Married life suited Susan well, everyone thought so. The eldest Pevensie sister had begun to walk around the mansion with a zest for life that no one had seen in her for some months, maybe even years. Master Merlin became a fond favourite of many of those in the service of the retired star and even those who disliked him respected him for the change that he had created in Lady Susan.

The happy couple were returning from a short visit to Tumnus' home when they saw a dufflepud unsteadily hopping down the stars in a dreadful rush.

"Careful, careful you could fall and crack your skull!" Susan cried, catching the little creature as he toppled from the bottom stair. "Whatever is it that has you in such a rush?"

"It is Mister Peter, child of the Oppressor. He is doing much better since the star lady left. He has been walking!"

Susan gasped, clutching tightly at Merlin's arm. "He has?" She looked quickly at Merlin who nodded before rushing up the stairs with his wife holding tightly to his arm.

The door to Peter's room swung open to reveal the still pale but clearly healthier Prince hobbling around the room with the majority of his weight resting upon a wooden stick left for him by Lilliandil.

"Peter, the physician told you to rest!"

Peter sighed looking at Susan with narrowed eyes, the effect of which was slightly lessened by the bright smile glued to his face. "I'm perfectly fine, Su. By Jove! Whatever the physician gave me worked a treat!"

Susan exchanged a guilty glance with Merlin who had allowed his arms to drop to his side, still unsure of how well Peter had taken to him as the husband of his little sister. Merlin's only comfort was that he was sure Peter would have reacted worse to Little Lucy marrying; despite Peter's claims that he loved his siblings equally no one could miss the fact that he held Lucy in extremely high regard.

"Pete, there's something you should know."

Peter's smile dropped at Susan's tone. "What is it?"

Susan turned away from Peter and avoided Merlin's steady, concerned eyes, dropping into a nearby chair.

"Su?"

Susan choked back guilty tears at her brother's concerned voice.

"Is there something else about Edmund and Lucy I should know? Have you not told me something?"

She shook her head. "No, I told you everything about that, Pete. I promise."

"Then what is it?"

Merlin took a deep breath before speaking. "Lilliandil was here, while you were still unconscious."

"No, she wasn't. I'd have heard her; you both seem to forget that I could hear everything."

"Pete, she came to apologise, to apologise for her past actions."

Peter shook his head adamantly. "She can't have been."

"There were no physicians, I don't know what she gave you but when we came back into the room once the duffers were done causing trouble you were coming round, you could even speak."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"When the physician came to check up on you they warned us that any unnecessary stress could cause a relapse. I knew that I had to tell you about Lucy and Edmund but I didn't want you to get worked up about Lili."

"You should have told me!"

"With all due respect, Peter, Susan was only trying to do what was best for you."

"Lying to someone is never the best thing to do."
"That's not being fair, Pete. I didn't lie."

"You told me it was the physicians that cured me."

"No. I told you they had dropped by, I never said anything about them having cured you, you assumed so and I didn't have the heart to tell you otherwise, I was so relieved you were better that I couldn't bring myself to risk you getting worse again."

Peter perched on the edge of his bed, resting his head in his hands. "Su, Lord Merlin, would you please give me a minute?"

The pair looked at each other with concern before leaving the room.

"Maybe I shouldn't have told him, Merlin," Susan wept, clutching Merlin's shirt to keep from falling down. "It just seemed like the right thing, the logical thing to do. How could I have been so foolish?"

Merlin held her close, unsure of how to react; Susan was usually so calm and composed. Of course their union was a testament to the fact that she sometimes let her guard down; after all their first kiss had been as a result of Susan's complete fatigue that night. "You did what you thought was right, it's better he finds out from you who has real concern for his happiness and health than someone more malicious such as Rabadash or Eustace."

Susan sighed. "Eustace isn't that bad. He's much improved recently; I think being away from his awful father has done him the world of good. His manners are much better, of course he has relapses but he is growing vastly more pleasant to be around. He's even begun to share his oranges sometimes."

Merlin laughed, "Now that is improvement."

The door opened suddenly, startling the pair who rather jumped as Peter poked his head round the door. "I'm so sorry, Su. You know I didn't mean it, don't you?"

Susan nodded, slowly releasing her hold on Merlin to walk towards her brother who was leaning heavily against his door. "I know, Pete. I'm sorry."

Peter held out an arm and dragged his sister in for a tight hug, communicating everything he hadn't been able to in the previous few weeks.

*x*

The Dawn Treader finally docked on the Narnian mainland after two weeks of sailing. Lucy hurried off the boat, not at all sure of where she was going but absolutely eager to get going, to find Edmund and save him.

She slowly took in the city, looking wondrously at the vast array of creatures around. There were centaurs, fauns, satyrs, dryads, everything Lucy had ever read about in Coriakin's huge library. It was magnificent and she had never seen anything like it.

"Wonderful, isn't it?"

Lucy turned to Caspian and smiled gently. "Yes, it's lovely. Is that the palace?"

Caspian looked in the general direction Lucy had gestured. "Yes, that's Cair Paravel, that's where…"

"My parents lived…" Lucy finished, staring up at the beautiful white, glass-like building.

"Yes, I only ever visited it once when they were alive, the year before you were born, actually."

"Really, what was it like?"

Caspian laughed. "I'm sure you'll find out soon enough."

"I hope so."

Caspian put a friendly arm around her shoulders, moving her forward gently. "Where do you think Edmund is?"

Lucy shook her head. "I don't know, I suppose it's somewhere cold, the witch that took him away was wearing furs and a crown of ice."

"Like a dungeon, then?"

"Something like that, yes."

I have a theory, if I'm right then getting Edmund out is going to be harder than we expected."

"What do you mean?"

"Lucy, the only dungeons around these parts are in the lower part of Cair Paravel. They haven't been used in years; there's been no need of them, everyone respected your parents too much to commit crimes. I don't know about your uncle though, he seems rather different to your mother."

"We would have to go through the castle to reach him, is that what you mean, Caspian?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Oh! That would mean she had to get through the guards…We're too late, Caspian."

"Pardon me?"

"Don't you see? The witch must have taken control of Cair Paravel. Oh Edmund!"

"Lucy, if you're right you have got to stay out of sight."

"If I get caught they'll take me down to Edmund."

"Lucy, this would mean that Edmund's part is done, if you get caught the pair of you will be killed. I don't want to watch you die, Lu."

There was a pause as Lucy met Caspian's eyes, pleasantly shocked.

"Either of you."

"If Edmund dies, I die. We have to get him out of there before it's too late, for both of us."

"I won't let that happen, Lucy. We're going to get Edmund out. I promise."

Lucy nodded, taking Caspian's warm hand into her suddenly cold one.

*x*

As Edmund stood in the throne room he suddenly realised for the first time that he was, truly, scared. Scared of what would happen, what had happen and what could happen because of him. He was shaking as he took small steps closer and closer to the ice covered throne that held the woman of his nightmares.

"Edmund, dearest, come here."

He took a few shuddering breaths, stepping forward as slowly as he could, stopping for a few seconds whenever he could and staring around the room in hopes of finding a friendly face. There were none. No one to give him any kind of support. He longed to have Lucy beside him, if they were facing danger they should be together, that's what she had always told him and suddenly he agreed, whatever the danger they were always so much stronger when they were together, some kind of twin thing he supposed.

"Edmund, I'm waiting, you know I don't like to be kept waiting."

Reluctantly Edmund picked up the pace, reaching his 'mother' within a few seconds.

"Bow, sweetheart, I am Queen after all."

"No."

"What was that, dearest?"

"Peter is King."

"Did no one tell you? Peter is dead."

Her words sliced through Edmund like a knife, worse than any physical pain and it would never heal. It was all his fault. He had made the whole thing possible. Bile rose in his throat and he dropped to his knees.

"Get up, now, stupid child."

Edmund raised his head.

"No one is going to come and save you, Edmund. They didn't want you and now they are rid of you. Dear Lucy can finally get on with her life, or not, whichever the case may be. Now, you are going to be helpful. I think it's time to reveal the little prince of Narnia, dearest son of Frank and Helen survived, don't you, Edmund?"

Edmund narrowed his eyes as he was hoisted to his feet by his former jailors, the Minotaurs.

"I will be the acting regent for you, dearest and, if some dreadful ill fortune was to befall the royal family and you were to die childless…well, then I would become Queen."

"Susan would be next in line."

"Then I'd hate for some terrible accident to befall her."
Edmund shook his head, he couldn't let her get away with her plans, he just couldn't. If Peter really was dead, it was his fault, he had to take responsibility for his actions and prevent any more harm befalling his family. It was time for him to face up to his past actions; every single one of them, there would be no more hiding away, running from his problems or those of his family and friends.

"You will not defy me, Edmund. You will soon become of little use to me, so if you want to stay alive you will learn to respect me and do as I say. Better yet, I could let you live long enough to see your dear twin die a slow and painful death. Do you want that, dear?"