"The Battle or the War?"

By: Queen Scheherazade

Rating: M for SLASH and INCEST (Don't like, don't read)

Category: Chronicles of Narnia

Pairing: Peter/Edmund

Summary: Old Narnia is losing against Miraz, badly. Miraz sends a peace treaty with some outrageous demands that make Peter upset.

Chapter One: Outrageous Demands

"What?! This is preposterous!" cried the High King of Narnia, not bothering to keep his tones hushed, regardless of the numerous people waiting outside the majestic meeting tent.

Old Narnia had not been doing well in the war for Caspian's throne. Supplies, troops, and morale were all running low.

Guilt plagued Peter. All those men, his troops, left behind to die. He should've stayed. He shouldn't have stormed the castle in the first place. This was his fault.

"This is King Miraz's last offer of peace," the voice of the messenger broke into the eldest Pevensie's thoughts. "Follow the terms laid out in the treaty, and he will spare your…army," the Telmarine scoffed.

Peter seriously had to restrain himself from punching him right then and there, the terms of peaceful negotiation be damned to hell.

Instead, he took a deep breath. "Come back this time tomorrow, and we will have an answer for you."

Nodding, the man turned to exit the tent when Peter called after him, "And tell them I wish to remain alone."

The Telmarine exited the tent, leaving Peter to continue to stare in angry disbelief at the manifest sent by the enemy king.

After some time, he folded the parchment, shoving in into his pocket as he stormed out of the tent, angrily waving away all questions and inquiring looks. Not looking anyone in the eye, the Magnificent King stalked away into the forest.

Susan called out to him, and Lucy tried to follow him, but was stopped by a firm pale hand on her shoulder.

"I've got this one, Lu…"

The sisters nodded and watched as Edmund strode into the forest after his brother, headed for a secret place, of which only the two knew, where he knew he would find his distressed brother.

When Edmund finally came upon the glade, he saw his brother sitting tense and irate on a rock by the stream.

He walked quietly up behind his golden-haired brother, gently looping his arms loosely around Peter's neck and shoulders, nuzzling his hair. "What is it Peter? What does Miraz want? What could be so terrible that we need cause everyone all this worry?"

Peter's eyes had remained clenched tight since his brother's approach; he didn't want him to see the anguish and fear in them.

Peter reached out suddenly and grasped his brother's hand, hard, but not enough to hurt. He pulled the pale fingers and pressed them to his lips for a long moment. He felt a sob building in his chest and dropped Edmund's hand, turning his body away from his brother.

Edmund's heart clenched to see his glorious strong brother in such obvious pain, but not knowing the source of if.

He went and knelt before his brother, his king, pulling Peter's hand away from his face. He peered into the other king's face, pushed back his golden hair from his tan forehead, looked deep into his eyes, and asked again, quietly, "What is it he wants Peter?"

With a cry of anguish and frustration, Peter threw off his brother's gentle touch.

Standing abruptly, he yelled without looking at his brother, "YOU! He wants you!"

His torso crumpled as the sobs finally came and he sank to his knees, not daring to look at his brother's face.