Edmund: Why? Why do you torture me so?

Me: (defensive) Hey, it's all a part of the story! And anyway, I really wanted to try out a fighting scene! I've only written one in all my 4 months of writing! ONE!

Edmund: (mumbles) I'm just a plaything to her, that's what I am…

Me: (ignoring Edmund) Anyway, this chapter is Cassey's point of view. I couldn't do Edmund's twice in a row, now could I? OK, so I could, but I didn't feel like it. And I wanted to see Cassey's view of what happens in this chapter. Maybe it'll surprise some of you, we'll see…

Er… review?

Cassey's POV:

Edmund refused to tell me everything about his plan, only some bits and pieces that mattered to me directly. The rest, well, I could only guess what he was thinking, and something told me no matter how much poking and prodding I did I wouldn't get any more answers from him.

So I didn't even try.

We sat in a comfortable silence, only broken by the sounds of our breathing. I noticed Edmund's had been coming a bit quicker than they probably should, only a testament of the pain he was feeling. And then it just… slowed.

"Edmund?"

"Yes?" Edmund asked, sounding slightly confused.

"Are you alright?"

Several seconds passed before he answered me. "I- I think so. Suddenly, my leg doesn't hurt anymore. I don't know why."

Weird. I thought to myself before passing it through my brain without a second look. "Maybe whatever they did to you is wearing off now," I suggested.

Edmund didn't sound so sure. "Maybe…"

Right after that word had left his lips, the door opened with a loud bang! Edmund and I both straightened up, ready to fight. A guard barged in and removed our shackles, dragging us behind him by our arms. "Where are you taking us?" I demanded.

"Be quiet," the giant growled, walking faster. Edmund and I struggled to keep up with him, practically running the entire way. Finally, the giant stopped and pulled us through a tall pair of double doors.

"What are you doing with us?" Edmund asked furiously as a large minotaur took him from the giant and I.

The minotaur gave him a fierce slap and told Edmund to shut up. Then he lead Edmund down a flight of steps into the middle of what appeared to be…

An arena?

I was forced to sit in the front row of the audience, the rest of the seats filled with fell creatures. Across the arena I saw Alevler standing in front of a coal black throne. "My friends," he began, voice mocking. "I would like to introduce to you all the legendary King Edmund the Just!"

The creatures began to sneer and laugh at Edmund, who was being held in the middle of the arena. His face was slightly pale but he gritted his teeth, preparing himself for whatever was about to happen next.

"Many, if not all of you, have heard the stories of what Edmund did when the stories begin, and how he joined Queen Jadis only to become a traitor later on and join the Great Lion's side. He was nearly killed, but was saved by an evil magic moments before death. His swordsmanship is the talk of thousands around, and now," Alevler grinned down at Edmund. "We shall see if the Son of Adam is as good as the stories go."

Edmund scowled, face pale, as the minotaur released him, cut through the shackles on his wrists and feet with his axe so that he could move more freely, and passed the boy a sword. Edmund gazed, confounded, at the blade he now held in his hands as the minotaur quickly left the arena floor.

A door on the other side of the room opened, and a young jinni walked out, instantly gaining cheers from everyone in the crowd. He was holding his own rod in his hands, absentmindedly spinning it through his fingers as he summed up Edmund. Then he turned to Alevler.

"This is the best you've got for me? I could beat him with my eyes closed!"

I watched as Edmund's eyes narrowed, looking at the jinni in front of him.

"Edmund!" Alevler's voice bellowed from his throne. "This is your chance to show everyone just how good you are at what you do best."

"And what if I don't fight?" Edmund glared up at Alevler.

"I could tell you what will happen, but I'd rather tell you what will happen if you fight- and win."

Edmund's curiosity shown in his eyes but he tried to hide it. "And what would that be?"

Alevler continued to grin down at the two in the arena. "If you fight, and win, I will release the other Son of Adam."

I turned from Edmund to gape at Alevler in shock. He would let me go? Why? What was he planning?

"Why should I trust you?" Edmund asked, just as surprised as I was. "Why would you just let him go?"

I turned to Alevler. "I would have thought you would just be happy with his release, but if you insist," he shrugged. "I'll kill him if you don't fight. Would you rather that?"

Edmund visibly gulped. When I saw him looking in my direction, I gave him a hard glare. If he thought he was going to try to save me now…

"You'll let him go?" Edmund asked once more. When Alevler nodded his consent, Edmund tightened his grip on the sword. I watched in horror as he lifted it up, ready to fight.

"Don't! Don't fight, Edmund!"

Edmund didn't respond, but I didn't exactly expect him to. He had just ducked a slash to his head and swung his own sword at the jinni's feet. The jinni jumped, spinning midair and bringing his rod at Edmund side, hoping to knock him down. Edmund quickly lunged back, blocking the rod with his sword and breaking off the top inch of the rod.

Eyes narrowing, the jinni lowered his rod and raised a hand into a fist. I blinked in surprise, wondering what he was trying to do, when suddenly a blinding flash of light filled the arena. Creatures cried out in confusion and shock, and I heard Edmund yell down below. Several clangs later, when I could see again, Edmund was backed up against a wall with the jinni grinning at him. Their rod and sword were crossed and Edmund was gritting his teeth. With a shout, Edmund pushed with his entire body and the jinni went flying a couple yards away.

Before he had landed, the jinni turned into a misty fog, swirling around Edmund until I could no longer see him. "Edmund?" I called down.

"Cassey!" I managed to hear through the dense fog. "When you get out of here, go find your family. They'll know what to do!"

My family? I wondered. What did my family have to do with anything?

As if he could read my thoughts, Edmund continued, "Just trust me on this one!"

The jinni turned back into a human. After exchanging several blocks and parries, Edmund managed to hit the jinni on the back of his head, knocking him out. The jinni fell to the ground with a quiet thump, and the entire arena grew quiet.

Sweet Aslan! Edmund was terrific with a blade. I sure didn't want to cross swords with him.

Edmund turned back to Alevler. "Release Cassiel!"

I glanced at the throne Alevler had been sitting in. I didn't think he would keep his promise to Edmund, but he just nodded. Turning to the giant, Alevler told him to bring me forward. I gave Edmund a worried look before I allowed the giant to lead me to Alevler. Alevler gave me a sharp glare before calling down to his minotaur, "Take the Son of Adam back to his cell!"

Edmund struggled in vain against the minotaur as the sword was taken from him. He continued to fight, using his bare hands, until the minotaur simply growled and knocked Edmund out with the hilt of his axe. Edmund seemed to fall to the ground in slow motion, completely limp. The minotaur picked him up and continued on his way back to the dungeon.

I turned back to Alevler. Surely he wouldn't actually let me go. He had heard Edmund, knew what I would be doing. He would guess that I would go find High King Peter and tell them where Edmund was being kept.

Alevler simply smiled down at me. "When you find the High King, tell him his time is running out."

And with the snap of his fingers, I knew no more.

OK, that was my first posted fight scene! Unless the one in the second chapter (or maybe 3rd) counts. What did you all think? Was it any good? At the very least, I enjoyed writing this! Review and let me know what you think!

I'll admit, as much as I loved your reviews on that last chapter, I was hoping for more than just one person to ask me something like, 'WTH! Martyr? What is Edmund thinking? Why is this chapter titled Martyr!' Since I didn't get reviews like that sort, I'll smile evily here. }:-) For any of you who didn't notice the title, as a slight hint, my chapter titles are just as important to the story as the actual story, just like the names of OC's are important. Besides, it's not like they take a ton of effort to read! Only one word! ;)

By the way, Finding: Answers has been posted for any and all who would like to read. It's rated K+, and I've already finished writing it, so I'll be posting the whole thing. In fact, I'll be posting chapter 3 in just a second…

Quick thank-you to all who have A) read my stories B) reviewed my stories C) favorited or put my stories on alert and D) favorited or put me on alert! I couldn't do this stuff without your support and advice!