AN: Ta da! The final chapter. I've got mixed feelings about this one. It went in a very different direction to how it was first planned. Ah well, let me know what you think of it. :)

I've been pondering this story and may take it out of its complete status if the muse strikes me again in the future. For now, however, enjoy.

A quick note to all my reviewers. You guys (and girls) are great and encouraged me in my writing. Thank you so much.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Lewis is king of the Chronicles.


It was irresistible. The downward slope. The smooth wood. Edmund grinned gleefully and swung one leg over the bannister.

"Edmund!"

Uh oh. Trapped.

Edmund swung his leg back over and, turning to his sister, fixed her with a gaze of beguiling innocence.

"Hullo, Lucy," he cooed.

"Edmund," Lucy's tone was skeptical. "Were you going to ride that bannister?"

"Whatever gave you that idea, you sweet child?" Edmund grinned. He gestured to the railing behind him and smiled even wider. "Come on, Lu. Susan's visiting the dryads. Peter's training with Orieus. No one can stop us!"

"What would Susan say?" Lucy asked.

"Susan isn't here," naughty Edmund sang.

"And the poor maids who'll - who'll - "

"Who'll what?"

"I don't know - won't they be mad?"

"No," grinned her brother. "They'll thank us for dusting the bannister for them."

"Won't the valets be angry about the dust we get on our clothes?"

"Lucy," Edmund said, voice firm. " Are you going to spend the rest of the day trying to dissuade me from my awful ways? Or are you going to have some fun?"

"Well, maybe just once," Lucy said, succumbing to temptation. She took the hand her brother offered and seated herself on the bannister. "But if Susan finds out - "

"Tsk tsk," laughed Edmund. "You little worry wart."

"Not a worry wart," Lucy hissed, pushing with her feet. She sped down the railing and landed on her feet at the bottom.

"Clear the way, Lu," Edmund yelled down, motioning for her to get out of the way. Lucy complied.

Whoosh.

Edmund landed on his, erhem, royal tush. Lucy laughed loudly.

"Ha ha, Ed," she cried, helping him to his feet. " That's means I win."

"No, it doesn't," Edmund said. "That was only the first try."

"Play fair, Ed," a voice said, from the extreme end of the hall. Lucy and Edmund turned rapidly.

"Peter!" cried a delighted Lucy.

"Sneak!" exclaimed a not-so-enthusiastic Edmund.

"Hello, Lu. Not a sneak," Peter replied quickly, with a smile for his sister and a frown for his brother.

"Then why were you spying on us, High King?"

"Wasn't spying," Peter said, languidly. "I was bored and decided to see what you two little devils -"

"Peter," exclaimed Edmund, mimicking Susan's tone. "Language!"

"Little angels," Peter corrected himself, "were doing."

"Well, now that you know what we're doing," Edmund said. "What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing," said Peter, with a wide grin. "I'm only going to tell you two to clear the way and let your big brother have some fun for once."

Picking Lucy bodily off the bannister, Peter positioned himself and sped down, knocking his crown off on the way. Edmund watched approvingly.

"That's what I like to see," he grinned. "A High King having fun without thought of any consequence."

"All our actions have consequences, Ed," Peter said, reverting back to older brother mode.

"Well, just don't think about them then," said Edmund, clambering once more onto the rail. "Right now, I just want to have fun. I don't want to think of what Susan will say when she sees our dishevelled appearances."

"You'll have to face her eventually," laughed Lucy.

"I told you I didn't want to think about it," shouted Edmund, getting ready to slide.

"Edmund!"

Edmund wobbled at the sound of the voice, lost his balance, and fell from the wrong side of the bannister. He landed with a rather horrid thud! on the marble floor.

"Edmund!" the same voice cried.

"Susan!" Edmund cried, his tone a mixture of surprise, anger, and pain. "Why did you have to creep up on a fellow like that?"

"She wasn't exactly creeping," said Lucy, watching her brother in concern. "Are you alright, Ed? You look awful."

Lucy got the strange feeling that she had said that line somewhere once before.

"Well, she didn't need to screech like that," huffed Edmund. He tried to get to his feet, but stumbled back with a cry of pain. "And to answer your question," he continued, in a surprisingly calm voice. "No, I'm not alright. I think my leg is broken."

"I'll get my cordial," Lucy said.

"No," exclaimed Susan, a glint akin to mischief shining in her eyes. "We don't want to waste your cordial. If Ed's leg is broken, it's his own fault. I've told him time and time again not to do it."

"And why should I listen to you, you cold, unfeeling, horrid -" Edmund began.

"She does have a point," Peter cut in.

Of all the traitorous brothers!

"You were sliding yourself," Edmund exclaimed, in just outrage. "You should be the one with a broken leg, not me. You're the oldest. Lu, get your cordial!"

"Lucy, stay!" Susan boomed.

"Lucy, go!" Edmund shouted.

"Lucy has her own mind," cried Lucy, "and is not a dog."

"Sorry," said Edmund sweetly. "Please, Lu, may I use your cordial?"

"I do think it's unfair on him to suffer so," said Lucy. A small, piteous tear leaked from Edmund's eye. "After all, broken legs are very painful."

Edmund let out a sob for effect.

"Look at him," Lucy continued. "Look at the way his leg is bent. What kind of a brother and sister wants to see their little brother suffer so?"

Edmund looked up at Susan and Peter and let out a small moan of pain. Tears fell from his brown eyes and splashed onto his nose. He truly was a pathetic sight.

Peter and Susan's hearts melted.

"Well, maybe just this once," Susan conceded. "And only if he promises to never let me catch him on the bannister again."

"Of course, Susan," said honest Edmund. "You'll never catch me on the bannister." He winked at Lucy, who giggled slightly and ran to fetch her cordial.


Later that day, in Lucy's room, a newly healed Edmund and a little queen discussed the day's events.

"You really did over do it a bit, Ed," said Lucy. "I'm just surprised that they fell for it. Your moaning and groaning was too obvious."

"Well, how was I supposed to do it?" snapped Edmund, flexing his leg.

"You sniff a little, widen your eyes, and then let them fill with tears. It works every time."

"Well, you're cuter than I am."

"Thank you, Ed."

Edmund got to his feet and hobbled around. Although healed, his leg was still rather stiff. "Do you think Susan and Peter would have made me live with a broken leg?" he asked, coming to rest in a large armchair.

"Of course not," Lucy assured him. "They were just being stubborn."

The door burst open, and a livid Susan glared at her little brother.

"Edmund," she exclaimed. "Do you care to explain why my best dress is covered in white paint?"

"Little accident with a paint bottle," said Edmund meekly.

"In my closet?"

"Well, I - uh," Edmund stuttered, scrambling for an answer. " I was painting the view in your room and the closet door was open and I - uh -"

"Don't lie, Ed."

Edmund was saved the pain of replying, for the door opened and a stiff-legged Peter hobbled into the room.

"Did you put starch in my washing - again!" he exclaimed, glaring at a shrinking Edmund.

Edmund started to his feet and ran from the room, his leg no longer stiff. Susan dashed after him, her nostrils flaring angrily, while Peter brought up the rear, clattering along as fast as his starched tights would allow him.

Left alone, Lucy gazed at the open door and chuckled slightly.

"I don't know, Ed," she said to herself. "Maybe Peter and Susan weren't being stubborn, after all. I'm beginning to think that they'd like both your legs to be broken."

The sound of water splashing came to the young girl's ears, as Susan and Peter dished out some long overdue justice.