Discalimer: I don't own Narnia

Author's Note: I remember when I wrote this! It was horrible! I had written a brilliant three pages of this chapter, and then Mum called for dinner. When I got back, the computer had gone whack-o and there was only three paragraphs left! It was terrible. I remember I tries so hard to recover what was left in my head, but as many authors know, you can't re-write what you've already written. So even though this is one of the best chapters in the book (story, fiction, etc...) it was WAY better before. Always R&R!

The Zetopia Flowers

"You alright, Ed?" Peter asked when he felt his brother's pace slow a bit.

Edmund stopped, letting out a pained hiss, "Sorry Pete... I think I need to stop again."

Peter nodded and helped Edmund into a sitting position so his body was lying against the wall. Edmund's torso was wrapped in bandages then even more were wrapped around over the top of his tunic to keep him from bending his torso by the waist too much. Peter looked over Edmund who was gritting his teeth. He let out a small whimper of pain, making Peter go into his overprotective mode.

"Maybe we shouldn't-"

The glare Edmund gave Peter startled him slightly. Edmund's voice suddenly grew into a deeper almost growl, "No. The Zetopia's only bloom once a year. We're going tonight." Edmund's glare was hard and demanding. Peter nodded in response.

There was a pause before Edmund spoke again "I think I'm alright now. Can you hand me my cane?"

Peter held out the iron rod by the silver lion's head attached to the top for Edmund to hold onto while walking. The cane had been a great help since they had received it that morning. It had improved Edmund's mobility tremendously considering it was hard for him to hold his body up with the pain in his stomach.

Peter smirked "Here you go, old man"

Edmund rolled his eyes, taking the cane "Thank you very much, honey"

Peter chuckled, extending his hand, glad that Edmund had gained back a bit of his humour since his injury.

Edmund stood, stumbling slightly, putting his cane down to catch himself. Peter hesitated on whether he should help him or not, knowing how protective Edmund was of his independence.

"Ed-"

Edmund looked, to see Peter's worried gaze. He huffed "I'm fine, Peter". He bit the inside of his cheek, suddenly feeling a jolt in his side; he looked to the ground, not wanting his older brother to notice.

Peter nodded, still giving Edmund his worried glance "Come on then, if we want to get there in time to see them open..." He said being very careful not to say "quickly" for fear of hurting Edmund any further.

"Okay" Edmund looked up from the ground. He took a few steps forward to the door leading to the stables before he stumbled forward with a moan.

"Ed!" Peter ran to him, putting his hands under Edmund's arms, to steady him. His voice grew gentle "Here, maybe I should help"

Edmund nodded "Maybe you should." He reached up and draped his right arm across Peter's neck, and pushed a little harder on his cane to help him stand a little taller.

Peter reached around Edmund's back so he was grabbing the other side of Edmund's torso, right under his arm. He pulled Edmund into a straighter posture before they began to slowly make their way to the gardens.

The cool, crisp air of early autumn filled both of the young men's' lungs. The sky showed it was late twilight and there was a cool stillness in the air. Peter helped Edmund down the steps leading from the door to the ground. Edmund looked about the flowers and fruit trees, finding the small path that lead south to the Zetopia's and Lilies.

"This way," he said, pointing to the path, picking up the pace a bit quicker.

"Not so fast, Ed," Peter warned "You don't want to strain yourself"

Edmund slowed down slightly, not even bothering to argue, looking eagerly towards the path.

"Smell it..." Edmund repeated, taking in another sniff, leaning so his back was fully leaning on the back of the bench.

Peter took in a deep breath of the sweet scent, "Yes Edmund, it smells very good."

"Like vanilla... or... brown sugar..." Edmund closed his eyes and sat for a moment of silence. Peter took his eyes from his little brother to the flowers that were blooming all about the bench they sat on. The bright orange and cream petals complimenting the dark star lit night. It was dark and Peter half expected a few fairies to pop out of the trees to see the beautiful sight. But no one was there. No one.

"Edmund..." Peter began then trailed off, no quite sure what he wanted to say. There was something stirring in his mind, something he couldn't detect.

Edmund opened his eyes and looked up at his older brother, studying the expression on his face. Peter's blue eyes were staring past the Zetopia flowers into the distance, and an odd look of confusion was on his face.

Edmund looked back down at the bandages on his torso and saw a faint colour of red hidden under many layers of white. He was bleeding again. Edmund drew in a deep breath and glanced at Peter, who was looking at him, not with worry as Edmund had expected, but with a calm slightly happy look.

"Glad you got to come out here?" he asked almost as gentle as Susan would have.

Edmund quickly looked at his bandages then back at Peter. His wound wouldn't spoil the evening. He wouldn't let it. He nodded.

"I am glad. You never know when the next time you'll get to see something like this. Rare things are called rare for a reason."

Peter nodded, and looked at the flowers before whispering, "But what you really should treasure are the rare moments, yes. But don't forget the precious moments, for they are the rarest."

Edmund looked at his brother, "What do you mean?"

There was hesitation in the air before Peter said quietly, "like now..."

There was a silence before Edmund spoke, "You know, Pete, it shouldn't be only now that you should consider a precious moment..."

"I know, Ed."

"No you don't," Edmund shook his head, "Would you have said this at dinner?"

"Yes."

Edmund's eyes narrowed, "Before the accident?"

Peter took in a deep breath, not answering because they both knew the answer to that question. There was a silence as the two brothers took in more of the sweet sent before Peter whispered,

"I can't lose you..."

Edmund looked at his brother, a sad expression on his face.

"Don't worry, Peter you won't."

"But Ed, look at you the bandages, the cane-"

"Show I'm getting better," Edmund interrupted, "Peter, I'm getting better! How else could I have gotten out here to see the Zetopia Flowers?"

"But Edmund..." Peter struggled to find words, "I- I can't- I can't lose you."

Edmund's eyes were soft, "You won't." But suddenly there was a stroke of pain in his stomach and he winced, trying to hide the look from Peter. Peter's face grew worried. He saw.

Immediately Peter pulled Edmund's arm off from where it lay over his lap and unwrapped Edmund's red cape from his torso. Edmund flinched once Peter ran his fingers over the bandages. Peter's eyes grew wide.

"Edmund you're-!"

"Bleeding," Edmund finished the sentence for him.

Peter looked into Edmund's eyes with concern, "You knew? Why didn't you say anything?"

"I-I didn't want you to know..." Edmund admitted, "I wanted to stay longer- I-"

"Oh, Edmund, we need to get you to bed, you need to rest!" Peter said reaching around Edmund's back preparing to pull him onto his back, but Edmund wriggled out of his grasp.

"No Peter! I'm fine here!"

"Edmund, don't be silly! We've got to get something to help this, you're not going to get any better just ignoring the problem!"

"Pete!" Edmund pushed his brother further away from him with his arms, "Pete! Stop!"

"Ed stop struggling you're-!"

Edmund suddenly let out a large pain filled scream, so loud you might have thought that he had been stabbed all over again. The blood curdling cry rang throughout the gardens. Edmund cried again and clutched his stomach, falling off the bench, Peter catching him before he hit the ground.

Adrenaline pumped through Peter's veins as he threw Edmund over his shoulder, being careful his stomach wasn't against his shoulder bones. He stood, forgetting the cane and sprinted with Edmund in his arms to the castle in the distance.