Annabelle's POV

I stepped out into the open air, smiling slightly as the wind hit my face. I could never get over the feeling of being outside after spending so long in the dark cold cell. Caspian and Cornelius sat along one of the stone walls. I walked over to them. Caspian looked up as I got closer and stood up. 

"How are you feeling?" He asked. 

"Better." I said with a nod, I looked passed the prince, "It's good to see you again, Cornelius." 

"And you, my Queen." The half-dwarf said, bowing his head. Caspian sat back down next to his professor. I moved to join them when my vision suddenly wavered and I fell to my knees. 

"Annabelle!" Caspian's voice remained distant as I suddenly stood in a grand hall, surrounded by Telmarines.

The doors at the end opened and Miraz walked through, dressed in the finest robes. He made his way down the aisle as everyone watched in reverence. Sopespian brought forth a golden crown, his mouth moving, but I couldn't make out what he was saying. Miraz knelt down as Sopespian placed the crown on his head. Miraz rose to his feet. 

"Long live the king! Long like the king!" People began to shout. The world around me changed and I saw hoards of Telmarine soldiers crossing the bridge over the river. "Long live the king!" I covered my ears as the cheers got louder and louder. The sounds of battle echoed all around me as I stood in the middle of an empty, ravaged battlefield. I blinked and saw Peter and Miraz fighting. Peter fell to the floor and his scream ripped through the air. I closed my eyes, shaking my head. 

"Long live the king!" The shouts started again, distantly, as Miraz stood over the lifeless body of Peter, a wicked smile on his face. 

"No!" I shouted, "No, no! Stop!" 

"Annabelle!" I opened my eyes to see Caspian kneeling next to me. I gasped for breath and sat up. Susan stood next to Cornelius. Peter, Edmund, and Lucy came running up. 

"Miraz has been crowned king. They are coming." 

Peter's POV

I sat with my back up against the stone table, staring up at the carving of Aslan on the wall. My conversation with Annabelle echoed in my head. It was always times like this when I was feeling uncertain about my path that she was by my side, encouraging and comforting me. I missed hearing her laugh, seeing her smile, feeling her lips against mine. 

Why did he send us away? I thought, my eyes still fixed on the great lion. Quiet footsteps sounded next to me, but I didn't turn to look as Lucy sat down next to me. She let out a sigh but didn't say anything. After a moment, I glanced at my little sister, seeing she was staring up at Aslan, hope still alive in her eyes. That was the thing about Lucy. She never once lost hope in Aslan. I looked back up at the carving, trying my hardest to find that same light inside of me. But all hope had been extinguished. 

"You're lucky, you know." I murmured. 

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked. 

"To have seen him." My voice cracked slightly and I pursed my lips, keeping the tears at bay. "There's so much I need to ask him." 

"Like why we were sent back while Annabelle had to stay here?" She asked. I nodded, a tear slipping down my cheek. 

"If I had been there for her... then none of this would have happened." 

"There's no telling what would have happened." Lucy said, "You could have died in that battle and Caspian would be in the same position he is in right now, but without you to guide him."

"When did you become so wise?" I asked her, glancing in her direction, a small smile on my lips. Lucy thought for a moment.  

"Around my 20th birthday." She then said confidently. I laughed slightly, turning my gaze back to Aslan. 

I had missed him in this past year. Life in England seemed so lifeless and dreary compared to a life with in a palace with a great lion fighting on your side. I had expected things to go a lot differently than they had. That upon my return, Aslan would have greeted me in Cair Paravel. That I would sit once again on my throne and rule Narnia with my family at my side. And with Annabelle as my counsel. 

"I wish he'd just give me some kindof proof." I said finally.  

"Maybe we're the ones who need to prove ourselves tohim." Lucy said, squeezing my arm slightly. She reached up and wiped the tear that rested on my cheek. "And maybe that will bring  Annabelle around too." I shook my head slightly.

"She wants nothing to do with me." 

"That's not true. She's only angry, that's all. It may take her a while to see through that anger, but I believe she will." As the words left her mouth, Edmund ran into the room, gasping for breath. I jumped to my feet. 

"Pete, you'd better come quick. It's Annabelle." 

I pushed passed him before he could get out another word and sprinted outside. Edmund and Lucy followed after me. I found Annabelle, who laid unconscious with Caspian kneeling down next to her. She tossed and turned, shouting out in her sleep. 

"Annabelle!" I shouted, running towards her. Annabelle opened her eyes, gasping for breath. Caspian helped her sit up slightly as she scanned her surroundings. 

"Miraz has been crowned king. They are coming." She said, her voice steady and her eyes dark. As the words left her mouth, I heard the sound of a thousand feet marching in the distance. 

"Prepare for battle." I commanded. 

****

"Cakes and kettledrums! That's your next big plan?Sending a little girl alone into the darkest parts of theforest alone?" Trumpkin spat, glaring up at me. 

"It's our only chance." I tried to reason to the angry dwarf. Susan stepped forward next to me. 

"And she won't be alone." She said, nodding to me. Trumpkin looked at the both of us. 

"Haven't enough of us died already?" He asked. 

"Nikabrik was my friend too, but he losthope." Trufflehunter spoke up. "Queen Lucy hasn't. And neither have I." 

"For Aslan." Reepicheep piped up. 

"For Aslan!" A bear cheered. 

"I'm going with you." Trumpkin said, approaching Lucy. She laid a hand on his shoulder. 

"No, we need you here." She said gently. 

"We have to hold them off until Lucy and Susan getback." I went on, looking at Glenstorm who nodded. 

"If I may..." Caspian stepped forward, clasping his hands together. "Miraz may be a tyrant and a murderer. But as king,he is subject to the traditions and expectations of hispeople. There is one in particular that may buy us sometime." 

"And that would be?" I asked. 

"A duel." Another voice spoke up. We all turned to Annabelle who had remained sitting quietly in the corner. She had remained distant since her vision, only explaining briefly what she had seen before falling into deep thought. 

"Precisely." Caspian said. 

"He will agree." She murmured, staring emotionless at the cave drawings on the wall. 

"Then I shall write up a challenge." I said. "Edmund, you will deliver it to Miraz." My brother nodded. Annabelle stood up from her seat and walked out without a word.