CHAPTER 2: NOT THE SAME

"Peter!" I felt myself being pushed off my bed until I hit the floor and groggily sat up.

I looked onto my bed and saw Edmund peering over the edge of the bed, a grumpy look apparent on his face. Could he not tell that I wanted to sleep? Then again, it was rare for Edmund to wake up before me.

"What are you doing in the same bed as me?"

"For your information," I chuckled, "You were the one who slept in my bed yesterday."

"But-"

I could see my brother scan the room with his big, brown eyes. I saw a look of uncertainty cross his eyes as he looked back at me. I had scrambled back onto my bed at this point and was sitting next to him. I could tell my brother was perplexed for some reason, so I stretched my arm around his frame. Then, I squeezed his small body in a hug.

Immediately, Edmund pulled my arm away from him, "What are you playing at Peter? Where are we?"

Now, I was confused, "What do you mean? We are at home."

"Really Peter! If you think I am that daft, you are mistaken."

"Honestly Ed!"

I could not believe my ears. Edmund could not be serious. However, whenever I looked back at him, his face was contorted in a frown, trying to process everything around him. I had seen Edmund do this whenever we visited a new place, yet this time, he seemed to be smugger about it.

"I am going to tell Mum if you do not stop this right now!"

Mum? Surely, Edmund knew that Mum was back in England. Now, I was confident something was wrong with my brother- unless he was talking about Susan. Ever since we became Kings and Queens, Edmund and Lucy sometimes called Susan "Mum" because of how she took care of them. I could tell that it made Susan happy, and at times, I wished for them to think of me as Dad. However, I knew that would never happen, especially with Edmund's close connection with Dad.

"That's it!" Edmund shouted getting off the bed. "I am going to tell Mum. She has to back me up on this!"

"Ed-"

Suddenly, Edmund paused at the door and looked back at me, "Where is Mum? Never mind, I do not need help from an idiot like you."

I paused as Edmund went out the door. Had he really just called me an idiot? Obviously, I knew that I was one, though Edmund had never said so in such a rude manner before. Something was wrong with Edmund, and I needed to figure out what. That was my job as his elder brother.

I followed Edmund to the door and watched him survey the hallway like he did whenever we arrived at a new battlefield. I could literally see his mind comprehending the different exits and entries of the hallway as if he had never seen them before. Edmund already knew these hallways though, or he should know these hallways.

All of a sudden, Lucy approached Edmund, humming gleefully as if not noticing Edmund's confusion. I could not believe that she was so oblivious to Edmund's awkward state of mind, but I ignored it, creeping further into the doorway I was hiding behind. I did not want Lucy to see me yet. My three siblings already labeled me as a "mother hen," and I knew if I was caught spying on Edmund, the teasing would only unnecessarily worsen.

"Oh, Edmund!" Lucy cried out in relief as if she had been looking for him for ages. "You and Peter must get ready. Susan had already ordered tiffin to be made, and you know what would happen if you arrived when it freezes up again."

I grimaced, remembering the occasion. A few months ago, Edmund and I were practicing our parries in front of General Oreius when we decided to stay out late to practice more. By the time we came back inside, our clothes were stained with grass and mud, and we both looked nothing less than grimy. However, lunch was already served, so we both decided to eat first and then change. Susan was not impressed, but she got truly bad when Edmund asked to reheat the soup. The Gentle Queen then told Edmund that to get hot soup, he must reheat it himself. By the end of two hours, the kitchen was covered with soup, mud, grass, and sweat, and Edmund and I were forced to eat the cold soup which temperature at that point rivaled the deceased White Witch's ice castle.

However, that thought passed through my mind quickly as I noticed something peculiar. Lucy was a few centimeters taller than Edmund. I was pretty sure they were about the same height earlier (Lucy was in the middle of her growth spurt), and there was no way Lucy could grow that much taller overnight. It was just like how it was impossible for Edmund's personality to worsen overnight. It was then that I had an idea of what exactly was wrong with my brother. What if Lucy had not grown taller but Edmund had become shorter? That would explain why he was acting like a brat, like he did before Narnia.

"No, I do not know," Edmund replied to Lucy, shaking me back to reality, "but it would be like you to create fantasies of the sort."

Shuddering at his insult, I came out of my hiding place to see both Lucy and Edmund with confused expressions on their faces. I knew that if I did not interfere, things would get ugly. Lucy was a sensitive girl, and before Narnia, Edmund often hid his emotions with anger. Plus, I could inform Lucy about Edmund later if my bizarre idea was correct.

"Lu," I threw Edmund over my shoulder where he started punching my back and kicking my stomach screaming on the top of his lungs, "we will freshen up and come. Off you go then."

My youngest sister threw me a questioning glance but left to meet up with Susan in the kitchens. Bidding her farewell, I carried Edmund into my room and threw him onto the bed. As soon as I did so, I restrained his arms and legs with my knees and hands. He could not break through, no matter how hard he tried. I was always stronger and a lot bigger than him, especially since he has not hit his growth spurt yet.

"How many years old are you?" I asked, ignoring his struggling. Maybe I was being a bit harsh, but I never was known for controlling my temper. Remarkably enough, Edmund was the one known for remaining calm, especially in tense situations.

"I reckon you would know since my birthday was yesterday," Edmund replied smiling haughtily. Looking in his eyes, I could tell he was disappointed inside.

"Edmund..," I gritted my teeth. I had no time for my brother's acting.

"Fine," he groaned, "but only if you free me afterwards."

"I will if I want to," I smirked, tightening my grip on him.

Edmund frowned, and I knew he had given up, "We had a party yesterday, though I know it did not seem like one with all of the rationing. I turned 10 years old. Was it not you who was going on and on about how I should act 10 years old- my age- all of yesterday?"

10. He had just turned 10 years old- a year younger than he should be. Not only that, he looked younger too. It was as if the past year had never happened to Edmund. He did not remember that we had to be relocated especially after the numerous bombings. He did not remember the first game of Hide and Seek in the new house nor the discovery of Narnia. He did not remember meeting the White Witch and betraying everybody. Just because he had never done that stuff. He had never gone through the Witch's torture. He had never sacrificed himself for me. He had never been crowned king.

He was just Edmund Pevensie of Finchley, nothing more and nothing less. He was the Edmund who would get angry at Lucy for crying. The Edmund who would scoff at all attempts of comfort with a growl on his face. The Edmund who I had learnt to despise.

"Why are you staring at me like that Peter?" Edmund brought me out of my reverie. "You cannot have gone mad overnight!"

I looked down at my little brother who I was still restraining and frowned at the concern on his face. He was exactly like my Edmund, worried about my health and wellbeing. The only difference was that this Edmund had his eyebrows digging into his nose whereas my Edmund's eyebrows would lie stretching to the top of his head at this point.

"I just," stopping my thought, I smiled. This was the same Edmund. Why would he care if it was not? Unless, he was faking the expression. From what I remember, this Edmund was great at faking his emotions. I was better than him this time. I would not succumb to the illusion of my Edmund in this one.

This Edmund rolled his eyes, "Peter, let me go! You know how angry Mum gets when we do not go down for tiffin in time!"

I released my grip, and this Edmund suddenly sprang out of the position he was in. He starting running to the door of the room when he tilted his head down and turned around vigorously. However, I was frozen in shock. My Edmund ran the same way this one did. They both turned around the same way and tilted their head slightly to the left whilst thinking.

No. This Edmund was not my Edmund. My Edmund was the Just King of Narnia who earned the hearts of everybody. This Edmund was merely a brat, a person who was willing to betray our family and all of Narnia.

"What am I wearing?" this Edmund asked in a voice that made my eyes burn of sorrow. They sounded the same too.

"It is so girly," This Edmund continued, oblivious to my distress. "Do you have any other clothes?"

I slowly walked to the cabinet in the room and rummaged through the various clothes inside. My Edmund often slept in my room, so clothes his size were already in the cabinet. In fact, we slept in each other's so often that Lucy often joked that she would make Edmund's room an art room. We both decided that nothing would change if she did. We were too used to sleeping in the same room from doing the same in England anyway. The only difference was that there, we were forced to share whereas here, we chose to. Nevertheless, I reached inside the cabinet's bottom drawer and pulled out brown breeches and a white tunic- my Edmund's usual attire.

"Here you go," I muttered as I handed him the clothes. He threw me a look of speculation, but automatically started examining the clothes I had given him. My Edmund would have prod to see what was wrong with me. My Edmund would not have let the subject go as easily. My Edmund would have been sympathetic and understanding.

This Edmund just stared at the clothes and asked, "No starch?"

Done with this, I let out an exasperated sigh. I hated this. I could not stand it anymore.

"We are not in England anymore. We were relocated to a mansion which had a wardrobe that led to a magical land called Narnia. There we met a lion named Aslan who crowned me, you, Lucy and Susan Kings and Queens of Narnia after we helped the Narnians win a war with swords and arrows against the evil White Witch who had trapped Narnia in winter for a hundred years."

I winced at how monotone my voice sounded.

This Edmund started laughing though, holding his stomach as he gasped for air over his chuckles. My Edmund would never have laughed. My Edmund would have believed me wholeheartedly. He would have cared.

"Wow! You have gone mad," This Edmund said while catching his breath. "Only a loon could ever make up a story like that.

My frown grew as I impassively replied, "Just change your clothes."

I knew that I was being cold, but I was not going to show my emotions to this brat. He did not deserve that. Only my siblings deserved to hear my true emotions. And this Edmund- this stranger- was not and would never be my brother.