Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any characters you may recognize from the books or the movies, I wish I did but I don't... I also don't own the Narnian Calendar. It belongs to Elecktrum who was kind enough to let me borrow it for my story. Her own stories are awesome and you should go read them too.
Summary: There's danger in the north. Giants hunt for Narnia's Kings and General. Who will survive when hope is eclipsed?
A/N: If you have not read the first nine stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, Refracted, Reflected, Veiled, and Unveiled), I highly recommend you do so for the full experience. However, I have included a quick summary of the previous stories so if you want to give this one a whirl on its own, you can.
Chapter Seven: Fea
There was nothing dignified about leashed like a little pet. Edmund stalked, face scowling, as he tried not to think about the dirty ribbon the two-headed Giantess had looped around his neck even as he lugged her stinky purse. And he was certain she kept yanking on the "leash" in order to trip him. She might have been shorter than the others, no more than eight feet tall but that was no relief. And blast Peter! His idiot brother must have run right into the Giants. And where was Oreius? Alive? Dead? Aslan only knew.
Edmund grumbled under his breath, "Blasted Giants."
The smaller head turned to look at him, her lips curling into a cruel smile, and then she yanked on the ribbon. He snarled at her as he barely caught himself before he could fall and probably strangle too. The stupid purse fell to the ground. The Giantess laughed, her larger head laughing the loudest and longest, while her small head smirked. "Don't break my pretties. Some are for you."
"For prize!" chortled the larger head.
Then she yanked on the ribbon again, dragging Edmund forward several paces. He scowled. "I'd be happy to carry your pretties if you actually had any. All I see is a bag of broken bits and pieces that are no bloody use to anyone! And it stinks. Don't you ever wash it?"
The Giantess laughed. Then she pat him on the head. Edmund swore but she only seemed more amused. The smaller head turned to the other Giantess. "And how does your prize behave, Sister Aunt? Will he be satisfying?"
Edmund glared as the cross-eyed Giantess turned abruptly, dragging Peter across the rocky soil. She grinned stupidly as she picked Peter up with both hands and then set him on her hip as though he were a doll. His brother was too busy wheezing to realize he should be outraged at the treatment. The Giantess patted him on the back with such force that Edmund winced (and hoped that Peter might be sick on her . . . it would serve her right). "Nice prize. Nemain like, Sister Niece."
"He's not going to be any good for anything if you keep choking him and dragging him about like that," Edmund snapped. His wrathful gaze returned to his captor. "If my brother dies, you die. And last I checked, the two of you were determined to use us as pack animals. We can't drag your slovenly excuses for purses through the dirt if you keep choking us and dragging us around."
She laughed. "You have fire. That is very good. That passes down to children."
Cold horror ripped through him, stealing his breath away. Children? Why would she- Then it all slid into place. The Harfangers clung to their seat of power through the claim of long-distant human blood in their veins. Their king, Borak, had wanted a marriage alliance some seven years past but he and Peter had refused. They had thought the matter dropped when the Fell Giants turned their attention to internal feuds and the occasional press into Narnian territory. It would seem they had been wrong. And now they planned to use him and Peter to . . . Ugh!
Nemain laughed and then tossed Peter in the air before catching him again and squeezing tight.
"Look they's just playin' again!" One of the Ettins shoved his way from where he and his fellows had been marching sullenly behind the Harfangers and then he snatched Peter away from Nemain. He dangled Peter upside and shook him then laughed. "Let's roast 'im! Ready a fire!"
Nemain stared at him and for a moment Edmund feared she would agree but then she shrieked. "Morfran! Morfran! Morfran!" She threw herself at the bigger Ettin, howling and beating him with her massive fists. "Purty prize mine! Purty mine! Morfran!"
The Ettin shoved her down and then swung Peter over his head. "Manling's for eatin'! Share 'er prize, hag!" He strode back toward the other Ettins, swinging Peter so his head brushed precariously close to the low boulders scattered along their chosen path. "Roast 'im, boil 'im, stick 'im in a pot! Eat 'im 'ot!"
The odious chant made Edmund lunge for him but the ribbon around his throat tightened and yanked him to the ground where he lay gasping for breath. "Peter."
He rolled over and got to his hands and knees. The Ettin still had a hold of Peter. He tried to get to his feet but the blasted ribbon was tangled around him and threatened to choke him with every move he made. Nemain let out another screech and then hurtled herself into the Ettin, not even caring that it made Peter bounce and brought his head dangerously close to a boulder. She was going to end up killing him in her quest to take him back. The Giantess howled, "No! Mine! Purty prize mine! Morfran! Morfran!"
The Ettin backhanded her only to let out a howl of his own as he was struck in the back by the butt of Morfran's spear. The dark Harfanger glared, his teeth flashing amidst his beard in an ugly grin as he kicked the helpless Giant, and then he slammed the butt of the spear against the Ettin's head. Nemain got up and jumped on the Ettin with both feet twice.
Edmund felt the ribbon go slack and he immediately crawled over to Peter. His brother was lying on his back, looking positively green beneath his unkempt beard. He grabbed his shoulder and shook him. "Peter?"
Peter opened his eyes, turned an even sicklier shade of green, and then rolled over just as the beaten Ettin put his hand down beside them. Edmund bit his lip to keep from laughing or cheering when Peter was promptly sick all over the Ettin's hand. The Ettin jerked back with an oath but the other Giants had forgotten their brewing fight in favor of laughing at their fellow's misfortune. Edmund grabbed Peter beneath his armpits and lugged the great lummox back out of the way of the swearing Ettin.
His brother's head was lolling around alarmingly but he was breathing steadily. "Eddie, I think- we need- to walk- more."
Edmund snorted. "Before or after they shake up what's left of your brain, numbskull?" A shadow swept over them and Edmund scowled up at the two-headed Giantess. "Well? You lot managed to shake him almost to the point of his brains running out his ears. We can't go any further tonight."
The small head nodded. "Morfran! We camp here tonight."
His black gaze suddenly turned on them and Edmund had to force himself to meet the malevolence in Morfran's beady eyes. He raised his chin slightly and glowered right back. Morfran turned to the two-Headed Giantess. "Keep Nemain and her prize close, Fea. We want no more stealin'." His gaze returned to Edmund as he added, "Your prize will cause trouble."
You bet I will.
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A/N: Please Read and Review! In case you were wondering, the Ettins' food chant was inspired by the Goblins in Tolkien's The Hobbit. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.