Author's Note: Here is another chapter for you guys! I am looking forward to hearing from you! Once again I owe a huge thank you to my wonderful beta, Queen Su. This chapter was hard to write so I appreciate all of her help!
Maria stumbled and covered her mouth to hide a gasp as she stared at Edmund's broken figure. She tried her best to recover from the shock and skittered towards the young king. She fell to his side causing the dust to rise around her, littering her blue dress with dirt.
Maria began to panic when she realized that Edmund didn't react when she sat down. Carefully, she lifted his wrist and felt for a pulse.
Edmund let out a small groan of discomfort; his eyes remained shut. Maria sighed in relief, he was alive. Gently she let go of his arm and surveyed the rest of his weary body.
One of the first things she noticed was the cut above his eye. Small drops of crimson blood had dripped down his cheek and crusted over his pale skin. Tenderly, she fingered the gash. To sooth the injury, she placed a cool cloth upon his wound. Still with closed eyes, Edmund's jaw became stiff and he slowly and painfully raised his hand to the rag and held it in place. That gave Maria a chance to examine his other wounds.
When Edmund's hand connected with the rag, Maria pulled her hand back. When Edmund lifted his arm she noticed deeper cuts that graced his collarbone and upper arm. Maria scooted around to his other side so she could get a better look.
Trying not to hurt him, she raised her hand to pull down the corner of his torn shirt to get a clearer look. Maria hesitated for a moment, as if asking for permission. Edmund moved his head slightly. Moving carefully she lightly pulled down the collar, noticing that the scars on his shoulder were just the beginning of his injuries.
Edmund's back was shredded and the scars from the previous days had opened again. Blood stained his shirt turning the blue to a shade of dark purple. Maria stifled another gasp and she backed away, moving to the front.
"Edmund, how did this happen?" Maria asked in a weak voice.
Edmund spoke, his voice was shallow and hoarse, "I didn't talk," he shifted uncomfortably, wincing in pain, "I didn't say anything. I will not be a traitor again."
Maria didn't say a word about Edmund's final comment, but handed him a cup of water, "You need to drink."
Maria turned pale. The cuts, bruises, and scars churned her stomach. Another thought crossed her mind; her father could have caused some of this pain. He could have beaten Edmund.
Horror washed across Maria's face at the terrible thought. Her head spun and her face turned ashen. "I need help," She said quietly. "I will go get Hanelise, some more water, and other supplies."
Edmund opened his eyes, silently watching her. "I will be back as soon as I can," she reassured him.
Maria tried not to look back as she closed the cell door and walked slowly up the stairs. She was going to be sick, taking a turn down the hall towards the kitchen she stopped at the door. "Can you get two cups of water for me?" Maria asked the servant.
The young woman disappeared for a moment before returning with two cups as Maria asked. Maria quickly drained one cup and she saw Hanelise through a crack in the door. She stood up and waved for Hanelise to come with her.
Setting down her work Hanelise came out into the hall. "Yes Maria?" she asked noticing her pale face.
"Edmund is hurt," Maria whispered so the others could not hear. "I need more supplies."
Hanelise followed Maria outside as they walked to the room where Maria usually stayed. "Was it bad?" Hanelise asked when they were alone.
"Yes. He is brutally injured. It makes me sick to think about it." She pressed her hand to her forehead, exhaling loudly.
Hanelise understood and chose not to say anything until they returned to the room.
Maria stared blankly ahead, thinking of the horror that must have gone on earlier today while she was having a good time at her lessons.
They pushed open the door and Hanelise began to dig around for supplies while Maria swiped a cloth and sat on her bed. She reached over and dipped the cloth into a water pitcher. Leaning back, she pressed the cloth to her head and tried to clear her thoughts.
How could anyone be so cruel? Edmund was not even grown and yet people still hurt him. Her father could have done something.
Maria knew her father; he wasn't that kind of man who would treat someone so young that way. He would never hurt anyone....would he? He had never hurt his daughter. Maria was around Edmund's age, but her father still caused Edmund pain. How could it be?
Maria didn't know if she would be able to look her father in the eyes again. Maria barely knew the young king, but she still felt sorry for him. Was her father always like this? No… That couldn't be possible, he was a nice man.
Until this week she had never seen her father do anything that appalling. He was caring, nice, loving, and a hard worker. This side of him that she saw didn't care for; he was cruel, heartless even! Maria didn't believe it, or she didn't want to believe it, but she had to face the facts; her father wasn't has kind as she had thought.
Hanelise's calm voice broke her thoughts, "Maria, we should go now."
Standing, Maria followed her out the door and they walked down through the corridors of the castle in silence.
Hanelise helped Maria past the guards and they turned towards the dungeon. Maria braced herself as they neared Edmund's cell. She unlocked the door and walked in, followed by Hanelise who faltered in her step when she saw Edmund. Barely recovering, they walked forward.
Hanelise worked on treating the wounds while Maria attempted to keep Edmund's mind off the pain. Taking the rag from his head and replaced it with a new one and she held it there. "You were brave Edmund."
He shot her a grim smile, sipping the water that Maria had given him.
The general's daughter avoided his gaze and said, "I am happy to help you, but I am outraged at what they did to you." Maria paused as Edmund cringed; Hanelise was cleaning the cuts on his arm.
"Edmund, I know you must be scared, but I don't understand. What causes you to be so strong through all of this?" Maria asked, but then realized that she might have offended him.
Edmund struggled to speak but he answered, "Aslan is with me. He will protect me because my life is in His paws. What He chooses will be done. He did not bless the raid, but he has blessed me and is giving me comfort in this dark time."
Maria listened carefully to his words about Aslan. Who was Aslan? Edmund seemed to admire him. She noticed that he had said paws. Aslan was some sort of creature? She didn't know about this Aslan, but something about that name warmed Maria's heart.
Edmund sucked in a deep breath as Hanelise pressed a rag to his shoulder. Maria flinched at the look of pain that spread across his face. She turned around and grabbed the basket handing Edmund a strawberry.
Edmund took the strawberry and thanked her before eating. He closed his eyes, clenching his teeth.
"I think," he started but then stopped and took in a deep breath, "Aslan put you here. Everything He does is planned," Edmund shifted as Hanelise moved to clean his back. "He knew I couldn't do this alone."
Maria felt a small smile penetrate her sick expression. "He knew I would help you?" Maria inquired, an overwhelming sense of curiosity taking over her emotions.
"He knew that you would do. He knows what you are doing now. Helping me; when no one else will," Edmund answered with faith.
Maria gathered all of her courage to ask that she was itching to say, "Who is Asl…"
Hanelise stood cutting her off, "I think that is the best I can do."
Maria let out a small sigh of frustration because her question couldn't be answered, although, she understood that she had to go. She would need sleep if she would come again tomorrow night. Edmund appeared to be exhausted too.
Reluctantly, Maria grabbed Hanelise's arm and pulled herself off the ground. She wiped the dust off her dress. "Edmund, will you be okay?"
Edmund opened his eyes and looked at them gratefully, "I hope so."
"I will try to come back tomorrow if I can," Maria said closing the door and locking it. "Please stay safe."
Edmund closed his fatigued eyes, "I hope to see you tomorrow. Thank you."
Maria smiled, "You're welcome. Please stay safe, I like visiting you, but not under these circumstances," Maria admitted. He didn't answer, so she said, "Goodnight Edmund."
Edmund said, "Goodnight Maria."
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