Author's Note: Vacation? Good. No computer? Bad. So, here you go, finally. I'm so sad school is getting ready to start, mostly because the chapters will go a lot more slowly. I'll write whenever I can! The way I see it, there will probably be about ten chapters, give or take a couple. Thanks again for all of the response!

The next few days flitted by. Susan, Edmund, and Lucy took shifts; not in Peter's room, but going out. Even if the High King was still not awoken from an unexplainable sleep, the duties of his royal siblings were not excused. The Witch had, after all, wreaked havoc for nearly a hundred years. Every six hours during the day, one of the remaining three went out and did the duties Aslan had charged them with. Even so, all three would willingly give up their crowns in exchange for their brother's awakening.

Susan, of course, was brilliant the whole time. Edmund felt an unexplainable twinge of jealously when she passed, able to hide behind a mask of concern for her people. Lucy stayed in the hospital Wing, helping soldiers that had fought against the Witch. She tried to save her cordial for when it was absolutely necessary, so the hands-on was grueling. Edmund? Edmund felt like all he could do was punch the walls when he thought no one was looking, or stare at his brother lost in his comatose state. Finally, he began leaving the castle altogether, wandering the woods alone. Susan began looking more and more drawn, and left Peter's rooms to look for him.

She found him in the library, the place of absolute refuge where they had fled that horrible night. Amid a pile of books almost as tall as Susan herself, she found him. He was pressed against the wall, shoulders shaking. Without a word, Susan stood next to him until he turned to her and began sobbing into her shoulder.

"Aslan wouldn't allow this to…to happen to him!" Edmund wailed. "We can do nothing!" Susan stood there until Ed's sobs subsided, and then casually untangled herself from him.

"Edmund, why does Aslan do anything? Maybe this is a test, to see if we really believe He can help us," Susan said quietly.

"So we wait, and hope he doesn't die before Aslan gets here?" Edmund said anger evident in his voice. "No, Susan. That may be you; but it isn't me." He said these words, and the steely resolve entered his eyes; Susan knew there would be no reasoning with him.

"You can't go to battle with sickness; a sword won't kill the cancer. Edmund, what do you propose we do?"

"This," Edmund said, showing her a particularly old copy of a book. Its pages were ruffled and yellowing, but it had an air to it, and air of power.

"This is…" Susan said, lost for words.

"Yes, I know. The First Story. It was written by Frank and Helen, to chronicle the making of Narnia," Edmund said, almost reverently.

"I thought they were all gone," Susan said in wonder.

"Not all of them," Edmund said. "This is the last."

"But…then, how can this help?" Susan asked.

"In the First Story, it states that two children came in as well, and Aslan charged them with a task. Using a Flying Horse, they travelled to a garden far into Narnia. There was a tree whose apples would help the boy's mother, who was very sick. There, the boy met a woman that had also come to Narnia from a place called Charn. She said that by eating the fruit himself, he would have more than if he brought it back to Aslan. The boy did not listen and brought the apple back to Aslan, who therefore let him have the apple to heal his mother."

"So…this tree exists?"

"Aslan wouldn't send them on a wild goose chase, Su. It has to be."

"But it could have been cut down, or anything. It's just a legend!"

"I feel….right about this, Susan. I have to go."

"Think about this, Edmund. How will you get there? Do you even know where it is?"

Edmund sighed, then pointed to the back of the book. "Do you know what this is?"

"The cover?"

"Wrong." Edmund said, pulling it back. Susan gasped.

"Edmund don't do that, its valuab- oh…." She said, staring at the book.

The back half wasn't actually part of the book. There was a small fold of paper holding a yellowed piece of parchment. Edmund pulled it out; he'd obviously seen this before.

"A map. Helen made this and hid it when people began growing curious about the tree."

"Amazing," Susan said, her eyes exploring the map with it's carefully sketched features. "Look, there's the Cair. And the…" she trailed off.

"I know. It's the Lampost- er, Lantern Waste." Edmund said, his own eyes exploring the map. "And there- there, is the garden."

"It's so far…" Susan said quietly. "What if you don't make it in time?"

"I will have to trust Aslan to help me with that," Edmund said, equally as quiet. Susan smiled a sad smile.

"Peter would do the same for you. Alright, go. But not now, we'll need to prepare you for it!" she warned.

Edmund smiled. "Thanks, Su." The two stood and began putting back the old books.

"One question, Ed."

"Yeah, Su?"

"Who was the woman, trying to trick the boy in the story?"

Edmund's face instantly darkened, making him look much older. In a monotone, he said, "Her name was Jadis." Then he left, leaving Susan to gawk after him.

XXXXXXX

Two days was all it took, and Edmund was bursting with impatience. He had plenty of food and water skins, but also money to stay in inns when he could. Susan insisted on the money, saying that he should hide it in case of bandits.

"Now, the fastest way to get there is to cut through Archenland," Susan told him. "You'll also find more inns there. And, there is one more thing."

"What?" Edmund asked.

"Never reveal to anyone who you are. You know that people could try to kill you if they know who you are; supporters of the Witch already know your face. Be on your guard."

"I will; I swear. Phillip is good; he will help me."

"Thank you, my Lord," Phillip said, moving his head. "But, time is of the essence…"

"Of course." Edmund said. "Lucy?"

Lucy came out, her eyes and nose slightly red.

"Do you have to go?" she asked. "What if…"

Edmund wrapped his arms around her in a big bear hug. "You will not lose two brothers, Lu. I'm going to save him. But I need you to stay; watch over him." He bent down and whispered in her ear, "Make sure Susan gets some sleep."

Lucy tried to smile bravely. "I will," she said.

"That's my girl," Edmund said, smiling. He also hugged Susan, telling her not to worry, that he'd try to send a message as soon as he could.

"Are you ready, Phillip?" Edmund asked as he mounted.

"When you are, my Lord," came the swift reply. Edmund smiled and urged the Horse on, leaving Susan and Lucy to stare after him.

"Will he be alright?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know," Susan said bluntly. "But he will not go down without a fight."

XXXXXXX

"Just try it. You do know what will happen when Aslan gets his hands on it, won't you?" The voice was sickening sweet, her eyes mercilessly feeding on the boy's discomfort. The boy had his back to Peter, and in his hands was a small silver apple.

"No…" he said, cradling the fruit.

"He will use it for himself… and you won't be able to help your family."

"So what?"

"So if you want to help…eat it yourself. You will have all the wisdom to heal them. And more…"

The boy turned his back to the woman, and Peter caught a glimpse of his face. It was Edmund, and he looked on at the apple in new hunger.

"Are you sure?"

"More than sure," the woman coaxed. "Just eat. Then, maybe you can help me…"

Edmund started, and then with relish put the apple to his lips. Only then did Edmund see Peter; see him slowly sink to his knees.

"Peter!" Edmund cried. But Peter went down, a pit opening and his heart slowing.

And then the screaming began.