ROGUE WARRIOR CHRONICLES

RWC3 - The Legend of the Shian

Part 1

The first Just and Magnificent adventure SIDE-SERIES starring and focusing rather wholly on Edmund. DO NOT READ unless you have read Just and Magnificent or you will understand little. This is a side-series that covers the year at the end of Volume 1 of JaM between the Battle for Cair Paravel where Edmund fell and his return to Narnia. It basically covers some of his adventures during that year and of course, his quest to destroy Lejious. If you've read JaM, you already know how this ends, but remember, it's not the destination, it's the journey! It is a very plot and arc heavy story in the JaM!verse as it reveals some rather large hints that already exist in JaM, and hints toward the sequel to JaM, Beyond Magnificent.
Summary: Edmund is wrongfully imprisoned for trying to assassinate King Firson of the Shian.
Warnings: Slash, Incest, Love, Romance, Adventure, Mystery, Action.
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.
Author's Notes: If you don't like slash or incest or allusions to Peter/Edmund, then please do not read or reviewthis. Flames hurt.

TAKEN BY SURPRISE

After successfully rescuing the noble marshals, Edmund continued east towards Glowsbrook. His trek had been long and tiring, but he had persisted, buoyed by his recent success.

As he walked through the forest, his boots crunching on dead leaves and branches, he had the distinct impression that he was not alone. Though he was no longer fallen, he still possessed a few abilities, albeit weakened. His sense of awareness told him he was not alone. It told him that at this very moment he was being watched, stalked, studied.

With a growing sense of unease he turned in all directions. He looked for some sign of disturbance. Some sign that he wasn't alone. The only sign he received was the quiver in his heart.

"Who goes there?"

Though he wanted to say Aslan, this feeling was not the awe and mighty sensation he felt at Aslan's presence. No, this was something far more ominous. Something darker, almost tangible.

"Who goes there?" Edmund yelled out again, his heart racing and his breath quickening.

Those were the last words he spoke. The last before his world fell black. He did not feel the presence of another. He did not sense their approach. He did not even have time to register that he had been ambushed at all.

AN UNEXPECTED AWAKENING

When Edmund finally awoke, he found himself in most unexpected surroundings. They were neither that of a forest, nor a sandy beach. He was rather in a small room. A room that almost felt like a … prison cell? It must have been, for the room had only two openings; a door and a window. Both of which were barred.

"Hello?" Edmund called out, grateful that his hood was still on him.

He studied his surroundings more as he waited for some kind of response. Yes, he was definitely in a jail cell. When he looked out the window, he could see dense forest to one side and stunning green plains to the other.

Edmund was none too familiar with Narnia and its adjoining lands. He had barely been in Narnia long before his death at Beruna. His time as a fallen had faded more and more from his memory since he had been restored to life. Therefore with all this in mind, he did not have the slightest idea just where he was right now.

"So, you are awake, Assassin."

Edmund raised his eyebrow as he turned to face the … Shian? Not just one Shian, but two. Shian who were fully adorned in armor and insignias belonging to that of their kingdom. What were Shian doing so far in the north? Why were they calling him an assassin?

"Speak up!" yelled the guard.

"I do not know who you are or where I am, but I can assure you that I am no assassin." Edmund said firmly, "I am E…"

"E… what?" asked the guard, "What's Eh?"

Edmund wanted to spit out his name to shut the guard up. He thought better of it however, remembering Aslan's strict edict not to reveal his identity to anyone. He was for all intents and purposes, the Rogue Warrior.

"Please tell me where I am and I have been imprisoned." Edmund asked in an even tone so as not to antagonize his captors.

"You are on the outskirts of the Shian Kingdom." the guard proclaimed, "And you are here because you attempted to assassinate our great and benevolent ruler, King Firson."

"What?" Edmund said aghast, "You must be mad! I have done no such thing!"

Edmund could barely register what the guard said. How could he be in the Shian Kingdom? He had been far north of Narnia. Now he was south-west of it? How much time had passed? How did he get here? So many of these questions ran through his mind and he couldn't help the rush of panic that befell him.

"Please, there has been a terrible mistake." Edmund pleaded, "You must let me out of here. I must travel north."

"I'm afraid not, Assassin. Prince Orrin himself is coming to interrogate you and transfer you to our capital city." said the guard, "Your secrets will be known to us soon enough, Assassin."

"I am no assassin, I am the Rogue Warrior!" Edmund said defiantly, "I am on a mission for Aslan, the great lion, and you would be wise not to impede my task! I must leave this place and venture to Glowsbrook!"

"Glowsbrook? Where's Glowsbrook?" asked the guard as he tapped his chin, "Hold on, that's up north, right on the coast. That's almost in the wildlands that is. What in the heavens do you want to go up there for?"

"To meet Aslan!"

"Right … Aslan … like we haven't heard that before. Do you know how many people try to tell us that they've just seen Aslan? Believe me, if you followed the lion, we'd know."

"Is that so?" Edmund said sarcastically, rolling his eyes, "Please, you must let me out."

"Tell us your name. And do not give us any falsities. We have already seen your face."

"What?" Edmund asked in a panic, making sure his hood was fully on.

"You did not think we'd throw you in there without knowing what you looked like beneath that their cloak of yours, do you?"

Edmund's heart sank as the guard produced a sketch. A sketch that indeed was a sleeping image of his face. The drawing was accurate to a fault. What was he supposed to do? Had he already failed Aslan?

The hours seemed to pass by painfully slowly for Edmund. Each hour passing by with a twisting knot in his stomach. How did he end up in here? How was he going to get out? He knew he had to do something before this Prince Orrin character arrived to interrogate him and transfer him to the capital city.

First he needed to have a better understanding of what was going on. He called out to one of the guards, hoping to spark some dialogue. Thankfully one of the guards came over to his cell, studying him with a weary eye.

"What do you want, Assassin?" asked the guard.

"For the last time, I am not an assassin!" Edmund yelled, "I am the Rogue Warrior!"

"Right … sounds impressive."

"You want to see how impressive?" Edmund asked with a raised eyebrow, "Please. I just want to know what is going on. You say I am guilty of trying to assassinate King Firson. How? Please tell me."

"Don't play games. You know very well how you tried to kill him."

"Humor me then, Kind Sir. Tell me what happened." urged Edmund, "I beg thee."

The guard studied Edmund for a time, as though suddenly curious as to why a prisoner wanted to know details of a crime the committed. Edmund stared at the guard imploringly, his hood down now for it made no sense to hide since the guards had drawn him anyway. He also hoped it would allow him to express his sincerity in his eyes and facial movements.

"Alright then, Assassin." The guard said hesitantly, "You were seen leaving the scene of the crime. The crime being a failed attempt to kill our fair King Firson with a cowardly arrow in the back. Were it not for the quick reflexes of Prince Orrin, our king would be dead. You fled the capital city and we found you at the border here."

"Doing what?"

"Sleeping." The guard said, "And before you say it wasn't you, we had an eye witness who saw you at the scene and verified it was you. When Prince Orrin arrives, he will do the same. Your cloak is very distinctive."

"My cloak?" Edmund asked curiously, "But no one saw my face? Only my cloak? Don't you find that curious?"

The guard regarded Edmund inquisitively, as if trying to ascertain for himself whether or not this fact truly was 'curious' or not. Edmund knew this surely an opportunity to press forward and try to convince the guard of his innocence.

"Didn't you find it particularly easy to find me?" Edmund asked, "Sleeping? Don't you think it would be awfully odd of me to try and kill King Firson in the capital city and then manage to escape the hub of the Shian Kingdom, only to be caught by … well … you two?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"That I've been set up!" Edmund exclaimed, "Anyone could've taken my coat and used it to commit this crime and set me up for it."

"Wouldn't that be convenient?"

"It's the truth!" Edmund yelled in frustration, "I did not try to kill King Firson! I serve Aslan!"

Edmund shook his door bars in frustration. His face was tensed in anger as he slammed his palms against the door. He let out a scream of anguish as he began pacing back and forth, trying to figure out just how he was going to get out of this jail cell. He had a mission to complete. He had to meet Aslan. How in Aslan's name would he even reach Glowsbrook in time to meet the great lion? Surely Aslan would have left now.

"If you are innocent, you have nothing to fear. Prince Orrin will restore you to your honor. If you are telling the truth, our justice system will discover that." The guard spoke as though he already seemed to be open to the possibility that Edmund himself was not guilty after all.

Just that glimmer of hope in the guard's eyes seemed to placate Edmund's anxieties. He still knew he needed to get out of this jail cell, but for now he entertained the notion that perhaps justice could set him free. How long would that take? Would it be fast enough? He knew the guards would not let him out, even if they did believe him. Justice would have to run its course in their eyes.

The next few days passed by slowly for Edmund. Yet he slowly grew to have a surprisingly amicable, if not friendly relationship with his captors. Their names were Kolim and Meros, and Edmund soon learned that Meros had actually fought in the Battle for Cair Paravel. He had retired from the regular infantry to serve as one of the Kingdom Guard.

Since this outpost was on the southernmost border of the Shian Kingdom, it was fairly isolated. There was little to keep either the guards or Edmund entertained. Each day Edmund would talk to whichever guard was watching him. He learned a great deal about each. He learned much about the Shian, which he did not have time to learn about previously. The guards also came to refer to him as 'Rogue' rather than 'Assassin'. This pleased Edmund to no end, and only increased the quickly forming bond with the two Shian.

"When my time at this outpost is done, I have someone at home who is waiting for me." Meros said with a smile as he produced a small but detailed sketch of a woman, "Aerilis. This parchment does her no justice. She is to be my promised one."

Edmund could see that Meros spoke with a pride and love that he could only hope to share himself one day with Peter. He smiled sincerely as he studied the drawing and handed it back through the bars to Meros. Even though the guards were his captors, Edmund bore them no malice. They were merely performing their duty to their kingdom, to their king.

"Kolim will be retiring once his service here is over. His wife grows tired of spending so much time away from him. He wishes to spend more time with his family, you see. Do you have family, Rogue Warrior?"

Edmund's smile faded as he reminisced to his own family, to his loved ones, to the ones he'd been forced to leave behind. His face fell somber and serene, something Meros seemed to pick up on.

"You need not speak of them, Son of Adam." Meros said as he studied Edmund, "You know … I am certain we have met before."

Edmund raised his eyebrow, hoping Meros was either mistaken or would not remember. For if he did remember, Edmund's identity would be exposed. Those were Aslan's orders to him. None could know his name.

"You …" Meros said questioningly, "You were there … at the battle! The Battle for Cair Paravel!"

Edmund stepped back, horrified at Meros's words. Surely Meros did not see him during that battle? There were hundreds of thousands fighting that day, so how could Meros remember one face in many?

"King of the Fallen! You fought the nameless evil!" Meros said excitedly, as though a long troubled thought had finally solved itself in his mind, "I knew you were familiar, but I could not place it. It's because you were … fallen back then. How did you? How are you alive? Your face no longer has that aura of death about it."

"True love knows no bounds." Edmund said softly, smiling weakly to himself.

Meros stared at Edmund in disbelief for some time, before he broke out with his own smile, "You do serve Aslan. Forgive me for doubting you, Rogue Warrior. I did not know who you were. Why did you not say?"

"I was not at liberty to do so, Meros. I'm sorry." Edmund sighed, "Does this mean I can go now?"

"I … I must be truthful. Even before I knew your identity, neither I nor Kolim truly believed your guilt was true. Your eyes do not portray that of a cold hearted assassin." Meros sighed, "But I still cannot allow you to leave. It is not my place to declare innocence. That is for Prince Orrin to declare. It is merely a formality. Once he realizes what has taken place, he will set you free and hunt down whomever is responsible for this deception. I am sorry."

"Do not be." Edmund smiled reassuringly, "You only do your duty and I cannot begrudge you that."

"I ca…" Meros began to say before he heard a noise from outside the small building, "Kolim?"

Meros called out, but no sound returned. He was about to investigate when Kolim entered with a large tray of food. He nodded with a smile to both Edmund and Meros. Edmund smiled back, truly grateful for his company and the hospitality these guards had given him under the circumstances.

"I have prepared our evening supper, my friends. My wife will be rather proud of my new cooking abilities." Kolim said as he revealed three hearty plates of a Shian soup and fresh bread, "Let us eat."

Meros turned to Kolim questioningly, before turning to Edmund, "If I open your door, do you give us your word you will not try and run away?"

"I give you my word." Edmund said sincerely, "I will wait for your Prince Orrin."

Meros was about to open the door when all three were surprised by the presence of a new figure. A figure wearing a cloak that was almost identical to that of Edmund's, save for it being red. Kolim jumped to his feet immediately, but the figure drew his sword and ran Kolim through the heart with it. Meros rushed to Kolim's defense, but in two swift strikes, Meros was laying on the ground, gasping for life.

Edmund screamed at the figure as he shook the bars. He dropped to his knees, trying to reach through the bars to the keys Meros had dropped. Meros too seemed to have the same idea, crawling toward the keys slowly. Blood seeped from the Shian's lips and his gaping wounds. Before he could reach, the figure stepped over Meros and impaled him through the back with his sword. Edmund screamed out for Meros as the figure stepped closer to the bars, slowly removing his hood.

"Son of Adam, do you know who I am?" the figure spoke softly, hauntingly, "I am his champion. I am Destan."

Edmund did not respond, but kept trying to reach through the bars to grab the keys. Try as he might, he could not reach. He looked up to the figure who stared tauntingly at him. Destan. The very name felt like venom in Edmund's mind. He cursed up at the expressionless visage of Destan, whose long flowing gray hair fell down over his unnaturally pale face.

"Destan …" Edmund said with a furious rage, "You have just sealed your fate."

"No, Son of Adam. I have just sealed yours." Destan said with a slow forming smile.

Destan kicked the keys closer to Edmund before he turned and left. Edmund grabbed for the keys and quickly unlocked the door. He rushed to Meros's side, holding him in the hope he could somehow keep him in this world. Kolim was already dead, but Edmund hoped that Meros would not suffer the same fate.

"Give this … Aerilis …" Meros gasped, pulling off his necklace as tears slid silently down his blood stained face, "She … understand … please …"

Edmund stared down at the necklace as tears fell down his own cheeks. Before he could respond, the light faded from Meros's eyes and he lay dead in Edmund's arms. Edmund's lips pursed in anger as he screamed out.

He gently laid Meros back down, before he grabbed his sword and fled the building. Using his heightened sense as a former fallen, Edmund set out to find the presence he had now made a mental note of. He realized that the presence he felt when trekking north was that of Destan. How long had Destan been tracking him? It was obvious that Destan was responsible for trying to kill King Firson and set Edmund up for it.

"Destan!" Edmund yelled, running through a section of forest till he came to a large clearing where Destan stood in wait for him.

"Greetings, Son of Adam." Destan said without turning to face Edmund, "Or should I say, Rogue Warrior."

"Say whatever you like. Just know they shall be the last things you ever say." Edmund said as he charged at Destan.

Destan stepped out of the way, exactly as Edmund anticipated. Swinging his sword horizontally, Edmund slice Destan's arm. Destan scowled, before turning to face Edmund in a fierce duel of flashing swords and gritted teeth.

Edmund's lightning fast skills and reflexes were barely a match for Destan. He was forced to use every ounce of his strength to deflect Destan's powerful blows. Indeed, Destan was more than a match for Edmund. His strength bordered on unnatural. It bordered on fallen.

Yet Edmund could see sweat on Destan's brow. He could see his chest rise and fall with each movement. He could see strain on his face as he deflected Edmund's devastating strikes. All of Edmund's instinct and senses told him that this stranger was once a fallen. How could that be?

Before Edmund was able to theorize possible scenarios for Destan's existence, he felt a blade press against the back of his neck. He remained still as Destan taunted him with a sinister smirk.

"One who is many." Destan said ominously, "You would be well to remember that, Son of Adam. Why have one champion, when he who is many, can have just that – many? In this case: two. Rogue Warrior, meet my brother in arms, Angelus."

Edmund turned his head to see Angelus. What his eyes found was almost a reflection of himself. It was as if he was staring into a mirror. From his soulful brown eyes, right down to the cloak, that unlike Destan's, was exactly like Edmund's. Angelus was in all recognizable sense, a twin of Edmund.

"Greetings, Rogue Warrior." Angelus said with a cold, dead stare, "Or should I say, brother?"

- To Be Continued -
RWC3 - Legend of the Shian
Part 2
In a time when the Shian still roam the world, Edmund must save the Shian from a sinister threat. All while trying to evade the vengeful eyes of Prince Orrin who is hunting down whomever is responsible for trying to assassinate his father. Will Edmund succeed? Or will his actions prove to be unwittingly responsible for a dark fate that has yet to befall the Shian?

If this was not enough for Edmund to deal with, the knowledge that Peter the Magnificent, High King of Narnia and Edmund's greatest love is about to visit the Shian Kingdom on a mission of goodwill and thanks for the Shian's aid in the Battle for Cair Paravel. How will Edmund react to this news? How will maintain his secrecy and anonymity when Peter is so close? Find out as the multi-chapter: Rogue Warrior Chronicles - The Legend of the Shian continues!


A/N: Shout outs to wiffleh, winks Angelus, get it? And to Peg, because I love her, even though she hates my angst(and yet somehow writes angst that makes me feel tame) lol. The Rogue Warrior Chronicles continue. The next few parts all revolve around the Shian referred to in Just and Magnificent. Expect a few cameos from Just and Magnificent stalwarts like Peter the Magnificent and Prince Orrin to name a few. I hope you are enjoying this side-series. Still warming up. Until next time, Sub's up!