Even a traitor may mend || The chronicles of narnia

Cair Paravel

Edmund took a deep breath as he woke the next morning, blinking in the bright light and curling up closer against his brother.
Peter was still surprisingly asleep, usually he was awake before Edmund, but he was obviously exhausted, and probably not just from the battle.
As Edmud stared up at him, he realised for the first time how tired he actually looked, and a stab of guilt hit him.
Peter was exhausted from taking care of his siblings, back in England when he felt like he had to protect them from every little thing, look after them... do everything dad used to do.
And with a sigh, Edmund realised that he probably hadn't made that easy for him, actually, he'd probably just made it a hundred times worse.
But then they had stumbled through a wardrobe into a magical land... and Edmund had decided to betray his siblings and run off after some evil witch.
Swallowing hard, Edmund rested his head back against his brothers chest, wrapping an arm carefully around his waist and being careful not to wake Peter.
He understood now just how worried that had obviously made all of his siblings, Peter in particular.
Peter was always the protective sort, ever since probably Susan was born, and that need to protect his siblings had doubled when the war started... and then obviously tripled when they'd come to Narnia.
And Edmund being captured and hurt probably hadn't helped much.
Edmund couldn't help but roll his eyes. Much? It hadn't helped at all, and he couldn't help but feel guilty about this.
He lay there for what felt like forever, just going over the last week or so, the good and the bad, before Peter finally woke.
Edmund stared at him until they made eye contact, giving him a small smile when a look of confusion appeared on Peter's face.
After a while though, Peter seemed to remember last night, and smiled back. "Morning." He said, yawning as his arm tightened from where it was still, even now, wrapped around Edmund's shoulders.
"Morning." Edmund returned, hesitantly sitting up, but even then Peter still kept a hand rested on his shoulder.
"You feeling okay?" Peter asked gently, a look of sympathy on his face when Edmund tried, but failed to hide a wince.
"A little yeah." Edmund breathed. "It's still sore I guess, but there's nothing I can do about that."
"You could take another drop of Lucy's cordial?" Peter suggested slowly, wondering if that would work.
But Edmund shook his head. "It's fine." He sighed. "I'll live."
Peter smiled and nodded a little before he too sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the hammock before heading over to the corner of the tent, grabbing the water jug and filling a cup with water.
To Edmund's surprise he walked back over and handed it to him, and he could tell that he hadn't been able to hide the surprise on his face.
Peter smiled gently. "Have a drink." He said. "You need it."
"Why?" Edmund muttered, even as he took the drink and took a sip.
Peter hesitated. "You - you lost a lot of blood." He explained. "And you're weak, some water will help."
Edmund nodded slowly, drinking the whole cup before placing it on the nearby table and standing, blinking back sleep.
"I think we're heading to Cair - Cair Paravel today." Peter said, trying to remember what Aslan had called the castle.
Edmund just stared at him, frowning slightly.
"Oh, the castle." Peter said. "Where we're apparently going to be crowned kings and queens."
Edmund swallowed hard. Him, a king of Narnia? Why? After everything he'd done.
He could easily see Peter as a king, and his sisters as queens, but not himself...
King of the country he'd betrayed?
Surely that couldn't be right?
"Ed?"
Edmund looked up, shaking his head a little. "Sorry." He sighed. "Daydreaming."
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Well, please don't do it again." He muttered. "You scared me."
"Sorry." Was all Edmund mumbled, before looking up when a voice came from outside.
"Peter, Ed. You up?"
Susan.
"Yeah we're up." Peter replied.
"Can me and Lu come in?" Susan asked.
"Course." Peter replied with a small smile, and two seconds later Susan and Lucy ducked into the tent, Lucy making straight for Edmund and slipping her hand into his.
"You alright?" Edmund asked her, a small, concerned frown on his face.
"Uh hu." Lucy said, and Edmund was glad to see a genuine smile on her face.
"We were gonna say that we're leaving in an hour," Susan told her brother. "And that they need to take this tent down."
Peter frowned. "What time is it?" He asked.
"It's just gone midday." Susan sighed.
Edmund watched as Peter's eyes went slightly wider, and had to bite down on his lip to stop himself from laughing.
"It's fine Peter." Susan said quickly, also trying to keep back a smirk. "You were both exhausted, you needed the sleep."
Peter stared at her and nodded, but sighed away. "Still." He said slowly. "I dont think I've ever slept that late before."
Lucy giggled and rested her head against Edmund's arm, feeling her brothers arm wrap around her shoulders and smiling widely.
"Breakfast is over, but we kept you both back some food." Susan said with a gentle smile. "You want me to bring it in here?"
"No it's alright." Peter said. "I think we could both do with some fresh air. We'll eat outside."
Edmund nodded in agreement, and the four of them silently made their way outside, Susan immediately rushing off to get some food.
Whilst she was gone, Lucy chatted happily about her morning, whilst Peter and Edmund sat down together, Edmund resting his head against his brothers shoulder and listening to his sister, a smile on his face to see her so happy.
Whilst Edmund managed to eat half the food given to him, he knew that it obviously wasn't enough to please his older siblings, and even Lucy looked rather worried that he'd only eaten half, so for her sake he ate a little more, before sighing and placing the plate on the floor (obviously there was no table cause it had already been packed away)
"You sure you're done?" Susan asked, sounding rather apprehensive.
Edmund sighed and nodded his head. "I'm sure." He murmered.
Susan was about to talk again, but Peter cut her off. "It's alright." He said. "Ed's not feeling too well, but when he's better, he's gonna be eating a lot more."
Edmund rolled his eyes playfully. "Of course." He mumbled.
Peter smiled at him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and pulling him close.
Edmund instantly relaxed into his brothers arms, his eyes slipping shut as he let out a quiet sigh.

Edmund had no memory of falling asleep, but the next thing he knew he was being gently shaken, someone whispering his name. "Go 'way." Edmund grumbled, burying his face into whoever's shoulder was beside him.
He heard a sad sigh from someone, and a small chuckle from another, and realised that he had his face buried against Peter's shoulder, and Susan was knelt in front of him, carefully shaking him to get him to wake up. "We're leaving by the way." Came Susan's voice.
"Leaving where?" Edmund mumbled, voice muffled against Peter's tunic.
"Cair Paravel Ed." Peter replied, a sad tone to his voice.
Edmund sighed. "Now?" He asked.
"Yes now." Susan sighed.
"Alright." Edmund mumbled. "I'm up." With a sigh he sat up straight, pulling away from Peter and rubbing his eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"It's completely fine." Susan said. "Even Peter nearly fell asleep."
Edmund smirked a little at this, glancing at his brother who shook his head in amusement. "Come on then." Peter said, standing and pulling Edmund to his feet.
"How far is Cair Paravel?" Edmund asked.
"Aslan said we should be there by tonight." Susan told him. "But probably not until late, like 10."
"We're doing it all today?" Peter asked.
"I think so." Susan replied. "Everyone wants to start preparing for the coronation as soon as possible."
She said the last sentence rather slowly, looking rather apprehensive but obviously trying her hardest to hide it.
"Right." Peter murmered. "Come on then. Let's go."

☆☆☆

"We're gonna stop for a break a dinner." Lucy said happily as she ran up to her two brothers, a huge grin on her face. "And then continue afterwards."
Peter smiled at her, noticing everyone coming to a stop. "That's a good idea." He said, before turning to Edmund, who to his concern looked rather pale. "Ed?" He questioned. "You okay?"
Edmund looked up at him and nodded. "I'm okay." He breathed. "Just tired."
"Sit down." Peter sighed, sitting against a tree and bringing his brother down with him.
Edmund leant against Peter as he took a deep breath, his eyes slipping shut as he did.
"Ed don't fall asleep." Peter murmered. "You need to eat something."
"Do I have to?" Edmund replied, his eyes opening again.
"I'd prefer it if you did." Peter said slowly. "But I won't force you."
Edmund stared at him for a long while before sighing and sitting up again. "I'll have a little bit." He mumbled
Peter smiled. "Thank you." He said gently.
Lucy grinned before rushing off, calling: "I'll go and find Susan!" Over her shoulder.

☆☆☆

"Aslan said only about half an hour left." Susan told Peter as they walked along, only being able to see by the light of the torches some people held, but it was bright enough.
"Good." Peter murmered, tightening his grip around Edmund's shoulders.
Edmund seemed to almost be sleeping whilst walking, and Peter was starting to get worried at how tired he was, and even Lucy was starting to drop off from where she was leant against Aslan.
"Climb on my back." Aslan told her gently, and Lucy didn't even hesitate as she did, a small, grateful smile on her face.
Peter watched her with a smile of his own, before having to quickly catch his brother... who had now actually fallen asleep.
"Peter?"
Peter looked up at Aslan's voice, and smiled gratefully when the lion nodded behind him at Lucy.
Carefully lifting his brother off the ground, he placed him on Aslan's back behind Lucy, keeping a hand firmly on his shoulder as they continued walking.
And sure enough, within half an hour, Cair Paravel came into view.
Peter and Susan were both stunned by It's beauty, but they knew that they probably should get Edmund and Lucy into bed as soon as possible.
So Susan carefully lifted Lucy into her arms, and Peter lifted Edmund into his, and within ten minutes, they'd been led through the castle and up to four rooms.
"I'll let Lucy sleep with me tonight." Susan whispered as they were left alone outside the doors. "She can sleep in her own room tomorrow."
"I think I'll do the same with Ed." Peter mumbled, shifting his brother slightly to get a better grip so as not to drop him.
"Alright." Susan smiled. "Goodnight."
Peter smiled back. "Goodnight Su." He whispered, placing a kiss to the side of her head, before turning and entering the nearest room.

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S

o sorry it's been so long!!!🤦‍♀️😭🥺