I'm soooooooorry I've made everyone wait for this chapter...especially as the last one was a bit of a cliffy! But, I'm back; my exams are over so I won't abandon you all like that again! I'm thrilled with how popular this story is and it's wonderful to know Esha and Edmund are so loved! Thank you everyone who reviewed the last chapter, everyone review this one! Enjoy!
Edmund was tired of running, forcing each leg in front of the other with a determination that can only be created through love. Had the situation not been so awful he would have laughed out loud as he realised his stupidity; he had passed over 10 empty carts with the horses already yoked up on his way.
Slowing down he hauled himself up into the next empty cart, a mere minutes run from the last one, and spurred the two horses on, quickly turning the cart around and back onto the road. He looked back to check he had not been seen and noticed a white ribbon lying on the ground in the doorway. He harshly pulled back on the reigns, forcing the horses to stop abruptly. Getting back down he jogged over and picked it up, twining it round the fingers of his left hand before daring to admit that it was true; it was hers and she would be here.
Putting his ear to the door he paused before tentatively turning the handle, each second expecting to feel the resistance of the lock, but the handle slowly turned inch by inch until he was able to gently push open the door with a soft creak. He stood back against the outside wall for a moment, listening intently and waiting for someone to emerge. Finally he stuck his head around the door and practically jumped inside, immediately hiding behind the door. His confidence grew when he realised his entrance had gone unnoticed, and he gave a delighted grin as he noticed a sword sitting in an umbrella stand that was hidden with him behind the open front door.
He unsheathed it and went left cautiously, following the sound of the faint voices. He passed room after room and eventually came to a kitchen where a large man was talking to a thin woman, giving her orders about something to do with windows.
She saw him first and gave a scream, jumping backwards in surprise. The man whirled around and started back too before gaining his composure and attempting to threaten Edmund out of his home.
"Who are you? How dare you enter my home uninvited! I'll see you - "
"Where is she?" Edmund asked, his quiet voice somehow managing to carry over the booming tones of the other man.
"I am a very good friend of the magistrate and - "
"I don't care!" Edmund shouted, taking a few steps forward and pointing the sword directly at him, making him start backwards a little more, his eyes flicking between Edmund's face and the sword he gripped with a skilled ease. "I am King Edmund of Narnia and I have come for Esha; the helpless girl you disgracefully bought like an item." He elaborated, holding up his left hand which still had Esha's ribbon wound through his fingers.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He protested much more feebly, scared of the mad glint in Edmund's eyes and trying to protect his only son.
"Tell me where she is or I will sentence you to death right here, on this very spot. Tell me now, and I will ensure your punishment is lighter than everyone else's on this god-forsaken island!" Edmund threatened, his gaze unwavering.
"I gave her as a gift to my son; he is taking her to the physicians on his way home, due north." He said quickly as Edmund brought the sword closer and closer to the large mans belly.
"The physicians?" Edmund whispered, blinking rapidly.
"There was a fight and - "
But Edmund didn't hear what had happened and how Esha had been hurt; he was already running back to the cart.
He skidded to a halt at the front door he had left open, kicking up dust behind him as he pounded across the driveway and back to the waiting cart.
"Edmund!" A voice cried out. He once again skidded to a halt, squinting in the bright sunlight until he realised it was Caspian. In his haste he had not even heard the horse's hooves that had announced Caspian's arrival.
He ran into the road and leapt up next to Caspian. "Go!" He ordered, pointing on down the road in what he hoped was north. "Quickly!" Caspian flicked the reins urgently and the horses set off with a little jolt. "She's been injured and taken to a physician by her owner. We must get her to Lucy quickly!"
The two continued in silence, straining to see through the dust being thrown up around them. Edmund pocketed the white ribbon and put the sword down by his feet, sitting tensely on the edge of his seat, ready to move and do something at the first sight of her.
A cart gradually came into focus and Edmund had to stop himself from bolting up; firstly because they didn't know if it was the one Esha was in, and secondly because he would reach it much faster if he remained where he was.
"Faster!" He yelled at Caspian over the noise of the horse's hooves and the loudly turning wheels of the cart. Caspian flicked the reins urgently in response, continually doing so as they went just that little bit faster.
They drew closer to the cart and Edmund eventually made out a dark green shape. His heart leapt with joy as he realised they had found her and he picked up the sword and stood, carefully holding onto the cart and crouching, turning to his left as Caspian lined the cart up to draw up alongside the other.
The man driving the cart Esha was in realised with confusion that they were after him, but he noticed their odd clothes and one look in Edmund's dark eyes caused a flicker of understanding to pass across his face.
Edmund chucked his sword into the back of the cart and, being careful to avoid Esha, he flung himself in after it, landing beside her with a heavy thump that shook the whole cart. The horses automatically slowed at the extra weight and Darius began to panic, unable to defend himself and steer the cart.
Edmund picked up his sword with a great war cry and lunged at Darius, but the older man flung himself from the cart, painfully rolling away in the dust. The cart slowed and swerved without its driver; being shepherded by Caspians cart the two came to a rest at the grassy side of the road.
Edmund dropped his sword and checked Esha, pushing her hair back from her face he forced himself not to assume the worse as he took in her ashen face and closed eyes. The middle of her dress was soaked with blood and more of it had dripped onto the wooden cart so that she lay in a pool of it.
"Esha?" He asked, fearfully holding her beautiful face between his hands and tapping her urgently on the cheek. She opened her eyes but they barely managed to focus on him and they closed again a second later.
Edmund turned as he heard pounding footsteps, ready to defend Esha despite having discarded his only weapon, but the person he found was Caspian who drew to a halt beside him, peering in over the edge of the cart.
Caspian looked daunted at what he saw, unsure of what to do and Edmund realised he was on his own. "You drive, I'll stay with her." Edmund ordered. Drawing on his years of experience as a king of old he was already beginning to undo his jerkin. Caspian jumped into the driver's seat and hauled the horses around as Edmund pulled his shirt over his head. "Ok, now this might hurt a little, but it'll help..." He said, steeling himself briefly and pulling the knife out of her. He chucked it aside and balled his shirt up, pressing down as hard as he could in an effort to stop the bleeding. "Quickly!" He called out, alarmed that she had not even responded to either of the things he had done.
The cart began to jolt as it gathered speed and he repeated her name over and over, gradually getting louder and louder as he tried to wake her up, watching for eye movements or anything that indicated she was awake.
He checked for a pulse in her neck, holding his breath whilst his fingers desperately sought one. Her eyes fluttered open suddenly and he breathed a huge sigh, wanting to break down and cry with relief.
"Esha, it's me, Edmund, I need you to stay awake for me or - " But her eyes had already closed, and no matter how hard he tried he could not wake her.
Each second was vital to her. He pressed harder, realising she had lost a lot of blood, but he was no expert on women's body's. In his years as king he'd seen many men bleed to death on the battle field but he had no idea how much blood was in a human woman, she could bleed to death right here. "Hurry up!" He screamed at Caspian as he reached his conclusion and panicked. "She's dying!" Caspian whipped the horses with the reins at Edmund's words, barely slowing as they rounded the last corner and came into view of the now-calm courtyard.
Caspian had left the battle once the fight had almost been won and Lucy had told him where Edmund had gone. Now, the Narnian's had chained the traders who remained alive and were gathering the bodies of those who were dead as the cart drew to a halt in a whirlwind of dust.
"Allow me to introduce you - " Drinian started, pacing in front of the gathered slave traders, but Caspian interrupted him.
"Lucy? Quickly!" He yelled, jumping down and opening the door of the cart.
Lucy came running, taking one look at Esha's bloody body and quickly unbuckling her cordial as the crew, slavers and people of the Lone Islands all watched on in silence. It had been taken from her by the slavers, but they had uncovered the stash of their valuables and weapons half-way through the fight.
Edmund lifted Esha's head with a blood stained hand and Lucy tilted her cordial, letting a single drop fall in. He closed her mouth, waiting as the seconds ticked past for Esha to swallow and suddenly heal.
Her stomach glowed bright gold underneath his shirt and she took in a deep breath, opening her eyes and looking up at him in surprise.
Edmund let out a shaky laugh that was echoed by those around him and hugged Esha tightly, his heart beat beginning to slow now that he knew she was safe.