Secret - Edmund Pevensie

chapter four

The walk back to the underground tomb is not an easy fret. Everyone feels completely numb and it's the most quiet anyone's been in weeks. Friends were left behind and all that's left of them is the memories they hold. Death has never really made sense to Maeve. One minute someone is right next to you, and the next? You're spending sleepless nights missing their touch you often took for granted.

The closer the group gets to the tomb, the more real it really feels. Remaining Narnians wait outside, all hopeful that something has changed. But the truth is, not much has. Miraz defeated Narnia again. Something that stings everytime Maeve thinks about it. But now, Narnia is once again seen as a threat, a force to be reckoned with. That's important in a situation like this.

The sun is beginning to rise behind the group of fighters as they now approach the vast group of curious eyes. Lucy runs out, taking in the sight of fewer soldiers but still remaining positive. "What happend?"

"Ask him." Peter spits out, glancing over at Prince Caspian. Grief and loss play interesting roles in a persons psyche. For Peter, it made him angry, selfish.

"Me?" Prince Caspian questions, hurt at the allegation. "You could've called it off. There was still time."

"No there wasn't, thanks to you. If you had just kept to the plan, those soldiers might be alive right now." These accusations and placing of blame do nothing to change the past. And yet both men are too proud to see that.

"If you had stayed here like I suggested, they definitely would be!" Caspian argues. The air is tense. Everyone is watching silently as the two men hurt each other time and time again.

"You called us, remember?" Peter replies, anger building by the second.

"My first mistake." The prince says insultingly.

"No. Your first mistake was thinking you could lead these people." Peter begins to walk away. He knows that when he's angry there's nothing that anyone can do to stop his actions. It's always been better for him to walk away altogether.

"Hey!" Caspian yells. "I am not the one who abandoned Narnia."

"You invaded Narnia. You have no more right to lead it than Miraz does. You, him, your father... Narnias better off without the lot of you." Peter yells as Caspian now begins to walk away. This stops the Prince from walking though.

Maeve looks to Edmund who stands next to her, as if he would be able to do anything to prevent what's going on.

Caspian suddenly takes out his sword, yelling as he aims it at Peter. Peter does the same in return, preparing for an emotion fuelled battle.

"Stop it!" Edmund screams out. Maeve suddenly falls into the boys arms. Her face is completely flushed and the blood from her arm rushes outside the cloth bandage. "I need stitches. Reepicheep, there is a first aid kit in my satchel." He places the girl down to the floor gently, placing a towel under her head.

He leans down to listen to her breath. It takes a few seconds but he can hear faint breathing coming out her nose. "She's still breathing."

Everyone is now crowded around in worry. If you had told Maeve this many people care about her, she'd laugh in your face.

Edmund unravels the cloth on the girls arm. "Someone get me another towel." He demands. It's not like him to take charge like this, but every second counts for the girl beneath him. "Lucy." That's all he has to say for his younger sister to know what he means.

She grabs out her cordial, pouring a small drop into Maeve's mouth. There's a moment of pure silence, of uncertainty. So much trust has been put into this potion in the past but that doesn't make it easier to have to use it so often.