Chapter Text
Chapter 1
It started on a cold morning.
Usually, Peter was the first person to greet Edmund in the morning. He would walk into his room to wake Edmund gently—so gently that it often annoyed Edmund. Peter would laugh while dodging the pillow thrown at him, then pull Edmund into a warm hug as an apology.
But this morning was not like that.
During breakfast, Edmund tried to make small talk, but Peter rarely responded. He only gave short answers with a smile that felt… insincere in Edmund’s eyes.
“Pete—” Edmund reached out to take Peter’s hand as they walked side by side in the corridor.
“Sorry, Ed, I’m in a hurry.”
“Oh… okay.”
Edmund’s steps stopped. His chest feel hurt. Why was Peter acting so cold toward him, especially when he had hugged Lucy earlier?
That afternoon, in Peter’s study, while arranging the stack of documents in the corner of the table, Edmund asked carefully, keeping his voice light and friendly.
“Do you want me to keep you company tonight, Peter? Maybe I can help you check the reports, like yesterday?”
Without lifting his gaze from the letter he was writing, Peter replied, “Not tonight , Ed.”
Hearing that, Edmund was stunned. Why was Peter suddenly refusing him? Peter was usually the one dragging him into the study to stay with him until late.
“Why?” Edmund asked, his voice small and fragile, though Peter didn’t notice.
Slowly, Peter lifted his head and gave him a soft smile, though the exhaustion in his eyes was obvious.
“Because you need to sleep early. I can’t keep you awake all night just to accompany me here, Ed. It’s not good for your health—”
“But I’m fine, Pete! I don’t mind at all!” Edmund’s voice rose slightly without him realizing.
“Ed, please understand. I don’t want you to get sick.” Peter replied gently but firmly, giving Edmund no room to argue.
To Peter, it was his way of protecting Edmund.
But to Edmund, it felt like a cold wall had formed between them.
Edmund nodded slowly and forced a smile.
“Alright…just, call me if you need anything.”
He left with heavy steps. The door closed with a soft click, and the ache in his chest—along with the uneasiness—grew sharper.
***
The next day felt the same. Peter didn’t leave his chambers since morning. Lucy had tried to invite him for a walk, but Peter only said he didn’t want to be disturbed.
Susan became worried when Lucy told her, because Peter had been acting a little strange since yesterday.
“Maybe he’s just tired, Lu. The Royal's duty have really piled up lately,” Susan said.
But for Edmund—whose mind was already clouded with worry—he believed all of this was his fault.
Maybe he had said something wrong.
Maybe Peter was tired of him always following him everywhere.
Maybe Edmund was only adding to his burdens, and Peter finally decided to distance himself.
That night, Edmund sat by the window of his room, staring at the bright moon. The weight in his heart grew heavier. He wanted to ask Peter what was wrong—but he was afraid of the answer.
He tried to sleep, but his body ached, his head spinning, and he couldn’t stop tossing and turning. By three in the morning, sleep still wouldn’t come.
***
When the sun rose, Peter was already preparing to leave for Archenland for a council meeting. King Lune urgently needed him.
Peter remained quiet even as he mounted his horse, only giving Edmund a short message,
“I’ll be back soon. Take care of Susan and Lucy for me.”
Not, “See you in two days.”
Not, “Don’t miss me.”
Not even the usual goodbye hug before he left.
Edmund stayed standing at the gate, watching blankly as Peter disappeared down the road, his breath fogging in the cold air. He didn’t even realize how pale he looked until Lucy touched his arm.
“Ed, are you okay? You look really pale—”
Edmund’s body swayed, and Lucy quickly caught him.
***
The sun had only reached the height of an apple tree when Cair Paravel grew busy because Edmund suddenly developed a fever. Susan and Lucy sat at his bedside while Susan pressed a cold cloth to his forehead. Edmund kept mumbling incoherently in his sleep.
“Yesterday, Edmund kept asking me is Peter was angry, with him” Lucy said, her voice trembling. “He said maybe he did something wrong. I think he didn’t sleep all night because he kept thinking about it.”
“He’s overthinking again,” Susan whispered, brushing aside Edmund’s damp hair.
“I also felt Peter seemed lost in thought yesterday. But when I asked, he only smiled and said he was fine. Peter… isn’t the type to share his burdens easily. He prefers to keep everything to himself.”
And far from there, on the quiet forest road, Peter pulled his horse to a stop. Some of the council members behind him were startled and nearly crashed into him.
He didn’t know why his chest felt so tight.
Or why he couldn’t erase the image of Edmund’s sad eyes when he told him to rest.
He wanted to go back. He almost turned around.
But the letter from Archenland had stated that it was very “urgent.”
So he continued riding forward, letting the wind carry his whisper.
“I’m sorry, Ed. I’ll be back soon.”
***
Tbc for chapter two, i promise it wont be long