(Set only two weeks after Beruna)
Loyalty - Part 1
"Ed, for the last time, you're not coming."
Edmund stared at his brother, mouth open and an almost angry glare on his face. "Why not?!" He exclaimed.
Peter sighed and ran a hand over his face, turning to face Edmund. "I've already explained why." He said calmly. "Don't get me to repeat it again."
"I want to come Peter!" Edmund argued. "I can help!"
"Or you could be killed." Peter replied slowly, immediately shaking the thought from his head and going back to shoving some clothes into the bag he held.
"I've fought in a battle before." Edmund tried. "It's not like this is my first time."
"I know you've fought in a battle before Ed." Peter sighed. "But that wasn't even two weeks ago, you still haven't recovered."
"That's nonsense." Edmund exclaimed, eyes wide. "I'm perfectly fine!"
Peter sighed a little before walking over to his brother, grabbing his arm gently and stitting them both on the edge of Edmund's bed. "Ed look." He sighed. "It's not that I don't trust you to look after yourself, because I do. It's the witches followers I don't trust."
Edmund stared at him. "I just wanna help." He mumbled, eventually dropping his gaze to the ground.
"I know Edmund." Peter said quietly. "I know you just wanna help. But I just can't let you do this."
"You let me fight at Beruna." Edmund tried.
Peter swallowed hard. "Yeah," He choked. "And that's the worst decision I've ever made."
Edmund sighed. "I'll be fine." He said slowly.
"You don't know that though." Peter replied. "I'm not going to change my mind about this Ed, so you can stop trying to persuade me. You are not coming to fight against the witches followers and that's final, understand?"
Edmund stared at him, sighing quietly. He knew all Peter wanted to do was keep him safe, and since Beruna two weeks ago, Edmund hadn't been allowed to do anything even remotely dangerous. If he was honest, he hadn't even been allowed out of Peter's sight, so it said alot that Peter was prepared to go off and fight and leave him here alone.
"I know I haven't liked you out of my sight recently." Peter said, Edmund staring at him with wide eyes... how does he do that? "But I have to do this, I have to protect our kingdom." He swallowed hard at this, even after two weeks, calling Narnia his kingdom still didn't sound right.
"I have to protect it too!" Edmund said, sounding desperate.
Peter shook his head. "Ed?" He asked slowly.
"Hmm?" Edmund replied, looking rather unsure.
Peter stared at him for a moment. "Do you know what I am before I am the High King?" He said.
Edmund just stared at him, looking rather quite confused.
"Before I'm the High King, I'm your older brother." Peter said. "And it's my job to protect you, no matter how unhappy that may make you."
Edmund sighed. "It doesn't make me unhappy that you feel like you have to protect me." He said slowly. "It's just-"
"Ed." Peter said sternly. "I've already told you not to try persuading me, haven't I?"
Edmund stared at him before eventually nodding, once again dropping his gaze to the floor.
"I know you just want to help Edmund." Peter said. "But I made a promise that I'd protect you, and I intend on keeping that promise."
"But who's gonna protect you?" Edmund whispered, glancing back up at his brother again.
"I'll be fine." Peter told him firmly, standing and continuing to pack. "And so will you because you'll be staying right here with Susan and Lucy."
Edmund stared at him, not looking at all happy with Peter's decision, but he didn't say anything else... he knew where abouts Peter was going... and he had a plan.
"I'll see you in a few days, alright?" Peter said, giving his siblings a smile.
Susan nodded a little. "Just please be careful." She said.
Peter chuckled. "You know I will be." He told her.
Lucy giggled a little and wrapped her arms around Peter's waist. "See you soon?" She asked hopefully, eyes wide as she stared up at her oldest brother.
Peter nodded. "Very soon Lu." He reassured her. "You won't even know I'm gone."
Lucy shook her head. "Of course I will." She said.
Peter smiled gently at her as she pulled away, before he hesitantly turned to his brother, who was stood just off to the side, arms folded across his chest and an almost angry frown on his face. "Ed?" He asked slowly.
Edmund slowly looked up at him, staring at him for a couple of seconds before he eventually sighed and walked over, wrapping his arms tightly around his brothers waist. "Be careful." He whispered.
Peter frowned a little in the change of mood, but still hugged his brother back. "I will Ed." He said firmly. "I promise."
Edmund nodded and forced a smile as he pulled away. "Bye then." He sighed.
"Bye." Peter replied, smiling before he climbed up onto his horse. "See you all in a couple of days."
"We'll miss you." Lucy said, but managing to smile slightly.
"I'll miss you all too." Peter replied, before he and the small army gathered, headed off into the woods.
The second they were all out of sight Edmund turned to leave, only to be stopped by Susan. "Ed?" She asked, causing Edmund to sigh and turn back around. "Where are you going?"
"I - I was going to read for a little while." Edmund replied slowly, feeling bad for lying to her like this. "I just don't feel a hundred percent and need to rest."
Susan gave him a sad smile but nodded her head. "Alright." She agreed. "I'll come up and check on you in an hour or so."
"You don't have to check on me." Edmund muttered playfully, but knew Susan wouldn't go back on what she said. So with a sigh he headed back into the castle and up to his and Peter's room.
He shut the door immediately and grabbed a bag that was hanging up on the nearest chair, and quickly stuffed a couple changes of clothes inside.
After that he grabbed his cloak and flung it around his shoulders, before snatching his sword and attaching it to his belt.
Once he'd done that he sunk down on his bed, grabbing his book and opening it about half way through.
He couldn't go after Peter too soon, because if he did he'd be close enough to the castle to be sent back. Whereas if he waited half an hour, by the time he caught up with Peter they'd be too far away to be told to return.
So after maybe 40 minutes, he threw his book down on the bed before grabbing a piece of paper and a pencil from his desk.
After writing a note for his sisters explaining where he'd gone, he picked up the bag from where he'd placed it earlier, before hesitantly slipping out of the door.
He had no idea how he managed to make it all the way through the castle and out into the gardens without being seen, but he was definitely glad he'd been able to.
He wasted no time in running into the woods, keeping a firm grip on the hilt of his sword as he ran. He felt slightly uncomfortable in the woods by himself, but pushed away his fear and just kept going.
He'd be walking for about an hour when he stopped, sighing a little and readjusting his grip on the bag. "How far did they get?" He muttered to himself in disbelief, resting against a tree.
After a couple minutes rest, he continued walking, and did so for almost another hour before Peter and the army came in to view a little way ahead of him.
Taking a deep breath he quickly hid behind the nearest tree, not sure if he was ready to reveal himself yet... what would Peter think?
Swallowing hard he glanced around the tree, seeing that the army had obviously stopped to rest for a while, and saw that Peter was sat against a tree, looking rather deep in thought.
After taking a deep breath, Edmund managed to sneak over and hide behind the tree Peter was leaning against, and was about to reveal himself, when he heard his brother start talking.
"Do you think I should've let him come?" He asked quietly, and Edmund wished he could see him.
"It was your decision." Came Orious' voice. "And a good one I'm sure."
"But he was so-" Peter paused, and Edmund heard him sigh. "I'm not sure, but he wasn't very happy at being left behind."
"I'm sure you did it for a good reason, sir." Orious answered.
"I - I just wanna keep him safe." Peter mumbled. "It's only been two weeks since the witch - and, it's just hard. All of it. I'm still having nightmares about it, and I just don't want him to get hurt anymore that he already has."
Edmund's face fell when Peter's voice cracked, now actually fully understanding why Peter had left him behind. The emotion in his brothers voice had broken Edmund's heart, and with a sigh he made up his mind. He had to return back to Cair.
Swallowing hard he took a step forward, only to freeze completely when he stood on a stick and it snapped under his foot, the sound almost deafening in the mostly quiet woods.
Edmund held his breath as he stood there, hoping that no one had heard, cause if they had, there'd be no way he'd be able to get away and go home without being spotted.
"What was that?"
Edmund swore under his breath when he heard Peter say this... trust him to hear it. Glancing around quickly, Edmund had no choice but to hide behind a different, nearby tree and just hope he wouldn't be found. But when he heard footsteps walking closer, he knew that that was a long shot.
"Keep an eye out." Came Peter's voice, and Edmund heard him unsheathing his sword. "It could be one of the witches followers.
Edmund banged his head back against the tree, silently telling himself how stupid he'd been. He should've stayed back at Cair. Peter only wanted to keep him safe, and after over hearing that conversation, Edmund felt bad about sneaking after them... what an earth would Peter say if he was found?
The footsteps got closer, and Edmund squeezed his eyes shut, unable to think of anything else but how Peter would react when he found him.
"Sir, there's somebody behind that tree."
Edmund's eyes opened again, he'd been found... great. He heard a few other people talking after this, but they were whispering so it was hard to tell what they were saying.
After a couple more seconds Edmund decided it was probably time to reveal himself, and with a sigh went to step out from his hiding place.
He'd barely taken one step before someone all of a sudden crashed into him and he was tackled to the floor, gasping as his head hit the ground and when a sword was raised above him. "Peter it's me!" He cried quickly, eyes wide.
Peter froze, and his eyes went insanely wide when he saw his little brother. "Ed?!" He exclaimed. "What an earth are you doing?!"
Edmund sighed when Peter climbed off him, sitting up and rubbing the back of his head. "I-" He went to say, but was cut off by Peter telling Orious and the others that they could leave.
"Right." Peter said once they were alone, turning to face Edmund. "Care to explain?"
Edmund sighed. "Don't be mad." He mumbled. "I - I just wanted to help."
Peter stared at him, looking shocked. "And I explained perfectly well why you couldn't come!" He said. "Ed you could be killed! That's why I left you behind!"
"And I came because you could be killed!" Edmund snapped back. "And if I can stop that, I will."
"Oh no you won't." Peter said quickly. "No way, not again. You are not fighting in this battle."
"Well I'm here now aren't I?" Edmund said, sighing.
"You're going back to Cair." Peter told him, already standing. "Now."
Edmund stayed sitting down and glared up at him. "No I'm not." He said firmly. "I'm staying here and helping you."
He couldn't help but frown a little at what he was saying, two minutes ago he'd actually been about to return back, and now he was refusing. But, like he'd just said, he was here now and had been found, so he would stay and fight, if only to protect Peter.
"Why can't you just do as you're told?!" Peter exclaimed, but this time it wasn't kind. "I told you to stay at home! But no! You just had to follow me! No matter what I say, you never listen!"
He was shouting now, and Edmund dropped his gaze to the floor, still being able to see his brother, but avoiding eye contact with him.
"I left you behind to keep you safe, Edmund!" Peter cried. "Not so you could come sneaking after me! Why?! Why did you do this!? You know what, never mind why, you're going home Edmund, and I don't want to hear another word about it."
Peter's hand shot up from where it had been at his side, going to help his brother up, but before Edmund could even think about stopping it, he winced harshly away, taking a deep breath and slamming his eyes shut.
Peter froze. Edmund froze. Everything went silent.
After a couple of seconds Peter took a deep breath. "Ed?" He choked, voice quiet and full of shock.
Edmund swallowed hard and after he'd managed to calm his pounding heart, he allowed his eyes to open as he slowly looked up at Peter. "I-" He whispered, but then stopped, unsure of what to say.
After a moment Peter hesitantly sat down in front of his brother, reaching out a placing a hand on his shoulder. "You - You thought-" He swallowed hard, almost unable to say it. "You thought I was gonna hit you."
Edmund's eyes filled with tears, but he nodded anyway. "It's just-" He sighed and took a deep breath breath. "Most of the time the witch shouted at me, she'd hit me. I guess I haven't got over the reaction to flinch away yet."
Peter sighed sadly. "I understand." He breathed. "But know I would never hurt you."
Edmund nodded quickly. "I know that." He whispered.
Peter gave him a sad smile. "Just please Ed." He mumbled. "Go back to Cair. I can't let you get hurt again, please?"
Edmund stared at him, wincing at the pleading tone to his voice, he sounded so desperate it broke Edmund's heart, and in the end he found himself nodding. "Alright." He whispered.
Peter breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you." He said gently, giving his brother a nod.
Edmund smiled half heartedly before sighing and going to stand, but before he'd even made it to his feet there was a shout from Orious.
"They've found us!"
Peter looked confused for a moment, but jumped up when he spotted the witches followers charging towards them.
Edmund quickly got to his feet, grabbing his sword and holding it out in front of him, but then his eyes went wide.
One of them was charging straight for Peter, but Peter's back was turned.
"Peter look out!"
Peter spun around, only to be shoved seconds later, ending up with him laying on the floor a little way away. shaking his head a little, he immediately looked up... that had been Edmund's scream.
Peter took a deep breath when he spotted his brother, kneeling on the floor where Peter had once been stood just seconds before.
But to Peter's horror, an ogre stood behind him, and had shoved a dagger straight through Edmund's back, an almost grin on his face and he pushed it deeper, getting a loud gasp from Edmund.
Edmund's eyes flickered open from where he'd slammed them shut, and he glanced straight up at Peter, making eye contact with him for just a second before his eyes started to droop, and he collapsed to the floor.
"EDMUND!"
To be continued...
Sorry it's been a while, but I hope you liked this part :) part two should be up soon
