It was treason, really. It had to have been.
No one was supposed to know about the expedition except the five monarchs and a few others. The more people that knew, the more likely it was that something could get out to the outlying countries.
It started off innocent enough, with the Pevensies, Caspian, Trumpkin, and Glenstorm heading out early in the morning, before the sun lit up the valiant's sea. Peter was at the front, then Susan on Glenstorm, followed by Trumpkin and Edmund, and finally Lucy and Caspian, bringing up the rear. "Pete, we've been riding for hours and it's nearly dark. I think it's best we make camp in that clearing we passed not a mile back." Edmund called ahead to his brother, causing the party to stop. "Oh, I suppose you're right. You heard king Edmund, turn back!" And so there they were, the five royals and their three companions, all laying comfortably around a fire created by Trumpkin. "Goodnight, everyone." Lucy mused, her eyes shutting peacefully, her head resting comfortably on Caspian's chest. "Goodnight." Everyone called back, and they were all happy.
The minutes she woke up, she knew something was off. Maybe it was the way the sun only seemed good for light and not heat, or maybe it was how cold it was in the middle of summer. She sat up, and realized, shocked, that no one else was at the campsite. Everyone's blankets looked crumpled and thrown around, and Lucy became worried when she saw a small dot of crimson on a rock close to the path they had traveled. Handling a sword, she slowly followed the red trail, her breath hitching when she reached the crest of a hill. Bellow her, there were six standing around a body, it's face obscured from her sight. She ran towards them, but Susan turned to her, red eyed, trying to hold her back. "Lu, please, stay back-" but her words had no affect as soon as the Valiant saw who was on the ground. "NO!" Her scream could have been heard from Archenland, and she threw herself forward, lifting up the head of the man into her lap, a gaping hole in his abdomen. His eyes were barely open, and he was barely breathing. "No, no, no, no, no..." Lucy muttered, rocking back in forth with tears in her eyes, stroking his dark hair. "L-Lucy..." The king smiled weakly at her, coughing up blood. "Please. Please stay with me. Please..." She choked out the words, sobs mingling in. His shaky hand lifted to hers on his head, and he held it tight, using his last ounce of strength to make her smile. "You're not at all what I expected."