So it's been a while since I've updated this, but I'm back to finish, I promise. :)

And remember, everyone, I only own Jami and Krista.

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"Let us out!" Caspian threw himself against the prison door, grunting when it didn't even come close to budging. "I am your king!"

"Caspian, they aren't going to free us."

The young king faltered as he glared at the door. He exhaled slowly and glanced back at Edmund. "Your sister is out there. My sister is out there. And Krista-" Caspian looked back at the door, hands clenched at his sides. "I don't even want to think about what they are going through right now." He looked down at the floor, a sense of dread filling his gut. His hands were starting to shake as images of his sister being beaten and Krista being sold entered his mind.

"They will be sold."

Caspian and Edmund looked at each other when they heard the new voice. Looking over their shoulders, their gazes landed on the extension to the dungeon. Though the room was dreary and dank, it was large. Considering there were only two of them, the size was confusing. But if there was a third already there, it made more sense.

"Who are you?"

"No one of importance. But I can help you."

Caspian glanced at Edmund for a moment. He took a step closer to the stranger in the shadows, wanting to ask the one question on their minds.

"How?"

... ... ... ... ... ...

The tears and angry shouts that rang through the streets were unbearable to listen to. Children watched mothers and fathers being sold to work for a higher class. Husbands and wives were separated. Daughters were mostly sold to men that would send a chill down the spine of any person. Boys, depending on the size, were an easy sell to whoever the highest bidder was.

There wasn't much that could be worse than the sight of families forced to separate.

"I want to go home."

Except for that of course.

"Please, Eustace, be quiet." Jami snapped, leaning against the cart the four of them sat in. The sun was hot, beating down on them and making them even more uncomfortable. But what were they supposed to do?

"How dare you? Don't tell me what to do." Eustace crossed his arms and glared at her. The nubby thing he called a nose was tilted to where even his short self could look down at her.

Lucy let go of a string she had been playing with and watched the wind take it away. Looking at her cousin, she told him, "Eustace, she wasn't telling. She was asking."

"Well, either way. You three are silly girls."

"And you're a silly boy."

"Funny, I've met silly boys that make him look like a baby." Jami muttered under her breathe.

"Excuse me? I don't have to stand for this-"

"Good thing you aren't standing."

Lucy giggled when Jami got Eustace to finally shut up. But rather than "appearing weak", Eustace let out a huff and looked away from them. She shook her head and glanced at Krista. Her friend hadn't said a word since they had been separated from Caspian and Edmund. Rather than looking at her friends, Krista seemed more interested in watching the outside world. There was a look in her eyes that Lucy couldn't quite place.

"You look tired." Lucy's voice made Krista jump. She looked over at the young queen and nodded. Her face didn't change. She still looked tired...empty in a way. "What's on your mind?" Krista watched Lucy for a minute before shaking her head. She looked down at her bound wrists. Her skin was already red from where she had struggled against the binding, but it wasn't too painful. Just irritating. "Krista?"

Krista looked back up at Lucy before glancing at the man who was driving the cart. He was hunched over and wearing a thick black coat even in this heat. She wished she could see his face. Him and the two slave traders on either side...She wanted to know what kind of threat they were up against.

Looking at Lucy, she sighed. "Just...hoping the guys are okay."

"I'm sure they are."

Jami chuckled and looked down at her boots. They were worn, caked in dirt, and smelled of the sea. The appearance reminded her of her brother, causing a dull ache in her stomach. "Yeah, knowing my brother they're on their way right now to come save the day."

Krista laughed at the thought. That would be like Caspian. Smirking at the idea, she glanced up only to see the driver was pulling the cart to a stop. The air grew thick. "On his way or not, we're here." She looked at her friends as the back of the cart was lowered. The two slave traders that had been sitting by the driver were now grabbing them, pulling them out of the cart.

Though the air was thick, the girls weren't going to just sit by and allow themselves to be sold.

"Let go of me!" Lucy shrieked, kicking at the man who was grabbing at her.

The slave trader picked her up with little struggle and passed her on to another man who hung a price around her neck. Next was Eustace who whined and whimpered like an infant. He was weak and pathetic, sniffling and blubbering like a mess. Though Lucy had put up a fight, she had more dignity than her cousin.

And unlike both of them, Jami was regal. She stood and walked to the end of the cart. She allowed the men to grab her elbows and bring her down to their level. Jami didn't fight or cry. She refused to look angry or weak. Was she that sure her brother would save them? Not even Krista was sure she had that much faith in Caspian.

Watching the queen take her step down, Krista shifted slightly before she was hoisted up by the driver. She grunted and jerked her arm slightly before she was jerked rather roughly into his chest. "I'm going." she muttered before sparing a glance at who might be her opponent. Her eyes widened when her eyes met the face of a rat.

Reepicheep pressed a finger to his mouth and nodded to Drinian, Caspian's right hand man. He also happened to be the owner of the shoulder Reepicheep was perched on. Drinian nodded as Reepicheep winked and they pushed her gently towards the end of the cart. The slave traders pulled her down. She stumbled, barely managing to be caught by Lucy and Jami. She straightened and brushed off her pants, maneuvering around the awkwardness that bound her wrists. Glancing at the girls, she gave the smallest of smiles.

Caspian might not be here, but they weren't alone.

"Move along." The sound of the older man's voice made the girl's look in his direction. Krista winced when the same man that spoke shoved Eustace and he fell, scraping his knees.

"Don't touch me."

"I really don't think now is the time to be brave, Eustace." Jami told him. It was her job to be brave and strong. She was Narnia's queen. But Eustace was just a kid. He couldn't be strong right now. It couldn't be expected of him. Instead, Krista took a couple strides forward and helped him get up.

"Get your hands off of me."

"Eustace," Krista met his gaze. Her icy blue eyes stared him down. "I know it isn't easy to believe, but we aren't against you. But they," She elbowed towards the traders, "won't hesitate to kill you if you are too much trouble. Give us some time. Okay? Just a little bit more time."

Eustace watched her for a moment, glancing at Lucy and Jami who were silently pleading with him to listen.

Krista whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "Remember that you aren't the only one that's scared right now."

Eustace looked at her again, his eyes boring into hers. It was then she noticed just how innocent he was at heart. He was just a kid. He'd never had to fight a day in his life. He was born into a wealthy family and educated. He had never had to know what it meant to want to keep your life.

Until now.

He silently agreed before rubbing his nose on his sleeve. "C-Can I-"

"I think it'd be best if you stuck by me for now." Krista told him, not the type of person to make someone ask for help. She knew what it was like to be scared to the bone. She hadn't had to feel that way in a long time, but it wasn't a feeling she'd soon forget.

"Thanks."

"Of course. It's the least I can do."

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

"You realize that was beyond lucky, right?" Edmund asked Caspian.

The two had managed to free themselves. Running as fast as they could, they struggled to try and find the girls and Eustace. "I'm not complaining." Caspian chuckled as they rounded a corner and skidded to a stop when they found a dead end.

"I don't think it's that way."

Caspian spun around, looking back where they had been running. They couldn't go back, that would be no use. Go straight? Take what would now be a right? What was the right choice? "Being a king is so much easier than this."

"There's not much of a difference."

"If only that were true." Caspian huffed and looked back at the dead end. "Running a kingdom isn't the same as hoping to save your sister and the love of your life before they're either sold or killed."

"I'm in the same boat."

"And yet not." Caspian snapped, not realizing how his words had sounded. He didn't see the bitter look that crossed Edmund's face or the slight jealous tint that reflected in his eyes. Instead Caspian's eyes landed on the ladder tucked away in the corner of the dead end. "Let's get a bird's eye view." he told Edmund before jogging over to the ladder. He climbed up as fast as possible, throwing himself over the ledge and onto the roof. Edmund wasn't too far behind. Glancing back to make sure he was following, Caspian caught his breathe and stretched his back as he checked out the view.

"There!" Edmund pointed to a square a couple blocks east of where they had been running.

They had almost gone in the opposite direction.

Caspian inwardly cursed himself for his foolishness. He needed to think clearly, but it was impossible. Scratching the back of his neck, he scanned the area for the fastest way to get to the square.

"Caspian, the rooftops are our best bet."

"Wouldn't that take longer?"

"No, we'd see where we're going and that seems to be a common problem we've had."

Caspian nodded as Edmund hopped across the thin alleyway to the opposite roof. Caspian watched homily for a moment before glancing at the square. "I'm coming, Krista."

... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Krista smirked and nudged Eustace's arm with hers before they were herded with the rest of the possible future sales. Though she had been angry that the slave traders had gotten the best of her, she had felt better when she had seen Reepicheep and Drinian. But now...seeing that platform where she was going to be sold for the best price...she suddenly found herself feeling sick to her stomach. That chilling fear was creeping up her spine and she found herself silently praying for some little bit of strength. Not just for herself, but for Eustace.

She only muttered one sentence under her breathe before the sales began.

"Oh Aslan, please let Caspian find us in time."