As Edmund lay in the dark, the only sound he could hear was the drumming of his heart.

Then a soft thunder of a creature’s footfalls coming closer and closer. Its presence looming ever larger, taking up so much space it was hard breathe.

It was Aslan.

The great lion was at Edmund’s feet. Slowly, Aslan made his way up Edmund’s body. At last, he hovered over him, his hot breath and low rumbles making Edmund shiver with fear.

Still, he met Aslan’s eyes. They held anger, betrayal. They held a great stone table, the great lion himself tied down and motionless as the dead. They held the cries of his sisters, of battle and bloodshed. They held the witch, a cruel grin on her face.

Terror struck Edmund. Terror and sorrow, for the lion had shown him a future he did not want.

Tears fell from his eyes though he could not look away from Aslan. I’m sorry, he thought miserably, the words stuck in his throat. I’m sorry.

Aslan growled, then roared.

“For there to be forgiveness, there must first be a sacrifice,” the lion’s voice seemed to say and at once Edmund understood.

When Aslan opened his great maw and bent down, Edmund closed his eyes and waited to be devoured.