WARNING: Slight mention of blood in this chapter, but only in this chapter. And don't forget to read my A/N at the bottom! Important stuff!
DISCLAIMER: I didn't want to ruin my first chapter with an authors note or anything, so here's my disclaimer. I. Don't. Own. Anything. Unless Abaddón counts, 'cuz then I own him...
"Do you know why you are here, faun?"
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Edmund shudder as his face paled even more- if that was possible. I straightened my back as best I could, lifted my head high and defiantly declared, "Because I believe in a free Narnia."
The White Witch smirked down at me, almost in amusement. "You are here because he," she suddenly turned and pointed her wand at the Son of Adam, her face cold. "turned you in. For sweeties."
I glared in horror at Edmund, who could barely look back in my direction.
"Take him away," The White Witch ordered.
As an ogre dragged me out of the dungeon, I watched Edmund cower in his tight little ball. Right before I was out of hearing distance, the White Witch continued in a false honey-sweet voice. "And ready my sleigh. Edmund misses his family."
I heard her sharp footsteps echo down the icy cavern after us and I knew this was the end. I was being taken to her courtyard, her museum, her masterpiece.
The ogre lifted me up into a standing position, then held me in place. The White Witch towered over me and she sneered.
"This is what you get in return for helping the Daughter of Eve escape. Her own kind, her own brother, betrayed you. Never forget that."
In the wave of her wand, I knew no more.
It felt like a fresh summer's breeze caressing my face as I strolled down the beach. How was that possible? It's been winter for so, so long…
Suddenly my legs couldn't carry my weight and I was falling forward, right into the warm arms of something small. It took a step back to steady us both, laughing joyfully the entire time. I could feel something warm and wet fall onto my shoulders. I looked up and saw…
"Susan!" a familiar voice, young, sweet Lucy, exclaimed. "This is-"
"Mr. Tumnus," a second voice said warmly.
Everything felt warm. There was barely a chill in the air.
"Come. We must hurry and search the castle. Peter will need everyone we can get," a deep voice rumbled nearby.
Aslan.
The great lion walked toward us, followed and surrounded by many I knew who had been prisoners of the Witch. His great, golden mane shimmered, and I knew he was here to save us all.
But who was this Peter? I vaguely remembered Lucy saying something about her oldest brother while we were eating on her first visit. I looked down at Lucy and something captured my attention.
"You're Lucy Pevensie's brother… you have the same nose."
That little beast! "Aslan, with your permission, there is something I must do. Will you please excuse me and allow me to catch up later?"
I could feel Lucy's confused look as Aslan studied my face and finally nodded. "I pray you will find what you seek," he said, his voice a near growl. I bowed and hurried back into the White Witch's castle.
I shivered, instantly cold, as I hurried down a hall, past the throne room, and down a flight of steps. The dungeon door was partly open, and I paused before I entered.
What did I hope to find? Did I want the traitor to be laying in a heap on the floor, dead? Did I want him to be in here at all? For Lucy's sake, I wasn't sure if it was better he be alive or dead.
I finally took a deep breath and pushed open the door. I carefully walked down a tiny flight- it couldn't have been more than 5 steps- of stairs, looking at the chains and shackles that had held me captive for so long.
I slowly turned to the place Edmund had been bound…
And froze.
I was not ready for the sight in front of me.
It looked like someone had taken a large paintbrush and splattered red paint across the floor and walls. On a hook at the far wall coiled a long whip, with a long portion of it crusted brown. I gulped, having a bad feeling that the brown stains were not paint.
I didn't want to see this, but I couldn't leave. I could practically hear his screams echoing off the iced walls, see the minotaur or giant towering over him, ready to strike again.
I sank to the floor and cradled my head in my hands. No one could survive that much blood loss.
I didn't like the human much, but I would never, ever wish this upon anyone! Tears started falling down my face, my vision blurring as I fell to the cold ground.
Soft footsteps padded down the stairs behind me. I turned to see a majestic lion slowly making his way toward me. Aslan didn't say anything and I finally broke the silence.
"He's dead, isn't he?" I whispered.
Aslan said nothing for several seconds. "I can only tell you your own story."
"How can I find out, then?"
"Come with me. Join the fight against the Witch."
I nodded, standing. "Lead me to the battle."
It didn't take long for us to arrive at the field of Beruna. Aslan gave a loud, deafening roar and leaped down at the Witch, who was standing over a Son of Adam and about to strike. They rolled, Aslan coming up on top, and within seconds Aslan was walking away. He turned to the human, who had clumsily risen to his feet.
"It is finished."
"Peter!" a voice called from nearby, and two blurs rushed past. One fairly tackled their brother, and Peter gladly returned the hug.
Susan stepped back and began searching. "Where's Edmund?"
Peter looked at his sister, eyes wide, and led the way. I followed at a distance. I didn't want to intrude, but I needed to know if he really was alive.
"Edmund!" Susan yelled, drawing back her bow and shooting a dwarf about to give her brother a killing blow. She ran to the figure sprawled on the ground, one small hand grabbing fistful's of grass like it was the only thing keeping him alive. Peter and Lucy joined her, and they formed a tight ring around the shuddering figure.
From where I stood near a large boulder, I couldn't see anything but the back of Peter's head, Lucy's face, and Susan with something cradled in her lap. She pulled a helmet of and I saw a head of raven black hair spill out…
Edmund! He's alive!
With trembling hands, Lucy opened a vial of some sort and let a drop fall into the boy's mouth. He went from gasping fore each breath and jerking slightly in Susan's arms to perfectly still.
Susan and Peter looked at each other. Though I could only see Susan's face, I knew Peter's was a mirror image of her own: terrified, distressed, and… guilty?
Lucy, who had been crying the while time, began shaking as her tears softly racked her whole body.
Come on Edmund! I found myself silently urging him to open his eyes. Your family needs you! Narnia needs you! You owe us all so much!
Suddenly, Lucy gave a little gasp and stopped crying. She looked up at Peter, completely shocked. I watched as the head in Susan's lap weakly shook, a small cough escaping Edmund's lips. The three humans froze over their brother, praying that he would open his eyes, take another breath…
And he did. Shallow at first, but slowly each breath was a little deeper and longer than the last. Smiles spread across Lucy and Susan's faces, and I watched as Edmund raised his head ever so slightly.
"When are you going to do as you're told!" I heard Peter exclaim, his voice tight with emotion. Edmund just gave his brother a weary but genuine smile, and Peter pulled his brother close. Soon all four humans were embracing each other.
"Did you find what you were seeking?" Aslan asked, suddenly standing at my side. I hadn't noticed when he had walked up to me.
I turned to the Lion, frowning thoughtfully. "I'm… I'm not sure," I finally said.
Aslan nodded solemnly. "Then you should continue your search. Consider talking to Oreius, Peter, Susan, Lucy, and even Edmund himself. They might just give you the answers you seek."
I frowned, thinking about Aslan's words, and my own. This search wasn't over, that I knew.
Aslan padded away, and I watched as Peter and Susan helped their brother to his feet. Whatever wound he had received had been healed, but he still looked fragile and pale next to his siblings. Susan whispered something in his ear, though I couldn't hear the words she said, and he leaned heavily onto his brother.
Peter frowned slightly, his eyes worriedly searching his brother's. Edmund gave a sharp yelp of surprise when Peter suddenly plucked him off his feet and pulled Edmund close to his chest, carrying him across the field and into a healers tent. Edmund was so small curled up in his brother's arms, with Susan carefully brushing her hand over his jet black hair.
I was glad that he was alive, but couldn't help but feel some anger to the boy. The Witch's words swiftly ran through my mind. "This is what you get in return for helping the Daughter of Eve escape. Her own kind, her own brother betrayed you. Never forget this."
Now I found myself asking the question that had been bothering me for the past few hours.
Could Edmund be trusted?
Aslan was right. I wasn't done searching.
And something told me I wouldn't be done until I had found my answers- for better or for worse.
Hey ya'll! I'm gonna format this story a little bit differently than The Royal Removal, so prepare yourselves! Soon you'll get the idea.
I've always wondered how the Narnians learned to trust Edmund, especially Mr. Tumnus after meeting him in the dungeons. This story is partly Mr. Tumnus' search for the truth, answers, and trust, and partly an introduction to the next story, Finding: Trust. Maybe that gives you an idea on what happens, maybe not. From here on out, some chapters may seem boring, but I try to make up for it with... well, you'll see.
On Chapter 1:
If you've read my stories before, you'll know the names I give my characters hint at the person/creature/animal's personality. In this story, there's only two OC's, the first of which is Abaddón from Chapter 1. Abaddón means destruction, ruination. What do you suppose this means for this story? ;)
I suppose, as Narnia is Narnia and all, having two moons isn't out of the picture. If you can find some proof that Narnia can't have two moons, be my guest. As for right now, Narnia has two 'sibling' moons, and maybe someday I'll tell you more about them…
Review!