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Here is the next chapter. I hope you like it. Do review and let me know! :)
Thank you to my wonderful and kind reviewers!
Disclaimer: Narnia is not mine. This fanfiction is.
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DEFINITELY DESTINY
– – CHAPTER 36 – –
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Estella opened her eyes and quickly closed them. The light was blinding.
She wondered where it was coming from.
She opened her eyes again.
It came from the windows where the sun was shining brightly.
Confused, she looked around. She lay on the bed in… Edmund's room? Yes, this was definitely Edmund's room.
But how did she get here?
Last she remembered, she was in hell. Alfred's hell. And there was pain. And fire. And cried. And –
"Oh, good," Edmund walked into her view. His arm was bandaged, as was his head. "You're awake."
He sat down before her and took her hand in his.
"I am," she managed in a weak voice, still baffled.
"How're you feeling?"
"… Fine, I guess."
He kissed her hand. "You were in such a bad shape when I got to you," he said, his voice sad. "It scared me to death seeing you so badly hurt and bloody and broken."
She frowned. "I'm not hurt now."
"No, you're not."
"How –"
"Lucy's cordial." He explained. "You'd have died."
"I'm not dead."
He smiled, leaning forward to kiss her lips. "No, you're not."
Feeling detached from the world, she rested her head on his shoulder. "Edmund?"
"Yes, love?" he wrapped his arms around her.
"A-Alfred hurt me."
He stiffened. "I know."
"H-He used m-me…" her voice shook.
"I know."
"A-and h-he beat m-me so m-mercilessly."
"I know," he murmured. "You do not have to talk about it."
Her tears fell down on her cheeks now. "I-I tried to resist, to fight, I promise I did b-but he just g-got angry and…" she buried her face in his shoulder. "He g-got worse. I tried to s-stop him, to s-speak out what I wanted t-to say but –"
She stopped when his hands came to her face and pulled her away so that his eyes were level with hers.
"I know, 'Stella," Edmund said, his voice passionate. "I know what he did and how much he hurt you. I saw the mess myself. But I promise you, it is over now. So, please, stop crying."
She nodded slightly. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me, love," he said. "I saved you because I love you."
She smiled slightly and then cried. "Thank you."
"Alright fine, thank me," he sounded exasperated. "You don't have to cry so bad just because I forbade you from thanking me!"
She laughed, tears falling from her eyes. "I love you, Edmund."
He blinked in understanding. "I know."
She brushed away his hair from his forehead gently. "You know, when I saw you enter the house that time, I knew very deep in my heart that you will make everything right," she told him. "I was in pain, but it didn't matter, I slept in peace."
He looked at her intently. "I will always be there for you, Estella."
"I know," she said, gazing back in his eyes.
A moment passed and their lips met.
He held her face in his hands, keeping her as close to him as possible while he poured his relief and love in that kiss.
She kissed him back; his touch was so different from Alfred's. This man respected her, loved her and he was so gentle with her. What was more, he was entirely honest with her. She knew of his feelings about Adeline. She knew of his happiness, his guilt, his troubles and his laughter…
And he told her that. Whatever he was inside, he was outside; Not a hypocrite. Not a bad person. Not like Alfred, definitely not like him.
He pulled away and rested his chin on her head. "I'm glad that you're fine. I've been so worried about you," he told her. "We all have. You should have seen Peter – he thought that it was his fault for making you go there. He still thinks that, even though all of us have tried to tell him otherwise, but he still blames himself for all that has happened."
"Peter had nothing to do with anything," Estella said. "He did what he had to for Irene."
"I know." Edmund sighed. "But when you think of what happened, it is not so simple."
"What do you mean?"
He was quiet for a long while. "Are you sure you're feeling well?" he asked. "After giving you the cordial, you didn't wake up. This happened with Peter too, once."
"It did?"
"He had thought that Isabel was dead. And he had been hurt too. So when Lu gave him the cordial, he healed but didn't wake up for hours." Edmund paused. "But not days."
"Days?" Estella asked, pulling away so she could see his face.
He looked at her, his face grave. "It has been four days since I found you at Alfred's manor."
"F-Four days?" she stuttered. "You're joking, right?"
"No."
She looked around. "I've been unconscious for four days."
He nodded. "And I've been so worried about you." He placed his hand on hers. "I wouldn't leave your side."
She squeezed his hand. "Why was I unconscious for so long?"
"I don't know," Edmund replied. "It was more like you were in a deep sleep."
"I was dreaming," she admitted.
"What about?"
"I cannot remember," she told him. "Just a few flashes… but the more I think about them, the more they become clear."
"It happens sometimes."
"But I don't want to think about my dreams right now," she said, standing up. "I have to see Alys. My baby has spent four days without me, she will be angry in that adorable way of hers!"
Edmund slowly got to his feet. "'Stella…"
"Oh, I cannot believe Susan, Lucy and Isabel had to spend all their time taking care of her," she turned to look at him. "I hope she didn't bother them much."
"'Stella –"
"Where is she right now? Playing with Irene or sleeping?"
He took her by the shoulders. "'Stella, listen to me."
She looked deep into his eyes, "What is it?"
He hesitated.
"Edmund?"
He shook his head. "Come with me."
Taking her hand, Edmund walked out of the room and down the hallway, silent. He did not even react when she tried to pull her hand away in confusion, he just kept on moving forward, taking her with him firmly.
"Edmund!" Estella said when they reached the gardens behind the palace. "Where are you taking me?"
No answer.
"Why are you so silent all of a sudden?"
Still no reply.
"What is it Edmund?" she asked and then stopped, refusing to walk any further.
Edmund sighed. Turned around. "'Stella –"
"What is that?" Estella asked, pointing towards a white stone in the middle of the ground. On it rested some fresh flowers. "It looks like a-a grave."
"It is a grave," Edmund told her, his voice filled with nothing but grief.
"But w-who?" Estella asked, taking a few shaky steps forward.
He didn't need to reply.
He knew he didn't.
She realized that too as she read the words that were written on the white marble.
Here lies Alys,
A beautiful little princess.
You will always live on, in our hearts.
And the world seemed to stop.
Perhaps it did stop.
She didn't know.
She didn't want to know.
All was quiet for a minute or two. Or perhaps a century or two.
Edmund moved forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Is this some idiotic joke of yours?" she rounded on him.
He blinked. "'Stella, I would never joke about this."
"Then why does that tombstone says the name of my daughter?"
He looked at her sympathetically.
"My Alys is not dead."
He held her shoulders. "You need to calm down."
"Calm down?" she asked. "Are you insane? How dare you say that my –"
"Control yourself."
"This is not the truth!" she shook her head, her body trembling. "My baby is alive. She is somewhere in the palace playing. You're just being mean!"
"Control yourself."
"This is not bloody funny!" she shrieked. "Bring me my daughter!"
"Control yourself."
"Bring me my daughter. I want to see my daughter. Where is she?"
"'Stella!" his voice was louder than hers as he shook her. "Alys is dead. Your daughter lies under the ground. And you need to control yourself!"
She looked at him with wide eyes before she sunk to the ground.
He got on his knees too, his hands planted on her shoulders supporting her.
"I got to the manor and found you all bloodied and hurt. Then I looked at Alfred. I got so angry," Edmund told her. "I got into a fight with him. It was brutal. He might have hurt me too but I had no idea for my anger blocked out any pain.
"Of course, I had brought a few guards with me. They picked you up and took you out. Half the house was on fire. Alfred's guards fought with us too. They are loyal to their master, I have say that. Then there came a time when Alfred was on his knees before me, wounded, weak, and the tip of my sword was on his throat." His eyes burned. "I wanted to bad to thrust the sword in. But I didn't."
Estella was listening to him, intently, but she didn't have the strength to speak or react to what he was saying.
"I gave him to the guards. Alfred would be dealt by the law." Edmund went on. "Then I came to you. I was worried and you were bruised and… I don't think I will ever forget that image. And even that thought makes me want to kill that bastard who treated you like that.
"It took me a few minutes to realize that I in my rage I had forgotten about Alys," Edmund's voice was pained. "And when I did realize it, I tried rushing into the house. The fire had spread badly and my guards wouldn't let me, saying that it was suicide. But I ordered and pushed them away and went in nonetheless.
"There was smoke all over the place. I could barely see. Breathing was difficult. The flames blocked the stairway. I climbed the storey somehow and dashed into the rooms, searching for her. And then I found her."
Edmund didn't speak anymore.
Slowly, Estella looked up into his eyes. "W-What happened t-then?" her voice was barely a whisper.
He looked at her intently for a moment before cupping her cheek with his hand. "You deserve to know." He said. "But you need to be strong."
She gave a small nod.
"I found A-Alys," Edmund said, his brown eyes shining with pain and grief. "Her cot was on fire. The fire had reached her. There were b-burn marks all over her. She was still. I brought her out and tried to do whatever I could to make sure that she started breathing again. But she didn't. Her heartbeat was no more. Professor Cornelius said it was mainly due to the lack of oxygen. Her little body and her little lungs could not handle the fire."
Estella let out a pained cry.
"Lucy's cordial cured you. It would have cured Alys too, but she was gone… I was too late in saving her." Edmund bowed his head. "I wish I… it is my fault. I'm so, so sorry, 'Stella."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why did you bury her?" she asked.
"We had to."
She took clutched the front of his tunic in her fists. "My daughter is dead. Dead, Edmund! And I'll never see her again," she cried. "And because of you, I didn't even get to see her one last time before…"
"Her body was covered in burn marks. And… it had to be buried soon." Edmund said. "We waited for you to wake up for a day, but then… I'm sorry."
"Why did Aslan let this happen?"
"I don't know. Control yourself."
She shook her head.
"Come here," he pulled her into a hug.
Burying her face in his shoulder, she cried. She mourned. She spilled her grief.
And he let her.
[][][][][][][][]
Lucy walked into the library to find Chad sitting on the floor cushions. His back was to her, but she knew that he was thinking – probably while staring blankly into the fire. She had noticed that he liked doing that.
Slowly she walked forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
He started in surprise but relaxed when he realized it was Lucy.
"Hey," he said in a soft voice.
"Hi," she kissed his cheek. "What are you doing here, Mr. Thinker?"
He chuckled. "Mr. Thinker?"
"That is what comes to my mind when I see you staring blankly into the flames."
"I was… thinking."
"That was obvious, hence the nickname I chose for you." she said, walking to sit next to him. "What about, though?"
He sighed. "Poor Lady Estella."
Lucy hung her head. "I know." She said. "She wouldn't eat anything. She wouldn't stop crying. And Alys… I cannot believe she is gone."
Chad wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "How many people have suffered because of one man," he said bitterly. "And I am ashamed to say that that insane man happens to be my brother."
"Chad…"
"I was utterly shocked to see that Edmund didn't kill him. I would have slit his throat if I had the chance." He paused. "But what Edmund did makes more sense. He did the right thing."
"He did," the Valiant Queen agreed. "Edmund knows his duty to Narnia. He knows how this matter had to be addressed and he made his decision accordingly."
"And all the Kings and Queens agreed with him," Chad said. "Which is all good, but…"
"But what?"
Chad was quiet for a moment. "The High King called me in his study some time ago."
"I hope he didn't threat you to stay away from me," Lucy said.
"He did say that," Chad smiled slightly. "But that is something that he does every time he sees me. There was another reason."
"What is it?"
"Alfred is to be publically executed for his crimes," Chad said.
"Yes."
Chad sighed.
"What is it, Chad?" she asked, placing her hand on his leg. "You seem disturbed."
He shook his head. "Peter wants me to take up the lordship of Daelhr."
Silence.
"… I told you such a time would come," Lucy said in a low voice.
"I didn't know it would come so soon," he said. "I don't think I'm ready to govern a huge city like Daelhr."
"You'll be trained for it, of course, before you take that seat."
"I don't think I have a right to rule all those people."
"It is your legitimate right, Chad. Alfred will be executed. Alys… is no more. And you are the only remaining person of that bloodline." She told him. "And even more – the kings and queens of Narnia will give you the right to govern Daelhr."
"I still don't think I can do it."
"We'll all be there to help you, to guide you," she told him. "I'll be with you."
He looked at her. "I need some time to think."
"You don't have much of it. The people of Daelhr did love Alfred as their Lord. They might not be happy with the news of his execution." Lucy paused. "They might not be happy to see you get that chair too. You will have to explain to them why you got it. And then you will have to keep that city from going into a chaos or a rebellion."
He nodded slightly.
"Will you tell them the truth about your parentage?" she asked him.
"I will."
"But that would mean –"
"That I'll have to speak the truth about my mother, my f-father and my entire life." He cut her in mid sentence. "I will do that. If I am to govern a city, I would want its people to know who exactly will lead them. I will not start anything with a lie."
She smiled. Leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. "And with that alone you have shown why you deserve to be the Lord of Daelhr." She told him, "Take your time. Think it through. And then reach a decision. Just know that I'll always be there with you."
He squeezed her hand. "I know that."
[][][][][][][][]
"How is she?" Peter walked into Edmund's room.
Edmund who was sitting with his back against the bedpost looked up. "Not good." He said. "She just fell asleep."
Peter looked at Estella, who was asleep with her head in Edmund's lap. Her cheeks were wet and she looked weak. "I don't blame her."
Edmund sighed. "I wish I had gotten there sooner."
"I wish I hadn't sent her to that place."
"It was not your fault, Peter. It was the only way to save Irene, we all agreed to that."
"But you were not happy."
"I was not, but that does not mean that I didn't agree to it."
Peter sat down on the opposite edge of the bed with a sigh. "When Irene was with Alfred, I was not able to think straight. We all saw the condition Isabel was in. That is the love of a daughter, Edmund, and even more… I even shudder to imagine what Estella is going through. I cannot even think of losing my princess the way she lost hers. The thought alone is enough to haunt me for life."
Edmund ran a hand through Estella's hair. "And she is experiencing this."
"I wish there was something I could – we could do to help, to make things better," Peter said. "But we cannot. And that is the plain truth of it."
Edmund nodded.
"You must be there with her at all times, Ed," the High King suggested. "If you really love her, then you will have to help her swim out of all these troubles."
"I'm not going anywhere, Pete. I'm going to be with her."
"Then I'm sure, that one day Estella will be truly, totally happy."
"And I'm looking forward to that day."
The two were silent for a while.
"Did you eat something, Ed?" Peter asked.
"I did."
"And Estella?"
"I forced her to eat just a little."
"… Isabel says that you should rest. She will be with Es for a while. You haven't gotten any proper sleep since days."
"I'm fine."
"The dark circles beneath your eyes don't agree. And do you want to get sick?" Peter paused. "Please agree for I hate doing Susan's job."
Edmund chuckled. "I will sleep but not now."
"You should," a soft voice whispered.
Edmund looked down to find Estella staring up at him. Slowly she got up into a sitting position.
"How are you feeling now?" Peter asked her.
"Terrible," she replied.
"I'm sorry, we must have disturbed your sleep."
"No," she shook her head. "I was awake some time ago."
"And you have been eavesdropping on our conversation?" Edmund asked. "You're a bad girl!"
Estella smiled slightly. "I barely heard what you both were saying, my thoughts were on Alys."
"Estella," Peter moved forward and took her hand. "I am so sorry for what happened. The guilt –"
"Peter please, you don't have to apologize. It was not you or your decision that led to her d-death, it was Alfred's animalistic behavior," Estella said, tears forming in her eyes. "And now I realize it that even if I had stayed in Daelhr, even if I had lived with him, no good would have come to Alys. The man would have slaughtered his own daughter in some rage. He d-did."
Peter nodded slowly. "I wish this did not happen."
"So do I." Her voice shook, a tear fell.
Silence.
"I… will leave you two alone then," Peter said, standing up. "Good night."
Edmund watched in silence as his brother walked out of the room, closing the door behind him, before turning to Estella.
He did not know what to say.
He did not know what to do.
He did not know how to comfort her.
Her loss was too big. Too big.
So, he just wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I do not get it," Estella said. "How could Aslan let this happen? Alys was just a child, so how could he let her die like that?"
Edmund did not answer for a while. He had thought about this. He had questioned himself that same things again and again these past four days.
"Honestly, I don't know." he began. "But I'm sure it is for a good reason."
"What good is in the death of a baby, Edmund?"
"I do not know, but Aslan does."
"I would like to ask him about it." She rested her head on his chest.
"I would not."
She glanced up at him. "Why not?"
"Because I believe that there is some good in what happened. And even though my mind may not grasp it right now, but I know it is there." Edmund looked down at her. "Aslan would never let something so bad happen to someone so good."
"How can you say that, Edmund?"
"I say that because I believe, and sometimes that is all you can do," Edmund got off the bed and began pacing. "Bad things happen to people, 'Stella. And it seems that everything is wrong and unjust in the world. But we have to believe that there is some good behind it – we have to have faith, otherwise we will be doomed to misery and decline."
She listened to his words, impressed with the wisdom in them.
"Besides, this world is an ugly place, 'Stella. One year of marriage showed you that. There are lies, deceiving, rapes, hatred, murders, betrayal, dishonesty, torture, sadness, tears and so much agony here. I believe that Aslan took Alys to a better place," Edmund stopped and looked at her. "To His country, where everything is blooming, everything is right. And I'm sure Alys is happy there. She went to a better place."
"Really?" she asked.
"Really," he replied. "Maybe Aslan loved Alys too much. Maybe he chose a better life for her in His country. Maybe she is better off there without Alfred's shadow to haunt her."
"Maybe… you're right," she looked at her hands. "But doesn't Aslan know how much I love my daughter? Why did he take her away from me?"
"That is where your faith is being tested, 'Stella," Edmund said. "Stick to Aslan and I promise you that you'll be happy in the end too."
"How can you promise me that?"
"Because I know the peace that reaches your heart when you believe in the Great Lion," Edmund replied. "I have experienced dark times too, and I got out of them pretty nicely, don't you think?"
She nodded.
"You should sleep, 'Stella." He said.
"I tried, but it won't come."
"Try harder then."
"You should sleep too."
Edmund smiled and then climbed on to the bed. Reaching her, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her down with him. "We both should go to sleep."
She smiled slightly and kissed his lips. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being there for me."
"I'll always be there for you, 'Stella," he told her, kissing her brow. "Are you going to thank me for it daily?"
"Do you want me to?"
"I just want you to be with me and be happy." He said. "I know it will take time but it will happen, eventually."
"I love you, Edmund."
"And I you. Now let's go to sleep."
Estella rested her head on his chest as he held her close to him. "Good night."
And the two fell asleep in each others arms, their love embracing them - and that provided them with the comfort and peace they needed.
There you go. I have to get started on the next chapter yet... It will be out in a few days! :P
Hey, I was wondering about what you people think:
Which one is better? Definitely Destiny? Or Fate Or Destiny?
Tell me, and then I'll give you my opinion too!
Until then, have fun and most importantly:
REVIEW
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