Summary: A younger brother is something Peter has always cherished his entire life, but will Edmund understand when it's Peter's turn to say 'sorry'? Prince Caspian movie-verse.
Author's Note: I have wanted to write this ever since I heard the song last year. And last night, I found the song with lyrics on YouTube, I just couldn't resist. I do really promise Chapter 5 of Amber's Prince Caspian Story will be up soon. School is just being a right pain the mouth, as always, and I am flat out with assignments and work. To all followers of that story, I sincerely apologise.
Disclaimer: Nothing in what you are about to read is mine. They all belong to their respective owners and I am making no money by playing with them.
I'm Sorry
Peter hung his head as Caspian, Susan and Lucy all left the chamber of the Stone Table. He mulled Edmund's words over in his head.
"I know you had it sorted" he had said.
A tear slid its way down his cheek. Misery and hopelessness threatened to engulf him as his shoulders shook with painful sobs.
The night raid had been his idea, his plan, his failure. He had almost killed everyone. Peter shook down an unpleasant shiver.
Standing up, he shuffled away from the Table and headed down one of the less frequented passages in the midst of Aslan's How. Unaware of anything except his guilty thoughts and painful 'what ifs', Peter began to sing.
I didn't mean to cause you pain
I'll never do anything like that again
If 'sorry' helps me make it right
Then 'sorry' ten times, let's not fight
Peter sighed. More memories of the past year flooded back into his mind. So much pain and conflict, more towards Lucy than Susan, and less towards Lucy than Edmund. More towards Edmund than anyone else. Steering his mind elsewhere, he kept singing.
I'm sorry!
Sometimes it's so hard to say
I'm sorry!
I let my pride get in the way
But I want you to know
I am so sorry
What had happened between him and his brother? What had happened to the two Kings who always stood back to back and side by side, both on and off the battlefield? What had happened to their brother and best friend relationship? More tears wove their way down his cheeks. He slumped down in a heap in one of the passageways, and looked longingly up at one of the carvings in front of him.
Even though I made this mess
It doesn't mean I love you any less
Let's not waste words and idle chatter
Let's say things that really matter
The carving was of him and Edmund, fighting together at some battle or other; Peter couldn't depict which one it was. Most other thoughts had, by now, disappeared from his mind. Now, only question remained; would his brother forgive him?
I'm sorry!
Sometimes it's so hard to say
I'm sorry!
I let my pride get in the way
But I want you to know
I am so sorry
His first answer was "Of course he will! Don't be so daft!" But then the more he thought about it, Peter came to realise that Edmund's emotional scars – courtesy of himself – would take a long time to heal fully. He would say he forgave him, but under the strong front, his brother would be quivering with sadness and hopelessness.
Sometimes it's hard to admit when I'm wrong
But when I'm with you, I feel like I belong
I'm sorry!
Sometimes it's so hard to say
I'm sorry!
I let my pride get in the way
But I want you to know
I am so sorry
The tears had finally ceased their movement and as he wiped a sleeve across his bloodshot blue eyes, Peter suddenly stopped dead as he heard a faint shuffle of footsteps nearby.
"Hello?" His voice was thick and scratchy, but clear, as he lifted his head and brushed his fringe out of his face, only to see Edmund standing in the passage.
"Ed!" Peter exclaimed in surprise. "How long have you been there?" he asked tentatively.
"As long as I needed to be" Edmund replied, his brown eyes brimming with tears, but the rest of his face showing very little emotion.
"Ed? What's wrong?" Peter asked; worry sweeping over him like a tidal wave.
The air was knocked out of him and he sank back to the ground as Edmund suddenly threw himself into Peter's arms.
For what seemed like hours, Peter just held him, letting his brother drain himself of any emotion left in him.
At last, his brother lifted his head to look Peter squarely in the eye. When he spoke, his voice was all emotion and a little friendly exasperation.
"Oh Peter, did you never realise that 'sorry' was all you ever needed to say?"
FIN