Silence || The Chronicles Of Narnia

15: You can't promise that

"Edmund?"

Edmund swallowed hard and looked up at the room of Narnians, making eye contact with his brother and frowning slightly.

Peter looked quite concerned for a moment before taking a deep breath and speaking. "Do you know if the witch has an army or anything?" He asked.

Edmund stared at him for a second. "I didn't see anyone except her and the hag." He mumbled, wincing slightly when pain shot through his stomach.

Peter frowned again, having seen the wince, but obviously didn't say anything about it and instead turned to face Orious. "We could take an army?" He suggested. "Surround the castle."

"She has her wand though." Edmund said.

"It's broken." Peter said. "It's not like she can do anything with it."

Edmund sighed. "Pete, she traded me for the wand." He said. "She's obviously going to use it for something."

Peter sighed and nodded slowly. "I guess you're right." He mumbled. "But surely if we get her surrounded, she wouldn't try anything?"

Edmund thought for a moment. "I'm not sure." He sighed.

"None of us have any other idea on what to do." Peter said. "And we want to avoid a full scale war at all costs."

"Of course." Edmund said quickly.

"What I want to know is why the witch hasn't tried anything else." Orious stepped in. "She's left everyone but King Edmund alone, and even then she didn't hurt him, which is most unlike her."

Peter frowned. "You think she's planning something?" He questioned.

Edmund swallowed hard, tears stinging his eyes. "It's a possibility." He breathed.

"Alright." Peter said slowly. "We could send spies to the castle, and ask them to report back on what's going on there?"

"Find out what's she's up too." Tumnus added with a nod.

"I can sort that out." Orious said.

"Alright, that's sorted then." Peter breathed. "We'll send spies to the castle, and find out what she's up to."

"As you wish your majesty." Orious said, bowing his head before heading from the room.

Peter waited until the room had emptied, before turning to his brother, a concerned frown spread across his face. "Ed?" He asked. "Are you alright."

Edmund swallowed hard. "Yeah, why?" He asked.

"You kept flinching is all." Peter said slowly.

Edmund froze. He'd seen. He sighed, of course he'd seen! "I-" He stopped and took a deep breath. "Just, memories."

Peter didn't look satisfied with this answer. "Ed, are you in any pain?" He asked hesitantly.

Edmund stared at him and slowly shook his head.

"Why are you lying to me?" Peter sighed sadly, taking a seat beside his brother. "Come on, you know you can tell me anything."

Edmund took a deep breath, his heart pounding. He needed to come up with something, and fast. "She, um she-" He suddenly had an idea and took a deep breath. "She twisted my arm behind my back, hard. It's been causing me trouble ever since."

Peter stared at him for a second or two before swallowing hard. "Which arm?" He asked.

"Left." Edmund choked, feeling bad for lying, but he knew he couldn't tell Peter the truth.

Peter sighed. "Well, if it causes you anymore pain, let me know." He mumbled. "Please."

Edmund swallowed hard at the sadness in his voice, and slowly nodded his head. "I will." He murmered, giving his brother a reassuring smile.

"I'm going to help Orious sort everything out." Peter said. "But I'm going to walk you back to the girls first."

"I can walk myself." Edmund tried.

"No, absolutely not." Peter said firmly. "I now have two reasons to not leave you alone, so don't even ask."

Edmund sighed, but didn't argue as the two left the room and headed to Susan's room, which is where their sisters were.

"Are - Are you alright Ed?" Peter asked when they were half way there.

"Yeah," Edmund said, a frown on his face. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Peter sighed. "It's just, I thought you'd be a little worried." He mumbled. "Seeming as the witch is alive again."

Edmund swallowed hard. "Oh," He mumbled. "Yeah, I - I'm shocked I guess."

Peter tried to smile, but failed. "I know what you mean." He sighed.

"And actually - terrified." Edmund choked.

Peter stopped walking immediately and sat Edmund down on the nearby window seat, kneeling in front of him. "Listen Ed." He breathed. "I promise I'm going to protect you, she's not going to hurt you again."

Edmund's eyes filled with tears, his breath hitching.

He swallowed hard and concentrated on continuing to breathe, before opening his mouth. "You - you can't promise th - that." He choked.

Peter frowned and ran his hand through Edmund's hair. "Breathe Ed." He said gently. "And of course I can. I won't let her hurt you, not again."

"Peter p - please no." Edmund choked, shaking his head slightly, finding it harder to breathe.

"Ed calm down and breathe." Peter said quickly. "It's okay, Jadis isn't going to hurt you."

Edmund swallowed hard, his breathing getting heavier. "P - Pete." He choked. "L - lift my head b - back and - and hit my - my back."

Peter frowned. "What?" He whispered, but his eyes went wide when Edmund stopped breathing completely.

Edmund's hand shot up to grip Peter's shoulder, his eyes going wide as he choked.

Peter quickly sat beside his brother and did exactly what he'd said. He gently lifted his head back and pounded as hard as he dared on his back, relieved when Edmund took a deep breath.

Edmund swallowed hard and coughed a few times, before relaxing against Peter. "T - Thanks." He whispered.

"How did you know that would work?" Peter asked, running his hand up and down Edmund's back.

"The - the witch." Edmund sighed. "I - I stopped breathing once while with her. She obviously couldn't let me die, cause she needed me to trade, so she did that."

Peter sighed but nodded anyway.

"But anyway," Edmund said. "Please don't promise things like this."

"Ed stop, you're gonna work yourself up again." Peter said quickly. "Let's just drop this, calm down."

Edmund hesitated, but in the end nodded and buried his face against Peter's neck, taking a deep breath and wrapping his arms around his waist.

☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡