A/N Well let's hope Peter can hurry it up right? I hope he gets there in time…*evil laugh* Well just read and find out and review if you want to make my day happier!
Blood had already started trickling down Peter's arms as he fiddled with the lock. 'Come on!' He thought impatiently and as if on cue a distinctive click was heard and his arm dropped unceremoniously to the ground. He blinked at his free hand for a moment then forced it up to unlock his other hand. His arms felt like rubber as he gripped the chains to pull himself up and his legs felt worse.
He took only moments to regain his balance and stop the dizziness that coursed through him. By sheer force of will, he commanded his legs to carry him to the stair case and climb it. By the time he reached the top, the circulation had returned to his legs and he dropped to his knees in front of the dungeon door to pick that lock as well. Once that job was done he placed the lock pick in his boot, promising himself he would return it to Edmund.
Peter edged the door open and peeked outside. 'Aslan be praised! At last some luck!' Peter thought gratefully. The sole guard sat in a chair, asleep with a wine bottle by his side. Peter crept out and moved to inspect the guard. To his delight Peter found that his and Edmunds sword lie next to the man as well. Peter clipped them to his belt then he unsheathed Rhindon and awoke the guard, only to lock him in the dungeon.
"Please Aslan let me be in time!" Peter prayed as he sprinted down the hall, mentally making a note to thank Oreius for making him remember things like passages.
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Edmund wasn't done fighting yet. Before Rasheed gained on him, he reigned in his wits and rolled to the side, grabbing his sword, and coming to a standing position. He was just in time to defend himself as Rasheed lunged. Edmund brought his sword up to defend his opponents blow and retaliate with a parry of his own. Rasheed easily blocked but left his shoulder open and Edmund took advantage of this by disengaging his sword and slicing across Rasheed's upper arm. Rasheed backed away, clutching his arm, much to the disappointment of the crowd.
Hatred was the first emotion Edmund had seen on Rasheed's face. With a fierce war cry the Calormen threw himself at Edmund with brutally hard blows that the king could barely block. Finally his sword was knocked from his grasp and Rasheed jammed his sword hilt into Edmund's forehead, adding to the gash still there from his first capture, more than twenty-four hours ago. Once the young king was on his knees, Rasheed kicked him in the chest, sending the boy sprawling backwards and knocking the breath from his body.
Rasheed stood over Edmund and raised his sword with an animal like snarl. 'This is it. I've served Narnia and my time is up. Goodbye Susan, Lucy. Goodbye Pete. I love you." Edmund closed his eyes as the sword was brought down.
Instead of the sharp sting of death that he had expected, Edmund heard a clear clang of metal and his eyes snapped open. There, sunlight behind him illuminating his golden head, stood Peter. His magnificent brother stood over him, protecting him and looking every inch the king he was. His eyes had turned to steel as he glared at Rasheed with such forced hatred Edmund was startled at the frightening appearance.
The crowd had lapsed into an eerie silence when Peter had run into the arena but now they yelled in outrage that their champion had been denied his kill. Peter and Rasheed ignored them and were consumed entirely with staring at each other in pure disgust. Rasheed's eyes shown with anger at being prevented from destroying his pray. Peter's return stare was equally as intense, displaying his hatred for the man who dared even think about harming his baby brother.
Slowly Rasheed backed away, allowing Peter to step around Edmund and stand more comfortable in front his brother. Up in the stand the Tisroc had leapt to his feet and he and the Vizier were conferring angrily. Still neither warrior in the arena took notice as they engaged each other.
Their movements were a blur as Rasheed attacked and Peter blocked, then expertly turned the attack against him and forced him back a few steps. Rasheed grabbed Peter's wrist and attempted to stab him but Peter caught his wrist in return. They grappled in a test of strength until Rasheed thrust his head forward and struck Peter's forehead. They boy stumbled back, stars dancing in front of his eyes, and barely recovered in enough time to stop the new onslaught of attacks.
Edmund, meantime, was trying desperately to muster enough strength to help his brother. He weakly grabbed his sword and pushed himself to his knees but that was as far as he made it. The hunger, the injuries, all the terrible abuse his body had sustained for the last few days finally caught up with him and he collapsed face forward.
The dull thump made caused both Rasheed and Peter's heads to turn. Worry threatened to choke Peter but Rasheed smiled smugly. That twisted joy ignited a flame of anger so bright in Peter that he moved without thinking. For years to come he would not remember how he did it but with a few skilled moves Peter disarmed Rasheed and jammed his sword between two of his opponents ribs.
Rasheed looked at him in shock. He coughed, a gurgled sound, and sunk to the ground dead. For the second time that day the crowd was hushed. Seconds later deafening shouts of outrage filled the arena. People demanded their champion be avenged. The Tisroc looked shocked beyond words so the Vizier spoke for him.
"Guards! Kill them! Kill the treacherous barbarians!" He yelled loudly enough for all to hear. Peter wearily made his way to Edmund while the confused guards organized. Again he stood protectively over the prone form of his brother as the guards charged them, weapons raised.
"Thus it ends for Narnia's kings. I tried to save you Edmund. At least we shall enter Aslan's Country together." Peter said to the unconscious form of his brother, as he raised his sword in preparation for the first wave of soldiers heading toward them. He wasn't going down without a fight after all. One soldier pulled ahead of the rest and was within feet of the kings, raising his sword to attack.
Suddenly he fell to the dusty ground, dead, and a red fletched arrow sticking from his chest. Like a beautiful storm, Susan and Lucy ran into the arena, fully clothed in armor and weapons in hand. Susan's next arrow was already pulled back and aiming at the next man threatening her brothers as she came to a stand shoulder to shoulder with Peter. Lucy had her small short sword drawn that she had gotten for her birthday from Oreius and she stood on the opposite side of Edmund, covering her sibling's backs.
The arrival shocked everyone so much that the guards stopped and looked at the newcomers in confusion. Susan took advantage of the pause to size up Peter.
"You look awful. Hopefully this will teach you not to send us away again?" Peter couldn't help but smile.
"If I hadn't sent you away you wouldn't have been able to save us. I hope you brought reinforcements?"
"Give it another thirty seconds." Lucy interrupted. Moments later an entire Narnian battalion charged into the arena, surrounding their monarchs.
"Thank the Lion." Peter breathed in relief.
Up in the stands the Tisroc turned wild eyes on the Vizier. "This is your fault! The whole thing was your idea!" He yelled, grabbing the Vizier's robes.
"Because you were too weak!" The Vizier spat and insane rage burned in the Tisroc's eyes.
"You will hang!" The Tisroc promised.
"No. You will die first!" And with that the Vizier plunged a dagger into the Tisroc's chest. Screams erupted in the crowd as the Calormen leader fell, dead, to the floor.
"I am the new Tisroc! May I live forever!" The Vizier shouted, madly. Suddenly a hand grabbed the Vizier and a sword was embedded in his stomach.
"May my father be avenged! I am the new ruler! Let the Narnians go free!" Prince Daka shouted in confidence. After a moment of baffled silence, the crowd began shouting, "Hail Tisroc Daka! May he live forever!"
Down in the arena, now that they were relatively safe while the Calormens sorted things out, Peter released his sword and dropped to his knees and gently turned Edmund over, cradling the boys head to his chest and supporting his upper body in his lap.
"Edmund? Please Ed, wake up." Peter pleaded quietly, brushing the dark hair from the boys closed eyes. He carefully fingered the gash on his brother's forehead, letting the blood stain his fingertips. The chest wound was ugly and painful but not life threatening. Sadly Peter reflected on how much Edmund took for his country, how much he couldn't protect him from. It was only by Aslan's grace that they survived and Peter relied on that grace as much as he relied on his brother. 'Please let him open his eyes!' Peter prayed, barely noticing as his sisters knelt next to him.
Oreius also came up cautiously to check on the young king. The centaur had been rather fond of the youngest king since he had saved him from Jadis' clutches so long ago.
"Pete?" Edmund croaked quietly. Relief threatened to strangle Peter at the sweet sound of his brother's voice. Similar waves of relief washed over the girls as Susan dropped her head carefully on Edmund's chest as tears of joy fell from her eyes. Lucy grabbed his hand tightly and held it to her face, gently planting a kiss on his palm. Though the affection was welcome, Edmund could do nothing but stare at his brother. The two shared a thousand feelings with just a look. Fear, relief, exhaustion, worry.
"Pete, are you all right? Are you hurt?" Edmund's voice was barely above a whisper but the worry sang through loud and clear. Peter let out a strangled laugh, unable to believe that his brother had almost died for him again and he was more worried about Peter's wellbeing rather than his own. Peter pulled Edmund closer, cradling the younger boys head until it rested against his shoulder then he wrapped his arms tightly around the lean frame. If Peter had his way he would never let Edmund out of the protective cocoon and secretly there was nowhere else Edmund would rather be.
"I'm fine Ed. I love you so much but don't you ever do something so stupidly heroic again!" Peter ordered lovingly, through choked sobs.
"'Kay. Glad you're ok and I love you too. Can I go to sleep now?" Edmund asked, already half asleep.
"Yes Ed. Sleep. I've got you and I won't let anything happen to you." Peter promised as he motioned to Oreius to get assistance getting the Just King medical attention.
To be continued…