A few hours later found Peter sitting in the Library, once again. He had chosen to come alone this time, telling Edmund that he needed time to think. He had found a nice couch by a corner of windows, and settled in with the book from yesterday.
In all truth, thinking was simply confusing for Peter. Every time he tried to reconcile his image of this new Edmund with the Edmund he had known for the past few years, his head started to ache. This new Edmund was so much like the old, Narnian Edmund that trying to match them to the 'bully-boy' Edmund was just too much.
Sighing, Peter pulled his eyes away from the same paragraph he'd been 'reading' for the last few hours.
Looking out the window, Peter noticed that winter had made its last stand in the midnight hours. Where once the ground had been cold and soggy, now there was a thick blanket of snow stretching over the moor. The bare tree limbs acted as shelves for millions of icicles of all shapes and sizes, and in the distance Peter could just make out the edge of a frozen pond. The sky was overcast making the scene beautiful, but cold.
Sighing once again, Peter rested his arm and chin over the arm of the couch. Spring was only a few weeks away, but to Peter it suddenly felt like a lifetime. The scenery was definitely not helping him with his train of thought.
Suddenly, Peter noticed movement coming from the right side of the clearing in front of him. As he watched, Edmund and Digory came ambling across the field. They seemed to be talking to each other, and just as they came to the center of the window, they stopped. From three stories up, Peter looked down upon the two men as Digory pointed across the field, Edmund following his directions with his eyes as he nodded along. Then Edmund took a few steps forward, and turned back to face Digory. He reached out a hand to the professor and, as they shook hands, a smile broke out across Edmund's face and the sun broke through the clouds.
Peter's breath caught in his chest as the sun lit up the scene before him, the rays reflecting off of Edmund's dark hair. The Just King seemed to glow in that moment, and Peter felt a sudden urge to join him on the moor. He just looked so…Narnian; so perfect in that moment. He felt his heart skip a beat as Edmund threw his head back and laughed at something Digory had said, the two men below the window sharing a moment of true friendship.
Oh, Aslan. I want h—that. He thought longingly. Oh, Lord. How I want—him.
Peter pushed himself up from the couch arm to a sitting position, pressing his left hand over his stuttering heart. This was how he had felt the first moment he had realized he may be in love with Edmund. It had been moment very similar to this, Peter catching sight of a laughing Edmund and his heart jumping to his throat in nervous excitement. His breath quickened and he felt tongue tied. Peter had never been so glad to be alone in a library, before. He felt a flush rise to his cheeks as he imagined another person seeing him reacting so to something happening three stories below him.
Peter watched as Digory and Edmund bid each other farewell, and took off in different directions across the clearing; Edmund continuing on to the left, and Digory returning to the right. Peter's eyes stayed fixed on the Just King as he swiftly disappeared from the window's view. Peter found himself shifting forward to catch the last few glimpses of Edmund's retreating form, and then the brunette was gone, and the sun retreated once again behind the clouds.
Suddenly, Peter felt oddly alone. Sitting back, feeling something strangely like disappointment bloom in his breast, Peter shook his head and returned to his book.
That was enough thinking for one afternoon, thank you.
EPPPEPPPEPPPEPPPEPPP
Lunch had been a kind of 'fend for yourself' affair, but when the dinner bell rang, Peter found himself meeting Digory in the hall as they both made their way to the dining room.
"Hello, young Peter," Digory greeted jovially. Peter always appreciated how positive and caring the professor was. "And how was your day?"
"It was pleasant. I absolutely adore your library."
"Ah, yes. Was it for study or for pleasure, today?"
"Distraction, I'd have to say."
Digory smiled kindly at the blonde.
"Those can be very useful, in small doses," Digory opened the door to the dining room and ushered the younger man in before him. "If you ever have a specific book in mind, just let me know. And if you'd still like to study for entrance exams, you know where to find me."
Peter smiled. "Thank you, Digory."
Digory leaned in closer as he stopped at Peter's seat. "I'm also good for lending an ear, should you need one. I'll to my best to be absolutely unbiased...Well, as unbiased as an old man with too much advice can be."
The two shared a laugh as Digory moved on to his own place setting.
Edmund came breezing in just as the other two were settling in, and he sat across from Peter with a breathless smile and a nod to Digory.
"Find what you were looking for, young Pevensie?" Digory asked as they joined hands for grace.
"Oh, yes. It's perfect! Thank you for the help," Turning to Peter, Edmund's smile became almost blinding. "I have something for you, tomorrow. So, no questions right now!"
Peter raised an eyebrow, realizing that he had indeed been about to ask what the two were hiding. Edmund had even been quick enough to stop him from feeling left out.
"For me?" He asked as he took the professor's and Edmund's hands.
"Definitely for you."
And then it was time for grace, and dinner. Peter couldn't help but sit back and enjoy watching Edmund, cheeks flushed a rosy red from being outside, talk animatedly with their wonderful host and friend. If there was one thing that had never changed about Edmund, it was how handsome he really was. And Peter was just beginning to realize that he didn't just mean his looks.
EPPPEPPPEPPPEPPPEPPP
"Okay, I'm not going to let this be awkward," Edmund began as he rushed through changing and bounced right into bed. Though dinner had taken the better part of two hours, Edmund still seemed as if he had just rushed in from a jog outside. Peter watched him in astonishment.
Where has all of this energy come from?
"I'm sleeping here, you're sleeping here. I'm exhausted, and I absolutely want to cuddle you."
Peter just stared, halfway out of his day clothes and one arm in his nightshirt. His heart sped up again, as it had in the library, and he fought the blush that seemed to want to bloom across his cheeks and his chest. Peter had never felt this way about anyone else. It had been so long since he'd even had a crush on another person, even one on Edmund. Was this what it had felt like in Narnia?
"Well? Come on, my darling."
Yes. Yes, it was exactly like this.
Peter felt a little frightened, all of a sudden. These feelings of affection, love, and attraction were things he had tried to close his heart off to; the more Edmund had drifted from him. Yet, here they were, blooming inside of him and making his breath quicken and his heart flutter. He feared briefly for his heart's wellbeing.
But, he had never let fear best him. He changed into his night shirt, rushed through his own nightly routine (his skin hyper aware of the eyes following him across the room), and turned to climb into bed with his bouncing….with Edmund. He hadn't even fully settled before he was drawn into the brunette's arms and his cheeks, eyes, and forehead were covered in goodnight kisses.
"You smell like a barn."
Edmund froze, and then burrowed down under the covers with Peter wrapped in his arms.
"No questions!" he giggled. Giggled!
"But Edmund—"
"Goodnight, darling!" And Edmund clamped his eyes shut, tucking his head under Peter's chin and feigning sleep.
Peter rolled his eyes. He wouldn't be getting any more answers out of the useless lump beside him, tonight. He settled in.
"Goodnight, Edmund."
EPPPEPPPEPPPEPPPEPPP
AN: OOOO! What is the surprise? Is Peter finally getting over his problems? Are they getting over their problems? Is Peter still going to go to Uni? Is everything going to be resolved in a blaze of glory!
Well, you'll just have to keep reading to find out! Ha ha!
Also, for those who don't know what a "moor" is:
Def: a tract of unenclosed ground, usually having peaty soil covered with heather, coarse grass, bracken, and moss
Yes, there are a few trees, but it's mostly open land. I realized that when I mentioned "trees", you might have been envisioning an enclosed space surrounded by forest (well, you might be if you visualize stories like I do. ;) ) I imagine (for the needs of my story) that Digory has a FAIR amount of land. Is there a large section of forest on his land? Yes. But the manor grounds also encompass a great deal of open space.
I can't really think of the best way to describe it. When I lived in Scotland (and traveled through England), I remember seeing swatches of dense forest, followed by long stretches of moor. This is what I'm trying to convey for Digory's land.
Ok…tangent…I'm sure you get it! lol
Read and Review! :)
Preview:
"Is that-?"
"Yes! Well, no, it's not the original…but yes." Edmund grinned gleefully, squeezing the hand in his.
"Is that really?"
"Oh, yes!"
"MINE!"
"Yes, Yes!"
"AAHHHHH! –Oops!" Peter slapped a hand over his mouth to stop the excited yell.
And Edmund threw his head back and laughed.
