AN: I came up with this idea last night when I was brushing my teeth in the bathroom. I was looking at all of my stuff spread out of the counter, and began to feel sorry for my poor brother. And then I started wondering WHEN I had started using so much stuff to get ready in the morning and when I had taken such an interest in my clothes and such. So here we have it, Edmund's take on Susan's growing up. The little brother surveying the elder sister.

I don't own any of these characters or places, though I do wish I owned my own bathroom.

Chapter One: The First Time

I remember the first suitor that inquired after Susan. I think Peter and I were in shock for several days. Our sister, Susan, was being sought after romantically? Why, it was positively astounding, and if I may be frank, it frazzled me more than I'd like to admit.

Don't get me wrong, I've always been aware that Susan's a girl—Lucy too, for that matter—but as far as I've ever been concerned, we could have been the four Son's of Adam. But then I suppose the Prophesy wouldn't have worked out, and who knows how things would be now?

Anyhow, the way they assert themselves, sometimes it's hard to remember that my sisters are girls. Before all of this, Susan was always demanding the same rights and privileges that Peter and I enjoy, and of course she's been granted them. After all, Peter and I do treat the girls equally—well, at least I do. Peter's too much of an over-protective prat to ever give up his rule that the girls don't join us in battle; a rule which Lucy absolutely despises, and for a time, Susan did too.

Not only does Susan refuse to even approach a battlefield, but now her Ladyship can barely stand to hear of them. Whenever Peter or I try to tell something of a particularly gory battle, Susan claps her hands over her ears and refuses to hear another word. This is absolutely silly, though, for beheading a werewolf and accidentally staining one's tunic in its blood isn't that awful. Lucy manages to get through it without childish outbursts, but I suppose she's rather used to it, using her cordial like she does. But I digress.

Unfortunately, Susan's newly enhanced sense of propriety extends to her archery and swimming. This is just such a shame, though, for Susan is truly skilled in both. Of course she swims when she thinks no one is about, but refuses to do so in competitions, claiming it is inappropriate for a lady to show that much skin. I think sometimes she forgets we're the only humans about, and the Animals and other Narnians don't care for that sort of thing. At least she hasn't given up her archery. She does refuse to join the ranks of the archers in battles; something that I know relieves Peter greatly. Although I would never say so, I'm rather disappointed that Susan's stopped joining us. I do miss the rather home-ish touches she added to our camps, but I would never tell Peter that, or Susan for that matter. She'd never get her nose out of the clouds.

I must give my sister some credit, though, for I know she would use her bow to defend herself or any one of us if the occasion called for it, and she does manage to best every one of her competitors. I suppose she has truly taken to heart her title, the Gentle. But then again, all of us have made great efforts to live up to the names given by Aslan.

The first signs of Susan's newfound girlishness appeared in approximately the second year of our reign. I began to notice it when Susan's adoration for dresses and parties became more prominent—both of which I cannot stand. Obviously, she was no longer acting like a Pevensie brother. As Lucy bluntly informed me the night I mentioned it to her, "Susan is a girl." Of course, she then went on to remind me that she was also a girl and that I wasn't to forget it. She punctuated this comment by twirling her skirts around and giggling, before tackling me to the ground. I think that the latter action sort of undid her original point. Despite the tackle, I got the point that, yes, my sisters were indeed girls, but still found myself amazed at Susan's progressive interest in her gowns and long, black hair. While I can tolerate the gowns, I must admit that Susan's hair is positively annoying, especially her lady's maid is somehow absent and yours truly is roped into brushing the tangled mass one-hundred times. I'd rather fight an ogre any day.

Besides her looks, though, we all quickly noticed how dignified she acted. It was more than avoiding swimming, archery, and battles (all of which would mess up those shiny locks that nearly paralyzed my hand), but Susan actually seemed to think that we should act and speak with the same elegance and diplomacy we used with the public. I think we were all a bit taken back the first time she addressed Peter as "My liege," or when her reprimands took on a more queenly tone. "Smaller steps, Lucy" and "Edmund, do take smaller bites" were comments that we were used to from our mothering sister, and while her eyes still twinkled when she reprimanded us, I nearly choked the first time she said "Brother, would you do me the honor of chewing with thy mouth closed." What's worse is that I think Susan genuinely means these reprimands now, for she is most persistent. Either that or she just enjoys using the flowery language of the court. I believe it's a combination of both.

While Peter manages to hide it, I think the most disappointing aspect of Susan's new girlishness is her general refusal to partake in our romps. I do understand that she and Peter are getting older, and as such have less interest in sliding down Cair's fabulously long banisters or crunching through newly fallen leaves, but Peter at least participates when he's got time. Sometimes we are graced with the presence of our care-free sister, but never for long. Now, Susan prefers to practice her dancing or paint some flower or another.

I am glad that she hasn't given up painting for a more "adult" hobby, but now she paints more flowers and fewer portraits. I haven't yet decided whether or not this is a blessing, for though her portrait of me did look like me, it is rather disconcerting to sit still for over an hour while your sister scrutinizes every aspect of your body. I'm not sure what was worse, the loss of feeling in my hands or the crick in my neck.

I will admit, though, that Susan isn't a total bore. She does know how to have fun when the occasion calls for it, and I think she still secretly enjoys participating in some of our more unruly and boyish activities, although she'd never admit it to anyone. Unfortunately, this ability to let loose and relax does not extend to practical jokes. According to Susan, the occasion never calls for it. She was especially displeased the time Lucy and I hid all of her splendid new gowns and replaced them with…. well, nothing. Nor was she delighted by the dumb frog that greeted her one morning on her pillow. In light of all of these changes, I'd say it's safe to say that Susan's screeches have become much more high pitched, and somehow more terrifying. I'm not quite sure how she does it.

My girly sister also baffles and amazes me when dealing with the countless suitors that now grace our very lucky throne room each day. Despite the atrocity of many of them, Susan generally giggles and flirts, all the while sending them firmly home with the ludicrous notion that perhaps someday she'll consider their awful poetry and flagrant bribery. It's absolutely absurd how she toys with these men. I've suggested several times that we just post some sort of sign saying that no's the answer so please go home, but Peter says that Susan knows what she's doing, and we must allow her some fun. I'm not quite sure what the fun is in telling dozens of pompous men the same thing day after day, but Susan refuses to challenge any of them to an archery match (another one of my more brilliant suggestions), and asks that I please just mind my own business. Unfortunately there's plenty of that for me to tend to (I try to avoid that massive stack of paperwork on my desk), so I really have no comeback. At least there is a small comfort in knowing that Susan will never allow herself to be bought like one of her precious gowns, so I suppose I can allow her some "fun" for the time being.

Despite the occasionally annoying new Susan, I must admit that a Narnian girl is loads better than a flighty English girl, so at least Susan became a girl here. At any rate, Susan still has a somewhat firm grasp on what fun is (I can't possibly call playing the same game with different but similar men fun), and from what I remember of English girls, they had no idea how to have a truly good time. In addition, the dresses here are much more comfortable for the girls, so they can do that much more. At least, that's what Susan and Lucy tell me. It's not like I'd ever try one of their dresses on!

I can put up with my girly sister so long as she still enjoys our company. The moment she crowns herself Miss High and Mighty is the moment she takes a step too far. I don't think that this family, or the country for that matter, can sanely handle two "High" monarchs. That's Peter's job. As much as I love my elder sister, I think that if that ever happened, Lucy and I would have to take an extended leave of absence, although as Peter cheerily informed me the other day, my romping days with Lucy are nearly over too. Of course, Lucy overheard him and proceeded to pummel him with her small fists, claiming that she'd never be too old to play with me, and that if Peter thought that he was going to be able to keep her out of battles when she got older, he had another thing coming. I must admit, I'm very thankful for my youngest sister. I don't think I could handle two ladies traipsing around Cair. Susan is certainly enough.

AN: I hope that you enjoyed this short story and the characters were canon. I had a tough time doing Edmund's point of view to portray Susan. I'm not sure how well I got the point across, but I kind of wanted to show what Susan growing up even more so and embracing some more girly activities. I'm thinking of writing another chapter, but this time showing Susan growing up in England and the contrast. Let me know what you think!

Oh, and a side note about my novel type story, The Golden Age, I've hit a roadblock and think that it's officially going on hiatus, so sorry!

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