Hearth and Home
Disclaimer: If you recognize it then I don't own it.
A/N: For Whumptober 2022 #7 The way you shake and shiver- shaking hands
Winter had come once again to hold all of Narnia captive in her icy grasp. Last year, the fear that the snow and ice would never end was spoken in hushed tones. The respite they were blessed with, when spring finally broke after a hundred years, seemed much too short as the land was covered in a deep blanket of white at the end of autumn. Despair began to creep into the heart of the kingdom until one day it became spring. The plants grew and the air warmed with Aslan's breath once more. The winter lasted only a few months, not a hundred years.
This year's first snowfall was met with more joy, with the knowledge it would soon end. Narnians played in the drifts as Lucy showed them how to make snow angels, participate in snowball fights, and took them on speeding thrill rides as they sled down hills. The grounds were filled with laughter as the young queen showed her subjects the joys of winter.
Inside Cair Paravel the kitchen was lively as well. Queen Susan gracefully glided around assisting any interested baker in learning how to make English delights. Safe and cozy among the baking deserts, boiling pots, and delicious aromas of both British and Narnian dishes. The warm atmosphere was light and joyful as they baked and sampled finished products.
High King Peter was deep in a project of his own. He had assembled a council for a very important but secret task. He had locked himself away in a large council room, meeting with them privately often as they planned. A plan that if successful would bring much healing to his people.
He was so engrossed with his secret task that he hardly noticed his younger brother's lack of interest in his doings. Normally Edmund's curiosity would not allow him to leave his secretive older brother a moment of peace. Sneaking, investigating, and downright interrogation would have spoiled the surprise long before now. Peter didn't give it much thought, either Peter had finally pulled one over on his brother or Ed had his own projects to worry about. As long as his secret was preserved he didn't much care. He should have.
The High King took a much-needed break from his planning to sneak a snack. He had been tormented by the tantalizing smells wafting from the kitchen for hours. He peaked a look into the bustling room to verify that his sister was occupied. It would not do for Susan to interrogate him about what he was up to at this delicate juncture when he was so close to completing his surprise. He was just knicking a delicious-smelling pastry when a throat cleared behind him.
He turned around, his cheeks full of sugary goodness, to find his sister standing behind him. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she tapped her foot at him. Her eyes however gave her away. They sparkled with merriment, revealing that she was just pretending her stern demeanor.
"Honestly, Peter, you couldn't have waited until after dinner?"
"They smelled too good," Peter spoke around the lump of dough in his mouth. Susan's nose crinkled with distaste as she handed him a towel to wipe his face of the crumbs that had spilled out of his talking mouth.
"You're supposed to be a king," She admonished gently, still not able to hide her amusement at his antics.
Peter threw the towel at her face with a laugh, "But I'm the High King, I can do what I like," He grabbed another treat just to prove his point.
"I don't know why I try," Susan laughed accepting the dessert he passed over to her as a peace offering.
The two royal humans found a small table to sit at to stay out of the way in the still-bustling kitchen. They quietly savored each bite, remembering the sugar rationing they had lived through not that long ago. Finchley felt far away at times, yet sometimes stark reminders and homesickness hit them hard at odd times. In their hearts somehow Narnia and England were both home.
Susan finished eating and daintily cleaned her fingers on the towel. She wrung it between her fingers for a moment as she collected her thoughts. Peter figured the jig was up and that one of his siblings would find out the truth before he was ready. He was mentally preparing himself for the surprise to be ruined so much that he was taken through a loop when she finally spoke about what was weighing so heavily on her mind.
"Have you seen Edmund?" She asked, catching him off guard.
"Not today," Peter racked his brain to figure out what was wrong, "He said he would be studying Narnian law in the library."
"When was the last time you saw him?"
"Dinner last night. Why?" Peter answered not sure where this line of questioning was going. He had to finish up the preparations soon if he was going to have everything done in time for Christmas.
"Did you really," Susan hesitated, "See him."
"Of course, I saw him," Peter tried to rein in his growing temper.
"It's just he didn't look at all well when I saw him earlier."
"Did you send for the healer?"
"I tried, but…" Susan began only to be interrupted by her brother.
"What do you mean you tried?" Peter's temper broke, "If he's ill he needs a healer."
"I'm not mum," Susan snapped back, close to tears, "None of you ever actually listens to me."
The bitterness in his sister's voice shocked him. They relied on Susan to be a voice of reason. Her even temper and deep thinking tempered her more rash and emotional siblings. She brought a taste of home and their mother in her gentle actions and corrective words. She held herself with grace and dignity that made her the regal queen in the minds of their people long before any of the rest of them acted royally. As she continued to mature her looks matched her actions in the status of queen.
"I know and I'm sorry," Peter apologized, "What do you want me to do about Edmund?"
"Just," She hesitated again, "Go and talk to him."
"What should I say?" Peter suddenly felt out of his depth. Just as Susan wasn't mum he wasn't dad.
"Winter has to be hard on him still. Just see if he's alright."
"Alright," Peter stood up, planning out how to help his little brother. He wiped his hands on his pants. Susan gave a slightly disapproving noise but let it go. He grabbed a plate of desserts as he left the kitchen with purposeful steps. He went to the library and found a stack of half-read books and parchment of notes but no little brother. The worry that Susan had planted in his chest grew the closer he drew to his brother's room. The door was closed.
"Edmund?" Peter knocked on the door.
"I'm a bit busy, Pete," Edmund called out, his voice breaking slightly. His little brother sounded distressed. He turned the door handle only for it to catch. It was locked. He jangled the handle while yelling his brother's name. The need to see his brother immediately was almost overwhelming.
"Aslan's Mane, Peter," The door was jerked open to reveal an angry brother, "What do you think you're doing?"
"Your door was locked," Peter complained.
"That's the point of a lock," Edmund explained it slowly, "To keep unwanted people out when you want to be alone."
"Are you cold? Peter asked noticing the tremors wracking his brother's small body. His small hands shook where they tightly held onto the door. They looked to be the only thing keeping the quaking body upright.
"Are you?" Edmund shot back irritably, "It's bloody winter."
"What's the matter," Peter asked concerned. Edmund looked washed out. His dark hair plastered against the pale skin stood starkly out. Dark bags had settled under his dull dark eyes like bruises. His brother was clearly under the weather, but why was he hiding in his room instead of getting the care he clearly needed? He had been working nonstop since the cold weather had run him indoors, no wonder he had caught an illness.
"I think you should leave now," Edmund tried to shut the door in Peter's face, only for the door to stop by his brother's hand.
"Maybe you need some fresh air," Peter tentatively offered, knowing his brother had been cooped up inside since the first snow had fallen. Lucy had tried to get him to come to play with her. The youngest Pevensie's joy was contagious and she was doted on by her older siblings and all their subjects. Edmund usually went along with her every whim since they moved into Cair Paravel. The freezing weather had turned Edmund's demeanor cold as well.
"I've already established that there is air inside. Several times."
Peter pushed his way into the room, easily overpowering his weakened little brother. He set the plate of treats down on a table, forgetting the joy of sugar while worry gnawed at his gut. The heat in the room was overwhelming. Peter could feel sweat pool on his skin just standing inside. Edmund ignored him and crawled back under a mound of blankets on his bed, shivering violently the whole way.
"Ed..." Peter started not sure where to start now that he really saw the state his brother had worked himself into.
"Your just warming up, aren't you," Edmund buried his head into his pillow with a groan.
"You have gone through so much and I never really helped you," Peter started only for his younger brother to interrupt him.
"You have got to be joking," Edmund threw a pillow at him, "I'm fine. Leave me alone."
"You idiot," Peter huffed affectionately, catching the pillow easily, "Why can't you just admit you are sick?"
"I'm not going to make anything worse around here."
Peter sat on the bed beside the blanket-covered lump, "I hate seeing you like this."
"You won't see it from the other side of the castle."
"You're ill," Peter placed a hand against the feverishly hot forehead, "You need to go to the healer."
"Yes, dad," He grumbled sarcastically, nonetheless learning into the warm touch of Peter's hand.
"I see you still haven't learned to do as your told," Peter lay back on the bed next to his shaking brother. He would get a healer once Ed was warmed up.
"I'm a king as well," Edmund snuggled closer to him, basking in his body heat, "You can't order me around anymore."
"I'm not just a king, I'm your big brother too," Peter pulled his prickly little brother, who refused to admit he was not feeling good out of stubbornness and obligation, close against his side. They lay in silence, Edmund trembling slightly at his side, basking in the warmth. Peter thought Ed had fallen asleep.
"I was just wondering," Edmund hesitated softly, stumbling over his words, "If you could stay for a while longer."
"For as long as you need, Eddy."
They snuggled up together in the warm room until Edmund stopped shivering from the coldness of the past.
"Hey, Pete?" Edmund asked sleepily, "What have you been planning?"
