A/N: WELCOME, new readers and my regulars! Just want to say a huge thank you for all the support and love shown and I may not have responded to all the DMs asking for an update but thank you so much, everyone who did. You are the inspiration I need to keep going!This chapter is dedicated to every single one of you beautiful people, plus it's 5000 words plus so something I'm really proud of plus we FINALLY get to know what exactly is going on in Narnia!Also spoiler alert! You're gonna meet a new character who isn't exactly.. new.. in the Narnia-verse.

Chapter 31; house of mirrors

The meeting with the Giant clan leader, Bordorg was more than a bore. It was clear from the moment he'd walked through the gates of this hell city, Lord Rynelf held no respect towards him nor acknowledged his authority.

Edmund tried hard to hold his tongue and maintain civility while the Lord made once more a not so subtle dig at his title.

"Well of course, King Edmund is here representing the interests of the Crown," he said, "however, let's not burden ourselves in reaching a finality today itself, after all permanent decisions would be made, as agreed upon with his esteemed Majesty, High King Peter the Magnificent himself, though of course, be assured Bordorg your appeals shall reach the High King's ears. King Edmund would make sure of it, won't you?" Lord Rynelf turned to face him as Edmund schooled his features to remain calm despite the anger coursing through his vein at every word that poured out the Lord's silver tongue. No way was he giving this wretched bastard what he wanted, to see him loose it. Not when he was so close to putting an end to his tyranny.

"Of course," Edmund shifted in his seat leaning forward, "I shall make sure things.. everything.. reach my Royal brothers ears, just the way they are." he could see the Lord squirm in his seat as the King continued, "Rest assured, Bordorg." Edmund stood, followed by the clatter or chairs scraping across the stone floor as everyone else in the room followed suit after the King as protocol demanded. That is, everyone except Bordorg.

A grunt left the giant's lips as turned his gaze towards Edmund. "We are not," his loud voice rumbled like slow yet strong thunder amidst the silence of the room, "a people of peace, King Edmund. We are a people of war, plunder and bloodshed. We are often mistaken for barbarians, we are not. My people take the road that benefits us the most."

"Well then, Bordorg, I ought to think a territory of your own, a land to call home by your clan whilst they're still alive would prove beneficial enough. Narnia can only hope the Northern Giants aren't a people of greed or foolishness, to not see what's dangling right before them."

Edmund covered in a cloak to stave off the cold made his way through the winding streets of Ettinsmead making his way to the tavern yet again.

Little did the young King know, he would never make it there, and the tankard of mead he verily craved would have to wait, for days.

The Pevensie siblings, Prince Corin and Aline sat for lunch around the dining table, the absence of a certain Royal definitely felt as it hung above them all in a heavy silence.

"I can't believe am saying this," Lucy began. "But I actually miss Ed."

Susan nodded, "He'd surprisingly not missed a meal these past couple months I almost miss him talking with a full mouth." she smiled fondly.

Aline stirred her soup as a smile graced her lips while the rest of the Pevensies laughed along heartily. The last conversation she'd had with that certain someone replaying in her head.

"When will he be back?" she couldn't help but ask as she prayed the desperation in her voice wasn't as obvious as she felt.

Peter shrugged at that, "Could be a couple days, weeks.."

"-or months!" Lucy interjected. "Remember the time you sent Ed to Terabinthia to check on the slavers, and he only returned after a couple months while letting us worry without a word?"

"Oh Aslan! How could we forget that. We almost thought he'd eloped to marry that healer nymph from the Isles!"

"But turned out he was in Narnia the whole time, masquerading as some stable boy at Lord Williams!"

This was not helping for sure, for not the first time Aline pondered the dreaded, What if he found someone else before she even ever got to tell him how she truly felt? She couldn't help but wonder, the tales his siblings just recounted did nothing to reduce her anxiety..

"Why the sudden ask, Aline? Missing my.. charming brother are you?" Peter smirked.

"Not really," she deadpanned, to amused smirks from the sisters, "well perhaps, I do miss the fact that I've no one to beat me at sparring anymore."

"Ouch, that hurt Aline," Peter faked hurt to the rest of their amusement. Right about then, in flew Raven through one of the open windows making it's way straight onto Peter's shoulders, as a scroll of parchment dropped onto his lap.

"Is- Is that news from Edmund?" Aline couldn't help but burst out.

Peter nodded.

"What is he saying?" Lucy perked up. "How are things in Ettinsmoor?"

"Do the Giants accept?"

"When's Ed coming back? He owes me a sword fight!" Corin chimed in.

"Everything's in order, just as we'd expected." he assured them. "Ed will be returning shortly, there are yet some matters that need tending to."

Is that all? Aline desperately wanted to yell out. Did he not mention anything more? How could he not?

But unfortunately for her, all she could do was keep quiet and ruminate to herself as the food on her plate in front of her grew colder.

"Oh loook this badger talks! Its a talking badger.." Edmund heard a shrill voice exclaim causing him to stop in his tracks. "Big Mama would love for him to join the circus don't you think?"

"Indeed. He'll love it so much he'd be willing to pay us a fortune as well! Glee, we are rich!"

Edmund rushed down the side lane to only see two burly village boys trap Bitty as one of them swung a curiously moving burlap sack across their shoulders.

"Hey!" the King yelled. "You! Stop."

The boys gave each other a smirk, as they both turned, taking down the streets though unfortunately for them, a now very pissed off young King, hot on their trails.

Edmund chased them through winding lanes, knocking down carts of vegetables on their way as he almost felt his muscles tiring. No. Edmund steeled himself, they were dearly going to pay for this. Besides, her didn't seem to be the only one tiring as the boys came to a gradual halt and with a look towards him, one of fear, disappeared right into the establishment on the side.

The establishment that turned out to be, a circus.

Edmund wasted no time following. The circus was a buzz, as people clad in funny colourful clothing roamed around as they seemed to be taking down the various equipments. It was the onset of Winter, the time the circus closed. Edmund paused as he caught his breath for a minute, yet looking around him. Fuck, he swore mentally, how was he going to find the boys in such a hustling place.

Right when he was contemplating giving up and returning back to the Castle to inform the Lord, Edmund caught the sight of someone, with a sack over his shoulder disappear into an entrance shaped like a clowns open mouth.

It was a house of mirrors.

And it was morbidly empty.

Now, Edmund was no person who was easily spooked but he had to admit that there was something definitely eerie with his reflections looking back at him from various angles, some normal, some too tall, or short or fat or stick thin.. some even distorted beyond recognition.

The eerie silence, like he was in a vaccum disconnected from reality was doing nothing to help either.

"Hello?" Edmund called, only for various echos to come right back to him.

"Bitty?"

"Edmund." a voice hissed, as goosebumps raised his skin and the temperature around him drop down steeply.

"Who is it?" he called. "Show yourself."

Laughter echoed around the room, as Edmund turned around to only face himself. He stared at his reflection.

"You cannot save her, young one." an eeriely familiar voice sounded from no where.

Edmund stopped in his tracks, no this wasn't real, he tried to convince himself. It was just his mind playing tricks. He was in a circus fun house for Aslan's sake.

"You cannot save any of them."

"You think you can run away from me?"

His heart beat faster as his legs rushed passed his own reflections while echos of Jadis's voice taunted him. Alright, now this seemed to be more than just in his head.

"No!" Edmund yelled as he came towards a dead end.

Laughter echoed around him as it increased in intensity.

Looking in front of him, something seemed to be different... "Edmund.." a soft voice called out amidst the maniacal laughter. The voice of the one he wanted to hear the most.

"Edmund.."

Something on the mirror shifted.

"EDMUND!" Aline's voice yelled at him as if a warning to not look into it, to not investigate, but it was too late. As he moved in closer.

He remembered this very scene unfolding in front of him. He saw himself on the iced up floor of a stone castle. Kneeling down on the ground, in a pool of blood as he grabbed at someone on his lap, shaking her shoulders as if he wanted her to wake up..

He'd seen this before. In the worst of his nightmares, Edmund realised. The very night she had arrived in Narnia.

"See.." Jadis' voice taunted him again, "I told you, Edmund. You can't save them all."

"Shut up Evil Witch!" he yelled in anger as he barely held in the fear that creeped through him. Fear that he realised, was mingled with a sense of sadness, loss and.. love? Fear for the one he knew held his heart. In that moment, one thing was clear, no matter what happened, whatever this mess with the rebels lead to, he was going to protect her. He would save her. Even if it meant his own life.

With newfound determination Edmund rose. Just as the scene in the mirror in front of his changed.

He was back in the meadow, standing amongst the flowers. And in front of him, lay none other than.. her. Flowers woven in her hair she basked in the sunlight as fairies flitted around her. Edmund could do nothing but stare at her in awe. He'd never seen someone as pretty as her and just as he was about to let her know of it her eyes cracked open as she looked at him a smile cracking her lips.

"Come back to me Edmund," she reached out towards him and he couldn't help but let his hand forwards to meet hers, but all it met was the steely cold surface of the mirror instead And with that, the world turned black.

When Edmund woke up next, he found himself in quite an uncomfortable position. He couldn't move his hands nor his feet.

Recalling what happened, Edmund allowed his eyes to adjust to his dimly lit surroundings. His head pounded sharply, no doubt in a mild concussion.

Something shifted around him accompanied with the sound of a muffled voice.

"Drea?" Edmund inquired groggily, only to find her tied up right next to him.

"What- What's going on?" he questioned to only be met by Drea's frightened eyes and gagged mouth.

"Don't panic Drea, I'll get you out of this. I'll get us out of this." Edmund could only assure her panicked face, though he knew he sounded the least bit of convincing.

Edmund looked around them, there was nothing standing out in the dull, empty room they were tied up in. Edmund tried feeling up the knots around his hands. They were tight alright. No way.

The both of them were tied to a pole in the middle of the room.

"Mmmph", Drea called.

"What is it?" he called only to be met by a glare that seemed to say, 'don't you think I'd say it by now if I could?!'

But then before he could respond- "Little King," a voice boomed simultaneously seeming to come from the other side of the room yet all around them at the same time.

He remembered exactly where he'd heard that. In the dungeon. That unfateful night. What the hell is even going on?!

"You bitch!" Drea exclaimed as the remaining rope shackling her hand fell off as she spat out the gag.

"You took her.. You took her from me." the faes features glowered in anger.

The lady in Green turned, as if stunned by Drea's voice, noticing her for the first time.

"Oh, darling no hard feelings, it just had to be done-" her honeyed voice poured out and before Drea could spit back a response, "nah-uh nah- I've no time to indulge your pettiness," and with a snap of her long green nailed fingers, Drea's mouth shut up nothing coming out even as her mouth opened wide.

"No!" Edmund yelled. "What have you done to her?!"

"That's nothing, she'll be fine. But now, it's time you and I had a chit chat, don't you think?"

"Who are you?"

"Me? Oh well, I go by many names, some so old even I've forgotten them. But right now? Some do call me the Lady of the Green Kirtle."

"But- tsk tsk, enough about me, now you, on the other hand," she turned to face Edmund. "Couldn't resist playing hero could you? Almost ruined my precarious plans here but oh well, we have you dealt with."

"What do you want with Narnia?"

The Lady of the Green Kirtle laughed, a sound so musical that if she hadn't had him and his fae friend tied up would almost sound whimsical "Oh no, silly boy. You think too small. In fact, I cannot care less of what happens to your precious Narnia. I mean sure," she rambled on, "I did enjoy watching my minions wreck havoc over your Castle party. And of course, I had to check out Aslan's pride and joy for myself.. But as fun as messing with your tiny minds is, my aspirations are way higher. I want.. more."

A haze of gloom settled itself in his chest, as his eyes flickered to Drea's hunched, tied up, mute form, "What do you want with the dryads? Where are they?"

She moved in closer to him, her almond shaped snake eyes staring directly into his. "Serving a greater purpose." was her only reply as she withdrew from his face with inhuman speed that reminded him of something. A snake.

"Get her prepped up." the Lady called out and at her behest in walked in a giant, towering above them all. Oh fuck, Edmund had time to think as he scooped out Drea in an arm throwing her above his shoulders as her panicked eyes met Edmunds.

What had he gotten himself into?

Edmund tugged at his "What do you want from me?"

"What makes you think I want anything from you?"

"You know who I am yet you haven't killed me."

"Yet." she mused. "Maybe it's because I need something from you. Maybe, it's because I want to get to know you."

Edmund scoffed at the very idea of it.

"What do you need from me?"

"Well I needed you to not poke your nose where it didn't belong and frankly you screwed that up. Hmm, let me think what else a measly human like you could have to offer."

Edmund felt trapped. She was a snake, toying with her prey, and he a rat trapped in its deadly clutches, the prey.

"Whatever you're planning," he began, "it will fail."

Again, she laughed. A icy, patronising sound that made his ears ring.

"Maybe," she began, "maybe you could offer me something after all." a long green nail trailed his forehead as she brushed off his hair line.

"You see Edmund, I wasn't lying when I told you I'd like to get to know you," and with that her single long green nail dug right into his temples as Edmund could do nothing to stop the yell that escaped his lips as excruciating pain pulsed through his body.

It was almost like he could feel her sifting through his memories. His younger days, his betrayal, Aslan, his siblings early days as Monarchs, Edmund learning the ropes of running a Kingdom, then came her, her curled into a ball in fear as a Minatour loomed behind her. Her dressing up his wound, to when he trained her for the first time the way the sun caught her silhouette...

Edmund resisted, these were his memories, his precious memories of her. No-one got to see them. He resisted or at least tried to as hard as he could but sadly it was all for vain. He could almost feel himself slip out of consciousness.. almost...

So he persevered, Edmund remembered Oreius's mind training. Though the Lady in Green was definitely way way stronger than any of the dryads mind tricks he'd trained for, Edmund pushed back. Aslan, Edmund though. Please, grant me the strength to persevere.. Don't let this be my last day-

He pushed harder. And harder. A scream tore its way through his lungs and for a moment he seemed to have almost pushed her out. Almost. A shocked sigh left the Lady's lips. And only then did her death grip relent as her long nails left his temples leaving indents where blood seeped through.

Only then did Edmund feel the blood that flowed through his left nostril now pouring past his lips to the ground as he felt his head explode and his ears ring.

Edmund fell to the ground, barely propping himself up. And even that took all the strength he could muster.

For some reason, that seemed to impress the Lady of the Green Kirtle. "Not bad." she commented almost flippantly, "most would not last through my probing at all much less resist it.. and live. You are a strong one."

"Which is a good thing," she continued, "because, it seems you did have something that I want."

"And now little King, you shall tell me all that you know about the Mirror, the Sword and the Stone."

"What?" Edmund questioned through the pain and his pants for air, "I know nothing of anything you said."

"Oh come on, if I may judge from your own memories, you seem to come off cleverer than that. Do you really think the girl knows nothing of who she is? What she is capable of?"

She couldn't be referring to Aline could she?

"No. She-"

Before Edmund could complete his sentence he heard a sudden swish of air as a pained howl echoed through. He forced himself to stand up gathering every last ounce of strength in him only to see the formidable lady turn around to look at something behind her and as she did, he could see exactly what caused it. Two ninja stars- shurikens stuck out her back and Edmund saw exactly who had done it.

"Drea!" She looked at him, now standing at the doorway somehow getting rid of her Giant captor. "Your Majesty! Get out of here!" she managed just as she drew some more shurikens and took aim, but this time one of it hit right on the pole he was tied to. Edmund knew exactly what he had to do, get free. but if anyone knew anything about him, he was no runner.

Bringing his tied hands up towards the now imbedded in the wood shuriken he managed to strike it once severing the tight rope by a little. Edmund could feel the pressure rise in him despite the still distinct ringing in his ears. He didn't have to turn behind to know now the Green Lady had her target fixed on Drea instead.

With an almighty tug it finally came lose.

By then, the Green Lady had Drea in a chokehold as she struggled with her powers, as vines clumsily tried climbing around the Lady but were nowhere near strong enough to pull her away as they waned weakly as her grip around Drea's neck tightened, slowly seeming to drain the life force out of her.

The now free young King wasted no time with reaching into his boot for the tiny dagger he always hid in it, just in case. Today, it definitely came in handy.

Right before he could make any further move however, an explosion burst through the side of the wooden walls they seemed to be entrapped in and out of the almost blindingly bright explosion bounded a vicious looking Lora springing right onto the Green Lady's back.

Edmund dropped down to his knees, half out of exhaustion half due to the outburst of the explosion that shook the room.

Following Lora came in the rest of the Narnians. Bastare brandishing his club clipped the Lady on her head and as Edmund saw she stumbled back as she tried summoning the same kind of shadow darkness that he'd encounter that fateful day, with Aline's brother in the dungeon. But before she could cause any significant harm, two vines shot forth from the ground at Drea's behest and with an earth shattering roar and a vile look thrown towards everyone in the room before finally coming to rest on him. It was vile, angry and malveolant one that he felt piercing through his soul. Edmund felt a shiver run down his spine. And just like that- poof.

She was gone.

Edmund closed his eyes, to clear the daze that set in. But they had no time, they needed to act fast if his suspicions were right.

"I'm fine." he replied to the concerned looks thrown his way from him Guards. "We need to act fast, search this place. If our suspicions are correct," he looked to Drea, "something nefarious is going on in this vile place and we need to stop it before further havoc is unleashed."

"My Lord!" a sudden cry called out from further down- well wherever they were stuck at. "Over here.. I've found the- the dryads."

"This is.. insane." Drea's voice sounded from beside him as it echoed throughout what seemed to be a cave that they'd walked into following the soldier's call. A cave that lit up with some sort of luminescent light. Light that came off of.. humanoid figures that seemed to be chained to some sort of crystals that magnified the light throughout the cave.

Drea gasped, a low moan leaving her lips as she rushed to one of the tied figures as recognition and a look of hurt cut through her features.

"Merleen!" Drea cried out. Edmund had to admit the forlorn expression on her face did not match the rash, formidable warrior look she had going for her, but somehow it made the fae look vulnerable, even human. "Oh Merleen, my love. What had she done to you?"

Oh. Edmund realised with a start. Well that did made some sense.

"I'm sorry. I am so very sorry for leaving you home alone that night. Merleen open your eyes. I'm here now."

Merleen stirred slightly at the touch of her love as her eyes fluttered open.

"I knew.. you'd come for me Drea. I always knew it." Merleen managed.

"Someone, please help me! Help me get her off, whatever this cursed contraption is."

And so Edmund did. And before long Silver had found Bitty as well and the entire crew had somehow helped the trapped dryads off. However, unfortunately.. most did not make it and all that remained of them was the dry sucked out shell devoid of any life force.

Edmund clenched his fists to balls. He knew enough now to have a faint idea of whatever they were dealing with. This Lady, the Lady of the Green Kirtle as she had called herself, she was after the Mirror, the Sword and the Stone, whatever that was. Plus.. the prophecy, they were all connected. The dryads were captured to supplement her life force, which could only mean.. she wasn't as strong. Maybe there was hope after all.. Maybe there could be a way to beat her before her darkness spread further throughout the land. And whatever it was that was to unfold, Aline definitely had a part to play in it.

A/N: Finally the plot has begun. I hope I could put my own twist to the backstory of the Lady of the Green Little and I hope you liked this. I'm open for any questions/discussions drop the down there! Also let me know what you think is going to happen next. Though I can promise it's going to be.. interesting as we shall finally see Edmund and Aline.. well, let me not spoil too much. Anyways, please follow, favourite and !review! for a faster update.