Susan grinned as she ducked behind a bush. The plan was being executed flawlessly.

"Your Majesty!" Peepicheek whispered, seeing her.

"Oh! Hello there," Susan said, surprised. "What –"

"The High King ordered us here as protection, in case this goes sour," he explained.

"By the Mane," she swore under her breath. "I'm going to strangle him."

"Your Majesty?" the Mouse asked, alarmed.

"That… that was figurative. Never mind," she said absently, returning to the scene before her. Edmund and Caspian were finishing the men off without a problem. Edmund wasn't being as cautious as Susan would have liked him to be. His fighting style was too Narnian. He was attempting to mask it with some Archenlander moves, but Susan was still worried Caspian might notice something strange. And for all she knew fighting styles in Archenland could have completely changed in the past millennium.

Soon, only one of the attackers lived. Edmund tackled him, placing his knee on the man's chest and raising his sword to his neck threateningly. Already knowing the answer, he asked, "Tell me if you value your life. Who sent you?"

This was the most variable part of the plan. Both of the siblings waited with bated breath for the response. The man snarled, "Who the Tash are you?"

"Who sent you?" Edmund repeated, digging his sword into the man's neck, a thin line of blood trickling out. Susan started to make her way back in case she could help in any way.

Caspian was still rather bemused by the circumstances, but pointed his sword at the man and said, "As Prince of Narnia, I will grant pardon in exchange for the name of the man who sent you."

The man glanced at him and the two swords. He finally relented. "Dunno. Orders came from the castle."

"The…the castle?" Caspian said, startled. "That makes no sense."

Susan came to his side, just half a step behind. Caspian was too naïve. He'd never connect the dots. Not without their help at least. "My prince, there's… there's only one person who could have orders to supersede yours."

"That…What do you mean?" Caspian said, chilled.

"Ay. Keep to your promise," the man snarled. Edmund stood up and sheathed his sword. The man ran off the moment he could, most likely fearing imprisonment which would surely lead to repercussions from the castle.

"Phyllis, what did you mean?" Caspian said more urgently.

"Nothing, my prince," she said, bashfully looking towards the ground. Edmund covered up a snort with a cough. Susan, bashful? What a joke. Caspian gave him a curious look, but seemed to not dwell on it too much. "I've said too much already."

"Phyllis," he said, grabbing her by her shoulders to make her face him. "You can tell me anything. I trust you."

"It's just… well, to have orders from the castle… that means by someone who's in charge. And that would be…" she trailed off.

"No," Caspian said abruptly. "You can't mean that. My uncle? He… he would never."

"Yes, your Highness," Susan said, drawing back as though she was scared. Edmund was having the hardest time not laughing at his sister's acting. He hadn't realized just how good she was at acting. But seeing her act all shy and submissive was hilarious!

"I… I didn't mean it like that. Forgive me," the prince said, taking her hand into his and stroking it gently. With Caspian's back turned to him, Edmund had the freedom to make a gagging action. Susan saw and faked shyness of hiding her face in her hair to keep from laughing. "I merely meant… there must be some other explanation. But, who are you?"

He turned back to Edmund who got up and bowed, saying, "I am Peridan of Archenland, may it please your Highness."

Susan recognized the name as an old friend of theirs. Caspian frowned, looking him over, and asked, "And how did you happen upon here, Peridan of Archenland?" `

"I was visiting Beruna when I got a bit lost. I happened upon these men in the woods and was planning on asking them for directions, but before they noticed me I overheard them plotting to kill someone. I couldn't in good faith let such villainy go without doing my part to stop it," Edmund lied.

"Well, Narnia thanks you. You will be rewarded for your actions," Caspian said. "Come with us to the castle."

Susan and Edmund exchanged a glance out of habit before realizing how foolish doing so would be. Caspian noticed and frowned. What was going on between them? They had only just met, whereas he had known Phyllis for over a month now. He was surprised how strongly he felt about this. What made this stranger and Phyllis feel a connection? Every time Caspian tried to reach out to the shy maid, she drew back from him. Suddenly, Caspian was regretting inviting this stranger to the castle. But he had saved his and Phyllis' life.

"I would be honored," Edmund decided. Susan bit down on her lip, hard. This wasn't part of the plan. Edmund was supposed to simply fight off the attackers, show that Miraz and Pruniprismia sent the attackers, and leave. But she should have expected her brother would want to come to the castle with her. Probably thinking she needed protection. "But…your Highness, I must tell you more of what I heard from the attackers. I… I may have some information about the attackers. I didn't understand what it implied until your handmaid made me realize you were the prince."

Caspian stiffened, not liking where this was going. "Continue," he said shortly.

"They… they said they were 'eliminating a threat'," Edmund improvised. They hadn't anticipated the Telmarine prince to be so loyal to his treacherous aunt and uncle. But between the two of them, they would surely find some way of at the very least putting serious doubt in the prince's mind.

"I do not understand," the prince said, perturbed. Susan refrained from rolling her eyes. He was so dense! She dramatically gasped and clung to his arm.

"Oh, Prince Caspian," she said despairingly. "I… I can't believe your own uncle thinks of you that way."

That did it. Caspian;s eyes widened. "But… I…I've never tried to take his throne from him."

"You're almost of age," Susan reminded.

The pieces began clicking together in Caspian's mind. Every time he had tried to do his duty as prince, his uncle had protested. He had ultimately allowed it, but it was far too transparent that Miraz was at least reluctant. But… to send assassins to kill him? "It…it's suspicious, but I don't believe he would go that far. Come. Let us go to the castle and speak no more of this."

On the way, Susan and Edmund both were racking their minds with other possible ideas. If the Telmarine prince didn't believe them, then their plans for instigating a civil war between him and his relatives were ruined. They might as well have just let him die then and there.

Once they had returned, Caspian found his uncle.

"My dear nephew," Miraz stammered, looking shocked to see Caspian alive. Caspian frowned. That… had Miraz at least known of the attackers. "Why is your Highness here?"

"Uncle, I must have private conference with you," Caspian insisted, wanting to get to the bottom of this.

Miraz drew back in surprise but regained his stride and said, "But of course."

Caspian faced off with Miraz in the antechamber to the side of the Throne Room where two guards were standing by the door.

"What did you know of the men who attacked me?" Caspian questioned, cutting to the chase. Please know nothing, he thought desperately. Miraz and Pruniprismia were the only family he knew. His mind drifted off to his childhood fantasies of the Narnians. He had always wondered what it would be like to one day rule with siblings like the Kings and Queens of Old did. But he was alone. Alone but for his aunt and uncle. They may not be close, but he needed them.

"I know that they failed seeing as you are standing here before me," Miraz said.

"What?" Caspian said, feeling a cold shiver run up his spine. "What do you mean?"

Miraz began pacing about. "We Telmarines would have nothing if we hadn't taken it for ourselves. We took Narnia from the Narnians, as I take Narnia from you. As I did from your father."

"My – my father?" Caspian said in disbelief. "He… he died in his sleep."

"It was a version of the truth," Miraz said nonchalantly as if it hardly mattered to him.

"How… how could you?!" Caspian shouted, hurt. "I… I trusted you! I thought you cared about me? And my father too?"

"I deserved to rule more than your father ever did," Miraz said, slamming his hand down on the table.

"But how… this is impossible," Caspian said, not believing the truth so plainly laid out before him. "How would you know that Phyllis would happen upon the men?"

Miraz began chuckling. "You are naïve, boy. It's a wonder you survived this long."

Caspian frowned, confused before realization dawned on him. "Phyllis… she… she was in on this?" he said, horrified by the betrayal.

Miraz smirked as he nodded. "And now she knows too much. But my men are dealing with her as we speak."

"Phyllis!" Caspian shouted, realizing what Miraz meant and springing for the door without a second thought. But the door was locked. "Uncle, open the door!"

"So foolish. You would even save a worthless maid who would betray you?" Miraz sneered. "You would never make for a Telmarine king. It's for the best of all Telmarines that you are disposed of now."

Miraz pulled a wicked looking dagger from deep within his robes. Caspian reached for his sword and drew it. Even though he could hardly deny his uncle's wicked side, he still was reluctant to kill his only kin. "Uncle, you wouldn't try. Even if you managed to disarm and kill me, the blame will be cast on you."

To Caspian's shock, Miraz then used the dagger to would himself instead. "Not if I too was almost victim to the same savage assassin and was the fortunate survivor."

Caspian stared in shock until he suddenly realized the two guards he had last seen at the door were now at his back with swords drawn. He countered their attacks. He swore under his breath. Of course. They must be in his uncle's employ as well. It seemed everyone here was his enemy. Worse though was that these two guards seemed more then up to their job. Caspian gasped as a sword cut through his arm. With the two of them against him, it wouldn't take them long to finish him off. But he would go down fighting.

He saw his uncle out of the corner of his eye and glared. Miraz. If he could just bring him down before he too died he could avenge his father's death. With a new burst of energy, he roared in righteous anger and pushed the two guards off of him and headed for his uncle. He raised his sword, but Miraz struck with his dagger, and Caspian as forced to change course to protect himself. Then one of the guards caught up with him, grabbing him from behind and forcing him down. The other caught up and shoved the hilt of his sword on Caspian's arm, causing him to lose grip of his sword. The guards still forcing Caspian on his knees, Miraz wickedly forced Caspian to look at him as he sneered. "More of a survivor than your father was, I'll give you that much. I wasn't expecting you to put up this much of a fight. Such a shame it is all for naught."

"Uncle," Caspian said desperately. "It… it doesn't have to go like this."

Miraz raised his dagger as a darkly victorious look came over him. "Oh, but I'm afraid it must. Goodbye, my dear nephew."