Chapter Eight

A Visit From Aslan

Edmund was not in a good mood. He stomped passed all the servants, a frown on his face. Susan passed him and stopped.

"Edmund! What's the matter?" she cried.

"Nothing!" he shouted in return.

"You shouting at me is something," Susan answered.

"Stop it! I don't need this right now!" Edmund whipped around and yelled at his sister. "I don't want all your sympathy! I'm fine! Okay? Leave me alone!"

Susan stood in the hall alone and listened to the bang of Edmund's door. Since when had he become so sensitive, so childish? He was acting like he had before, when he had betrayed Lucy when he had gone to Narnia.

"I'm tired of it!" Lucy said, stamping her foot.

Peter and Susan looked at her in surprise.

"Really, I am! I'm tired of him acting like he did four years ago. He thinks I'm eight again! He's forgetting to treat me my age!" Lucy cried.

"Should we attempt to confront our stubborn, once-again-immature brother?" Susan sighed.

"It doesn't seem to have done any good so far," Lucy muttered.

"Maybe he's going through a phase," Peter suggested.

"A phase!" Susan and Lucy said in unison.

"All boys do," Peter shrugged.

"All boys but you!" Susan exclaimed. "You weren't a beast at fourteen. You were responsible and mature."

"Well," Peter said, "I'm just saying."

"It's as if he met the White Witch all over again and he's being absolutely spiteful!" Lucy proclaimed.

The older two stared at her. They had remembered that Edmund had gone into Narnia before them and had not admitted that he had met the White Witch before. They were scared that maybe a new evil was brewing.

"He wouldn't!" Susan leapt to defend her brother. "After that conversation he had with Aslan at the camp. He's changed since then."

"Has he?" a deep voice made them jump.

They turned to see the majestic form of a lion, somehow appearing in the room they had locked.

"Aslan," they all cried, and hastily bowed.

"I thank you. Now, what is this about Edmund?" Aslan asked.

"He is starting to become like the old Edmund he was before," Lucy said.

"Really, now? Do you know how it started?"

Each one shook their head.

"You haven't talked to him?"

"Please, sir, we have, but he has turned us away," Peter said gloomily.

"I understand," was the simple, yet serious, reply.

"We are afraid that maybe, like he met the White Witch and betrayed us, that he has met a new evil and is keeping secrets from us," Susan said.

Aslan smiled. The others were confused.

"He had met no evil. He has met a stubborn soul, but not an evil one. And yes, he is keeping secrets from you, but they are not bad, just more personal. I do believe he is feeling sensitive to the situation, so it is best you leave him be." Aslan saw Lucy was about to protest. "Peace, Daughter of Eve. I know your kind spirit wants to help Edmund, but it is beyond your power. He shall solve it for himself."

"Yes Aslan," they all replied.

"The best one to talk to him would be Peter. But you shall not confront him, Son of Adam. Edmund will come to you when he is ready," Aslan looked at Peter.

"Yes, Aslan," Peter said alone.

"You are doing wonderful, all of you," Aslan smiled at the three. "Narnia is in great hands."

With that, Aslan turned and walked out of the room.