Benevolence || Edmund Pevensie || The Chronicles of Narnia

Prologue

Posted: 5/18/2023
Updated: 3/29/2024

This is a fanfiction based on the film/book The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Characters are fanon age (Guesstimate [since everyone has a different opinion] Peter/Caspian - 17 | Susan - 16 | Edmund - 15 | Lucy - 14). These ages are not absolute, so do with that what you will :).

Year 2300 - 3 years before

"You can't just walk away after saying such a thing!" A girl appeared out of a corridor, one of the many long, winding halls in the gloomy castle. Her footsteps were but faint echoes as she hurried to catch up with a tall, bearded man.

"'Mustn't,' child. Speak properly. And you wonder why you aren't let out outside of the castle grounds," he scoffed. His narrow nose pointed down at her, and his wiry beard curled with his lips.

"I'll speak properly the day you think properly, Uncle," she retorted.

His hand landed harshly on her cheek. A yelp of pain echoed down the corridor, followed by a...laugh?

"You'll be sorry for that. Wait until I show the mark to my brother," the girl smiled crookedly, although her Uncle saw fear sparkle in her eyes. "You cannot force me to do such a thing, and even if it was within your power I wouldn't."

"I should've dealt with you before." The man loomed over her, his dark eyes blazing. They were a muddied black curdled with olives; it reminded Briar of a snake. He stepped forward aggressively, and the girl stumbled back into the wall, her eyes widening.

"I should not have hoped you would end up being a mindless tool like your mother," he grunted, shoving past her. "Go while I feel forgiving."

The girl, lithe and long-limbed, appeared like a ghost in front of him; the way she moved so silently was off-putting, to say the least.

She stood taller. A wicked smile spread across her face. Plainly, she spoke. "At least my mother loved her second-born."

"That's enough, girl!" Her Uncle grabbed her by the wrist. She yelped as she was pulled down the hallway. The iron grip of his hand didn't keep her from squirming and protesting.

"You won't do anything, Uncle Miraz!" she insisted, her long, dark locks whipping against her arms as she tried to break free. "You can't!"

Her arm was pulled up into the air, and she found the man's pointy, snake-like eyes close to hers.

His breath smelled of wine and expensive herbs. "And why, pray tell, is that?"

Despite how she looked afraid, and the lump in her throat, her next words were bolder still. "You're too scared to do anything about me now. Not when Caspian is around."

Her mind went numb from panic at the way his lips curled into a smile. "He's not around now, though, is he?"

Oh no. Too much, Briar.

"You can't! You won't!" the girl shouted ferociously. Her voice soared down the halls like a wild, but elegant trumpet. She yanked at her arms, shoving, and pulling, trying to fight the grip, but to no avail. He wouldn't let go, not like this. An idea crossed her mind, and Briar swallowed it up like a hungry fish.

Before she could think twice, she bit Miraz's arm. He let go, letting out a furious cry.

Briar dove into the shadows instantly, her heart racing wildly inside of her chest. The taste in her mouth made bile rise in her throat. her clean, brown hair had become mussy as she hiked up her skirts and ran.