Peter's unique in children's literature - or perhaps not unique, perhaps I can't think of anyone else - in that he has acute self knowledge and many fears and shows, if not exactly courage, then a resigned acceptance that whatever he's got to do he'll do with no great expectations that he will do it particularly well. He's the second son, with the ghastly Giles, to say nothing of his father, to live up to and is aware of his second rate-ness. His contrast with the competent Nicola and Rowan, neither of whom seem to have so much to wrestle with, I find poignant.