Here is chapter two! I want to give a big thank you to the amazing Shadow_Elf_Warrior and their incredible insight and dedication to me and my antics.
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Disclaimer: I do not own The Chronicles of Narnia. This magnificent series is the property of C.S. Lewis and Walden Pictures.

Negotiations

Chapter Two

King Miraz looked at the boy with a small smirk and, leaning back, chuckled to himself at the ingenious plan he had devised. "I will humor your elder brother in combat, but not for the trivial and insignificant matter of your people and their hope. I wish to instill the respect and admiration in my subjects' view of myself, as it should be. My brother was far too lenient and as a result he was slaughtered mercilessly in his sleep. I will not allow my fate to suffer in the same manner." At this statement, some of his councilmen jerked their heads up to face their monarch and examine his visage, looking for any sign of a bluff.

Continuing his speech, the Telmarine spoke again, "My people should comprehend that they should respect their monarch indefinitely, and submit to him all they have." Miraz explained this nonchalantly, gazing absently down at the papers on the table and shifting through them inattentively.

Edmund stood there before the councilmen and their despicable king, barely managing to contain his anger and seething to himself. Sensing the young king's mental absence, Miraz called the boy back to attention by adding to his words and continuing to outline his plan.

"You, King Edmund, will be my first demonstration of that power." The Telmarine king finished and began snickering maliciously and obnoxiously when he looked up and saw Edmund's expression to his declaration.

Edmund's composure had fallen and, feeling a lurking danger, reached for the blade bestowed upon him by the centaur he met before the Battle of Beruna. Tapping his hand around where his sword should have been, he begrudgingly recalled leaving the blade with his brother, determined to show the Telmarines that he meant no harm.

"Excuse me?!" Edmund shouted indignantly.

"It's quite simple actually," the Telmarine tyrant went on and, with a discreet motion with his hand to Glozelle who had positioned himself behind Edmund in the corner of the tent, the whole room became abuzz with movement.

The signal, however, did not go unnoticed by the Narnian King of Old and he prepared himself for any number of attacks. Glozelle inclined his head at the young king and looked at the three soldiers positioned around him in a commanding way, sending them into a flurry of soldiers and one Narnian king. The three reached for Edmund's arms instantly and he narrowly leapt from their grasp. Yelping, Edmund spared a glance at King Miraz and noticed he was no longer simply chuckling to himself, but was now bellowing with laughter.

Twisting and turning frantically, Edmund desperately scanned the area for an escape attempt. He grimaced as he realized that his chances of escape were so slim that it was near impossible to accomplish. The Narnian king ceased his struggles and allowed the Telmarine soldiers to wrap their fingers brutally around his arm and yank him to face King Miraz once again. Edmund willed himself not to flinch at the bruises forming on his arms and instead turned to meet the gaze of the king standing directly before him.

While Edmund had scuffled with his soldiers, King Miraz had risen from his chair and walked around the table to situate himself where Edmund had been previously. Edmund stood rigidly between two of the Telmarine men, the third had resigned himself to the back of the tent next to Glozelle, and was shooting indignant glares at the tyrant before him. King Miraz stifled another laugh at the young man's crumpled garments and irate exterior.

The area was silent, apart from the heavy heart beats and ragged breathing of Edmund and the soldiers. Grinning madly, Miraz straightened his posture, lifted his chin arrogantly, and broke the silence with his heavily accented voice, "My people will easily sway to my liking when they pay witness to the public torment and execution of the such a young and," pausing to place two of his calloused fingers beneath Edmund's chin and using his thumb to turn the boy's head to the side to examine it, Miraz said, "Prominent enemy."

Miraz had to tease him to add to the affect his news had taken on the young king. "Don't worry, your majesty," He drawled, making his sarcasm quite clear." I'll make sure your family gets word of our arrangements. Thank you for being so compliant," the Telmarine king said mockingly.

Edmund could scarcely contain the urge to growl that was building in the pits of his stomach. Miraz sneered at the young Narnian king and withdrew his hand back to his side.

Relaxing somewhat now that the madman's hand was no longer touching his face, Edmund turned to glare at Miraz once again when a sharp pain exploded on his cheek, forcing his head to whip to the side. Edmund took the slap without a word or even a small cringe. He was rather proud of himself. Miraz looked quite disappointed that the response to his blow was not what he had hoped for.

Much to Edmund's distaste, the hit forced memories to the forefront of his mind. The same memories he had worked so hard to repress for so many years. He found himself face-to-face with Jadis, the infamous White Witch, and bringing about a strange echo of the cruel bruises and aches he had received while in her company. Not only had the physical injuries been brought back to his attention, the painful guilt of betraying his sibling crashed into his mind and washed over the king like a tidal wave.

Mentally shaking his head and forcing his mind back to the present, Edmund felt himself being hoisted up by the Telmarine men and heard Miraz command in a distant voice, "Make sure our Little King is nowhere he can wriggle his way out of."

Miraz had watched Edmund's face drop from triumphant to an unknown guilt and pain in an instant and, recoiling from the abrupt change, ordered the boy be taken away. When he noted the frightened and doubtful glances he received from his soldiers, Miraz became quite pleased with himself. He dismissed his councilmen and the lone soldier still standing in the vicinity; he sat down once again, this time to compose a letter the Narnian High King. Giddy with excitement and imagining the looks of pure horror and outrage that would cross the Narnian's face when the saw the result of his handiwork, he began crafting his response.

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