PEVENSIES

Winter [edmund + peter]

It was snowing again, and he just wanted it to stop. As a kid, Edmund had loved the snow. He would go sledding, ice skating and have snowball fights. Now all of the fun just seemed to have disappeared from if all.
He shivered a little as some of the winter air escaped through the balcony. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Edmund knew that shouldn't bother him, but it did. He wanted to be excited and happy about the weather but that wasn't possible.

He heard giggling and turned around, seeing Lucy, Susan and Peter running across the hall, covered in snow flakes.
Lucy was running from Susan and Peter, clearly playing a game of some sort.
Lucy ran over to Edmund in her heavy snow boots and cape and hid behind her older brother.
Despite his current mood, he smiled.

"You can't hide behind Edmund, that's cheating" peter pointed out, but Lucy didn't move.
"We're playing catch, but Lucy runs incredibly fast, even in the snow" Susan said, flushed and out of breath.

"Sounds fun" Edmund said, trying to sound casual. His siblings saw right through it but didn't say anything.
Lucy peeked her head out from behind Edmund and ran straight at Peter, tackling him to the ground.
Susan laughed slightly and Edmund raised his eyebrows.
"Lucy's being trained in combat. I can see she's learning fast" Susan muttered to Edmund who nodded in agreement.
Peter was shocked by his little sisters strength and laughed as he finally sat up.

"Come on, it's time to go to the library and sit by the fire" Susan said noticing how cold she was, and supposed Lucy and Peter must feeling the same.
Edmunds eyes lit up. He liked the library. He could cope with the library.
"I'd like that" Edmund said "even though I've been inside, it's been cold" he admitted.
Peter lifted up Lucy and gave her a piggyback all the way to the library whilst Susan linked arms with Edmund.
It didn't take long to get there and to their delight, the fire was already lit.
Edmund was the first one over there, feeling immediately calmer when the heat projected onto him.
He couldn't have stood the cold for one more second. It reminded him too much of...her.

Lucy ran over to sit beside Edmund and warmed up her hands and took off her snow boots.
Peter took off his snow covered cape and placed it near the fire to dry.
Susan did the same and unbraided her hair beside the fire.
Edmund was sat with Lucy on one side of him and peter on the other, both shivering but still smiling

"We built a snowman" Lucy said to Edmund who just nodded.
"Really?" Edmund asked, his eyes darting down. Usually peter and Edmund would have made a snowman together but he hadn't been there.
Peter noticed and immediately just shrugged.
"Wasn't much fun without you" peter said smiling.
Lucy glared at peter and he chuckled.
"Oh come on, even you have to admit that it wasn't as fun without Ed" peter said.
Lucy just nodded and grinned slightly, making Edmund finally smile.
This smile was real, not fake. He'd been faking smiles far too much lately.

Just then one of the fauns that worked at the palace kitchens came through with a tray full of amazing snacks. Sandwiches, salads, roasts and so many sweets.
Lucy's eyes practically lit up and she hopped to her feet, excitedly picking a sandwich for herself.

The faun placed the tray on the small table near the fire and bowed with a smile.
Peter nodded gratefully before grabbing a thermal cup with a secure lid. The beavers had made sure to always keep their drinks warm, especially when they'd been out in the snow for almost 3 hours. Edmund was certain they'd all come down with a cold soon.

He eyed the sandwiches and took one for himself silently before grabbing a thermal cup for himself.
Without even thinking about it, he drank. He regretted it instantly.
The sickly taste of hot chocolate slipped down and his whole body went numb. He immediately dropped the cup, making the others look at him. The steaming hot chocolate stained the floor and Edmund seemed completely frozen.