/Later that day/


"Susan!" Lucy darted down the hallway calling for her sister.

"I'm in here, Luce," Susan called from the library, her voice muffled. Lucy swung around the corner and almost smacked into Susan in her haste. Her sister's eyes widened as she took in Lucy's disheveled appearance.

"D'you still want to go swimming today? It's pretty warm and Peter said it's alright as long as he or Ed come with." Lucy gasped, her heart thudding. "But we have to go now before it gets too cold."

"Mmmm…sure. For a bit," Susan shelved the book she had been paging through. Lucy grabbed her hand and the two hurried (Lucy tugging the elder along in her haste) down the hallway to the stairwell.

"Do you need to change, Su? I've already got all I need on under my dress," Lucy grinned. Susan smirked at her.

"Of course you do. Yes, I'm going to run up quick and put on something a bit more suitable. You tell Peter I'll be out shortly." Lucy gave a little cheer and turned to scamper back outside.

Susan skipped up the steps and walked down the hallway. She was almost to her bedchamber when—"Oh!" She had to stop. She had almost stepped on something. "Lucy!"

"What?" Came the faint cry.

"Lucy, come here!"

"Why?" She could hear her little sister's voice growing closer.

"Just come here! There's something I want you to have a look at!"

"What is it?"

"Just come here!"

"Oh, alright!" Susan heard Lucy start up the stairs.

A few seconds later, Lucy was at her side. Then, she was dropping to her knees, gasping in delight. For sitting in front of Lucy's bedchamber door on a little plate, half covered by a note that read simply, 'For Lucy', was a plate of chocolate biscuits. "Edmund," Lucy breathed, looking up at Susan in glee, her eyes shining. "Oh, Susan, how can I be upset with him ever again?!"

"He is quite the little charmer at times, isn't he?" Susan smiled. "That was awful sweet of him. He must really feel bad for being nasty towards you, Lu. I've never seen Edmund attempt to bake anything." Lucy made no response, for at that moment, she was too busy stuffing a biscuit into her mouth. She was giggling…that is, until she bit down.

Then, her face twisted into a grimace. "Ow."

"You alright?" Lucy made a face as she spat the biscuit out.

"It's too hard."

"Can't be that bad," Susan took one and brought it to her mouth. Sure enough, it was inedible. Lucy took another one and gave an amused little grumble as she bounced it off the floor. "Lucy!" Susan scolded, gasping. Lucy looked up at her. "Don't do that." Susan glanced around. "…you'll dent the finish," She said out of the corner of her mouth. Lucy burst into peals of laughter. "Shhhh! Give me that." Susan snatched the plate from Lucy. "You say thank you to Edmund, hear me? Gush.Tell him how delicious they were and how nice it was that he made those for you. Kiss him all over. And then, when all that's done with, no one lets him in the kitchen unsupervised ever again."

Lucy was doubled over, laughing so hard her face was turning pink.

"Go get dressed, you ninny," Susan rolled her eyes, tugging a strand of Lucy's hair affectionately as she went into her room, shutting the door behind her. She dumped the plate of solid cookies into the trash bin in her washroom, wincing as they clanked loudly as they fell. She could still hear Lucy laughing her head off from the hallway.


A week later, the siblings were seated in the dining room, finishing the last of their evening meal. Edmund watched sadly as a silver platter of cakes and candied fruit was set in front of them. Sighing, he stood up to leave. "Alright if I'm excused, Pete?" he asked.

"Actually, Ed," Peter stood as well, "if I could have a word." He beckoned for Edmund to follow him. Warily, Edmund trailed after Peter as he led him out of the castle, settling onto a stone bench just outside the main doors and, grasping Edmund's arm, pulling him down next to him.

"Whatever it is I did, Peter, I probably didn't mean to. Honest." Edmund leaned away from his brother a bit, cautious.

"No, no, mate, it's nothing like that; relax. I'm not upset with you. I've just been thinking, Edmund."

"Oh?" Peter turned to look at him, the side of his face bright in the moonlight.

"I rather think," Peter began, "I would like to have a do-over of the hunt last week. You remember the one." Edmund nodded solemnly.

"I'll man the castle for you if you want to go, Pete. Best to do it now before it gets too chilly, eh?"

"That's what I was thinking," Peter nodded. "However, I'm not interested in placing you in defense of the castle. I have Oreius for that."

"…oh." Edmund's stomach sank.

"Because I'd like to have you along." Edmund blinked.

"W…what?"

"If you'd like, that is."

"Um…yes. I…I would…what—" Peter smiled.

"Here." He produced a small piece of cake that he must have taken off the table before they left. He handed it to Edmund, then laughed quietly at his brother's shocked expression. "Grace, brother. Eat your cake and listen to me." Mutely, Edmund lifted the treat to his mouth and bit into it. His shoulders relaxed as the sugary indulgence melted on his tongue. "Need a moment alone?" Peter teased. Edmund gave him a shy little smile in return and Peter continued.

"I do not think that you are anywhere near ready to fully engage in the sport that the majority of my higher-ranking men are well-versed in," he spoke firmly. "If you are to join me, it will be on limited terms. Understood?" Edmund nodded begrudgingly around his cake. "However. I have been mulling it over for some time and I'd be happy to do some adjusting to your schedule so that you have a bit more time to train for combat. if you'd like to be a bit more prepared for the next one, I'm certainly alright with you taking on a bit more training, so long as you're able to attend to your other responsibilities well. Is that something you'd like to do?" Edmund gave another nod, slowly.

"So...so, does that mean I'm allowed to ride again?"

"Yes, I will invoke your riding privileges henceforth," Peter affirmed. "I'm not sure that that keeping you on foot forever, though certainly appropriate given your behavior on the last horse," Edmund bit his lip, "would be the most effective method of avoiding future mishaps. I believe that you understand what you did wrong and why it was wrong, correct?"

"Yes sir, I do," Edmund used the title in hopes of winning himself any extra favour with Peter. Cake and the promise of a hunt? He didn't know what he had done to ease Peter's strictness, but he hoped he could keep it up, lest his brother change his mind.

Peter's face wore approval. "So then all that's left to do," he reasoned, "is see that you're better prepared for the next hunt by means of training you on a more extensive level. That includes this," Peter's hand went to his belt and Edmund's eyes widened, "when you willfully disobey or put yourself in danger. The rest of it includes more combat and skill training." Edmund breathed a sigh of relief, then perked up when Peter said, "I want you on a crossbow, Ed. I want you working with spears and daggers, a bow and arrows; I want you to master hand-to-hand, stealth, camouflage." Edmund's eyes were widening with excitement. "You have so much to learn, little brother, as do I. Do you understand why I'm hesitant to give you full rein on trips like the one I took last week? Just yet," he clarified. Edmund nodded, clearing his throat.

"Yeah, because I...I wouldn't want you in the throne room involved in..." he trailed off.

"Go on," Peter nudged him.

"Well...it's like...you have more experience training physically. And...and I have more written education. So I don't think, if it were solely my decision, no offense, Pete, that...that I'd want you in during court sessions or amendments because..." he stopped again, hesitant to continue. Peter smirked.

"Because I don't have the proper training and I'd make a mess of things?" Edmund gave him a cautious half smile. "No, that's exactly right, Ed. Exactly. You understand," Peter squeezed his shoulder. "It's about us being different. There's so much you've mastered that I haven't, and it goes the other way. And for the good of our people and our family, it's best to not involve ourselves in matters we aren't fully equipt for and don't understand. But we can always learn, yeah?" Edmund nodded. "So. Let's commit to learning."

"Tomorrow morning?" Edmund asked quietly. "Could we look over my schedule? Could probably stand to have Su and Lucy in to help as well." Peter gave him a firm nod.

"First thing after breakfast. And I'll amend my own schedule, too. I'm high king; there's no reason for me to be so behind in legal and diplomatic study."

"Thanks, Peter." Peter reached over and grasped his brother's hand firmly as they shook on it.

"And hey, for the record," he pushed him back to look at him, "I love your eagerness and desire to jump right in and accompany me on trips, hunts, errands, the lot. Don't ever lose that drive. I genuinely enjoy having you with me, brother. I just want you protected and prepared. Alright?"

"Alright." Peter wrapped him in his arms.

"You've got loads of potential and talent, Ed. I'm so excited to see what you learn."


In the days that followed, Edmund proved to be a fast learner. He never beat Peter in a sword fight, nor hand to hand, but he was very close to matching him. He was, however (much to Susan's envy), seemingly rather skilled with a crossbow as well as a traditional bow and arrows. His movements were fluid and he hit target after target squarely without fail.

Peter held true to his word as well, hiring himself private language and law tutors. He was able to recite statuette after statuette and their reasons for enforcement after only a week of study.

When the kings returned from their second hunt a couple weeks later, Edmund rode triumphantly next to Peter's side, a large felled elk draped across his horse''s back. The girls ran to greet them, and the boys swung down, lifting their sisters into joyous hugs, exclaiming about all they had seen and done.

And Peter, his hand firm on his brother's shoulder, smiled at him with pride. "Fine, fine huntsman, this one."

And Edmund smiled back at him widely. "Thanks, Peter."


Epilogue:

Sinthya crept to the gates of Cair Paravel painstakingly, cautiously. She clutched a bundle tight to her breast. Her breath came in shallow gasps as she glanced around fearfully. Do it now, now, before you lose your nerve, she commanded herself fervently.

Sinthya gathered all her might and ran as fast as she could up the steps to the veranda, ducking behind a pillar. It was imperative she not be seen. Sensing no one, she gingerly sank to the ground and placed the bundle of blankets on the top step. Then, she was racing away as fast as her legs could carry her, gritting her teeth against the threatening tears as she heard the bundle she had left behind to squall above and behind her.

They were kind to one daughter, she thought to herself as she fled into the safety of the trees. Perhaps they will be kind to this one as well.


Fin.


A/N:

Oh, my friends!! To all of you who have so loyally and patiently supported me on my journey with this story, these siblings that I love, and all my puzzling over this plotline and characterization: THANK YOU. You make all of it worth it and inspire me to no end.

Pinstripe: a special thank you to you, my love. There has not been a moment when a review of yours has not caused me to smile and often brought me to tears. The universe has given you the gift of encouragement and even healing with your words. I am thankful for you, friend.

If any of you have prompts or ideas or comments, anything, please please comment or inbox me!!!

Love and light.

-Cas