A couple of nights after the visit, Edmund agreed to go with Peter and (R/2) to see a play that was happening in a town far out. As they sit in their seats and watch the actors on the stage, (R/2) cannot help but relate to what is happening. The play is centered around a man and a woman who are in a relationship, but the woman is waiting for the man to ask for her hand in marriage.

(R/2) sighs. When will Peter propose to me? She thinks.

xxx

"Let's go!" Peter almost sings, bursting into Edmund's private room.

Edmund jumps from where he sits by a table. He was deeply indulged in a book and now he's been distracted.

"Where?" Edmund asks, slightly annoyed.

"There's a Telmarine ball tonight." Peter says as if it were obvious.

"You and (R/2) go."

"(R/2) has gone away to become godmother to her cousin's baby."

Peter slides open a drawer and starts to take out a tunic and vest.

"Come on. You might meet a nice girl there." Peter says, putting the clothes down on the table on top of Edmund's book.

"I do not want to go to another Telmarine ball." Edmund huffs, sliding his book out from under the clothes.

"When in Rome, you do as the Romans." Peter says, "When in Narnia, you go to balls. Now get dressed."

xxx

Edmund has never been a fan of balls. He understands the diplomatic side of it, but as for entertainment, he could be less than confused. Why do people find pleasure in dancing, anyway? He thinks. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a woman standing by herself and his foot moves forward to ask her to dance, but a prince makes it there before he does.

There is definitely no pleasure in dancing.

However, his brother couldn't be having any more fun. Peter's dancing with his third princess tonight and she looks absolutely entranced by him. Edmund rolls his eyes. When the song finishes, Peter leads the princess back over to her group of friends and then makes his way over to Edmund.

"She's pretty, isn't she?" Peter asks, "Her friend is pretty too. I think she's looking at you."

"No, she isn't." Edmund mumbles.

"I swear that she is. Why don't you ask her to dance?"

"I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to."

Peter looks over at the woman and then back at his brother.

"She's got nice legs." He says.

"So?" Edmund asks.

"So it's not a sin if you dance with a Telmarine girl."

Edmund has never been a religious-minded person nor has he ever thought that people are either blessed or punished, but he has started to think about the blemish of sins ever since his association with the White Witch.

"Maybe it is a sin if you already have a girlfriend, Peter." Edmund says.

"(R/2) isn't here." Peter says almost defensively, awkwardly adjusting his collar.

Edmund raises his eyebrow.

"I was dancing, Edmund." Peter says, "I was just dancing. It's not a sin."

Edmund shakes his head and turns away from his brother. He's never been all too pleased with the way he treats (R/2). (R/2) is too pure for what she goes through. She's too smart and kind and deserves someone who will marry her wholeheartedly. Edmund knows how long (R/2) has been waiting for Peter to propose. It isn't fair to her.

Peter sighs and places his hand on Edmund's shoulder to lead him out of the room. They quickly pass by Caspian to say goodbye before they leave the ball.

xxx

The doors to the great hall burst open and Edmund raises his head at the sound, along with his siblings. Lady Carmellina walks into the room with two guards escorting her.

"This time I have a feeling, Edmund!" She says excitedly, "And when I get a feeling, I am never wrong."

Edmund wishes he could groan out-loud.

"Lady Carmellina, have you found someone for our brother?" Susan asks, although her voice has a tinge of uncertainty in it.

"I haven't found someone, Susan. I have found the one."

Peter looks over at Edmund and then across the table at Lucy. She smiles brightly and stands from her chair.

"What's her name?" She asks.

"(R/1)." Lady Carmellina replies.

Susan nods her head at the guards for them to leave and then stands up as lady Carmellina walks over to Lucy to show her a sketch of the woman. Peter makes his way around the table to get a look at the sketch as well. Lucy's face brightens.

"To say her family has nothing is an understatement." Lady Carmellina shakes her head, "They have less than nothing."

"So she's not a princess?" Peter asks.

Susan and Lucy turn to shoot a glare at him.

"No, she's not a princess." Lady Carmellina confirms, "Her father has muscular dystrophy."

"What happened to him?" Susan asks.

"He came back from the war that way."

Lucy furrows her eyebrows. If only she was there to give him her healing cordial. As the sketch passes between each sibling, Peter finds himself staring at it the longest. Susan picks up on this and clears her throat.

"Let Edmund see." She says.

Peter turns around to walk over to his brother, but lady Carmellina stops him by holding his arm.

"She will not last." She explains, "Edmund must write to her today."

Peter nods and walks over to his brother, his hand already outstretched with the sketch in it. Edmund slaps his book shut and stands up quickly, snatching the sketch out of Peter's hand in an annoyed frustration. How could she be any different from all the other women he wrote to? What is so special about her that lady Carmellina had to rush over to show him-- oh.

Edmund's thoughts pause as he looks at the sketch in his hands. She's beautiful. Peter steps beside him, after smiling over at his sisters, and places his hand on Edmund's shoulder.

"Come on, Edmund." He says, "You can do it."

"How many letters?" Edmund asks quietly, "And sketches? How many months backward and forwards, Peter?"

"No, not this time. None of this backward and forwards nonsense. One letter with your sketch. Everything for one last time."

Edmund continues to stare at the sketch of (R/1). Even if she is beautiful--which she most certainly is--why would she accept him? With every sketch that he has sent of himself, he has hated how he looks. If there was no sketch, just his heartfelt letter, then maybe he would have been married by now. But he isn't handsome.

"You can do it, Edmund," Lucy says. "You can do it."

xxx

Edmund spent the night pouring his heart out letter after letter until he had written what he felt would express himself the best. He had wasted many papers to write exactly what he feels, but he didn't care. Everything for one last time.

(R/1),
I am a simple man of ordinary dreams. My ambition is to work hard and live a good, honest life. One that I can be well-remembered for. Above all, I would like someone to share that life with me. Of one thing I am certain, I am undeserving of such beauty. But I will live with the hope that destiny will find a way to bring us together.
Edmund Pevensie.

Short and personal. Edmund actually feels good about this letter. The only sketch of himself he has left is one where he was drawn next to his brother. In a way, Edmund always liked the sketch of him and Peter. He feels as if they were happy in that one moment of time and that because it was drawn the happiness could last forever.

Edmund takes his dagger out to slice the sketch in two. He holds the side of the sketch where it is now only him. He stares at his drawn eyes for a long time. And then slowly he moves his arm to look down at the side of the sketch where it is only Peter. And for the first time since his betrayal, Edmund feels himself sinning.

He takes the sketch of Peter and places it on top of his letter, folding it correctly and slipping it into the envelope. He writes the destination as neatly as possible and then walks out of his private room and outside into the courtyard.

"You took an awfully long time." Peter sighs, standing up from where he was leaning on a tree. "You shouldn't leave the courier waiting. He has important letters to deliver."

Edmund remains silent as he steps forward to his brother. He doesn't break eye contact as he is deep in thought about what he is doing. Maybe this is a bad idea. No, it is definitely a bad idea. He should go back inside and put his sketch in the letter, not his brother's.

"What are you waiting for?" Peter asks, taking the envelope out of Edmund's hands.

He turns around and gives it to the courier, and just like that he rides away with Edmund's letter. But with Peter's sketch.