CHAPTER EIGHT
vol i — family feud!

THE WEIGHT OF the unknown had been applying pressure to Alex's chest ever since they had left the comfort of the castle, banished into a place they had never been. It had been frightening, knowing that they had a target on their back, someone who wanted them dead so he could come into a higher power. It was constantly frightening, not knowing whether or not something will happen when you're unprepared, the feeling that something could happen and you lose the war and your life — it was something that continued to haunt her mind. She pressed herself into Caspian's side, trying to seek the comfort that only he could bring her, wanting to make sure that she was okay for the time being.

"Everything will be fine, my love."
"I just have a bad feeling about tonight."
"I know. Don't dwell on it."
"I'll try."
"Let's go, guys!"

Caspian and Alexandra follow Peter through the How, hands intertwined as they stepped out into the darkness. The stars seemed to know that something was wrong, their sparkle being dimmed on that night. The two had to part ( which was unwilling on their part ) to get on their horses and ride off, leading different groups to the castle. Peter, of course, was in the front, leading all of them, his egotistical tendencies making him feel invincible. The hours would tick by slowly, as the silence would encase them, dragging on the grueling amount of time that was being spent on getting to the castle. Alexandra had let out a breath of relief when she could make out the outline of the large castle in the distance, the lights flickering.

The griffins could be heard from a small distance away, everyone who was riding one got off their horses and started making their way to them, stroking their faces to get their trust. Caspian and Alex hug for the longest they could, separating to climb into the talons of their griffin, getting ready to breach the castle when Edmund shined his torch at them, giving them the signal. When they ended up in the air, Alexandra let out a laugh of joy, feeling the wind in her face, bringing her a sense of comfort, the joy of being free. She let out a cry when she noticed that someone was taking their aim at Edmund, Susan immediately notching an arrow and firing it at the man, hitting her target easily.

They land on the tower, walking over to the edge of the wall, tying a rope off and climbing down it, heading towards the window of the professor's office. "Professor?" Caspian asked in a small voice, knocking on the window to hopefully catch the man's attention. When no reply came, he went to get the window open with a knife that he had in his belt, scraping along the side until it hit the lock, fidgeting with it until a click happened. Peter dropped down behind the two Telmarines, Susan following him with help from her older brother, the four of them walking around the office, inspecting every part of it. "I have to find him."

"No time. You have to get to the gatehouse."
"None of us would be here without him."
"We can take care of Miraz."
"Thanks."
"And I can still make it to the gatehouse."

Caspian grabbed Alex's hand, pulling her through the dark hallways, eyes frantically searching for where the professor could be kept. Alex tried her hardest to keep up, the boy in front of her moving as such a high speed through the winding halls, not stopping to turn around the sharp corners, stumbling as he raced down the stairs, not caring about the noise he created. The dungeon had been the last place they searched, speeding down the stairs as they prayed for the best outcome possible, spotting the man instantaneously. Caspian found the keys, opening the cell door, gently shaking the man awake. "Five more minutes?"

"What are you doing here? I didn't help you escape just so you could get captured again. You have to get out before Miraz learns you are here," the professor said, noticing Alex standing behind Caspian, snapping his head back towards the boy. "What were you thinking? Brining her back here? She is going to get herself killed."

"Thanks."
"Don't worry about her or Miraz."
"Don't underestimate Miraz as your father did."
"Sorry? What?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm sorry."

Alex didn't have a moment to react, Caspian already bolting off in the direction of Miraz's room, revenge written clearly across his face. That scared Alexandra slightly, the unknown of what the boy would do because of what he just learned, making sure to follow in case he did something stupid. She made sure to unlock the handcuff that kept the professor to his cell, bolting off after Caspian, chasing the echo of his footsteps pounding against the stone. As he reached closer to his aunt and uncles bedchambers, Alexandra decided to run even faster, wanting to get there before he had a chance to do something incredibly stupid.

When she got there, she noticed Caspian and his uncle in a stare, sword pointed threateningly at Mirazs' throat, the man letting out a slow chuckle. "Get up," Caspian said, his voice low and menacing. Miraz followed the order, shoving awake his wife in the process, opening her eyes to be greeted with Alexandra's dagger in her face, centimeters from her eyes.

"Caspian, Alex?"
"Stay where you are."
"What are you doing?"
"I think it's obvious, dear. You know, some might consider this inappropriate behavior."
"That doesn't seem to have stopped you."
"But you're not like me, are you?"
"Put the sword down, Caspian. I don't want you to die."
"We don't want you to either."
"This used to be a private room."

Peter had tried to get mad at them for not being where they needed to be, having searched the castle to find Miraz to deal with the problem on their own, wanting to make sure that everything went to plan. Caspian wouldn't let him get out a word, too busy arguing with Miraz, trying to show the frustration that he felt with what he had been told his whole life, only to find out that it had been just a huge lie. Alex didn't know what to do, the feeling of helplessness overwhelming her body and leaving her in a state of unknown, unable to help Caspian with this, yet not wanting to see a young child end up being an orphan.

"Did you kill my father?"
"Now we get to it."
"You told me your brother died in his sleep."
"That's was more or less true."
"Oh, Aslan."
"Did you kill me father?"
"Caspian, this won't make things better."

Miraz took a deep breath, trying to come clean without having to actually say the words, enjoying what would happen with his nephew when he did. "We Telmarines would have nothing had we not taken it. Your father knew this better than anyone."

"How could you?"
"For the same reason you will pull that trigger!"
"Stop! Stay right there!"
"For our son! You must choose! Our son king or fatherless!"
"No!"

Prunaprismia, Caspian's aunt, shot the crossbow, the arrow shooting across the room, heading straight between Alex and Caspian's arms. Alexandra could feel a stinging sensation on the side of her arm, looking down to notice a trail of blood dripping from her skin, down to the bottom of her sleeve, dripping onto the floor, creating a small pile of blood. Her mind wanders to the boy on her right, turning her body towards him, her eyes attracted to the cut that matched her own on his skin. She brought her hands to his arm, failing to notice Miraz sneaking through a secret door that led to a passage to the armory, too busy trying to figure out if his wound was worse than her own. When she realized that it was only a flesh wound, the arrow not doing any real damage, she placed a kiss on his cheek, grabbing the hilt of her sword, noticing that Miraz had disappeared.

"Come on!" Peter shouted, running out of the room, not even bothering to check to see if the others were following him. The alarm bells were blaring across the castle, Miraz having rung them to let all his soldiers know that they were under attack. Peter had decided to break off from the group, catching the attention of his sister who yells his name, only getting a, "Our my is just outside!" as a response. "Now, Ed, now! Signal the troops!"

"I'm a little busy right now, Pete!"
"It's too late! Call them off while we still can!"
"No, I can still do this!"

They watched as Peter tried to open the gates by himself, Alex shaking her head at the boy, wanting to know why he thought that he would be able to do this himself, and why he was willing to put the lives of their friends in danger over something as stupid as this. "Just who exactly are you doing this for?" Susan asked, staring at her brother in disbelief. Alex nodded her head at Susan, agreeing with the girl about her brothers stupidity.

peter drives me insane!