I opened my eyes the next morning to see Susan. She didn't look happy.

"Peter, you must come and see this!" She said urgently, but quietly, so Lucy and Edmund wouldn't wake. We went to an opening from the How and I frowned. The enemy's army was now making camp across from camp.

"What shall we do?" Caspian asked me. I shook my head.

"War conference, now. Please gather in 5 minutes." I commanded. Susan looked at me before asking.

"Shall I get Edmund?" I thought about this for a minute. He would be awfully mad if he wasn't included. In the end I nodded and added.

"And Lucy too."

When we were almost all gathered, I had time to mentally asses Edmund's state. He was still pale as ever, but the circles under his eyes were less noticeable. There was glistening sweat o9n his forehead, but I would have to check that later. I mean, it was hot in here, so it could be just the heat but it could be a fever too. He seemed to be slouching a lot.

"What are we going to do?" Lucy asked looking from me to Edmund then back to me.

"I think I might know." Caspian spoke up nervously. Everyone looked at him. I nodded for him continue.

"My uncle still holds true our people's traditions. Maybe-"

"Brilliant! A single combat, a challenge! Edmund exclaimed. He smiled to Caspian, said prince smiled back. Then his face went serious and I knew that was his thinking face.

"What's wrong, Ed?" Susan asked. He looked at me and then I knew what he was thinking.

"Peter, let me-"

"No." I interrupted, "You will not fight. I won't let you." He looked at me angrily.

"Why not?" He challenged. I could tell that he just didn't want me to do this.

"Because you look like a wreck!" I said, "What's been going on with you? It seems like you're not eating or sleeping!" I asked him softly. He seemed too shocked to answer or say anything. Instead his gaze dropped to the floor.

"Peter, I just don't want you to get hurt." Edmund whispered. He looked back up at me. His face was white as if he had seen a ghost. He made a strangled sound.

"Ed, you okay?" I asked him. He stared all the way through me and into the beyond. His eyes glazed over. It was like I never said anything in the first place.

Edmund, this is not funny!" Susan scolded him. He still did not react or show any recognition. Lucy anxiously went to stand next to Susan.

"Edmund, come on," She whispered. Tears were welling in her eyes.

"Ed?" I asked him unsurely. He didn't respond the way I wanted him to.

"What will you do if you get hurt? I can't let that happen. That is my job. I can not let you get hurt. You are my king, Peter. I must protect you. You are my brother. I can't let you do this." He said in a daze. Edmund gazed at me with a miniature inferno in his eyes.

"No, I'm the older brother. This is my job! I have to protect you all!" I replied. His gaze turned sharp, bitter, and focused.

"Is that so? Is that why you dropped us back in England! There was nothing more to protect us from? That's not even true! What about the war there too! What about the sickness, nightmares, getting hurt, feeling down, what about that all! Who is gonna save me from me! I know you don't want to! Hell, I don't even think you'd notice if we were gone!" He all but screamed at me. I glared at him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to slip away like that." I told him stiffly, trying to hold my anger in check. His anger only increased.

"Then why! Why didn't you come back? You left us in the dark. In the cold! You were like you were before we ever went to Narnia, but you know what! You were worse! You were like ME!" He screamed. He was panting from yelling so much. I noticed there were unshed tears in his chocolate eyes. He gave in to a small coughing fit, and then glared at me with such intensity I was almost tempted to look away.

"I'm sorry okay! What am I to say to you?" I asked him. He just shook his head before saying.

"What happened? Were you even aware of the things you did to us? You hurt all of us!" Edmund asked. He glanced at Susan and Lucy for a short moment. I looked down for a split second.

"No, I wasn't, tell me." I whispered cringing at the stare he gave me.

"You locked yourself away whenever you were home. You yelled at us for trying to help you! You, you" He stopped mid sentence. His breathing getting heavier, faster.

"What Edmund! What did I do?" I felt my anger boiling. He just shook his head and looked at Lucy and Susan. Then, out-of-the-blue, his face paled. He gasped in agony and grabbed his stomach.

"Edmund?" Susan said to him. He shot her a desperate looked before going fell limp. Edmund fell to the floor, wincing ever so slightly in his state. His eyes going dull before closing.

"Edmund!"

Whoa, that was way more angst then I intended. The whole point was for Edmund to share what he felt about Peter's state when they went back to England. Read and Review. Not sure if you noticed, but I'm redoing all the chapters I have up already.