The burning eye of heaven loomed overhead as Phillip and Edmund cantered the distance between Cair Paravel and the legendary Stone Table. Edmund had only heard of it from Lucy and Susan, but even then, their accounts were vague. But Edmund was not as ignorant as he led his Siblings to believe. The Witch's demands for his life, Her renounced claim on his life, and Aslan's subsequent death, the correlation between them had been too obvious. It angered him that they had kept such an important detail from him. But it mattered no more. Retribution had been demanded, and retribution they would receive. No longer would his Siblings be plagued with having a burden. The burden being himself, of course. The black stain on their pristine lives. The whispers would no longer be, "King Edmund, He has no right..." But they would become, "I'm glad he's gone, we are all safe." It was these whispers that drove him from his home, his family; the seed had been planted and bloomed into full determination to carry out his quest.
But for now, the rolling hills were his home, and Phillip his family. They had only been traveling for half a day; the tiers of Cair Paravel still pierced the sky behind them. His fists tightened around the reigns.
"We are not making good time. We must make haste if we are to truly leave in time." Said Philip.
"You're right, they might already be aware that I have left. No, they definitely know." Edmund whipped the reigns and Phillip broke out into a gallop. Time was running short.
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Peter pressed upon the doors of the antechamber leading into his brother's bedroom. The small hairs on his arms and on the back of his neck stood on end in unease. The sitting room furniture was bathed in darkness, whereas usually, a warm glow from the fire dominated the room and the atmosphere a cozy one. The curtains fluttered in the breeze and a deep chill permeated the room.
He tip toed passed the low table and around the settee towards the oak doors leading to Edmunds bed chamber. Slowly, he pushed them aside, cringing slightly as the door creaked. He slipped through the available space between the door and its frame. The bed chamber was much like the room before, cold, with a strange, foreign feeling. The curtains around his little brother's bed were drawn. This caused Peter to frown; Edmund disliked being shut away from the outside world, confided in that the small space reminded him of his icy prison. Drawing the curtains he peered into the darkness to try and spot his brother among the sheets.
Empty.
Peter's mind reeled but he didn't want to immediately jump to the wrong conclusion. His first instinct was to raise the alarm, to call the guards and put out a search party. But, his time at Cair Paravel taught him better. It was very possible that Edmund had been restless and had decided to amble through the castle. At least he hoped that was the case. Quietly he slipped from the room once more, traversing the corridors with practiced ease.
"Good morrow, Your Majesty," a voice called, musical with a hint of amusement. The sudden intrusion into Peter's thoughts caused him to startle, tripping a little on the rug. A rug that had been placed so that the sound of hooves from the patrol did not disturb anyone. After his fright Peter was seriously considering having them removed. He turned to see the intruder.
" Ah, my good faun..." a faun from the patrol stood before him, still clad in heavy silver armor he was obviously still on duty. As Peter's sleep deprived mind slowly focused, he recognized the faun from the Archer regiment of the army, under Queen Susan.
"Julhis...I'm afraid I have a rather strange request."
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Edmund and Phillip had been riding well into the night; Edmund's legs and back ached from the uncomfortable saddle. He slid off to stretch his legs and to relieve the weight from Phillip for a short time. The banks of the river were thick with clay because of the rain the night before. This made walking difficult, if it could be called walking, they both had to practically wade, lifting their legs high in order to make any real progress in the mud.
"Is this a wise idea?" asked Phillip suddenly, as a horse with sense he knew it would be easier to walk amongst the trees. But Edmund shook his head, effectively cutting off Phillip's argument.
"If they are searching for us yet, doubtful but possible knowing Peter, then they will search the woods. Besides, we need to get to the ford, and to do that quickly we should stay close to the river."
"But, Majesty," Said Phillip, slipping back into formalities," This river bank is slowing our progress."
Edmund resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his most faithful companion.
"But then we might be discovered."
"And if they're not looking?"
This time Edmund did roll his eyes.
"This is Peter we are talking about."
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Peter was struggling to keep his panic under check, he was hoping that it was all a misunderstanding, that his brother had just went for a leisurely stroll. But tendrils of unrest and dread settled deep within his heart. It was all too familiar, only a year ago his brother had gone missing, and look how it all turned out. Peter shook the treacherous thoughts away. Edmund had changed since then, he was much nicer to everyone of late. Especially to Lucy. He and Lucy had been inseperable. He didn't even snap at Susan when she mothered him. They had been more of a family than ever before. He had sent Julhis to search the east wing of the castle, and he, the west. Eventually the nocturnal animals of Cair Paravel caught on to the impromptu game of "hide and seek", and soon the halls were as busy as they were during the day. Seven Bats, four Hedgehogs, two Owls and half a dozen Gerbils searched alongside Peter, and many more had probably joined, as gossip is one thing in which the Narnians take great delight.
A few hours later, with no Edmund in tow, he met Julhis in the front hall. The faun looked thoroughly harassed as a train of small critters talking excitedly followed his every step. If possible, the noise became louder as they spotted Peter.
"High King Peter! We looked all over-", "Up and Down-","In every nook and cranny!"
"Did you find him?" asked the High King, knowing that if he did not interrupt they would go into great detail about every "nook and cranny."
"No, Your Majesty." Said Julhis, before the gerbils could start a rabble." But I did find this in the Library." Julhis handed him a small scrap of parchment, on it his brother's handwriting was scrawled.
I'm Sorry.
Peter's face darkened. A frown marred his usually peaceful features. When he spoke it was a low, deadly tone.
"Rouse the Guards, prepare a small battalion of soldiers and have them be ready by sunrise. I want to be accompanied by pack of Dogs and wake the General. We have a wayward brother to bring home."
I'm so sorry it took so long to update, I've been distracted by school and other fandoms.
But Elecktrum's stories have inspired me to write more!
K bye xXx