A/N Hey, there, my little friends! I'm having loads of fun writing this (although it does make me sad to see Ed in so much pain), because depression is fun to write. But depression is no joke. Believe me, I've been there. So anyhow, don't be surprised if this takes forever to be posted. I just bought the new iPhone, and I'm well occupied with my shiny new super-toy. So please, read and review! Because nobody has been reviewing, except for two people that have been following this story since the prequel (Sky-Pirate325 and hpswst101, thank you both so much), and it's making me madful… rahhhhhhhr.
Edmund was lifeless. He sat in his room, crying his eyes out, at lest twice a day. In royal meetings, he was barely audible when he spoke. He pecked at his food.
He had become something of a zombie.
The Pevensies and Caspian had been in negotiation meetings for weeks. They knew full well soon after Tess's capture that Domeres was the one behind the plot. He was, after all, the only person known to have an army of changelings. And they were not about to give in to him. Domeres at least half of it. Caspian offered him two of the his annexed countries, but to no avail. The only hope was to fight him.
But their refusals didn't matter in the least to Domeres. He knew very well that the reign of the Pevensies would crumble without Tess.
Tess had been chained inside the Southern Tower of Ayercha for weeks. She was well taken care of, but she was not allowed to leave the chamber in which she was kept. The chamber was a typical royal's chamber, with the exception of the huge set of chains to which her ankles we attached on the wall. She was brought fine meals every day, and was clean and well dressed. Since her only use to Domeres was to make Edmund fall, her only company was a Talking Beast that had been captured in the Lionsclaw raid. He was a mouse (a one-time comrade of Reepicheep) who went by the name of Curlyfur. He was nice to talk to, but he could never replace Edmund. Tess knew Domeres's plan, and she knew that if she tried to escape, the benefits that she had would be taken from her, and she would be chained in the dark, desolate room that she had been chained in the first night.
Lucy was worried about Edmund. She was secretly sending out scouts to Domorra, to see if there were any chance of saving Tess. Unfortunately, the results were always the same: there was no hope but for giving up Narnia, which was indeed out of the question.
One day, the Pevensies and Caspian were in a negotiation talks with one of Domeres's official representatives, Lord Ainsten.
"His Majesty King Domeres has ordered me–"
"King?" asked Peter.
"As of yesterday morning. His Majesty Eosus was found dead in his sleep."
"Oh. Carry on, then."
Ainsten cleared his throat. "His Majesty King Domeres has ordered me to announce that if at least half of Narnia is not turned over to him in the span of three days, Queen Tesaklara shall be killed."
"No deal," said Peter firmly.
"What?" Edmund hissed.
"We're not about to surrender to a scoundrel like Domeres. That'll just prove to him that he has the ability to get whatever he wants from us. Which he doesn't."
"This is my girl we're talking about! And she's one of the queens of Narnia!" Edmund whispered back hoarsely.
"Ed, I know this is hard for you, but please, shut up!"
"No!" he roared. He was red in the face, and looked as if he would love to strangle Ainsten right then and there.
"Hey, don't go killing the messenger," said Ainsten after he realized that Edmund was glaring at him.
"We'll keep negotiating, Ainsten," said Lucy. "And good day to you, sir."
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After listening to Ainsten's report, Domeres was gratified. He didn't want the Pevensies to surrender. No, then he would only get half of the kingdom. Crumbling was a much better idea.
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After three days, the Pevensies still hadn't agreed to Domeres. A messenger appeared by the front gate. He requested a private audience with the kings and queens.
He stood before the thrones and read his scroll.
"Queen Tesaklara of Narnia has been put to death by an executioner hired by His Majesty, King Domeres."
A lump caught in Peter's throat. He simply nodded. The messenger left.
Edmund wept, bitterly. He didn't care who saw him. He had no reason to live, anyway. Tess was gone. Why should he live without his life?
And Lucy knew exactly what he was thinking. And she knew that she had to put a stop to it. Because only she knew that Domeres was bluffing. She had read up on his past, and she knew full well that he was the most dishonest man that ever lived.
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That night, Edmund missed dinner. Lucy did too, as she had sent a speaking bird out to converse with Curlyfur (she knew that he must be there, as he was the only person reported missing from the wreckage of the raids. And Domeres's scholars would love to puzzle over a Talking Beast, as there were none in Domorra). The bird flew as fast as it could to Ayercha, where it perched on the ledge of Tess's window. She opened the window, and let Curlyfur speak to him.
"Tess… Edmund is planning suicide."
"What? No!"
"Yes."
"We have to stop him!"
"Well…"
"What are you thinking, Curlyfur?"
"The stone room has easier access from the outside…"
"So I need to get myself locked in there!"
Tess nimbly climbed out her window. The chain pulled tight, and the alarm was sent through the walls to Domeres's study.
The chain, when pulled to its limit, activated a lever in the wall, which sent other levers and such in motion. After the chain reaction, a lamp in Domeres's study would be set aflame, showing him that a prisoner had attempted to escape. And he saw the lamp light.
He sent guards to her chamber. They roughly dragged her to the stone room, where she was again chained.
Before she had been dragged, she whispered to the bird to hurry back to Lucy and tell her everything.
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Lucy spoke with the bird quickly. The news was good. She dashed to Edmund's chamber.
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Edmund finished his scrawled note, and he set it down on the ground next to him. He was alone in the dark chamber. He drew his dagger.
"Tess," he whispered, tears running down his cheeks.
And he stabbed himself.
A/N Gasp! Major cliffhanger! Edmund hassupposedly committed suicide! Want to find out if he's dead or not? Keep checking back, then!
Wow… I put that bit there way too commercially, not to mention lightly.
Whatever. Just check back soon, okay?