"The trees never dance anymore." Lucy stated as she rode through the forest where the trees now stood in a dull silence. She missed when they used to dance - at least if theydidit might take her mind off of things. Perhaps then she wouldn't feel so lonely.

"They are grieving."

Lucy rubbed the horse's neck. "Weallare Philip, just... some differently than others." She thought about her oldest brother. Peter spends all of his time in his study, working on the tons of documents thatEdmundused to take care of. Now Peter has twice the workload to carry. Lucy had heard Susan suggestseveraltimes that he hire someone to take over Edmund's share, but the oldest Pevensie had declined every time. He said that he didn't want toreplaceEdmund, but Lucy had a feeling that it was something else. Peter didn't want to accept that Edmund was gone. If he hired someone to do his work, then it would seem like it was final - like he wasreallygone.

Susan grieved in a different way. To those who didn't know her, it would seem as though the Gentle Queen wasn't grieving atall. Susan seemed composed - she carried out her duties as she always did - she was able to smile and laugh as though nothing happened, she was always there to comfort Lucy and help her fall asleep at night. But those who knew her best, knew that Susan was hurting just as much as the rest of them. There was no longer that gleam in her eyes. Her eyes used to sing with joy and pride, like a queen's should, but now?...Now they looked empty, like there's something missing - and thereis.

"We all miss King Edmund. He held a place in the hearts of all those in Narnia." Philip replied.

Lucy said nothing in response, she just breathed in the air around her. Edmund used to take these rides with her. Lucy used to rideherhorse Lynn, but since Edmund... - well, since what happened - Lucy began to ride Philip. Lynn wasn't a talking horse - she didn't have the understanding that Philip had. Of course, Lucy always made sure to visit Lynn every day, and she made sure somebody took her out for a ride, but Philip needed her now and she needed Philip. They understood each other's loss.and Lucy couldn't help but feel closer to him than she did with her siblings. Philip listened.

Lucy never saw Peter anymore, and sure, Susan spent time with her each night, staying up until she fell asleep, but aside from that they never talked anymore. Lucy never got to play or have fun with either PeterorSusan. They both said that they were too busy, but Lucy knew the truth: it was too painful for them. They couldn't bear the thought that Edmund wouldn't be there.

"Lucy!" Lucy snapped her head in the direction she heard the voice come from. She knew immediately who it belonged to and smiled, though her smiles weren't the same anymore - they weren'ttrue.

"Peter, I've missed you."

Peter reined his horse up beside hers and slowed to Philip's pace. "I've been looking all over for you, Lu. I wanted to talk."

"I never expected to see you out of that study. You've barely seen the light of day."

Peter lowered his head. "I know, Lucy, and I'm sorry. I'm taking the day off to spend time with you and Susan. I've made all the arrangements."

"That's really sweet Peter, but are you absolutely certain you should do that?"

"I know this won't change anything, but I think we've spent enough time grieving what was taken from us and not enjoying what we still have. Ed isn't here anymore - I've been trying so hard to hold onto him and, in the process, I've ignoredyou."

"Peter?" Lucy asked after a moment or two of silence. When Peter met her eyes she continued. "That's not all, is it?"

"What's not all?"

"You're not just trying to hold onto him because you miss him. There's another reason, isn't there? There's something keeping you from closure."

Peter sighed. "This hasn't been easy, Lu, we all know that, but you're right. Thereissomething else. I feel guilty, like I owe him something."

"What could you possibly owe him?" Lucy questioned, when her brother didn't continue on his own.

"Ed and I had a fight before he left." Peter finally admitted.

"A fight? How bad was it?What was it about?"

"It wasn'tthatbad." Peter admitted as he continued. "Ed had left Cair Paravel without guard and ventured into the unknown part of the woods. I was more worried than anything, but I showed it through anger." Peter cleared his throat before continuing. "We argued for some time before he left the room. I never got the chance to apologize before... well, before he left."

"Oh, Peter," The girl's heart went out to her brother. "You can't go on believing that he was upset with you for long. I reckon he forgot about the whole thing as soon as he left Cair Paravel." Lucy tried to comfort, but the look on Peter's face remained unchanged.

"That's not it, Lu." The king's eyes avoided contact with his sister's. "The last memory I have of Ed is the two of us fighting. I don't want that. I should have let him adventure if he wanted - that was what made him happy. I shouldn't have held him back. Now Ed is gone, and all I can think of is how the last moments we spent together were spent with angry words. Edmund loved the outdoors and I was wrong to keep him confined. He could take care of himself. I was being selfish, I suppose." Peter took a deep breath, then continued. "We fought fairly often - as much as one might expect of siblings - but that's how we said goodbye. If I'd known that was the last I was going to see him, it would have gone differently. I would have shown him how Ireallyfelt... but I never got that chance, and now mylastmemory of him has tainted all of the rest - all of thegoodones. I can't think of him without feeling like I've failed him."

"Peter, I know you didn't fail him and I know he knows too. You were trying to keep him safe, and we all know that Edmund never liked to feel like he was being babysat. You wouldn't even remember the argument if he had come back."

Peter looked sadly at his youngest sister. "That's what this is about, though, isn't it? Ed never came back - at least, not the way we expectedorwanted."

Lucy opened her mouth to speak, but she was interrupted by the voice of Nephtali shouting, "High King Peter!"

Lucy and Peter both turned to face the faun. "Yes, Nephtali?" Peter asked.

The faun took a moment to gather his breath. Lucy couldn't imagine how tired he must be after the run he'd just had. "Queen Susan requests your presence. She says it's urgent."