Lost and Found

19: I really miss home

Peter sighed as he lay down in his hammock late that night, staring up at the ceiling with tears in his eyes.

He'd been hoping to find Edmund at least before his birthday ended, but seeming as it was nearly midnight, that hadn't exactly gone to plan.

He found himself thinking over the day as he lay there, and immediately felt guilty about how he'd acted towards Susan earlier. He was just so scared, and it came off as frustrated, but he was frustrated.

Edmund could be anywhere, having goodness knows what done to him, and Peter could do nothing to stop it. For all he knew Edmund could be miles away, and of course he was, but Peter didn't know this.

They should finish searching Narnia tomorrow, and then Peter would start searching beyond, into Archenland and perhaps into Calormen. He didn't know if that was a good idea, but if he searched the whole of Archenland and he could find no signs of his brother, then he would search the whole bloody dessert if he had to.

He found his eyes dropping as he lay there, and told himself he'd get a few hours of sleep before continuing his search, because after all, Susan was right, he was exhausted.

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28th April

Edmund sighed as he cleaned up the next morning, his face throbbing from the punch he'd received the day before.

There was a dark black bruise there already, as well as a split lip, and Edmund was in more pain than he would've liked.

He'd woken probably around four hours after the blow, and was instantly given a stern talking to about wasting water, with the extra punishment of having to work through the night without sleep, and by now he was exhausted.

He swallowed hard as he grabbed the brush for the horses, and looked up when finally Amir was brought back.

The horse and the boy shared a look, and waited until the guard had left, before one of them even dared speak.

"You look awful." Amir muttered. "What did you do to deserve that?"

Edmund sighed as he began running the brush along the horses back. "I kicked the water bucket over." He muttered.

Amir let out something of a sigh before  nodding. "Yeah." He said slowly. "That probably wasn't a good idea."

"I guessed." Edmund snapped, before seeing the look on the horses face. "Sorry." He whispered, lowering his head but still continuing with his task. "I - I just really miss home."

Amir gave him a look of understanding. "I'm sure you'll be reunited with your sib - sibling soon Your - Edmund." He said, almost calling him your majesty and maybe giving away who he was.

"I really hope so." Edmund sighed. "It was my brothers 20th birthday yesterday, I hate that I wasn't there with him."

"Your brother cares for you?" Amir asked, nudging Edmund so he'd get on with what he was supposed to be doing so he wouldn't receive another punishment.

Edmund smiled weakly. "He really does." He whispered. "He's probably worried sick about me right now, which makes me feel bad because all this is practically my fault."

"How is it?" Amir questioned, looking confused.

Edmund sighed. "I went out for a ride late at night." He muttered. "I didn't wear my crown, I didn't dress like I usual do as King, and I went too far from Cair Paravel, it's no wonder they didn't believe I was King Edmund."

"I'm sure your brother doesn't blame you." Amir told him gently.

"I know he doesn't." Edmund agreed with a nod. "But I do, its my fault and I've probably driven him mad with worry by now."

"You reckon he'll find you?" Amir asked, sounding hesitant.

Edmund sighed. "It's Peter." He muttered. "He won't stop until I'm safe, and that's what worries me. When I say he won't stop, I mean it quite literally, I just hope he has Susan to knock some sense into him when he refuses to sleep."

"He'll do that?"

Edmund nearly laughed. "He most certainly will." He breathed. "He's the most protective person I know, and after everything that's happened to me, he's probably more protective of me than the girls, and whilst he won't admit it, practically half the kingdom and Susan and Lucy know it."

"You're taking about - about the white witch." Amir said warily, unsure if he should be bringing it up.

"I take it you know?" Edmund said, getting a nod from the horse. "Yeah I'm talking about that. I mean, Peter's always been protective yes, but after what happened to me, he's scared to death to lose me again. Whenever something happens to me he gets so worried it makes him sick."

"At least you know he cares for you after what-" The horse stopped.

"After what I did." Edmund finished the sentence with a nod. "Yeah I guess. But I hate when he worries so much."

Amir hesitated a little before sighing. "Not to scare you or anything." He said slowly, getting a deep frown from Edmund. "But this time, your brother has very good reason to be worried."

Edmund swallowed hard. "Is it really that bad here?" He whispered, voice shaking.

"Let's just put it this way." Amir said quietly. "That punch was absolutely nothing compared to what they've done to some people."

Edmund took a deep breath. "I wanna say I hope he'll find me soon." He whispered. "But he's probably still searching Narnia, he'll search everywhere to find me, and it sucks that I'm in the last place he'll look."

Amir nodded in understanding. "He'll find you eventually." He reassured him. "I know he will."

Edmund smiled gently and nodded. "I believe that." He whispered, but he still sighed. "Although something tells me I'm going to be here for a rather long time.

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