Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Authoresses Note: Ok... so this one may be a bit confusing. But about a year ago I had the strangest dream, and a Narnia dream no less! It was sort of like this, except a tad different based around time in England. But it fit this situation perfectly, so I added it into this story. So please review and tell me what you think!

Ages;
Peter:18
Susan:17
Edmund and Lucy: 14

The Valiant and The Just

Part 4. Sacrifice

Chapter 1. Define Who I Am

Where is reality and what are the actions
That will define who I am?
I am holding onto the visions I've seen of what I could be
It's what I should be
-'More Than It Seems' by Kutless

Lucy raced through the castle in search of a specific brother of hers... her twin. "Edmund!" she called. No reply. "Oh forget this..." she muttered. "Edmund?! Where on earth are you?!" she called through their thoughts.

"Right behind you." She gasped and whipped around to come face to face with Edmund. "You were looking for me?" he asked. She nodded. "Well, spit it out. I want to go for a ride." he said with a smile.

"Well, I was hoping you would play chess with me... but if you're going to go riding..."

"I'll play with you when I get back. Easy solution." he said.

"After supper you mean. But alright. You have a deal." she said.

"After supper, of course." he smiled.

She gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Stay safe." she said.

"I will." he smiled.

"And you best tell Pete before you leave. I have to go meet Su for ball planning, so I can tell her." she said.

He nodded. "Will do."

The two parted ways, Lucy to find Susan, Edmund to find Peter. And finally Edmund found the person he was looking for... in the library.

"I'll be back by dinnertime." Edmund told Peter.

"Alright." was Peters only reply.

Edmund sighed and walked from the library, leaving Peter to his books and maps. To Edmund, it seemed as though Peter didn't care whether he was going for a ride, or going to jump of the edge of a cliff. Of course this wasn't true. Edmund shook the thought from his head and continued his walk towards the stables.

As he entered, he took a deep breathe. Despite most things, he enjoyed the smell of stables. The fresh straw mostly. He stood there for a moment with his eyes closed before he opened them once more and began walking towards Phillipe.

"Oi! Edmund! there you are! I thought something was wrong!" Phillipe said.

"No, nothing is wrong. But it's good to know someone cares." Edmund replied, scratching Phillipe behind the ears. Phillipe nickered and nuzzled Edmund with his nose.

"Alright, what's going on? You seem depressed."

"Not depressed... confused."

"Well that's nothing new."

"Phillipe..."

"Sorry, I had to say it."

"Sure you did."

Edmund quickly saddled him, and pulled the harness on Phillipe just to hold onto. "So, where are we going?" Phillipe asked, once Edmund was mounted safely on his back.

"The outskirts of the Western Woods. We need to check the surroundings for safety percautions." Edmund replied.

"Are you still having those feelings?" Phillipe asked nervously.

"Yes... it's always like someone's watching me. Someone evil."

"Then wouldn't the best safety percaution be to stay away from the strange feeling?"

"In most cases yes. But Aslan gave me the Western Woods to govern. And I will protect my people."

"Spoken like a true king." he said, nudging Edmunds leg with his nose.

Edmund smiled and patted him on the neck. "Come on, off we go." he said.

In truth Edmund was worried. He had told each of his siblings, and only one believed him... Lucy. She had promised to stay away from that part until he could confirm it was nothing. But Peter and Susan weren't convinced.

Edmund was brought out of his thoughts as something, actually someonecame down out of a tree, knocking him out of the saddle. The breathe was nocked out of him as he hit the ground.

"What the..."

"Well well well, what do we have here." an all too familiar to him voice spoke.

Edmund gasped and looked up at the tall woman that was now standing over him. "Jadis..." "You... you're supposed to be dead." he stuttered.

"You cannot get rid of me, Edmund. I will always find a way back." she said.

"But..."

"Come with me, Edmund." she said reaching her hand down to him.

"Why would I ever come with you." he spat.

"It's either you... or your sister." she replied, curling her slender fingers into a fist before releasing and once more reaching down to him.

"W... which one?" he asked nervously.

"The younger one... your twin." she replied.

And to his great horror, he realized the witch remembered his greatest weakness. For a moment, Edmund fought inside himself for a few moments. He concidered calling out to Lucy, who would certainly hear. But she would never get there in time by herself, let alone with help. And so he came to a decision.

"Alright... I'll come. But you must leave my siblings alone... especially Lucy." he said.

"I'll leave them alone, if you come." she said.

He didn't want to take her hand, but he did.

He didn't want to follow her, but he did.

And he certainly didn't want ot become her Prince... but that is what he became.

"Peter, I'm telling you something is wrong! I can feel it!" Lucy exclaimed, trying to keep up with her older brother.

"Lucy, I'm quite sure he's fine." Peter sighed.

"But Peter..."

"No buts, Lucy. If he's not home by supper I'll send out search partys."

"But..."

"Lucy, I'm busy right now. You're probably just worried."

Lucy's temper flared. "WORRIED?! PETER, I AM BEYOND WORRIED! I'M GOING BLOODY MAD! HE COULD BE LYING IN A BLOODY DITCH, OR A BLOODY STREAM OR A..."

"Lucy! I've never heard you say one curse word before let alone all that!" Peter exclaimed.

"Then wash my mouth out with soap and send a search party NOW!" Lucy snapped.

"Lucy, I can't. Just because you're... beyond worried, doesn't mean Edmund is really in trouble. Now tell me the truth, did you have a nightmare last night?" he asked.

"Well... yes, but..."

"Then you're probably just reacting to that. You know that sometimes happens. I promise, if he's not home by supper I'll send search partys out, but..."

"Forget that! He could be dead by then! If you won't go, I will!" she snapped.

She spun on her heal and ran towards her room. She first changed into riding breeches and a tunic. She then strapped a belt around her waist and attached her sheath to the belt. She drew the sword and glanced it over before resheathing it. After pulling her hair up she ran from the room. She knew time was of the essence and ignored tacking up. Camille also felt as though something was wrong, and the two set off with only the neccessary things, both of which they had... hoof and sword.

But when they found Phillipe alone, and in quite a maddened state, they knew that it was only the beginning of their biggest adventure yet.