Lost and Found

34: So close

Edmund was silent and he was led inside, trembling hard and forcing himself to keep his breathing under control.

This place didn't look too much different to the first place, but it gave him a weird feeling, and he didn't like it one bit.

He was led through the seemingly empty house, before being shoved into a room with nothing more than a bed inside.

Edmund panicked slightly as someone secured shackles around his wrists and forced him to sit on the edge of the bed, his heart pounding in his chest.

"You will stay here until we have figured out what work you can do." One of the men snapped. "And if you so much as try and escape, well the punishment will be so bad you'll wish you were dead."

Edmund nearly choked on the tears he was trying to hold back, and shuddered harshly when the men left and the door was closed, the only light coming from the window at the end of the room.

He sat there, taking a deep breath and trying to ignore the pain already coming from his wrists. He tried to lay down, but the shackles wouldn't allow him, so he was left sat up, with nothing to lean against or anything, which wasn't great seeming as he was feeling quite dizzy.

He sighed quietly, burying his face in his hands before running a hand through his hair. "Come on Peter." He whispered. "Where are you, please."

He was left alone for at least an hour, before the door burst open and a guard walked in, causing Edmund to back as far away as he could, even though it definitely wasn't as far as he would've liked.

"You'll be in the stables." The guard told him.

Edmund frowned a little. They obviously hadn't been told about the whole stable incident, otherwise he doubted they'd let him work there. But he kept his mouth shut, after all he'd rather work there than anywhere else.

His gasped in fear when the shackles were broken and he was grabbed, the guard hauling him to his feet.

"You're rather jumpy aren't you?" The guard laughed as he led Edmund from the room.

Edmund just kept his head down as he walked, swallowing hard and forcing his tears back, after all, crying wasn't going to do anything but tire him out, and with the way he was feeling, that really wouldn't help.

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May 8th

Peter swallowed hard as he climbed off Philip, staring up at the huge mansion, his heart pounding slightly.

"So, he's in there?" Peter murmered, taking a deep breath.

Amir nodded. "Yeah," He replied. "That's where your brother is."

"So..." Peter mumbled.

"Can I help you?"

Peter looked through the gate, spotting a man in guards uniform, a frown on his face as he walked over.

"As a matter of fact yes you can." Peter said slowly.

"Who are you?" The guard asked.

"High King Peter." Peter responded without any hesitation.

The guard frowned. "As in, of Narnia?" He questioned.

"Yes, High king of Narnia." Peter told him, squinting in the recently risen sun.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" The guard asked, sounding suspicious.

"I want to talk to the person in charge of this place." Peter told him. "Don't worry, we come in peace, you don't need to be alarmed, I just need a word with him."

"Why?"

Peter rolled his eyes. "That is none of your business." He shot back. "Now let us in."

The guard clearly hesitated, but in the end sighed and opened the gates. "Follow me." He muttered. "And don't try anything."

Peter breathed a sigh of relief and followed behind the guard, Philip, Amir and Orious following quickly behind.

Peter kept his hand on the hilt of his sword just incase, glancing around as they walked. He spotted people hard at work all over the place, and swallowed hard, looking out for his brother.

He didn't find him though, and sighed when they were led into the house, down a couple of corridors and into a rather large room, the only people inside being a few servants and a man sat on what looked like some kind of throne, but Peter knew it wasn't.

"Sir." The guard said, catching the man's attention. "The High King of Narnia wishes to speak with you."

The man stared at Peter, frowning a little. "A bit far from home aren't you?" He said after a while.

"We come in peace." Peter assured him. "I just wanted to talk."

"And talk about what? May I ask."

Peter took a deep breath, his heart pounding. "About one of your slaves." He choked out.

The man frowned. "One?" He questioned.

"Yes one." Peter asked. "His name-"

"I don't bother learning their names." The man cut him off. "You'll have to describe him to me."

Peter gritted his teeth and sighed. "Okay." He murmered. "Dark hair, brown eyes, pale skin, freckles, a little tall for his age-"

"Ah, the Narnian that was brought here a couple weeks ago?" The man guessed.

"Yes." Peter said slowly.

"Well, you won't find him here anymore."

Peter's heart skipped a beat and he frowned. "What?" He murmered.

"I sold him." The man said simply. "He was causing way too much trouble and no amount of punishment was working."

Peter's heart was pounding at this point, and he felt sick. "Where - Where did you send him?" He choked.

"I have no idea." The man responded. "I don't ask questions like that when I sell my slaves, he could've gone anywhere."

Tears stung Peter's eyes. They had been so close, so close. "When - when did you sell him?" He all but whispered.

"Only yesterday." The man told him, shrugging.

Peter swallowed hard. Yesterday? Only yesterday? They had been one day too late, and now he was gone, sold to goodness knows where, and they'd have to search the rest of Calmormen to find him.

Peter felt sick, they had been so, so close, and now... Edmund was gone... again.

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