Disclaimer: The wonderful world of Narnia belongs to C.S. Lewis. I own the minor characters and nothing more.
52. Fire
Edmund collapsed onto his bed, completely exhausted. He had scrubbed and scraped the stables nearly to the point of being sterile and groomed the horses until not a hair was out of place before he had been allowed to leave the musty, dark, claustrophobic hold. It was well past midnight and he hadn't been able to eat all day, but he was far too tired to have any sort of appetite. In the moments just before Edmund fell asleep, he thought he heard someone humming a familiar lullaby, and just for that second he was able to pretend that he was at Cair Paravel rather than aboard a slave ship, which made falling asleep and having good dreams all the easier.
It wasn't a full four hours before Edmund felt himself being jerked harshly by the shoulder. He heard two voices making quite a bit of racket and several soft gasps from startled slaves. He took a deep, steady breath before opening his eyes and sitting up, observing the wakeup call with forced neutrality. He flinched a bit as one person fell to the floor after being shaken too hard. He looked away from the scene only when a tall Calormene blocked his view, forcing a small plate of bread and cheese into his hands. The smell of the cheese hit him like a brick wall. It wasn't that it was spoiled, or even close to it. In fact, it smelled rather fresh and made Edmund realize just how famished he was. He dug into his breakfast, watching out of the corner of his eye as everyone else began to devour theirs as well. He couldn't believe how starved everyone was, how skinny they were allowed to get. He couldn't understand how such poor stock could make so much money on the black market, but then again, he had never seen a slave trade, so maybe, for some sick reason, skinny was what everyone wanted.
Edmund was pulled from his thoughts when he felt someone sit down on his bunk. He looked over and smiled a bit when he saw Lain next to him and Adem standing next to her. Adem looked generally the same way he had before, though a bit dirtier. Lain, on the other hand, didn't. Her wrist was a bit swollen, there was a distinct bruise on her cheek, and she was starting to show what was sure to become a brilliant black eye.
"You weren't in here last night. I was afraid they had killed you," Lain spoke first, softly and carefully. "Where were you?"
"Working in the stables." Edmund looked at her worriedly. "Are you okay?"
"All day?" She ignored his question. "Usually they'll shift workers out. Half in the morning, half in the afternoon. They didn't give you a break at all? Any help?" Edmund shook his head. "You must be exhausted. Did they at least let you eat?" He shook his head again. Lain looked on the verge of tears and he began to worry more. She had been so strong and untouchable yesterday, but now she looked like the exact opposite. She opened her mouth to say something else, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she squeezed her eyes shut, turned away, and went back to her breakfast. Edmund looked over at Adem worriedly.
"They worked her hard yesterday," He whispered, watching Lain. "She's used to working in the morning, not in the afternoon heat." Edmund looked back at her and noticed for the first time a red tint to her skin. She had been sunburned, and with the clothes she was wearing, she had to be in pain.
"Don't worry, Lain. If you like, I could trade with you. You can work with the horses and I'll work on deck." Edmund brushed some hair out of her face and gave her the last half of his bread.
Lain said nothing, but instead began to cry quietly. Edmund hugged her gently, doing his best not to touch her sunburn. He jumped a bit when the door flew open, hushing Lain and stroking her hair when he felt her tremble. He watched as half of the captives were chosen for the morning shift and almost sighed with relief when one of the sailors pointed to Lain and Edmund. He lifted her up gently and, with a nod goodbye to Adem, led her out onto the deck where they were forced to part ways.
Once again Edmund spent his entire day working in the stalls, despite Phillip's complaints. Stable work was generally an easy task for someone like Edmund, who spent several hours every morning sparring with a heavy sword and had been in too many grueling battles to count. However, fear of making his friend go without dinner made Edmund work with a ferocity that would break even the strongest and most skilled of stable hands. The stables had never seen brighter, cleaner days, that was for certain, and Edmund couldn't remember the last time he had felt so exhausted, hungry, and utterly defeated.
For over two weeks the cycle repeated itself. Every day or so a new handful of captives were forced on board. The days were brutal and sometimes it became hot enough outside that it would heat the stables to the point of near suffocation. It wasn't uncommon for Edmund to find himself stumbling from heat exhaustion, and once he passed out. The horses were allowed to remain on deck when the heat was bad enough, but Edmund was forced to stay below.
With every day that passed, Edmund grew weaker and skinnier. He was usually far too tired to eat, and when he wasn't, what he was given wasn't nearly enough to sustain him. It was enough to keep most of the captives alive, but because of the hard labor he was put through, there was no way it would be enough for him. Three weeks of the treatment and he would be as good as dead. Lain took care of him every night and tried to explain away the captain's behavior. She had sailed with him twice before, for reasons she refused to explain, and each time he had chosen one specific slave to abuse nearly to the point of death. She didn't know why he did it. She assumed it was to keep the rest in order, but all she really knew was that he waited until a person whom he deemed worthy came aboard rather than picking the first person.
Fifteen days passed before the ship docked for what would be the last time for most of the people on the ship. It took several hours, but by noon all twenty seven captives, Edmund included, had been scrubbed clean, given fresh clothes, and had a decent meal. Edmund knew exactly what was about to happen, and it made his heart sink. They were going to be sold. How was he going to escape, or even be found, if he was sold under a false name? He didn't even look like himself anymore. Even with the bath and clean clothes, he was much skinnier and paler than before.
After everyone was cleaned up, each person was bound to a partner by their wrists and each pair was assigned to a crewman. They were led through the busy streets of the city, jostled about as though they were nothing more than livestock. Edmund tried to think of the name of this city. It was in the Lone Islands and he had visited it with his siblings once before. It was either on the island of Brenn or Redhaven, but beyond that he couldn't remember. It wasn't as though it mattered, of course. He couldn't send out a messenger telling his family where he was.
It took about a quarter of an hour of walking, but eventually the band of not-so-merry souls made it to a large clearing filled with tents and rings, very similar to a festival. Despite their situation, the liveliness of their surroundings lifted the group's spirits at least somewhat. Edmund heard music nearby, a loud, joyous tune that was often sung by the maids and whistled by the cooks at Cair Paravel. Edmund knew the words by heart and simply thinking them to himself made him feel more at ease.
As the group moved forward, and as the music grew louder, Edmund began to look around more frantically. He recognized some of the people as nobles he and his siblings had met on their travels, but none of them seemed to recognize him. The young girl he was tied to seemed to pick up on his edginess. She began to cry, and despite Edmund's efforts, nothing would calm her down again. The crewman in charge of them tried to shush her as well, but his methods, too, were ineffective. Finally fed up, he slapped her across the face and she fell to the ground, pulling Edmund down with her. His shoulder landed sharply on a rock, making him cry out in pain and surprise. The girl jumped at the sudden noise, growing silent and wide eyed as she watched him. Their guard seemed to care much less about him and more about the fact that she had finally shut up. He dragged both of them to their feet and shoved them in the right direction, making them follow the group behind a large platform.
They finally stopped walking, bunching together in what seemed like well-organized chaos. The captain untied the pair closest to him, grabbed one of the people and half lead, half dragged them up onto the stage. Edmund listened quietly as he heard the bidding start, blinking in surprise when they sold for one hundred crescents. He looked around a bit as the next person was put up for display, noticing several other groups of slave traders and their items. The other groups looked in far worse condition than Edmund's, something he didn't think was possible just a few hours ago. He looked around more and tried to gather any useful information he could from his surroundings, tuning out the sounds of the auction to pay better attention to details. He jumped and almost put up a struggle when he felt someone grab his arm and force him in front of the large crowd of bidders. He stared at the audience but couldn't spot a single familiar face.
"Lot number fourteen. Archenlander, approximately sixteen years old. Good with horses, strong and able. Quiet temper. Bidding starts at thirty crescents." Edmund looked over at the auctioneer, a Calormene who looked just as hardened and tough as Tahj. Just as he was about to surrender and listen to himself be sold away, Edmund felt the binds on his wrist be tugged sharply. He stumbled a bit and was given little time to recover before he was led in a large circle in front of the crowd. As he walked, the bidding grew more intense. More than fifteen minutes passed before it ended and Edmund was sold to a rich-looking nobleman for one hundred and fifty crescents. So that was it then. Just a few circles around a ring, and Edmund's life and freedom were gone.
Edmund was led off of the platform and to the side where a number was written on the back of his hand. He was then shuffled over to an enclosed space far too similar to a paddock for liking. The fences were tall and curved inward, so climbing them would be difficult, nigh impossible without getting caught. Edmund paced along the fence nervously, trying to catch sight of any horses, especially his Horse. He hadn't seen any be led off the ship, but he had to hope that Phillip had made it off and would find him. Almost as though he had been heard, the crowd hovering around the pasture parted and the six horses that Edmund had come to know were led inside. One of the horses, a tall chestnut, immediately broke away from the pack. The second Edmund could see him clearly, he burst into a smile and ran for Phillip.
"I was afraid I would never see you again." He whispered, burying his face in Phillip's mane.
The Horse wrapped his neck around Edmund in a hug, pinning the boy to his shoulder tightly. The two stayed like that for what seemed like ages, only parting when Edmund's new owner came to claim him, and even then it was by force. Edmund felt his hand be ripped away from Phillip's side, held for a moment, then jerked on. Phillip nickered frantically as he was pushed away by several men. The two put up a good fight to get back to each other, but it was no use. Edmund was dragged out of the pasture and Phillip was forced to stay. One of the men, the one Edmund recognized as his master, demanded he be quiet or else he would silence him himself. The once-King refused to listen, screaming for Phillip and fighting against everyone who dared lay a hand on him. He ignored the shouts from his new master, and just as it looked like he was about to break free, there was a sharp pain on the back of his head, a sudden explosion of lights, and then everything went dark.
"Quiet temper my ass," Edmund tried to open his eyes, to blink, to move, but nothing worked. A sharp, stabbing pain radiated from the base of his skull, making him want to cry out in agony. "Thirty minutes after I buy the brat and I have to bloody knock him out. Wouldn't even give me any sort of refund." Edmund realized he was moving, and on a very rough road at that. "No, I had to buy the bloody horse, too. Damned thing's as crazy as they come."
"Certainly makes a good cart horse though, wouldn't you say? If not for that cut, he could be a damn show pony." Edmund listened quietly to the conversation between the two men, hoping to learn something about his predicament.
"Probably just because of the brat in the back."
"Just watch his feet and tell me those aren't the lightest steps you've ever seen taken."
"I'll think better of the beast when he performs just as well with a different cargo."
"Suit yourself. Your purchase."
"Another two hundred crescents I'm out of."
"I would have paid five hundred for him."
"Then why don't you buy him off of me?"
"Would have, not will."
Edmund finally managed to get his eyes open, letting out a small groan as he officially came to. He placed a hand tenderly on the sore spot on his head. Fireworks exploded before his vision, making him dizzy and sick to his stomach. He rolled onto his side, pleading to Aslan that he wouldn't throw up.
"Oi, you awake back there?"
How he wished he could say no and mean it. How he wished he could just roll over and die, spare himself the humiliation. "I am…" His voice was barely there and sounded as uneasy as his stomach felt.
"Good. Get up here and do your job."
"Be gentle, Mahir. The boy is probably concussed. Useless, by your terms, until you give him a decent rest."
"Useless my ass. I paid one hundred and fifty crescents for him and I'm going to make damn sure I get it out of him before he keels over on me. Get up here, boy, before I drag you up."
Edmund tried to sit up, but a fresh wave of dizziness found him flat on his back. There was another shout from Mahir, the sound of scuffling, and Edmund found himself being dragged up to the front, just as he had been threatened. The blinding sunlight made him gasp and shield his eyes, which in turn earned a box on the ears.
"Sit straight and pay attention. You'll be driving the cart from now on, so you best learn your way home boy."
Edmund struggled to do as he was told. The first thing he noticed was that Phillip, paired with a beautiful palomino horse, was driving the cart. His ears were laid flat against his skull and Edmund could imagine him muttering to himself about things he would do to the Human hurting his Boy.
The teenager looked down as he felt a set of reins be pushed into his hands. He gripped them as best as he could and tried to sit up straight. For a few moments he thought he was doing pretty well, but after a particularly big bump and a somewhat rough landing, Edmund blinked and found himself nearly hanging off of the cart.
"Lousy good for nothing carcass, this one is."
"I told you, he just needs rest. Unless you like killing your new purchases on the first day, put the boy in the back."
"Fine."
He could only bite his lip in pain as he was shoved back to his resting spot. He had planned on staying awake for the rest of the trip and listening in on Mahir's conversation, but within moments, Edmund was unconscious and lost in a dream.
He was at Cair Paravel, running along the beach. Peter, Susan, and Lucy were just coming into view, running for him eagerly. The four met and Edmund was swept up in an onslaught of hugs and kisses. He clung to his brother tightly, at a loss for words. It seemed like decades before the siblings finally gave each other some space.
"You were gone a long time." Peter spoke up, smiling broadly.
"I know, I'm sorry." Edmund smiled as well, though weakly and nervously.
"It's fine, just as long as you're back." Lucy spoke this time and hugged him around the waist.
"Only for a little while, Lu." Edmund kissed her on the forehead, then froze. Wait, what? "Master wants me back within the hour." What was he saying? He wanted to stay with his family. Why couldn't he stay?
"Are you sure you have to go?" Peter frowned.
Edmund found himself nodding against his will. "He threatened to kill me, and he always carries out his threats."
"Well, if you don't care enough about us to die for us, then go back home." Susan spoke up for the first time. She looked oddly cold, and very angry.
"I do care about you. I just thought that you would want me to stay alive so you can save me one day." Edmund bit his lip.
"Why would you think that? You've never given us a reason to care for you," Susan hissed, clenching her fists. Lucy and Peter watched Edmund sadly but said nothing to defend him. "You would have let the whole world burn and watched us dance in front of you in chains and feed you and be your slaves. We would be calling you Master and you would be the one carrying out the death threats if it had been up to you. You don't care about us, and we don't have a reason to care about you. So go ahead. Crawl back to your Master. I'm sure he'll love you if you work hard enough."
"Susan…" Edmund blinked back tears. He opened his mouth to plead for forgiveness, but before he could say a word, her face began to change. It turned chalk white and became more narrow and beautiful and cold, eventually turning into Jadis. Edmund gasped and took a step back, turning to Peter and Lucy. They had been turned to stone.
"It's what you would have wanted if Aslan hadn't gotten in my way and you know it." Jadis crooned sweetly. "This is what you would have wanted." She turned and Edmund followed her gaze, spotting Cair Paravel on the hill. Only it wasn't the way he had always remembered it. Instead, it was completely engulfed in flames and beginning to crumble. "It's exactly what you want."
Edmund had never screamed so much in his life.
