Disclaimer: All property of C.S. Lewis.
A/N: (rubs hands together) and now, time for one of my humorous fics! Hopefully you all get a good laugh from this story. Let me know if you think I should continue. This is yet another one of my random inserts from the Golden Age and the entire point is to give you an enjoyable fic!
Your reviews, comments, suggestions, fav parts/characters are always extremely welcomed and very much appreciated!
The Amulet
Ten years had passed since their coronation and Narnia reveled in the peace that the Pevensies had brought with their reign. They established good laws and made sure everyone was taken care of right down to the smallest animals. They had destroyed the remnants of the Witch's army and though it had taken several years, they eventually stamped out all the foul creatures that had caused so much strife to the Narnians. They kept out busybodies that wished to interfere with Narnia and overall made Narnia a very pleasant place to live. Strong alliances had been formed with the other countries beyond the sea and every year they paid visits of state and received visits of state in return.
An annual tournament was held in Narnia during mid-summer and all countries looked forward to it, as only the best competed. Edmund had become quite the swordsman and was still unmatched, even by Peter, who was a brilliant swordsman himself. He would be defending his title as Champion this year. Susan was kept busy by the hundreds of suitors that continuously came to ask for her hand in marriage and Lucy was happy and carefree, keeping all their spirits high and laughter in Cair Paravel.
Presently, Edmund was preparing for the tournament, which was only a month away, in one of the outer courtyards. He had chosen several of the best fighters from their army and now faced off against them.
"You're getting slow, Oreius!" called Edmund, laughing as he parried an attack from the Satyr Arturon and dodged an attack from Oreius.
"Your Highness, you simply are good with a sword," said Oreius, looking amused as he blocked one of Edmund's attacks and drew his second sword.
"Thanks to you, friend," said Edmund and then he quieted, falling into a pattern. He continuously blocked attacks with his shield while simultaneously attacking with his sword. He focused on keeping his breathing steady and watching for the slightest movements from his attackers. With a few, well-placed hits, Edmund managed to disarm his opponents. Taking a moment to steady his heart, he looked around at his opponents, who were all breathing heavily.
"Well fought, every one of you," said Edmund once he had caught his breath. He smiled and looked at Oreius, who was now only a few heads taller than him. "You almost had me, Oreius."
"Yet you are the one with the sword, your Majesty," said Oreius, chuckling quietly. "Defending your title as Champion at the tournament will not be difficult if you continue to fight like this."
"I'm counting on it," said Edmund with a smile. He looked around at everyone. "Thank you for your assistance. You are dismissed."
A chorus of "You're welcome, your Majesty," came from his opponents. They bowed their heads in respect and picked up their weapons, leaving the courtyard.
Oreius turned to leave when Edmund said, "Oreius." Oreius stopped, looking at him. "Tomorrow morning I could use your help with jousting, if you don't have other tasks that need attending to."
"I would be honoured to help you, your Majesty," said Oreius with a deep bow. He smiled. "I look forward to a good joust. That is one area where I still have a chance to defeat you."
Edmund laughed. "So it is, but I'll soon fix that."
"I have no doubt, your Majesty. Do you require my services any more today?"
Edmund shook his head. "No, Oreius. Thank you."
"Good day, your Majesty," said Orieus, bowing his head and walking away.
Edmund sheathed his sword and headed up to his chambers to wash up for supper. Mauleien was already waiting for him when he entered his room. Slipping out of his weighted, training clothes, Edmund handed the clothes to Mauleien and went into the bathroom, where a steaming hot bath awaited him. Sliding into the water, he let out a sigh of contentment, for the hot water felt incredible against his sore muscles.
A few minutes later, Mauleien, Seeswalan and Reilian entered the bathroom. Seeswalan began to wash his hair, Reilian continuously scooped out the cooling water and added fresh, hot water, and Mauleien began to work out the tight knots in his shoulders. He closed his eyes, feeling his body relax under their ministrations. His thoughts wandered to the tournament that was drawing nearer and he couldn't help but smile. I can't wait. It's going to be brilliant this year, what with the turnout we had last year and all the events we're hosting. All four of us will be participating in one event or another. The only thing I don't look forward to is putting up with Prince Rouffian of the Seven Isles. He's a stuck-up, self-centered, conceited prig and I don't know why Susan doesn't see this. She's always telling us how wonderful he is but I see straight through that act. That's my job, to see the truth in the faces of the people I judge. Thousands of creatures have come to Cair Paravel seeking my wisdom and my council, but it seems that sometimes my siblings, especially Susan, just can't understand it when I pass judgment on a person and it doesn't agree with what they think. Oh well, she'll understand in the end, she always does when her suitors turn out to be just like I said they would.
Day after day he had been training for the tournament and exhaustion finally caught up to him. He slipped off into a peaceful sleep and when he awoke, his female servants had left and Mauleien helped him into a soft robe. He dismissed Mauleien and walked into his bedroom, towel-drying his hair and draping the towel over a chair. Changing into a set of nicer, dark-blue clothes, he cinched his sword-belt around his waist, and headed downstairs to meet his family for supper.
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"Now, Susan, you have to at least miss sometimes," said Edmund as he took a sip of his wine. "If you hit every target in your event, your opponents will feel rather intimidated."
"She's right," laughed Lucy, taking a bite of her supper. "You're too good, Sue."
"I can't help that," said Susan with a smile. "But I suppose I'll miss a few. It wouldn't be fair to the others if I won, since we are hosting the tournament."
"Exactly," said Peter, leaning back in his chair, his wine-goblet in his hand. He looked at Edmund, grinning. "Going to beat everyone in your events, I suppose."
"I have to defend my title as Champion," said Edmund with a laugh, finishing his supper and taking another sip of his wine.
"You're King Edmund the Just," said Lucy. "Shouldn't you try to be fair?"
Edmund smiled innocently. "I can't help it if I win, but for you Lu, I'll try and go easy on my opponents."
"Good," said Lucy, laughing lightly. She finished her wine and stood. "Let's go down to the beach! It's not dark yet and the sand always feels wonderful right now."
Peter chuckled and sat up straight, finishing his wine. "That sounds like a plan, Lu." He smiled and stood, looking at Susan and Edmund. "Coming, you two?"
"In a tick," said Edmund, taking the last sip of his wine and standing. Then he looked at Lucy, his eyes twinkling. "Race you to the beach!"
"You're going to lose!" cried Lucy as she ran after Edmund. Peter and Susan chuckled and followed their younger siblings down to the beach.
Lucy and Edmund raced down flights of stairs, through the winding corridors and finally out onto the lower terrace. Edmund took the steps two at a time and Lucy jumped into the railing, sailing past and waving. "Oi! That's cheating!" laughed Edmund as he ran after his younger sister across the sand.
The sun was nearing the horizon, sending rays of gold, red, and orange across the water and sand. Edmund hopped on one foot as he tugged off his soft boots and then continued after his sister. Lucy beat him to the water and placed her hands on her hips, watching him as he ran towards her.
"You're getting slow, Ed!" she teased and then shrieked as Edmund tackled her back into the water, soaking both of them thoroughly.
They surfaced, laughing. Edmund stood, offering his hand to Lucy. "That's what you get for beating me," he teased, smiling.
"Well –" Lucy grinned, taking his hand. Then she promptly tugged him into the water next to her so they were both sitting up to their chests.
"Hey!" Edmund laughed, splashing her.
"Hey, yourself!" she laughed, splashing him in return. She smiled. "It's good to see you relaxing, Ed, honestly. You've been so busy training and you're far too serious. Always studying some dusty book in the library or working with Peter on strategies. You're getting rather boring."
"I take offense to that, dear sister," protested Edmund. He looked over to see that Peter and Susan had reached them. "Peter, am I boring?"
"Do you want the truth or what you want to hear?" asked Peter with a grin.
"Very funny," said Edmund sarcastically as he stood, helping Lucy to her feet. They waded through the water to reach their older siblings, glancing at each other. Lucy gave a slight nod and Edmund smirked.
"You two are far too dry," said Lucy and before their older siblings could say anything, Lucy and Edmund had pulled them into the water.
Edmund and Lucy were doubled over with laughter, watching their eldest siblings sputter to the surface. However, when Peter and Susan climbed to their feet and Peter said, laughing, "You both are going to get it!" and proceeded to move through the water towards them, Edmund and Lucy turned and ran for it.
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After plenty of splashing, laughing, and fooling around, all four siblings sat down on a cluster of large rocks at the edge of the ocean, looking out towards the setting sun. Peter leaned against the rock behind him, Edmund sat nearby with his knees drawn to his chest, Susan perched gracefully on the edge of the rock near Peter's feet, and Lucy sat on the highest rock, her legs hanging down near Edmund.
"Tomorrow you'll be twenty, Lu, it's hard to believe," said Peter, smiling up at his youngest sister.
"I'm catching up to Edmund," laughed Lucy.
"I'm still a year older," pointed out Edmund.
"Pish posh, doesn't make a difference," said Lucy with a smile, nudging him with her foot. "You need to stop being so serious. You'll get funny lines like King Feidhlim."
"Don't tell him that, Lu," said Peter with a laugh. "He'll spend even more time in front of the mirror."
"You spend more time than me," retorted Edmund with a smirk. "You're as bad as a girl."
"Should I take offense to that?" asked Susan with a teasing smile.
"Oh, Sue, you don't have to worry about your looks," said Lucy. She stood up and began to mock one of Susan's more recent suitors, lowering her voice to match his. "Oh beloved Queen Susan the Gentle, the most beautiful, the goddess of Narnia, you are the light of my eyes and –"
They all laughed and Susan swatted at Lucy. "Stop that. Prince Rouffian doesn't act like that."
"Yes he does," said Lucy with a nod. "All he ever talks about is how beautiful you are and how no one can compare to you."
"She's right," said Peter, grinning, and Edmund nodded his agreement.
Susan sighed, shaking her head. "All three of you are completely hopeless! He's a good a chap, if a bit extravagant sometimes."
"A bit?" asked Edmund, arching an eyebrow. "I don't think he knows any other words than the over zealous ones he constantly uses."
"Oh bother it all." Susan climbed off the rock, landing effortlessly in the sand. "I can't talk to any of you without you going on about Rouffian. I'm going inside."
"Sue, don't be so tetchy," said Lucy, sitting back down and swinging her legs back and forth. "We were only teasing."
"Lu's right," said Peter with a smile. "We didn't mean to make you upset. Right Ed?" Peter elbowed Edmund, who nearly fell off the rock.
"Hey!" protested Edmund, rubbing his side after he caught his balance. Peter gave him a pointed look and Edmund frowned, looking at Susan. "We're sorry, Susan."
Susan just shook her head and was about to walk away when something caught her eye, glinting in the sand. "What's this?" she said, reaching down and pulling out an amulet with dark-blue and green stones embedded in a silver chain. It was small enough to fit in the palm of her hand.
"What did you find, Sue?" asked Lucy, climbing down to the sand and walking over to her sister. Both boys followed closely behind, peering over Susan's shoulders at the amulet she held in her hands.
"Curious," said Edmund, looking thoughtful. "I wonder why this was lying here."
"One of our guests must have lost it," said Lucy.
"We can ask tomorrow at your ball, Lu," said Peter. "Since almost all our good friends will be there from the other lands."
Edmund reached for the amulet in Susan's hands and as his fingers touched it, everything seemed to freeze in place and a biting wind washed over him. Then everything returned to normal and Edmund blinked several times. What the bloody hell was that? His eyes met Susan's, who looked just as confused as he was.
"What's wrong, Ed?" asked Peter.
"Didn't you feel that?" asked Edmund, confused. "Everything seemed frozen…and it was really cold."
"No…." Peter frowned. "Ed, are you sure you're all right?"
"I didn't feel anything," said Lucy. "Sue?"
Susan was quiet, looking at the amulet, then at Edmund, and finally at Peter and Lucy. "No, nothing." Edmund knew Susan was lying and didn't quite understand it, but decided not to press it at the moment.
"Let's go back inside," said Peter, motioning towards the castle.
The other three nodded and Edmund watched as Susan closed her hand around the amulet, lingering only for a moment before hurrying after the rest of her siblings.
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Bright sunlight caused him to stir. Edmund rolled over onto his stomach, burying his face in his pillows, not wanting to get up. Then he remembered that he had jousting practice with Oreius and threw off his covers. Then he froze, looking around the room. Wait a tick…this isn't my room! What am I doing in Susan's room? He pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming and when the room didn't change, he frowned, climbing out of the bed. He walked around the room, looking at everything. It was most definitely his older sister's room. Her wardrobe doors were open, revealing neatly hung dresses. Then he looked at her oval, full-length mirror and his eyes widened. His sister's reflection was staring back at him!
He peered closely and pinched himself again, and the mirror image did the same thing! This…this has to be a dream! Come on, Ed, wake up! He slapped his face, which only resulted in him wincing and rubbing his flaming cheek.
His heart began to pound within his chest as he realised that he was dressed in Susan's nightgown and that he definitely wasn't Edmund at that moment. He ran out of the bedroom and into the hallway outside their chambers, nearly running into someone. He stumbled and then froze when he saw who stood before him. It was himself!
Their eyes widened and then they screamed, running back into their rooms and slamming the doors shut.
So...what did you think? (grins)
Let me know! I think this will be very interesting to see how Edmund and Susan deal with being switched! Especially with the tournment only weeks away! And we all know how much Susan dislikes battles and that sort.
I was inspired by Freaky Friday for this :D
Hopefully you've had a good laugh in this chapter and will continue to do so!
I anxiously await your thoughts on this, for this is my first fic of this nature. :)