Cursed || The Chronicles Of Narnia

For Edmund's sake

Edmund took a deep breath as the sun started to shine through the trees the next morning.
Any minute now the witch would be heading for the How, and he had no doubt that he'd be going with her.
As he sat there, he couldn't help but think over what had happened the night before, and not the part when his siblings had come:

It had been maybe half an hour since his siblings had left, and he could already see Jadis walking back towards him.
He held his breath as she knelt in front of him, that sickly sweet smirk spread across her face.
"You didn't think that I'd leave you alone tonight did you?" She laughed. "Just because I've got a duel to prepare for?"
Edmund swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. His breathing got heavier when the witch began untying the ropes that bound him to the tree.
The second they fell loose She pulled Edmund away from the tree and threw him onto the floor, causing him to gasp in pain, he was now really regretting not taking the cordial.
"Tunic off." Jadis spat.
Edmund took a deep breath as he carefully sat up, just about managing to slip his tunic over his head, deciding not to disobey.
The witch smirked at him as a telmarine soldier walked up to her, handing her a whip before hurrying off, casting an almost sorry look down at Edmund as he left.
Edmund sighed slightly, he should've seen this coming. He braced himself, waiting.
The witch circled him for a while before raising the whip above her head.
The second it his Edmund's back, he let out a strangled gasp, digging his fingers into the dirt on the floor, his eyes squeezing shut as he tried his hardest not to scream.
The next lash caused Edmund to let out a choked whimper, biting down hard on his lip. But when Jadis brought down the whip for the third time, Edmund could handle it no longer and let out a heartbreaking scream.
The witch laughed at him. "Told you you'd scream eventually." She mocked.
Edmund took a deep breath as he tried to ignore the pain shooting down his back, and he then noticed the telmarine soldier that had given the witch the whip slowly making his way back towards them.
"Majesty." He stammered when he reached them.
Jadis lowered the whip from where she'd risen it above her head again, and stared at him, waiting.
"He-" The soldier took a deep breath. "He's only a child, why must you do this?"
Edmund stared up through half closed eyes, managing a weak smile for the soldier.
But Jadis just glared at him. "He is nothing more than a traitor and deserves every lash I put on him." She spat. "Now leave or it'll be your turn next."
The soldier sighed but turned and left, and no sooner had he done so did Edmund hear the crack of the whip followed by the agonising pain as it ripped through his skin.

Edmund sighed again, flinching as the bark of the tree dug into the lashes on his back.
The witch must of carried on for ten more minutes after the soldier had left.
The soldier.
Edmund felt a little more relieved to find that someone - Besides his siblings and Caspian of course - cared about him.
The thought of his siblings made tears appear in his eyes, but the thought of Peter made him want to scream out loud.
He couldn't believe his brother had actually agreed to fighting the witch.
Peter was a good sword fighter - second best during the Golden Age - But Edmund wasn't sure if he'd be able to beat the witch in a duel.
Well, he supposed he'd fine out soon.
Too soon. He thought as he spotted Jadis walking towards him.
When she reached him she knelt down and cut the ropes with a knife she had, Edmund immediately moving away from the tree and sighing in relief at the reduce in pain.
The witch smirked at him before slapping him across the cheek.
Tears appeared in Edmund's eyes as his head was flung to the side, and he immediately felt blood trickling down his chin. Great He thought, licking his bottom lip, which was now, sure enough, split.
"Stand up." The witch spat.
Edmund took a deep breath and gripped the tree with one hand before pushing himself to his feet.
He swayed slightly, the pain becoming almost unbearable.
He placed his hand over the side of his neck, trying to stay as still as he could for a moment.
His head was pounding as pain continued to shoot down his back, making him want to scream, but he didn't of course.
The second he was upright Jadis grabbed him and tied his hands in front of him, so tightly that Edmund couldn't help but let out a gasp.
The witch only smirked at him before leading him through the woods, tugging harshly on the rope to get him to move.
As Edmund stumbled along behind her, he couldn't help but think about what would happen if the witch won.
Not only would he be dead... but Peter would be too.

☆☆☆

"Are you sure about this?" Susan mumbled as she handed Peter his helmet.
Peter sighed. "Not really." He said. "But I have too, or she'll kill Edmund."
Susan nodded slowly. "I know." She whispered. "Just - Be careful."
Peter nodded back and gave her a reassuring smile. "I will." He said, putting on his helmet before leaving the room.
Susan followed him through the How and finaly outside, joining Caspian and Lucy as Peter walked a little further to the dueling area.
He took his sword from Susan, and then he spotted her.
In the distance... she'd just exited the woods and was almost running towards the dueling area, and evil smirk on her face.
But Peter's face fell when he saw his brother. He was stumbling along behind the witch, trying his hardest not to fall over.
He looked so weak, and tired, and in so much pain.
Peter swallowed hard, he had to win this duel... for his sake, and for Edmund's.

☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆
🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧🥺🥺🥺🥺💔💔😭😭❤❤