then why are you becoming a nurse?" Edmund asked as Madeline looked up at him.

"What do you mean why am I becoming a nurse? You know why." Edmund nodded, he did know, he knew almost everything about her and her family from stories she had told him.

"Yes, yes. It's a family tradition, but do you really want to be a nurse?" Madeline paused as she rubbed her chin in thought.

"I don't know, I guess." Edmund was clearly not satisfied with her answer as he continued to probe.

"You love to draw, why not be an artist for a career choice." Madeline had to laugh at his outlandish option.

"Edmund, drawing is a hobby to me. I love it, but I can't make a career out of it."

"And why ever not?" Edmund challenged as his eyes glinted in the mid morning light. Madeline stared at him as she tried to come up with a plausible reason herself.

"B…Because!" Edmund just snorted and shook his head as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"That's not a reason that's a word."

Madeline could have slapped him. She truly could have. Just to wipe that smug grin off his face.

"I don't have to explain myself to you Edmund Randolph Pevensie!" She haughtily exclaimed as she looked away from her friend. He sighed and hung his head as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Fair enough. Don't be mad at me, Maddy. Come on, smile." He gently prodded as she finally gave in and graced him with one of her small half smiles as he smiled in return. He opened his mouth to say something but another gust of wind blew by. This time Madeline was prepared as she hugged her sketches to her.

The wind was so strong it caused Edmund's shirt to ride up as Madeline caught a brief glimpse of her friend's stomach. She didn't want to stare but just as she turned away something caught her eye.

She waited for the wind to stop before asking.

"What was that?" Edmund looked at her confused.

"What was what?" He asked.

Madeline nodded to his stomach as she hesitantly lifted the helm of his shirt to see his flat stomach once more. What she saw made her gasp.

A pale thin angry looking scar made its way over the side of Edmund's stomach as Madeline stared at it, transfixed.

"Where did this come from?" She asked after a few moments as she looked up into Edmund's sable eyes. He too stared at it as his pale face became even paler. His eyes were wide and something flashed through them as he shook his head and explained.

"I…I got it when I was little. It was a…a-accident caused by some bully and a rather large branch." He tried to laugh it off and was failing as Madeline gazed at her friend with concern.

"Are you alright Ed?" He nodded and gave her a weak smile.

"Just fine, peachy." She nodded and looked back at his scar as she reached out to touch it. As soon as her fingers made contact with his skin she pulled back.

"You skin! It's like ice!" She exclaimed as Edmund flinched but slowly nodded.

"Yes, my scar is always a few…degrees lower than the rest of my body." He snatched her hand away from his stomach as he pulled his shirt back down and he pulled his knees to his chest as he tightly hugged himself.

The happy and playful mood disintegrated as it became somber and dismal.

Madeline looked at her friend as she racked her brain for ideas on how to make him feel better. Suddenly the idea came so fast it was almost as if it had punched her in the gut. She reached into her blazer's pocket and pulled out a slightly wrinkled enveloped with Edmund's name written on it in her loopy writing.

It was an invitation to her and Henry's ninetieth birthday party coming up on Saturday, October twenty-fifth.

Madeline scooted closer to her friend and lightly nudged his shoulder.

"Edmund I have something for you." She handed him the envelope as he took it wordlessly.

"What is it?" He asked flatly as Madeline smiled and answered.

"You have to open it silly." Edmund obliged as he pulled out the handmade card and read through it, his eyes flickering over every word. He lowered it and looked at Madeline.

"Your birthday is coming up?" She nodded and leaned back against the rough bark of tree.

"Yes and it would mean the world to me if you attended." She truthfully remarked.

"Why?" He asked as Madeline stared at him as if he were crazy.

"Because you're my friend! And I want you there! Do…do you not want to come?" Madeline slowly asked as she felt saddened at the prospect that her friend did not want to attend her own birthday party.

Edmund vigorously shook his head as he reached out and patted Madeline's arm.

"No! It's not that! It's just…I have no idea what to get you." He sheepishly exclaimed as Madeline laughed.

Long and hard.

Edmund's face turned redder and redder as he muttered.

"It's not that funny!"

Madeline wiped away a stray tear as she leaned her head against Edmund's sturdy shoulder.

"Oh, Edmund! You don't have to get me anything!"

"I don't?" He asked confused as she pulled back to look at her friend, shaking her head.

"No. Of course not. You being there will be gift enough, so are you coming?" Madeline hopefully asked as a smile stretched across his face.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Maddy." Madeline smiled as the two continued to sit in peaceful silence as the day continued on.

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Please read and review! I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia!