Okay, before you read this... I'm pretty sure I favourited (a long time ago) a one shot similar to what I'm about to write, but I'm not too sure if I did, or came up with this idea myself. If there is a story like this out there, and it belongs to you, I did not intend to steal any ideas ahah. xx

13: Prove yourself

"Peter?"

Peter glanced around behind him and smiled a little when he spotted Aslan, walking slowly towards him until he was stood on the balcony at his side.

"Am I right in thinking it's gone midnight and that you should probably be sleeping?" Aslan questioned, eyes sparkling and a look of amusement on his face. "After all the coronation is tomorrow."

Peter couldn't help but smirk, but the smirk disappeared after a moment and he found himself sighing. "I tried to." He mumbled. "I just, couldn't stop thinking about - about Beruna."

Aslan stared at him for a good while before glancing out across the sea. "Peter?" He asked gently. "How much do you love Lucy?"

Peter frowned at the question. "Aslan?" He asked, sounding confused."

"How much do you love her?" Aslan repeated.

Peter was still confused, but answered anyway. "I love her more than I could ever put into words." He whispered.

Aslan smiled softly. "What about Susan?" He asked.

Peter was even more confused now, but he swallowed hard and nodded his head. "She means... everything to me. Everything."

Aslan again smiled at him. "And how much do you love Edmund?" He asked slowly and softly.

Peter took a deep breath, glancing behind him and into the room he shared with his brother, where Edmund was fast asleep in his bed, buried beneath the blankets, a peaceful smile on his face as he slept.

Peter only wondered how long that peaceful look would last though, before it turned into one of fear or agony and he woke up screaming.

Swallowing hard, Peter shook the thought from his head and sighed. "He means the world to me." He whispered. "Nearly - nearly losing him got me to finally realise how much I actually love him. He's my brother, my little brother, and I'd be lost without him..." He trailed off at this, memories of Beruna flashing before his eyes.

Edmund facing the witch. Smashing her wand. Then the witch burying what was left of it deep into his stomach. He saw Edmund fall, heard him gasping for air, felt the blood on his hands.

Peter quickly squeezed his eyes shut, leaning against the stone railing of the balcony, fighting back the nausea he was currently feeling.

"How much do you love Narnia?"

Peter's eyes snapped open at the question, having not expected it at all. He thought for a moment, before slowly opening his mouth. "I really do love it." He murmured with a nod.

Aslan finally glanced up at him. "If it came down to choosing between the Narnians, and your family, which would you chose?"

Peter stared at him. "My family?" He asked slowly and hesitantly, unsure if that was the answer Aslan was looking for.

Aslan watched him for a rather long while, before turning his stare back out towards the ocean. "Peter, tomorrow you will be crowned high King of Narnia, and with that comes responsibility... to protect your country, no matter what."

Peter blinked. "But - But my family?" He choked.

Aslan smiled a little. "One day you will have to prove yourself to Narnia Peter, you will have to make a choice." He said softly. "You will have to choose between duty, and love. And I trust you to make the right decision."

And with that, he slowly left the balcony, leaving Peter to think over what he'd just said.

Little did Peter know, that Aslan had been right, one day he would have to choose between the Narnians and his family, and it was one of the hardest decisions he'd ever have to make.

Swallowing hard Peter searched the battle for his brother, hoping beyond hope to find him between the hundreds, if not thousands of Calormens.

It took a moment but soon he spotted him, charging head on at three Calormens, both swords raised and a determined look on his face.

Peter watched as he cut down one of them, followed by another, and he was just about to turn to kill the third, when another one appeard from nowhere behind him.

Peter screamed his brothers name, which gave Edmund a warning that had no doubt saved his life.

Swinging around Edmund ducked under the Calmormens sword, before plunging his own through his stomach, quickly turning to the third one, who instead of stabbing him, slashed his sword at Edmund's arm, cutting him deep and distracting him, before he shoved him hard off of the small cliff they were both stood on, sending him falling at least twenty feet and landing with a loud thud on the ground.

"Edmund!" Peter cried, already rushing over to his brother, falling to his knees beside him and quickly checking him over.

It was clear that Edmund was unconscious, and to be honest that was probably a blessing right now.

Checking him over Peter realised that besides the slash on his arm, that Edmund had a few broken ribs, as well as a broken leg from where he'd obviously landed funny on it when he fell.

"Oh Ed." Peter choked, staring at his nearly 14 year old brother with tears in his eyes.

"Your majesty."

Peter looked up when Orious ran up to them

"Take King Edmund away from here." He said. "Before either of you get any more hurt."

Peter didn't even think as he lifted Edmund into his arms and stood, hurrying into the nearby woods and making in the direction he knew Cair was in.

He tried to be as careful as he could, so as not to inflict any more damage to his already injured brother.

He'd been walking for perhaps ten minutes when the blood soaking into his tunic from Edmund's arm finally registered with him, and in all honesty it made him sick. Edmund was as white as a sheet by this point, his arm bleeding at an alarming speed, and his leg swollen where he'd broken it... it definitely wasn't a pretty sight.

Peter knew that if he didn't get his brother home soon, then he wouldn't have a brother at all.

But the screams and shouts from the nearby battle worried him. Seeming as he could still hear it all, it meant the Calormens where pushing their way through Narnia, and no doubt killing everyone in their path, which made Peter worry.

The amount of small villages that stood between the Calormens and Cair Paravel was almost too many to count, and they'd all be destroyed if they weren't warned.

Stopping dead all the colour drained from Peter's face.

One day you will have to make a choice Peter.You will have to choose between duty, and love.

Peter's heart was pounding. He had to choose between saving Edmund, and warning the villages, warning his people.

There was no way he could do both, because Edmund needed to get to Cair paravel within the next half an hour or it would be too late.

But if he did that, by the time he got back the the villages, it would be too late to save them.

For a moment Peter wondered if he could get back to the battle and ask someone else to warn them, and then hopefully get back with Edmund in time, but after a moment he sighed.

There was no way he would risk taking Edmund back to the battle, not with how badly he was hurt.

Letting out a small sob, Peter sunk to the floor, clutching Edmund to his chest. Today really was the day that he'd have to choose between his family, and his people.

Saving Edmund meant that hundreds of Narnians would he mercilessly killed, in their own homes, with no warning at all. But warning and saving the Narnians, meant that Peter's little brother would be kidnapped and tortured to death by Calormens.

If he left Edmund here, he would surely be found, and even if he hid him, he'd die of blood loss anyway, slowly and painfully too.

Peter was sobbing by now, and raised his head to the sky. "Surely you can't make me chose?!" He cried. "You can't!"

What would Edmund tell you to do?

Peter froze, glancing down at his brother.

Edmund would tell him to save the Narnians, leave him there and save their people. But how was he supposed to do that?

"I can't let him die." Peter sobbed, shaking his head and clutching at his brothers tunic.

But what of the Narnians

Peter let out another heart wrenching sob. "I can't let them die either." He choked.

You have to make a choice Peter

Aslan's voice was quiet, and caused more sobs to escape Peter. "Please." He whispered. "I can't."

He ended up having a battle between his own thoughts next, half of him telling himself to save his brother, his baby brother who he'd made a promise to to always protect. His brother who meant the world and more to him, and truly was one of the best things in his whole life. Or the Narnians, his people, who he loved deeply, who he'd sworn to protect, who he had a responsibility over, to rule his country to his dying day.

"I can't." Peter choked.

You have to! His own mind shot back.

"I can't! Please!"

You know what Edmund would tell you to do.

Peter choked on his tears, he knew Edmund would tell him to go, to save the Narnians.

you have to hurry up and chose otherwise It'll be too late to save either.

Do you trust me?

Peter swallowed hard. Of course he did. Of course he trusted Aslan.

Trust me Peter, and everything will turn out just fine.

How an earth was any of this going to turn out fine?! If he saved the Narnians, he'd have to live without his brother, which would be complete hell. If he saved his brother, he'd have to live with the guilt of what he'd done, which was sure to drive him mad.

"Please." He sobbed.

Trust me Peter. Trust me

Peter swallowed hard and hesitantly wiped away his tears. He knew what he had to do.

He was not going to leave Edmund here.

Not to be kidnapped and tortured to death.

Not to die that cruelly... Never.

His hands shaking, he brought out his sword, another sob escaping him as he placed the tip of it to Edmund's chest. "I - I trust you Aslan." He whispered, voice cracking. "Please forgive me."

He glanced at Edmund's face. "Oh Ed, please forgive me." He murmured. But I won't let you die like that. It's better for you to die this way, quickly and without pain. It's what you would want.

Peter hesitated, staring at his brothers chest, his own sword pressed against it, before looking up to Edmund's face, only to see his little brothers eyes open. "E - Ed." He choked.

Edmund gave him a small smile and a weak nod. "Do it." He whispered.

Peter's eyes went wide. "Ed no." He whispered.

"You were - were going to anyway." Edmund said with a slight cough.

"But-"

"Peter, go." Edmund choked, wincing in pain. "Save the Narnians. Save your people. But please, don't let the Calormens get me, do it Peter, just kill me now. Save me from hours of torture, I beg you."

"Ed please." Peter whispered, wondering just how long Edmund had actually been awake for.

"If you won't then I will." Edmund whispered, before sighing. "Peter go." He sobbed. "Before it's too late, but kill me first. I'm begging you Peter, do it."

Peter was in hysterics by now, his breathing heavy and tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I love you Peter." Edmund whispered. "And I'm really proud of you, this can't be easy... but you have to do it, for your kingdom."

Peter swallowed hard. "I love you too Eddy." He whispered.

Edmund gave him another small smile and another nod, "Trust me." He whispered, before he slowly allowed his eyes to slip shut, waiting.

Peter hesitated greatly, before lifting the sword above his head, and bringing it down towards Edmund's chest.

"Peter stop!"

Edmund's eyes snapped open and Peter's head snapped up. He gave a sob cross laugh at the sight of Aslan, stood no more than five feet away, something of a smile on his face. "Aslan." He choked.

Aslan walked over and stopped beside Peter. "You have proven yourself to your country Peter." He said gently.

"But - But not to my family." Peter sobbed in reply, dropping his sword from shaky hands.

"And to your family Peter." Aslan said.

Peter was shocked. "How?!" He shouted, voice cracking. "I - I was going to-to." He stopped dead, unable to go on.

Aslan smiled at him. "You proved yourself to your country and to your family Peter." He said gently. "You were willing to save hundreds of Narnians, even if it meant your brother losing his life."

"But how is that proving myself to my family?! If I'm so willing to give up their lives." Peter choked, reaching to grab Edmund's hand even though he never took his eyes off of Aslan.

Aslan stared at him for a second. "I know you never would've done it if it wasn't for two things." He breathed.

"What things?" Peter whispered.

"Your trust in me. And your trust in Edmund." Aslan replied, and when Peter just frowned at him, he continued. "You trusted me when I asked you too, you trusted me when I said that everything would be fine. You trusted Edmund when you knew he would've said to leave him, you knew despite him being unconscious, what he'd say, and despite him not being able to say it, you knew him well enough, and you trusted him. And then when he woke and told you to do it... you trusted him then... Not to mention you were going to save him from hours of torture."

"But I nearly killed him." Peter choked.

"But you didn't Peter." Aslan said gently. "All you did is prove yourself to your country, proved that you trust me, and most importantly I think, proved that you trust your brother."

Peter blinked at him, unsure of what else to say.

"Now, you must get Edmund back to Cair." Aslan said quickly.

"I don't know if I'll make it." Peter choked, forcing back a sob.

Aslan gave him a sympathetic look. "You will make it Peter." He said gently. "I promise."

Peter took a deep breath, before swallowing hard. "What about all the Narnians?"

"I will see to it that they are warned." Aslan told him. "And I'm sure they will have no difficulty defeating the Calormen army."

"You mean you'll help?" Peter choked.

Aslan smiled at him. "Of course." He said, before... he roared.

Peter covered his ears quickly, before squeezing his eyes shut for just a second, and when he opened them again, Aslan was gone.

Swallowing hard Peter glanced back down at his brother, tears still rolling quickly down his cheeks. "Oh Ed." He choked.

Edmund didn't answer, only smiled at him before his eyes slipped shut and he fell unconscious again.

Peter sighed a little as he sat on the edge of Edmund's bed the next day, his hand firmly on his shoulder.

Aslan had of course been right, he had managed to get Edmund back to Cair in time. The Calormens had been defeated and the Narnians saved, all thanks to Aslan.

Unfortunately though Edmund hadn't woken since they got back, and his leg was in a cast seeming as the cordial didn't exactly heal broken bones, not properly at least.

Peter though couldn't stop thinking over what Aslan had said, but mostly, he couldn't stop thinking about what Edmund would say when he finally woke up.

But he'd find out sooner than expected.

Peter's head snapped down when there was a groan from his brother, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw him slowly open his eyes and glance around, looking more than a little confused.

"E - Edmund?" Peter asked hesitantly, reaching over and placing a hand on Edmund's shoulder, catching his attention.

"Peter." He murmered, something of a smile appearing on his face.

Peter nodded a little. "How - How you feeling?" He asked.

"I'm alright." Edmund replied quietly, glancing down at his leg and grimacing slightly. "I hate that the cordial doesn't heal broken bones as such."

Peter shrugged. "It kinda does." He mumbled. "But you're gonna be hopping around for at least a week."

Edmund raised an eyebrow at him. "That's if Susan let's me out of bed within a week." He muttered, smirking.

Despite everything Peter couldn't help but chuckle. "Good point." He breathed.

The two fell silent for a while before Edmund frowned. "What's on your mind?" He asked, hesitantly sitting up and leaning against the headboard, wincing when pain shot through his ribs.

Peter swallowed hard before shaking his head. "It's nothing." He mumbled.

Edmund frowned even more, before realisation dawned on him. "Oh Pete." He sighed. "You still feel bad for what happened?"

Peter looked shocked. "Bad?" He choked. "Ed I feel terrible, no, worse than terrible! I nearly killed you!"

"To save your people." Edmund reminded him.

"But you're my brother!"

"I told you to do it Peter." Edmund said. "As Aslan said, you trusted both me and him... that's why you did it."

"But I still nearly ended your life Edmund!" Peter choked, tears appearing in his eyes. "You're my brother, and I was so willing to throw away your life."

"Pete, hundreds of Narnians would've died if you hadn't of done what you did." Edmund said firmly. "You saved them, and in a way you were going to save me. If I had been kidnapped by Calormens, they would've put me through hours, days maybe, of continuous, agonising torture, but you would've stopped that, and saved your people."

Peter swallowed hard. "I - I'm still so sorry." He whispered, shaking his head as the tears finally made their way down his cheeks.

Edmund shook his head. "It's fine, because I told you to." He said gently. "You trusted me, and you have no idea how thankful I am for that, no idea."

"Will - Will you ever forgive me?" Peter whispered, hope in his eyes.

Edmund sighed sadly. "I already have." He said softly. "I forgave you the moment I felt that sword tip against my chest."

Peter had to fight to keep back the sobs, wiping quickly at his eyes.

"Because Peter," Edmund said. "You're not just my brother, you're the high King of Narnia, you have a responsibility to protect your kingdom and your people-"

"But I also have a responsibility to protect you!" Peter cried. "And Susan and Lucy."

"Peter, come on, please." Edmund sighed. "It's all over, all that happened is you proved yourself to your country. You proved that you're capable of protecting it no matter what. And you proved (even more than you already have) that you trust me and Aslan, that is all that's happened Peter, nothing else. I dont even blame you for what you almost did, because I wanted you to do it, if you did, you would've saved the Narnians and me, for I would rather die peacefully than by being tortured." He paused for a moment and sighed before continuing. "You trust me Peter, I've known that for ages, but every time you prove it, it just makes it mean... more. And Aslan is proud of you, for proving that you can protect your country, no matter what stands in your way... plus, he never would've let me die, it was a test Peter, a test... and one that you passed."

Peter let out a quiet sob, before shuffling over and pulling Edmund gently into his arms. "I love you Ed." He choked. "I love you so, so much."

Edmund chuckled lightly, smirking. "I know."

There you go! hope you liked it!

I'm so sorry I didnt update "the hardest thing I've ever had to do" last Tuesday, I forgot about it and didnt have any idea what to write either, but I'll try and get a chapter up this Tuesday :)

and also, if you can guess what bible story this is loosely based around, then well done ahah :)