the end is no where near || King Caspian

[Edmund]

[King Caspian X]

Caspian had been in the stables, just cleaning the hooves of his dark bey stallion so he could ride quietly into the mountains. "Not so hard." his horse nagged him. "You'll wear holes into my feet."

The King spoke to his horse. "Will you just quit being such a baby? And keep quiet, or someone will hear you." The stallion just swished his tail into the man's face as if he were a bothersome fly. It stung like a small whip. "No carrots for you." he grumbled angerly.

"Then no ride." The horse argued back.

Caspian ignored him, and was just about to get on when he saw someone come into the barn from the corner of his eye. The King ducked down in the stall, and prayed silently that it wasn't Susan. She'd kill him if she knew he was out searching alone. But he couldn't stand to see that sorrowful expression on her face around the castle any longer.

[Edmund]

[/b] He questioned quietly but somehow politely, really wanting to know why the King was in the stall like that. Alehan tossed his head in his anxiety, wanting to get out for a good run now that he was all ready in the early morning. He was fresh and energetic, and Edmund wasn't looking forward to this ride. But there were more important things on his mind now. Like why was the King courched in a stall, looking highly suspicious? It didn't make sense to him at all.[/ul][/size][/blockquote][/left]

[King Caspian X]

Caspian sighed in relief. It was only Edmund. So he came to his feet and jumped onto his horse, riding him out of the stall. "I'm going to search for Lucy." he confessed. "The expression Susan wears upon her face will kill me quicker than my cousin and that beast he flies with. But don't tell her that I'm going, Ed." said the King. He knew his secret was safe, because if Edmund did tell Susan then he would have to provide an explanation to why he was out there as well. That brought a question to Caspian's mind. "Why are you out here?" he asked, returning the question Edmund had asked him.

[Edmund]

[/b] He snapped angrily, obviously overtired and drawn, but upset about the whole entire situation. It wasn't fair simply because he was taking it all out on Peter and Caspian, but he couldn't help it anymore. He couldn't take this anymore. It was like a prison.[/ul][/size][/blockquote][/left]

[King Caspian X]

Caspian sighed. "Edmund, I know that you miss your sister, but I can't let you go and search." Now that he knew what Edmund was up to, it was his responsibility and his fault if he was lost too. He couldn't even think of how Susan would be if both of her younger siblings were captured. "And age does make a difference. The older you are, the stronger you are. And you are still very young." he said. "I'm sorry, Edmund, but I can't let you leave the stables."

[Edmund]

[/b] He finished stubbornly, givng Caspian a challenging look. He wasn't backing down on his decision, that was for sure. This meeting was certainly helping him with his decision. Running away wouldn't be that much of a problem because no one cared anyone. They cared about themselves, and Caspian certainly cared about Susan. But he wouldn't be missed, and he understood that now.


Gathering his reins tightly in his hands, he twisted his fingers into Alehan's mane, which always signified that they were going to run, and they were going to run fast. Alehan was known for his speed, and he was probably the fastest horse in the stable because of his breeding. Edmund knew that the others had a hard time catching him. The determined look upon his face made it obvious that he was ready to go, and he was ready to go far away. He wasn't coming back this time. Alehan trotted forward a few paces, and Edmund looked over his shoulder. "I'm not coming back to this place until I find Lucy." He spat out angrily and then used his legs to push his stallion forward. Alehan reared up in surprise for a moment and hung there, and then leapt forward, clearing the space between them and the door in one jump. He landed easily and stretched out his legs, allowing his strong muscles to carry him and Edmund at a lightning pace, far away from Caspian and Peter and Susan. He didn't care anymore. His want for Lucy to be safe and alive was overbearing and too powerful. He missed her with all of his heart, and he was angry at the rest because they didn't understand that. Alehan ran his heart out, and he carried them quite a distance away from the stables and the castle. Edmund pulled him up and off of the path to better hide themselves as they walked, looking for Lucy. This would work.[/ul][/size][/blockquote][/left]

[King Caspian X]

Caspian was furious. "Get back here!" he yelled as he chased after Edmund on his horse. The animal's hooves pounded against the ground as he galloped. His eyes watched as the young King took Alehan off the path and into the brush. "Alehan, whoa! Halt!" Caspian yelled to Edmund's horse in hope that he might listen, but the King couldn't be sure. That horse was loyal to Edmund, and everyone knew it.

"Nice going." Caspian's horse mocked him. "How do you plan to explain this to Susan and Peter? You can't stop a boy on a horse from escaping the castle grounds?"

"I can stop him." the King barked angrily at his horse through gritted teeth. Then he yelled to Edmund again, "If you get lost or captured, the search parties will have to look for you too! Then we'll only have half as much chance of finding Lucy, is that what you want?"

[Edmund]

Edmund wasn't thinking clearly, and that much obvious. If he had been in his right mind, he would have been living up to his title and staying where he was supposed to be. He knew that this would cause more trouble for his family and Caspian, but he couldn't see past his fury at this moment. It was like he was becoming who he was with the White Witch, and it was something he couldn't get rid of. He didn't want to get rid of the emotions, simply because they were giving him courage and the will to move on past the words of those around him. He was tired of living in the background, staying in the shadows because of his age. He was just as capable as Caspian and Peter, but they refused to see that because of reasons unknown to Edmund. He had proven himself time and time again, but apparently it wasn't enough for them. And now he was just tired of it. He wanted to find Lucy because she meant the world to him. He knew that it was the same for Peter and Susan, but somehow it was different. Things between him and Lucy had improved greatly sinec their first trip to Narnia when the White Witch had been in power. Then he had been downright rude and mean to her, but he had gotten better since then. Much better.


He had been the first to believe her when she said she saw Aslan, when the others doubted her. He had been there to support her and help her, and now he felt like he had betrayed her. This was all of his fault..her disappearance, his brother and his sister's pain. If it hadn't been for him none of this would have happened. Lucy had asked him to go out on a ride with her that day, or even just a walk. She had pleaded with him, but he had refused simply because he had horses to train. That task had been given to him after his work with Alehan, the stallion that no one could have ridden before he met Edmund. Ed was good at training them, and he had three that he was currently working on. He ws behind on their sessions, so he had turned Lucy down at that moment. She had left, and he had felt bad and guilty about his decision. If he had just left the horses until later, then he would have been with Lucy, and then this would have never happened. He would have rather that it was him that was taken, not her. Not this. Anything but this. He couldn't take the pain that was welling up in his heart, and he felt that if he did something about it, if he searched for her, it would give him peace somehow. So that was what he was going to do. He was going to find his sister and tell her how truly sorry he was.


But Caspian was making this task harder then it had to be. As Edmund willed Alehan to gallop faster, he was able to decipher the King's words over the pounding hooves. He was calling for him to stop, but Ed had had enough. Shaking his head, he suddenly felt Alehan falter beneath him, and worry spread through him for a moment. But the stallion had heard Caspian's words, and even though he was about to stop, his trust and loyalty to Edmund willed him forward for his rider. Edmund twisted his fingers into the stallion's mane to give him extra support and a hold at this violent speed. Ed asked him for even more speed, and if they were to stumble at this pace, it would surely be the death of them both. Edmund wasn't thinking about that now. He was just thinking of getting away from the castle and from Caspian. But then the man's words filled his head. He would worry his siblings. Edmund suddenly sat back instantly, and Alehan skidded to a halt, dirt and twigs flying up under his hooves. Ed turned him to face Caspian, the anger look still plastered upon his features. He was far away, so to be heard he had to yell, but his message was clear. "I don't care Caspian. This is my fault, and I'm going to fix my mistake. You won't miss me, and neither will Peter or Susan. You'll hardly notice I'm even gone, because it's been like that ever since Lucy was taken. I'm invisible, so now it'll be easier for you to go about your business and your searches. I'm going to look for Lucy, and no one can change my mind." He shouted furiously, and then turned a slightly rearing Alehan towards the woods once more.

[King Caspian X]

"That's not true!" Caspian yelled. His horse hadn't stopped when Alehan did, and the distance between them grew shorter. "You do more than you know. You are one of the Kings of Narnia, and if you desert your people you will only cause more pain to everyone!" His horse's hooves pounded the dirt beneath him. True, Alehan was much faster than Caspian's horse, but his horse was much better at scrambling through dense brush than Alehan. "Stop your horse so they have enough energy to get back." Caspian yelled up to Edmund. He hadn't caught him yet, but if it killed Caspian he was going to catch him.

[Edmund]

Alehan tossed his head in his discomfort. He knew that Edmund was upset upon his back, and he honestly didn't think that they should be galloping off into the distance like this. Not when Ed was feeling like he was. But he was listening to his rider, and he didn't want to disobey him. So he kept going, even with Caspian's shouts behind them. Edmund listened to the young king's words, and he was doing his best not to pay any attention to the truth behind them. He sighed quietly and just focused on gettign Alehan to move faster. And the stallion did. He was running full speed ahead, and it was growing harder and harder for him to manuever safely through the brush. it was amazing that he hadn't stumbled yet. But Ed was a good rider, and he was keeping his eyes peeled for holes or roots that would cause them to trip and stumble. Alehan snorted and arched his neck, working to his best ability to keep going. Edmund shouted back at Caspian, not wanting to be followed at this point. "It's not true Caspian! Narnia doesn't need me! It has you, and Susan, and Peter. You are the ones that do everything. Just let me go Caspian!" He yelled over his shoulder and then turned Alehan sharply to the left. The horse had to keep low to the ground to make the turn, and his back legs scrambled for the grip that he needed. But lucky for Ed, Alehan had a good balance, and they were both righted again. But if he wasn't careful, something bad was going to happen.

[King Caspian X]

Caspian kicked his horse lightly in the ribs to keep him going. "What I say is true!" he yelled back to him. "And Susan and Peter are your family! Do not run from them! They love you, and you will only hurt Narnia if you leave. You can't honestly think that going away by yourself will do the Kingdom any good, do you? Edmund you are needed elsewhere than roaming about the woods and waiting to be captured. War is coming, and we need you in battle when it does come." The King growled, trying to catch the runaway kid. "And imagine how Peter will feel, and imagine how Susan will feel when you're gone. They love you, Ed. And we're all going through a hard time with Lucy gone as it is. We don't need another loss."

[Edmund]

He wanted nothing to do with his family anymore. He had betrayed them by not going with lucy that day into the forest, and now he was paying for it. He didn't want to make them suffer any longer, and he was tired of being pushed into the background. Things weren't easy for anyone, and he knew that. He wasn't being selfish, just thoughtful of what was left of his family. He didn't want to be the one that caused them pain any longer. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled and then let Alehan move faster, just so he could put that much distance between him and Caspian. But the King was still chasing him, and he doubted that he was going to stop. Alehan was tiring beneath him as well from the long run at such a high speed, and he needed him to be fresh for the journey into the mountains. Besides, Caspian couldn't force him home....Edmund would put up a fight. So he finally sat back in his saddle, pulling Alehan up and slowing him to a walk. He let the stallion walk back and forth to cool himself off, but Edmund felt the anger rising within him. He couldn't control his rage and that much was obvious as he unsheathed his sword, keeping it to protect himself. "No Caspian. Narnia doesn't need me. I've betrayed it and my brother, and my sisters in the past, and I can't do that again. I can't allow that to happen once more. I need to do this, you won't understand. Let me go. Please, stop chasing me." He finished, watching him with imploring eyes.

[King Caspian X]

"You haven't betrayed anyone." Caspian said, gripping his reins and ready to chase him again at any time. "And you will hurt Narnia. And you will hurt Peter and Susan and you will betray the Kingdom again by deserting us all. I won't stand by and let you do any of those things, Edmund." The King said angrily. "Put the sword away and steer your horse back to the Castle, because that's where you'll be going."

[Edmund]

Even though it had been his horse that had been doing the running, Edmund was still breathing heavily. He was upset and worked up, and he was doing all that he could to control his anger. That much was obvious as he sat upon Alehan, shaking in his fury and emotional state. Why wouldn't he understand? Why wouldn't he realize that Edmund didn't want to go back, that he didn't belong there? Edmund didn't know what else he could do to make Caspian understand any of this. He shook his head stubbornly and defiantly at Caspian's orders. This was what he was talking about. He was tired of being treated like a child, and tired of following orders. He was no longer going to jump to their every whim and will. He was his own person, and he was going to remain independent. "I have already betrayed my brother and sisters once more. I can't do it again. By removing myself from the castle and this situation, I won't pose that problem any longer. I'm tired of being expected to follow every order that is given to me. When will you all realize that I can't remain inside that castle anymore all of the time. I have just as much right to be out looking for Lucy as the rest of you. Now I'm not going back Caspian. I'm going to do something useful instead of sitting around doing nothing all day long. You can't change my mind." He finished determindely, setting his jaw and tightening his grip upon his sword. Edmund would do well to defend himself because he had been working hard at it. It had been all that he had been doing in the castle lately, and he was ready to keep himself safe and going where he wanted to go without any hinderance.