A/N: Sorry it's been a while. School got rolling and it got busy, and I ended up cutting out a whole chapter so...Anyway, here's the final product. Thanks to everyone who reviewed or sent me private messages! Your feedback is always appreciated! :)

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own nothing. Not even the dirt of Narnia.

Chapter XXII: Maliciousness and Mercilessness

Sheleiya blinked a few times to wake herself up. They had been travelling for so many hours, Sheleiya had lost count. She peered through the trees. The sun was about to set.

With a sigh, she pulled on the reigns, slowing to a stop. Edmund turned and frowned. "Why are we stopping?"

"I think it might be wise to stop for a rest, don't you think?" she said, slipping off her horse. She'd been accustomed to travel days on end, after all. It was time for a rest.

Edmund crossed his arms. "I thought you could keep up with my pace," he said with a chuckle.

"I didn't realize that meant travelling until we both become mad with lack of sleep," she said. She let herself lean on the horse. "Honestly, Edmund, it's been over twelve hours."

"Well, I suppose the horses do need rest," Edmund shrugged and climbed down from his horse.

"The horses!"Sheleiya exasperated. "We've been traveling for over a twelve hours and you're saying the horses need rest! We haven't even stopped to refill our water supply or checked for food in case of—" she stopped when she saw a smug smirk on his face. Sheleiya rolled her eyes and muttered a few choice words under her breath.

"Well, well," Edmund said as he began unsaddling his horse. "I had a feeling it was a bad idea to take you along. Not much for traveling, are you?"

Sheleiya stayed silent. She'd done too much traveling for her own liking. Place to place, home to home, until…She shook her head. She didn't want to think of them. Not now.

She looked at their surroundings and spotted some moss growing on a tree nearby. They were facing it. "Shouldn't we be bearing a bit south?"

"Says the girl who has only first seen a Narnian map several months ago," Edmund replied. "Speaking of which…"

Edmund reached into her bag and took the map with a pointed glare at Sheleiya. He opened it and placed it on the ground. He pointed to the Great Waterfall. "We're almost here, but we're on the southern end of it. We're a bit away from the Shuddering Wood. I'd say we can still make it by tomorrow afternoon, if we don't stay here too long."

"Too long?" she snapped. "I hope you're planning to sleep at one point or another."

"If you still want to come with me, you really should stop objecting everything I do."

She crossed her arms with a huff. Why did her curiosity always have to overcome her will to stay in one place? Her arm was stiff and sore, and the jolting ride over the not so flat terrain wasn't helping. "What about the cave?"

Edmund pointed at a small strip of land on the West area of the map. "Past the border."

Sheleiya stroked her horses nose absentmindedly. "Well, I may be no noble, but isn't it—I don't know—suicidal to cross over into Telmar? Doesn't Narnia and Telmar have their tensions?"

Edmund's brows knit together when he looked up at her. "How do you know about Narnia and Telmar?"

"Talk around the villages," she said. It's how she was accustomed to gathering information. She looked up at the sky again. "I think we should stop when the sun sets tonight."

"Glad you think that," Edmund nodded, standing. "Because we're continuing until night falls. Better to stay in cover of darkness."

She pulled a face. "You sound so depressing."

He gave her a grim smile before climbing back onto his horse. She followed suit, ignoring the burning sensation in her arm. She tied the bandage rather sloppily when she left.

"How's that arm?" he asked with a knowing side glance.

Sheleiya gritted her teeth. "Fine."

"You sure you don't want to—"

"No."

They continued on their way until the sun set. Despite Edmund's protests, he couldn't argue with Sheleiya's point when the horses started slowing their paces as well. Anyway, they were almost next to the Great Waterfall. If anything happened, they could call for a naiad.

Sheleiya resisted the urge to wince when she slipped off her horse. Her wrists weren't holding up very well either. She was trying to hold back any physical sight of pain from Edmund for two reasons. Firstly, he might insist that she return—again. And secondly, he tended to ask too many questions.

"I'll get some firewood," he said after unsaddling his horse. "You stay here and keep watch." He tossed her one of the extra bags she brought. "And take out whatever you brought to eat," he said with a shake of his head.

"The camp is fine,"Sheleiya said. She pointed to the waterfall. "I'll refill our water supply meanwhile."

"All right,"Edmund nodded, tying his sword around his waist. Sheleiya mentally scolded herself for forgetting to bring one. It would have been useful.

"Don't wander too far from here," Edmund warned before disappearing into the forest.

Sheleiya grabbed the waterskins and walked towards the sound of water. She stopped when she heard footsteps behind her. Was he following her? "Seriously, Edmund, did you think I would run—"

Sheleiya didn't have time to scream when an arm grabbed her waist and knife precariously brushed against her throat.

"Hello, Shem," rasped a familiar voice. "Except that's not your name, is it?"

Sheleiya's stomach twisted. Not now. Not here. Why here? She closed her eyes and breathed. She had to stay calm. She had to think.

"No, it's not," Sheleiya replied, regretting more than ever her lack of weapon. "It's Sheleiya, actually."

"Oh, I know," the voice laughed. He held her tighter so the tip of the knife dug into her skin, but not enough to cut her. "Pretty name, I suppose. Names aside, do you remember me?"

Sheleiya winced. His hot breath reeked of alcohol.

"How could I forget you, Jarfur?"Sheleiya spat. "You tried to kill me twice."

"Oh, yes," he chuckled. "Pleasant times. I almost succeeded last time, but that fool, Pirheem, outsmarted me. Markail nearly killed me himself. Too bad Pirheem's too—ah, yes, dead to help you this time."

Sheleiya pried his hand off of her waist, but then he grabbed her arm. Her wounded arm. She cried out in pain as he squeezed and pulled her back into him. "What's that?" he said, squeezing even more tightly. Hot pain shot through her arm into her neck. Sheleiya vision reeled. She blinked a few times.

"Part of your little escape stunt?" he asked. He lowered the knife a little, deciding she was too wounded to run. "You left your sister there, didn't you?"

Sheleiya didn't answer. She struggled to get away from him, but grew weaker with each attempt.

"There's no use in running," Jarfur growled. "Markail sent me to kill you. Slowly. And that's what I'm going to do, finally."

"Ah, yes," Sheleiya managed to choke out. "How is Markail? I heard he was losing allies after we left." Sheleiya had heard no such thing, but Jarfur tended to have loose lips when he thought he was inflicting pain or when he was intoxicated. By the smell of his breath and the loosening of his grip, Sheleiya was confident she had both aspects on her side.

"Your sources are false," Jarfur laughed. "We have flourished since! His power increases daily, and others west of here have joined us. Markail even took over Anvard! Ha!"

Sheleiya's heart slammed against her chest. Her suspicions were right. She swallowed the growing lump in her throat. "That was him?"

"Yes," he replied proudly. "I'm sure you wish, now, that you would have never stolen that knife, that you would have never plotted against us, that you would have never escaped."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Sheleiya said. Gathering all her strength, she forcefully stomped on his foot. Jarfur cried out in pain, letting her go. She tried to run for it, but Jarfur grabbed her arm and once again had her in a vulnerable position to his knife. Curse her wound!

"Don't try that again," he hissed. Sheleiya's heart pounded with the exertion. He should have killed her by now. He was foolish to stall.

"You now see the consequences of sneaking in places you ought not to be," Jarfur whispered in her ear. He laughed as he moved his knife from her throat to her left wrist. Sheleiya stared at it in confusion. It was a plain knife. Why her wrist?

"Markail wanted you to die slowly and painfully," he said. "And now-" Jarfur suddenly stiffened.

"Drop the knife."

Jarfur turned to face the voice, his grip still on Sheleiya. He repositioned his knife at her throat.

"King Edmund,"Jarfur said dryly. "What a pleasure."

Edmund's expression shifted. Sheleiya frowned. He recognized Jarfur. How?

"You," Edmund said pointing his sword towards Jarfur. "Drop the knife, let her go, and I'll let you go free. "

Jarfur snorted. "You, boy? I could kill you where you stand and no one would think different."

"I command you to drop the knife," Edmund said, taking another step closer.

He tightened his grip on Sheleiya. "Leave her to me. She's no concern of yours anyway."

"She's in Narnia. You're in Narnia," Edmund replied. "The way I see it, you're both my concern."

Sheleiya could feel Jarfur begin to shake. He always was a coward when it came to his own life. "It would be so easy to kill you," Jarfur babbled on. "Your brother will come home thinking you're dead,"

Sheleiya shut her eyes when she saw the look of panic flash in Edmund's eyes. His weak spot. Jarfur found it. Already Edmund was lowering his sword.

"What do you mean?" Edmund snapped.

Jarfur removed the knife away from Sheleiya momentarily. He clenched her arm, however, as a warning not to run. He reached in his pocket and procured a letter.

"No," Edmund breathed. "You took the letter, which means—" he let out a shaky breath. "You followed us here."

Jarfur dropped the letter. "Oh, yes. I escaped, but I didn't run. You know why?" He tapped his head. "I'm smart. And now…" he twisted Sheleiya's arm behind her back, causing her to cry out again. "This ends."

"I'm warning you,"Edmund said stepping closer. "Let her go."

Jarfur scowled. He tried to slash her wrist, but Sheleiya moved at the last moment, so he caught her left hand instead. Then he ran, disappearing into the thickets.

Sheleiya clasped her hand, now dripping out blood.

"Are you all right?"Edmund asked, sheathing his sword.

"I think so,"she replied breathlessly, still confused as to why Jarfur cut her hand instead of her neck.

Edmund pulled out a dagger from his belt and handed it to her. She caught the idea and tore a piece of fabric off of the bottom of her tunic. It was too large anyway. She hastily wound up her hand. "I'm fine. My arm hurts more than my hand."

"How did he know you?"Edmund asked.

She looked him in the eye. "I should ask the same."

Edmund opened his mouth to reply, but voices were heard nearby.

"Markail," Sheleiya muttered. "He's coming back with Markail."

"Come on," Edmund said, grabbing her good arm. "We need to go."

"Wait," Sheleiya said. She hid behind a thicket of bushes as they approached. Edmund seemed hesitant, but he joined her nonetheless. He too wanted to find out what they were up to.

"I got her, sir! I got her, I-" Jarfur came back to the place they were just a moment ago. He stopped when he realized there was no one there any longer.

"Then, where is she, Jarfur?"A tall man stepped out from behind a group of trees. His dark features matches his dark eyes, flashing in cool anger.

"Markail," Sheleiya breathed. Her heart pounded, and she ducked further down to hide.

"She was r-right h-here, sir," Jarfur stammered. He walked in circles around the area.

"Then, where is she, Jarfur?" the tall man repeated threateningly. "If you cut her, she should be here groveling for the cure."

"I-I-I don't k-know. But, I-I sliced her hand. It only missed her wrist by a little."

There was a dead silence for quite some time. Markail was still, and then he clenched his fists.

"You fool," he hissed. "She will take longer to feel the pain!"

"But isn't that a good thing?" Jarfur cringed away. He seemed like a dwarf next to Markail. "She will take longer to d-die."

"She will be easier to cure," Markail said. He took a few deep breaths and relaxed. "It is no matter. She is far away from any one who will be will to help her."

Jarfur wrung his hands nervously and muttered something under his breath.

Markail tensed again. "What have you done, Jarfur?" hissed the tall man.

"Well, um, when you said she doesn't have any help for miles, it's not entirely true."

"What do you mean?"Markail pulled out his sword which had been hanging on his side. He placed the tip on Jarfur's stomach. The latter was visibly trembling.

"I-I was about to s-slice her w-wrist and I felt a -s-sword at my b-back. I-it was-"Jarfur paused and stared at the infuriated man in front of him.

"Who was it?" Markail said through gritted teeth. He pressed the sword a little harder. "King Edmund, sir."

Edmund looked away as Markail ran his sword through Jarfur mercilessly. Sheleiya did not however. She did not wish death upon any one, but she felt no pity towards Jarfur. He had tortured her enough in his time.

Markail spat on Jarfur's still body before whipping around and disappearing into the forest once more.

Sheleiya let out a shaky breath as she and Edmund stood. They approached the body carefully. "You could at least take his sword," Edmund muttered. "And then we'll bury him."

Sheleiya nodded, feeling herself shaking.

"Are you all right?" Edmund asked. "You're turning pale."

"Just shaken up," Sheleiya replied. Her throat felt tight as she looked at Jarfur's body. His eyes seemed to stare right through her. She knelt down and closed them, for her own sake.

She tried to stand again, but found her legs incapable of moving. Her throat constricted even more, and her arms froze. She no longer felt pain in her arm. How odd. She could faintly hear Edmund's voice calling her name. Then she felt her head hit the ground. Then, all black.

A/N: Uh oh...not looking good for Shel. What do you guys think happened? What do you guys think Markail's up to? Would love to hear thoughts and/or feedback in reviews. :) Thanks for reading!