Fandom:The Chronicles of Narnia (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe)
Title:Acceptance 1/1
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None really.
Summary: After the battle's won, Edmund reflects on a moment he had always longed for.

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Sounds of boisterous celebration echoed outside the tent. The creatures of Narnia - centaurs, animals and others he couldn't quite describe - danced around bonfires, singing folksongs as loud as they could raise their voices.

Edmund lay quietly in his cot, a small smile of satisfaction on his lips. They had won the battle, he had helped to defeat the witch - although almost dying had frightened him terribly - and in a few days, he'd finally be made a King. Looking back now, it seemed like his miserable moments in the witch’s company had happened to someone else – to a foolish, irrational boy who would have done anything for petty jealousy and the sweet taste of temptation.

The tent flap flew open suddenly and Lucy stuck her head in, cheeks flushed and rosy with happiness. "Won't you come out to join us, Edmund?" she asked. "Mr Tumnas is going to play us a song with his flute! It's going to be awfully exciting."

"Not now," Edmund replied with a small but warm smile. "I'm a bit tired from everything...you know."

"Oh." She contemplated for a moment before running in to give him another fierce hug. "I'm so glad you're back, Edmund," she whispered. "We all are."

With a quick kiss on his flushed cheek, she ran out of the tent again, leaving him with a somewhat silly grin on his countenance. Lucy might be a pain sometimes, but she did have a good heart. He couldn't believe he had actually hated her hugs for they were warm and comforting.

However...

Edmund's cheeks darkened as he sat up and raised his knees to his chest. He wrapped his arms around them and stole a quick glance at Peter's empty bed. His older brother had been magnificent in the battle today and Edmund couldn't be any prouder of him. He knew it would take some time for the people and creatures of Narnia to release him tonight for they were all really celebrating the future King’s bravery and courage.

Silently, Edmund got off his cot and walked towards the abandoned but blood-stained armor on the floor. With hands that trembled gently, he picked it up and held it to his chest. He could still feel the warmth from Peter's body and felt his heartbeat quicken at the memory of that hug - a hug he had so longed for all these years.

It was Peter who always made fun of him. Peter who always called him a baby, a child. Peter who could never see him as anything more than a nuisance. That very same Peter had cried for him today - had fought for him and finally treated him like an equal.

"Peter…my king," he whispered, flushing as a 'strange' and not too unpleasant reaction ensued in his young body. Deciding he was being a trifle bit foolish, he moved to drape the armor on a chair when the tent flap opened again and this time, Peter's grinning visage appeared.

Edmund let out a breathless squeak.

"What are you doing in here?" Peter asked jovially. "Come join us! The real party's just beginning!"

"I don't...I'm not sure..."

"Oh come now. Don't be such a downer," Peter said, reaching out to grasp his brother's wrist. "We'll drink and be merry tonight. Besides, Aslan wants to thank you personally."

Edmund waited for the pain – the usual squeeze of his wrist to make him cry – something Peter enjoyed doing whenever mother wasn’t looking. But tonight there was nothing – nothing but a firmness and strength in that grasp that showed he would never be ignored again. Never ever again.

"Oh...okay," he finally replied. “I’ll come.”

For Edmund knew he couldn't deny the great King's request anyway. And as he followed Peter willingly, he knew in his heart, that he would never be able to deny his brother anything he could ever want.