Just three more follows or favorites until this officially becomes my most popular story!
Next assignment, how about you guys tell me what part shocked you the most about this story?
(Also, would any of you like to know some of the things I put in to predict the future happenings?)
Edmund's voice was robotic as he recounted the his story. Horrifying details that Peter had not heard before slipped past his brother's lips as if he were reciting no more than a grocery list or something of the sort. Edmund's recountings of beatings and labor were given bluntly and he never went deep into them, but Peter knew the look in his eyes.
With every passing moment Peter grew more and more angry at the all those who caused Edmund these pains. He wished with all he was to be able to slay the wretched wolf and take and comfort his little brother, but he knew that such actions would be ridiculous for a king, such as himself, to do.
"As you can see," Edmund said as he came to close his testimony after telling of Ziddim's actions on the battle field. "I, myself, trusted the captain and loved him as a brother. But I was betrayed, just as you all were, as well."
With Edmund's closing words the courtroom went silent; nobody dared to speak a thing out of shock of the horrifying tale. It was clear that some were struggling to believe it.
The next hour or two were spent with a few soldiers, including Oreius, giving testimony to what they saw on the battlefield. Edmund stared blankly at the opposite wall and Peter knew that he was reliving it all as the stories were told.
The High King composed the sympathetic look - which he had just now realized had taken to his face - and hardened his voice. "The victim has given his testimony as well as his witnesses." He said, once the last soldier had taken his leave from the front. "As you well know, it is now law to give the accused his opportunity to defend himself, if he so wishes."
The High King nodded to the minotaur guard who gave a short bow and began unlocking the muzzle on the wolf's face. Once the task was complete, Ziddim rubbed his snout with his left paw and looked back up to the kings before him, saying nothing at first.
"Well?" Peter asked, getting impatient with the wolf. "Do you so wish? Or perhaps it is that you can find nothing to say for yourself."
Peter concluded, though he soon wished he hadn't.
Ziddim sneered in a way that only a wolf could. "Your Majesty," He began, and Peter knew then that whatever came out of the ex-captain's mouth would not be the words he wanted to hear. "I have nothing to say for myself. I have something to say for your dear brother."
Peter would have ended the wolf right there had they not been in a proper setting. How dare he threaten Edmund!
"And what would that be?" Peter struggled fiercely not to let something more harsh slip past him.
Ziddim rose his voice loud enough for all in the room to hear clearly. "Have you all forgotten? Or am I the only one who remembers the Just King's treachery." At the following silence, Ziddim continued. "It was he who betrayed his people - who betrayed Aslan to the White Witch! He doesn't care about us, he never has. All of this is because he wanted to rule for himself. I was just only one smart enough to see straight through his little facade."
Murmurs were heard throughout the room as the creatures debated with each other about Ziddim's reasoning. Peter wished he could stop the wolf from continuing, but that would make him a biased judge, and he could be replaced if the people found fault.
Edmund sat silently in his chair, the expression on his face between guilt and sorrow. It seemed that, even once forgiven, the young king would still face ridicule from actions he made as a child.
"Do you doubt me, still?" Ziddim began, once more. "He has already betrayed us before, what is one more time to him? After he is through, he will be sole ruler. He cares for no-one but himself; can't you see from his actions?"
The murmurs grew louder and louder until creatures were starting to rise to shout to each other and to the jury from across the room.
"Don't bother listening the rubbish of that accursed wolf!" Shouted a rabbit.
"Rubbish? What if it's true? He's done it before!" Shouted a faun, who seemed truly split between sides.
"How dare you speak such venom against our king!" Cried an upset minotaur from the far corner of the room.
"He's not our king! Send him back to where he came from!" A dwarf shouted, and Peter wished to be able to hurt him for it.
The High King could take no more after that. He rose from his chair and rapped his gavel loudly on the arm of his chair. "Order!" He shouted. "Order! Order!"
After a few shouts, the court quieted down and Peter was left with the floor. "Have you all forgotten how he has changed? Don't you know him at all?"
Edmund cast his face away from all who tried to seek his gaze.
"How can we know him!" Shouted a female badger.
"Yeah!" A faun agreed. "He's been gone all this time! How do we know all this really happened?"
Peter didn't know what to say. Edmund was really the only one able to defend himself, but he had still not yet said another word.
"It's all a lie!" Shouted the dwarf from earlier. "It's a trick! They're all in on it! May Aslan curse them and ban them from the thrones they are not worthy of!"
A few shouts of mob agreement were given to that last comment. The creatures were all in an uproar and nobody could hear Peter's gavel banging. Ziddim smiled cruelly at the two kings, indicating a victory he thought was already won. But the jury still hadn't deliberated. Nothing was won until there was a verdict.
Peter found himself shouting, once more, trying to bring the room back to its sanity. What seemed like an uncontrollable chaos went dead silent at one sound: the roar of a mighty lion shook the courtroom to its very foundation. The creatures in the room all shook with fright at the sound.
Peter glanced over to Edmund, expecting to see surprise, but instead saw his brother's face filled with relief. The High King's gaze was soon distracted, however, as the doors down the center isle suddenly opened, revealing the shape of a large Lion with a glorious mane and paws large enough to crush a human skull underfoot. The Lion's eyes were stern and filled with what Peter could only describe as disappointment.
Small voices whispered to one another as the Great Lion set into a walk down the isle. When the Lion stopped before Peter's chair the High King threw himself to the floor and bowed before it, seeing Edmund do the same beside him.
"Aslan." Peter said keeping his head bowed.
"Rise, Peter. Rise, Edmund." Aslan's voice commanded in a certain gentleness that only he could have. Both brothers obeyed and once they had stood, Aslan spoke again. "Stay beside me."
The Lion turned back to face the crowd, Peter and Edmund moving to stand on either side of him.
"You all, of such little faith," Aslan began. "Do you not trust you're who I have chosen to rule over you?" The crowd remained silent, but many eyes were cast down in disgrace and embarrassment. "You insult me by insulting my children who work so hard to fulfill the jobs I have given to them. You grumble at your Just King for being treasonous when I, myself, have forgiven him and payed the price for him to be freed. Edmund has, indeed, been through everything he described to you and more. He has been through horrors that many of you did not know existed." Aslan turned to Peter's brother. "Show them."
Edmund nodded, as if understanding exactly what He meant. Peter's brother untucked the borrowed dressings and tunic; he turned around, allowing his back to face the crowd. Edmund lifted the tunic, leaving his bare back visible to nearly all those in the room.
Gasps could be heard resounding through the room. Peter had to stifle an exclamation himself; he'd never seen the scars before now, scars that streaked across his little brother's back in disarrayed fashion. Edmund had always been very private, especially since he'd returned home. The only one who really ever had access to his scars were Susan - only because of her persistent mothering attitude - and the healers, who sometimes had to have Edmund remove his shirt.
Once a few seconds had passed, Edmund lowered his shirt, turning back to the crowd, but keeping his head down and eyes averted. Peter would have gone to comfort him, but he knew that Edmund would defiantly not appreciate it in this setting.
Aslan nodded his satisfaction and turned back to the crowd. "I believe I have said all I have desired. Your jury may decide for themselves from here."
As the jury left the courtroom, Aslan turned back to Peter and Edmund. "You two have done well, My Sons. I do not believe you will need me here, any longer."
Peter opened his mouth to respond, but was surprised when it was Edmund who spoke first. "Must You leave, now?"
The Great Lion chuckled softly. "I will see you again before too long, Dear One."
"But, Aslan," Peter said. "How can we get on without You? You saw how it went, how it's all gone." And Peter meant more than just the trial.
Aslan just smiled gently. "There is nowhere you can go, Child, that I will not be with you. Both of you."