This chapter is dedicated to peanutmeg because I know how much she likes Peter! Thanks for all our talks!

We are leaving Edmund and Corin for now and go to the North. I'm very curious how you will like the chapter, it is somewhat of an experiment for me as much of it contains the letter Edmund has written in the last chapter. Some lines in it are taken from the challenge that was sent to Miraz in Prince Caspian, and some are from The Horse and His Boy. I'm sure you will recognise them. Enjoy!


Chapter 7
Distance and Formality

Night had already fallen on Ettinsmoor, and Peter was sitting at the fire with Oreius and the other leaders of his army, recapitulating the past day. There had been only one minor altercation that had not even resulted in violence, the Giants were retreating further and further North and all of them were expecting to be finished here in under two weeks. He was missing Cair Paravel and especially his siblings quite a lot by now and would be very happy when he saw the last of this dismal moor. No wonder the Marshwiggles were depressed all the time, having to live in such surroundings!

He tried to stifle a yawn and was about to call it a day when there was a great swoosh from overhead, and a Gryphon landed just outside the ring of their fire. Peter stood up immediately, approaching their messenger after throwing Oreius a curious glance.

"Cloudrunner! To what do we owe the honour of your late visit? Is everything alright?"

Cloudrunner bowed and took off the satchel that was hanging around his neck with one of his claws, handing it over to Peter.

"I bear a letter from your brother, King Edmund, your Majesty."

Peter's eyebrows rose in surprise while he was already reaching into the little bag, drawing out a roll of parchment with Edmund's royal seal on it.

"My brother and sister have already returned to Cair Paravel? When did this happen? And is there aught you can tell me as to the occasion of this letter?"

Lucy had written to him only a few days ago, saying that she expected Susan and Edmund to stay in Calormen for at least two more weeks, and Peter could not help the disquieting feeling that was rising in him. The Gryphon meanwhile ruffled his feathers and searched for the right words.

"Ay, your Majesty. They returned this very morning to the delighted astonishment of all at Cair Paravel. I would not venture to presume on the contents of the letter, but his Highness King Edmund asked me to deliver it with all speed."

By now Peter was certain that something had to be amiss, and he was impatient to read Edmund's correspondence at once. He nevertheless forced a smile onto his face, not wanting to dismiss their faithful messenger rudely, and bade him enter the circle around the fire.

"Good Cloudrunner, I thank you for your diligence and swiftness. Please rest now from your flight, and I am certain we will be able to provide you with a repast."

After bidding his companions good night and with a last look to Oreius he retreated to his tent, wanting to have some privacy, and sat down amidst the blankets and pillows that lay strewn across the floor to make the 'accommodation' a bit more comfortable. Then he broke the seal carefully, coming face to face with his brother's familiar handwriting.

Edmund, by the gift of Aslan, by election, by prescription, and by conquest, King in Narnia, Duke of Lantern Waste and Count of the Western March, Knight of the Noble Order of the Table, to Peter, High King over all Kings in Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands and Lord of Cair Paravel, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Lion, Greetings dearest brother.

Peter shook his head slightly, a genuine smile stealing over his face. He had told his brother so often that he could leave off all the titles when he was writing to him, as no one else would get to see the letter anyway, but sometimes Edmund could be so incredibly stubborn. When he felt it was right to do so, he would add them, no matter what Peter said. Still smiling, he continued on.

Be it made known to your Majesty that our royal sister Queen Susan the Gentle and We, King Edmund the Just, have on this the seventeenth day of the month Springclear returned to our realm of Narnia from the far away land of Calormen, whereto our royal persons had ventured forth so as to fathom and comprehend the nature of the Queen Susan's tender affections, inclinations and regard towards Rabadash, son of Hisham Tisroc and Crown Prince of Calormen, and likewise to discern and unravel the intentions and particular parts of the said Rabadash, our express purpose being the contemplation and likelihood of a union 'tween the House of Narnia and the House of the Tisroc.

Be it made further known to your Majesty that the premature return of our royal sister and of Our self is owed to untoward circumstances outside our range and scope of control which shall hereinafter be unveiled to the perceptive and discriminating gaze of your Highness in the most fervent hope that their rendition shall serve to enlighten, illustrate and explicate the events that have thenceforth followed.

Peter looked up and focused his gaze on his shield that was leaning against one of the travel chests, trying to calm his suddenly racing heart. He knew his brother well, had received countless notices from him, and was therefore aware that Edmund only used this overly formal style, especially in a private correspondence, when something truly unpleasant had occurred. He now dreaded reading on and all manner of possibilities ran through his mind. None of them had ever cut a state visit short, and he was normally of the opinion that Edmund could talk his way out of every tight spot. Something had to have gone wrong, and it was only Cloudrunner's assurance that both Edmund and Susan, as well as their entourage, had returned to Narnia that prevented him from assuming the absolute worst. Peter exhaled loudly and passed a hand over his eyes. He had had a bad feeling about this whole journey from the beginning, but Susan had been very much enamoured of the prince, and he had decided to trust her judgement. Perhaps he should have voiced his apprehensions more forcefully in his letters? But nothing could be changed now anyway, so he shoved his gloomy thoughts aside and concentrated on the words on the parchment again.

Being in the House and Palace of the aforementioned Hisham Tisroc no more than a week, it pleased Aslan, the great Lion and Son of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea, to let it be known to our well-loved sister, to Our self, and to our esteemed and honoured companions in a process that was as gradatim as it was painful, that the entirety of our party, having first made the acquaintance of the said Rabadash in Our own home and abode as opposed to his place of origin and residence, which as to the sage words of our most trusted and venerable adviser Sallowpad the Raven might under altered prerequisites have proved to be the more felicitous undertaking, had been most grievously mistaken and misled with regards to the said Rabadash's personality, character, and demeanour.

Our gentle and gracious sister Queen Susan, not desiring to enter into the holy bonds of matrimony lightly or without due consideration and contemplation of her own heart and mind on the matter as well as endeavouring to conciliate the stirrings of her emotion with the duty owed to this our realm of Narnia and our treasured subjects, bade the Prince Rabadash not to entreat her for a swift answer or to besiege her unduly to grant him her hand, stipulating most reasonably and amicably that she required more time so as to reach a conclusion that might please and content both sides concerned, whereat yonder Rabadash commenced to deport himself in a manner assuredly not becoming his elevated station and heritage, observing indeed an outward veneer of cordial civility and effusive protestations of his boundless forbearance, yet nevertheless intimating with the same breath his displeasure and incomprehension at being stalled thusly, and furthermore allusively insinuating that it might verily be to our detriment should we oblivate whose visitants we be, and who is in power in the land of Calormen.

After condign consideration, We and Our dear sister resolved despite persisting and grave misgivings to allow for some passage of time in order to peruse whether the said unfortunate incident might merely be an aberration induced by an adverse conglomerate of temporary malaise and indisposition in the person of the said Rabadash, all in the hope that we might yet be mistaken in this our newfound knowledge and insight, putting on a gay mien and attending a multitude of festivities and amusements for to disperse any doubt our host might entertain as to the sincerity and good-will of the Queen Susan and of Our self.

Peter's agitation was rising steadily with every second, and he could almost not believe what he was reading. He should never have allowed them to leave Narnia! Just the thought of Edmund and Susan being all alone in Calormen with only a small company, surrounded by people that could become hostile and violent at any moment made his blood run cold. At the same time he heard what Edmund was not saying, that it would have been impossible to leave after that first week, with only one veiled conversation as their basis for apprehension, without causing great problems. And he could not help the amused pride and affection filling him at Edmund's assertion that they had all been wrong in their assessment of Rabadash. His little brother had been the one to speak against the prince of Calormen as a suitor most vocally from the beginning, stating that he "did not trust him as far as I can throw him" and would see him gone sooner rather than later, which had even resulted in a downright fight between him and Susan. It was just so typical for Edmund not to let everyone know that he had been right all along, but to shoulder as much blame as anyone else. Not for the first time Peter wished that his brother could be here with him, he missed his advice, missed talking to him or simply being together. But he had become distracted again, and he still had to learn what exactly had happened.

Two more weeks elapsed in the above stated manner, by the end of which We were being forced to concede that Our most dire worries were poised to become reality, and, Our dear brother will well comprehend it, We were thrown into great pangs of anxiety on the behalf of Our noble sister, fearing for her safety as well as her virtue, on the occasion of a supremely alarming interlocution We chanced to undertake with the oft mentioned Rabadash, in the course of which We were able to see through the masks of chivalry he was wont to put up to the most proud, bloody, luxurious, cruel, and self-pleasing tyrant that was his true self. Never abandoning the language of courtesy so as to not present Us with an opportunity to call him out on his distasteful behaviour, he made many a covert threat to Our person and Our esteemed attendants, indicating yet again that it would be to our great disadvantage should the Queen Susan not deign to give a positive answer shortly, furthermore adumbrating that the queen would for a certainty be his bride ere long, her reply be yea or nay.

Peter's eyes narrowed dangerously, and had anyone been with him, they would surely have shrunk back in fear. Then he jumped up from his seat and started pacing up and down the length of his tent, his fists clenched as he almost shook with anger. Menacing his little brother! Wanting to force his little sister into marriage! Who did this mockery of a prince think he was? He wished for nothing more than that Rabadash would be here this very instant, so that he could show him personally what happened to those who threatened his family! He should never have allowed the prince entrance to the castle, should have banged the door in his face! If he had been in Tashbaan… But that thought made Peter stop in his tracks. He had to admit that he was not sure how he would have reacted had he been in Edmund's place, it was quite possible that he might have slain Rabadash on the spot. And what the consequences of that would have been were quite clear. Once again he thanked Aslan for his brother's circumspection and his ability to keep his head on his shoulders and not act rashly even when things got out of hand. With a rueful chuckle he thought of the many times Edmund had berated him for his tendency to lash out immediately when he believed his siblings to be in danger. Then he breathed deeply, resuming his place on the cushions and returning to Edmund's account on the parchment.

Thus burdened in mind and spirit, We immediately retired to our lodgings, calling Our valued companions about us for an exigent council, wherein it was to be reconnoitred and scrutinised by which means our party might be delivered from this most heinous of traps which appeared to be laid all around us by persons of more eminence than honour, discarding at once the notion of open combat actions as fruitless, frivolous and culpable, promising nothing more than death for Us which We would have accepted gladly had there been an assurance of Our treasured sister's continued welfare through it, but which would merely have resulted in the eventuation of the very situation, namely the forceful espousing of Queen Susan to the abhominable Rabadash, we strove to prevent, and the slaying of Our dear companions, which We could not think to bear on Our conscience, as your revered Majesty will doubtlessly agree with Us.

Peter definitely agreed with him, he would always agree with anything that did not result in Edmund's death, and he did not like the idea that his noble idiot of a brother would even have considered it! He knew of course that Edmund would willingly die for any one of them, but it was somehow different to have it in black and white on the parchment. A pang went through his heart at the seeming nonchalance with which his little brother was treating the possibility of his own death, and he closed his eyes briefly in anguish. How could there have been any welfare for Susan had Edmund died, even if she had survived and gotten away? Not to speak of the rest of them! Peter did not think he would have been able to cope. With a great amount of trepidation he looked down at the letter again, telling himself over and over that nothing had happened.

Praise be to Aslan that Our dear friend Mr Tumnus of a sudden presented the auspicious idea that it might prove to be prudent to sound out other contingencies, proposing to implement secrecy and furtiveness where overt deeds are vain and idle, and furthermore declaring his concrete scenario to consist of an alleged banquet and feast to be held on Our ship the Splendour Hyaline whereto the prince should be most cordially invited and be desired to attend, implying to him that in the course of the said festivity the Queen Susan would graciously bestow the answer he had yearned for long, so that in his eager anticipation he might be blinded to our venturing to and fro 'tween our accommodation and our ship, thereby enabling us to initialise our departure under the guise of preparations for the heralded merry-making. Seeing the inherent wisdom and prudence, We and Our councillors readily acceded to this plan, setting it to motion that very hour, and by the grace of Aslan conducting every last detail in a speedy and circumspect fashion so as to ensure our continual safety and health, whereby We yet have to confess to your Majesty an enhanced fear with regards to the successful execution of the said scheme residing in Our person.

That Edmund was even admitting that much in his letter more than anything showed Peter the tension and strain his brother had to have been under, and he well understood it. The plan certainly had been a good one, probably the only one with any prospect of success under the circumstances, but it still carried the risk of detection at any moment, and Peter did not want to think about what would have happened then. So he turned his mind instead to the vague puzzlement he was beginning to feel. They had evidently all returned safe and sound to Cair Paravel, and while it was certainly kind of Edmund to keep him apprised of what was going on, he could not yet see why it would merit such a formal letter.

When darkness had fallen and enveloped the great city of Tashbaan, we silently put our oars to the water, stealing away from the place that wished to do Us and Our family such great wrong and harm whilst listening into the night with bated breath, believing the shadows to be our friendly helpmeets, concealing us from inimical eyes and thus facilitating our escape, yet contemporaneously dreading a cry of pursuit rising up from behind us. It pleased Aslan however to be our guide and shield, so that with exclamations of joy we reached the open seas and turned our prow Northward to Narnia and home, desiring nothing more than to leave the place of our grave misfortune behind us and rejoicing in the release from our bonds that the Great Lion in His benevolence had granted us. With a steady wind at our backs, our party put into harbour at Cair Paravel on the fourth morning after our flight from the land of Calormen, being greeted by Our well-loved sister Queen Lucy as well as such of Our subjects as had been about to witness the unexpected but gladsomely received arrival of the Splendour Hyaline, welcoming Us, Our dear sister the Queen Susan, and all Our companions with many professions of well-wishes and pleasure, which delighted Our heart, but could not abate the foreboding We had experienced these several days, a sensation that proved to be true all too soon when Our reunion was abruptly interrupted by Our good Cousin the Stag Chervy, bearer of deep and perilous tidings from the Southern reaches of this our realm of Narnia and our dear friends and allies of Archenland.

Be not alarmed excessively at what We are about to unfold to your elevated Majesty, and trust that We are leaving nothing undone and are expending all of Our fortitude and power to ward off the menace that has poured into our neighbouring country in the form of the aforementioned Rabadash, Crown Prince of Calormen, and two hundred of his men and soldiers, besieging the castle of Anvard at this precise moment in time, so that We are now bound to disclose to your Highness that We together with Our valued sister Queen Lucy the Valiant and the better part of Our army under the command of the Vice General Starburst will this very afternoon journey forth from Cair Paravel so as to lend aid to Our beleaguered friends and engage the said Rabadash in clean wager of battle for to prove upon his body that We shall not condone and suffer his insidious assault that was undertaken without defiance sent and with the intent and purpose of not only razing and laying bare the castle of Anvard, but presumably item of invading Our own kingdom and realm, most likely in the avidness of thusly acquiring the Queen Susan.

Peter let the parchment sink and pressed a hand to his mouth. So that was what Edmund had been building up to the whole time. He was going into battle. He was going to fight Rabadash who, as Peter quite clearly remembered from the tournament he had hosted, was not above using mean or underhand tricks. It took a moment to register fully, but when it did, it was like a blow to the chest. Rabadash had threatened them while they had been honoured guests in Calormen, so what would he do now that he felt duped and offended? The prince had never gotten along well with Edmund to begin with, and Peter was moreover sure that his brother had not been mincing his words in his replies to Rabadash's veiled threats, no matter how graciously he certainly had expressed himself.

Peter paled at the thought of perhaps not seeing his little brother again, for while he had every faith in his fighting abilities, not even a superb swordsman such as Edmund could gird himself perfectly against such a treacherous and malevolent individual as Rabadash unquestionably was. And an enraged enemy who felt his honour insulted was one of the most dangerous opponents because he not only wanted to defeat you, he wanted to crush you. Add to that Rabadash's general dislike of Edmund, and it would make for a fight so volatile and dangerous that the outcome could not at all be determined.

And then Edmund was telling him not to worry! He always had had a strange sense of humour, and Peter most decidedly did not appreciate it at the moment! His brother had to be aware that he would of course worry dreadfully! How could he not, seeing that he was the whole length of Narnia away from Edmund and could not be with him! He always hated it when they had to go into battle separately, seldom as it happened, and if he could have decided for himself alone, he would have left everything here and raced through the night to his brother's side which he would yet most likely not have reached in time.

The brother in him was raging that he would have rather known nothing, if he could not do anything about it anyway. But the High King in him realised that Edmund had done the only right and reasonable thing, and that he of course had to be made aware of what was going on in Narnia, especially because he was absent. Now he also understood the ceremonious language Edmund had used. It was his brother's way of trying to protect him by distancing himself and by association Peter from the events, writing as one king to another and not as siblings. He consciously attempted to calm down and not to let his worry overwhelm him, knowing that it would not help the situation at all. He still had some work to do here, even if the Giants were defeated and would not be bothering Narnia for a long time, and he trusted Edmund's judgement implicitly, being sure that he knew what he was doing. And although he normally was not very pleased with Lucy accompanying them on campaigns, he was quite happy about it now because she would keep Edmund from being all too reckless and casual with his life. Peter smoothed out the parchment that he had creased in his agitation and read the last few lines.

Once more We implore your beloved Majesty not to worry overly much, as your Highness can be assured that all necessary and possible precautions are being taken to prevent any avoidable harm from befalling Our self and our royal sister Queen Lucy, and that all due diligence will be exercised so as to ensure the continued safety and well-being of the same said persons as well as our loyal soldiers, so that your Lordship might rest easy in the knowledge that all matters are well in hand, and that We will strive to bring the above described happenings to a good and satisfactory conclusion.

We close this letter with the most heartfelt wishes for your Majesty's health and prosperity, as well as a speedy resolution to the troubles assailing our Northern borders, hoping to see Our cherished brother again ere too much more time elapses. May the grace of Aslan be with your Majesty always!

Given at our castle of Cair Paravel this seventeenth day of the month Springclear in the fourteenth year of Peter the Magnificent.

…

P.S.: Pete, never forget that I love you dearly and am thinking of you always!

Peter nearly stumbled over the last sentence, the emotion conveyed in these few words was so overwhelming compared to the detachedness of the rest of the letter, and he could not stop the tear that was slowly rolling down his cheek. Edmund was one of the few people who could discompose him like that, and the only one who caused this almost physical ache in him, this feeling as if he was missing one half of his being when they were apart like now, especially when his little brother's life might be in danger. He would not be able to handle it should anything happen to Edmund, and it was pure agony to sit here, a hundred miles away, and not being able to be by his side. The only comfort came from knowing that Lucy and Starburst with many of their loyal soldiers were with him to take care of him in his stead.

Peter curled up in his hammock after grabbing one of the blankets from the floor and all but burying himself under it with the letter still clutched to his heart, trying to find some rest as he yet had to function properly tomorrow. But it was not at all easy, and it took him a long time to go to sleep because he kept seeing images of Edmund in his mind, remembering the last conversation they had had on the morning he had left Cair Paravel over four months ago and hearing the letter's last words resonating in his soul as if his brother himself had spoken them. And there was only one clear thought in his head:

Aslan, please keep him safe, I beg you! I love him so much, and I cannot live without him!

TBC


So, what did you think? I honestly had a lot of fun writing that letter, and it was a great exercise to try and write as formally as possible. Please tell me if I've been successful!