The Warmth of Winter; xmas drabble #3
emoonstone, I know your original request was for Remus/Tonks, but since I'd already written one, I thought I'd do a Narnia one for you. :) I hope you like it.
Title: The Warmth of Winter
Fandom: Chronicles of Narnia
Rating: PG
Summary: Edmund battles with the past. Prompt; Sparkle. Written for emoonstone. xmas drabble #3
The insides of Cair Paravel were decorated with giant Christmas trees, bells, and everything that was red and gold, green and silver. The smell of cider and gingerbread permeated the mistletoe wrought corridors. Narnian carols hummed through the air, and the floors echoed as the sound of heels clicked the white marble in a celebratory dance.
Dancing was going on outside as well; the fauns and the dryads moved widly around a fire they had set up the moment the sky turned dark. The flames licked each other in a crackling frenzy. Smoke swirled slowly upwards, floating past the the tip tops of the castle, which were covered with snow. Soft flakes slid down the high towers and deep turrets of the castle, delicately landing on the ground.
King Edmund sat on the stone steps, unable to enjoy the festivities around him. His crown lay lopsided atop his dark hair, and he had never realized just how heavy it was. A coldness had seeped into his bones, a coldness that had nothing to do with the winter around him, but with everything that winter reminded him of. Jadis' pale, perfectly sculpted face hovered in the front of his mind and he felt a feeling of uneasiness settle over him.
Christmas was meant to be a warm, happy ocassion but Edmund thought about things that were anything but. Christmas only served to make him remember the horrible things he had done under the White Witch's service and to reflect upon his betrayal of his family. The image of the dark Queen seemed to mock all of the steps Edmund had taken to move past those things - becoming a King of Narnia, creating a number of fair laws for the people, being there to listen and counsel those who were in need - as if they didn't matter. Her brutal smile was burned into his mind, telling him that he would never be rid of her; that he would always have demons to face.
The King held his head in hands, willing her to leave him, wishing to erase any allegiance he had ever had with her. He prayed for forgiveness and hoped to Aslan that the numbing chill in his heart would disappear. A tear dropped from his eye and he rocked back and forth, clutching his robes around him to ward off the cutting pain he felt deep inside him.
He was so engrossed that he did not hear a soft step behind him, nor the small hand on his shoulder, until Lucy spoke. "Edmund?" she said and he looked up into her concerned face. "What are you doing out here?"
Edmund straightened his crown and swallowed nervously. "Just thinking about last year's winter."
His face was the picture of nonchalance, but Lucy sensed that her brother was troubled. "Edmund," she said, sitting down next to him, "what's wrong?"
He shook his head, not wanting to rest his burdens on her shoulders as well. Lucy was young and pure, still naive to most of the wickedness in the world, and he would never be able to forgive himself if he was the one who changed that. His actions had already caused enough suffering.
"What's done is done, Edmund," Lucy said quietly. "Let it lie in the past. You're forgiven."
He titled his head in her direction, silently admiring her ability to read people, especially him. "Am I?" he asked her, the doubt in his question obvious in the quiver of his voice.
"The only forgiveness you need is your own," she told him.
Edmund bowed his head and Lucy took his hand in her own, offering her support. Edmund gave a deep sigh and turned to her, who looked back at him with a smile that sparkled triumphantly over the ghosts of winter. He smiled back and a calm hope climbed through him and he knew it would be okay.
He drew Lucy closer to him, placing a kiss on her forehead and wrapping his arms around her.
"Thank you, Aslan," he murmured into his sister's curled hair, and even as the snow fell on them, Edmund felt warmer than he had in a long time.
Want to read the other drabbles I've written for xmas for my flist?
drabble #1 ~ drabble #2 ~ drabbles #4 and 5 ~ drabble #6 ~ drabble #7 ~ drabble #8 ~ drabble #9 ~ drabble #10 ~ drabble #11
FRIEND this journal for updates.
SEE the complete list of fic I've written.
Title: The Warmth of Winter
Fandom: Chronicles of Narnia
Rating: PG
Summary: Edmund battles with the past. Prompt; Sparkle. Written for emoonstone. xmas drabble #3
The insides of Cair Paravel were decorated with giant Christmas trees, bells, and everything that was red and gold, green and silver. The smell of cider and gingerbread permeated the mistletoe wrought corridors. Narnian carols hummed through the air, and the floors echoed as the sound of heels clicked the white marble in a celebratory dance.
Dancing was going on outside as well; the fauns and the dryads moved widly around a fire they had set up the moment the sky turned dark. The flames licked each other in a crackling frenzy. Smoke swirled slowly upwards, floating past the the tip tops of the castle, which were covered with snow. Soft flakes slid down the high towers and deep turrets of the castle, delicately landing on the ground.
King Edmund sat on the stone steps, unable to enjoy the festivities around him. His crown lay lopsided atop his dark hair, and he had never realized just how heavy it was. A coldness had seeped into his bones, a coldness that had nothing to do with the winter around him, but with everything that winter reminded him of. Jadis' pale, perfectly sculpted face hovered in the front of his mind and he felt a feeling of uneasiness settle over him.
Christmas was meant to be a warm, happy ocassion but Edmund thought about things that were anything but. Christmas only served to make him remember the horrible things he had done under the White Witch's service and to reflect upon his betrayal of his family. The image of the dark Queen seemed to mock all of the steps Edmund had taken to move past those things - becoming a King of Narnia, creating a number of fair laws for the people, being there to listen and counsel those who were in need - as if they didn't matter. Her brutal smile was burned into his mind, telling him that he would never be rid of her; that he would always have demons to face.
The King held his head in hands, willing her to leave him, wishing to erase any allegiance he had ever had with her. He prayed for forgiveness and hoped to Aslan that the numbing chill in his heart would disappear. A tear dropped from his eye and he rocked back and forth, clutching his robes around him to ward off the cutting pain he felt deep inside him.
He was so engrossed that he did not hear a soft step behind him, nor the small hand on his shoulder, until Lucy spoke. "Edmund?" she said and he looked up into her concerned face. "What are you doing out here?"
Edmund straightened his crown and swallowed nervously. "Just thinking about last year's winter."
His face was the picture of nonchalance, but Lucy sensed that her brother was troubled. "Edmund," she said, sitting down next to him, "what's wrong?"
He shook his head, not wanting to rest his burdens on her shoulders as well. Lucy was young and pure, still naive to most of the wickedness in the world, and he would never be able to forgive himself if he was the one who changed that. His actions had already caused enough suffering.
"What's done is done, Edmund," Lucy said quietly. "Let it lie in the past. You're forgiven."
He titled his head in her direction, silently admiring her ability to read people, especially him. "Am I?" he asked her, the doubt in his question obvious in the quiver of his voice.
"The only forgiveness you need is your own," she told him.
Edmund bowed his head and Lucy took his hand in her own, offering her support. Edmund gave a deep sigh and turned to her, who looked back at him with a smile that sparkled triumphantly over the ghosts of winter. He smiled back and a calm hope climbed through him and he knew it would be okay.
He drew Lucy closer to him, placing a kiss on her forehead and wrapping his arms around her.
"Thank you, Aslan," he murmured into his sister's curled hair, and even as the snow fell on them, Edmund felt warmer than he had in a long time.
Want to read the other drabbles I've written for xmas for my flist?
drabble #1 ~ drabble #2 ~ drabbles #4 and 5 ~ drabble #6 ~ drabble #7 ~ drabble #8 ~ drabble #9 ~ drabble #10 ~ drabble #11
FRIEND this journal for updates.
SEE the complete list of fic I've written.