Since it's been up in comments for a while..

[rthstewart]

After receiving two really sweet comments, one for AW and one for Rat and Sword, I decided to thank the readers with an AW blurb that I posted in comments on AO3. I'd wanted to get a new chapter up this month but that's not going to happen, I think, given how busy work and other things are keeping me. But I did start writing, and I'm counting

Comments

[whswhs]

I think I'm missing context for this, but it's an effective scene on its own footing. It seems as if there must be earlier chapters-have you posted them somewhere, if so?

[rthstewart]

No, I don't think you are missing anything. I've been stuck on picking up AW again and when 2 folks said something really nice about the story on AO3, I wrote this for them, and then decided to post it. It stalled out in 43 and this is a jump ahead, though I've written a lot before about how Edmund is something of the vehicle for John's return to the family. So, I've got lots of ground to cover still, but I had to start somewhere and so here it is. Thanks so much. I really appreciate the support.

[katharhino]

OMG so good.

[rthstewart]

thank you so much

[katharhino]

I meant to post something more coherent yesterday, but I was interrupted. This has everything I love about your work - outsider POV on the Four and their relationships, being spiritually really honest and at the same time full of grace, a bit of humor (Peter's perfect match, almost meta considering how you've written about it in the past), a bit of sadness. (Morgan!)

[rthstewart]

Thank you. That is a lovely thing to say. Yes, having known this sort of thing was coming, I seed the story all along. The line about the truth or the lie is one that is there from TQSiT when Peter is really struggling with Susan's complicity in dodgy espionage. Tebbitt and Susan decide that it's better to say nothing rather than to lie. Edmund tells Peter that he would say nothing, rather than lie, unless Peter wants to hear the lie. And Edmund is in for a rude surprise here. And John will have his moment.

[anonymous]

oh my god i love it

[rthstewart]

Thank you

[rthstewart]

Awww. I'm so far behind and have been so stuck. It was really wonderful when I got comments from people saying, no, really, we are still interested and so I wanted to write something for them, even if it is a long way away. This is something that I've talked about. It was just wonderful to be able to finally blast past it all and get something down.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for your patience. This doesn't end as Edmund thinks it will, and Helen is in for a surprise as well. And John, well, he will have his moment and I think, hope that readers will find themselves cheering him one. Thank you

[florentinequill]

Oh. My. Oooh, it's gonna be a long wait to get here (and beyond) but IT WILL BE SO WORTH IT.

[rthstewart]

Thanks so much. I've been stuck for so long it was really nice to write something for people who had been kind and work beyond the block. It's given me hope t hat I can do this and it just means the world to me that people care enough to still read and re-read.

Thank you

[florentinequill]

You really, really can do this. Really. BELIEVE IN THE READERS THAT BELIEVE IN YOU! If I have kids (AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAno), or have friends that let me near their kids, I would read the Narnia books to them. And then read all your fic to them, with minor edits for age appropriateness that go away as they get older.

I was pleased as punch and pleasantly surprised when Edmund and Helen discussed Narnia. That John is (eventually) learn about Narnia and (hopefully) realize his errors is awesome-sauce topping on this amazing-cake of a universe.