Give him space


Peter swallowed hard as he bent down to add more wood to the small fire he'd eventually managed to get lit, running a hand through his hair as he watched the flames. After making sure it wasn't going to die down anytime soon, he slowly and hesitantly turned to his brother, tears filling his eyes as he did.

Edmund was curled up on the forest floor, wrapped tightly in Peter's cloak and his eyes squeezed tightly shut... shut because he was unconscious. Unconscious because he'd been captive to a group of Calormens for the last three months. Unconscious because they'd tortured him in more ways than Peter would probably ever know, physically and mentally, and he'd been unconscious since Peter had rescued him.

Peter found himself thinking back over the rescue, about how he'd decided to do it alone. After finaly finding out where his brother was, where he was being held captive, where he was being tortured and beaten and starved, treated like a slave for three months.

Three whole months he'd been with them, Three months it had taken Peter and the rest of Narnia to find Their brother, their king, and Peter would never forgive himself for taking that long, and of course, because of the guilt he felt, he'd decided to rescue Edmund the second he had a location. He hadn't wasted a second, hadn't even waited for anyone to go with him, he'd just packed a few supplies and left.

And when he'd reached the location, those men lost their lives. Because no one hurts Peter's family and gets away with it. No one.

With a sigh Peter walked back over to Edmund and knelt beside him, hardly daring to even place a hand on his shoulder because of how badly he was injured.

He needed Lucy's cordial... That much was obvious.

Peter was about to actually try and get a little bit of sleep, and was about to grab Edmund gently in his arms, when his brother let out a quiet groan.

This caused Peter's heart to skip a beat, and he found himself frozen to the spot as he watched his brother, hoping beyond hope that he was actually going to wake up.

And to his relief, Edmund eyes flickered open seconds later.

Peter watched carefully as Edmund stared ahead of him, or more specifically at the fire, watching the flames with what Peter knew was fear in his eyes. After a couple of seconds, he glanced down at the cloak that was wrapped carefully around his shoulders, hesitantly grabbing the material and running his fingers along it, a small frown growing on his face.

Peter sat there for a few more seconds before taking a deep breath. "Ed?" He whispered, not wanting to startle his brother.

He needn't of bothered though. The second the name was out of his mouth, Edmund sat bolt upright and immediately tried backing away, only for him to hit a tree two seconds later.

"Hey, hey." Peter said quickly. "It's alright. It's me, it's Peter."

Edmune froze, taking deep breaths and wincing in pain when the bark of the tree dug into his back, causing way too much pain... but he didn't move.

Peter held his arms out in front of him, swallowing hard as he shuffled forward a little and sat crossed legged in front of his brother. "It's alright." He murmered. "I'm not gonna hurt you. You're safe now, I promise."

Edmund didn't say or do anything, and there was still so much fear in his eyes that it broke Peter's heart.

"I found you Ed." He choked. "I found you, finaly. I'm so sorry it took so long, I will never forgive myself for it. But I promise you're safe now, those men are dead, they're gone, and we're gonna go back to Cair, back home."

Edmund just blinked at him, trembling much too hard for Peter's liking, so hesitantly he reached forward and placed his hand on Edmund's shoulder. But the second he did, Edmund flinched away, trying to back away again even though he couldn't go anywhere, and Peter found himself panicking slightly. "Okay." He said quickly. "Okay, I won't touch you, I'll keep my distance alright. Is that what you want?"

For a while Peter thought Edmund wasn't gonna answer, but he found himself slightly relieved when his brother nodded his head. It was only slightly, and Peter hardly saw it, but he'd definitely nodded.

"Alright." Peter breathed, making it a point to smile kindly at him, even though his heart was slowly breaking in two. "There's no need to be scared." He choked after a couple minutes of nothing but silence. "As I said, you're safe. You're with me and I'd never hurt you, you know that don't you?"

Once again Edmund's head moved no more than a centimetre, but Peter took it to be a nod and relaxed slightly, letting out a breath he didn't realise he'd been holding. "Good." He breathed, before: "Why don't you just relax a little?" He suggested. "And when it's light, we'll head back home?"

Edmund nodded again, but said nothing... and he was still trembling.

With a sigh Peter gave him a sad smile, realising that this was only the beginning of a very long road to recovery.


"You're finaly home Ed." Peter choked, glancing up at his brother who was sat on his horse, gripping the reins so tightly that his knuckles had gone white, as if he thought he was gonna fall off.

Peter swallowed hard at the look of hope mixed with fear in his eyes, and he couldn't help but think over the last day or so.

Edmund hadn't let him go anywhere near him, despite Peter telling him that everything was alright and that he'd never hurt him. And Peter just longed to hug him, to wrap him in his arms and never let go. But everytime Peter so much as tried to touch him, Edmund would immediately flinch away, and Peter was unwilling to scare him, so he kept his distance... for his brothers sake.

What also worried him was the fact that Edmund hadn't said a single word to him, he hadn't spoke at all, and all of this clearly upset Peter.

Over the last three months, all he'd wanted to do was hug his brother, to hear his voice, see his smile... but he had a feeling none of that was gonna happen for a little while yet.

"EDMUND!"

Peter took a deep breath and quickly turned his head, to see both Susan and Lucy running towards them, and he panicked.

He quickly ran to meet them, catching Lucy before she could go any further. "Lu stop." He said firmly but still gently.

Lucy stared at him and shook her head. "I need to see Edmund." She practically sobbed.

Peter tightened his grip around her, seeing Susan stop beside her. "I know Lu." He murmered. "I know you do, and you can see him, but you just can't go near him."

"Why not?" Susan asked, sounding rather wary.

Peter sighed and glanced behind him at his brother, worried to see that his eyes were rather wide and that he was shaking, his grip having tightened on the reins. (if that was even possible) "Because-" He paused as he turned back to his sisters, before sighing sadly. "Because you'll scare him."

Lucy looked shocked, but actually more worried. "What do you mean?" She choked out, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Lu listen, and you Susan." Peter said gently. "Edmund's been away for three months, and Aslan knows what he's been through during that time. He just needs time to settle again, to realise that he's safe and that no one's gonna hurt him. And the only way that's gonna happen, is if we give him space. We can't touch him, he gets scared if we do, do you both understand?"

Both Susan and Lucy stared at him for a rather long time, before Susan hesitantly nodded. "Okay." She whispered.

Lucy took a deep, shaky breath before eventually agreeing as well, although she didn't look happy at all... she looked terrified.

Peter gave them a grateful smile before turning and walking back to his brother. "What do you say we get you into bed?" He suggested.

Edmund didn't say anything but slowly nodded and slipped down off the horse, wincing harshly when pain shot through his whole body.

Peter took a deep breath, practically forcing himself not to reach out and help.

He turned to Lucy quickly whilst Edmund was recovering. "Do you have your cordial?" He asked quietly.

Lucy nodded in reply. "Yeah." She mumbled.

"But how are we gonna give it to him?" Susan whispered. "He won't let us go near him."

Peter sighed. "I'll think of something." He told them, before turning back to Edmund, who had turned to face them all, a rather wary look on his face. "No one's gonna hurt you Eddy." Peter said gently. "We promise. Now come on, you need to rest."


Peter sighed as he watched Edmund lay down in his bed, and couldn't help but grab the blanket and try and drape it over him, but just as he expected, Edmund flinched away, taking a deep breath.

"Okay." Peter sighed. "You can do it, I'll keep my distance."

Edmund stared at him for a second before swallowing hard and pulling the blanket up to his chin, resting back against the pillows that were propped up against the headboard.

Peter took a deep breath and hesitantly sat down right at the very end of the bed, making it clear to his brother that he wasn't going to touch him. "Susan and Lucy went to get you something to eat and drink." He explained gently. "You're probably starving."

Once again, Edmund did nothing but nod his head slightly, but Peter decided not to say anything about it.

The two waited in silence for a further ten minutes, in which Edmund's eyes never left his older brother, and Peter was having a hard time sitting still and not reaching out to atleast try and give Edmund a hug.

But eventually Susan and Lucy entered the room, Susan carrying a plate of food, and Lucy a glass of water.

"Here you go Ed." Susan said softly, stopping a decent distance away from the bed and holding the plate out for her brother.

Edmund took a deep breath and extremely hesitantly took the plate, sitting up a little more as he began to slowly eat.

"We've put a drop of the cordial into the glass of water." Susan whispered as she walked around and stood at the end of the bed, leaning down to whisper in Peter's ear.

"You reckon that'll work?" Peter murmered, hardly daring to take his eyes off his brother.

"Let's hope it will." Lucy sighed, before holding out the glass of water for Edmund.

Edmund looked up from the plate, and after a couple seconds took the glass, and took a sip of the water.

Peter watched anxiously, and breathed a sigh of relief when Edmund relaxed and any pain from his face disappeared. But he swallowed hard at the confused, scared look that then made It's way onto his face. "It's alright Ed." He said gently. "We put a drop of the cordial in the water. So we don't have to go near you, okay?"

Edmund stared at all three of his siblings for a little while before swallowing hard and returning to eating his food, tears in his eyes that Peter could easily see.

"It worked." Susan breathed, keeping her voice quiet.

Peter nodded but didn't say anything in reply, instead keeping a firm eye on Edmund as he ate. "You finished?" He asked when Edmund just seemed to be pushing the food around his plate.

Edmund nodded hesitantly before pushing away the plate, finishing the water and placing it on the bedside table.

Peter nodded back before sighing. "Get some sleep." He murmered. "You need it."

Edmund didn't reply this time, only lay down and pulled the blanket up to his chin, allowing his eyes to slip shut.

Peter, Susan and Lucy stayed in the room for hours after that, none of them really wanting to leave their brothers side.

It was probably around 7pm when Edmund finaly woke, but not in the way any of them wanted.

The three of them jumped harshly when Edmund all of a sudden let out a loud cry and sat bolt upright in bed, eyes snapping open as he did.

Peter didn't even think. He rushed to his brothers side and gripped his shoulders, before realising what he'd done.

Edmund let out another cry and tried twisting from Peter's grip, backing away from him.

Peter reluctantly let him, and immediately began whispering calmly to his brother, reassuring him that he was safe and that no one was gonna hurt him.

It worked eventually, but Edmund still did look rather wary of Peter, who was sat on the opposite side of the bed from him, tears in his blue eyes that were threatening to fall.

"It was just a dream Ed." Peter said gently. "It wasn't real, you're safe."

Edmund stared at him, gripping the blankets tightly in his hands and wrapping them just as tightly around him, seeking some sort of comfort, and this caused Peter to sigh. "Ed, please." He choked. "Let me help you, you'll feel better after a hug, you always do."

Edmund's eyes went wide in alarm and he quickly shook his head, backing away slightly.

Susan quickly walked over and sat carefully beside Peter, placing a hand gently on his shoulder. "It's alright Ed." She said. "Peter's not gonna come near you-" She turned her head sharply to Peter and gave him a firm glare. "Is he?"

Peter sighed and shook his head. "No." He breathed. "I'm sorry Ed."

Edmund didn't say or do anything, but just swallowed hard and lay back down, bringing the blanket up over his head.

peter watched him for a rather long time, before running a hand over his face, standing from the bed and leaving the room, tears rolling slowly down his cheeks.


Peter sighed sadly as he wondered through the castle towards his and his brothers room, rubbing at his eyes and blinking back sleep.

It had been over a week since he'd rescued his brother and brought him back to Cair, but unfortunately nothing had changed.

Edmund hadn't let anyone touch him this last week, and hadn't spoke a single word. He spent most of his time in his room reading, and if he wasn't doing that it was because Susan had persuaded him to go and get some fresh air.

He was still scared of everything and everyone, and the nightmares just kept coming, causing Peter's heart to break at the fact that he couldn't even comfort him... not without terrifying him.

With a sigh he reached his and his brothers room and stepped inside, spotting his brother sat on the bed, reading a book.

Edmund looked up when the door opened, and swallowed hard when Peter walked in, causing Peter to sigh sadly. "It's alright." He said gently, closing the door quietly behind him before walking across the room and sitting on his own bed, Edmund's eyes never leaving him. "I'm not gonna come any closer." The words broke Peter's heart, but he knew he couldn't go near his brother, no matter how much heartbreak it caused him. "But you should probably get some sleep."

Edmund took a deep breath and nodded, marking his place in his book and placing it on the bedside table, before laying down and pulling the blanket up to his chin, allowing his eyes to slip shut... but not without checking that Peter was still sat on his bed.

Peter waited for a good hour, when he was definitely sure that Edmund was asleep, before standing and taking a few steps closer to his brothers bed... but then he hesitated.

What if Edmund woke up?

Swallowing hard, Peter sighed. He had to, he couldn't go any longer without just touching him, not after him being away for three months.

So very slowly and quietly he took a few more steps towards the bed, but the second he reached the edge, the door opened quietly and Susan stepped inside.

Peter froze when Susan spotted him, before she sighed. "Peter." She murmered, a mix of sadness and worry in her eyes.

Peter swallowed hard, and after glancing at his still fast asleep brother, ran a hand through his hair and walked across the room, stepping out onto the balcony and leaning against the railing.

"I know you just wanna hug him." Susan whispered as she joined him. "But you'll scare him Peter."

"I thought - because he was asleep-"

"That he wouldn't know?" Susan finished. "He might've woken up Peter, he's a light sleeper at the moment."

Peter swallowed hard, blinking back tears and staring out at the black sky. "I don't want to necessarily hug him." He said slowly. "Well, I do, but - but just touching him would be a start."

"I feel the same way Peter." Susan choked. "But we're keeping out distance for Edmund's sake. He's been through a lot recently."

"He was gone for three months." Peter whispered, notlonger caring if tears were rolling down his cheeks. "Three months it took us to find him. I - I'll never forgive myself for that."

"Peter I'm sure Edmund doesn't blame you." Susan sighed. "He knew you were doing everything in your power to find him, and you were."

"How do I know he doesn't blame me!" Peter choked out. "He won't say a bloody word!"

"It's Edmund." Susan told him gently. "That's how I know he doesn't blame you."

Peter took a deep breath, but didn't say anything.

"Promise me you won't go near him?" Susan said gently. "Not even if he has a nightmare."

Peter sighed, but knew he had no choice but to agree. "I promise." He whispered.

And, to even his surprise, he kept his promise. .. even when Edmund woke up screaming in the middle of the night.


"It's been three weeks!" Peter exclaimed. "I can't do this anymore!"

"Peter don't you dare!" Susan snapped, grabbing Peter's arm before her brother could leave the dining room. "If you go marching up there like that you'll give him a heart attack!"

Peter stared at her. "I'm not going to go marching up there." He told her. "I'm going to try and give him a hug."

"Peter-"

"No Susan." Peter cut her off. "It's been three weeks, he hasn't let anyone go anywhere near him for three weeks, he hasn't spoken in three weeks, he's hardly come out of his room in three weeks! I know someone going near him scares him, but I think he just needs to get over that fear, that when he's in my arms, he'll finally feel safe... like he's told me so many times before."

Susan hesitated. "Alright." She breathed eventually. "But please, if he ends up getting too scared, give him space."

Peter nodded. "I will." He murmered, before leaving and heading up to his and Edmund's room, where he once again found Edmund laying on his bed with a book.

Edmund stared at him as Peter closed the door, placing his book beside him and taking a deep breath.

Peter stood just inside the door for a moment or two before he walked around and lowered himself to sit on the opposite side of Edmund's bed.

Edmund immediately took a deep breath and shuffled so close to his edge of the bed that Peter feared he would fall off. "It's alright." Peter said gently, holding his hands out in front of him as he sat properly on the bed. "I'm not coming any closer."

not yet anyway

Edmund seemed to relax slightly at this, but he still seemed pretty tense.

Peter settled back against the headboard, out of the corner of his eyes spotting Edmund's hand laying on the bed beside him, and quickly came up with a plan. "Lucy's been making some muffins for you today." He said slowly, moving his hand extremely carefully and slowly towards his brothers, hoping that Edmund wouldn't notice because he was paying attention to the conversation. "Chocolate." He said with a smile. "Your favourite. She said they should be ready after dinner."

He moved his hand no more than a centimetre closer.

"You've been spoiled these past three weeks." He said with a chuckle, a teasing tone to his voice. "Susan and Lucy are gonna run out of ideas on what to bake you."

Just a little bit closer.

It seemed Edmund hadn't noticed yet, and Peter was relieved at that.

"But I'm sure they'll find something other than cakes and biscuits." He breathed. "Because I think we'd all be disappointed if they stopped baking."

He moved his hand again, being as careful and slow as he could, before stopping and continuing to talk.

"Lucy says you've probably read all the books in the library these past three weeks." He said with a smile, changing the subject and only now realising that Edmund was staring at him. "And I must say, it wouldn't surprise me if you had."

His hand was no more than a few inches away from his brothers now, so he took a deep breath. "Of course, if you had," He said. "I'm sure we could find you some more."

When Edmund continued to just stare at him, Peter sighed. "Look Ed." He murmered, managing to move his hand a little closer without being spotted. "I know what you went through was hard, awful, terrifying. But you have to realise that you're safe-"

An inch or two closer.

"No one here is gonna hurt you." Peter sighed. "I can promise you that. You're home Edmund. You're home... and you're safe."

Their hands touched.

Edmund flinched harshly, but to Peter's shock, didn't move his hand.

Licking his lips and taking a deep breath, Peter slipped his hand under Edmund's and gripped it gently, running his thumb across his knuckle.

After a second or two he looked up at his brother, unable to ignore the total panick in his eyes. "I - it's okay." He whispered. "There's nothing to be scared of, I won't hurt you."

When Edmund said or did nothing in reply, Peter swallowed hard and carefully let his hand go, only to place his hand on his arm, which is when Edmund actually flinched away, taking a deep breath.

Peter's hand hovered in mid air, and when Edmund relaxed slightly, he placed it back on his brothers arm, glad that he didn't pull away this time.

He did though look rather uncomfortable, but Peter had to do this, for his sake... and Edmund's.

Ever so slowly his hand made its way up until it was eventually resting on Edmund's shoulder, and Peter could've cried in relief when Edmund actually started to relax. "There you go." He murmered, taking a deep breath and hesitantly starting to move a little closer.

When he was close enough, he hesitantly wrapped his arm around both Edmund's shoulders, stopping instantly though when Edmund froze.

"It's okay Ed." He choked, tears stinging his eyes. "It's okay."

Edmund stared at him until they both made eye contact, and at the look in Peter's eyes, the look of love and kindness, he slowly began to relax.

Peter watched him, and then slowly started pulling him closer, until Edmund's face fell and he burst into tears, relaxing against his older brother and burying his face against his neck.

Peter let out a sob of relief and wrapped both arms properly around Edmund, pulling him as close as he could and placing a gentle kisses to the top of his head. "I've got you." He whispered as Edmund cried. "You're safe, I've got you. And I'm never letting you go again."

Edmund buried his face further against Peter's neck, wrapping his arms around his brothers waist, crying so hard he was shaking.

"It's okay." Peter murmered, tears rolling steadily down his cheeks. "Just cry, let it all out. I'm right here, I've got you. You're safe."

Edmund choked on his tears, before tightening his grip around his brothers waists and opening his mouth.

"Peter."


The End


This one broke my heart to write, but I hope you all like it xx

And once again thank you for all the reviews!!!