Hey all! Thanx so much for your awesome reviews! I loved them all and I am so sorry that this is so late! A quick warning to you all, this chapter is going to be very sad so I would advise having a few tissues nearby. Also this is not, nor will it ever be, slash or incest! It's just pure brotherly/sisterly bonding! Also, the first bit is sort of going to be mainly focused on Susan and Lucy later on, then it will switch to the brotherly Peter moments we all love so much. Plz forgive any grammar, spelling, or missing words.

Disclaimer: just look at chapter 2, I don't want to bore you with the details

Enjoy!


Chapter 8: Faith

It was around mid-afternoon by time the group finished cleaning and dressing Edmund's wounds. It was a horrible and sad process and around the middle of it Susan had to leave the tent for a while. She had come back in a few minutes before they turned him onto his stomach. It was probably the worst one of all and it took all of Susan's strength not to faint at the memory.

The older Daughter of Eve entered back through the tent flaps. Her little brother's wounds had cut a hole in her heart like nothing else ever had. He was in so much pain, she could see from the way his face scrunched up whenever they touched a particularly deep cut or a broken bone. Every time this happened she just wanted to hold him tightly and make the pain go away. He didn't deserve any of this, nobody did.

She had left when the group of healers and her siblings reached a large "X" shaped gash outlined in an eerie blue across his chest. She didn't know why, but it made her freeze at the mere thought of it. For some reason, the gash gave her a sense of evil and cruelty unlike that of anything she had ever encountered.

The tent wasn't dry and musty like the one they had used when they went on a camping trip with dad, but cool and fresh. It was red and decorated with gold, but the one thing Susan noticed was that at the bottom of everything there was a golden Lion's head. Every time she looked at it, it gave her strength that her brother would live. But every time she looked at the torn and bloodied body that was her brother, those hopes plummeted.

Walking over to the cot, Susan took a washcloth from Peter and started wiping her little brother's forehead. One would think that wiping his forehead wouldn't seem so bad; it was. Blood and dirt attached to the cloth like a magnet, turning it from a nice white to an ugly brown. The thoughts of how they got there made Susan flinch, but she kept to her ministrations.

A few last wrappings were made to her brother's stomach until he was ready to be turned over. Peter picked up the neck and put his arm lightly around his brother's stomach so as not to injure him further. The younger boy gave out a small whimper, but other than that, he made no sound. Susan brushed a hand through his hair to soothe him.

Once Edmund was comfortably on his stomach, the group went about carefully taking off the rest of his shirt, or what was left of it. They were able to get it off after a minute or so and Susan had to stifle a gasp at what she saw.

All along his back were long, thick, deep gashes. They ran from the bottom of his neck to the bottom of his back and they looked as if they had been burned into the skin. From the moment she saw them, Susan knew they were whip marks. But what puzzled her was that the worst ones were not from a leather whip. It frightened her to think of what might have been used.

Susan stood frozen in her spot. How could they let this happen? How could they let their brother hurt so much? While it was true that he had not exactly been the nicest kid in the world, he was still her little brother and she loved him all the same.

Getting over the initial shock, Susan shakily took a clean, moist rag from her astounded older brother. She could see it in his eyes that he was feeling as much, if not more, pain for Edmund as she was. His eyes held the same scared glimmer they had when Edmund fell off the London Bridge six years ago. She remembered that they had been visiting their aunt when he fell off. The only reason he lived was because a fishing boat had been passing by and pulled him out of the water. It had been one of the scariest days of her life.

A half-strangled cry forced her back to her brother. Looking down at Edmund, Susan saw that one of the marks had opened up and blood was oozing out of it. Quickly taking the rag, she pressed on the wound in an attempt to stop the blood. She felt a hand on her own and looked up to see that Lucy had put her own trembling hands on hers to add more pressure.

Susan gave a weak smile to her little sister and then went back to staring at her brother. When at last the bleeding stopped, Susan felt as if she could cry. It was horrible to see her brother in such a state. Right now, Susan felt as if she would rather be on the battlefields of Germany or France instead of seeing Edmund in so much pain.

"Susan, could you lift up his arms?" Susan nodded her head and reached out to move Edmund's arms.

Peter took the bandages and began wrapping them around Edmund's back. Susan saw the bandages turn a dark brown until they became so thick that the blood wouldn't show.

Edmund was rolled slowly onto his back and a long, silk blanket was wrapped around him. The three healers left the tent and the children were alone once more.

That was about an hour ago, and nobody had said a word since then; all drowning in their own thoughts. The only sound in the tent was Edmund's staggering breaths and occasional cough. Every few minutes Peter would run a hand through his brother's hair and check his bandages, concern evident on his face. Susan and Lucy would watch him, feeling powerless to do anything for Edmund. Not being able to stand it any longer, the two girls left, leaving Peter alone.

The girls exited the tent with heavy hearts. Seeing so many people die during the air-raids had been one thing, but to see their own brother dying slowly bit-by-bit was just too much to bear. They could not believe that this had happened and, yet, they knew it to be true.

For a while, both princesses walked in a daze around camp, both trapped in their own thoughts. Only when Lucy spoke was that daze broken.

"He said he loved me." She whispered. Susan looked at her in confusion, wondering what she meant.

"What?"

"He said he loved me." Lucy repeated, as the tears welled up in her eyes.

"Who?" Now Susan was really confused.

"Edmund. Right before he was taken he grabbed me by the arms and said that no matter what he said or did that he would always love me." The tears were threatening to spill.

Susan's eyes were wide with shock; she had never known this. She couldn't even begin to fathom what her sister was feeling. To have your own brother tell you that right before he is carted away to a place where death is your only escape was horrible to hear. Yet still, Susan, being the motherly person that she was, wrapped an arm around her little sister as the tears fell. They reached the lake where they had been attacked the day before and sat down; Susan pulling Lucy onto her lap.

Through her tears, Lucy managed to speak, "It's all my fault Susan! It's all my fault!"

"No, Lucy, it is not your fault." The older girl replied quietly, while tightening her hold on her sister.

"Yes it is, Susan! If I hadn't tripped than Edmund would be alright! He wouldn't be lying on a cot, dying from who knows what!" Lucy pulled her arms up to her chest as more tears fell.

"Lucy if you hadn't tripped than you would be the one in that cot." The thought of this made Susan cringe, but she didn't show it to Lucy.

"But if I hadn't tripped than Edmund wouldn't have to suffer more than he already does!"

"What do you mean?"

"You know Edmund suffers the most in our family. Bad things always happen to him, like when he went off to boarding school, the bullies always picked on him. Is he ever going to escape?" Her eyes looked at her big sister imploringly.

Susan sighed, "Yes Lucy, he will, and we're going to help him."

"How?"

"I don't know, but we'll find a way." Susan smiled slightly, but Lucy couldn't manage to make one. The younger girl snuggled into her sister's embrace and promptly cried herself to sleep.


Now, as the girls were having their own time together, Peter sat by his brother's side just watching him. It tormented Peter that he had allowed this to happen. Although it wasn't on purpose, the guilt wouldn't rid itself from him. Peter traced his finger along the outline of his brother's face, stopping at the part where his cheek had been taken off. The older boy shuddered.

"Oh Edmund, what happened to you?" He whispered. The only reply was a slight cough and a movement of the hand. "No one should have to go through this, especially you. You're too young, Ed, and I'm sorry for everything." This time he was awarded with a groan from Edmund.

Peter smoothed down his brother's unruly hair and gently clasped his hand. It was silent for another few moments, until a sort of rustling from the tent entrance was heard. Peter didn't even turn his head as chestnut horse entered the tent. The horse sat down and turned his head to Peter.

Do not worry, Your Majesty. Have faith that your brother will pull through." Peter's eyes opened in shock at the Talking Horse, but it soon faded with a downcast look.

"I had faith that the war would never reach England, but it did. I had faith that my father would not be drafted, but he was. I had faith that I wouldn't be sent away, but I was. How can I have faith now?" The Horse didn't answer right away, but then he looked up, confidence shining in his eyes.

"Never give up on faith, Sire. You need it and your brother needs it. He needs your faith to keep him alive. He lives for you and your sisters, no one else." The Horse got up and walked towards the exit. He halted for a second and turned around. "Orieus wants you on the training field in an hour." And with that he left, leaving the two brothers alone once more.

Peter turned his head away the tent flaps and back to his brother's face. It scared him to think that just a few hours ago Edmund had been at the mercy of the Witch. He probably would have been dead by now. Seeing how he had been injured so much in just a short amount of time made Peter cringe.

Hearing a moan, the older boy grabbed a cool, wet rag and gently started dabbing his brother's face. Edmund whimpered a bit at first, but he soon calmed down and succumbed to his brother's gentle touch. A few lone tears streaked down his face, but Peter wiped them away with his thumb.

"I'm so sorry I let this happen, Ed. I'm such a horrible big brother. If only I had paid more attention to you and protected you like I should have, than maybe you'd be alright. How can you ever forgive me?" Peter bowed his head, shame engulfing him.

"Pe'er?" A soft, almost non-existent, voice said. Peter's head lifted up and he looked at Edmund in shock. His brother was awake!

"Edmund, shhh, save your strength." Edmund turned his hear and weakly glared at his brother.

"Shut…'p…Pe'er. Y'u'r…no'…h'rr'ble. …my…fa'lt…no'…y'urs." He managed to cough out. He was so weak that his speech was almost not understandable, but Peter knew what he was trying to say.

"Edmund, I…" He trailed off, not knowing what to say.

"…I'll… b'…a'ri'ht. Don'…w'rry. Tell…L'cy an' Su'an …it…was'…th'r fa'lt…ei'h'r." Edmund stopped talking as unconsciousness set in. Peter, still numb with shock, could only rub his thumb against his brother's broken hand.

"I can't help but worry, Ed. You're my little brother and I don't know what I'd do without you." Peter rested his hand on Edmund's former cheek, which was covered in bandages. "What can I do Eddy? I don't have enough faith." And, for the first time in years, Peter cried.


Orieus watched as his future High King swung his sword with great determination. He and the Unicorn Alverez got along wonderfully and were soon working in a compatible partnership. It was clear to the Centaur that Peter would work harder than he ever had in order to protect his sisters and avenge his brother. The love that he had for his siblings was probably greater than the Witch's magic, and maybe, just maybe, that was what would bring her down.

"General Orieus?" The Centaur was jolted out of his thoughts by the sound of Peter's voice.

"Yes, Sire?"

"Would it be alright if I went for a ride to the archery area?" Peter was looking a bit uncomfortable, but Orieus gave him a small smile and a nod of the head.

"Of course, My Lord." Peter softly grinned and soon he and Alverez were riding along the grasses towards Susan and Lucy. Orieus looked after his prince and had to smile at how such a small being could bring so much hope and not even know it. But he would in time, with help.

As Orieus watched after Peter, Peter watched as the landscape changed and blended with each other. He wondered if this is what his dad saw as he drove across Europe in a military van just waiting for the next battle. He supposed it might be similar, but there was something different. Maybe it was the transportation, horse and van, or something else. Whatever it was, Peter didn't care. Right now, England or any country in Europe seemed so far away that they didn't even matter anymore. At least, not as much as before.

Peter reached the archery area just in time to see Lucy hit the bull's eyes. He smiled at her and moved his new friend over to them.

"Hey Su, Lu. How are you?" The two girls gave him small smiles.

"Alright. How were your lessons with Orieus?" Susan asked.

"Fine." Alverez snorted and Peter gave him a teasingly, dirty look.

"Oh, they fine alright. Right after you fell off my back and lodged your sword into the boulder right off to your left." Susan and Lucy giggled behind their hands at the thought.

"You know, they didn't need toknow that."

"I know." Peter frowned, but there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes that hadn't been there in a while. The girls started laughing out loud.

"Sorry Peter, but you look so funny!" Lucy couldn't contain her laughter as she spoke. Her older brother frowned at now, but then gave her a wry smile.

"Thanks Lu, it's nice to know you care." He said it sarcastically.

"You're welcome." She gave a big smile and her eyes danced. Peter rolled his eyes, but smiled back.

"Want to for a walk?" He got off the Unicorn and sent back towards the inner camp. Susan shook her head, but Lucy walked over to her older brother a grasped his hand.

"I'll come." Susan waved them off and the two siblings walked away. The walked along the hills and around the camp until they came to the cliff that overlooked the sea.

"It's beautiful up here, isn't it?" Peter nodded and looked out towards Cair Paravel. "It's amazing how something so wonderful could be ruled by something so horrible." She continued. Peter looked up at her in wonder, amazed at how old his sister sounded.

"It is amazing, isn't it?" The question was rhetorical, but Lucy felt the need to answer it.

"Yes." A moment of silence overtook them until she spoke again. "Peter, did I cause what happened to Edmund? Susan told me I didn't, but I'm not sure whether to believe her or not. I trust her, but I can't help but think that it's all my fault." Peter was shocked at what he heard.

"Oh Lucy, it wasn't your fault. You didn't cause anything." He took her face in his hands and looked at her straight in the eyes. "Edmund woke up today for a few minutes and do you know what he said?" She shook her head. "He said that it wasn't your fault. Edmund doesn't blame you for anything, Lu. If anything, he's proud of you. Somehow, I think Ed knows how brave you've become."

"Really?" She looked so lost that Peter was close to tears having to see his sister hurt this much.

"Really. Ed knows you love him, and I know he loves you too."

"He told me that. Right before he made me run. He told me that he would always love me." A few, small tears leaked from her eyes. Peter brushed his thumb over them and wiped them away.

"Don't cry Lu, be strong." Lucy nodded and determination flared up in her eyes.

"I will. I will be strong for Edmund. He helped me, maybe I can help him." Peter smiled at her.

"Good. With your help, I know Ed will be just fine." Lucy sighed and after a moment, turned around and caught her brother in a fierce hug.

"Thanks Peter, for giving me faith to be strong." Peter was startled and awkwardly hugged her back. After a moment, they pulled away only to find Mr. Beaver hurrying towards them.

"Peter! Lucy!" He stopped right in front of them. "The Witch has demanded a meeting with Aslan." He paused to catch his breath. "She's on her way here." The two children looked at each other. This could not be good.


Well, what do you think? Plz review, but NO FLAMING! Another poll (Sry I have a lot of questions.)

When I finish this story, would you like me to go back and do the rest of the beginning, before they meet the Beavers or just leave it as it is?

Also, I'm going to be doing a sequel to this, which will combine my two stories of That Little Detail and Impossible. And just to let you know, there will be romance with some OC characters much later on in the story, but there will be NO MARY SUES OR MARTY STUS!

I'm afraid I won't be able to update for a while because I have a school trip for three days to Washington D.C. (a long trip. groan) Then I have finals and graduation and then I have to get braces triple groan. But I promise to have at LEAST chapter eleven up by the end of June. Sorry.

Plz review, BYE!