Dear Susan,
As you can see, I am perfectly capable of writing my own letters, thank you very much. You and Peter aren't the only literary ones in the family. And you should also know that Peter has nothing to do with me writing this letter. I took a quill and scroll and sat down by myself to write it. You are very good indeed at wheedling! Fine, smother me with kisses and write me all these tender things if you must. I can bear with it if it makes you happy.
Don't worry, I won't get myself killed. Peter made me promise that I would practice more, and I will. Peter may have some natural ability when it comes to all these battle arts, but that doesn't mean I can't learn a trick or two. And I will. There is going to come a day when enemies fear King Edmund as much as they fear King Peter. Then you can fear for us both less, because I'll be there to watch out for myself and for him.
Now Su, I know it's not just because you're a girl that you don't care to hear about the battle. Lucy will love it when I come home and tell her every detail of the battle. You don't like it because you're you, and that's never been your thing. Don't pretend I don't know you. I've only known you all my life.
To amuse you a little, I'll tell you something you would like to hear, a little about what I've learned about Narnia on this trip. Peter is busy with battles and plans and worrying, so he never takes the time to really talk to anyone. He was surprised at how much I found out. They call the lands west of Narnia the Western Wild, and none of the Narnians seem to know what it's like there. Lucy would of course want to explore it. I have to admit, I'm a little curious myself. Are there men out there, or beasts? Is it open country or are there civilizations? No one knows. I want to. Maybe someday, when we've finally restored peace to Narnia once and for all, I'll take Lucy and we'll go and find out. You wouldn't want to come. It would be a lot of camping and traveling and no rest and no place nice to sit. Besides, Peter would be lonely if all three of us left.
When we were talking about unknown lands, I found out that no one knows what's in the Eastern Seas, beyond the Lone Islands. I've told Peter that if everything goes well, we should try to make for the Lone Islands and pay a real visit of state. You should come to that. Come to think of it, you and I would be very good at that sort of thing. There. You see now that I wasn't trying to leave you out? I just think ships are better suited to you.
We are riding through the western towns in Narnia these days, all the places we couldn't stop to see on our way out. When we go through all the people collect on the streets and they cry "Long live King Peter! Long live King Edmund!" and they make quite a fuss. You should see how everyone admires Peter. Of course he just smiles and sometimes blushes, seeing as he's Peter.
I refuse to tell you my surprise for Lucy. She would get it out of you and then it would be ruined, and as it's rather good, I don't want that to happen.
I'm looking forward to the feast when we return. Make sure you have my favorites and that there's absolutely no Turkish Delight!
Love,
Edmund
PS Also enclosing my letter for Lucy.
Dear Lu,
If I told you what your surprise was it wouldn't be much of a surprise now would it? No. Therefore, wild horses couldn't drag the secret out of me. You will just have to wait until I get home.
We're riding through Narnia more slowly now and it's fantastic. I want to explore all of it, and I know that you would like to come too. Peter says that Susan told him she's teaching you to shoot—why didn't you learn to ride? You need to know how to do that too, since there's no autos here and it's all horses. Furthermore, Narnian roads are in bad shape from all the snow and the quick thaw, so there'll be no carriages for awhile. When I get home I'll definitely teach you. There's a lot we can do once you learn to ride. I'm glad you're around, because lately Peter and Susan are so serious there's no one to have fun with anymore except for you. So I say we should go riding off by ourselves and have a regular holiday. We can, you know, since we're king and queen.
On one of your walks with Mr. Tumnus, go to the stables and ask the grooms about a horse for yourself so we can start riding lessons as soon as I get back.
Your brother,
Edmund.