Chapter Four: Waiting for Midnight

I was disappointed with the council, though I'm not certain what I truly expected. This situation was beyond us all.

There was a huge feast that eve on Cair Paravel's lawn, held for everyone who had fought for Narnia at Beruna. It was just as well we decided not to cancel since so much preparation had gone into it already. The palace cooks were in a frenzy and the court musicians had written three new melodies in honor of our victory. Even the drunken Giant woke up in time to attend, much to the relief of the Dryads in the cherry orchard where he had been sleeping. Only with the utmost effort did I manage to smile and survive the whole affair. It frustrated me that these hearty veterans should get less than the attention and regard which they deserved, for it seemed to me that by giving in to our fear, we were giving in to Jadis herself, dead though she may be. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that something awful and beyond our ability to fix was happening and I knew that Susan and Edmund felt as apprehensive as I did, though we all presented brave faces. Lucy alone seemed to enjoy herself fully and I watched her with relief and delight even as I kept a close eye on Edmund. Clearly the story of what had happened last night had gotten around and our subjects graciously excused our distraction, eating and drinking and reveling heartily as soldiers are wont to do.

Towards the end of the night I had relaxed enough that I didn't have to force a laugh and I was able to swap war stories with some of the Boars and Dogs. They were good company, though the Boars were a little difficult to understand. I spent a few moments of amazement as I poured them all more watered-down wine. It wasn't that I was carrying on conversations with Animals as much as I actually had war stories - real ones - to swap.

The feast ended with the Gryphons giving us an aerial performance lead by Cyn, our chief scout. They were remarkably agile and graceful flyers and for a few minutes I managed to forget my fears. When the feast ended, though, I was reluctant to bid the soldiers a good night, frightened of what might befall my brother.

Not much later, Edmund and I were ready for sleep, looking at each other from across the room we shared. He had sent our valets away after they made us herbal tea and we sat alone in the lavish, familiar chamber, listening to the sound of the turf and the song of a mockingbird roused from his sleep. Lately I had thought about suggesting Edmund return to his original room down the hall, but I was very glad I had never voiced the idea because after last night I would have either been checking on him every few minutes or I simply would have invaded his living space as he had so kindly invaded mine. I knew that right now he wanted me near even if he never said a word and he maintained his distance in his usual cool fashion. I could read right through him as well as he could read me.

A knock on the door, and Susan peeked in. "Lucy's asleep. Are you two going to go to bed?"

I smiled and Edmund scowled, which for him was almost the same when anyone fussed over him. "Soon," I promised.

She stepped into the room, all in a velvet gown and velvet shoes and smelling of roses. She gave Edmund a kiss on the cheek before he could escape and then squeezed my hand as she passed.

"If you need anything, anything at all, call me," she said, looking me directly in the eye, meaning every word.

"Shall," I promised. "Sleep tight, Su."

"'Night," Edmund called softly after her.

She smiled sweetly, well aware that we would be up until all hours, then left. I suspected she would not be going to bed for some time and she'd be back to check on us during the night.

Edmund was gazing at me with an intensity in his dark eyes that bespoke great emotion. He had looked at me that way before Beruna, and then on the day I knighted him at the Stone Table early this spring. I waited, knowing he would talk in his own time.

"I'm afraid of midnight," he finally admitted in a whisper.

"So am I," I answered. I rose from my bed and went to sit beside him. He made no protest when I put an arm around his shoulder and held him close to my side. "We'll wait for it together. Do you want Susan here, too?"

"No," he said, swallowing with effort. "Just you."

"All right."

There was a clock in the next room, exiled because the sound it made annoyed me, but I didn't want to move to see the time. Edmund became increasingly tense, inching closer to me. Knights and kings though we may be, we're still children, and I knew he needed me to be brother and friend and father right now. I put my other arm around him, ducking my head against his dark hair to hide my tears as he let me pull him almost into my lap. He was breathing heavily and he caught his arms around me tightly. He was trembling. I pulled him closer, closing my eyes and holding my breath, praying to Aslan that nothing further happened than two scared boys holding on to each other as one day became the next.

Then Edmund's whole lean frame jerked back a few inches and he gasped, his eyes wide with sudden agony. I sucked in my breath and squeezed my eyes tight as my hands on his back were suddenly wet with blood.

Midnight.

He had just been stabbed again.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

I didn't sleep that night. Despite Silvo's request that I lay down and try to rest, I couldn't. I spent the whole night sitting on the bed watching my brother and sisters sleep. Susan and Lucy had come at my wild shouts for help and Lucy's cordial once again saved Edmund's life. The girls refused to leave and climbed into my bed. Edmund and I joined them after we cleaned up and we huddled together as Martil and Silvo hastily changed the bloodstained bedding. Lucy nodded off fairly quickly, her head on Edmund's chest, and he soon followed. Susan lay close to his side, herarm stretched across both her younger brother and sister as they shared the same pillow. I sat on Edmund's other side, watching them.

This could not go on. It would destroy my only brother. He was already frightened beyond words, as were we all. The cordial could heal any wound, but how long could he endure the fear and anticipation of the pain? He would be tied to Cair Paravel, to Lucy. And what if the cordial ran out or simply ceased to work on the wound? This was powerful magic at work, far more powerful than we were equipped to deal with.

My head resting against the carved headboard, I watched as dawn, still early this time of year, gradually illuminated my siblings through the doors that opened on the east balcony. Susan, so lovely even with her hair tangled. Edmund, his clever sharpness gentled by sleep. Lucy, my baby sister, so soft and round and innocent. She was the same person upon waking, unlike the others.

I reached over and smoothed Edmund's hair off his brow. He didn't stir at my touch. What were we going to do?

"Aslan," I whispered to the dawn, "help us. Help me to help my brother. Please. As you love us."

That was all I could think to say. It was all I wanted in the world right now.

The door opened and Martil poked his horned head in. Beyond him I could see Tumnus and one of the Dryad ladies-in-waiting. They were worried and while I couldn't blame them, but I didn't want my family disturbed right now. I raised a finger to my lips for them to be quiet and motioned them back for the time being. I know my attendants and courtiers would fully indulge their anxieties when they found out I hadn't slept at all, but I defy anyone in my place to sleep after a night like the one just past.

I felt a touch on my arm and I turned. Susan was awake. She looked at me anxiously, knowing I hadn't slept. I managed a small smile for her, though in truth I wanted to cry.

"What are we going to do?" she whispered.

My voice sounded miserable even to my own ears. "Pray to Aslan," I replied, the only answer I had right now.

She nodded, dropping her gaze, and I knew that at that moment she sent a silent prayer to the Lion. I leaned back again, staring at nothing.

Aslan, help us.