Okay, first off, my most sincere apologies for taking so. LONG. To post another chapter...my mom has been in the hospital for a while and school started and it's just been bad...but I'm back :) And here is chapter 7.

Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia or any of the Pevensie children or anything affiliated with them! C.S, Lewis does. I own the plot!

Lucy stood outside Edmund's door and listened to him cry and tried hard not to do so herself.

Peter, having busied himself with signing documents so as to distract himself from his brother's screams, looked up and breathed a sigh of relief when he could hear them no longer.

Phillip shifted from hoof to hoof guiltily.

Mr. Tumnus smiled awkwardly, sympathetically to himself, not quite sure what to do with it all.

And Susan held her younger brother as he sobbed and sobbed into her chest. His shoulders heaved with the weight of his guilt and the punishment and his brother's disappointment and his little sister's scars. And so Edmund cried. Brokenly. Just like he had when his dad had left.

He had been inconsolable, but his grief had soon turned numb, and Edmund had become hard and bitter, and parts of that bitterness still rose up in and against him at times. Just like it had yesterday

All this was going through his mind as he clung to Susan, willing her not to let go. For a very long time, she didn't, simply stroked his hair and kissed him over and over, whispered comfort and rubbed his back.

"Please don't ever give me a reason to do that again," she had pleaded raspingly, "I can't."

They stood there together for a long while, neither one of then daring to move. Finally, Susan slid her hands back from around his shoulders and onto either sides if his face, stroking his cheeks with her thumbs and brushing away tears.

"Edmund," she murmured, "you understand why that was necessary, yes?" He nodded a small yes. "I never, ever want to do that again."

"I don't want you to, ei...either," he gulped. She gave him a tiny smile.

"Then do as you're told," she reprimanded softly. "I know it's not fun, but it's for your own good. We really are watching out for you."

"I don't...don't need loo...looking after. I'm a king."

"Edmund, dear, if I recall, you came home with a broken arm. I think you might still need looking after." He shook his head. "Regardless, I am not going to argue with you. You are 13 years old and 13 is far too young yet to simply do as you please and go where you like. That's why this," she said, lightly smacking his bottom and emitting a small yelp from him, "was necessary."

"I...I know...I'm s...sorry." The years began to flow once more, albeit slower. "I really am. I made Lucy hurt and worried a...all of you and ma...made Peter hate me-"

"No, no, darling," Susan pulled him close. "Peter does not hate you. Peter could never, ever hate any of us, including you. He loves you. He loves you so much."

"And what did I do with that?" Edmund drew back sharply and let out a sob. "I failed him. You should've seen the way he...he looked at me to...today. He thinks I'm...I'm...disgusting." He spat out the word like a bitter medicine.

"Shhh," Susan stroked stroked his hair. "Don't lie to yourself, my darling. Peter thinks no such thing."

"Whatever."

"Why don't you go and talk to him?" She suggested. "I think it will reassure you."

"He doesn't even want me. No point in that." Susan sighed and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"That's not true," she murmured. "He loves you more than he loves his own life. Please go to him, Edmund...if not for yourself, go for me." Edmund huffed.

"Fine, but when he sends me away I have per...permission to say I told...told you so." Susan wiped away a stray tear that was tracking its way down her little brother's face. She pulled him to her gently and he fell against her chest, shuddering softly.

"He'll do no such thing," she crooned, trying her best to calm the distressed boy nestled in her arms. He swallowed and swallowed again, trying to dissolve the lump in his throat that continued to grow. He tried to take a breath, but it never made it very far. He began to shake harder.

"Edmund?" Susan asked softly. He made a noise that indicated he had heard her. "Are you alright?" He simply shook his head. She pulled away just enough so she could see his face. His lips were trembling and his eyes were swimming with unshed tears. "Edmund, listen to me, love. Don't focus on anything else. Just listen to me." His eyes met hers briefly, then dropped again. "Everything...is going to be...just...fine."

Edmund coughed a couple times, swallowed and swallowed again, tried to calm down. Susan noticed, as she always did when something was distressing one of her siblings. "Darling, you mustn't try so hard to shove everything down," she said, taking one of his hands in her own. "If you need to cry, then please cry."

Before Edmund could respond, there was a firm knock on the door. Susan looked down at him and he nodded, not meeting her gaze. "Come in, please," Susan called, stepping away from Edmund slightly.

The door opened. Peter walked in. He made eye contact with Edmund. And Edmund sank to the floor and broke down.

Cliff hangaaahhh! Hehehehe x) Again, I apologise for making everyone wait so long. And I SWEAR UPON THE DOCTOR'S GRAVE that I shall have chapter 8 up as SOON as I am home from school. Thanks, lovelies. xo