"Ed?"
Umed kept his eyes looking down. He was silent for some time, trying to think of what to say. If he were honest, Umed didn't think this day would ever come, "Not anymore."
"This can't be happening. I... I'm dreaming." Umed heard Peter stand and could hear steady footsteps approaching him, "Edmund?"
Umed couldn't bring himself to meet Peter's eyes, "I'm not him. My name is Umed. I'm a slave and I always will be."
Peter reached out to him, but Umed pushed his hand away. He closed his eyes to avoid seeing the hurt he caused Peter.
"My brother is not a slave. He is a king and one of my dearest friends. I thought he was dead." Peter bent down to his level and Umed turned his head away. He couldn't bear to see his brother; not while he was still in bondage. Umed's siblings needed to see him free. The bonds of slavery would bring shame upon his family.
"Then your brother is still lost to you. He died, along with any hope I had left." If Umed looked to Peter, he knew he would see a sadness in his eyes.
"I don't believe that, even for a moment. My brother would never lose hope. He's a fighter and he would never stop trying to get to his family until he was in the ground. Now, if I ever knew you as anything other than a slave, meet my eyes." Peter's voice was stern, but gentle, and Umed realized that he had no other choice, but to obey
Umed opened his eyes and looked right into those of his once-upon-a-time brother. The young slave's eyes were filled with the pain he'd endured over the past months, but he knew Peter recognized him.
"Those are my brother's eyes." Peter reached out and placed his hands on either side of Umed's bruised face, "You... you're really here. It's really you." Peter's eyes shined with joyful tears and he placed his forehead to Umed's.
Umed had tried to keep from letting Peter get close, from letting himself get close, but the affectionate touch reminded Umed of how much he really missed his family and his home. He couldn't stop himself from grabbing Peter's forearm in an attempt to keep him there longer - even if it was just for a little while longer.
Peter pulled away and Umed met his eyes once more, "I thought you were dead." Peter pulled Umed into a tight hug.
Umed wrapped his arms around Peter and rested his head on his shoulder. Unable to hold it in any longer, Umed let his tears fall, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Pete."
How could he bear to keep himself away from the ones he loved most. Even if he couldn't stay here - oh, how wished he could stay here - he had to know his family was okay.
"Ed, how did you ever survive?"
"It's a longer story than we have time for. How are Susan and Lu?" Umed inquired.
Peter chuckled, "Fine. They're fine. They'll be much better once I tell them you're alive." Peter pulled out of their hug, but kept Umed at arms length, looking him over and wincing at his beaten face and thin form.
Umed shook his head, "You can't tell them anything, Pete."
Umed watched his brother's eyebrows knit and his smile disappear, "Why ever not?"
"I'm not free, Peter. I'm not a king anymore; I'm a slave." Umed couldn't bear to look Peter in the eyes. He knew he was not worthy enough to be in his brother's presence; not as a slave.
"Edmund, you're a king of Narnia - one of Aslan's chosen kings. You could never be a slave."
"No," Umed shook his head, "I was captured and sold. As part of the Calormen law, I'm a slave until I die or until my master frees me."
"Well, then I'll buy you from Judas and free you myself." Peter looked proud of his new plan; Umed felt bad that he had to ruin it.
"It's not legal, according to Narnia's laws, and even if it was, Judas would notice your interest in me and use me against you."
Peter scoffed, "Using you against me would only start a war."
"War that is already set into play by his attempt on your life. Judas knows that a war is bound to happen. If he finds out about me, he will surely use me to gain his upper hand. It's no use for the girls to know I'm alive if I'm already as good as dead." Umed looked away at the look of defeat that appeared on Peter's face.
They both knew that the girls would be ecstatic to hear that their brother was alive, but if something were to happen to him again, it would start the grieving process all over. They had already lost Edmund, it would be best if they never got to know Umed.
"Ed, I will do whatever it takes to get you back." Umed looked back to Peter when he was addressed. He had noticed it earlier, but now it was even more pronounced. Peter had a layer of sweat on his forehead that dripped even more by the second.
"Pete, you look pale. Are you alright?"
Peter nodded, "I'm fine. Just... tell me how you... survived. I want to know."
His brother tried to hide it, but Umed knew that Peter was feeling ill, "Perhaps you should sit."
"Yes... yes of course." Peter's eyes started to glaze over and Umed knew that something was seriously wrong. He tried to help Peter stand, but he stumbled and about brought them both to the ground. Luckily, Umed was strong enough to hold his brother up.
Umed pulled his hood back over his head, "Help! Somebody!"
It wasn't half a second before Nephtali was running into the room, quickly followed by two minataur guards. Nephtali rushed to Peter's side and helped to hold him up.
"Sire," The faun said, "what's wrong?"
Peter was thrown into a coughing fit. By the end of it, he was barely conscious, "Poison." That was the last thing Peter got out before he went limp and Umed helped to lower him to the ground.
Umed looked into the sweaty face of his brother. He wiped some strands of hair out of Peter's face and felt his burning forehead. Peter looked so peaceful right now, but Umed couldn't imagine what he was feeling.
Nephtali's voice pulled Umed out of his thoughts, "Bring the king to the healing quarters! And guards, arrest this slave; he's poisoned the king!"
Before Umed knew what had happened, the two minataur guards had grabbed him by the arms and pulled him away from his brother's sleeping form. Desperate to stay by Peter's side, Umed fought their hold.
"No!" He cried, "I didn't poison him! Let me go! I'm innocent!"
The minataur to his right threw him up against a wall, face first, "I guess we'll have to this the hard way."
Umed's hands were pulled behind him and he felt the stinging metal of shackles close around his wrists. He thrashed against the guards' hold, but they were much stronger. Before he knew it, Umed had been pulled away from the room and was being led down to the dungeons.