There were times I thought I was going in the wrong direction. The horse held a steady canter, yet it seemed to take every ounce of my strength to keep my seat. Perhaps I did need Lucy's cordial after all, but it was at Cair Paravel. I pulled the hand I was holding to my chest away, and I found it sticky and red. A wave of nausea almost overcame me, but it settled back into the ever-present knot in my stomach. I suppose Peter was wise to send me home if I can get there in time.

I could feel every hoofbeat reverberate through my body, and once again I wished I had never left Peter. The Fell Beasts could have reinforcements nearby, and Peter would be done in. However, I knew Peter would try his utmost to get himself out from under that giant's leg, help the others, and hide. He would know what to do until our reinforcements came to him. I kept assuring myself that that would be the case. It was the only hope on my mind.

I could see the towers of Cair Paravel in the distance above the trees, but I could barely make my eyes focus on them. I knew time was my enemy right now, but I did not believe the tiger wounded me that badly. I had to keep going: for Peter, Narnia, and my own sake.

When I finally made it to the gate of Cair Paravel, the thought flashed through my sluggish mind that it might be a bad idea to leave the gates open all the time. I walked my brother's horse further until I could make out someone relevant to whom I could sound the alarm.

Then I saw my sisters ice skating on the small pond close to the garden. I continued further until they saw me. They both stopped with a warm, yet concerned welcome when I fell from the horse. The only thing I could remember afterward was their voices screaming my name as the snowy drifts spun into darkness.

I did not dream while I was unconscious, or I just did not remember. I believed my sisters figured out what was afoot when I came back to them dying. I blinked slowly, and Susan's face came into focus above me. It took her a moment, but she had tears streaming down her face when she saw me wake.

"I'm sorry I scared you," I rasped out sincerely.

"It's alright, you're fine now I think. The guards took you inside, and Lucy gave you her cordial, but you didn't wake up until now. We thought you were too far gone and—"

"Susan, I'm fine now. Don't worry about me." I managed to get my sore body up from my bed. I barely had any scars from the incident from what I could see.

I soon wondered where Lucy was, she would have been hugging me by now. "Where's Lucy."

"She went with the Army to help with the wounded. Is Peter still out there?"

"Yes, but how is the Army traveling without directions to where everything happened?"

"You left a blood trail Ed, and the horses prints are in the snow."

I didn't think I made that much of a mess. "That's lovely. I'm sorry."

"What's there to be sorry for?"

"I had to leave Peter."

"You have a very good reason."

"But I don't know what is going—"

Susan kept me from finishing. "Peter is going to be fine."

I sighed; she would never know how upset I am for leaving my own brother out there. "I promised you I would keep him out of trouble."

My sister froze and remembered our conversation we had just a day ago. She hugged me. "I think in situations like this Peter can take care of himself. You both are smart enough to know what to do."

Then, the energy and realization of what had taken place hit me. I had to go back out there again. I rose from bed, however with one 'no' and Susan standing straight at my bedside ready to push me back down I knew there was no going anywhere until she let me.

However, I still stubbornly asked, "Why?"

"You didn't recover as fast as a drop of a coin this time. I want you to at least stay in bed for the rest of today and tonight. Then, maybe, you can go in the morning."

I sighed reluctantly and slumped into my pillows. I always hated to make Susan angry—she was only trying to help, but I was completely fine now. I just needed to find a way out when she was not around. I knew, she would have told all the guards that I should be in bed which would make an escape very difficult. I needed to get to Peter, though; I was not going to leave him.

It took maybe less than an hour for her to leave as one of her Ladies in Waiting had asked for her presence. I jumped out of bed and scrambled, then came Yale.

Both our glances stopped at the sight of each other. We both froze in place, he was carrying tea, and I had another cloak in my hands.

"Your majesty, Queen Susan requested—"

I had to think fast. "Yale, you have a brother?"

"Why yes, he is a weaver."

"If your brother were in trouble, I would allow you to go and help him?"

"Yes, you actually have before."

"My brother is in trouble at this moment; could you return the favor and let me leave?"

Yale took a moment to weigh his options I believe. I bit my lip in hopes as he was taking a while.

Finally, he gave his answer. "King Edmund, I will let you go, but I cannot be blamed for your actions."

"I suppose you could say that you never saw me?"

"I could, but there are many guards outside your door at the moment."

"How many, and who?"

"Many of the guards who are not swift enough to keep up with army's rapid pace are guarding now."

Brilliant, not quick and sharp enough as the centaurs. Escaping should be easy. "I want you to make smoke in the pot chambers. Yell fire and I should be able to make my way out."

"Yes, however, your majesty, what will you do if your plan does not work?"

"I'll try again. I must see my brother. I left him out there."

Yale sighed reluctantly leaving me to pack. I packed lightly this time. I would only need furs and cloaks for the ride over, the rest was back at camp. Waiting, I took a moment to look outside. The sun was still shining high in the sky. The day wasn't over yet. However, it has probably going to be one of the longest, terrifying, yet exciting days ever. All Narnia needed was the High King safe and home.

It was not very long before Yale had given me my chance to get out. I cracked the door open and could see the Bears romping over to the pot chambers to help. There were no other guards in that hallway, so I ran for the stables.

It was not a long journey back to the scene of the battle. I found the fastest horse I could find in the stable, and we ran almost the entire way. I stopped in the center of the clearing and looked around; there was absolutely no one. I could see footprints and blood stains in the snow, but only the dead Fell Beasts remained in the clearing. Everyone was gone.

I became quite worried and hoped the advance army contingent, Narnia's swiftest, had found them first and assisted them. I had been out for a few hours, and it was nearly evening when I finally made it back. I needed to find someone who saw what happened.

Then, my hopes were granted. I could see the Army marching back from the north. Oreius was leading, and I know he would tell me what was going on. I joined his side and quickly I asked him.

"What has happened General?"

He looked at me with a face of fulfilled duty. "We managed to move the survivors and departed from the clearing. Rudbeard led everyone back to the camp with Queen Lucy."

"Peter?" I questioned in desperation. There was no news about what happened to my brother.

"I apologize my liege-I do not know where he his. The High King is most likely with Queen Lucy. We managed to get the survivors away before the Fell Beasts' reinforcements came."

I could only nod in reply. I could understand that Oreius was occupied with a battle for Narnia's protection than the whereabouts of the High King. Everyone's assumption was he was with the group who was sent back to tents. However, something just was not right about this. Peter would not stay away from a battle if he were alright. It could only mean he was not okay or-I did not want to mention what else. That would never happen.

We arrived back at the camp, and I scurried to find Lucy. She was most likely tending to survivors of the first battle and would switch her attention over the second battle since they had arrived back. I found her before she could become more preoccupied.

She smiled and hugged me. "I glad you are alright; you really scared Susan and me."

I nodded and looked around behind her for Peter. Oreius had a simple statement of: "No one needs your cordial, your majesty," before leaving us alone in the crowd of soldiers.

"Ed, where was Peter last?" asked Lucy.

"He was stuck under a giant's leg. He said he was fine when I left him," I answered-oh Aslan...

"We couldn't find him. I'm worried Edmund. I was going to tell Oreuis, but I thought you would know."

"No." I know his disappearance could mean nothing; he could be performing good deeds to families who lived around here, but I was still terrified. I could see Lucy was starting to grow nervous by the second as well.

"Do you think he is-"

"No." I knew what Lucy was about to say. Peter would try earnestly to stay with his army. He would not be taken prisoner without someone knowing.

Then, I saw Sky slowly approaching us. For falling out of the air, he was not hurt. Lucy probably gave him some of her cordial because knowing what happened to me.

"King Edmund, Queen Lucy, my apologies for overhearing your conversation, but I believe I saw Peter."

"Please Sky, what direction did he go?" asked Lucy, almost like she was pleading.

"He managed to free himself and set off in the direction Oreius's reinforcements went. I assume he was trying to track down the retreating Fell Beasts to see what their next move was so he could warn us to retreat back to camp. Queen Lucy arrived before he could come back."

"Oreius and the army would have spotted him if he was tracking the Beasts down."

"Nobody saw him." What ever Peter had done I hoped he was safe.

"Then there is a high possibility that he got lost or-"

"Peter never gets lost. I must find Oreius." I wish I had a second me; I could have stayed with Peter and sounded the alarm at Cair Paravel. For Narnia and Aslan, I will find my brother, the High King, if it is the last thing I ever do.

I apologize for such a long wait readers. I have a lot of going on with school (HS and college classes), soccer, family, friends, and work. Every time I want to write I'm too tired and usually fall asleep in mid-sentence. Soccer is going to end soon. So maybe updates won't take three months. Thanks for reading!

Please review!