Disclaimer: The characters belong to C.S Lewis. The plot is mine.
Now Look at What You've DoneAuthor's Notes: I really wish that this category would be more active. I got sick of waiting for more people to update so wallah! First Narnia fic for me! I have never read the books but the film is great!
Summary: AU. What if the wardrobe didn't open to reveal Narnia? The Pevensie kids have to face up to breaking the window. Who will take the punishment? Warning: ABUSIVE and violent corporal punishment of a minor. Movieverse.
There was a smash of a window.
"Edmund!" Peter said exasperatedly. "Now look at what you've done!" They were really going to be in for it now. The Pensevie family was lucky to have remained together at the grace of the Professor. He knew that many evacuees were seen as troublemakers. He'd heard stories of evil hosts and being made to work as slaves.
"RUN!" One of the girls said. And he did.
Peter found himself following the others as they ran up the stairs. Most of the doors were locked. Lucy tried to get through one door. Nope. He ran to the second floor following Susan. She twisted the door knob in vain as she tried to open the door of the bed room.
Faint footsteps could be heard approaching. "Come here kids! Now!" Mrs Macready's voice rang through the house. "When I find you…" her angry threat was left hanging.
"Hurry! Quick! Try the third floor!" Susan said in the loud whisper.
Edmund took the lead and ran up the stairs two at a time. He ran to the furthest room. Edmund wiped his sweaty hands on his worn gray shorts before violently pushing the door open. The children fell into the room. There was a voluminous white sheet on the floor in front of an ornate wooden wardrobe. Edmund strode quickly across the room but he hesitated at opening the wardrobe.
The floorboards of the stairs outside creaked. Angry stomps could now be heard. Thump. Thump. The children panted breathlessly from the run and from fear. Sweat broke out on the older children's foreheads. They were going to be in serious trouble if they were found.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry!" Susan said.
Edmund quickly stepped inside the wardrobe. Susan grabbed Lucy roughly and they went in together. Peter was last. The wardrobe was large but it was cramped when filled with the four occupants. The wardrobe smelt musty and fur coats hung all around them.
"Where are those damn kids? Mrs Macready, tell me where they are now!" A loud male voice bellowed. It must be the professor, Peter thought nervously."I could swear that I heard a noise from up here. They ran upstairs. Check all the rooms on this floor." The sound of the footsteps seemed louder and louder.
"Ow! Somone-" Lucy squealed and grabbed her foot. Susan had clamped her hand over her sister's mouth. Susan let her sister go as she scrambled to the back of the closer. Lucy started to bang on the back of the closet as it it would open but Susan quickly grabbed her small fists fiercely."It should open to Narnia!" Lucy explained and tried to twist out of her older sister's grip.
"Stop it! Quiet!" Susan hissed.
Peter had closed the wardrobe so that a small chink of light was left. "Shut the door!" Edmund whispered urgently.
The doorknob turned.
Peter had shut the door silently. The children all held their breaths in the dark. The air seemed suffocating.
There was a creak as the door opened. "This must be it sir, there can't be any other rooms for the children to hide in." Mrs Macready's voice could be heard.
"Now come out children. Own up and I promise you, I will lessen the punishment. Don't make me go in there and find you," Professor Kirke warned. "I will count to three. One…"
They all held their breaths and subconsciously turned to Peter. Susan grabbed his hand and squeezed it. She was asking him the silent questions, should we?
"…Two…"
Peter put his hands over his face. What were they to do? He held Susan's hand desperately trying to think of a good explanation but none came to him.
"…Three…" Too late. "Fine. As you wish." The Professor said coldly, the anger in his voice had not disappeared but had taken a chilly edge.
The children waited in the closet. They each took a deep breath as the inevitable came. Peter closed his eyes.
There was a sound as the wardrobe squeaked and opened. The children squinted as the bright light assaulted their eyes.
"What are we all doing in the closet?" the Professor sneered. "You little cowards. Go and wait for me in my office."
The children walked out of the closet one by one in a line. Lucy was gripping Susan's hand tightly. Edmund tried to hold his chin up. Peter bowed his head shamedly.
The wait was painful. There were hushed voices in the room adjoining the office but the children could not hear what was being said.
Finally, Lucy's trembling voice broke the awful silence, "Well what are we going to do?"
Susan stroked Lucy gently hair gently as she sat in her lap. The child was trembling with fear. "If it's anything, Edmund should take the blame," Susan said. "After all, he was the one who broke the window." Susan could not resist shooting a scathing look at her troublesome brother.
Edmund bit his lip. "Peter bowled it!" he retorted. The fire in his usual reply seemed extinguished by the fear of the professor.
Everyone looked to Peter. He always knew what to do.
"Don't look at me. I don't know!" Peter snapped. He wasn't really irritated at them but he didn't know how to get them out of trouble. Edmund did break the window so punishment is fair, Peter thought glumly. "I'm sorry," he said softening at the tears glistening in Lucy's eyes. "I don't know what to do either."
The door swung open revealing the Professor and Mrs Macready behind him. The Professor seemed to have caught Peter's last words. "Well then maybe you should start by telling me who did it and what you should have done. Enlighten me." The Professor chuckled mirthlessly. "Who broke the window?" He stared at the children, searching them with his eyes.
The silence was deafening. All of the children squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze, their eyes looking at anything in the room but him. Edmund's eyes were firmed locked onto the rich red carptet of the floor. Susan gave him a small nudge.
"Well? My library window didn't break itself?" The Professor tapped his foot impatiently.
Susan gave Edmund another nudge. He bit his lip.
"I did, sir."
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