tarwDisclaimer: I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia. C. S. Lewis.

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'While I appreciate your ability to find humour in the most difficult of the situations with your sick sense of hilarity, so you say I definitely do not appreciate it this time.' Peter said icily.

He was standing next to the window bathed in the molten gold rays that streamed through the glass. His hair had lightened to pure gold and his skin was a shade or two paler. Standing there, in the glory of his fury and crowned by a halo of gold, he looked like an avenging angel ready to extend justice.

Except maybe the real angel did not have so furious an expression, blazing in its intensity and icy in its coldness.

'Come on Peter.' Susan rolled her eyes. She was sitting on a round armchair, her long hair woven back into a glossy braid. 'Just let it go.'

Peter shot her such a venomous glare that Isabela marvelled at Susan's ability to not recoil back. If looks could kill, Susan would be lying bloodless on the carpet.

'Shut up, Susan.'

Susan threw him one of her own glowers, her arresting face turning red with rage. Isabela prepared herself for witnessing World War III by covering up her ears. She saw Susan open her mouth to reply but then stop suddenly as if hit at the back of the head.

'Ed!' She shrieked diving forwards to the pale sorry lump of flesh that was named Edmund. 'You're awake!'

'Of course I'm awake.' Edmund said grumblingly. 'You didn't thing I'd let you all off this easily did you?'

Isabela glanced at Peter who seemed, for once, at a loss of words.

'You're alright.' He said simply.

Edmund rolled his eyes, wincing as he shifted slightly.

'Actually I am currently feeling anything but alright. My head is pounding, my back is aching and I feel something horrible sprouting on my shoulder.'

'That's just a gash.' Susan said, her arms still around his neck. 'There are quite a few.'
Edmund paled, stretching up to see his face in the long mirror that adorned the opposite wall.

'A few?' He wailed. 'A few? I look like a truck just ran me over!'

'Actually a pair of wild horses ran over you.'

'What?'

'I'm joking.' Peter said, leaning against the wall. 'There is a thing called sarcasm which you fail to understand.'

'Is it my fault that you have such a humour-less and unbelievably boring sense of humour? That does it. Next Christmas I'm getting you a dictionary. So that you can look up the term 'humour'.' Edmund said, sitting back amongst the cushioned up pillows. He added. 'Stop staring at me Isabela. I know I'm handsome. Peter will think something scandalous.'

Isabela flushed. 'Edmund Pevensie you are such a-'

'Moron?' Peter finished for her, glowering back at his brother.

'I was going to say wretched owl but moron's good enough.'

'Why I feel ever so wanted.' Edmund said grinning. 'And do stop strangling me Su. I told Aslan this was going to happen but he didn't believe me.'

'You met Aslan?' Isabela asked stunned. Her eyes met Peter's. 'Where? When?'

'Somewhere between the time I died and the time I came back to life.'

'Edmund!'

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Lucy was floating.

There was something tickling her face, something that made her want to sneeze.

She opened her eyes and cringing slightly at the burst of light and looked around.

It was grass.

She sat up straight, momentarily bewildered. What was she doing lying in the back gardens of Cair Paravel?

Her head was aching, small tremors that made her want to retch and her back hurt. Probably from sleeping on the red earth all night long.

The more she thought about why she was here, the more her memory refused to comply. It was as if all her recounts of last night had vanished.

She could remember nothing from the day before.

No not the dy. The night alone.

All she could remember was that she had come out to take some fresh air and calm her worried mind. She had been sitting under the cover of the night, engrossed in her thoughts. And then she had-

A sharp jab sent her mind spiralling. Her whole head vibrated and she shivered, her eyes going out of focus.

When Lucy had been two she had accidently put her fingers in the kitchen socket, dripping wet from the water fight she and Peter had. She had received a shock that had, for a moment, paralyzed her completely.

It was exactly the same now.

Very slowly she raised herself. Her tired body protested fiercely but she ignored it. Gradually the sickening feeling departed and she was able to breathe again.

She was blank.

She could not remember.

It was as if the shock had taken her memory away.

No. No. That was impossible.

'You know your name, your family, everything about yourself, Lucy.' She reminded herself. 'You remember where you were last night. Out in the gardens and you fell asleep. That's right. You just fell asleep.'

Running a light hand through her fiery hair she stood up languidly, allowing her stiff muscles to relax in the pleasant sensation. The night dress she had been wearing was crumpled; definitely an improper attire for a queen.

Very slowly she walked down the rose-lined pathway that led to the titanic structure that was Cair Paravel. The back door was slightly ajar, leaning out in the open. Awra, the fawn cook, had probably left it open on her way to gather berries.

Thank you Aslan. Picking up the flowing material of her dress she sped inside careful to keep her steps light and delicate.

She hid behind one of the intricately designed marble statues as she saw a group of squirrels scatter down the hall chasing an ash-brown acorn.

Breathing a sigh of relief she turned around, stepping back cautiously and keeping a weather eye on the twisting corridors when heard a familiar voice say.

'Why Lucy! Whatever are you doing out here at this time in the morning?'

Mr. Tumnus looked as surprised as his tone indicated. Anxiously his eyes searched her face. 'You aren't hurt, are you?'

'What-no-of course not!' She fumbled for words, her lips breaking into such a fake and bright smile it only increased that awkwardness. 'I just wanted a breath of fresh air. You know- enjoy nature.'

'Oh.' Mr. Tumnus's eyebrows arched high as he tugged at his crimson scarf. 'But I'm sure you can enjoy nature by stepping out in your balcony.'

'Uh…. I wanted to see the apple trees the beavers planted yesterday. The blooming ones by the eastern corner.' She fibbed mentally groping for a better excuse.

If it were possible Mr. Tumnus's eyebrows rose higher, almost disappearing in his curly locks. An uncomfortable silence fell and finally Mr. Tumnus spoke again, his voice disbelieving.

'A year ago.'

'What?'

'They were planted a year ago. Not yesterday, Lucy.' He explained patiently as he shuffled to rearrange his packages. 'And by badgers not beavers.'

'Oh.' A flush spread over her face.

'Do you want to tell me what happened? Perhaps on the way to the kitchen? I really have to tell Awra to add more ginger than garlic in the soup.' He suggested, already scampering down the hallway, his hooves clicking.

'Nothing happened. I was just worried about my siblings.' Lucy said softly following him slowly. 'I hate not knowing anything. What if they are dying? And I won't know about it until its too late.'

'That's not true, Lucy. The two kings and Queen Susan are not alone. They have Aslan watching them, guarding them. He will take care of them.'

'That's not all, Mr. Tumnus.' Lucy hesitated slightly. 'I can't remember what I was doing last night.'

'What do you mean?' He asked her, concern lining his voice. 'I do hope you do not have that human disease. What is it? Amno- no- Ames- no- Anesia?

'Amnesia.' Lucy corrected as they rounded around the corner. 'And no I don't have amnesia. I remember where I was.'

'But you said-'

'I said I don't know what I was doing.'

'It's probably just a small memory shortage. Like goldfish. Amazing creatures with an extremely bad memory of course.'

'Mr. Tumnus.'

'Sorry. Please do go on.'

'I should get back to my rooms. I really have to change.'

'Oh of course but Lucy I-'

'I'll catch you later!' She called back, running hastily to avoid being caught again. 'Don't worry about me.'

'But Lucy-' Mr. Tumnus sighed heavily, thoughtfully rubbing his stubble. 'Be careful.'

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'Stop biting your lip, Peter. It's giving me a headache.'

Edmund leaned against the railing lavishing in the warmth of the sun. It seemed like years since he had been out in the sun.

Artistically he raised the painted tea pot and poured the soothing liquid into the crystal glass he held in the other hand. Scooting a wooden chair by hooking on booted foot around it he sat down.

'Why are you getting a headache?' Peter asked sitting down opposite him. He nodded towards the glass. 'And I wouldn't drink that right now.'

'Why ever not? I-Ow!' Wincing Edmund lowered the glass resentfully rubbing his mouth. 'Why, for the sake of Aslan, is tea so warm?'

'Tea is warm, Edmund.' The corners of Peter's mouth rose in a smile. 'You have to cool it down before drinking. I thought you would know that.'

'Oh shut up. And stop bothering me with your holier-than-thou presence.'

Peter raised his golden eyebrows, his shadowed eyes somehow weary.

'I just wanted to talk to you.'

'You're not the only one brother. Every girl says that to me.'

'I'm sure they do. Probably they want to tell you that you are a horrible listener.'

Edmund glared at his smiling brother. It was difficult to guess who would murder Peter first: Edmund or Isabela.

'Actually they want to compliment my extraordinary looks.

Peter scoffed, carefully tipping back his own tea. 'Yes. Extraordinary in the way that you resemble a hairy monkey with a purple face. They truly are rare.'

'These are bruises!'

'Who was it that attacked you?' Peter asked abruptly. 'Did you know them? Did they look familiar?'

Edmund eyed him warily, his gaze suspicious. Finally he shook his head. 'No. None of them were familiar. They weren't even Narnians or humans. I think they were sorcerers.'

'What do you mean?' Peter sat up, his eyes alert, every muscle of his lean body tensed. 'Sorcerers? I thought they ended when Jadis was killed.'

'I think, Peter. I'm not sure. It's only that when I was trying to run through the woods some trees suddenly caught on fire. And balls of light shot around me. I think they were spells. Possibly to kill, maim or stop me.'

'This is a very serious accusation.'

'Stop acting so prissy Peter!" Edmund huffed. 'Accusation my foot! I could have died.'

'Only because you were foolish enough to go there.'

'Sometimes I wonder how Lia manages to live with you. You're impossible!'

'Funny. She says the same thing.'

'That's because it's true. You are the most difficult person to live with.'

'She says that too. That's either startlingly coincidental or she talked to you.'

Edmund shrugged grinning.

'Everybody knows. Your fights are a hot topic back home. People are betting on-'

He faltered when he saw Peter's blazing eyes.

'Let me get this correct.' He said in a frighteningly quiet voice. 'People are betting on my relationship with Isabela? And you are involved in it?"

'Come on, Peter. It's just a laugh.'

'At my cost. At the cost of my personal life. How can I 'come on'?'

'I thought you wanted to ask me about what happened?' Edmund asked desperately. 'Aren't you just the least bit curious about what happened to m and why?'

'Actually I'm grateful to those people for forcing some sense into you.' Peter shot back coolly. 'And why are you suddenly so willing to discuss your former predicament?'

'Oh that was just to distract you.' Edmund replied. Suddenly he looked alarmed and when he spoke his tone was so serious that Peter's eyebrows flew in mystification. 'Peter. You don't think this can be related to Vladimar right?'

Peter looked at him sharply, his considering face brooding now. Finally he questioned:

'Is that what you think?'

'I think so. But-' Edmund hesitated. 'Peter you fought him before. Did you notice anything strange about him? You never told any of us about that combat. Was it-'

'I lived to see another day.' Peter's voice was harsh. 'There was nothing more to tell.'

'That's not true. You stayed quiet about it. That was pretty odd.' Edmund noted silently. 'Tell me Peter. Tell me what happened. I believe it is very important somehow.'

Peter sighed and rubbed the upper curve of his nose. His mind was far away, back to the horrendous day of the bloody battle against Vladimar.

'Surrender and call of your forces. And you'll not be harmed.' Peter told him. Shock coursed through him when he saw Vladimar's sneer.

'I shall never surrender. It is you who should, little king.'

He raised his hand and his finger twirled themselves as if summoning something. And then Peter felt a blinding pain in his chest as something pierced him. Something sharp, something cold.

'How did he summon his blade so quickly?' Peter wondered, his eyes glazed over as he tried to recall the events of that day – the day when he had almost died.

Peter felt his fingers close around his throat. He struggled from flinching and remained lifeless. Vladimar leaned over him and said.

'It seems you have lost little king. I suppose Narnia shall be lost now. But don't worry, I'll make sure I capture it and take it for myself. Your siblings shall be grieved greatly from your death and your people shall mourn their great High King. And of course, young Isabela shall be a widow now.' He made a mournful sound, mocking him. Peter felt fury course through him at his words. 'But don't worry. I shall be merciful to them all.'

He laughed and raising his head emitted a sound somewhere between a scream, a roar and a laugh. Peter knelt down taking the hilt of his sword and quick as a panther he lunged, not wasting a moment. Rhindon flashed before him in the faint light, glittering and gleaming in a magnificent curve. Vladimar was still laughing in triumph his face wild and feral.

Rhindon ended it.

Vladimar himself did not realize what had happened and he was still laughing, choking over the blood that gargled from his mouth. Finally he understood what had happened and a snarl appeared on his face.

'I hate you!' he screamed. 'I hate you! You shall not live! Your house shall be destroyed, I swear it! I promise you, you shall die a death more painful than anything!'

'But why are you doing this?' Peter asked quietly. 'I do not know you. I have never fought against you.'

Death was grasping Vladimar now and his skin was turning inky pale, almost papery white. His expression was of loathing and venomous hate.

'You…..you killed my…..my sister.'

Peter's eyebrows shot up under his golden bangs. An expression of confusion crossed his face.

'Your sister?'

'Ja…..Ja…..'

And he spoke no more. His body glowed black and white and vanished entirely. Peter stared at it vacantly, his expression blank. He tried to stand up but his feet would not allow it and he fell back to the floor.

The room was spinning around him and the floor had vanished like Vladimar's body. Blind spots dotted across his line of vision and he knew no more.

His sister.

Vladimar's sister

' I killed his sister?' Peter asked himself. 'I didn't kill his sister. I didn't even kill any woman for Aslan's sake!'

'Peter?' Edmund's anxious voice drifted up to him, blaring through the serene quiet of his jumbled thoughts. 'I asked you something.'

'Edmund. He said something.' Peter said urgently, trying to make his baffled-faced brother understand.

'Who said what?' Edmund asked scratching his head. 'Honestly Peter sometimes you make no sense whatever!'

'Vladimar, you dimwit!' Peter snapped. 'He said that I killed his sister.'

Silence.

More silence

Edmund's eyes met Peter's over the coffee table, his mouth a perfect shape of 'o', his expression somewhere between bewilderment and disgust.

'You killed his sister?' He shouted standing up carelessly. The tea cup shattered against the floor in an impact that sent hundreds of pieces everywhere. 'You murdered a woman? Why ever did you do that?'

Peter clenched his fists at his sides to keep from slapping him. Sometimes he felt like awarding himself a medal for his self control.

'Edmund I thought you would know me better than that.' He said quietly, detached somehow. 'Obviously I didn't kill his sister. He was mistaken.'

'Oh.' Edmund sat back down. 'Oh. Did he tell you any name? Anything about her? Perhaps we forgot?'

'No, he didn't get a chance. He died without telling me anything.' Peter slumped back. 'You think I haven't thought this over, Ed? I remember all the people whose life's ended by my hand. It's not an easy thing being a murderer.'

'You're not a murderer Peter.'

'I have nightmares.' He said softly, his voice not bitter but somehow terribly weary. 'I see them. All of them. And I see their families cursing me, hating me, desperately desiring to kill me. To you I may not be a murderer. But I am to those whose loved ones I killed.'

'And if you didn't kill them?' Edmund shot back. 'Don't be stupid Peter. They would have killed you if they had a chance. They would have killed Su, Lucy or me. They could have killed Isabela and slaughtered millions of innocents. You had no choice.'

'They had no choice either Ed.'

'Yes they did.' Edmund said fiercely. 'They did. And they chose to fight for the bad ones. They had their own minds to think and to act. Nobody forced them to do anything.'

'I-'

'Tell me Peter.' Edmund looked his elder brother directly in the eyes. 'What would you have done? Let them kill you? Let them kill me, Susan, Lucy and Lia? Let them kill the Narnians? Ravage and plunder our land? Destroy us?'

Peter raised his eyes to meet Edmund's.

Chocolate brown into sea blue.

Brother and brother.

Edmund nearly flinched back. He had never seen Peter's eyes so tormented.

'You had no choice.' He said. 'And everybody knows that.'

Peter bent a long, considering look at him.

'Not everybody. Vladimar certainly didn't.'

'He was mistaken.'

'Funny I believed that too. Right until ten, twenty seconds ago.'

'If he was correct,' Edmund countered, propping himself up. 'Wouldn't he have told you his sister's name? To make to believe him?'

'He said Ja.'

'Ja?' Edmund asked incredulously. 'Ja? Is he somehow related to the Spanish? Or is it some language spoken only in Vlady-land?'

'J-a, Edmund. They are two letters. 'J' and 'A'. It's pronounced Ja.'

'His sister's name was Ja?' Edmund smirked mischievously. 'I can see mommy calling young Vla and Ja into the house for lunch.'

'Aren't you ever serious?'

'Fine, fine.' Edmund pouted. 'Fun-spoiler. Party-pooper.'

'It was just the beginning of a name. He still had to say it completely.'

'Well let's see.' Edmund stroked his chin in a thoughtful manner. 'There's Jane, Janice, Janna, Jamie, Janaica, Janaita and Jackie. Oh and there Jaina from Star Wars.'

'Or Jadis.'

'Or Jad-' The humour vanished from Edmund's face. 'No. No, it can't be.'

'It can be.' Peter said crossing his arms over his ribs. 'Why are you denying it?'

'No. No.' Edmund shook his head obstinately. Peter saw a flash of fear in his eyes. 'Jadis didn't have any siblings. She wasn't even human.'

'How do you know? Did you read a personal diary entry of hers when you were enjoying yourself at her palace?'

It had been the wrong thing to say. And Peter regretted it immediately.

Edmund recoiled back, flinching as if Peter had hit him on the face. He spoke out hoarsely. 'Peter, I….'

'I know.' Peter ran a hand through his blond hair. 'I'm sorry, Ed. I didn't mean to say it. It just slipped out.'

'You didn't kill her.' Edmund pointed out after a few seconds of silence. 'Vladimar said you killed his sister. Assuming that Jadis is his sister then it was Aslan who killed her.'

Peter did not reply.

'Peter. If Vladimar was so fond of her that he struggled to avenge her death wouldn't he have supported her in the First Battle of Beruna?'

'I don't know, Ed.' Frustration laced Peter's voice, inching out from every syllable. 'I don't know.'

'Calm that blond head of yours, brother.' Edmund said sharply. 'There's no use in raking your head over something that has finished.'

'Not according to you.' Peter said. At Edmund's look of puzzled inquiry. 'Were you searching for Vladimar or Vladimir?'

A flood of heat enveloped Edmund's pale cheeks in a halo of blush.

'Susan told you?' He asked finally. 'Seeing as Lucy, the only one who knew that, is back at Cair Paravel?'

'It doesn't matter who told me. What matters is that why did you risk your life for it?'

'I thought it was important.' Edmund confessed finally. 'I thought maybe they were somehow inter-related. Connected.'

'Were they?'

'I don't know.'

'You don't know?' The High King's eyebrows shot up. 'So this detour was simply a way for an angst ridden teenager to have fun?'

'Shut up.'

'Oh, so there was something? Will you care to divulge your information to me?'

'What if you're a spy?' Edmund asked crossly. 'I'll ask you a question. And if you can answer it then I'll tell you.'

'I'm not amused, Ed.'

'No. But you will be. Or rather I will be.'

'Nothing good can come out of something that amuses you.'

'Did you and Isabela have fun on your wedding night?' Leaning forward Edmund sniggered. 'Or any other night?'

The implication of his question was very clear.

'What sort of question is that?' Peter roared, losing his temper. 'Is that any of your business?'

'Well I am eager to see if my nephews and nieces follow up to my example.'

'If you don't stop talking right now Ed, you're going to have to carry your bruises for the next year.' Peter threatened, gritting his teeth.

'I'll take that as a 'no'.' Edmund said in a disappointed voice. 'I was so looking forward to seeing –'

He ducked avoiding a blow that was levelled directly at his face.

'I'll shut up now.'

'That would be most wise.'

'I don't know.' Edmund eyed his brother's hand. 'A man I met told me about a lost diary that was buried somewhere in the forest. I wanted to dig it out but the guards saw me.'

'So it was all for nothing.'

'Nope.' Edmund said cheerfully. 'I did learn that the girls there are very, very pretty.'

This time the blow landed on his head.

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'What now?' Heidi asked leaning back against the sofa, crossing her long legs and staring at the long scratches that looked like claws running down the side of the sofa.

'I'm sorry?' Vladimar asked, smiling delicately over the glass of wine he held in his slender hand. 'I'm sorry dear. But will you repeat that?'

'You're back.' There was something disarmingly frightening about the smile that appeared on Vladimar's face when he heard that. 'Now what do you plan to do?'

'I have many plans, my dear. If one fails I shall try another.'

'One did fail.' Heidi pointed out. She immediately regretted opening her mouth when she saw annoyance cross his face. She swallowed. 'You were killed. I hope your Plan B doesn't end in the same way.'

'Oh no.' Vladimar said mildly. 'And I'm still dead. This is just a corporeal projection of me. Very much like a ghost except of course I have flesh. But that's just magic.'

Heidi did not answer. She still had the gashes on her body from the effort if had taken to bring his ghostly projection. She grimaced at the sudden pain that shot through her.

'Despite your irritating lack of faith in me,' He continued. 'I assure you this time I will not fail.'

'How do you know?' Heidi crossed her bangle-clad arms under her ribs. 'What makes you think that you will succeed?'

'Because this time I am better equipped. I have better knowledge. And I learned from my past mistake.'

'I'm sure you did.'

'Don't patronize me, Heidi.'

She flinched at hearing her name roll off his serpentine tongue. It sounded like the vilest, coarsest word he had ever said.

'As I was saying.' He twirled his empty goblet between his fingers with surprising grace and accuracy. 'This time I will not challenge those insolent fools directly.'

'No?'

'No.'

'Then how do you intend to defeat them?'

'By crushing them from within. By destroying the walls that hold them up.'

'You will destroy Cair Paravel?' Heidi asked in bewilderment.

'Stupid, ignorant child.' Heidi marvelled at his calm composure when she knew he was aching to snap her neck. 'Stupid, deaf child. Didn't you hear what I said? I will not take them out directly.'

'But you said...'

'I meant destroying their barriers from within. Making them distrust each other. Destroying their faith in that wretched lion.'

'They love Aslan.' Heidi said. 'They won't ever fall into the ditch you are digging for them.'

'They will. What are they? Teenagers simply? The oldest is perhaps nineteen, twenty…? It's very easy to play with children.'

'Yet these children destroyed the White Witch and her followers.'

'They did, didn't they?' Vladimar asked ruefully. 'They destroyed me too don't you remember? That's why this time we'll play the game their way.'

'I don't understand.'

'I can very well see that. Heidi my dear. Have you ever heard the saying: United we stand, divided we fall?'

'I have. But that's just a fairytale moral.'

'Fairytales are not very different from reality. Bad guys, good guys. War, peace. Witches, wizards. Love, hatred.' A sly smile crept onto his face. 'Only there is never a happily ever after.'

'Are you teaching me literature?'

'I'm teaching you your battle strategy.'

'Which is…'

'Dividing them. Dividing those five. Destroy their close bond in such a way that Narnia itself will be torn apart.'

'How can I do that? They love each other to much. They're too closely connected.'

'Not their High King and his wife.'

Disbelief crossed Heidi's face like a shadow.

'You want me to ruin their marriage?' She shook her head. 'It's already in tatters.'

'On the contrary it's only starting to blossom. It's an ideal time to destroy it.'

'How will it divide Narnia? Of course they will side with their High King! They won't be affected in the slightest.'

'Wrong again. Narnia is very much fond of their High Queen. She's Aslan's chosen one. And for them that pathetic excuse of a lion is everything. It won't be easy to replace her.'

'What about his siblings? The Just King and the Queens will surely support their brother.'

'No they won't.' Vladimar grinned terrifyingly. 'I assure you they won't.'

'How will I do it alone?' Heidi asked, praying desperately that somebody else would be chosen to do this job.

The smirk that came on Vladimar's face sent shivers down her spine.

'My dear, meet Alexander.'

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The longest chapter yet! I have to say I was very disappointed by the number of reviews for the last chapter. My source of encouragement was completely depleted! Come on guys! I don't' care if you just say type one word (depending on your thoughts) but please, please review! Best wishes!

A. L. Potter