Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia... ;'(

The Recovery

His torso was wrapped tightly with thick gauze and a wet cloth was laid on his forehead. His face still held that blasted painful expression even in his sleep. His muscles kept cringing and his fists were balled up, his forehead covered in sweat. He was shaking. His whole body. He was falling apart before Peter's eyes.

And all he could do was watch.

He had been sitting here in the Cair's infirmary for almost 4 days, only leaving once a day to go do whatever his duty was for that day. But even then he couldn't concentrate and would ask to be excused to go see if Edmund was doing alright.

When they had got Edmund back, immediately Lucy had given him a few drops of the cordial. At first nothing happened and they were sure it was just because the cordial didn't work instantly as they had hoped. So they brought Edmund to the infirmary where they bandaged him and awaited for the wound to heal.

It had been a few days and Edmund had still far to improve in his healing. The doctor had said to Peter that Edmund's wound must have been far servier than they had originally thought and that one of his organs was pierced as well. He had internal bleeding and since he had been stabbed there before it would take longer to heal. So each morning, even with Edmund's protest, Lucy would give him a dose of her cordial in order to have everything heal properly.

So far not much has happened, beside the fact that the blood had stopped flowing from the wound. Edmund was becoming unconscious more often and for longer periods of time. His fever would increase then decrease then increase again.

No one, not even the greatest of doctors could tell what was wrong. The last resource they had was an old centaur from the northern mountains whom would be coming in quite soon.

Peter sighed making tiny circles in the palms of Edmund's hand as he watched his brother's eyes slowly open. Peter's heart lifted as the two brother's eyes made contact.

"How are you feeling, Ed?" Peter asked, a smile creeping in the corners of his mouth to see Edmund's eyes had a little more shine to them than before.

Edmund took a shaky breath, and Peter knew he wasn't doing well.

"Here," Peter let go of Edmund's hand and stood, walking over to the table that stood on the far side of the room where a pitcher of water sat, Peter poured Edmund a goblet of water and held it to his lips "Drink," It was almost an order had he not said it so gently. Edmund gratefully took the cup and drank it to the last drop.

After he took his last sip, Edmund gasped for air and rested the muscles in his neck. His head was turned to look at Peter, his eyes still sparkling.

"Edmund, please" Peter begged "You haven't spoken in days, say something..."

Edmund cleared his throat and whispered hoarsely "I don't have much of a voice..."

"We can get Lucy to fix that-" Peter began then stopped when Edmund shook his head.

"Stop wasting the cordial" Even thought the words were weak, they were commanding and strict. Edmund's eyes showed it.

Peter nodded in understanding and licked his lips in anticipation "The doctor is coming soon..."

Edmund frowned and Peter could almost hear his brother's thought, another doctor? He could tell Edmund thought of it as unnecessary, but Edmund didn't see how terrible he looked.

"It's for your own good, Ed." Peter said letting his younger brother know this was the end of that subject.

Edmund sighed painfully and closed his eyes and mumbled "Let me know when the doctor arrives..." and with that he was asleep again.