They had made camp a few miles from the White Witch's castle. The trek was slow, but not harsh.

Peter was quiet. Almost mute. The only times he made any sound was when a sniffle or a noise of discomfort left him when he moved the wrong way. Other than that, silence. Absolute silence. It was haunting. Peter, who always seemed to have the energy of his people and the heart of a lion, was stilled to his very core.

He clung onto Edmund as if he was afraid he would disappear. After a moment's thought, Edmund supposed that was not the wildest fear for Peter to have, especially after being manipulated for days with false visions.

Peter's head rested on the back of Edmund's shoulder. He was still shaking when they reached their camp. Edmund felt the vibrations from Peter's arms wrapped around him.

As soon as they entered the camp, Phillip took them straight to Lady Wan. They stopped at the foot of her tent. Several of their soldiers rushed over. They went to help Peter off Phillip; Peter tightened his hold on Edmund.

"Wait," Edmund halted his soldiers' motions with one word. Peter relaxed for just a moment. Edmund dismounted from Phillip before he turned back and faced Peter. Holding out both of his arms and Phillip lowering himself just a bit, Peter dismounted into Edmund's hold. "Thank you, my good sirs. I have it from here."

Peter and Edmund shuffled inside the healer's tent.

"Lady Wan," Edmund greeted. Lady Wan was typically unfazed by the horrors of war. She had seen the worst. Seeing Peter, however, caused her smile to fade and settle into a deep frown.

"Sit here, and let me have a look at you," Lady Wan instructed. Edmund and Peter waddled over to the makeshift bed. Peter sat down on its edge as Edmund stood next to him. Lady Wan came over to Peter. Neither Lady Wan nor Edmund missed the way Peter flinched and grabbed a hold of Edmund's arm as she came close.

Lady Wan halted her movement. Instead, from afar, she requested, "My King, I am going to check your injuries. I just need you to remove your shirt, and I'll look from here—"

"No," Peter quietly shrieked out, feverishly shaking his head.

"She is not going to hurt you," Edmund reassured softly. "She just wants to make sure you are not any worse."

"No, I am fine," Peter protested. "Please, I am, I swear it." There was a sudden urgency in his plea.

"My King, if I do not check the injuries, they could heal improperly or fester," Lady Wan reasoned.

"They are healed—" Peter's voice caught in his throat. When he regained his fractured composure, he quietly explained, "She healed me every time."

This nearly explained it all. He would have no wounds to check if the Witch did, in fact, heal his wounds every time. Probably just scars. But something felt very wrong, Edmund just could not pinpoint exactly what it was. Yet.

"I promise, you do not need to check," Peter insisted.

This time, there was a conviction in his voice that even Edmund did not want to argue with, despite his suspicions. Lady Wan seemed to contemplate this for a moment. She was after all the Cair's top healer, and Edmund knew the hysteria that would be caused if their people found out that Peter was still hurt after being discharged from her care.

Still, her old eyes set on Peter as she studied him. She did not press him further, did not even ask him for more reasoning.

All she said was, "Your Majesty, you must come to me immediately if anything worsens, understood?" Her voice stern and unwavering. The relief on Peter's face was unnerving, but Edmund did not comment on it. Peter nodded with a small assurance coming from his lips. The rest of Lady Wan's check went from afar. She concluded, "You need to eat and rest a whole lot. Then, once you have done that, you have to eat and rest some more."

"Thank you, Lady Wan," Edmund said.

"Come to me at your slightest inconvenience, my King," she told Peter. Peter just nodded.

As Peter got up, shaking a bit, he was able to stand while using something to keep himself upright. He ventured towards the exit of the tent, and he quite obviously waited for Edmund before leaving though.

Before Edmund went to Peter's side, Lady Wan said quietly, "King Edmund, come back and let me stitch your arm once he is settled." Edmund nodded before reaching Peter's side.

The two of them went back into the sunlight.

"We should get you something to eat," Edmund suggested. All Peter did was shake his head. "Come on, Pete, I know you are hungry," Edmund nudged.

Shaking his head again, he said softly, "I need to bathe."

There was not much conviction in his voice, but something about the way Peter looked, Edmund did not think it was something he could argue.

"Do you want help? I could get—"

Peter just shook his head. "I just need a few minutes."

Again, the suspicion lingered in Edmund more. Edmund did not press him.

"I'll get you some clothes to change into," Edmund offered. "Just give me a moment." Edmund ran over to his tent, rifling through some of the clothes Sir Darren had packed him. He found one of Peter's tunics and plain pants. He also grabbed a pair of Peter's boots and some soap for Peter.

"Jatix, Ash!" Edmund called. His two wolves immediately raced to his side. He rushed back over to Peter.

When Edmund came back, Peter was leaning against one of the barrels of supplies. Eyes averted from everyone. He hardly noticed Edmund's return.

"I brought you some clothes," Edmund showed them off. "And there is a stream nearby that you could use if that is alright—"

Peter nodded. Edmund did not expect any further explanation and did not receive one. The two of them walked to the stream. It was secluded enough to offer Peter the privacy he desired but not too far away that no one could help him if he needed it.

"Could I do this alone?" Peter softly asked.

"Oh, right," Edmund's unsettledness returned. But again, he ignored it. "Jatix and Ash will be nearby to protect you," Edmund reassured. "You will be safe here." Edmund left him be, seeing to sending Susan, Lucy, and Oreius an update on their rescue. With one last look in Peter's direction, Edmund let him have some time to himself.


It was not that Peter wanted to be away from Edmund. As soon as Edmund left him, Peter regretted sending him away. But as he eyed the two wolves left to protect him, he noticed that they were not looking at him, just listening in case he needed anything

He let out a breath of relief. He needed to get clean, and the longer he stayed in these clothes, the more certain he became about it. With a good amount of hisses and discomfort, he managed to get undressed and into the water.

At first, he was apprehensive. Cleaning meant that he was free and alive. Cleaning meant it was over, and well, this still felt more like a dream to him than any reality of late.

He scrubbed terribly and certainly harsh until his skin was left red and raw. His wrists hollowed and bruised around where he was shackled. As he stared at the rawness of his skin, specks of water glistened down on his arm, making him shiver.

He grazed his arms, feeling the scars that still lingered well after he was healed. Until he reached his collarbone, he was well contained. He had barely felt the tip of the letters when his emotions took a hold on him.

He traced the scar with his index finger. He had only gotten to the letter, "A" before he curled into his legs, and a quiet sob left him. His hand covered his mouth to keep his crying from alerting his protectors or his other soldiers. He did not know if he succeeded, but he attempted all the same.

Because this was real. This scar was real, and she had branded him for all his days to come. Even though he was with Edmund now, Jadis still clung to him. Her name was on him. He would never be the same again.

The relief he had felt when he left the castle now felt hollow to him. Because he knew, he was never going to escape her.


When Edmund returned after some time, Peter had already dressed and was sitting on the grass, trying to keep himself from falling apart. Edmund had his arm bandaged when he returned, but Peter's head hurt too much for him to try to remember if Edmund had been injured when he last saw him.

Edmund had brought some food and drink for Peter, and honestly, all Peter wanted to do was be sick. The mere thought of eating was vile to him. Drink was not appetizing either. He had not eaten for days, and drinking had been something he was forced to do.

Therefore, when Edmund offered him both, Peter refused. Edmund looked deeply concerned, but Peter could not help it.

"Pete, you are starving," Edmund noticed. "Just eat a little."

Peter found himself unable to speak further. He felt almost paralyzed in not knowing how to get out of this. He could not explain this to him. Not right now. He was far too tired. Far too drained.

"Can I just sleep?" Peter anxiously asked. He averted his eyes, uncertain how Edmund would take it. Would Edmund be angry with him? Would he be forced to drink here too? It would only further prove to Peter that this was not real.

Unlike the cruelty that Peter had felt for the last few days, Edmund spoke with a gentleness that Peter had terribly missed when he said, "Whatever will make you feel better, Pete."

Peter's breathing stopped as he forced himself to look at Edmund. He only saw unyielding love come from him. It was overwhelming. Peter's face scrunched, his emotions wanting to come out once more.

"Pete?" Edmund spoke in concern. Honestly, it only made Peter's emotions worse. For the concern was genuine, not the faked amount that Jadis had been telling him.

A few tears spilled down Peter's cheeks. Peter could not find the words; he just looked at Edmund. Somehow, Edmund seemed to understand not to press.

Instead, he offered, "Let's get some sleep."

Edmund held out his hand, which Peter took, and helped Peter to his feet. The two of them silently ventured over to a slightly large tent. Jatix and Ash trailed behind them. The more they walked, the more tired Peter became. The strain of trying to keep himself together was far more draining than he had realized.

Every action seemed to take so much more effort than he had. It was all catching up to him, and by the time they entered the tent, Peter was about to fall asleep.

At first, Peter felt almost suffocated in the tent, causing him to ask, "Could you leave the tent flaps open?"

Edmund did not even question him and did so. With the breeze blowing into the tent and the sunlight peering in, Peter felt himself ease once more. Peter gently got on the cot, lying down. It felt odd after all this time to be lying in a makeshift bed. He had been chained to a chair for days. He did not get to lie to sleep at all.

"Just take it slow," Edmund encouraged softly. Peter adjusted himself until he was a bit more comfortable. It still felt strange to him.

"You will be here when I wake up, right?" Peter asked nervously. Peter side-eyed him from where he laid. Edmund gingerly laid down in the cot only a foot or so away.

"I'll stay the whole time," Edmund promised. And to that, he did. Peter breathed easier at this. "I love you, Peter," Edmund said kindly. Peter could not explain how much he needed to hear him say that.

"I love you, Ed," Peter replied quietly. Peter adjusted his position, lying on his side, facing Edmund.

Hearing Edmund's even breathing, Peter passed out before any nightmares could take hold of him.


Author's Note: Thank you for taking the time to read this! This update is shorter than the other ones, but I will hopefully be posting more Sunday or Monday. Thank you!