Lost and Found

42: I know you

"Orious." Peter murmered, sounding scared. "He's not looking well."

Orious turned and hesitated. "It's another three hours til the desert." He said slowly, sounding worried seeming as Edmund did indeed look like he needed help, and fast.

"He is in no way going to last another three hours without help." Peter muttered firmly. "Philip can't gallop, Aslan knows what pain that would put Edmund in, he's still awake Orious."

"Yeah, and that means I can hear you you know." Edmund slurred, eyes half open and a permanent look of agony on his face.

Peter swallowed hard, almost absentmindedly placing a kiss to the top of his little brothers head. "Sorry." He whispered. "But we'll find you help."

"I - I can wait." Edmund choked. "It's - It's not safe in this country."

Peter stared down at him. "Ed." He murmered.

"Please." Edmund all but whispered. "I - I don't want them coming after m - me."

Peter's heart broke at the clear panic in his voice, and he tightened his grip gently around his stomach almost out of instinct. "Only if you're sure?" He said eventually.

Edmund nodded, even though he instantly regretted it. "I'm sure." He breathed, his eyes once again drooping.

"Why don't you get some sleep?" Peter suggested.

"Is - Is that a good idea?" Edmund murmered.

"Yes." Peter said. "You haven't got a head injury, you can sleep. It'll pass the time and you won't feel any pain."

"Just give it a few moments and I think I might pass out instead." Edmund choked, sounding slightly breathless.

Peter looked slightly concerned, and felt even more so when Edmund's chin fell against his chest and his eyes closed, breathing slowing to an almost worrying speed as he went completely and utterly limp.

Peter kept him held back agaisnt his chest, biting his lip against the tears that were fighting to make their way down his cheeks. "Philip." He said quietly. "Gallop, he won't feel any pain, just get us out of here as soon as you possibly can."

Philip nodded firmly. "Of course, your majesty." And with that, he set of at a gallop towards the desert, Peter hoping and praying that they would reach it soon.

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"Here's fine."

Peter breathed a sigh of relief when he heard Orious say this, and Philip immediately came to a stop, kneeling down in the sand so Peter would easily be able to climb off with Edmund.

"You need to help me with the tent Sir." Orious said suddenly. "I can't put it up by myself."

Peter hesitated, but in the end he lay Edmund beside Philip, resting his head against the horses stomach. "Is he okay there for a minute?" He asked.

Philip nodded. "Of course." He said gently, looking extremely upset about the state Edmund was in.

"Thank you." Peter breathed, before turning to Orious. "Right, let's get this tent up."

It took longer than he would've liked, but eventually the tent was up, and as Orious ran inside to hang up the hammock and prepare some water and medicine and whatnot, Peter hurried back over to Edmund, who seemed to be waking up.

He let out a quiet sob and turned to bury his face against Philips stomach, wincing in pain even though he was still half asleep.

Peter stared at him for a moment before lifting him gently into his arms, trying to ignore the strangled gasp that escaped Edmunds lips as he did this.

He carried him into the tent, and carefully layed him in the hammock that was up, thanking Orious as he placed a bowl of water and a stack of cloths on the table next to him.

"The medicine in the water should prevent infection for a while." The centaur said slowly.

"And what if some of his wounds are already infected?" Peter questioned, sounding scared.

Orious sighed. "If they are then," He paused. "He will need Queen Lucy's cordial."

Peter sighed. "Then we can't stay for long." He murmered. "I will not let him - him-" But he couldn't bring himself to finish that sentence.

Orious placed a hand on his shoulder suddenly, sighing. "He won't." He said firmly.

Peter swallowed hard and slowly nodded.

"P - Pe'r."

Peter looked down at the broken voice, gently shushing his brother and running a hand through his sweat soaked hair. "Shhhh." He whispered. "You're gonna be okay, I promise Edmund, you'll be just fine."

Edmund let out a quiet sob and shook his head. "No." He whispered, sounding defeated.

Peter's heart skipped a beat. "Yes Ed." He said quickly, frightened. "We're gonna help you, and then you need to hold on until we can get to Lucy."

Edmund swallowed hard, shaking his head again. "Can't." He whispered. "Too much pain."

"Edmund don't you dare give up." Peter told him harshly, but only because he was scared, so very, very scared. "You're going to hold on because you've been gone for a whole damn month, in which time we've missed you like hell, and I have no doubt that you've missed us too. So you are going to hold on and everything will be fine, be brave whilst we clean your wounds, and be brave on the rest of the journey home. I know you're probably sick and tired of being strong, but I know you can do it for a little bit longer, because I know you Ed, you're not defeated easily."

Edmund choked on his tears. "Please." He whispered, sounding well and truly broken. "Take the pain away."

Peter's heart shattered. "I - I can't do that Edmund, not right now." He sighed. "But I can shoothe the pain for you, make everything hurt less, and then we'll make for Cair Paravel, where Lucy can stop all the pain, okay?"

Edmund stared at him, before eventually sighing. "Okay." He choked, voice barely above a whisper.

Peter nodded, grabbing a cloth and dunking it into the water, having absolutely no idea where to start.

Orious helped Edmund out of his torn tunic, leaving him shirtless and shivering despite it still being extremely warm.

"Be strong Edmund." Peter choked, horrified at the whip lashes he could see, as well as numerous other wounds, and he dreaded to even think of what his back must look like. "I know you can be strong."

And with that, he pressed the damp cloth to a whip lash by Edmunds collar bone, causing Edmund to let out a quiet sob.

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