Chronicles of Narnia

King Challenged

"You! You are no king of Narnia."
"Who are you?" Peter asked as the stranger interrupted the event at Cair Paravel.
"I am Miraz, Lord of the North. And I have come to take back what's mine."
"This throne is not yours. But, if you are declaring a challenge, this will be our battle ground."
"Then let it be."
"Peter, you don't have to do this," Edmund told him.
"I cannot refuse a challenge. I need my armour," Peter said and he got ready. In the throne room, Peter and Miraz battled, they each made devastating blows, but Miraz forced Peter onto his knees and dislocated his shoulder. "ARGH!"
"Peter!"
"What a pathetic king you are."
"Can't even defend, what is..." Miraz said before Peter took him off his feet and laid a sword to his neck.
"I will defend my kingdom until my dying breath. What about you?" Peter asked as he moved the sword towards Miraz and he raised his hands.
"Alright. King Peter. The challenge is won," Miraz said and Peter raised his sword. Miraz stood, shamed and turned to a window. "A magnificent castle it is that you have. But..." Miraz said as he took a few more steps and grabbed Lucy.
"Lucy!"
"I will not surrender to you. You are no king."
"No!"
"Lucy!" Peter and Edmund shouted as Miraz fell over the balcony and he took Lucy with him.
"Edmund!" Peter shouted as Edmund ran to the balcony and dived off it into the water below.
"To the shore," Susan called and everyone rushed out of Cair Paravel and to the coast.

~

Edmund swam down and got a hold of Lucy. She wasn't moving and the impact with the water had forced the air out of Edmund's own lungs.

He wrapped his arm around Lucy and began swimming up to the surface. Edmund gasped for air as he emerged and he looked down at Lucy, who was unconscious in his arms.
"Lucy? Lucy?" Edmund asked as the waves lapped at his neck. "Wake up."
"Edmund!" Peter called from the shore and Edmund turned to see him and Susan waiting for him on the shore. Edmund gathered his strength and swam to the shore. Susan and Peter waded out into the water and Peter took Lucy from Edmund, while Susan then helped him to shore.

Once they were on the sand, Peter lay Lucy down and moved her hair out of her face before he rested a hand onto her chest.
"Lucy? Lucy, it's Peter. Can you hear me?" Peter asked as both Edmund and Susan knelt beside him.
"Turn her onto her side," Susan said and they turned Lucy onto her side.
"Lucy?" Edmund asked as his hand rested on her shoulder.
"Lucy?"
"Come on Lucy," Peter said as he rubbed her back and Lucy coughed, spluttered and coughed up water.
"Lucy."
"Lucy, we're here," Edmund told her.
"Just breathe Lucy," Peter said as Lucy gasped for air. A few, long seconds passed before Lucy relaxed and her breathing became easier. "That's it. You're ok. You're ok," Peter said, but just down the beach, Miraz was staggering out of the water.
"Peter," Edmund said and Peter looked up.

~

He stood, went over to Miraz and drew his sword. Miraz fell onto his knees and looked up at the high king.
"You are banished. From my kingdom for as long as I am a king of Narnia," Peter said before he cut a deep wound into Miraz's face. "My sister could have been killed because of you. Now leave," Peter commanded and Miraz stood up before he left in shame.
"Here," Edmund said as he came over to Peter. "Your shoulder is still dislocated."
"Alright," Peter said, and he knelt down. Edmund used his fist to feel for Peter's joint.
"On 3. 1, 2, 3."
"ARGH!" Peter cried out as Edmund relocated his shoulder. "Argh..."
"Are you alright?"
"Better now... Thanks," Peter said before he looked at Edmund. Beyond his brother, he saw Lucy. She was sitting up, Susan was beside her and she frowned.
"Peter?"
"Lucy. You're alright," Peter said before he let go of his shoulder.

~

He stood up to return to her when Edmund fell beside him.
"Edmund?"
"Argh... arh..." Edmund groaned as he shivered on the ground.
"Edmund?"
"Ed? Peter, is he ok?" Susan called.
"I don't know," Peter said before he knelt beside his brother. "Edmund?"
"Co... cold..." Edmund whispered. Peter took off his cloak and wrapped it around him.
"I need cloaks and warm clothing," Peter called out to the creatures of Narnia and a number of them came forward. Peter wrapped Edmund in all the clothing that he could, but Edmund was quickly losing consciousness. "Edmund? Stay with me."
"Edmund? What's going on?" Lucy asked.
"He's cold. Peter's looking after him," Susan told her sister.
"Edmund. Wake up," Peter said as he shook him. "We have to get him back to Cair Paravel."
"Come on Lucy," Susan said, and she helped Lucy to stand up. Peter lifted Edmund onto a centaur, and they headed back up to the castle.

~

When Edmund came to, he was wrapped up in lots of blankets and lying in his bed in Cair Paravel.
"Edmund," Peter said, and Edmund looked to his side to see his brother sitting beside him. "Are you alright?"
"I think so."
"You were freezing cold. Saving Lucy... you could have got yourself killed."
"If I hadn't, Lucy would not be here now."
"And I could have lost both of you. Are you warm enough?"
"I'm getting there."
"You're bruised, but nothing's broken," Susan told him.
"Miraz?"
"Banished. He won't be coming back."
"I'm tired."
"Get some sleep. We're not going anywhere," Peter said and Edmund smiled before he let himself get some rest.