Disbeliever

Trickle.

The water gurgled forward as it raced over smooth stones hidden in rumble beneath the surging waves of the stream.

The sun was high in the sky as it broke through the top layer of the mighty conifer trees as the light shattered and came down in fractured beams warming the luscious grass that curled beneath its restrained touch.

Moss wound its way through immense tree trunks as they stretched their branches to the sky, seemingly disappearing into the fluffy clouds that were splattered over the vast and never-ending Maya blue sky.

The mystical forest was alive with sounds. The churning of the running water in a near by stream.

The faint singing of birds as their voices drifted from tree to tree only to bounce back in a dome of echos.

The crisp sound of paws padding through the underbrush as they stepped over twigs and stray branches.

Snap.

Click.

Clack.

The falling of leaves as they floated gently through the air, taking their time before landing of the forest floor.

The faint twitching of a squirrel near by who greedily ate a fallen acorn before darting into the denseness of bushes that stretched as far as the eye could see.

It was in this place where Madeline laid.

Sprawled across the forest floor, her fingers entwining in the grass as the blades cut through her skin. She felt no pain. Only the lightheadedness of being in such a place not of this earth.

She stared at the sky. Her eyes glazed over with wonder and unspeakable awe.

"…Madeline…"

The voice made every sound the forest had produced halt. The stream froze, the birds faltered their singing, the leaves ceased to fall and the animals were still.

Madeline heaved in a breath as she closed her eyes.

The voice had been unlike any other she had every heard.

The speaker sounded as wise and as old as the earth itself. As if the speaker had been alive since the dawning of time and knew all of the earth's secrets.

"…Madeline…" The voice repeated again in what others might call a purr.

"W-Who's there?" She asked in barely above a whisper. She was trembling as she lay upon the grass; her body was shaking in fear and in intrigue.

"Soon you will know the wonders of my country, my child." His voice kissed her cheek.

A flash of light.

And then nothing at all.

Just silence.

Madeline gasped for air as she sat bolt right up in her narrow bed. She took in deep breaths as she rested a hand over her pounding heart. She was drenched in cold sweat and her hair was mattered to her forehead as she wiped her brow.

Tingles raced throughout her spine. Her toes curled and her fingers twitched as she clenched her fists to stop their nonsense. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up straight as she had to resist the urge to run her fingers over her neck.

Her breathing was shallow and forced as she tried to become calm at least to some degree. But it was extremely difficult.

That dream…

Had been unlike anything she had ever been witnessed to before. The forest, it had seemed so real! She could have reached out and touched it!

And that voice!

She quivered once more as she thought of the voice. How it had been so soft and light, like a faint kiss to one's cheek. And how it had vibrated in her mind, becoming a beacon of light even in the darkness of corners where doubts freely lurked.

She had felt so…

Free.

Utterly free in the confines of her dream.

Fake it may have been.

She sat on her bed for a few moments longer. The sheets bunched up at her ankles with her pillow knocked senselessly to the ground. When she finally felt once more apart of this world she looked to Daphne's bed.

She was draped across her bed, snuggled into her pillow as a thin line of drool dripped out of her pouting mouth. She smiled in her sleep and murmured into her pillow.

"Ooh, James. You bad boy."

Madeline raised an eyebrow before shaking off her friend's scandalous thoughts.

That was Daphne after all.

Madeline rose from her bed and grabbed her rope as she bundled up into it. She slipped into her favorite navy blue slippers and left her room behind.

She had no idea where she was going.

She only knew that she couldn't stay in the suffocating space of her room any longer.

She walked down the wooden steps as her feet made light slaps against the ever creaking wood. She walked down the two flights of stairs as she came to the wooden front doors. She opened them and walked out into the cool fall morning.

The sun was just beginning to rise as colors such as carnation, lavender, and peace dotted the arsenic sky.

She sighed as she leaned against the wooden door to admire the sunrise which looked as if it belonged in a painted masterpiece and not in the real world. She loosely crossed her arms over her cotton night clothes as she gazed at the rising sun.

Its beams kissed her skin and warmed her chilled heart as she closed her eyes and breathed in the crisp rain filled air.

Her moment of silence and tranquility was ruined as she heard the jubilant voice of her twin.

"Little Sis!"

She opened her eyes to see Henry sprinting towards her, his ever messy hair falling over his eyes. He jumped up the stone steps to her as he sagged against the frame of the door.

"Hullo Henry." Madeline greeted as she looked at her twin questioningly. What was he doing up so early? And why was he visiting her?

"What are you doing here?" She bluntly asked as Henry placed a hand over his heart and mockingly exclaimed.

"How you wound me Little Sis! Wound, indeed." Madeline only stared at him as he finally sighed.

"You've forgot haven't you?" Now it was Madeline's time to be confused.

"Forgot what?" Henry's eyes widened in surprise and hurt as he loudly proclaimed.

"Our birthday! Your birthday and mine! Remember?" Madeline racked her brain for the date as it suddenly dawned on her like a punch to the gut.

October twenty-fifth.

She was now nineteen.

"Oh." Was all she could murmur as Henry nodded and gestured madly to her.

"Well don't worry about forgetting because we are going to dance all night long!"

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"He was a famous trumpet man. From out Chicago way. He had a boogie style. That no one else could play. He was the top man at his craft. But then his number came up. And he was gone with the draft. He's in the army now. He's blowin' reveille. He's the boogie-woogie bugle boy of Company B."

The rambunctious tune of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by the Andrew Sisters blared throughout the little club that had been rented for Henry and Madeline's birthday affair. The lights were dim and the atmosphere was smoky as Madeline struggled to breath in her little alcove, safely hidden from her brother and Daphne.

The scratched wooden dance floor was packed with teenagers as they shook their hips and swayed dangerously to the lively tune. The tables rattled from the numerous footsteps thundering against the floor and chairs were knocked over as couples turned, dipped and flipped.

Madeline rubbed her temples with her pointer fingers as she felt the beginnings of a headache. While everyone else seemed to be enjoying the out of control party it was not Madeline's cup of tea.

She truly wouldn't have minded just staying at the dorms with her newest book, The Good Soldier. But alas, that was not to be. And even worse the person that she wanted most to be here was not.

Not that she was looking for him or anything of that sort.

She had just noticed in passing that Edmund wasn't here even if the party had started a full hour and twenty-four minutes earlier.

Not that she was counting the time.

She sighed but jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder accompanied by an amused chuckle. She twirled around only to come face to face with Edmund. She glared haughtily at him as he smiled back at her.

"You scared me!" She accused as her breathing came back to normal. Edmund only smiled broader as he sarcastically remarked.

"Well it wasn't my attention my fair lady, do accept my humblest apologies." He bowed to her as she scowled at her friend but she couldn't stop a smile from breaking out on her face.

"You're forgiven." She murmured as she turned to look back out at the dancing couples. As usual Daphne and James were inseparable and even Henry was having a bit of luck in the love department. Elena and Emily were attached to both of his arms practically swooning over him.

She heard some rustling from beside her and looked to see Edmund pulling out a thin rectangle package wrapped in blue wrapping paper. He handed it to her as she took it in her arms looking questioningly at Edmund.

"Happy birthday, I hope you like it." She gently smiled and looked down at the package wondering if she should open it or not.

"Open it." Edmund remarked as she nodded and carefully began tearing at the paper. After several minutes of daintily removing it she realized her gift was a book.

Lust for Life by Irving Stone.

She smiled broadly up at Edmund as her fingers ran over the hardcover.

"This is marvelous, Edmund! Thank you." She leaned in and gave her friend a hug as he slowly returned it. Just as she pulled away the loud sound of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy faded away as a slow tempo began as couples snuggled close to one another and danced.

"You sigh, the song begins, you speak and I hear violins. It's magic. The stars desert the skies and rush to nestle in your eyes. It's magic."

Edmund held out his hand to her and asked.

"Care to dance?" Madeline looked to the crowded dance floor hesitantly as she shook her head.

"I'm not good at dancing." She admitted as she shuffled on the balls of her feet. Edmund smiled and grabbed her head as he began to lead her to the dance floor.

"Everyone can dance and besides it's your birthday." She didn't have the power to argue as they squeezed past cuddling couples before finally finding a speck of space as she reached up and placed her hand on Edmund's shoulder. He rested one right above her left hip as their other hands entwined together as they began to dance with one another.

Being this close to Edmund gave her opportunities of observation she had never been granted before. She counted the dark freckles that danced across his cheeks.

Seventeen to be exact.

Eight on his right side and nine of his left. She was given the chance to view his perfectly angled features, all except his slightly crooked nose. And even in the caliginous light she could see a scar crossing down his nose.

How did he receive that? She wondered as they continued to move together to the slow beat of the song. She tiredly yawned as Edmund looked down at her.

"Boring to dance with me, eh?" He jested as she shook her head and looked apologetically at her friend.

"No, it's not that. It's just…I had the strangest dream last night." Edmund now seemed interested as he gazed at Madeline.

"About what?"

Flickers of the dream came back as the man's words darted in her mind.

"Soon you will know the wonders of my country, my child."

She shivered again and looked up at Edmund who now looked on the verge of concern.

"I was in a forest unlike any other I have ever seen and this voice, this magical and wise voice, spoke to me. You must think I'm crazy." She muttered as Edmund shook his head, his eyes flashing in the dim room.

"No, I don't think you're crazy at all." He quietly responded as he tightened his hold on Madeline ever so slightly. She looked inquiringly at him for a few more minutes before looking away as she hesitantly rested her head on his shoulder.

Perhaps her birthday hadn't been such a bust after all.

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