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Just and Magnificent	By : SubOrbital Category: A through F > Chronicles of Narnia Views: 11258 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Chronicles of Narnia, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Just and Magnificent

Volume 1 - The Price of Redemption

Chapter: 4 - The Path to Glory

Pairing: Peter/Edmund

Summary: Peter is reunited with Edmund, but it is not the way he imagined. Susan leads the Narnian Army onto Cair Paravel to stop the true threat to Narnia, and more.

Disclaimer: C.S. Lewis owns the characters. I just love them!

Warnings: Incest. Slash. Romance. Action. Movieverse. Slight AU.

Thank you to everyone who has written feedback and reviews. They make me want to write even more. And I’m enjoying my first foray into Narnia a great deal. This story is set in the movieverse of Narnia, and this chapter takes place a year after the battle with Jadis at Beruna. Please Read and Review!

A JUST AND MAGNIFICENT ARMY
Peter woke up and knew instantly his dreams were over. The harsh light of reality blinded him as he opened his eyes and felt dreadfully cold. His armor had been removed and he was wrapped tight in a warm fur coat and several blankets. He sat up and rubbed himself for warmth. The bright morning sun was quickly warming him with it’s rays. He could see his armor had been placed beside a nearby tree, along with his sword and shield.
Though Peter was grateful he’d been taken care of, he still couldn’t remember how he’d arrived here. He was in a small clearing, surrounded by trees, with a valley below. A stream ran pure and clean only a few paces away. Peter was grateful for the privacy this spot seemed to afford.
Peter touched his ribs, where the spear had left a scar after piercing his right side. Though Lucy had given him some fireflower cordial for his spear wound and the various other injuries he’d picked up in the battle against the Kjell, it was not a complete cure. Peter had ordered Lucy to use the cordial sparingly so that other wounded could partake in it’s healing properties. His ribs however, were bandaged, while his minor wounds had been cleaned and dressed.
Peter wrapped the fur coat around tighter around himself, to keep the morning chill from his bare skin. There seemed to be one around him that he could make out easily, but he was still cautious.
“Be grateful it isn’t a girl’s coat.” Edmund said as he emerged from the trees with barely a raised eyebrow.
Peter threw the fur coat off and jumped to his feet in surprise. Edmund walked right up to Peter and stared him in the eyes. Peter stood too dumbstruck for words as he looked upon the face of his fallen brother. Edmund appeared much the same way Peter had seen him after the battle with the Kjell, dressed in dark armor, save for his helmet.
His last meeting with Edmund had passed him far too quickly. Now however, he had the chance to study Edmund in greater detail. Peter did not understand the nature of Edmund’s return, or the magic that allowed him to be here. Edmund’s hair was longer, he seemed a little older physically, and his build no longer seemed so awkward. His eyes held the most change for Peter. Edmund’s eyes were jaded and almost bitter. Yet he could still see deep within, the same Ed he’d helped raise. The same Ed he now loved.
Peter could feel anger and disregard emanating from Edmund. He didn’t know why, and right now, he didn’t care. He was still too amazed at the sight of Edmund to care about anything. Finally, Peter broke out with a huge smile and rushed forward to hug Edmund. Edmund deftly stepped aside with a look of annoyance on his face.
“Don’t do that, Peter. You won’t like what you find.” Edmund said stepping away from the high king of Narnia.
“What do you mean, Ed?”
Peter stepped forward again, this time refusing to let Edmund move away. He reached his hand out to Edmund’s face and found his eyes begin to well up with tears. The closer his fingers came to Edmund’s face, the more he feared waking up and realizing this was a dream. Only Edmund wasn’t disappearing or being taken from him this time. He was truly here, staring back at him with eyes that were increasingly expectant.
Peter closed his eyes and let his tears fall free as he felt Edmund’s cheek on the tip of his fingers for an instant. Unable to control himself any longer, Peter opened his eyes and lunged forward, about to press his lips to Edmund’s. He felt a shiver of cold run through him as his lips met Edmund’s. They’d barely touched before Edmund threw Peter off, but they touched long enough for Peter to feel the chill in Edmund’s body.
“I told you not to do that!” Edmund said angrily, “Are you happy now? Do you like what you’ve found?”
“Ed …” Peter said looking up at Edmund from the ground, “You’re … cold. Your body is so cold.”
Edmund turned away from Peter and began pacing back and forth. He seemed angry and agitated. Peter wasn’t sure whether Edmund would walk back and hit him or walk away and leave him. Confusion reigned in Edmund’s eyes, and it was all Peter could do not to jump up and snap him out of it. Finally, Edmund stood before Peter and looked down at him with eyes full of burden and fear.
“I’m still dead, Peter. We all are. We walk the line between life and death. Not quite alive, not quite dead. Our hearts beat not, yet our bodies move as if blood flowed through our veins. We feel nothing, and yet … our souls feel everything. We are an abomination, kept from the realm of the departed to complete the tasks in death, that we failed to achieve in life. Our very existence defiles the natural order, Peter.” Edmund sighed in disappointment, “You should not have come to me.”
“You were the one who came to me, Ed!” Peter yelled, pulling himself to his feet.
“Because you summoned me!”
It was almost as if they were home in England again, arguing over something incredibly unimportant. But ever since Peter had rejected Edmund, everything seemed important to Edmund. And Edmund used everything as a point of contention. Peter thought for someone dead, Edmund still had a lot of fire in his words. And as odd as it seemed to be arguing with him at the moment, the fact they were arguing at all was almost the high point of Peter’s year.
“Because I love you, Ed!” Peter proclaimed.
“You’re a liar!” Edmund yelled, “I saw you!”
“What?” Peter asked in confusion, “Saw me what?”
“I saw you … with her! You told me you loved me and I came, Peter! I came to save you and to save Narnia. I held back death for you, Peter. And when I finally find you … you were …” Edmund said turning away from Peter, “You lied. You tricked me to bring me here so I would help you.”
“I did no such thing!” snapped an angry Peter, “Now what exactly do you think you saw? Wait a minute, that was you at the ball?”
“Gosh, Peter. You’re so daft sometimes. Yes, Peter it was me at the ball. The guy in the black get up, kinda like this one.” Edmund said rolling his eyes, “I came for you, because you called for me. Though it took me months to reach you, I still came. And then I saw you with her. Dancing with her.”
“It was just a dance, Ed.”
“You were looking at her. Looking at her!” Edmund yelled, “How could you?”
“Edmund …” smiled a surprised Peter, “Are you jealous?”
Edmund didn’t appreciate his brother’s smug look and promptly made him aware of that fact by glaring at him, as only Edmund could. This gave Peter even more reason to smile. Which in turn gave Edmund even more reason to glare.
“Ed … I thought you were dead.” Peter said trying not to antagonize Edmund any further, “It had been a year since you died. I …”
“And you were right, Peter. How can you love someone who is dead? I don’t know what I was thinking. You … should be happy. I want you to be, Peter.” Edmund said softly.
“Ed, don’t be like this. Let me touch you please. I don’t care how cold you are. I’ll be warm enough for the both of us.” Peter said softly, “You don’t know how hard it’s been, Ed. If I never believed in miracles, I surely do now. I thought you were lost to me, Ed. Don’t shut me out now that I finally have you near me again.”
Edmund’s eyes were downcast and full of sadness. He looked away from Peter, but Peter could see the tears forming in Edmund’s eyes. A tear began to streak down Edmund’s face. Edmund held his finger to his cheek, catching the tear.
“Even my tears are cold, Peter.” Edmund sighed, “But just being here with you, I feel … fire in my soul. I feel … alive. More alive than I’ve felt since … since I died. This is not a pleasant feeling, Peter. Being stuck between life and death. I’ve wasted enough time here. We must leave. You are well now. You can go home.”
“Edmund, can’t we talk about this?” Peter insisted.
“No, Peter. Salei Barion calls. My army waits for me to lead them back.” Edmund said as he walked away.
“Army?” Peter said almost forgetting about the Fallen Army of Beruna, “Army!”
Peter realized he’d been so caught up reuniting with Edmund that he’d almost forgotten about the battle at Cair Paravel. Peter quickly ran after Edmund, sensing that unless he managed to convince Edmund to help him, Narnia would fall. He remembered Aslan’s warning that only he could convince Edmund to return to Cair Paravel.
“Edmund!” Peter called, “I need your help! You were deceived, but not by me! The true evil is at Cair Paravel! They marched right by us while we battled the Kjell. The Kjell were only a distraction. Right now Susan is leading the Narnian Army onto Cair Paravel. But she cannot stop them on her own.”
“You let Susan lead the army?” Edmund asked with a mixture of anger and concern, “Where is Oerius? Why doesn’t he lead the army?”
“I did not know of this danger until I’d already come to find you. I can’t return without you, Edmund. I need your help. We need your help. The Nameless Evil is spawned by Jadis. Don’t you see? Your work isn’t done. And if you don’t come back with me, Narnia will fall. And so will Susan and Lucy.”
Peter noted that for someone half dead, Edmund had an amazing amount of concern on his face. Obviously Edmund was concerned for his sisters, and Peter hoped that would be the deciding factor in him returning to Cair Paravel.
“If I do this for you … will you agree to release us? You will relinquish your authority over us? You will allow us to return freely to Salei Barion so that we may finally rest in peace?”
Peter felt Aslan’s words hit him like a bolt of lightning. Peter’s worst fear had to be faced, and for Peter, that fear was losing Edmund again. To save Narnia, he would have to release Edmund to death. This must have been what Aslan meant. Release Edmund to the peace he had not found for a year. Peter knew it was one of the most difficult choices he would ever have to make, but in the end, he placed the needs of his subjects above his own.
“My darkest fear … is losing you all over again. But if I don’t face that fear … Narnia will fall. Susan and Lucy will fall. I cannot allow that.” Peter struggled to say, “Yes. If you come with me and fight at Cair Paravel, I will release you freely to Salei Barion.”
“Then the Fallen Army will march with you, Peter. As will I.” Edmund said as he continued walking away, “You’d best hurry then, High King of Narnia. Suit up your armor. We will begin our march immediately. I will wait for you.”
Peter rushed back to grab his armor. His mind still rushed with thoughts on how to change Edmund’s mind or to find a way to keep Edmund in Narnia. He had to find a way. If he did not, he would willingly let Edmund leave once Cair Paravel was saved, but he would do everything in his power to save him first. If he could find a way to turn death on it’s head, he would do so. He would do that and much more for Edmund.
Staring at his armor, Peter could not move. It was only now in the still and quiet, when Edmund had left his side, that Peter could feel the full impact of seeing him again. It hit him with unabashed ferocity, overwhelming him with tears and breaking the silence with muffled cries.
“Ed …” Peter cried, leaning against the nearest tree.
Peter could not shake the feeling that he was simply being teased with Edmund’s presence only to lose him again. The added frustration of not being able to touch him made things all the worse. And with Edmund’s added stand offish demeanor, Peter found himself so close to his heart’s desire and still so far. He let his heart’s ache out with audible sobs. Sobs so audible that he did not even hear Edmund emerge from the trees with equal amounts of concern and despair.
“Peter …” Edmund called as he stood behind Peter.
Peter turned to see an Edmund that was unsure and almost vulnerable. He hadn’t expected Edmund to come back, and especially not looking as woe some as he did now. He had fear in his eyes that Peter wanted to shield him from. Tentatively, Peter stepped closer to Edmund with a longing glance. Both sets of eyes were full of hurt and anguish, longing and agony.
“Ed?”
Edmund did not speak, but Peter could feel the loneliness in him. He extended his hand to Edmund, but it was not taken. Peter knew Edmund didn’t want the cold in him to be touched. It did not deter the high king of Narnia. Their eyes met and fixed onto each other, and in that moment, Peter knew he would find some way to keep Edmund with him. Staring into Edmund’s eyes was staring into the better part of his soul. He wouldn’t give that up again. Not without a fight.
“I’m so cold, Peter.” Edmund said suddenly, eyes welling up again with bitter cold tears, “I’m so cold.”
Peter pulled Edmund into his arms, refusing to let go even as he struggled. Shivering at the feel of Edmund’s cold cheek against his own, Peter instinctively began rubbing Edmund’s back. After a weak attempt at breaking away from Peter, Edmund wrapped his arms around Peter and held on with all his might.
Peter closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of anxious release. He shed the tears he’d shed after Edmund’s death. He shed the tears that fueled his grief in Edmund’s absence. And though the small part of Edmund that wasn’t covered in armor was still cold, Peter thought it was the most wonderful sensation in his life. If all he did was stand here for the rest of his life holding Edmund, he knew he would die happy.
“Oh, Peter.” Edmund cried as he held on, “I don’t want to go. I don’t want to leave you. Why did you have to come after me, Peter? The more I’m around you, the harder it is for me to let this life go.”
“Then stay, Ed.” Peter insisted, “Stay. I’ll find a way. I won’t let you go.”
“Feel my skin, Peter. Feel how cold I am. I can’t stay. I just …” Edmund said pulling away, “I’ve never felt so warm until today, Peter. My body feels cold, but when … I’m with you, I feel almost alive. It’s the most awful feeling I’ve ever had, Peter. Feeling something I know can never be mine.”
“Edmund, I didn’t lie to you.” Peter whispered, “I swear, I didn’t. If you were able to return to me somehow because I told you how I truly felt, then you did not come here on a lie. There’s been no one. There’s still no one. No one but you, Ed. I swear it. I swear it on my crown.”
“But I …”
“Forgive me. It was the one time since you died, that I ever looked at another. But that’s all I did, I swear. I’m so sorry.” said Peter emphatically.
“I’m not angry, Peter. I am dead after all.” Edmund sighed, “How can I be angry at you for living?”
Edmund pulled himself away from Peter, briefly managing a small smile before turning away. Peter slowly changed into his armor, trying not to break down any more than he had. He felt a tearing in his heart with every moment he spent with Edmund. The thought of having to lose him again was simply too great. The pain of still not quite being able to give in to the feelings both obviously had.
“I will wait for you with the army, Peter.” Edmund said softly, “I … nevermind. It doesn’t matter.”
Peter finished changing into his armor and made sure he looked as presentable as possible. As far as he was concerned, he was greeting an army of Narnia, dead or not. He intended to look his part. Peter walked into the forest and emerged to a clearing. The entire Fallen Army of Beruna stood before Peter with Edmund at the head. It was one of the most magnificent sights Peter had ever seen.
Edmund trotted up on his horse, till he was a few steps in front of Peter. At first Peter felt slightly intimidated. One remarkable difference between his Edmund of a year ago, and the Edmund of today, is today’s Edmund seemed a hardened general. He easily held the stature of a king, a knight, and a leader.
“They cannot chant your name, Peter. I speak for them. But they can show you their allegiance.” Edmund said he leaned forward with a bow, “Fallen Army of Beruna! Kneel before your King, Peter the Magnificent!”
Peter stood in awe as the army of centaurs, leopards, giants, and more, all bowed down before him. Peter felt himself well up with a sense of pride. He felt an enormous sense of sadness looking out over the thousands of fallen Narnian. He wondered how many others would grieve like him, if they knew their loved ones were here in Narnia. Like Edmund, there was something odd about them. Something not quite there. You could almost feel that they were not fully of this world, and yet weren’t fully out of it either. Peter hoped inside that there would be some way to bring this army back to life, and back to Narnia. He couldn’t bare seeing any of his subjects so … disconnected from what he took for granted. Life.
“I always was the renegade, Peter. Now I am the Renegade King.” Edmund smiled, “Don’t you think it fitting that I lead the exiled?”
“The fallen, Ed. Not the exiled. You weren’t a renegade. You were just … misunderstood and unappreciated.” Peter said as he held his sword in the air, “And you are no Renegade King. Dead or not, you are still King Edmund the Just. Do I make myself clear?”
“You know, I’m going to have a hard time not being smart, Peter.” Edmund said with a cheeky grin, “This could be quite fun after all.”
“Have I ever told you that you have the most wonderful smile?” asked Peter as he gazed up at his brother, “And how very much I’ve missed it?”
“I don’t believe you have, Peter.” Edmund said trying not to show how much he appreciated the statement, “You’ve inspired one restless soul, Peter. Try inspiring a few thousand.”
“Fallen Army of Beruna!” Peter yelled so that all could hear him, “It is my honor to have you here. The sacrifice you all made in the battle against Jadis has never been forgotten! But you are needed once more! Jadis was not defeated that day! She threatens Cair Paravel and Narnia as we speak! A nameless evil spawned from her evil is now plundering our home and the ones you died to protect! I ask you again to rise up and join me! Help me protect Narnia once more! Fight well for your King Edmund! For without him we cannot prevail. I ask you to do this one more task before … before I release you to Salei Barion.”
Peter caught on his words, glancing at Edmund as he spoke. Once again he found his will to let Edmund go falter. As he looked out over the fallen army, he saw a sea of black masks and helmets. Nameless faces to fight a nameless army. Peter would not have it.
“Remove your masks!” Peter demanded, “Remove them, I command you! You are fighting a nameless evil, but you yourselves are not nameless! You are sons and daughters of Narnia! Your names will be remembered. You will be remembered. Let the nameless evil see the faces of their enemies! Let them see the face of Narnia when we drive them from our home!”
The Fallen Army removed their helmets one by one and cast them aside. Peter smiled as centaur revealed their faces, while Giants looked out of their helmets as if they were seeing daylight for the first time. Peter had found the Fallen Army a fearsome sight the first time he saw them. Now he truly saw an army of Narnia standing before him. His eyes filled with tears of joy, a rush of pride and adrenaline running through him.
“Once more for Narnia!” Peter cried.
And though the Fallen Army could not speak, they rose their weapons high in support of their High King. Edmund too raised his sword and smiled proudly at Peter. He extended his gloved hand to Peter, and Peter quickly accepted. Peter pulled himself up onto Edmund’s horse and held onto him from behind.
“You ride with me, Peter. I do not see your horse anywhere.” Edmund smiled, “Unless you’d rather walk?”
“No, Ed. This is just perfect.” replied Peter with adrenaline coursing through him.
The Fallen Army of Beruna fell into a silent march as Edmund galloped ahead of them. He was about to slip his helmet over his head when Peter pulled the helmet from his hands.
“No, Ed. I want them to see your face too. I want them to bear witness and marvel at your glorious return home at the head of our fallen army. I want them to see King Edmund the Just and tremble with awe.”
“They won’t very well tremble if I’m not wearing my fearsome helmet, will they?” laughed the younger king, “In fact, I doubt they will tremble if none of us are wearing our masks and helmets. They kind of add to the aura of being a dead army, you know. We look a little too alive now to be fearsome, don’t you think?”
Edmund turned his head to smile at Peter, and the older king couldn’t help noticing Edmund looking more alive with each passing moment. Perhaps it did have something to do with Peter’s presence. Peter did not know for certain, but he was happy nonetheless. As he held onto Edmund from behind, with his arms wrapped around his waist, he couldn’t fight the urge to kiss his love. And as Edmund smiled back at him while their trusty steed led them forward, he slowly leaned his head in.
“Peter …” Edmund protested, “Please don’t.”
“But I love you, Ed.”
“Everyone will see.”
“They can’t exactly voice their disapproval, can they?” laughed Peter.
“Peter …” Edmund laughed back, “What a horrible thing to say.”
“I don’t care if you’re cold, Ed.” Peter whispered, “I’ve waited too long to let a little chance of frostbite put me off.”
“Peter, I should want our first real kiss to be something better than you kissing an icicle.”
“This isn’t our first real kiss, Ed. Not at all.”
Though they rode before an army of thousands, they could have been alone in the middle of an ocean. Their eyes were only on the other. Peter no longer cared who knew of his love for Edmund. He decided right then that he would declare his love to the world at the next opportunity. It would be the perfect way to celebrate the victory Peter was increasingly confident of.
Yet even though they rode into a battle the likes neither were fully prepared for or aware of, they remained fixed on one another. Edmund’s horse rode itself and thankfully like the army, could not voice either approval or disapproval at the king’s obvious affection for one another. Butterflies filled Peter’s stomach, and he couldn’t remember ever feeling quite so nervous or happy all at once. Yet as he continued to stare into Edmund’s eyes, holding him from behind, and their faces almost touching at the nose, he could not help thinking this is why he lived. This is why he loved.
“I still remember our first real kiss, Ed.”
“It wasn’t real, Peter. You never kissed me back.” Edmund said under his breath, eyes still fixed on Peter.
“I can kiss you back now.” whispered a breathless Peter, “Please.”
“But I’m so …”
“Cold?” Peter said as he blew gently on Edmund’s lips, “Doesn’t work as well as Aslan, but just maybe I could be warm enough for both of us.”
“I can’t.” Edmund sighed, finally breaking eye contact with Peter, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s ok, Ed. I understand. But I’m not giving up on you. Not yet.” Smiled Peter, “But you do tease me so. You must promise me as soon as I figure out how to warm you up, I will get that kiss.”
Edmund smiled coyly, almost shy, as if he could not understand how Peter could want him so much. There were so many reasons for them not to love one another the way they did, and yet Peter pursued him as if there were only one way to possibly love one another.
“I am sorry, Edmund,” said a sincere Peter, caught up with emotion, “That I did not realize or admit or be brave enough to let these feelings breathe in me until … it was too late. But I hope you know now that I will never breathe for anyone but you. I do love you, Ed. So much I think I shall burst if I do not have the opportunity to tell the entire world. I feel you inside me, even when you dwell in a world I cannot imagine. Death will not keep us apart, Ed. And though your body may be cold, I know your spirit burns as brightly for me as mine does for you. And that is all the warmth I will ever need.”
Peter could see Edmund’s spirit was lifted by his words, but he did not respond with any of his own. Edmund smiled at Peter, but for a brief instant Peter saw sudden pain etched on his brother’s face. He stared at Peter in confusion and tilted his head before he shivered for a moment, and looked as though he were gasping for breath. Then just as quickly as the brief moment of pain had visited Edmund, it was gone again.
“Edmund, what’s wrong?” asked a frantic Peter.
“I don’t know, Peter. I … felt pain. I’m dead, Peter. I’m not supposed to feel anything. I felt … something. My body … was …” Edmund said still confused, “I’m fine, Peter. I’m fine. Perhaps we have strayed from Salei Barion for too long. We should hurry. Susan and Lucy need us.”
QUEEN SUSAN THE NOT SO GENTLE
Fire raged through Cair Paravel. From steeple to stair, fire raged and screams filled the day. Wiping dried blood from her brow, Susan surveyed her great city. She’d marched on Cair Paravel uncertain of what to expect. What she found was nothing less than horrific. The nameless evil were like wraith. Shadows from a world Susan could scarcely imagine. Evil may not have had a name today, but it had a face. And as Susan soon learned, it could bleed. The strongest of the nameless evil were able to move like the wind, avoiding any physical harm directed at them by the Narnian Army. Yet Susan found her arrows were swifter than the evil’s ability to think of evasion.
This battle had been unconventional at best. Cair Paravel had all but fallen by the time Susan had arrived with her army. The Nameless Evil did not fight a battle like the Kjell. They moved through the city at their own discretion, avoiding the traditional army standoff. Unable to fight them on an open battlefield, Susan was forced to lead her army into Cair Paravel and fight among the buildings that many called home. It was among the buildings of Cair Paravel that Susan bore witness to horrors beyond description. Innocent blood was shed without reserve by the Nameless Evil. Seeing the blood of so many filled Susan with hatred and intent. Intent to exact a punishment so severe that evil itself would run and cower.
Unfortunately for Susan, the enemy she fought was not a helpless one. In fact, it was stronger than any army she had ever faced. And as Narnia’s forces were already tired and broken from fighting two battles in as many days, they were simply not strong or sharp enough to turn the tide. Cair Paravel was being raped and plundered around her very eyes, and Susan felt powerless to stop. And yet she fought on. She fought for the baby faun who would not see it’s mother again. She fought for the centaur whose children had lost their lives. She fought for her people, for her Narnia.
Susan was never meant to be a frontline fighter. Peter had always tried to keep her a distance from the main battle. He had always tried to protect her. Today she refused to stand back, and as the acting commander of her army, she would fight by their side. It was soon apparent to Susan however that her status was not lost on the soldiers of the nameless evil. She found herself frequently cornered, just as she was at this very moment. With only Beaver and two centaur to aid her, she fought the dozen nameless evil that stood between her and the nearest battalion. The nameless evil had numbers far greater than the Narnian Army, but Susan cared little for this fact.
“Back, you fiend!” Susan yelled as she fought her sword to a wraith’s metal clawed hands, “I say back!”
Susan gasped in horror as she watched a baby leopard being thrown from it’s home, barely two meters in front of her. The wraiths took pleasure in tormenting the small creature while Susan fought with her companions to break free of their attackers.
With five wraiths standing toe to toe with her and her three companions, and more in a second line, Susan felt her maternal instinct overwhelm her better judgment. She spun her sword around her head and with sheer force of will, brought it crashing down on the wraith before her. She split in half and ran straight through. It was moments like now she was grateful for the many weeks of combat training with Peter and Oerius.
Susan ran to the second line of wraith, throwing her sword ahead of her. Before the sword had reached the wraith’s head before her, Susan pulled two daggers from her belt and plunged them into the necks of the wraiths either side of her main target. She leaped into the air, pulling her sword from the wraith’s head and kicking off it’s lifeless torso right into the wraith holding the baby leopard. With barely a flinch, she swung her sword and sliced off four sets of hands belong to the wraiths tormenting the baby leopard by tossing it in the air. Her last move was to catch the baby leopard as fell from the air.
For a moment, Susan allowed herself a moment of respite. She pushed her way through the nearest door and hid the baby leopard where she hoped no wraith would find it. By the time she exited the room, her rage was fully reignited and she swung back into battle. Beaver had managed to get himself cornered by a wraith almost five times the size of the little mammal.
“Your King has abandoned you, Beaver.” The wraith taunted, “Who stands for Narnia now?”
The soldier didn’t even feel the arrow pierce his chest. One second it wasn’t there, the next it was. He looked up to see a fearsome and angered woman standing before him.
“I do.” Susan snapped, “Any more questions before you die?”
Susan didn’t let the soldier answer before she drew her sword and ran him through. Her usual gentle demeanor was clearly absent today. She stalked her surroundings looking for the next nameless evil to wipe from existence. Her mind was so focused on battle that she almost sliced Rask’s head off when he tapped her leg.
“Rask! What in heavens are you doing?”
“Majesty, I bring good news! King Peter returns with an army! He has been sighted by the griffon less than an hour from Cair Paravel!”
Susan let herself falter for just a moment. She let relief run through her body and comfort her. She had always believed that her brother would not abandon her or Narnia, and now her faith in him was justified. She only hoped she and the Narnian army had done enough for Peter to make a difference. Yet as she surveyed her burning city, she somehow doubted it.
“They wish for fire, we will give them fire!” Susan yelled.
Her attention was focused on one of the southern towers of Cair Paravel that was swarmed by Wraith. The building was already lost and no civilians survived there. Susan looked to the sky and called
“Phoenix! Fill that tower with your flame and let them burn within!”
She watched as two phoenix swooped in and circled the building before their flames ignited it from the base. They swept up and around the building, encompassing any and all wraith within.
“Do not fear them, Beaver.” Susan said as a new wave of wraiths rushed the passage they had just secured, “For they may seem fearsome, but they bleed just like we do.”
“Majesty, this is no place for a lady.” Rask urged as wraiths swarmed either end of the large passage.
“I’m not a lady. I’m Queen Susan the Gentle. And I think it’s time I showed these miscreants how gentle I can be.”
Susan pulled loaded her bow and let loose with a volley of arrows. One after another, she swept through the invading wraith with deadly accuracy. Yet as she easily hit her targets, she was taken aback by the sight of a nameless evil much larger than any she’d seen yet. Like have some half demon, half giant, it swept aside her battalion and ran straight at her.
Realizing she had nowehere to run, Susan loaded her bow with three arrows at once. She hit the demon giant in both eyes and it’s temple, with little effect. She screamed in agony as wrapped it’s clammy hands around her body and lifted her into the air.
“Majesty!” Rask yelled as he and Beaver ran up the demon giant’s back and fiercely attacked it’s head.
Susan was suddenly tossed aside, flying through the air before she smashed against the wall. She let out a piercing cry as pain filled tears escaped. Screaming in agony, Susan pulled herself to her feet. Still, she fought on. She fought like a warrior with no concern for herself. She fought for the beaver who would not leave her side. She fought for the fox who viciously attacked the demon giant on her behalf.
With the force expected of a man, she ran at the demon giant with her sword high in the air. She plunged the sword down at the giant’s right ankle and sliced through it. Still overcome with pain, she fell to her knees but quickly stood up and attacked the demon giant’s left ankle. Finally, the huge beast faltered and fell. She ran atop the beast until she reached the back of it’s head. With a mighty thrust, she sent her sword into the creature’s head to the hilt.
“Queen Susan the Gentle.” Susan gasped, “However did they choose that name for me?”
“Queen Susan, are you hurt?” Beaver asked anxiously, “We must get you to safety. To the outer city with Queen Lucy! The city is falling, Majesty! And though you fight better than any soldier here, we cannot lose you!”
“I must hold the city for Peter. And as long as any man, woman, or creature of Narnia fight for our cause, so will I, Beaver. I will not let Narnia fall. Cair Paravel is Narnia, Beaver. If they take this city, they take our land. But no one will think any less of you if you wish to leave now and be with your wife.”
“Are you kidding? And miss you teaching these evil buffoons a lesson? I think not.”
“What army rides with him, Rask?” Susan asked a little breathless, still letting herself recover, “What army rides with Peter?”
“Our own, Majesty.” Rask said with a smile.
“But I have our army here.”
“Not all of it, Majesty. King Peter rides with … your brother. The northerners are in actuality, the Fallen Army of Beruna. King Edmund has returned with them to save Narnia.”
Susan couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Edmund was alive? He’d returned to Narnia? But how? How had any of the fallen returned? So many questions, but all Susan could think of was her brother.
“Edmund’s alive?” Susan cried, “Ed’s alive?”
“He’s … here at least, Majesty. You best not concern yourself with the details just yet. We have a battle to win! King Peter rides in from the north, Majesty. Princess Eris has is also arriving to the east with an army she has pledged to Narnia’s aid. We can win, Majesty.”
“We can win!” Beaver yelled, “We can win!”
“We must hold the city.” said Susan still in disbelief, “For Peter … and for Edmund. He’s alive? I don’t understand.”
“Perhaps now is not the best time to understand, Majesty.” Rask said motioning toward a new wave of nameless evil.
“Let’s have at em!” Beaver yelled as he ran to join the battle.
“For Narnia!” Rask yelled, as he too joined the Beaver and the centaur battalion.
Susan’s mind was overcome with emotion and disbelief. She know however, that thoughts of Edmund could not distract her from the current task; destroying as many nameless evil, whatever form they came in. And though her body told her she could barely stand; she stepped forward. And though her mind told her that it was not logical to expect to face such odds and win; she stepped forward.
“Alright then, who’s next?” Susan asked as she held her sword in one hand, and a dagger in the other, “I’m not done being gentle.”

TO BE CONTINUED - Chapter 5 - Courage and Despair

Author’s Notes: Edmund and Peter have finally been reunited, but for how long? There is a clue as to the power and reason for Edmund’s return and the key to him feeling the warmth that keeps him from being too close to Peter. Figured it out? There is much left to this story, and I’ve enjoyed writing it for all of you. Queen Susan is not to be trifled with, and just reminds you not to underestimate a lady. But will Peter and Edmund’s return be too late to save Cair Paravel? Will Susan suffer the fate of Edmund? To be continued! Thanks for reading!
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Just and Magnificent