Umed woke with a jolt as he heard the familiar sound of the cell door opening. He had heard that noise countless times during his past life as king of Narnia. Criminals, big and small, being led from the dungeons out to face the judging glares of the Narnians as they are put before the public court in trial for whatever misdeed they had committed.

"Wake up, boy. Looks like the King has found you innocent, after all. Your master has come to claim you."

Umed realized that he knew that particular guard. He quickly turned his head down and looked away, saying nothing in response to the minotaur, Zakai.

"Well?" said the guard when Umed did nothing. When he continued to do nothing the large brute walked over and grabbed him by the arm. "Gonna make this harder than it needs to be?"

Umed continued his parade of silence.

"Fine, then." Zakai hoisted Umed off the floor and set him on his feet. He, then, proceeded to shove the boy along and out of the cell.

Oh, Aslan, please, no.

He just couldn't go back with Judas. It had taken him ages to get back home and, even if it was only in the dungeons, he'd give anything to stay here a little bit longer. Peter had said that he wouldn't let him go. Where was Peter?

Once the two of them had made it to the dungeon door, Zakai pushed Umed to the ground before one of the slave masters. "Here's your boy. Better not see him here again."

The slaver bowed. "I can assure you, you won't."

With that, Umed felt his tunic collar grabbed from behind as he was pulled off the ground. His breath left him for a moment, but quickly returned once the Calormene released him.

It took no more than ten minutes for Umed and the master to make it out of the Cair Paravel castle. In another twenty minutes, they were out of the great city. Umed's home.

No. Not Umed's home - Edmund's home.

Umed was not Edmund. Edmund was free. Edmund was a king. Edmund is the mighty warrior that was written into history books. His soldiers would follow him to any end. His enemies quivered when they spotted him leading his ranks into the fray of battle. For his subjects, the name of King Edmund the Just meant peace and protection; it meant safety. For Edmund's enemies, however, his name meant terror and fright penetrating their hearts.

Umed, however, is but a slave - a slave that bears the scars of a king.

When they finally made it to the Calormene camp Umed felt himself break a little more at the sight of all of Judas's people packed up and ready to leave. He, himself, was payed no more than a passing glance by all the Calormenes preparing their carts for travel.

The slaver who had gathered Umed from the dungeons slowed him to a stop. A cold metal collar was secured around his neck, and he was attached to the long line of slaves that Judas had brought with him to Narnia. They were bound for Calormen.

Umed gave one more longing glance back toward what used to be his home. The High King stood on the outer wall, eyes focused solely on Umed. A deep guilt was evident in Peter's eyes; a guilt that shook Umed to his very core.

There was nothing else to be done. Both their fates were in the hands of the Great Lion. Aslan would help them, wouldn't He? There was no way to know what the Lion had in store for them; He had let all this happen, there was nothing saying that he had to reunite them.

There's no way to describe the pain that Umed - and surely Peter, too - felt in his heart. They had been so close. Umed had felt Peter's hands on his face. He felt his brother's strong, warm embrace. They met, they talked, they laughed, they cried... but they never got to say goodbye.

PSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSEL

Lucy sat at her own place at the table. Susan sat across from her, quietly consuming her meal. Peter sat to her right, in body, but his mind never seemed present anymore. He sat in complete silence, not a bite of his food taken. The plate was full of meats and vegetables of kinds. All very delicious, though Lucy imagined that it must be quite cold by now.

"Peter," Susan began, "You must eat something. You're all skin and bones."

Peter just stared into the distance and shook his head. "Not hungry."

"You say that every day." Susan's mothering nature took over. Since they had entered Narnia, Susan had taken upon herself to be their caretaker. She was always first to notice when something was wrong or when someone was sick; it was sort of like that sixth sense that a mother has.

"I'm sorry, Su. I'm just not hungry."

"We're worried about you." Lucy piped from her spot at the table. "Two months ago those wretched Calormenes left, and you haven't been right since. I thought you'd be happy that they're gone."

"I am. It's just... something else. I suppose I'll get over it before too long."

Lucy could see in Peter's eyes that he really didn't believe what he said. Whatever was bothering him was serious. "Peter, it's been two months, and you're still not over it. We can't help you if we don't know what's wrong."

Peter gave her a look filled with great longing. "I wish I could, Lu, I really do. If I told you, you'd only share in this same grief. I care too much about you to to hurt you like that."

"Oh, Peter," Lucy wined. She rose from her chair and approached her hurting big brother. She sat down on his left leg and wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling her head into his chest. "I do wish you would tell us."

"Me too, Lu, me too."

"My King!" Came the broad voice of Oreius as the Centaur entered the room. "Sorry to intrude, but I have an urgent message for you."