Chronicles of Narnia: In Narnia Anything is Possible with Love
Title: In Narnia Anything is Possible with Love part 3
Author: Magick
Rating: Pg for birth?
Pairing: Ed/Peter
Summary: Peter only had a second to register deja vu before the pain hits.
High King Peter (the Magnificent) only had a moment to wonder if border meetings were cursed before doubling over in pain. Peter choked back a scream as intense pain ripped through his abdomen but after a moment the pain ceased and he sat up. The assembled lords looked terrified from their places around the table but the closest, Lord Quinn, held out his hand to the King and helped him back to his feet.
“Do you need assistance getting to Queen Lucy’s quarters, your majesty?” He asked nervously, his grey eyes darting around for help.
“Could you call for King Edmund?” Peter gasped as the pain began to build low in his stomach.
Lord Quinn waited until Peter was braced against the table before rushing off to call for Edmund. Barely a moment passed while the young Lord bounced from foot to foot anxiously, his hands on Peter’s arms to keep him stable. Then Edmund burst into the room and immediately took charge.
“Thank you for your help, Lord Quinn, you will be remembered for it. The rest of you go back to your homes, I will not be able to conclude this meeting for you.” Edmund paused and looked around the room. “Stop looking so frightened! Honestly, the lot of you have children but you look positively green at the prospect.”
Lord Quinn offered Edmund a shaky smile.
“Their wives were not around them while in labor, your majesty. I doubt that anyone in here has seen someone in the throes of childbirth.”
Edmund chuckled as he guided Peters arm around his neck. The blonde groaned softly and leaned heavily against his brother. Edmund nodded to Lord Quinn then began dragging Peter towards Lucy’s chambers.
“God Peter, you’re ridiculously heavy like this. Surely you can help a bit more than this.” Edmund complained.
“It hurts Ed. This hurts more than any battle wound I’ve ever endured.”
“Have you been having pain all day? You should have had more warning that this.” Edmund asked, and then sighed in relief as Peter held more of his own weight.
“Well, my lower back has been hurting all day then my stomach hurt but I didn’t think I was going into labor. I just thought that the pregnancy was making me miserable again.”
“Stupid, proud, ridiculous-Peter, you’re about to explode and you know it! Why didn’t you come earlier?”
“Don’t get mad at me! This is your baby I’m about to have cut from my body!” Peter looked close to tears and Edmund felt guilty for being so harsh with him.
“I’m sorry Pete, I’m just scared. I don’t want anything to happen to you or to the baby.”
“It’s alright. I understand the feeling.” Peter sighed as they finally made it to Lucy’s room.
The medicine woman, Maka, had been spending the bulk of her time in Lucy’s chambers lately to prepare for Peters operation. She had converted one of the spare rooms into a sterile area with one bed and plenty of room to work in. Luckily she was already in the room when Edmund pulled Peter in and deposited him on the bed.
“How long has he been in pain?” Maka asked, jumping into action.
“He says that he’s had dull pain all day but he was in a meeting just now when it hit him hard. What do you need me to do?” Edmund asked as he brushed Peter’s bangs from his forehead.
“Make him as comfortable as you can and give him anything he asks for-within reason.” Maka smiled at the High King as if reading his mind. “You may not kill him when he asks.”
Maka mixed a bright green potion and brought it to the bed. Peter looked up at her blearily, but then his eyes shut tightly as pain wracked his body again.
“Drink this, King Peter. It’ll dull the pain and make you sleepy. You need to be calm when I make the incision.” Maka handed the vial to Peter and the blonde shot it back. Instantly his face went slack and he looked around dreamily until his unfocused eyes fell on Edmund.
“Edmund, why do you look so funny? It’s like someone has made you all fuzzy.” Peter grinned stupidly at his brother and Edmund could not help but snicker.
“How is he supposed to beg me to kill him when he’s like this?”
“The delirious effect will wear off slowly and he’ll begin to feel the pain again. He cannot have another dose so it’s important I begin very soon. Where are your sisters?”
“They should be here-“
“We’re here! Every person in the kingdom tried to stop us along the way.” Lucy explained as she ran to Maka's side.
“Do you have your potion on you, Queen Lucy?” Maka asked seriously.
“Of course I do, but he won’t need something that strong, will he?”
“Only if he begins to lose too much blood. It really depends on the baby, though the last time I checked the child was still very healthy and progressing well. However, it is always important to be prepared for any outcome.” Maka washed her hands quickly in the basin a servant brought in then moved back towards Peter.
“How are you feeling, King Peter?”
“Your hair is soooo long.” Peter giggled and Maka grinned at him.
“Good, the potion is doing its job. Edmund, keep your brother still no matter what. He won’t feel this but he may become curious about what I’m doing so hold him securely.” Maka ordered then brought the knife to Peters distended belly.
Very slowly Maka cut open Peters stomach, instructing Lucy to sponge away the blood as it welled up. After a several tense moments Maka reached Peters womb. Her knife was steady as she sliced open the thin membrane and spread the incision open.
“What’s she doing down there Edmund? Why am I bleeding?” Peter asked, craning his neck.
“She’s getting the baby out Peter, you must stay still. Susan, come over here and take his other arm.”
Susan startled at the sound of Edmunds voice. She looked around the room nervously before walking over to the bed and taking Peters arm.
“Just don’t look if all the blood bothers you-though after all the battles you’ve seen you should be used to it by now.”
“It’s not that its blood; it’s the fact that his stomach is cut wide open and I can see inside it.” Susan snapped.
“Well do try not to faint, Sue.” Edmund smirked.
“Oh, shut up.” She growled back, pointedly not looking at Peter’s abdomen.
“Lucy, get a towel and be ready.” Maka commanded suddenly and Lucy sprang forward with a towel. She was too caught up in her worries to notice that Maka had been informal with her.
Very gently Maka lifted the child from Peter’s womb and cut the umbilical cord. She passed the baby to Lucy, whose brow was knitted in confusion.
“The baby isn’t crying!” She said nervously.
“Pat its back to clear the fluid from its lungs.” Maka told her, not looking up from Peter’s body. She worked quickly to remove the afterbirth from his body since it had no way to exit naturally. After his womb was cleaned she closed it and began to stitch up the incision. She looked up then to see Lucy anxiously patting the childs back.
“Lucy, it’s a baby not a piece of glass. Pat harder.” She ordered sharply.
Lucy jumped and solidly thumped the baby’s back. Instantly a shrill cry filled the room and the siblings sighed in relief-- Edmund going so far as to slump back against the bed with his eyes closed in gratitude.
“Ow, that hurts.” Peter moaned suddenly and Maka looked up at him.
“I see that the potion lasted just long enough. I’m stitching up your stomach now, your majesty. Please just stay still for a little longer.” Peter nodded and gritted his teeth against the pain.
“What is it Lucy?” Edmund asked.
Lucy looked up at him with wide eyes. She’d been concentrating so hard on getting the child to breathe that she hadn’t actually looked at it yet. Slowly she removed the towel and gasped.
“A girl. You have a daughter Edmund!” She grinned happily, grabbing a warm cloth and wiping the child clean.
“A daughter?!” Peter gasped, his face set in pain. “Who does she look like?”
“I can’t tell yet, her eyes are shut.” Lucy answered.
“There, you are all put back together, King Peter. You may not get out of this bed for a week. You may only get up to relieve yourself but King Edmund must be by your side the whole time. If one of your stitches breaks it can make you very ill or even kill you, so heed my words.” She glared at Peter sternly for a moment before continuing. “Now, you must clean the site with the blue potion three times a day to keep it from festering, and you’ll need to mix one drop of this pink potion with a bottle of milk every four hours to feed the baby. Since your body isn’t made for breast feeding then you’ll have to feed her this way. The potion will make the plain milk just as nutritious as breast milk and the child will grow up healthy drinking it.”
“Thank you Maka. You may continue to stay in the castle for these first few weeks just in case Peter is in need of you. Anything you need will be brought to you.” Edmund said kindly.
“Thank you King Edmund. I apologize if I was brisk with your majesties during the procedure.”
She curtsied low to the kings and queens before taking her leave. She was in need of rest after performing such a difficult task. Lucy watched her leave then rushed over to the bed, clutching the child to her breast.
Peter struggled to sit up and Susan and Edmund pulled him up until he could sit comfortably. Lucy handed the baby to her oldest brother with a watery smile and watched as his blue eyes went wide as he looked upon his daughter for the first time.
“Open your eyes for me, little one.” Peter said softly, brushing her cheek with his fingertips.
Edmund leaned against Peters shoulder so that he could see his daughter. As if she were just waiting for the right command, the little girls’ eyes opened. Both men gasped as gazed at them with clear blue eyes and made a soft hiccupping sound.
“She’s beautiful.” Peter whispered.
“She’s perfect.” Susan agreed, reaching out and stroking the childs downy head.
“She’s ours.” Edmund said, his voice filled with wonder.
“Whatever will we do with a little girl, Edmund?” Peter asked suddenly, looking up at his brother curiously.
“Let us take care of her motherly needs.” Lucy giggled, swatting Peter playfully.
Peter laughed but then gasped in pain when his stitches pulled.
“You need to rest.” Edmund said seriously.
“What should we name her?”
“You can think about that after you rest. Give her to me Peter and I’ll feed her.” Edmund took the little girl from Peter’s arms and shooed the girls away.
Edmund went to the table where Maka had left the potions and palmed the pink potion, and then he called for a servant to bring him a bottle of milk. Very carefully he added a drop of the potion to the milk and shook it up-- the bottle instantly warmed up and turned a light pink color. Edmund made sure that the milk wasn’t too hot then placed the rubber tip on the bottle and offered it to the baby. She seemed reluctant to take the bottle at first but then she realized that milk was coming from it and she latched on and sucked strongly.
“Is she drinking it, Ed?” Peter asked tiredly from the bed.
“Yes Pete, she’s drinking. Please go to sleep.” Edmund chided.
“I can’t sleep Ed, I want to see her.” Peter yawned.
Ed watched as Peter struggled sleepily towards him but seemed to fall asleep about halfway through the motion. Edmund smiled softly at his brother and walked over to the bed. Gently he settled down in the bed beside the exhausted blonde and pulled the empty bottle from his daughter. He’d seen his mother feed Lucy when he was a child and he knew that after the baby had eaten that she needed her back rubbed until she burped. Once she was done she blinked sleepily up at her father before falling asleep and Edmund settled back on the bed and let his eyes close as well. Soon the only sound in the room was their soft breathing.
***
“Anna, Elizabeth, Phyllis?” Susan suggested.
“Christine, Mary? How about Carol?” Lucy said brightly from her spot on the floor.
“None of those names seem to fit her.” Peter sighed, gazing down at his daughter. She’d been born for three days and she still didn’t have a name.
“I like the name Evelyn.” Edmund said suddenly.
The baby looked around the room at the sound of her other fathers’ voice and made a soft noise of happiness. Peter stared at the baby in amazement for a moment before grinning goofily.
“I think she likes that name, Ed! Evelyn, it is a rather pretty name.”
“We can call her Evie for short!” Lucy bounced, obviously excited to have a name for her niece.
“What do you think Sue?” Ed asked.
“I think it’s a good name and she obviously likes it.”
“Princess Evelyn.” Peter brushed her wispy blonde hair away from her face then held her out to Edmund.
“We need to introduce her to the kingdom soon. They’re getting restless-everyday at least fifty people ask me if the two of you are doing well.” Edmund said.
“Maka has said that I’m allowed out of bed by in four days. Make an announcement that we will show her to them then. We can’t have a ball or anything yet because I will not be strong enough but she can be introduced to the kingdom. We’ll have a formal celebration for her birth in a month or so.”
“They are all so excited about her, Peter. I don’t think I’ve seen our people this ecstatic in a while.” Lucy said happily.
“I think they were worried about there not being an heir to the throne. Without an heir Narnia would be plunged into uncertainty but since Evie has been born they feel safer.” Edmund explained.
“What if we were to have children?” Susan asked.
“Then I assume it could work like we do. There is much to do in this kingdom and Evelyn could be high Queen and so on.” Peter said.
“Narnia is doomed to have a blonde haired, blue eyed ruler forever then.” Susan huffed with a grin.
“Her hair might darken yet, Peters is barely blonde anymore.”
“That’s because he spends more time indoors settling land disputes than he does in the sun anymore.” Edmund chuckled.
“Are you saying that I look poorly? You can take over those meetings for me, you know.” Peter growled.
“When will your bloody moods settle?” Edmund moaned.
“Probably around the time when we can get back to our normal activities.” Peter smirked and wagged his eyebrows at his brother-prompting the girls to squeal and cover their ears.
“Too much information! I don’t want to know!” Lucy cried, though she was giggling too much to truly seem upset.
“I’m going to go make that announcement now.” Susan said, shaking her head at her brothers and rolling her eyes in exasperation.
“Don’t be jealous Su; I know for a fact that Lord Quinn is interested in you.” Edmund called to her.
Susan stopped and turned back to her brother and cocked her head.
“Are you being serious?”
“You honestly didn’t know? He’s been asking us for permission to court you for months. We keep telling him to ask you himself but he’s a rather nervous chap. He’s very kind though.” Peter said, remembering how the young lord had rushed to his side when he’d been hit with labor pains.
“Just ask him yourself Susan, it’s much more efficient.” Lucy laughed.
“Maybe I will.” Susan answered, and then went to make the announcement. Lucy kissed her brothers and Evelyn goodbye before jumping up to follow her.
“You love to torture our sisters, don’t you?” Edmund asked.
“Really, I think that’s really your domain instead of my Ed. But honestly if anyone is being tortured around here it’s me.” Peter sighed, lying back in his bed.
Edmund gently laid Evelyn in her cradle before joining his brother on the bed.
“It could be worse. From what I’ve been told, women take much longer to recover sexually since they normally have natural childbirth.”
Peter winced and silently thanked Aslan for giving him a better option.
“The potion Maka gave you has pretty much healed you all the way up. It’s just a few more days.”
“You’re not going to go out into the village and find another handsome chap to take my place, right?” Peter laughed but the emotion didn’t reach his eyes.
Edmund rolled his eyes.
“I might if you don’t stop going soppy on me all the time.”
Peter laughed and pushed Edmund off of the bed. He landed with a thud and groaned as he rubbed his hip.
“I guess I deserved that.”
***
“How are we supposed to do this? Just hold her up so the people can see her?” Peter asked nervously.
“We’re just going to say her name and that she will inherit the throne and any cousins that are born will be appointed alongside her. Now, stop acting like a woman and get out there.” Edmund pushed Peter out into the throne room then followed him.
Immediately the room erupted into applause as the people of Narnia all tried to see their High King and his daughter. Edmund held up a hand for silence and the hall fell silent.
“Thank for coming, people of Narnia. Today, High King Peter and I are proud to introduce you to Princess Evelyn. She will one day rule Narnia in our stead and it is our greatest hope that you will all welcome her to the throne as you have welcomed us.” Edmund paused while the people applauded once more.
“As you are all well aware, King Peter is still recovering from the birth of Princess Evelyn so any festivities must be delayed until he is better but never fear, there will be a celebration in one month’s time and you will all get to know the princess a little better.”
The Kings watched as their people filed out, the majority of them singing and dancing as they walked. Then Edmund took his daughter from Peter and pressed her into Susan’s arms.
“Edmund, what are you doing?” Susan asked, struggling to keep her balance.
“Watched Evie for a bit, we have business to attend to.” Edmund explained as he grabbed Peter’s wrist and dragged his towards their quarters.
Lucy giggled while Susan shook her head and sighed.
“At this rate we’ll have a whole slew of nieces and nephews.” Susan groaned.
“Look at the bright side, by the time we have children, we’ll have plenty of babysitters.” Lucy smiled.
“I guess you’re right. Come on; let’s go warn the servants about Peter and Edmund. I don’t want any of them to be blinded.”
“Oh Su, you are jealous. The servants will be fine-let’s go talk to Lord Quinn. He’ll fall all over himself when he sees you with a baby.”
Susan laughed quietly and together the three Queens of Narnia walked together out of the throne room and across the grounds.
Author: Magick
Rating: Pg for birth?
Pairing: Ed/Peter
Summary: Peter only had a second to register deja vu before the pain hits.
High King Peter (the Magnificent) only had a moment to wonder if border meetings were cursed before doubling over in pain. Peter choked back a scream as intense pain ripped through his abdomen but after a moment the pain ceased and he sat up. The assembled lords looked terrified from their places around the table but the closest, Lord Quinn, held out his hand to the King and helped him back to his feet.
“Do you need assistance getting to Queen Lucy’s quarters, your majesty?” He asked nervously, his grey eyes darting around for help.
“Could you call for King Edmund?” Peter gasped as the pain began to build low in his stomach.
Lord Quinn waited until Peter was braced against the table before rushing off to call for Edmund. Barely a moment passed while the young Lord bounced from foot to foot anxiously, his hands on Peter’s arms to keep him stable. Then Edmund burst into the room and immediately took charge.
“Thank you for your help, Lord Quinn, you will be remembered for it. The rest of you go back to your homes, I will not be able to conclude this meeting for you.” Edmund paused and looked around the room. “Stop looking so frightened! Honestly, the lot of you have children but you look positively green at the prospect.”
Lord Quinn offered Edmund a shaky smile.
“Their wives were not around them while in labor, your majesty. I doubt that anyone in here has seen someone in the throes of childbirth.”
Edmund chuckled as he guided Peters arm around his neck. The blonde groaned softly and leaned heavily against his brother. Edmund nodded to Lord Quinn then began dragging Peter towards Lucy’s chambers.
“God Peter, you’re ridiculously heavy like this. Surely you can help a bit more than this.” Edmund complained.
“It hurts Ed. This hurts more than any battle wound I’ve ever endured.”
“Have you been having pain all day? You should have had more warning that this.” Edmund asked, and then sighed in relief as Peter held more of his own weight.
“Well, my lower back has been hurting all day then my stomach hurt but I didn’t think I was going into labor. I just thought that the pregnancy was making me miserable again.”
“Stupid, proud, ridiculous-Peter, you’re about to explode and you know it! Why didn’t you come earlier?”
“Don’t get mad at me! This is your baby I’m about to have cut from my body!” Peter looked close to tears and Edmund felt guilty for being so harsh with him.
“I’m sorry Pete, I’m just scared. I don’t want anything to happen to you or to the baby.”
“It’s alright. I understand the feeling.” Peter sighed as they finally made it to Lucy’s room.
The medicine woman, Maka, had been spending the bulk of her time in Lucy’s chambers lately to prepare for Peters operation. She had converted one of the spare rooms into a sterile area with one bed and plenty of room to work in. Luckily she was already in the room when Edmund pulled Peter in and deposited him on the bed.
“How long has he been in pain?” Maka asked, jumping into action.
“He says that he’s had dull pain all day but he was in a meeting just now when it hit him hard. What do you need me to do?” Edmund asked as he brushed Peter’s bangs from his forehead.
“Make him as comfortable as you can and give him anything he asks for-within reason.” Maka smiled at the High King as if reading his mind. “You may not kill him when he asks.”
Maka mixed a bright green potion and brought it to the bed. Peter looked up at her blearily, but then his eyes shut tightly as pain wracked his body again.
“Drink this, King Peter. It’ll dull the pain and make you sleepy. You need to be calm when I make the incision.” Maka handed the vial to Peter and the blonde shot it back. Instantly his face went slack and he looked around dreamily until his unfocused eyes fell on Edmund.
“Edmund, why do you look so funny? It’s like someone has made you all fuzzy.” Peter grinned stupidly at his brother and Edmund could not help but snicker.
“How is he supposed to beg me to kill him when he’s like this?”
“The delirious effect will wear off slowly and he’ll begin to feel the pain again. He cannot have another dose so it’s important I begin very soon. Where are your sisters?”
“They should be here-“
“We’re here! Every person in the kingdom tried to stop us along the way.” Lucy explained as she ran to Maka's side.
“Do you have your potion on you, Queen Lucy?” Maka asked seriously.
“Of course I do, but he won’t need something that strong, will he?”
“Only if he begins to lose too much blood. It really depends on the baby, though the last time I checked the child was still very healthy and progressing well. However, it is always important to be prepared for any outcome.” Maka washed her hands quickly in the basin a servant brought in then moved back towards Peter.
“How are you feeling, King Peter?”
“Your hair is soooo long.” Peter giggled and Maka grinned at him.
“Good, the potion is doing its job. Edmund, keep your brother still no matter what. He won’t feel this but he may become curious about what I’m doing so hold him securely.” Maka ordered then brought the knife to Peters distended belly.
Very slowly Maka cut open Peters stomach, instructing Lucy to sponge away the blood as it welled up. After a several tense moments Maka reached Peters womb. Her knife was steady as she sliced open the thin membrane and spread the incision open.
“What’s she doing down there Edmund? Why am I bleeding?” Peter asked, craning his neck.
“She’s getting the baby out Peter, you must stay still. Susan, come over here and take his other arm.”
Susan startled at the sound of Edmunds voice. She looked around the room nervously before walking over to the bed and taking Peters arm.
“Just don’t look if all the blood bothers you-though after all the battles you’ve seen you should be used to it by now.”
“It’s not that its blood; it’s the fact that his stomach is cut wide open and I can see inside it.” Susan snapped.
“Well do try not to faint, Sue.” Edmund smirked.
“Oh, shut up.” She growled back, pointedly not looking at Peter’s abdomen.
“Lucy, get a towel and be ready.” Maka commanded suddenly and Lucy sprang forward with a towel. She was too caught up in her worries to notice that Maka had been informal with her.
Very gently Maka lifted the child from Peter’s womb and cut the umbilical cord. She passed the baby to Lucy, whose brow was knitted in confusion.
“The baby isn’t crying!” She said nervously.
“Pat its back to clear the fluid from its lungs.” Maka told her, not looking up from Peter’s body. She worked quickly to remove the afterbirth from his body since it had no way to exit naturally. After his womb was cleaned she closed it and began to stitch up the incision. She looked up then to see Lucy anxiously patting the childs back.
“Lucy, it’s a baby not a piece of glass. Pat harder.” She ordered sharply.
Lucy jumped and solidly thumped the baby’s back. Instantly a shrill cry filled the room and the siblings sighed in relief-- Edmund going so far as to slump back against the bed with his eyes closed in gratitude.
“Ow, that hurts.” Peter moaned suddenly and Maka looked up at him.
“I see that the potion lasted just long enough. I’m stitching up your stomach now, your majesty. Please just stay still for a little longer.” Peter nodded and gritted his teeth against the pain.
“What is it Lucy?” Edmund asked.
Lucy looked up at him with wide eyes. She’d been concentrating so hard on getting the child to breathe that she hadn’t actually looked at it yet. Slowly she removed the towel and gasped.
“A girl. You have a daughter Edmund!” She grinned happily, grabbing a warm cloth and wiping the child clean.
“A daughter?!” Peter gasped, his face set in pain. “Who does she look like?”
“I can’t tell yet, her eyes are shut.” Lucy answered.
“There, you are all put back together, King Peter. You may not get out of this bed for a week. You may only get up to relieve yourself but King Edmund must be by your side the whole time. If one of your stitches breaks it can make you very ill or even kill you, so heed my words.” She glared at Peter sternly for a moment before continuing. “Now, you must clean the site with the blue potion three times a day to keep it from festering, and you’ll need to mix one drop of this pink potion with a bottle of milk every four hours to feed the baby. Since your body isn’t made for breast feeding then you’ll have to feed her this way. The potion will make the plain milk just as nutritious as breast milk and the child will grow up healthy drinking it.”
“Thank you Maka. You may continue to stay in the castle for these first few weeks just in case Peter is in need of you. Anything you need will be brought to you.” Edmund said kindly.
“Thank you King Edmund. I apologize if I was brisk with your majesties during the procedure.”
She curtsied low to the kings and queens before taking her leave. She was in need of rest after performing such a difficult task. Lucy watched her leave then rushed over to the bed, clutching the child to her breast.
Peter struggled to sit up and Susan and Edmund pulled him up until he could sit comfortably. Lucy handed the baby to her oldest brother with a watery smile and watched as his blue eyes went wide as he looked upon his daughter for the first time.
“Open your eyes for me, little one.” Peter said softly, brushing her cheek with his fingertips.
Edmund leaned against Peters shoulder so that he could see his daughter. As if she were just waiting for the right command, the little girls’ eyes opened. Both men gasped as gazed at them with clear blue eyes and made a soft hiccupping sound.
“She’s beautiful.” Peter whispered.
“She’s perfect.” Susan agreed, reaching out and stroking the childs downy head.
“She’s ours.” Edmund said, his voice filled with wonder.
“Whatever will we do with a little girl, Edmund?” Peter asked suddenly, looking up at his brother curiously.
“Let us take care of her motherly needs.” Lucy giggled, swatting Peter playfully.
Peter laughed but then gasped in pain when his stitches pulled.
“You need to rest.” Edmund said seriously.
“What should we name her?”
“You can think about that after you rest. Give her to me Peter and I’ll feed her.” Edmund took the little girl from Peter’s arms and shooed the girls away.
Edmund went to the table where Maka had left the potions and palmed the pink potion, and then he called for a servant to bring him a bottle of milk. Very carefully he added a drop of the potion to the milk and shook it up-- the bottle instantly warmed up and turned a light pink color. Edmund made sure that the milk wasn’t too hot then placed the rubber tip on the bottle and offered it to the baby. She seemed reluctant to take the bottle at first but then she realized that milk was coming from it and she latched on and sucked strongly.
“Is she drinking it, Ed?” Peter asked tiredly from the bed.
“Yes Pete, she’s drinking. Please go to sleep.” Edmund chided.
“I can’t sleep Ed, I want to see her.” Peter yawned.
Ed watched as Peter struggled sleepily towards him but seemed to fall asleep about halfway through the motion. Edmund smiled softly at his brother and walked over to the bed. Gently he settled down in the bed beside the exhausted blonde and pulled the empty bottle from his daughter. He’d seen his mother feed Lucy when he was a child and he knew that after the baby had eaten that she needed her back rubbed until she burped. Once she was done she blinked sleepily up at her father before falling asleep and Edmund settled back on the bed and let his eyes close as well. Soon the only sound in the room was their soft breathing.
***
“Anna, Elizabeth, Phyllis?” Susan suggested.
“Christine, Mary? How about Carol?” Lucy said brightly from her spot on the floor.
“None of those names seem to fit her.” Peter sighed, gazing down at his daughter. She’d been born for three days and she still didn’t have a name.
“I like the name Evelyn.” Edmund said suddenly.
The baby looked around the room at the sound of her other fathers’ voice and made a soft noise of happiness. Peter stared at the baby in amazement for a moment before grinning goofily.
“I think she likes that name, Ed! Evelyn, it is a rather pretty name.”
“We can call her Evie for short!” Lucy bounced, obviously excited to have a name for her niece.
“What do you think Sue?” Ed asked.
“I think it’s a good name and she obviously likes it.”
“Princess Evelyn.” Peter brushed her wispy blonde hair away from her face then held her out to Edmund.
“We need to introduce her to the kingdom soon. They’re getting restless-everyday at least fifty people ask me if the two of you are doing well.” Edmund said.
“Maka has said that I’m allowed out of bed by in four days. Make an announcement that we will show her to them then. We can’t have a ball or anything yet because I will not be strong enough but she can be introduced to the kingdom. We’ll have a formal celebration for her birth in a month or so.”
“They are all so excited about her, Peter. I don’t think I’ve seen our people this ecstatic in a while.” Lucy said happily.
“I think they were worried about there not being an heir to the throne. Without an heir Narnia would be plunged into uncertainty but since Evie has been born they feel safer.” Edmund explained.
“What if we were to have children?” Susan asked.
“Then I assume it could work like we do. There is much to do in this kingdom and Evelyn could be high Queen and so on.” Peter said.
“Narnia is doomed to have a blonde haired, blue eyed ruler forever then.” Susan huffed with a grin.
“Her hair might darken yet, Peters is barely blonde anymore.”
“That’s because he spends more time indoors settling land disputes than he does in the sun anymore.” Edmund chuckled.
“Are you saying that I look poorly? You can take over those meetings for me, you know.” Peter growled.
“When will your bloody moods settle?” Edmund moaned.
“Probably around the time when we can get back to our normal activities.” Peter smirked and wagged his eyebrows at his brother-prompting the girls to squeal and cover their ears.
“Too much information! I don’t want to know!” Lucy cried, though she was giggling too much to truly seem upset.
“I’m going to go make that announcement now.” Susan said, shaking her head at her brothers and rolling her eyes in exasperation.
“Don’t be jealous Su; I know for a fact that Lord Quinn is interested in you.” Edmund called to her.
Susan stopped and turned back to her brother and cocked her head.
“Are you being serious?”
“You honestly didn’t know? He’s been asking us for permission to court you for months. We keep telling him to ask you himself but he’s a rather nervous chap. He’s very kind though.” Peter said, remembering how the young lord had rushed to his side when he’d been hit with labor pains.
“Just ask him yourself Susan, it’s much more efficient.” Lucy laughed.
“Maybe I will.” Susan answered, and then went to make the announcement. Lucy kissed her brothers and Evelyn goodbye before jumping up to follow her.
“You love to torture our sisters, don’t you?” Edmund asked.
“Really, I think that’s really your domain instead of my Ed. But honestly if anyone is being tortured around here it’s me.” Peter sighed, lying back in his bed.
Edmund gently laid Evelyn in her cradle before joining his brother on the bed.
“It could be worse. From what I’ve been told, women take much longer to recover sexually since they normally have natural childbirth.”
Peter winced and silently thanked Aslan for giving him a better option.
“The potion Maka gave you has pretty much healed you all the way up. It’s just a few more days.”
“You’re not going to go out into the village and find another handsome chap to take my place, right?” Peter laughed but the emotion didn’t reach his eyes.
Edmund rolled his eyes.
“I might if you don’t stop going soppy on me all the time.”
Peter laughed and pushed Edmund off of the bed. He landed with a thud and groaned as he rubbed his hip.
“I guess I deserved that.”
***
“How are we supposed to do this? Just hold her up so the people can see her?” Peter asked nervously.
“We’re just going to say her name and that she will inherit the throne and any cousins that are born will be appointed alongside her. Now, stop acting like a woman and get out there.” Edmund pushed Peter out into the throne room then followed him.
Immediately the room erupted into applause as the people of Narnia all tried to see their High King and his daughter. Edmund held up a hand for silence and the hall fell silent.
“Thank for coming, people of Narnia. Today, High King Peter and I are proud to introduce you to Princess Evelyn. She will one day rule Narnia in our stead and it is our greatest hope that you will all welcome her to the throne as you have welcomed us.” Edmund paused while the people applauded once more.
“As you are all well aware, King Peter is still recovering from the birth of Princess Evelyn so any festivities must be delayed until he is better but never fear, there will be a celebration in one month’s time and you will all get to know the princess a little better.”
The Kings watched as their people filed out, the majority of them singing and dancing as they walked. Then Edmund took his daughter from Peter and pressed her into Susan’s arms.
“Edmund, what are you doing?” Susan asked, struggling to keep her balance.
“Watched Evie for a bit, we have business to attend to.” Edmund explained as he grabbed Peter’s wrist and dragged his towards their quarters.
Lucy giggled while Susan shook her head and sighed.
“At this rate we’ll have a whole slew of nieces and nephews.” Susan groaned.
“Look at the bright side, by the time we have children, we’ll have plenty of babysitters.” Lucy smiled.
“I guess you’re right. Come on; let’s go warn the servants about Peter and Edmund. I don’t want any of them to be blinded.”
“Oh Su, you are jealous. The servants will be fine-let’s go talk to Lord Quinn. He’ll fall all over himself when he sees you with a baby.”
Susan laughed quietly and together the three Queens of Narnia walked together out of the throne room and across the grounds.