Back to Edmund and Fili, and Edmund is about to learn that sometimes, pretty faces don't always belong to nice people. So from now until Edmund gets rescued, the story will be alternating between the Peter/Thorin group and the Edmund/Fili one, I'll try to keep both parts up equally, but I already have a sneaky feeling that the Peter/Thorin group will be getting a few extra chapters, I'll see as I go along. Well, other than that, let's focus on our two runaways, who are bout to face a lot worse than Edmund had initially thought...

As always, thank you so much for following, and I really hope this story will keep up something somewhat enjoyable! :)

Edmund gave an annoyed huff, realizing he would not be getting a moment with the Queen alone, just him and Her. Why did everybody always have to be so mean to him? Why, just for once in his life, couldn't others just leave him do something he wanted to do and not something he was told to do?

Ignoring Fili as best he could, both made their way silently through the palace, one desperately wishing to find a way out, the other eager to meet his Queen. However, this was definitely not what Edmund had expected, at all.

Ambling along, he felt a small knot of unease settle in, as he glanced at the incredible amount of statues the Queen seemed to possess, ranging from horses to griffons to centaurs. She even had the biggest giant Edmund had ever seen! This certainly wasn't the rooms filled with Turkish Delights she'd talked about, but surely they were stored behind some other doors, right? The boy started feeling a knot of dread tighten in the pits of his stomach, as he gazed at the stone figures, which looked much to real to his liking, it was like some real animals had actually been somewhat changed to stone (even if such an idea was absolutely preposterous) but they just came off as so authentic that Edmund couldn't help the thought.

Glancing back at the dwarf, he could see him looking around uneasily, eying the stones around them, keeping his distances and constantly checking behind them. As if anything bad could happen! What a silly thought, they were in the Queen's home, of course she wasn't going to hurt them!

"Scared?" he taunted, unable to help himself, slowing his pace to walk beside the dwarf, knowing there was no escaping him now. Well, it could have been worse, imagine if Peter were here… a vicious part of him reminded.

Fili didn't give in, knowing it was what Edmund wanted. But yes, he was scared, and Edmund ought to be too, especially with the surrounding too-real statues. He could almost swear there was life crawling in them, and whatever had been done to them was the result of a most cruel decision indeed. And there were just so many of these creatures…

Defeated, and knowing there was no way they were possibly going to make it out, the door in which they'd come in way to heavy for the two of them to just push open by themselves, the blonde followed, determined to stay close to Edmund as long as they were here. He knew the boy would only see it as a means to annoy him, but Fili wouldn't be swayed, as an elder brother, it was his job to look out for Edmund, as Peter wasn't there to do so.

As both weaved their way through the stone statues, where they could sometimes make out a centaur, a bear, a horse, and… oh! Edmund stopped. To his left, stood a statue of a lion. He looked at it curiously, and then gave a soft chuckle. So this was the famed Aslan that they were all so eagerly talking about? So much for a grand magnificent lion, why the Queen had caught him already! Bending down and retrieving a small black stone from a little pile at his feet, Edmund drew a nice pair of glasses and a moustache on the beast, and smiled, satisfied at his work, after finishing, the animal looked much better now.

Fili didn't interrupt him, not wanting them to risk being heard by anyone, and looked around again, hoping he'd find some form of an exit somewhere, but the only thing he could see as he turned on himself were the all too real statues, and not a single way out. They were both stuck here.

As Edmund went forward again, Fili grew anxious, not wanting the boy to adventure himself any deeper into the castle then they needed. They were lucky enough to not have crossed anything wanting to harm them yet, but he was certain their good fortune would not prevail for much longer. Actually, he was almost willing to go back to the door, and try and open it again, maybe with Edmund's help they just may be able to get out?

"Please! We need to turn back!" He pleaded, as he desperately latched onto the back of Edmund's jumper, trying to give it a little tug, hating how panic was gnawing at his insides again. He knew Kili was sometimes reckless, his little brother would actually rather face danger head on than keep low and wait, but he couldn't allow Peter's younger sibling to do so. Fili needed to return Edmund to his family, unharmed.

"Listen, dwarf! I never asked for you to follow me, and I'm not going back to Peter, so stop trying to boss me around! If you're so scared go and hide, by all means! I'm here for the Queen!" the black haired-boy snapped, tired at having someone telling him what to do all the time and using his taller frame to leer down at the blonde. Edmund was here to see his Queen, and nothing was going to stop him, and certainly not this second annoying big brother!

Walking resolutely up the few steps at the end of the room of statues, he didn't notice the beast he'd stepped over until it snarled and tripped him over, and Edmund found himself lying on the frozen floor, staring up into the eyes of a wild wolf. He gulped, cold sweat breaking out on the back of his neck as he realized just how close its jaws were to his face.

"Lay still stranger, or you'll never move again!"

The beast was enormous, and the fangs it was bearing at him definitely didn't come off as remotely friendly, if anything Edmund was now thinking that he'd be dead before even reaching his Queen, all this had been for nothing.

"Get off him!" Fili cried, cursing himself for not having brought any weapons with him, Uncle having made him take them all off once arriving in the beaver's home. The only thing he could do was tug at the beast's furs, but a snap of powerful jaws in his direction sent him stumbling back, and he could only watch as Edmund tried bartering for his safety. He reeled back as the sharp teeth snapped out at him, almost getting his ankle this time, after giving another attempt.

"Who are you?" The wolf went back interrogating Edmund gruffly, needing to know if this creature was friend or foe to her Majesty. After all, it was his job, as captain of the Secret Police, to make sure nobody would come here to harm her (even if she was probably more than capable of defending herself).

"I-I'm Edmund" the trembling boy beneath him stammered "I met the Queen in the woods! She told me to come back here!" Oh, the Pevensie boy didn't want to die like this, not being eaten by a wolf! "I'm a Son of Adam!" he cried out, out of sheer desperation.

Both Edmund and Fili were taken aback then, when the wolf softened (as much as a wolf could do) and got off the boy, letting him get his wits about him. Edmund brushed off the hand the dwarf offered him, and got shakily to his feet, trying to get his panting breath under control.

"My apologies" the wolf said, hanging his head slightly, before continuing "fortunate favorite of the Queen. Or else… Not so fortunate." And the furry carnivore made its way back to the gigantic staircase.

Edmund followed him first, Fili on his heels, as the two made their way up the stairs. Both were told to wait at the entrance, as the wolf went through the door, and Fili made one last attempt at getting Edmund home to the others.

"Please Edmund! That beast almost bit your head off, please, we need to go!" It was desperate now, they needed to escape somehow, and if the boy was willing it would make things a lot easier. He really didn't want to have to drag him along, and probably wouldn't even be able to anyway.

"You really sound like Peter right now." Edmund laughed bitterly. "I escape one annoying elder brother only to be stuck with another. Well, if you're going to try and boss me around, you can Give. It. Up. Because I'm not going to listen to a stupid dwarf!" It was final, and the younger Pevensie wasn't in the mood for more big-brother antics, once he was King, things were definitely going to change, starting with the fact that no elder brother would ever be allowed to order him to do this or that.

Fili suppressed a sob of defeat, knowing Edmund couldn't mean what he was saying, not really. He hadn't wanted to come off as such, not at all. He knew the feeling, Thorin had often been overprotective of him and Kili in their younger days, to a smothering point at times, but as he grew up he understood Thorin had never done it to be annoying, it had only been the result of having lost his own little brother, Frerin, in battle. Edmund hadn't realized that yet, and trying to explain it to him right now didn't really seem like the right course of action to take. The only thing he could do was try and make sure no harm would come to the boy, even if Fili was gradually comprehending he probably wouldn't even be able to do that either.

"Right this way." The wolf beckoned them, once they'd reached the top of the stairs. The blue and white hues of the castle were slowly grating on Fili's nerves, bringing him back to a much too familiar memory of being trapped in frozen tunnels, with no way out. While there were no orcs here, or at least, he couldn't make out any yet, the memories were still too fresh, and concealing the panic he was experiencing was getting hard.

The wolf led the two of them up a staircase, and to another icy door, which both boy and dwarf stepped through. Edmund cast wondrous glances everywhere, as he caught the intriguing details on a doorframe or the carvings made out of the ice that formed the walls. However, what caught his attention in this new room was the incredible throne, at the far end, just sitting there and already inviting him over. He'd barely even caught onto Maugrim's "Wait here." As, mesmerized by the royal chair, he made his way over to it. Up close, it looked even more beautiful, even more inviting, and Edmund trailed a longing hand on the furs that had been placed upon it, no doubt making the whole thing a lot more comfortable. Giving Fili a smug smirk, he patted down the pelts before sitting on it, like the Queen had said he would someday, and the feeling he experienced was better than anything he could ever remember. Everything was just so perfect. Leaning back a little, he could almost picture himself, dealing justice and ordering Peter around, who would be bent on his knees in front of him, oh it was so good! Edmund couldn't even help the grin on his face anymore, just relishing in the power he felt coursing through his veins.

"Like it?" A tough voice sounded from their left, and Edmund immediately hopped out of the throne, making his way back to the dwarf and standing beside him. The voice was familiar, but had he paid more attention, he might just have noticed the harshness there.

As Fili got a first glance of the White Witch the beavers had been talking about, he immediately felt his body freeze, and a pain in his chest burn anew as he took a shaky step back. Taking in the tall woman's frame, her slim but strong arms, white complexion and black eyes, it was an all too familiar scenario, and his breath hitched in his throat, remembering another certain tall, white, and strong being, one that had killed both him and his uncle. At least Uncle Thorin wasn't here to relieve the past this time…

Edmund felt the blonde flinch next to him as he'd made his way back to the dwarf, and saw the wide-eyes expression he bore as he got his first glimpse of the Queen. However, it struck him as odd that he couldn't find any amazement in the blue eyes beneath him. Actually, it almost looked like the dwarf was afraid, as if he was seeing something totally different. The first knots of unease settled themselves deep down in the boys' stomach, but Edmund decided to ignore them, knowing his Queen had to be glad to see him again, right?

"Y-Yes… Your Majesty." He stammered, cursing himself for fearing her. After all why would he, she liked him!

Fili saw the leering look on the woman's face, and a part of him couldn't believe how Edmund had fallen for such an obvious false concern. He wanted to just run, get away from the cold (which was bone-chilling compared to the outside of the castle), but he simply couldn't move, the pain in his chest was still there, even if the orc leader had once again morphed back into this most strange woman, and the dwarf found himself pinned to the spot where he stood.

"I thought you might." She went on calmly, and already Fili wished they could both be out of here, certain that this was not going to end well for either of them, yet the hope he could still see burning in Edmund's eyes was heartbreaking, knowing it was only a matter of time before the Witch revealed her true colors, and shattered whatever myth he'd made himself believe.

"Tell me Edmund" she started calmly, as she sat down regally in on her throne, looking down scornfully at the miserable intruder that had foolishly made his way here "are your sister deaf?"

While Edmund couldn't see why she'd bother asking him such a question, let alone spare any concern over his family, Fili saw where this was going, and was mentally screaming at the younger Pevensie to not walk into her trap, which was, unfortunately, exactly what Edmund did.

"No…?" He replied, half serious, half laughing, not getting why his Queen was asking him such a stupid question. Why would she care about his siblings in the first place?

"And your brother, is he… unintelligent?"

Edmund snorted at this, and Fili felt sorry for both Peter and Edmund. The younger obviously had no idea the Witch was only playing with him, and the way he just bought the insult done to his brother was saddening. Had she said the same of Kili, the Queen would probably now be sitting on her throne with a missing limb somewhere on her body, Fili not taking lightly to insults towards his family.

"Edmund…" He tried whispering, but the younger boy was gone too far to hear any reason by now.

"Well... I think he is, but Mum-"

Neither were expecting what happened next however.

"Then HOW dare you come alone!" she bellowed, and Edmund inched towards Fili, an unconscious part of him still seeking the protection he knew an elder sibling could provide him. He had not expected this, neither had, and both took a step back, cowering under the Witches' stare. Fili could feel the thrill Edmund had had when they'd entered the doors beginning to edge away, as the reality of what was happening was slowly dawning on him, which only served Edmund to clutch the dwarf's arm tighter.

"I tried-" he begged, desperate to see the once caring smile and nice words come back to him, knowing the Queen could be gentle, but a part of him was realizing that what the beavers had been saying was true, she was a bad person, she was a witch, not a queen. However the tug-of-war between reason telling him this was truly what the woman in front of him was and the child still wanting to see a caring motherly figure couldn't decide what to settle on.

"Edmund, I asked so little of you." Jadis continued, relishing in the guilt she was making the boy endure.

"T-They just don't listen to me!" Edmund tried defending himself, but his racing heart and confused mind were not helping him, and he couldn't keep the calm façade he would have liked to adopt.

"You couldn't even do that?" She pressed on, eager to see the little boy break.

"Well, I-I did bring them half way! To the beaver's-"

"Edmund!" Fili cried, grabbing Edmund's arm and interrupting him before he could continue on any further and let out anything he'd be sure to regret. Was the boy seriously thinking of giving away his siblings, his family, to her? Hadn't her loss of temper already proven him that she was not the figure he thought her to be?

"And who's this, Edmund?" The Witch asked, finally noticing the silly boy's companion. He couldn't be Emund's brother, he was too small, actually he was small, period and definitely didn't look like Edmund at all. He-It was a dwarf, and a most ugly one at that. Her Ginnabrick was definitely more charming, at least in her books.

"Fili, son of Dìs, most certainly not at your service." And Fili gave a mock bow, well intent on displaying his feelings towards the Witch. No, he would not bend to her, Uncle had taught him to be respectful to those who were worthy of it, and she was not.

"Smug one, aren't we?" She half chuckled, features pinching, before looking back at Edmund. "Well… I suppose you're not a total loss then, are you?" She finished, almost softly, before turning back, making her way up to her icy throne.

Desperate for one last try, Edmund took a step forward, wanting to see the woman he recognized, the woman who cared for him somewhere within the pale complexion now sitting upon the throne.

"Well… I-I was wondering. C-could I, maybe, have some more Turkish Delight now?"

The silence that fell was definitely weighing down on Edmund, and waiting for an answer seemed to take forever. Oh he hoped, hoped that somewhere she might be able to remember the wonderful caring woman she'd been to him, knowing he'd loved those sweets, maybe, just maybe he hadn't come all this way for nothing?

"Our guest is hungry." The Witch almost mocked, as she turned to her dwarf minion, who'd stayed loyally at her side during the whole scene, silently ordering him to take care of the two prisoners.

As the dwarf made his way to Edmund, in what appeared to be a most threatening manner, Fili decided to step in, unwilling to let Edmund get hurt anymore. He'd seen the shattered look in the boy's face as he realized the Witch wasn't the fairy woman she'd made him believe to be, and while she wasn't the only responsible person for Edmund's actions, Edmund didn't deserve of getting hurt for it.

Edmund didn't dare move as the blonde dwarf stepped in front of him, almost… protectively? Why would he bother do such a thing after Edmund had dragged him all the way here for nothing? His eyes widened, as Ginnabrick unsheathed a sharp dagger, placing it just under Fili's throat, daring him or Edmund to do anything stupid. He gave them both a twisted smirk, before twirling the blade in his hand and forcing them to move forward, the deadly weapon enough of a threat to dissuade either of them attempting anything rash.

The three had made just made it to the other side of the throne room when they turned around, as the Queen (Witch Edmund liked to remind himself now), ordered Maugrim at her side, and Edmund caught sight of the enormous wolf that had led him here once again appearing next to the throne.

"You know what to do." And it was more than enough for the wolf to understand.

Both Edmund and Fili froze, as the wolf howled, and more beasts appeared from all corners of the room, joining their leader, before swiftly moving out. While nothing had been said, it dawned on them both where exactly they were headed, to their unexpecting families who had not a chance to prepare, who wouldn't even know what was after them until it was too late. Edmund's blood ran cold and his breath caught in his throat, he'd never waned this, any of this! Oh how he wished he could take it all back! And now, because of him, those he'd left behind in the dam were probably going to get hurt, maybe even die. The last thought almost cut off his breath, and a burning feeling erupt in his eyes, realizing to what extent he'd betrayed his own family, all for the want of sweets.