A/N - Hello again!
Okay, you all are going to want to spear me on a stick and burn me alive in the fire pits of south Mongolia, but...
What good would THAT do you? :P
Anyways. Thank you so much for your reviews. They just keep me going. :P

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.
Disclaimer - I own nothing. That much is clear.
And...you may want tissues and a teddy bear for the next chapter. Just so you know.

I closed my eyes, refusing to give in to the billions of emotions screaming to get out, begging for release.

My brother was there. Alive and whole. I had just tried to spear him with the end of my sword, and then I relayed Miraz's challenge to him.
And I walked away.

The disappointment and hurt on every face was just enough to do me in, especially his.

Oh, damn it, Peter. Why can't I keep you out of my mind?

You've disappointed me too many times. Now I'm going to do something about it.

I'll make sure of it.

'Missing Peterkins already, are we?' Jadis crooned unhelpfully, and I rolled my eyes, strapping on my van braces. 'Ickle Eddikins just can't survive without thinking about him every three seconds, can he?'

'Peter is my brother,' I snapped back, flipping the hair from my eyes as I yanked on all the Telmarine armor that had been set apart for me. Jadis shook her head sympathetically.

'Yes, and he'll be yours again soon, if you agree to do as I ask.'

I froze.

'Are you about to finally tell me what you plan on doing?'

'I am, so no backing out on me, or the consequences will be severe.' She smiled winningly, and I sighed, hating every minute of this.

'Alright, then tell me.'

How I wish I never asked that question. I nearly impaled myself on my own sword when she told me. It was ridiculous.

'You want me to WHAT?'
'Oh come on,' She threw up her hands, impatient. 'It's only a few drops. Honestly, I don't know why you make such a big deal about it.'

I glared at the imaginary Jadis in my head. This was stupid. I should have never listened to her.

'Ah,' she crowed softly, and I cursed myself for ever letting her in. 'But you see, Edmund, now that I'm in, I can't get out. I'll always be here, toying with your head. And if you try to get rid of me, I'll torture you into madness, do not think I won't. You have to do this, for my sake, for your sake, for your brother's sake.'

I almost screamed. She was so maddening it was nearly unbearable. I strapped on my sword angrily, scooping up my helmet but not putting it on, and exiting the tent.

'I'll be waiting...'
Somehow I didn't doubt it.
And the only thing I thought about for these few sparse minutes as I walked slowly toward the battleground was what I was going to have to do.


---

Silence.

Nothing but silence was all that filled the stretch between me and my brother as I walked calmly into the circle that was set up, glaring across the invisible sound barrier between us, glaring at him.

I suddenly hated him. His perfect, sandy blond hair, his ocean-blue eyes, his deep scarlet Narnian tunic with the blazing gold lion upon it. It was an anger I couldn't explain. It was as if I loved him so much that I hated him for it.

'You know what you have to do...'
I had to stop myself from going and finishing him off right then and there. I handed my helmet to Glozelle, who looked ready to protest and insist I have it back, but I refused. I then kneeled low at Miraz's side, ignoring the sudden screams of "TRAITOR!" from the Narnian ranks as I focused on listening to what he had to tell me. He stroked his black beard thoughtfully, and I burning pang ignited inside of me. I didn't want to do this. I didn't want to fight for Miraz.
But I had no choice.
He said nothing but "Do not lose," and then sent me off. The Narnians calmed ever-so-slightly, but all the same, they began shouting their anger and immense displeasure at me as I stepped up to the middle, hand on my sword. I let my breath out in a low whoosh. Peter had refused his helmet as well, and walked up as I had, fidgeting with his sword. He sent me a pleading look, and I returned it with a glare. The shouts of the Narnians soon died away, and all was silence again. I surprised myself by speaking.

"Too cowardly to even stand before your younger brother, now? Too ashamed to admit he found favor in something greater than Aslan, and you didn't?" The words that came from my lips were not my own. I was shocked and appalled, and I wanted to rip out my tongue and stop the words from coming, but Jadis wouldn't consent.

Peter, however, heard my voice, not her's. He cringed slightly, and a steely look came in his eye that I did not like at all.

I had to be extremely quick on my feet as he yanked out his sword and dealt the first blow. I blocked it, twisting around smoothly and attacking his side. He parried it and retaliated, and the only sound that could be heard after that was the quick, heart-broken rings of our two swords, but only one was to be used to disarm and kill the other. The Narnians cheered for Peter, their voices rising and lowering steadily as blow after blow was dealt. I fought back, and the black mass behind me that was the Telmarine army cheered as well.

I shuddered, ice creeping through my veins again, and then my vision became a little red-tinged as Jadis maliciously began setting off all of my emotions against my own brother. I couldn't fight it.

Soon I was hammering him to death with blows far beyond either of our abilities, trying to tire him out. He was weakening fast beneath my sword, but putting up a good fight. I wanted to scream, to tell him I wasn't doing this, but he couldn't see the icy-blue glint in my normally deep brown eyes, couldn't see the inner turmoil that was tearing me apart inside. I could feel Miraz's hard, steely eyes boring into the back of my head as he watched the fight hungrily.
Peter stumbled a bit, and I lashed out, nearly sending him to his knees. He swung back, panting, sun glinting off his armor. He struck my shoulder, slicing through the Telmarine-wrought mail and cutting my arm, looking like he would have rather not done that. I cried out and kicked at his shins, ramming my metal-clad boots into his leg. He winced, growing steadily weaker. I was, too.
"What's this?" Jadis used my voice again. I hated every second of this. "Does the High King need a respite? Or is he too proud to even admit he's tired, proving that he is weak?"

Peter fought back again, striking an impressive blow that nearly took my arm off, but I parried it. The ice continued to travel through my body, numbing everything. Though the summer sun beat down on us, I was freezing cold. He slashed, I ducked. I jabbed, he parried. It went on like this for what seemed like an eternity and a day, nothing existing but us two. I let out a harsh laugh completely not my own, and to my immense horror, disarmed my brother and sent him to his knees. The Narnians let out a collective moan of astonishment and fear as the Telmarines roared in glee.

I held both swords in my hands, breathing heavily, staring down at him, my vision continuing to take on a reddish hue. He stared up at me, not in the least fearful for his life, panting heavily as he slowly blinked, wincing in pain at some newly acquired bruise or cut.

He was truly magnificent. Finally, my brother and king had returned.

'Now, do it now!' Jadis screamed victoriously, and I complied, though not how she wanted.
Her plan was uttering the words she instructed me to say while slicing my brother's hand to draw blood, thus giving her 'Adam's blood'. She couldn't use mine, as she was residing in me. It had to be my brother. But I had a plan of my own.

I looked my brother in the eye, panting, and held both swords near his throat. He continued looking at me evenly, calmly, not even the least bit terrified.

I made up my mind, right then and there.

The whole world stopped rotating. No birds sang, no creature made any noise of any kind.

The only thing that existed was me and my brother, and a steely resolve slammed into me as I let my emotions take hold.

"You may think yourself a ruler," I spat, shaking slightly, looking Peter directly in the eye. He bowed his head, ready to take death as I gave it. "But now," I hissed, preparing myself. "It is finished." I finished through clenched teeth, a wild, ice-blue spark in my eye, raising both weapons with shaking white hands.
But only one person knew exactly who I had directed those words to.

'NO--!' She howled, an animal-like snarl smeared across her face. A small smile broke mine.

And I ran myself through.

-flees fom random objects flung at her, including a knife-
Don't kill me yet! I need to get the next chapter out! ;~;