This is to be a three part story, I hope that you wait in order to read the next couple of parts. I would like to post the last two parts soon, hopefully by the end of the week. I do not own any of the characters or Narnia.

I hope you enjoy my story and thank you for reading.

The High King had been puzzling over the treaty document for what seemed like hours, yet he had not been able to make heads or tails of it.

He let out a sigh full of frustration and forcefully shoved the piece of parchment away from him. He leaned back in his chair, tipping his head back to study the patterns on the ceiling. How he wished that he could finish this task in order to spend an hour in the Narnian sun before it set. How he wished Edmund had handled this particularly difficult treaty before he had left. Even more so, Peter wished that his brother and older sister were home.

It had been a little over a fortnight since Edmund had escorted Susan to Carlomen in order to meet the Tisroc's son, Prince Rabadash. Both brothers felt that the journey was not necessary since the gentle queen had no intention of ever marrying the prince. Yet Susan had calmly explained that for her to reject his proposal without having ever met the man would be considered an attack on the honor of the whole country and could certainly lead to talk of war.

Despite the sound argument of his sister, Peter could not shake a sense that this journey would lead to something terrible. Peter had expressed his worries about his younger brother of only nineteen leading this voyage on his own, but Edmund had simply grinned at him.

"You have to stop being such a mother hen. I can handle this."

"I know you can handle it Edmund, that's not the problem." Peter said slightly exasperated, running a hand through his hair. "I just don't trust Prince Rabadash's intentions"

The younger king's smile slipped and he regarded his brother with serious dark eyes. "Peter, what has you so worried? This visit is just a formality. We should only be in Carlomen for three, four days at the most."

Peter shook his head, trying to find the words to describe his worry. He didn't know why he was so tongue tied, this was his brothers, his closest companion, if anyone would understand it would be Edmund. Still, Peter himself was not sure why he felt so tense, there was no reason for it, just a sense that something was wrong.

"I can't explain it Edmund, I just have this feeling like something isn't..." Peter was cut off as a small figure rammed into the side of Edmund, almost knocking him over.

"Lucy," Edmund greeted laughing as he squeezed his sister in a tight hug. "I'll miss you too, but we won't be gone long."

Peter tried to bite down his huff at being interrupted when a small hand was gentling placed on his arm. He looked up to see Susan. Her brow was furrowed in a look of concern. "I know that you are worried, but I'm sure everything will be fine." She offered quietly. "Edmund is very quick at thinking on his feet."

"And he can be very sneaky." Lucy supplied as she threw her arms around Susan's waist in order to wish her a safe journey.

Edmund looked affronted, yet his siblings could see the twinkle of mirth in his eyes. That twinkle helped ease the High King's heart and with a hearty chuckle he threw his arms around his brother who quickly returned the embrace.

"That he is, Lu." He answered, then pulled his brother closer. "Safe journey Eddie."

With a tight squeeze in return Edmund nodded and Peter smiled as he pulled his sisters into the embrace. Soon they would be together again and all would be well.

Still as he watched the company grow into the distance, Peter could not dismiss the feeling of dread in his gut.

The two weeks that had passed since they left had not helped ease it, but the dread had simply settled deep into his being. He tried to hide his unrest, though unsuccessfully.

The Narnian's of court had noted the change in the High King's behaviour, how he had become more sullen as each day passed. Many took heart in knowing that the return of the Just and the Gentle would bring the smile back to King Peter's eyes. He knew that they had noticed by the way that everyone acted when near him, yet he found it difficult to care.

Lucy's worry affected him the most. The light in her eyes had seemed less bright as if she could feel his unease, which only succeed in Peter feeling worse. She spent a great part of the day trying to distract him with one activity or another. A game of chess, a walk in the garden's or a good strong cup of tea.

A soft rap at the door interrupted his thoughts. He bid them enter and as the soft footsteps approached, Peter knew that his sister had entered the office.

"What has kept you so busy, Peter? No one has seen you for hours." Lucy spoke in the soft voice that she had started using these past weeks.

Peter gave Lucy a halfhearted smile that did not reach his eyes. "I've been trying to figure out this document, Lucy. I tell you I don't know how Edmund does it." At the mention of his brother's name Peter stopped smiling and turned back towards the desk.

Lucy stepped up beside him, leaning over his arm in order to see the offending document. "Hmm, Edmund is a wonder with this sort of work."

It was true, Edmund had taken on a lot of the paper work when the siblings had begun splitting the responsibilities. Maybe it was why he was called the Just King, for he had a head for arguments and could decipher the right path in most difficult decisions. Aslan had truly blessed him with sound judgment. Peter wished again that he was home to help him. He rested him elbows on the desk and lifted his hands to curl into his hair.

"Why haven't they written, Lu?" Peter asked in a small voice, not really wanting to hear the answer. That was really the problem, as each day passed without word from either of his siblings, Peter felt more and more lost.

Lucy shook with a small sigh. "I wished I knew." She rested her hand on his arm in a gesture of comfort and when her brother did not react, she placed her head on his shoulder.

Just then a cry rang through the castle. "A message bird. A messenger bird has been spotted" Both siblings started and shared a hopeful look. Without any hesitation they ran from the room towards the great hall.

With every step closer to the throne room, Peter felt a shoot of joy run though him. Finally a letter from Susan or Edmund stating that they are well and on their way home. How they will laugh when they hear how silly I've been, Peter thought.

Peter stopped and put an arm out right before they both dashed head long into the large chamber door. Susan would be appalled if they did not act properly in her absence. With a quick smile at Lucy, the promise of a letter raising Peter spirits more then he could explain, the High King and the Valiant Queen entered the throne room.

Oreius and Mr. Tumnus were the only ones present and stood close together looking at a small pigeon that rested in the centaur's hand.

"Your Majesties" Oreius greeted with an incline of his head. "I'm sorry, but this messenger does not seem to be from your brother or sister."

"Why ever not?" Lucy asked as they approached the general, her joy deflating a bit at the news.

"It is not a talking pigeon, Lucy." Mr. Tumnus replied looking at the monarchs with concern. They had been awaiting news too long.

The hope in Peter's eyes dimmed as he reached out silently for the piece of parchment that was attached to a clasp on the bird's leg. Opening the message carefully Peter glanced at the signature. "It is from Rabadash." He supplied, glancing at his sister he returned his gaze to the letter.

As he read the contents, Peter felt his blood turn to ice. A harsh shaking began to over take his body and he felt his legs give way beneath him. His knees slammed into the stone floor and he fell forward onto his hands. Tears burned his eyes and threatened to make their presence known. He tried to pull breath into his lungs but a despair so deep it was solid sat in his chest.

"Peter!" Lucy cried as she frantically drew herself to her brother's side. Her small hands flying to his face, his arms, his back, trying to find the hurt there that had caused this reaction. "What...what is it?" She begged her older brother who had begun to release sobs that echoed through the throne room. She was barely aware of Oreius and Mr. Tumnus's alarmed responses to the king's pain.

Despite her pleas, he brother did not move. "Peter, please. What is wrong? You are frightening me" Lucy whispered clinging to his side.

Ever the caregiver and never one to ignore the pain of his siblings, Peter slowly turned to wrap his arms around his sister's form. He reached towards the general with one arm, handing him the letter that had caused the High King's distress. Peter could not bear to see those wretched words for a moment longer, but Lucy had to be told.

With a sense of foreboding, the stern centaur began to read the message a loud.

Rabadash, Prince of Carlomen to Peter, barbarian King of Narnia, it is with great sadness that I must bring you this news. Over the duration of the visit of the Narnian envoy, that King Edmund the Just fell victim to an unknown illness.

On the 123rd day of the 17th year of the reign of my father, the Tisroc may he live forever, the barbarian King succumded to his illness. The radiant Gentle Queen in mourning her dear departed brother did not complete the task of writing to inform you. Therefore the duty has fallen to me to tell you that your sister is now returning to Narnia with the body of your brother.

Oreius looked up from the dreadful letter, catching the gaze of Mr. Tumnus as he brought a hand up to cover his mouth in shock. The general turned his attention to his King and Queen who had remained huddled on the stone floor. The valiant queen had hidden her face in her brother's side and he was doing his best to hold her tight.

Oreius bent his forelegs until he was kneeling beside the monarchs who despite the 10 years they had spent in Narnia looked now as young as they had when he first laid eyes on them. He bowed his head in mourning, remembering the young colt that he had freed from the bounds of the Witch and who had clung so tightly to him as he rode him back to his family years ago.

Peter looked at the despair on the faces of his general and adviser, then slowly down to the blond head that had yet to emerge from his shoulder. Lucy's tears were wetting his tunic but Peter could not find it in him to care for the garment.

This was worst then anything that he could have imagine. In one moment the hope of a letter from his brother and sister telling him that he was being ridiculous was shattered and any hope of seeing Edmund's smile or feel his steadying presence by his side again blew away with the wind.

Looking towards the four thrones, Peter could just see the figure of his brother standing tall as he judged the cases brought before him. His dark eyes sharp but ever kind as he looked upon with faithful subjects, could turn cold and challenging at a threat to his family or country. Peter could almost see him turn towards them, his eyes dark with worry at the pain in his siblings.

"Poor Susan." whimpered Lucy. Peter shuttered at the thought of his gentle sister alone to care for her brother's body, yet he was also jealous of her chance to say goodbye. What would Peter give to just see Edmund one more time, for the chance to tell him again how important he was. His brother had worked hard to make amends for his past mistakes. Peter wondered, had Edmund ever understood how much he was loved and needed?

"Aslan, oh Aslan." Lucy pleaded, into Peter's side. Peter looked up at the banner depicting the great lion. He who had saved his brother's life from the Witch, could save him again. Whether the lion would come now was uncertain, he would not if this was Edmund's time.

With that thought Peter broke, his screams seemed to come with his very soul, raw and animalistic. He collapsed forward, until it was all Lucy could do to stop her brother from hitting the floor.

Finally unable to watch the valiant queen struggle with her brother's weight a moment longer, Oreius scooped both monarchs into his arms. There they remained curled together in the centaur's strong arms, clinging to each other.

The cries of the valiant and the howls of the magnificent echoed through Cair Paravel, frightening all who heard the pain of their rulers.

It was not until Mr. Tumnus exited the throne room that the word began to spread of the lose of the Just King and Narnia began to mourn.

More to come. All the best,

Jem.