A/N I've been re-watching the Chronicles of Narnia movies, and I fall in love with Edmund's character development every god damn time. I don't think it's said enough how much he grew from the first time he set foot in Narnia, and it's really amazing how talented he really is. At the same time, it's heartbreaking, because it makes me think of how much he just wants to make up for how he betrayed his siblings... The Pevensies are by no means perfect in any way, and that's probably the reason why I love writing about them.
Anyways, enjoy this latest installment!
Chapter 12
His Fear
Peter had been relatively silent as they wandered down random trails. From where Nyra was walking next to Edmund's horse, she could almost smell the anxiety radiating off of the high king. The wolf flicked her tail and looked up at Edmund, knowing that he sensed it too. Considering they were several miles from Cair Paravel now, it was pretty obvious that this conversation was going to be about the twins. What was throwing Edmund off; however, was the fact that Peter had never gone out of his way this much to make sure that no one was listening.
"What is so important that you had to drag us this far out into the forest?" Edmund pulled Atlas to a halt, refusing to go any further until Peter started talking. The eldest brother sighed, tightening his grip on the reigns of his horse, Ahern.
"Look, Ed," Peter turned so he could meet his brother's eyes. "I've already talked to Susan and Lucy about this, but I just want to make sure that you and Nyra know what's going on."
Wait, what? When could Peter have possibly gotten the chance to haul their sisters out into the middle of a forest within the last twenty-four hours? Edmund looked down at his wolf guard, but she merely shrugged in response.
"Okay…?" Edmund was rather unsure of where this conversation was going, but it didn't exactly sound like anything good.
"Ever since we've learned more information about what Vivian and Zebulan are, I've grown more concerned about Susan and Lucy's safety." Well, Edmund couldn't disagree with him there. "I know what you're thinking, and believe me, I want nothing more than to lock those twins up in a place where they'll never see the light of day again."
Finally, something they agreed on. Edmund felt his heart jump in his chest as the thought of insuring that the Encantados were forever locked away. This was it; Peter was going to tell him that he'd changed his mind. This was the executive decision Edmund had been praying for since the moment he'd set eyes on their "guests".
"However," And yet, Peter never failed to disappoint him. "I do believe that they're telling the truth. Whatever it was that took over their homeland is somehow connected with the Witch's former army popping up all over Narnia."
"So basically everything we've already agreed on." Edmund said through clenched teeth, more than ready to just head back to the castle and get work done. "Thanks, Pete, it's been a truly educational talk."
"Oh would you stop being so immature!" Peter was growing tired of Edmund's impatience. The younger brother's eyes instantly flared up at the comment, and Nyra could feel the tension building. The wolf flicked her ear in annoyance, knowing that this would quickly lead to a physical fight again.
"What is it that you wanted to tell us, Peter?" Nyra asked, successfully drawing the attention of both brothers. Peter clenched his jaw and glared at Edmund.
"I'm sending Lucy to Narrowhaven."
"You're what?" Edmund's response even made Atlas uneasy, and the wolf guard took a weary step away from the horse as she shifted.
"I'm sending her to Narrowhaven to search for more information on Encantados." Peter explained, barely keeping himself from rolling his eyes. "The library in their capital is vast, and our relations with the people of Doorn are currently in good standings-
"Because we helped negotiate peace between Calormen and Avra two years ago," It wasn't that Edmund was against sending his sister far away from the twins and everything bad happening in Narnia, it was just that there were far safer places. "The citizens of the Lone Islands aren't exactly in their right minds, Pete!"
"She'll be fine, Ed." The king insisted, looking to Nyra for help.
"My lord, we've received several reports of underground slave trading on those islands." The wolf reminded him, "Not to mention the human sacrifices."
"Alleged human sacrifices," Peter ran a hand through his hair. He was so certain that convincing the two of them would be easier than this. "Besides, she won't be there for long. As soon as she finds more information, she'll be back on a boat and heading for Brenn."
"Why does it have to be Narrowhaven?" Edmund asked, feeling a headache starting to come on. "What does it have that Brenn doesn't?"
"A seer."
"You're kidding, right?" Edmund considered himself to have a fairly open mind, but this was one thing he didn't believe in. "You're going to send our little sister across an ocean because there's a supposed fortune teller?"
"I'm not daft, Ed. Lucy won't be alone." Peter was more than ready to strangle his brother for being so pigheaded. "She'll have an army of guards, Mr. Tumnus, and I was hoping for another to keep her safe." His gaze drifted towards Nyra, who had been quietly sitting on the side of the trail.
"Me?" It came out as more of a question than a statement, but Peter merely stared down at her. Edmund silently agreed that he would feel much better if Nyra accompanied his little sister, but nothing would ever be able to change his stance on the issue.
"I want nothing more than to protect my queen." Nyra said, wrapping her tail around her paws uncomfortably as the brothers stared her down. "However, I refuse to leave Cair Paravel while those things are still here. If you wish, I will find a suitable replacement."
Peter nodded, "I expect to hear from you by tonight, they leave in two days."
"What- no!" Edmund's heart was pounding so loudly in his ears he could barely speak. "I never said I agreed to this!"
"It wasn't your decision, Ed." The dark king could almost hear the triumphant smirk in his brother's voice. "You need to understand that I'm doing this for Lucy's protection- to get her away from Narnia while we deal with whatever it is that's going on."
"Piss off." Without waiting for Peter to respond, Edmund jammed his heels into Atlas's sides and took off towards the beach.
Peter sighed. He had hoped that this conversation would turn out better, but he should have realized that he wasn't particularly Edmund's favorite person at the moment. The king ran his tongue along the inside of his teeth and looked down at Nyra, who had jumped up as soon as Edmund took off.
"Make sure he gets back to the castle alright." Peter's voice had suddenly lost all energy, and Nyra flicked her ear sympathetically.
"Don't worry, he'll come around eventually." She assured him. Peter pressed his lips together, uncertain of how true the wolf's words were. "For whatever it's worth, I think you're making the right call."
Peter's face softened and he smiled down at Nyra, suddenly feeling the weight of his decision lifting off of his back. It was so strange how a few simple words could make him feel better. The king took a deep breath and stared down the trail where Edmund had taken off down. He had viewed his siblings as no more than children for so long now, Peter sometimes forgot that he was just a child himself. It was hard to come to terms with that fact, though, whenever he held Rhindon.
"Thank you." Peter said quietly, before turning Ahearn to head back to the castle.
Nyra didn't wait for his form to disappear down the path, before she took off towards the beach to find Edmund. Sending Lucy to the Lone Islands made her just as anxious as her king, but she would rather the girl be there than interacting with the snake-shifters. Even now, Nyra could feel the change happening in Narnia like she felt the ground beneath her paws. Whether it was good or bad she couldn't quite tell, but it was balancing strangely between the two.
She spotted Edmund a few feet before she set foot on the sand, already dismounted and kicking the ground in frustration. Atlas had wandered off back towards the grass growing near the cliffs. Nyra took a few steps towards the young king and sat down, watching as he battled the urge to lose his temper. He had grown so much over the past few years that the wolf sometimes forgot how easily angered he was.
"If I'd had to pick anyone who I thought would be on my side, it would have been you." Nyra looked down at her paws at Edmund's words, a heavy feeling settling in her stomach.
The boy's lips were parted slightly, ready to continue speaking. Instead, he dropped his own head and clenched his fists. Nyra had disagreed with him on many things before, but her most recent allegiance to Peter shook him to the core. Of course he supported the idea of sending Lucy somewhere safe, but his brother's decision wasn't the answer. The fact that Nyra had folded to her superior only served to remind him that she was still just a soldier in Narnia's army, an army that Peter commanded. Edmund was angry that he was angry at her, and he'd never felt more foolish.
With a frustrated sigh, Edmund sat down on the beach, holding his head in his hands. He had never grown as close to someone as he had with Nyra- not even with his siblings. The wolf was truly the only one who understood him, and he was afraid to lose that intimate connection he'd been denied his entire life. What had just happened felt like the beginning of that rift.
"Everything is going to be fine, Edmund." Nyra said softly, coming to sit next to him. The boy dropped his hands and stared out across the ocean. "Once Lucy is safe, we'll be able to focus on what's going on here and who we're up against."
"But she's not going to be safe," Edmund held true to his belief. "Not where Peter's sending her."
"You must have faith."
The second son closed his eyes, wondering how Nyra could be so optimistic at a time like this. The two sat in silence for several minutes, watching the waves fall closer to their resting bodies. A chilling wind had blown in from across the sea, bringing with it dark clouds that their country hadn't seen in months. Winter was just around the corner, and this new threat couldn't have come to them at a worse time.
"I'm conflicted about how much I trust the twins." Edmund finally said, looking back to the real reason why he was on edge.
"I don't trust them at all." The king smirked at Nyra's blunt response, but quickly became stone-faced again.
"We know what they are and what they can do- for the most part…" Nyra dug her claws into the soft ground as she listened. "I mean, their intentions seem true to their word, but I can't shake this feeling that something's off with them."
"It's the female." Nyra said. Edmund nodded, glad that he wasn't the only one who was extra wary of Vivian. "She's hiding something, and I won't rest until I figure it out."
"I thought that was Kai's job."
"No, the scouts are there because I can't be everywhere at once." Edmund sighed, knowing that arguing with Nyra wouldn't get them anywhere. "And for the record, I don't think sending Lucy to Narrowhaven of all places is a good idea."
Edmund picked his head up, suddenly feeling the fire in his stomach burning again. "Why didn't you say that about fifteen minutes ago?"
"You misunderstand me." Nyra said, leaning forward to lie on the beach. "I don't think sending her there alone is a good idea." She turned her head, staring pointedly at the king.
"No, I'm not going with her." Edmund said firmly. "Not with everything that's going on here."
"Then stop complaining."
Edmund couldn't lie, he was a bit taken aback at Nyra's straightforwardness. With a tight-lipped smile, the boy dug his heels into the sand. She was right, moaning about it wouldn't solve anything. Lucy wasn't a damsel in distress- she never was. The best thing he could do for her is make sure she had everything she needed to stay safe.
"Do you think they're still out there? Her followers?" He wasn't sure what brought up the old sense of dread. Perhaps it was thinking back on their latest mission, or maybe it was the cool breeze that reminded him of the terrible winter.
"They always will be." Edmund's irrational panic was quickly soothed by the wolf's warm body pressing against his legs. The king looked down at his feet, embarrassed by his own fears.
"Do you think we should look for them or something?" He had always been told to face his fears, maybe this was the answer. "They might have something to do with what's going on up north…"
"Perhaps someday," Nyra said, pushing herself back up as the water drew dangerously close to her paws. "but that day is not today."
Edmund nodded in agreement, pulling his legs back towards his chest to keep his feet dry. The wind was picking up speed, churning the ocean angrily before them. The wolf huffed and stood up, taking a few paces backwards and shaking the sand from her thick coat.
"A storm is coming, we should head back to the castle."
For those of you who are unaware, Narrowhaven (in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader), is where Caspian, Lucy, and Edmund were captured by slave traders. Also, it's the place where boats full of unlucky people were sent out as sacrifices to the Green Mist! Of course, this isn't for about a thousand years, but I like to imagine Narrowhaven's descent into madness as a gradual one that started during the Golden Ages.
Any questions, comments, or life threatening concerns don't hesitate to pm me!
Charlii
