AN: A series of drabbleish oneshots focusing on Edmund's interaction with his siblings.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

It was raining. No, it was pouring, and a certain dark haired youth was decidedly bored.

"Stupid Peter," the youth muttered, laying his head on his bent arms. "Stupid Peter and his stupid overbearing, protective complex."

"Tch," said Peter, from the opposite end of the room, shaking his head and smiling a barely perceptible smile, "I'm not the one with the broken leg and the arrow wound."

"What's that got to do with anything?"

Peter flexed his leg with a grin. "Being of sound body and mind, I'm completely capable of holding you in here -- with force."

"I'm of sound mind!"

"But not of body," said Peter calmly, sitting beside his brother. "Trust me, Edmund, when I say that you are not going to stir from this room for another week, at best."

"You're not my keeper!"

Pout. Glare.

"No," said Peter, slowly, "I'm your brother." He smiled again and ruffled the younger boy's short hair. "And brothers have the distinct advantage of being able to boss their siblings. Especially older brothers," he added, thoughtfully.

Edmund rolled his eyes and swatted his brother as hard as he could on the arm. "Well, go boss Lucy, then. Or Su."

"They're not sick."

"Well, neither am I," snapped Edmund, crossing his arms childishly.

"Ha. I suppose next you're going to say that you're not running a fever."

"I'm not," said Edmund, quickly.

Peter frowned suspiciously and placed a calloused hand to his brother's forehead, ignoring the smaller boy's protests as he did so.

"Edmund," he growled, "you're burning up." He removed his hand and leant forward, trying to catch his brother's eye.

"It's warm in here."

"No. It's freezing."

"How would you know? You've got some inner body temperature thing that makes you... I don't know... immune to temperature."

"Lie down."

"What! No! I'm fine, Peter. Don't be such a worry wart."

"I'm going to call Susan."

"You wouldn't," gasped Edmund, knowing full well that while Peter was still open to debate, Susan would leave no room for argument. Besides, what louse hit a girl?

"Are you willing to gamble?"

Grumbling indignantly, Edmund crawled under the covers and lay perfectly still, his arms stiffly by his side and his eyes narrowed. The only sounds in the room were of Peter drawing the heavy curtains, and of Edmund gnashing his teeth.

"Now, go to sleep, Edmund," said Peter, smiling amiably. "I'll send the healers in when you're more rested."

"I'm not a baby, Peter," remarked Edmund, smirking in the semidarkness. "I can take care of myself."

"Says the boy with the arrow wound, broken leg, and fever," said Peter sceptically. "Good night, Ed."

"Tisn't night," snorted Edmund, trying to ignore the urge to close his eyes.

The sounds of scraping filled the room, as Peter dragged a low armchair closer to his brother's bed. "No, it's not night," he said softly, "but it's close enough, and I'm going to stay here until I'm sure you're asleep."

"Who's going to guard the Kingdom?"

"From what? The increasing paperwork?"

Edmund snorted again and snuggled deeper into the soft blankets. Maybe if he closed his eyes, just for a minute, Peter would be tricked into thinking he was asleep.

Just for a minute.

Or, maybe two.

The sounds of snoring filled the room, as Edmund succumbed to the tiredness that usual resulted from injury and arguing with his brother.

Peter sat in the darkened room, his head cradled gently in his hand, and a fond smile on his lips, watching the rise and fall of his brother's chest as the young lad slept. Poor Edmund was exhausted, Peter realised, and the thought made his brow crease and a familiar feeling of guilt settle in the pit of his stomach.

"Ed," he groaned softly. "Always trying to be the hero. Never thinking of yourself."

A gentle snore reached his ears, and to Peter's tired state of mind, it sounded as though he were laughing.

"Aw, shut up," the High King murmured, slouching into the armchair and hanging his legs over the side. "You know it's true."

Twin snores, in perfect harmony, echoed through the room as older and younger brother slept.

Life, at that moment, was as peaceful as it could get.