Edmund's eyes fluttered open, crinkling in the grey dawn. He threw an arm over his face trying to block it out. Without even setting his feet on the floor he knew what he would find. Cold tiles, dew frozen on the windows of his room in shimmering fractals and worse yet, beyond the windows, a land covered in the first frost of winter. It was enough for him to pull the blankets over his head to keep out the inevitable chill and return to an uneasy slumber.

Though many years had passed since the White Witch's defeat, Edmund couldn't help but feel malcontent at the first signs of the winter months approaching. There were some wounds that just wouldn't, or perhaps couldn't, heal. His siblings knew of the effects the first frost typically had on their brother, so they made sure to steer clear of his bedchamber until well after noon when he finally decided to rise from his bed and dress for the day.

His stomach rumbled. Though he was sure he had missed meetings that day (he hadn't woken in time to be briefed on the day's events) he decided his first course of action would be to head to the kitchens for a late breakfast? Lunch?

When he exited his room he found his sister Susan sitting in an arm chair in the common area of their apartments with a spread of steaming porridge, sweet scones and jam and a boiling pot of tea laid out on the table in the middle of the room. She smiled gently from where she sat glancing over a letter.

Edmund nodded and slumped into one of the less comfortable wooden chairs surrounding the table and poured himself a cup of tea. He wasn't a barbarian like his brother, Peter, who took his tea black, so he generously added a dollop of cream and spoon of sugar, flinching slightly as the spoon clacked against the rim of his cup.

Before taking a sip he broke the silence, "Thanks, Su."

Susan primly folded the letter, "You're welcome." She allowed him a few sips of tea and bites of porridge before adding, "You missed the council meeting."

He sighed, placing his spoon down. He was immensely grateful for his sister but at that moment he would have been even more immensely grateful for quiet. "I know."

"This letter came early this morning. It's from King Lune. It appears they've found a Calormene spy in Anvard."

His brows knitted together, "Anvard? Why?"

"We don't know. He's being put to trial and King Lune has requested our presence." She rose and offered him the letter. "It seems that the Calormenes weren't deterred by their loss last summer."

He glanced over the loopy scrawl of King Lune and rolled his eyes. He took a sip of his cooling tea. He thought that they had soundly beaten the Calormenes at the battle of Anvard. Aslan had turned their Prince into a donkey! What reason, then, would they have to be sending spies into Archenland's capitol city? "What did Peter have to say about all this?"

Susan bit her lip. "He thinks we should go." She hesitated.

"But?" Edmund prompted.

"Oh, Edmund I don't want to go." She cried. "Last year everything was so terrible I can't bear to be involved with Calormen again." Her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

Edmund wasn't sure what had happened between Susan and her intended, Prince Rabadash, only that it was bad enough that Susan had come to him in the middle of the night and they had made a very quick escape. This had enraged the Rabadash, son of the Tisroc, so much that he planned to seize Susan by force by invading Archenland and then Narnia. He had his theories about that night, though, and all of them made him murderous.

Putting the letter down he reached out to cover his sister's hand. "Then you don't have to go, Susan." She sniffed. Susan was not a weak woman by any means. If she was shaken this badly by the simple suggestion of being involved with Calormen again, then Edmund was sure his worst fear had been confirmed. "We'll talk to Peter. There's no reason all of us should go."

"Thank you, Edmund." She said, shoulders slumping. She took the letter off the table and retreated to her arm chair. "What are your plans for the rest of the day?" She asked, absentmindedly running her fingers along the folds of the paper.

He halfheartedly bit into a scone, but it felt too dry in his mouth. He coughed a bit trying to swallow. "Um, I hadn't thought about it." In fact, he had. He wanted to crawl back into his bed and sleep until winter was over.

The door to their apartments flew open and Peter strode in. He immediately zeroed in on Edmund. "Oh, you're up."

Edmund shrugged, annoyed. "I've been trying to eat, actually, but I hear we have trouble."

Susan took a sharp breath through her nose.

"Did Susan show you the letter?" Peter asked.

"Yes, I've read it. And Pete, to be honest, it doesn't seem like such a big deal."

The High King folded his arms, sighing in irritation. "Well I wasn't there, Ed. I don't know what we have to worry about and what we don't."

"Listen, we told you all that happened. I think we go to support King Lune, but I don't think we all have to go. It could just be me and you, Pete. Leave the girls to take care of the castle and Narnia. This could all be a false alarm," Edmund reasoned. Susan gave him an appreciative smile from the other side of the room.

Peter tilted his head in a movement that let Edmund know he was at least considering it. Finally after what seemed like several minutes Peter conceded. "Alright. I trust you, Ed. We'll leave at the end of the week."

A voice came from the back of the room, "You know I wasn't consulted about this."

Each sibling turned to greet their littlest sister who was standing in the doorway, arms crossed.

"Ed." She said evenly. "Who was it that brought reinforcements to Archenland with you last summer?"

Edmund groaned. "You, Lu." He pinched the ridge of his nose. "I think the full delegation of Narnian Royalty is a bit much for one Calormene spy." His bed was calling him. Edmund could feel himself growing grumpier by the minute.

"Then why don't you and I go? Peter can stay here!" Lucy stomped her foot.

Susan stood looking dark, "Lucy Pevensie do not stomp your foot. You know better."

"Susan!" She whined. Lucy was a queen just as her sister was, but she was still an 18 year old and when no subjects or royalty were looking, tended to act it.

"Enough!" Peter shouted. "Lucy you're staying here."

"Why?"

"Because I said." He responded. The Pevensies weren't sure if he was pulling the High King card or the eldest brother card, but either way they knew his words were final.

Lucy huffed and pushed past her family slamming the door to her rooms behind her.

The room went quiet. Edmund rubbed the back of his neck, the dark mood from earlier hitting him like a ton of bricks. "Peter? Care for a spar?"

"Love to, Ed."

Edmund let out a primal growl as he brought his sword down on Peter's knocking it out of his hand.

While they were both great swordsmen (and though Peter would never admit this) Edmund was secretly the superior.

"Aslan's Mane, Ed, go easier on me!" Peter laughed.

Edmund looked at him darkly from under his bangs, breathing hard. "Go easy on you? Never."

Peter shook his head, "I know." He sheathed his sword at his side. His smile faded. He had noticed the frost this morning when he went out for a ride and he knew Edmund would be agitated. "Want to talk about it?"

Edmund roughly sheathed his sword and ran a hand over his face. "I don't know, Pete. What's there to talk about?" He remembered Aslan's words from after his talk on the rock, There is no need to speak to Edmund of what has passed.

Peter knew not to rib his brother over this particular subject. Their first natural snow in Narnia had sent Edmund into a near catatonic state for days. Peter had never spoken to Edmund about his time with the White Witch, but he knew from facing her on the battlefield that she was fierce and cruel. He could only imagine what it had been like to be her prisoner. But Peter believed it was something else that was haunting his brother. The Pevensies, the Narnians, even Aslan himself had forgiven Edmund for his treachery but Peter suspected that Edmund had failed to forgive himself.

"Ed…" He started, sympathy dripping from his voice.

Edmund cut him off. "Pete. I just need to let off some steam. Draw your sword." He said, drawing his own.

Peter shook his head. "I think I'm done for the day. I need to start packing if we're going to leave in time for the trial."

"Fine." Edmund responded. He glanced around the training ground searching for another sparring partner. It was a large dirt circle, worn down by countless feet moving through surrounded by stands that served to host audiences during tournaments. It was currently empty, probably owing to the miserable weather. The grey dawn had turned into a murky afternoon and the frost had melted turning everything somewhat soggy turning the dirt into mud. And it was chilly; a bite in the air that hadn't been there the day before.

Peter clapped a hand over Edmund's shoulder. "You should start packing too."

"I'd rather avoid Lucy's wrath for now," Edmund sighed. "Perhaps I'll go for a walk by the sea. Take some time to clear my head."

"I hadn't thought about Lucy. I'm sure she'll talk our ears off at dinner. Do you think we should let her come along?"

Edmund shrugged. "I really don't think we need more than two people. If you want to stay back, Lucy and I can handle it, but you haven't been to Archenland in years. It would do the alliance good for the people to see the High King again." He paused. "You do need someone who was there last summer. I'm your best dignitary. So it makes sense it should be us."

Peter nodded. "You're right. But you know how difficult it is for me to say no to Lucy."

"Yes, I do." He pursed his lips. "Well, I'll see you at dinner, then." He made his way out of the pitch and turned left down towards the path down the cliff to the sea.

He took walks by himself often. Nature made him feel closer to Aslan and at the moment he was craving to be heard. The beach was deserted no doubt because of the cold. He pulled his cloak closer to his shoulders to shield him from the winds off the ocean. Usually he could catch some mischievous laughter from the mermaids that ventured closer to the beach. He suspected they had fled the impending winter and migrated down towards the Lone Islands for warmer waters.

He kicked some sand, watching it spray up in an arc. It didn't make him feel better. Sighing, he took a seat on a stone that jutted out from the base of the cliff. He stretched his legs out in front of him and took a deep breath.

"Aslan." He said quietly. The waves seemed to swallow his voice. "I don't know what it is. I have everything I could ever want or need, but it still feels like something's missing. I can't shake the feeling..." He paused, fumbling his words. "On days like today I can't help but be reminded of everything I've done." He shivered miserably as the White Witch was conjured in his memories. "I'm on edge—restless in my own home. Please Aslan. Tell me what to do."

Nothing but the waves answered him.

He drew his legs up and hugged them to his chest, resting his chin on his knees. He closed his eyes and breathed.

"I just don't see why I can't come!" Lucy whined over the piece of bread in her mouth.

Peter was quiet and Edmund took it as his chance to jump in. "Lucy, we just don't need three of us traipsing off to Anvard for one Calormene spy."

She swallowed hard, "So let Peter stay home!"

"Peter is High King. It would be an insult for him not to attend." Edmund reasoned. It wasn't entirely true. They had certainly taken trips without Peter in the past. The summer before to Calormen being one of them. Most countries didn't quite understand the workings of the Narnian monarchy. Only that Peter somehow was slightly more important than a normal king.

Lucy pouted spectacularly, "Susan, don't you want to come too? Tell them they're being unfair!"

Susan picked at her food, "It'll be nice, Lucy. We can start planning for Christmas."

Lucy perked at the word Christmas. "I suppose…But Susan you could do it all in your sleep."

"But it's nice to have help." Susan smiled gently at her sister.

Lucy chewed on some potatoes, thinking it over. "I still think it's unfair. But if I leave you here alone you might conveniently forget to plan the solstice party." She raised her eyebrows accusingly.

"Oh you know I hate that. It just tires everyone out before we even make it to Christmas day!" Susan rolled her eyes. The solstice was only a few days before Christmas and it typically involved a bonfire and a lot of dancing. It lasted far into the night as well. Susan was always exhausted by the end and then had to host Christmas just a few days later which involved feasts, organizing presents and more guests than she could count.

"Well that settles it. I'm staying!" Lucy said, completely circumventing the argument she had started. "I won't let you ruin the solstice!"

Peter's shoulders visibly relaxed. "Excellent. Ed and I will leave at the end of the week."

"Great." Edmund mumbled, stabbing a piece of venison. He supposed it would be good to get away to a more temperate climate for however short their stay ended up being. He assumed the trial wouldn't take more than two days but, he reasoned, they would probably stay around for a few more days to enjoy the city and attend events with the King and Queen. So they'd be gone for maybe two weeks including the time it took them to get there and back. "I take it we'll be riding?"

Peter nodded. "I think it will be quickest that way. We needn't take much with us either. Maybe a few guards and one wagon?"

"Sounds workable." He sighed and looked around at his siblings. Lucy was racing to finish her meal, probably inspired by Susan to start planning Christmas immediately following dinner. Susan's head was still somewhere else and she ate in bits and pieces, face neutral. Edmund knew that face. Carefully controlled to espouse any question of her complete emotional balance. It was also a lie. He worried for her. Ever since she shared the news of the spy with him he could tell there was something she wasn't saying. And Peter. Peter's brow was furrowed, most likely thinking about their impending trip.

Edmund was struck by a strange feeling as they pulled away from the table to return to their rooms. He couldn't identify it, but that night he couldn't ignore the faint lion's roar he heard as he drifted off to sleep. Maybe Aslan had listened after all.

A/N: I'm back! After 10 years. These first chapters will be mostly introductory.

Anyway, read and review! I look forward to constructive criticism or anything else you might have to say!