Author's note: Well, I like the first part of this chapter, but I don't like the second scene very much. It was hard to write and I'm sorry if it isn't as good as the rest of my writing. I had difficulty writing Susan's response and then Edmund's slow reaction as it finally settles in. So it is kind of rough but I hope you find it endurable.
Chapter 3 – Words to Speak
He could feel the wood floor under his feet and he stretched his hand out in front of him, feeling for the door.
Edmund's hand connected with wood and he pushed. But the door refused to budge. He tried again and pushed harder but the door denied relenting.
"It is not yet your time, King of Narnia," said a Voice. Edmund spun around.
"Aslan?" he called.
"King Edmund! Are you alright?" asked his bodyguard.
"Um, yes," Edmund answered. He turned back to the door and lightly knocked. "Peter? Peter, can you hear me?" But there was no answer. Edmund pounded louder. "Peter! Lucy! Open the door!"
"Return to your sister," commanded the same Voice from before. "Your time of departure has not yet come."
Edmund let his hand fall from the door and took a reluctant step back. He was almost sure that Peter and Lucy had fallen through the door back to England. But how would he break it to Susan? Did she remember clearly the lamppost and the wardrobe? Edmund took another step back and nearly tripped on something lying on the floor. He frowned and stooped down to pick it up.
It was Peter's crown.
Now all his thoughts were confirmed. His siblings had returned without him and now he could not rejoin them. But was Lucy's crown there as well? He began to feel the floor with his hands, desperately searching for the circle of silver leaves. His fingers came in contact with the familiar shape and he lifted it to his face. The light from the lamppost shone across the fine silver leaves.
"You are gone," Edmund said at last. "You have left Susan and me with a heavy burden to bear. I do not know how we will be able to rule Narnia without your strength, Peter, or without your faith, Lucy." His fingers curled tightly around the two crowns and he tried not to think of his siblings trapped on the other side of the door. He knew they would be desperately trying to return. Perhaps they had been pounding on the wood just like he had only moments before.
The deep voice of the Tiger shattered his brooding thoughts. "Did you find anything, King Edmund?"
"Yes," Edmund answered as he retreated from the gateway to his own world, turning his back upon the closed door and clutching the crowns of his siblings tightly in both hands.
"Oh, Edmund! There you are! I was afraid that you had disappeared as well," Susan confessed as she came flying out the door to meet him. "Why, Edmund! Why is your face so grave? Did they find anything?"
"Indeed," Edmund answered.
"And where have you been?" she asked. "You disappeared in the middle of the night. It was like – well, never mind. What did you find?" Edmund wordlessly handed her the two crowns. Susan took them and let out a strangled sob. "Oh, Edmund! Where are they? What has happened?"
"Susan, can you recall a strange iron tree in the middle of the forest?" Edmund asked.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Susan demanded.
"Do you have any memories of our world?" Edmund inquired.
"They are faint," Susan confessed. "All I can remember is a spare room that was empty except for a wardrobe. And I remember that we were in the middle of a war and that's why we were separated from our parents. Aside from that, all I can remember is finding ourselves here and discovering Mr. Tumnus's cave torn apart."
"It's the wardrobe that you need to remember," Edmund said quietly. "Susan, I believe that Peter and Lucy have returned to our world."
Susan let out a gasp. "They have left Narnia?"
"Yes," Edmund replied miserably. "But we are going to have to be strong for Narnia, Susan. We have to square our shoulders and lead our country on."
"They are gone," Susan murmured to herself in shock. "Gone."
"Susan, look at me," Edmund commanded. Susan looked up to meet her brother's dark eyes, a tear slowly tracing its way down her cheek. "We must be strong for Narnia right now, Susan. We have to put aside our emotions for our country."
"Edmund, how can you be so unfeeling?" Susan demanded as she took a step away. "Will you not allow me any time to mourn them?"
Edmund reached his hand towards her. "Please, Susan. I didn't mean it like that. We are desperately trying to avoid a war with Telmar and if they find one spot of weakness they will press their advantage until we fall."
Susan ignored his extended hand and his offered condolence. "Can't you understand how I feel, Edmund?" she begged. "Oh, I just want to follow them through the wardrobe."
"We can't," Edmund replied. Susan looked at him in surprise. "I've already tried," he admitted.
"Edmund!" Susan exclaimed in horror. "You would leave me here alone? You yourself said we were spiraling towards a war. You would leave me to sort everything out?"
"Susan, I-"
She slapped his hand that was still extended towards her. "You are a bigger coward than I thought, King Edmund the Just," she mocked as she turned away.
"Susan! Where are you going?" Edmund cried in surprise.
She whirled around and fixed him with steady eyes. "I'll stay with the Beavers until you uncover some sense in your thick head!"
"Susan," Edmund pleaded.
"Go," she commanded. "Perhaps this separation will do us both some good." She stormed back to the Beavers' lodge and slammed the door after her.
Edmund just stood in the same place, staring after her. She hadn't let him finish what he was going to say. It wouldn't have made a difference though. He knew that when she was truly was upset she often lashed out in anger at her siblings.
Edmund hadn't meant to seem unfeeling. But in the shock of the disappearances, he hadn't had time to think about what he felt. He just moved mechanically and did what duty propelled him to do. He ran a hand through his already messy hair. As he did so, he realized what he was doing. He didn't remember picking up on Peter's similar habit. And with that thought came a sharp pang.
His brother. His best friend. His High King.
"What will I do without you, Peter?" Edmund asked. He turned to look at his horse. He knew that he needed to return to Cair Paravel even though he was intimidated by the thought of facing the council alone. But Susan needed time to cope and he was sure she would be safe under Mrs. Beaver's mothering eye. Edmund spoke briefly to the two bodyguards lurking in the shadows before he mounted his horse. One followed him as he spurred his horse forward; the other remained behind to watch over Susan.
Edmund gave no thought to the path he chose. He simply tried to think of how he could explain everything to the lords who would be gathered for the council meeting. And then his thoughts turned back to the subject of Telmar.
Susan gave a sob as she slammed the door behind her. Mrs. Beaver looked up abruptly. Susan sank to the floor and buried her face in her hands. Abandoning the breakfast dishes, Mrs. Beaver quickly dried her wet paws on her apron and hurried over to the crying queen.
"What's wrong, dearie?" she asked.
"Everything," Susan sobbed.
"Everything can't be wrong," Mrs. Beaver reminded.
"Well, it feels like that!" Susan exclaimed. "Peter and Lucy are gone. Edmund and I quarreled. Narnia is on the edge of a possible war. It's just all wrong!"
"Perhaps you are looking at it in the wrong way," Mrs. Beaver suggested. "There is a reason for everything."
"Is there a reason for Aslan to take my siblings from me?" Susan asked bitterly. "It's just not possible. Yes, I know He only wants good for us, but how could this possibly be good? What could He do through this?"
Mrs. Beaver smiled. "So many questions, dearie. You never understand in the beginning, but when you look back everything makes sense. When you first came to Narnia, do you remember how reluctant you were to accept the prophecy?"
"Is seems so long ago," Susan answered. "But yes, I do remember. And now we understand that we really were the ones to fulfill the prophecy."
Mrs. Beaver nodded. "Someday you will look back on this and the pieces will fit together."
"Thank you," Susan said sincerely and suddenly threw her arms around the startled Beaver. "Thank you for all that you've done for us throughout the years."
"It has been my honor, my queen," Mrs. Beaver replied with a smile. "An honor and a privilege."
Edmund stood in front of the humming council members who were seated on various chairs around the long table. (Except for the few centaurs. They preferred to stand). There were twenty in all. Lord Peridan was seated to Edmund's left and gave him an encouraging smile as Edmund stood up to address them. Edmund returned the smile but it faded when he saw the two empty chairs to his right and the empty place at the head of the table. Two should have been filled by his gentle, laughing sisters. The last one was where the High King should have been seated.
All the eyes of the lords gathered gazed at him and Edmund felt the words he had desperately practiced slipping quickly away. He opened his mouth but closed it again. He took a breath to steady himself. He was a king. Since when had he been afraid of the council? He opened his mouth again and this time found words to speak.
"I'm afraid that I must be the bearer of sad news," Edmund began with a hint of nervousness. There were a few whispers and Edmund waited for them to cease before continuing. "Two days ago, my royal brother and sister, the High King Peter and Queen Lucy, went missing. They were last seen in Lantern Waste and we scoured the entire forest before I remembered something important. You have all heard the story of how we came from another world and defeated the Witch. I followed my siblings' tracks to the portal through which we originally arrived in Narnia. It is my belief that they have returned to our world."
"They have abandoned us?" cried one member.
"No!" Edmund exclaimed. "They would never do that. They have not abandoned us. I think they were drawn there by magic, whether good or foul, and returned to our world unwillingly. I know that they love Narnia just as much as every one of you sitting before me. They would never abandon our country."
"But with the Telmarines threatening our boarder, will they use this opportunity to work against us?" asked one lord.
"That is what I am worried about," Edmund admitted. "When they learn that the High King is gone, they will press their advantage. They will use our weakness against us until they succeed. But we must not give in. They will never set foot in our Narnia." Edmund paused. "I am not King Peter. I cannot give inspiring speeches like he can. I cannot lead you to war like he can. But I will not let our country fall because he is absent. I will do my best to carry his responsibilities and burdens with the strength Aslan sees fit to grant me with." With that, Edmund sat down again and bowed his head.
"Well done, King Edmund!" Lord Peridan cried. As Edmund lifted his head, he was astounded by the number of lords nodding in agreement. An enormous amount of relief swept over him and he thanked Aslan for giving him the words to speak.
Author's note: Well, there you go. I'm posting this in haste since I must leave for the evening in about five minutes. I have not double checked all of this, but I think it is pretty much completed. Hope you liked it! See you with the next chapter sometime this week!
Oh, p.s. I am posting another short story (companion piece to this one) which is an alternate ending for Edmund trying to go through the wardrobe. It is definately humorous and nonsense. You have been warned! Read at your own risk! :)