Title
Chapter 1
Bound and Broken
Disclaimer: I own none of C.S. Lewis' original characters or anything of his world, only my original characters.
So recently I have been reading a lot of Edmund/OFC pairings and The Storyteller's Daughter, by Cameron Dokey, and both got me thinking. I mean, Edmund is such a great character. He has so much potential for angst and passion. So I hope you enjoy it! This takes place after HHB, and the Pevensies are back in Calormene because Susan is being courted by Rabadash's younger brother.
(FYI: Sariyah is pronounced Ser-eye-ah)
Edmund's POV
"This weather truly is ghastly," Susan complained as she wiped her brow. I rolled my eyes at my sister's complaints. But that was Susan, always complaining. The colorful open market surrounded us as we strolled past cart after cart. I missed the carefree, safety found in my own kingdom, Narnia, but the chaos that ensued at the market made me feel lively, almost normal. Although in Narnia, we did not have to endure the stares our pale features and foreign clothing earned us here. The market provided me with a distraction from my innermost thoughts and the memories that would always haunt me. The market was my solace for the day; I could easily distract myself by watching women shaking out colorful rugs, men displaying baskets of dates and pomegranates, and a man with some sort of musical instrument and a monkey on his shoulder. The sight of the monkey almost brought a smile to my face, but then, Peter began to speak.
"Oh cheer up, Ed," Peter punched me playfully in the arm, causing me to wince. "The Tisroc always puts on a great show for us, especially since he is trying to woo Susan."
"Don't go reminding me!" Susan exclaimed at her nose crinkled at the mention of the Tisroc. "I don't know why we had to come here even though we all know what my answer to his bequest will be."
"Susan, you know we must at least entertain his bequest, if only for a week. We don't want another Rabadash." I replied. It was simple, if we did not at least come to Calormene to hear his bequest; the Tashbaan would invade Narnia and Archenland. Last time we were in Calormene, we almost did not escape. If it had not been for the heroic actions of Shasta, Bree, and Aravis, we would not have made it out alive. Now, Rabadash's younger brother was courting Susan, much to her dismay. At my words though, Susan nodded and took Peter's arm.
"We should at least enjoy ourselves while we are here!" Lucy shouted as she skipped up and down the beaten road, examining exotic animals and crafts. Peter and Susan were off examining a cart of bronze jewelry, much to Peter's distaste. I smirked and began examining a cart of fruit.
"Is there something I can help you with, Sire?" A heavy set man with deep lidded eyes asked. His fingertips brushed the hilt of his dagger, but the man made no move to take it out.
"You wouldn't happen to have an apple, would you?" I asked, scanning the cart.
"No Sire, we do not carry the fruits of lesser lands," the man said with a smirk. I stiffened and felt my hands curl into fists, but then, I saw a figure move stealthy out from the shadows. From beneath her cloak of black, a hand shot out and grabbed a pomegranate. The girl's grabbed another pomegranate and shoved in inside her robes, carefully keeping her hood drawn over her head. The man followed my eyes to where the girl stood, frozen with her hand holding a third fruit, halfway between the basket and her robe. Before she or I could move, the owner of the cart was upon her, clutching her wrist cruelly in his beefy hands. She was suddenly cowering on the dusty ground, the pomegranates rolling away from her, making her efforts fruitless. I quickly moved forward with my sword drawn.
"Release her at once," I ordered before I knew what had come over me. My blade was soon at his neck, and the man slowly released her arm from his grip. I took out three coins from my bag and set it on his cart.
"And you," I began as I turned away, but the girl was gone. I scanned the market for her, and spotted her dark colored robe. Everyone else was wearing light colors, and her black cloak was clearly visible though she had already gone fifty feet. "Wait," I shouted as I made my way through the crowded street. The girl moved through the crowd like smoke, swiftly and gracefully. She turned down countless alleyways and hopped over the aqueducts of the city.
Finally, she stopped at the end of an alley. I had her cornered. The girl turned up her face toward me and pulled off her hood, revealing her face. She was about my age, with skin the color of honey and the darkest ebony hair that almost had hints of blue in it. Her features were all dainty, like that of nobility. Her eyes were shielded by a thick halo of dark lashes. Beneath those dark curtains, her eyes shimmered like liquid gold, surrounded by a mossy green. Her chin jutted upwards defiantly and her hands were stiffly crossed. Her knuckles were pearly white and beneath her thick garb, her thin body trembled. Her feet were bare, and so small they looked like they belonged to a child.
"What is your name?" I asked as I carefully reached out toward her. She jumped back, away and closer to the wall. I slowly withdrew my hand. She made a sound almost like a whimper as she pressed herself closer to the wall.
"Sariyah," the girl explained. I repeated the girl's name, and it fell off my lips perfectly and smoothly. Suddenly, a noise from behind me caught my attention, causing me to draw my sword again, but it was just a dog. The dog scampered off behind a trash can, and I turned my attention back to the girl. Her hand were held high above her head, and in them, a clay flower pot.
"What are you doing?" I asked, confused by her notion. A sharp crash sounded and next thing I knew, I was on the ground. My vision was slowly blurring at the edges; I fought desperately to keep my eyes open. The last thing I saw before I blacked out was my own sticky blood on my fingertips as I withdrew my hand away from the tender spot on my head.
"Edmund, wake up!" Lucy shouted as she shook me. I opened my eyes to find myself staring up at the quickly darkening sky. Above me, Susan and Lucy sat fretting, Susan was pressing a cool cloth to my forehead and Lucy was holding her cordial and looking concerned. I could hear the steady footsteps of Peter as he paced back and forth. The pain was dulling now, but the ache was awful.
"Here, set him up." Susan and Lucy slowly raised me so I was sitting up. The throbbing began again, but after a few gulps of air, it dulled again.
"Hurry, get him up. The feast will be starting soon, and Aslan knows what Prince Aamil will do if we are late," Peter said hastily. I chuckled at his nervousness.
"Of course, brother. I would not want to see one of his temper tantrums either," I replied. Although Aamil was a man of Twenty three, we had witnessed one of his temper tantrums, and it was not pretty. The man had taken his chair and flung it across the room with amazing strength. He had proceeded to withdraw his sword and slash all the paintings in the dining hall. The four of us could hardly contain our laughter. I slowly got to my feet, ignoring the dizziness it caused me. I draped my arms over Susan and Peter as they led me up the winding path and to the palace of the Tisroc.
"However did you get on the ground like that anyway, Ed? Lose a fight?" Peter said with a hearty laugh.
"Fell." I grunted with a frown. Peter continued to laugh at this, souring my mood further.
Finally, we made it to the Dining hall, and not a moment too soon. Aamil was frowning as he scanned the hall.
"Finally the Narnian kings arrive," He said with a smirk. "Sit, sit." We exchanged wary glances with Aamil's order, but proceeded to sit on the cushions near the Prince. "I expect your journey was good."
"We lost a horse in the desert, but other than that the journey was fine." Peter responded. Lucy gave a sigh and bowed her head solemnly. The horse had been killed by an attack on our caravan. Though we had searched extensively for the attacker, they were nowhere to be seen.
"Regrettable. Now, let the show begin!" Aamil clapped his hands, and at that, a tall, skinny man wearing a white tunic entered. Next to him was a stout and fat little man. They entered, their steps matching exactly. Their hands were held at their chests, and they smirked. Both were dressed in black tunics with a red sash across their chest. The taller one snapped his fingers, and a servant carried a heavy, brass bowl and set it on a table in front of the two magicians.
"Tonight, we have a special treat for all of you." The taller of the two began.
"Be prepared to witness a night of wonders," the shorter continued as a red scarf appeared with a flourish of his hand. He strode toward our table before twirling the scarf around Susan, making her wince. "One which you will never forget," he finished. My hands tightened into fists, and I could feel the vein on my neck straining. Aamil let out a chuckle with a look in our direction and clapped in approval, further angering me. I glanced over in Peter's direction and noticed his anger, although he had carefully concealed his. I took a deep breath and returned my gaze to the magicians. The stout one bowed with a flourish.
"Sokar, at your service, your majesties."
"Anubis, the pleasure is all mine," Anubis, the tall magician stated with a wink in the direction of Susan. I felt my jaw clench and I knew I was probably grinding my teeth. I heaved another breath of air to calm myself.
"Watch closely, as we show you mysteries that only we have been able to uncover." Sokar asked with another flourish. The two were really starting to annoy me.
"Mysteries, beyond your wildest dreams," Anubis said with a raised eyebrow in Aamil's direction. Aamil motioned for them to continue, and they did. Suddenly, there was a brilliant flash and fog engulfed the room. Next to me Lucy coughed and sputtered.
The fog began to clear slowly to reveal Anubis and Sokar holding onto a squirming and fighting figure, and I instantly recognized the girl from the alley, Sariyah. She was tightly bound in chains, and she glared around the room. I rubbed my head, remembering the injury she had caused me. There was another flash of light and a bang, and the chains that had surrounded her arms had disappeared. Now she was held only by a chain attached to her right foot. She stood quickly and began cursing in an unfamiliar language, while glaring at Aamil. He smirked back, and she spat in his direction, causing a hush to come over the room. Aamil stood up, angered, but then turned to our table, the smirk back in place.
"I would like to present this gift to the High King Peter of Narnia, in hopes that he will consider my offer," Aamil said, and with that, the girl was pushed toward our able. She was scantily dressed and her hands were tied together. Peter glanced around at all of us, and I couldn't help but to snicker at the look of horror and shock on his face. Susan was carefully avoiding anyone's gaze, for fear Aamil might notice her more. Lucy watched the magicians warily, and whispered to me, "Aslan would not approve." I nodded in agreement.
"Thank you for you generous gift, but I believe my brother, King Edmund, will get more out of this, er-" Peter began ,with a wink in my direction.
The thought of Sariyah, with her golden green eyes, staring up at me, her hands bound, cause my pants to grow a bit tighter. I gripped the side of the table to steady myself, to make it stop, but it only grew. I hastily searched for something to say in response, but I had nothing. With that, the magicians sent for servants who hastily led the girl up to my chambers, leaving me with a large predicament.
I hope you liked it! Please review so I know how you feel. Next chapter should be up soon!