Chapter 3

Lucy froze, and clutched her little dagger tighter in her hand. She could just see the boy's chocolate eyes watching from underneath his fringe. She watched him take a step closer to her and she started, nervously.

"Don't come any closer!" she cried. She peered at his tunic, then gasped as she recognised the emblem on the front.

"Oh! You're like that other boy! The boy that's taken Susan! Get away from me!" she screamed and Edmund panicked.

"Shhh!" he hissed and Lucy stopped in surprise. "Please, just put away the dagger."

"Only if you throw away the sword" she said and Edmund looked at the hilt sticking our from his sheath. He drew the sword and looked down the gleaming edge. He saw the girl stiffen and bite her lip. He drew it back over his shoulder, then threw it into a tree near him. Lucy let out the breath she had been holding then sheathed her little dagger. Edmund took a step closer and she took a step back. She saw the boy roll his eyes, but Lucy was clever enough to stay away from him.

"Why do you and that other boy want us?" she asked, keeping a close eyes on Edmund.

"Your powers" Edmund, said seeming confused that she wouldn't get that. Lucy sighed.

"Of course. But I don't know how you thinks we will help you. Our powers can only be used by someone we trust." she said, brushing her hair out of her eyes. Edmund sighed.

"I knew there was a catch." he said. Then he looked at her.

"Go on." he said. She looked puzzled.

"Your no use any more." he said and she turned to go. Suddenly, out of the leafy canopy of trees, an arrow whistled through the air and struck Lucy in the leg. She saw Edmund stare at the Telmarine arrow, then he grabbed his bow and ripped the feathers of the end, before firing it into the trees. He heard a groan as it connected. Edmund ran forward and picked Lucy up from the undergrowth.

"Put your arms around my neck" he hissed and Lucy did so, almost in shock. He crept silently through the bracken and dead leaves, till he reached a small cave, set into a rock. As he carried her further into the cave, Lucy saw Edmund brush away the ivy and reveal a door. He fumbled around his neck and Lucy grabbed the small chain around it and give it to Edmund. He looked at her in surprise and she smiled, feeling sick as the pain blossomed down her thigh. He inserted the key at the end of the chain into the door, then closed it behind him. He laid her down on one of the small camp beds in one corner of the small cave and she saw him grab a small bag. He hunted through it, then pulled out a length of bandage.

"Show me where it hit you." he commanded. Lucy blushed, then pulled her skirt up to reveal the wound. Edmund wrapped the bandage around her leg tightly, then tied it.

"Make your self comfortable. I'm just going to get you some water." Lucy nodded and pulled on of the many furs lying around on the floor around her and lay back on the bed.

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Edmund stared down at the pail of water, then back at the door. He though of his father. King Miraz needed Lucy and Susan to hang on to power. Perhaps if Edmund helped Lucy, then she would help him gain power from Miraz. He might even give her a place in Narnia to live after he became King. Edmund smiled. He pushed open the door and saw Lucy fiddling with one of the little wooden swords Edmund had made when he was younger. Edmund smiled, then dragged the water closer to her.

"Drink it. You'll need it to get your strength up." he said, hunting around for a cup. Lucy nodded and took the cup he proffered. She drank, and wiped the spill from her top lip with her sleeve.

"Thank you. Shall I leave now?" she asked and made to get out of the bed. Edmund looked puzzled and pushed the fur back on her.

"Stay. I know how to heal your leg." Lucy didn't look convinced, so Edmund sighed. "look Lucy, your no use to anyone if your hurt. You can't help Aslan, you can't help Miraz and you can't help me." he said. Lucy stiffened at his last words.

"Help you?" she asked.

"Yes." Edmund looked into her eyes, noticing the mistrust rimming the beautiful grey circles. "I can dream, can't I?"

"What?" Lucy laughed, "To be King of Narnia?" Edmund shrugged.

"Why not? I'd be better than Miraz and Jadis."

"Anyone would be better than Miraz and Jadis." Lucy agreed, then she paused. "But you're a Telmarine. I though you had to be loyal to your King.."

"Just because they tell us to be loyal doesn't mean we are. Anyway, Miraz doesn't trust me, even though I'm his-" Edmund stopped himself just in time.

"His?" Lucy asked, leaning forward to talk to Edmund.

"One of his best soldiers" Edmund finished. "It's all my brothers fault. I used to be Miraz's favourite, then my elder brother returned and now it's all about Peter." Edmund laughed, sourly. "Joke's on Miraz though. Peter failed his duty."

"Peter was supposed to capture both of us, wasn't he?" Lucy asked, "not just Susan." her brow wrinkled. "You were supposed to help him take us back to Miraz?" Edmund nodded.

"Thank you" she said and Edmund looked up at her.

"For not taking you to Miraz?" Lucy nodded. He continued "I would just get punished. If what you say is true, then he would be told off for not being the hero who comes rushing in and saves you and Susan and takes you with me to Miraz." Lucy giggled.

"I probably would have believed you." she smiled and Edmund winked. Then he turned.

"I've got to go. Stay there. I'll be back tomorrow."

"Yes, sir!" Lucy saluted and laughed. Edmund smiled, then left. Yes, everything would be so much better when he is King.