Lost and Found

41: Free

Peter held Edmund gently against his chest and rocked him back and forth until he'd calmed down, his tears slowing and his breathing returning to normal.

"Your brother?"

His head snapped up when the guard spoke again, and he glared at him. "Yes my brother." He snapped. "King Edmund the Just."

"Well he never said anything." The guard muttered.

"For fear of kidnap!" Peter exclaimed. "For fear of being held for ransom or worse, killed!"

The guard stared down at him, even he couldn't deny that that was probably what would've happened.

"And I don't care what anyone says, I'm taking him home." Peter all but growled, a protectivness coming over his voice as he pulled Edmund just a little closer.

"I don't think that will be possible." The guard said slowly.

Peter was now angry, and so very much wanted to stand and face the guard, but he didn't want to let Edmund go. "You either let me take him home or I swear I will rain fire down on his place, mark my words." He said dangerously, voice low and quiet.

The guard blinked. "I'll just go and talk to- Yeah." He stuttered, before hurrying off.

"Please." Edmund choked suddenly. "I - I don't wanna stay here."

"You're not Ed." Peter said quickly and firmly. "I'm taking you home, I promise."

Edmund nodded a little and looked up when Orious, Philip and Amir stopped beside them. "Amir." He murmured.

The horse smiled at him. "Long time no see." He said gently.

Edmund smiled weakly. "I'm guessing I have you to thank?" He said quietly.

"If you mean because I ran through the desert and found your brother, then I guess." Amir laughed.

"Thank you." Edmund choked, sighing a little.

"Don't mention it." The horse replied.

"So, what's going on?" Orious stepped in.

"That guard said he doubted I'd be able to take Edmund home." Peter muttered in reply.

Orious stared at him. "Any other slave I'd agree." He said. "But King Edmund, no. Unless Calormen want a war on their hands then they have no choice but to let him go."

"Well, if they refuse then I'll make them let him go." Peter whispered, making Philip and maybe even Orious shudder. "I'm still doubting my decision not to hurt anyone."

"I explained why you can't get revenge." Orious said quickly. "It would mean war between this part of calormen (and later the rest), and Narnia, and no one wants that."

Peter sighed. "I know." He muttered, but his anger was rising with every deep, forced breath from his brother, and he wasn't sure if he'd be able to hold back.

They all looked up when the guard came back, followed by another man, clearly not a gaurd, and clearly the owner of this place.

"Right." He muttered. "Please explain to me why I've been dragged all the way out here to see, a King I'm guessing, his two horses, a centaur, and a slave who is going to get severely punished after this."

Edmund whimpered and tried to get closer to Peter, trembling so hard he was making himself feel sick.

"Over my dead body." Peter snapped. "I'm taking him home."

The man frowned. "You're not taking my slave anywhere." He said. "And what do you mean, home?"

"Your so called "slave" happens to be King Edmund of Narnia, my brother. I'm already angry enough as it is so don't even think about pushing me."

The man looked confused, and then looked like he was mentally kicking himself. "I had King Edmund the Just on my land all this time." He muttered. "And I-"

"I said don't even try and push me." Peter cut him off. "Whatever you are going to say, it's not going to happen, I'm taking him home, and am glad I found him before you all figured out who he was and held him for ransom or something stupid."

The man looked speechless for a moment before sighing. "Take him." He muttered. "But on one condition."

"Name it." Peter said without hesitation.

"You leave here in peace and never come back, no one gets hurt."

"Agreed." Peter said easily, watching as the man nodded before turning and heading back towards the house.

Peter nearly laughed in relief, but when Edmund's breathing hitched and he choked slightly, his face fell. "We need to get you out of here." He murmured.

Edmund nodded a little, even that alone causing him to flinch. "Please." He whispered, before frowning. "Where are the girls?" He asked.

Peter sighed. "At home." He told him. "I didn't wanna risk bringing them here."

Edmund looked relieved at this, and slowly pulled away from his brother.

"Don't argue with me," Peter said gently. "You're to ride Philip okay? You're too injured to be walking."

Edmund nodded without any arguments, agreeing to Peter straight away, and this shocked Peter, and let him know that his little brother was truly, truly hurt.

Forcing back any tears he carefully lifted Edmund to his feet, but Edmund didn't let go of him, just gripped his arm with as much strength as he could.

Peter kept him upright and Philip knelt down, allowing him to lift Edmund onto his back.

"You sit with him sir." Philip said suddenly.

Peter hesitated. "That's too much for you Philip." He said. "Carrying both of us."

"Nonsense." Philip said gently. "He needs you."

Peter swallowed hard at these words, and slowly nodded, climbing behind his brother and pulling him back to lean against his chest.

Edmund hissed in pain, squeezing his eyes shut and letting out a sob, and for a moment all Peter saw was his twelve year old brother, not his sixteen year old brother, and it broke his heart.

"Get us out of here Philip." Peter choked.

"I'm afraid I don't wanna risk camping in Clamormen anymore." Orious sighed as they made their way back towards the gates.

"He needs medical attention Orious." Peter murmured.

"I know." The centaur replied. "But if these people change their minds and come after us we're in trouble, he should be alright until we manage to reach the desert, just make sure you keep an eye on him, besides, there are no healers, it's just us."

Peter sighed but nodded anyway. "Okay." He whispered, and with that they left through the gates, Edmund so relieved that he burst into tears, unable to describe how relieving it was to finally be free.

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