Chapter 5; nurse me back to health

It was late into the night when Aline sat by the light of the oil lamp, her head buried in a heap of gold and scarlet invitations adorned with the golden silhouette of a lion. Aslan.

She'd only heard stories of the majestic lion, the patron of Narnia, but she sure had heard countless tales that proclaimed of his majesty. She herself at many times, had questioned the credibility of those, like any person with a sane mind would.

But right at that moment, sitting amidst the luminesent glow of the lamp that cast her slender figure in a dim incandescent glow, it's warmth wrapping around her form like a comfortable cocoon and the gentle whisper of the tree leaves dancing to the rhythm of the night. It was in moments like this when the threads of the fabric that bound reality and fantasy apart wore dangerously frail, when magic seemed to infilter the very air she breathed, that Aline almost, almost could believe everything that had transpired since that fateful day.

She shook her head to clear the haze that set in, focusing back her attention to the task she was assigned to. After a while of scribbling out strange names and titles that she'd given up trying to give voice to the empty words, she realised that she'd come to the very end of the list.

Aline paused a while, contemplating whether she should get the rest of the list from Lucy. Finally deciding it better if she finished the whole thing when she felt in the mood to, rather than put it away for tomorrow. She did have a problem with procrastination that she was trying to change.

It wasn't until she made her way half-way down the corridor did she feel the chill seep through the robe she'd donned over her relatively thin nightgown. She ignored it.

Aline didn't have to knock, for Lucy's door was wide open asif ready to welcome anyone who wanted to step in. The Valient Queen noticed her just before she entered, skipping over to her friend, "I'm just so excited for the ball!" the girl exclaimed.

Unfortunately, the same could not be told for Aline but she forced a smile for Lucy's sake. And so, after small conversation about how the arrangements were proceeding, and Lucy tearing apart her whole room in search of the elusive list that she'd somehow misplaced, Lucy shrieked, "Oh silly me! How could I have forgotten? Aline, I apologize to cause you such inconvenience, but I just remembered giving Ed the list to check if he wanted to add more! Do you think you could collect it from him?"

After apologising for more times than Aline cared to count and after ensuring her it was alright, she found herself faced by the oak doors that barred the way to Edmund Pevensie's room right down the hallway off Lucy's. She had half a mind to turn away. There was something about him that set off the alarm bells in her head. Something about him that made her feel unsafe, unprotected under his hawk like gaze. Yet, she felt her heart beat fall into a steadily increasing rhythm. This was what she hated. It was this way that she felt each time he was around. The feeling of vulnerability. But yet-

She stopped that train of thought before it could go any further, knowing if she didn't she'd probably change her mind.

Aline noticed it ajar as she opened it cautiously peering into his room for the first time. She stared around for a few moments at the golden-brown and maroon coloured wallpaper garnishing the walls. For some reason she felt surprised at the color scheme- she'd have imagined it to be of a somewhat darker shade, perhaps black? Brown? Grey? If she were to have thought of his room, that is. But never, did she expect it to be so.. vibrant.

Though unfortunately for Aline, that wasn't the only unexpected she had to encounter.

"Never heard of a thing called 'knocking'? she heard him comment in a condescending voice. Aline felt her jaw drop open.

"In case you haven't," he continued in that cheeky voice that annoyed her to hell, "it's this thing people- most people at least, do to-"

"Is that blood?" she blurted.

He rolled his eyes, "No, of course not Aline. Its just- I spilled some sauce all over myself. You know, for fun."

"That is blood." And indeed, the front of the green tunic he had on was stained a deep red that only held two possibilities. Either he actually had spilled some sauce on himself, or the less appealing, that he was bleeding. And judging from the tear in the fabric of his tunic, it was more likely the latter.

Aline felt her head go light as she struttered, "I..I'll get Susan, or.. or someone, or gosh! That looks pretty bad. It probably needs some stitching."

He shrugged indifferently, but she couldn't miss the wince that marred his features for a moment. "Its alright. It's nothing much."

"Are you even human?! That.. that is really bad." she faltered. "I have to go get Susan."

Before she could move an inch a hand closed around hers, yanking her back so that she was staring him, eye-to-eye. "I said, its alright. No need to alarm anyone, unnecessarily."

Aline lowered her gaze, "Well, then at least let me have a look at it." She bit her lip almost immediately regretting the words as they left her lips.

He looked back at her with something like amusement flickering in his eyes.

She winced as she uncovered the fabric. It was deep. "This is-" He interrupted before she could complete, "Tell me this is bad, once again and I'll have you thrown in the dungeons."

Aline raised an eyebrow, "I'd really love to see you try."

"Trust me," he said in a low voice that got her heartbeat to spike up to an erratic pace. "It wouldn't be a pretty affair. And I'm done hurting people, for tonight at least." She swallowed. Suddenly, she wanted to be far, far away from Edmund Pevensie, but for all she wished she could not as much as tear away her gaze from those deep brown eyes, that stared back at her. She was aware of what little the distance between them were. They were close, closer than what she'd have preferred, their noses so close that if either of them were to move a little- no, she did not want to think of that.

"I am going to need some clean cloth, bandages preferably," she managed as she abruptly broke their gaze, her fingers deftly removing the tattered cloth of his tunic off the wound. "This needs stitches."

He nodded and his face broke into a grimace for a split second there the mask fell and the pain he'd been acting was nothing showed.

"The box on the dresser," he pointed and she made to it. Inside was medical supplies, fresh bandages, scissors, an awfully long needle, thread and some disinfectant as if this was a common enough occurrence that he was well prepared for.

"This is going to hurt." she heat up the needle in the fire off a candle.

He nodded, "I know," while he took a swing off his pewter flask, "It's nothing I can't handle. Get it over with since you insist, or else leave."

The glare she threw was sharper than his daggers and the King almost regretted his harshness as he was going to be her pin cushion after all.

Aline looked up at him as she set to work- gritting his teeth his eyes were closed. There was no masking the pain now yet how he did not yell out or even a whimper uttered surprised her. She could see more of his body now. All the scars he'd gathered over the years and she hesitated. What had this man gone through that desensitized him to the pain she knew he felt with a searing hot needle stitching through him. The anger that had soared through her at his dismissiveness, dissipated.

"Almost.. hold on for just a bit.."

And only once she's done, did Aline notice the red on her hand from his blood.

"You are good at this."

"I've.. had practice," she muttered out.

"What did you do?" she questioned, anxious to change the topic not liking the direction the conversation was taking. "pick up a fight with someone?"

"Actually more like someone picked up a fight with me."

"Who in their right mind would pick a fight with you?" Aline questioned incredulously. She had seen him train with the soldiers and he was a force to reckon with but more significantly he was a King and no Narnian would dare defy him.

"Someone who didn't know who I was," he shrugged off the rest of the tunic off his body while she consciously averted her gaze. Aline's breath hitched at the sight before her and she bit her lip hoping and praying the darkness was enough to mask her blush. Even with bandages across half his torso, Edmund managed to look impressive. She averted her gaze.

"So what? You're a King, you should've walked away."

Edmund only stared at her open mouthed as if he was surprised someone had the guts to question his actions. "You're telling me if someone wanted a fight, I should walk away like a coward?"

"That's better than getting hurt, is it not?"

He winced as she dabbed the alcohol soaked bandages a tad bit harder than she'd meant to at that. Before he broke out into a grin.

"If you think I'm hurt, you should see the other guy." he rolled his head cracking his neck.

"You.. you did not.. kill someone tonight did you?"

He did not answer, just looked on unfazed as her fingers played with the bandages on his chest. She looked up at him as if expecting a reply, but the King just shrugged indifferently.

Drawing back, too quickly than what he'd have preferred she slid her hand away from where it was resting. His bare chest, which was now covered by nothing but the bandages she'd just put on.

"There," she said her voice breaking, "It's done now."

She rose up, but once again felt his arm go around hers as sparks flew up her hyped up nerve endings. She paused stunned acutely aware of her ever rising heart beat.

"Here it is," he whispered for no reason. "What you came here for." she looked up at him with confusion. Though she'd instantly regretted it as his gaze swept her face through within those thick lashes. They were a shade of brown that reminded her of chocolate, a warm, welcome colour. But somehow, it was not so on him. Somehow he managed to make it look cold, dark and intimidating. Almost like a warning to stay away. If only she'd heed it.

His tousled hair hung low on his eyes. The sharp features of his face so clear and distinct, that she felt the instinct to trace them, to run her hands along the lines of his face. Wanted to see whether those lips felt just as soft as they seemed.

Aline averted her eyes again, embarrassment colouring her cheeks at her own inappropriate thoughts. She stepped away from him, seeming to come to her senses.

He held towards her a sheaf of sheets, "the list," he reminded. Aline mentally slapped herself, "Yeah, right. The list." she managed but before she could take them off his hands he stopped her, instead his fingers brushing hers before taking them into his own as if he noticed the blood- his blood on her hands for the first time. She wanted to yank her arms away from his grip and run a million miles away from him so that was what she did. Aline turned around.

"Aline. Wait." she froze in her steps at the sound of his voice.

"What?" her voice came out harsher than she'd expected it to. She turned behind to see him standing there, silhouetted against the firelight.

"I did not kill anyone." his voice so low that she could barely hear him. "Not tonight." But she did, and that was enough to offer him a small smile though the amount of relief she felt at the words surprised her.

Aline made to leave but stopped as he grabbed a cloak before coming closer.
"You're cold," he stated, draping it around her before opening the door. "After you."

Aline pulled it around her as the draft of the corridors hit her. "You don't have to, I can find my way back fine. Besides.. you need rest."

"Why are you so stubborn?" he sighed.

"Excuse me?" she questioned shocked at the brazenness.

He did not answer instead he simply looked on his eyebrows raised as if in a challenge until Aline rolled her eyes in defeat with a sigh.

The walk back was silent but she did not expect anything else. He walked a pace ahead his arms clasped behind him and an occasional wince that stirred her heart. Aline knew each step had to hurt him. And for a moment she wondered what it would seem like to the guards positioned at each turning to see their King limp on and by his side a girl with her hands bloody. She pulled the cloak tighter folding her elbows to hide her hands as she did.

The walk that has taken her a few minutes the last time now seemed to stretch into way longer than it had seemed and she was sure his presence had something to do with it as she didn't even realize they'd reached her room in the guests wing of the Cair until he stopped abruptly and turned to her.

"Thank you, for walking me back." Aline muttered not sure if he even heard as he did nothing to acknowledge her words, instead already turning around.

"Aline," she heard once more, turning to only face his turned back.

Aline had never been too fond of her name before. True, it was unique but also did make her stand out, and that was not something she preferred. But when he said it, the syllables rolling off his tongue so smoothly like running water on itself, for the first time she realised how beautiful it actually did sound. Maybe it was the way he pronounced it, or maybe it was the situation they'd been in, but her heart leapt into her chest.

"Yes?"

"Nothing," he said, a smirk on his face not visible to her as he resumed walking, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, King Edmund."

And then, she screamed.

A hand steadied her waist as she stumbled back her hand on her mouth in shock at the sight before her. She could barely hear him call out her name and ask her what happened, if she was alright, she only pointed her hand in response instead.

The King swore under his breath.

The room was a mess, furniture overturned and books torn out their pages everywhere as if a tornado had just torn through. That wasn't the worst of it. On the bed amongst the torn out pillows seeping out dove feathers were ravens, blood as black as midnight on her white linen under the silver moonlight, dead every one of them with naught but a blue feathered arrow sticking out of their carcasses.

"Raise the alarms," Edmund yelled at the soldiers just at the corner who hadn't noticed anything out of order. "Secure the Cair. No one leaves, or enters until I say so."

She clung onto his arm with no complaints this time as they hurriedly made it back to his chambers seating her on the divan. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, I'm just shocked." she trailed off wincing as the sight that had waited for her as she opened her room door made an unwelcome comeback in her memory. "What are you trying to do?" she questioned as he heaved- or at least tried to at the King sized bed to a side. "You are going to pop a stitch!"

He grunted in frustration punching the wall before him. Aline flinched at that a gasp escaping her lips.

"You shouldn't," much to her surprise he did not protest as she grabbed onto his hand. The one he'd hurt to punch the wall. "I am not going to tend to broken knuckles as well tonight."

Together they pushed on the sturdy bed frame that gave way with some effort to reveal a wooden panel, a wolf embedded onto it. He looked at her before pressing to open it revealing three bells, one had the picture of a lion, the middle an owl and the last a deer.

He rang them, three times each before rising up to move to the balcony. Aline followed him, from their vantage point they could make out soldiers scurry over the castle grounds and the large gate to the West of the Cair grind to a shut with a huge thud. Edmund turned to her at that.

"Stay here, you'll be safe here." he said, "I have to go, Lucy and Susan would be here soon."

Aline bit her tongue, she didn't want to be alone, not right now after what she'd seen. But somehow, admitting that to him somehow seemed worse.

Thankfully just then the door opened and in walked the sister queens. Susan stopped in her tracks, rubbing her eyes clearly annoyed her sleep was disturbed, "What the hell is going on, brother? And what are you two doing-"

Both of their eyes went from Aline's bloody hands to Edmund's now leaking bloody bandages. Lucy grimaced, "I mean I'd definitely understand if Aline stabbed you, you're annoying, but why would you lock the damn Cair up for it?"

"I did not stab him-" she began just as he said "She did not stab me, nor is important right now." he directed at his sisters pointedly. "Someone knows.. something, about Aline. Her room was just vandalized."

"That was pretty bad." called a voice as the door opened again to reveal the High King rushing in hurriedly before closing the door behind him. "Aline, are you alright?" he called.

"I'm fine. I wasn't in when it happened."

Peter produced the broken shaft of the blue feathered arrows that Aline easily recognized.

"Edmund, we need to go." he called. "We can't lockdown the Cair for too long without suspicion rising, especially with the guests for the Ball."

"I'm coming too," Susan stated and Aline noticed the full quiver of arrows on her shoulders and the bow that hung at her back.

"What about me?" Lucy called and the three turned around.

"You can't-" Peter almost began to be stopped by a nudge from his brother.

"Lucy, keep Aline company." he said then turning to her, "Do not leave this room until we're back, you will be safe here. You two sleep here if you have to." she was almost about to protest to what was essentially a house arrest but Edmund's gaze met hers and she understood. He wanted Lucy to be safe and going with them was not.

"There they go," Lucy sighed, "leaving me behind again."

Aline looked at the girl now sprawled across the divan. "They wanted you to be safe."

"The worst is they think I'm too stupid to not realize when they intentionally leave me out!" She sat up suddenly. "But hey," an almost sadistic smile lit her lips, "we are in Edmund's room!" she squealed.

"Oh no. What are you planning to do?"

Lucy skipped up to his closet, entirely disappearing into it in a moment. She popped her head out not a minute later. "Boring." she proclaimed, "Is he even aware there exists a whole range of colours other than black, grey, navy and brown."

Aline took in the rest of the room. Everything was arranged in perfect order, from the work desk he had to the side to a whole library of books on a shelf that covered most of the otherwise empty wall. The tell tale signs of a workaholic.

Lucy was rattling at the locked cabinets by his desk sighing in frustration, "of course my paranoid brother has locked anything that could be even remotely interesting."

"Aline I'm sleepy," she proclaimed stretching onto the bed with a yawn and Aline laughed.

"Sleep, Lucy. I promise I won't wander off outside."

"Pullover, Aline." Samuel called.

"Why? we literally have a full tank."

"Jason wants some snacks. Pull over now!" his voice sounded tenser than usual she thought, shrugging at that.

"Alright, just be quick. Chloe will be mad if we're home too late again."

"We'll be quick, don't turn the engine off."

So Aline turned up the radio and sat waiting for her twin and his best friend. Granted, Jason was least five years older than they were and in college but Aline didn't care, someone else being around meant being ignored by Samuel and their mother on her best behavior at least in Chloe Frank's standards which sure wasn't much, but it was still something.

Just about then a boom jolted her back from her thoughts. No way! Aline thought her heart beat quickened as she looked around furiously. Where did that come from? That was surely a gun! To a spot from the store, two figures clad in ski masks rushing towards her. It took her almost a moment to realize- that was Samuel and James!

"Go! Go! Fucking drive!" was the only thing she remembered hearing and then the next thing Aline froze.

"What did you do?" she yelled.

"Just drive Aline! Drive!" Samuel yelled back and as if right on cue a man limped out blood gushing out of his leg wetting his trousers a dark shade of red that made Aline gasp.

"Aline," Jason's voice spoke up for the first time since he'd got in, "Drive unless you want all of us to get in trouble."

She backed up, before pressing on the gas as hard as it allowed her. And Aline barely stopped until they reached the house and piled out.

When Edmund finally returned it was at the first crack of dawn. He saw Lucy asleep cuddled into a ball exactly how she used to sleep when they were younger. He brought up the sheets that she'd kicked out sometime through the night, tucking it under her chin.

Then he walked over to the balcony where he knew he'd find the woman he'd been looking for. "You didn't sleep." he noted.

"I couldn't." came her sharp reply. She was still bundled in the cloak he'd wrapped around her before the events of last night.

"So?" Aline continued. "Did you find out what happened or who did this?"

"We know there's rebel involvement. But we found nothing."

"A rebellion? In Narnia?"

"In the furthest fringes of the land up North, in Ettinsmoor where the White Witch's hold was once strong and her followers still hold faith, yes."

"You need to be careful Aline. We do not know what brought you here to Narnia but if this is any a sign," he sighed. "maybe others out there do."

"What if- I leave?"

He looked at her as if she'd gone crazy. "Leave Cair Paravell? And go where?"

"No.. I mean. What if I go back. Back home. Back to where we are from." she subconsciously rubbed the scar on her head that had now almost faded to nothing. "I do not want to cause any trouble, and it seems my presence here has brought only trouble."

"You cannot," he spoke so quietly it was almost a whisper. "If there was a way I would've found it a long long time ago."

Aline only looked at him quizzically but he did not elaborate instead staring into the distance before turning. "You should sleep. Or at least try."

"Where are you going?"

"Out." he simply said as the door shut.

Aline wiped the tears now streaming uncontrollably down her eyes hearing the knock on her door. "I don't want to talk or even see you right now, Sam," she called.

In peeked a head. It wasn't Samuel, instead it was Jason. "Hey," he called with almost a wince. "Can I come in?"

"What do you want?"

He closed the door behind him. Her room was small, decorated with fairy lights, couple posters of some popular bands and a few Polaroids of the beach, the trees of the woods, some flowers, just pretty places and pretty things she'd seen- and he seemed to take it all in.

"I am here to apologize," Jason spoke finally his eyes going over her form as if he were checking her out for the first time.

"Ever since you came here, Samuel's behavior has only gotten worse. If you really are sorry, you have to stop enabling him, or else leave him alone."

Jason had jet black hair that sat on a messy bun on top of his head and piercing blue eyes. He was handsome, she had thought the first time she'd seen him hang around Sam and that fact still held true. He was handsome in a rugged manner and despite all that had transpired she found herself wondering- this was what it took for him to finally notice her existence?

"Leave him alone?" he snickered. "You don't mean that, little Aline. In fact, I know you're glad I'm around so at least you won't have to deal with the fallout anymore."

He walked closer to her as she stared up at him defiantly.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I want to help," he simply replied. "You know, you and I we are much more alike than you could imagine. And I was only trying to help. Both of you."

"So you.. rob a store.. and- and shoot someone?"

"That brother of yours has a temper he should definitely work on, but hey Aline look. Look here-" he winced again as he moved to reach into his pocket.

"You're hurt," she interrupted him instead. "How did all this happen?"

He sighed, "The dude was a vet or something, slashed me pretty good and then Samuel lost it. Shot at him, but to our luck it only grazed his leg. We got away with it Aline you don't have to worry of the cops, the security cameras weren't working and they'd barely trace us two counties over, besides-" the stack of cash he pulled was enormous. "This would be enough to cover your rent and the bills for a couple months wouldn't it?"

"This is not right..."

"You can't afford to miss anymore school to go take care of old Mrs. Wheeler. What's not right is everything else in this world. We're only trying to survive the only way we can."

"There is always, always a way Jason." Aline shook her head tears streaming out her eyes again, "violence is never the answer."

He only pushed the wad of cash in her hands, "Have this for now. Repay those men, I saw them stop you on my way over last week and I promise I will take care of you both from now on."

"Let me see to your cut," she only replied.

A/N: There will be flashbacks scattered throughout the chapters, which is something that wasn't' there in the previous versions. If you enjoyed this, please leave a review. I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinons on this one! Thanks for reading!