**I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTERS FROM THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. THEY BELONG TO C.S. LEWIS.**

I decided I didn't want to stay in the kitchens so Edmund and I grabbed some snacks and came back up to my room. Edmund and I were having such a great time but there was something wrong with Edmund. Either he wanted to tell me something or ask me something. Not wanting to wait any longer, I asked what was bugging him.

"What are you talking about?" Edmund asked wiping the chocolate from around his mouth.

I swallowed the cookie I was munching on and glared at him.

"Ed, we're best friends. I think I know when something's bugging you."

Edmund bit his bottom lip and put the chocolate down. When Edmund lets go of his food, that's when you know it was serious.

"Ann," he said "you said something about being raped, beaten and tortured for eight years. Is that what you meant when you said that you were immune to it?"

Fuck.

Everyone knew but Edmund was the only one who would be brave enough to ask. I didn't know if I wanted to talk about it or not. But Ed's my best friend and I tell him everything. What makes this any different? Not to mention that he opened up to me about what happened with the White Witch.

"Ed," I whispered.

Edmund came to my side and wrapped his arm around my neck.

"It's ok," he cooed placing an innocent kiss on my temple.

"It's weird because I don't remember any of my life before I was nine. I was told that when I was five my mom and dad were in a car accident and I was in a coma. That's why I had to live with Kenny who claimed that he was my uncle. It's when I turned ten that things went wrong."

Edmund grabbed my hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

"One night when Kenny was having one of his yearly drinking parties I was upstairs in my room. I was sleeping when," I choked back a sob "when someone came into my room. The blanket I had on top of me was pulled off. I turned to see who it was but I couldn't see their face in the dark. I smelt the drink that was on his breath and I remember it made my stomach turn. I wanted to say something but the person stopped me. 'Shh, it's ok' he said. I didn't know who he was or what to do. Then I felt a cold hand on my leg. Then the hand made its way to my nightgown and before I knew it his hand was up my gown. I was only ten but still I knew that something was wrong. 'Let it happen' he whispered. Before I knew what was happening he was pulling my underwear down. When they were to my knees he-"

I stopped to take a little breath. Ed didn't move but I could tell he was uneasy by the way his body tensed. At the thought of the memory I squeezed onto his hand to the point where I thought that he was going to lose circulation. He didn't seem to mind.

"He got on top of me and tried to kiss me. I was able to say stop but he slapped me. I started to cry but then he said that 'crying is for weak people'. I was able to stop the tears from falling but then they came again when I felt a sharp pain. I didn't know what was happening. When it was done he told me not to tell anyone or my life would be over. Then he walked out of my room. I just laid there scared to move. I didn't say anything. When I was eleven I was scared that it was going to happen again but nothing did. I felt a little better after that. But then when I was twelve the same thing happened. True to my word I still didn't tell anyone. A few months later I was dragged out of bed and thrown against the wall. I screamed in pain when my head hit the wall. I didn't know what was happening, I was so afraid. I cried for help but no one came. Kenny started to laugh and told me that no one would help a skank like me."

I broke my gaze from the floor and looked up at Edmund. "Why do you want to know?"

Edmund looked at me with worry and support etched on his usually gentle face.

"Ann, like I've said before I care for you and you're my best friend."

He took his other hand and placed it on my cheek and gave me another innocent kiss on my forehead. Then he looked me in the eyes.

"If you don't want to tell me that's fine but I think that you would feel better if you got this off your chest."

I knew he was right. Edmund is my best friend and as much as I didn't want to talk about this, I think he had the right to know of my past. After all I knew his so it was only fair. I smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thanks bestie."

Edmund smiled back at me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I rested my head on his shoulder and started my story again.

"It was then that I found out who had raped me those two times. Kenny. He also set up to have me sold. Sold into what I wasn't sure but I knew that it couldn't be pleasant. He gagged me and knocked me out. When I woke up I was sitting in a cold room made out of stone with nothing in there. For five years I was sold into trafficking. It wasn't until I was fourteen that Kenny wanted me back. He made me 'his wife'. For three years we shared the same bed. Even though I was his he still didn't mind sharing me with his friends. When I was sixteen I became pregnant."

I bit my lip at the memory while Edmund stroked my hair. He kissed my temple and whispered "it's ok."

I let out a breath.

"I didn't know what to do. I wasn't sure if I should tell anyone or not. A part of me was sick with the thought that I was going to carry a child that wasn't conceived out of love. However, another part of me knew that I couldn't hate the child because it wasn't its fault. I decided that no matter what I was going to love that child and take care of it. I didn't tell anyone but it didn't take them long to know that something was amiss when I refused to sleep with anyone. Don't get me wrong I always put up a fight the first few months but after a while there was nothing I could do so I just gave in. Kenny tried to have sex with me one night but I punched him right in the nose. Big mistake. He used me as a punching bag for a while before I finally told him that I was pregnant. He looked at me like I was a freak. Then he said 'there will be no child on my watch'. He kept hitting me until he forced me to have a miscarriage. I blacked out for a few days and he never told me what happened during the time that I was out. I really don't think I wanted to know anyways. Remember when I told you I got into Narnia by falling?"

I looked at Edmund for a brief second to see him nod his head.

"Well I fell because I was escaping. I was almost to the ground when I slipped on a step and fell off of the fire escape of the apartment that we lived in."

Story time was over. I had told Edmund the one thing that was eating at my heart; I felt free. I started to shake out of happiness and Edmund wrapped me into his arms.

"It's ok," he cooed trying to sooth me. "I'm here."

I couldn't help but to laugh. I was laughing so hard I was crying and dear Edmund was so confused. That only made me laugh harder. After I stopped laughing and had wiped the tears of joy out of my eyes, I cupped Edmund's cheek and rubbed my thumb gently across his skin.

"Sorry about that," I grinned. "I feel better though. Telling you my story seemed to lift the weight of the world off of my shoulders. I haven't felt this happy in a while. I guess that while I was telling the story I came to realize that I'm safe here and away from Kenny. I have a feeling that this Aslan fellow you've told me about would never allow someone like him into a wonderful land like this," I rambled happily.

When Edmund was able to conclude that I wasn't on crack, he laughed with me.

"Even though you had a very rough life, I'm glad to see that you are better. As my bestie, seeing you happy makes me happy," Edmund said.

We smiled at each other until Edmund had a look of confusion on his face.

"What?" I asked.

"What year are you from?" he asked without missing a beat.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"It's just that you know that me and my siblings are from 1940 but you have yet to mention what year you're from," he stated.

I pursed my lips together and turned my attention away from him.

"Ann?" he asked.

"I don't know," I whispered.

"What?" he asked confused.

"I don't know," I said a little louder. "I mean I've been hidden away from the world for eight years. I've never even watched tv."

"But you know so much," Edmund said. "I mean you know what a piano is so that has to count for something right?"

"That's because I read alot. Some of the guys I was with wanted smart girls while others wanted talented girls. That's how I know gymnastics and how to sing and draw, and sew."

"Did you happen to read anything on the war?" Edmund asked nervously.

I had to think for a minute. Did I? 1940, World War II, air raids...

"YES!" I shouted suddenly causing Edmund to jump.

"Well?" he pressed while rotating his hand signaling for me to continue.

"You come, well came, from England right?" I asked and Edmund eagerly shook his head.

"Then you have nothing to worry about," I smiled, "the Allies won."

Edmund sighed in relief and hugged me.

"Well that answers my question about what year you're from."

I looked at Edmund and arched my eyebrow.

"That means that you aren't from our time period. You're from the future," he chuckled.

Woah, the future.

"Coolie," I yawned.

My eyes started to grow heavy with exhaustion so I laid down on the floor and rested my head on Edmund's leg. Edmund rubbed my back which caused me to drift in and out.

"Ed," I whispered tiredly

"I think it's time for you to go to sleep," Ed chuckled.

I only nodded. I got off of the floor and Ed took me into his arms and placed me into my bed. He pulled the covers over me and kissed my forehead.

"You need to tell Peter," he said.

"I know," I mumbled against the pillow.

"Good night bestie," he said.

He started to walk away but I grabbed his arm.

"Stay," I begged gently.

Edmund hesitated a few seconds. He was a king and I was courting his brother so it would be improper. On the other hand we were best friends and everyone knew we would never get that close. It was a few more minutes before I felt the bed sink. I rolled over and buried my face into Edmund's tunic.

"Ann," he murmured, "I promise that no matter what happens, I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe and make sure that you are never harmed."

"I know," I smiled.

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