Title: Dragonfly in Amber
Author: FaithfulPureLight (and her sister)
Disclaimer: I wish. I really do! But alas I do not and I am only borrowing them. (Looks over to her lawyer. "Was that good?" lawyer nods. "Yay! Ok on with the introductions and then the story!" sister cheers in the background. I pull out Edmund and Peter and my sister pulls out Lucy and that witch Susan. "We own u as soon as the documents are done remember that") again just kidding!
Rating: For reasons explained later I am rating this a M for mature
Summary: Lucy starts having nightmares that she can't remember. Soon Edmund and Peter are too. What could be so terrible that our heros would willingly forget a memory of Narnia?
Dedication: to all my siblings who offer me comfort and keep me working. And are willing to let me talk their ears off so that u get this story. And to my reviewers. Because we write this story for them.
Finchly, England
Chapter 4: Recounts and Disappointment
Edmund's POV
Thunder crashes over my head. I give a yelp, toppling over the side of a bed. I sit up, looking around my room with sleep weary eyes. But this isn't my room. It's Peter's. It makes little difference to me. I am as comfortable in his room as in mine. Wait...Peter's room? I scramble to my feet to see Lucy and Peter sleeping soundly through the storm. Peter's home? But he isn't supposed to be home till five this afternoon. I suppose he could have meant to surprised us at breakfast, he likes to do that. But how did he get Lu and I in here? I think I would remember waking up and coming in here.
Everything comes flooding back. Lucy had a nightmare. I went running to calm her down. What with Peter at the University, -even if he does try to be home as often as possible- and Susan at her parties all the time, Lucy and I have started to look out for one another more often. Peter had been with the two of us within seconds. Lucy was surprised to see him, but as the nightmare had been so fresh in her mind, she hadn't questioned what she had. She had turned from me to him, burying her face in his shoulder.
Peter had looked at me to make sure I didn't mind. But why would I mind? Lucy is his little sister too. The most important thing is that Lucy get the comfort she needs. Why does it matter who gives it to her? But I know why my older brother looked at me first. Before Narnia five years ago, I would have minded. Not that I would have been caught dead comforting Lucy; but it was the principle of being treated different from Peter.
Lucy had finally been able to talk about her nightmare. It was the kind you couldn't remember. The kind that made you sweat for reasons you couldn't understand. I had my fair share of those too. They frightened me worse than those I could remember. How could I not be afraid of the nightmares that were blurs, always the worst images sharp and clear in your mind. I head Animals calling for me. Begging for my help. But I didn't know how to get there, or even where they were.
The worst were ones I could not remember happening. Where those flashes of memories weren't memories. And the dream pried even more on your weaknesses. I could see my sisters being tortured. Some nights by the witch, others by someone I did not know. I could hear their screams, and hear Peter's voice as he was killed; begging for mercy. But never for him. For my sisters and I. And it was always my fault.
I shake my head; dispelling those haunting thoughts. I have been trying to remember what had brought me into Peter's room. I will stay on that train of thought. Lu had told us the one image she could remember. And it did not sit well with Peter or I. A Calormen grabbing my sister by the wrist. It wouldn't have bothered me so much in her room or now if I knew it was a dream. But I don't know. That's just it.
We had started talking of Narnia when Susan had...Susan? When had she come into Lucy's room? Oh that was right. She had been there since Peter had. But since when had she decided to play the good sister? Since Peter was home? A fat lot of good that would do her. Lucy may be willing to forgive her as simply as a quietly mumbled sorry that we have never received, but I wont. Susan has ignored Lucy's nightmares since September. I have dealt with them by myself. I would never mind doing so for Lucy's sake. But Susan had no right to pretend to be concerned so suddenly.
Either way, she had been there. I seem to be getting of topic easily tonight as I lean against the window. So Susan had attacked Lu in a way this time. She had asked what her nightmare had to do with the silly game we played. Silly?! I was shocked to hear her say that. Honestly, I still don't believe that Su can say something like that. A silly game is what she calls Narnia.
But I was able to look past the shock I felt to check on my siblings. Lucy looked so close to crying that I was seriously considering slapping my older sister. I looked towards Peter quickly, knowing that he was always calmer than I was. I would be able to hold my temper back more if I didn't look at either of my sisters.
But Peter looked hurt. Susan had made my brother, the High King of Narnia hurt. I didn't want to slap her. I had wanted to murder her. Needless to say I would have done the same for Susan if someone outside of the family said something that hurt her. But I couldn't say the same if it was my siblings. If it was Peter who called it a "silly game" I know I would have been more hurt then angry. And I can't even picture it being Lu.
I have always been closer to Peter then Susan. While she was a sort of mother I could go to, he was and remains my best friend. I can tell him anything and he will never get angry to the point were we lose each others trust. The day he left I came in here. To his room. I didn't cry very much, but I laid down and stared out the window, waiting for the pain and fear to go away. Lucy had found me here some time later. We had sat there together, staring out the window.
I am getting off subject again. I think it is because there is so much to analyze from what happened earlier tonight. And it keeps leading me off to think about different things. I am shaking my head again. Trying to keep away bad thoughts and keep myself on track. I still can not remember how we have gotten into Peter's room, though I can guess the answer.
Susan had left when her friend called luckily. And Peter had taken Lucy into his arms and taken us to his room. Mom would have never approved, but she would also never realize it probably. We had been sleeping in the same room after nightmares and battles since Beruna. It was nothing new.
That was how I had ended up in Peter's room. I hadn't wanted to leave my sister and brother alone either. I laugh at my own tendencies to act like a child still. And I suppose in one way I always will act as a little boy. When it comes to my brother and sisters. Or is it sister now? I don't seem to know how to re-label Susan. When she was once more than a sister. Now I don't know what to treat her as.
Sweet Aslan what has happened? Why is Lucy having such strange dreams? Why has Susan started acting so weird and hurting us with her words? Aslan keep us strong. Keep us together. Let Su come back to us. Make Lucy safe. Don't let anything happen to my family. I pray looking at my brother and sister on the bed. This was is my family Aslan. As it is yours.
I know the great lion has heard my prayer. Now I can only wait and see. But I will not go back to bed tonight. My mind seems to want to think so I shall let it.