It was another long taxing day at the Cair, not that Peter didn't like the work, but it was finally catching up to him. He was going to head back to his bed chambers to get some well earned rest when he noticed candles flickering in the Library. He decided he best extinguish them since he didn't want the entire library up in flames and besides no one should be in there at one in the morning.

Slowly he opened the heavy the wooden door, careful not to wake the girls whom were sleeping right down the hall. Peter continued to creep through the library blowing out candles as he went.

"Peter, wait don't blow that one out yet, I still have some reading to do on Archelandic law, not to mention some of Narnia's history shouldn't hurt. " Peter jumped in surprise; he didn't realize Edmund was still up here.

In the dim light Peter's fifteen year old brother looked pale and wan and the dark circles under his eyes seemed worse than normal. This was their second winter in Narnia and it still made Edmund uneasy with all of the memories it brought with it. Luckily, it is almost over and spring should bring everything back to normal.

"Well, just don't stay up too late Ed, or I'll tell Susan you haven't been sleeping at night!" Adding the threat.

Edmund's eyes widened for a second at the thought of Susan forcing him to stay in bed for an entire week! He nodded in silent agreement, promising he would go to be soon. Peter nodded in approval and headed off to bed.

Peter woke around nine thirty the next morning and worked his way towards the main dining hall. It was a small room painted a pastel yellow with large windows nearly completely covering the walls. It looked out towards the sea and the wonderful aroma of breakfast floated from beneath the kitchen door.

Susan and Lucy were already dressed in beautiful flowing gowns while Peter was in a red tunic and leggings. He then noticed one empty seat at the table.

"Has Edmund already eaten?" He questioned the girls who were sipping their tea and conversing about things such as suitors and balls.

"Of course not, if we didn't send someone to wake him for breakfast I am sure he would sleep through lunch." Lucy replied with a giggle.

"I'll just go check on him." Peter mumbled. He didn't exactly trust that the younger king went to bed at a reasonable hour last night, and he wanted to confront him in private.

Peter retraced his steps until he was right across from his brother's room. He knocked lightly and then entered. He was expecting his brother, but instead he found a rather frazzled faun.

"Excuse me, good faun." But if the faun noticed he didn't acknowledge it. Instead he continued to overturn pillows and blankets with a rather panicked expression on his face. Finally, he turned around and noticed Peter.

"Oh, your majesty! Forgive me, I did not hear you approach!" He said with a slight bow.

"It's nothing to worry, about, but have you seen King Edmund anywhere recently?"

"Uh, no sire, I was just sent to wake him by the Queens, but I can't seem to find him!" He sheepishly admitted.

"Worry not good faun, I know where he is. You may continue you normal duties."

The faun bowed once more and left the room. Peter, on the other hand immediately ceased smiling and stormed off to the library.

Peter walked straight to the desk he found Edmund sitting by last night, and sure enough he was there. All he Peter could see was the dark mop of hair and a wrinkled silver tunic. The rest of his body was covered in books and parchment he had been taking notes on. Peter could hear his brother snoring softly into a book. He gently shook his brother and Edmund responded with a groan.

Then there was a muffled "five mor' minutes?"

"No, now Ed." There was another groan as he attempted to remove himself from the cocoon of books and papers he built around himself.

"If you went to bed when I told you to you wouldn't have to have so much trouble getting up now." Peter said with a sigh.

Finally, after about fifteen minutes of digging and sorting Edmund managed to create a small path that he could stumble through. In another twenty minutes they arrived at the main dining hall.

Breakfast had already been served and it was starting to get cold. They both sat at their usual seats as if nothing had happened. Susan gave Edmund a concerned glance but he waved it off with a smile.

The meal went by quietly except for the occasional comment about the weather and Susan continually staring at Edmund, obviously thinking of ways to get him to bed early that night.

The plates were then collected, but not before Susan noticed the large portion of food still on Edmund's plate. She gave a cold glare from the plate to Edmund and the back to the plate. Edmund excused himself from the table, muttering about Oreius and training before Susan could say anything.

One of the cooks notified the remaining monarchs that their training lessons were going to begin in twenty minutes. They quietly thanked the cook, and headed in their separated directions.

Peter was growing more and more nervous about Edmund's behavior of late. He needed to talk to Susan about this, just to make sure he wasn't the only one. He understood it was winter and that it could bring up some things that would depress Edmund, but he never seemed to handle it like this before.