A/N Ack, I'm so sorry this took so long to upload. I know was down for a while, and then work caught up to me and the story went on the back burner. I hope it's worth the wait although I am sorry it's also a shorter chapter. The next chapter should be coming sooner rather than later. Thank you all -Ari-

It was the morning of the tournament and Edmund made his way to his brother's apartment. Peter was still laying in bed, which was unusual for the older king who like to rise early and greet the sun every morning. It was usually Susan who like to stay up late and sleep late, when she could. Edmund slowly made his way up to Peter, the later being unaware of his brother's presents, and pounced on him.

"Ahh," Peter cried and instinctively reached fort he dagger under his pillow, but Edmund had already taken it. Peter noticed it was Edmund and sighed in relief. "We are getting way to old for this."

"Looking for this dear brother," Edmund returned smugly, holding up the jeweled dagger. "If I was you, I'd find a better place to hide that. Everyone knows you keep it under your pillow."

"Well, where do you keep yours?"

"Same place Lucy does." Peter squinted his eyes and rubbed the sleep out of them. He then looked at Edmund slightly confused. "You don't know?" Peter shook his head. "Well then, that's a good thing."

"What time is it?" He asked blinking at the sunlight streaming though his bedroom.

"Quarter past eight. You slept late. What were you doing late night, I saw you leave the dinner a little early. Did you have too much to drink?" Edmund studied his brother for a moment and Peter nodded and poured himself a cup of water.

"Whose favor are you going to compete for in the tournament?" Peter asked, trying to change the subject. Edmund decided not press the matter. Peter hadn't pressed him at all about anything since he'd been back, so he at least owed him this favor.

"I was thinking Governor Kaz's daughter. If she can stay awake and not faint during the tournament." Both brothers chuckled. "She is very beautiful, so I think her favor is worth it." Edmund was surprised how hollow the words sounded. "Initially I was thinking Lady Embelle again, but I don't think her fiancé would approve. But her favor proved good luck over a year ago at our last tournament, before she went back home. I seem to remember dehorseing you in the joust."

"You got lucky. I beat you in Galma six months later."

"You want to talk about luck? I had a shoulder injury. If I was healthy, I would have beaten you fair and square. So I'm assuming you're seeking favor from Duchess Perna?"

"I was thinking that, yes, but then I thought, why not try to appeal to her cold mother? So, I'm going to ask Countess Carlyn for her favor. A way to a girl's heart is through their mother." Edmund nodded rolled himself off, very unking like, the edge of his brother bed and found a long strand of silver hair.

"Peter, what is this?" Edmund asked, he could feel the anger rising in his chest. Had another woman had spent the night with his brother? Peter looked horrified at first and than tried to look angry.

"It's… nothing. I shouldn't have to explain myself to you."

"Who was she Peter?"

"It was a dryad, it meant nothing." Edmund was now working really head to suppress the rage rising in his chest. He though for a moment he saw a look of fear cross his brother face. "Edmund…"

"Peter you're engaged," he found himself shouting. "You have responsibilities. It's not right for you to be bedding any woman that crosses your path. It's disgraceful!" Peter shot Edmund a look of hurt, and Edmund let the anger settled back down.

"Maybe if She wasn't so cold to me, I wouldn't be looking elsewhere for a ladies affection." Edmund must have shot his brother a confused look. "Perna won't let me touch her at all. Every time I try to kiss her, even in privet, she turns her head to give me her cheek. I understand prudence and waiting till our wedding night to bed her, but at least a kiss. She's been like ice with a forceful tongue ever since her parents arrived. Before you and Lucy brought them here, she was warming to me quite well. We had nice picnics in the gardens, a couple rides though the Kingdom; she even let me hold her when I was showing her the stars off my balcony and the moon rising off the sea. Now that her parents are here, she won't even look me in the eye. All I can have is a lingering touch on her hand, or a peck on her cheek. As for the dryad- as I said nothing actually happened. I took her to my apartment, towards the end of the banquet, and she was ready for me, wanting me, sitting on the edge of my bed, and I couldn't bring myself to do anything. So I sent her away."

"Maybe I'm rushing into this whole marriage thing," Peter sighed. "I just want to do what's best for Narnia. I want an heir, male or female, a happy, healthy heir. And the more time I spent with the Duchess, the more I realize she's the right person to stand by me. However, I fear my growing fondness for her is clouding my judgment, I can't read her like other people, and I feel she's hiding something from me. I think she may have another lover. Ed, you're the only one I can trust with this, can you talk to her, watch her and tell me if she's in love with another." Edmund had to hide the mortified look from his brother. He set his jaw firm and looked his brother in the eye.

"She will be faithful to you Peter. Her whole life had changed in the matter of a couple months. But she will love you." Edmund felt his jaw clench tightly and turned to look away, trying to make it look like he was buckling his armor. "I'll make sure of it."

"Do you think that's all?"

"I think… you're just stalling this tournament, because you know I'll beat you again."

"Oh," Peter laughed, his thoughts successfully diverted. "I think not. The joust and sword fight will be mine for the taking. I have a feeling Countess Carlyn may be good luck. I don't think she'll faint if I get slightly bloody." The two brothers walked out to the stables and mounted their horses. Peter's horse was snow white, while Edmunds mounted a dark chestnut, almost black, colored horse.

They rode into the gardens outside the castle, which had been tuned into stands and a jousting field. The crowds cheered loudly as the knights entered the arena. Many people from all over the known world, Achenland, Lone Islands, Galma, Terebinthia, the Seven Islands, and even Calormen, had gathered. Narnia's tournaments under High King Peter were legendary. Narnian's were excellent sportsmen and it was a grand event. Perna sat in high box, over looking the arena, with plush velvet seats. Her parents and Queens Susan and Lucy were sitting in the box with her. Susan and Lucy both had their bows and quivers with them, because later, they would be competing in the archery competition. Perna held her breath as Edmund and Peter emerged from the castle into the arena with the sunlight right over heads. It bathed both brothers in pure sunlight and they looked almost angel like and ethereal. She had never seen a tournament before; Lucy sat next to her and explained that the joust would be first, followed by the archery competition and that would make up the first day. Tomorrow would be the sword fight followed by the grand banquet. Peter and Edmund were both good jousters, but they would shine in the sword fight.

The first joust was between Darrin from Achenland and a Lord form Galma. Darrin beat him soundly. Next up was aTerebinthian and Lord Blaque. The Knight from Terebinthia beat the much older Lord Blaque fairly quickly. Edmund was up and next and Perna turned her head slightly as he charged forward against Dar. The first set was a draw between them, but the second set Edmund sent the older man reeling off his horse. Lord Peridan, who had boldly asked for Queen Lucy's favor in the tournament, had beaten his opponent which now left Peter. Peter was set to joust the only Calormene in the tournament who was Tarkaan Tzophaan, an ambassador of sorts to Narnia. He was favorable to the Narnians, and helped negotiate trade. Peter took a hard blow in the first set which set his ears ringing. Edmund ran up to his brother and offered him some water.

"Are you alright?" Edmund asked as he took the cup from Peter.

"Uh huh," Peter responded breathlessly. "I had almost forgotten what spectacular riders the Calormene people are. The lance hit me right in the chest and winded me, but, I will be alright, once I catch my breath." After a moment Peter caught his breath and lowered the face shield on his helmet. He charged forward, with a fierce look of determination, crashing his lance into the Calormene knight's head. The Tarkhaan had been knocked out cold, but not off his horse, Peter advanced to the next round and the medics attended to the Tarkaan who was dazed but reasonably alright.

As the tournament progressed Edmund advance to one of the later rounds only to lose to Lord Peridan. After drawing the first two matches, it came down to the final match. In the last set Edmund went for the head shot, to try and score more points, and missed. Peridan took the easier chest hit and scored the points, advancing him to the next round. Edmund looked slightly furious with himself for losing, but he made his way to the box with his sisters, to watch as Peter advanced to the final round against Lord Peridan. It was the first time the two Narnians had been up against each other. Lord Peridan wanted to forfeit the match; he did not want to compete against his High King, but Lucy went down to convince him to joust. Having Queen Lucy's favor seemed to prove good luck for Lord Peridan. After Peter scored in the first set, Lord Peridan was able to pull an upset by breaking a lance off Peter's helmet and then they had a draw in the last set. Lord Peridan got off his horse and bowed deeply to Peter, who laughed heartily and patted him on the back. "Good match my friend," Peter said. "You won fair and square, not only beating Edmund, but beating me as well. Enjoy your first tournament victory. I think my sister's favor has proven very good fortune indeed, and you two shall have the first dance tonight."

The archery contest went quicker than the joust. It was near dusk when Susan and Lucy stepped up for their draw. After the first round of arrows flew, only about six hit the center target. Susan's of course, as well as Lucy's and Lady Blaque's were three of the six arrows that hit right on target. They all stepped up again and Susan's, Lady Blaque's, and a Lord from the Seven Islands were the three finalists. After carful measurements, Susan's arrow was found to be the truest to the mark and she won the archery competition.

As the night drew to a close, Perna went off with her mother and Peter and looked deep in discussion. Edmund looked around and saw a familiar brown haired beauty walking alone on the beach. It was Lady Embelle and she saw him looking down upon her and motioned for him to come down. "Edmund my old friend," She said embracing him and placing a kiss on his cheek, "It's been a long time since we've been able to talk. I'm sorry you lost in the joust, but I think Lord Peridan looked quite fit and deserved to win. How've you been?"

... hmm...