Chapter 36 - divine revelations

The majestic lion turned to her once more and despite the initial shock and fear that had held her heart and body in a chokehold, at the same time a deep sense of peace and purpose washed over her as she recalled each of his words to her.

"Aslan!" Lucy yelled from across the Hall.

The Great Lion's face split in a huge smile that seemed surprisingly tender as the teen broke in a run towards the Patron of Narnia as the rest of her Royal Siblings looked on a mixture of fear and relief on their faces.

"Oh, pray tell you've come to rescue Narnia from the clutches of whatever darkness is growing by the day!"

"Valiant Lucy," Aslan chuckled bemused. "Alas no, my daughter. I fear there's not much I can do to interfere in mortal affairs more than I already have."

"Lord Aslan," High King Peter spoke, "We know of the evil that lurks beyond the Western Woods in the heart of Ettinsmoor. The growing rebellion, the prophecy and the Green Lady.. it is all connected is it not?"

"All things that come to be are in one way or another connected to everything that has been and will come to be. As is the rule of Fate" the Lion breathed.

"However, there is something I am yet curious of, the newest Son of Adam in Narnia."

"Aline's brother?" Edmund questioned.

"The very one."

"We shall have him brought here immediately, my Lord," Susan began as she signalled to the guard outside but the great Lion interrupted.

"There is no need for that, Queen Susan. I fear, must be on my way now and if fate sees it fit maybe I shall find Samuel strolling beside the sea side, on my way back." at this, everyone present could've sworn Aslan winked. "Besides, I believe all of you here have things to tell each other."

With that the Majestic Lion strolled forth only turning as he was making his way through the huge Oak doors. "There is no reason to feel fear my children. Though perilous times may be ahead, I am not here to warn you. I'm here to remind you of the one truth that pervades (persists through) space and time. Hope, and love. As long as it persists in Narnia, good will triumph evil."

The Oak doors shut behind Him as the siblings and Aline turned to face each other.

Edmund almost instinctively moved to her side as Aline cleared her throat. "I believe I have something to tell you."

"Aline, what is it?"

She turned to face Edmund, "What I was going to tell you tonight," Aline hesitated. Her heart raced as her palms grew sweaty. If anything, the Great Lion had assured her everything was alright and there was nothing to fear of her.. abilities. In fact, he'd encouraged her on honing it. It was important. She was important. But yet the fact that she'd hid it from the Pevensies did not sit right with her.

Aline felt a warm hand cover hers. "Whatever it is, you can trust us," Susan assured her.

"Right- um, I assure you I was going to tell you soon. I had no intention of- of hiding it or lying, but I just- wanted to make sure of it before I-"

Aline sighed again.

"I think.. it's better if I showed you instead."

"Show us what?"

But even as Lucy asked so, a strong gust of wind rushed through the Throne Room, and as the siblings watched, the torches mounted on the walls of the room began flickering, before one by one from the farthest end of the Hall to where they stood, began going out.

Susan had to cover her mouth in shock as Lucy almost screamed. Peter looked at her quizzically whilst Edmund could barely meet her eye.

Aline felt her heart sink.

There was a pin drop silence.

"Edmund?" her voice cracked as she called out his name. How could she have been so stupid as to hide something of this significance? Aline mentally slapped herself, and now she was sure she was going to lose him once more and this time, hurt so much more than anything else she'd been through.

"Ed, I promise I was going to come clean. I was going to tell you all about this tonight. I assure you I did not know of this myself, or brushed it off to some weird coincidence. It wasn't until, until a few weeks ago that I figured out that something was.. off."

"That night in the library, it was you?" he questioned monotonously instead.

"Yes- I mean, I think so. I don't really know much I'm still.. learning what I can do, and what I cannot. And-" Aline paused.

"And?" Peter pressed.

"Sam is helping me figure this out-"

Edmund glared his gaze flickering to her immediately at this.

"This is what you've been seeing Sam for?"

"I mean.. he was the only one who could understand.. he-" Aline shook her head sighing once more. "He knew, somehow.. and I didn't know who else to turn to."

"I promise you, all of you it wasn't my intention to lie or even hide it, I'm so sorry-"

"Aline," Edmund's voice was uncharacteristically soft at this, as he uttered her name this time "there's no need for that."

"Wait," Peter's voice cut through, "how long did you know this for?" he questioned, "And what exactly can you do?" Susan added

"You heard her," Edmund took a standin front of her almost protectively as he faced his siblings, "she didn't know of this until a couple weeks ago and I believe Aline. There's no reason to interrogate her like some criminal."

Peter, Susan and Lucy only exchanged subtle looks within themselves.

"Of course you'd believe her now," Lucy muttered almost to herself.

Edmund's eyes slitted exactly as Aline felt her heart drop further if it ever could. "What is that supposed to mean, Lucy?"

"Come on, we of course believe Aline. I mean though this does complicate matters further, everything does make so much sense now doesn't it? Besides who are we to question Aslan hisselfs judgement? But as for you my skeptic brother," a grin broke on her face at this.

"What Lucy means to say is," Susan continued amidst giggles, "you two make quite a cute couple together."

"What?" they both questioned at the same time. Aline, as she couldn't believe her ears. The Pevensies, all of them simply believed her with not a negative say to it?

"Well, there's no denying it now!"

"Aline," Peter called, "there is something we need to tell you as well." And despite their prior joyous squeals, a sombre mood suddenly set in on the sisters.

"What it is?"

Edmund visibly squirmed.

Aline turned to him, "Is this about what you wanted to tell me earlier?"

"Yes. Well, Al.. we've found a prophecy, that might shed light on our.. current situation. In Ettinsmoor."

"Well, that's great isn't it? What does it say? Does it mention anything of us, me and Sam or some freakish abilities?"

"Prophecies are rarely great, Al. But this one, seems to be evading any sort of sense thus far." Susan said with a sigh before she proceeded to recite the damned texts.

"From the bowels of darkness shall a fire be awoken;

Reborn under a moonless night;

Armed with a thousand good men forsaken;

The blood of the ancients christened at first light;

To once and for all, unite sword, stone and time."

"If anything now I'm more confused that before," Aline stated with a sigh, trying to wrap her head along what happened so far yet miserably failing as she ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. If anything, this only confused her more. None of this made any sense. "But I don't think any part of it seems.. particularly favourable. Nor does it mention anything of me.. or Sam.."

"About that," Edmund began, "the rebels seem to think you're some God sent, true Queen of Narnia to liberate it off our tyrannical rule," he shrugged.

"I- WHAT?!"

He simply handed over the flyer that he'd managed to hold on to and had slipped into his pocket before he changed his decision to not tell her of it, least not tonight.

"This makes no sense. At all. You know I'd never betray you!"

For some reason Aline noticed that Edmund winced.

"Doesn't help that they think we've brainwashed you into forgetting yourself."

"Hey Al," Susan squeezed her arm, "everything will be alright. Aslan will not permit Narnia fall to darkness again. And whatever this is, we'll figure it out."

"I think we best return to the Ball lest the crowd grows suspicious." Peter suggested and so the rest of the Pevensies' sauntered off until it was just Aline and Edmund left alone.

And for the first time Aline truly noticed the moon light streaming through the renowned glass ceiling of the Narnian Throne room seemed illuminating the entire surrounding in an ethereal light. Edmund seemed to notice her admiration. And with the way his gaze wrapped around her form the way they had all night, Aline couldn't help the blush that coloured her cheeks.

"Thank you," she managed.

"Whatever for?"

"For standing up for me, when I thought I was probably going to be thrown into the dungeons." A nervous laugh broke it's way out at that.

Edmund laughed in response, "That'd be almost impossible, my siblings love you a bit too much to subject you to the dungeons."

"Nevertheless, you didn't have to. But you did, and thank you so much for it. That.. truly meant a lot."

He spoke nothing to it instead turning his back as he made his way past her.

"Come on up," Edmund extended his hand from where he now stood, the dias on which the Thrones sat. Aline took his arm as he pulled her up.

"Wow," she exclaimed at the Silver Throne that stood before her, "these look even bigger up close!"

Edmund sat on his as she eyed him from where she stood, a small smile on her lips. His crown sat askew on his mess of a hair and she itched to set it straight. He looked every bit regal, poised and emanating power as he stared right back at her his brown eyes unrelenting. His hands stretched across the arm rests on the Throne and despite the disheveled hair, the boy-ish smirk on his face or his skewed collar, the King radiated royalty. And Aline couldn't get enough of it, that despite what just happened, all of this new information she was yet to even process, her eyes drank in his countenance instead. The way his tunic stretched over his muscles and the way his lips had tasted only hours before when she had them, to the way they looked right now as he intently gazed right back at her. Aline swallowed.

She couldn't help it as she moved towards him like clockwork. That crown, she bit her lip. The way it sat askew, was really beginning to annoy her and she just had to set it straight. So she did while he simply stared at her in silence as he allowed her fingers work it back to its place.

Only when she began to pull away did Edmund move, his hands quick at catching hers, stilling them in their motion. "Sit." he called yet it seemed more of a command that Aline fought the urge to blindly obey like a reprimanded child. Besides, he made no move to make room for her, not on his throne he was perched on the least.

"Where?" she returned his gaze refusing to back down despite the furious blush that coloured her entire face.

"Right here-" Edmund smirked as his arms went around her waist pulling her close until she was was sat on his lap her arms snaking around his shoulders for support as she turned to face him for a brief second their noses brushing tentatively as she almost waited for a kiss to follow. But even as her heart beat sped up to an erratic pace, it never came.

"I trust you," he whispered into her hair, and for the first time ever his voice was small, an almost whisper, much contrasting his usual cool, calculated and commanding tone. And the way he looked at her, sent a chill down her spine. "And that is why I'd defend you anywhere. You're incapable of hurting an ant much less be up to anything evil. You're a good person, Al."

"And what makes you so sure of it?"

"Because- I am an excellent judge of character," Edmund smirked before he paused closing his eyes briefly as he drew in a deep breath, "Also, because you're here right now beside me tonight, despite having every reason to detest me. You see only the best in people. It takes a pure heart to see good in a bastard like me- to look right at me with not a shadow of doubt in your eyes like I deserve it, your forgiveness, you.

"Some would argue it is plain ol' stupidity but-" "I think I'll take it."

"You're the farthest thing from stupid, my love."

"And you're the farthest from a bad person." "I know, because I know you. Right here."

And I know all this despite the fact that I may never know more than what you choose to let me see. But I see it inthe way you treat Lucy, and the way you get so excited and intense when you're showing me something that means a lot to you. Or.. the way you always place yourself in between your family and any potential danger. You're.. the King in the shadows doing what's needed to be done not essentially what you want.

And despite the fact that I may never knowmore than what you decide to show me. I do know, that all you do you do it for love of your family and your country. The way I see it, that doesn't make you a bad person. Not in my books at least."

Edmund could only look at the girl in his arms dumbfounded suddenly the weight of silver on his head growing too heavy.

"Is that what you choose to believe?"

Aline nodded. That was all she could do with his intense gaze fixed on her as she swallowed a lump in her throat.

"I hope you don't find yourself to be disappointed soon then my lady."

She opened her mouth to voice out her dissent but whatever she had in mind was drowned out by the warm crass of his lips on hers. "Wait, wait-" Aline breathed out as he paused rather hastily, "do you think it's proper? For us to be doing this, I mean-" Aline waved to the Thrones to make her point, "in here."

Edmund chuckled. Of course, she'd care of something as arbitrary as making out in the Throne room.

"Also," Aline's gaze softened at him. "You still haven't told me-" her fingers traced his hairline as they came to rest on the freshly healed almost symmetrical scar marks on his forehead, the only remaining relic of his witchly encounter in Ettinsmoor. Edmund shuddered at it. "whatever it is that you were going to. And I believe it's a tad bit more than just the prophecy."

"Alright," he conceded as he told her of the Fae who'd lead him to the Rebels hideout, the ones who called themselves the Knights of the Morning Stars, and chasing Bitty the Badger's capturers to the circus, to the Mirror House to the lair of the Green Witch- or the Lady of the Green Kirtle as she called herself and her rather inquisitive questioning of Aline. Edmund of course left out certain, technicalities if you may call them that. For some reason he could not bring himself to admit to her the extent of his care for her and how exactly it affected him both in the Mirror House and as the Evil Witch's fingers cut through his memories. No, she needn't know of all that, not just yet at least.

Aline listened quietly, with nay a word to say only her grip around Edmund's arm tightening and a small frown disfiguring her features. And when he was done, her frown only deepened more as her hands set his hair to cover the scars once more before they cupped his cheeks.

"I won't let you get hurt anymore. Not because of me. I won't let anyone hurt you for that matter." she stated determinedly and despite all the seriousness she'd meant it, Edmund could not help but chuckle a little at the tiny girl sat on his lap and the brave proclamation she made. Especially remembering the very promise he made to himself about her. I mean, she barely reached his shoulders standing up!

"What?" she countered mildly annoyed, "I'm not helpless anymore, nor am I the weak girl you once knew, in fact I'm almost as good as you in sword fight remember? And besides-" Aline bit her lips at this as a small grin spread on her cheeks.

"Besides what?" Edmund questioned humour evident in his voice.

Aline closed her eyes briefly as her hands left his face to hold them in front of her. She breathed in deeply as her eyes focused and there in the holds of her now conjoined palms, a wisp of- was that smoke? Fluid light? Edmund thought in confusion- seemed to form.

Aline looked right at him, her chest heaving clearly from the effort to maintain the ball of light, "See? Not exactly a damsel in distress anymore." she smiled as she playfully sent it flying to his chest.

"Ouch, Aline that almost tickled!"

The girl only rolled her eyes in response, "I know it's- I am weak right now, but it won't always be so. Not when I learn to get it under control." she proclaimed proudly.

"And I'm sure you would," Edmund said even as he ignored a certain pang he quite could not put his finger on in the depths of his chest.

"Edmund?" Aline called worry in her eyes again.

He half expected his hands to burn where the magic lit, as he grabbed onto them but instead felt nothing but softness and warmth. He shook his head dispelling the dark thoughts that clouded it for a moment.

"Is everything alright?"

This was Aline, he told himself. This was his Aline and not Jadis or any dark witch. He had no reason to distrust her.

"Yes, my love everything is fine. Now, let us get out of here," he picked her up much to her squeals as he stood up before placing her back down on solid ground.

A/N: Aslan is one of the hardest characters to write I had to throw away 3 drafts until I decided to keep it to the minimum. He is all knowing, powerful yet also humble, loving and caring! I hope I got this right!And as usual reminder to please REVIEW!!Also please go check out my other Edmund Modern AU fic Once Upon a Star!