A/N Well that last chap was interesting huh? It only goes downhill from here! Lol! This chap starts with Peter and Edmund getting back after the 'games'. I want to point out that I'm dumb and misspelled 'Calormen' for two chapters. I sincerely apologize for my stupidity and errors have been fixed in the following chapters. Again sorry and much thanks to the one who pointed it out to me. Thanks again for sticking with me! Ya'll rock!

They arrived in their rooms to find a crying Lucy and a shaken Susan. Lucy jumped up and ran to Peter, hugging him tightly. He hugged her back fiercely.

"I wanna go home Peter!" Lucy sobbed.

"You are. You and Su are both going home tonight." Peter promised her gently. Susan looked at him reproachfully.

"Peter as much as I want to go back to Narnia too, we can't just leave you."

"Yes, you can. This place is more dangerous than I ever could have imagined. I won't risk your safety."

"I agree. You, Lu, and one of the guards will leave tonight." Edmund said firmly. Just then a knock came on the door and Prince Daka entered softly. Peter and Edmund glared at him and moved slightly to position in front of their sisters.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that."

"You don't agree?" Susan asked, suspicion singing through her voice.

"How could I? My mother is…was the queen but my father's other sons are still by brothers, if only by half. They are promised a chance at the throne if they train and fight and win but it will never be. I am my father's only legitimate heir. I hate watching my brothers fight each other like animals."

Peter and Edmund glanced at each other, not even being able to comprehend such a fate.

"I am glad someone here has a heart. You, at least, will understand why the queens of Narnia will be journeying home tonight." Peter said in a dignified manner.

"My lord, no! My father would see that as a disrespectful, distrusting act and who knows how he will react! I fear his mind is not fully with him anymore."

"Then they shall leave by cover of night with no one's knowledge. Peter and I will stay here to try and continue negotiations." Edmund said solemnly.

"Ed, no! It's too dangerous for us to leave you! I won't go!" Susan said, crossing her arms stubbornly. Peter turned to face her full with a look that was so stern it was almost frightening.

"I'm not asking as your brother. I'm commanding as your king." Both Susan and Lucy stood straighter, heads level, eyes straight forward.

"As you wish." They murmured grudgingly. Peter turned to Edmund. He wished he could order the same to his brother but the High King knew it was hopeless. Edmund would have no qualms about ignoring this particular direct order. Price Daka sighed tiredly.

"I will arrange for the guards to be gone from the gates tonight at midnight but you must be swift."

"Thank you for your help. Peace is still our mission and we will do what we can to preserve it." Peter said, inclining his head to the Prince.

"I must go. There is much to do. Good luck." And with that Daka left. The siblings prepared for the girls journey and at eleven they headed to the city gates, cloaked and hooded. Once they arrived they didn't have long to wait before the guards left and it was time to say their goodbyes. The Fauns went to retrieve the queen's horses and to give them privacy.

Susan hugged Edmund close and ran a hand lovingly threw his dark hair. She hated leaving him. Ever since their first battle in Narnia she was loath to let her youngest brother out of her sight. She pulled away and smiled sadly at him through tears. Next she went to Peter who quickly enveloped her in his arms and she laid her head on his shoulder, trying to keep the sobs at bay. Peter played with her long hair absently and whispered,

"Stay safe. Please stay safe." She nodded and whispered back,

"We will. You too. Take care of Ed." Peter smiled ruefully, sharing his sisters over protectiveness of their brother.

"I won't let anything happen to him." He promised, calming his sister's nerves. Next was Lucy's turn to say her farewells and she wrapped her arms around Edmund's waist and he leaned down to plant a kiss on her head.

"Love you Lu. We'll be fine." Edmund did love his sister and hated to see her worry. She leaned away and smiled at him, brave face firmly intact, then she went to Peter. The oldest dropped to his knees to be eye level with her, though the gesture was hardly necessary anymore. Lucy had grown several inches since they had lived in Narnia and was almost as tall as Susan now, though both boys were already much taller than them. Lucy looked straight into her oldest brothers eyes and said,

"Take care Peter. It's tricky here and I'll never forgive either of you if you get hurt. Not to mention I'd lead the whole Narnian army into Calormen." Peter laughed a real, deep laugh.

"Then I pity the country if the Valiant Queen comes after them." They hugged tightly then the boys helped the girls onto their now present horses.

"Aslan be with you all." Edmund told them.

"And with you." Lucy replied and with that the two girls spurred their horses out of the gate, with their guard fallowing on hoof. The young kings watched them sadly, feeling as if they had just lost a part of themselves to the unknown.

"They will be fine my lords." Their guard comforted.

"I hope so. Come, we have a few hours yet before dawn and we should sleep." We will need our rest." Peter said and with that they retired back to their quarters.

The next morning the two kings entered the grand hall were negotiations took place and they were met by the Tisroc and his counsel of Tarkaans and their Tarkheenas.

"The queens have opted not to join us today?" the Tisroc asked good-naturedly. Peter and Edmund looked at each other, deciding unspoken if they would tell the truth.

"An unexpected complication occurred and the queens had to return to Narnia last night. They send their apologies for the abrupt departure." The Tisroc's eyes noticeable darkened and he gripped the table in an attempt to control his anger.

"Nothing serious I hope?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"Not at all. Merely a family problem." Peter supplied smoothly.

"Then let negotiations continue." The Tisroc said silkily but anger still glinted in his eyes. The negotiations went on tirelessly for the rest of the day with little progress made. Around eight that night they dismissed and the Narnians retired along with the council of Calormen nobles, leaving the Tisroc, Vizier, and Daka alone yet again.

"They suspect." The Tisroc said furiously.

"No my lord. The kings would have left too if they had suspected."

"Whatever it was that scared the queens away, it still nullifies our plans! We have lost the element of surprise." The Vizier stroked his chin thoughtfully. Suddenly a frightening smile grew on his face.

"This has changed nothing. We arrest the kings for some reason or another, such as 'they have insulted the Tisroc, may he live forever' or 'plotted conspiracy to take over the country.' We execute them, ride to Narnia under a banner of peace, the queens will think negations have gone well and welcome us with open arms and we continue the plan as we had it."

"Brilliant. That clever mind of yours is invaluable to me, Vizier." The Tisroc said happily.

"I live only to serve you my lord." The Vizier answered with a malicious smile.

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"He was angry Pete. There was no reason for anger unless something underhanded is afoot." Edmund ranted, not liking the idea of someone plotting against his country or his family.

"What would you have me do Ed? I don't see a way out of this sticky mess quite yet but we will find it."

"I know Pete. I'm sorry. I shouldn't worry you." Peter smiled and stood, throwing an arm around his brothers shoulder and leading him to the balcony that overlooked the cities bazaar. People bustled to and fro, going on with their lives, oblivious that they were uncared for by their government who was supposed to keep them safe.

"It's my job to worry. To worry about Narnian and our people. To worry about brave Lucy and her wonderfully innocent nature. To worry about sweet Susan who grows more beautiful with each passing day and who draws more unwelcome suitors just as quickly. I worry about you and how you attract trouble. And my peoples worries, my sisters worries, and your worries are my own." Edmund smiled and leaned his head back against Peter's shoulder, comfortably. Open family affection was not as accepted in England but Edmund thanked Aslan that it was accepted here. A warm hug or kiss on the head was the most wonderful thing in the world when comfort was needed.

"You are my brother, my confidant, my king… but I am a king as well. Their worries are mine as well. And so are yours." The younger king reminded gently. Peter laughed good-naturedly and squeezed Edmund's shoulder in a side hug.

"What would I do without you Ed?"

"Have no idea how to handle diplomatic situations for one." Edmund answered dryly. The two stood in companionable silence, overlooking the busy city. They had both changed so much since coming to Narnia. Peter now stood at nearly six feet tall and Edmund was only a head behind. They both looked more like men then boys, having well muscled arms and chests from countless hours of weapons training. Their stances were wide, already a testimony to their battle readiness and their hands were calloused from hard work. They had similar build and their faces clearly showed that they were related but they were two different sides of the same coin.

Peter's blonde hair was shaggy and light and kept swept out of his face. Likewise his brilliant blue eyes were crystal clear and showed his emotions like an open book. Edmund was much less open and Peter and Lucy were often the only ones who could read him. He wore his hair the same length as Peter but it fell in front of his dark chocolate eyes. They complemented each other well as they stood, watching the people.

Suddenly their peace was disrupted as Prince Daka burst into the room.

"My kings! You must leave at once! The Vizier is on his way with half a dozen men to arrest you!" He blurted, out of breath. An identical look of horror mixed with disbelief crossed the kings faces.

"On what grounds!?" Peter demanded in anger.

"A made up excuse. There is a plot to take over Narnia. Pease you must leave!"

"Wait. We can't. If we leave it will give them provocation to attack Narnia. Plus it will put you in danger Prince Daka." Edmund said reasonably.

"Then what are our options?" Peter asked, already thinking of possible solutions.

"We will send our guard to warn to girls and get Oreius. We will stay here and try to reason with the Tisroc." Peter nodded, already calling the guard and giving him the orders. The guard looked torn and clearly hated his orders but saw the wisdom so he bowed and deftly leapt out the window, climbing down and away from the palace. Prince Daka was shaking his head.

"No! They mean to kill you! You must leave!" Peter closed his eyes, his worst fear coming true. He had hoped a situation like this could be avoided.

"Then we die for our people and give our sisters a chance to rectify the situation." Edmund spoke gravely and Peter's eyes flew open.

"No Ed! There is no reason both of our lives should be forfeit. Go! Warn…" Peter was cut off my Edmund's laughing.

"Do shut up Peter." Before more arguing could take place the Vizier led in a small troop of soldiers.

"Kings Peter and Edmund, you are hereby under arrest for conspiracy to over through the Tisroc, may he live forever, and to take over Calormen." Edmund couldn't stop himself from snorting at the irony of the charge, causing the Vizier to turn furious eyes on him and step forward, soundly slapping Edmund across the face. The blow was hard and unexpected, causing Edmund's head to whip to the side.

Peter was a blur as he struck the Vizier with a hard punch to the eye. Then all chaos broke loose. The soldiers moved forward and the young kings tried to defend themselves but they were outnumbered. Within minutes, the boys were struck in the head with sword hilts and sunk to the ground, unconscious.

To be continued…