Disclaimer: As much as I love Narnia, I don't own it. That honor belongs to CS Lewis. Disney, 20th Century Fox and Walden Media has more ownageship. Unfortunately, I do own the assassinator group including Geramius. Yay.
A.N: This would probably be the longest chapter of this story. Maybe...depends on how the re-editing goes. Enjoy.
Summary: Takes place during the Golden Age. The most unthinkable has happened. Could some good come from such an act? Perhaps it would be enough to light the way home.
Chapter 8: Day of Reckoning
It was a flurry of activity with getting the trial scheduled and of course the first year reign of the Kings and Queens were fast approaching. They were asked if they wanted to reschedule it but Edmund was adamant about not changing it. He would not give his murders the satisfaction and after much convincing, Susan and Peter were in agreement. Lucy would go with the popular vote. As he said, Aslan was gone the next day, much to the sadness of the monarchs and even the Narnians. The trial was set two days later.
The Kings and Queens were nervous about this, but none so much as Edmund but he wasn't outwardly nervous like the girls or even like Peter. It's just that the Just King could not focus on too much of anything. He still couldn't really sleep. Peter still hadn't returned to his own rooms, yet, and neither really wanted the other to go. Peter dozed here and there which was more than Edmund, who was normally up before Peter was.
But finally after two slow crawling days, the day of reckoning had arrived.
"Are you nervous, King Edmund?" Tumnus the fawn asked. They still hadn't found a new valet for Edmund and frankly Peter wasn't really comfortable with the idea of finding one at the moment so Tumnus filled in still when needed.
Though just because of the situation, Peter wasn't 100% comfortable with Edmund being alone with anyone, even Mr. Tumnus. If Peter could, he would be helping Edmund get dressed and saving himself the headache, but unfortunately that wouldn't work because Peter needed to get dressed himself.
Now, Tumnus and Edmund were not friends by any means, especially not like the fawn was with Lucy, but they were still very civil with each other.
"Why do you ask?" Edmund asked.
"You are shaking, majesty."
"I am?"
Tumnus chuckled. "Yes."
"Sorry."
"No need to apologize. You have a right to be nervous."
"I hope it doesn't show." Edmund groaned muttering under his breath.
"Not really. I just feel it."
There was a moment of silence between them.
"Tumnus?"
"Yes, my king?"
"I know we aren't friends, but I just wanted to know…." Edmund trailed off, "Do you…have you….."
Tumnus held his shock well at his. He rarely heard Edmund not be able to articulate well. He was silent slowing his work allowing, the young man to get his thoughts together.
Edmund shook his head. "Never mind."
"My King…." Tumnus started pausing in his ministrations, "If there is anything I can do to ease this tension you have, I will. Please, whatever the question, if I can answer I will." He caught Edmund's glaze in the mirror they were standing in front of.
"Honestly?"
"I would not lie to you, majesty. I have put those days behind me." Tumnus resumed his work.
"Do you hate me?"
Tumnus stilled his head going up in shock. "Never."
Edmund raised an eyebrow with an amused smile, though there was uncertainty in his eyes as he looked at Tumnus in the mirror, "You, more than many, have a personal reason enough to hate me."
They both thought of their time in the Witch's dungeons. It was not a memory neither liked to visit. And uncomfortable air passed between them.
Edmund fixed his gaze to look at his clothes. "Hate me enough to want me dead."
"I was not involved in such a conspiracy!" Tumnus cried defensively.
"I'm not saying you were. I know you weren't." stated Edmund, "I'm just saying, that I know many Narnian's hated me and some probably still do and with good reason. I'm just asking if you ever, even the smallest part of you, wanted me dead for my crimes against Narnia? That is all I'm asking. No more, no less."
"No."
There was such conviction in Tumnus' voice that it made Edmund lift his head up to look at the fawn in the mirror. He was startled and borderline shocked at the most serious and grave expression that the young man ever saw on the fawn's face. Edmund didn't even know what to say.
He didn't need to speak as Tumnus continued, "I have never, ever, even once wanted you dead after the you were crowned King. I never even wished you dead when I was dragged to the courtyard and turned stone. Never. I don't hate you. I admit I was disappointed and upset, but I never gave into any such disturbing emotion such as hate. I certainly never hated you that much. The only one I ever hated that much and more was the White Witch. Granted I was dubious when you were crown King, but I trusted Aslan's judgment and I gave you a chance. And rest assured, I was not disappointed."
Here a small smile broke through, "You are a Just King in all ways. You have faced many of the Witches' servants, heard them and sentenced them fairly. You have worked yourself to the point of exhaustion all to prove yourself and that is all in just this one year alone. You have my loyalty, what's more, you earned it. That's why I know you will do well today."
Edmund had to look away, his eyes lowering. Tumnus busied himself with getting Edmund's cape and fastening it, allowing the younger monarch to think on his words.
When that was done, Tumnus checked the Just King's crown before turning around with it in his hands.
"Thank you." Edmund had turned around and offered him a small smile.
Tumnus gave a small bow, "No thanks is necessary."
A knock on the door resounded followed by it opening. "You ready, Edmund?" Peter asked stepping in already dressed in his official royal garb.
Tumnus and Edmund looked at him when he entered before looking at each other.
Peter looked between them and then asked warily and slowly, "Is...everything...okay?"
The duo looked at each other a little longer before Edmund looked back at his older brother. "Yes, brother, everything is fine."
Tumnus came over and situated the crown on Edmund's head. He surveyed his young monarch before stating, "Perfect, majesty."
"Thank you."
Tumnus' response was a bow before Edmund inclined his head before walking out the door, looking more relaxed than he did in days. Peter was confused as his brother passed him. He looked at Tumnus than his retreating brother, then back to Tumnus. Then he offered a grateful smile at Lucy's friend. He didn't know what happened, but it seemed it was something good, and he was grateful.
"You sure you gonna be okay?" Peter asked as they were waiting to go into the throne room.
"Peter, I swear. You ask me that again, and you won't step foot into this room." Edmund snapped.
Susan nudged Peter who looked at her. She mouthed, 'That's a no.'
Peter gave a look that said, 'Ya think?'
"Let us calm down, okay? We'll get through this", Lucy spoke up the voice of calmness, "If Aslan put this task to us that means we can do it. Just remember to do Aslan's will as best we can throughout this."
Her siblings all nodded.
"Okay, deep breathes, everyone."
Everyone, including Lucy herself, took a deep breath and let it out.
"Good. Now, let's do this. In Aslan's name."
"In Aslan's name", the other three monarch's echoed.
And instantly there was a sense of peace that stole throughout them, although their nerves were still a bit rocky.
"Peter….." Edmund spoke.
"Yes, Edmund?"
"I need you to stand down on this. I want to lead this."
Peter twitched. There went the peace for Peter but Edmund faced his brother square on. "Peter, I need to do this. I need to hear what they say, whatever they say. I need your word you will let them speak, no matter what atrocities they may utter."
Peter's mouth tightened in a thin line as he turned around so his siblings wouldn't see the murderous rage that was working its way to his face. He prayed to Aslan for strength behind this.
Edmund took a step forward, "I know you want to protect me. But I need you to put aside the big brother Peter and bring out High King Peter in all ways."
"Big brother and High King Peter may be a little intertwined right now." Came the forced response.
"Peter, please. I need to do this. This is something that I need to do." Edmund pressed, "I can't move on from this until I do this. I need to know you'll follow my lead on this. And when you have questions…" here he paused and looked a little absent.
It made Peter turn around slightly in time to see this and their sisters were watching worriedly.
Edmund shook himself, "When you have questions, save them for later. I need your word."
Peter turned fully to face Edmund. They looked at each other, both serious. The girls were looking between the two. They were silent throughout all this, allowing their brothers to resolve this.
"It's like you know that something is going to happen. In fact, there still things you aren't telling us, aren't telling me. Haven't even begun to try to tell me", it was a statement not a question from the High King.
Edmund's eyes never wavered from this brother's but he did avoid responding directly to the statement, "Please, my King."
Peter stared at Edmund another long while. Susan and Lucy were holding their breath. Finally Peter nodded and looked regally at Edmund, "Very well…my King. I give you my word, but you will have to understand something..."
Edmund waited.
"If I feel that it goes too far, I will intervene. I will only allow blatant disrespect to go so far."
Edmund's held his brother's eyes a long moment before slowly nodding. "Agreed."
"We ready?" Susan asked after another lingering silence had passed.
"Yes, I think we are", Peter stated slowly a questioning note lingering in his voice.
Edmund nodded. "Yes, we are."
Many Narnians were packed in the room, wanting to watch the trial. They too wanted to hear what the assassinators had to say. Such an event had never happened and many wanted to know where it went wrong. The general Oreius was off the side and many of the soldiers were line around the room. Oreius was taking no changes.
High King Peter nodded to Sir Giles Fox to start.
"Bring in the prisoners." The fox spoke gravely.
The doormen pushed the door open and soldiers escorted the small group in. There was a Minotaur who glared at everyone and looked as if he didn't care. There was a squirrel, whose twitching tail betrayed its nervousness, but since squirrel's tails were always twitching it was hard to tell. There was also a dryad and two cats. There was also an old hag that swayed as she walked. Like the Minotaur she looked unperturbed at what was happening. And last but not least there was the valet that served Edmund named Geramius, who looked like he was about three steps away from fainting, but still managed to lift his chin up at those around him.
Loud murmurs went up from the crowd when they saw this surprising group. The surprise quickly turned into angry murmurs and from there it turned into jeers in a matter of moments.
"Peace, my dear Narnians", the High King surprised himself by saying firmly, making the crowd settle down, though many had disapproval written all over their faces when they glared at the group. Peter glared at the group, and constantly had to pray to Aslan to not lose himself. He no longer felt that murderous rage he felt a few days ago. He glanced at his fellow king, allowing that to further cool his temper.
King Edmund sat erect and regal, surveying the group with quiet dignity. The Queens also looked regal though there was disappointment at the Narnians that were in the group.
Sir Giles Fox's tail twitched once, betraying his thoughts at seeing the atrocious group. "Do you know the charges you are faced with?" he spoke in a loud clear voice.
"And what is that?" the Minotaur spoke amused.
That made everyone in the room twitch.
Sir Giles cleared his throat and glanced down at the scroll, "You personally are charged with the attempt assassination of the Just King of Narnia."
"Last I checked he died." the Minotaur chuckled and looked pointly at said Just King.
"And last I checked by the grace of Aslan himself, the Just King, lives", Queen Lucy the Valiant spoke up.
"Hm, so he does." There was obvious disappointment in the Minotaur's voice.
"The rest of you are charged with conspiracy to assassination." Sir Giles surveyed to the rest of the group.
"We are giving you the chance to plead your case", Queen Susan spoke though it took everything in her to get those words out.
"Plead our case?" the hag laughed.
"We are all interested in why this happened. Perhaps you and your Minotaur friend, we are not that shocked about, but the rest of you….." sadness colored the Queen's voice as her gentle glaze swept over the others.
"Why?" Lucy asked equally sadden at this.
The Minotaur looked at Edmund and gave a mock bow towards him. "By the grace of Aslan...", here the Lion's name was said mockingly.
Peter had to hold himself. His mouth was pressed tightly together as he looked at Edmund out the corner of his eye. He would adhere to his brother's wishes, but he hadn't said anything yet.
"…Is the only reason you are here right now. You died, I know, because the squirrel saw and reported back to us, once I left after I let go of the arrow."
"Why? What was the reason for this elaborate plot? How did you do this?" Edmund spoke up then, asking softly as his eyes came to rest on Geramius.
The fawn trembled once but he held his head high and glared at the Just King. "We do not believe that you deserved to be King."
"And why not?" Edmund asked his voice devoid of any affliction.
"You? The one who betrayed your siblings and the country you now rule over to the White Witch. You were just as much as a servant of her as anyone else on her side was. Just because you backed out on a late date doesn't excuse what you've done."
"You're right."
"It's nice that you agree."
"But you are also wrong."
"Come again?"
"I have repented. I am sorry, truly sorry for all that I've done, and I've done nothing but try to make up for the wrong I've done but I know I can never truly do so."
The other monarchs wanted to console their brother but they said nothing.
The Minotaur snorted, "Please, save it for someone who cares. Is this so-called justice? Huh? How is it a betrayer is now sitting on one of the four thrones? Please, explain that to me."
"Aslan's knows what he is doing." Queen Lucy cut in smoothly, "He saw the heart of our royal brother. He knew that Edmund would be a great king because of what he had been through. King Edmund had to grow and learn and he did learn. Much."
The crowd gave loud murmurs of approval at the statement.
"Oh, please, spare me", one of the cats murmured.
"Do you have something to say? Please, speak", the Gentle Queen gave firm encouragement.
"I did not sign up for this. I have no problems with you or your royal sister. I even bless the name of the High King of Narnia", here the cat gave a bow to said King.
Peter twitched but he kept silent. He knew if he spoke, it wouldn't go well.
"But, your royal brother...", it was said with venom, "...I do not bless. In fact I curse him. I curse him to the high heavens."
The High King visible twitched and shifted on his throne, his fingers tightened on his armrests. Edmund glanced at his brother was a little surprised that Peter was trying hard to let Edmund lead this as he promised. Edmund knew that if Peter gave his word, he wouldn't go back on it, but it still was surprising. He loved his brother all the more in this instance for trusting Edmund enough to let this continue. There were a loud hiss from the crowd.
Edmund held up his hand, making the crowd quiet down to a point. Then he asked, "What have I done to earn your curse, cousin."
"Do not call me that!" the cat snapped, "I am not your cousin, nor will I ever be."
Susan's usually gentle voice was ice, "You pay us grave insult by insulting our royal brother thusly."
"I am not the only one to feel that way."
"We are not the only ones to feel that way", Geramius spoke up.
"We are just the only ones that had the guts to do what needed to be done", the second cat added.
Peter twitched as if he was going to say something but didn't.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Edmund.
"Surely you are not that stupid." The Minotaur's voice was flat.
Oreius couldn't help the stamp of his hoof. Edmund looked at him, but Oreius didn't do or say anything else. He wasn't the only one to make known he found that insulting as the crowd murmured angrily. Peter twitched again, his frown deepening, while Lucy and Susan were glaring at the Minotaur.
"Enlighten me", requested the Just king after a moment had passed.
The old hag laughed as the Minotaur continued, "You cannot be so naïve enough to not know that many Narnians didn't like you. They loved your royal siblings fine, I personally care not one way or the other for them, but you, they were wary of."
The royal siblings donned surprised looks as they all looked at Edmund for confirmation. Edmund face didn't change.
"Ahhh…." The Minotaur grinned mockingly, "I see even your royal siblings didn't even notice. How does it feel? Hm? I wonder. Suffering silently in the shadows while your siblings were in the light. Loved and adored by all, while when they were with you, they were stiff and wary. If they were in the presence of your royal siblings they hid it well, or perhaps said royal siblings ignored your pain to bask in their own glory they were receiving. How does that feel, hm?"
Said royal siblings noticed that many in the crowd began to shift uncomfortably. This shocked them but they didn't show it to any great degree. They continually glanced at Edmund to noticed his face was a complete mask. They had seen it before. The wall that Edmund built so that none but him knew what laid behind it. It disturbed the other siblings, especially Peter, but still he managed to keep his mouth pressed firmly together, almost to the point of pain.
"You tried your hardest to make up for your wrong doings but many didn't trust you explicitly and adore you like they did Queen Lucy. They didn't gravitate to you like bees to honey like they did Queen Susan. They didn't have that depth of respect as they did of High King Peter. They feared you instead. They were wary of you. Come on…." Here the Minotaur's voice rose as he looked around the room at the crowd, "Many of you know this to be true."
The crowd went real silent at this.
"How can any of you stay there and glare and jeer at us for things that you yourselves have felt? Don't be shy, step up and speak your mind freely! Don't hate us for doing something that none of you had the courage to do!"
Many in the crowd you could see physically shrunk at this. Even Oreius seemed surprised at some of the reactions of some of the Narnians in the crowd. Then it quickly became anger but he held his ground. He glared at the Minotaur and continually glanced at his younger king who still had not said anything or visible felt anything.
"Granted, as time passed, I will give some the fact that they came to realized that you were trying and slowly you had earned the respect that was freely given to your siblings", Geramius added.
Not one flicker of emotion betrayed King Edmund's thoughts.
"Must be hard. Be so alone amidst a crowd. Especially when you had betrayer attached to your name." the Minotaur mocked.
"That is what's an insult to me!" Geramius cried. The old hag cackled.
That got the younger King's attention as he looked at the fawn that was once trusted enough to be his valet, "Please elaborate."
"With pleasure!" the fawn snapped, "We are to be ruled by the very thing that could have destroyed us! You were part of the White Witch entourage whether you knew it or not. Ignorance was not an excuse. You would have turned in your siblings and doomed us all. And you expect our forgiveness. Worst yet, you expect to rule us when you couldn't even rule yourself."
"This is coming from one who has sided himself with two of the Witches followers." Queen Susan couldn't help but snap out.
Edmund looked over at her sharply and she glared furiously at the group but said no more. Edmund looked backed at Geramius who lifted his chin, looking down at him, "I did what I felt I had to do."
"So you admit you are going against Aslan's will? That you went against his will." Lucy asked softly, questioning his faith.
"Aslan failed us, by giving us a worthless King."
A cry of disgust rang throughout the group even those that were uncomfortable by the Minotaur's words. Peter stood up sharply making Edmund stand up. "My King…please." Was all the latter murmured reaching out and touching Peter's arm.
Peter looked at Edmund, fire in his eyes. The girls were outraged at the fawn's statement and worried about Peter and Edmund. Oreius's gave an angry snort and a firm stamp of his hoof, as he itched to hit the fawn. He held his ground, glancing at the soldiers under his command to not act on their anger that was clearly visible.
Peter opened his mouth but shut it abruptly as he slowly sunk back down in to his throne and if looks could kill the fawn would be dead. Geramius trembled under the might of such a look and he swore he saw a familiar flash of gold across the High King's face but he steadied himself and stood behind his words.
Edmund gazed at his brother a long moment before glaring down at the fawn, "I will not tolerate such blatant disrespect against the King over all Kings in Narnia in our court or our land for that matter. You may insult me if you wish, but you will not say such a thing against Aslan again. You have been warned. Next time, I will allow General Oreius to act on the anger he's so obviously holding back."
Oreius couldn't help the small smirk at this and that made Peter's mouth twitch once in satisfaction.
Geramius couldn't help but lower his head at the reprimand.
The Minotaur laughed once. "Come now, we are suppose to be scared of you? Do you even love your siblings?"
"Of course I do." Edmund answered as he sat back down on his throne.
"Do you? You harbor no jealous against them? Jealous that they are more than you. Jealous even that you were assassinated but none of us hated them as much as you, because there was no threat against them. Oh, they thought there was, but they were never on the radar. Surely a small part of you hates that you were hated so much that we planned all of this to kill you, but your royal siblings were safe the entire time."
"I would not wish what happened to me on anyone...", came the reply.
The Minotaur smirked clearly enjoying this debate, "I see you didn't answer my question completely, but no matter…."
Susan, Lucy and Peter glanced at Edmund worried about what was going through his head. Worried about the things he may have kept to himself, not allowing them even a glimpse. They worried that maybe some of what the Minotaur was saying was true, though he was clearly playing a head game with their brother. To Edmund's credit his didn't blink in the face of what was thrown at him, but on the flip side, that troubled them as well.
"...I know the answer to my own question."
"Then why ask?"
"To see what you would say, King Edmund", his name was said with a sneer.
King Edmund said nothing.
"But..." the Minotaur got the nastiest look he could have which was saying much as he drawled, "...what I want to know is...why you didn't tell them?"
The old hag poked the Minotaur excitedly, "Oh, yes! That was the most fun! Geramius was a big help there, since he was your valet and all. Oh, how does it feel to be betrayed by the one closest to you and the one you least expect? Do tell, do tell, do tell! Do! Tell!"
"Tell them what?" Edmund asked of the Minotaur ignoring the old hag who was almost bouncing in her spot. Oreius watched her warily.
"Oooo...", the Minotaur drawled out clearly enjoying the tension mounting in the room with this new information, "...you know. And you know you know."
"I'd appreciate you getting to a point." the Just King seemed unruffled.
The huge beast paused for affect before he busted out, "About the letters, of course!"
A questioning murmur when throughout the crowd. Peter watching Edmund closely at this moment, saw his younger brother's jaw twitch once, the only give away.
"What letters?" Susan asked.
"Oh, my apologizes, my Queen!" the Minotaur grinned, "But I question if Edmund really trust any of you, especially with the threatening letters he has been getting for the past several weeks. Oh, he never told you about them?"
Peter, Susan and Lucy looked flat out stunned by this. They all looked at Edmund who didn't look at them but instead still glared at the Minotaur.
"I'm so sorry!" the beast mocked, "If I had but known! All those letters, threatening your safety, insulting your honor, if you have any."
Here Oreius couldn't help but look at Edmund trying to read him. He frowned at this. He took the safety of the Kings and Queens very seriously.
The Minotaur continued his ears twitching in excitement, "You can't because if you did, you never would have accepted the crown, but you always wanted to be a king didn't you? Didn't matter how you became king but as long as you were. So of course you weren't going to turn it down. But I have to wonder what would have happened if the letters mentioned your royal family in any way. You would have told no sooner than you finished that line, wouldn't you?"
He laughed boorishly, "Wouldn't you have? But since it was directed solely towards you, you didn't tell them. Why is that? Oh, I must say, you must have some sense, because you actually helped us to kill you by not saying anything. Or at the very least you made our job so much easier! I must say, we have the hag to thank for such a foresight."
The hag cackled, "Oh yes, I figured you didn't care about yourself. You still don't do you? Why else are you letting us continue to talk to you this way? But the moment we drag your family or Aslan into this, you start fighting. But yourself….oh, you will just sit and get run through won't you?"
"You all are lying!" Susan hissed unable to be quiet a moment longer.
The Minotaur grinned, "Oh, but we aren't! Ask him what happened to said letters?"
"What happened to these so called letters, Edmund?" asked Susan leaning forward to try to capture her younger brother's eye.
Edmund said nothing and he didn't look at them.
"Edmund?" Lucy asked softly.
The entire crowd waited quietly for an answer. There was high tension as all eyes were on the youngest King.
"Oh, we can answer that by the way, since your royal brother doesn't seem to want to." The Minotaur raised his hand like an eager school kid.
"I don't remember asking you!" Susan snapped at him before looking expectantly at Edmund.
Peter still hadn't said anything but a deep scowl, that probably would make a permanent mark, was on his face by now as he too looked at Edmund.
"I burned them", Edmund spoke at last.
A loud murmur went up in the halls at this new revelation.
"So you admit there were letters. Threatening letters that you didn't tell us about." Susan asked after a moment's delay, looking at Edmund who still had not looked at any of them. Lucy just stared almost jaw open.
Peter was twitching violently now, his knuckled white as they gripped his armrest. Oreius held his breath waiting for an answer as he stared at the Just King, not understanding why he was just now finding out. Upset that he had just now found out and after the fact. If he had but known...
Millions of possibilities roamed throughout the centaur's mind, but he snapped back waiting for the answer with almost bated breath as everyone else.
"Yes." Came the simple answer a few seconds later.
Susan nodded and Lucy sniffed as she held back the tears. If possible, Peter looked madder.
"Well, at least you did one thing right." The Minotaur spoke up with a smirk, "So in essence, you allowed yourself to be killed."
"I didn't allow anything! Let's get that straight!" Edmund hissed, showing more emotion than he did in the last while.
"But you did by not telling them."
"My reasons are just that my reasons", Edmund emphasized, "I don't have to explain anything to the likes of you."
"But really, do you really think that what happened wasn't justice?"
Peter made a move to move but Edmund held out his hand. They glared at each other a long moment making the girls hold their breath. Edmund was surprised that Peter has let it go this far, but as long as he could stall his brother he would. But knew that the Minotaur only had a few steps more to take before Peter blow.
The Minotaur continued, "We all know that you aren't the most beloved sovereign. In fact, if we had a poll right now, even you can't deny that you would be the least favorite and with many a good reason."
Edmund lowered his hand and looked back that the Minotaur as he continued, "In fact you aren't beloved at all. You can't blame us for having the guts to do something about this wrong we feel." He said it as if the Just King was nothing more than a worm.
"Many were wary of you, many dislikes you, some I'm sure hates you, but we were the only ones who had the fortitude to do something about that."
"Hate me enough to want me dead. And to go about killing me." Edmund spoke with a nod, with quiet acceptance that scared the girls as well as Peter.
"Exactly. Is this justice? A betrayer who now rules us? Do you call that justice? Do you really think you are worthy to be sitting up there, judging us?" the Minotaur snorted, "You aren't worth the dirt it took to make you. You should have died on the stone table not Aslan! We are just doing what should have been done long ago."
Edmund's eyes budged at this and the girls looked panicked. Peter shot up from his seat as a loud cry of protest went up in the room.
"SILENCE!" Peter roared and everyone got quiet quick. "I have had enough! I have heard enough and I will not allow this to continue."
The High King could not longer sit back and listen quietly to this.
The Queens looked on the verge of crying but held it back, while King Edmund just stared off blankly.
TBC….
A.N: I was just writing and I realize this chapter got long. I was just going with flow and I forgot about the whole chapter thing. Lol. Had to find a cut off point. Shall continue next chapter...
