"Even the rain, it falls according to plan"

-East by Sleeping at Last

—-

When Peter stepped out of his tent just after dawn, the camp was bustling. More Narnians had arrived in the night, not to mention that tents were being torn down and wagons loaded as they prepared to march for London.

He'd spent most of the previous day in negotiations with the English Army, which was how he discovered that majority of the English government had been incapacitated. Or at least there was no contact with them. The English had no idea how to deal with the Witch.

They'd agree to step out of the Narnian's way to let them deal with the Witch and her armies. Peter was fine with that. He'd gladly kill the Witch himself.

Peter was stopped maybe a dozen times on his way to the war tent by his people. It was easy for him to tell how happy they were to have their monarchs back. Even if he was the only one there.

He'd spent quite a bit of time mulling over how much he'd missed Narnia after he'd left, and how much his people must've missed him. It pained that he'd left his people. Being among them again made him realize just how much he'd missed it.

The war tent had been taken down by the time Peter arrived. All that remained was the table, still strewn with maps and wooden pieces representing their soldiers.

Oreius called for quiet as Peter took his place at the table. Sir Giles was seated on one corner of the table. The fox had become Edmund's master of spies during the third year of their reign.

Behind Giles were several more of Edmund's spies; Lady Lilnion, Sir Peridan's youngest daughter; Pa'ala Mivven, the head of a clan of bats; and Zaria, a great black leopard.

Cyn, the head of the gryphon scouts, was there as well. Along with the head of Cair Paravel's guard, Sir Kanell. The centaur hadn't been there the previous night, and he didn't bother to disguise his shock when he saw Peter.

Eustace was there too, nervously picking at the Narnian clothes he'd been given to wear.

Sir Peridan's eldest daughter, Captain Liln, spoke first, her voice fraught with emotion.

"We're overjoyed to have you back, your majesty."

"I'm glad to be back. But we have more pressing matters than my return." Peter gripped Rhindon's hilt tightly. "As I'm sure Oreius has told you, Jadis has returned and she has Edmund as her prisoner."

The expressions around the table turned grim.

Peter continued, "Right now, we don't have much more information than that."

"That's it? She has our king prisoner and that's all the information we have?" Zaria said, her voice indignant.

"And what of our queens?" Lilnion added. "Or my father and brother? No one has heard from them."

"I sent out messengers to look for Edmund yesterday." Peter nodded to Pa'ala Mivven. "Some of your bats, good lady. I hope Ed will know what happened to Susan and Lucy."

Oreius added, "We are still waiting on some of our forces, Lady. It is possible Peridan and Allin are with them."

Peter nodded, affirming his general's statement.

"We'll march out in an hour. Any new information we learn will be distributed to all of you," Oreius finished.

Everyone nodded, and dispersed.

Peter remained by the table, hand on Rhindon's hilt. Oreius linger too, asking after a moment, "Something wrong, Wolfsbane?"

Peter smiled at the address; it was what Oreius called him when he wished to communicate to him as a knight, not a king.

"Besides the–"

"High King Peter! Oreius!"

They both turned toward the shouting. Captain Celer hurried toward them. The faun was out of breath when he stopped.

"The bats have returned. They made contact with King Edmund."

Peter's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't form words for a moment.

Oreius said for him, "Lead on Captain."

They hurried to one of the few tents still standing and ducked inside. Two bats were hanging from the support poles of the tent, ruffling their wings.

Peter reached up and gently took one of them down. The bat settled comfortably into his hands, and Peter breathed out, "You spoke to my brother?"

"Yes your majesty," the bat twittered. "I spoke to King Edmund. He bade me to tell you he is in, and I quote, 'decent health and even better spirits'."

Peter could hear others slipping into the tent behind him, but he didn't care. A small snort of amusement slipped out of him as the bat parroted his brother's words.

"His majesty informed me that Jadis also holds Queen Susan prisoner, along with more Narnian prisoners."

"And Lucy?" Peter asked.

"Queen Lucy is not a prisoner."

Peter bowed his head over the little bat, blinking back tears. They were okay. Edmund was okay. He murmured a swift prayer to Aslan, then raised his head again.

The second bat piped up from his spot on the support pole, "I spoke with Sir Peridan and the Lord Allin. They were both in good spirits."

Somewhere behind Peter, Liln murmured, "Thank the lion…"

"I was able to make out some writing on the front of the building, your majesty," the second bat continued. "It read, 'Royal Courts of Justice'."

"I know where that is," Peter said. Gently helping the bat back into the support pole, he ordered, "Cyn, send out scouts. Find Lucy. And start assessing our enemy's numbers. Sir Giles, send bats to help with the latter."

Giles simply nodded and darted out of the tent. Cyn followed with a swift, "Right away, majesty."

Peter turned to his general. "Oreius, we'll continue with our plans to march on London,-" he turned to Lilnion next, "-Professor Kirke will be able to provide you with maps of the courts. Start formulating a rescue plan."

"Should I include you in any such plan?" Lilnion asked.

Peter swallowed. "No."

"I agree," Oreius added. "It would be unwise to put the only monarch we have with us in a position to be captured."

Lilnion nodded, finishing on her way out, "And if he's not with our armies, Jadis will know we're coming."

There was no further communication from his brother for two whole days. Jadis had personally climbed the stairs once to interrogate Edmund, but even she was smart enough to realize he didn't know anything that was useful to her.

He didn't know what Peter was planning. He didn't know how large of an army Peter had. He didn't know where Lucy was.

He did know that Lucy was definitely trying to formulate a way to rescue her siblings, and cause problems for the witch. The Valiant Queen would not be idle.

Edmund sighed, reaching down with his chained hands to rub at his bad leg. The bitter cold was making it ache. He was even more certain that Lucy was right about the Narnian air making him stronger. Despite the ache in his leg, he was having minimal trouble walking on it. Edmund was not so certain about running though. It wasn't like he could test that in his little cell.

He glanced upwards, looking out the little window. Judging by the position of the moon, the guards should be changing shifts now.

Sure enough, he heard the hag on guard exchange a few short words with what sounded like a wolf before she left. The hall fell silent again, and Edmund leaned back against the wall.

A few minutes passed before more footsteps sounded on the stairs.

Edmund sat up, watching the door. Someone was putting a key into the lock. Slowly, he stood, still watching the door.

The lock clicked, and the door swung open.

"Eustace?!"

"Edmund! You're okay!"

"Of course I am. What in Aslan's name are you…" Edmund trailed off as he spotted who was standing behind Eustace.

Lady Lilnion flashed him a grin. "Good to see you, your majesty."

Eustace hurried forward and unlocked Edmund's chains. Lilnion glanced back down the stairs, then spoke again, "We have a narrow time window to get you out."

Edmund nodded, pushing down his shock and surprise. "Fill me in on the way then."

She nodded, and unslung a sword from her back.

"Your brother was insistent that you have your own blade."

"'Course he was…" Edmund muttered, accepting his sword from her. Shafelm was a familiar weight at his hip as he strapped it on.

Eustace hovered uncertainly, saying after a moment, "Peter told me to make sure you didn't strain your leg."

"My leg is fine, cousin. Don't worry about it." Which was a lie, his leg was throbbing. But neither Eustace or Lilnion needed to know that.

"He said you'd say that," a third voice said from the hallway.

Edmund followed Eustace out, smiling at the sight of a jet black wolf.

Lilnion drew a knife, nodding to the wolf. "Arthur, we're good to go."

Arthur Ravenwolf gave a brisk nodded and darted down the stairs. Edmund followed, Lilnion and Eustace behind him.

"Arthur infiltrated the Witch's forces yesterday. They didn't suspect a thing," Lilnion said. Edmund could hear the grin in her voice. She continued, "Arthur will scout ahead. We'll meet everyone else at the main cells."

Edmund whispered back over his shoulder, slowing as he reached the bottom over the stairs, "I know the way."

He checked the hallway with one swift glance. The other Narnians were gathered at the far end, Arthur Ravenwolf with him.

Edmund hurried toward them. The Narnians turned, hearing their footsteps. Susan stepped out from behind a faun, her dress torn.

"Edmund!" she gasped, hurrying toward him.

There was a bruise on her cheek and Edmund frowned, letting her take his hands.

"Are you okay, Su?"

She surveyed him, saying, "Yes, fine. Are you?"

"I'm well enough." Susan opened her mouth to retort and he softly added, "For now."

She nodded, squeezing his hand briefly before they rejoined the other Narnians.

Lilnion handed Susan a knife, listening intently to a bat hooked on her arm. Sir Peridan stood next to her, looking worse for the wear as he leaned on his son.

Edmund just waited, knowing she'd pass the information along.

Lilnion tossed the bat into the air and it took flight.

She softly said, "Queen Lucy is in position. We can move whenever we're ready."

"Then we should go now," Edmund said. "Before we're discovered."

Susan nodded, "We've tempted fate long enough."

They moved down the hallway, Lilnion in the lead as they descended a staircase that Edmund didn't recognize. She was quiet, checking every hallway like she'd done this a thousand times.

He stayed right behind her, surveying her. Clearly the Narnians had stepped up in his absence, if Lilnion's marked increase in skill was anything to go by. Good; Edmund would expect no less of them. He made a mental note to ask later how long they'd been gone.

They managed to go undetected for around ten minutes before they rounded a corner and found themselves face to face with a pair of werewolves.

Lilnion dispatched one with an expertly thrown knife. Instinct taking over, Edmund darted around her, drawing Shafelm.

The werewolf lunged at him and Edmund sidestepped it, bringing his blade down. He stabbed the werewolf clean through the back, killing it instantly.

He pulled his blade free as the rest of their party caught up.

Lilnion wiped her knife off, saying, "Through that arch on the left. It's a straight shot out of here from there."

Edmund nodded, grabbing Susan by the hand as they continued. They ducked through the arch and into a large courtyard.

Immediately, guards spotted them and sounded the alarm. Edmund skidded to a halt, biting back a curse as his bad leg throbbed.

A wolf pounded toward him from across the courtyard, teeth bared.

He raised Shafelm, bracing himself. Susan leveled her knife beside him, eyeing an ogre that was a ways behind the wolf.

Something cried out from above, and before Edmund could turn to look, a gryphon swooped down and plucked the wolf off the ground. The wolf yelped as the gryphon dropped it.

A hand tapped his shoulder and Edmund turned to look.

Lilnion was back, sword in hand now. "Follow the gryphon. I'll get the ogre."

Edmund dryly said, "An ogre by yourself? Even Peter's not that good." To Susan, he said, "Go find Lucy. I'll catch up."

She nodded, following the rest of their group.

Edmund hefted Shafelm as the ogre neared.

It roared, slamming its club down between Edmund and Lilnion. They jumped apart, Lilnion leaving a gash on its arm while Edmund raced forward, slicing Shafelm along the side of its leg.

The ogre yelled in pain, swiping at Edmund with its meaty hand.

He ducked, lunging forward to stab Shafelm into its side. He buried his sword halfway up the blade, then pulled it out.

He danced out of the way as the ogre fell back, roaring in pain.

Lilnion saw her chance and took it. The spy raced forward and leapt. She drove her sword straight into the ogre's heart, killing it.

She pulled her blade free as more guards came racing into the courtyard.

"Lilnion, we need to go," Edmund warned.

She looked up and cursed. "Right."

She slid off the body of the ogre and they ran, making for the far side of the courtyard.

They burst into the street as wolves began to howl behind them, their voices mingling with the screeching of hags and the roars of minotaurs.

Lilnion grabbed Edmund by the arm, yanking him into an alley. They ducked behind a crate and fell silent.

Edmund reached down to rub at his bad leg as they crouched there.

"Your leg is fine?" Lilnion hissed, giving him a look. Their pursuers rushed past the alley.

He glared at her, but there was no force behind it. "I'll deal with it later."

She rolled her eyes, but didn't push it.

"Where are we heading?" Edmund asked after a minute, once he was sure they were alone.

"Finchley," Lilnion replied. "We were supposed to meet up with Queen Lucy first, she sent a message about a specific house to meet her at."

"I know the way then." Edmund stood, biting back a wince. "Let's go."

Shafelm was heavy in Edmund's hand by the time they reached Finchley. Snowflakes drifted down around both him and Lilnion as they turned onto a small street.

He noted recent tracks in the snow; hoof marks and human tracks alike. Good, the Narnians had made it this far then.

Edmund led Lilnion down another small street, and then up the walk of an old brick house. The house had been abandoned since he and his siblings had been little, and it still was. The only sign of life was the tracks going up the front steps.

He mounted the steps and opened the door. Soft voices greeted him immediately, the stopped as Lilnion shut the door behind him.

"Hello?" a voice called. "Who's there?"

"It's me," Edmund tiredly said back.

There were hurried footsteps, and Lucy came hurrying out of a room.

"Ed!" she cried, and practically threw herself at him.

He wrapped her in a tight hug, murmuring, "I'm alright Lu…"

She pulled him the way she'd came, "Come sit for a bit before we keep moving."

"Are we pushing through to Peter?"

"I think we better. The Witch will be looking for you."

Edmund nodded, letting her sit him down in a rickety chair in a back room that turned out to be an old kitchen. Someone had started a fire in an old hearth.

Susan crouched down in front of him, smoothing his hair off his face before saying, "Prop his leg up, Lucy."

Lucy propped his bad leg up on a stool and tugged his shoe off. Susan unbuckled Shafelm from his belt and set it beside the chair.

Edmund sighed, thanking both his sisters quietly.

Susan handed him a plate of food. "Just eat something. Sir Giles is mapping out route out of the city. As soon as he's back, we'll go."

Edmund nodded. He knew there would be guards, likely of their party, surrounding the house and keeping watch up and down the street. They would be as safe as they could be while they waited.

He ceded the chair to Peridan after a while, and sat on the floor with Allin. The younger man watched with worry as Lucy tended his father. The dryad helped her, having proved to have some healing ability.

Lilnion came in as Lucy and the dryad finished doing what they could.

"Giles is back. Are you ready?"

Susan nodded, slinging a quiver over her back. "We're ready."

She offered Edmund a hand up and he took it. He belted Shafelm on, saying, "I'll lead."

Lilnion nodded, "I figured. I'll take the back."

He nodded, moving through the house and down the back steps. The rest of the party was waiting.

Sir Giles appeared next to Edmund, shaking snow off his thick, red fur.

Edmund smiled down at his friend. "I'll follow your lead."

"And I'll get you to your brother," Giles responded.

Edmund nodded, and they set off.

He followed Sir Giles, at times barely able to spot the fox's red coat through the increasing snow that fell from the sky. The wind began to pick up too, and Edmund shivered.

"Jadis is angry," he mused aloud to Susan, who was walking beside him now.

"Of course she is," his sister replied. "We'd be fools if we didn't expect anger and retaliation from her."

He nodded, pausing briefly to find Giles again. He spotted the fox through the storm and continued.

Finally, after nearly an hour, the buildings around them began to thin. Edmund began to see rolling hills in the distance.

He let out a long sigh, exhaustion seeping through every part of his body. They were so close.

The wind never slowed, but there was less snow here. Edmund was grateful; it made their going easier. The ever lightening sky helped too.

Somewhere high above them, a gryphon cried out. They all stopped, watching it circle.

Susan softly said, "I do believe that's Cyn."

Edmund nodded, too tired to form a proper response.

Susan raised a hand in response to the leader of the gryphons, who cried out again. He soared further away from London.

Susan called for them to continue, following Cyn. Edmund's bad leg throbbed, but he continued walking, watching his footing.

Lucy gasped. "Look!"

Edmund looked up.

Narnian banners were cresting the hill, swiftly followed by a light-haired figure mounted atop a dark horse. A centaur and a full regiment of soldiers followed.

A lump formed in Edmund's throat. It just may have been the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

The horse and rider broke away from the rest, galloping toward them. Lucy started to run toward it, happily shouting, "Peter!"

"Lu!" Susan shouted in indignation. She began to move after their younger sister, then stopped, remembering Edmund.

"She's alright," Edmund murmured. "Let Peter get some of his overly tight hugs out before he gets to us."

In truth, he was itching to run after Lucy and throw himself into his brother's arms. But with the state of his leg, that would not have worked at all. Susan stayed with him, steadying him when he stumbled yet again.

Ahead of them, Peter and Lucy finally stepped apart. His brother hurried toward them.

Susan broke away from Edmund to close the final few steps between them. Peter swept her into a hug, tears glistening in his eyes.

Edmund stopped walking, smiling softly as Susan and Peter clung to each other.

"You're alright?" Peter asked, pulling back.

Susan clasped his hand gently. "Well enough."

Peter nodded, raising his eyes. They locked with Edmund's.

The Just King stumbled the last few steps into his brother's arms. Peter held him crushingly tightly, his hands, still larger than Edmund's, grabbing fistfuls of his tunic.

To Edmund's chagrin, he could feel his brother fighting back sobs as he planted kiss after kiss in his windswept hair.

"When I heard your broadcast," Peter finally choked out. "Aslan, Ed… don't scare me like that ever again."

Edmund did not move from the safety of his brother's embrace.

"No promises," he muttered tiredly.

Peter snorted a laugh; a perfect, golden, Peter Penvensie laugh.

Edmund smiled, feeling Lucy's smaller arms encircling them both, followed instantly by Susan's.

For the first time in over a week, he felt safe. He felt whole.

Last chapter of this phase! This one is near and dear to my heart. I'm a huge sucker for reunions.

Pa'ala Mivven, Kanell, Celer, Cyn, Arthur Ravenwolf and the blade Shafelm belong to the lovely Elecktrum!

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