Edmund was thankful that they had agreed to tell Mr. Tumuns. Because the faun was actually very pleasant company. He brought a basket of savory delights to share with the young King over breakfast the next day.
"I told Lucy I had to meet with Peter before our morning meal," he told Edmund as he set up the feast on the small table. "I felt rather bad about telling her that, but I had a feeling you needed company."
"Thank you," Edmund hated to admit it, but he actually was beginning to miss Lucy. At first he was rather glad she wasn't involved, but now it felt like both of his other siblings had gone completely mad. Susan wanted to fake his death and Peter wanted to confess. To Edmund, neither was a good choice. "Mr. Tunmus, what do you think we should do?"
During the conversation yesterday, no one had asked the one who had lived in Narnia the longest what was the best course of action.
"Well," Mr. Tumuns leaned back in his chair to think. "I did much thinking last night on the matter. From what I understand, the snow won't stop any time soon and that is the most worrisome issue at hand. So, after a lot of thought, I believe being honest is the best thing to do as I feel it may be what Aslan would want. It is true that Peter wants to tell everyone and it seems like I am siding with him, but I am not. I feel there is a distinct difference between being truthful and informing people about what happened. I think that your brother may wish to merely state you were cursed by Jadis or something of the like. Whereas I am for telling the complete truth: That we do not know what happened to you and are working on fixing it."
"That's the thing," Edmund was glad Mr. Tumnus was here. Lucy was right, there was something comforting about his presence. "What if it can't be fixed and I've doomed all of Narnia? Maybe Susan's right and we should leave."
"I wouldn't say that," Mr. Tunmus shook his head. "Maybe this all happened for a reason. Ever think of that? Everything in this world is known by Aslan."
"Then, why isn't he here to fix this?"
"Who knows. He isn't a tame lion, after all. But I am sure he will help when you least expect it."
"That's not very helpful," Edmund muttered, but realized the faun was right. Aslan was mysterious in his ways and there must be something in motion that Edmund could not see. "But anyway, I was thinking we should tell Lucy first. She deserves it."
"I agree."
"Should we tell Susan and Peter our plan, first though?"
"Yes, that might be the best idea. The last thing Narnia needs is all four of you at odds. I feel that Susan and Peter are not as harmonious as they wish to be. Every time I see them in audience, they hardly agree with one another."
"Maybe because Lucy's not there."
"And you aren't either," Mr. Tumnus noted with a smile.
"No, I just make them fight," Edmund told him.
"No, you make them think," the faun replied. "arguing can be thinking. It's easily seen as thinking out loud."
"Hardly. But I see your point."
Anyway, my young king, there is no need to worry about any of this. The truth will always come to light, no matter what you do to hide it. But the longer it remains hidden, the worse the reaction will be."
"Tell that to Susan and Peter," Edmund said, asking for a few more crackers to eat with his sardines. "They are all wound up with being all proper and the like."
"True, they are," Mr. Tumuns laughed, "but sometimes, their wisdom is correct. Ruling Narnia is hardly a game."
"Agreed, but we have kings and queens back home and they are all stuffy and boring. I don't want Peter and Susan to become stuffy and boring."
"They won't. But for now, worry about something far more important."
"Such as?"
"What you want for lunch."
Edmund laughed and the two continued their meal. They spoke of many other things as they ate. Such as redecorating the young king's room and if Mr. Tumnus should grow onions or beets in his garden- when spring returned, that was. Midway through their conversation, Susan came to check on the two. She seemed a bit worried, but Edmund hardly knew a time when she wasn't.
"How are you doing?" she asked as she came over to the table.
"Fine," Edmund shrugged, "but can't figure out the snow, though. Keeps coming down."
"Yes, that's still a problem. Anyway, are you enjoying breakfast?"
"Very much. Wish to join us?"
"No, I was on my way to the daily audiences and wanted to check on you."
"Su," Edmund knew there would never be a good time to say this, so why not over a warm scone? "We need to tell Lucy first. Before Narnia."
"I thought of this, too." Susan nodded in agreement. "I spoke with Peter about it this morning and we will speak to Lucy after audiences today."
"Good."
"And Edmund," she said as she turned to leave. "It's nice you are being so thoughtful."
He glanced at Mr. Tumnus. What it thoughtful? The idea never crossed his mind. "Um, thanks."
Susan smiled and left the room, leaving the two of them to debate if planting potatoes would be the best overall choice.
When Mr. Tumnus left to spend time with Lucy, Edmund buried himself in a history book and later, seeing if he could make it snow in his room. He thought that maybe, if he made it only snow in his room, then the rest of Narnia might be saved. However, all Edmund managed to accomplish was snow inside and snow outside.
"Hardly useful," he muttered to himself as he watched another snowflake melt on the page of his book. "Stop it already."
But the snow had a mind of its own and kept on dusting his room.
"Damn it." He flopped back down on his bed and wondered for a moment if it was snowing throughout the whole Cair, or merely his room. Thankfully, he didn't have to wait long to find out as minutes after he thought this, the door to his room opened with a 'slam'.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Peter demanded, marching into the bedroom, crown in hand, and out of breath. "Why is it-" Peter took a few deep breaths before asking, "What are you doing? Why is it snowing inside in the Cair? Make it stop alr-"
"I don't know how," Edmund confessed, moving to close his book. "I said befor-"
"It doesn't matter what you said before. Just make it stop! Not like that will do us any good, though. The jig is up, I am afraid. The moment it started snowing in the throne room, it was over and I don't know how are we going to fix this!"
"I don't know either!" Edmund wished his brother understood that. "I don't know how to make it stop! I tried and-"
"Ed, the King of Archenland just arrived for an audience and you made me look like a fool!"
"I am sorry!" Edmund really was.
"No, you're not. You're happy about this. You get to play Snow Prince and the rest of us are at your mercy. Just like you always wanted!"
"That's not-"
"It is!" Peter yelled back, "and I am tired of it!"
"It's not like I asked to be cursed!" Edmund wasn't going to lose a shouting match. No, he was going to win and make Peter apologise.
"Oh, is that so?!" Peter laughed at him. "I'm not the one who walked all the way to the Witch's castle in the snow without a coat!"
"Shut up, Peter!" Edmund didn't want to talk about that. It was true, he had, but it was the last thing he wanted to remember right now. "And who saved your ass?! If I hadn't broken that wand-"
"I could have done that myself!" Peter insisted, making Edmund laugh this time.
"You would have died if Aslan hadn't arrived!" Edmund pointed out next, making his older brother scowl at him. "You couldn't have-"
"It doesn't matter, Ed." Peter said, his voice tense, but back to a normal level. "Just make it stop snowing, all right? I am at my wits end with all of this and I am sorry I yelled."
"It's okay," Edmund was happy to get an apology. "I am sorry I am not much help. I wish I was, though."
"Well, you can be." Peter said, "because we must tell everyone in the throne room what is going on."
"Right now?" Edmund asked and his older brother nodded. "But…" the younger king looked down at himself, "I am in my pajamas."
"Then, get changed and meet me there." Peter instructed and Edmund relented. Peter was right. There was no way to get out of this mess other than to explain what had happened.
Once Peter had left the room, Edmund opened the wardrobe and was about to begin changing when he heard another knock on his door.
"Who is it?" The King asked and his Lord-in-waiting responded. "Oh, come in."
"Allow me to help you," Daelar insisted, coming over to Edmund's side. "I think that maybe something red might be a good choice for a time like this. Think summer, flowers, spring."
"You're right," Edmund agreed and began to search for anything that wasn't green or blue. There was a brown tunic, a pair of- he staggered forward as something slammed into his back. Edmund would have fallen over if he hadn't grabbed the wardrobe door. "What-"
"I'm sorry," Daelar hesitated a moment before rushing away, slamming the bedroom door behind him.
Edmund cursed and tried to follow, but his body wouldn't move- paralyzed by pain his mind was yet to comprehend. All he felt was a stabbing cold that ran through his chest- no, through his back. Yet, there was an odd warmth seeping through his body. It was almost comforting, now that Edmund thought of it, it was a feeling he knew well.
Lucy… He needed her- maybe she would come running in to save him again, or Peter would turn around and come back this way. Anything. He wasn't going to die here- he hoped anyway.
If he did, Edmund was sure he would never hear the end of it. The King who died in his pajamas. The moment he thought this, he realized it wasn't a good one to have while injured, because it made him laugh.
Seconds later, he was coughing, each breath agonizing and ragged. It wasn't until Edmund tasted blood in his mouth that he felt true panic begin to set in.
Lucy was nowhere to be seen and Peter was waiting for him… but he was going to die here.
He tried to move toward the door of his room, but sank to the floor instead; another coughing fit drawing blood from his lungs- Emerald green, frothy, and terrifying.
No, I don't want to die. No- Aslan, please.
Please, help me.
It was then Edmund felt a strong hand come to rest on his shoulder and the world finally faded away into nothing.
A/N: I have been waiting to post this chapter. It took me some time to figure out the exact details, but I always knew Edmund was going to get stabbed at some point. Just didn't know when or where to be honest. But I am very excited for the next chapter, because it's about to get even more fun. Please like, review, or what not. Thanks for reading.