Disclaimer : I do not own Narnia in any shape or form, so don't sue, I'm saving up to buy the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe game.
Replies to Reviews :
Erin MB – Thanks and I hope this ones a tiny, little, bit happier for you. Can't wait for the next chapter of Black Fire so please hurry and I know what you mean school gets right in the way.
LadyLyriss – Thanks and I'm sure it was just a slip of the tongue on Edmund'spart, and he apologises and blames it all on Peter.
Red Ranger Chick – Thank you for the review and well done you guessed it right, hope you enjoy the next chapter!
Shannon – Thank you and I hope this was fast enough for you.
Author's Note
More Child Abuse so be warned!
Chapter Seven
Peter's void grey eyes just watched as Miraz tormented his brother, he just watched as his brother was flung on the floor and his shirt lifted to expose his back. Then he saw Miraz raise the willow branch and he saw it come down. He looked away and shut his eyes but he couldn't shut his ears; the cracks from the branch bore into him and then came the screams. Each crack and each scream tore down some of the defenses Peter hid behind. They slowly opened his eyes, which were no longer a dull and lifeless grey but flashed with a fierce silver glint. His head snapped up and he glared at Miraz, and forgetting everything else he lunged at the older King. He managed to land two hard punches, before being restrained by the guards, both hit his victim's jaw and made him back up away from the shaking form of Edmund on the ground. The guards gripped the High King's arms pinning them to his back, they stupidly left his legs free though and he kicked out at his captors hitting them sharply in the shins.
By now Miraz had recovered and was fuming, he backhanded Peter and grabbed his longish sandy brown hair; Peter stopped kicking.
"You miserable little brat!" Miraz roared, tipping Peter's head up so he could see the King's face. It was beetroot red and his jaw was going a nice shade of purple to match. Miraz was now ranting and was right up in Peter's face. After about a minute, though it seemed a lot longer to Peter whose head was starting to swim, Miraz just stopped mid sentence and the only warning the High King got was the evil glint in his captor's eyes before being thrown into the dungeon wall. The older King motioned to the guards and they picked up the teenage King.
Edmund tried to cry out, to stop them but his voice was hoarse from the screaming and he couldn't, Miraz swept out of the door the guards following dragging a bleeding Peter with them. He scrambled for the door only to have it shut in his face. Dejected he slowly rose to his feet and sorted out his shirt, grimacing as the fabric irritated the welts on his back and slumped onto the bench that Peter had previously occupied. Edmund didn't know whether to be worried sick at the moment or ready to strangle his brother for being so stupid. The worry won out for the time being and Edmund sat wringing his hands until he couldn't stand it any more and resumed the pacing he had stopped, what seemed lifetimes ago now. Hours must have passed, Edmund was sure of it, his legs had started to ache but still he kept pacing, he couldn't stop, or sit. He had probably walked miles, but he hadn't gotten himself anywhere, he hadn't achieved anything. Eventually Edmund's weariness and pain won out and Edmund collapsed on the bench, too tired to do anything but wait.
Susan, Lucy and Caspian were sat at a rough oak table as they waited for the scouts to return, hopefully with news of Peter and Edmund. All three rose when Reepicheep and Trumpkin entered the room, but sat again when they saw the expressions on the two creatures faces. Trumpkin broke the silence after a minute and proceeded to tell the royals what they had found.
"Your Highnesses, we searched the woods and found the two horses the Kings had rode out on," Trumpkin paused unsure how to go on. Reepicheep took over.
"We found also many hoof prints that could not have belonged to the two Kings. Though most importantly your Majesties we found these," Trumpkin motioned to someone outside the door, and another dwarf entered the room bearing Peter's and Edmund's swords and shields. Caspian bowed his head, and the two girls hugged each other, tears threatening to form in their eyes. Susan looked Trumpkin in the eye,
"Are they dead?" Her eyes quickly flicked to Doctor Cornelius who had just entered the room and he answered the Queen's question.
"No your Highness, it is most likely that Miraz took them back to his castle. Either to question them or merely to make an example of them." Lucy looked up from her silent sobbing.
"An example, what do you mean example of?" After her question the males in the room all found great interest in the floor. Susan too was curious and having little patience after hearing her brothers might be in the enemy' clutches.
"What do you mean Doctor? Tell us, we have a right to know." At the sound of the irate teenager, Doctor Cornelius slowly brought his gaze up from the floor.
"Public execution, Majesty." Susan looked ready to faint, Lucy resumed her sobbing, burying her head in her hands. Caspian looked at the two girls and a sudden resolve flashed in his eyes.
"Then we'll attack now, we can stop this, we shall stop this from happening." Everyone looked at Caspian who met all of their gazes with firm determination. "Rally the men we should leave at once if we hope to finish this." The tears had stopped and now everyone's eyes mirrored Caspian's, they would not lose the two King's.
His head throbbed, the room swam in and out of focus, it felt like years since he had first entered the room, dragged by two of Miraz's guards. Struggling the entire way, now he barely had enough strength to stay awake, let alone struggle. At first Miraz had had his guards punch and kick the High King, then as he grew bored he had picked up a leather strap and proceeded to flog him. This had gone on hours, or so it seemed to Peter, now he didn't care, all he wanted was for it to stop. And it had for the moment, while Miraz stepped out for a chat with someone, no, wait he was back and so was the strap, which was already stained red. Peter readied himself for the inevitable blows, but you can never be ready and he cursed himself as he allowed a sharp hiss to escape from between his teeth. It only got worse and soon Peter felt the beckoning call of the darkness and all to willingly he surrendered, allowing it to lead him to the forgetful, haven of nothingness.
TBC…
A/N Hope you like and sorry for the wait, I had to finish my English assignment, Original writing, though I got an A+ so you won't hear me complaining. As always please read and review.