Chapter 8! Okay guys, I'm sorry it took me a while to update, I just recently finished 4 exams in a week, and I'm so happy that I've got it over and done with. Now I can focus back to the story, so I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Warning: This chapter contains abusive content. Don't like then don't read

Disclaimer: Don't own them


As he stepped into the dungeons, he frowned as he realized that someone had already beaten him to it

Janet was stood there with her hands on her face with a unusually scary glare on her face, she turned to see Edmund stood in the doorway.

"Just what do you think you are doing? Putting my son in the dungeons for no reason? What has he done and why is he here? If he doesn't tell me what happened, I demand to hear it from the king himself!"

Darreth looked at Edmund with an intense scowl on his face but he was also showing fear, judging by the way he was shaking

"I shall inform you when he is present in our court meeting which takes place tomorrow morning" Edmund said trying his best to prevent his voice from going low with fury

Janet looked at her son in an immensely angry manner, like she wanted to kill him. This sent shivers down Darreth's spine, he really regretted doing this now, for he was about to face the consequences. The meeting didn't matter. It was his mother that he feared. What is her expression going to be like when she finds out what he'd attempted to do? What will she do?

These questions were pacing around his mind that he didn't even notice that his mother had stormed off.

Edmund just stood there, leaning his back on the edge of the doorway, glaring daggers at the tattered boy in his midst.

"Why?" was all he asked. Darreth looked up at him, his eyebrows never diverging from its frown.

There was a pause, and Darreth was considering ignoring the question, but when he saw the look on Edmund's face, he had no choice but to do it

"Revenge"

"For what?"

"For making me feel like trash!"

Edmund just looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

Darreth didn't take his eyes off Edmund even though he didn't answer. Edmund knew he woudn't answer, so he continued

"Darreth I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, but what you tried to do was dangerous stupid and down right pathetic"

Before Darreth could spit insults at him, Edmund had already stomped off.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()

It was early in the morning and Edmund didn't hesitate in knocking on Eris's door

"Don't worry it's me"

After a moment, the door opened to reveal Eris, fully dressed and looking better than she did last night. She opened the door wider for Edmund to come in

"Good morning Edmund" she greeted obviously trying to seem like nothing happened last night but it wouldn't fool Edmund, he knew the feeling of trying to put something so unforgettable in the back of your mind which is what he felt like when he was in the White Witch's dungeons during the Pevensie's rein.

"How are you feeling?" Edmund asked, clearly worried for her

"I'm fine Ed honestly, I'm not going to make this get to me, we can't undo the past and I hope Aslan fixes that boy up one day"

Edmund couldn't help but chuckle, even at times like this Eris would never let things get to her no matter how awful the situation

"Well, I'm glad to hear you're okay" He said, and briefly kissed her on the lips "By the way, I, along with the others are expected to be in a meeting about what occurred last night, you know, just discussing what his consequences will be and all that, and let me tell you, Janet isn't going to be happy about this"

Eris widened her eyes a bit

"She doesn't know?"

Edmund shook his head slowly

"Nope, Darreth didn't tell her"

"Well this should be good" Eris muttered half amusingly, half pityingly.

Edmund grinned but then sobered

"You aren't expected to attend though"

Eris shot him a look at that, "What do you mean I'm not supposed to attend? This court is about what had happened and in case you didn't know, I was the one involved, shouldn't I have a say?"

Edmund looked down and sighed. How was he supposed to convince her? She was as stubborn as a mule

"And plus I need to be there so I can tell them my side of the story"

Edmund shook his head and put his hands on her shoulders, "Eris, it's for your own good, and there's no need of telling what happened. It's confidential and we're only going to pass sentence to Darreth and his mother"

Eris narrowed her eyes a little; there was a pause. Then she sighed and nodded her head "Okay, what should I do for the time being?"

"Just stay in your room for a bit" Eris had a look on her face as if someone had accused her of something even though that wasn't the case, Edmund chuckled "I know, I know, it's going to be boring, but me and Peter will try our best to speed things up, 'cause trust me, we are dreading this as much as you're dreading staying up here" Edmund paused before continuing, "I was going to get Susan or Lucy to keep you company but they're busy with their mid-day schedule—Ow"

Eris smacked him on the arm, but not painfully. She grinned at Edmund's expression, "I couldn't care less if I was alone Edmund, I'm going to be fine, stop being a worry wart" she laughed and Edmund smiled in defeat

"Your right, I guess I am getting a bit perky after all of this, you've always been brave and-"

"Edmund" Eris interrupted again "You're doing it again" she smiled while looking into his eyes. They slowly closed the distance between each other.

Edmund wasn't aware that he was kissing Eris; he was so lost in thought. But once he realized what was going on, he deepened the kiss. It was then he realized that Eris needed this, to erase the memories from the previous night and float in a world where it was only them.

She wasn't aware that she had gripped onto Edmund's elbows. They parted for air and she let go of the grip and looked up to see Edmund's hazy dark eyes and smiled "You should go now; you don't want to be late now do you?"

Edmund stepped back and nodded, "Yes, the court starts in five minutes, you sure you don't mind being alone?"

"Edmund" Eris said in a demanding manner while putting her hands on her hips

"Oh…right, sorry" he blushed before he left the room.

()()()()()()()()()()()()

The court was held in the great hall where the four thrones were. Only two people were sat on their thrones, High King Peter and King Edmund. Susan and Lucy weren't to attend.

Peter looked to Edmund's direction on his right and saw the younger boy looking down with his fists clenched and his lips pursed. He reached a hand on to his shoulder and the boy looked up at him, all his angry features gone in a second at the sight of his brother's worried expression.

"Edmund, are you okay?"

Edmund bit back curses to himself. He hated making his brother worried. The person he loved so dearly as a brother, and knowing it was because of him. He plastered on a smile "I'm fine Peter, don't worry, I just want to get this over and done with"

Peter nodded and looked at the setting before him. It was quite empty actually. No Narnians were present because Peter changed the law stating that no one outside of Cair Paravel should witness a sentencing of a criminal, it would only result in causing more conflict. He liked it better this way too.

"And" Edmund looked towards Peter as he spoke, "they sure do take their time Peter, when are they going to come? We've been waiting for almost 10 minutes and neither Queen Janet nor Darreth have come"

Peter frowned at that. Edmund was right, what was taking them so long?

Soon, their questions had been answered when the guards opened the grand doors revealing a confused frowning Janet in the doorway. She made her way to stand before the kings.

After her, Darreth was seen in the doorway with 2 prison guards, one on his left and the other on his right and he was chained up by his wrists and ankles but they were long enough for him to walk in.

He seemed to be protesting that he wouldn't come further but the prison guards were too strong for him so they had to practically haul him until he fell on the floor with the Kings above him on their thrones. The two prison guards were stood behind him making sure he wouldn't make a run for it.

Janet was looking at the commotion with a confused face, mixed with worry and mostly anger. She looked up at the Kings "What is the meaning of this?"

King Peter cleared his throat quietly "Prince Darreth has committed a very serious transgression"

"And what, pray tell, was it?" she asked in a way to prove him wrong. Darreth, not far from her, tensed up, the colour escaping through his skin. Edmund, who saw him pale, had no sympathy for him whatsoever, he did what he chose to do, and now he had to face the consequences which was his mother.

Knowing that Peter wouldn't answer that question, Edmund took over

"He had tried to rape someone. This is an—"

"WHAT?" Janet's voice surely echoed throughout the palace, Peter wondered is Susan or Lucy heard it from the stables.

"YOU DID WHAT?" she looked to her son who had shrunk a little.

"I didn't rape her mother" Darreth said quietly, not looking in her eyes, but looking down instead, preparing for another tumultuous yell from his mother.

King Peter decided to step up before the woman would go mental,

"Queen Janet, Darreth is partially right, he didn't actually rape her"

Janet looked up at him, her eyes still wide from the shouting. "Then what have you summoned us here for! I'm confused, has my son raped someone or not!"

"Actually" Edmund began "He attempted to"

Darreth shrunk even lower, even though he was on his knees. Janet looked at her son with a disgusted face "You little imbecile! Why?" then she looked towards the Kings, "He can't be punished for that, after all he didn't actually rape this person, so no harm was done"

"No harm was done?" Edmund yelled, standing up as he said so, "There may not have been physical harm Queen Janet, but there was an awful lot of mental harm done on her!"

Janet opened her mouth to protest, but was quickly blocked off my Edmund

"No! Let me finish!" She shut her mouth as she saw the intense glare from Edmund, "Yes, he didn't rape her, but he tried to do it. Imagine what would have happened if I didn't break into the room! Imagine what would have happened if I didn't hear the screams! Imagine what would happen if none of us stopped this!"

Janet didn't answer, he did have a point. Things wouldn't have ended nicely if it wasn't stopped. It only added much more anger towards Darreth. She looked at Darreth with dead in her eyes.

Peter was shocked by the anger exploding out of Edmund. He'd never witnessed him like this before nor did he realize that this was how much he loved and cared for Eris. Yes, he was angry too about the situation but not as much as Edmund, and not to mention that he got straight to the point in a matter of a couple of words.

Janet stayed quiet which didn't help with Darreth's anxiety.

Peter stood up signalling for an elderly faun to give him a thin scroll, he nodded his thanks and unwrapped the scroll.

He read out "I hereby announce the punishment for Prince Darreth's crime. You are to be banished from Narnia, Archenland, The Western Woods and anything in the borderlines of Narnia" He wrapped the scroll again "No arguments needed. You are all now dismissed" He looked at Darreth and Janet
"I will expect you both packing up your clothes and essentials before you are banished from here" Peter said in a firm tone before sitting down whilst keeping a straight face.

Darreth looked to the Kings with wide eyes, then to his mother and then to the Kings again "No…" he whispered, before the guards dragged him out. He didn't protest this time.

Queen Janet stood there for a moment. Her eyes were wide too and she seemed shocked. But deep down inside she was furious with her son not because of his attempt of rape. No. It wasn't even that. She was angry because now their plan wouldn't go as planned anymore. She couldn't care less about his son's actions but it was the consequences that made her want to scream. How would they stick to their plan, now that they were expected to leave the borders of Narnia and back to the North? Especially seeing as Edmund and Eris are alive and well.

It is time that kid would learn a lesson, she thought to herself as she angrily stormed out of the hall with a guard behind her.

Now it was just Edmund and Peter. Edmund leaned his elbow on his lap and covered his face with his hands. Not because he was upset but because he had finally let his anger out and now Darreth had got what was coming for him.

Peter sighed and stood in front of Edmund, kneeled down and hugged him. Edmund leaned his head on the crook of Peter's neck and sighed

"I'm sorry you had to see that Peter, I had no control of myself, I obviously let my anger get the best of me"

"Shhhh" Peter reassured "its okay Edmund, you let it all out. Do you feel any better now?"

Edmund paused, obviously thinking for a moment. He pulled back, "Now that I think of it, I kind of do. I feel much better"

Peter smiled "Good"

They both stood up, and left the grand hall.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

He was bruised on his back and hips, and his cheeks were stinging from the intense slap he was given. He put his hand on his newly bruised cheek and looked up at his glowering mother with fear.

They were at Darreth's 'guest' bed chamber and they were alone without any guards so that they could pack up in peace. Well… not so peaceful after all.

"I can't believe you" she hissed at him "You've ruined everything!" she hit him so hard on the side of his head and he fell back with a thud. He instantly got up on my elbows and looked at his mother with wide eyes

"Mother please-"

"Shut up! I can't believe you would do this" she shouted

"I couldn't help myself, I was so angry with how they treated me and I thought maybe if I get reveng—"

"I couldn't care less of what you did! You ruined our chances of making our plan come true! Our plans are now ruined because you"

"But mother I—wait, what? You don't care about what I did?" he was surprized by this

"Of course I don't you pathetic excuse of a son" she whispered sharply "Our plan is—I mean was to kill king Edmund and this Eris girl. But now we have to think of something else thanks to you"

Darreth looked down, and then he slowly stood up

"Who was this person anyway? The one you attempted to …rape" she asked slowly, hoping it wasn't who she thought it was.

Darreth sighed, dreading to answer that question but answered nonetheless, "Eris", he didn't need to look up, for he knew the expression on Janet's face would be like

Her anger came rushing to her again, "How could you? Why her? In fact, why do it in the first place? You knew what the consequences would be! Now our plan has gone in the trash"

Darreth shot a look at his mother "Perhaps if you weren't so power hungry we wouldn't have gotten into this mess already!"

That did it. Her actions took over her and she hit Darreth with full force with a painful thud and he collapsed on the floor as he blacked out in front of her.

"Stupid boy" she muttered in a low dangerous voice, before she stepped over him to pack up her and Darreth's things.

Half an hour later, Darreth slowly opened his eyes. His head pounded as he remembered how we found himself on the floor of his room. The stinging on his cheek was gone but the bruise was still there. He looked around and noticed a medium-sized bag on top of his bed.

He then noticed that the room seemed a little empty.

"Save the 'thank you' for later, we have a King and girl to capture" Darreth spun fast to meet his mother holding a similar bag on her shoulder with a dark cloak draped around her near the doorway.

"What?" he said pathetically

She stood up straighter, with a mock surprized look on her face "Oh didn't you know? I have another devious plan and it's ten times much better than our previous one" she grinned devilishly.

Darreth just sat there, with his palms resting on the floor behind his back.

"Well don't just sit there, grab your things, I shall tell you about it on our way to the Green Forest"

Darreth nodded and stood up.

He was confused, Green Forest? Shouldn't we be making our way back to the North? He quickly shrugged off the feeling seeing as his mother was waiting for him.

They were both escorted by guards towards the doors Cair Paravel where High King Peter and King Edmund were stood, waiting for them.

"I see you have come finally" Peter said in his regal 'High-King' voice "We hope you have a safe journey back"

Janet ignored him completely, she had the 'I'm-going-to-pretend-your-not-there' face and her head was held high as she walked past the Kings. But there was a moment where she eyed King Edmund with a mysterious look and that send shivers down Edmund's spine.

Darreth however, was stood there following after his mother; he too, avoided looking into the King's faces. He hated the feeling of humiliation.

Edmund and Peter saw the bruised cheek on Darreth's face but didn't comment anything about it.

The kings watched as they were out of sight and the doors of Cair Paravel closed.

The sun was nearly setting and once the doors of Cair Paravel closed, Janet quickly turned around and Darreth also came to a halt

"Mother? What are we doing? And why did you say that we were headed to the Green Forest? Aren't we headed home?"

Janet smiled "But Darreth dear, how are we supposed to travel with no carriage?"

Darreth shrugged, "I don't know, you tell me"

"That was a rhetorical question you fool!"

"Oh, sorry…"

"Besides, our carriage never broke to begin with. I've hid it somewhere, and when we find it, we are going to travel from there"

Darreth nodded in understanding "I see. That's very clever of you mother"

"And once we get into the carriage, I shall tell you all about our new plan"

They both headed into the nearest forest and they searched and searched for minutes. Darreth had no idea what he was supposed to do, so he pretended that he was trying hard.

After another few minutes, Janet found it

"There! I found it! Yes, it's still here! Come on Darreth, we don't have a moment to lose" she said excitedly

Darreth neared his mother's direction and saw the carriage well and ready. But then he realized something and frowned

"But mother, who will ride the carriage? We have no horses so…"

Janet laughed "Dumb boy, it's simple. We get the horses from the Narnian stables"

"But mother that's stealing!"

Janet snorted "Ha! Like you haven't committed a crime" Darreth shrank, for she had a point.

"Wait here, before you cause any more trouble" and with that she ran off. For an old woman her age, she sure moved like a young woman.

Roughly 20 minutes had passed before Darreth spotted his mother nearing him with two horses on each side of her.

"Mother!" Darreth said, feeling shocked by how simply she had done it "Ho-how did you...?"

"Shut up and get in the carriage"

Darreth observed the horses and his eyes widened up instantly

"Mother! Those two horses belong to Queens Susan and Lucy! If we get caught we would be in huge trouble!"

"Oh do shut up, like I didn't know that? I would have taken Edmund's horse for all I know but these two horses can't talk and their just as dumb as you. Besides, I wouldn't have taken Peter's horse either seeing as it's a unicorn. I don't want to be seen with a unicorn"

Darreth nodded, accepting his mother's pickyness, and climbed into the carriage. Janet draped the cloak more firmly around her so that people wouldn't recognize her if they saw her, and climbed into the rider's seat while tightly grasping for the horses reins.

"Ha-ya!" she yelled as she slammed the rope on the backs of the horses. They neighed and began walking in the direction that Janet wanted them to go.

Darreth sat as close as he can to his mother

"Mother? Can you now tell me of this new plan? I really want to know"

"Of course you do" she muttered, "Well Darreth; this new plan is simply much better"

"Which is…?"

"Shut up and let me explain" Darreth went quiet immediately.

"Now, before I was so rudely interrupted, my plan consists of us being in the Green Forest. From there, I am going to call the Naiads to send a message to a couple of our soldiers from the North to come to us, where I will tell them what they should do"

"But mother, what if the Naiads don't obey?"

"They will. The Naiads from the Green Forest are all on our side"

Darreth nodded, but then realized that his mother wouldn't have seen it seeing as she was focused on the horses "Okay, and then what?"

There was a pause. "Well, once the small amount of soldiers come to us, which won't be a long time because I will tell the Naiads to make them come here by our Gryphons from our castle, I will tell them what to do and you'll know what will happen later on"

Darreth frowned "Wait, I didn't get that, what will the soldiers do?"

"I'm not telling you" She said casually

"But why not?"

"Because you will mess things up, I know you Darreth; you always do, so it's for me to know and you to find out"

With a huff Darreth sat back further.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Darreth didn't remember falling asleep but when he found himself waking up, he saw that they had reached their destination. He sat up straighter and stepped out of the carriage.

It was still pitch-black and he took in his surroundings. Well, it was exactly what the title of the place says; it was green and filled with trees almost everywhere. This was the Green Forest he presumed.

It smelt like wildlife but it was incredibly quiet. The only thing he heard was the Horses grazing and his mother whispering to a Naiad.

He knew he wasn't supposed to hear what his mother was saying so he just turned back around and observed the place.

"Darreth, I see you're awake now, you were asleep when we made it here" Janet said as she finished her conversation to the Naiad, which the creature obeyed straight away to her command, and walked nearer to Darreth.

She put her hand in her cloak pocket; revealed a loaf of bread and threw it to Darreth, which he caught quite nicely.

"Thanks" he said before sitting down on the ground to eat.

"I have a lot more where that came from but we have to save it for when we are desperately hungry"

Darreth nodded "Do you have water?"

Janet gave him a flask "Here, but don't drink too much, we have to save some. There is no river nearby"

He nodded, taking a small sip and giving it to his mother.

It was really dark now and Janet put up a fire to keep them warm.

"Sleep. We have to be up and ready when it's day time"

Darreth nodded, obeying his mother before making himself comfortable on the hard ground. He closed his eyes which was uneasy for him as images of Eris's terrified face replayed in his mind. Soon, he was fast asleep which took a while.

Janet from the other side of the fire looked at her son as he was breathing slowly. This meant he was asleep now. But she couldn't help but notice him shivering. She tutted to herself before standing up and picking her son up, she lay him inside of the carriage which was warmer, still cold, but warmer and better seeing as he was sensitive to the cold.

She looked at his face and marked out his bruise on his cheek. She didn't feel the slightest bit guilty. She had a cold heart, even when it came to her own son.

She also noticed his eyebrows furrowing.

"Poor thing" she said quietly, "Probably having nightmares. But that's what he deserves…" before she left the carriage to sleep outside.

However, it wasn't nightmares that he was having, but a twist in the event playing in his dreams.

Instead of Eris screaming and shouting and yelling for him to stop, she was enjoying Darreth's attempt in raping her in his dream. He rocked back and forth against her and she was screaming and panting in pleasure, she was completely naked and so was he, and she was repeating Darreth's name over and over again.

Then the dream changed and they changed positions all of a sudden and he found that she was sucking him off against a wall and he groaned in pleasure. She looked up at him to see his expression which only turned him on more. She kept on going without stopping, until Darreth came; it felt so good he moaned. After he came, he looked down and saw that she swallowed every bit of come he released. She looked up at him and smiled in mock innocence. "You're such a criminal Darreth, why would you do this to me?"

He woke up and found it was morning. He just lay there dazed. The dream felt so real and he could have sworn that he actually did feel turned on.

He looked down at his pants, and cursed silently when he saw that he actually came in his sleep.

I'm so stupid he muttered to himself. He got up and rummaged through his bag and pulled out another spare pant. He quickly put it on while thinking to himself How did I get into the carriage anyhow?

He stepped out on the carriage and his eyes widened as he saw that his mother had actually got three of their soldiers to them. There were three gryphons next to them and they bowed to the Queen and she thanked them and they flew off.

"Ah Darreth, I see you are awake" Janet said

"Morning mother" he greeted as he normally did. The three soldiers bowed to him with respect.

"Morning to you three too" he said, trying not to be rude

"As you too my prince" One of the soldiers said.

"Darreth, go and eat some bread for breakfast, we have a long day ahead of us because we're going to travel back to the North to get ready"

Darreth cocked his head to the side "Get ready? However do you mean mother?"

Janet grinned "You'll see son…you'll see" She turned back around.

Darreth shrugged; perhaps he will see when the time was here. He was about to turn around to get his breakfast which was just a piece of bread, when he heard his mother talking to the soldiers

"I want you to do it late in the evening, that's after their evening meal and they're going to have to get a big meal because that's the last decent food they're gonna eat" she chuckled and the three soldiers bowed

"Of course, your majesty, we will not fail you"

"You best not, or I'll kill you all" she threatened in the friendliest manner

The soldiers nodded and took off.

By that time, Darreth was mid-way past eating his bread

"Come on, get in the carriage, you can finish that off on the way back" Janet said before kicking Darreth to get up which he did so.

"Okay mother" he hopped on to the carriage and his mother tugged on the reins of the horses and urged them to go.

They were on their way back… for something bigger.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

The four Pevensie's and Caspian were in Eris's room. Susan and Lucy came into her room while Peter and Edmund were in the court meeting and they were surprised to find that they were in her room seeing as Susan always liked to stick to her schedules.

"So they're gone for good?" Eris asked trying to be sure

"For the one thousandth time, yes" Peter repeated

Edmund chuckled as did Susan.

Edmund sobered and turned to Peter "Pete what about the Peace Treaty? Are you still going to sign the papers?"

Susan scoffed "Not after what happened we won't"

"But Susan, if I do sign the papers it would reduce conflict" Peter said before looking to Edmund "Right Ed?"

Edmund sighed "I'm not sure Pete, Susan's right but you're right as well"

"I think you should do it" Lucy said which bought attention from the five people in the room. Lucy grew up once before, she may look like a child but her knowledge and faith had never left her despite being young again "Sign it Peter, that way if they did do something like start a war, the blame would be on them. Think about it, they were the ones who requested yours and Caspian's presence in the North for peace"

"She's right Peter" Caspian said, agreeing with Lucy "if they were to attack, it would make them look like the accusers; after all, we didn't ask to be in any of this"

Peter nodded, taking in the information "Thanks, it makes better sense"

Lucy yawned and Susan spotted it "Come on Lu, it's time you went to bed"

Lucy scowled at her, "I'm not sleepy" but her actions betrayed her as she yawned again.

Peter laughed "It is getting late now, we're all expected to wake up early" He looked towards Eris "You sure you'll be alright alone?"

Eris sighed and face palmed her head, she and Edmund had a discussion on this before he went to the meeting. Edmund broke down in laughter and Caspian and Peter looked at Edmund with a weird face. Susan and Lucy were already out of the room.

"Shut up Edmund" Eris said softly before laughing to herself as well

They both sobered after a few minutes "Right, sorry" He pursed his lips so he wouldn't burst out laughing again.

"You better be" She said while smiling.

Peter and Caspian looked at each other and back to the odd couple "I guess I shouldn't even ask" Peter immediately said before smiling at the two and bidding them all goodnight. Caspian did so too before he and Peter went off to their own rooms.

"Right, I'll see you in the morning then" Edmund said heading to the door

"Yeah, good night" she said and he replied saying good night and left the room. She sighed and lifted the covers of her bed and tucked herself in before going off in a dreamless world.

The next day was pretty busy for Edmund and Eris; they had their breakfast and did several hours of training which left them tired and dripping with sweat not to mention the intense sparring they had between each other: Edmund beat her three times and Eris beat him 4 times which she teased him about it all throughout the day.

After having a nice bath, Eris was cleaned again and so did Edmund, Peter and Susan after their training.

It was during their evening meal when a worried looking faun came into the hall and informed the Kings and Queens of Queens Susan and Lucy's missing horses.

"What?" Susan and Lucy said at the same time

"But how?" Lucy said horrified. Caspian put his hand to her shoulder to make her calm down

"Who took them?" Susan asked the faun with a worried look on her face.

"I'm afraid that's the problem your majesty, nobody knows, the stable guards were found lying on the floor with blood on them, don't worry, we took them to the healers and they're being healed"

Edmund took action immediately "I'll go and find the horses" but before he could stand up, Peter stopped him

"Edmund, you can't, the sun is setting and it will be dark soon. It would be no use to try looking for them in the dark"

"Peter's right Edmund" Eris said "It's best to look early in the morning where it's more likely to spot them"

"I hate it when you're right" Edmund said to both Peter and Eris.

Peter looked to the faun and then to his sisters "Me, Edmund and Caspian will set off early in the morning to search for the missing horses, I just pray to Aslan that we find them"

Susan and Lucy nodded their thanks but found it hard to finish their meal. But they all did eventually, after all, who says 'no' to food?

After the meal, Peter retreated to his room to plan out what time they should take off and what places they should search. Susan was in Caspian's room after she put Lucy to bed. Eris was in Edmund's room lying on his bed next to Edmund.

"I can't believe Susan and Lucy's horses have been taken" Eris said disbelievingly.

Edmund sighed quietly "Neither can I, let's just hope that they are found tomorrow. I'm going to look everywhere my feet stands on and I won't come back until I find them"

Eris giggled "I've never seen you so determined before"

"Well if anything happens to those I love, I get a little determined yes"

"A little too determined" she grinned "but that's what I love about you, I admire that"

"That's irony"

Eris leaned on her right elbow and faced Edmund. She looked at him with a frown and a smile at the same time "How am I being ironic?"

Edmund looked at her and smiled "well, because you" at this time he put his hand on the back of Eris's neck "are more of the determined person than me. Remember when you saved my life?"

Eris smiled and let Edmund pull her down for a kiss. It was soft, quick and sweet, and when they let go, she laid her head on Edmund's chest and he gently brushed her ebony waves.

"I can feel your heart beat Edmund"

"It only beats for you"

She smacked him playfully in the stomach "You are so cheesy!"

They both laughed and sobered after a while and laid there in comforting silence, and soon, the dream world over took them.

()()()()()()()()()()())()()

Creeeek

Eris shot her eyes open as she heard a noise. She saw that Edmund was still asleep peacefully from where she laid her head on his chest.

She looked at Edmund while he was sleeping. He looked so peaceful – almost like an angel. She gently brushed a lock of hair away from his eyes; all of a sudden, she heard the noise again, this time, it sounded like distant foot steps but at the same time, it didn't. It was a strange sound as if someone was stamping their foot.

Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump

It was getting louder.

Deciding that she'd better make a move, she woke Edmund up from his peaceful state

"Edmund" she whispered. He stirred but did wake up, and she tried again, "Edmund! Wake up! I think someone is coming" she whispered more harshly.

Edmund did wake up this time "What? Eris what's going o—", then he stopped as he heard the noise that Eris heard: the same thumping sound.

They both looked towards the balcony. The balcony door was already opened, as Edmund distinctly remembered opening them a couple hours ago.

"It's coming from there" Eris whispered. She got off the bed and went for her sword. Edmund did the same thing.

Edmund sheathed his sword and so did Eris. They stood close to each other not knowing what was happening.

Then there was a moment of silence.

The only sound that was heard was their own breathing. Eris tightened her hold on the sword while Edmund looked around being aware.

Suddenly an arrow shot through the balcony door, just missing Eris's shoulder by a few inches and it hit a vase that was sitting on a big shelf on the wall, it broke into tiny pieces due to the arrows killer shot. Edmund and Eris both turned around and looked at what just happened.

"What was that?" Eris said, much more loudly this time

"It looks like someone is trying to assassinate either me or you" Edmund said with a tinge of fear in his voice

Suddenly, Eris felt someone put their hand around her mouth to muffle out her screams and so did Edmund.

"Or maybe" A voice spoke behind Edmund. It sounded like an older man, they were soldiers judging by their armour "we're trying to kill you both!"

The two men who had their hands clasped around Edmund and Eris's mouth started laughing as if they'd won a war

Eris tried to stab the person from behind with her sword, but the person saw the move and quickly moved out of the way

"Ah ah ahhhh, not so fast dandelion" The soldier behind her said in a mocking manner, Eris continued nonetheless

"You're a fierce one arent'cha" the same soldier teased.

Both of them didn't stop thrashing, trying desperately to escape their hold on them, it made it ten times hard as they couldn't scream.

The soldiers took action when they realized that both King Edmund and Eris were tougher than they thought

The soldier who was clasping Eris's mouth called out "Quick Verna, the thing"

The soldier holding Edmund – or Verna as the other one called him, said "What? What are you—oh that! Yes I've got it" he chuckled evilly as he reached out with his free hand, a vial of red liquid.

Eris watched in horror as the soldier managed to pour the liquid on a cloth. The look on Edmund's face was agonising to watch and even worse when, no matter how hard she tried, couldn't stop them.

Verna got the cloth into his hand and forcefully rested it on Edmund's mouth. He tightened his hold on it so that Edmund would inhale every last scent of the poison.

Edmund's thrashing increased as he tried to force himself not to inhale. But obviously, that didn't work as he couldn't hold his breath in for longer.

His thrashing reduced slower and slower. He suddenly lost grip of his sword – making it clash on the floor – and his eyes rolled at the back of his head and he fell limp against the soldier

Eris didn't realise she had tears in her eyes as she saw Edmund limp and unmoving.

"Here Victor" Verna said, handing the older soldier the same cloth he used on Edmund "Use the same one, it will last, we don't want our poison to run out"

Victor nodded, tightening his hold on Eris as she started to thrash more violently and trying to scream as loud as she can through the damp hand

"Mmmmmm! Mmm!"

She tried using her sword again, but that again, was no use.

Suddenly she felt a different material against her mouth instead of the rough, sweaty hands, and she knew it was the poisoned cloth; like Edmund, she tried to hold her breath in as long as possible, but she could hold it in anymore.

As she inhaled for breathe again, and she tasted the horrible taste of iron, which she presumed, was the poison.

She tried desperately for the soldier to let go of her but he was obviously much bigger and stronger than she was.

She felt her legs disobeying her to continue moving, as did her arms. Her movements slowed down and she couldn't find her voice anymore. Blackness fell into her vision and the last thing she saw was the soldier picking up Edmund's limp form and heading towards the balcony.

She tried to fight off the fact that her vision was faltering. But soon the world became black.

()()()()()()()()()()()()

She opened her eyes slowly and was confused by her surroundings. Then everything came back crashing into her memory as she remembered what had happened previously.

She suddenly gasped and sat up as she realised where she was.

A dark, large and eerie dungeon

Oh Aslan


I think this is possibly the longest chapter yet! I do hope that it makes up for my late update. I have no idea what it's like to be poisoned, but I hope I got it accurate with Eris and Edmund's reaction to it. I hope you enjoyed this chapter

So what do you think will happen? Please review! I'll give you a cookie? Yep, that's a deal :D

Chapter 9 is coming soon … no I promise it will come SOON this time