AN: I just want to let everyone know this chapter is by far the best chapter I have ever written and I hope all of you enjoy it. There is a lot of drama and a lot of Edmund angst. Enjoy.
While Aslan was trying to figure out a way to help his young king, Peter and Edmund were walking around the garden just talking and catching up.
" Do you think he will be able to figure out what's wrong with me?"
Peter guided his brother to a near by bench and sat him down.
" Yes I believe Aslan will be able to help you."
" But what if he doesn't…what if I die from this."
Peter knelt down in front of his brother and pulled him forward.
" Now I want you to listen to me very carefully…I don't want to hear anymore " what if's" coming out of your mouth, we are going to find what how to stop this. You are not going to die from this…I wont let that happen to you…I am your big brother and I am going to protect you….you have my word."
Edmund nodded his head then took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
" What's wrong?"
" Its been almost a day since my last fit…do you think she will leave me alone now?"
Peter wanted to say yes, but for some reason he couldn't…she was planning something big…and that scared him.
Knowing his brother wasn't answering, Edmund wanted to start to cry, but then he noticed Lucy walking up to them, so he swallowed the lump that was forming, and put a fake smile for the girl.
" What's up Lucy?"
" Aslan found a way to help you!"
Peter and Edmund glanced at each other then back at their sister.
" Really?"
" Yeah…he's in the library with General Oreius."
Pulling his brother to his feet, the three siblings left the garden and headed towards the library all hoping that his dreadful nightmare would soon be over.
When the kings and queens walked into the library, Aslan and Oreius were standing by a long table waiting for them.
" Welcome my children…how is your day so far?"
Edmund shrugged and stared at the lion.
" It will be better when you tell us what's going on."
Aslan chuckled softly then looked at the children.
" Not only have I found a reason why the White Witch is doing this, but I also found a way to stop it as well."
After everyone sat down, Aslan began.
" She seems to be controlling you through your mind and dreams…have you been having nightmares at all?"
Edmund nodded his head and the lion continued.
" You care about your family, you would so anything for them…and when you have nightmares about them turning against you or calling you a traitor…that weakens your defenses and that gives her easier access to control you."
Peter looked across at Edmund and noticed he was looking down, at the floor.
" Why didn't you tell us you were having nightmares…how long has this been going on?"
Edmund stared at his family and sighed,
" for over a month, but they didn't start getting actually intense until a couple of days ago."
Susan looked at her younger brother with tears in her eyes.
" We could have helped you, or at least told you the truth."
" I know."
General Oreius looked at this family he swore to protect, then glanced back at Aslan.
" You said there was a way to end this…what is it?"
" Edmund…when she is whispering to you…what does she say?"
Edmund looked up.
" She says…I deserve to die…and she wants to spill my blood all over the stone table like it should have been."
Aslan walked over to the window and stared at the ocean for a moment, before turning his head and looking at the group.
" Jadis wants to spill your blood all over the stone table herself, but if we do it, then that will give us enough chance to weaken her and defeat her once and for all."
Peter's head shot up.
" What do you mean if we do it instead?"
" What I mean is…if we spill his blood instead of her?"
" You mean like stabbing him?"
" Yes….I'm afraid that's the only way."
Lucy and Susan started crying, while all the color on Edmund's face left him and Peter stood up so fast, he knocked the chair over.
" What do you mean that's the only way to stop this!"
Aslan approached his high king and sighed.
" Peter do you wish to help your brother?"
" Yes I want to help him, but not by stabbing him at the stone table! I'm not going to do that and neither is anyone from my army or Edmunds! We just have to find another way."
Edmund noticed his brother was now getting hysterical, so he quickly got up and started rubbing circles around his back.
" Take deep breaths…in out….in out…there now just calm down and relax."
Peter shot his brother a dirty look and started to cry again.
" How can you stand there and tell me to relax…how can you expect me to relax when the only way to help you is by stabbing you!"
Edmund was about to answer him, when the library door slammed shut and a dark shadow appeared on the wall.
" Did I not tell you there is no way to defeat me…Edmund belongs to me…I always get what I want and I want him."
Peter lifted up his sword and pulled Edmund behind him.
" You will just have to go through me first, because I will die before you ever get your hands on him!"
" Silly little Peter, so young, so foolish….no one can stop me…I have more power now then I ever did before."
Then as quickly as it showed up, the shadow vanished, leaving everyone mystified.
Lucy was about to say something when all of a sudden all the windows surrounding them shattered all around them.
" Everyone get down!"
Susan and Lucy threw themselves under Aslan, while Peter grabbed Edmund and pulled him close, while Oreius tried to shield their heads from the falling glass, however instead of it all falling, all the pieces disintegrated and turned to dust, falling on the floor like snow.
When he knew it was safe, the high king, let go of his brother and the two boys got up off the floor and looked around the room.
" Ok…what's going on?"
Susan helped Lucy up, then was about to say something, when Edmund sounded like he was choking.
" Edmund…?"
The said boy continued choking then dropped to his knees.
Peter started to run towards his brother to help him, but Aslan intervened.
" No Peter…let me."
The lion walked over to the boy, while he let out a painful scream and fell onto his stomach.
" AHHH!"
" I told you…I always win. I now own your mind and your body."
Edmund started choking again, and tried to get up, but fell onto his back.
" Your so weak…so vulnerable. You will die tonight because of what you did to your family. I am so much stronger than you. I own your mind…I own your soul…I control your thoughts."
While Jadis was talking, Edmund saw images flash though his mind…fights with Peter, making of Susan and Lucy, and the worst memory of his life…him betraying his family all over a box of sweets.
Aslan knew what the boy was seeing in his head, he knew what the witch was doing to him, but what the lion didn't know was how to get through to the young lad.
Peter, Susan, Lucy and Oreius looked on while this was going on. This was breaking all their hearts, because they wanted to help the child so bad, but they didn't know how and that killed each of them.
After Edmund let out another scream, Peter couldn't take it anymore, so with tears falling down his cheeks at a rapid speed, he slowly started to walk towards Aslan and the just king.
" Edmund…please you can fight this…you are stronger than her…fight this for me…please."
The boy, who was still on his back, rolled onto his stomach, and faced Peter, then gave his brother an evil smile.
" Your brother belongs to me now…we are now alike…we are now one…you lost him
Peter fell to his knees and started to sob, while Aslan laid down next to the boy, who was now trembling and gasping for air.
" Edmund…it is not how you are both the same…it is how you are different. Please listen to the sound of my voice and I will guide you home…where you are loved and safe….where there is a family wanting for you with open arms, ready to love you…ready to show you how much they all care for you."
When he heard the sound of the lion's voice, something inside triggered Edmund's memories, instead of only seeing the bad, he saw good times. He saw horseback riding with Lucy, reading with Susan, and telling his Peter how much he loved and missed him.
Giving one last groan, he collapsed on his side and stayed like that, until he found his voice.
" You're the weak one…and I feel sorry for you because you will never know what its like to feel the love of family and friends."
Then Edmund turned on to his back, and Jadis left his body, but not before looking over him.
" You will loose…your blood will be mine."
Then she disappeared leaving Edmund weak, shaking, and gasping for air.
At first no one really knew what to do, then Aslan got up and walked over towards Peter.
" You're brother needs you."
Within a second, Peter was at Edmund's side and pulled him into his arms and held him.
" I am so proud of you….you did Edmund."
Then he looked up and gave the lion and the centaur a hard glare,
" What ever we have to do to end this…do it. He is never going through something like that ever again. Susan I want you to get a healer to my room now, I want to make sure Edmund will be ok."
Peter got up off the floor and lifted his brother into his arms and carried him off to his room, all the while hoping Edmund was physically ok and praying the witch tries to confront him, because if she did…he will destroy her himself.
