"Oh, come on, Edmund! I know Peter and Lucy won't be here, but cheer up! Your birthday is tomorrow, and I'm hosting you a party and I don't care what you say!" Queen Susan was going to host her brother a party whether he liked it or not. It was his seventeenth birthday and it was absolutely not going to be missed. Though she knew he'd complain about the costumes being tight and itchy and uncomfortable and whatnot, she'd make sure he wore it.

"Fine. But I am not wearing any extravagant costume you make me! You may be able to persuade Peter, but I am not wearing it."

"Yes you will."

"No I won't."

"Will too."

"Will not."

"Well, suck it up, buttercup. You're wearing it." Susan strode away to go start making the costume. She knew from comments from guests of earlier parties that he looked good in light colors. Mainly, she'd heard that from most girls who drooled over him. Which Edmund knew nothing of and wanted to have nothing to do with. Edmund sighed in the background.

"If you're going to make me wear some sort of fancy attire for this, don't put a lot of lacing on it," he said. He hated the lacing or anything like that, especially around his neck. It tickled and itched and was uncomfortable ("Don't you start going on a rant in your head about this!" Susan called to him before leaving the room) and it felt like something was crawling on him. Then the cuffs- he hated when Susan made them too tight or put lacing or ruffles on them. She was all about ruffles and laces. Why can't she keep the decorations and everything for her own outfit? he pondered, disobeying what Susan has told him before she'd left him alone. The shoes weren't really worthy to complain about. They were fine most of the time, actually. She always made him wear his crown, too. She'd definitely kick up a row if it was the slightest bit crooked. Lucy would just laugh and fix it for him. Peter.. Well, Peter wouldn't bother him about it.

And that's why it wouldn't be the same this year. Peter and Lucy weren't going to be at the kingdom in time. Peter and Lucy still had to make their trip back, and that took a few days. Lucy had some matters to discuss in Galma, and it was no wonder that the High King had gone with her. Which left Susan and Edmund where they were to take care of everything while they were gone. And that was quite a rational idea. Peter can be so stupid at times! He thought. Even as it crossed his mind, he knew he didn't really think he was stupid. But he was. In a way, at least.

A sudden beating of wings came from the direction of his balcony that overlooked the western part of Narnia. There, perched on the black railing, was a Hawk. "Diveclaw, what brings you here, especially with a message? Who sends it?" the Just King asked said bird who had its leg stretched out with a roll of parchment attached with a red silk ribbon.

"I bring word from their Majesties, High King Peter and Queen Lucy, my King," Diveclaw answered. Edmund untied the ribbon from the bird's leg.

"Thank you, dear Hawk," he said. "I'll go find Queen Susan before I read this." The king stretched an arm out on which Diveclaw hopped onto. Edmund lifted his arm up, giving the bird a launching start for his next flight.

He watched as the bird soared off to his next destination before swiftly turning around and making way to where he thought Susan would be next. Most likely somewhere that she can make me a wretched costume.. Edmund made his way down the corridors, greeting creatures of all sorts on the way, some servants, others ladies-in-waiting for Susan and Lucy, others guards, and some just simple Narnians. He stopped at the door to Susan's room, rapping his knuckles on the smooth wood a couple times before someone opened the door.

"Edmund! What are you doing here? We were speaking just a minute ago, if not only!" Susan said, looking fairly surprised. She'd expected there to be someone other than her other than her brother.

"Well, Diveclaw brought a message from Lu and Peter. I came to you first before I decided to read it," he replied.

"Oh, what great news!" exclaimed Susan, clapping her hands together in her delight. By now they were in her room, and they sat down on the side of her bed. "You read it," she insisted when he offered letting her read it first. He simply nodded and unrolled the piece of parchment, not bothering to read it over before saying what was written in beautifully written script.

"Dear Edmund and Susan,

I don't think we'll be able to make it until a few more days, due to the weather. A storm has stirred up and it's predicted to not go until quite some time. We're sorry we won't make it to your birthday, Ed. More importantly, see you in one of those outfits that Su will surely make you that you'll complain about for the remainder of the evening. We send good wishes. Love, Peter and Lucy."

The young king let his hands fall to his lap, still grasping the parchment. "Well, that's a bummer. Now it'll be even longer before they get back!" He looked off to the side to attempt to hide his disappointment. Susan, however, knew how he acted at certain times and drew him into a hug, pressing the side of his head to her shoulder.

"Come on, it won't be bad without them. Just a little… different."

Exactly. Different. Not the same. Not close to the equivalency of it. Not part of the past reality.

Different.