The war was drawing close; Edmund could feel it. Aslan's army lined the mountainside, little red dots in the distance as his mother's army approached. Edmund wondered what the outcome of this battle would be. Will his mother die today at the boy's or Aslan's hands, or shall Aslan's control on this world end and his mother's eternal winter return? Edmund knew the prophecy better than he knew his magic, a bedtime story told to him night after night by his mother until he'd learn to recite it word for word.

Wrong will be right when Aslan comes into sight,

At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,

When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,

And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone,

Sits at Cair Paravel in throne,

The evil time will be over and done.

But what those who didn't know, his mother always added in her own part: a warning to the Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve who ever dare set foot in Narnia again, a warning that no matter the outcome of this battle, his mother will return.

But the threat still lingers, and those who assist,

Shall bring back the time of the Witch.

For Adam's flesh and Adam's bone,

Stolen from a world so long ago.

Evil will ensue, and magic shall be strong,

For only the witch or the child,

Narnia shall belong.

His mother spent years fearing the prophecy. He knew she had plans upon plans on how to return to this world should she die. Edmund was only one of them. He knew her followers would jump at the chance to prove themselves to his mother should she learn of Edmund's betrayal and decide he was no longer worthy of his life.

Edmund walked beside his mother as she rode into battle in a chariot attached to two loyal polar bears. The minotaur led the charge, roaring loudly at the sight of his enemies before motioning for their army to charge forward. His mother stopped her chariot beside the minotaur, and Edmund stopped just behind her.

"Edmund," His mother said in a low voice. "Shall you betray me or fail me? I hope you understand that death will come for you."

"I will fight for you, my beloved mother and queen. I will lay down my life so your reign continues. We will show these traitors what happens when they believe in Aslan and little screaming children to protect them," Edmund said. His eyes scanned the crowd of Aslan's army and saw the oldest child, Peter, on a unicorn with centaurs beside him. There was no sign of Aslan or the little girl; maybe Aslan did follow his last piece of advice; it didn't matter; it was the last thing Edmund could do for them. Now, for his life's sake, he would fight for his mother.

The boy drew his sword and held it out before him. His army cheered at the 'heroic' action. Edmund scoffed; this child knew nothing about war and fighting. He should've saved himself when he had the chance and returned to the world he'd come from with the other girl.

"I have no interest in prisoners. Kill them all," his mother said. Edmund nodded. He heard their army draw their swords, cheering as they charged past them, heading straight for their enemies.

"Consider it done, my queen. We will bask in their pitiful screams as we slaughter them," Edmund said. It was time. He pulled his sword from its sheath, his magic dancing at his fingertips. Then he charged.

"Look to the sky!" Edmund heard a minotaur say. Edmund looked up to see an army of gryphons flying above them, holding something in its feet. His magic swirled around his fingertips as Edmund summoned a solid forcefield to cover him entirely as rocks started raining down from the gryphons above. Edmund watched as dwarves, minotaurs, ogres, cyclopes and hags were pummeled to death by these rocks. Edmund strode forward, rocks hitting his shield and bouncing off, splitting into small pieces as they skewed those beside him.

The shimmering sparks of white formed between his palms as Edmund summoned his icicles into his hands. With a flick of his wrist, Edmund sent them flying. Some hit the gryphons, while others flew out of the way, turning away and flying back to their army. Edmund stepped over the body of a gryphon; it had fallen before him, landing on a wolf, killing it instantly.

"For Narnia and for Aslan," Peter said. His army chanted Aslan's name as they charged. Edmund meets them head-on, his sword raised.

He lost himself to the battle, slashing with his sword against one set of enemies as his magic slaughtered another. Bodies dropped to his feet as he broke through Aslan's army's defences. Centaurs, Jaguars, Fauns, Tigers, and any creature loyal to Aslan fell to his blade and magic. Edmund lost sight of his mother in battle but knew she couldn't fall to these low-life soldiers easily. Summoning another wave of icicles, Edmund shot it out around him; more Narnians fell, some from his army, but Edmund didn't care; they knew his power and shouldn't have gotten close to him. Their death was at their own hands.

"Fallback! Draw them to the rocks," Edmund heard Peter say. His army turned and fled; Edmund chased after; although cautious, he knew this wasn't a retreat. They had something planned. Edmund let his army charge ahead, and row upon row fell to arrows, some targeting him. Edmund scoffed easily, deflecting them with a flick of his wrist and sending them flying back to where they'd come from. Edmund moved forward, stepping over dead bodies, his eyes focused on the white unicorn fleeing with Peter on its back. His hand glowed white, stopping the flight on an arrow in midair; manipulating the air around it, Edmund turned it around and sent it flying straight for the unicorn Peter was on.

It hit dead centre, and the unicorn dropped to the floor, sending Peter flying. It had the desired effect Edmund wanted, as when Aslan's army saw their leader down, they turned and came charging back. A centaur broke through their army. Edmund kept his distance, his eyes set on his target. Edmund's magic reacted to anything that came close to him, tearing them apart, his sword by his side. Peter slowly stood to his feet, their eyes meeting. Peter raised his sword and charged at him.

Edmund met him halfway, their swords clashing as Edmund pushed Peter back. Their fight was almost like a dance, with them circling each other. Edmund didn't use his magic; he wanted to enjoy this fight, to crush Peter with his sword alone.

"Did no one teach you how to properly defend yourself," Edmund said, sidestepping Peter's swing before slicing his side with his sword. Peter let out a cry of pain but still swung at Edmund. Edmund laughed, blocking the attack with his sword and forcefully pushed Peter back. "You leave yourself so open to attack. You think your chainmail will protect you. Think again."

"Stand aside, Edmund," a chill ran down his spine as his mother came to his side. "I want to spill the blood of the Son of Adam. Keep his army at bay."

Edmund didn't want to stand down; he wanted to keep fighting the child, but he couldn't dismiss his mother's order, so reluctantly, he pulled away, letting her take his place and turned his attention to the enemies around them. Keeping them away was pitifully easy, his sword and magic taking down anyone who dared get close. Still, Edmund watched his mother fight Peter. Edmund watched as Peter tried attacking using brute force. Still, his mother blocked him before retaliating, slicing Peter's chest, hitting him in the face with the pommel, and sending him to the floor. His mother stalked forward as Peter struggled to his feet.

"Why try, Son of Adam? Aslan has abandoned you, turned his back when you needed him the most. You should give up. I'm the true ruler of this world; you should accept it," his mother said. Peter didn't reply, swinging his sword widely. His mother blocked. She trusted her sword and staff to Peter's throat. Edmund was surprised to see him duck them before pulling away to put a little distance between them.

Edmund turned his hand glowing white as he froze the jaguar in midair; its body crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces. Did it really believe he was distracted? He'd been born on a battlefield; he wasn't easily distracted. Edmund ran his sword through a faun as it tried to sneak up behind him. More charged and died to Edmund's sword.

An enormous roar echoed through the valley. Edmund looked up to see Aslan appear above them all, the army charging in behind them. The Narnians his mother had turned to stone were alive once more and ready to fight. So, Aslan did follow through with his advice. Edmund looked at his mother; now, she looked scared. Peter wasn't a threat to her, but Aslan was.

Edmund watched as his mother swung at Peter, using this distraction; he'd seen his mother fight before; he knew at first she'd been playing with Peter, giving him false hope that he could defeat her. Now Aslan had arrived, she was fighting for real now. Peter barely reacted in time, blocking his mother's sword. He supposed now was the time to decide his last act. To die fighting for his mother to have his last act betraying her. It didn't matter. Edmund had made up his mind long ago, even as he tried to deceive himself.

Edmund sheathed his sword. Narnians feared him as the White Prince; now it was time for them to see why they were right to. The ground shook around them, and Peter and his moth… no, the witch struggled to regain their balance. Edmund's hands glowed black; it was as if smoke surrounded him. The ground disappeared beneath Edmund's feet. The witch lifted her staff, and Edmund stretched his palm out to her, his magic sparking momentarily white as he snatched it from her hand.

"Edmund!" the witch said. Edmund didn't listen; he refused to bow down to her anymore. He turned his eyes to his enemies, his army. He spread his arms out, his one hand still clutching the staff, but it was no longer visible from the black smoke pouring off him. The ground continued to shake, not that Edmund could feel it as he flew above the battle. Thousands of eyes watched him as he commanded the rocks to fly, the small, the large, they bent to Edmund's will. When they were high enough, Edmund released his control over them. Around him, the rocks plummeted to the ground, and half his remaining army was obliterated in an instant. The others turned to flee, but the ground continued shaking, not from Edmund. The trees, which watched silently from their groves, arose from the ground, their roots shooting out, grabbing the fleeing cowards and crushing them into the ground.

"No!" the witch said, crying out as the last of her army was destroyed. Edmund floated down, his eyes staring into the witch's own.

"Did you never figure it out, witch?" Edmund said as his followers, his trees continued his devastation. "The trees never worked for you; they follow me."

The witch screamed, grabbing her sword from the ground. She charged at Edmund. Aslan pounced, knocking her to the floor and pinning her arm with her sword. Aslan growled, and the witch was no more. Edmund's feet touched the floor, and his legs buckled. The power that held him up dissipated, taking his energy along with it. Edmund dropped to his knees as Aslan approached.

"Rest now, child, you are safe," Aslan said. The words were almost music to Edmund's ears as his eyes closed and darkness called for him.

Edmund awoke feeling more rested than he'd ever before. He was no longer on the battlefield; instead, he was in a decorated bedroom, his body sinking into the cushioned mattress. Edmund pushed himself up; the aches and pains he'd expected to feel after the battle were suspiciously absent. His sword and armour lay on the small table. So, Aslan wasn't keeping him prisoner; Edmund was honestly surprised a Narnian hadn't tried to kill him in his sleep. Perhaps Aslan had kept them away from him.

Edmund stood from the bed and approached the window, pulling a curtain back only slightly to give himself a gap to peak through; Edmund saw the Narnians rushing around the courtyard, preparing for something. He recognised this place, only passing it a couple times, Cair Paravel, the home to the first king and queen of Narnia during the first years of Narnia. It had lay vacant since the witch began her reign of ice, but it would see Aslan wanted it used once more for the new king and queens of Narnia.

Edmund knew from the prophecy that should the White Witch's reign end, then the Son of Adam and Daughters of Eve would take the throne of Narnia. They must be setting up for the coronations. That would make it easier for Edmund to escape; he wasn't made for this new world; he didn't belong in it, and it didn't matter if he showed his betrayal of the witch to the others; they wouldn't trust him. Not that he blamed them. He should leave, get as far away from here as possible, and maybe even explore places outside the world he grew up in. Perhaps he'll even find peace far away from here.

Edmund moved away from the window. He picked up his sword and its sheath from the table before strapping it to his waist. Then he headed to the wardrobe, pulling the doors open, he grabbed a black cloak and put it on before returning to the table where the witch's staff lay; he was surprised no one took it when he was unconscious, a spoil of war and for that he was grateful, no Narnian truly understood the power inside this staff. Edmund slipped it into an inside pocket hidden within his cloak.

Approaching the door, Edmund slid the hood into place, covering his face before opening the door and stepping into the luckily empty hallway. Keeping to the shadows, Edmund slowly made his way down the castle to an exit. Narnians rushed around him; all seemed excited about the upcoming coronation, and they were utterly oblivious to his presence. Edmund made it to a door when he was finally found.

"Are you leaving?" the voice said. Edmund turned to find the child; no, he couldn't keep calling her that, Lucy behind him.

"I don't belong here," Edmund said.

"What are you talking about? Of course you do; everyone saw you saving Peter, stopping the witch and her army," Lucy said. Edmund shook his head.

"They also watched as I killed countless of your army for the witch," Edmund said. "One act doesn't forgive the years of torture I caused. They can pretend to forgive me, but we all know deep down there's no forgiving what I've done and the pain I've caused."

"You saved my life; that's got to mean something," Lucy said. Edmund laughed.

"I'm also the reason why it was in danger in the first place," Edmund said. "Listen, we both know that your reign will run better if I'm not here."

"Will I see you again," Lucy said. Edmund shook his head; for his and everyone's safety, it was better that he never returned. A life of self-imposed exile that was the life for him.

"Goodbye, Lucy Pevensie."

Lucy doesn't try to stop Edmund as he leaves the castle and makes his way into the forest. The trees were his allies, and they would help him remain hidden—that is, if people didn't find him first. Aslan must've suspected he'd try to flee as the lion met him at the forest's edge.

"If Lucy can't persuade, then neither will you, so save your breath," Edmund said as he stood before the great lion.

"I will not stand in the way as you embark on a great journey to find yourself outside the witch's control. I only wish to pass on important information that may help you decide when home truly is when you are ready to find it," Aslan said. Edmund motioned for the lion to continue.

"The prophecy dictated that four will bring the witch's downfall. Two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve. I couldn't be certain at first; I did not know of your existence in Narnia during my absence. The witch hid you well, but upon my return, I felt that one of the prophecies children had already stepped into Narnia long before Lucy's appearance. You Edmund, or should I call you James, as that was your birth name. The son of Helen and Christopher Pevensie, the younger brother of Peter and Susan and the older brother of Lucy Pevensie," Aslan said. So, he had been right, not about being related to Peter, Susan and Lucy, but he was part of the prophecy that the witch overlooked.

"You don't seem surprised," Aslan said.

"I suspected that I was involved as you said the prophecy mentioned two sons of Adam, and only Peter turned up. The witch told me that she saved me from unloving parents, but I guess the truth was she stole me from loving ones," Edmund said. "It doesn't change anything, though, I might be their sibling, but I grew up alone, and as you said, to find myself after the life I have led for many years is gone, I need to do it without links to anyone I know. Goodbye, Aslan."

As she walked down the aisle beside her siblings, Lucy felt like a princess. Four thrones awaited them, and her heart stung with James's absence. Had her brother not disappeared all those years, he would be with them today, being crowned king of Narnia. Lucy took her place before her throne as Aslan addressed the congregation.

"To the glistening Eastern Sea, I give you Queen Lucy the Valiant," Aslan said. Lucy smiled as Mr Tumnus approached her with the Beavers, who each held their crowns. Mr Tumnus picked hers up as a delicate silver clown made of leaves.

"To the radiant Southern Sun, Queen Susan, the Gentle," Aslan said. Mr Tumnus moved from Lucy to her sister and placed a golden crown with gold flowers on her head.

"And to the clear Northern Sky, I give you King Peter, the Magnificent," Aslan said as Mr Tumnus placed a gold crown with leaves and acorns covering its base. "Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen. May your wisdom grace us until the stars rain down from the heavens."

"Long live King Peter! Long live Queen Susan! Love live Queen Lucy!" the congregation cried.

"As we can see, we are missing a King. James, the brother of our King and Queens, was taken as a baby, but fear not, for he has been here this entire time stolen and renamed by the witch - Edmund, the White Prince who fought against his captive's power to free Narnia from its endless winter. Even behind the scenes, Edmund gave me information leading to the Witch's defeat," Aslan said. It was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over Lucy, Edmund was James, and she'd let him leave. "So, to the great Western Wood, King Edmund the Just. He may not be here, but he is still worthy of his title."

Lucy looked at her siblings. A look of horror and surprise dawned on their faces, as Lucy's sure was visible on her own. Edmund is James, the brother she'd hoped she could've found in this world. He was here, and she let him go. Peter ordered a search, but Lucy knew it was too late. Edmund would be long gone.

"We lost him again! All this time, James was Edmund, and we let him leave," Lucy said. She should've tried harder to persuade him not to leave. Why couldn't she have realised Edmund was her missing brother?

"We'll find him, Lucy," Peter said. "No matter how long it takes, we will search this world for our missing brother."