A/N: Hey guys, before we begin, I just want to let y'all know theres a !major announcement! I'd like to make, so please do keep your eyes open for it at the end of this Chapter!

CHAPTER 28; "traitor King"

Through the encroaching mist if one were to look past the wasteland and in the direction of where the Eastern Woods came to an end, they'd have spotted a crew of Narnians, striding forth with a definite purpose.

Edmund came to a sudden halt on what could be considered the very border. A warning hand signalled his crew to halt behind him as he lowered his boots into the grass. He stood on solid ground, much to his relief.

"Bastare," the King called out to the centaur that stood tall on his right, "break off thin branches from these trees that we could use as sticks to navigate through the marshes."

"At once, your Majesty." Bastare complied.

"Listen up," he spoke to the rest of his crew, "navigating this is going to be tricky. Follow my lead with not a mis-step into the sinking mud, unless of course you want to end up as prey to the Marsh-dwelling hob goblins," the last part more directed towards Speed and Silver, the hyper wolf-pups who's eyes had lit up at the challenge, now shrug it off much to their disappointment.

With murmured affirmatives and Bastare handing the walking sticks to those who could handle using them, Edmund was the first to step out of Thiepe's protection.

Now they were truly on their own.

Edmund poked his pole into the ground around him, it was solid. And so he kept moving on further and further, as did his crew follow. Somehow, they'd all managed to make it halfway through the marshes without much incident. Something seems off, Edmund thought. Luck only got one so far, and this was indeed quite far.

And just like that, the young King thought too soon. Even as he turned behind to look at them, a bounding wolf pup leapt past a startled Bitty chasing behind a rodent just as Edmund had time to yell, "Silver, NO!" Just as Speed howled, a forlorn sound that pierced the air around them.

The pup paused, immediately frozen just as his King's call reached his ears, bringing him back to the situation at hand, "oh no," Silver thought as his panicked eyes glanced over to his brother Speed, "how am I going to get myself out of this one?"

Even as Edmund looked on, the grappling mud seemed to cling to every inch Silver's pure white fur just as a muffled whimper escaped his jaws. It was beginning to pull him in, and more the pup struggled the more in danger he would put himself.

"Don't move." Edmund commanded as without a second thought he was tip tapping on the marsh group trying to find a solid line to the pup, "Don't struggle, it'll only pull you in further."

"But it's already pulled me in!" the pups eyes were filled with fear as they reached the King's as Edmund felt his heart soften. They were leaving this cursed place with Silver, one way or the other. "The ropes!" he called, an idea forming in his head. "Hand me the ropes."

"Nay, my King. I cannot allow you to do this. I volunteer instead."

"No, Bastare. It has to be me, I could manage the marsh, before it begins sucks me in, besides I need strong arms on this side to pull us out," Edmund touched the centaurs shoulder, not wanting Bastare to feel his offer go unrecognized. But he knew the minute the centaurs hoof stepped foot into marsh soil he was going down as well. This had to be him.

"He's right." Lora interjected efore bastare could argue, "you'd not be able to move two steps forward

Edmund tied it around his waist, making sure his knots were to form. And so he went, making a beeline towards where Silver lay drowning. It wasn't long before he felt the marsh beginning to tug at his boots but he persevered, even as he heard calls of encouragement and some of fear from his crew back in safety.

Edmund persevered, willing his legs to tread on the mud that seemed to be slowly sucking him in.. One step.. he thought, just one more step and he could reach out to Silver.

"Silver. Stop struggling," Edmund warned the pup as he began noticing the sudden recklessness as he realised he was so close to rescue very much the same moment as the mud began closing around Silver's neck.

"I- I'm sorry, your Majesty.. This is what I get for being a naughty pup. Leave me to my fate! I deserve this!"

"Silver calm down.." Edmund tried, as he struggled himself to make the most minimalistic movements. "look at me."

Just a bit more..

"I am going to rescue you out of this. You're going to be just fine. Just stay calm and don't move, I'll come to you."

Even as the King said that, the Pope's hear turned diagonal towards the sky.

"Silver!"

Right at that moment, before his pink snout disappeared in the mud forever, Edmund reached his arm grasping the pup just as relief shot through his system. Not today, Wicked Marsh!

"Bastare! Pull."

If Lord Rynelf of Ettinsmoor's men hadn't heard word of the Just King and his convoy's visit towards the town, they'd have definitely not opened the gates for the kind of motely looking, mud covered group of vagabonds that stood in front of them.

Silver, still shaken up from the prior events refused to leave the Just King's side. Very much now to his Sworn Shield, Lora's amusement now took up a protective stance in front of the King, muddy fur and teeth bared.

And then slowly but surely opened the the Wooden City gates as and they co continued their way through.

Something was different, Edmund sensed. Everywhere rhe Royal siblings went, be it a joint front or on individual tours the towns and villages burst into merriment and joy, public holidays issues as all citizens men and Creatures alike gathered to greet the Royalties with fanfare and flowers. Men creened over each others necks to behold the rumored beauty of the Queens only to be scared off by either Peter or Edmund's glare. Things weren't much different with the Kings and the ladies either except perhaps a bit more.. raunchy.

But here? None.

No one gathered in welcome. There weren't any trumpets nor fanfare signifying the visit of Royalty. However, there was one thing in plenty. Stares. From the butcher to the baker to the armour clad soldiers on the Guard Towers. And no, they weren't friendly stare, nor was it curiosity.. It seemed to be hate.. Or perhaps hate was too strong a word, dislike and indifference. That's what it seemed. Not even Lord Rynelf, the bastard bothered showing up.

Edmund shrugged it off. He you shouldn't show it bothered him, instead the young King strode forward with purpose to Lord Rynelf's Castle as the townsfolk abruptly got off his way with grunts of displeasure but Edmund paid no heed, the cogs of his mind already turning. Something was very very much out of place here and he was determined to find out why and what it was.

"Watch your way!" a drunk yelled as he staggered out of Edmund's way, "..Traitor!"

Edmund stopped. Abruptly. What did this blabbering idiot just say?

Before he could move any further or do anything, Bastare had the drunk lifted a good feet above the ground bringing him eye to eye, "That is no way to address your King, old drunk!"

"This boy.. is NO KING OF MINE!" he bellowed the last part before dissolving into manic laughter only as Bastare's expression grew darker.

"I should crush you like a bug under my feet for this." Bastare turned to Edmund. "At your word. Your Majesty."

"Let him go." Edmund commanded instead. Well, for all his faults, the old man wasn't exactly.. wrong was he? "A drunk's word means just as much as a Winter coats in Calormene."

"Ah, I see you've met old man Ragfors here!" an eerily familiar voice boomes from across the street. "Guards!" Rynelf called, "drag the man who offended the King to the dungeons."

"Now, now folks, is this the kind of welcome we extend the soverign Royalty of our lands- well, at least one of them-" Lord Rynelf quickly masked a chuckle at this with a quick cough just as Edmund rolled his eyes, the dig not going unnoticed. "A bit more cheer, people! Or do you want an increase in tax next year?"

That definitely elicited a response though perhaps not the kind Lord Rynelf had hoped for- or perhaps, Edmund's eyes slitted at the thought- exactly the kind the old crone had hoped for. Edmund made up his mind to mentally go through the Ettinsmoor taxes and the Castle's books while he is here itself once more. Maybe this was exactly what could put away Rynelf for good.

"This way, your Majesty." Rynelf continued, "welcome to Ettinsmoor."

".. the Traitor King.."

".. why here?"

"..not for long," this one accompanied by somewhat evil laughter that it took all it had in him to not turn around or react. That was what they wanted from him, he was giving them that satisfaction.

"..Traitor King.."

"..nothing but a traitor.."

"..she is back! Our savior is here. The usurpers will fall!"

"traitor."

Meanwhile, far far away back within the safe walls of Cair Paravel, Samuel sat at his desk his eyes focused on the piece of parchment in front of him.

He scribbles words.

Then paused.

He wasn't allowed to see her, not unless she wanted to see him first. And the way she seemed the last time she'd came to him, it only became more clear to him.

He could feel it. Stirring within her the same way it once did in him. He could feel her confusion, doubt, fear..

We need to talk. Urgently. Sam wrote before once again like the many times before that shook his head in disappointment, crushing the paper and throwing it into the fire.

What was he thinking? She would come here. All he had to do was wait. She will come.

She will come, Sam thought once more as his gaze fell onto the door in front of him, a large crack on it as Sam remembered exactly how it had come to be.

Oh, she surely would come. He felt it deep down. The was a shift in the atmosphere around him, Sam felt the darkness that had become his home and very essence flare around him in tendrils of dark energy. She was here alright.

A/N: And I hope that counts as a cliffhanger! And yes, I know how much you guys love Ed/Aline interactions but I'm so sorry to inform that there won't be a lot of it for now while they're apart and am focusing on building up the plotline but rest assured, I'll make up for all of it once Ed return's back to Cair Paravel!

Anyways moving on, about the MAJOR ANNOUCEMENT, I've finally decided to update my other Edmund/OC fic, Once Upon a Star on a regular basis YAY. And for those of you who haven't heard of it, it's a Modern AU about a Child of Narnia sent to our world under the protection of Polly Diggory Kirke. I know the Modern AU is a nice genre but it would mean literal TONS to me if you guys could check it out and let me know what you think of it and if it's worth continuing.

Thank you so much in advance.

-Love, NF.