CHAPTER 1: THE BIRTHDAY BOY

"Honestly Ed, you are making a huge fuss over nothing," Susan sighed exasperatedly. "It is just your 11th birthday."

"Exactly," Edmund replied. "It is just my 11th birthday."

With one look from Susan, I could tell that Edmund automatically knew that even if he was the best diplomat in Narnia, he would definitely lose this argument.

"Edmund- all of us celebrated our birthdays with a huge celebration. It surely would not hurt for you to follow. Plus, this is your first birthday in Narnia; it is terribly important."

Edmund just sighed perturbed as our sister continued to dig into his wardrobe for a 'suitable' outfit for him to wear. I had been dragged into the room to 'help' her choose such an outfit even if it was Susan who ended up doing everything. I had tried to be quiet the entire time, but now it was too much for me especially with my brother having a pout plastered onto his face. I burst out laughing, unable to stop.

Susan turned around and glared at me, "Peter, you are only encouraging him by laughing!"

She looked so grown up- exactly like Mum- with that look on her face. Over the past year, she had declared herself in charge of making all of us and Cair Paravel presentable whenever there were celebrations and/or people visiting. To be honest, it is a bigger task than it seems because Lucy often refuses to wear dresses unless necessary, Edmund is as stubborn as a mule, and I will not go outside my room with colors like purple or pink anywhere on my outfit. (In my defense, what High King should be wearing such girly colors anyway?)

As I cleared my thoughts and came back to reality, I realized that Susan had given up on me- I was still snorting chuckles despite my attempts- as Edmund looked at me wildly amused. I could tell that he was glad that he did not have to endure Susan's wrath alone even if I desperately wished to be Lucy right now, greeting our friends from surrounding lands such as King Lune from Archenland.

"How about this?" Susan held up a ghastly outfit with a red tunic that had faded to pink and sparkles on the pants inside Edmund's wardrobe; honestly, why was she so fascinated with that color?

However, before I could speak, Edmund said, "Absolutely not! Why must I wear a fancy outfit when I have plenty of nice regular ones?"

"Edmund, how many times do I have to tell you?" It was no surprise that the Gentle Queen was struggling not to backhand her little brother's head. "It is your birthday tomorrow. Peter- explain it to him as I pick another outfit."

I glanced at Susan who only smiled back innocently. Why me? Sure, I was the eldest, but that did not mean I wanted to lecture my brother on clothes. I honestly did not care if he came to his party wearing nothing but his underwear. If anything, it would at least be hilarious. However, I could tell that I needed to say something or else I would have to endure the words of the so-called 'Gentle' Queen later.

I took a deep breath, unsure of what to say, "We all had to suffer through this Ed. I had to wear an outfit brighter than the sun itself and even Lucy was forced to wear that pink, frilly dress. Now it is your turn."

I chuckled a bit while Edmund only groaned and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He could find no response. I looked at Susan, and I could tell she was impressed even if her face was still in Edmund's wardrobe. Who would not be? I just won a debate against Edmund- even if I had lied a bit.

It was not a huge lie, but I actually loved my birthday outfit. It resembled my coronation outfit in that it matched the golden color of my crown with golden tights. I also wore a white cape of golden embroidery upon my shoulders, trailing behind me. The white front had a golden lion on it that resembled Aslan, filling me with joy throughout my entire birthday. However, I would never admit how much I loved that dress to Edmund or Susan. Edmund would only tease me, calling me a girl, while Susan would use the fact that she had picked the perfect outfit that once against me whenever I argued with her about outfits next year.

Finally, Susan picked out a top that was a deep blue, Edmund's favorite color. It came with silver tights with small blue velvet designs on the border. There was also a silver vest instead of the traditional cape with a bit of the same blue designs trailing the bottom of the vest. When Edmund put it on, it looked perfect on him. Plus, he could not complain since the dress was not only his favorite color, but was also a mix between a fancy outfit and the tunic and pants he wore every day.

"You look so handsome Edmund," Susan smiled as she examined her masterpiece. "All the girls will not be able to keep their eyes off of you."

Wait a second- girls! Edmund was only turning 11! He was too young for girls! Nevertheless, Susan was correct- as usual. The next day at the celebration, Edmund was in the middle of too many people that insisted on talking him- most of them were- regretfully- girls who simply giggled at everything he said. Edmund did not seem to realize that the girls were flirting with him, yet I surely did. That was why I pulled Edmund from that crowd onto his throne next to me, not even caring what Susan would say afterwards. There was no way any of those girls would touch or even talk to my baby brother with me around.

"Peter," I looked at my brother who seemed to be waving his hand in front of my face. "Peter? Are you awake?"

"What Ed?" I darted my attention from the girls who were now talking with Lucy to my beloved brother in front of me.

"What happened Peter? Are you not enjoying yourself?" Edmund smiled at me. "Everybody is so nice. One girl around Lucy's age- Tara, I think her name was- even offered for us to go to see her father's kingdom. It is really small apparently, but she promises a good time."

I looked at my brother in shock. Could he really be that oblivious? Then again, Edmund was only 11 now. Plus, Mum only had the dreaded 'talk' with me last year when I turned 13. Was I really this ignorant before? Then again, both Edmund and I were in an all-boy boarding school before Narnia where interactions with girls were limited.

"I am having a great time Ed," I faked a smile to hide my concern. I was not going to tell Edmund anything about girls now, especially how they always apparently talked about boys to each other.

"Really?" Edmund had an eyebrow raised in suspicion.

"Of course!" I blurted out a little too quickly. However, I was also quick to save myself, "I just wanted to spend some time alone with my little brother."

Edmund smiled at that and took my hand in his. He dragged me out of the throne room past the crowded balcony where I saw Susan into my rooms (which were the closest). He sat down onto my bed and patted to the seat next to him. Smiling, I sat down and hugged my brother. For a minute or two, there was a comfortable silence enveloping the room as I refused to let my brother go. I could not believe that he was actually growing older. Soon enough, my brother would surpass my height and finally grow past my shoulders. I would no longer be able to call him my baby brother since it would no longer be appropriate.

Then, Edmund broke both the silence and my thoughts, "Peter, we have spent some time alone. Now, tell me what is wrong?"

I glared at him. How could he always tell when I am hiding something? It is unfair! If anything, I should be able to figure out when he is hiding his emotions. I am the eldest. Nevertheless, I knew I had to tell him the truth. However, there was no way I would inform my brother of girls- at least not yet. So, I told him another thing that was bothering me to avoid any excess suspicion.

Sighing, I hugged my brother tighter, "I just cannot believe you are 11, especially since I remember you as a baby. You could barely crawl, and now you can run faster than I can. I just wish you were a baby again. I still cannot believe I lost all that time while we were in boarding school, and I should have taken care of you."

"Oh, Peter-"

I could not bear to hear my brother's response, so I interrupted him saying, "Let us open some of your presents right now- just you and me. At least open the presents in this room."

Edmund looked up at me, and I could tell he was studying my face. Then, he smiled, "Let us."

He got off the bed and grabbed a single present which had been put on the side of the room. There were too many presents to fit inside the hall, so Susan ordered that the presents be dropped in my room since it was the closest. Now, the hall was still filling with presents since nobody wanted to miss their king's birthday celebration.

This one is yours Peter!" Edmund exclaimed, and I could not help but smile at his glee. He could be just like Lucy sometimes.

"Open it then," I told him. I was a bit anxious since I was unsure whether he would like my gift or not.

Edmund unwrapped the gift in a flurry, and I could see his smile as he looked inside.

"Peter, it is perfect!"

I smiled back at my little brother as he tested out my gift- a well-built sword almost identical to the one Edmund mostly used and loved. It had the same balance too. The past year, Edmund had realized that he was better fighting with two swords rather than a sword and a shield. However, he had yet to find a match to his favorite sword that was built especially for him. I had hoped that this replica would be a perfect match, and by the look on Edmund's face, it was.

"I got the Black Dwarves to build it, so you must thank them before me," I replied modestly.

However, Edmund only dropped the sword and ran to me, clutching my middle in a hug. My smile got bigger as I hugged him back. He seemed so small in my arms, and I just wanted to stay that way with my baby brother forever. However, he pulled back, ready to open his other gifts.

King Lune had given Edmund a dagger of solid gold which Edmund was not sure was for display or battle. Tara's family had given Edmund a fancy outfit that resembled the one he wore at our coronation though the silk was much finer. He even got a few marriage requests, yet I made sure to hide those from my innocent brother.

"Peter- look at this!" Edmund held up a box of polished wood at my face. He chuckled in delight and opened the box to find nothing but a letter.

Reaching inside, I opened the letter (to make sure it was not another marriage request) and read it to be filled with confusion.

"It is nonsense," I told my brother with my head tilted a bit to the right.

"Read it out loud then," he replied, fingering the inside edges of the beautifully made wooden box.

"It-tifel anġlu... I reindent qal tigħi msewda. Hugwa weħda, imbħaba tiegħi, li trobule moke:
Yu tarmi mswt," I muttered, stumbling on some of the words.

"Ow!" my brother yelped. I looked at him again in confusion.

"I just burned myself somehow," he grimaced as I smiled. It was no surprise since my brother is accident prone. "That is gibberish though."

"What do you want to do with it then?" I asked Edmund.

"Let us just keep it. I can search it in the library," Edmund yawned.

I widened my eyes in my brother's direction as he yawned again.

"Is somebody sleepy?" I asked him looking outside. The sun had set nearly an hour ago, and the moon was high in the sky.

"Shut it Peter," Edmund mumbled, yawning again. "I just started yawning now."

"Just go to bed Ed," I replied, shaking my head at his antics.

Suddenly, Edmund plopped onto my bed, and within minutes, he was asleep, slightly snoring. It made me wonder how tired Edmund really was. I hated how he could always hide things so well from me. When he was younger, he was easier to figure out, like Lucy. However, I stopped myself from dwelling on that thought. I needed to go back to the celebration and inform everyone that the birthday boy, their beloved Just King, was asleep.