Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia or any characters that C.S Lewis created, however much I want to.

Authors note: This is my first fanfiction, so it won't be good compared to any of the other stories.

Chapter 1- Dismal

Edmund stared out at the dismal view in front of him. The Pevensies had just returned to London from staying at the Professor's in the country. But what made this place more boring and lifeless was the fact that he, Lucy, Peter and Susan had been the rulers of Narnia, which had beautiful scenery. But they're out of Narnia now, so one must not dwindle on the past. Edmund studied the landscape around him, there was rubble from a house that has been bombed to his left. To his right was a street with gaps in it where houses had been and straight in front of him was Edmund's own house. The front door was still navy and the garden still unkept, just as Edmund remembered it. He heard his siblings get out of car and grab their suitcases.

"Stop gawping, Ed, and get inside." Peter commanded, Peter had gone back to the bossy and annoying person before they had gone to Narnia. Edmund felt his coming behind Peter so; he made his way to the door.

Once inside Edmund noticed that nothing had changed, there were still the same pictures hanging up on the wall and the same shoes by the door. Edmund was actually happy that nothing had changed; he needed something in his to stay the same.

"Mum?" Called out Susan, there was no answer.

"Mum?" Peter called out, his voice echoing in the house. Still no reply came. Susan put her suitcase in the hall and went through to the living room. The others followed suit by putting their suitcases in the hall, Edmund and Lucy looked upstairs, Peter and Susan looked downstairs and in the garden. With no luck, all of them headed into the living room.

"Where is she, mum said she would be home for when we arrive?" Lucy said in a panicky tone of voice.

"Don't worry, Lu, she's probably gone to the shops" Peter reassured her. Moments later the front door opened, and sure enough, there was their mother holding a couple of shopping bags, which almost dropped when she saw the four of them sitting there.

"You'r—you're early." Helen stammered.

"Happy to see you to mum." Edmund muttered to himself, but not quiet enough to miss Susan's ears, so he got a scowl for his comment. Lucy ran up to their mother and hugged her tightly enough to make Helen gasp. After Helen said to Lucy:

"Let go Lucy dear, I need to say hello to your Sister and Brothers." Lucy looked up and sheepishly grinned and let go. Susan was hugged next, then Peter. Edmund was last to greet his mother. During their hug, Helen whispered in Edmunds ear:

"I hope you've behaved and listened to your brother." Edmund gave a slight nod. He wasn't exactly lying, he did behave mostly and he sometimes (well hardly ever) listen to his brother.

"Well you four better go up stairs and unpack, while I make dinner." Helen Suggested, they all nodded and headed upstairs. None of them spoke while unpacking, and only spoke to their mother at dinner. They told her about their time at the Professor's, but they missed out the part of Narnia because she wouldn't believe them.

"I think I'll head off to bed now, I'm really tired." Edmund announced after Dinner as he started to walk to the door.

"I think I will as well." Peter agreed, also making his way to the door.

"Ok darlings, sleep tight." Helen called to both of them.

As soon as Edmund's touched his pillow, he fell asleep, but it was not a peaceful sleep. But restless and frightening filled with bad memories:

Edmund's POV (his dream)

I sat in the cold damp cell. Ginabrik came by, like always, he started whipping me. After he beat, Ginabrik left, leaving me on my own in the corner. It stung badly, but I wasn't going to show anymore weakness, that's what he wants. An hour later Ginabrik came he looked furious, so that meant it was going to be a really hard beating. He brought the whip hard down onto my back...

Edmund felt himself being shaken awake, groggily he said,

"What do you want?" while looking up at the concerned face of Peter.

"You were screaming and thrashing around in your sleep. Was the dream about Her?" Peter said worried. Edmund just nodded, then he realised his back was really and sore, like someone had whipped him. When Peter tried to comfort him, by putting his arm around his back, Edmund winced. He hoped Peter didn't notice, but he did. Peter lifted up the back of Edmund's pyjamas, he heard Peter gasp.

"What on earth happened?" Peter asked Edmund after he put the pyjama top down.

"What do you mean?" Replied Edmund, curious to know what made his brother gasp.

"You have loads of slash marks over your back, they're red and bleeding." He said concerned. Edmund just stared at him, mouth open in shock. Then a familiar voice rang around Edmund's head.

"It has started, little king." No, it can't be her. Aslan killed her, but it was definitely her voice. Edmund was oblivious to everything around him; he was too busy trying to figure out what she meant by 'It has started.' Edmund couldn't think of anything, so he went back out of his thoughts to find Peter staring at him.

"Ed?" Peter asked, looking really worried.

"Yes Peter?" Edmund drowsily replied, not wanting to talk.

"Are you ok, you look awfully pale?" Peter asked him.

"I'm fine, just really tired, so I'm going to back to sleep now, ok?" Edmund reassured Peter, not wanting to explain his dream and the voice in his head. Peter looked dissatisfied with Edmund's answer, but nodded anyway.

Once Edmund had gotten back into a deep sleep, which took a very long time, his dreams were, yet again, plagued with bad memories of his time with the White Witch.