Funny story. Last week in Microbiology Lab we had to kiss the nutrient stuff in our Petri dishes to see how bacteria grows in isolated, lip-shaped colonies. Well…we got back to Lab today and I pulled my lip print out but I barely saw any little bacteria growths so I took it to the professor to see if I did anything wrong and he hold it up to the class and goes "Look at this, class! This girl has the cleanest lips in town!" I just bowed to the class and felt better about myself xD

So anyway, back to the story!

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The battle was on the horizon. Scouts had reported within the last few days that a very large army had started across the desert and would be in Narnia within the week. Everything and everyone was bustling in preparation. Swords were being sharpened, arrows were being fletched, beeswax was being applied to bowstrings, spears were being made, shields were being inspected, and the Kings were training hard in the fighting ring.

It was at such as time that I was carrying an armful of just sharpened axes to the armoury that I happened across the training pit. The sound of clanging steel reached my ears and it sparked the memories of my former life. I dropped the axes off in the underground armoury and then sprinted back to the pit to watch the battle within.

It was a fierce fight taking place between the two Kings and I settled in to watch. Peter was obviously larger than Edmund, his shoulders broad and his height being nearly a head taller, but I knew better than to think that was to his advantage. Yes, Peter was a powerful swordfighter and very quick on his feet, but Edmund was quicker and Edmund was very, VERY calculating.

Peter swung, full force, at Edmund's calves but Edmund jumped over his blade as if it was no effort at all and as soon as he landed he brought his sword down toward Peter's shoulder. Peter sidestepped, barely missing the blow and took a step away. I heard him growl with frustration and I realized they must have been fighting for a while already because Peter was limping slightly and Edmund had a steady drip of blood coming from his left gauntlet. I tried not to worry about it, knowing that I had to focus on my own fight when the battle arrived, but I really wanted to fix him up as soon as this fight was over.

Luckily, it was over soon. Peter made a silly mistake in his weary state and tripped slightly, giving Edmund just enough time to bring his blade up underneath Peter's chin. They stood there frozen in that position for a moment, both of them heaving from exhaustion, then they clapped each other on the back and went to separate gates. I walked by Peter first and complimented him on his good form and then trotted over to where Edmund was gingerly taking off his armour.

"Oh, Edmund, are you ok?" I asked, seeing the pain on his face.

"Yeah, I'll be alright, Natani," he smiled at me and leaned in to kiss me on the cheek.

"Here, let me," I said suddenly when he hissed in pain as he went to remove his shoulder armour. I lifted it off of him and he gave me a grateful look even though I know he felt a bit like a pansy.

I took off each piece of armour (he wore much less than Peter did and this made me worry just a bit) and piled it carefully. When I removed his left gauntlet I covered my mouth to stop the squeak that almost came out. He had a deep cut running from his mid forearm down to his wrist and it was dripping blood like crazy. I looked up at his face and was shocked to find he looked even paler than usual, his freckles shockingly noticeable!

"Edmund!" I hollered at him and he jerked, looking at me in shock. "What were you thinking? Look at you!"

I glanced behind him and was horrified to see a little path of blood droplets in the dirt where he had walked out of the arena. He had already lost so much!

Without a second thought, I ripped a long strip off the bottom of my dress and grabbed him by the arm. I wrapped the strip as tight as I could just above the origin of the cut and then called to a Talking Horse that was trotting by. When I informed the horse of the situation, it took Edmund on his back and carried him to the castle steps. We managed to make it inside and up to his room before he started getting shakey.

"Edmund, lay down," I said, leading him to his bed.

"I don't want to get blood on Susan's sheets, she'll…"

"LAY DOWN!"

"Ok."

He laid down, looking sheepish as I hovered over him. I elevated his arm to slow the blood flow and called for Lucy. She appeared a few moment later and her jaw nearly dropped to the floor as the metallic scent reached her nose and she saw her brother covered in his own blood.

"What happened!" she shrieked, clutching my arm.

"It was an accident," I explained quickly, "It's a training wound. Now Lucy I need you to listen closely ok? I need thread, good strong thread and a decent sized needle. I also need any sort of cloth I can use as a bandage, preferably more than one. Now hurry and get them!"

Lucy was out the door in a flash and I thanked Aslan that a fire was started in the fireplace already. Susan came in the room a moment later with the needle and thread, explaining that Lucy was on the hunt for the cloth. I told Susan to sterilize the needle in the fireplace and thread it.

I went back to the bed where Edmund was laying in a cold sweat, he looked scared.

"What are you going to do?" he asked with a whimper.

"I'll have to stitch this closed," I replied, removing the second strip of cloth I had covered the wound with, "I think you may have nicked a major vein and you're losing blood much too fast."

"How do you know so much?" he seemed genuinely impressed.

"I'm a warrior," I shrugged, "I have to know how to take care of myself. I've had to give myself stitches before."

He nodded.

"I trust you."

Susan handed me the threaded needle and covered her mouth with her hands, taking a step back. Lucy rushed in and laid the strips of cloth on the table next to the bed and hugged Susan tightly.

I licked my lips and knelt next to the bed, placing Edmund's arm flat on the bed in front of me. I looked at his face and was frightened to see his eyes fluttering like they were going to close. We had already wasted too much time to be squeamish now. I stuck the needle through his skin and out the other side, pulling it taught and repeating. I tried to ignore his pained hisses and groans as I worked but I knew how bad it hurt, yeah I knew firsthand.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, I pulled the last stitch tight and tied a knot. I sat back and examined my work. Not perfect, but not too shabby, I smiled.

Edmund looked down and made a face like he was going to throw up.

"That's much better," he mumbled.

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Later that night, I sat Edmund up and brought him dinner. He wolfed it down like a starved lion and then sighed.

"Natani, I owe you my life," he said, taking my hand in his.

"It was nothing, Edmund," I replied with a shrug, "I would have done the same for anyone."

"I know," he smiled, "Because you're an angel."

He leaned in and kissed me softly, I could tell he wasn't in the mood for anything too passionate, not that I blamed him after losing that much blood.

"Ugh," he straightened up quickly.

"WHAT!" I was never so insulted in my life!

"No, not you!" Edmund explained, "It's just my whole back is so stiff and sore from the fight today and not stretching it out properly."

I smiled. Well I could do something about that. I got up and went around behind him and knelt on the bed.

"Come on, take it off," I tugged his sleeve. He obeyed immediately, only slowly because he was stiff after all.

I ran my hands over his muscled back and shoulders and grinned. Mmmm, I liked it. I placed my hands on his shoulders and began to knead firmly.

Edmund moaned and his head just flopped forward as he relaxed. I felt knots everywhere under his skin and I worked for a long, long time getting each and every one of them out. I was knuckle rubbing when he finally sighed and said he was feeling pretty good.

"Thanks," he said quietly, "Now come here."

He pulled me over his shoulder quicker than I could gather my thoughts. I sat up and he turned me around and I gasped with delight as his firm hands began rubbing my back. Oh, sweet Aslan…

"Ed, that's the most amazing feeling I ever felt," I mumbled, relaxing my shoulders.

He chuckled darkly.

"For now," he said softly, giving my ear a kiss from behind. I caught his meaning and wondered if there was a name to describe the shade of red my face had to have been at that moment.

"You…you're dirty," I said with a giggle.

"You better believe it," Edmund just went right on rubbing my back as if nothing had been said.

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Well it's 2:30 and I have a 9:25 class in the morning so…I need to go to bed and get at least 6 hours before I have to get up and run across campus to make it on time :D

Hope you enjoyed it! Reviews rock my face off.