I woke with a start and my bright, blue eyes flying open, breathing heavily, and I wondered what woke me. I decided to find what had awakened me. I should most likely had went back to sleep. Being the High King of Narnia was tiring and my people needed me. My curiosity overruled my tired body, so I got up, grabbed one of the numerous flaming torches, and started through the tunnels of the How. I walked around trying to figure out what could have woken me up this early in the morning. Was it my instinct? Maybe. But then what was wrong?

The fact of I couldn't remember what I had dreamed about didn't help me much. It was just a big blank in my head. I guess I'm excited. My siblings and I, after a whole year in England, have finally returned to Narnia! My siblings and I were all shocked to find out how long we were gone, all that had changed, and happened to our beautiful home. We have joined forces with a prince named Caspian, who had called us here and is a bloody idiot, and with him many of the few fellow Narnians.

We just this morning, had just returned from an attack on the enemy castle. It had ended horribly wrong. I couldn't believe that we lost so many Narnians, and that I had to leave them. Caspian should've kept to the plan! Edmund was even late in signaling the troops! I shook my head to clear that thought. I should've known Caspian was to run off. What also disappointed me was that we didn't even kill him, or cause any real, lasting damage. I was yanked out of my thoughts and into reality when I realized I was know outside the back of the How, and had heard a noise. I looked around searching for the source. Surprised when I saw a hunched figure in the bushes, and from the sound of it, he was emptying his stomach of its contents. I took a closer look and my heart dropped. Of course.

"Edmund, is that you?" I asked softly. The figure moved into the light and then I saw Edmund's dark, brown eyes peering into me, so I moved so I could see his whole face in the torch's glow. Edmund saw it was me and smiled at me weakly. Without thinking, I went over and helped him up.

"Hey, Pete. What are you doing up so late?" I could see he was in pain. The evidence was plain on his face and thick in his voice. From what I could see, in the bad lighting, he was also concerned for me. I could see the mixture of pain and concern in his chocolate brown eyes. So much so, it almost made me feel bad.

"I could ask you the same question!" I shot back to him. He tried laughed weakly and make a retort, but coughing took him instead.

"Nightmare." He mumbled to me. I sighed, understanding.

"Well, Come on, then. Can't stay out here all night." I told him. He nodded, but didn't make a move to get up or anything. Giving a huff of annoyance, I grasped his shoulders and assisted him in standing.

After walking him back to his bed, that was across the room from where mine was, I sat him down. I was surprised I didn't notice he was gone when I had wakened. I usually don't miss those details, but the past year has been difficult. Fighting and other impolite tension has surrounded us. From the light the torches supplied, Edmund looked very pale, he was leaning heavily on me, and it was obvious he was not in the best conditions. He must have gone out many nights prior to tonight, for he had dark shadows under his eyes as well.

"Why were you outside?" I asked him. I knew he had a nightmare and had thrown up, but I wanted to know if there were any different reasons he was out. Honestly, it got really cold in Narnia at night. His gaze dropped down to his feet.

"I was taking a walk. To think, but I guess thinking about it made me a little sick." He mumbled. I ruffled his unruly dark hair.

"Want to talk about it?" I asked him. He put his head on my shoulder. It was rare that he did this. When we had returned to Narnia, Ed and I grew apart. In fact, most of the fights, that weren't me with other boys, were between Ed and I. Almost to the point as if we never went to Narnia in the first place, and I think it was mostly my fault. My pride didn't let me truly believe it, though. I was devastated when I went back to England. Edmund, Susan, and even Lucy always tried to cheer me up, but I just pushed them away. There was a silence that hung over us as we sat. Despite the silence, when Edmund spoke so softly I would have missed it if I wasn't right next to him.

"It was Her again." His voice seemed strained as if he was holding back tears.

"Oh, Ed. It's over. She can't get you." I told him, but he shook his head.

"It's not me she gets! She gets to you, Peter! She tricked you and killed you, Peter!" Edmund whimpered. I was stunned. After being such a jerk to him in England, he still cared for me so much. I pulled him into a hug, and he started to cry in my shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I was never there for you." I said to him. He just shook his head. I let him cry until he was dry, and I laid him in his bed. I have a strong feeling that he isn't telling me everything, but I shake it off.

"Alright Ed, you get some real rest." I ordered him. He only nodded and was off to sleep in just a minute. I, myself, went back to bed.

In the morning, I awoke to a strange sight. Edmund was sleeping right next to me. If you didn't count the last year, it was completely normal for Edmund to end up by my side in the mornings. In fact, we shared a room even in Narnia. The last year, though, was a completely different story. I didn't notice him coming. He must have come after I was fast asleep. I rubbed my eyes and sat up. Sighing, I started shaking his shoulders to wake him up.

"Ed, come on. Time to wake up." I murmured to him. He rolled so his was on his stomach. I couldn't help but laugh. His shirt had rolled up to a bit past his bellybutton, exposing his pale stomach. Dark hairs had grown, forming a line down to some other parts of his body. Was he that old again already?

"I don't want to." He moaned, covering his eyes with the crook of his elbow, like the old Edmund, but his appearance was still as last night. I smiled.

"Come on, will you. We haven't all day." I told him. One of his chocolate brown eyes cracked open to look at me, as he moved his arm. I almost wanted to tell him to go back to sleep. In his eyes were the pain and concern of last night and, now as well, weariness.

"Alright, Pete. Give me just a minute." He mumbled to me sighing. He stood slowly and yanked his shirt off. His chest was finely toned with mussels. There were numerous scars as well, from all the battles they experienced as kings. One scar stood out. A small circular scar where his skin was freezing cold and stark white, despite his already really, really, pale skin. His first scar as a Narnian, as a king, as a true hero. The scar from the White Witch's wand.

"Are you okay?" Ed asked, most likely noticing that I was staring at him. I nodded and stood up. Together, we walked to meet Caspian and the rest of the people for a meeting. When we were walking I swear I saw Edmund wipe a single tear from his face. I needed to figure out what was bothering my little brother. Not because I was High King of Narnia, but because it is my job. I'm the older brother.