RUTH:

When the sun was in the sky, I was alright. As long as the sun was shining and I was surrounded by Narnians, I was alright. I could be strong for Edmund.

I often busied myself with the children, letting Edmund be the diplomat and discuss more serious matters with the adults. He was king, after all. Besides, we were both completely in our element.

Edmund was sweet, of course, but he was often intimidated by children. This trip was no different. He was scared of hurting them or breaking them or otherwise damaging them, no matter how much I tried to subtly reassure him that he was king and he was the hero of many. He would brush me off, saying Peter was the hero, and he was the villain. I would tell him that wasn't true, but I never pressed it, not wanting to start an argument.

I had fun during the day, teaching children how to play jacks and solitaire, making flower crowns and using sticks as play swords, and even sometimes just playing tag in the meadows. But when the sun went down, and I was alone with Edmund in the tent, I found nothing to give. The shadows taunted me, haunted me. The darkness reminded me of the night sky that was the backdrop of my nightmares, the warmth of my blankets reminded me of how it felt to hold my siblings close, the sound of Edmund's shuffling cards reminded me of the way Mother would play solitaire in the other room while we waited for Father to return home after a long day of work. So I often lay in my hammock with the blankets pushed to the end of the bed, staring at the sloped ceiling with my hands behind my head or playing with my beanie late into the night. Edmund would ask questions occasionally, and I would answer in one or two words. I had to be strong for Edmund, I kept telling myself. I couldn't let him know I was struggling as much as I was.

One day, I was playing jacks with a group of young satyrs when Edmund approached, his face grave. I pretended not to notice for the sake of the kids, and beamed.

"Would you like to play, Edmund?" I called.

He snapped from his thoughtful trance and plastered a fake smile on his face. "Of course! I'll play a few rounds, then I need to talk to you, Ruth."

One of the boys moaned. "Aw! But she's so fun!"

"She'll be back soon, young one," Edmund reassured him.

We played a few more rounds, as promised, then I left the game with the children as Edmund and I slipped away to the tent.

"What's the matter?" I asked, studying his face. He was sweating; we all were. This was the hottest Narnian summer we had experienced, and it appeared that the same was true for many native Narnians as well. But there was also an unmistakable concern written all over his face.

"I was speaking with the leaders, and they're concerned by the weather." He sighed. "They've heard that many crops are not handling the heat well. They fear that there may be a famine if this heat wave is not broken soon."

I felt my stomach drop to my toes. "That's horrible."

He nodded and looked away. "I don't know what this means for the two of us. For our mission."

I bit my lip. "Well, regardless of what happens, we came to help. Maybe we're called to help in this way, before we can help in the other way we planned.'

"I guess."

I sat down on the hammock. "This heat is rather awful. I would love to be near the river right now."

He sat down too, and we locked eyes. "Are you alright, Ruth? In ways other than handling the heat?"

"Of course," I lied with a smile. "Don't worry." I cleared my throat. "Did the leaders say anything else?"

"No. I was thinking we would leave tomorrow, though, and head further inland. We need news of the vial, somehow."

I nodded. "That's fine by me. I agree."

He smirked. "Ready to lose at jacks?"

"You're on, Edmund the Just!" I teased, ducking out of the tent and returning to the game.

🦁

Edmund and I left the next morning. I prayed that it was still too dark for him to see the drying tear tracks on my cheeks; another nightmare had plagued my dreams, and I had woken up with tears leaking slowly out of my eyes and my whole body violently shaking.

The next camp was supposedly a two-hour hike away, up a mountain, so we started early to avoid the unbearable heat that came with the sunrise. About halfway there, a lone voice could be heard above the waking world.

"Olivus!" a female wailed. "Olivus, where are you?"

Edmund and I rushed forward toward the sound of the woman. We found her, a small badger, in a forest clearing, spinning in circles. She screamed when she spotted us, and ducked behind a tree.

"It's alright, ma'am," I said softly. "We haven't come to hurt you."

She emerged from the tree with wide eyes. "Have you seen my son?"

Edmund and I exchanged a glance.

"No, I'm sorry," Edmund said, extending a hand. "But we will help you find him however we can. I'm King Edmund, the Just. And this is Lady Ruth."

Her eyes widened even further, as she shook Edmund's hand back and forth in Narnian fashion. I knelt down to her level and looked into her frightened eyes.

"When did he go missing?"

"I don't know!" she sobbed. "He never came home last night. My husband and I have been looking for our Olivus all night, but it's morning and we have seen no sign of him."

"Who knows he is missing?" Edmund asked.

"Nobody, yet, unless someone at our camp heard us. But we are far away now."

"Let us walk back with you," I said gently. "If you've been out all night, you need your rest. King Edmund and I can help organize a search party, and send messengers to nearby camps to alert them to the situation. Is that alright?"

"Oh, thank you," she sobbed, "thank you. I wish to keep looking for my son, but I have searched all night and I am weary and have children at home to care for..."

"Edmund and I will see to it that everything is done to help that is possible," I assured her, gripping her shaking shoulders with my hands. "First, let us bring you home."

She nodded, wiping her eyes. Edmund and I walked on either side of her, scanning the forest for any sign of life or movement. But we both knew that the likelihood of finding a badger in the dark forest was slim at best.

"What's your name?" I asked at one point.

"Nindia," she replied. "My husband's name is Olivus as well."

I smiled. A few minutes later, the little badger tripped over her feet.

"Tired?" Edmund asked kindly.

She nodded. "Very."

"Would you like a lift?" I inquired.

"It's alright, dear," she replied. But when she tripped again, I didn't ask before scooping her up and carrying her into camp.

As we entered, the sun was just barely peeking above the horizon. Another badger ran up to us.

"Who are you? What have you done with my wife?" he demanded.

"I am King Edmund the Just, and this is Lady Ruth," Edmund said. "She was merely sleepy, so we landed a helping hand. We were approaching your camp when we met her calling for your son. I assure you, Lady Ruth and I will do whatever we can to have you find him."

The badger's face softened. I knelt down again. "You and your wife will need rest after being out all night. King Edmund and I can organize a search party, and send messengers to neighboring camps."

"I want to help," he said earnestly.

"Lead me to your home, and we'll see," I replied. I turned to Edmund. "See if you can find the leader, or leaders. I'll be back soon."

He nodded.

"Oh, Your Majesty!" Olivus said, pointing. "It's the cabin about three minutes that direction."

"Thank you!" Edmund responded, sprinting away.

"We live just this way," the little badger explained, grabbing my free hand and leading me to the edge of the camp.

"How many children do you have?" I asked.

"Five. Three daughters and two sons. Olivus is the oldest."

"Do your other children know?"

"Our second oldest does, she was still awake when we left. Her name is Brizzal. Here it is!"

"Here, take your Nindia," I whispered, passing the sleeping badger into her husband's arms. The door opened before I could knock to reveal a badger smaller than her mother.

"Did you find him?" she asked, having not noticed me yet. She looked as if she hadn't slept a wink either.

"No, but we found King Edmund, and he and Lady Ruth here are getting help."

Her eyes traveled slowly upward to my face, and I smiled and waved. Her jaw dropped.

"Are you a princess?" she asked.

I laughed. "No, at least not yet. I'm a friend of the kings and queens, and I've come to help."

"Come on in," she said, holding the door as far open as possible. "My brother and sisters are still asleep, but they'll be awake soon."

I followed her parents into the cozy home. It was much larger on the inside than it appeared on the outside; I could stand comfortably, even though all of the furniture didn't quite reach my knees. After Nindia had been put to bed, Olivus Sr. emerged.

I lowered to my haunches again. "We have a few choices now, really, Olivus. Edmund is taking care of the search party and the messengers, so you can either stay here with your family and rest, or you can go out into the search party. As for myself, I can stay here and help your family if you'd like, or I can go lead another search party, or go with messengers. How can I help you best right now?"

"Daddy, please don't leave," Brizzal said, sounding as if she were on the verge of tears. "We need you here. What will we do when the little ones wake up?"

I watched the badger's face carefully. He was clearly being torn in two; between his daughter and his son. Between his flock and his stray sheep. I knew the feeling from when Edmund had run away.

I forced the thought from my mind as soon as I thought it. They couldn't be related... they couldn't. I couldn't compare them, because Olivus Jr. couldn't have run away. He must have been kidnapped. But how? And why? And most importantly, who had done it?

"I'll stay," he said after a long pause. "My family needs me. I will join a search party after a rest and after my other children know."

I nodded. "Alright. What would you like me to do? Would you like me to stay, or go out and help?"

"You've already been so kind," he said reluctantly.

I smiled. "Thank you, but I would like to help more."

He massaged his temples. "I can take care of my family. Or-" He choked on his words, and cleared his throat. "At least most of them."

"You can take care of your family," I said firmly. "We're just here to help."

"I don't think he ran away," he murmured, "but I don't know if the alternative is any better."

"We will find out the truth." I rose to my feet. "I'm going to go find Edmund. I'll be back, as soon as I have anything to report."

"Thank you," the badgers said meekly.

I smiled again. "No need for that. I'm happy to help."

I emerged into the lightening world once again and ran in the same direction Edmund had gone. His face was the picture of panic when we nearly ran into each other in our hurry.

"What? What is it?" I asked.

He gripped my arm tightly, and said in a hushed voice, "The leaders said that they had seen wolves prowling at the base of the mountain. We need to find Olivus before they do."

"What's the plan?"

"Three search parties. Do you want to lead one?"

I nodded fervently. "You, me, and the chief?"

He nodded. "Wake three families up. Explain the situation, but don't mention the wolves. Comb your entire third of the mountain. If you don't find anything, meet back up here. And travel in pairs."

"Alright. Be safe, Edmund."

He winced, as if I had slapped him. "You too," he replied, before spinning on his heel and jogging over to a home. I went the other direction and gathered three fathers and two teenage sons, one of whom was Olivus's best friend. I volunteered to be his partner, and we set off down the mountainside.

Gidder the beaver was a nervous wreck if I had ever seen one. His eyes darted back and forth wildly, to the point I was worried they would simply pop out of his head. After about five minutes of this, I suggested a short break to collect ourselves.

"No, no, no, please, let's keep looking," he protested.

"You'll be able to look more closely if you're calm and you know what to look for," I said gently, crouching down. "Tell me about Olivus. Then I'll know what to look for, too."

"He looks exactly like this father, only taller," he said rapidly. "He's very quiet, and very smart, and he keeps to himself, but he's very kind when you get to know him, he's my best friend."

"So if he was captured, he'll find a way to outsmart his captors?"

The beaver nodded vigorously.

"And if he ran away, he'd be very quiet and secretive?"

"He would never, ever, ever run away." The little beaver grew very animated. "He's quiet, but he loves his family more than anything. He'd do anything to protect them. He was just telling me the other day about how much the weather and the potential famine worried him, because he wouldn't be able to protect his family from it. No, Olivus would never run away, he loves his family more than anything else."

"Thank you very much, Gidder," I said with a smile. "I know what to look for now. So, if he didn't run away but he's very smart, we need to look for clues he might have left behind, alright?"

His eyes widened. "That makes sense! If he was kidnapped, he would leave signs behind to help us find him!"

I nodded. "Exactly. Do you feel better now, knowing what to look for?"

He nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Let's go!"

I jumped to my feet and set off into the woods once more, looking left and right and up and down for any clues we may find. But I also kept my ears open for any howls and my eyes open for any signs of physical struggle. If he was kidnapped by wolves... I shuddered at the thought and set off faster into the woods.

"Huh," I remarked aloud.

"What? What is it?" Gidder asked.

I approached a berry bush. "Look at this." A big branch had been snapped off, but the broken part jutted out into the open, whereas the part with the berry clusters still attached pointed in another direction. "See, if the branch had broken either naturally or accidentally, wouldn't the green part, the part that was just broken off, still be next to the bush?"

"You're right..." he said slowly. "Maybe it's a clue."

I nodded. "Let's follow the direction the leaves are pointing. It looks like it was meant to be an arrow."

We walked in the direction it was pointing all the way to the base of the mountain, but we found no further "arrows." We were about to turn around when the beaver suddenly jumped beside me.

"Wait! Look!" He pointed straight forward. "See that camp?"

I nodded. "What about it?"

"That's the next camp inland! I wonder if that's where they took him!"

I beamed. "I think you might be onto something, Gidder. Let's go back to camp, and tell the others."