A/N: (stunned) Well…there were a lot of reviews for last chapter! Thanks so much! And thanks to everyone who answered my question about self insertions, I understand much better now. Understand, the more reviewI get, the faster I update!

IMPORTANT: YESTERDAY MY SERVER WENT WEIRD AND I COULDN'T ACCESS MY ACCOUNT. I couldn't update my new chapter, and I got pissed as hell. So if I take an abnormally wrong time, I'm probably grappling with my crappy internet connection. Apologies in advance!

OKAY finally, we have reached the point where everything actually gets going. Edmund gets his act together, and a very confused Peter returns to the real world at last.

I really enjoyed writing this chapter, and am looking forward even more to writing the next! This is a turning point in the story; from here the plot gets moving and things get more interesting. I hope you enjoy reading just as much as I enjoyed writing!

I will repeat, this fic is NOT SLASH and NOT INCEST (or Mary Sue for that matter), for future chapter reference. Oh yeah, any predictions on which side Cifel is actually on?

Chapter eleven

Edmund lifted the iron latch on the door to his room, eying the small stone figure of a cowering cat at his feet. All these statues were…strange. Surreal. Why would anyone want figures which all seemed to either be despairing with fear or simply in pain? The witch must be a very troubled, lonely person, Edmund thought. He wondered whether she had always been this way. Cold, distant. Surely nobody was born like that.

But he had no time to dwell on thoughts such as that now. He closed the door and shivered at how cold the room seemed. He was only wearing a light cotton shirt and knee length shorts, no help at all when it came to conserving heat. Edmund rubbed his arms vigorously, and looked around for the book. It was where he had left it, lying open on the floor. Eagerly, he slid into a kneeling position and peered closely at the page. He retrieved the dead flower head from his pocket and inserted it carefully into the folded crease which marked the book's binding.

On the left page of the book, was a simple title of John 20:28. On the other side, there was a picture of two men. Walking along a beach, with a dozen figures huddled in the distance. They were both dark haired; with one more a sandy brown while the other a dark. The dark haired one, who seemed to glow with a golden aura and had a shining halo suspended above is head, was holding out his hands to the other, who was reaching out to take them, an earnest expression on his face.

Edmund frowned, and studied the picture carefully for any sign of the little boy from his dreams. He found nothing, and so moved over to read the text carefully. Again he found nothing which had anything to do with the dreams as for as he could see, when he came across the second paragraph, which was entitled:

Jesus Reinstates Peter

Edmund froze. The icy tendrils which engulfed his mind were thinning, growing weaker, creaking. He could almost see beyond the swirling white mist which surrounded his memories to the world beyond. His past. He placed a forefinger on the page and read a little way down, before he stiffened.

When they had finished eating, Jesus

Said to Simon Peter, "Simon Son of John,

Do you truly love me more than these?"

"Yes Lord" he said "You know that I

Love you."

Edmund read the first sentence again, then again, over and over until there words were imprinted into the very depths of his mind's eye.

Simon Peter.

Simon.

Peter.

Peter!

Edmund cried out in pain as the bonds of ice shattered, and images flooded his mind. Flow upon flow of memories, people, faces whipping past faster than the human eye could comprehend. Blurred colours and shapes assaulted his vision, and he bent double and leant his forehead against his knees, breathing hard, murmuring to himself over and over again the name which finally made sense, drew some meaning from his heart.

"Peter, Peter, Peter…"

His sisters, Susan, and Lucy, glaring, smiling, laughing, crying. They contorted, and mutated into the faces of his mother, the witch, countless strange mythical creatures he could never even have dreamed of. The kindly face of a golden maned lion, kingly in grace and yet seemingly good at heart. And finally, as the rushing sound faded to a ringing silence within his head, a single face drew itself up from the now calming torrent of memories.

Simon, the little boy from his dreams, clutching a posy of blue flowers and smiling sadly up at him. He faded, to be replaced by the sharper, more refined features of his older brother. Peter. Fear filled china blue eyes, face paler than the witch's snow, a trickle of dark blood oozing down from a gash on his temple. Edmund's eyes snapped open.

"No…Peter…"

He rasped out, completely winded.

"You know, humans really are pathetic little creatures. I mean, surely you should have been able to break through such a weak barrier as that in no time…sad, really."

Edmund rose slowly to his feet, eyes fixed on the figure leaning casually against the opposite wall, dark hair falling carelessly into his face. He felt grounded. Strong. It was not a strength born of the sudden revelation of his past, who he was. He had never been this strong, never felt this way before. He was angry, but it was different from the childish tantrums and hatred which he had embraced before entering Narnia.

It was cold, calm, and direct. It scared him a little, even as the anger flooded his senses and made his muscles stiffen. He rose to his feet, feeling none of the remnants of weakness he had endured during his 'ailment'. His heart began to beat faster, the blood roaring in his ears, quite different from the rushing torrent which had invaded him only moments before.

"You," Edmund began, slowly, choosing his words carefully "had better tell me what is going on, or so help me God I'll-"

Cifel snorted, and propelled himself away from wall and stalking over to stand face to face with Edmund, who realized, to his great surprise, that the boy seemed much shorter than he had before.

"You'll what? You're just a weak little human. What business do you have in Narnia, anyway? We take care of ourselves." Cifel stated disdainfully, folding his arms. Edmund felt his anger and frustration swell.

"Well obviously you're wrong, or Aslan wouldn't have called us here!" he retorted. He stepped back abruptly as Cifel's eyes suddenly became clouded with cold fury.

"ASLAN BE DAMNED!" he hissed, and turned away, wrenching the book from the floor and shoving it under Edmund's nose.

"See this?" he gestured violently to the man in the picture with the ethereal glow, and Edmund blinked, before realization struck.

"Why, it's the Bible! Of course…I forgot…oh, hell, I forgot everything…"

The serious nature of the situation sunk in, and Edmund put a hand to his head and sank down on the bed, thoughts of all kinds swirling around in a blur. Where were Susan and Lucy? Were they safe? And Aslan? Why had he not been present at the battle?

The battle…

Memories of the battle were blurred. There was a rush of colours…the witch…a blinding light, immense pain and…Peter's face…

Peter…

Edmund leapt to his feet, fear filling the pit of his stomach like lead. He had attacked the witch to save Peter. And he had failed. The witch was still very much alive…then what of his brother?

"You!"

Edmund grasped Cifel by the neck of his cloak and clenched his fist in the material, not caring that his limbs had begun to tremble.

"There was another…a boy…my brother, is he here? Is he alive?"

Cifel slapped his hand away irritably, and rolled his eyes. He dusted off his cloak and re-adjusted it around his shoulder before replying.

"Yes, I was wondering when we might get to that. It is a…difficult question to answer."

Edmund sneered, and felt the now familiar anger override his fear, quelling his shaking muscles and making him stronger, in control.

"Why! Because you don't want to tell me? Because you were ordered to by the witch?"

Apparently he had struck a nerve. Cifel's eyes narrowed to slits and his entire body went rigid, fists balling up and arms raising in seeming defense.

"Do not ever imply I answer to that cur, human." He spat, slamming the book shut with a painful snap and dropping it to the floor, his mouth curling into a snarl. Edmund ignored this, his mind once again on his brother. Cifel was avoiding the question.

"Tell me." He said, quietly "Tell me now, or human or not, I will rip your head off." He said it so calmly. His voice sounded so foreign even as it left his lips. Cifel's anger seemed to die, and he looked Edmund up and down, impassive now.

"I must say…I am impressed, son of Adam. It seems you grew into a man even while I was watching a child struggle to break free." He bowed slightly. "Very well. I must tell you, the moment I answer the question you requested, many doors will be closed to you. You will never be able to go back to being an innocent child, bereft of responsibility." He paused, and gazed levelly at Edmund.

"I will ask only once; are you willing to risk all, for your family?"

Edmund didn't stop to think.

"Of course!" he said, aghast "I love them."

He faltered. He had never, in his whole life, actually uttered those words. Even thought them, not clearly. He had always been thinking only of what was wrong in the world; what he hated, what he didn't like, what he would change if he could. He had never had the courage to tell any of his family he loved them, not in sincerity. He supposed he was, truly, simply a coward at heart.

Cifel smiled reminiscently, and Edmund stared at him. He was not looking at Edmund, but seemed to see through him.

"Humans are such strange creatures. You put them through hell, and they bounce right back, begging for more." He sighed. "I fear I shall never understand."

'Oh, children of the forbidden earth. How I hate, and yet love you so.'

He pulled Edmund to his feet, and hurried over to the door, pausing to speak one last sentiment;

"But before I explain, I must show you something."

And without further ado, he yanked Edmund out of the door and into the cold, statue filled passage beyond, leaving the door to bang shut behind them.

And in the courtyard below them, hidden beneath a stone cross wreathed in small, delicate blue flowers, a still figure lay smothered in a light layer of dust and frosted ice; his lips blue, and his golden hair and eyelashes adorned with ice melting to dew.

It was time.

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A/N: Oooh, now I'm getting excited…I remember why I wrote this story now! Yes, all that suspense and confusion was leading up to something…which shall begin to occur in the next chapter. Speaking of which…

(Clears throat) Next chapter, Cifel has a LOT of explaining to do, Edmund has many and varied emotional trauma, Peter is confused, and Aslan takes a trip down memory lane…not literally, thankfully. That would be just too confusing…

The Bible reference is accurate. To explain, it is the parable in which Jesus takes Peter aside and asks him to pledge his allegiance to him. It is very reminiscent of when Aslan knights Peter in Narnia. CS Lewis himself uses this exact same symbolism, as Aslan is a symbolic representation of Jesus in Narnia. When CS Lewis wrote the line which Aslan says:

"You may find me in your world, too."

Or something along those lines. He is Jesus in our world. Peter is also a symbolic representation of Peter Christ's first disciple. There are a hell of a lot of Bible and religious references all over the Chronicles of Narnia, and as a Christian, maybe it's clearer to me than to others. Anyway, so I didn't just make it up. CS Lewis was the inspiration for the whole Bible subplot.

(Cough) Remember, no pain, no gain! Review and I'll update faster!