Trials of Faith

Chapter XV

Edmund follows his father into the study.

Lt. Pevensie glances in the general direction of his son and begins speaking in a muffled, hushed tone before hanging up the telephone.

"I hate telephones." he sighs.

"So you've said," Edmund begins. "Who was on the line?"

"Captain Schultz. He was contacted by the general of our regiment. We...we've been called back from leave."

"You're being deployed?!" Edmund raises his voice, giving his father a look of disbelief that he had grown quite accustomed to over the years.

"I can't disobey my orders, son. If my superiors have decided to deploy me again, there isn't much I can do."

"Did you tell him you were with your family? You should have mentioned that to him!" Edmund declares quite irrationally.

Lt. Pevensie sighs. "Everyone is with their families, Ed. My commanding officer knows that. He didn't make the decision either. Someone higher did. Don't get angry about something you can't change." He soothes his irritated son.

"Get him back on the line!" Edmund demands with kingly authority.

***

Peter, impatient of sitting around and waiting, decides to seek out his brother and father himself. Rising, he walks out of the room and down the hall to the study.

"Can I come in?" He calls, after he knocks on the door.

No one responds. Peter takes the silence as a yes, and pushes the door open.

Edmund repeats his demand. "Get him back on the line, Father! I wish to speak with him."

"Edmund Pevensie!" Peter calls with that same kingly authority Edmund had just used. "I don't know what the situation is, but that is no way to speak to your superiors." Peter rebukes sternly.

"King outranks Lieutenant last I checked!" Edmund retorts.

"Ed." Peter hisses, shooting a glance at their father.

"What on Earth are you boys talking about?" Lt. Pevensie wonders.

"Great." Peter grumbles under his breath. 'Now what?' His brain tries to find a good excuse for Edmund's words.

"It's just a game, Father." Peter explains. "One Ed's taking far too seriously."

Lt. Pevensie raises an eyebrow. "Indeed." He has his suspicions, but holds his tongue.

"What's this all about, anyway?" Peter asks, desperate to change the subject.

"Dad's being deployed again!" Edmund exclaims in an outrage.

"I don't see why you're mad, Ed. It's not like Father can chose not to leave." Peter reasons.

"Oh, please! Like you're not upset?" Edmund snaps back.

Peter's tone turns defensive. "I never said I wasn't! You know Father's position exactly! We didn't have a choice either! I mean, you know his position ...hypothetically! In Lucy's game, we never had a choice either!" Peter inwardly sighs as he slips again. He doesn't understand why they were sent back...

Edmund opens his mouth to speak yet more insanity no doubt, but he sighs realising the truth behind his elder brother's words. "You're right. I've been a prat about this."

Peter doesn't disagree with him. "I understand why, though." He says. "Father will need to break the news to the girls. We can't look sad, or the girls will be even worse off."