Author's note: Here's Chapter 2, folks! Thanks for all your reviews on the last chapter!
Chapter 2 – Noticed Absence
"Edmund, have Lucy and Peter returned yet?" Susan asked as she looked into his study.
"No, I'm afraid that I haven't seen them," Edmund answered. "Maybe you should ask the sentries. Perhaps they have spotted something."
"Yes, but if they had found anything amiss they would have alerted us," Susan replied. "And I'm sure that if Peter and Lucy had returned, they would have come to see us."
"Would you like me to see what I can discover?" Edmund offered.
"Thank you," Susan answered. "But if you're busy…" She gestured to the parchments scattered around Edmund's desk.
"No, I need a break," Edmund quickly replied. He set his quill pen down and rose to his feet. "Let us check the stables first." He offered his arm. "Shall we?"
"Of course," Susan answered, tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow. They walked silently down the hallway to the central room where the staircases to the second floor started. Straight ahead was the throne room and to the right was the ballroom. Edmund led Susan through the double doors to the left which brought them out onto a portico in a courtyard that overlooked the gardens rambling down the hill. The blustering wind shocked them with its coolness and splattered them with rather large rain drops.
"We're going to have to run, Susan," Edmund announced with a mischievous smile. Susan kept one hand on Edmund's arm and used the other hand to lift her skirts. "Ready?" Edmund asked. "Now!" They took off sprinting down the pebbled path to the right, past the training grounds and the armory, until they came to the large barn. Edmund hurried Susan inside and the massive door banged behind them. Susan let out a half sigh, half laugh as she flung herself down on a pile of hay in the corner.
"The wind picked up quickly," Edmund commented as he left himself fall down beside her.
"I hope Peter and Lucy take shelter," Susan replied. "Maybe that's why they aren't home yet. Perhaps they stopped at the Beavers'."
"I hope you are right," Edmund answered. He looked around in the darked barn. The smell of sweet hay filled his nose.
Susan sneezed and then laughed. "Usually you're the one sneezing." She poked Edmund with her slender finger.
"Not today, my sister," he responded. "Today you are the sneezing farm maiden with hay in your hair."
"Stop teasing me," Susan answered. "I thought we came to look for Peter and Lucy."
"True," Edmund agreed as he sat up. Susan brushed the hay off his shoulders. Edmund helped her to her feet and they walked down the long row of stalls. Edmund shook his head. "Artos is not here."
"Neither is Jubilee," Susan commented.
"They aren't back yet," Edmund concluded. The barn door slammed again and they jumped. Then the door opened a second time and a stable hand trudged out of the rain leading a black gelding.
"Artos!" Susan exclaimed. She rushed towards the wet horse and examined him. Nothing seemed to be amiss. She turned to the stable hand. "Has the High King returned?"
"No, your majesty," he answered. "I found Artos standing outside the castle gate. Jubilee was there as well but when I approached her, she spooked. Guess she thought I was a ghoul or something."
Susan frowned and turned to Edmund who was deep in thought. At last he spoke to the stable hand. "Saddle up a horse for me and alert the Captain of the Guard." Edmund looked at Susan who watched him anxiously. "Fetch my heavy cloak, please."
Susan grabbed his arm. "Edmund, please let me come with."
Edmund hesitated but as he looked into Susan's concerned face he made up his mind. "Very well, Susan," he relented. "Put something warm on."
Susan let out a breath. "Thank you, Ed. I couldn't bear to stay here alone."
Edmund looked over his shoulder at the stable hand. "Ready a horse for my sister as well. Give her a steady mount that won't spook in this unusual weather."
"Of course, your majesty," replied the stable hand.
"We'll find them, Su," Edmund promised. Susan nodded, trusting her brother's words.
Susan and Edmund rode in silence. The scouts had been sent out into the woods before them to begin searching. Only their bodyguards remained with them. Edmund kept one hand on the hilt of his sword. Not a word had been spoken between the siblings since they set out. They were both alone with their fears.
The wind still howled around them and the trees shook viciously. Their leafless branches scraped against the sky and cast eerie shadows. The moon only shed a tiny sliver of light into the thick forest. Susan carried a lantern in her shaking hand. She began to imagine gruesome faces in the twisted branches. The dark woods were beginning to disturb her. While the majority of the trees were loyal to them, it was also commonly known that many trees and fell beasts in this region still upheld the practices of the Witch. Susan tried to brush these thoughts away and trust that Aslan would keep them safe. But she knew she didn't have the faith that Lucy possessed and the fear kept returning.
"There's nothing out there," Edmund said at last, noticing Susan's growing discomfort.
"I know," Susan answered. "But there is just a feeling gnawing at me. I can't push it away. Something is wrong."
"I think we should ride towards the Beavers' lodge," suggested Edmund. "Perhaps they can offer us shelter for the night." Susan didn't argue and they left the path. Soon they could see twinkling lights coming from the windows of the Beavers' lodge. Susan slipped off her horse and went to the door while Edmund tied the horses under the cover of the trees.
Mrs. Beaver opened the door when Susan knocked. "Bless my paws!" she exclaimed. "Come in, come in, dearie." She took hold of Susan's hands. "Oh! You're cold as a fish. Beaver! Put another log on the fire." Mr. Beaver didn't protest when he caught sight of who the visitors were.
"Thank you," Susan said as Mrs. Beaver seated her in front of the fire and stripped off her wet mittens and coat.
"Well, look who else is here!" Mr. Beaver commented as Edmund stooped to enter the doorway. He closed the door firmly behind him.
"Sit there beside the fire with your sister and warm your fingers, King Edmund," instructed Mrs. Beaver. "Then you can tell us why you two were out in the woods on an eerie night like this."
Edmund took a seat on the wooden bench beside Susan and stretched his cold fingers towards the leaping flames in the fireplace. He smiled at their hostess. "Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Beaver."
"It's no trouble, dearie," Mrs. Beaver answered.
"Lucy and Peter went to visit Mr. Tumnus today," Edmund explained. "They were to return earlier this afternoon, but no one has seen them. Peter's horse came home, rider less, and the stable hand said that Lucy's had been there as well before she spooked."
"We came to look for Peter and Lucy," Susan added.
"I haven't seen them," Mr. Beaver spoke up. "Haven't heard anything from anyone, in fact. Robin would have spotted them and informed us if something was wrong."
Edmund nodded. "I don't know where they would have gone without their horses though."
"Did anyone ask Mr. Tumnus?" Susan suggested.
"I'll go right now," Mr. Beaver offered.
"Beaver! You wait until tomorrow," commanded Mrs. Beaver. "You might get lost. We don't want to have to come looking for you too."
"Mrs. Beaver speaks wisely," Susan agreed.
"It's getting late," Mrs. Beaver noted. "I'm sorry that I cannot offer you a suitable resting place, but I'll see what blankets I have."
"Thank you," Edmund answered. "We will be happy with anything." Mrs. Beaver disappeared into the loft and several minutes later returned with thick blankets which Edmund helped her spread on the floor. Satisfied that their guests would be comfortable for the night, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver retired to their room leaving Susan and Edmund near the fire. Susan wrapped herself in one of the blankets and, despite her concerns for Peter and Lucy, quickly fell asleep. Edmund was not so fortunate.
He lay with one arm tucked under his head for a pillow, his feet stretched towards the fire. He could hear Susan's steady breathing beside him. The firelight flickered in the small room. He could vaguely hear Mr. Beaver snoring in the other room. But Edmund couldn't sleep. His thoughts danced and swirled forcing sleep to remain barely out of grasp. He wondered where Peter and Lucy were. He wondered if any of the scouts had found them or discovered traces of them.
Edmund sat up and moved to a nearby chair, giving up hope of sleep. He stared into the depths of glowing flames flickering on the hearth. He sighed deeply and rubbed at his eyes. He felt so tired but sleep refused to let him hide in its shadows. His thoughts continually returned to his brother and sister. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what would happen if Peter and Lucy weren't found. He knew that they had to be somewhere but he was unsure how to find them.
Edmund picked up his boots which were drying by the fire and tugged them on. He hung his sword firmly from his belt before taking his cloak and settling it around his shoulders and moving towards the door. He left no note because he planned to return before daybreak.
Edmund slipped through the door, closing it soundly behind him. First he checked on the horses. His Tiger bodyguard was sitting beside the two horses and did not question him when he approached. Edmund patted his horse's flank and made sure the reigns were still tied fast. He snuck a look back at the lodge but no one was stirring.
Edmund nodded to the bodyguard and struck out into the woods. He seemed to be alone yet he knew that the Tiger was slinking along in the shadows a short distance behind him. Edmund pulled his cloak tighter around him in the miserable weather. He was reminded of the last time he had snuck out of the Beavers' quiet house. He had been guilty and nervous as he fled to the Witch's castle. But now he was redeemed. He was blameless in the sight of the Great Lion.
Edmund glanced around at the blowing trees. It wasn't far to Tumnus's cave now. But Edmund did not turn to follow the path to the faun's humble abode. Instead the thoughts of the Witch and that night long ago drove him to continue ahead, searching for a place that he could only barely remember. He hoped that perhaps it would shed a sliver of light on the disappearance of his siblings.
He could see the flame flickering through the forest long before he ever reached the shadowy clearing. He slowly approached the tree of iron standing resolute after all these years. It was the steadfast guardian of the door to his own world. Edmund scanned the ground and found the fairly recent tracks. There were two distinct boot prints where Peter had slid off his horse. There were softer prints near the lamppost which Edmund identified as his younger sister's. Then he turned and followed the prints in the direction of the wardrobe. Every step brought him closer, and with every step new apprehension filled his soul.
He looked over his shoulder to see his bodyguard still trailing after him. Edmund took a deep breath and plunged into the thick trees. The light from the lamppost stretched into the thickets in front of him and illuminated his path; the path home. But it wasn't home anymore. Narnia was home now.
The branches began to give way as Edmund pushed further in and discovered fur coats. He glanced over his shoulder again and could see the top of the lamppost beckoning him to return. He sighed. He knew he couldn't leave Susan behind but he wanted to know if Peter and Lucy had fallen back to England. Just one peek, he finally decided and stepped forward. He could feel the wood floor under his feet and he stretched his hand out in front of him, feeling for the door.
Author's note: Well, I'm leaving you with another wardrobe-related scene. :) But don't worry about Edmund too much. I mean, how much trouble can he really get into? Seriously? See you soon with another chapter!