Author's Note: I hope you guys like this chapter! It took me a while to write. Please review!!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia or the people in it!

Maria stood in the back of the great hall. The light came in through the stain glass windows. The chandelier gave light to the room with a glow. She waited by the back door as everyone rose and the doors swung open. Miraz walked in with this robe flowing behind him. He moved at a slow pace taking in everything around him.

He came up and turned around keeling. Lord Sopespian turned lifting the golden crown. Light reflected and bounced off the red, blue, and green jewels. He lowered the crown onto Miraz's head. A smile came across Miraz's face. He turned grabbing the edge of the robe causing it to swing out. He turned and sat on the throne.

Maria watched as her father and other council members bowed. Maria kneeled and looked up at the smirking king. This was his country now. King Miraz stood and walked to his wife and they left. Everyone followed after him.

King Miraz and Queen Prunaprismia stepped out on the balcony. A crowd was gathered in the courtyard. "Long live King Miraz!" they called out. Cheers broke out among the people. They were unaware of his tyranny. They also didn't know about the captive in the dungeons that Maria had healed.

The King and Queen waited a few moments before backing into their room. Miraz kissed his wife and son and pushed past Glozelle, "Bring the King to me in the great hall," Miraz said with sarcasm in his voice.

Glozelle nodded before walking off. Maria, who was waiting outside the door, followed him. "Where are you going Papa?" she asked.

"King Miraz has asked me to go find someone for him," he answered.

Maria knew that he was to go and find Edmund, "Can I come?"

"No," her father told her, "It is none of your business."

She stopped, "Please Papa! I know that you are going to get the prisoner, and I can handle seeing him! I am not a little girl anymore," she noticed the confusion in his eyes, "I was there when the guard came to tell you and Miraz."

"He is the King now Maria," he lectured, "You must call him by the proper title."

"So can I come?" she asked refusing to give up.

He sighed, "You can come but you have to stay in the back and you can make to comments, if I ask you to leave, you must do so," his voice was stern. "Do you understand me?"

***

Peter slammed his fist against the stone table, "How could we lose him again?" he demanded. There was a silence in the room. Susan, Caspian, and Lucy watched him. "We have to go back for him!"

Susan's eyes were red with tears, "There is nothing we can do now," she admitted and hated herself for it. "He is in Aslan's paws now."

Peter was filled with guilt. "This is my entire fault!" he shouted in frustration. Ed was gone and it was his fault. They should have left when they had the chance. "I will go back and get him alone, and no one else with have to pay for my mistakes."

"It will risk you getting captured," Lucy piped up. Her dress stuck to her body she was hot with sweat. Lucy hesitated and stuttered, "What is he was killed in battle?" a tear rolled down her cheek.

Caspian was staying in the back with his head down when Peter spoke to him; "If Edmund survived the battle and was captured, what would they do to him?" his voice was shaking. Caspian stared at the three monarchs.

"It is hard to tell," Caspian said. "They will most likely get information from him, my uncle has his ways," Lucy gasped and covered her mouth, "maybe ransom. Your brother would be good bait."

Peter looked at the carving of the lion, "Aslan be with him."

***

A soldier lifted his leg and slammed it into the captive's stomach. Edmund groaned turning over. He stared at the people around him. Two guards, a man, and the girl he had seen on the bridge last night. Out of instinct he reached for his sword. He looked down and saw his hands were chained and so were his ankles.

"What is your name boy?" One of the guards demanded. Edmund stared at him before spitting at his feet. This earned him another kick in the stomach. The guard bent down and unchained his ankles, the other guard held Edmund up. "I asked for your name!"

Edmund remained silent. "King Miraz is waiting for you, and we best not keep him waiting." The guards lead him out of the dungeons. When they reached the courtyard people watched as they passed. Everyone knew he was Narnian. People spat at him as they walked by. Edmund tried his best to ignore them.

The doors to the grand hall swung open and the guards threw Edmund at the feet of Miraz. Pain shot through his knees and he struggled to not make a sound. Edmund kept his head down as he heard Miraz come near him.

"So little king, what is your name?" Miraz asked. Edmund didn't answer. Miraz grabbed his face and lifted it as if he was inspecting him. Miraz placed his hand under his chin. "You must be a King of Old, an enemy of the Telmarnies. You are Narnian." Edmund was ready to hit Miraz because of how much he despised Narnia. Edmund hated how he was so vulnerable. If his hands were not tied he would be fighting this man.

Miraz lowered his hand. Edmund's head whipped to the side as Miraz's palm connected with his cheek. Edmund didn't make a sound. But the slap brought back memories of a person he wished he could forget.

"Wait! The Beavers said something about the Stone Table and an army," a younger Edmund shouted to the White Witch to protect a fox he barely knew. But this was his fault.

"An army? Thank you Edmund. I'm glad this creature got to see some honesty…before he died!" Jadis screamed stabbing the fox with her wand turning him to stone. The witch turned to Edmund. She drew back her hand and slapped him. Edmund grabbed his cheek.

"Edmund, think whose side you are on. Mine…or theirs?"

"Your name?" Miraz asked.

Edmund paused, "Edmund," He said looking up at the evil King.

Miraz walked around Edmund a few times. "Tell me Edmund…"Miraz was interrupted.

"It's King Edmund actually," Edmund pointed out.

Miraz cried out in frustration. "Tell me where Caspian is hiding!" Miraz demanded. Edmund stared at the tyrant. After a few moments of silence Miraz looked at the guards. "Why don't you teach out guest a lesson about manners?" Miraz turned away as Edmund was once again lifted off of his feet.

Edmund was dragged back underground. The guards tied him so that his back was to the guards. His shirt was stripped from his back. Edmund knew what was coming. The bandage was noticed by the guards who spoke up.

"I see that someone healed you, and you will have to get ten more lashings because you are in better condition than we thought," The guard held out a whip for Glozelle to take it. "If you will General Glozelle."

Maria watched in horror as her father took the whip and came up next to Edmund. Edmund would be hurt at her expense. Maria turned her head away as she heard the whip crack against the floor.

She then heard the whip cut through the air and hit Edmund's back. She turned and saw blood flow from his back. She let out a small whimper. Edmund's eyes were closed and he was biting his lip. There was another crack and a welt appeared on his back.

Maria eventually just turned completely away and took a step outside. She could still here the sound of the whip and a cry of pain from Edmund.

Maria sat down outside of the dungeon and wiped away stray tears. Her father was not that kind of man who would hurt someone.

Her father stepped outside and saw his daughter. Maria didn't look up but spoke, "How could you do that to the poor boy?" Maria asked.

"It was my job Maria, I couldn't let anyone down," He told her.

"But he isn't an adult like you, he must be around my age," Maria said looking at him.

"I am the same man I have always been," Glozelle glanced down at her.

Maria stood walking away, "I thought you were the man I knew, and the man I knew wouldn't have done that."

Please review! I know you're out there!