"Some truths are stubborn as gravity"

-South by Sleeping at Last

—-

Edmund sat bolt upright in bed, breathing hard.

He frantically untangled himself from his sheets, murmuring, "Just a dream, just a dream…"

He hurried past his brother's bed, where Peter was still asleep, limbs spread out over the bed like a starfish.

Edmund snatched a robe off a hook near the door, closing it tightly around himself and jamming his feet into a pair of Peter's boots. He flung their bedroom door open and hurried out into the hall.

It was empty, with no guards to be seen.

Barely containing his mounting panic, Edmund raced down the staircase, down a hallway, and out into the south garden. It too was empty and bathed in silvery moonlight.

Kneeling before a stone wall, Edmund pried a stone out with his bare fingers, remembering too late that it was easier with a knife. His leg protested at the running and kneeling without the brace.

He let out a sigh of relief. The wand was still there, wrapped in layers of fabric and hidden in a cavity behind the stone.

"Edmund."

He started, whipping around. His hand tightly gripped the wand, ready to grab it and run. He wished again for a knife, or his sword.

To his surprise, his eyes landed on Aslan. None of them had seen the Great Lion since he'd opened an archway to send them back to Narnia.

"Be at peace, Son of Adam," Aslan said.

Edmund released his grip on the wand, and stood, bowing low. He straightened, watching Aslan pace toward the wand.

"Have you decided what to do with Jadis' wand?"

"No, sir. I haven't," Edmund murmured, looking down. "I, have a few ideas."

Aslan turned, studying him. After a long moment, the lion said, "You wish to give me the wand."

"In a way. I wish to follow the path of the Dawn Treader and deliver the wand to your country."

For a long moment, Aslan did not speak. Then, he said, "Watch."

Edmund followed his gaze, looking between two tall magnolia trees whose dryads worked in the spinning houses. Beyond the trees, to the east, lay the sea. As he watched, he could see beyond to the horizon, to the Lone Islands, where the sun was rising.

Then, beyond, Dragon Island, a column of smoke rising from its volcano. Further east, as if he was looking at a three dimensional map, he could see Deathwater Island, as Caspian had dubbed it, and further yet, Ramandu's island. Furthest of all, he could see the sea of lilies, and the great wave that separated Aslan's country from their own.

Aslan stood there, watching. Almost as if saying, "follow me," Aslan turned, and walked through the wave.

With a gasp, his sight returned to normal. His other senses followed, and Edmund realized he was standing alone in the south garden, wearing no shoes or robe.

The gray pre-dawn light illuminated the garden around him.

Without a noise, a great leopard, one of his personal guard, came racing around a hedge.

"Your majesty!"

Edmund shook his head to clear it, saying softly, "I'm quite alright."

The leopard glared at him. "Try not to go wandering about the castle in the middle of the night."

Edmund nodded absentmindedly, trying to make sense of his muddled dreams before he forgot them. A quick, subtle glance at the stone wall revealed that the wand was still hidden, the stone still in place. Good, that had been him dreaming.

"Sinal," he addressed the leopard. "Find a messenger to wake my brother and sisters."

"What shall the messenger tell them?"

Edmund bent and pried the stone away, grabbing the wand, saying as he did, "To meet me in our private sitting room. I've figured out what to do."

Peter blinked tiredly at him, arms crossed over his traveling tunic. Edmund's message had caught his older brother in the middle of preparing to depart with the army. "Come again?"

Edmund sighed, "I know what to do with the wand."

Lucy, her hair still tousled with sleep, grinned widely, "I knew you would!"

"Thanks Lu."

Peter sighed, "Walk me through it."

Susan took a seat next to Peter, who remained standing.

Edmund began to pace, explaining as he walked, "I take the wand–" he gestured to where it lay on a table, "-to Aslan's country. That way, it's safe from Jadis' followers, and safe from any future monarch or invader that would use it."

"Ed," Susan started. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you have to sail to Aslan's country, yes?"

"Yes," Lucy answered for him. "It'll take him at least a year."

"Our navy's been rather neglected while we've been gone," Susan said. "Peridan was briefing Peter and I on it yesterday. We don't have a ship or crew to send you in."

Edmund made a noise of disappointment under his breath. "Su, it's the only good option we've got. If we lock it in the vault, then any invader or future monarch can access it. If we hide it somewhere in Narnia, then it can be found. But if we take it to Aslan–"

"It can never be used again," Peter finished for him.

Edmund looked up, locking eyes with his brother. There was recognition in Peter's eyes, a recognition that Edmund needed to do this, needed to keep Narnia safe from the still looming threat of Jadis.

Peter nodded. "We'll write to Galma, see if they won't loan us a ship and a crew for you."

Susan stared up at him incredulously. "Peter, we can't exactly spare Edmund for a whole year. You're marching off to war again. We need Edmund here. Think logically, both of you!"

Edmund sat down in a chair. "I am Su, trust me. Peter will be back in a few days; he's not marching off to some months-long campaign. And we have to deal with the wand. Properly."

Susan sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose for a long moment. "Alright," she murmured after a moment. "We send Edmund to Galma."

Lucy put a hand on Susan's shoulder. "You and I can handle things here just fine without them. And wasn't Galma sending an ambassador? Edmund could talk to them."

Susan's mouth formed a perfect "O".

"Yes, they are!" She exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "And they arrive today! Quickly, Peter, go finish getting ready! Lucy, Edmund, get dressed. Now, go!"

She seized Edmund by the shoulders and practically pushed him out of the room.

"Alright, alright!" Edmund said, barely containing his laughter.

Peter's laughter echoed down the hall as he threw an arm over Edmund's shoulders.

"Not to fear, Su," Edmund's older brother said. "I'll ensure that he's ready in time."

Edmund good naturedly shoved his brother off. "Speak for yourself Pete. You have to face Susan and Oreius if you're late."

Peter just glared at him and Edmund chuckled. If they managed to negotiate with Galma and get a ship and a crew, he'd miss this. He'd miss this the whole year he'd be gone.

Edmund offered Susan his arm as they descended the steps into the main entrance courtyard. The Cair's walls were lined with their subjects, all of them gathered to see their High King off.

"I still wish you'd go with him," she murmured as they approached Peter.

"I wish I could, but Sir Peridan will watch his back," Edmund quietly replied.

Sure enough, Sir Peridan was already standing beside Peter, both men arrayed in shining armor.

Oreius, who wouldn't be marching out with them, was in the midst of giving Peter some last minute instructions.

"Watch out for hags, they'll give you the most trouble. And don't mention the wand, even amongst yourselves," their general was saying.

Edmund stopped beside Peter. "Don't mention it at all. And don't mention my potential voyage. Absolutely nothing relating to it. And if we write to you regarding it, we'll write in code."

"Alright, alright," Peter said. "I'll be careful, don't worry."

Susan put a hand on his arm, "You'd better be. And write when you can."

"Sir Giles can translate the code for you," Edmund added.

Peter gave them both a look, "Calm down, I'm not marching off to fight the Ettins, you know."

"Jadis' followers are just as dangerous," Lucy said as she joined them.

Peter's tone turned serious, "I know. I'll be careful and write when I can. I'm twenty-eight, not thirteen."

"Yes," Edmund fired back. "And yet, Susan is still more mature than you."

Peter glared at him, but Oreius chuckled, and Edmund could see Peridan hiding a smile.

Edmund released Susan's arm, and stepped forward to pull his brother into a hug.

"Be careful," he murmured.

Peter hugged him tighter, whispering back, "You too, Ed. And if I don't get back before you leave–"

"I'll be careful Peter, I promise."

"Thank you."

Edmund just stepped back with a nod, letting Susan and Lucy say goodbye before all three of them returned to the Cair's steps. They stood there, watching Peter's soldiers fall into line. Peter himself mounted Flisk the unicorn, and gave them a final wave before he rode out of the gates.

Edmund let out a long sigh, asking quietly as they watched Peter fade out of sight, "When does the Galman ambassador get here?"

"A few hours. I've asked the dwarves at the port to send a messenger ahead when they see the ship."

Edmund nodded. "Lucy, can you help me draw up a map of our voyage?"

She asked as they walked back inside, "The one we took with Caspian?"

"Yes. It will hopefully help me persuade Galma."

They both went to the library and spent several hours pouring over maps and writing down every detail they could remember.

They then met Susan for lunch, though Edmund hardly had any appetite.

Thankfully, they were interrupted by the messenger from the Keltsalter port. Susan shooed both Edmund and Lucy off to their rooms to freshen up.

Edmund spared a look at Peter's bed, still unmade from when he'd got up in the morning, and shook his head.

He met his sisters in the hallway, and by the time the Galman ambassador had arrived at the palace, they were seated in their thrones. Peter's empty one remained like a void between Edmund and his sisters, but he staunchly ignored it.

Their crier, a stately goose by the name of Petal, stepped forward as the doors opened.

"Announcing the Lord Sarale, Ambassador of Galma!"

Lord Sarale marched in, hands clasped neatly behind his back. "Greetings, your majesties," he said, bowing low before them.

Susan smiled, "Rise, Lord Sarale. Be welcome to Narnia."

Sarale straightened, saying brightly, "I will say, there was cheering in the streets of Galma when King Arron announced your majesties' return. He regrets that he was unable to travel here himself, but Queen Trillia will welcome her first child in a few weeks."

Edmund shared a glance with Lucy. He remembered going to Arron and Trillia's wedding. Clearly, when Peridan had been updating them on current affairs, he'd forgotten to mention that the King and Queen of Galma were expecting a child.

Clearing his throat, Edmund said, "Please give them our sincerest regards upon your return."

"Of course, of course," Sarale replied.

Susan stood, giving Edmund and Lucy a subtle gesture to do the same. "If you will follow us, my lord, we will retire to discuss any business you wish to bring to our attention."

They led Lord Sarale out of the throne room and into a small, sunny sitting room.

Edmund retrieved his stack of neatly organized notes on Galma off a side table, making note to thank whoever had delivered them to the sitting room.

Lucy gestured to one of the plush chairs, "Please, my lord, have a seat."

Lord Sarale sat, and Susan asked, "Is there anything in particular that King Arron wished you to bring to our attention?"

"I'm afraid that trade with Narnia has suffered in your absence," Sarale said.

Edmund sat down across from Sarale, opening his portfolio, "Shall we look over the terms of our last treaty and make adjustments?"

"Certainly."

They spent over an hour looking over and editing the treaty. Once both parties were satisfied, Edmund sent it off to a scribe to be copied so Lord Sarale could take a copy back to King Arron.

Susan left to speak with some hummingbirds in the garden, and Lucy followed to go check in with the kitchens for lunch. Lord Sarale stood and made to follow them, but Edmund said,

"Lord Sarale, if I could speak to you privately for a moment."

Sarale paused, then nodded. "Of course, your majesty."

Edmund pulled the map he and Lucy had spent all morning on out of his portfolio and stood.

"Lord Sarale, I have a proposition for you."

I have spent SO LONG sitting on this chapter, trying in vain to write the next one.
I gave up, so have this. Hopefully all your lovely reviews will inspire me to get the next one done!