An: Alright, this is the new chapter. I hope you guys like what I've did. More explanation on the Knights of Aslan is in this. If it is unclear, please tell me.

Disclaimer: All properties of the Chronicles of Narnia belong to the original writer and filmmakers. Even if many of us wish it for a Christmas present.

Summary: Aslan, in his all knowing ways, had put in place four magical guardians for Narnia. They live on the other side, from where the lines of the Kings started. Unknowingly, with her treachery, the White Witch has unleashed something even more frightening than she anticipated: against herself.

Beware White Queen of whom you anger out of the Four Guardians. Whom do you fear the most? Would it be the Strength with it's physical force gained through hardship and friendship? The Wisdom with it's everlasting knowledge rivaling all that lives and all that will learn? Could it be the Force, the more brutal form of Strength, crushing all that stood in it's path? Or would it be the Cunning, whose slyness brings great sorrow to it's foes?

Word-Count: 4,407 words.

The Ophiuchus

Part Two: Ophiuchus Awakening

Edmund's first day at Hogwarts was a Saturday, which meant no lessons at all. His morning was spent in the company of Myra as his guide to his different classrooms. "I expect you to be on time to class, or even early if you can. Your coursework and grades must be up to par, as befitting the Ward of the Black's." She told him as they passed by corridors and staircases, in between instructions on the various ways to get to the floors. "In time, you will find the secret passages that will get you where you want to. I cannot tell you for that is the journey that all students must take." Nothing else was said, apart from some anecdotes that Myra shared on certain historical artifacts.

Lunch was spent at the Hufflepuff's table. Everyone seating themselves at the exact same spot than at breakfast. Except with a slight rotation, keeping the same order: Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. It was an odd detail that Edmund filed in the back of his brain.

Another detail that was interesting was that nobody seemed bother by the strange grouping of students. No where else in the Great Hall were there eight students gathered together, six of them from different tables. Two and three different students, true, but not eight and certainly not from different ages. But he was only at the beginning of the year, maybe things would change later on? He didn't know, nor could he really speculate about it.

The lunch hour passed by in a merry sort of way. Leia had put her book down and joined in a light-hearted conversation with Michael about past anecdotes that happened in Hogwarts. They told Edmund interested tidbits about the different professors at school. It was a new and interesting experience for Edmund, he wasn't to use to having older students take interest in him, in the positive sort of way, taking care of him. It was a warm and fuzzy can of feeling.

The afternoon passed by differently. Myra brought Edmund back into their rooms to discuss more in depth about what Myra wanted from Edmund. So far, he was confused as to why the older girl would shower him with so many gifts and favors.

Needless to say, the conversation was very enlightening, if not a bit disturbing. The reason why Myra decided to take under her wing a Muggleborn, something that her family usually despised with various degrees, was only due to a dream. A recurring dream of three weeks, nonetheless still a dream.

Now, Edmund could understand that magic could be an excellent explanation, but to throw away sixteen years of upbringing in one of the most stuck-up family? A deeper explanation was in order.

"Before that, Edmund, will you swear an Unbreakable Vow? What I am about to tell you must not leave the room." Myra's tone was inflexible.

"What is an Unbreakable Vow?" Some common sense must be done. He didn't know much about magic, but according to the storybooks he had read, you mustn't agree to something magical without knowing the consequences. "What does it do?"

"In short, you will swear on your magic. If any one of us breaks it, the one who breaks it will loose not only his magic but his life as well. The information that I will tell you, you must take it to the grave with you. Do you understand why I ask you that?" Her tone was caressing, nearly gentle, with an underline tone of steel.

Edmund nodded, loosing his voice at the seriousness of the situation.

"Good, now give me your hand." Edmund obeyed. She took it in her own pale, smooth one, her wand in the other. "Will you, Edmund Arnold Pevensie, swear to keep the information about the Knights of Aslan? To not speak, write or even try to communicate with any breathing person before you reach the rank of Knight?"

"I do." Edmund swore. A beam of light shot out from Myra's wand, it twirled around their bounded hands.

"In exchange, I swear to tell you everything I know about the Knights of Aslan. So mote it be."

Another beam of light shone out to twist around their hands in a different pattern, joining the first one. Once the lights dimmed, there hands unbounded. "So, will you tell me what this is all about?" Edmund asked, full of wonder at all the secrecy he was living in just the first few days at this new school.

She gestured him to sit down on her bed. "Come, let me tell you a story." He sat down next to her. "What many historians do not know, is that the idea of Hogwarts came through a dream to the Founders. According to some of their writing they had passed down to our Order, a lion from another world came to all of their dreams at the same time. He showed them a castle with each of their families crest blowing in the wind on each tower. He told them that they must built a school to train all those that are gifted with Magic. He guided them through the school, showing them a future much brighter than what they were living in."

She paused for a moment, to let Edmund absorb what she was telling him. "Then, in that dream, the lion showed them the creation of his world. A beautiful world filled with magic even more wonderful than they had ever seen. The population was not filled with mankind, but with fauns, centaurs, spirits of nature and even Talking Beasts. However, on the day of its creation, the Founders saw the coming of one of its Greatest Enemy. For, on that day of creation, five other saw it too. Four of them were from our own world in a different time while the last one was a Cruel Queen who had destroyed her own world and kingdom for her greed. To counter the Evil that came the very first day, Aslan tasked two children of the group to bring back a shield to protect from the Cruel Queen. They succeeded but it was only a temporary measure."

She paused once more, letting the information sink in the younger boy's head. "The dream continued in a forest, so dark and endless, with puddles of water here and there. The lion turned towards the Founders and asked them for their help. "I have protected your future by showing you what must be done. Now, I am in need of your aid. In each of your Houses, choose a student that encompasses all of the qualities that you shall represent. They shall be the Four Magical Knights of my kingdom, one for each direction. Two for the stars and heavens, two for the earth and hell. They shall come and go throughout the history of my land, for one day, they will defend it in it's hour of need. They will be known as the Knights of Aslan.The lion roared and the Founders woke up. For forty nights, the Founders dreamed the same dream, until they agreed to create this school. Ever since then, four students are chosen to be the Knights of Aslan. We see our successors in dreams, just as the Founders saw the creation of the Order. You are my chosen successor."

Silence ruled the room once more, Myra letting Edmund understand the whole story then form questions.

"Am I really your successor?" That was Edmund's first question.

"Yes Edmund, you are. If you agree to be my successor, then I will help you for as long as I learn at Hogwarts. I shall be your mentor and protector. I will show you Aslan's land, as my mentor showed me and his mentor before him."

"You mentioned something about two different types of knights?" Edmund furthered on.

"Yes, there are four knights in total. One for the North and one for the South, they represent the Earth and the Underworld." With her wand, she traced in their air two symbols at the norther and southern end of the world in their little room. "One for the East and one for the West, they represent the stars and the Heavens." Two more symbols were formed at the eastern and western of the room. "The House of Slytherin had been given the western symbol of cunningness. We are named after the constellation of the Serpent, the Ophiuchus. Our opposite is the House of Gryffindor who has been given the easter symbol of strength, their Knight is named after the constellation of the Lion, the Leo."

Edmund then recognized the Eastern and Western symbols as the constellations. But the two others were different. "What do Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw represent?"

Myra smiled at him, for it shown that Edmund agreed to the apprenticeship with all his questions. "The House of Hufflepuff was gifted with the southern symbol of forcefulness, their Knight is named after the old folklore of the Badger, the Broch. It's counterpart is the House of Ravenclaw housed under the northern symbol of wisdom, their Knight is named after the old folklore of the Raven, the Valraven."

They passed the rest of the afternoon discussing things about the land of Aslan, the Order of Aslan and it's functions. They even devised a contract between them to finalize their relationship.

When the night came — with it's dark cloak glittered with stars, planets and moon — Edmund was inducted into the Order of Aslan as the Heir apparent of the Ophiuchus.

His first test was to follow Myra into the dark, without getting caught by any teacher. For someone so pale as she, she was frighteningly good at mingling in the shadows of the night. That would be Edmund's first goal, to be as good as she was in the shadows.

— OotW —

The journey to the Beavers' dam was in a daze for Edmund. The scenery, so white in nature, was completely different from what he had seen during his own journeys in this mystical land. The Knights of Aslan have all appeared during a certain part of history. Edmund's had been during the reign of Frank the V with his two sons: Frank VI and Col (the first king of Archenland). The long horse rides they had gone together, with the other Knights, had shown a different landscape that was seeing today.

Something else was tickling in the back of his mind. His foggy mind that could not concentrate on anything at the moment. What was it? He couldn't remember at all. Something about making sure his siblings was far away from this country? Per chance it was that? Maybe it wasn't that?

His medallion burned against his chest, trying to chase away the foreign magic that had entered it's host system. But the caster was, at the moment, still to strong for it to complete it's duty in secrecy. If it's host was aware of the magic used on him, than the medallion could have completely chased away the foreign magic. For now, it would do what it can and wait for the right opportunity.

Just before Edmund entered the home of the Beavers, his gaze strayed to something he had never seen before: a castle made purely of ice. It sat in the horizon, glittering in the dusky night. Something about it beckoned Edmund.

"See something you like?" Mr. Beaver asked Edmund. "Maybe admiring the landscape?"

Edmund's gaze tore itself away from the Castle. "No, it was nothing."

He went inside under the suspicious gaze of the Talking Beast. Something was amidst, Mr. Beaver's sixth sense was telling him. He would keep a very watchful eye on the second Son of Adam.

The dam was a bit cramped with the four Pevensie filling the single room. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver were excellent hosts. Their cheerful personalities filling up the room with warmth, contrasting with the bitter cold outside. Seeing that it was soon dinner time, Mrs. Beaver had made everyone some fish and chips, not in the traditional British sort of way, yet still very good.

What she didn't tell the poor children — they were so young to bear the burden of their freedom — was that it were the last fishes from their reserves. The Beaver couple would have to eat bread and potatoes for the next month or so until the winter lifted slightly for more fishing. Not that it would change to much in their diets, just a bit more earlier than expected. It was their last four fishes. Still, without one single from either of the Talking Beasts, they gladly made a small feast for the Sons and Daughters of Adam and Eve. Only the youngest of the Sons of Adam seemed to have noticed boy seemed to be in some sort of daze, if Mrs. Beaver's eyes weren't mistaken. It must be from the influx of information, she concluded, nothing else.

During dinner, Mr. Beaver took his time to explain the prophecy to the four children. "When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone sits in Cair Paravel in throne. The evil is over and done."

"That doesn't even rhyme." Susan immediately protested. Edmund privately agreed during the faltering of Mr. Beaver.

Said faltering soon showed them the weight of to much hope that the Pevensie couldn't fulfill. After all, they were just children, nothing more, nothing less. It was especially heavy for Peter who had to watch over this younger siblings on top of everything else. He wouldn't put them through a war when they were sent away from one.

Nobody noticed Edmund gently slip away from the stiffly cabin. He was burning up, his magic fighting something inside of him. That intruder, sensing it's hold weakening, gathered it's final strength to send Edmund to it's Mistress' Castle to keep her hold on him. The host was getting even more powerful to be able to shake it off slightly. It's Mistress needed to reaffirm her hold on one of the Chosen Ones for her to be still the most powerful ruler of Narnia.

During his walk towards his doom, Edmund met a small fox with the reddest fur he had ever seen. It was curious, especially in winter, for foxes usually changed their colors to be able to blend in some more. It reminded him of one of his own fox friends when Edmund came to Narnia. He stopped when the fox bowed down to him, his head clear enough for him to do so.

"Greetings your majesty." The Fox told him. "I am Auric from the Swiftpaw Clan."

"Greetings Auric from the Swiftpaw Clan. I am glad to see that Yanic's descendants are still the fastest messengers in all of the land. What news do you bring and from where?" Edmund asked curious. Yanic was one of his companions during his time in Aslan's Country. The fox was proud to belong to a clan renown for bringing messages the fastest anywhere in the land. They were one of the official couriers for the Royal Family, when swiftness was more important than force or aspect. Edmund was truly happy to see that his descendants had carried on in that tradition.

If Auric was surprised of the young king knowing about one of his ancestors, it did not show. "I come from the North bearing the greatest of all news. Aslan has returned and is now gathering an Army for you and the other King and Queens. The Eternal Winter is now at an end. All hail Aslan, the mighty King of All."

"All hail Aslan, the Creator of All." Edmund responded with a slight murmur of admiration and awe. Then, he realized what was happening to him, his magic with the medallion trying their best to brush away any and all vestige of the Cold Magic. "Listen Auric, I am in need of your aid. The White Witch is, at the moment, controlling me. I am trying to fight her hold, but it will still take some time." Seeing the fox's eyes widened, he continued on, feeling the vestiges of the Cold Magic taking over him once more. Now that he was aware of it, it will be much easier to fight against it. "I am tasking you to help my brother and my sisters. They are at the Beaver's dam a bit more at the South. Warn them that danger is coming and to flee towards the North. Towards Aslan's camp. Go now and spread the joyful news of Aslan's return."

Auric bowed once more and started the journey towards the Beaver's dam, showing why his clan was named Swiftpaw.

Edmund continued on his dire direction towards the Witch's Castle, his mind clearer of what was happening, even if his body no longer obeyed him for the moment. As the large, looming doors of frost appeared before him, Edmund gulped interiorly.

The time would come when the White Witch would bemoan her fate and actions. For now, he would just have to bid his time and patience.

Soon, very soon, his magic would be able to chase away the foreign, controlling, magic. When the time comes, he will be ready to act against her. Besides, if not as if she had any hold over him. He knew the Laws of Olde. Knew what the White Witch had been promised in the very beginning. Unfortunately for her, he did not belong in the category of Traitors since she was the one to influence him. At least, he hoped that it was the case.

— OotW —

The dungeons were cold. So, so cold. Fog came out of his mouth with every breath he took. Ice filled every nook and cranny, making it extremely difficult to sit down. Yet, that was what Edmund had to do for his legs were to cold and weary to bear him up.

The metal of the chains around his ankle bite through his socks, removing one less barrier of physical warmth from the cold. Physical since his own magic warmed him from the inside. He could still feel the hideous Cold Magic still running through his veins. He would need some additional help or for the Witch to be either extremely wounded, preferably dead is possible.

His wandering thoughts were distracted — maybe the exact term would be focused? — by his neighbor in the next cell. He was a faun, that much, Edmund knew. It was weary, raggedy and so very thin. Edmund was not hungry enough to eat the stale bread. At the begging of his neighbor, Edmund gladly gave his bread. The poor faun was limping towards the hole in the wall, his legs unable to withstand his body weight. The scene was so pitiful, so sad that it pierced Edmund's heart.

Aslan's land was such a joyful land. Full of wonder and of hope. For it to fall in such a state, … Edmund couldn't even bare to think of such a situation before he had seen this.

Part of the training to become a Knight of Aslan was to live in His country. Two to three years at Hogwarts wasn't enough to teach everything about the Order or to become a Knight. All potential squires — apprentices in the more modern term — went through the portal to live a couple of years in Aslan's country to be trained. The portal was shown in a dream to the apprentice. They would cross over it, with their master, to live there in some part of it's history for many long years.

No two apprentices would live in the same period of time. Even if they went in the same portal. The period where they arrive could be anywhere in time.

Edmund had arrived during the birth of King Frank the Vth's youngest son: Col. During the two years at Hogwarts, Edmund spent many years in Narnia with Frank and Col. He was there during the coronation of Col as the very first king of Archenland. He was there during the peace talks and training of the two princes. He was there during one of the most peaceful reigns of the land. He was there during the alliance between Aslan's land, ruled by Frank the VIth, and Archenland, ruled by Col.

Edmund's brooding got interrupted, once more, by the White Witch entering the dungeons. Her bearing was regal, Edmund noted, just like any porcelain doll that could shatter at any moment. There was no trace of humanity in her.

"You have failed me Edmund." She told him. As if she thought him to be as loyal in the first place. He had only told her the truth as to where his siblings were. The words escaped through his mouth by the Cold Magic still running through his veins. On top of that, his scent led her Secret Police to where his siblings last were. It was not as if he could have hid their previous location anymore than possible. Edmund sent a silent prayer to Aslan for the protection of his siblings.

"My wolves have torn the dam apart. Your little family was no where to be found." She approached him, looming in all her pale glory. "Where are they?"

Edmund kept his silence. Now that he was more in control of his body, he would keep his silent rebellion.

She stood back. "Very well. It would seem that you are no longer of use to me. Guards." She ordered. Ginarrbrik approached the boy, his eyes glinting with dangerous savagery. The dagger on his belt, the very same that had been stopped from taking his blood, sparkled of thirst.

The cyclops that was with her came towards the faun in the next cell. With it's trunk like arm, the cyclops heaved the faun towards his Queen before dropping him at her feet.

"You see here, Edmund." She indicated with a thin veil of disgust. "This faun is called Mr. Tumnus. He once was one of my most loyal subjects. Right until he let your sister — Lucy wasn't it? — go. My allies with the trees saw everything and reported back to me." She paused, letting her magic flair slightly to provoke fear around her. "So here is the deal, Edmund."

The way she said his name made him shiver.

"Either you tell me where your siblings are going or you die." Her wand glittered softly in the whitish light. "Not alone, mind you. You will bring Mr. Tumnus with you." The wand trailed a line on the faun's throat. "If you tell me where they are, I swear on my magic to spare this faun from the jaws of death."

Edmund pondered on the decision. Either he condemned his siblings or his condemned not only his life but that of his sister's friend.

"Choose quickly, Edmund. My patience wanes as each second ticks away."

Edmund made his decision. Hoping that Aslan would protect his family, he caved in. "I didn't hear to much before I left." The Witch gave him a pointed look to continue. "Mr. Beaver said something about Aslan and North. I think that they were heading towards Aslan. That's all I know. I swear it."

The cold, cutting smile grew sharper. "Very good, Edmund." She gestured towards Ginarrbrik who hosted the boy towards her sled. Then, her gaze went towards the faun. "I swore that you will be spared from the jaws of death. So, this leaves me with just one solution." With a wave of her wand, she turned Mr. Tumnus into a statue of stone. After all, she always kept her promises when it concerned her magic.

Striding towards her sled, she savored the moment of glory that was soon to come. She could feel it on the tip of her fingers, she was going to win the war and rule for all eternity. Long live herself!

She was death and blind to the roar of a lion outside, nor did she observe the small smile on Edmund's lips. He could feel her magic weakening as Aslan's grew stronger.

Discreetly, Edmund gathered his own magic at the tip of his fingers, Ginarrbrik was occupied by harnessing the reindeers, before sending a slight pulse through his medallion. Now that Edmund was aware as to where he was and of the situation, he knew as to why the Order of Aslan was created.

It was time for the Knight of the Leo, the Knight of the Valraven and the Knight of the Broch to come to his aid. For, even if the apprentices were to live in some random period of time, the Knights had the advantage to come to another's aid thanks to the medallions they wore around their necks.

Medallions that were created not only to protect the Knights against most attacks — be it magical or physical —, they acted as beacons as well to gather the Four Magical Knights together in Narnia.

The Time has come for Strength, Wisdom, Force and Cunning to gather together and free Narnia from the Greatest of Evils that the Founders had seen come in Narnia. It was just Edmund's luck that he was also part of a prophecy to free Narnia and rule the lands as one of it's Kings.

As he laid at the bottom of the sled, bound and gag cruelly, another thought passed through his mind that terrified him even more than the figure of the White Witch striding towards him with a smirk that could rival the coldest and sharpest of knives. He will have to show his siblings about his magical abilities as well as the fact that he belonged to an Order.

Not to mention the fact that he had already come to Narnia! Lucy was going to kill him with all her grilling about it before. If Susan wouldn't smother him to death after feeling guilty for not being there for him. Or even Peter who would feel the worst of all brothers for not trying to reach out to Edmund before.

Aslan protect him from all of that!

A rumbling chuckle vibrated in his mind, soothing him slightly. It would seem that Aslan had not only heard him, but took great pleasure in his fears!

Edmund pouted interiorly. Caught between a wall and a hard rock! Which was worse? The Death or his siblings realizing that he had a different life from them?

AN: So, what do you guys think? Like it? Dislike it?

Also, read the summary, there are little tidbits of information concerning the chapter. Which reminds me, there will be one last chapter before this story is done. Maybe there will be a sequel concerning Prince Caspian but I'm not to sure.

Tell me what you think. Cheers =)