Title: The Magic Hourglass
Author: Jad Le (a.k.a Hakuyaku)
Pairing: Peter/Edmund (plus Caspian/Edmund in later chapters)
Rating: PG in this part for blood (will be NC-17)
Disclaimer: The characters belong to CS Lewis. I own nothing.
Summary: Peter and Edmund had feelings for each other but none of them realized it. Until one day Peter found a strange hourglass that had the power to shape reality which turned the Pevensies' lives upside down and pulling them close together.

Warning: Un Beta'ed, English isn't my first language, SLASH, INCEST (don't read if this's not your thing)

1. Through a Dog's Eyes (Part 1)
In which Peter was being over-protective, Edmund was being reckless, Susan was having troubles dealing with the boys and Lucy was upset.

1001 - Golden Age

"Ed!"

A shout in the middle of the battlefield, calling his name. He looked up just to find a pair of blue eyes piercing through his direction.

A sharp pain quickly invaded his body. And there was blood. So much blood. His own blood. A dagger thrust into his abdomen, tearing the chainmail covering his body apart. His dark brown eyes looked up again, staring in smoulder at the dawrf who was holding the dagger's handle. The dawrf smirked, claiming his victory by suddenly withdrew his dagger from Edmund's stomach, causing the young king to fall forward. Edmund landed on his knees, head bowed. It was then the dawrf decided to end the human boy's life, he held high his bloody dagger, ready to strike down. His mistake was that he did not realize Edmund's grin.

The dark-haired boy suddenly stood up, plunging his silver sword forward and stroke through the dawrf's heart. As quickly and sudden as the attack itself, Edmund drew out the sword and brandished it, leaving a decapitated dawrf collapsing on the ground. The young king staggered, and soon it was his turn to fall down.

Not before he caught a glimpse of a shining golden hair rushing toward him.

"Peter…"

Edmund whispered. And everything in front of his eyes fell into darkness.

/

"Edmund!"

"Shh!"

Peter immediately stopped when he heard Lucy's whisper. He stepped into the tent, marched toward his unconscious brother lying on the bed and sat down next to Lucy. The little queen looked at her eldest brother and gently touched his broad shoulder.

"How is he, Lucy?", Peter asked, eyes still fixed on Edmund.

"He is sleeping. I've just treated him. He will be fine."

"Thank you, Lu."

The little girl smiled and said nothing more. Peter kept looking at his brother, at his throbbing chest and parted lips. He was breathing. Still breathing more like. A moment ago Peter had feared for his brother's life. A vision ran through his mind as he saw he buried his head on Edmund's shoulder, holding him tight and wished that everything was just a dream. Wished his little heart to start beating again.

To live.

He counted the number of times Edmund was being reckless, the number of times in which Edmund stared death in the face, the number of times he feared for his brother's life to the point that his own heart would stopped beating any moment.

"I should not let him fight. I will not let him fight again."

Peter said, not realizing his sister was staring at him.

"It is not me whom you should decide for."

Peter fell into silence again.

"I do not wish to see Edmund puts himself in danger anymore. But do you really think you should decide his life for him?"

"I can bear this no longer, Lucy. Countless of times have I told him to be careful. And yet those did not stop him to fight like there was no tomorrow."

It was Lucy's turn to have nothing to say.

"How many times do I have to say I forgive him for what he had done?"

It was then Lucy realized the reason Edmund fought like he was throwing his life away.

Guilt. With a mix of shame. And a thirst for redemption.

Lucy and Peter said no more after that. They kept watching their sleeping brother, waiting for those dark eyelids to move. 'None. Sometimes words are not enough.' Lucy thought, yet did not speak her mind.

"Your majesty?"

The sudden voice caused both of the siblings to look up. It was Oreius. The centaur general exchanged looks with the eldest Pevensie, and Peter understood he was needed elsewhere.

"Look after Edmund, Lucy."

Peter said as he stood up. He gave his brother one last look before leaving the tent with Oreius, hoped that Edmund would wake up when he returned.

There were words needed to be said.

/

"The Witch's Army's remnants have retreated for now, your majesty."

Oreius said as he walked along side with Peter. The High King nodded, still keeping his pace.

"They will return. We need to be ready."

"My scouts are still looking for their hideout. They cannot hide forever."

"True. One year has passed since the Witch's death yet we cannot have true peace. These uprisings have to end."

"Indeed, my liege."

'I will not put my brother in danger anymore.' Peter thought, his mind traced back to the scene in which Edmund got stabbed by the dwarf. As a High King, it was his duty to bring peace to Narnia. As an older brother, it was his responsibility to protect his younger siblings. All these things he had to achieve no matter what.

"Your majesty, there was something you need to see.", Oreius said as he walked faster, wanting Peter to follow him.

The High King did so. He frowned, curiosity showed clear in his sky blue eyes. What was it that Oreius wanted him to see? According to the centaur's tone, it could not be good. Peter walked faster, tried to keep up with Oreius while questions crowded his thoughts. The duo was greeted by a faun with dark brown fur. The faun bowed, "You majesty", he said, addressed Peter then gave him a small silver box.

"What is this?", Peter asked, carefully opened the box.

The High King could not help but stare in awe at the shining object in front of his eyes. It was small hourglass, about the size of three fingers. Its border was made of snowflakes carved silver. And the sand! Silver sand, shining like glittering sea at the end of the horizon at dawn.

"You may want to turn it, your majesty.", said the faun.

Peter did so. Again, he frowned. The sky blue eyes mixed with a tint of surprise. The hourglass could not be turned no matter how hard he shook it. Not a single drop of sand fell down. They held still, like staring the High King in the face and mocking him.

"This is no ordinary hourglass.", Peter concluded, still looking at the strange object in his hand.

"True, my liege. We found it on an enemy's corpse. Yet we have not determined what its true nature is.", Oreius nodded.

Peter fixed his eyes on the hourglass, one hand rubbed his chin.

"I say we keep it. This thing may hold something useful."

"…or dangerous.", the faun commented.

Peter turned to look at the faun. There was a shade of annoyance in the sky blue eyes, yet the High King calmly continued.

"Then I'll keep it."

"Your majesty…?", Oreius raised his voice.

"I'll keep this hourglass. The decision has been made, Oreius. Now, I'll go checking on my brother and then we'll return to Cair Paravel."

The High King had made his decision, who would want to disagree?

Peter gave both of the centaur and the faun one last look before turning around. He held the hourglass tight in his hand, wondering what this magnificent thing could do. He knew the risk of the unknown, yet he found himself unable to deny it.

The sight of an injured Edmund again flashed upon him. And Peter knew he had to do something.

/

Lucy looked up when she heard the sound of Peter entering the tent. Immediately, she turned to look at a very awake Edmund sitting on the bed only to find out her dark-haired brother was then staring at Peter.

"I think I need a walk."

Lucy said as she stood up. After giving Peter an understanding look, she left the tent, leaving the scene for her brothers. Standing there like a statue, Peter wondered what he should say. He had many ideas how to start this conversation, yet all seemed to be erased when the time came.

The boys exchanged looks in silence. Uneasy looks. The looks that worth more than thousands words. Needless to say, Edmund knew his brother was angry. He looked down, avoided those beautiful sky blue eyes, trying to deny the fact that they were still roaming about him.

Peter remembered the time when Edmund returned to Aslan's camp. 'There is no need to speak to Edmund about what is past', the great lion's voice once again ran through his mind. Yes, he was angry at that time. He was about to give Edmund a good scolding. But then he remembered what really caused their broken relationship.

'I was too hard on him.'

Peter had been trying to mend their bond ever since. Both of the brothers never mentioned Edmund's betrayal again. Edmund did not like to talk about it, neither did Peter. They kept silence, trying to move forward. It was no use bringing something that could not be changed anymore up. But there were times, the moments in which Edmund was in his brooding usual self, and Peter kept watch on the troubled child, trying to reach his brother with three simple words.

'I forgave you.'

How many times did he say that?

How many times more did he have to say?

"I'm not going anywhere, Pete."

It was Edmund who decided to break the awkward silence between the two. Peter silently nodded, sitting down on the chair next to Edmund's bed.

"I'm worried about you, Ed.", said Peter.

"I know. Sorry.", replied Edmund, his eyes still fixed on the ground beneath.

Peter let out a sigh. It took him awhile but he finally continued.

"Edmund, there is something I want to say…"

"…about not letting me fight anymore?"

Edmund asked, looked up and now staring Peter right in his eyes. There was a glimpse of anger and disappointment in those dark chocolate eyes. Peter's eyes widen, suddenly a small laugh escaped his lips.

"… you pretended to be asleep again, did you not? You little blighter…"

"It's a gift.", Edmund smiled.

"Right…", Peter rubbed his nose, trying to regain the serious atmosphere, "…but really. I should not let you fight anymore."

The smile on Edmund's face disappeared and was quickly replaced by a furious frown.

"I can still fight, Peter. Just because I mess myself up this time does not mean I'll do the same in the future."

"Yes, you will not do the same in the future since you may have been already dead.", Peter stated, coldly look at those dark chocolate eyes.

Edmund gave a gasp at his brother's words. Yet it could not stop Peter from continuing.

"You know this is not the first time."

"I can fight, Pete. I want to help!", Edmund raised his voice in refusal.

"You will help no one if you are dead."

"Peter…"

"I am your brother. Listen to your brother! It is time you learn to do as you are told!"

Peter raised his voice and suddenly stood up from his chair, startled Edmund. Sky blue eyes fixed on dark chocolate orbs while anger filled them all. Their tension was raising and there was no sign show that it would stop.

"You don't trust me."

There was sorrow in Edmund's voice. And Peter knew it was too late to take back what he had said. He found himself looking down at the ground beneath. Guilt was building up inside him. Though the High King tried to oppose what Edmund had just said, some parts of him still agreed with it. In the end, he still believed he was right.

"I just …I do not want to lose you again.", Peter said clearly.

Edmund said nothing. A sharp pain ran through his chest as memories flooded his mind.

"Very well.", Edmund inhaled deeply, "What does my High King wish of me?"

Peter looked up, frowning.

"Edmund… not this 'pulling ranks' again…"

"No, Peter. I have failed you as a brother. At least I still have to fulfill my duty as a lesser king. I am a Just king. I do what is right. And right now, I have to follow the chain of commands. Give me order and I shall do as I am told."

"You are not a lesser king.", Peter stated, narrowing his eyes.

"Your majesty…", Edmund calmly said, "… as much as I did not like calling myself as such, it is still the truth."
Peter found himself speechless.

"Your majesty… what is it that you wish of me?", said Edmund, coldly staring at Peter.

Silence once again fell upon the brothers.

Peter looked up, murmured something before returning his attention to those beautiful dark chocolate eyes.

"King Edmund.", Peter paused, frowning, "From this day onwards, you shall remain at Cair Paravel with Queen Susan. You shall handle foreign negotiations and stay away from battles."

Edmund gave Peter a sad smile, gently nodded.

"Then stay away I shall comply. Your wish is my command, my king."

Something stirred inside Peter when he heard Edmund said so. He wanted to reach out to those small shoulders, patting that soft dark hair and whispered in his little brother's ears all of the apologies he could come up with.

Before Peter could make up his mind, Edmund was no longer in the tent.

True to the High King's words, Narnia army departed and headed Cair Paravel. However, the brothers' argument sadly had not gone unheard. Peter noticed how Lucy, Oreius and some of the soldiers gave him strange looks. He knew they were worried, as their love for the kings was undoubted.

More than once did Peter question himself whether he did the right thing. More than once he discreetly looked at his brother and to receive none in return.

Edmund no longer set his eyes on Peter afterwards.

/

Lucy wished she could do something for her brothers.

It had been two days since their arrival at Cair Paravel. And the relationship between Peter and Edmund had not been any better. They had been avoiding meeting eyes to eyes and locked themselves in royal works. Dinners had never been worse and Cair Paravel had not been this cold since the Witch's death.

"Boys are idiots."

Susan said as she watched Peter discussing something with Oreius in the throne room. Her statement caught Lucy's attention. The youngest Pevensie turned to look at her sister and asked.

"What do you mean?"

"They are both stubborn.", said Susan, crossing her arms, "Both are too proud to admit their wrongness."
Lucy looked down, knitting her little fingers together, confusing.

"Is there anything we can do to help them?", asked Lucy.

Susan did not reply.

/

The third dinner did not fare any better.

The Gentle Queen looked at both of her brothers, who decided that their meals were worth more attention than each other's faces. She let out a loud sigh, a gesture showed that she was not pleased. Still the boys did not care and carried on their cold war affair. Frustrated, Susan put down her knife and folk on the table, feeling as if the food had somehow lost their taste. Lucy gave Susan a sad look before turning her attention to the brothers. She looked at Peter, then Edmund, then Peter again, and the salt in front of Edmund.

"Edmund?"

Her sudden voice caused Edmund to look up from his dish.

"Can you pass Peter the salt, please?", asked Lucy with a pleading smile.

"I do not need salt."

Peter said, still staring at his own dish. Lucy turned to look at her oldest brother, then again at Edmund. Before she could say anything, Edmund coldly claimed.

"There you have it. The High King does not need salt."

Lucy winced, feeling like she was about to burst into tears. However, her sadness had not gone unnoticed. At that very moment, Susan decided enough was enough.

"That is enough! Both of you!", Susan raised her voice, slammed her hand on the table to gain the brothers' attentions.

She actually did it. Edmund and Peter were then staring at her instead of their dishes, surprise, annoyance and all sort of things mixed together in their eyes.

"Talk to each other! Communicate! Do something about… whatever happened between the two of you!"

"You think I did not try to talk some sense into Edmund ever since we returned?", Peter snapped.

"Sense? You are the one who did not make any sense… your majesty." Edmund smirked.

"Am I now? At least I am not the one who got stabbed every time I went to war!"

Peter turned to look Edmund, anger showed clear in his sky blue eyes. Tabbing his chin, Edmund calmly continued.

"You really need to do something about your temper, your majesty. I am a King. I am a soldier. Getting hurt is not like seeing a dodo crossing the street in London."

"You are a King. You are a soldier. And you are my brother. Do you not understand? I did this to protect you!", frowned Peter.

"You did not trust me well enough to see that I can protect myself."

"You cannot!"

"I could have died when I was stabbed by that dwarf, but I was able to turn the table and save myself. Still it did not convince you."

"What did not convince me was that you did not try harder to live."

Edmund let out a small laugh, looking away.

"What is the point of this conversation? You have already given me orders and I have agreed to follow. We have nothing more to talk…", he paused, suddenly turned to look at Peter in his eyes, "…your majesty? Has the decision not been made?"

Peter said nothing, staring back at his brother.

"True.", he finally said, "The decision has been made."

"Peter!", yelled Susan.

"We have nothing more to say, Edmund. You do as you are told."

"Very well, your highness. Now if you may excuse me…"

Edmund said as he stood up from his chair, earning an "Edmund!" from Lucy. The Just King gave his brother a cold look before turning away and left the dining room. Both of the sisters watched his back as it disappeared behind the wooden door.

"This is not good, Peter!", Susan furiously yell at Peter.

"What can I do? He denied me as his brother no matter how hard I tried to talk to him!", Peter raised his voice, staring in anger at his sister.

"You did not try hard enough!"

"Oh, so now you think you can handle the situation, can you not?", Peter smirked.

"Better than you!"

"Stop it!"

Both of them turned to look at a sobbing Lucy. The little queen rubbed her eyes, still it did not stop the tears from falling. Suddenly, she stood up from her chair and ran out of the room. "Lucy!", both of her older siblings yelled after her, yet the wooden door once again slammed shut.

Giving Peter a bitter look, Susan quickly ran after her little sister.

Peter was alone in the dining room. He gave out a sigh, one hand covered his face while the other found its way into his pocket. He slightly startled when his fingers touched something beneath the cloth. Slowly taking it out, Peter stared at the shining object in front of his eyes.

The silver hourglass.

"What can you do, you stupid thing?"

Peter said mockingly before putting it back in his pocket. Standing up, Peter decided to call this a day and he really needed a sleep.

Yet he did not realize at that very moment, the hourglass started to turn on itself.

And the sand was slowly falling down.

- To be continued -

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