Lost and Found

50: I want to go home

"We need to think about heading home." Peter murmured as he stood with Orious the next day, the sun glaring down over them. "Edmund's tired and needs to sleep in something a lot more decent than a hammock." 

Orious nodded. "We can head for home after lunch?" He suggested. "That should give us enough time to pack up."

Peter gave him a small smile followed by a nod. "Thanks." He breathed. 

"Peter?"

Peter turned at Susan's voice, giving her a sheepish look as she walked from her tent over to him. 

"Why are you up and about?" She asked, sounding slightly concerned. 

Peter sighed. "I feel fine Susan." He said gently. "Honest, I'm well enough to be out of bed." 

Susan didn't look too sure but obviously figured there was no point in arguing and only shook her head slightly. "What are you doing up anyway?" 

"We're gonna head home after lunch." Peter told her. "We need to get Edmund back to Cair so he can have some proper rest." 

Susan nodded. "That's probably a good idea." She breathed. "He hasn't been home in too long." 

Peter smiled weakly, before swallowing hard. "I should probably go back to him before he wakes." He breathed. "He'll freak if he knows he's alone."

Susan nodded a little, before her eyes went slightly wider. "Too late." She murmured.

Peter swung around, his heart breaking when he saw Edmund stood just outside the tent flaps, his eyes wide and absolutely terrified, clearly looking for someone, that someone being Peter.

Peter hurried over, Edmund spotting him within a second and making a run for him, colliding with him after a short time and clinging to him as if he'd never let go.

"Oh Ed I'm so sorry." Peter whispered, holding him close against his chest and placing gentle kisses to the top of his head.

Edmund took a deep, shaky breath. "Don't - don't leave." He whispered, sounding more scared than Peter had ever heard him before.

Peter shook his head. "I'm not leaving." He reassured him, his grip getting a little tighter. "I promise you Ed."

Edmund buried his face against Peter's neck. His breathing was heavy, his hands were trembling, but he was calming down, even if it was slowly.

It took a good five minutes for Peter to completely calm his little brother, and when he eventually managed it he slowly pulled away, giving him a weak smile.

He knelt down in front of him, glancing up and gripping his forearms in an attempt to make him feel just a little safer. "You okay now?" He murmured.

Edmund stared stared at him and slowly nodded, but he didn't say anything.

Peter sighed. "Hey, we were thinking of heading home soon," He told him gently. "Sound good?"

Edmunds eyes instantly filled with tears and he quickly nodded his head. "I wanna go home." He whispered, his voice breaking.

Peter nodded. "We're going home." He told him softly.

"Now." Edmund choked.

Peter nodded again, his grip on Edmunds arms loosening a little. "We'll pack up camp and then leave yeah?" He said with a small smile. "That'll give us time to have some lunch too."

Edmund frowned.

"Ed you're eating whether you like it or not." Peter said somewhat firmly, but he was just worried.

Edmund shook his head, actually looking scared.

Peter swallowed hard. "You need to eat Eddy." He said sadly. "You haven't eaten much since we rescued you."

"I don't want to." Edmund whispered, voice choked.

Peter hesitated, before turning around to Susan, who got the hint and hurried over. "What's up?" She murmured.

"Ed's refusing to eat anything." Peter told her, voice sad.

Susan sighed, kneeling down in the sand and bringing Edmund down to sit in front of her. "Come on," She murmured. "Eat something, for me?"

Edmund shook his head.

"Ed you're going to make yourself extremely ill if you don't eat." Peter said. "You'll starve-"

Edmund squeezed his eyes shut, once again shaking his head. "No." He choked out. "Please no."

Peter and Susan exchanged worried glances. "Ed why don't you want to eat?" Susan asked, keeping her voice gentle and somewhat understanding, she didn't want Edmund to feel ganged up on, not with the state he was in.

"Sick." Edmund muttered, allowing his eyes to open as he glanced at his sister.

Susan smiled sadly. "Maybe just try?" She suggested. "We won't force you if you really can't, but try."

Edmund stared at her for a very long time, before moving his stare to Peter, who smiled a little. "Susan's right Eddy, just try and eat something okay?" He murmured.

Edmund swallowed hard, glancing between Peter and Susan for a while before nodding slowly. "Okay." He choked out, but Peter was worried to hear that he sounded scared.

Edmund did nothing for a short while, before he curled up against Peter, burying his face against his neck and clinging to his shoulders.

Peter hugged him back before turning to Susan. "You wanna go find some food?" He said quietly. "And ask Orious if he can start packing up camp."

Susan nodded. "Sure." She breathed, standing slowly.

Peter gave her a grateful smile as she wandered off, before glancing down at Edmund. "There's nothing to be scared of Eddy, it's just food." He murmured. "You've eaten since you've been rescued haven't you?"

"I felt like I was gonna throw up though." Edmund whispered in reply, voice muffled against Peter's neck.

"You won't throw up." Peter told him. "But what you're feeling is completely normal, remover what we said about your stomach shrinking?"

Edmund nodded.

"Yeah." Peter breathed. "You just need to get better Ed, and you'll be fine, I swear it."

Edmund was silent for a while. "And after I eat we're going home?" He asked, nothing but hope in his quiet, choked voice.

Peter smiled and tightened his grip gently, nodding his head. "Yes Ed." He breathed, placing a kiss to the side or Edmunds head. "We're going home."

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Hi 😂 Seeeee, I am still updating this book, just slowly apparently 👀🤷‍♀️😅