A/N - Hello again, my sweet, sweet pickles!
Well, you all have expressed SUCH want for another chapter, so...;D
Here it is. I combined what was originally going to be just one chapter into two, just for you guys.
Thanks for your reviews, all of you. I appreciate them deeply.
Can't wait to hear what you all think of this mess. ;D
---Monkey---
Disclaimer - I own nothing except for this cat who is sitting on my leg, cutting off blood flow to my foot. Goshdarnit, stupid cat...

Voices drifted from the other end of the door and through the wood as I neared, in full armor and still feeling like I was worth nothing. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, to say the least. I waited for a few minutes. Was I making the right choice? No, probably not. But what was I to do about it? It was all I had, so I had to make due. I sighed slightly, bracing myself, and walked in.

The voices fell silent as I stood anxiously in the doorway, feeling that I shouldn't made such a stupid decision after all. All thoughts were snuffed out as Miraz seated himself, however, smiling gleefully as the court chamberlain began to speak.

"Tonight, under the eyes of all those present, Edmund, former king of Narnia, swears himself into our race, as to become officially Telmarine..."

I couldn't listen to the rest. I kept sliding off into inattentiveness as I watched Miraz. He shifted uneasily in his seat, as if just wanting to get this over and done. He was hungry for success. He was greedy for power. He wanted every ally he could snatch, Narnian or not. I felt sick, and vaguely wondered why I didn't choose death instead. I might be happier if I did. Thin, wavering moonlight poured in through the open windows, a soft, chill breeze blowing in and stirring papers and hair and clothing. I shivered, though not entirely because of the cold. Finally, I was drawn back into reality as the chamberlain closed his speech.

"...Lord Barke, Lord Phineas, and the Lord Gaunch, all to witness and see the traditional ceremony to take place, and will use their eyes and ears as evidence should events turn. Only when the person sworn under loyalty to the current king dies, or the king himself falls ill and dies, will he obtain a right to dismiss himself from the court. Please step forward."

I obliged, and he motioned for me to hold out my hand. I did so, and he pressed a sharp, cool dagger into my grasp. I steeled my expression, fully understanding and despising it. I was to give a blood-oath.

I hated this man, I really did.

But there was nothing to be done about it. I had agreed. I took a deep breath, and all my emotions, save for despair, disappeared as I slowly drew the dagger across my pale skin, drawing droplets of crimson. I sliced my palm, hissing slightly as blood streamed slowly from it, and I clenched it in a fist. Triumph flashed over Miraz's features as I swore.

"My life and my sword are yours, my king."

And horror above all horrors, I bowed.

I was broken again, but almost satisfied in a strange way.

'Aslan, Aslan, Aslan,' my mind's voice screamed, begging for release as I tried desperately to keep it quiet. 'Aslan, forgive me!'

'There's no Aslan, here...' Another voice responded; Icy cold and chilling me from my head to my toes.

'Jadis.'

"All have witnessed this event here tonight in this room," Miraz grinned, standing from his throne. I stared at my bloodied hand, unable to believe it. "Narnian to Telmarine. How extraordinary, this turn of fate."

'So glad you recondnized me, Edmund-dear,' She replied sweetly, mockingly. I shuddered again. 'I missed you...'

'What do you want?' My voice shook slightly as I struggled to keep calm.

"All of you go home in peace. Remember this day when the Narnians threaten you, and remember that not all of them are...a lost cause."

'Nothing, nothing,' She giggled, toying with my mind, and I was helpless to resist it. 'Only release.'
'Release?!' I let out a bark-like laugh, wondering if I was going insane or if I had heard incorrectly, or both. 'Are you serious?'

'As serious as Aslan is gold,' she swore mockingly, and I shuddered again.

'Being locked away for an eternity does get rather tiresome, you know...'

The meeting was adjourned. I was now a Telmarine. I tiredly bowed with all the other council members, mumbling praise and honor to Miraz, who didn't seem to detect the stressed falseness and dead unreality of my tone.

"I trust that Queen Prunaprismia has shown you where you are to live?" I nodded numbly, trying to keep Jadis at bay. The queen had shown me a spare chamber on the other side of the dark castle. My mind was on more important matters than sleep at the moment, though...

'What's in it for me, then?' I asked just as mockingly, rolling my eyes. She grinned.

'Oh, whatever you like, as was the case last time.'

'If being nearly tortured out of my mind for fifteen years knowing that you had killed Aslan because of me is what I had asked for, then I am most satisfied.' I spat, and she frowned slightly.

'Things are different, this time...You're a little more...'mature'...'

'Like that has anything to do with anything.'

'It has everything to do with everything. You know what to ask, now - Anything, anything at all. No tricks.'

"Well then, I trust you can find it on your own?" He asked, smiling again. I nodded numbly once more.

"Excellent. Good-night." And with that, he was gone.

I glared, but felt myself weakening even further. She leapt upon it just like Miraz had.

'You want to be King.'

'Never, under your rule. You tried that last time, remember? 'Prince of Narnia?' '

'Blast.'

She then settled herself down and began to think, long and hard. This was absolutely comical. I couldn't help but feel as though she were reading me like an open book.

A spark lit in her cold eyes as I tried to shut her out of my mind again.

'What about your brother?'

I froze as though she had just turned me to stone.

'...What about him?'

'Well, you want him back, right?' She grinned wickedly, and I felt the bottom of my stomach drop out completely.

'Yes...' I admitted truthfully. She loved this.

'All it takes is just a bit of careful planning. You help me, and we'll both overthrow that upstart King Miraz. When that's all over and taken care of, you'll have your brother back.'

'Tempting. Very much so. But what will you be doing during this?'

'Helping you, of course.'

'Since when have you liked helping me?'

'Times and attitudes have changed, dear. You won't even hear from me most of the time. I'll only be...helping you along. Now hurry up - The chance wont be here forever, and neither will your brother.'
'...But--'

Her eyes sparkled with a kind of warmth that I was so longing for, so hoping for...she had never looked so beautiful before...she was the only thing I could see, now. There was no Aslan to chase her off, no Peter to defy her and pull me back, no reason for me not to...

Besides, this would both help me to get Peter back, and then I could always lock her back away after that...

Yes, I decided. That could always work.

She stared patiently back at me, almost radiating warmth. I couldn't think about anything but her anymore as I began to speak, falling under her spell.

I gave in.
Oh, how I wish I didn't.

'...I'll do it.'

'Yes, you will.' She smiled warmly, tenderly.

Wait half a moment...

I knew that smile, that tone. Lion's mane, I had felt it.
Reality suddenly slammed into me harder than a battering ram with seven swords on the end. This was Jadis I was talking to. The temptress. Narnia's first tyrant and murderer. Shedder of innocent blood. And I was giving in. Again. I panicked.

'Wait a minute - What exactly is the price for your return? How is it even possible?' I asked, feeling like a caged animal as I fought for control. Utter terror was the only thing I recognized at the moment.

It was too late - again. She clicked her tongue sympathetically.

'Tut-tut, now that isn't nice to think about, is it?' She asked sweetly, and I suddenly felt ice-cold and completely outside of my own control. Her icy hand was upon me once again, and I couldn't do anything outside of her malicious will. My mind's voice, or conscience, was roughly dragged away by her white hands into a dark cell in the far corner of my mind, screaming for The Lion. I couldn't hear his piteous shouts anymore as she stepped back into view, beginning her mission by freezing my heart, numbing my emotions. I could have knifed myself in my despair as she took complete and utter control of me.
'Let's get to work.'

And I was left alone in the dark hallway, listening to the slow drip of blood from my hand hit the floor.

--------

"Wake up!"
I made a strangled sort of sound - A mix between a hiss and a snarl as sunlight flooded my vision the second my eyes were halfway open. I squeezed them shut again, letting out a low moan.

"Hey, you, get up!"

I let out another warning growl. I was nearly asleep again before a pillow was promptly slammed over my head. I yelped, reaching for a non-existant dagger beneath my pillow and attempting to draw it out. I opened my eyes to meet my attacker, and once my blurry vision became focused, the figure of an exasperated-looking girl about my age filled my sight. I blinked, and then yipped slightly in surprise, as I had no shirt on.
"Bloody--!"
I yanked up the pillow and hid my chest behind it, and she let a slight smirk cross her dark features.

"Um, hello..." I mumbled tiredly, worriedly, feeling slightly unhinged at the fact that a random girl showed up out of nowhere and woke me up.

She sighed, hands on her hips. She was slightly attractive.

"Finally - I've been standing here ten minutes. The king wants a word with you."

I blinked. "...Now?"

"No, in a few months." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, and she completed the act with an eye roll. "Of course. He's in the courtyard. Hurry up and make yourself...presentable. I'm to take you down there."

I looked back and forth from the armor and tunic hanging on the door to her several times before scowling.

"Well, you could look away!" I snapped.

She scoffed under her breath and turned her back, crossing her arms. I slid out of the bed and dashed to the clothing, ignoring her slight giggles at my half-dressed figure. I didn't have time for silly girls. What did Miraz want? My mind kept leaping to conclusions, but the girl continued to distract my thoughts as she hummed a song. I was slipping the black and silver tunic over my head when I asked,

"Who are you?"

"I'm Marie. Awful name, if you ask me. I'd much rather the name 'Raquel' or 'Sarah', not Marie." She wrinkled her nose, and watched as I slipped on a pair of boots and snapped a belt around my waist. I didn't like the looks of this Telmarine attire at all compared to the Crimson red tunic I should be wearing, but that merely couldn't be helped. I attempted at combing my unruly hair, but Marie interrupted and insisted that I let her do it. She tried, then declared that it was simply a lost cause, as it was everywhere at once, and threw down the brush. I snorted, shaking the black locks from my eyes and striding to the door. She followed, her skirts sweeping out behind her fluidly, and I opened the door for her. She seemed mildly surprised at this act of simple etiquette, and she blushed faintly. I almost wondered aloud if everything about Narnia had really changed for the worse. Was chivalry not practiced anymore? I closed the door softly behind us as we stepped out into the large hall, seeing the bright morning sunlight stream in through the glass windows on either side of the corridor. It would have been a lovely morning, had it not been spent in near-captivity and worrying yourself sick. I followed Marie, barely listening as she chattered away about her life and family and how she came to work in the castle as a chamber maiden. I chewed my lip, wondering if Peter and the girls were alright and wondering if Miraz had sent soldiers to scout out that area yet. I prayed not. Marie turned back, brown hair flying loosely down her back as she grinned.

"I never got your name. I was sent to rouse you, a near-impossible task in itself, but they referred to you as 'The Narnian', not anything else."

I couldn't help but crack a slight smile - she was almost like Lucy, in a way.

"Edmund. Worse name than Marie, if you ask me..."

She giggled at my quotation, and that set off an entire conversation of history and different cultures and races, wherein I learned more about the Telmarine customs, and she found out a little more about the Narnians in hiding. The talk didn't last long, however, as we neared the courtyard, and another chamber maiden older than Marie rushed up and shoved a stack of folded sheets into her arms.

"Hurry, Marie, take these up to the queens' chambers - Be careful, though, she's getting anxious and a little moody, as the baby has been keeping her on her toes."

The woman shot me a distrusting glare, as if I had anything to do with Prunaprismia's foul attitude. I raised my eyebrows. The elderly lady scoffed slightly and shooed poor protesting Marie away. She looked back at me apologetically before turning the corner and disappearing, leaving me standing there alone. I shook my head, striding casually out into the courtyard, where Miraz and several of his men were talking. I stood in the archway, leaning against the stone pillar and wondering if I should go out just yet.

And as if on cue, an icy cold feeling washed over me, even in the warm, bright sunlight. It was all I could do to keep my teeth from chattering as her chill voice invaded my conscience once again.

'Hello again.'
'Could you stop doing that?'
'What, the ice? I will admit it is a rather nasty side-affect...for you...but how else are you to know I'm here? Besides. You're far too warm for my liking.'

'You're irritating.'

'Yes, I suppose I am. But we ALL have some unpleasant attributes, don't we?'
'...Just shut up...'

'Never - We had a deal.'
I resisted the urge to bang my head repetitively against the solid rock I leaned against, but it would have been pointless, as Miraz had spotted me. He beckoned me over.

"Come here."

I complied, and joined the Telmarine circle around the king as he looked each of us over. I wondered what was going on. Then I noticed that the 'soldiers' couldn't have been older than fifteen or sixteen at least. This was weird.

"I trust you all slept well enough?"

If 'well enough' meant trying not to freeze to death from Jadis's obnoxiously icy presence, then yes, I did, thank you. But I didn't say it aloud, just merely nodded with the other young soldiers who were probably hiding their own complaints as well. Miraz seemed pleased. The idiot.

"Good. Because I was planning on sword-training the lot of you this morning. You all can handle a blade?"

Once again, I nodded with the others. This was becoming a bit tiring.

"Excellent. All of you - Line up. We will separate you into pairs."

As told, we all lined up next to one another and Miraz chose us by height, telling the ones picked to go pick a spot in the courtyard and warm up. And now I understood. We were to do a sort of tournament, in a bracket-like style. One against one, the winner moved on to the next person, and the loser had to start all over or stand off to watch the rest. I had done this many times before, and I smiled deviously. This should be fun. Unfortunately, I was the smallest, leaving me at the bottom of the line. I huffed quietly, slightly annoyed at being put-down so quickly. By the time I was paired with someone, everyone else had already begun to fight, and the sounds of clanking armor and clashing swords filled the air. My opponent was much taller than me, tan and black-eyed, as most Telmarines were. I pulled Shafelm from his sheath at my side, and got my proper footing, bracing myself for the first attack as the sixteen-year-old across from me prepared to strike.

I was ready when he did.

He struck hard, expecting to overcome me easily, as all did, because of my height and small stature. And, like others, he was surprised when the blade struck empty space instead of opponent.

He gasped in surprise and irritation as my blade swiftly found itself slammed against his heavy armor, and I had to duck out of the way as he swung at my head. I darted under the sweep of his blade, and jabbed at his exposed chest. He backed out of the way just in time, and he swiftly delivered a kick to my shins. I yelped, sweeping under his blade again, narrowly escaping getting the flat of a sword slammed against my head. Oreius's voice rang out clear in my head once again.

'Confuse the enemy, sir How! Leave the brute force to Wolf's Bane!'
Oh, Oreius. How I wish we never left the Narnia we knew.

'Going sentimental on me, are you?'

'Oh, shut up.'

'That's the second time you've told me that, Edmund-dear, and I really don't appreciate it. Maybe I should teach you to respect your elders...'

A searing, white-hot pain shot through my veins quicker than lightning, taking hold of my entire person. I vaguely remember crying aloud in agony, and the very next moment I was swinging my sword at the teenager before me, and quickly sending his sword flying out of his hand with a peculiar twist of the wrist and setting my sword at his throat.
"Dead," I hissed in a voice that was not-quite my own - It was too cold and harsh. The tanned boy turned suddenly sheet-white, and even I was afraid that I would end up killing him. With an effort, I pulled back, moving on wordlessly to the next person.

'See how much better a swordsman you are with me at the wheel?'

She purred, and I felt nothing but sick and in need of a warm fire. She took hold again, and I was soon moving up in the ranks, battling harder and faster than my fourteen-year-old frame should even allow. Opponent after opponent was beaten, sending me up farther and farther, unable to control myself. Slash, parry, lunge, duck, swipe. The hot sun beat down, nausea gripped me, and it was all I could do to not faint from exhaustion.

'STOP!' I screamed at her, finally collapsing to my knees in the middle of a fight. I had defeated all of the apprentices in the courtyard, no thanks to Jadis, and she had kept me going, battling the full-grown Telmarine men themselves. The apprentices merely stood along the wall, gazing in awe. I breathed heavily, at my limit. Actually, I had passed my limit about five fights ago, but she had cruelly let the fire keep burning until I was well out of energy. I couldn't bring myself to hold my sword anymore as I let it drop from my freezing fingers and onto the stone floor. She giggled.

'Don't be too quick to forget that, dear...I can do it again.'
I gasped in both pain and relief as she withdrew, but not before sending a violent shock of ice through me again, just to taunt. I finally became aware of the silence in the courtyard, but I almost didn't care, as all I really wanted right now was my bed, though it was only an hour before that I had gotten out of it. Miraz seemed to ponder something.

"That...will be enough for today. I have excellent use for all of you."

And he sent us all off, staggering beneath the weight of our armor, but not before vehemently whispering something in my ear, to which I turned sickly white.

Oh, Aslan, this was not good.

Review, or else I might start singing the review song again. xDD
-sets Prince Caspian DVD tantalizingly on the review button again...-