Chapter 4; magic reeds and a distant brother

Aline decided, the best thing that had happened to her since landing in this strange land of madness, was the library.

It was just huge. Bigger than anything she'd ever seen before, countless books lying most untouched on the wooden shelves. But that was not the only thing that held her mesmerised.

The architecture was like nothing she'd encountered before. Seeming a compromise between the Roman and Victorian eras. The columns- Roman, set in Victorian style architecture at such appropriate places, that the both seemed to blend effortlessly to create the masterpiece.

"Admiring the architecture are you? Well, I can't blame you. Even after all these years I can't help but be enchanted by this unique piece." she almost jumped at the voice from behind her.

Turning around, expecting to see one of the Pevensies, instead her eyes meeting someone she did recognise. From her unforgettable first experience in Narnia. It was the faun.

"Lady Aline, I hope you do recall me from our previous encounter." the faun said, a small smile on his face at her startled expression. "I am Mr. Tumnus,"

"Aline. Just Aline." she stressed. "Not lady Aline, or whatever formalties is used in here. And of course I do remember you, Mr. Tumnus" she exclaimed as she held her hand out this time much to the faun's delight.

"Well then, as you wish, just Aline, shall you be." he said, causing her to smile.

"So what brings you the need to seek solace in the library at such ungodly hour in the night?"

She raised an eyebrow, "I could be asking you the same thing, you know." she replied, and then added at the set look on his face, "I couldn't sleep."

"Nightmares?" the faun asked softly. Aline nodded, not trusting herself to answer.

"Well, I could play for you." the faun said, holding out his reed pipe, and then added at the confused look on her face. "Father Christmas gifted me this, on the first Christmas after a century, said it was imbued with the ability to change emotions. I could play for you. Calm your nerves, and chase out those little demons out your head."

"Then it's quite a dangerous as well as a useful gift. I wouldn't want to be your enemy if you could play my emotions with a reed pipe." she smiled.

"Well then, thank Aslan, I'm on your side. And don't worry of me, messing with your head, though I won't ever. Not without your permission, or the pipe loses its magic."

"Magic..." she said in a dreamy sort of voice. "Seems I could do with a little magic right now. "

The faun lifted the worn out reed pipe to his lips, and started blowing gently, a note so low, she had to strain her ears to discern the melody. Then it began to rise, an octave at a time, and he took his own time elaborating each until they reached a high crescendo, the epitome of its composition before it began dwindling, back to the lower notes. Each transition woven so smoothly into each other, that the end result was just..perfection.For she had no other words to describe it.

"Well, Mr. Tumnus. That was-"

"Magic." he completed for her. She smiled. "Yes, indeed it was. Good night Mr. Tumnus! I better get going before the magic wears off." she said, taking leave, already her eyelids drooping in what would be a nightful of dreamless sleep.

The light from the lantern was rather dim, but he dared not shift his attention from what he was doing to, go get more oil for the dying lantern. This was the part of being King that Edmund hated the most.

Edmund heard a knock on his door. "The door's open," he called, as the blonde head of his brother peeked in. "How's the treaty going, Ed?" the High King asked.

"Like it should," the Just replied rather bluntly, causing his brother's face to fall. Apparently, he'd come with a conversation in mind, but the blunt tone of his royal sibling conveyed clearly, this was not the time. Peter sighed, if only he could figure out, what was going on behind the raven locks of his brother's head.

"Yeah, well. You know, you could ask me anytime if you need help."

His brother nodded, not looking at him seeming too engrossed in the work he was doing. Peter knew this was his subtle way of saying his help was not wanted. But why, he could not understand. They were siblings after all. At least Edmund, could trust him, to know what was bugging him.

He'd always been this way. Ever since Peter could remember. Well, he did not quite remember what they were like before the Wardrobe. Even though he tried, reaching out for those memories were like sifting his hand through the strong currents of a river, even as they begun to pull away.

Though, ever since his time in Narnia, Edmund had been this way. Always closed off, masking whatever it was, he was feeling with his sense of dark humour.

Peter had always assumed, it was because of guilt. He'd always wanted to prove himself, and Peter had given him the oppurtunities. And he did well too, though the Just never acknowledged his achievements, shrugging them off. Susan advised to give him his space, that he'll come around, and Peter oblinged. But instead of 'coming around' his brother seemed the more isolated and closed off.

But now, Peter wasn't so sure, recalling a distant memory. He remembered the first days after their coronation. The playful spars, royal lessons, and silly fights with the girls. Edmund had seemed normal then, even joining in. But then, he just seemed, to distance himself, closing himself off to whatsoever interactions with his siblings, and outsiders alike, excepting the necessary formalties.

Even across the land, he was known the Dark King, and for right reason. The King who kept to himself. Who observed silently from the shadows at the going ons of the nation. He was a King, Just and Magnificent in every way. But that was not the brother Peter remembered. All he wanted was for his brother to come back to them. He knew how much it pained Lucy and Susan, the more Edmund distanced himself.

But there was nothing he could do to help it.

The High King left his brother, to the shadows cast on the wall, by the meagre light of the dying lantern.

A/N: This is kind of a filler chapter so rather short and apologies for it!