Trials of Faith

Chapter II

Chapter II

Following lunch, Peter and Edmund have forensics and debate. Peter hates this class because they sit in the front of the room, under the close scrutiny of Mrs. Burke, the teacher.

"Good afternoon, class." Mrs. Burke says. "Today, we are going to hold a mock trial in the cafetorium."

Edmund groans. "What's the point of that? We just came from the cafetorium." He complains to Peter.

"Exercise won't harm you, Ed. You need to burn off all those calories from lunch."

"It's Jacob who needs to burn off all 5,000 calories he consumed in one meal alone!" Edmund chuckles.

Peter grins. "Can you imagine Oreius seeing him?" He asks, fondly remembering their strict, but caring swordsmanship teacher. "He would have a heart attack."

Edmund laughs. "Or he'd work Jacob so hard, he'd have a heart attack."

Peter begins to laugh as well, but quickly subsides when he sees Mrs. Burke coming their way. He jabs his brother, who quickly stops as well.

"Sorry, Mrs. Burke." Edmund suppresses yet more laughter as his teacher gives the boys a stern look. "We were just discussing our vast interest in Forensics and Debate. Weren't we, Peter?"

"Oh, yes." Peter says in such a way that suggests to most he is completely serious. Only his siblings knew he was being sarcastic.

"Well,' The teacher thinks for a moment. "Edmund, why don't you be our cross-examiner for our prosecuting side today?"

Edmund laughs aloud. "That's a good one, Mrs. Burke. Really and truly."

Peter groans softly. "Edmund, pull yourself together and start acting like the king of Narn-umm-11 year old you are! She was being completely serious." He scolds his brother.

"Oh, Peter. You don't get our lovely teacher's wonderful sense of humour, do you?" He looks at Mrs. Burke as if to say,'please, ask someone else.'

Mrs. Burke, unfortunately for Edmund, does not possess such a sense of humour. "What are you waiting for, young man? A handwritten invitation! Go, up to the front! You're wasting my class time!"

"Peter volunteers to take my place." Edmund says as he rises.

"Peter does not, ma'am." The named says to the teacher.

"Thanks, Peter. What a quality older brother you're being!"

"I didn't see you trying to help me with battle tactics." Peter replies to his brother's back. "Besides, you're much better at this than you think you are." He mumbles.

"You didn't seem to need my help with battle tactics! You got enough help from Asl- the books you've read. Yeah, the books."

"Enough, boys." Mrs. Burke says. "Jacob, other podium."

Edmund groans in protest. "Mrs. Burke, I think I'm coming down with something. May I go to the nurse's office?"

"Young man, do not try to avoid my class again or you have detention." Mrs. Burke threatens.

Edmund looks to Peter, hoping he might offer some sort of solution.

Peter sighs. "I'll do it." He tells Mrs. Burke.

"No, you won't. Edmund will." Mrs. Burke replies.

"What? Are you afraid I'll beat you out as always, Eddie?" Jacob taunts.

"Of course not." Edmund responds, sounding more confident than he feels.

You'll do great." Peter encourages him, ruffling Edmund's hair. "Just pretend you're back in Narnia presiding over a trial."

Yeah, just visit your imaginary kingdom, baby." Jacob mocked the boys once more, standing only now to follow the teacher's instructions, and purposefully eavesdropping on Peter and Edmund's conversation. Peter scowls at the overweight boy, but says nothing. He hadn't thought he'd said Narnia that loudly; he needed  to be more careful.

Edmund pulls Peter's hand away from his hair. He shakes his head as he walks behind one of the two podiums on the stage of the cafetorium.

"I can do this." He says more to himself than to Peter, Jacob, or Mrs. Burke.

As Edmund stands behind the podium,  Peter silently takes in how his brother still looks every bit the king of Narnia that he is. Even without his kingly garb, crown, or sword, Edmund has a confidence about him that few 11 year olds possess.

"What's the topic of today's debate, Mrs. Burke?" Edmund asks.

"Today's mock trial will be based on the play you recently read, Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. You may only use the play for witness. Burden of proof: beyond a reasonable doubt. This side," She points to the podium Edmund is on. "Will be defenders. You must defend Brutus, and the conspirators and prove that they were justified in killing Caesar. The other side, you will be prosecutors. You must prove the conspirators were not justified killing Caesar and are thus guilty of treason. Edmund, you will start off as the cross examiner for Marc Antony, the key witness for the prosecuting side."

"Great." Edmund says aloud.

"Will Marc Antony and his examiner please stand at the witness stand." The examiner begins to question his witness, who was none other than Jacob. Meanwhile, Edmund listens carefully to conversation, trying to pick up any lies or incorrectly answered questions or facts. Quicker than he expected, the examiner is done. It's his turn now.

"Marc Antony, is it true that you rallied the Roman people against the conspirators at Caesar's funeral?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps, is it correct to say that you were blinded by your love for Caesar and did not see the perspective of the conspirators?"

"Yes."

"Did you want to see another king of Rome?"

"Yes."

"Did you have a close relationship to Caesar?" 

"Yes." And there was what Edmund had been look for.

"So, ultimately, the only reason you want the conspirators executed is so that you can take Rome over for yourself?"

"Well, no, I-"

Edmund cuts him off. "You admitted you loved Caesar so much that you were not even able to try and understand the conspirators case, which means you truly have no right to judge, as you too close to one of the parties. You admitted that you wanted another king of Rome. Casaer did as well. You had a close relationship with him. You rallied the Romans together so that they would favor you. All this points to one thing. You were in the perfect position to gain Caesar's power for yourself."

The rest of the trial went smoothly, and the Defending side ended up winning. As the class begins to exit, Peter catches up with Edmund. "You know, the only reason the defending side won was because of you." He tells his brother.

"I know," Edmund smiles broadly. "But I couldn't have done it without you."

"What did I do? You were the one that came up with the questions that trapped Marc Antony. It was satisfying to see Jacob's face when you trapped him."

Edmund laughs. "Wasn't it? But seriously, I couldn't have gathered the courage to stand up there if it weren't for you."

Peter shakes his head. "I couldn't have done that for you. Only you could find the courage to go up there, I had nothing to do with it."

Edmund raises his eyebrow. "I thought you'd jump at the chance to share the credit. I was honestly afraid to go up against Jacob. He's a 12th year. I'm a 10th year. I was afraid until you treated me as an equal. You can't deny that, Peter. Besides, are you really going to try and argue with me after watching that debate?" He smirks.

Peter gives an exasperated sigh. "Come on, Mr. Next Prime Minister." He says, and drags his brother towards their dorm in a headlock.

"Hey! Geroff!" Edmund says laughing.

Suddenly, Jacob obstructs their path, with a couple of his cronies.