Song Per Chapter: "Free Will" by Ramin Djawadi (Westworld: Season 3)

Part Two: Chapter Fourteen: New Alliances

The dust swirled away to reveal a courtyard in the middle of an icy fortress. Jadis beamed with pride.

"Welcome home," she turned around to take in her new followers. Creatures of all shapes and sizes stood before her, but it was the two humans that captivated her the most. Caspian and Edmund,

"You're all welcome to the banquet hall for breakfast, straight through the main entrance. Caspian, assist Edmund and I so we can get him to a private wing to treat that injury."

"Yes." Caspian nodded, helping Edmund along. They walked silently behind her until she reached a room with a large bed. It had a luscious fur quilt, and soft rectangular pillows you could sink straight into. She gestured for them to enter before her. Edmund sat on the bed and winced, the slightest movement of his arm stung. It had only just begun to heal from his previous injury, in the raid, that had to be stitched up.

"You should probably remove that top, so I can get a better look at your arm. Here, I'll help you" Jadis walked closer. It seemed strange. Her kindness had always been undercut by her machiavellian nature. Edmund felt unsure how to proceed. If he rebuffed her help it could prove unwise, but yet his gut told him to be wary. Then there was the part of him that looked at her stolen face and couldn't help but think it was Thea. Edmund decided to oblige her, and she slowly helped him get his shirt over his head. With the shirt out of the way, there was blood all down his arm from where Susan's arrow had pierced. It was fresh too and would probably require stitches. Jadis reached out her hand and covered the wound. Edmund winced and pulled back but she held on tighter.

"Don't be a child." she scolded before he felt a warm sensation up his arm. There was a small glow and then just as swiftly the pain disappeared. When she removed her hand, he was completely healed. Just like what Thea had done for Caspian and Cornelius.

"Thank… you." Edmund stammered, inspecting the area.

"You should bathe and wash that blood off. I'll organise for new clothing to be sent to you shortly," she got to her feet. There was a table beside the bed and she waved her hand over it. Magically, a silver tray appeared with a hot meal on it, as well as a small metal box and a piping hot chocolate. She smiled as she opened the lid on the box to reveal half a dozen pieces of turkish delight, tapping the side of her nose knowingly.

"I am very glad to have you both here." she sat at the end of the bed and gestured at Caspian to come closer, "But I'd be lying if I didn't feel the slightest bit confused as to why."

"We–" Caspian went to explain, but Jadis abruptly held up a hand to silence him.

"Oh no. That wasn't a question. We will talk, all in good time…" she toyed with the bed sheets beside Edmund, "Come Caspian, you should have something to eat with everyone else. Let's leave Edmund to get some rest. After losing all that blood he will need to regain his strength."

Jadis got to her feet and began to leave the room. Caspian and Edmund shared a worried glance, before Caspian did as was asked and left for breakfast.

Later in the day, she called upon him once more.

"Your majesty, Lord Glozelle said you wanted to see me." he bowed when he reached her looking longingly outside a window in the throne room.

"Hmmm…. Caspian." she turned her head slightly to acknowledge his presence, "I am aware that you and Miraz have a sordid history."

"Yes we do."

"How sordid are we talking?"

"Miraz murdered my father for the throne and then tried to have me killed when his son was born." Caspian looked sullenly to the floor.

"Is that why you have joined me?" Jadis faced him.

"Partially… I do not think the Kings and Queens of old intend the same as I. If he was defeated, they're likely to have him locked up rather than ask for a more permanent kind of sentence."

"So you want Miraz dead?"

"I want you to let it be at my hand." Caspian's heart beat quickly in his chest. Jadis paused and looked him up and down, clicking her tongue,

"Then what happens after that exactly? You'll just renounce your claim to the throne and follow blindly…? You don't strike me as a follower."

"It's true, I have given much thought to the matter. It is hard to accept that what I've been leading to, all my life, is gone now. But it would be foolish to think I couldn't still serve the same people. I can help you to win them over without as much bloodshed."

"And what if I enjoy the bloodshed?" Jadis snickered. Caspian didn't quite know how to respond to that one, "No need to look so somber."

"I don't expect you to feel sympathy for Telmarines, but I was hoping you'd realise their significance… strategically speaking." he stood a little taller. She nodded to herself.

"I think your presence in my guard would make a fine addition. I agree to your terms. My war council will meet later this afternoon, would you be so kind as to share your… strategy… with us then?" Jadis walked straight up to him, brushing his shirt flat on his shoulders and looking into his eyes for any sign of deception.

"Of course. It would be my honour." he swallowed. With an amused smile from Jadis he was dismissed.

She was entirely aware that Edmund and Caspian's motives for joining her were different than the others. She was wary not to trust them, but Caspian at the very least seemed genuine. As she knew well, revenge could be a powerful motive. She left her throne room in pursuit of further answers. Where Caspian had his rage, she could not believe that Edmund felt the same. She made her way to his private room where he slept.

"Knock knock." she said gently, opening the door. He sat up, rubbing his eyes. He was wearing a fresh shirt and his hair was slightly damp from bathing.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better, much better." he smiled politely. The food that she had made for him was partially eaten, except for the turkish delights which remained untouched. He noticed her eying them off, "I wasn't in the mood for sweets."

"It's no bother." she stopped in the archway. Edmund rolled out of bed and got to his feet. Jadis but couldn't help but notice how much he'd grown. His height was obvious and he still had a touch of boyish charm, but his chest had filled out much more. His hair could use a cut, but it wasn't overly offensive.

"You fascinate me Edmund you really do…" she slowly pattered closer, taking a seat at the end of the bed, "I had a talk with Caspian you see, and I understand why he's here. He wants revenge for his father that your brother would not allow… But you… I can not understand what would force your hand…"

"Aslan." he replied flatly. It caused Jadis to move back abruptly.

"Why would Aslan bring you here?" she snarled.

"He hasn't. That's the point." Edmund paused, "You and I both know that the only reason that you were defeated before was because of him. It wasn't Peter that dealt the final blow and I for one don't want to spend the rest of my days on a battlefield fighting a cause I can't win because my brother won't admit the truth... Aslan is gone and he's not coming to save us."

"It's a rousing response." Jadis sighed. Edmund could sense that it wasn't enough.

"I know that you would be well within your right to kill me, but Caspian and I discussed that with us at your side, we can help end this war before it even begins. People have to know the truth - that putting their faith in my siblings is wasted." he couldn't help but raise his voice.

"Yes… about your siblings. "Jadis got to her feet, "What if I did decide to kill them...?"

"Well I would hope that with me here, it wouldn't have to come to that." Edmund's gaze met her own, "They wouldn't leave Narnia unless they had no other choice. So let's give them no other way out."

xxxx

Peter had disappeared into the depths of Aslan's How shortly after the ordeal at sunrise. He couldn't look at their army. He couldn't wrap his head around what he had let happen under his watch. Morale couldn't possibly be lower.

"Huh-hm." a voice sounded behind him, someone clearing their throat. Peter turned to find Lucy standing there with a half-hearted smile. She had some bread in her hands, "Thought you might like some breakfast…"

"Thanks Lu." he mimicked her smile as she came to sit beside him, "I don't think I can eat right now. I feel sick to my stomach."

"Ed?" she asked. He nodded silently, before letting out an exasperated sigh.

"I don't understand it and I've been sitting down here, wracking my brain to make sense of it for hours now." Peter's shoulders sunk, "And as per usual, you were right and I should have listened sooner."

"If only Aslan were here to help…" Lucy lamented.

"But he's not Lu…" Peter got to his feet, began to pace back and forth.

"I saw him Peter!"

"Then where is he? Why did he let all of this happen without stepping in? Maybe Trumpkin was right and you saw a mountain lion after all."

"Why do you always insist on needing proof?" Lucy huffed, "You say that you should trust me and then continue not to."

"I'm sorry…" he stopped pacing, "I'm just lost."

"Maybe you need to spend less time believing Aslan has abandoned everybody and find a reason to prove why he should help us." Lucy took a bite out of the piece of bread. Suddenly, they could hear footprints coming down the corridor.

"Sorry to interrupt," It was Susan coming to find Peter, "But we seriously need to do something about our Telmarine problem and more than ever the Narnian's need a leader."

"How am I supposed to lead them, when I can't even get my own head in order?" Peter sighed.

"You don't think that Lucy and I aren't upset about Ed?" Susan snapped, "You don't think that there are people out there that didn't just watch their friends betray them? We're all in the same boat. But you need to step up and be their King if we have any chance at getting Edmund back."

"No I shouldn't." he shook his head. Susan went to shout at him again before he continued, "You should. You're the smartest of us and the strongest. You're the one that the Narnians will be able to look to."

"Me?" Susan scoffed, surely he wasn't serious.

"Yes Susan. You." he smiled.

"I think that's a brilliant idea." Lucy beamed in agreement.

"Then it's settled." Peter rest his hand on her shoulder, "All hail Queen Susan."

So under Queen Susan's command the Narnians rallied together. They stood their ground at the front of Aslan's How waiting for the prophesied army of Telmarines to descend on them. The forest that lay just beyond the How rustled as the first of their enemies made their way into the clearing.

"Wait for it… wait..." Susan called to their archers as they surveyed the incoming soldiers. But it was a strange sight. The front lines of Miraz's forces were not made of armour-clad infantry, rather unarmed men, women, and children. Susan's eyes scanned their ranks for the sight of their King. Slowly, Miraz brushed past a few and gave them a signal to stop at the forest's edge. He continued walking however.

"This is a trick!" one Minotaur bellowed.

"Hold your fire." Susan command. Miraz made his way across the open field until he was standing roughly a hundred meters away.

"We heard word that you were housing refugees." Miraz shouted across the distance. Susan slowly walked closer. Glenstorm was quickly at her side for protection.

"Why come to us after everything that you've done to our people?" she shout back.

"The short explanation… I hate you, but I hate the Witch more.

"At least he's honest..." Susan mumbled to Glenstorm.

"Can we discuss parley?"

Reluctantly Susan agreed and ushered Miraz to talk further inside the How with each of their trusted advisers. It wasn't exactly easy. Miraz's army's bridge hadn't been finished but it turned out it didn't matter. A storm from the ruins of the castle had begun to spread. With it the air began to chill, the rivers began to freeze, and the ground was rapidly covering with snow. Then there was the other news the Telmarines had, from the remnants of their fallen kingdom the White Witch had built a castle of ice. The Long Winter was returning and if they didn't find a way to fight her together, there would be nothing left to fight over.

Author's Note: And with that we're back at it! Hi to all the new readers, thank you for your favourites and followers it means a tonne after all this time. I'll be getting back to responding to the reviews shortly so feel free to leave your feedback and any questions/ theories about the story. Enjoy!