Finding the Queen of Old

A Foe Rises

AN- Character death, a tiny bit of language, and lots of sadness for you readers... Plus, ignore spelling issues lol written on my phone.

"A glass here, for myself and the gentleman," Isabela motioned to the barkeep to pour them drinks, "since he needs one."

She looked to the raven haired king, the first time she had seen him in nearly five months. "I told you to come back to see me, told your family that. Why didn't you?"

He gave her no answer, just kept his head hung with weariness spread across his face. "I couldn't... I didn't..."

She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you tell me what happened exactly?"

-

Edmund awoke as he would any other day. That is, too the sound of Lucy laughing with Leah, Felicity, and Susan as well as the somewhat argumentive yet diplomatic converstaions of Peter, Tumnus, and Caspian.

"I can't believe you're due any day now!" Felicity smiled widely, the first sight that greeted Edmund. Leah glanced his way as he came down the stairs, her eyes still apologizing for that kiss so long ago shared.

Caspian came behind Susan and lightly placed his arms around her. She had started to heal, and the tramatic flashbacks to what James had done to her occured less and less. "It will be an exciting time for us all."

"Didn't you two have to be somewhere?" Lucy asked Leah and Felicity as she finished eating her breakfast.

Edmund saw a flash in Leah's eyes. He had been watching both carefully for betrayal, as had Peter. That was why Peter ended things with Felicity. But he couldn't let go of Leah.

He looked to his brother and knew he had seen it too. Great, of course it would be her. The witch had told him as much, hadn't she.

"We're heading to pick up a friend. He hasn't been in town for a while," Leah answered slowly.

Peter's head turned sharply to meet meet Edmund's eyes again. James.

"Both of you? Was this both your idea?" Edmund hissed, fuery causing him to clentch his teeth.

"You tell me, Eddie," Felicity smirked, eyes flashing dangerously.

"What's going on, Lizzy? I thought we were picking up Seth?" Leah looked hurt. "You said the troops were coming back... you said-"

"I know what I said," She snapped. "But I hate to break it to ya sweetie, but he was killed. I got the letter weeks ago. I just needed you as my cover. To pin this on you."

"K-killed? Bu-but..." Leah stammered, her body shaking. Edmund went to steady her, realizing she truly had no idea what was going. He guided her to Lucy, leaving Leah's care in his sister's hands.

Felicity feigned a look of annoyance. "Now how am I supposed to get James out now? Oh well, looks like I'll have to take this into my own hands." She lunged at Susan, pushing her to the ground.

"But you didn't expect this, did you Miss Perfect? Even with all the horrible things, you still have a perfect family, a devoted lover, and hope. How is that fair! How? My mother sells herself to feed my brother, my father's too proud to admit he lost his job. Yet you get everything you wanted back in your life in the blink of an eye." Felicity snarled as Edmund and Peter pulled her off of their sister."Now boys, did you really think I was actually alone? Oh James," Felicity's voice hung in the air.

"Miss me?" A cool voice rang out. "Hope you don't mind, but I brought a few friends." Two men followed him in.

"Lucy, get Leah and Susan out of here!" Peter shouted.

James turned his head at hearing Susan's name. He gave her a once over and smirked. "I take it that's mine? Joint custody sound alright?"

"Not on your life," Caspian stepped in front of Susan, voice growling.

James narrowed his eyes. "I remember you. Benjamin, wasn't it? You I have a special plan for."

"Lucy I said to get them... Lucy!" Peter turned to see one of the men had snuck past them and grabbed her. "Let go of my sister n-"

Thud! Peter fell to the floor, a swift blow to the head knocking him out.

"Peter!" Susan cried out.

Edmund looked to Caspian. "You and Susan go now!" the couple fled, not willing to risk harm to Susan but torn up about leaving their family behind. "Tumnus, get-"

Tumnus was caught as well. It was just Edmund and Leah left.

"What do you want from us?" he growled, wishing more than anything he had a sword.

James eyes were dark. "I want my child."

"You don't deserve to have anyone, not even a child, love you after what you did to my sister! How did you get out, anyways?"

James nodded for the two men to knock out Lucy and Tumnus. They then left, making it an even two against two.

"Felicity here plays the role of Susan. Seeing as they never got an accurate description of Susan down, it was easy for her to come forward and say she was forgiving me."

Felicity kissed him quickly. "Anything for you, dear."

"Bu- why?" Leah spoke quietly, the first time since learning of her love's death. "Why are you hurting our friends, the people who treated us like family? How could you?"

"I want that child. Susan always was perfect. Everything was always about her. Her engagement, her pregnancy... Well, now I'm spotlight. It's my turn to have everything go my way!"

Edmund shook his head. "You've gone mad. You think harming those you care about will help anything? Enough of this. I'm going to kill James, and then I'll deal with you!"

"Not so fast," James had a knife to both Lucy and Leah's throats. "Tell me, John- Edmund, whichever is your real name, who do you want me to spare? You can only save one."

"Let them go you bastard!" he lunged toward him. Leah let out a scream as the blade slit into her neck. Lucy was released as Leah fell, clutching her throat.

Time seemed to stop. James looked shocked that he had actually done that and Felicity as well. "Let's get out of here!"

They sprinted out of the house as Peter, Tumnus, and Lucy started to come to.

"Leah," Edmund knelt clutching her hand.

A ghost of a smile crossed her face. "Ed."

She turned pale, and she was gone.

"What happened?" Lucy gasped, not knowing the danger she had been in moments before.

"I will kill that no good son of a b-" sobs overtook Edmund as he looked at the face Leah, so peaceful but tragic.

Those there quickly alerted the authorities and soon they had captured James and Felicity. Neither would be free for years to come.

-

Isabela didn't know what to say. She had never been good with this sort of thing, if her past was any proof of that. Slowly, she began to speak.

"When I was just a small girl, my father killed my mother right infront of myself and my younger brother. Soon, my father took his own life and my brother grew ill. Things were tough, especially when my brother lost his battle against illness. I loved them all dearly, but a friend once told me that death is only a journey. Once you realize all it is is the journey to either heaven or hell, or in our case, Aslan's country, things become easier to deal with." Feeling her emotions start to build up, she did what she did best. "Now, another drink should bring some color back to that handsome face of yours."

For once, Edmund agreed with her.