Chasing Dreams
"By the Lion's Mane, a strange device." said King Peter, "to set a lantern here where the trees cluster so thick about it and so high above it that if it were lit it should give light to no man!" - Peter Pevensie
From the book of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. (1950)
The night grew perfectly still. Dark, cumulous clouds filtered moonlight through tall leaded windows, as it lengthened its shadow to the opposite side of the wall. It was a quiet night and the autumn breeze whispered calming melodies drifting through the room of one little animal, which began the most magical dream yet. Bane could feel as if the dream was as real as any one he could encounter and therefore took the courage to tread in the distant gleam his eyes could perceive.
In his dream, Bane slunk along the ground, his ears flattened as he recognized a beautiful, rich voice he had known since he was a cub. The majestic figure sauntered towards him and his benevolent mane held in its most superior glory made the light behind him seeming less of its worth.
"Oh, hail! Aslan!" Bane exclaimed, burying his muzzle to the ground with his whole body surrendering abundantly to the ground the lion stood upon.
"Arise, noble one." Bane slowly stood his ground as he cowered from the great sight of the King of Narnia. "Cower not in my presence, dear one, for you have found great favor in me." The fox looked at him confused yet he tried to ponder over what he might have done to earn the right to speak to the most high.
"I'm afraid there is none I have done to obtain this most gracious greetings of yours, your Eminence." Bane humbly replied. The lion smiled wider, and he seemed so much more majestic.
"Your sacrifice for two people that would have cost you your life, is deserving enough for a gift I wish you partake in return for your gallant act." Aslan said, smiling even wider for Bane.
"Thank you, your Majesty. But I ask for nothing in return. I was merely doing what was best for my mistress, companion and best friend." Bane replied, bowing earnestly. Aslan chuckled, and grew even more pleased when Bane wished for nothing.
"When you ask nothing in return, small one, all the more deserving you are." Aslan replied. Bane now found himself smiling and protesting no more to the claims of the lion. "Now this gift I shall endow you, shall be a blessing; a miracle that many have thought impossible, and this shall truly happen, for nothing is impossible with me."
"What is it?" Bane asked, drawing nearer. Aslan was gratified that Bane found comfort in him, enough to have no more fear. And instead of anxiety, Bane found shelter in the promising presence of him. He chortled, and started walking past Bane.
"Well, dear one. That is one thing you have to find out for yourself. But you should know that if your belief thrives within me, there is nothing for you to doubt in a world I have created and will guide for as long as I live." Bane narrowed his eyes and fell once more into a deep slumber when the magnificent lion vanished in the downpour of bright light seeking light within Aslan himself.
The High King sat in his chair, a secluded room none dared to enter, as alarms that the Magnificent King was not in the most magnificent mood in the next day that followed an argument he did not at all wish to let happen kept the servants and soldiers keen enough to stay well away from him. Strangely though, Peter could hear the commands of knuckles pecking against the smooth surface of the wooden door.
"Pete, let me in." Edmund's voice sieved through the door.
"Give me a reason that will suffice." Peter answered, neither glancing nor moving when he heard Edmund knocking as if he expected it.
"Because I…I'm here to apologise." Edmund shrugged when he said the last word. His pride usually was not as low as this but today was a reason to decrease such an ego. Peter slowly stood up, holding the knob yet he did not open it.
"And?" Peter trailed. Edmund's eyebrows furrowed, wondering if there was anything else left to say.
"That's it?" Edmund replied, doubting his answer. "What do you want me to say?" Peter impatiently yanked the door open, facing him with the most annoyed expression.
"Well, do you have anything to say for yourself?" Peter asked, his voice still as stern as ever. Edmund sighed, knowing exactly what Peter wanted him to admit.
"That what I had said was…" Edmund started but Peter immediately cut him off.
"Arrogant? Disrespectful? Disgusting? Immoral? Unfitting? Shameful or rather insolent?" He said very quickly, emphasizing the worse words that spewed out of his mouth. Edmund gaped at him and almost glared.
"I was going to say 'true' but the others you have mentioned would have worked." Edmund chuckled. Peter scowled and began to shove back the door in Edmund's face, but Edmund thrust his foot in to stop the door from enclosure. "I was joking, Pete. Look, I'm sorry for my juvenile behavior. Yes, it was arrogant, disrespectful, disgusting, and so on. I'm sorry, alright?" Edmund answered, though his words looked as if they were strained but when Peter looked at him, his eyes were filled with utmost sincerity. Peter growled at how easily he was going to give himself in but Aslan taught him to keep forgiving no matter what.
"Alright, Ed. I forgive you." Peter managed a smile, not because he felt himself forced but rather he felt he wanted no more to hate his little brother who fought alongside and for him in many ghastly battles.
"We're good now?" Edmund stretched out his hand to procure a similar response from Peter, who only shook his head in amusement.
"Handshakes are for strangers. C'mere you." Peter pulled his little brother in for a hug. It had been a very longtime since they had ever done that, and the most memorable one Peter could never forget was when he saw Edmund alive on their first battle in Beruna, where Lucy healed him in the nick of time.
"Normally, I would protest when you'd do this but…I guess this was worth something." Edmund smiled as the two brothers erupted in laughter, finally resolving their brotherly conflict. Now, Edmund has yet one more to resolve.
"You better apologize to Calla, Ed." Peter reminded him.
"Look I'm sorry alright!" Edmund said, frustrated at how already the apologizing with Peter had made him lose so much of his pride, and now he was to do it again.
"Not to me, to her."
"That I cannot. She insulted me first." Peter glared at him and Edmund had no other choice.
Edmund now has a silver box in his hand with every expensive detail glittering in the shade of the afternoon sun, hinting at its large fortune. Calla had locked herself in her room on the wing upstairs. Her leeway was far from the monarch's room for she personally requested a solitary ambience, saying as not to be of any disturbance while Bane rested with her. He crept nearer very slowly, initially hoping the delayed time would sum up his courage. He placed the little box on the front door, knocked rapidly and practically fled for his life, hiding in a small compartment across her room where he will watch silently.
Calla opened the door. She grew bewildered when there was none at her doorstep but just found a regal looking box. She opened it and pulled out these lovely silver earrings, glimmering as it dangled from her fingertips. She growled at its presence and threw a disgusted glare, shoving the pair of jewelry inside the box and leaving it outside.
Edmund gaped at how a girl would just throw away jewelries, given personally by him! Mostly, ladies at his age would flip and waltz around their rooms, finally hinting a proposal nearing. But no, this girl just threw it away like some puppet's accessory. The next hour followed, and he now was holding a bigger box. This time, it was embellished in ocean-blue laces. Sapphires hung at every end and it was the most beautiful one indeed. Once more, Edmund gently dropped the box, knocked on the door and ran as quickly as he could to a secure area where he could observe how she would react.
She opened the door and scoffed at the box. Yet she opened it, and there she pulled out a beautiful dress, elaborated the same way the box had been. Sapphire laces, silk like fabric that soothed against your palms. Yet, the same way went, she placed the gown inside and just left it where it had shown up. Edmund pounded his fists against the wall and just mumbled whatever curses he could mutter.
"What am I doing wrong, Lucy? What?" Edmund exclaimed, shoving pieces of brownies in his mouth as he complained every detail to Lucy. This only made the Valiant Queen's brows tire from arching every time he made a not so reasonable excuse.
"A sensible suggestion would be making her think as if you can buy her forgiveness because of your foolishness!" Lucy remarked.
"I was not trying to buy—" Edmund paused when he realized he was. He frowned at Lucy once more.
"Alright, if you'll excuse me I'll be heading towards the eastern library." Lucy replied, taking a few books she had just read last night.
"Two libraries?" Calla asked Lucy as she strode alongside of her, interested greatly that Cair Paravel had two enormous libraries. Lucy had entered Calla's room, though she was one of the people thoroughly welcomed in her chambers.
"Well it would not avail such an enormous castle to settle only for one, now would it?" Lucy replied, smiling at her guest's amused and enchanted gaze.
"Good afternoon, your Majesty." A voice made both girls crane their necks to see who made the greeting.
"Oh, a pleasant afternoon for you too, Sir Flynn." Lucy exclaimed, recognizing him. Calla's face averted, spotting the familiar face she met the other night.
"Are you not the soldier I rode with some dusks ago?" She asked.
"Guilty." The man bowed respectfully. "Now if you all shall excuse an eventful man, I shall be on my way." He said, walking straight ahead. Both girls giggled, as Flynn, despite of his unwelcoming glance, he seemed very handsome, chiefly of his winter moss eyes. Soon after some time walking in the protracted halls of Cair Paravel, Lucy pushed a stilted door, engraved with all kinds of letterings and phrases, though none seemed to take notice. Both of them went inside, and there, there were mounds of enormous shelves, towering nearly to the height of the chandelier that hovered above them. Of course, as child kings and queens they were from the very day they were crowned, they needed many to learn. So Aslan bequeathed them with two libraries, one for the needed knowledge of the boys, and the other, for the practice of the girls.
Calla brushed her fingers over to the titles of the books, landing on one that caught her eye. The book was entitled, "The Legends of the Untold Narnia." Remembering a memory of her father reading to her late at night, she picked up the book and laid it on the table upon which Lucy began her reading.
"What's this?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know. My father used to tell me all about animals proclaimed Guardians by Aslan himself. Bane used to go on and on about it, saying not only was a Guardian true, but its rider was ever more so."
"Yes, I've heard such stories. Go on, read it." Lucy said, squirming in her seat as Calla flipped over the pages to one that fitted what she just wanted to find out.
"For every instance Narnia was yet to be in need of help, Aslan beholds four animals, for every time Narnia needs them, with their riders to fight with them. The Guardian alone appoints the Rider, as it is their choice, and it is the chosen's obligation to accept, for rejection would mean desertion of Narnia. The Guardian shall look over Narnia from time to time." Calla cited, amused to know such a new thing. "The Chosen species of the Guardians shall be; A Wolf, a Dragon, A Bear and a Griffin. The Guardian will take the form of the animals, depending on the demands of the cycle with the wolf being the first, down to the griffin." Calla smiled at Lucy, who grew engrossed with the book.
Meanwhile, Edmund was in his library talking to Professor Kirkwall. This was one of the things he loved to do, that sometimes he kept a secret and only his professor knew. If Peter, Susan or Lucy found out how much Edmund loved reading, he thought maybe they would think of him somewhat like a geek. Mostly, he'd read about the different prophecies and legends of Narnia, but sometimes, the library was a peaceful sanctuary or rather a shelter if Susan comes looking for him to dress him up for a ball.
"My apologies, my King, but would it be a sheer burden to take my place here for a moment? I believe I left my important papers downstairs. For all I know, you are quite the most familiar lad with this library..." Professor Kirkwall stated.
"Say no more, Professor. I'll step in for a moment." Edmund said, treading towards Kirkwall's desk and sat there casually.
"Thank you, my Lord. I will just be for a moment."
"Take as much time as you need. I have none to do." Edmund said, looking over to the tall shelves filled by the very quiet, solitary atmosphere he very much wanted. Professor Kirkwall went outside, as Edmund heard the door shut tight. In the room across the hall, dear Lucy had found herself a commotion.
"Interesting." Lucy exclaimed, inching closer to the book. It made her look behind Calla, and saw on the top of a secure shelf, a vacant space. Then she remembered something. "Oh dear, how foolish of me!" She panicked, running her hands over to the empty space of the shelf as she looked desperately.
"Is there something wrong?" Calla asked, standing up to aid whatever Lucy's dilemma was.
"The-the binder. I was doing a research and I-I." Lucy stammered, urgent mutters barbing across the room. Her hands scurried over to the books and papers, under the tables to the top of the shelves. "Calla, do me a favor and could you please go to Peter and Ed's library just across the hall and look for Professor Kirkwall. Maybe he knows where it is. The binder's crested golden, with little flicks of leaves on its corners. Please?" Calla nodded to the Queen's request as she turned the knob and went outside. Peter and Ed's library was only across the hall, and strangely enough, the stiff door was just the same with the girl's library, except with different engravings on it. Slowly, she opened the door, wary if she was disturbing anyone.
The Just King enjoyed this lovely time of solitude, but when the faint voice of a girl he dreadfully did not want to meet after what had occurred, he had to think of a plan, and fast.
"Hello? Is someone in here?"
Reviews will be adored
MCH: Glad you like those 3 chapters! That really means a lot!
MrsSkandarKeynes: Haha! Thank you! I also had a craving when I wrote that part with the brownies:)
Masque: Thank you. I really appreciate it:))
NarnianLover: Edmund is really beautiful:)
Kylie: Yes, I happen to do that to cliffhangers, I don't know why.
Allie Danger: Honestly, I see you everywhere especially on EdmundxOC stories so I was thrilled when I found out you read my story:D