¨When you go through something terrifying alongside someone, you can only grow closer from it¨- Alaska

Edmund sat in the cave, the small fire had already begun to die out. He tried putting on one of the wet logs but it didn't catch. He couldn't help stare at her. Even with her skin tinted white and purple, he thought she was beautiful, but he was worried she was dying. He held his fingers to her neck, her pulse was weak but there. He shook her gently, but she didn't respond. As the fire turned to just embers, he scooped her onto his lap, hoping his body heat could warm her up. His horse, Philip, sat down around him, as to help warm her up. The rain was still pouring and had worsened since he got in the cave.

It took a long time for the log to start on fire, and by that time the second one could go on. Fleurine was still wet, and cold, but she was breathing.

¨Wake up¨ he said ¨Please wake up¨

Even Philip tried nudging her with his head.

¨I don't think she will wake for a while Ed¨ Philip said.

¨I know¨

¨You should eat something, keep up your strength¨

¨That's ok Philip, I'll save it for her¨

Edmund leaned on Philip, and tried to sleep, holding Fleurine tightly. He wasn't able to sleep, he just kept watching the shallow rise and fall of her chest and the bandage on her head. It came to a point where the bandage was quite bloody, and he had to re-bandage it. The gash was deep, Edmund concluded she had to have fallen on a rock.

¨The poor thing¨ he said as he wrapped her head.

He kept talking to her as if she were awake

¨You shouldn't have ran away, especially in a storm. Your sister is worried sick, and so am I¨

No answer. He sighed, and shook her again. Nothing. This went on for hours, him occasionally shaking her, and saying her name. Philip had fallen asleep, and hoped Edmund would too. He just held her on his lap, with her head resting on his arm. His limbs went numb after a while but he didn't care much. It was nightfall when the storm had finally passed, and she opened her eyes slightly.

¨You´re up¨ he said smiling

She didn't say anything just smiled slightly. She brought her hand to the back of her head.

¨What... happened?¨ she asked.

¨You hit your head, I think on a rock, but... I´m not sure¨ he replied, his eyes were watering a little.

¨You found me?¨

¨Yeah, you were in the river, why did you wander so far away?¨

¨I... I don´t know, I´m sorry¨ she said, she hugged him tightly, she was afraid.

He held her tightly, she longed for support, and he was surprised she would go to him for it. She began to weep, and buried her head in his chest.

¨What´s wrong?¨ he asked.

¨I... I remember what happened.¨

¨Will you tell me?¨

¨I can´t... he won't let me¨

He? What happened, who was he? And what did he do to her? His mind thought the worst things, maybe he pushed her, or he touched her. He didn't want to think about that, but he did anyway, and the King knew justice must be served.

¨Who is he? Please tell me what he did¨

¨I ...can't...please¨ she said this through tears, she wanted to tell him, but she knew he would try to kill Edmund.

¨Please, let me help you. Let me take care of him. He wouldn´t be so stupid as to try and kill me.¨

She lifted her head and looked at him for the first time, her face red and tears streaming.

¨Promise me... not to go after him alone...¨

He looked into her eyes, ¨I promise¨ this was serious, he had to do as she wished.

¨His name is Ceslitt. He and I went out for a year...I loved him dearly. But he didn't feel the same... I should've known too.. he always belittled me...¨ she got to a point where it was hard to talk, Edmund dried her face off, letting her know she was safe now.

¨He tried to use me... just so he could have fun... he... I thought he moved to Calormen... but he was here. He saw him at the river... he tried... but I wouldn´t¨

Edmund was enraged, but he stifled it the best he could. It was no use however, he was crying with her. He felt her pain, the year of mental and emotional abuse culminating into an action of hate and revenge.

She continued ¨He pushed me to the ground. I- kept moving back... then I fell in the river.¨ By now she had buried herself into Edmund again. She was shaking, as well she should be, she was the victim of one of the most horrible crimes known to man. To Edmund, Ceslitt was punishable by death.

¨Do you want to go home? Your sister-¨

¨No¨

¨Ok, we´ll stay here.¨

She eventually fell asleep, and so did Edmund, holding onto one another as if the world was ending. But to both it almost had. When the morning finally came Edmund woke up early, and he woke up Fleurine.

¨Come on, we need to get you back.¨

¨Alright¨

He stood and reached out his hand, she grabbed it and pulled herself up.

¨OW¨ she yelled, and fell forwards, grabbing her leg.

Edmund realized she must´ve hurt it in the river, but he didn't see because of her dress. He set her back down, and went to lift her dress but stopped.

¨May I?¨ he asked

She nodded her head, he lifted her dress up and saw her leg was broken. He thought about all the ways he could kill Ceslitt, and even about torturing him. But shoved it down and focused on the matter at hand. He picked up Fleurine, and set her on Philip who was waiting to go.

He grabbed bread from his bag and handed it to her.

¨You need to eat¨

She nodded her head and did so. He mounted the horse, and she wrapped her arms around his waist after she ate and they left. They made it back to her house by midday. Her sister and Lucy were already waiting and ran up to them as they arrived.

¨Lucy, the cordial.¨

She ran inside and grabbed it, Edmund dismounted and carried Fleurine inside, and set her down on the couch. Lucy opened the cordial and brought it to her mouth, pouring one drop in. Her head and leg healed, but she was still sore, and bruised. Edmund removed the bandage from her head, and checked her leg.

¨You should rest¨Edmund said

He helped her up and she went to her room.

¨What happened to her?¨ Severine demanded

¨Do you know Ceslitt?¨ He said with fire in his eyes.

Severine started crying and fell to the floor, Lucy sat down and held her.

¨Please tell me he didn´t...¨

¨He tried... but, she fell into the river.¨

Severine nodded her head, while Lucy comforted her.

Edmund walked to the other side of the room, and looked out the window. Thinking about how he would find Ceslitt.