Chapter 9 - Home Again
"Edmund!" Lucy screamed.
Peter threw himself forward, yanking off his gloves and pressing his fingers to his brother's bleeding throat. He looked up and found the girls at his sides. He had told them to stay back, but right now, he had never been so grateful they had disobeyed him. Susan ripped a chunk of cloth off of her skirt and quickly pressed it to the cut on Edmund's throat to try to slow the bleeding while, Lucy pulled her bottle of cordial out and quickly unscrewed the cap. Peter lifted Edmund's head up on his lap. Heat radiated off of Edmund at an alarming rate. Lucy held the bottle over Edmund's mouth and Peter helped her hold their brother's mouth open while she poured a couple drops of the precious fire flower juice onto his lips. A drop of the juice slipped down his cheek, mingling with the blood caking his face, but the rest landed in his mouth. With a convulsive effort, Edmund swallowed. They all held their breath, hoping and praying that it worked its magic again as it has on the field of Baruna.
Susan sniffed and eased her pressure on the neck wound a moment. She let out a sigh. "He's stopped bleeding," she said softly, reaching to brush her fingers through Edmund's matted hair. "Oh, Peter, he's burning up."
Peter shifted so they could get a good look at what shape Edmund was in. Blood has soaked through his tunic, turning the green fabric a sickly brown. A ragged bite mark on his neck was starting to heal and close over as the cordial's magic worked to heal Edmund's body.
"Oh, Edmund," Lucy whispered in horror lifting Edmund's hand to show them a horribly infected bite wound on his right wrist.
Behind them they heard the clip-clop of hooves and then Orieus spoke, "Sire."
Peter looked up sharply at him. "What?"
"The area is secured," the General told him.
Peter blanched. He had totally forgotten about the others in his focus to rescue Edmund. "Thank you," he said gratefully.
Orieus frowned. looking at the bite wound heal sluggishly. The magic seemed to struggle to heal the wound.
"That is an old bite," the Centaur said and then his huffed a breath. "The Bat. That's what he was doing so close to the castle. Great Bats like that have a poison in their saliva that spreads to their victims. It allows them to weave an enchantment over them to draw them to a place where they can quietly feed on them."
"But why didn't we see it?" Lucy asked, stroking Edmund's forearm tenderly, as if coaxing the magic to work it's spell faster as it healed him.
"Enchantment," Orieus said sourly. "This place reeks of it. The Hag has been working long here and right under our noses." He looked sharply around. "As quickly as possible, we need to leave this place. I would not be surprised if there are more remnants of the Witch's Army in hiding here. The sooner we are away the safer we will be."
"But what about the poison?" Susan interrupted.
"It is not deadly on its own. It mearly weakening the victim so the Bat can weave its song and enchant them. Infusion of a white violet flower will cure it," Oreius told her.
Understanding flashed across Lucy's face. "The flowers Mrs. Cloverblossom gave me. The ones she made me promise to give Edmund. They were white violets, as was the tea she made me."
"We can get her to make us some when we get back," Peter said, shifting his legs under himself.
Susan helped him haul Edmund up as he stood. Edmund hadn't woken yet, but he wanted to get them all as away from here and safe as quickly as possible. Peter looked around quickly for Phillip. The Horse held his place at the bottom of the stair leading to the Stone Table, guarding them.
"Phillip, do you think you're up to carrying Edmund and Lucy?" he called down.
"I will carry King Edmund to the Great Emperor over the sea if need be," the Horse said firmly, looking Peter squarely in the eyes.
Peter scooped his younger brother up in his arms, worried and frightened at how pale and thin he looked right now. Edmund took more after their Mother which a slighter build and darker hair. He had always been small for his age, but he was too thin. Peter wondered just how long ago that Bat had bit him.
He carried Edmund down the stairs and waited for Lucy to mount Phillip. The Horse stood along the side of the steps to let the girl mount him. She settled herself back on the saddle and Orieus helped Peter lift Edmund up to her. Lucy settled back, wrapping her arms around him and letting Phillip to guide them. Peter unhooked the reins from the bridle so they didn't get tangled on any branches or under Phillip's feet.
Peter mounted Lucy's horse and felt a bit ridiculous on the poor little thing. He and Susan moved their horses to ride on either side of Phillip to help Lucy with Edmund if she needed them. Peter nodded to Phillip and they started out slowly back to the Castle, the Centaurs forming a defensive ring around them.
He was hot. So very hot. It was strange sensation after being cold so long. He rocked gently as if on the sea. Was he on a boat? His cheek rested against something soft and something held firmly, but gently around his shoulders. It felt familiar. Like a hug. His eyes struggled open, but he couldn't quite focus on anything. Someone was holding him. He knew he knew who it was, but couldn't quite put a name to the face.
She looked down at him and smiled. "Just rest, Edmund. We're almost home," she said softly, placing a kiss against his forehead. Her lips were cool against his hot skin. Cool, but not cold. Not Her.
He blinked slowly and stared, her name finally coming to him. "Lucy," he said, his voice sounding very weak and rough.
She smiled. "Just rest. Phillip says we'll be home shortly."
Phillip? He frowned. How did he know Phillip?
"Rest, my King." The Horse they were riding spoke. He could feel the voice rumbling up through his backbone. He knew he should find this very odd, but he didn't. It wasn't odd, it was... comforting.
He looked back over Lucy's shoulder and could see Peter and Susan on horses behind him. Peter's horse looked tiny under him and he frowned at that, but he stopped when he saw the worried expressions on his older brother and sister's faces. Large, half horse half man creatures...Centaurs, he thought. Orieus, his mind filled in when he saw the large black coated, bearded one close to Peter. The Centaurs all had the same concerned looks on their faces Lucy, Peter and Susan wore. What was wrong they looked so worried?
"Shh," Lucy soothed and he realized he must have been thinking out loud. She smiled at him. "They're worried about you. You're sick right now. You'll get better just as soon as we get home."
He nodded and closed his eyes. He felt so tired. His head fell forward to rest against her shoulder. How could they be worried about him after what he had done? He didn't deserve this. He deserved--
"Rest," Lucy interrupted his thoughts again. "We love you, Edmund. That's why. Just sleep. We'll be home soon."
Tears pricked his eyes and he whispered, "Thank you," as sleep took him again.
The ride back to the Castle was a much slower, more somber trip than the mad dash to the Stone Table. The swiftest of the Eagles was dispatched to the fly ahead of them and warn the Castle staff to have Edmund's room prepared and to fetch an apothecary to prepare the white violet tea. Lucy had suggested they have Mrs. Cloverblossom, the Rabbit, do it, but Peter was leery. It just seemed too convenient the Rabbit had showed up right as she had with the exactly the herb that was needed. How did she know that Edmund needed the protection of the flowers and the tea? It just didn't sit well with him. They had already had enough threats to their brother's life without inviting any others.
As they drew close to the Castle, Peter could see Tumnus and most of the staff waiting on the stairs that led to the front gate. It was a worried, but grateful crowd of Talking Animals, Fauns, Centaurs and Dwarves. Peter smiled to himself. They were here for Edmund. Part of him wished his brother would awake up and see how deeply he was cared about, but another part was glad he was sleeping. He had been through so much.
Peter watched his sister Lucy's back as she fussed over Edmund. She was growing. She was still a girl, but she was very much becoming the Queen she was meant to be.
Peter shifted his weight and the small horse under him groaned in complaint. He muttered an apology to the creature. It wasn't one of the Talking Horses, as Phillip was, but still. He was a great big oaf for the little thing.
They slowed as they reached the courtyard and for a moment, Peter wondered if Phillip was going to walk straight in with Edmund on his back. It wouldn't surprise him if the Horse did just that. It was amazing the bond that had formed between the Horse and his brother.
Before the Horse could attempt to scale the stairs, Orieus stepped up to relieve he and Lucy of their precious burden. Peter watched as Lucy reluctantly let the Centaur take Edmund.
"If you would allow me the honor," he heard Orieus say to her and Phillip as he craddled Edmund in his large arms. "I will keep him safe."
Tumnus was waiting just inside the gate to fuss over them as Orieus carried Edmund into the Castle. Peter slipped off the small horse he was riding and the creature let out a relieved nicker. Susan slid down from her mount and ran to help Lucy down from Phillip. Peter went to the Horse. "Thank you for everything, Phillip."
The Horse bowed his head. "As I said, before, sire. I would carry my King Edmund anywhere. Let me know how he fairs with the tea. I will see to the other horses and make sure they are cared for, sire."
Peter gave him a grateful nod and gathered the reins. "Thank you," he said again as Phillip took the reins in his mouth and lead the horses to the stable.
Peter turned and quickly followed the girls into the Castle.
