Chapter Text
The next morning in Cair Paravel
Susan looked up from her embroidery the moment she heard Edmund let out a faint groan. She immediately leaned forward, placing the back of her hand gently against his forehead to check his temperature.
She let out a quiet breath of relief. The fever had finally begun to ease.
Slowly, Edmund’s eyes fluttered open, blinking against the morning light. His gaze drifted to the side, unfocused at first, before settling on her.
“Pete…?” he murmured weakly.
“Shhh, it’s me, Ed. Susan.” She brushed her fingers gently against his cheek.
Edmund froze for a moment as recognition settled in. Guilt flashed across his face.
“Oh—sorry, Su. I thought you were Peter. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s alright,” Susan said softly.
“Actually, I have good news. Peter is coming home today, He finished his business with King Lune sooner after hearing you were ill. I think he will be here in this afternoon.”
Edmund’s expression faltered.“So… he knows I’m sick.”
Susan gave a small, apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Ed. We had to tell him.”
“I didn’t want to disturb his duties,” Edmund muttered, turning his face away slightly. “I told you I would recover soon.”
“You’re not disturbing him,” Susan said gently. “Peter has simply been quieter lately because he’s exhausted. Please, trust me.”
Edmund sighed, his eyes growing glassy with unshed tears.
“I don’t know what I should say to him… I’m afraid I’ll make things worse.”
Susan’s smile softened.
“Oh, Ed. You always know what to say once you’re together. You two always do.”
“I don't know Su…” Edmund murmured faintly.
***
Later, Susan walked back toward Edmund’s chamber accompanied by several maids carrying his lunch tray. Before she reached the door, a servant hurried toward her, breathless, announcing that the High King’s party had returned.
Relief and surprise washed over her at once.
She quickly followed the servant to the gates.
The doors had barely opened when Peter dismounted his horse, already moving forward with urgent steps.
“Pete—”
“Edmund. Where is he? How is he?” Peter’s voice was rough, his eyes full of worry.
“He’s in his room with Lucy. His fever has gone down today, be at ease,” Susan said, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder before guiding him toward the corridor.
“Su… he’s sick because of me,” Peter admitted quietly, lowering his gaze.
“I didn’t realize I had been distancing myself from him these past few days.”
“It isn’t entirely your fault,” Susan replied softly. “Edmund simply misunderstood.”
She opened the door.
Inside, Lucy was proundly telling a story about the rare fruits garden she had found in the woods with Mrs. Beaver, while Edmund listened with a faint smile. But the moment his eyes landed on Peter, he quickly turned his face away, trying to hide the flush rising to his cheeks.
“Ed, Lu — Peter’s home,” Susan announced gently.
“Ed,” Peter called softly, his voice laced with worry and guilt, the expression Edmund hate because it made his own chest ache in response.
Peter stepped into the room just as Lucy turned and beamed.
“Oh, thank goodness you’re here!”
She rose and approached him, and Peter pulled her into a brief hug.
“Lu… thank you. For your letter,” he say softly while he stroke her hair.
“Oh, it was nothing,” Lucy said brightly before moving toward Susan.
“Talk to him as much as you need,” Susan said gently as she left.
“He missed you terribly,” Lucy added with a grin.
The moment Peter steping closer to the bed , Edmund had pulled the blanket over his face. Peter lifted it slightly, but Edmund immediately pulled again, hiding beneath it.
Silence settled over the room, heavy and uncertain.
“Ed,” he said softly to the figure hiding beneath the blanket. His hand rested gently on the small rise he assumed was Edmund’s head, stroking it lightly.
“I’m so sorry,” Peter murmured. “I didn’t realize I had been cold toward you these past few days. I truly am.”
No reply came, nly a slight restless movement beneath the covers.
Peter remained patient, continuing tapping Edmund stomach now, then after a while, the blanket lowered slowly, revealing half of Edmund’s face, flushed and hesitant.
Peter let out a quiet breath of relief, offering him a soft smile.
Edmund’s breath caught at the sight of it. He didn’t know why his eyes suddenly burned.
“Edmund—”
Edmund’s lips trembled. His tear-bright eyes fell downward.
“I thought I upset you again,” he whispered.
“You didn’t talk to me… or Lucy, or Susan. I thought I had done something wrong. That you didn’t want me around anymore.”
Peter’s chest tightened painfully. He cupped Edmund’s face gently, his thumb brushing away a fallen tear.
“Oh, Ed. No. Never that. I could never not want you around.”
Edmund gave a broken little laugh through his tears.
“Then… don’t do that again, please. Don’t be cold toward me,” Edmund said, his voice trembling.
“If you’re tired… or need space… just tell me, Pete. Please. It hurts less than wondering what I did wrong. It’s easier to know than to guess.”
His voice cracked, and he covered his eyes, trying unsuccessfully to hide his tears.
Peter’s throat tightened.
He leaned forward and pulled Edmund gently into his arms, holding him close, one hand cradling the back of his head, the other wrapped protectively around his shoulders.
“I promise,” Peter whispered against his hair.
“No more silence. I’ll tell you next time. I swear.”
Edmund nodded weakly against Peter's shoulder, his hand gripping Peter’s tunic as though afraid he might disappear again.
“I’m sorry for being… too dramatic,” Edmund murmured softly.
“Getting sick over something like this… it’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”
Peter shook his head, loosening the embrace just enough to meet his eyes.
“No, Ed. Not at all, maybe i will get sick too if you do the same thing to me, so dont apologize, i'm the one who make you like this"
Outside the room, Susan and Lucy listened to their conversation silently and sighed.
“They're dramatic, really.” murmur Susan
“They're like a married couple who are arguing, then became lovely dovey again in a second!" said Lucy her arm crossing.
***
After that day, Peter never forgot to hug Edmund before leaving ,even if he had already mounted his horse and realized he had forgotten their small ritual. He would turn back, dismount, and pull Edmund into a quick embrace before departing.
He also tried harder to be honest with his siblings about what weighed on his mind — about the worries he used to carry alone.
At first, Edmund would stare in confusion whenever Peter suddenly returned just to hug him and press a quick kiss to his forehead.
Then he would laugh softly, cheeks flushing.
“Just go already, Pete. I’ll be fine,” he would say.
“I’ll be back soon. Take care of yourself,” Peter replied, pinching his cheek playfully before running back toward his horse before Edmund could protest.
Moments later, as Peter crossed the palace bridge, he glanced back.
There was Edmund standing on the balcony, waving.
Peter smiled faintly.
“You are truly precious to me Ed,” he murmured.