Waiting, Susan realized, was its own hell. She could busy herself as much as possible during the day, but at night, when she laid in her bed, when the birds had stopped singing and only the owls were awake, when not a sound was to be heard but those of her own making, her thoughts accosted her. 

It wasn't her fault, everyone had repeated to her, yet she knew so much trouble had been caused because of her. 

When she finally fell asleep it was to a restless and light sleep, one of discomfort and nightmares that, despite her awareness of them, of them being only a dream, would not let her wake, no matter how hard she tried. 

Until, at last, she did. 

Susan sat up abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest as the remnants of the terrible nightmare lingered in her mind. Sweat beaded on her forehead and she clutched the bedsheets tightly, willing herself to take deep breaths and calm down.

She gazed around the room, taking in the familiar furnishings and hangings, and feeling a sense of relief wash over her as she realized that it was just a dream. But the images of her younger brother and sister being captured by their enemies, King Lune's mortally wounded under his horse, Prince Corin missing, and the brutal death of Lord Peridan still felt all too real.

"It was just a dream," Susan told herself. "An awful, unreal dream. 

She let out a trembling sigh and rubbed her eyes, trying to shake the last vestiges of the nightmare from her mind. She had been through many battles and seen much loss and destruction in her time as Queen of Narnia, but this dream had felt different. This one wasn't a dream of after, it was a dream of before. This one, unlike the others, could come to pass. And if it did, it would be all her fault. 

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK. 

Susan jumped. 

With a sense of foreboding, she called out, "Enter," 

The door cracked open and warm light streamed in, revealing a small figure. 

"It's me, Aunt Susan," a young, sleepy voice reached her. "It's Will. I have news from the battlefront." the prince said, dragging his feet. 

Queen Susan's heart sank. This was it, the moment she had been dreading. Her hands fisted the sheets and her stomach sank. 

"What is it, Will?" she asked, trying to keep the tremor from her voice.

The young prince yawned as he stepped into the room. "Mum says the battle is won. Prince Rabadash has been defeated," the boy said tiredly and sat next to his aunt. 

Queen Susan felt a rush of relief wash over her, and she sagged against the mattress, a terrible weight being lifted from her shoulders. "Thank goodness," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Thank goodness." She hugged her nephew. She could hardly believe that her nightmare had come to such a happy end. 

The boy rested against her and fell asleep. 

"Will?" Susan asked in a whisper. "Sweetie?" 

But he slept like a rock. 

She scooted over, gently laid William down on her bed and covered him with a warm blanket. She couldn't help but smile as she gazed at his peaceful expression, grateful that he was safe and sound. 

As she made her way out of her chambers, her mind was racing with questions about the battle. She needed to learn more about what had happened, to know the full extent of the victory they had achieved against the ghastly Prince Rabadash. But, more importantly, learn who had survived. 

She saw light streaming from Imira's chambers so she didn't bother knocking. 

"Will said they–" Susan halted at the scene before her. 

At the sound of metal clanging and the muffled voices of Imira and her maid. Imira who was in the process of being dressed in her armour, and her maid who was fastening the clasps on her breastplate. 

"What are you doing?" Susan asked, her voice tinged with concern. "You can't possibly be thinking of leaving again so soon."   

"They defeated Prince Rabadash. I've nothing to do here, I must return north," Imira said. 

Susan shook her head, her eyes filled with worry. "But you just arrived. It hasn't even been 24 hours. You need to rest." 

Imira sighed, and Susan could see the exhaustion in her eyes. "I know, Susan. But I can't leave Peter to fight alone. He needs my support."

"He's not alone, he has an army," Susan reminded her. 

"I can't just sit here while he's fighting," Imira pointed out. 

She couldn't sit here and wait, not like Susan had. 

Imira's expression softened. "I need to get back to the front," 

Susan understood. If she could have, she would have gone with the others south. 

"Do you have any news regarding everyone's welfare?" Susan asked. 

"Edmund and Lucy are safe. I know Rabadash has been defeated, but I have no news on Lord Peridan," 

Susan felt a knot form in her stomach, her heart heavy with fear for the one she loved. 

Imira walked towards Susan, armour fully in place, and she took Susan's hands. "I'm certain if something bad happened, the eagle would have told me," 

But the worry didn't ebb from Susan's brow. 

"I am certain they will write. He will write," Imira gave her hand a gentle squeeze. 

Susan nodded, unconvinced. 

 "You should stay," Susan said. "You're no good to Peter sleep-deprived and exhausted," 

How to fight her logic? And the comforts of home when compared to a humid marsh? 

"Until noon," Imira agreed. "We might get more news by then. I'd like to return north well informed," 

The two queens settled in for the night, with William still fast asleep on Susan's bed, the two decided to share the room. As they lay in Imira's bed, talking softly, they both eventually drifted off to sleep.

Several letters arrived during the course of the day, but Susan only cared about one: Peridan's.  

He was fine and unharmed, Prince Rabadash was locked up in Anvard, her siblings were alright, Corin was alright. And he loved her. Susan couldn't wait to see Lord Peridan again, to hold him in her arms and make sure he was alright. 

"I told you he was alright," Imira laced her arm with Susan's. "When is he coming back?" she asked. 

"He is staying until King Lune decides what is to be done about Prince Rabadash," Susan said and they resumed their walk to the council room. 

"Ah, yes. Edmund mentioned there is to be a meeting to decide Prince Rabadash's fate," Imira said. "He believes I should attend," 

"You? Why?" Susan asked, her words sounding more surprised than she intended. 

Imira raised her brows, amused and mildly offended. 

Susan stopped. "I mean, shouldn't I be there?" 

"Do you want to be there?" 

She thought about it and, "No. Yes. I...I want to be with Peridan," she said, unable to fight the smile pulling at her lips. "But, are you going?" 

"Not if you'd rather go," Imira offered. 

Susan did want to see Peridan, desperately, but... "I don't want to see prince Rabadash ever again," 

"Then I will go," Imira said. 

Susan nodded but her eye caught on something behind Imira. Something sweet and heartwarming. 

"Oh, how sweet, look," Susan pointed out. 

Imira's gaze followed Susan's finger and she saw her youngest son, Prince Edward, through the window, giving a bracelet to a blonde girl. Eurybe's daughter, Imira realized. 

"Oh, they're just so cute, aren't they?" Imira said, a smile spreading across her face. 

"I didn't know he fancied someone," Susan said, watching as the girl blushed and the prince scratched the back of his neck. 

"He has always had a sweet spot for Thessalia," Imira said, watching approvingly. 

"She is very pretty," Susan assessed. 

"Your Majesties," Lord Henry's voice caught their attention. 

The two queens looked down the corridor and saw him standing next to a pair of opened doors, waiting. Right, the meeting. 

"Yes, of course," Imira said. 

The three of them made their way into the meeting chamber and updated their advisors on the situation. There was no need to prepare for a siege, no need to keep everyone clustered inside Cair Paravel's walls. Everyone was very pleased about this, but: what would happen to Prince Rabadash? What would be done about this treatcherous Calormen advance? 

Susan didn't like to think ill of people, but... oh, how easier things would be if Rabadash had fallen in battle. Now, they had gotten themselves, and the Archenlanders, into another mess. Perhaps an even bigger mess. With Prince Rabadash as their captive, the ball was in Archenland's court. Would they show mercy or would they answer force with force? 

Word would spread fast and not just south of the Calormen treatchery and the Archenlander and Narnian victory. And when the Tirsoc found out... What would he do? Would a ransom be asked over the prince's head? Would he be forever kept as a political prisoner? She hoped not because she didn't think she could ever go back to Archenland knowing Prince Rabadash was there, even in a cell. What would the price on Calormene's heir be? Would his father pay it or would the Tirsoc rather go to war for his son? Could that ever happen? A war between the north and south, either by land or by sea, would be devastating. Would a war start because of her if or when Rabadash returned south? Would he want Susan that much? She hoped not. She really, truly hoped not. Maybe they should have planned things a little better. Maybe she should have been rude during those last days; offputting in some sort of way to dissuade his attention. Perhaps not bathe one day, or have eaten a lot of garlic and onion before seeing him. Just done something to make herself unattractive instead of doing the opposite. Not that she had done it to catch the prince's eye. There had always been someone else in her mind. Which brought her back to Peridan. Oh, he was a dream. An absolute dream. She had wasted so much time already, she couldn't afford to lose more. Not with uncertainty in the future. She had always known what she wanted: to marry a man she loved who loved her and start a family. Her ambitions weren't big. She didn't crave glory like her sister in law and Peter did, didn't crave adventure like Lucy did or power like Edmund did. She just wanted love. She knew what she had to do when he returned. She was done wasting time, done being afraid to feel. She would ask for what she wanted and she would take it. 

The room was split, but on one thing they agreed: Imira should go and speak for King Peter and Susan should stay in Cair, as far away from the Southern Prince as possible. 

There were no objections from either Queen. 

Letters were written, ravens were dispatched. On the third day following the news from Anvard, with Peter informed and in agreement, Imira left. 

Alone, except for her pegasus, for she claimed Lord Henry would only slow her down, she left as the sun rose and arrived at Anvard before lunch. 

Imira had visited Anvard many times, but never before had she arrived by pegasus. She gracefully landed her mount in the heart of the lush inner garden, interrupting the cheerful chatter of noblemen and women who oohed and ahhed as the black whinged horse descended. 

She stuck out in her brown tight leather trousers, tall boots, and ornamental gold-lined breastplate, sword strapped to the waist, hair braided in a tall ponytail. It was all too much for the warm weather and inappropriate for a garden gathering. She was glad Susan had advised to send some clothing days before her arrival. 

All eyes were on her as she dispounted her magnificent steed at the center of a ring of highborn men and women, all curious looking in awe or approval as she took off her ridding gloves. 

Many of the faces were familiar. Archernladers she had chatter with, drank with, hunted with on previous visits, looked at her and whispered. 

Lucy was the first to reach her, parting her way through the Archenlanders, her eyes shining with joy, as she embraced Imira in a warm hug. 

"Imira! How wonderful to see you!" she exclaimed, as she stepped back and took in the sight of her friend. "You've arrived just in time," 

"In time for what?" Imira asked, but Lucy had no time to answer because King Lune arrived next with a beaming smile on his face. 

"Imira! Welcome to Anvard. We are honoured by your visit," he said, as he hugged her in a warm embrace.

"And I am honoured by the invitation," Imira replied in ernest. 

A servant prompty appeared and took the reins of the pegasus and ridding gloves of the warrior queen. 

"Ah, Imira," Edmund came next. "How goes the fight north?" he gave her a hug. 

"As expected, giants are a difficult foe. Their defensive weapons, althought primitive, are impossible to defend against. However I think out ballistae have given us the greater advantage. Especially from hight ground. If you line up the shot, you can get two at the same time. They have devastated them in every battle. There is simply no defence against them," 

"And our numbers?" Edmund asked. 

"I'll give you the full report later, I'd like to know what happened here," Imira said, her eyes finding Lord Peridan, at the edge of the now dispersing crowd, standing next to– why, next to two blond boys. 

She sucked in a breath. "So it is true then," Imira exclaimed and stared in disbelieve. 

The boy was shorter than Corin, thinner than Corin, more tanned than Corin and stood with less confidence, but the face, without counting the bruises, scrapes and the missing tooth Corin now sported, was exactly the same. 

"By the Gods, it's true," Imira turned to King Lune. 

"Imira, allow me to introduce my first-born son and heir," King Lune said, beaming with pride, "Prince Cor,"