Room 429, Wednesday Night
Edmund's arm felt much better after Doctor Jones (the physician, not the librarian) wrapped it properly. Reno also hadn't managed to roll him up in bubble wrap as he'd professed he might do on radio. Edmund fell asleep quickly again, although not with the exhaustion as with the night before, and he dreamed.
***
Talking with Maugrim didn't last long. Edmund had picked up his sword, closed the distance between them and struck at the wolf's heart in an incredibly fast, smooth movement that happened in the blink of an eye. The sword met no resistance, throwing Edmund off balance. He tried to catch himself, but a shoulder from Maugrim or uneasy footing sent him sprawling.
"You want to be alone?" Maugrim said, voice low and gruff in Edmund's ear. Ed couldn't move. "You want to hide in your den and out here, live like the Queen? Above everyone, untouchable? You made your choice, Son of Adam, and now you'll live and die by it."
Edmund rolled away and scrambled to his feet. His sword was in his hand, poised to attack again. Maugrim laughed. Edmund's face hardened. "I'm not a scared little boy anymore."
"Not so little," Maugrim admitted with the closest thing to a grin a wolf could manage. "Still scared of wolves, still scared of your own kind. Run and hide, little prince," he said snidely. Queen Jadis, the White Witch, had promised he would make Edmund a prince.
"It's King actually."
Maugrim's grin widened. "My apologies, Your Majesty." The wolf's face suddenly sobered. "Run." He turned tail and bolted into the trees. Edmund stood, stunned for a moment. After a beat, he went to grab his bag, but stopped. He put his sword away, packed his bag properly and threw enough dirt onto the fire to put it out. He wouldn't be responsible for setting the woods alight. Once he was calmer and ready, Edmund slipped his bag over his head, re-drew his sword and headed deeper into the Preserve after Maugrim.
***
Talking with Maugrim didn't last long. Edmund had picked up his sword, closed the distance between them and struck at the wolf's heart in an incredibly fast, smooth movement that happened in the blink of an eye. The sword met no resistance, throwing Edmund off balance. He tried to catch himself, but a shoulder from Maugrim or uneasy footing sent him sprawling.
"You want to be alone?" Maugrim said, voice low and gruff in Edmund's ear. Ed couldn't move. "You want to hide in your den and out here, live like the Queen? Above everyone, untouchable? You made your choice, Son of Adam, and now you'll live and die by it."
Edmund rolled away and scrambled to his feet. His sword was in his hand, poised to attack again. Maugrim laughed. Edmund's face hardened. "I'm not a scared little boy anymore."
"Not so little," Maugrim admitted with the closest thing to a grin a wolf could manage. "Still scared of wolves, still scared of your own kind. Run and hide, little prince," he said snidely. Queen Jadis, the White Witch, had promised he would make Edmund a prince.
"It's King actually."
Maugrim's grin widened. "My apologies, Your Majesty." The wolf's face suddenly sobered. "Run." He turned tail and bolted into the trees. Edmund stood, stunned for a moment. After a beat, he went to grab his bag, but stopped. He put his sword away, packed his bag properly and threw enough dirt onto the fire to put it out. He wouldn't be responsible for setting the woods alight. Once he was calmer and ready, Edmund slipped his bag over his head, re-drew his sword and headed deeper into the Preserve after Maugrim.