Chervy had never run so fast in his life. He jumped over streams, leapt over fallen trees and rocks. He was a blur and the world was a blur as he dashed across Narnia to reach Cair Paravel. In some instances, it felt as if his hooves weren't even touching the ground. How he managed a journey that would have taken any rider a day in six hours, not even he could comprehend. His heart pounded rapidly and his muscles nearly gave up, but his pace remained steady even as he raced through the gates of Cair Paravel. He had a purpose he was near fulfilling, he could rest later.

He crossed the tall tunnel that was the outer gate and got as far as the inner gate before the guards stopped him.

"Halt! What's yer business 'ere?" the guard, a brown minotaur on the older spectrum, asked.

"A message..." The stag heaved, "I bring an urgent message for the Queen," he managed before collapsing.

Cair Paravel felt empty. It was not just running on a minimum guard force but everywhere you looked, Narnians were missing. At council meetings, half of the members were not present; at royal audiences, peasants barely showed up; at dinners, more than half of the seats remained unclaimed. Even in the stables horses were missing. Almost all of the fauns and dryads were gone, off celebrating high summer at the dancing lawn with Baccus and the maenads. Very few men remained, most had gone north with Peter, so the court was currently comprised mostly of ladies, mermaids and children.

But it wasn't a sad, gloomy, depressing sort of emptiness that was felt throughout Cair Paravel. Despite the circumstances that brought the emptiness, the atmosphere of the castle was one of tranquillity. The sun shone, the birds chirped happily in the fountain, the gardens flourished, and the latest news from the front were promising.

Lucy finished her breakfast —which she had been enjoying on the stone gazebo out in the eastern gardens amongst the white roses since her siblings left— and headed for her first morning meeting. Talks about the war, maintaining the supply line, and taxes occupied all of her morning. After a much-needed break and lunch with some friends, she returned to more meetings: representatives of the Lone Islands's merchant guild were waiting. 

She was in the midst of discussing a new trading policy when a sharp knock caught her attention. Lucy knew it had to be something important to interrupt such a meeting.

"Enter," She ordered, her voice clear and commanding, and the door opened to one of Lucy's friends, Lord Kol.

"Majesty," he nodded to her, "a word?"

He looked calm and collected. Lucy considered sending him away but figured he had a reason for interrupting, so she decided to indulge him. Besides, he was awfully cute. 

Lucy turned to the representatives. "Please excuse me for a moment, my lords," she said, her voice calm and commanding, and went outside with Kol.

He led her away from the door and the prying ears of the foreigners, although doubtless, they would learn soon of the matter.

"I think I can convince the Lords of our treaty," Lucy said as they walked towards the window, the one that overlooked the eastern outer building, "I just need a little more time. Perhaps a dinner,"

Kol looked at her with no hint of amusement, not even a tiny smile or a speck of happiness in his deep blue eyes. It was then that Lucy realized whatever he was about to say was terribly serious.

"What is it, Kol?" Lucy asked cocking her head to the side in a manner he found endearing.

Bearer of bad news was not a role Kol liked, but he didn't have a choice. "A stag arrived from our southern border," his tone as dark and as serious as his next words merited, "He says two-hundred Calormene are attacking Anvard under Prince Rabadash's orders." 

Lucy stared at him confused. Two-hundred Calormene attacking Anvard under Prince Rabadash's orders. Why, that made no sense! Archenland and Calormen were at peace, why would Prince Rabadash attack? Wasn't he supposed to be at Tashbaan wooing Susan? Susan!  

She clutched his arm with surprising strength, "Susan. Edmund. Are they there?" She asked, her concern over the trading agreement long gone. 

"The stag did not say," Kol replied patting her hand until she let go. He too had been wondering the same thing as he carried the news back to the Queen and now regretted not asking, "But you can ask him yourself, your majesty. He's resting in the inner courtyard,"

Lucy followed Lord Kol to the inner courtyard where a boisterous crowd was gathered around the fountain.

"He's there," Kol pointed at them with his chin.

They reached the edge of the gathering without anyone remarking on the Queen's presence, so it was up to Kol to clear a path for her. When at last the Narnians did notice their Queen was amongst them, their chatter ceased and they moved to let her through. There, sitting in the fountain's edge under the wall's shade drinking some much-needed water laid a pretty but tired stag.

"Your majesty," Chervy stood when he saw her and bowed before the queen.

"I hear you bring news," Lucy said offering him a perfunctory smile but skipping the pleasantries.

"I do, your majesty. Archenland is under attack. Two hundred Calormens have crossed the desert and are, as of last afternoon, at Anvard's door. Prince Rabadash leads them," Chervy said, confirming Kol's words.

The Narnians began whispering.

"And you saw this yourself?" Lucy asked.

"No, your majesty. But a human boy did. Archenlander I believe. He looked like it. He crossed the southern mountains and informed us this morning. Two hundred Calormene under the command of Prince Rabadash, that's what he said,"

The crowd erupted with exclamations and curses.

"Treason!"

"That can't be,"

"And in a time of peace,"

"I never did like that Prince,"

For a brief moment, Queen Lucy was out of words, a hundred questions flooding her mind.

What had happened during Susan's trip? Why was prince Rabadash attacking Archenland? WHERE was Susan?! And Edmund. And Corin. And the twins. Dear Aslan, were they even alive? Had they been taken captives? Why was prince Rabadash attacking Archenland?!! And WHAT had happened at Tashbaan?

"Has Anvard fallen?" Someone asked and the crowd held their breath.

"It seems the human warned King Lune just in time," Chervy said.

A collective sigh.

"If he was warned before the attack then the castle must be under siege," Lucy said. "We must help King Lune before Prince Rabadash takes control of the castle,"

"But, your majesty, our forces are fighting the Ettins," another voice said.

The crowd murmured their agreement.

"Not all of them." Lucy looked at the centaur Lord. "Those who can't fight giants are still here, plus the castle guards. If they have two hundred men then we shall find two hundred Narnians to spare and we shall go to Anvard's aid,"

"Your majesty, you cannot leave," One of the dwarf Lords said for an extraordinary council meeting had been called. "If Anvard falls we'll be defenceless! The High King and the Queen are north, King Edmund is yet to return, and..."

And no one knew if Queen Susan was coming back. 

"That is precisely why I must go. Anvard cannot be allowed to fall," Lucy said, the determination in her voice making it clear this was not a matter up for discussion. "We must prepare the castle for a siege as a precautionary measure. Get everyone behind the walls and send ravens to all the castles and houses, great or small, from here to Glasswater. Find a–"

A deep powerful sound interrupted Lucy. A most welcomed and relieving sound: the sound of the horn announcing her siblings' return.

"They're back," Lucy said to no one in particular, her gaze shifting to the window.

"Unless they're not," Lord Kol said, looking at her.

It only took Lucy a second to realize what he meant and another one to know what had to be done. 

Peridan smirked. He had trapped Edmund's horse and there was nothing he could do about it. He claimed the wooden piece with his pawn and placed it aside. Edmund made a face.

Ah, so Peridan's done holding back and stroking my ego, Edmund thought. So be it. For the past two days, Peridan had treaded lightly. He had let Edmund win all their chess matches as well as the small duel they had had on board and had been careful with his words and hands. But now that he was certain Edmund was completely fine with him and Susan being together, he had stopped holding back. Starting that morning at breakfast where he had made a joke at Edmund's expense and later placed an arm around Susan. 

Edmund recalled the first night (or was it their second?) when he had invited Peridan to join them for dinner. The three Princes had questioned Peridan heavily, much to Edmund's amusement and Susan's dismay. In the end, they seemed to approve but had warned him they'd be watching, whatever that meant. Edmund had tried very hard not to laugh through the entire ordeal, but his amusement had been evident in his smile.

"So, you're not afraid to piss me off anymore," Edmund said, thoroughly amused.

Peridan chuckled. "I figured if you were going to do something, you would have done it already," 

Edmund exhaled a laugh through his nose as he contemplated his next move. "You're better than the others," he said as he retreated a pawn and set up a trap. "What could I object to?" he looked up to his friend. 

"So I'm the lesser evil?"   

Peridan didn't have an evil bone in his body, Edmund thought and shrugged. 

The Lord was about to make his next move when the ringing of a familiar bell saved him from losing a knight. 

"Land ho!" 

Edward, William and Corin stopped tossing the ball, looked up at the crow's nest and ran to port. It was small but they could see it, Cair Paravel shining in all its splendour under the afternoon sun.

William heard footsteps behind and turned to find Edmund and Peridan approaching, spyglass in hand.  "Can I get a look?" he asked.

 A Lord couldn't say no to a Prince. Peridan handed him his. 

"We should arrive just in time for dinner," Susan appeared from their left. 

"I hope it's something good," Edmund said and turned to offer his sister the spyglass. She took it and looked briefly.

"Knowing Lucy, it's probably fish," Susan said and offered it to Peridan, the princes were still using his. 

He smiled at her and took it. "Thanks," He managed to spot his quarters, a small building in the south-eastern block. He wondered, if he married Susan, would he have to move out or would she move in with him? 

Her hand touched his shoulder and he put the spyglass down. 

Susan rested her chin on his shoulder. 

"Mother will be most pleased," William suddenly said and looked at Susan, "She disliked Prince Rabadash quite a lot,"

"She wasn't the only one," Edmund said, bracing his forearms on the bannister and exchanging a look with Peridan.

Edward snickered. "She said he looked like a goat," he said and everyone, except for Susan, laughed.

"Because of his beard?" Corin asked. 

"Yeah," William and Edward replied at the same time and everyone laughed some more.

"When can we leave?" William asked and looked at Edmund.

"Leave where to?" Susan asked, confused about what he was talking about.

"Why, to the front, of course," the prince replied.

Edmund shook his head, but a chuckle escaped him. He pushed himself off the bannister, "We haven't even arrived," he circled to his nephew, the shadow of a smile still there, "and you already want to leave," He ruffled Edward's hair.

"So... tomorrow then?" He asked.

This time Peridan and Susan laughed too.

"First we have to be certain our help is needed," Edmund said and placed his hands on William's shoulders. He towered behind him, "We'd look like fools if we set off only to find the war has already been won,"

"So... the day after that?" William turned and looked up at his uncle.

Susan and Peridan laughed.

Edmund shook his head and chuckled. "Soon," he said, partially hoping it wouldn't come to that. He patted William's shoulders and lazily circled back. "Prince Corin, if you're still intent on joining I suggest you write to your father. Peridan, you and Susan can stare into each other's eyes and hold hands later, I want to win before we dock,"

Susan's cheeks turned crimson and she took her hand back but Peridan didn't flinch, he got cocky. "Then you'll be disappointed because I was just about to wipe the board with you,"

Edmund chuckled. "Bring it on, Peridan," and he motioned for him to follow. 

Edmund disembarked first and looked around in disappointment. He understood a war was being fought in the north but was some excitement over his return too much to ask for? Perhaps some trumpets? At the very least Lucy's presence was warranted, was it not? 

"Lucy's not here?" Susan asked him, looking around for their sister.  

"It seems she is otherwise engaged," Edmund replied. 

"It must be something important," Susan assumed. 

Corin got off the ship, looked around and breathed in the salty air. They were back in the north where the weather wasn't so hot and he was glad for it. He reached into his pocket and felt the letter he had written for his father, King Lune. The first thing he'd do once they reached the castle above them was to find a raven to deliver it. He looked about for the horses when he spotted a familiar face approaching King Edmund. 

"Chervy, is that you?" Corin asked. "Whatever are you doing all the way up here?!" he asked the stag in good humour. 

"I bring news, your highness," the stag said to the prince, his voice lacking the usual cheer. "Grave news," 

Grave news from Chervy the stag? He lived in the south, the only news he could be bringing were news from Archenland. A most terrible thought crossed Corin's mind. 

"Is my father alright?" he asked Chervy, alarmed. 

"I hope so, your highness, but I do not know," Chervy said. "Anvard is under attack by Prince Rabadash," 

Their ride up to Cair was not the joyous occasion they had all hoped for. It was filled with dread and questions. And for Susan, guilt.

"He's coming after me, is he not?" Susan asked Peridan as they dismounted.

"Don't worry, Su. We're going to stop him," Edmund said. He had been thinking of a plan on the ride up.  

"He won't come near you," Peridan vowed from over his horse. 

Susan nodded, but her guilt and worry remained.

"Edmund! Susan! Thank the gods you have returned," Lucy rushed down the castle steps to meet her siblings. "I presume Chervy has brought you up to speed," she looked at the stag. 

"He has. You are preparing for a siege?" Edmund asked. It was the only explanation for the skeleton guard manning their castle he had spotted on their ride. 

"Better safe than sorry," Lucy replied.

"Good call, but it won't come to that," Edmund said, utterly confident he'd stop the Calormenes. "How many soldiers can we have ready to depart today?" Edmund asked and they all walked inside. 

"Two hundred," Lucy said. "That is all we can spare,"

"Two hundred plus King Lune's men, that should be more than enough to stop him," Edmund figured. 

"How soon can we leave?" Corin asked and Edmund stopped. 

"We are leaving as soon as the soldiers are ready, you aren't going anywhere," Edmund said matter-of-factly and turned back to his sister, but Corin wasn't giving up. 

"My home and my father are under attack, of course I am going," Corin said.  

Edmund looked again at Corin. "I'm not taking a child to a battlefield," he replied. 

"I'm not a child, I am the Prince of Archenland," Corin said, standing tall and proud. "And if my country is under attack, I am going to help," 

"No, you're not because I am not taking the only heir of Archenland to a battle," Edmund said calmly. 

"And the only heir of Archenland is not staying here like a coward while his people are under attack," Corin replied, stubborn as ever. 

"No one doubts your courage, Prince," Edmund told him. "But having a–" he was about to say child, but he thought better, "someone so young and inexperienced in a battlefield, someone so important, would only be a risk," 

"How am I supposed to have any experience when I am not allowed to fight?" Corin asked. 

"By practising," Edmund said. "With an instructor. At home," He figured that was that and resumed walking, he had much to discuss with his sisters and Lords, but Corin was adamant. 

"I have been practising. I have been practising since I was strong enough to wield a sword," Corin said, following. "And I'm good. I fought that Calormene kid in the streets and his brother, and he was older than me. And when I fought the watch," 

"And they beat you," Edmund reminded him. "Almost imprisoned you," 

"Because I wasn't armed. If I had had a sword I would have defeated them all," Corin said. "And besides, wasn't your majesty about my age during the Battle of Beruna?" 

Edmund stopped again and faced Corin. "I was, yes. And I almost died. Do you want to know why? Because children don't belong in battlefields," Edmund repeated, tired of having this discussion and annoyed at Corin for bringing up a logical argument. 

Corin saw King Edmund wasn't budging, so he decided to try another way. 

"How about the sidelines then?" Corin asked. 

"The sidelines?" Edmund asked, wondering what tale Corin would spin next. 

"I won't fight, I'll just watch. Gain some experience." Corin said. "Narnia will defeat the Calormenes, there is no danger in watching. And I am sure my father would approve. He might even disapprove if I'm not there," 

Edmund pondered Corin's arguments. He knew the Prince, if he said no, Corin would just find a way to sneak out during the night and ride by himself until he reached Anvard. He supposed he could lock him in in his room or a high tower, but King Lune wouldn't approve of that. And if Corin snuck out, he might drag Edward and William with him. Edmund sighed, he had been pushed into a corner and there was only one way out. 

"You will stay out of the battlefield and you will not cause any trouble," Edmund looked at Corin quite seriously. 

"I will," Corin replied, crossing his fingers behind his back. 

"Very well. I'm sure William or Edward have a suit of armour they can lend you," Edmund said and figured that was the end of it, but the twins had another idea. 

"But we're going," William and Edward said at the same time. 

Edmund, Lucy and Susan exchanged looks. For a moment, Edmund felt like grunting loudly in annoyance. 

"No, you are not," Edmund said and sighed. Was he really about to have the same argument with different boys? 

"Corin's going, why can't we?" William asked. 

"He's only a year older than us," Edward added. 

Before Edmund could shut them down, Lucy placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him and intervened. "You can't go because someone has to stay and take care of Narnia while we're gone. And Susan," she said and looked at her sister. 

"Oh, yes," Susan nodded and played along. "I am going to need your help, you can't leave. There is too much happening, your place is here, leading Narnia," 

"Leading Narnia?" 

"Of course," Edmund said. "With your father and me gone, the responsibility falls onto you," he added and found his words had the intended effect. 

"That's right, it does," William realized. 

"Yes. We need to raise our defences, alert the West and northern Lords," Susan said. "And then there East, our navy... You cannot leave. Just as Corin's place is defending his country, so is yours," 

"That's right. We must stay," he agreed. 

"We must?" Edward asked his twin. 

"Yes," William replied. 

"Yes," Susan repeated. "I cannot do this alone, not right now," 

Peridan grabbed her hand, but Susan winked at him, reassuring him she could, indeed, do this alone. 

"So, about that suit of armour?" Corin asked the twins. 

"You can have mine," Edward said, somewhat defeatedly and he led the way upstairs. 

One meal and two hours later and Peridan was standing in the courtyard, suit of armour on, sword hanging from his belt, shield strapped to his back, horse saddled. He waited until Susan was done bidding farewell to her siblings to approach. 

His walking up to her only exacerbated her stress. 

She looked at her younger siblings heading off to battle on her behalf, she looked at the Narnians going to help Archenland who was in trouble because of her, she looked at Corin who could lose his father because of her... she wanted to run to her rooms and hide. It was all her fault. Everyone was now in danger because she had not been honest about her feelings. 

And then she looked at him. She looked at him dressed for battle and she wanted to weep. If something happened to him –she felt her eyes tearing up– if something happened to him she was sure she'd die from heartbreak. 

"Don't cry, it'll be alright. Everything's going to be alright. We'll be back before you know it," Peridan walked up to her and saw the tears gathering in her eyes, quivering. 

"This is all my fault. If only I had–" but Peridan stopped her. 

"This is not your fault. Nothing's your fault," he said softly. "You can't hold yourself responsible for his actions, they are his own. He made a decision and only he can be held responsible for it, alright? It is not your fault he can't handle rejection," 

"But if only I–" 

"It's not your fault," Peridan repeated and reached for her hand right there in front of everyone. 

But she did not care about the hundred prying eyes who were doing a lousy job at being discrete, she was done caring about such things. Especially when he was going into danger because of her. She looked at their joined hands and swallowed her tears.  

"Just come back," she whispered as she stared up into his eyes. 

"I will. I promise," Peridan said and was more than pleasantly surprised when Susan reached up and kissed him. 

Lucy looked at her sister and Lord Peridan kissing and felt quite shocked. "Oh, wow. They're–" 

"Together. Yes," Edmund said, deigning only a quick look at his best friend and his sister. Just because he was fine with the idea of them together did not mean he wished the front row seat to the show. 

"When did that happen?" Lucy asked, looking away out of courtesy and angling her horse closer to Edmund's. 

"The day we left Tashbaan," Edmund replied and fought the urge to yell at Peridan to hurry it up. 

"Wow," Lucy exclaimed, still processing the news. 

"Mhm," Edmund hummed in response and was relieved when he heard Peridan getting on his horse. "Done kissing my sister?" he asked Peridan as he passed him on his horse. 

"You saw that," Peridan realized and wished he could turn himself invisible. Perhaps he had pushed his luck too far. 

"Only the blind didn't see that," Edmund replied somewhat grumpily and adjusted his riding gloves. He looked at Peridan "Better you than Rabadash," he said and dug his heels into his horse's side. 

With the moon and the stars as their guide and torches lighting their way, the troops began to vacate the courtyard and ride for Anvard where the next day they'd be fighting one of the most important battles in the history of Narnia, Archenland and Calormen.