Home is the Hunter

I woke up hours later. The room was dark but for one lamp over on Peter's desk. I was still swathed in blankets and dressed in layers of clothes and for the first time in ages I felt warm and rested. It was wonderful. I stretched out carefully. Every inch of me still hurt, but it wasn't quite as bad as earlier in the day and breathing wasn't as difficult as it had been of late. Indeed, it was a vast improvement because my head no longer ached so much as to make me feel nauseated. I blinked, luxuriating in the relative lack of discomfort. I had not felt half this good in weeks.

Then I realized why: I hadn't dreamed. For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, I had closed my eyes without seeing Jadis in all her twisted beauty coming to torment me and haunt me. Actually, I had slept myself out. Thank Aslan. I wondered if by some miracle the Deplorable Word was somehow removed as well, but one thought and the old pain slammed down like a guillotine and I was forced to abandon that particular hope. I groaned as I saw blood from my nose on my gloved hand. Still, the stab of pain faded. I decided not to question my relatively good fortune and just lay still for a while, putting pressure on the nosebleed and thinking about music.

When the door opened I looked up. Silvo entered the room. He seemed surprised to see me awake and alert and with a pang I realized it had been a very long while since I had been either.

"King Edmund! I was coming to wake you. It's an hour to midnight."

"Thank you, Silvo." I sat up gingerly and pulled off the bloodied gloves to run a hand through my hair. "Has there been any word from Aslan?"

"Nothing yet, Sire." The Faun bustled about, lighting more lamps and probably calculating how to get me washed up and into clean clothes. He came and stood before me, gazing at me with frank and open curiosity and carefully snagging the gloves so he could clean them. He handed me a damp cloth to wipe the blood off my face, wise enough not to try it himself. "Your Majesty is looking better."

"I feel better, Silvo. I'm not entirely well, but at least I slept and actually got some rest for once in...Oh, I don't know how long."

"Months, my king," he provided.

"Months," I agreed. I looked at him closely. "You want these clothes, don't you?"

"You have been wearing them for days, King Edmund."

"I bet Peter's been wearing his for months."

He shuddered. "Then it falls to you to set the example, Sire, and change."

I laughed and began to peel off the layers of clothing. He happily fetched me my own clothes and helped me make myself more presentable, Martil arriving to give him a hand. I was sitting on the bed when Susan and Lucy entered to wait with me. They both smiled to see me up and about and settled on either side of me. I took each of their hands, releasing them only when I peeled the tunic off in anticipation of midnight.

"How long since Peter left?" I asked abruptly.

"Four months," Susan replied.

I sighed. "Feels like a lifetime."

"But it's done," said Lucy.

"Let it be done," I softly quoted Peter, thinking of him seated beside me on the balcony railing. My sisters hadn't been witness to the scene and so didn't recognize it, rather thinking I had uttered a prayer. I suppose in a way I had.

I tensed, anticipating midnight. The girls were still as we waited.

And waited.

And...

I looked up, knowing I was frowning. "Isn't it midnight?"

My sisters and I exchanged confused looks. I ought to be dying again by now, oughtn't I? I stood up, looking for the valets. "Silvo! What time is it?"

I heard the Faun check the water clock, exiled from the bedroom because the faint noise it made annoyed Peter like nothing else, and he hurried into the bedroom. "'Tis...a full five minutes past midnight, King Edmund."

I stared at him. "You're certain?"

Silvo nodded. "Yes, Majesty."

I stood in amazement, incapable of speech. I turned to Susan and Lucy, looking down at the ugly scar on my chest. I hadn't been stabbed. I touched the spot, my hand trembling. The girls reached across to each other, holding hands. Their faces were shining with the same awe I was feeling. This could only mean one thing...

"He's back!" I finally managed. "Susan! Lucy! Peter's back! He's back! He's brought the apple! He's home!"

Lucy let out an ear-piercing squeal and threw herself into my arms. I lifted her clear off the ground as Susan gave a yell and hugged us both. We stood celebrating for a long moment, joy filling me as never before. Finally, grinning like an idiot all the while, I put Lucy down. I knew what I had to do.

"Martil! Martil!"

"Sire?" Both valets came at a run, torn between excitement and panic.

"Pack me some clothes. Get word to the stables," I ordered. "Have my horse saddled and ready. I'm setting out immediately. Alert the Royal Guard and have Bats sent to bring word to Aslan."

They gaped in scandalized shock. This was the very last thing they had expected to disrupt their precious routine and for a moment they didn't know what to do. I had gone from death's door to shouting orders in a span of hours and they were absolutely flummoxed.

"King Edmund," bleated Silvo, at a complete loss, "It's midnight!"

"I know, " I smirked, enjoying their confounded expressions for the first time in months, "and I'm going to join my brother."

"You don't even know for certain where he is!" Susan countered.

"So?" I replied, wondering what that had to do with it. Really, the details girls worried over. "That's what I have Bats for. Aslan was going to the Lantern Waste. Three days and I'll be there."

"Three days?" exclaimed Lucy. "You can't ride there in three days!"

I struggled back into my tunic. "A palfrey can't make it in three days, Lucy. A proper steed can. I'm taking Jett."

"You can't go alone!"

Hadn't she heard me ask for a guard? I shrugged. "I'm sure I'll be surrounded by Dogs every step of the way."

"Edmund, you're not strong enough!" argued my older sister.

I stared at her. "Not strong enough? Susan, I just spent four and a half months being tortured. If that's not strong...what is?"

She seemed to realize what she'd said, and I gave her a look that let her know I understood her concerns. Truly I did even though understanding and complying were two unrelated things. Odds were my tired, sore body would give out from under me soon, but by this point I was used to that.

"Peter needs me now. I'm leaving the moment I'm ready. Pack your things and follow me in the morning if you want. I'll send word as I hear it."

"But -"

She hesitated, defeated, knowing I was right. I did feel bad for snapping, but she was overcautious at times. I did have something of an olive branch to offer her, though.

"Silvo!"

The Faun hurried into the room. Either he was happy at the prospect of getting Peter back or glad to be getting rid of me, I couldn't tell, but he wore an excited expression.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Please send word to the kitchen. I'm starving!"

Susan broke into a grateful smile, letting her breath out in a sob as she hugged me. Lucy likewise burst into laughter and threw her arms around my middle. I knew they had been waiting ages for such an announcement.

"Right away, King Edmund!"

Still in the protection of my sisters' arms and their love, I closed my eyes with a sigh.

Let it be done, Peter.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Little over an hour later I stepped outside into the cold, crisp air. I stopped in my tracks as I realized autumn was almost gone. For a moment I stood still, taking in the quiet night. It had been well over a week since I'd last been outside, I realized, and at least a month since I had gone riding. I was in for a sore time of it.

Escorted by several Satyrs and Fauns, I hurried to the stables where soldiers were milling about by torchlight, Kanell chief among them. I scanned the sky, but there wasn't enough moonlight for me to spot any Bats. Since that was the case, I did what everyone in Narnia knew to do when they wanted a Bat courier: I clapped my hands once, paused, then twice more, then dropped my pack and stood with my arms extended wide. The clapping was to catch their attention and I stood this way to maximize their landing area as they need a big target outside of their normal perches. I didn't wait long and in a few moments I felt a faint impact and Queel, the little brown Bat that was my usual courier to Brickit, landed on my cape and crawled up to my shoulder.

"King Edmund," she said. I could tell by her small, piercing voice that she was surprised and happy to see me up.

"Queel, has word been sent to Aslan?"

"It has, Majesty."

"I'll need a relay between myself and Aslan and my sisters."

"Bathelstane has already set one up and our numbers are ready."

"Excellent. Please go tell my sisters the queens that they can expect to hear from me when I get news or when I stop. And I'd like three couriers to accompany me. They can ride under my cape if they like."

"Right away, Majesty."

She crawled into my open palm and I handed her to Kanell as he approached. He held her high in the air to give her enough room for a sweeping launch into the sky. Then he looked me up and down.

"It is good to see you, King Edmund," he said, meaning it. I smiled. I had missed him as well.

"Thank you, Captain. I'm going to join Aslan and my brother at the Lantern Waste. My sisters should be leaving to follow me in the morning. Until we return you and Cloudcaster are in charge of the Cair's defense."

"Understood, Sire."

"Have you assembled me a party?"

"Xati will head the troop. I've chosen your escort for speed and Jett is saddled. You'll have to live on field rations for a day or two."

I shrugged. The field rations in Narnia were delicious. Peter loved them. Besides, what I ate was hardly a worry, just so long as I did eat something. "Thank you." I hesitated, then asked uncertainly, "I don't suppose you know where Shafelm is?"

He shook his head, amused. "I do not, my king."

"Oh. Well. Please find me a suitable sword and belt." I stood there waiting, watching the soldiers bustle about and trying to control my excitement and the desire to just up and leave. I saw a Centaur leading Jett and I hurried over to greet the mare. "I'll take her, Gudrun," I said, relieving her of the reins. Jett huffed and pushed against me in greeting, anxious to be off and nibbling at my clothes and hair affectionately. I rubbed her soft nose, eager to give her back to Peter and get Phillip back.

Then I spotted Yoli and the inevitable troop of Dogs arriving and the noise level shot up to an unholy dim. "Yoli!"

The harrier rushed over to me, tail wagging. "King Edmund! You're up! You're better!"

"Not quite better yet, but well enough, thank you. Yoli, I want your Dogs to be quiet as we run. I know you can all run without barking at the same time. Pray exercise that ability, sir, my head is aching all ready."

"Of course, King Edmund!"

"And Yoli!"

"Sire?"

"If they insist on following Jett, they must keep up. We will not stop or slow."

He bowed. "I'll tell them, Majesty."

I had no faith that the promised silence would be honored for long, but it was worth a try. Kanell returned a few minutes later with a sword for me. As I buckled it about my waist he said, "I've spoken to Xati, and now I'll say the same thing to you: when you grow weary, rest. You are rising from a sick bed and you must not push yourself to the point of collapse again. You'll do the High King and Narnia no good if you cannot reach him."

"Thank you, Captain," I replied, knowing he'd probably said a lot more than that to Xati. "Send a Bat if you hear anything. And please make sure my sisters bring Marsk along for Peter."

"I shall, King Edmund. Aslan protect you and your brother."

I smiled in thanks then looked to Xati. "Ready, Lieutenant?"

"We are, Sire!" she called back. "Royal guard! Fall in!" She cast them a stern look, then shouted, "Move out!"

A better order I had never heard.