Forty-third Prompt: Trust

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"How long do we need until we reach Cair?", Edmund asked.

"I don't know", Peter sighed. "We need to cross the river."

"But the next bridge is...too far away!", Edmund exclaimed.

Peter sighed. "I know. But the river should be frozen by now, we shouldn't have a problem to cross it."

The two kings had gone out for a walk, which had taken longer and brought them farer than they had expected.

It was freezing cold by now and both of them longed after the warm fire in Cair Paravel.

"Are you cold?", Peter asked.
"Why the heck should I be cold Peter?", Edmund asked with a bitter sarcasm.

"I don't know, maybe because it's freezing!", Peter hissed back. He really wasn't in the mood of jokes.

"Is that the river?", Edmund suddenly asked.

Peter looked up and saw something shiny during the trees.
"Yes!", he said in relief.

Their steps quickened.
Edmund wanted to step on the ice, but Peter held him back.

"Wait! I should test if the ice will hold us."

"Well, no offense, but you are way heavier than me", Edmund said.

Peter sighed and thought about the talk he held with Edmund on their walk, that had brought them here.

Edmund had begged him to leave some things up for him, let it be leading a battle or do something like this.

Peter sighed.

"Okay. Do it", he said. His hands trembled when Edmund stepped on the ice.
But Edmund made it over the half, without any of the ice breaking.

Peter also stepped onto the ice and walked a few steps, Edmund, who had already reached the shore, watching him.

A crack made Peter look down.

No. No, no, no.

Edmund's eyes went wide.

"Don't move!", he shouted.

But Peter did move.
The ice broke.

"PETER!", Edmund screamed, when his brother broke into the water.

He knew that he couldn't walk up to him. The ice would break more, and then Edmund would break in too. He needed to go and look for help, but he couldn't leave his brother alone.

"Edmund!", Peter gasped.
"Pete!"
"Help me!", Peter choked.

"I- I need to search for someone or something who can help!", Edmund said.

"No, please-please don't leave me!"

"Do you trust me?", Edmund asked.

"Yes, but not with th-"

"I will be right back!", Edmund said.

He rushed off.

Help. I need help.

He looked around panicking.

"Your majesty?", a voice asked behind him.

Edmund turned around and stared into the face of a centaur.

"Help!", he choked.
"We- we need- help!"

He led the centaur to the river, where Peter was still conscious, but didn't look like he would be for much longer.

Edmund didn't even want to look at how the centaur tried to pull his brother out, but when it was done, he rushed up and pulled his older brother into a tight hug and he didn't want to admit it, but a tear rolled down his cheek.