Chapter Seven
A Discussion and an Investigation
Susan and Lucy sat at the dining room table in bewilderment at what had just occurred. They were not used to Peter lashing out or yelling in anger- at least not to them. That was something he did in battle or when a fellow Narnian was being treated unfairly, though even then, Peter usually managed to maintain a calm countenance.
Lucy spoke through the silence. "Susan, should we go talk somewhere private?"
Susan nodded and both sisters exited the room and entered Susan's bedroom.
Lucy began the discussion,
"What do you think is wrong with Peter?"
Edmund laid out before him the map of Cair Paravel, complete with the secret passages and doors that only he and Peter knew about.
He had a plan and would put it into action the next chance he had.
Edmund got up from his oak writing desk and leaned against the large wooden double doors that led outside into the halls of the castle. He listened for the sounds of the two guards posted outside his door and for possible conversation, but heard nothing. He was almost sure that he heard the two guards snoring outside the doors. To double-check his hypothesis, he knocked soundly on the doors and listened closely for any sound from the outside. Again, no sound was heard. He had a strong feeling that the guards posted outside the doors were asleep. Eager to put his investigation into action, Edmund strode towards his bedroom window, near his bed. He grabbed a rope hidden in his closet, and threw it out the window, watching it sway in the wind, before tying it to his bedpost and climbing out, clutching the rope tightly.
Susan sighed quietly before answering Lucy's question.
"Honestly, I am not sure what is ailing our brother these days. He seems so out of touch with reality and with us. Now, he has Edmund banished to his bedroom with twenty four hour guards, as if he were a criminal. I believe that he has taken this case too far, too quickly. The letters and the ruby found in Edmund's room could have been planted there, and the witnesses testifying against him, could have been paid to say things to prove him guilty. Peter is trusting a little bit of evidence and a few witnesses, more than he should. It just is not like him. He has never acted in haste, before, especially in the midst of making an important decision; and this time, his decision affects Edmund."
Lucy nodded in agreement, thankful that Susan had the same fears involving their brothers, as she did.
"It seems as if Peter goes from being jovial and fun to solemn and hurt and then to angry and irritable. He has never acted like that, before. He seems so… so different."
"Tell me about." Susan muttered. "I think something is bothering him and he has not trusted anyone with that information."
"You mean that he doesn't trust us, either?"
Susan shrugged. "I don't know anything about Peter, these days. None of us do."
Edmund held his breath as he crawled down the sturdy rope tied to his bedpost, hoping the darkness of the evening and his black cloak would camouflage his less practical kingly attire underneath. He carefully avoided hitting any of the castle walls or windows.
He did not need any attention drawn to himself.
He was supposed to be holed up in his stuffy bedroom. If it wasn't for the map of the castle, he would still be there. He softly dropped down the remaining few feet to solid ground and quietly made his way to the courtyard. He stopped short as he glanced around the corner, when he noticed guards surrounding the doors.
"I should have known." He muttered to himself and turned back around, heading for the back of the castle once more. Once there, he skimmed his hands over the rough walls until he found what he was looking for.
"Perfect."
Edmund disappeared behind a door camouflaged in the stone castle's interior.
Peter strode swiftly to his bedchamber and slammed the door shut.
Why had he acted out in anger to his sisters? They were doing no harm.
Why had he condemned Edmund to house arrest? Why had he even taken the case to council?
Peter shook his head.
No; he was still angry. Women had no business asking never-ending questions. They deserved to be reproved.
As for, Edmund… well, he was guilty. There was no other option.
Peter sat on his bed, his head in his hands, confused and wearied by the many different thoughts drifting around in his mind.
Almost there.
Edmund thought as he walked through the tunnel, torch in his hand, lighting the dark way ahead. He was thankful for the torch being placed at the beginning of the tunnel and was relieved that he had brought a flint and a firestone with him to light the torch.
He knew that the tunnel would lead him to another, which would lead to a hidden staircase. The hidden staircase lead to a secret door in Peter's bedroom. Edmund would wait until he knew Peter was asleep and sneak into the room to investigate. There was a reason his brother was acting so oddly and he was going to find out why.
That was his plan.
"What should we do?" Lucy wondered. "I feel so helpless."
"We can't do anything, really." Susan replied. "Besides wait and hope for the best."
Both of them knew that waiting was not the best plan, but neither spoke against it.
"What do you think Edmund is doing, now?" Asked Lucy wistfully.
"Knowing him, he certainly is not sulking over his misfortune." Susan answered with a small smile.
"No." Lucy said with a laugh. "He is probably planning what he will do when he is proven innocent and is released."
"If he is proven innocent." Susan added.
"Oh, Susan! Don't say that, please." Lucy implored.
"Lucy, we need to face reality. We must be prepared for the worst."
"I know." Lucy sighed. "I suppose I want to keep believing that Edmund is not guilty." She turned to her sister. "Susan, I just know Edmund didn't do those horrible things he is accused of!"
"How do you know?"
"I know Edmund." Lucy turned back around on Susan's bed, facing the door. "He has tried so hard to make up for his past, that I don't believe he would do it only to betray us all, again."
"I'm sure that you're right, as always." Susan said with a grin, "We should trust him more, shouldn't we?"
Lucy gave a small nod.
Suddenly, she jerked her body towards Susan.
"Did you hear that?"
Susan shook her head. "No."
"Listen." Lucy whispered.
The two of them sat in silence for several seconds before they heard the quiet, melodious noise of footsteps.
"It might be a servant." Susan asked.
Lucy raised her eyebrows. "Susan, the servants are all in bed, by seven o' clock and they are not allowed out of their quarters until the morning. It's almost midnight, now. Don't be ridiculous!"
"Servants occasionally disobey orders." Susan replied unconvincingly, her tone wavering slightly.
"Not ours." Lucy corrected.
Susan nodded.
They both knew that the servants of Cair Paravel were far too loyal and trustworthy to disobey their commands. They treated the servants well and in return expected obedience. A servant had not rebelled or failed to obey in all the six years they had reigned over Narnia.
"There it is, again." Whispered Lucy. "Please tell me that you heard it, this time!"
"I heard it."
"Shall we investigate?" Lucy asked with excitement in her voice and a note of sarcasm.
"I don't know, Lucy." Susan's answer was expected, being the root of Lucy's sarcasm.
"Come on." Lucy grabbed Susan's arm, being quite strong for a fifteen year old girl, and led her out of the room and into the hallway upstairs, where all of their bedrooms were located. On the far end, they spotted the two guards posted in front of Edmund's bedchambers, sound asleep.
"So much for good security." Lucy spoke softly.
"How about I stay in the room and you investigate?" Susan suggested as she scanned the large corridor for intruders.
Susan was known for shying away from any threat or danger, whereas Lucy was the adventurous one.
"Since I know that I cannot persuade you to do otherwise… fine."
Susan smiled at her sister's remark.
They knew each other well.
Minutes later, Lucy was left by herself, standing in the middle of the hallway, listening for any sound.
There it was again.
Lucy followed the sound of the footsteps into the library.
Suddenly, the double doors swung shut behind her.
"Su-!" Her implore for her sister, was muffled by a hand placed over her mouth.
"None of that." A man's voice said as he slowly removed his hand.
Lucy knew that voice.
"Edmund?"