I'm back! This next chapter should be picking up the pace by quite a bit, with some violence and heated conversation.

WARNING: If you have not read two of my previous stories: Rising Above and especially The In Between Times, there's a fairly large chance you won't follow many of the references in this one-shot toward events and characters (mainly the OC) from said fics.

~The Ruined City~

Chapter II

From Peter's vantage point, he could see that many of the arrows had made their marks. Unfortunately, it slowed the giants little in their rampage through the ranks. They hefted massive, spiked clubs that tore the ground with every swing, forcing soldiers to continuously back away before rushing in again to attack. Narnians stabbed at the giants' feet and ankles, but it would do little but annoy the massive beings if they couldn't land decisive, significant blows…

They have to have a weakness. Yes, there are tender spots between their toes, but their sheer size prevents us from reaching much farther than their ankles," Peter thought as he maneuvered out of the way of a giant's incoming foot. About twenty yards away, Peter noticed another screaming in pain, stomping harshly on the ground. Peter only noticed because he was screaming devilishly in pain, as not only was he pierced all over his face and arms, but more importantly, several arrows had pierced his left eye. Blood was gushing from the wound and onto the ground, doing nothing for his already haggard appearance.

From the ground we cannot reach their eyes, but with the arrows… Peter ushered his horse over to the screaming monster, calling to his men as he rode.

"Stab him between the toes, in the ankles, in his heel, as deep as you can!" he commanded. "Get him to fall, then stab the other eye!" Narnians went to work, heeding their king's orders of stabbing in the giant's weakest places.

"GAH! Little Narnians are annoying! I will eat you all after my brothers and I kill you!" the giant shouted, still clutching his bloody eye as he tried to swipe at the Narnians below. Soon, a centaur dealt a decisive blow to the monster's left ankle, where bone met bone. Hollering in pain, he dropped his club, which forced soldiers to scramble out of the way. But the giant picked up his damaged foot with both hands, and as he hopped on the other foot to support his weight, the ground shook with the sheer force of the giant's steps.

Finally, however, he lost his balance and fell, screaming the entire way. The sound was grating, reverberating throughout the entire field, and alerted the other four giants in the area. They roared in anger at seeing their brother, floored and crippled. The four began bending down to the ground, picking up fauns, dwarves, centaurs, and other Narnians, and throwing them toward the hill upon which Alexa and the archers were perched, who were continuously firing at the enemy.

Peter watched the scene with wide eyes as those who were on the mount, not sixty feet away, were being knocked off and thrown to the ground. There were little trees on the moor, but the giants also dislodged the few there were from the earth and hurled them as well, managing to crumple the left half of the front side. Narnians slid with the sudden avalanche of rock and earth, falling most likely to their deaths below. Peter, though he continued fighting, still kept much of his gaze on the scene for the moment as he searched for the Courageous Queen. He doubted he would be able to see her individually from such a distance, but a panicked alarm went off in his head at the thought that his friend had fallen off the cliff. He quickly looked around him for his general, who he soon saw fighting nearby among the ranks.

"Oreius!" he called. After ducking a swing of a giant's club, the centaur travelled closer to the High King.

"Sent Narnians to find as much rope as they can. Take them from the supports of the tents if they must, but we need rope to trip them. Lots of it. I need you to keep command here while I go to the archers, I need them to aim for the giants' eyes," Peter instructed, speaking so rapidly that at first, he didn't know if Oreius had gotten all of that.

"It will be done." The centaur had barely finished replying before the High King urged his horse into full gallop toward the hill. He rode past the fallen giant, who lay quivering in pain while he clutched his eyes. The second had also been pierced, and bled out freely on the dull grass. But Peter could not view the sight for long as thundering steps could be heard behind him.

He registered them a mere second before his horse was grabbed from under him. And as he soared through the air, he could barely utter a scream before he finally hit the ground, tumbling to a halt. He fell awkwardly (and painfully) on his side, and was momentarily stunned. Movement wasn't an option at the moment as half the air in his body was forced from his lungs, but he could see a shadow towering over him, blocking the sun.

A satyr had seen oncoming projectiles headed in their direction before Alexa had, and warned those in their area to move as far back as they could without rolling off the knoll. The Queen had been able to rear back enough to avoid the collapse of the left side, but others were not as lucky. She herself had only been saved by Elias, a centaur that had pulled her back at the last moment. Even with this, they kept firing arrows at their targets. Alexa herself was rubbish with a bow, so she felt quite useless up on the hilltop. The others were well trained, and knew when to fire, and what their targets were. Elias was the head trainer of the archers within the Royal Army, and would have been perfectly capable of leading them.

I don't know what Peter was thinking. I've been on the front lines before. And I'm definitely not an archer. I don't even see him anyway…

She surveyed the land before her, noting one giant had been felled and lay bleeding. He most likely wouldn't be fighting anymore, except to swat away those who tried to pester him further. There was about a thirty-foot gap between the majority of the fighting and her current position, which was steadily becoming wider. Three of the giants were pulling away from their fallen, engaging the soldiers closer to where their supplies and tents were located, and where the battle originally began.

I see what they're doing, Alexa thought, her eyes widening. They're trying to get out of the range of the arrows and trying to steal our provisions. They might just make a run for it. She had to warn Peter…but she couldn't leave her post. It would be wrong to leave them like this, still being shot at from several yards away with no one to lead them.

Elias can successfully lead them if anything else goes wrong, she thought, and as she moved to get her horse, she called out to the centaur.

"Yes, your Highness?"

"I need you to take control of this area until I get back. I must deliver urgent news to the High King," she said as she mounted her horse.

"It shall be done, my Queen," replied the centaur with a slow nod. With a nod in acknowledgement, she rode down the right side of the hill, where it was the least steep, and urged her horse into full gallop.

She rode past the fallen giant into the chaos of battle, and found that Oreius and several soldiers held lengthy yards of rope. Many others threw spears at the giants' eyes, attempting to blind them like the first. Alexa weaved in and out of the skirmish, trying to get to the general. Eventually, she closed enough distance between them to shout to the centaur, who turned at the sound of her voice.

"Yes, my Queen?" he shouted back to her.

"Where is Peter?"

"He was on his way to your location on the hill. I have not seen him since," he replied, but soon became distracted with the task before him. Alexa managed to get close enough to him that they wouldn't have to shout with one another.

"Oreius, they are trying to drag the battle toward camp and away from the range of the arrows. I need to find Peter and tell him…just do your best to drag them closer to the hill without becoming too close."

"Yes, your Highness," Oreius replied, and in a flash, dropped him end of the rope and stabbed the foot of the closest giant until he felt bone, then drew it out at an angle. As blood sprayed, the pain was enough to make the massive being cry out and lift its leg from the ground.

"NOW!" Oreius commanded to the troops, who pulled hard with the rope in opposite directions, making it taught.

"Clear the way!" Alexa yelled as she finally saw what Oreius's plan was. Narnians scrambled out of the way as the giant veered back and stumbled upon the rope. He fell with shocking force, making the earth shake.

"Pierce its eyes!"

"Make sure it doesn't get up again!"

"Do you think we could bind it?"

"Get out of the way! The club is rolling this way!"

Alexa rode away from the area, mindful of the other two giants in the area as she headed for the hilltop once again.

But wait…there were five giants…

It was then that she felt the rumble of labored steps in the ground. Looking up, she saw the twenty-foot giant…running toward her.

Peter blinked and was able to see the monster's club raised above him, and as it raced down, his previously paralyzed limbs sprang into action. He pushed against the floor under him and rolled out of the way as fast as he could—just enough to avoid the metal spikes that embedded themselves into the earth. Shakily, he forced himself to his feet and raced toward the mount, only stopping when he heard guttural screeching from behind him.

"GAHHH…AAAAHHH….MY EYES…MY POOR EYES…STUPID…FOWL…NARNIANS…" Several arrows had been shot into the creature's eyes, face, arms, and were continuously being poured upon his torso. He tried in vain to swipe away his enemies, but they never ceased fire, not until the giant ended up screaming and racing away. His path neither ended with the Narnians' camp, nor with the village. It ran straight through the gorge and disappeared into the distance. Peter almost sighed in relief when, hearing their brother abandon them, the two giants that remained standing also ran away, leaving the two heavily injured giants that laid on the ground.

He ambled up the right side of the hill until he reached the group of archers, thanking them for their aid and for his rescue.

"It was our pleasure, and our duty, your Majesty," said an older faun, war worn, but still appearing quite able. Peter smiled at the faun, who held his bow taught at his side.

"Well, all the same, it was much appreciated…" he trailed as his eyes wandered the area. He saw dwarves, centaurs, fauns, satyrs…but where was the Courageous Queen? Peter felt something drop in the pit of his stomach.

"Do you know where Queen Alexa is?" he asked the faun intently. He could tell the Narnian noticed his king's change in demeanor, and the hardness of his gaze, but Peter was having a hard time reigning in his anxiety as it was.

"Uh…no…your Majesty…I have not seen the Queen…last I saw her, she was standing over there," said the faun, who pointed toward the cliff's edge, now battered and half destroyed.

Peter's eyes widened, and without even answering the Narnian archer, he took off down the right side. He sprinted down a sharp left and skidded to a stop and the remains of the landslide.

Roots. Leaves. Shields. Helmets. Weapons. Arrows…Narnians…

I…I'll never be able to find her in this, he thought, but he then rebuked himself. She may be safe. She might be with Oreius…

But the glimmer of hope left him then. She wouldn't have left the Narnians on the hill without a leader…I failed…I failed her…I told her we would be fine…I knew I should have…

"Peter?"

He froze.

"Peter?"

He turned, and he saw her. She stood, watching him with concern filled eyes, holding the reigns of her horse next to her.

"Are you all right?" she asked. "Oreius wants to question the last two giants…you might want make your way over there…" Alexa saw him staring at the landslide, and immediately thought he was mourning for the loss. She tried touching his shoulder in comfort, but he recoiled slightly at her touch and stared at her with a piercing gaze. Confused, and slightly hurt, she met his equally confused gaze.

"Where were you?" he asked suddenly. Put back, Alexa wasn't sure on how to respond.

"I was over there," she said, pointing to the direction of where Oreius and the rest of the troops were now heading. "I nearly got stepped on coming back over here, but three of the giants left, if you didn't notice. Why were you over here?"

"I was looking for you, so I could give you instruction on a last minute battle strategy. By the time I arrived here, you were gone." Peter's tone quickly changed from one of confusion to one of anger, and Alexa picked up quickly.

"Why did you leave your post?" he asked tersely.

"I had to warn you, the giants were trying to bring the battle out of the range of the archers and into our camp."

"You couldn't send someone? You had to leave them without a leader?"

"I appointed Elias to lead them. He's the head trainer of the archers, he was perfectly capable in the first place."

"Are you questioning my judgment?"

"Peter, honestly, you know I'm terrible at archery. Admit it, you put me there just so I wouldn't be in the battle!"

"You were in the battle! Did you miss the bloody trees being thrown at you?" By this point, Peter was becoming increasingly irritated by Alexa's behavior, while Alexa was just as annoyed with him for treating her like his mere subordinate, or a liability to dispose of.

"Do I make the army weak? Is that what it is?" she asked. She hated arguing with him as much as she hating him being angry with her, but she had to defend her piece. Peter, on the other hand, was nearly to the point of pulling on his hair in frustration. She was completely missing the point, and he told her as much.

"Tell me then. What is the point? All I did was try and help you, and now you're yelling at me?" Alexa said. She averted her eyes from his dark blue gaze, not wanting to see his angered expression.

"Damn it, don't do that. Don't try to pin this on me. You disobeyed my explicit orders, you walked away from your post, and not only did you put others at risk, you even made me believe…" he trailed…regarding Alexa she looked down while biting her lip. But then, she looked up at him. Her expression was hurt and angry, as well as…confused.

"…Believe what?" she asked hesitantly. Peter paused, staring at her blankly. He didn't want to tell her.

She'll think I'm such an idiot…ah hell, she already does think I'm an idiot. Peter turned away.

"Nothing." He brushed past her, but stopped short. When she turned around, he did as well, and put a hand on her shoulder. Unlike him, she did not recoil, for which he was grateful.

"I…I'm sorry…just, next time…please, do as I ask you." He paused, then sighed and muttered, "I shouldn't have let you come." She shrugged off his hand and backed up a couple steps away from him.

"W-What?" she asked. Peter shook his head and sighed once more as he let his hand fall back to his side.

"I should have followed my first instinct and had you stay with Lucy, or accompany Edmund and Susan. I should have known something like this would happen." Hearing the words felt like he had slapped her. For a long moment, neither spoke, simply staring at the patch of grass between them. Finally, however, Alexa broke the silence.

"Am I that inept?" she asked. She clenched her trembling hands at her side. When he looked up at her sharply, she continued, cutting off any reply he could have offered.

"Do you think…that little of me, Peter?"

No, he wanted to answer. But she didn't give him the chance.

"I suppose…even with a crown, I'm just a little girl from Spare 'Oom. Why should I matter to you?"

"Alexa—"

She began walking toward the rest of the army, her horse in tow. Shaking his head, he walked towards camp.

I'm such an idiot.

"Why were you trespassing on Narnian borders?" Peter questioned the two giants, who sat on the ground, still holding their injured eyes from the exposure of the light emitted by the flames used to light up the camp. By the end of the battle, night had fallen, but all were still awake and trying to fix up the camp.

"We look for food," answered the one who was first blinded so early in the battle.

"And why can't you find food on your own Northern borders?"

"Food is scarce. Mountains are cold, and they are greedy in the City."

"What city?" Peter asked. His curiosity was piqued.

"Forgotten…high in the North…plenty of food, but others are greedy," said the other.

"What others?"

"Others," the giant insisted. "Greedy and selfish, they think they are so much better."

"Who are they? Other giants?" Peter pressed.

"They are…Ettins…smart…they are rebuilding."

"Ettins, you say…" Peter paused, glancing at Oreius, who looked suddenly grave, and Alexa, who remained pensive.

"What are they rebuilding?" asked the centaur.

"The City," said the first.

"Where is the city? Is it Harfang?"

"No, not Harfang. Harfang is a good resting place, but not enough food."

"So where is this city?" asked Alexa.

"North. Straight north."

"Is it dangerous?" asked Peter.

"For puny Narnians, yes. They are greedy with food and supplies; humans are a delicacy."

"Of course they are," Peter muttered. "What supplies could they need?"

"Anything to build the City with." Peter paused for a moment, considering this information.

"You want the Ettins gone?"

"They steal food and supplies, then shut us out from the City."

"So you do want them gone."

"…Yes."

"If we promise to defeat them, or at least make them give back what they stole from you, will you tell your kinsmen not to harm us once we let you go?" Both Alexa and Oreius looked at Peter, Alexa with wide eyes, Oreius with raised brows.

"You…would let us go?" asked the second.

"If you cooperate, yes," said Peter.

"You will give us back what is ours?"

"I will do my best."

"…We will not harm you, neither will our brothers, if we can convince."

"Good. Go now, we will not stop you. Oreius, please warn the others." Peter watched as both giants stood shakily to their feet and made their way to the gorge, relying on their sense of smell and the coolness of the wind as their guides.

Out of the corner of his eye, he regarded Alexa's impassive expression.

"You think my decision was unwise." It was a statement, purposefully not a question. Alexa glanced at him. She was silent for a long moment before she answered.

"It doesn't matter what I think." He turned to look at her, but her focus was on the mountains ahead. After a moment, she retired to her tent, leaving Peter feeling colder than he had already been.

It's a little shorter than the last chapter, but a little bit more action, perhaps? One or two installments coming up next. Any requests while I'm working on fanfiction? Maybe a one-shot or an update on The Art of Conversation? That's basically a collection of one-shots I have going, for those who don't know. I might get to Hereafter by tomorrow.