"You look very handsome, Edmund." (R/2) had said as she brushed her fingers through his dark brown hair.

He wasn't exactly paying attention until he had heard his name, and then instantly looked up at her when he realized she had used the word 'handsome' in the same sentence. It was easy for him to think that she meant it as a compliment aside from just being nice, but he remembered where they were and why she had said it in the first place.

Edmund was sitting on the steps in the courtyard with (R/2) standing in front of him. She was cutting his hair for his wedding day. His wedding day. He didn't want to have to say, or even think, those words.

(R/2) had originally asked why Edmund wanted to be outside when she cut his hair-- as he already has a room in the castle that is used for such treatments-- but Edmund said he rather the fresh air. In all honesty, he merely needed a place where he could distract himself. Outside seemed to fit the preference.

"(R/1) is going to be so impressed." (R/2) continued, her smile lighting up.

Edmund has always thought that her smile is brighter than the sun. He was going to thank her for the compliment, but at the mention of (R/1)'s name, he kept his mouth shut.

"I'm so happy for you."

(R/2) took the comb from the pocket of her woven apron that she wears especially for when she does work that gets her hands dirty, so to speak. She's always loved cutting people's hair. She doesn't know why, but it's a fascination that developed when she was young. She brings the comb up and brushes back the hair on Edmund's head; her fingers occasionally sweeping through his strands to feel their length.

"Peter is happy for you, too." She speaks, "You don't know how important this is to him. He always said he wouldn't get married until you did. That's how much it means to him."

Edmund slowly looks up at (R/2) so as not to disturb her work with his hair. Peter said that he wanted me to get married before him? Edmund doesn't believe it. Peter has always been the type of guy that girls fawn over and he loves the attention. Why wouldn't he want to marry someone?

"It won't be long now before we're all married." (R/2) smiles, but Edmund can see the restraint behind her lips.

He hadn't noticed until now-- again getting lost in his thoughts-- but (R/2) had gotten closer to him. Her face was mere inches above his. And for some reason, he liked the intimacy.

"Won't that be wonderful?" She finishes.

"Yes, princess." Edmund smiles up at her.

She stills her hands by his head.

"(R/2), Edmund. It's (R/2). I'm not a princess."

It's true that she isn't of royal birth, but it was a nickname Edmund had given her when they had first met so many years ago. For some reason (R/2) never seemed to like it, but Edmund called her that whenever he wanted to make her feel special. And he wants her to feel special all the time.

xxx

"Did you give up your happiness for me?" Edmund asks as he steps into Peter's study.

His brother looks up from a map that is rolled out on the long wooden table in the middle of the room. His eyebrows furrow.

"What?" Peter asks.

"You waited for me to marry before you." Edmund explains as he steps closer, "(R/2) told me. Is it true?"

"No." Peter shakes his head as he looks down at the map again, "Besides, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Edmund takes another step closer to his brother.

"Did you lie to (R/2)?" He asks.

"No, I didn't lie to (R/2)."

Peter moves around the table and Edmund follows.

"But if you didn't lie to her then you must be lying to me." He says, "And if you're not lying to me then you must've lied to her. One way or the other, Peter--"

"I'm not lying to anyone!" Peter protests.

"Peter, I'm your brother." Edmund raises his finger, "I don't mind if you lie to me."

"I didn't lie to you!"

"But you shouldn't lie to (R/2). It's not right. She doesn't deserve it."

Peter stares at Edmund for a moment before he looks back down at the map on the table. There's a knock at the door and the two Pevensie brothers turn to see (R/2) enter the study.

"Peter, would you like your hair cut?" She asks.

Edmund glances over at his brother.

"Not today, (R/2)." Peter says.

xxx

The town was delighted that the weather was perfect today. Not too windy and not too hot. And (R/1) walked down the cobblestone roads with a smile on her face.

As she is to be married to a man who lives much further away from her home, (R/1)'s family had asked of her to create a wedding day just for them. She loved the idea. After all, her family would not be able to travel with her. They don't have the money.

She's clothed in her mother's wedding dress, happy that it fit her as well as it did her mother back on her wedding day. Her father's arm hooked around hers as he walks with her; his other hand applying pressure to his walking stick each time it touched the ground. Her siblings and aunties and uncles walk behind her, along with her mother and grandmother.

The veil covers the top of (R/1)'s eyes and blocks out the sunlight that shines down from above all the houses in the town. Her sisters had collected a beautiful assortment of wildflowers for a bouquet for her, and as she holds it in her hands she thinks of the flowers drawn on the cover of the book which contains her love story.

When they all had reached the church at the top of the hills on the opposite side of the town, a crowd of excited townsfolk throws flower petals in the air as (R/1) walks inside. The town she and her family live in is quite small so everyone knows each other. And the church itself isn't very big, but it was filled today.

Her father walks her down the aisle and kisses her cheek. She smiles at him and then her brother takes his place, looking up at her with a happy expression. He places the wedding band on her finger and then kisses her cheek as well, before sitting down with the others. (R/1) now turns to face the priest and lifts her veil; kneeling down and placing her hands together.

As the priest talks, (R/1) opens her hands slightly to look at the sketch of her husband-to-be-- which she had secretly stowed in her bouquet and is now in her palms. She smiles down at the handsome face and then closes her hands together, looking back up at the priest.

She'll be with Edmund soon.

xxx

The Dawn Treader creaks as Edmund steps up the wooden ramp and onto the deck. Many of the crew greet him, but he is only here to see one person. Edmund walks down the steps and into the Captain's quarters, making sure that the door is closed behind him.

"Edmund, what are you doing here?" Caspian asks, looking up from the table which has papers, maps, and compasses scattered across it.

"I need to tell you something, Caspian." Edmund says, "I need to tell someone."

"What's the matter?"

Edmund opens his mouth to speak but suddenly cannot find the words. He sighs and pulls the chair at the front of the table backward and then sits down to look at Caspian at eye-level.

"I'm afraid it's too late, Caspian." He says quietly.

"It is never too late, Edmund." Caspian encourages him, "I'm sure whatever has happened can be resolved."

"No, Caspian. It's too late."

"What is it, Edmund?"

Caspian leans back on his chair and folds his fingers together. He listens patiently as his friend-- his brother that he's never had-- pours out what has been bothering him. He nods every now and then to reassure Edmund that he is hearing every word, but the more he speaks the slower his nods become.

And then as soon as Edmund finishes, Caspian's eyebrows raise in shock.

xxx

There was a new bed in Edmund's private room when he had returned to the castle that night. It's much bigger than the bed he had previously. He steps towards it cautiously and then touches the mattress, surprised by how soft it feels. He presses his hands down on it two and three more times, then turns to sit on it. Then he bounces up and down.

"(R/2) and I are going out, do you want to come?" Peter asks, walking through the door.

Edmund immediately stands from the bed and tries to act as if he were not sitting on it in the first place.

"Ah, like the bed?" Peter asks, seeing his brother spring up suddenly, "I got it for you."

"Why?" Edmund asks.

"It's a wedding present."

Peter steps further into the room and looks down at the bed, then back at his brother.

"Actually, it's better that you get an early night's rest." Peter decides, "You've got a big day tomorrow. We have to leave first thing."

Peter goes to leave the room, but Edmund stops him.

"Peter, wait." He says, "There's something on my mind."

"There's always something on your mind, Edmund. Even when there isn't." Peter says.

"No, this time... this time there really is."

Peter runs a hand through his hair. He's got some time to spare anyway.

"What?" He asks.

"It's about (R/1)." Edmund says slowly.

Peter's lips twitch upwards slightly and then he steps closer to his brother.

"Look, tomorrow night it'll be her here instead of me. Husband and wife. Mr and Mrs Edmund Pevensie."

Edmund looks at his brother in silence. Peter sighs thoughtfully.

"I'm sure she knows what to expect on her wedding night." He says, "Her mother would have told her about it. It's only natural."

When Edmund remains silent, Peter raises his eyebrow.

"Haven't you ever done it before?" He asks. "With a girl you met at a ball? There's always good ones there."

"Done what?" Edmund looks at his brother quizzically. 

Peter presses his lips together before placing his arm around his brother's shoulder and sitting down on the bed with him.

"Look, you sit her down. Just like this." Peter starts, his hands moving up and down, "You start talking and then before she knows it..."

He slaps his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Your hand's on her shoulder." Peter says, "You see how easy it is. And then one thing will lead to another and before you know it, you'll be doing it. Of course you will. What else are you going to do on your wedding night?"

Edmund looks down at his brother's hand on his shoulder and then slowly looks over at him. What on earth-- in Narnia-- is he thinking that I need to know? Edmund thinks. Surely Peter hasn't done this with girls other than (R/2)... right?

"Right, well. I've got to go. Get a good night's sleep." Peter says, standing from the bed.

He smiles down at his brother one last time before he turns and leaves the room. How come this always seems to happen when Edmund is trying to tell someone something?

xxx

That next morning the Pevensie siblings along with Caspian and (R/2) were waiting in the courtyard for the fourth and most important Pevensie on this day-- Edmund-- to join them. He was supposed to be outside with them so that they could greet (R/1) when she arrives in the kingdom. Her journey was by boat so Caspian had made sure that everyone could get a chance to meet the Mrs Pevensie to be.

"What is taking Edmund so long?" Peter asks.

(R/2) tucks her hair behind her ear as she looks around the courtyard. Susan pats down the front of her dress as Caspian places a flower crown on top of Lucy's head. She smiles brightly as he does so.

"He's most likely nervous, Peter." (R/2) says, "Give him time."

"We don't have time." Peter sighs.

He walks across the courtyard and inside the castle, where he sees Edmund standing and looking at the wedding decorations that the servants had put around. 

"Edmund, what have you been doing?" Peter asks, making his way towards his brother.

Edmund almost looks caught in the act, as if he were doing something wrong.

"What is (R/1) going to think if there is no one there to greet her?" Peter asks, then he chuckles as he looks his brother up and down, "Look at you."

He steps forward and centers the royal cloak on Edmund's shoulders. He pats the fabric down and smooths out any creases. When his brother remains silent, Peter sighs.

"Brighten up a little, Edmund." He says, "Now come on."

Peter turns and starts to walk down the hallway.

"I sent your sketch," Edmund says quickly.

"What sketch?" Peter asks, turning around to look at his brother, "What are you talking about?"

"Your sketch, Peter. I sent it."

Peter shakes his head slightly wondering what his brother is talking about, and then he begins to understand.

"My sketch?" He asks slowly, "You sent my sketch?"

Edmund slowly nods.

"You sent my sketch instead of yours?!"

"Yes."

Peter steps towards his brother until their faces are inches apart. His hand scrunches into a fist at his side and then he steps back a little.

"Tell me... tell me that it was a mistake." Peter says.

Edmund lowers his head slightly, his eyes blinking up at his brother. Peter turns around quickly and runs out of the castle and back into the courtyard. Edmund follows behind him, trying to catch up to him. 

"What are you going to do, Edmund?" Peter asks with ferocity, "She thinks I'm you!"

Susan, Lucy, Caspian, and (R/2) all look at each other and then back over at the two brothers.

"What are you going to say to her when she gets here? Did you even consider that?!" Peter shouts.

Edmund finds himself shrinking with each word that Peter throws at him.

"Peter, what is it?" (R/2) asks.

"I'm not you, Edmund!" Peter shouts, ignoring (R/2), "I am not you!"

He turns back around and strides over to (R/2), taking her by the hand.

"We're not going, (R/2)." He says.

"What?" She asks, looking between him and Edmund.

"I want nothing to do with this!"

"What's the matter?" Susan asks.

"Edmund will explain. Won't you, Edmund?" Peter glares over at his brother.

Edmund looks over at his sisters and then at Caspian, who is already looking at him. Peter pushes past his brother and goes back inside the castle with (R/2). 

"Edmund?" Lucy asks.

He swallows awkwardly before walking over to the three of them to explain everything. At the same time, Peter sits (R/2) down at the table in the dining room.

"It's like this, (R/2)." He starts, his hand raking through his hair roughly, "When Edmund sent the sketch to (R/1), he didn't send a sketch of him. He sent a sketch of me. And right now she thinks I am him. But when she arrives today, the Edmund she expects is not the Edmund she'll see."

Peter takes a breath as (R/2) absorbs the information. He looks around the room-- seeing all the wedding decorations and becoming even more furious-- and then looks back over at (R/2), ready to continue talking.

"That Edmund is me."