Note: I don't know how accurately this reflects Edmund's character as Lewis intended it...insofar as he seems to simply dislike Peter's authority throught the book...but I hope it's not too far from canon. :)

And to refresh the disclaimer: I don't own any of this. the world and the characters are C.S. Lewis's, some of the scenes and interpretations are from Walden Media. (and whoever else did the movie)

Chapter 4

Edmund

(Setting: The morning of the battle)

I didn't realize until I found myself in the Witch's dungeon how much I'd built myself around Peter's opinion of me. His disapproval stung me more deeply than almost any reprimand and I coveted his praise more than any gift he could have given. He was the one I looked up to, yet I felt I could never merit his approval. So back in England I pulled away because I couldn't bear how badly it hurt to be ignored or scolded. And here, I ended up becoming a rotten traitor. Maybe to get his attention, maybe I because I thought he didn't believe I could be any better. I spent a lot of the time in that cold cell hating Peter for what he'd made me do.

But the longer I tried to hate him, the harder it became. I respected him too much. There had always been something about Peter, something I couldn't define. Yes, he was my big brother, but there was more to it than that, and the idea of not respecting him was difficult to even process. I respected him, so I valued his opinions and trusted his advice. If Peter said or believed something, it was worth considering. So I stopped hating Peter because he had probably been right, and I came to simply despise myself.

Then I was in front of him. And to my surprise, he didn't condemn me and he didn't brush me aside. Little though I expected it, his voice was apologetic and full of regret. Later that day, Susan came to talk to me. She asked me to forgive Peter, and said that Peter blamed himself for all that had happened because of the way he had treated me. That was hard to believe, but it fit with the weariness I'd also noted on Peter's face. I didn't waste any time finding Peter and we soon got everything all straightened out.

Now he stands here in front of me, in front of this army. He's been transformed from Peter Pevensie of Finchley to a knight of Narnia. But I can see that even in his armor he is afraid. Aslan is gone. What hope does this small band of Narnians really have against Her? To be honest, I find myself wondering the same thing.

But I would follow my brother into a hopeless battle if he believed it was the right thing to do. I think that the rest of the army would do the same. I'm not the only one who respects and trusts Peter. They know he's going to be their king, and they've seen him carry himself thus far with honor and loyalty and courage. They see what I've seen all my life. Once he makes the choice to be our leader, Narnia will die for him. Knowing that I have faith in him probably won't mean all that much, but maybe, just maybe, it will help. I have to make him see that even though he did fail me once, I still need him to be the leader I've always believed him to be, the leader I want to follow.

So I look up at him with as much honesty and seriousness as I can muster, and even as he says that he can't lead the army, I know what my response will be.

"Aslan believed you could. And so do I."

And he sets his teeth and leans over the map to plan the attack.