Chapter Four: Hurt

Edmund's POV

I trudged through the snow, nearly at Queen Jadis' ice palace. Only she understood me. I felt myself grinning wickidly. I would be king and not my snotty brother, Peter. He was the annonying one, not me. He always acted like he was in charge, especially after Father left for war. I hated Peter. Lucy was nothing but a stupid cry baby, always charming everyone's hearts so they would have sympathy for her. Susan was a little better, but recently, she had been sticking with Peter. Nobody understood me. Nobody.

"I understand you, Edmund. I understand the bitterness in your heart, and hatred for your siblings. I've felt it myself."

I jumped turning around and found myself face to face with a hooded Adventuria. She was looking at me with pity in her eyes but her expression was neutral. Not until then, did I see that her eyes were violet...creepy.

"You can't do this, Edmund. The White Witch, Jadis, is only using you for information. She's going to kill you and your siblings."

"Why did you follow me?" I demanded, rage building inside me. How dare she!

"You understand me? Fat chance. NO ONE-" I continued, not waiting for an answer, but Adventuria clamped a cold hand across my mouth. Her eyes darted around the surrounding wood before hissing at me.

"Keep quiet! Don't shout like that! I know how you feel and you have to trust me!"

"You don't have any right to boss me around. You're just like Peter. You DON'T understand me." I retorted, rather childishly.

Adventuria sighed. "Please Edmund. In the name of Aslan, please come back. The Witch will kill you and your siblings. She's telling lies! Can't you see that? Do you know what she's done? Jadis has turned innocent people into stone and now she's luring you will Turkish Delight! You have to come back!"

This girl didn't understand me, not one bit...even if she had told Peter that he didn't have to shout at me when I had gone to get Dad's picture back in England.

Adventuria's POV

Suddenly, he shouted at me.

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I BLOODY FEEL! YOU JUST WANT ME TO GO BACK AND THEN PETER WILL BE ALL ANGRY WITH ME! ONLY JADIS UNDERSTANDS! GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME ALONE! YOUR NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM PETER, YOU ALSO BOSS ME AROUND! I DON'T CARE!"

He gave me a shove and I stumbled backwards at the unexpected move. My defensive instincts seemed rather slow today...or maybe I wasn't expecting it from him.

"Please..."

"Go away! Your just a silly girl who thinks she knows everything."

He turned around, quickly walking away.

I was shocked. Just a silly girl... That was what the teachers at the orphanage call me. I felt a familiar stinging sensation in my eyes...I was going to cry?

Pull yourself together. You've cried enough for the past four years. I scolded myself.

Edmund's figure was still visible and I shape-shifted into a snow leopard and easily caught up with him.

"It's your own choice, Edmund. You know Edmund, maybe you should think about the person and how they're going to feel before you do something to them. This is yours and I don't need or expect a thank you." I thrust his fur coat into his arms. "Good luck with Jadis...though I personally think that you will become one of her statues if you don't turn back. Aslan bless you Edmund, you don't know what trap you're walking into."

I wasn't really a person to give up but it was obvious that convincing him was no use. There were two words that defined Edmund's personality: stubborn and blind. Why blind? Edmund wasn't actually selfish, he cared about his siblings, deep in his heart. I had seen it through the few brief moments of eye contact. He just couldn't split the difference between what was right and wrong and along with his stubbornness, he was a problem.

I turned around, and started to walk away but as I said, I wasn't the type to give up without a good fight. I rounded a bend, made myself invisible, and then shape-shifted into a raven. Silently, I followed the boy.

I understood how Edmund felt. He felt unwanted, unloved. He felt like everybody in the world hated him. I knew because I had felt that before when bullies teased me at the orphanage. After my parents' died, none of my relatives wanted that 'silly girl' because bringing up 'that daydreamer' would be 'a waste of money' Those words would later be repeated in the orphanage, like some sort of mantra. I continued to follow as he entered the Witch's castle with Maugrim(if anybody needs reminding, Maugrim is a talking wolf and leader of the White Witch's secret police) and I shook my raven head.

"You will regret doing this, Edmund Pevensie." I whispered.

Susan's POV

As we walked through the tunnel, my mind whirled. Edmund was gone...what would Mother think? I shook my head in the darkness. Mother wasn't here anymore; it was only me, my siblings and a bunch of odd creatures which included fauns and talking animals. I felt scared. We were all alone. There was a war to fight and we were to become kings and queens...including Edmund. But how could Edmund become a king? What would happen in one of us were killed? I winced and we walked; I had a blister on my heel.

The young girl Adventuria, intrigued me. She wasn't like the other girls at boarding school. Why wasn't she allowed to reveal who she was? The Beavers had told us it was because Aslan had told her not to, at that she had been given the name Adventuria. Adventuria was orphaned at a young age of seven and had been living at an orphanage. I supposed it was horrible. She'd been living there for four years which made her...eleven. Same as Edmund.

I felt lonely in Narnia and I felt guilty, as if it was all my fault that Edmund was gone and that he wasn't safe. I had promised mother to take care of him but I had failed. We came out of the tunnel at last and a fox suddenly came bounding up to us. He bowed, "Your Majesties".

Already, we were being called that.

"Fox, what has happened?" There was concern in Mr. Beaver's voice.

"The badgers and squirrels were turned into stone. They were having a feast and said it was Father Christmas who had given it to them."

A sad expression crossed Mr. Beaver's face but it soon returned to normal.

"Did you say Father Christmas?" he asked incredulously.

The Fox nodded and a loud howl was heard. All of our eyes widened.

"What shall we do?" Mrs. Beaver cried desperately.

"Up there. Quick. I'll cover for you." the Fox nodded at a tree high above.

I hope you like the story so far. It's a bit boring, I know but there will be some action soon! Oh yes and I forgot to mention how old the characters are!

Peter : 13

Susan : 12

Edmund : 11

Lucy : 9

Adventuria : 11(she is one month younger than Edmund)

I'd also like to say, Adventuria's birthday is one the first of December. This will come in handy in my sequel "Masked: A Warrior, A Slave and A King"