Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Ziddim. I will get there. As for this chapter, well, read it yourself.

"Aslan, it is not about what a think You can do, but what I think You will do." Peter admitted.

Aslan's eyes looked down upon him in a mournful pity. The look perplexed Peter. "My Child, you and your brother will be together again; that, I can promise."

Peter nodded. "In Your Country, yes, I know. That much, I am grateful for. I know how hard it will be to let go, but I have had to do it once before, so I know it is possible."

"Dear Peter, you think so little of yourself, but your wisdom surpasses your years. Your words and your actions demonstrate more faith than you think possible, yet you lack in one perspective."

"Aslan?" Peter questioned.

The Great Lion said nothing, but walked right past him and over to Edmund's body, lying on the bed roll. Peter quickly rose to his feet and followed after Him, coming to a halt next to Aslan.

"It is no simple thing to believe so deeply in something. Such faith can be rewarded."

Peter still couldn't understand what Aslan was getting at. "I've heard stories of it, but I hardly believe that I am deserving of any kind of reward."

A low, rumbling chuckle exited the Lion's lips. "No one is deserving of my rewards. Consider it a gift; something you can take, and whenever you see it, you will remember my love for you."

The Lion never waited for a response; He never gave Peter the chance to argue or question. Aslan just bowed His head before Edmund's body, giving off a soft pur. He looked up, once more, and gave a slow, gentle exhale of breath into the face of Peter's little brother.

Aslan looked back to Peter. "You may want to send for your sisters, now."

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"Shouldn't we be there by now?" Edmund finally asked after about an hour of walking.

It was strange how his feet and legs never seemed to get tired. Edmund felt as though he was walking on clouds.

Maybe cause I am. Edmund thought to himself.

The negativity Edmund played was another strange thing. This place was better than Narnia in every way, but he was still unhappy. Edmund had just taken to figuring that once he had made it to Aslan's Country everything would be fine.

Everybody always says there's no sadness or pain in Aslan's Country; that everything is perfect and you can't find it in you to mourn for your past life. It all seemed nice, but Edmund wasn't really sure that he was ready for it all. He still felt that his life needed mourning - mainly for his family's sake.

Edmund had always known that he and his siblings would all pass on at some point, but he had never expected to be the first one to go. It should be the oldest ones that are bestowed with the blessing of leaving life first. Edmund couldn't help but feel selfish for taking it upon himself to take that from his siblings and give them the pain that he should have.

"We'll be there soon." Zebah replied, grinning, but his eyes never once looking away from his path ahead.

It amazed Edmund how Zebah could still be so friendly after all that Edmund had let happen to him. Those horrid screams still filled his ears; they woke him in the night and haunted his thoughts. It hurt Edmund to know what he had caused this boy.

"Zebah?" Edmund began.

"Hm?" Was all the other boy gave in acknowledgement.

Edmund cleared his throat before continuing, "I'm so sorry for what happened to you." Zebah met his eyes. "If it hadn't been for me-"

"I would still be a slave." Zebah finished.

It wasn't what Edmund had in mind for the end of his sentence. "You would still-"

"No." Zebah interrupted again. "I know what you're going to say, and I don't care. It was my choice. Everything I ever wanted is in Aslan's Country. It's perfect. Given the chance to do it over, I wouldn't change a thing. I saved you."

"But I still died, in the end. Nothing changed. We're both here and I've only made things worse for my family and my country."

"That's where you're wrong; so greatly wrong." Edmund's friend smiled, once more.

"What do you mean?"

The two boys stopped their walking.

"I mean that this is where we say goodbye."

"Goodbye?" Edmund asked. "But I'm coming with you."

Zebah shook his head. "This is where our paths diverge." At Edmund's confused silence and, likely, confused look, Zebah kept talking, giving a bit of a farewell speech, "I liked you from the moment I saw you walk into that cage; you seemed different, to me. Boy was I right." Zebah chuckled "You know, when I was young, I had a dream that a lion came and talked to me. I didn't know who He was or why He came; I guess I always brushed it off, before." Zebah pursed his lips to the left before opening them to continue, "He told me that, unlike most boys, I would only getone real friend in my lifetime. There were many times when I thought that I had found them, but I was always wrong. I guess what I'm trying to say is: I'm glad that you were my friend." The smile returned to his bright face. "Goodbye, Umed. We're both free, now."

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Edmund gasped in the air around him, sitting up and opening his eyes to see his surroundings. He didn't look long, however, before he felt himself crushed in a loving embrace.

"Ed!" Peter's voice cried, and Edmund could feel tears soaking into the shoulder of his tunic.

"Pete?" Peter was here? What was happening? Last he remembered was talking to Zebah, but that all felt like a distant dream, now. It was a dream, wasn't it?

"Oh, Eddy. Don't you ever do that again, alright?" Peter's fingers clutched tightly to Edmund's tunic.

"Do what?"

Peter pulled away for a moment, and Edmund got a look at his brother's worn face. Purple bags were clear under Peter's red, bloodshot eyes, and tears wet his fair skinned face.

"Ed," Peter began, and it looked like he was struggling not to break down. "I lost you. You... you died."

So it wasn't all just a bad dream. He really died. He really saw Zebah. He really spoke with the boy. Most of all, he is really back.

Peter pulled Edmund back into a hug, only this time, Edmund returned it.

"The girls. What about the girls?" Edmund asked. He could feel Peter shaking his head.

"They don't know. They don't know anything. I sent for Oreius to find them. They'll be here."

Edmund nodded. It seemed unbelievable that he would be seeing his sisters again. Just moments ago he was speaking with Zebah in the bridge between Narnia and Aslan's Country, now he was with Peter, engulfed in hugs and tears of joy.

"I'm really here, then. I'm safe." Edmund breathed in and caught Peter's scent; it was disguised by the smell of battle, but it was there and it was heavenly.

Peter pulled back and held Edmund at arm's length, looking him up and down. "You're really here. A little bruised and banged up, but you're here and alive."

Edmund had a feeling that Peter was saying it more as a reassurance to himself, but he didn't care. He just smiled as more tears streamed down his bruised cheeks.

"Peter?"

Edmund's heart skipped a beat at the sound of Lucy's voice; dear little Lucy's voice.

"Are you alright? Who are you talking to?"

Peter smiled and turned around to face Lucy, allowing Edmund to finally see his little sister.

When Lucy's eyes met Edmund's, she froze, mouth agape and eyes wide in disbelief. "P-Peter... am I going crazy or do you see the same thing I do?"

Peter shook his head. "There's much to explain, sister, but you're not going crazy."

Lucy's eyes never left Edmund's. "A-and Edmund is... is-"

"Alive." Peter finished for her.

The shock on Lucy's face mixed with excitement, but she never moved. Edmund knew that she must be afraid to; she must be afraid that if she ran to him he would be nothing but an illusion that would disappear at the first touch of her hand.

"Well, are you going to just stand there or are you going to give me a hug?" Edmund said at last.

At hearing her brother's voice a huge grin appeared on Lucy's face and she shrieked with joy as she ran forward and dove into Edmund's arms. She backed up a moment and placed her hands on the sides of his face, taking in the sight of him.

"I can't believe it." Lucy shook her head. "This isn't a dream, is it? Somebody pinch me."

"It better not be a dream." Edmund laughed, pinching Lucy on the arm and drawing out a little squeal of protest as she pulled her arm away.

"Edmund?"

All eyes turned to the door where Susan stood, her face, as beautiful as ever, stained with the same look Lucy had just moments before.

Edmund smiled. "Hello, Su."