Author's Note: Thank you for all of the reviews! You all rock!
Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia… sadly.
Shout out: I have a shout out to WingedFlight for your helpful tips!
Maria stomped around her room. She shouldn't have yelled at her father. Now there would be no chance of her ever seeing Edmund again. She was in fact stuck in this room. Glozelle had punished her by forcing her to remain in her room. He would be able to hear if she left.
That boy got hurt because of me! Maria mentally kicked herself before taking a seat. She tried her best to take her mind off of him. But she couldn't, she heard his cries of pain ringing in her ears. Edmund must be hurting so much at this moment, Maria couldn't fathom it.
Although Maria knew little of the young king she knew he had a family. How are they feeling? For all they know, their brother could be dead.
There had to be some way she could help the boy without being noticed. She pondered this for a moment when the door opened. "Dinner is here," a servant said placing the tray on the table. Food! The guards wouldn't see anything on the outside. Maria could heal the boy on the inside.
She began to gather her things when a thought struck her. How would she leave the room? Back to step one. She could wait till her father was asleep. Maria had two ways to exit her room, through the main door, or through the maid's quarters. It seemed simple enough. Wait until Glozelle was asleep than leave through the maid's quarters.
Never mind, the maid knew that Maria wasn't allowed to leave her room. This seemed a lot harder than she thought. Maria waited for a moment before walking into the maid's room.
"Maria is there something you would like?" the maid asked sitting up and placing a book to the side. This servant was more of a friend to Maria, her name was Hanelise and she was only a few years older than Maria.
"My father asked me to go get him some dinner and then see if they needed any help in the kitchen," Maria lied.
Hanelise didn't seem to believe her, "I thought you had to stay in your room?" she questioned.
Maria took a deep breath, "He figured that another punishment would be helping in the kitchen." She gave a small sigh for affect.
Hanelise left for a moment and walked across the hall. Maria waited for what seemed like an hour until Hanelise returned. "He said that it was a brilliant idea to have you go help in the kitchen," the maid sat down and stared at her, "He congratulated me for thinking of the punishment, so he didn't ask you to help in the kitchen."
Maria turned to leave when she was stopped, "Is there something you would like to tell me?" Hanelise asked.
"There is a boy is the dungeons, he was a King of Old," She paused, "His name is Edmund and he must be my age," Maria still didn't turn around, "I can't stop and watch him by tortured, I have to help him."
The maid's face dropped, "Did I ever tell you why I am working in the castle?" Maria shook her head. Hanelise took a deep breath, "My brother was caught stealing food from the castle kitchen to provide for us. He was thrown in the dungeons and was killed by the guards." Her voice cracked, "There was nothing I could do to help him. The guards told me that he was killed in my place. If he didn't give himself up then I would be thrown in the dungeon. So instead of dying I was given a job here."
"I am so sorry," Maria went over to her friend. "I can't let what happened to your brother, happen to Edmund," She pleaded.
"I want to help," Hanelise said suddenly, "I can stand guard and get you into the kitchen without being questioned."
Maria though for a moment before speaking, "Ok, you can help. But if you here someone I want you to leave, I won't have you penalized for my mistake. That is an order," although Hanelise was older than Maria, she was below her in social status.
Hanelise agreed by opening the door to the hallway. She walked into General Glozelle's room and placed a tray on the table and slipped the keys into her apron. The girls walked along the halls looking as innocent as possible. Maria walked past the guards after Hanelise convinced them that they were going to the kitchen. "You get some food and meet me below in the dungeons," Maria whispered. Hanelise handed her the keys and turned down the hall.
She crept down the stairs and turned into the moonlit corridor. There he was, lucky for her he was asleep. She opened the door and cringed again when it creaked. His body shook, he began to stir and his eyes fluttered open. Maria turned to leave quickly.
"Who are you?" a male voice asked. "What is your name?" Edmund recognized her from the bridge, he ran past her the night of the raid. He saw her again earlier today with a man.
"Maria," she said quietly. "I am the General's daughter." She turned to see his reaction. His face was blank but also filled with pain. He gave her a questioning look. "You are going to have to trust me, my friend Hanelise is coming with food." She walked over to him and sat to face him.
"Did your father send you then, to try and find out about my family," he questioned her, "Because I won't talk."
"No, he thinks I am working in the kitchen. I want to help you please," Maria informed him.
"That is what the White Witch told me," he shivered slightly at the name.
"But I am not a witch, do I look like one?" she questioned.
"I ended up in a dungeon the last time I trusted someone who wanted to help me."
"Please," Maria pleaded, "Let me help you."
He sighed as he looked into her eyes "Well I am Edmund," he told her. He then held out hands expectantly. Maria glanced down at the chains.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have that key," she apologized. He sighed and turned from her as Hanelise came in a slid the food toward them. She turned and stood outside the door.
She handed him the bread and water, "I don't think the guards will notice that you ate something," Maria kept her head down, "I am sorry you got beaten at my expense," She could tell that he felt almost betrayed. But then again, Maria didn't know him well.
Edmund took a bite of the food. "Thank you, for helping me."
"But you ended up worse," Maria protested. Edmund sat up but didn't lean against the wall, his back must hurt.
"Yes but I know that I have someone here who isn't going to try and hurt me."
"I really didn't mean for you to get hurt," she gave him a weak smile. Maria looked up at him. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Could you clean my back? Just don't put any bandages on it," Edmund suggested. Maria nodded and went behind him.
She lifted his shirt slowly so that it was just above his shoulders. "Hanelise could you bring me a cloth?" Her friend nodded and left for a moment. "I am afraid that this will hurt when I clean it. Do you still want me to clean it?"
Edmund sighed, "It may hurt, but it won't be infected." Hanelise returned and came to her side. She held the shirt up as Maria took a glance at his back. It was torn and covered in dried blood. His back seemed to resemble a map with welts as roads and hills, and the blood was a river running through the land.
Hanelise handed the wet cloth to Maria. She lightly pressed it against his back. He cringed and she drew her hand back quickly. "It's okay, I am fine," he said. Maria slowly continued to clean the blood and as she dabbed the wounds. She ended up trading spots with Hanelise; she couldn't handle causing him pain even if she was trying to help him.
Maria watched as Edmund took deep breaths and kept his eyes closed. He would flinch every time the cloth was brought down on his sore back. She then took another cloth and cleaned the cut on his head. Edmund opened his eyes and watched once Hanelise was done, he lifted his hand and took the cloth from Maria. Edmund stared at the girls again as he held the cloth to his head.
"I think that is the best we can do," Maria said after they finished.
"Thank you," Edmund replied as they stood to leave, "Maria and Hanelise?"
"Yes?" Maria waited for his question.
"Will you come again tomorrow night?" asked.
"We will try out best," Maria gave a slight smile before leaving the dungeons.
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