Just and Magnificent
Volume 2.6 – Love is Pain.
Volume 2 of Just and Magnificent takes place about 2 years after the events of the movie. It is the second of three volumes. It is AU and if you haven't figured out, contains slash and incest. Hopefully you find it handled in a way that is as pure as possible.
Summary: Peter continues to be deceived, while Edmund tries to free himself and Eris from their prison. Edmund suffers for his love.
Warnings: Slash, Incest, Love, Romance, Adventure, Mystery, and umm this chapter is another MONSTER
Disclaimer: Only characters that are mine are the Pretty Eyes People from Shian! All the rest belong to that master of awesomeness, C.S. Lewis
A MEMORY OF A HERO
"Son of Adam, you are almost ready."
Edmund knelt before Aslan with one of the great lion's paws on his shoulder. They were both on the edge of a vast, seemingly endless ocean where a small boat sat on the sand. They had ventured to corners of Narnia that Edmund had never seen, and would likely never see again. And yet their current destination was one Edmund knew all too well.
He could no longer be sure just how much time had passed since the battle at Cair Paravel, but he knew it had been months at least. He had completed every task on his journey with Aslan, and he finally believed it was almost time for him to face the one who is many. The one who followed Edmund back from the realm of the departed.
"Almost, Aslan?" Edmund asked humbly, "What task would you have me do before I am ready? Tell me so I may complete it and face this enemy of ours."
"Edmund … do you know why it is you who must face this challenge alone?"
"Alone?" Edmund asked in surprise, "You mean face him alone? The one who is many? I thought …"
"The place you are going, I cannot follow. You are special, Edmund. You have been touched by the deep magic. You have journeyed to the realm of the departed and come back. You can venture into shadow. Places that the old law dictates I cannot follow. That is why he hides there, Edmund. In the place where you must go."
"Where, Aslan?" Edmund asked with fear in his voice, "How can I defeat him without you?"
Aslan removed his paw from Edmund's shoulder and brushed his mane affectionately against Edmund. It was almost a salutation. To Edmund it almost felt like goodbye.
"It is time, Edmund. Time for you to continue alone. When you come back, I will be waiting here for you. I will return with you on the long journey to Cair Paravel."
"But … you said I was almost ready." Edmund asked, "What do I have to do first, Aslan?"
"Go there, beyond the veil. Go back to where you came from."
"Before Narnia?"
"Before Peter gave you life."
"Salei Barion …" Edmund gasped, "That's why we're here? You want me to go back?"
"Return to Salei Barion and you will find the answers you seek. The answers you need to find him."
"Will … will I come back? Can I come back?"
The great lion gave Edmund a smile that was full of confidence, and yet tinged with sadness. Edmund did not appreciate seeing any doubt in Aslan's eyes, for it was something he did not expect from someone so great. He wondered if Aslan was saddened that Edmund would have to complete this journey alone, or that perhaps he wasn't sure Edmund would succeed.
"This will not be like before, Edmund. The dangers will be greater. You are no longer one of the fallen. You do not rule a fallen army. Though a part of you will always be tied to that place, you are alive now. It will be … difficult. And yet there is little more you can learn to help you. Your virtues are pure. Your skills are as great as any warrior. Your heart is true. You will prevail, Son of Adam. Believe, and you will prevail."
"Aslan … I'm afraid." Edmund said with a furrowed brow, "But I will not fail you. I know this must be done."
Edmund stood up, and though he was dressed in the armor he wore as King of the Fallen, he felt like a child. His fear was building. A fear of venturing into the unknown without Aslan by his side. A fear of facing an evil that was even older than Jadis. Perhaps even the oldest. Still Edmund could not bring himself to step away from Aslan.
"Go, my son."
Edmund knew that it was because of him that all of this had come to transpire. He was still paying for his betrayal and brief allegiance to the white witch. He was still paying for his death at Beruna. He was still paying for his rebirth at Cair Paravel. It was because of him that the ancient evil came back to the world. Now it was up to him to right that wrong and hopefully restore the prophecy of the four.
"Goodbye, Aslan." Edmund smiled, with a shiver in his voice, "See you again?"
The great lion laughed merrily and with joy, putting Edmund immediately at ease. Finally, Edmund dragged the small boat into the water and stepped inside. He used the oars inside to begin paddling north, and found the current was quickly sweeping away from the shore and far from Aslan. With a deep breath of fear and anxiety, Edmund said goodbye under his breath and waved to the great lion.
"I'm so afraid …" Edmund shivered, "I don't want to be alone."
"Edmund, are you ok? Can you speak?" Eris's voice called, waking Edmund from his dreams.
Edmund opened his eyes to find his arms chained to the ceiling above his head. His feet were barely touching the ground, but they were unchained. His back stung and he grimaced as he recalled being whipped till he bled. His breathing was heavy and labored, and his head rang with a throbbing agony.
"I say, they aren't very hospitable are they?" Edmund gasped in pain, as he looked up Eris hanging a few feet in front of him, "How are you holding up, Pretty Eyes?"
"It seems you've had all their attention since you arrived."
"Better me than you."
"You were telling me before they tortured you that Peter is being deceived by someone in my image?"
"Yes." Edmund said nodding his head weakly, "I should have seen it."
"Her name is Dalzell. She is a shifter. An old hag who calls upon the dark power to aid her deceptions. She is the one who captured me. Jesahn just barely managed to escape. I told him to get help, but he has not returned in all this time. I can only imagine … he must have failed."
It appeared that their voices were not lost on the boggles guarding the door. Their cell door was soon unlocked and two boggles entered, followed by a much larger ogre.
"The King of the Fallen has awoken." The ogre bellowed before he grabbed Edmund by the chin, "We're under strict orders not to kill you. Do you know why?"
"Because looking at your ugly face is worse than death?" Edmund snickered defiantly, before the two boggles punched him in the stomach.
"Is that all you got?" Edmund winced, "My sister would throttle the three of you."
"Edmund, do you think it wise to …" Eris began to say before the ogre smashed the butt of his club in her face.
"Hey!" Edmund yelled angrily, "Hasn't anyone ever taught you how to treat a lady?"
"So … does it trouble you to see the Shian princess suffer?" The ogre said before he grabbed Eris by her hair, "We don't have any orders to keep her alive. Would you like to watch her suffer?"
"Touch her again and I assure you, it will be the last thing you ever do." Edmund grimaced, anger fueling his speech.
Logic unfortunately, had not fueled his speech, for he was still chained and outnumbered. And yet in his mind he was already formulating an escape. Whether it worked or not, he'd soon find out. All he knew is he wasn't going to let Eris suffer for his torment. The ogre didn't seem to have any fear of Edmund, for he raised his club over Eris's head, ready to bring it crashing down.
On instinct Edmund swung back using the chains above him for leverage, before he kicked off the wall behind him. He used the momentum to swing forward and kick the ogre's club into its own head. As his momentum swung him backwards, he pincered one of the boggles between his legs and snapped its neck.
He used all the strength in his arms to pull himself up the chain, just as the other boggle swung at him with its short sword. He let go of the chain and landed on the boggle's head. With two deft movements, Edmund turned its sword against the boggle using his feet and stabbed the boggle in the heart.
Using one last burst of energy, he swung himself up the chains again. He used the momentum to switch the sword from his feet to his right hand. His range of movement was limited so he pulled himself further up the chain to allow better use of his arm. Now with slack on the chain, he swung the sword at the ceiling bolt. Using one hand to hold the chain, and his feet as leverage against the ceiling, he smashed the sword over and over against the stone ceiling holding the chain bolt.
"Hurry, the ogre's waking up!" yelled an anxious Eris.
Sure enough, the ogre rose to his feet and growled. He jumped up at Edmund, but could not reach. With one mighty swing, Edmund smashed the chain bolt with his sword. He fell hard and fast, turning in mid air to land on his feet. Grimacing at the fall, Edmund quickly shook the pain off and leaped at the ogre. He used the chains still tied to his wrists but now loose. He swung them around the ogre's neck as he leaped onto his back.
"This will teach you for striking a lady." Edmund growled as he pulled the chains with all his might.
The ogre grabbed the chains choking it, and used its strength to throw Edmund forward. Edmund rolled onto the ground and kicked to his feet as the ogre charged at him. Before he could move, Eris kicked her own feet forward and tripped the ogre over. Edmund picked up the short sword and rolled under the ogre in one swift motion, aiming the sword at its heart. Just as the sword pierced the ogre's chest, Edmund rolled out from under him. The ogre's own weight brought it crashing down on the rest of the sword.
Edmund breathed a sigh of relief, before the ogre suddenly grabbed out at his leg. He jumped off his free foot and brought it smashing down on the ogre's elbow, before he stepped off and kicked the ogre in the head. The ogre pulled himself up and Edmund stepped off the ogre's knee with one foot and kicked the other against the ogre's chest. He grabbed the sword and pulled it from the ogre's chest before he spun in the air with a mighty cry. In an instant he had used the sword to slice the ogre's head from its body. Finally, the ogre fell dead.
"Ok, now what's your great plan, Rogue Warrior?" Edmund asked himself, breathing a sigh of relief.
He grabbed a set of keys from one of the boggles and removed his chains, before quickly freeing Eris. The look of relief on her face was only matched by her grateful tears. As soon as she was free, she fell limp in Edmund's arms.
"With feet like that, I bet you're a great dancer." Eris whimpered, tired and beaten, "I should like a dance one day."
"Don't tell Peter I can dance." Edmund smirked, "He thinks I'm horrid. Or maybe he has figured out that I was a bad dancer just so he'd keep teaching me. By the way, I'm King Edmund the Just. King of the Fallen and Rogue Warrior to Aslan's cause. Forgive me for taking so long to affect our escape, my lady."
Edmund found his humor a distraction to his physical pain. For although he had dispatched his enemies, his body had barely managed it. And yet he found the strength to haul Eris over his shoulder and run into the dungeon hall. The hall was dark, lit only by a torch at each end. The ground was cold and rough against his bare feet, but he was grateful to finally be loose of his prison. He ran for the nearest door with Eris still on his shoulder. Before he could open it, it was opened for him and a rush of boggles flooded the hall. He gently lay Eris against the wall and armed himself with a sword.
He fancied himself a great fighter, but not a stupid one. He was outnumbered by more than twenty boggles, and no doubt more trouble would follow behind them. He decided stealth was the better part of valor in this battle, and called upon one of the many skills he'd learned on his quest with Aslan. He sliced the torch nearby him and put it out. He ran for the second torch, slicing and dodging as he passed through and over boggles. When he finally reached the second torch, he turned to the boggles with a wry smirk that he only he could do.
"I hope you're not afraid of the dark."
And with that he put out the final torch. The entire room fell black and Edmund closed his eyes on instinct. He stepped forward and into the mass of boggles, thrusting and parrying his sword. He was a wolf and they were the lamb. He used his instincts to guide him, as well as the sound that the evil creatures made with every movement. Effortlessly he stepped in and around them, picking them off one by one. The hall was filled with cries until finally only two sounds remained. The sound of his breathing, and Eris's.
He was about to step toward Eris and pick her up when suddenly his entire body was overcome with a burning agony. He fell to his knees and screamed out. His hands grew rigid and he began to convulse with a gut wrenching pain. All too soon the hall was filled with more boggles, and this time he was unable to repel them.
TO BREAK THE BONDS OF LOVE
Dalzell, the shifter who impersonated the image of Eris for her own plans, now stood with her lips firmly planted on Peter's. Her mouth curled into a smile as she slid her hand under Peter's shirt. She imagined the agony Edmund was suffering as Peter's love for him was slowly twisted by her magic. And yet she treaded slowly and carefully. Peter would only fall under her spell for short periods before she would have to send him back to sleep and leave the magic to work on him more. Each time she could push him a little further. She could deepen their kiss or lead his hands on her body.
"I hope you're feeling all of this, King Edmund." Dalzell whispered as she led Peter to his bed, "That is just another taste, Edmund. Just another taste."
She laid Peter down on the bed and he stared back at her with vacant and hollow eyes. She picked up her velvet bag and waved it under his nose. He breathed in the golden dust and she smiled once more.
"Sleep, Peter. Let the magic work. I am patient. I will wait. Sleep."
BOUND ONCE MORE
Edmund moaned and gasped as his pain slowly subsided. Bitter tears fell from his cheeks. He struggled aimlessly in his restraints, for once again he was chained to the ceiling in a new dungeon cell. He was grateful at least that they had kept Eris in the same cell as him. She made the entire experience somewhat bearable, and he had taken it upon himself to make sure she survived this ordeal. Even though he had failed in his attempt to wrest her to safety.
"What happened, Edmund?" Eris asked as she realized he was stirring, "You almost escaped. You were free. You fought them all off. You must've killed dozens of those boggles. And then you just … what happened? You just started screaming like someone was attacking you, even before more guards came. Are you cursed?"
"You could say that." Edmund moaned, his thoughts broken and jagged.
Edmund's strength was failing him, and he could not speak to give Eris more details. He simply hung there trying to focus himself. Trying to block out the pain his body was in. From his hands to his feet his body ached, and he wasn't sure whether it was from his torture, or as he'd learned when he was captured, from the bond he had with Peter. The bond he now understood the imposter Eris was trying to break.
"I could see it in her eyes, but I was too blinded by jealousy." Edmund sighed with disappointment in himself, "And now I am here. Because I was too proud to let Peter help me, and I was too jealous to see what was right in front of me. That is why she took your form. To fuel my jealousy and blind me from the truth."
"The hag shifter? Dalzell?"
"Do you know anything else about her?" Edmund asked raising his head to meet Eris's, whose eyes held a little more life than the first time he found her here, "The one who claims your identity?"
"She is trying to turn your Peter from you."
"How do you know?"
"When you collapsed before, while trying to escape. Those boggles were taunting you. They said that Peter had fallen under the shifter's spell, and that's why you just collapsed when you were trying to get us to freedom. And when I was first captured, she said she needed my form to lure another into breaking their bonds of love. I assumed it might be Peter."
"So much for me rescuing us." Edmund grimaced with a pained laugh, "Some good I am. I'm sorry, Pretty Eyes."
"Believe me …" Eris said with tears filled with sadness, "I am grateful for the company. Although I would rather you weren't captured. I don't care too much for my own fate, but I would hate for you to share it."
Edmund's eyes felt heavy with sympathy and grief, not for himself, but for Eris. He could see her heart had broken for her people. He could see there was little hope in her eyes. She looked to be someone who was ready to die. And yet he would not allow it. He'd learned himself that life was too precious a gift to throw away, even when the grief is too much for you to bear.
"Don't give up, Pretty Eyes. They haven't beaten us yet."
A SHIFTY WOMAN INDEED
"I have time, Peter."
Dazell, the shifter who had been revealed to Edmund by the true Eris, lay beside Peter's sleeping form. Her smile was wicked and assured. She ran her fingers down Peter's shirt, waiting for him to stir from his enchanted slumber. She had tempted him with a kiss. She had tempted him with a caress. Each time she had woven just a little more of her magic, so as not to overwhelm him too soon.
"I have all the time in world, Peter. The longer it takes for you to break, the more he will suffer. So I think we shall take a while, before I have your love for myself. I am patient." Dazell said as she kissed Peter's neck.
LOVE IS PAIN
Edmund shuddered, feeling his neck begin to burn. He closed his eyes and grimaced as the pain intensified. He readied himself for more pain, but it did not come. He could feel his heart racing inside his chest as he began to wonder just what Peter was doing. How could she be turning Peter away from him?
"It is magic." Eris said as if reading Edmund's mind, "You are not cursed, are you? You are bound? You forget, I was there at Cair Paravel the day the battle was won. The day you fell. We all saw with our own eyes what happened to the fallen army. It is different for you, isn't it? You are bound to Peter? His love brought you back, and it is his love that keeps you here?"
"Apparently." Edmund nodded, his chin trying desperately to rub against the area his neck still burned, "I wasn't entirely sure about that one, but I am now. And there I was thinking I'd only have to worry about the day he leaves Narnia."
"What?"
"Oh … there are still secrets I must reveal to him. He knows the deep magic brought me back with his love. What he does not realize is … one day he will leave Narnia and I will not be able to follow. The magic that keeps me alive here … will not work where he is going. And so one day, he will leave me." Edmund said with a sad smile, "But we would have a lifetime before then. And that is a gift I will not give up. Aslan told me we'd have a lifetime."
Edmund's tears began to falter when he thought about one of the secrets he had yet to reveal to Peter. He knew he would have to tell him eventually, but he'd been so caught up in being with Peter, that he didn't want to deal with anything that precipitated their eventual parting. His eyes stung as he held back emotions that only seemed to intensify knowing that Peter was being torn from his heart at this very moment.
"You still will, Edmund. Peter will come for you. She will not break him."
"How can you be sure?"
"She is a hag, but she is not a powerful one. She has lingered in my kingdom before. Tricks and deception are what she uses. It is her master you should fear. I do not know him, but … if he has power to wipe my people from the world …" Eris cried with anger in her voice, "then he must be a power to be feared. He has no name, but I believe they refer to him as one of the many. I am not certain I would wish to face him. She however, I would take much pleasure in ridding the world of myself. She is a witch. A hag. Nothing more. A shifter who deceives others by calling upon the dark power. She cannot change form at will so easily. It takes a great deal of her power to remain in my image. She is evil, but she is a fool. She uses the same magic my uncle Secson used to try and tempt my mother away from my father before he led the uprising that … it means nothing now though. They're all gone. But I will say this, the magic she is using takes time. Secson used it too fast and my mother rebuffed his advances. Dalzell will not be as impatient as Secson, and she will wait for the magic to break down Peter's resolve. There is still time. Time for you to try and escape, or for someone else to see through her deception."
"Let us hope there is someone at Cair Paravel who is not as great a fool as I am."
THE FAUN WHO WOULD NOT BE FOOLED
"King Peter?" Tumnus said as he knocked on the high king's chamber doors, "You've missed your morning duties. Queen Lucy wishes to speak with you."
Mr. Tumnus was surprised when Princess Eris answered the door instead of King Peter. He found her presence odd, but not as odd as her state of dress. He found it to be rather too revealing and not at all ladylike for someone of her stature.
"If I may ask, what are you doing in the high king's chambers?"
"He's feeling a little under the weather." Eris said with a demure smile that Tumnus did not find at all genuine, "I think he misses Edmund. But I'll have him over that in absolutely no time. He's sleeping."
"Perhaps I should get Queen Lucy to check on him. Yes, I think I will." Tumnus said with a small nod, "But first I would like to see King Peter myself. We have matters of state to discuss."
"He doesn't want any visitors."
"He will see me." Tumnus said moving to step around Eris.
He stepped around her and walked into the chambers to find Peter sleeping soundly on the bed. At first Tumnus sighed and shook his head, relieved to see that the king was sleeping after all. Perhaps the princess was simply being a courteous friend. And yet he still found it strange that she would be alone in his chambers with him. He decided to shake the thought off when he spotted a broken teacup on the floor beside Peter's bed. He raised his eyebrow quizzically and realized that Eris had caught the object of his attention. The look of panic that rushed across her face for just an instant, was enough for Tumnus to question her intentions even more.
"Oh silly me. I was supposed to tidy that up but I was distracted when you knocked on the door. I will tend to it."
"Nonsense, Majesty." Tumnus said stepping down to pick up the broken pieces, "Let me get it."
Being a connoisseur of tea himself, Tumnus inadvertently breathed in some of the scent from the teacup. He had already detected one glaring lie from Princess Eris. The teacup had been broken for hours at least, because the liquid had dried to the cup. The second observation he made was the scent from the teacup was of no tea he had ever tasted. In fact the scent was of a completely different nature. One that his faun senses could pick up a little easier than a son of adam. In fact, the scent reminded him of magic. A magic he had not smelt since the fearful winter under the white witch.
"I will dispose of these for you, Princess Eris." Tumnus said with a small nod.
He made his way to the chamber doors with his head full of thought and concern. His immediate inclination was to run to Queen Lucy and warn her before summoning castle guards to take Eris into custody.
"The name's Dalzell." The shifter said as she surprised Tumnus with a sharp stab of a small knife in his lower back, "You could not just leave well enough alone, could you, Faun?"
The shifter held her arm around Tumnus's neck as she dug the knife further into his back. When his eyes began to falter she threw him to the floor with a look of anger on her face.
"Mr. Tumnus!" Lucy yelled as she ran into the room looking horrified, "What happened?"
"Damn you interfering little busybodies." The shifter screamed as she grabbed Lucy by the chin, "And I was so hoping we would be friends."
Before Lucy could say a word the shifter knocked her unconscious. In a few short moments she had bound and gagged her two victims and shut them in the adjoining daily room. She stalked her way around Peter's bed, her face laced with both anger and intent.
"I'm afraid we shall have to hasten our proceedings, Peter. Before anyone else decides to interrupt us. And I was so hoping to prolong his suffering."
The shifter ran her fingers along Peter's face, before she waved her velvet bag beneath his nose. He began to stir and shake his head, but she remained firm. Finally, his resistance subsided and he opened his eyes.
"Peter." She whispered, running Peter's hands along her waist, "Am I not beautiful to you? Do you desire me?"
"Y … yes."
"Then have me."
THE PAIN OF LOVE
Edmund's eyes shot open and he knew instantly what was happening. It seemed to be even worse than before. His skin began to burn like fire on his neck, his cheeks, his lips, and only continued. His body began convulsing and he shook so much his chains began to rattle and drew the attention of the boggle guards.
"Is the fallen king getting a taste of his own medicine now?" One of the boggles taunted, prodding Edmund with their sword, "Is she stealing your Peter from you? You think that's all she wants, don't you? To take him away so you'll die. No, no, no. Since you can't go back down there, we're going to keep you alive. We're going to make you suffer. And do you know how? No, no, no. You don't know anything at all, do you? You is gonna wish you didn't take on the one who is many. Foolish, that was. His followers are not pleased with you. No, no, no."
The two boggle guards watched in fascination as Edmund began screaming in agony. His eyes filled with tears as red marks began appearing on his back. Even worse for him were the images that flashed in his mind. Images of his Peter touching that shifter in ways he had never known. Ways they were supposed to share with only each other when they were married.
"Peter!"
"Edmund!" Eris yelled, trying to reach her hand to him.
Her efforts earned her a swift smack across the face from one of the guards before they sneered at Edmund and left the room. Blood dripped from her nose, she was clearly shaken, but she turned her attention back to Edmund. Edmund could see she was in pain, but he could not stop himself from screaming out. He felt the breath rush out of his body and his heart began to falter. And still, even as his scars began to bleed as if they'd just been given to him, the greatest pain came from his mind. He could see Peter's lips on hers, while his own lips burned like fire. He could see her fingers stroking Peter's back, causing his own to blister. Still the greatest pain was knowing his Peter was touching her. That his Peter was intimate with anyone but him, was worse than any physical pain he could endure.
"Peter, stop!" Edmund screamed out, his wrists beginning to bleed as he convulsed so hard, "Peter!"
"Edmund!" Eris yelled throwing her hand out to grab Edmund's, "Look at me!"
She barely managed to reach her hand out to his, even though they were both chained. Somehow Edmund managed to focus through his pain and see her. Her eyes drew him in like a warm blanket and somehow he could dull the pain, if even for an instant. His screams subsided, but his body still shook as it was tortured from outside and within. Tears streamed down his face as it shook violently, but still he managed to look at her.
"That's it, Edmund. Look at me! Don't give up, Edmund."
Edmund's head fell slack as he whimpered and sobbed. Struggling, he managed to keep his body from shaking even though it bled and burned. He focused on her eyes. Those pretty eyes that shone through the fatigue and pain, the dried blood and despair. Those pretty eyes he would've given to Peter at one time. And now he knew why. Her heart was pure. Somehow, she was helping him. Somehow, she was keeping the pain away, if even a little.
"He loves you." Eris whispered as she squeezed Edmund's hand, "Believe it, Edmund. He loves you."
Yet still the pain was too much for him to keep his focus. His head shook free from her gaze and the pain began to overwhelm his senses. He cried out, feeling as though his body was about to be ripped apart. He could see his Peter in his mind, naked and ready to give himself to another. And once again he felt his heart begin to falter, and his body begin to grow cold once more. He looked up out through the dungeon bars at the sky above and screamed as loud as he had ever screamed in his life.
"Peter …" screamed a shaking Edmund, "Peter, please … I love you …"
LOVE FIGHTS BACK
"Edmund!" Peter screamed out suddenly, his eyes wide as if he'd just woken up.
He suddenly realized he was naked and couldn't remember just how he'd gotten into this situation. Horrified, he realized he was on top of an equally naked Eris. He jumped off the bed in a flash and shook his head uncontrollably.
"What … what's going on?" Peter gasped in disbelief, "Where's my Edmund? What are you doing here?"
"Be still." The shifter said in a soothing voice as she rushed to Peter's side and once again waved her velvet bag under Peter's nose.
Unintentionally he inhaled the golden dust that emanated from her velvet bag. His eyes began to glaze over again, and he stumbled forward. Soon he stood straight up, his eyes hollow and vacant. The shifter ran her fingers along Peter's chest and kissed him. At first he simply stood there, but he was soon returning the kiss as she led him back toward the bed.
HEARTS BEGIN TO FALTER
Whether for Edmund's mercy or their enjoyment, the guards had loosened the chains that held his arms up. Even in his agony, Edmund believed they simply enjoyed the spectacle of him squirming along the ground as he writhed in pain. He could feel it now. Could feel it coming back to claim him. The cold, clammy hands of death filling his body.
"Peter …"
Even Eris had been loosened from her arm chains, yet both were still bound at their feet. Her strength was not much better than Edmund's, and both were laid at either end of their dungeon. The pain had grown somewhat numbing for Edmund. It still however, caused him to shake and splutter, to bleed and suffer.
Once again his mind filled with images of Peter. Dark images of Peter making love to someone other than himself. If his body wasn't about to give up on him, then his heart would soon. His fingers stretched along the ground to Eris's, but neither had the strength to meet in the middle. The guards had seen to that by giving Eris more of their 'special treatment' before they loosened her.
Edmund's tears were hollow and defeated. He waited for that moment to come. The moment when Peter would break the bonds of love between them. The bond that brought him back to Peter, and the bond that would take him away again. His body could feel every movement Peter made, every touch the shifter made on his skin. Where theirs was pleasure, Edmund's was the most searing pain he had ever felt. He knew it would be over soon, for his body had suffered more than even a fallen king could handle. His body had grown cold. His heart faltered. His gaping wounds even seemed to stop bleeding. Such was the beckoning of death to reclaim him. And as he felt his world grow dark, and even those pretty eyes could no longer keep him bound to this world, he spoke once more;
"Peter …" Edmund cried with barely a whisper, his body wracked with pain, equaled only by the pain in his heart, "Peter … I love you, Peter. Please … don't … forget me …"
ALL ON THE LINE
"Edmund!"
Once again Peter felt as though he were waking from a dream. This time more violently than ever. He realized the position he was in and jumped off his bed. He looked at his companion in horror, even anger. He couldn't understand how he'd gotten here. How could he be doing this? His hands shook and his body was covered in sweat. He began to cry when he realized what he'd just been doing. But how?
"Lucy! Someone help me!" Peter cried, feeling somehow that his mind was not his own, "I … I don't feel …"
An angry shifter marched up to Peter and tilted his head back. Before he could get a sense of what was going on, she had the velvet bag to his nose. This time she tilted the bag up so the contents flowed into Peter's mouth as well as what he inhaled. His eyes began to roll back and his head shook as he fell to his knees. Soon the velvet bag was empty and the shifter threw it aside before returning her gaze to a vacant Peter.
"It'll turn you, or kill you. Either way, the bond will break. But I'd much rather you live and I be a queen, so say it!" Dalzell spat as she grabbed Peter's chin, "Tell me, Peter. Tell me who it is you love. Say my name and you shall have me."
Peter's eyes met hers and his mouth began to quiver. She touched her hand to his face, eliciting a moan, before she leaned down and kissed him again. Their kiss was deep and soon his hands sought out her skin. Satisfied, she broke the kiss and stood over a kneeling Peter. Finally, he began to speak.
"I … I love … y…"
"Yes, Peter! Say it!"
"I love … yo…"
BOUND TO BREAK
Eris pulled herself along the cold stone floor of the dungeon. She could see Edmund shaking violently, his body a mess of blood and dirt. She reached out her hand to him, when suddenly his eyes rolled up and he collapsed. She let out a pained gasp as she pulled herself closer, just mustering the strength to pull him into her lap.
"Edmund?" Eris sobbed as she held his motionless body, "Edmund?"
His body was cold and did not move. Softly, she wept over him, holding him close as the guards opened the door and began their gaggling laughs. She cursed them in her mind, and continued holding the fallen king. Still, he did not move.
BOUND TO FAIL
"I love … Edmund …"
With those words spilling out of his mouth, Peter collapsed to the ground. The angry shifter, Dalzell, who had used her magic and ability to impersonate the true Eris, had failed to break Peter of his love for Edmund. She screamed in anger as Peter lay woozy and incoherent. She stood over him with a knife in her hand that she held with murderous intent.
"I'm going to have to kill you then, Peter, since I have no patience now to wait for the magic to finish you off. It is unfortunate that things had to end this way." Dalzell said as her eyes turned black like the night and she held the knife to Peter's throat, "I could have been queen!"
"We have enough queens already, thank you."
Before Dalzell knew who had spoken or what was happening, an arrow burst through her chest. She turned in horror to see Queen Susan standing on the window ledge, Seeko the griffon hovering in the air behind her, and with another arrow already loaded in her bow. Dalzell jumped aside, but Susan's aim was too great for her agility.
"Ahh!" Dalzell screamed as another arrow pierced her chest from the front this time.
The shifter fell to her knees as Prince Orrin leaped from Roan the griffon onto the window ledge next to Susan. He charged in with his long sword drawn and kicked Dalzell against the wall before pinning her with his sword.
"Where is my sister, Wench?" Orrin said pushing the sword against the shifter's neck, "Tell me before I remove your head from your body."
"Fools … all of you." Dalzell screamed, "Especially you, stupid Shian. Your people? You wish to know where they are?"
Angrily, Orrin pushed his sword so it was piercing the shifter's skin. It took all his strength not to slice her head off right now, but he knew both he and Susan required information of her before she could be made to pay for her crimes. Even with Orrin pinning her and two arrows jutting from her body, she seemed fearless.
"They are gone! Wiped from the world because your fool of an Uncle, Secson, tried to barter with a power greater than he could comprehend. He was a fool and damned your Shian Kingdom to desolation. You are a dead race."
Orrin became awash with despair, his hold on Dalzell faltering. He looked at Susan with confusion in his eyes. He regained himself quickly and pushed his sword tighter against the shifter's skin.
"You think you've stopped anything here?" taunted Dalzell, "We've already won. He wants Edmund to suffer for his crimes against the one who is many. Suffer he has, and suffer he will. For his precious love is tainted now, and that is a fate far more fitting than death. He may live, but he will suffer. And as for your sister? She's sharing a nice dungeon with King Edmund. I'll tell her you said hello, before she dies."
And with that the shifter let out a piercing cry before she threw Orrin back against the opposite wall. Right before the very eyes of a stunned Susan and dazed Orrin, she began to transform from a fraudulent Princess Eris, to a menacing hag. She was no longer beautiful, for her true form was revealed. She was fearsome and ugly with the face of an old witch, eyes black as night and skin scabbed and wrinkly.
The hag threw her arms up before she ripped the arrows from her body. She glared at Susan before wings began emerging from her back. She let out an angry cry as she glared at Susan. Yet Susan did not falter or back away, she let fire with a series of arrows as the hag ran at her. The arrows pierced her wings, with one arrow just grazing the hag's right eye. Just as the hag reached her, Susan pulled out her knife and plunged it into the hag's chest. Still the wicked creature pushed through Susan, sending them both off the window ledge that Susan had been perched on.
The hag leaped into the air, with Susan falling beneath her. Seeko soared to her rescue, catching her as she fell from the castle wall. She screamed at Seeko to follow the hag, and the griffon immediately responded.
"Griffon wings! With me!" Susan cried, pulling out her bow, "Track the hag down!"
AN ANGEL TO WATCH OVER HIM
Eris continued holding Edmund, even though he had not moved and his body was cold as ice. She could still feel the faintest pulse in him, and so she did not give up. Yet when he finally let out a tired, weak cry, she closed her eyes in relief. It was a soft, pain filled cry that tore at her heart. Still he did not move, and could not speak or turn his head up to face her. Such was the severity of his suffering
She kissed the back of his head as he lay in her lap, and held him tighter. Her body was weary and battered, but she had the faintest glimmer of hope. Not for herself, but for him. It was enough to draw a small smile.
"I told you he loves you." Eris whispered, "Now rest. Rest your weary bones and I will watch over you until he comes. Sleep, Edmund. Sleep."
PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER
Susan hovered outside Peter's chamber window aboard Seeko's back. The griffon moved a little closer to Susan could jump off. Disappointed with herself, she jumped onto the ledge before she turned back to Seeko.
"Please try and track her again, Old friend. We must find Edmund and Eris."
Seeko left with a nod and disappeared into the night sky. Tired from both a long journey from the Shian Kingdom and a run in with a shifting hag, she jumped down into Peter's chambers and surveyed the damage. Peter lay on his bed unconscious with Lucy and a group of aides around him. Mr. Tumnus was being carried out on a stretcher and at first Susan feared the worst, until he smiled weakly at her.
"She tricked me, Susan. This is all my fault." Lucy said as she ran to Susan's side and hugged her, "And then she almost killed Mr. Tumnus and tied us up in the daily room. And now Peter's enchanted. I tried giving him some cordial to break it, and I think it is working. But it's working very slowly. Too slowly."
"Queen Susan." Orrin said with a bow as he stepped to her side, "Did you manage to track her to my sister?"
"I'm afraid not. She is a hag with the dark power as her aide. She evaded us. Seeko has gone back out with a group of griffon trackers. They will find her." Susan said as she took Orrin's hand, "I am sorry for her words, but do not give up just yet. Something tells me there is still hope."
"For you perhaps." Orrin said with a pained smile, "I fear she is right. I would like to take my leave of you now and return to the Shian Kingdom. There are … things I would like to do before … before it is abandoned."
"Not yet. Please, Orrin." Susan insisted with a pained smile, "I would very much like to you stay with me a little longer. I need your help."
"Then you shall have it, Majesty." Orrin said with a small bow.
"Susan … my name is Susan, remember? I will not let you be alone, Orrin. You will stay here among friends until we both return to the Shian Kingdom or to rescue Eris and Edmund."
Susan could sense the confusion in Orrin, and she ran her hand sympathetically down his face. She wanted little more than for him to take her in his arms and kiss her again. To kiss her so that she could ease his fears and his grief. She would not let him out of her sight, for besides the fact that she was well and truly falling for him, she feared his despair would lead him to a premature fate.
"You are as courageous as you are wise and gentle, my queen."
"Come." Susan said leading Orrin by the hand to Peter's side.
Lucy stared quizzically at Orrin and Susan holding hands, before a mischievous smile crossed her lips and she smirked at the Shian prince. Susan sat down at Peter's side with a worried look on her face. His sleep was troubled and anxious. She wondered if Lucy's cordial would undo the enchantment magic the hag had used on him. She believed it would, but that it may simply take some time to bring Peter back to form. Time, or perhaps some gentle encouragement.
"Ed …" Peter gasped, turning in his sleep, "Edmund …"
Susan leaned down and kissed Peter's forehead, a sympathetic tear running down her cheek. She rubbed his arm and smiled, running her hand gently through his golden hair.
"I'm home, Peter. You're going to be ok. Wake up."
As if she was the missing piece to aid the fireflower cordial, Peter's eyes fluttered open. At first he simply stared at the ceiling before his eyes slowly turned to Susan. Surprised, he sat up and took in his surroundings. With a sigh of relief, he leaned forward and hugged Susan.
"Su … I had the most horrible nightmare." Peter cried, burying his head in her shoulder, "It was absolutely dreadful."
"I'm afraid it wasn't a nightmare, Peter."
"What? What do you mean? Eris and I?"
"That was not my sister. It was a hag shifter." Orrin said staunchly, "My sister's honor has been slandered by that hag. I should have cut her head off when I had the chance."
"Orrin, your sister's honor has not been tarnished in any way. And right now we need to focus on rescuing her and figuring out just what is happening here." spoke Susan in her gentle voice.
Peter still seemed as if he were in a state of shock. He was visibly mortified. Sweat covered his body as he shook, his eyes full of disbelieving tears. His mind flashed with broken images of him in lust with someone he believed was Eris. He stared at Susan, as if somehow she would tell him this was all just a dream.
"Su … what's happening?"
And so Susan told Peter of the deception he'd suffered. She told Peter of Jesahn's escape and his warning about the shifter's impersonating of Eris. She told of Edmund's likely capture by the shifter hag's allies. She told of the shifter's attempts to turn his love away from Edmund. With each word, Peter looked as though he would be sick. With each word, his eyes seemed to die a little and his tears were full of shame and disgrace.
"It wasn't your fault, Peter. You were enchanted. Still she could not break you." Susan reassured, but his lowered head would hear none of it.
He covered his face with his hands and let out an angry cry. He rubbed his shoulders, suddenly feeling bitterly cold. He wasn't sure whether it was the shame of what he'd done, or simply because he was still recovering from the shifter's enchantment. He thought of his Edmund and wondered if he would ever forgive him. He hoped somehow Edmund would understand, and yet he wasn't sure if he could even bring himself to look him in the eye when they finally saw each other again.
"Su, where is Edmund?" Peter gasped with tears in his eyes, raising his head to meet hers, "I want my Edmund back now."
Still feeling a little weak and dizzy, Peter managed to stand up and threw a shirt on before he went for his armor. Susan stood up and tracked after him with a look of concern in her eyes.
"Peter, what are you doing?" She asked with a look of surprise and a little annoyance, "You're in no condition to do anything except sleep."
"You don't seriously expect me to sleep while my Edmund is tortured and that hag threatens the life of the real Eris." Peter said with an angry determination, "I won't have it. I've … wasted enough time already. Let's go."
"Peter, I won't allow it. In case you hadn't noticed, I'm not afraid of the old hag and I'm quite capable of tracking her down myself."
"And I thank you." Peter said surprising Susan with a kiss on the cheek, "You are as brave as you are wonderful, Su. I love you. And I am grateful for your compassion and your courage. I do believe I'd be dead if it wasn't for you. But I must do this. I cannot rest now."
"Very well, but until you are fully recovered, I will lead this mission and you will stay to the rear of our party with a proper guard. No heroics for you."
"Su …"
"I'm not asking you, Peter. I'm telling you. That is how it will be." Susan said with a stern nod, before she turned to Mr. Beaver, "Mr. Beaver, ready a battle party. We march now."
"Is Oerius holding SharShian?" Peter asked as he readied his shield and sword.
"He is. If he hadn't arrived, I do not believe we would've lasted. I would've stayed, but when Jesahn told us of the shifter, we had to come by griffon's wings as fast as we could. And it is a good thing we did. I do believe the answers that Orrin and I seek are in the same place Edmund and Eris are."
In little time at all, a battle party stood ready to march. Queen Lucy stood behind, waving and looking disappointed that she was not allowed to ride with her siblings. Susan, as she said, took lead of the party on her steed, with Orrin to one side and a defiant Peter to the other. She grimaced playfully at him before she shook her head and resigned herself to the fact he would not be riding at the rear. He smiled back, and an unspoken compromise was reached between the two. She would lead until he was himself again, but he would ride beside her at the front. The familiar horns of Narnia trumpeted as the battle party prepared its march out of Cair Paravel.
"Susan, are you ready to start being gentle again?"
"Always, Peter." smiled Susan.
"By jove, you are a fearsome woman, aren't you?" Peter said with a mocking cringe, before his face became serious again, "Su?"
"Yes, Peter?"
"Did I tell you that Edmund and I are engaged?"
"No, you have not."
"When we get back, could you possibly help me move the wedding forward? I would like us to be married, before anyone else gets any bright ideas about keeping the two of us apart."
"Certainly, Peter." smiled a pleased Susan, "That would be splendid."
"Thank you." Peter said before he turned his attention to Prince Orrin, "So … do I need to chop your head off?"
Susan blushed a dozen different shades of red at Peter's statement. Orrin simply nodded courteously, but said nothing. Peter laughed good naturedly to himself before he patted Orrin's shoulder.
"Peter!" Susan screamed finally, "Have you no shame?"
"Susan has a boyfriend."
"I … I … yes!" snapped a defiant Susan, "I do! I was going to tell you but all this frightful business got in the way."
"I think it's wonderful. But you know, Su. Holding hands in my chambers? Shameless." taunted a playful Peter, "And the way he looks at you. Anyone would think the two of you were in love."
"Peter, you're horrid."
Peter just smiled back at her before he gave a flick of his hand to signal the march to begin. She narrowed her eyes at him, but still the blush remained on her face. Finally, all three looked forward as they marched out into the night. Their ability to find humor in one another's company had not shaded the importance of their mission. Peter especially found his face becoming increasingly somber as he looked up at the stars.
"My love, forgive me." Peter whispered as his eyes began to well up, "I have failed you. But I will not do so again. Wait for me. I am coming, my love. I am coming."
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N: Susan rocks. You know she's growing on you. Isn't she just gentle? lol. Another long chapter. Hope you enjoyed. We're getting to the tail end of this volume. BTW if you like this story, check out my forums. In the bit where Edmund is suffering while Peter is being a bad boy, I had the song 'Hanging by a Thread' playing in my head so if you know that song, give it a listen and see if it fits. Even though he was misled, it's kinda obvious Peter's completely crazy about Ed, but perhaps tainting their love was worse than anything else they could do to him. Edmund got to be a bit of a hero, and you see a little bit more of his lost year. I could've made that a whole sidefic, but what would I have called it? Just and Great? lol. So umm no. So Eris is actually as nice as Edmund always thought she was. Edmund is in a bad way. Peter is riding to his rescue. And Susan kicked the old hag's butt. And now everybody wants to cut her head off. Also, you learn a little more about the price or conditions of Edmund's return and his love for Peter. If you've been reading between the lines for this volume, you probably already know how the final volume will end, and what it will be about. But don't spoil it for everyone else! Reviews are love and make me feel so good, so please remember to!
