Note: And now back to our regularly scheduled updates. But it's probably not the chapter you expected.

Chapter 23


When the Telmarine army arrived at the How the next day, the Narnians were as prepared as they could be. Or, at least, Edmund thought they were. Susan, however, thought that there were still some details to be decided.

"You would have to ruin the only two, good Narnian shirts in the entire army that would fit you."

Lucy grinned as Edmund rolled his eyes at their older sister. "Su, I'm sure Edmund didn't get injured on purpose. And he was hardly in any condition to tell Peter to roll up his sleeves before trying to stop him from bleeding out."

Edmund and Peter shared an amused look at Susan's glare, and even Caspian held back a chuckle. Susan sighed. "I know that, Lucy. But you know it would be better and more pointed if Edmund was wearing Narnian clothes, not Telmarine. And old, worn Telmarine clothes at that," she added, looking in distaste at the well-worn, seldom-washed apparel that Edmund currently had on. In truth, she was right; Susan usually was about such things. As children, thrust into ruling a country surrounded by nations with very adult rulers, the four Pevensies had quickly learned that much trouble could be avoided through proper appearance. Susan had excelled in creating imposing looks for all of them: bold and strong for Peter, dark and cunning for Edmund, deceptively innocent for Lucy, and commanding beauty for herself. It frustrated her to no end that she no longer had the tools to recreate this.

Edmund smirked. Well then, he would be happy to aid his sister in her quest to make him 'presentable' enough to challenge Miraz. "You should have mentioned that first, Susan." He motioned for the others to follow him. Peter looked at Caspian for answers, but the dark-haired king only shrugged. He had no more idea as to what Edmund was up to than anyone else.

Leading them to a room on the opposite side of the How from the Stone Table room, Edmund explained further. "Glenstorm showed me this when we first got here." He smiled apologetically at Caspian. "Apparently the room is not to be entered by anyone except the four of us, which is why I never mentioned it before. That, and it wasn't really useful before."

"Should I…?" Caspian made to leave, clearly uncomfortable, but Lucy grabbed his arm.

A look was exchanged among the four, and then Peter nodded. "You can come with us." It was a ruling from the High King, and so Caspian conceded and walked behind the Pevensies as they entered the room.

.

As Edmund lit a fire-line, the others realized that the room mirrored that of the Stone Table. Only, instead of the broken stone, three chests sat on a colorful mosaic, which was similar to the ones that had covered the floors of Cair Paravel. And there was a collective gasp when the light revealed the wall behind the chests. This relief was not of Aslan…but the Four.

At least, the Four as they had been the days right before the fateful hunt that separated them from their country. The High King stood at the center, the rock of their family staring straight at the observer. His carved hands rested lightly on a seated Susan's shoulder. The Gentle Queen held daffodils in her lap, but one hand held a flower out to Lucy, who smiled and reached back towards her sister from her place at Peter's side. Edmund was carved in lighter relief than his siblings, his lower half obscured by Susan and part of his upper body hidden by Peter's arm. But one hand rested on Peter's shoulder, the other on Susan's, and the observer got the sense that he was not so much hidden behind his siblings as supporting them. It was an almost intimate view of their family, and all were quiet as they drank in the sight.

Finally, Edmund broke the silence. "Glenstorm said the stories relate that, a few years after we disappeared, Aslan sent dreams to Sir Peridan, telling him to build the How." Sir Peridan, loyal knight and yet another friend lost to the ages. "He constructed it as he was instructed, having these reliefs carved and the chests set here." He smiled. "Even then, it seems, Aslan was preparing for when we would return."

"What's in them?" asked Lucy, her eyes still on the relief.

Edmund's smile broadened. "Come see." They approached the chests, which stood unlocked. The first two carried Peter and Edmund's royal seals respectively, while the third carried both the girls' seals. They lifted the lids in unison, and Edmund grinned at the stunned looks on the others' faces. Peter and Edmund's chests held armor; and not just any armor, but their armor from when they were the exact age and height they were again.

"Ohh," came Lucy's disappointed sigh, and everyone looked at the girls' chest.

Edmund gently squeezed his younger sister's shoulder. "Sorry, Lu. But remember, you aren't going to be in this battle." He looked at Caspian and nodded towards the dress and chain mail in the chest. "That's Lucy's, from when she was Susan's age. I guess, since Susan didn't have armor last time, Aslan had Peridan pack Lucy's for her." Edmund wasn't sure he liked this, but the determination on Susan's face told him that this was at least one thing she agreed on with Aslan.

"I don't think you're forgotten, though, Lu," broke in Peter as he reached under the chainmail.

Lucy's eyes lit up as he pulled out a long, green piece of fabric. "My cloak!" she exclaimed, and happily took it from her brother, fastening it around her neck.

Edmund saw that Caspian looked puzzled at her excitement over what looked like a plain mantle. Smirking, he reached into his own chest and pulled a dagger from one of the leather boots. "Hey, Lucy!" When she turned to look at him, Edmund held up the knife. He glanced pointedly at Caspian before quirking an eyebrow. Lucy grinned and spun around so that he was facing her back.

Caspian frowned at the exchange. "What…" He didn't get to finish, as the king threw the dagger straight at Lucy's unprotected back. "Stars in heaven!"

Lucy giggled as she turned around again, picking up the dagger from where it had fallen after glancing off her back. "Edmund had this made for me for my eleventh birthday. It's lined with a rare metal alloy, strong but light and malleable. Only one dwarf clan knew how to smelt it, and they rarely did so."

"It cost a small fortune," quipped Edmund, still grinning, "but it proved its worth. Too many times," he added with a small glare at his sister.

Lucy just shrugged. "I thought it was worth it just to see the look on Peter and Susan's faces when we did the same thing to them."

Caspian glanced at the older siblings. Both were scowling, but it was easy to tell that their amusement was threatening to break through. Edmund laughed and pulled his tunic out of the chest. "So, Susan. Does it meet your approval?"

Susan threw her bracer at him and smiled.

~*~

Unlike Peter's heavier armor, the light quality of Edmund's meant he could fairly quickly don it by himself. It was not long before he stood at the entrance of the How with Glenstorm and Giant Wimbleweather, who were accompanying him to the Telmarine camp. The centaur general was not very pleased with the young king at the moment. "Your majesty, since we are escorting you as your guards, we should walk at your side to protect you," he insisted.

Edmund would not budge. "No, General. We need to throw the Telmarines off their guard however possible. It will confuse them that the primary Narnian ambassador – and a king at that - does not follow the normal procedure of being flanked by soldiers." It might also make them think twice about their estimation of Edmund's abilities. The smarter ones might be more inclined to be wary of an ambassador who saw no need for bodyguards save as ceremonial assistants.

Over a month in Edmund's company meant Glenstorm knew his argument was hopeless. The centaur sighed in resignation. "Very well, sire."

That settled, the delegation was ready to depart. Edmund looked at the four worried faces that watched him, and had to stop himself from frowning. This was why he refused to say goodbye when leaving his family. They worried enough at the separation that he was disinclined to add to that worry with any hint that he would not see them again.

So he forced a smile on his face and waved. "We should be back by dinner." He paused. "Unless the Telmarines have cake. Then we might have to stay and take advantage of diplomatic privilege to eat their food." Caspian looked bewildered at the apparent non sequitur, but smiles cracked through Peter and Susan's worried expressions, and Lucy even laughed, so it was enough.

Turning from his family, Edmund fixed his face into a calm, emotionless mask. The persona of King Edmund the Just settled on his shoulders, ready for the confrontation that would soon follow. So, with heads held high, the three Narnians set off for the Telmarine encampment to deliver their challenge.