A/N So this was just another one of those things that came to me while I was laying in bed at night ;) I haven't really decided where I want to go with this yet, but I have a general idea. This story is set in the Golden Ages, year 1008 (around 8 years since the Pevensies were crowned), so Edmund is about 17, Lucy 15, Susan 19, and Peter 20. It's mostly going to be a friendship story, because I'm kind of sick and tired of romance stories right now and I absolutely hate the stereotypical shit that fills almost everyone else's stories.

This is just a little tidbit, or a teaser if you would, to see if you guys like it or not. I don't have a beta, so any mistake you find, please inform me and I would greatly appreciate that, loves.

Dislaimer: I only own what I created and everything else belongs to its respectable owner, the amazing C.S. Lewis, so please respect my ideas along with his.

Enjoy! :)

Chapter 1

A Taut Wire

"Foolish human, you have dared to wander farther than your people can protect you."

King Edmund ignored the black dwarf's words from where he stood, slightly bent over from the low ceiling in the middle of the dimly lit cave. His hazel eyes were cautiously dark as he ever so slightly tightened his grip on the sword strapped to his waist. If it had been up to him- which it hadn't- the young king wouldn't have even stepped foot inside of the hostile dwarves' home. Their people were notoriously known for their absolutely horrid temper and inability to welcome anyone anytime, but that hadn't seemed to phase his arrogant older brother for a moment.

"They trust you, Ed." High King Peter had said just a tad bit too confident for comfort, "It will be as simple as the Ogres and the Boggles." Oh how Edmund wished Peter could be here right now so he could express his lovely thoughts on how elementary the objective had been.

At the dark king's side a lethe, timber wolf twitched and the fur around her neck quivered slightly. The she-wolf had been by Edmund's side from almost the moment she was spawned, trained by his own hand. There was no one he trusted more to be with on such a dangerous gamble. The wolf casually pressed the left side of her flank against Edmund's leg, barely making contact with his mid-thigh. His eyes flickered to the left side at his partner's warning, and he spotted two dwarves advancing on them with weapons drawn. Edmund blinked and slid his hand away from his sword, holding his hands up to show he meant no harm.

"I merely implore a council with your leaders." King Edmund said, turning his muddy eyes back to the black dwarf who had intercepted them. The dwarf let out a low chortle.

"We have no superiors here."

"Then your elders will suffice." Edmund quipped. He should have known the dwarves were going to be difficult. The pygmy narrowed his eyes and motioned for the group of other small creatures to surround the two intruders.

"And what does the would-be King of Narnia wish to confer with our elders at such an hour of night?"

"It would be wise to watch your tongue, creature, before it crawls away." The wolf growled with blazing amber eyes. The dwarf's eyes flashed angrily and he pulled out a small dagger.

"You're one to speak, traitor!" He hissed. The wolf bristled and her lips curled into a cruel snarl, but she swiftly reigned herself in at two discreet taps on a sword from the king's finger. The rage in her golden orbs was stifled by impatience and she twitched again, signaling to her king of her discomfort.

"A treaty, between your people and mine." King Edmund said, growing tired of their games. "It is time that the feud between us ended before more lives are unnecessarily lost."

"And who are you to decide that?" A new, frail voice cut through the air from a tunnel to the right, and all heads turned. Edmund nodded a slight greeting to the hauntingly familiar face as he entered the room.

"Ginarrbrik," Edmund's voice strained only slightly, but he swallowed it, "I can't say it is pleasant to see you again, but being one of the Kings of Narnia it is my duty to keep peace in this land." The elderly dwarf scowled and dared to step closer to the king and his sentinel.

"We are not ruled by you or any of Narnia's 'Kings and Queens'!" Ginarrbrik spat, "Jadis wass the true power of Narnia and always will be!"

Edmund's hand tightened around his sword and his flesh began to turn a dark crimson color at the mention of the White Witch's name. He would never admit it to anyone, but the sound of her name still sent goosebumps along his spine and reminded him of the pale face that haunted his dreams every night. The wolf sensed King Edmund's anger, and could almost feel his jaw clenching.

"Are you really so naive?" She snarled with a lash of her tawny tail.

"Nyra, stand down." Edmund deadpanned as the dwarves around them shifted crossly. The wolf dug her honed claws into the dirt, but kept her mouth shut and head high. Both heard the offhand jibe of a black dwarf calling the wolf a 'pet', although neither acknowledged.

"We refuse to accept your reign," Ginarrbrik finalized, turning to exit the cavern, "so feel free to inform your king." The dwarf suddenly turned, "Or perhaps he would get the same message if we sent back your rotting corpse."

Edmund remained pokerfaced, but Nyra took a threatening step forward and the dwarves unsheathed their swords.

"Control your dog, my lord." Ginarrbrik sneered, "I would be just as ecstatic to send you away carrying your dead companion."

Edmund's face finally broke into an enraged scowl and he drew his sword. This insolent, poignant excuse for a being could threaten him to his heart's desire- but no one threatened his friend. The dwarf cackled enthusiastically at the reaction from the human.

"Have a soft spot for the mutt, do you now?" Ginarrbrik taunted, "How long do you think it will be until she turns and gives in to her true nature- her true master?"

That was the final straw. Without warning, the massive wolf launched herself at the dwarf and pinned him to the ground with her lean legs. A few of the other black dwarves remained where they were, slightly stunned, until they came to their senses and ran at the wolf with blades out as she locked onto Ginarrbrik's forearm with her powerful jaws and split through his flesh as though it were a pillow. The elderly dwarf yelled in pain as blood ran down his arm and dripped onto his graying beard. The wolf released his arm and turned to barrel into another dwarf as Edmund fought his way back to where they had entered from.

"Nyra, come on!" Edmund shouted over the clanging of metal. As good of a fighter he wanted to admit the wolf was when she was angry, there was no way they were going to win against so many dwarves in an enclosed area.

The wolf threw off one more dwarf, before hurling herself over the small crowd of creatures to reach King Edmund. The human blocked an attack from one of the many dwarves, and used his weight to push the small man back as his partner finally managed to join him at the end of the cave. Edmund turned to run first, leading the way through the dark tunnel towards the twilight that awaited them outside. He made a mental note to strangle his brother once they returned to the castle, and picked up the pace.

"Call Phillip!" Edmund ordered Nyra. The wolf nodded and sped out of the tunnel ahead of him and into the night. Once they got off of the mountains, it would be easy to put some distance between themselves and the dwarves.

As soon as Edmund ducked out of the cave and into fresh air, he heard Nyra's eery cry for the talking horse to meet them as quickly as he could. Still sprinting, Edmund sheathed his sword and dodged a boulder as he stumbled down the rocky slope.

"I'll kill that bloody git..." Edmund seethed through clenched teeth.

A few yards ahead of him, the young king spotted Nyra's blackened shadow at the bottom of the cliff, another figure racing towards her. The patrol they had arrived with waited closer to the mountains to the east of Owlwood, far from any threats that may have come in the Black Dwarves' territory. Ever since the defeat of the White Witch almost eight years ago, the dwarves had become even more forbidding and gathered at the farthest northern part of Narnia's borders, taking refuge and hiding until a new evil would come and rule them. They would definitely be the most obstreperous of Jadis's loyalists to come to terms with.

"The sun has set over the mountains, sire." Phillip huffed as he neared King Edmund and sped to a stop so as the human could mount him.

"Then we shall follow it to our encampment." Edmund said, taking up the reins, "We must vacate the area at once."

It took them about two hours before they finally caught sight of Orious's might figure, outlined by the crescent moon, waiting for them at the end of ravine they had been traveling down. Beside Phillip, Nyra had started limping slightly after an unfortunate encounter with a darkened crack that had torn one of her claws. Edmund could have chuckled at the she wolf's clumsiness, but he was far too engaged in organizing the series of curses he was going to throw at his older brother when they returned to Cair Paravel.

"One of our scouts has spotted a patrol of Black Dwarves following your trail." The centaur informed Edmund as they approached, "They are about an hour behind you. Should we wait and ambush them, or continue on back to the castle?"

Edmund drew in a deep breath and let his eyes flicker down to the shadowed figure of his partner, considering the options. They would have the advantage of higher ground if they climbed the cliffs around them, but the dwarves were masters of the mountains. They hadn't exactly brought an armada, and most of them were far too exhausted to last against large waves of dwarves. Although, traveling in the dark wasn't something that he favored.

"We don't have the supplies to support an ambush." Edmund finally decided, "We will continue traveling out of the mountain and cover our tracks once we reach level ground." Orious nodded and turned to round up the rest of the patrol as Edmund dismounted Phillip. The dark king bent down to the she-wolf's side and requested to look at her paw.

"I'm fine, my lord." The wolf growled, even though she still allowed him to examine the bloody, dirt covered wound, "It should stop bleeding any moment now." Edmund rolled his eyes and tore off a small sliver of his tunic.

"That may be so, Nyra, but the dwarves could track any blood you leave behind." He said, carefully wrapping the cloth around her paw so no more blood would drip from it. Even in the dark, he could see the small droplets she had accidentally dribbled down the gorge they had come from. The wolf grunted and flicked an ear in distain. Edmund smirked and mounted Phillip again, asking the horse to follow where Orious had traveled.

"Forgive me, my king." The wolf didn't look at Edmund as they continued on, "I should not have reacted like I did with the dwarves." Edmund stiffly nodded.

"If you hadn't, I would have." He said grimly, "There is nothing to forgive."

Well? Sorry it's not much, I was planning on going on, but I figured there would be as good of a place to stop as any. Don't be afraid to review, I welcome any and all (if you're gonna say something nasty, please make it good and well thought out, thank you much). I would love to know what you guys think of this new idea of mine ^^

Any questions, comments, or life threatening concerns don't hesitate to pm me!

~*~ Charli ~*~