Lost and Found

48: You're not going anywhere

Peter clung to Edmund, holding him gently against his chest and whispering softly in his ear, hoping to calm him down. He hardly even realised he was practically leaning against Susan, but he had realised how weak he felt, how the room was spinning, and how Edmund's sobs tore at his heart. 

"You're okay now." He choked out, burying his face against Edmund's hair. "It's over, you're safe now, it's over I promise." 

Edmund continued to cry, his grip around Peter's waist so tight he was all but restricting his older brother's breathing, but Peter didn't mind, he only gently rocked his little brother back and forth, whispering nonsense under his breath until he had somewhat calmed down. "You okay?" He murmered, feeling very sick. 

Edmund did nothing for a while, but eventually nodded, if only a little. 

"You're safe now Ed." Peter breathed. "No one's gonna hurt you anymore." 

Edmund took a deep, shaky breath, shuddering slightly and trying to get closer to Peter, before swallowing hard. "Don't let them take me back." He whispered, voice small and afraid, and it shattered the hearts of every single person in the tent, human and animal. 

"You're not going anywhere." Peter choked out, shaking his head as if to reassure himself. "I won't let anyone take you anywhere, you are staying right here with me, I promise." 

Edmund swallowed hard. "With you." He whispered. 

Peter nodded, a tear rolling slowly down his cheek. "I promise." He repeated, voice firm. 

There was a very long while of silence, before Peter sighed. "You reckon you can stand?" He asked gently. He was currently unsure if he himself could stand, but perhaps with Susan's help he would be able to.

Edmund hesitated, having still not moved from Peter's arms. "Everything aches." He whispered. 

Peter blinked back anymore tears, sighing sadly. "I'll help you." He murmered, managing to stand with his brother, feeling Susan's arm around his waist, helping support him. 

Edmund clung to his older brother, wincing harshly and legs shaking, threatening to buckle beneath him, but somehow he managed to stay standing, with Peter's help that is. 

Peter's arm slipped around Edmund's waist, and it was only then he remembered how thin his younger brother actually was, he could all but feel his ribs against his arm. "Orious?" He murmered, glancing up at the centaur who was stood at the edge of the tent. "Can you make some food?" 

Orious nodded, before ducking from the tent. 

Edmund watched him go before turning to Peter. "I - I'm not hungry." He whispered. 

Peter sighed, walking them both over to sit on the edge of his hammock, where he allowed himself to take a deep breath and relax slightly, even if he did have two worried sisters hovering over him. "Yes you are." He breathed. Edmund went to shake his head, but Peter continued before he had the chance. "How much have you been eating over the past month?" He asked. 

Edmund stared at him for a while before looking down, sniffing loudly and wiping at his cheeks with a shaking hand. "Not - Not a lot." He whispered, shaking his head. 

Peter swallowed hard and nodded. "Ed, you're all skin and bones. Your stomach's shrunk, you're not used to eating that much, but you will make yourself ill if you continue eating that way, you need to start eating like you usually would. Obviously not straight away, we'll build up to that, but you need to put on some weight, and fast." He said, gently but firmly. 

Edmund took a deep breath, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment before burying his face against Peter's shoulder. 

"Peter's right Ed." Susan stepped in, kneeling down in front of him and placing a hand on Edmund's knee. 

Edmund jumped slightly, his head turning to face his sister, and relaxed a little at seeing her.

"It's only me." Susan murmered, giving him a soft smile. "What do you say you have something to eat - it doesn't have to be too much - and then you can get some sleep?" 

Edmund's hand fisted in Peter's shirt and he took a deep breath, looking unsure. 

"You can stay with Peter, don't worry." Susan said gently, nodding a little. 

Edmund did nothing for a while, before glancing up at his older brother, almost as if he was asking if that was alright. 

Peter frowned down at him. "Ed you don't have to ask me permission." He mumbled. "Of course that's okay." 

Edmund swallowed hard, but nodded his head, turning back to face Susan and nodding at her too. 

Susan smiled back, before slowly standing. "Orious shouldn't be long." She said gently.

Edmund swallowed hard and curled up against Peter, burying his face against his older brother's chest as he let out a shaky breath. 

Susan frowned at Peter."Why did he ask for permission?" She mouthed at him, looking quite concerned. 

Peter sighed and only shook his head, having no idea himself. He wrapped his arms carefully around his little brother, just glad he was able to do that, despite feeling like he may pass out at any minute. 

"Maybe you should sleep too Peter." Lucy murmered, sounding actually rather upset. 

Peter sighed, nodding. "Yeah." He breathed. "I think I might." 

Edmund's grip suddenly tightened. "Don't leave." He choked. 

"No, no Ed." Peter said quickly. "I'm not, you can stay with me, we'll both get some sleep, I'm not going anywhere, I swear it." 

Edmund nodded against Peter's chest. "Okay." He whispered.

Peter sighed sadly, looking up when Orious eventually returned, carrying a tray of food. 

"You just eat what you can and then you can get some sleep okay?" Peter murmered, placing a kiss to the top of Edmund's head. 

Edmund nodded, sighing. "Okay." He said again.

Peter sighed sadly, but all in all he was just glad that Edmund was safe. Alive, healed and safe. 

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