JUST AND MAGNIFICENT
Volume 3: The Price We Pay For Love

3.5– A Time For War - Part 1

Volume 3 of Just and Magnificent starts about 3 years after the events of the movie. It is the last 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: Edmund is forced to make a choice, as war become inevitable.
Warnings: Slash, Incest, Love, Romance, Adventure, Mystery, Action.
Disclaimer: Only characters that are mine are the Pretty Eyes People from Shian! And since they're all dead except Orrin, well I only own him now! All the rest belong to that master of awesomeness, C.S. Lewis
A/N: This chapter has been broken into two parts.

A DREAM AND A TEMPTATION

"Son of Adam."

Edmund stood in the middle of a forest, alone beneath a blue sky. He knew he was dreaming, he must have been dreaming, for his last waking moment was in Peter's arms. His last waking moment was safe in their bed as they sailed from Galma to Cair Paravel. Their honeymoon had ended, and they were about to return to their duties and prepare for the war ahead. He was supposed to be on board the Salis Reas, yet he most definitely was not.

Here he was, in the middle of a forest, alone beneath a clear blue sky. It was still more than a dream. It felt real. It was almost the same sensation and state as when he fought the one who is many, at the battle against the hag, Dalzell. Edmund, unlike anyone else in the world, knew the connection between him, and Aslan. Between the one who is many, and the great lion. He did not understand it all, but it almost seemed that perhaps long ago, they were kin. Almost like two brothers who had taken different paths.

"There are many things you do not understand, Son of Adam." Aslan said as he emerged from the forest before Edmund, "It has been some time, my son."

"Aslan!" Edmund called in rapture, kneeling at the great lion's paws.

"Rise, my son." Aslan said with a smile that did little to belie his unease, "There is much to be done."

"Aslan, did you know I hadn't defeated him when I returned beyond the veil? When you let me go back to Peter?"

Aslan did not answer. He simply stared back at Edmund, with neither a reason or a word. And yet Edmund understood all too well that this was all his own doing. He had let himself be deceived by him.

"All that training, everything we went through. I let my eyes deceive me, when that was the one thing you made sure I would learn. To fight with my heart, instead of my eyes. But when I fought him again at the battle against the hag, I did what you said. I did not let my eyes deceive me."

"Indeed, Edmund." Aslan said with a smile.

"That's why he retreated, isn't it? That's why he did not let us finish our duel. He was afraid I would defeat him?"

"You ask questions to which you already know the answer. Unfortunately, it is no longer as simple as defeating him. He has had time. A great deal of time since he followed you back. He has used that time well, to deceive, mislead, and strengthen his power and draw many allies to his side. The failing was mine as much as it was yours. Now we must face the war that will come."

"We are preparing, Aslan. The army is building. We will be ready."

Once again Aslan did not say a word. His stare said enough. Edmund's brow furrowed with anxiety, as he began to realize just why Aslan did not speak.

"We will not be ready?"

"He continues to deceive you, Edmund. He deceives us all. This war can no longer be avoided. The opportunities to prevent it have passed." Aslan said in a voice that was laced with fear, not for himself, but for those he loved and watched over, "This war cannot be won in a single battle. It will take many battles, over a great many time, in many lands, and it will take many lives. It will fill the world with suffering unlike any other time in our history. His influence is already growing. From this point on, it is up to you, Edmund, to finally right the wrong that was done at Beruna. It is for you to set right the chain of events that began with your death at the hands of the white witch, Jadis."

"Can you help us?"

Aslan's face was once again somber and almost unreadable. Edmund had the unsettling feeling that perhaps Aslan would not be able to help them in the way he hoped. How could they triumph against such a powerful enemy without him?

"There are things you do not understand, and yet you, Edmund, understand more than anyone else. The fates are open. I cannot tell you what will be from this point on."

"Will I ever see you again, Aslan?"

"He is strong, Edmund. For a time, I will be lost to you. Do not despair. I will come, Son of Adam. I do not know when, but I will come. In the dark days ahead, you must be strong and vigilant. Peter will need you as never before. He will need you to lead and to fight him. Hope is what will guide you, Son of Adam. As long as a sliver of it remains in your heart, you will find your way. Hold onto it, for it is your salvation."

"Yes, Aslan."

"Many will fall, Edmund. Many whom I hold dear. These days will be the darkest Narnia has ever faced. If Peter dies, there will be no hope for survival. He, above all, must live."

"But I already saw him go back in the future. He will live, won't he? If he dies, I die too, don't I? Because his love is what keeps the deep magic from taking me, isn't it?"

"You more than anyone should know that love does not end at death. Peter's body may die, but his love will not. If he dies, you will not."

"But … if he dies, I shall not want to live."

Edmund's statement was greeted with a roar as loud as he had ever heard. He stepped back in trepidation, feeling the wrath of Aslan. He realized at once what he had done to anger the great lion. Instinctively, he fell to his knees, feeling both shame and remorse.

"Forgive me, Aslan."

"Life is not to be discarded so easily, Son of Adam. Your life especially is a gift. Life is why we struggle. Life is why we will fight him. If not for our own lives, then for those we love and those who cannot fight for themselves. Life is precious, Son of Adam. Even in times of despair, we must endure. Just as Peter endured when you were lost to him, so must you if he should ever be lost to you."

"I will not let that happen. And not for myself, Aslan, but for Narnia. Narnia needs him. I will do whatever it takes to keep him alive and to keep Narnia from him."

"The fates are open, Son of Adam. Too much has changed. The balance has not been corrected. It will not be until he is stopped. No lives are guaranteed, Edmund. Not yours, not Peter's, not Susan's, or Lucy's. Dangerous times lie ahead. Much of the burden will lie upon you, Edmund. The time for peace is over. The time for war is upon us, whether we choose to accept it or not. Trust your heart and your instinct."

"Oh, Aslan." Edmund said with a despair deep in his heart, "This is all because of me. How many will die before the balance is restored? How many will die before my death at Beruna is finally laid to rest?"

"It is a burden that you must carry, but not alone. Never alone, Edmund. I will carry it with you. Be vigilant, Son of Adam. Be vigilant."

"Be vigilant, he says?"

Edmund recognized the voice instantly. It was the same voice that taunted him when he fell from the north tower. The voice of the one who followed him back. The voice of the one who is many.

He emerged from the trees like a phantom. A phantom whose form was quickly revealed as that of not just a dark knight, but the dark knight. He stepped up beside Aslan with no fear or hesitation at all, before he spoke again;

"It is not too late for you to serve me, Son of Adam. Can you not see how powerful I am? He cannot keep me from you any longer. He cannot keep me from taking what should have been mine an age ago! A right that I was denied, and now I have come to take it by force."

It was then that Edmund felt the sky begin to darken, and snow began to fall. It quickly blanketed the trees and ground in white, and caused Edmund to feel a chill in his bones. Aslan remained staring steadfast at Edmund, as if to keep the youngest king from succumbing under his tricks.

"Do you remember the snow, Son of Adam?" He spoke, as Edmund suddenly saw hundreds of eyes, glowing in the darkness that now filled the trees, "I am the one who is many. I am your only salvation. Part of you still belongs with me. Don't you remember the snow? Don't you remember how it felt to betray them?"

"Do not fear him, Edmund." Aslan said reassuringly, as the snow covered his great mane, "He deceives you. He is the one who fears you."

"What makes you think I could ever fear a Son of Adam, Brother?"

Aslan responded with a growl that was as fierce as Edmund had ever heard. Edmund felt altogether small at that moment. It was as if he were caught in some battle he did not understand. A battle between good and evil, between light and dark, between … brothers? Surely not.

"Do you not wish to inform him of the true reason you fear me? Do you not wish to inform him just who exactly I am and why I am the one to invoke the balance that you upset? You should have let him die, Aslan. You should not have sent him to Salei Barion. It is why you are paying the price now, Brother. Why is it you do not speak my name, Aslan?"

"Your name is not worth saying!" Edmund yelled, drawing his sword, "I would speak it a thousand times to summon you, but you hide in the shadows just as a coward should."

"Your sword has no power here. Just as the lion has no power here …"

A mighty wind blew through the forest, forcing Edmund to cover his eyes. When the wind died down, Aslan was gone. Edmund began to shudder in fear, realizing he was alone in the snow covered forest, surrounded by eyes that pierced the darkness.

"You are a traitor, Son of Adam. You will always be a traitor. It is your first betrayal that triggered this series of events. Don't you remember the snow?"

It seemed like a lifetime ago now. Years ago when he first arrived in Narnia. Years ago when he first betrayed his own family, for nothing more than sweeties. For nothing more than some Turkish delight during the hundred year winter, when Narnia was blanketed in snow.

"I know who you are, Edmund. I know you struggle to be worthy of his 'ideals'. Why submit to him when you can rule with me? He claims you four for himself, but you need not follow him. You need not be a lesser king. Join me and I will give you Narnia when this war is done."

The sword in Edmund's hand shook from the fierce cold that overwhelmed his body, yet he stood fast. He did not speak, instead using his strength to step forward toward him. His eyes narrowed, and he found a determination fill his muscles with adrenaline.

"I am no longer fearful of you, Son of Adam. My power is too great now. I am of this world again because of you. Join me."

There, before Edmund's feet appeared a reminder of his temptation. A small platter of Turkish delight. They appeared like a dagger in his heart, reminding him how weak he had been in the past. The years had done little to wash away his memory of his betrayal. Death, sacrifice, and penance unlike anyone could be expected to pay, and still the memory of his betrayal lingered.

"I see you cannot be tempted with the promise of a crown. Perhaps, something else then?" He said as his red eyes glared through his helmet at Edmudn, "I can send you back with him now. I can send all of you back now. Do you not wish for your family to be safe? Do you not wish to be with him past this life?"

"You have no power to make such offers." Edmund scowled, "Your temptation is lost on me!"

"Is it?"

The forest quickly grew dark and Edmund closed his eyes, lest his eyes suffer another deception. The cold quickly disappeared and instead he felt fur rubbing up against him. He was no longer in armor, and instead wore clothes that were not of Narnia. The air was musky and brought back memories that were long distant.

"He deceives me …" Edmund said to himself, clenching his eyes shut and doing his best to ward him away.

Unlike their last duel, Edmund could not seem to feel his way through this deception. It almost felt real to him. Was it real this time? Was it another trick?

Edmund opened his eyes and knew he was no longer dreaming. This was real. It was all real. He was back inside the wardrobe that had led them to Narnia. It was dark and he could barely see. He pushed his way forward and burst out of the wardrobe, collapsing onto the floor. At first he was exhilarated; he always believed he could never return. He was always told that the deep magic would not allow him to leave, as this world was cold and unbelieving, making the magic useless.

Yet here he was. He was in his own world again. He was younger again, much younger. He was the same age as when he entered the wardrobe with his siblings. He was no longer the Rogue Warrior or King Edmund the Just, he was rather; just Edmund.

His mind raced with excitement, before he realized he was alone. He could hear footsteps outside the room door, and suddenly remembered just why they had entered the wardrobe in the first place. They were trying to hide.

"It could be yours, Son of Adam. Join me, and I shall I give it to you. I can send them back with you."

The voice echoed in his mind. Edmund felt the stirrings of temptation in his soul. What if he said yes? What if they all left Narnia together and returned back here to their own world? They could all be safe. Would he be betraying anyone?

Mr. Tumnus. The Beavers. Oreius. Roan. Seeko. Orrin. The ones who would be left behind in Narnia to fight a war that had begun because of him. Because of his first betrayal and the death that resulted.

His mind flashed with Aslan's face. He would be betraying Aslan. Aslan who had sacrificed himself on the stone table in place of Edmund. Aslan who had fought him after he fell from the north tower. His betrayal would be even greater now. Though his temptation was great, Edmund could not bring himself to betray again.

"I will not make this offer again. I have power here that he does not. They are falling away from your mighty lion. They lavish themselves with indulgence and greed, and so they should! He would seek to deny them all, and so they do not follow. They do not believe. They have come to my ways, and so it is I who can offer you what he cannot! Take my offer and forget Aslan. Forget Narnia. Isn't this what you truly desire? More than a crown, isn't this what you desire? The choice is yours, Son of Adam." His voice boomed inside Edmund's mind, "The power is in your hands. Take my offer, stay here and they will return in mere moments. Refuse my offer, step back into the wardrobe before they return through it, and this world will be lost to you. Your fate is in your hands. Once your decision is made, it cannot be undone. Stay here with my grace, or return through the wardrobe and the war will begin, and you will suffer my wrath. The choice is yours. Choose wisely, Son of Adam. Choose wisely."

Once again Edmund's mind was torn, as was his heart. Yet for him, the choice was easy. The choice was life. A life with Peter, but not this life.

Thinking quickly, Edmund found a pencil in his pocket, as well as a scrap piece of paper. It was then he realized that somehow, his wedding ring remained on his hand. Why had it crossed over with him, when everything else about him had changed? The ring was loose on his finger and reminded Edmund of just how difficult this choice was. Yet he continued on his path, writing a quick note on the piece of paper.

'Peter,

It was worth it, my love. You were worth it. Do not despair. I am with you. I am with you all. Remember me, and I will linger in your heart. I am grateful to have had your love, and the life that we have shared. Remember me. Remember us. I love you.

--Your Doubt-bucket'

Edmund knew that one day, Peter and the girls would return without him. He believed it with all his heart. When that day came, he wanted to spare Peter some of the pain he would feel. He left the paper on the ground in front of the wardrobe and it floated away. Edmund grabbed the paper again and looked at his ring. He pulled the loose ring off his finger and with a pained expression, placed it on the paper to hold it fast to the ground.

With tears in his eyes he stood and faced the wardrobe. He could hear the footsteps getting closer outside the door, and he knew if he didn't hurry, some Peter and the girls would burst through the wardrobe. With a grimace of determination, Edmund opened the wardrobe and stepped in. His choice was made.

- TO BE CONTINUED -

3.5 - A Time For War - Part 2

The Calormen's deception is revealed and Lucy's life is threatened. Orrin makes a desperate attempt to save the youngest queen. The war begins when Edmund finds himself back on board the Salis Reas, in the midst of a great naval battle. Susan forges allies in Archenland. Peter declares war on 'the one who is many'.


A/N: Well, as you've probably guessed, it's all on now. The final volume ofJust and Magnificent reaches it's halfway mark and the war is about to begin. This chapter was broken into two parts because this part here is really pivotal to both the coming war, the end of JAM, and the series as a whole. I'm sure I don't need to explain just why it is important, as if you don't know, you will soon enough. But it also serves to explain the nature of 'him' in relation to Aslan,and we see Edmund's final temptation. He has made his choice, and now war is inevitable. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. This was a short part, but it's so important, I didn't want it being lost amongst anything else. The second part is where the action will hit high gear after a pretty fluffy(but necessary) start to this volume. Please read and review if you liked this chapter!