InsaneJournal

A reader said they were “sick of timid and unsure Edmund”. Well, I’d have to say I haven’t seen much of that characterization and I just did a huge list of recs. But then, I sort of ignored the fics I thought were too OOC or just plain stupid. Laughably bad fics are one thing, everything else just sort of doesn’t exist. So I couldn’t say that I’m “sick of” that fanon, even if “timid and unsure” are not exactly words I’d use to describe Edmund (he did seem a little *nervous* during PC but anyone would be).

Edmund chooses to follow Peter’s lead, because he hero worships him and also because he promised to respect Peter’s role as head of the family, after the disaster of the previous story. Peter is happiest when other people do what he tells them to, so Edmund lets him now (he seems to feel some guilt over his previous behavior and thinks it’s better this way). But Edmund is capable of asserting himself where needed, taking charge when it falls to him, knowing what he wants and going after it. He’s very brave and reasonably stoic. Please, don’t forget the stoic part! British schoolboy! Blitz! He doesn’t hesitate to tell Miraz that he’s not a prince, he’s a king. In the movie, he jumps into the fight in the train station to back Peter up. Did you see him handle a sword? He stands up to Caspian more than once during Dawn Treader. No, he’s not a top or an alpha but there are other alternatives besides the complete opposite of that. Edmund is an underhanded, sarcastic ninja who is usually underestimated by everyone including Peter. So no, "not Mr. Bossy Top" does not equal "Mr. Swooney Helpless".

So. Recs. Not all perfect, but I often put characterization and entertainment value above perfect sentence structure.

Edmund Gen:
(Super Ninja Ed vs Chuck the Norris by Suborbital)
“In Narnia, only one is mightier than the Chuck-God.” The mirror replied sagely, “The Jesus-Lion.”
“Jesus-Lion!?” Chuck-God gasped, narrowing his eyes again!
“Yes! Jesus-Lion!”
“You mean ... he’s from ... Mexico!?” Chuck-God said in disbelief, “I must enter this Narnia and impose the illegal immigrant removal program!”

(Bittersweet by googlebrat)
Some part of his brain insisted that it couldn't be, that this smooth boy's face couldn't possibly belong to him - that it must be someone else, a forgotten younger relative perhaps.
(Memory of Heaven by Corbeun)
Sometimes Edmund remembers peering through the window at the hollow-eyed faces of those left on the station as his train pulled away. Life in Narnia is soft sunshine and newborn possibilities. Desperate war-wracked London and his life there seem as distant as Aslan's country across the sea
(To Build a Golden Age by Chaos Pockets)
King Edmund does what's needed. Even if it means making some sacrifices.
(Lantern Waste by Rose Fox)
It wasn't as though Peter would be displeased, or would ignore him. Peter always listened now, one of the things he had learned in his years as High King. He listened gravely and sympathetically, and then he went off and did what he had been planning to do anyway, but at least you felt that you had been noticed.
(Sunset and Sunrise by Chaos Pockets)
(They Also Serve by electrum) Peter was the leader, but he depended on us - me in particular - to be his eyes and ears. Perhaps, too, I could learn to be the voice of compromise. Peter called me his balance. Perhaps that was my calling, to find common ground and build bridges. I knew evil and injustice and what it felt like to be helpless. I also knew the relief of seeing justice served.
The thought struck me so profoundly I sank down onto Peter's bed, my mind awhirl.
King Edmund the Just.
I was King Edmund the Just, and I finally understood what that meant.
If Peter was Narnia's Sword, I would be her Shield.

Edmund/Caspian:
(Fear of Dragons by glitzfrau)
"It'll be worse if it does," said Edmund, "because we shan't know where it is. If there's a wasp in the room I like to be able to see it."
(Too Young, Too Old by vongroovy)
He ached for things that used to be, before he stopped being grown up, things that he would not - perhaps could not - even put into words as he was now.
(Voyage by whetherwoman)
This is the first time they've done this in their cabin, with Eustace only a few feet away
(Wishful by Marien)
"Why did...none of you four ever marry?" asked Caspian, abruptly. He pushed away from the rail.
(All Loves Excelling by Celandine) (also available here
In the Cair Paravel library, though, Edmund found old books of courtesy and knightly behaviour which suggested that feelings such as his were not uncommon among warriors
(Can I just say, I especially love the title of this one? Vintage mainline Protestant hymn-(by Anglican, Oxford man and little brother Charles Wesley) people were still singing those when I first encountered Narnia, which means it was a long time ago and tangles the two things up in my head).
(Thirst by Maeritrae)
Edmund groaned to himself. Soon he would have to go to the cabin he shared with Eustace and Caspian, and face the twin torments that waited there.
(By the Lion Led by Random1)
The other king, King Edmund – I find that I do not know how to think about him. He was
always my favourite one out of the legends, because he was not a goody-two-shoes. He made
mistakes, and he got into real trouble, and then afterwards, he was man enough to admit
that he had done wrong, and he was forgiven, and then he tried so hard to make up for
everything, and I always admired him for that.
(Stop Calling Her by jennjenn724) and pt 2
(Threats and Aggression by havah24601)
(Of a Delicate Nature by madd4the24)
He must often remind himself that Edmund has lived a full life, fought countless battles, and is capable of defending himself and Narnia without a shadow of a doubt.
(The Blurring of Memories by jennjenn724) pt2 pt3
Edmund knows, with a sinking feeling in his gut, that it is over.

He stands at the edge of the world, his sister’s hand clasped tightly in his own, and he knows that they will never see Narnia again. No, this is the end of kingship and adulthood, of being the savoir of beasts and the golden idol of a nation, of looking his God straight in the face and talking with him as Jesus must have talked with the apostles, of his lover’s lips on his neck . . .
(Overcome by SilvertonguexOx)
“Because you’re everything I’ve ever wanted.”
Caspian’s skin looked ashen in his surprise.
“Me? I’m…you want -wa -wow…” Caspian said, looking awkwardly to the dirt. Edmund did the same, studying a worm as it inched lazily across the sand.

Edmund/Eustace
(A Knight If You Like by pussinboots)
He flung the armful of firewood he had down on the ground and stalked off toward the last place where he had seen the blighter poking about. At the time, Edmund had been willing to turn a blind eye and let Eustace shirk his work--if it got his sorry arse out of earshot, all the better. (I love the clumsy, awkward teenage boyness of this and what's going on in their heads).
(The Forgiven by icheb_lover)
Eustace Scrubb was odious, obnoxious, unpleasant, hateful, spiteful, petty, small-minded, bigoted, unimaginative, scrawny, mean, whiny, selfish, unkind, dull, annoying, pedantic and an all-round awful person. But that wasn’t why Edmund hated him.

Edmund/Bacchus
(Turkish Delight by Ivy Blossom) There are two sequels available on the site.