A/N: This is the chapter that I would like to dedicate to my King, the true Aslan. How many times are we thrust into a dark, scary world of which we know nothing, and are kept sane only by the knowledge that we are not alone in our travels? In this chapter, a contrast to the previous in which he was stabbed by the evil Galmian King Gavin, Edmund finds himself in a place of contentment, and begins to understand that Aslan has a plan for even a summer filled with miscreants and murderers...
--Chapter 18: Yea Though I Walk--
The only other time I remember being in such completely isolated darkness was when I was stabbed by the White Witch. It was like that now. I had the same biting pain in my stomach. The blackness was stifling. I shivered at an icy bite that hung in the air.
But then, before I really had time to be frightened, the blackness and the pain both melted away like ice under the sun. I blinked and looked around. I was on a sandy beach. The sea was to my right, the edges of it filmed in a mist that I could not see past. Surf broke gently on the sand.
Several large rocks were strewn here and there along the beach. To my left, opposite the waterline, a tall cliff stretched up and up, so far up that when I looked to see if there was even a top my head spun. I walked over to one of the rocks and rested against it, staring at the breaking waves and wondering where I was.
After a while, the pleasant calmness began to grow on me. Unconsciously, I began to smile as the peaceful rhythm of the water soothed my aching head. The mist wafted in and around me on a gentle breeze. Light gray clouds hung overhead, hiding me from the bright light of whatever sun lurked behind them. I stared out to sea, half-hoping to see some sign or sail of a ship.
At last, my natural curiosity kicked in, and I began analyzing my surroundings. I could not see past the mist on the sea. I could not see the top of the cliff. I looked up and down the beach, and discovered that darkness lay on each side of the halcyon coast. Finally, I glanced down at the sand, and noticed, to my surprise, that there was a pair of footprints in the sand not far from mine.
Or paw prints, rather.
The marks were huge; I knelt and spread out my hand, and when I pushed in inside the giant print, none of my fingers touched the sand outside the mark the paw had made.
It looks like a cat print, I thought absently. A giant cat? A tiger perhaps, or a lion…
"The Lion," I whispered, my heart beginning to beat more quickly as the thought entered my mind. "Aslan?"
"Son of Adam."
I turned slowly and faced the High King above All Kings. He seemed to glow with a brighter gold here than he was in Narnia, but that may have due to the fact that all the colors here in this shadow of a land were so grey and dull.
"Where am I, Aslan?" I asked, kneeling and feeling with a thrill of awe the Lion's warm breath whisper through my heavy locks.
Aslan met my gaze with his staid, golden eyes and smiled, almost sadly.
"In the Valley of the Shadow, my son," he answered, the sound of his voice transferring warmth and courage to my heart.
I swallowed the fear that was growing in my heart, and shook my head.
"I don't understand? Is this in Narnia? Am I back in England?"
"Nay, my child," the Great Lion replied patiently. "You are asleep."
"Asleep?"
The glint of Gavin's sword flashed through my mind, and I began to understand.
"Dead."
The thought, which would have made my blood turn to ice at any other time, meant almost nothing at all. I was calm; unmoved by this revelation. I couldn't have been afraid or angry if I'd wanted to. It was part of the magic of that place, I think.
Aslan watched me with knowing eyes, shining as the sun, and then breathed on me.
"Return, my son," he commanded, his deep voice making my heart leap. "It is not yet your time."
Strangely, my eyes filled with tears.
"Must I go back?"
The Lion nodded gravely.
"Your brother and sisters -and another who is not quite a brother- have need of you still. You have not yet finished the work that I mean you to do."
My heart sank, but I couldn't feel too sad; not here.
"Please, Aslan," I said, as the High King above all Kings stepped toward me, preparing to take me back. "Am I really dead?"
He smiled gently, and began to blow, his warm breath blowing away all the gray of the beach and the cliffs.
"You…are…asleep…"
Asleep…asleep…asleep, the word resounded in my mind until it faded away into silence. Then, quite clearly, I heard another voice, sharp and loud in my ear.
"Is he still asleep?"
I flinched. The voice was so piercing after the silence of that beach, and Aslan's strong, but quiet tones.
"Quiet, Corin. You might wake him."
Lucy, I thought, hearing her familiar voice with a start. And Corin.
I opened my eyes, and then immediately regretted the action. The light, contrasted with the gray, soothing colors of the beach, was so gaudy and bright. I blinked, trying to get accustomed to normal sight again.
"Edmund?"
I looked to my right. A golden haired girl with bright blue eyes was staring at me expectantly.
Lucy.
"Oh Ed, you're alright!"
My sister leaned forward and gave me a swift hug around the neck. I tried to sit up and return the squeeze, but a sharp pain in my stomach made me stop short and relax against the cushion of the bed with a groan.
"What happened?" I moaned, glancing down at my stomach. It was wrapped in white bandages that were soaked through with blood.
Lucy ignored my question. As usual.
"Oh Peter, Peter he's awake!" she exclaimed, leaping up and dancing to the door.
Again, I winced at the loud noise of her voice, closing my eyes. I heard the sound of footsteps on the stone floor, and then felt a strong hand on my shoulder.
"Ed? You're awake? You're alright?"
My eyes opened again, and I found myself staring at two worried blue eyes, several hues darker than Lu's, set in a concerned face.
"I'm fine, Peter," I replied wearily.
Some of the concern eased out of my brother's expression, and he smiled in relief.
"Thank the Lion, Edmund! For the past two days you've been on the brink of death and we didn't know what to do! And what with Lucy's cordial being missing we didn't know whether we could save you or not and—"
Peter stopped short, a haunted guilt darkening his eyes.
"I can't believe I let this happen. I should've listened to your warnings and done something when Lucy's cordial disappeared. And to think that you almost died…"
I almost groaned aloud as he let his words trail off unfinished. My good old, selfishly responsible older brother was back. But I wasn't about to let him blame it all on himself.
"No, Peter," I replied firmly. "It's not your fault. I should have told you my suspicions. And," I glanced over at Corin, who was grinning at me, "I should have listened to Corin."
The prince's eyes twinkled, and he punched me gently on the shoulder.
"Told you it was Gavin. Or I would've if you'd listened to me that day."
I nodded sheepishly and then turned to Peter with a curious look.
"Speaking of Gavin, what happened to him? Is he…"
"He's still alive," Peter replied. "A trial will be held as soon as you are well enough to attend."
"What about Reth…I mean, Lord…I mean, Ther?"
Peter's face darkened.
"You mean he was involved in this?"
My eyes widened in the realization that they didn't know, and I jerked my head impatiently.
"Yes! Where is he?"
Peter sighed and shrugged with a shake of his head.
"He was not among the dead. He's not in the castle anywhere. We'll have to assume that he escaped and fled the country."
"And he could've been in the dungeon, safe and sound, if you'd listened to me," Corin put in exasperatingly, suddenly bored with our conversation.
I met his gaze and smiled at his impatience. "Yes, I know. Remind me next time that you're a better detective than I am."
Corin raised a slender eyebrow at me.
"Of course I'm better. You're a stuffy old adult who's at least three times my age."
"Only a little more than twice," I replied, frowning slightly, and then realizing he was joking. "And I'm not stuffy—or old for that matter. That's Peter you're thinking of."
I grinned at my brother, and then noticed the strange stare and frown he was giving me. My grin faded slowly.
"Peter…it was a joke."
He raised a confused eyebrow and gave me a look almost identical to the one I must've once given Corin.
"A joke?"
Corin and I exchanged an amused glace, and then burst out laughing.
"What?" Lucy asked from her chair. "Did I miss something?"
"No," I said, snickering once more, my eyes twinkling like Corin's as I turned back to my two bewildered siblings. "It's just something our dear Corin has taught me. Do you realize—my dear brother and sister—that we are desperately in need of humor here at the Cair?"
-------------------------------------------------
After cracking a few more jokes with Corin, and convincing my siblings that I was not going to die without warning, I settled back into my bed and stared at the ceiling of my room. It felt so strange…I could almost hear Aslan's voice in my head, telling me it wasn't my time to die.
"Edmund?"
I heard Susan's voice coming from the direction of the doorway. Quick footsteps resounded off the stone floors and reached my ears. I sat up, and was instantly taken captive by a warm embrace, gentler than Peter's and longer lasting than Lu's had been.
"Oh Ed, I was so worried about you!"
My sister squeezed me tightly for a moment. I let her. At last, she pulled back and looked me over with careful blue-green eyes that didn't miss a thing.
"You're all right? Does your wound cause you any pain? Do you want something to drink? How do you feel?"
I sighed and rolled my eyes toward heaven.
Lion's mane, she sounds more like Mum every day. Wonder why I'm not bothered.
"Yes, no, no, and hungry."
Her hands gripped my shoulders like she didn't want to let go, and suddenly her pale cheeks flushed with color.
"What did you think you were doing? You could've been killed in that stable! Why didn't you wait for Peter instead of blundering in and getting captured yourself?"
"Yes, and let Corin die alone there, and letting Gavin escape and get away with what he's done."
My voice was laced with angry sarcasm, and Susan noticed it. She blushed and cast Corin an apologetic glance.
"I'm sorry, Ed. I didn't mean to nag at you…I'm just…I was just so…"
Her eyes filled with tears, and she hugged me again, her wet cheeks touching mine for a second.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Su."
She pulled back again and sniffed, apparently unconscious of the stares of our siblings and Corin.
"Can you…can you ever forgive me for being so cross and so…blinded by romance? You were right about Ther all along, and he almost…"
She stopped, swallowing tears. I put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"All's well, Su," I said softly. "Aslan's watching out for us. But really, I'm the one who should be asking for forgiveness. I shouldn't have ignored your warnings."
Susan gave me a grateful look, and then passed her sleeve across her eyes.
"That you shouldn't have."
I glanced quickly at Corin, and then returned my gaze to my sister with a mischievous sparkle in my eyes.
"And as for being cross…well, I'm sure it was just your imagination. After all, Lion knows you're never cross."
As I watched the all-too-familiar bewildered expression cross Susan's face, I groaned and gave Corin an exasperated look.
"We've got a lot of joking to do to get some laughter back into the Cair," I said with a grin.
Corin nodded mischievously.
"Just leave it to me."
He grinned, and I wondered.
TBC...........