Lost and Found

12. Without him

25th April

Edmund didn't think he'd ever been hotter as he trudged through the sand, sweat dripping from his forehead and in extreme need of a drink.

The other boy didn't seem to be doing too much better either, but the men seemed to be fine, sure they were obviously a bit hot, but probably no more than they were used to.

Edmund, for the last ten minutes, had been trying to decide whether or not to ask for a drink. He wasn't exactly in the mens good books, after trying to escape, and he wondered if they'd be annoyed if he asked for something to drink.

But then he reminded himself that these men had said that they needed him and the other boy alive, so he quickly came up with an excuse for them to give him water.

He stopped dead, obviously startling the men and even Logan, who stared over at him with a questioning look on his face. "I - I need a drink." Edmund choked out, his throat protesting against him speaking.

The men stared at him for a moment before one sighed and reached into his back, grabbing a bottle of water, getting confused looks from the others. "If they die, we die too." He muttered, walking over and placing the bottle to Edmund's lips.

Edmund wished they would just untie his hands, but didn't complain and just drank half the water, nodding over at Logan once he was done.

No longer than thirty seconds later did they continue walking again, and with a start Edmund remembered something... It was Peter's birthday in two days.

Tears stung his eyes as he thought about this, and the fact that he wouldn't be with his brother on his birthday. He couldn't even think about how Peter was feeling either, he was probably devastated, and this upset him even more.

But he continued walking with a small sigh, knowing that there was no way he would be able to escape, and if he was honest, all he wanted to do at that moment was to get out of the desert!

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Susan sighed a little as she knocked gently on the door to her older brothers room, gripping a bowl of porridge in her hand and holding her breath as she waited for an answer.

"Yeah?"

She sighed in relief at this and slowly opened the door, catching sight of Peter, who was stood in the middle of the room, flinging his cloak around his shoulders. "You heading out again?" Susan asked quietly. 

Peter nodded. "Yeah." He choked, grabbing his sword from where it was leaning against his bedside table and strapping it to his belt.

"Who's going with you?" Susan asked, frowning a little.

Peter hesitated a little before sighing. "I was thinking of going alone." He breathed. "I can't keep dragging Orious out every day, all day. It's unfair on him. I know I said we was gonna camp overnight somewhere, so we can cover more ground, but I was thinking of maybe doing that myself."

Susan nodded slowly, knowing Peter wouldn't go back on his decision. "Why don't I come with you?" She suggested with a small shrug.

Peter stared at her for a moment before nodding. "Thanks." He breathed, giving her a small smile.

Susan was a little shocked that Peter agreed, but didn't say anything and instead handed him the bowl she had. "I brought breakfast." She said hopefully.

Peter stared at the bowl for a minute before sighing and taking the bowl from his sister, sitting down on the edge of the bed, Susan sitting down beside him.

"Peter?" Susan asked after a little while of silence.

Peter glanced up from the bowl and frowned at her. "Yeah?" He asked quietly.

Susan hesitated a little before speaking again. "It's your birthday in two days." She mumbled sadly.

Peter swallowed hard. "Don't even think about celebrating." He choked. "Not without Ed here."

"I don't think he'd want you to do nothing Peter." Susan sighed. "It's you 20th birthday."

"But Ed's not here." Peter whispered, shaking his head. "It won't be my birthday without him."

"Well..." Susan said slowly. "Maybe we would of found him by then?"

Peter didn't look too sure but he nodded his head a little. "Maybe." He mumbled.

Susan sighed sadly before placing a hand gently on Peter's shoulder. "just finish breakfast and then we'll go looking for him alright?" She said softly.

Peter took a deep breath and nodded a little. "Alright." He mumbled, finishing the porridge before swallowing hard. "Do - Do you reckon he's alright?"

Susan glanced up from where she'd walked across the room to pack the tent that had been placed in the corner of the room (Peter had obviously got Orious or someone to bring it in that morning) and sighed sadly at the look on her older brothers face. "I'm sure he's fine Peter." She said hesitantly. "He's Edmund, he can get through this."

Peter stared at her before sighing and standing from the bed. "I just can't help but worry." He choked. "I know he's strong, probably alot stronger than we give him credit for, and I know why.
He's been through so much whilst in Narnia, that he's had no choice but to be strong. And-" He swallowed hard before eventually continuing. "And now he's been taken, again. And I couldn't save him, and now he's goodness knows where, having goodness knows what done to him-"

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And Peter had a right to be worried, for at the very moment he was saying this, miles and miles away, Edmund braced himself for another kick.

He of course hadn't meant to slip down the dune, he'd just been walking too fast and had lost his balance, but obviously he was going to get punished for it. Punished for "holding them up".

He squeezed his eyes shut when one of the men kicked him in the stomach, letting only a small groan escape him, but that was it, no other sound passed his lips.

He took a deep breath when he was yanked to his feet and shoved hard so that he continued walking, and at that moment he wanted nothing more than to kick the one who was holding his rope, but he knew that just wouldn't be a very good idea.

Because goodness knows what would happen to him if he did.

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