Answer to a question: I don't know a lot about the Narnia. I tried to look up different names from Archland, but I couldn't find anything on names other than those of Archland rulers. Umed is a name from our world. I wanted to give him a name that meant more than nothing. Any names I made up would mean nothing. Edmund is important, so I thought he deserved a name that meant something.

Umed is an Indian name, meaning Hope. I thought that hope fit him best and it was similar enough to Edmund and easy enough to say. If I chose something harder to say or pronounce, you guys would get tired of seeing that name. So, I put quite a bit more thought into it than you guys originally thought.

Umed sat with his back against the wall furthest from the barred cell door. He was never able to take his mind off of Peter. Was he okay? Had they been able to save him? Would he remember their reunion? Was he even still alive?

Sitting in this dreaded cell was a worse torture then any of the atrocities he'd seen since the time of his capture. His brothers life was in danger and he was accused of bringing this threat upon him. Umed could never hurt his brother. Couldn't they see that he had tried to help Peter?

Umed let his head fall back against the cold wall, his hood giving little cushion between himself and the hard stone. This dungeon had never seemed so gloomy before. Umed had always thought that Cair Paravel's dungeons were brighter and more cheery than most, but then again, he'd never been on this side of the bars before.

"Hello?"

Umed's heart skipped a beat. He would recognize that voice anywhere. His heart told him to call back, to reveal himself to her, but he couldn't do that to his dear sister. His fate did not lay in Cair Paravel. They were bound to find out the truth about the poison, and when they did, Umed would be released only to be taken back to Calormen in slavery. Perhaps it was best to stay in this cell, even if it was torture.

"Hello?" Susan called again. Umed lowered his his head when he saw Susan's feet stand before his cell, "You're the slave boy."

He continued his parade of silence.

"You poisoned my brother." Susan's voice was accusing, but somehow, still gentle.

Umed couldn't stay silent after that accusation. He had nothing to do with the attempt on Peter's life, "I did not." Not for the first time, Umed thanked Aslan for his rasp. It made his voice harder to recognize.

"If you did not, then who did?"

Umed shook his head, "I don't know. We were together when he fell ill. I tried to help him; I even called for help when I noticed he was sick. It must have been one of my master's goons. I would never do such a thing."

"Why would you be alone with him?"

Umed had never felt Susan be so cold to him. He didn't like this side of her one bit, "He wanted to talk."

"About what?" Susan's voice was starting to get more and more impatient.

"I... saved his life. He brought me to his study to thank me."

"How can you expect me to believe that?" Umed had to keep himself from cringing at the sudden sting in her voice.

"He saved me." Umed swallowed the saliva built up in his mouth, "I met him in the gardens. I was found by one of my masters. He may have killed me if Pete- if His Majesty didn't step in." Umed relaxed a little when realized that Susan didn't notice his little fumble, or at least didn't think anything of it.

"If you were trying to save him, then who was trying to kill him?"

Umed shook his head, "We were given orders by our masters to poison his drink. We had to obey, but I told him not to drink it. I defied my masters and risked my life."

For some time, Susan didn't answer. Umed almost decided to look up to see if she was even still there. He didn't need to though, because she soon spoke again, "I want to believe you, but I'm afraid there's no proof to support your claim. Only the king himself can save you."

Umed was suddenly reminded of the knot in his stomach - the torture he'd been going through since he was taken from Peter, "Is the king alright? Could they heal him?" Umed lifted his head just enough to indicate his curiosity, but he couldn't allow Susan to see his face.

"We believe that he will make a full recovery. Why is it that you seem so concerned about my brother's well being?"

"I may live in Calormen, but I didn't used to. I care about Narnia and her well-being." More then you know. He wanted to add. Umed lowered his head again. He'd assumed that their talk was over and that Susan would leave, but she stayed.

"Why don't you lower your hood?"

"I... I couldn't. I'm not allowed."

"Why not? I would very much like to see who I'm taking to." Susan's voice had turned to a kinder tone, but she still exhibited authority.

"It's disrespectful to my masters."

"I am not your master."

"You are royalty, which makes you my master. I shall not lower my hood in the presence of royalty." Umed wanted so bad to look up to Susan and tell her who he was, but he knew that it was better for all of them if he remained unknown. It was so hard to keep himself from standing and walking to meet her. It was torture, but he had to conceal himself. No matter how badly it tortured him, Umed would not allow himself to be discovered. Peter would recover and help him regain his freedom. He could be freed and then he could show her who he was, but he couldn't make her go through the pain of losing him again.

"I guess, then, there is nothing more to say." Susan said, breaking the silence.

"There is not." Umed felt a knot in his stomach at the coldness of his own voice. He had let her go on to believe that he didn't care about her, that he wanted her gone, but nothing was further from the truth. His heart sank in sadness as he heard the patter of her feet receding from his cell. He listened to them in silence until he could hear them no longer.

That's when he let the tears flow.