"Scoot over! I don't have any room at all!" Edmund hissed as Peter snuggled up against his side.
"But something may crawl out from under the bed and eat me!"
"If something's going to eat you, it will eat me first because I'm bigger."
"But you taste funny." Edmund had no patience for Peter's nonsense.
"Listen, there is nothing under the bed. I sleep in here every night and I haven't been eaten once. Now scoot over!"
"Will you sleep on that side?"
"Why?"
"Because the monster lives on that side."
"There is no - Fine." Edmund dragged himself out from under his covers and crawled to the other side. "There. Can you go to sleep now?"
"Uh huh." Peter yawned. "Good night."
"Good night." Edmund closed his eyes and had almost drifted off to sleep when he felt tiny feet against his leg. "Move your feet." Edmund mumbled. Peter moved his feet. "Thank you." A few moments passed before Peter sighed loudly. "What's wrong?" Edmund asked wearily.
"I'm bored."
"What do you mean you're bored? You're supposed to be sleeping. Go to sleep."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I'm not tired."
"Well, go read or do something that will make you tired."
"I don't want to."
"Then lay still and try to sleep."
"How do people fall asleep?"
"What?" Edmund turned to face Peter, who was lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling. Peter rolled his head over to look at Edmund.
"How do people - "
"Yeah, I heard you the first time. Why do you need to know?"
"I just do."
"How do you fall asleep every night?" Edmund asked blankly.
"I don't know. I'm always asleep before I realize it."
"Well, that's how it works then."
"But...how does it happen?"
"I don't know. Please, please, please go to sleep." Edmund moaned, covering his face with his hands.
"I don't know how to."
"You do it every night." Edmund growled.
"I told you I - "
"You know what? This is exactly why I asked if you were afraid of the dark. Because I knew you'd end up wanting to sleep in my room because there may be monsters under the bed - "
"There are monsters under the bed."
"There are NO monsters in Narnia."
"Uh-huh! What about that talking goat?"
"Tumnus is not hiding under your bed. And he is NOT a monster."
"He is too! He has horns." Peter whispered seriously.
"The only monster in Narnia is you." Edmund muttered, readjusting his covers.
"You're stealing the blankets."
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are. I'm freezing."
"You're fine."
"N-n-n-no. I'm really cold." Peter shivered.
"For the love of Aslan, you have just as much blanket as I do."
"Who's Aslan?"
"He's the King of Narnia."
"What? But I'M King of Narnia."
"No...Well, yes, but Aslan is King of Narnia and all the lands beyond as well."
"Is he a good King?"
"The best." Edmund whispered, looking at the child with warm, sincere eyes. "If it weren't for Aslan...I wouldn't be here."
"Really?" Edmund nodded. "What happened?" Edmund propped himself up on his elbow.
"Well, it's a long story. I fell into a trap of the White Witch." Peter gasped. "But Aslan saved me. The White Witch was going to..." He figured kill was a bit much for a 6-year-old, so he toned the story down a bit. "Imprison me in a dark, scary dungeon. But Aslan took my place instead."
"How did he escape?" Peter asked, eyes wide.
"When an innocent life is sacrificed for one that is guilty, even death itself can be reversed. Aslan was freed because he was willing to give up his freedom for me." Edmund told him.
"Wow..." Peter looked at Edmund with a newfound respect and wonder. "Would you do that for me?"
Edmund looked at the child. This kid was a pain. Half of the time he made Edmund want to throw him off a cliff. The other half of the time, he made Edmund want to throw himself off a cliff. This Peter was loud, obnoxious, troublesome, and downright annoying. But looking at his disheveled blond hair falling into his light blue eyes, Edmund saw the slightest hint of his strong, brave, protective older brother smiling at him. That part of Peter would never be gone, no matter how old he was.
"Yeah...I would." Edmund replied.
"I would too." Peter told him with a smile. Edmund was touched, especially considering the fact that Edmund had spent most of his day yelling at Peter.
"Hey Peter?"
"Yeah?"
"I...well...I know I yell at you a lot. I'm sorry." Peter shrugged.
"It's okay." He said simply. "That's what older brothers are supposed to do." Edmund was surprised to hear Peter refer to him as an older brother.
"I thought you didn't have an older brother." Edmund teased gently.
"I don't. But if I did, I hope he would be like you." Peter smiled.
"And if I had a little brother...I imagine he would be exactly like you." Edmund said with a grin.
"Do you wish you had a little brother?" Peter asked.
"Never have, never will." Edmund replied honestly, lying back down on his pillow. Peter yawned. Yes! "Sleepy?" Edmund asked.
"No." Peter replied. Edmund could tell by his voice though, that he was.
"Are you sure?"
"Uh-huh."
"I think you are."
"I'm not." Peter rubbed his eyes.
"Well, I'm going to go to sleep. Good night."
"Good night." Peter yawned again and curled up underneath the blankets. Minutes later, Edmund heard Peter's soft rhythmic breathing and knew he had fallen asleep. Yes! Yes! Yes! He smiled triumphantly and closed his eyes. Just as Edmund had found a comfortable position, he felt a small twinge in his nose. Oh no... He placed a finger under his nose, and the twinge passed only to return seconds later, this time ten times more powerful. Please no! Go away! It was no use.
"Ah-CHOO!"
"AAAAAAGH!" Peter yelled, sitting right up.
"What's going on in here?" One of the servants came running into the King's room.
"AGH! IT'S THE GOAT!" Peter screamed.
"Peter! No it's not! He's just a servant!"
"Is everything alright, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, everything is fine. I just...had to sneeze...and I scared Peter...and...we're fine." Edmund said.
"Very well." The servant left.
"Sorry I woke you, Peter." Edmund mumbled.
"It's okay. I'm not tired anymore." Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...
"But...you only slept for about ten minutes."
"That's all I need." Peter said proudly.
"No...everyone needs at least eight hours of sleep. Go back to sleep."
"I don't need to sleep!"
"Yes you do. We all do."
"At my house my Mum doesn't make me sleep."
"Oh I think she does."
"No she doesn't."
"Peter...come on...you were asleep thirty seconds ago and you would have stayed asleep if I hadn't sneezed. Please go to sleep."
"Do you think that it'll snow soon?" Peter asked, as he climbed out from under the covers and began to bounce on the bed.
"Considering it's the middle of summer, I'm going to guess the answer is no." Edmund replied, too tired to wonder what inspired him to ask that question. "Why are you jumping on the bed?"
"Cuz it's fun." Peter gave a toothy grin.
"No it's not. Go to sleep."
"Is to." Peter continued to bounce. Maybe if he keeps bouncing, he'll get tired.
"Fine. You're right. I'm wrong." Edmund feigned defeat and lay back down. The steady beat of Peter's bounces, however, deprived him of any comfort whatsoever.
"Bounce bounce bounce..." Peter sang a happy little tune.
"No singing." Edmund grumbled into his pillow.
"Why?" Peter asked.
"Because I want to sleep."
"Will you tell me another story?"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"Why?"
"Because I like your stories."
"What kind of story?"
"A really good one."
"And if I tell you a story will you stop bouncing and go to sleep?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Promise?"
"Yes! Story!"
"Okay. Once upon a time there was a King named...Zeter. He was the youngest King in the whole Kingdom. When he would get bored, he would bounce up and down on the bed and ask his brother to tell him stories. The end."
"I think I've heard that one before." Peter said thoughtfully, bouncing himself into a sitting position.
"I bet you have. Now, time to sleep."
"Zeter rhymes with Peter."
"You're so smart. No wonder you're King. Sleep."
"That story was too short."
"No it wasn't. It was just right. Go to sleep."
"But I think - " Edmund sat up and looked Peter straight in the eye.
"Sleep." He hissed. Peter lay down. "Thank you." Edmund sighed as he lay back down. Peter started humming. "No humming." Edmund commanded. Peter was silent. After the child shifted positions a couple of times, he once again fell asleep.
Victory! Edmund settled down into a comfortable position. A few minutes later, the unthinkable happened. No! No no no...not again. I am going to sleep. No! I am in control! I can control my own body! I - WILL - NOT -
"Ah-CHOO!"
"AAAAAAGH!"
Edmund felt like crying.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...
Hello everyone! Happy August! Thank you SO much to all who have reviewed. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to read all your thoughts . It really and truly makes my day. I hope you all have enjoyed this chapter and more will be coming. However, school starts next week for me (pray for me!) so that may mean I have other work to do besides writing stories, which is what I like to do best. On the other hand, I did change my major so I no longer have to take calculus or chemistry! Yay!
Love, Peace, and Pirates - Midnight Paradise
