Lost and Found

4. Keeping secrets

Edmund woke Aslan knows how long later with a pounding headache, causing him to groan as his eyes flickered open.

It took him a few moments to remember what had happened, but when he did he swallowed hard, taking deep breaths, although not as deep as he would've liked.

As his eyes adjusted to the dark, Edmund realised he was tied to a tree, and rather tightly at that. He couldn't help but cringe, pushing memories from his head before struggling against the ropes.

"I wouldn't struggle if I were you."

Edmund's head snapped to the side, to see a boy around 2 years older than him sat against the tree beside his, tied just as tightly as himself.

The boy stared at him for a moment. "There's no point." He said. "The ropes are too tight anyway."

Edmund swallowed hard, not saying anything, he didn't know what to say.

"What's your name?" The boy asked.

Edmund hesitated, wondering if he should tell him. He knew nothing about this boy or where he came from, and that's why he was hesitant. "Edmund." He said after a while.

The boy's eyes went slightly wider. "As in, King Edmund?" He asked.

Edmund said nothing for a while before shaking his head. "No." He mumbled, frowning slightly at himself. "No I'm not a King."

The boy frowned back before nodding. "Well, I'm Logan." He said.

Edmund nodded. "Nice to meet you." He said politely, before: "Do you know where we're going?" He asked. "And where those men are?"

"The men are in that tent over there." Logan replied. "As for where we're going, I have absolutely no idea."

Edmund sighed, resting his head back against the tree, wincing when the bark dug into his back. "How far from-" He stopped, clearing his throat. "Where are we?" He asked.

Logan frowned for a moment. "Um, about an hour or two away from leaving Narnia I think." He replied.

Edmund's head snapped up. "We're leaving Narnia?" He asked.

"I think so." Was the quiet reply.

Edmund's heart started to pound in his chest. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, telling himself over and over again that Peter would find him before that happened. He'd sent Philip back, he'd tell Peter what had happened, and Peter would find him.

"Are you okay?"

Edmund's eyes opened at the voice, and he glanced back over at Logan, slowly nodding his head. "I think so." He mumbled.

Logan nodded a little. "Where'd you come from anyway?" He asked.

Edmund thought for a moment. "I live somewhere on the outskirts on Narnia." He explained.

"With?" Logan asked.

Edmund took a deep breath. "With my-" He paused, he couldn't give away that he had three siblings, Logan would start getting suspicious for one. "With my brother." He finished.

"Older or younger?" Logan said slowly, trying to keep up conversation.

"Older." Edmund replied. "By three and a half years."

Logan nodded. "And how old are you?"

"I'm 16." Edmund replied with a sigh. "You?"

"I'm 18." Logan replied, sighing too and resting his head back against the tree trunk.

Edmund sat there for a moment     before an idea came to his mind.

Being as quiet and careful as he could, he managed to rip off some of the material from the bottom of his tunic, placing it by the tree he was tied against.

"Why did you do that?" Logan asked, looking confused.

"So if my brother comes looking for me, which he will, he'll know he's on the right track." Edmund replied, before resting his head back against the trunk.

Logan did the same and the two fell into an uncomfortable silence, until two men marched from the tent.

"We're leaving." One spat, bending down and untieing Edmund from the tree, grabbing his arm and yanking him to his feet.

The other four exited the tent a moment later, Edmund watching as Logan was cut free, and as the tent was slowly packed up.

"Let's get going." One man practically growled. "And if either of you hold us up you won't know what's hit ya. We've got a long journey ahead of us."

Edmund obeyed silently, but after a couple of seconds, made it a point to stamp heavily in a patch of mud beside a tree, making a deep footprint and smirking to himself, allowing himself to relax just slightly.

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"When will you be back?" Susan asked as Peter climbed up onto his horse.

Peter sighed in reply. "I don't know." He said slowly. "Tomorrow Lunch time perhaps?"

"With Edmund." Lucy said quickly.

Peter nodded. "Yeah." He breathed. "Hopefully with Edmund."

Susan nodded. "Alright." She mumbled, before walking over to Orious. "Don't let him go off searching alone." She told him gently. "And don't let him push himself too hard."

Orious bowed slightly. "You know I won't your majesty." He replied with something of a grin.

"And if - if you haven't found Edmund by lunch tomorrow." Susan said slowly, tears filling her eyes at the very thought of that. "Tell Peter to come back, even if you have to carry him. He'll need to rest before he goes off searching again."

"As you wish your majesty." Orious replied simply, giving Susan a nod.

Susan smiled slightly. "Thank you." She breathed.

"You're welcome." Orious said, before Susan walked back over to Peter and Lucy. "Come on Lu." She said softly. "You should be in bed."

Lucy sighed but nodded, glancing up at Peter. "Bye." She mumbled. "Please bring Edmund home."

Peter nodded and forced a smile. "I will." He said, swallowing hard. "You know I will."

Lucy nodded before quickly turning and walking back towards the castle, wiping at her eyes.

"Look after her." Peter sighed, looking down at Susan, a pleading look in his eyes.

"I will." Susan mumbled, looking down as she took a deep breath.

"Su?" Peter sighed, reaching down and placing a comforting hand on his sisters shoulder.

Susan looked up at him and sniffed. "I'm alright." She breathed. "Just worried."

Peter nodded in understanding. "Me too." He sighed.

"But, Edmund's brave." Susan said firmly. "He'll get through this, he always does."

Peter nodded. "I know he will." He practically whispered. "As long as he isn't locked in a room of any sort."

Susan nodded, knowing Edmund didn't like dungeons or anything of the sort, and she knew the reason why too.

"Anyway." Peter said after a moment, clearing his throat. "We should probably get going."

Susan nodded. "Stay safe." She mumbled. "And bring Ed back if you can."

Peter nodded. "That's my priority right now." He mumbled to himself, before the group slowly left, Peter glancing over his shoulder to see Susan heading slowly back into the castle, hands covering her face and shoulders shaking.

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Okay so, this book is gonna have a few OC's, but they won't play a very big part 😂 anyway, hope you like this book so far 😘