Chasing Shadows

"But courage, child: we are all between the paws of the true Aslan."
― C.S. Lewis

Her eyes fluttered open and she found herself awakened against a soft, silky bed sheet with a golden coverlet draped to her shoulders. Voices, she could hear and when she turned her head that sank deeply in the white pillow, she could see a woman, brown haired with perfectly blue eyes that seemed to match the vast Eastern Ocean. There was a kind of youth that she conveyed as she talked, a manner so queenly and elegant with a lovely accent.

There, a lowly boy stood, a glint of urgency in his wide eyes. He wore a pure silver crown, and he was draped in a blue tunic, and a sword consistently with the same hue hung ready on his belt. His hair was jet-black and his eyes were a deep brown, mesmerizing and beautiful.

"Do you even realized who you brought here? I just sent you out to do whatever girls do outside and you bring home this!" The boy ran his fingers over his hair that fell sloppily to his eyes. His voice was quite stern and upset.

"Why are you talking as if she's some animal?" The girl stood up, eyes matching the intense glare the other gave off. "And I do crave of you to speak in a hush tone. We have a guest amongst us."

"Are you aware of whom you might have brought here?" Her heart hammered in her chest. Sweat ran over the bead line of her hair and she could hear her breath rag softly enough for them not to hear. "Are you?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I insist you Lucy. There is an utter mistake of one tiring to be careful in this changing fortunes of time. Now, all the worse for your rather slow recognition."

"Please do get to the bottom line." Lucy begged. For a Just King, Edmund sure has found a pleasant way with words. A king so wise mustn't be without one.

"She is the daughter of the wanted Archenlander. A man desired to be caught and be done of Aslan knows what for these past years."

"Aye, but may I question how being in relation with this man be of any problem when she has done nothing?"

"Lucy, she obviously has something to do with a matter such as this. I beg of you to grasp the situation that she is the answer for the capture of this man."

A dryad came in, holding a plate with a familiar delicacy on it. The boy, Edmund, widened his eyes once they had been laid on the object. Lucy hovered over to the plate and set them at the table near the 'supposedly' sleeping girl.

"Lucy, are those…Susan's brownies?" His voice quivered, the intense amount of angriness suddenly dwindled.

"I asked Susan to make them for her." Lucy, with her obvious glare brought her cold reply.

"Ten years, a decade, and Susan never bothered to make me one?!" Edmund asked, flabbergasted. He came closer, one of his arms outstretched to stuff a longing piece into his mouth. Lucy spanked his hand before they did, and he jumped in surprise.

"These are for her. " Lucy insisted, guarding the plate almost with her life. Edmund looked almost ready to attack as he had been training with Oreius the whole day, despite his mastered skills. Oreius always thought of the habit of always practicing, or else you might forget it. He was very tired and the aroma of the brownies that drifted grautiously as his nose smelled them were enchanting.

"My dear sister Lucy, I hereby politely ask of you to kindly remove the barrier such as your hand that is cornering me from enjoying a delicacy I have missed tasting in England for a decade." Edmund threatened.

"Oh, really?"

"Try me."

"Would you rather I call Oreius?"

"Alright, fine." Edmund sighed, his arms up in surrender. "But as soon as Peter arrives from Archenland, I need to do as asked. Archenland will be satisfied at her capture, and our bonds may well improve. "Then, maybe…" He sat down, wiping his forhead and cupped his mouth, with both his hands, breathing heavily. "Maybe, I don't have to marry one of their pimped up princesses." Lucy casted an unfamiliar gaze over her brother.

"Ed, Peter expects highly of you. It's only due time that a twenty year old king like yourself should be indulging in these acts. You should be grateful for this responsibility, you will have an heir."

"Grateful for my being forced into matrimony? Maybe it is in my liking for me to be a King no more." His voice was low and barely audible.

"Edmund!" Lucy flared. "This is all for Narnia, Edmund. Think of how it would better our country and the neighboring one. We never had an offer to make treaties with the Tisroc for years." She sat down beside him, caressing his knuckles with her thumb. "Its for the best. Its for Narnia."

"Well, does anyone think of me? What I want? Why not let Peter or Susan get married instead?" Edmund argued.

"It's perfectly unfitting for the High King of Narnia to get married at this time. Peter has many duties to serve in different countries. He's far too busy. And as a loyal Queen of Narnia, Susan cannot go and live in another's kingdom. She belongs here." Lucy reasoned, her voice calm enough hopefully for Edmund to follow.

He made his way towards the window, raised his wrist and leaned his forehead against it while facing the setting sun on the tranquil horizon. The sky slowly folded itself from narrow streaks of red and yellow, to a distant darkening blue field right across the cumolous clouds floating on the opposite side of the sun. These were one of the views that would keep his temper sane, but as the situation grew rather remorseless, he frowned once again at the excrutiating reminder; That he was being pressured once again, in a life he thought he did not deserve. Marriage is a big leap, and Edmund was not ready for it.

Life was indeed not fair for the Just King. Quite an irony he so fairly hated.

"I'll just take her to the dungeons, Lucy. Its my job." He mumbled. "Once she wakes up."

At once, in a manner of surprise the King was not in the mood for, the girl abruptly stood when the siblings were much off guard, and jumped towards the door, stealing the steel sword of Edmund, who stumbled against his back in surprise. Lucy screamed, retreating at the back of the wooden door.

"Calm down!" Lucy cried, reaching her arms out to catch the girl's attention. "We're just trying to help you."

"By sending me to the dungeons?!" She snapped, her tone getting bolder. "Do I crave much of your hospitality!"

"So I'm glad you took her in, Lucy." Edmund interrupted, able to lock eyes with the upset guest as the tip of the blade aimed directly at his throat. The girl growled at Edmund, kicked him to escape and disappeared into the hall, with the sword of the Just King dangling in its sheath somewhere in the halls of Cair Paravel. Edmund propped himself up on his elbows, his facial expressions turning quite sour.

"Edmund, you need to go after her." Lucy commanded her older brother, who gave her a sophisticated stare.

"Nay, Lu. There is absolutely no way she can escape the walls of Cair Paravel..." Edmund assured her, rolling his eyes when she underestimated the skills of his well protected castle.

The girl had been cornered on one side by the wolves while she tried to escape through the large open gates. The wolves kept gnarling at her, trapping her on one side. Suddenly, the gates were opening. The watch guards watched in disbelief as their own castle had turned against them.

"Oi! Get those gates closed now! Secure the gates premises!" A man, of what could have been suspected as a major general had shouted. It was already too late, the girl had slipped through the gates when the wolves, soldiers and other servants had stared in disbelief that the gates were being opened against their will. The girl ran out, turning to the direction into a forest forbidden by the High King.

"She has escaped, my Lord! The gates have been opened without consent!" A faun barged in, despearation evident in his voice. Lucy gave him a sarcastic look as she crossed her arms. Edmund sighed and turned his back on her.

"How?"

"We have all means of doubts how such an action was implemented. The only one who might be responsible for this could be Sir Flynn, my Lord." The faun replied.

"Alright, I'll go after her myself."

"Sire, with all due respect, mustn't you wait for the High King to give orders? She was reported heading to Lantern Waste, it is a dangerous forest and I fear—"

"Very thoughtful of you, my dear friend. But I fear that my brother is not here, so as King of Cair Paravel, it would necessitate his consent no longer." Edmund reassured him.

"Very well, my Lord. Do take caution in such a vulnerable time." The faun said, taking leave.

Tugging on his deep ocean blue tunic and drawing the sword of a statue knight near the door in expense of his,Edmund ran out of the room, then his scheming hands thrust back into the infirmary seconds later. "Right after I eat this." He mumbled, snatching a brownie from the plate and stuffed them into his satisfied mouth, offending Lucy for a bit then went on his way.

The whole palace came on alert, as alarming bells rung to signal soldiers out. Edmund passed through the stables, succeeding a chestnut horse he mounted on. Meanwhile, the girl slipped through the gates. Then, in a short span of time, she was out of Cair Paravel, running on bare feet towards wherever path she would instinctively take. This gave Edmund his advantage, as he was riding on a quarter horse. Lucy came tumbling down, her dagger drawn and she held it with an effervescent face. She was garbed in protective clothing that Edmund knew exactly what she was to take part into.

"No, Lucy. Stay here." Edmund said boldly. At once, Lucy thought he was still angry about the marriage issue, but its seemed much more than that.

"I can do it, Edmund." She urged.

"I apologize, Lu. I can't put even my sister at such risk." Edmund insisted, for it was indeed. In Lantern Waste, as an awfully huge forest, many creatures lingered into the mist of promising dangers. The darkness that emitted from the ample land had thrown the Pevensies much of their guard, and Lucy had always been the one entranced by the dark magic encompassing the unbidden, since she thinks she could see Aslan, in the land where evil taunts the vision. Everyone thought she just saw another trick of the mist, luring her as another unfortunate victim.

"That is an order." Edmund stated, then kicked the horse's hind legs to thrust the both of them forward, leaving Lucy agape. She stared at her brother, riding off and at the edge of the Great Bridge. No one, not even her family would let her do such things. They seem to still think of her as their little baby sister (who is in fact sixteen years old).

"Almost there!" He exclaimed as their distance dwindled to a near sighting state. Edmund could just see her she trolled her way down towards the forest. As soon as she lumbered inside, he dropped down from the horse and ran on foot to chase after her.

The girl's silhouette was clearly seen in the approaching night, but she had no plans on turning back. She ducked between the trees, wary if anybody would see her. The strange, unwelcoming forest seemed like a better sanctuary than the dungeons and decided best to stay there until dusk. She hoped the shadows of the trees would keep herself barely visible.

Then, just a few distances away, she could hear something summoning her. It's voice was deep and rich and it was unlike anything she had ever heard of before. Her entranced ears went to follow the sound that seemed so bold and majestic. As she walked deeper inside, the voice stopped, and she could hear how silent it all was when the sound of her footsteps disappeared, and the mere crickets that hummed beautiful melodies surrounded her.

Except when a low growl intruded her impailing thoughts, making her fall back and stumble. Underneath the moonlight, a dark figure emerged, exposing its bright silver fur. It bared its teeth while nostrils were in a wide gap with a dagger glare from its blue eyes. What was alarming was that it was staring at her, its hind legs ready to lunge. She froze at that moment, then her legs started crawling backwards until her back met with a dreaded oak tree. She grunted at its existence.

The wolf saw its trapped prey, and now, it leaped forward, but the girl ducked and the eager wolf hit the rough bark of the tree. Enraged at this, it kept coming at her, but by the girl's perpetual darting and ducking with the infallible amount of trees that went in the way, it seemed almost impossible to get to her and this frustrated the wolf that had scratched enough branches and trees.

A piercing cry came when it landed just before she could find shelter amongst the huge throng of trees that served her protection. The wolf gnarled and let out a triumphant howl knowing it was time to finish her off, then expectantly lowered its hind legs to launch…before another figure came clashing down to keep both of them apart. The girl saw her chance and climbed hurriedly up the tree.

She couldn't see very well, but it was clear, the figure was a boy with an impressive skill at swordsmanship, though it was also clear he was fighting with a much bigger, and hungrier enemy. The boy unsheathed both of his swords, making it known that he was a mastered swordsman enough to handle twin blades, drawing close and circling the wolf who grew rather happier to see meals nearing him without his will. It lunged forward and the boy attacked its flanks, slicing a cut down to its neck. It snarled and charged the boy with its body, its sharp nail digging enough flesh as it threw the boy to the barrier of a tree.

The young man groaned in agony as he pressed a hand on his thigh, blood surging in between the spaces of his fingers. His tunic was now streaked in red from gashes of the wolf's nails. He took every ounce of strength there was in him, and grasped the blade that rested on his hands. The wolf flashed its fangs and jumped towards the boy before realizing it was to meet the tightening sword that the boy raised and therefore meet its final breath.

He groaned some more, as the weight of the dead wolf consumed him, and he pushed it away and slunk his head to the ground. Now, he saved her life and with that a whole life ahead of her. Slowly, She stooped down the tree, a bit reluctant to approach. The blood trickled from his forehead, slowly dripping on his chiseled jaw.

She sat down beside him. His lips were twisting in pain as his hands pressed harder on to his thigh to suppress the continuous blood flow, slowly, his head slunk against the bark of the tree and closed his eyes, not even noticing the girl who approached him. She clutched the hem of her shirt and ripped a piece. Then she began tying the wound gently on his thigh. She tilted his face towards her, since he was still unconscious. Her hands traced towards the jet black hair that fell on his eyes and finally for the first time, she saw his face when he was not frowning. And he was beautiful.

She furrowed her eyebrows, trying to remembering his name. "Edmund."

Reviews my lovelies? The story gets better, so stay tuned!

-DawnDestination