Disclaimer: Edmund and Peter Pevensie and all the characters and situations in the Chronicles of Narnia belong to C. S. Lewis and not to me.
FIDELITY
Susan lifted her head at the knock on her door. Lucy again, she was certain. What more was there to say? How much more foolish was she meant to feel? How much more deceived and used? How much more faithless?
Again came that hesitant knock, and again she stared into her looking glass. Her eyes and nose were swollen, her skin patched with red, and there was distinct bruising on her pale throat. She wasn't fit to be seen, not even by her family. Perhaps especially by her family.
Once again there was a knock, and she went over to sit on the bed, her head aching as it did every morning lately. At least now she knew why. Night after night, that swine Gilfrey had put something into her wine to make her sleep while he systematically poisoned her older brother. While he stole their kingdom. While he did who knew what else? And she had sat by, smiling and grateful, trusting him to care for Narnia, to care for her. Fool.
Fool.
She dropped her head into her hands when the knock came for the fourth time.
"Yes, Lucy, come in."
She heard the door turn on its hinges and then soft footsteps on her plush rugs. Hearing nothing more, she sighed.
"Really, Lu, it's very sweet of you, but I'm not a bit hungry. I'll come check on Peter in a little while."
"Susan."
She caught her breath. No, no, no. She couldn't talk to him right now. She couldn't face–
"Susan?"
She pressed her crumpled handkerchief to her mouth and didn't look up. She couldn't.
"Susan."
Edmund's voice was soft and so tender, and she couldn't possibly understand how that could be. How could he speak to her at all? How could he bear to even look at her?
"I'm sorry, Su."
He was sorry?
"I know you've been hurt by all this, too. I'm so sorry it was because of me. Believe me, please, Su, if you can, I'd never intentionally wrong you. You and Lucy and Peter, you're everything to me. I'd die before I'd betray you all again. Please believe me. I wouldn't–"
"I know!" A deep sob tore at her. "I know."
He didn't say anything else for the longest time. Then she felt the mattress shift as he sat on the bed beside her.
"You know what I remember most about that Other Place, Su? About England?"
She twisted her body away from him, trying not to make any obnoxious little sobbing noises, not wanting him to see her tear-blotched face.
"What I remember is Mum telling Peter to look after us all and telling you to be a big girl and asking Lucy if she was warm enough and all of you hugging her and letting her know you loved her. She told me to listen to Peter." He snorted derisively. "When did I ever listen to Peter?"
She remembered that day, maybe not very clearly now, but well enough. She definitely remembered the angry little ten-year-old he had been.
"She tried to hug me, too, " he said, "and I wasn't having any of it. I shrugged her off with a scowl and got on the train. Now it's–"
There was a little catch in his voice that anyone else might have missed. It broke her heart.
"Now it's been ten years." He took another shallow breath. "Ten years, and I haven't been able to hug her. I haven't been able to tell her I love her. Maybe I won't ever see her again, and that will be the last memory I ever have of her. The last memory she'll have of me."
His hand stole into hers and she grasped it as hard as she was able, clinging to it, desperate for it, still not daring to face him.
"Don't you realize, Su? You've looked after me for as many years here as Mum did back there. You've been–"
"I hit you." Her voice was barely audible. "I struck you in the face. I believed all that– all those lies. I wouldn't even let you try to explain."
"Susan, don't." He took her into his arms, pressing his lips to her cheek, to her hair. "Don't let that be your last memory of me."
She couldn't help it now. She was sobbing against him, shaking and hardly able to breathe. But he only held her close, soothing her with caresses.
"Edmund–"
"You were deceived, Su. As Peter was."
"But he was drugged. Poisoned. I wasn't–"
"It was deceit either way. No different from what the Witch did to me."
"But I–"
"No different from what you forgave me for without even a second thought."
She couldn't answer that. A mistake made by an angry little boy, a mistake he had atoned for every day of his life since, didn't seem quite on par with her outright abandonment of the brother she had loved. Did love.
"I'm not saying it didn't hurt, Su. All of it hurt. More than I thought I could bear sometimes. I just don't want to hold on to that hurt. It's over now. That– Gilfrey can't harm any of us anymore. We were all deceived. We were all hurt. I just want to come home now. Home is Cair Paravel. Home is Peter and Lucy and you. It's not home without you. Please, Su, let me come home."
At last she dared look up at him. At last she dared look into his eyes, his beautiful dark eyes made darker still with the pleading tears that stood in them, eyes that told her without words that he forgave her, that he loved her still.
She hugged him until her arms ached, sobbing out all her grief and fear. "You were gone and Peter was dying and I didn't know what was happening to Lucy and I couldn't– All I had was Gil. And he was so kind and so helpful and Peter trusted him and– "
"Aslan was there, Su. You should have turned to Him first."
"Aslan." She started to cry again. "He left me, too. I couldn't find him. So much happened all at once, and I needed somebody. I couldn't face being alone. You and Peter–"
Edmund stroked her hair, still holding her tightly against him. "He never left you, Su. No matter how bad things get, He never leaves."
"But I– Oh, Edmund, I'm so ashamed. I handled everything so badly."
He pushed her head to his shoulder once more. "He loves you, Su. No matter what you've done. Trust me, I know what it's like to think you've gone too far to ever be taken back. He always takes us back."
"I don't think I could face Him now."
"We can either run from Him or to Him," he said, his voice soft and wise.
"But I can't–"
"You can't let it worry you now. He understands. Just talk to Him. He'll listen." He held her there for a long moment and then stood up and offered her his hand. "Come on. Breakfast is getting cold."
She shook her head. "No, really. I don't want any–"
"Sure you do."
She looked away once more. "I can't. I look–"
"You look beautiful." With one finger under her chin, he turned her face up to him. "You look like home."
OOOOO
That day, messengers were sent in the name of the High King to every corner of the kingdom proclaiming the treachery of Gilfrey Becke, traitor, murderer and recreant, and the innocence of King Edmund, who had shown his valor in delivering from the ignoble hand of the false Knight the life of his royal brother and all of Narnia and who, by his steadfastness, was proved a true servant of the Great Lion. Further, it was commanded that, within three days' time, all those with knowledge of the traitor's workings or knowledge of any who had aided him were to come to the Court of Cair Paravel to make them known. Anyone who wished to confess his part in Gilfrey's schemes and, perchance, receive the High King's mercy, was also commanded to appear. It was made clear that the punishment for those who must be brought to trial by force would be several fold more severe than that meted out to those who came willingly.
For two days the High King, with his brother-King restored to his place at his right hand and his sister-Queens at his left, gave hearing to all who appeared before him. The loyal were handsomely rewarded, the repentant were pardoned with caution to tread carefully in time to come, and the defiant were banished or imprisoned or, in the case of the most hardened few, sent to await execution. At last, when all his transgressions were laid out and well documented, the false Knight, Gilfrey Becke himself was brought, hands bound before him, into the royal presence to make answer.
He denied nothing.
The Snake merely stood sneering, his over-proud face defiant under the pallor of blood loss, smug in the certainty of his own superiority. Edmund wasn't surprised. After the litany of his crimes had been read over in his presence, from the betrayal of the troops in the Western March to the murders of the Black Dwarf Glawkin, Windswift the Falcon, the Cherry Tree Dryad Cerise and others, to his foul attempts on the lives of the Kings and Queens themselves, the false Knight merely laughed.
"Do you think that is all?" He gazed up at the sovereigns as if he expected there to be admiration rather than stern reproof in their faces. "What have you brought me here to say? I have done all you claim and more. I have done all in my power and by any means to take your kingdom from you. Do you think, O High King, that it was mere mischance that we were fallen upon by Giants that day in Ettinsmoor? I betrayed you to them so I might then betray them and rescue you, earning your favor. Pity the poor fools were so zealous in playing their part. One blow more to Your Majesty's royal head, and our game would have been spoilt before it could begin."
Edmund glanced at his brother. Peter was still pale, still thin, his hand still bandaged, but he was golden and magnificent once more, and he looked on the miscreant with kingly hauteur, silent and disdainful.
"Or it may be that Your Majesty thinks it was only misfortune that your doors were left open that night our Gentle Queen found you half dead and covered in snow. If she had merely gone to sleep and waited until morning to check on you as I had urged, perhaps now she and I alone would be seated in those thrones."
His brazen eyes swept over Susan as she glared back at him, her full lips pressed into an unyielding line.
"And shall I tell you, My Gentle Queen, of the liberties I took each night once my sleeping draught had rendered you helpless?"
The onlookers murmured at that. Susan gave her brothers a stricken glance and then looked down at the marble floor, her face flushing pink and then white. Edmund clenched his fists. He prayed what he had observed himself had been the extent of the villain's audacity, but he had no way of knowing for certain. Either way, he'd cut the swine down now if he dared go on.
"You are here by our sufferance, Becke," Peter said, his voice low and steely. "Speak one word more of the Queen Susan, and your life is immediately forfeit."
The false Knight bowed mockingly. "Even so, My King. But is it not already? What have I to gain by knightly courtesy this late in our game?" He repeated that derisive bow towards Lucy. "And what might I say of you, Little Queen? I must admit, with admiration, that you were more of a challenge than I foresaw. I would have greatly enjoyed allowing you to administer the fatal dose of my potion to your brother with your own dainty hands, but it seems you bested me in that. Your sister is most fair, it is true." His eyes swept over her slender body. "But I wonder now if I might have found more pleasure in your taming than hers."
Before Peter could do more than spring to his feet, Edmund struck the prisoner with his fist, driving him to his knees, drawing a few gasps from the courtiers present.
"Never soil my sisters with speaking to them again."
The Snake glared up at him, panting and touching his tongue to the trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. "I'll see you paid out for that, traitor. Mark me well, I will."
"Enough of this." Peter signaled the trio of Wolverines that had charge of the prisoner. "See he is securely kept until we are ready to make known our pleasure in this."
One of the Wolverines growled and nudged Gilfrey. "Get up."
Scowling, the prisoner moved to comply and then, with a groan, toppled onto his side, making a vain attempt with his hands tied to reach around to the place where he had been stabbed.
"Get up!" the Wolverine snarled once more.
Gilfrey struggled to his knees again and then collapsed at Lucy's feet. Always compassionate, she stood, reaching out to him.
"Lucy!" both of the Kings gasped, but it was too late.
In a flash, the false Knight kicked her legs out from under her and rolled over with her, throwing his arms over her head, shoving his bound hands up under her chin, pressing his forearm tightly against her throat. The Wolverines lunged towards him, but Peter called them off. Edmund looked at Peter and then Susan and then again at Lucy. Her eyes were wide in her white face, but she didn't make a sound.
"Wise move, My King," the prisoner panted as he pulled himself and his captive into a sitting position. "As I before told your traitor brother, it takes but the span of a heartbeat to snap a neck."
"All of you, get back," Peter ordered his guard and the other soldiers present, his eyes fixed on the Snake. "Let her go."
"Or what, My King?" Gilfrey laughed. "What do I risk?"
"Think more what you have to gain," Edmund said, moving almost imperceptibly closer to him.
"Revenge on you, traitor." The false Knight sneered. "As I said before, I am condemned already. You can kill me but once. Before that time, though, I can kill at least one of you."
He tightened his hold, making Lucy draw a startled breath, but she refused to cry out.
"Or you could let her go and walk free." Edmund glanced again at his brother, long enough to see his brief nod, and then he turned back to Gilfrey. "Let her go. Let her go unharmed, and I swear I'll not lift a hand against you. Now or ever."
"Nor I," Peter was quick to add.
The prisoner laughed. "What? With an entire army at your beck? What need you to do the deed yourselves?"
"Nor any of our men," Edmund promised, giving his soldiers a warning glance.
"That oath might hold in my own land. In Galma." Gilfrey gave him a snide smile. "But in a kingdom of talking Beasts, what need a man do it for you?"
"Nor any beast," Peter swore through gritted teeth. "By the Lion and as Knight and High King of Narnia, I pledge it."
"And I," Edmund said. "Aslan judge me."
The false Knight narrowed his eyes. "Cut my bonds."
Heart pounding, Edmund took the dagger from his belt and came closer, his eyes meeting his little sister's.
"Courage, Lu," he murmured.
"Go on," Gilfrey barked.
Edmund sliced through the ropes at the Snake's wrists, and let them fall to the floor. Gilfrey kept his hands at Lucy's throat, thin lips mocking and curled. "I know you're both weak-minded enough to keep an oath once you've sworn it. But still, I'll keep your sister until I am clear of here. Just to be certain."
"No," Peter said, his hand on his own dagger, and Gilfrey gazed at him coolly.
"Would Your High Majesty prefer I kill her at once?"
"Wait." Edmund set his own blade down at the false Knight's feet. "You want revenge on me." He nodded toward the blood that still trickled from the corner of Gilfrey's mouth. "For that. For everything else. I'll go with you."
Something primordially evil sparked into Gilfrey's eyes. "You'll–"
"Willingly. Let her go, and you may have your freedom and do as you please with me."
Lucy's eyes widened yet more, and Peter grabbed his arm.
"Ed–"
Edmund merely pulled free of him, keeping his eyes fixed on the Snake. "Have we a bargain?"
Tears glimmered on Susan's cheeks, and she had both hands to her mouth. "Edmund, no."
Gilfrey considered for a wary moment. "You will submit yourself to me and neither you nor your brother nor any of your men or Beasts will come in any way against me?"
"As I am King and Knight and as I belong to the Lion, I swear it."
Peter took his arm again. "I won't let you, Edmund. I'll go."
"You're not strong enough. Besides, I'm the one he wants." He gave Peter a brief, sturdy hug and then turned back to Gilfrey, smiling his own dangerous smile. "I'm the one he can never best except by foul means. He couldn't meet me on fair terms and win, and he knows it."
The Snake's eyes narrowed and then he laughed again. "Fair or foul, it makes me no difference, so long as I end up the victor." He glanced at the floor. "Give me that."
Edmund handed him the discarded dagger, and he immediately pointed it at Lucy's heart. Then he shoved her to the ground and seized Edmund's arm, pulling him close so he could hold the blade against his back. "Once we are quit of this place, I shall enjoy draining your life from you one agonizing drop at a time."
"Edmund," Lucy cried, for the first time weeping, and Peter pulled her to her feet, letting her hide her face against him, putting his other arm around Susan.
Edmund took one last longing glance at the three of them. Would he see them again? The Lion knew. Aslan, keep them safe.
Gilfrey prodded him between the shoulder blades, obviously not caring whether or not he drew blood.
"Come, traitor. We have far to go." He, too, looked back at the three sovereigns still before their thrones. "None of you move. Until we have reached cover of the wood, the instant I catch sight of anyone, he dies."
"We have given our word," Edmund said, his voice clear and even as he again looked at his family. "Neither the High King nor I nor any man nor any Beast shall make a move against you."
Head held high, Edmund led the way through the courtiers and soldiers that filled the throne room, silent but for his sisters' soft weeping. Still with the point of his own dagger pricking his skin, he led the false Knight out of the castle and into the courtyard. He slowed then, again looking back. Cair Paravel. Home. Oh, Aslan–
"Take a good look, traitor. It will be your last."
Gilfrey prodded him with the dagger once more, and Edmund grimaced as a sudden rivulet of blood slid down his back.
"Just the beginning, Edmund Pevensie," the Snake hissed into his ear. "And when I've done with you, when I at last grant what I've made you beg me for and give you the mercy of death, I will come back. First for your delectable sisters and then for the High King himself. Narnia shall yet be mine, and your Lion will be powerless to stop me."
Eyes still fixed on the castle, Edmund caught his breath as he saw just a glimmer of movement from one of the turrets. Then he let a hint of a cool smile touch his lips. "May He have mercy on your soul."
Before Gilfrey could do more than open his sneering mouth to respond, there was a twanging whoosh. He arched and then slumped into the crisp snow, staining it with blood as red as the fletching on the arrow embedded in the back of his skull. His wide-open, unblinking eyes told the tale, but just to be certain, Edmund knelt and pressed his fingers to his pulseless throat.
"You ought to have borne in mind, Snake, that our Gentle Queen, besides being the finest archer in Narnia, is neither King nor man nor Beast."
All at once, the silent courtyard was overrun with courtiers and soldiers and Beasts of every description. Above the din, he could hear Lucy's voice.
"Edmund! Edmund!"
She threw herself against him, and he caught her in his arms, swinging her off her feet.
"Lu! Are you all right?"
"Are you?"
Edmund nodded, hugging her tightly to himself, and then he felt a strong pair of arms engulfing them both.
"Peter."
Edmund squeezed his eyes shut and pressed closer to them. They were safe. They were all safe, and the Snake was dead.
Finally, one of Peter's Tiger's cleared his throat. "And him, Your Majesty?"
Peter spared only a glance at the body sprawled at their feet. Every inch the High King, he raised his voice for his people to hear.
"Let the vermin be flung into a pit, and let him not be remembered except that he met the end most meet for those who would be false to duty and honor and trust. He is Aslan's now to judge."
The Wolverines dragged the body off towards the stables, and the sovereigns were silent for a moment.
"Come on," Peter said finally. "I imagine Su's a little shaken up by all this. I think she'll especially need to see you're all right, Ed."
"Edmund!" Susan ran to them, dropping her bow into the snow behind her so she could pull Edmund away from the other two and hold him close herself. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
He grinned and shook his head. "Bless you, Su, you haven't lost your aim, have you?"
She smiled and then, sobbing, she hugged him tightly. "Is it over? Is it finally over?"
"He's dead. It's all over."
They clung together until Lucy wriggled her way into the embrace and then Peter took them all three into his arms. It was over, and they were all safe. Safe at home at last.
Author's Note: OldFashionedGirl95 again has made sure a number of foolish errors and omissions have not made their way into this chapter. I am most grateful. Just an epilogue to come and this story will be told.
If you want to know what Peter and Edmund talked about after Edmund had his talk with Susan (and before the rest of the events of this story take place), you can find out in my companion piece "Clarity."
–WD