Chapter Eight: Truth and Lies

A/N: I am so sorry about how short some of the previous chapters have been! School's started up again and the teachers have really been loading on the homework…but enough complaining on my behalf; here's the next chapter…and it's long. This was written while I was listening to 'Until It Sleeps' by Apocalyptica. Very powerful song…really sets the mood…

Earth Kid Tree Hugger: Sorry about the short chapters – you know, school and all that. Hopes this one makes up for it!

Ellen: I'm glad you thought so!

Lucie: That's actually really cool. I wish I had the same name as someone in…anything!

Vivi Fontaine: Oh, so am I! XD

pselpevensie: The plan may have dire consequences…it certainly won't be what anyone expected, that's for sure.

NarniaQueen and QueenofFantasy: Wow, I love your enthusiasm! Thanks so much!

princess emma of narnia: Glad you liked it!

Both Rose and Edmund were on edge. It would have been even creepier if it was night, but Edmund had reassured Rose. It would defeat the point if they were 'hunting' at night. Despite this, Rose gripped the hilt of her sword constantly, and Edmund's crossbow was strung at all times. His dark eyes darted around as if he expected Brody to jump from the bushes at any moment.

"Okay," Edmund pointed his arm to one side, "You go that way, and 'get lost'. I'll head the other way. When Brody comes for you…if he does…"

Rose shrugged.

"He has a way of knowing things. Trust me, he'll find me."

They separated, and it felt like a huge weight had settled in Rose's stomach, dragging her down. Every twig snapping made her flinch, every rustle made her turn. She had to remind herself that it was mainly paranoia…but Brody would come. She was almost certain of it.

Rose got off her horse and grabbed her crossbow, fitting an arrow and pointing it around her. She was so nervous she could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage. Her hands were clammy and her breathing was ragged. What if Brody ambushed her? What if she didn't even have time to scream, to warn Edmund? Brody was clever – what if he guessed she was only the bait in a bigger trap?

Stop worrying and concentrate!

A rustle in the bushes behind her made Rose whip around, pointing her crossbow and preparing to fire. She gulped and waited…before a badger ambled through the undergrowth and Rose breathed a sigh of relief.

"Sorry for startling you, missy," he mumbled before he continued on his way.

Rose breathed a sigh of relief and she dropped her formerly tense posture. She was, of course, being an idiot. Jumping at noises now…whatever next? Her training had prepared her for most eventualities…but not combatting sorcerers.

She lowered her crossbow, feeling like a fool…and then a pained yell ripped through the forest, making Rose's eyes widen. She knew that yell. Rose turned and began running, her sword in one hand and her crossbow in the other. She was more panicked now – she'd come to realise she was more concerned when it came to the lives of others. Rose was running faster than she'd ever run before.

The White Witch she had understood – but Brody's motives were alien to her. She couldn't guess what he wanted, if he might have killed her best friend.

"Edmund!" Her petrified scream seemed to echo all around, her despair pouring through the trees. She kept moving at a constant pace…but she could see no one. Here and there, bloodstains spattered the ground, but there were no trances of Edmund. Was it his blood, or Brody's? Rose couldn't tell.

Rose sank to her knees, the crossbow clattering to the ground and placed her sword beside her as she buried her face in her hands and started to sob her heart out. It looked like a massive fight had taken place. Had Brody abducted Edmund? Was the Just King dead or alive?

She didn't know how long she sat there, feeling pathetic as she pulled at her own hair, a mess of tears and grief. Why was everyone around her falling? First Lucy, now this…it was just like her nightmares were coming true. She didn't know how much more she could take.

What was she supposed to tell Peter? He was her fiancé, but he was Edmund's older brother. She felt a sort of responsibility for the incident. She was supposed to be the Protector…whose twisted idea had that been?

"Who am I?" she cried out to no one in particular, "How am I a Protector? How?"

There was a rustle behind her, louder than when the badger had emerged. Her blood boiling, Rose bared her teeth as she snatched up her crossbow and aimed, clambering to her feet. She almost hoped that it was Brody so that she would have an excuse to kill him as brutally as possible. She knew it was wrong to crave such violence, but she felt nothing could compensate for what had been done to…wait…

"Edmund?"

With an exclamation of delight, she tossed the crossbow aside. By the time it hit the ground she was already running to her best friend, her face full of happiness as she threw her arms around him and embraced him fiercely. When she did, she realised there was something the matter. She back to look into his eyes, placing her hands on his shoulders and shaking him a little.

"How are you still alive? Ed, what happened? I called out to you…I was so scared you were dead…I saw the blood…"

A strained smile crossed his face, and he reached out a hand to stroke back her hair. She nearly flinched; he suddenly felt so cold.

"I'm sorry. It was Brody…he tried to ambush me, so I went after him…he managed to get away though. Rose, I am so sorry – I didn't know…"

Rose pulled him into another hug. "It's okay. I'm just glad you're not hurt." When he didn't respond, she looked up into his eyes. Something was wrong, and she knew it. Had Brody done something to Edmund? She was beginning to feel apprehensive again.

"Ed?"

It happened so suddenly. One moment he was just standing there, and then he grabbed her by the throat, tilting his head to the side. Rose took a sharp breath of alarm, gripping Edmund's wrist with both her hands…but it was no use. She couldn't pry him away.

"What are you doing?" There was no doubting the terror in her voice now, "Edmund, let me go!"

He chuckled softly, a sound that she'd never heard coming from him before now. There was something horrible in his dark eyes, something fervent that glittered and refused to go away. He watched her curiously.

"You really are naïve sometimes, Rose. Not willing to see what's right in front of you. How do you think Brody got into the palace in the first place? I work for him. We have had an agreement for some time now."

Rose would have shaken her head, but she couldn't with Edmund's tight grasp around her throat.

"No! No, that can't be true! You must be possessed by him or something…we need to get you back to Cair Paravel…"

Edmund bared his teeth, suddenly looking savage. Now Rose was really scared. Her best friend was turning into something she couldn't predict. He was wild and out of control. Rose was hoping this was some kind of spell on Brody's part, because she really didn't want it to be real. She didn't think she could stand it.

"You never would have known the truth." His voice was flat now. "Don't you remember what Brody said about my inner darkness? Peter…so trusting, so gullible. Willing to believe anything so that the girl he loved would be safe. Pretty Rose, all alone with her nightmares…and who better to comfort her than Edmund, her loyal friend?"

"STOP…IT!" screamed Rose, thrashing in his grasp. His words were hurting her more than the vice-like grip around her throat. They cut into her like knives. She couldn't believe someone she had once trusted could do this to her, and to his own siblings. "What do you want? How can you possibly torment me any more?"

Edmund grinned. "Brody saw right from the very start what I wanted…the only thing I wanted but could never have. The thing my older brother took from me, when it should have been rightfully mine…I want you, Rose."

He leaned forward, his breath hot on her neck. Rose grimaced and tried to turn her head away, but Edmund pressed his lips forcefully onto hers in a warped imitation of a kiss. She could feel his tongue trying to push through into her mouth, and she felt nauseous. Lashing out, she used her training to the maximum. Rose slapped Edmund across the face – hard. He staggered backwards and she turned to run, grabbing her crossbow as she went.

She whipped around to face Edmund, her eyes burning as she watched him come at her slowly, that insane grin still lighting his face. He had to be possessed…and if he was, she knew she didn't have it in her to shoot him down.

"Stay away from me."

He tilted his head to the side, smirking at her.

"I know you're not going to shoot me, Rose."

He continued to advance and she hoisted the crossbow higher, tears starting to glimmer in her eyes. She had believed Edmund dead…but this was even worse. He was either possessed or a traitor. Rose didn't know which she'd prefer.

If he wanted her – or the possessed form of him did – then where was he going to take her? To Brody? Was this what it was all about? Now Rose was starting to wonder who the sorcerer's vengeance was really directed at: her or Peter?

"Put the crossbow down."

She shook her head fervently. "No!"

Edmund's eyes blazed and he moved forward and knocked the crossbow from her hands. It clattered to the ground, and Rose was left weaponless, glancing at him fearfully. She had no doubts that she was to be used for something much bigger.

Her mouth opened into a gape of horror as Edmund backhanded her harshly across the face. Rose's world spun and started to turn black. The last thing she was aware of was Edmund catching her, which didn't comfort her in the least.

Peter frowned as his younger brother entered the throne room alone. He stood to his feet, his hands clenching into fists. Something was wrong. There was a desperate look in Edmund's eyes, and he even formally bowed to the High King – something he would never normally do.

"What happened? Where's Rose?"

Edmund looked very guilty. "I'm sorry, Peter. I couldn't save her."

"What happened?" thundered Peter, his eyes flaring, "Tell me, Edmund!"

The Just King averted his eyes, his expression bitter.

"Brody took her."

Peter sat down heavily, unable to believe what he'd just heard. No…this wasn't right. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. Rose and Edmund were supposed to bring Brody down…and instead, Brody had succeeded.

Someone had to be blamed, and Peter's current rage meant that he glared across at his younger brother. The rage filling him was all too much. He didn't know if he'd ever see his fiancé again. He didn't know what Brody wanted with her.

"This is your fault."

Edmund's eyes widened. "My fault?"

"You were supposed to protect her!" roared Peter, "That's why I sent you with her, dammit! Now Brody has a bargaining tool. He knows that none of us will dare to go against him if he has Rose."

Edmund stood his ground, his eyes furious as he stared up at his older brother. Peter was breathing heavily, and both of them had begun to sense that this was the beginning of the end. How could Narnia survive this? Rose had been kidnapped by a ruthless, unpredictable enemy. Peter and Edmund were bickering amongst themselves. Was nothing sane anymore?

"I did the best I could, but he attacked me first! There was nothing I could do to stop it. I'm sorry I can't see the future, Peter. Stop accusing me, because we all know the truth, don't we? We all know who's responsible."

Peter blinked, and Susan entered the room, her eyes widening as she realised the tension in the room. She stood back and said nothing.

"It's your fault," snapped Edmund, jabbing an accusing finger at his brother, "You ordered us both out. You put her life on the line."

"YOU AGREED TO IT!" bellowed Peter, apoplectic, "I WAS AGAINST THE IDEA ENTIRELY!"

Edmund's face was full of anger and hatred.

"Maybe if you had gone to protect the girl you loved instead of sending me in your place, she might still be here."

Peter yelled out in rage and started towards Edmund, drawing his sword. Edmund just stood there, chin lifted defiantly. He didn't even take out his weapon to defend himself. Susan ran across the room, throwing herself between the two brothers.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded of Peter, "Have you gone mad? Look, we can get Rose back. There's no need for us to go fighting amongst ourselves! You don't see what's happening, do you?"

Peter and Edmund were quiet as Susan continued her rant.

"This is tearing us apart! We can't go blaming each other when we all know who the real culprit is: Brody."

As usual, level-headed Susan had proved her point. It was only going to be so long before their arguing became their undoing. They had to cut it out now, before it was too late. Right now, everything was upside down. None of them knew whether they could truly trust the others.

Peter was still breathing heavily, and he stowed his sword back inside its sheath as he continued to stare down his sister and brother.

"First thing tomorrow, I'll take a group of soldiers out. We'll start looking for Rose where she went missing – Ed, you can show us…and we won't stop looking until we've found her."