A/N: Hello my lovely and extremely patient readers. Thank you so so much for sticking with me through this. Chapter Thirty-Seven is finally ready after a very exceedingly long time. I'm so so absolutely sorry for that. Nonetheless it is here. I had much fun writing this: a quick note to avoid confusion. For the rest of the story, Edmund is aware of who he really is, so when it is his point of view, he will be referred to as Edmund. The only time, he won't is by Jadis ,Redian and Lucy. Jadis because she still believes she has him under her thumb with the curse she placed on him, and Lucy and Redian because they only know him as Edan thus far. This chapter is a turning point, and I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The world suddenly tilted upside down on its axis, or that's how it seemed to Susan. "That's impossible Peter."

"Is it?" Peter was fully alert now as his eyes lit up. He turned onto his knees leaning toward her. He reminded her at that moment of a dog who had caught a scent, almost begging her to go along with him on this goose chase.

Susan shook her head. "If he was, why wouldn't he seek us out before now?"

Peter sighed. "I'm sure he had a reason."

Peter was trapped by the delusion. Susan could see that… but she wondered… was it really a delusion?

She thought of her baby brother, the little boy that they had lost all those years ago. She remembered the boy they had crossed paths with then this journey began, Edan. His face appeared in her mind's eye. He had Edmund's eyes with that determined light and the absolute glow when he laughed that belonged to only two other people she knew: Lucy and her father.

Then there was the way he held himself, especially around Lucy. Edmund had always had a special connection with the youngest Pevensie and she realized Edan did too, despite supposedly only knowing her for a few weeks at the most. That sort of connection could not be falsified or forgotten.

"Oh Peter…" Susan closed her eyes trying to ward off her tears. "What is she doing to them?"

Peter pulled her into an embrace, one thought above all others reassuring him. Whatever had happened to Edmund, he had gained knowledge of the Witch that could help keep him and Lucy safe long enough to escape. "They'll be fine. Come on, we should get back."

The evening breeze was not amiable to the group that was walking through the wood. Even as he kept himself jogging, struggling to warm his blood, Redian was bitten by the chill that remained.

"I had forgotten the danger of a forest with melting snow." Redian's foot sloshed and slid as he plucked his foot out of yet another fresh slush pile.

"As we all have," Oreius sighed. "It is quite magnificent all the same."

Redian couldn't argue that fact. Ever so slowly, the land was waking up, leaves afresh on the trees and green everywhere. Wherever the Witch was at this moment, he knew she should be very afraid. Her spell on the land was breaking; her power would soon crumble with it. The fact that Edan and Lucy were still trapped remained however. Until they were found, the small band of rescuers could not be too confident even as they saw the castle in the distance.

"How do you think we should approach this then General?" Redian asked.

"We will camp nearby," Oreius said, "And take stock of the situation."

"Take stock?" Redian scoffed, "You're mad. If we wait any longer…" He couldn't finish the thought.

"Perhaps it will work in our favor. If we rush in bullheaded, it is a lot less likely Lucy and Edan will survive the night."

Redian shook his head. "I still think we should go now…"

"We will get them back," Oreius said. "But we need a well thought plan, or did you forget so quickly?"

Redian ducked, feeling as though he were a small child, a feeling that was still commonplace around the general. "I remember."

The centaur studied him silently with a gaze that seemed to pierce right through the man, before nodding and stepping away to assist one of their companions in setting their camp. It was only when the knight was alone that Redian allowed his thoughts free rein. They had made it to Aslan, but it held none of the hopefulness that he had imagined. Redian had told Peter to have faith, but it was extremely difficult to take his own advice, especially with Edan in the Witch's clutches. Despite everything, through all of it, Redian had grown to trust the other boy as much as he did Peter, and the fact that both he and Lucy were trapped made Redian sick to his stomach. It was going to be a long wait.

Edmund couldn't stand straight, that was putting it simply. He felt the deep lashes that lined his back, and as he stood in the bedroom in Cair Paravel trying to work to repair his wounds, he felt the sting of each still as fresh as they had been hours ago when Ginarrbrik had finally made his feelings toward the boy public. He'd been almost giddy with the prospect of torturing the queen's protégé. As a prisoner, Edmund had no hold over the dwarf, and it had been the perfect opportunity. You're not a prisoner though, A small voice, that voice that still trusted the Witch, still recalled that she had been a mother to him wheedled through his thoughts. He wasn't, that was true, not in the lock and key sense of the word, and that would be his advantage in getting them out.

It was that train of thought that welled up in him the almost childish desire to explore the room so very different from the one in Jadis' fortress. It seemed as though it hadn't been touched. She hadn't thought even once to invade the bedrooms. There was nothing of import in a bedroom. The importance lie in the rooms of power, courtrooms, throne rooms and council rooms. But for Edmund, the importance was in the bedrooms. After all, they told so much more. So, he began his inspection.

The room he was in was of a decent size, not much bigger than his old room, and yet, he felt he could breathe. The bed he seated himself upon was one of two that occupied the room, both covered in light brown comforters adorned with gold trim. Each side of the room had a dresser, but it was what was atop the dressers that caught his eye. The dresser nearest to him didn't hold much of anything but a lantern and an old decorative box, small in size. He stood, walking over to the dresser and opened the box.

The key was heavy, wrought iron, and fit neatly into the palm of his hand. The only thing missing was what exactly the key opened.

"Odd…" Edmund licked his lips, which were cracking from thirst as he placed the key in his pocket. He didn't dare venture out, not yet. There was still much to find in this room. He moved to the opposite side, looking at the other dresser. On top of it was a toy sword made of wood and a small notebook and pencil. Curiosity won out, so he grabbed the small book, paging through. A child's handwriting peeked out and even before reading any of it, Edmund could tell whoever had written it was desperate. The page was not dated like one would expect from a journal, but an outpouring of words on the page competing for space.

I don't know what to do. Oh Aslan help me! It's been two years, but I still feel hopeless. I keep it together for Mum and Dad and the girls, but I'm drowning. Edmund was my brother, and I pushed him away. Sometimes I go to his side of the room and wait like I used to under the bed to scare him when he walks in, but just as I duck under, I remember and sit on the floor in a daze.

Edmund closed the book between his thumb, not able to bring himself to read further, a hollowness entering his chest. It wasn't hard now to figure out the former occupant of the room. He recalled their conversation just before they had arrived at Aslan's camp. "This can't happen again." Of course, that would explain the extra bed, the writings, and Peter's general protectiveness of absolutely everyone else in his family. Peter felt he had failed. He felt he had failed Edmund.

Edmund sighed replacing the journal on the dresser and walking back over to the other side of the room… his side. He felt tired and somehow he couldn't bring himself to face anyone at the moment, nor put up pretense with Jadis. Between this new information, the pain he felt with every step and trying to figure an escape plan it became all too much. As soon as he lay upon the bed, he fell asleep.

"Edmund," He was in a library, but it wasn't the library in Jadis' castle. In fact, it was much bigger than her library. A man sat in table at the library's center waving him over impatiently. Edmund felt compelled to move forward. He couldn't quite make out the man's face until he got closer, and then he recognized him as King Frank. Just to the right of him stood Peter, no longer a small boy, Peter as he was now. He looked solemn, frightened even, but waited patiently gripping the table with his left hand and placing his right on Edmund's shoulder squeezing.

"Sir…" Edmund spoke tentatively. Whatever this situation was, the man wasn't pleased. He felt himself shrinking.

"You aren't thinking straight!" Frank slammed his hands on the table. "Lion's mane, Edmund!"

"I…" Edmund flinched. "I don't know!"

"Think boy! Use your head." Frank tapped his own temple. "You've got the truth right in front of you."

"I've only just realized. It…" Edmund sighed. "I don't know what to do."

"Ed," Peter said. "You know this place better than her and better than any of those men." He glanced back, Edmund followed his gaze to where several soldiers stood outside the window, in the snow, talking hurriedly. He recognized the frantic arm movements of the knight, Sir Redian. "Aslan knows you've explored every inch."

"But I… I haven't."

"Don't fight it Edmund. Let yourself remember. You can still get yourselves out." Peter sighed looking over to where Frank sat: he was fading, grey solid stone creeping up his legs, toward his torso, across his arms. It was happening all over again. "Please, for all our sakes." It was only when Edmund felt a cold unrelenting grasp on his shoulder, and saw that Peter's arm too was turning grey, no longer the warmth of a solid hand, but the coolness of solid stone. "I'm sorry Ed, just know that."

"Peter!" Edmund shouted, blinked, but his brother couldn't answer.

Edmund bolted upright, taking in deep panting breaths, the dream still fresh in his mind. He was left with a lot of questions, but before he could process the dream, he was interrupted by the clearing of a throat.

"Are you really that tired my Son?"

A/N: Oh boy, well, needless to say things are picking up. How do you think Edmund will respond to Jadis now? What do you think Peter and Susan will do? Lucy? Any thoughts about the key Edmund found? Sound off. I love hearing your thoughts. Next chapter will include Lucy and Edmund bonding/ conspiring and the long awaited confrontation which leads to dangerous consequences for the second youngest Pevensie, among other things.