Another chapter up! Only two more to go until the whole Daughter of Eve trilogy is finished! OMG! Enjoy all!
To Erudessa-gabrielle thank you for favoriting/following this story and myself as an author! Your support means a lot and this chapter is dedicated to you!
To Erudessa-gabriella: Hope this is enough for you!
To cupcakemania22: I thought it was cute to! The old Peter needed to come back! Hope you enjoy!
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"Uh, Edmund, they're not troops of ours are they?" I asked him. I dropped my hands down from our practice duel and he followed my gaze.
"No they're not, they're Telmarines," he said surprised.
"Get Peter, I'll get the others," I instructed. We ran into the How and I grabbed Caspian as Edmund went for Peter.
"They're here Caspian, come quick." They followed me up to the ledge above the first floor where Peter, Edmund and Lucy already were.
"Aslan help us," I breathed out. Peter looked at me; he was scared as we watched Miraz march at the front in full armour. We hurried back down to the Stone Table room where we came up with a plan involving Aslan.
"Cakes and kettledrums! That's your next big plan? To send a little girl into the darkest parts of the forest alone!?" shouted Trumpkin.
"It's our only chance," Peter reasoned.
"And she won't be alone," Susan reassured him.
"Haven't enough of us died already?" Trumpkin asked sadly.
"Nikabrik was my friend too. He lost hope, but Queen Lucy hasn't and neither have I," Trufflehunter comforted his dwarf friend.
"For Aslan!" cried Reepicheep.
"For Aslan!" said Bulgy Bear. Peter looked to the bear and back to the rest of us.
"I'm going with you," Trumpkin told Lucy.
"No, we need you here," she told him.
"We have to hold them off until Lucy and Susan get back," I added in.
"If I may," Caspian stepped forward. Peter allowed him to continue. "Miraz may be a tyrant and a murderer. Bur as King he is subject to the traditions and expectations of his people. There is one in particular that may buy us some time."
"I hate this long grass," I muttered as Edmund, a giant, Gelnstorm and I walked through it, carrying a white flag towards the Telmar camp.
"Don't worry, you'll soon be out of it," Edmund said dryly. The Giant picked me up and slung me over his shoulder.
"That's better."
When we got to the meeting tent, Wimbleweather and Glenstorm waited outside as Edmund and I stepped in.
"I, Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election and by conquest, High King of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Emperor of the Lone Islands, in order to prevent the abominable effusion of blood, do hereby challenge the usurper Miraz to single combat upon the field of battle. The fight shall be to the death. The reward shall be total surrender."
"Tell me Prince Edmund and Princess Alexea," Miraz started.
"King and High Queen," Edmund interupted.
"Pardon?" Miraz asked.
"It's Kind Edmund actually. Just King though. Peter is the High King, I know, it's confusing," Edmund replied rolling up the scroll.
"Why would we risk such a proposal when our army could wipes yours out by nightfall?" asked Miraz.
"Haven't you already underestimated our numbers? Only a week ago, Narnians were extinct," I told Miraz.
"And so you will be again," he spat.
"Then you should have little to fear," said Edmund eying him.
Miraz chuckled, "This is not a question of bravery."
"So you're bravely refusing to fight a swordsman half you age?" I asked smirking.
"I didn't say I refused," Miraz said getting angry.
"You shall have our support your majesty, whatever your decision," said a Telmarine Lord.
"Sire, our military advantage alone allows us the perfect excuse to avoid-" Sopespian started.
"I am not avoiding anything!" Miraz shouted.
"I am merely pointing out that my lord is well within his rights to refuse," Sopespian continued.
"His majesty would never refuse. He relishes the chance to show his people the bravery of their new king," Glozelle said.
"You had better hope your brothers sword proves sharper," Miraz finished venomously. Edmund and I smirked. Our job was done.
Peter, Edmund and I walked out of the How together. I was holding Peter's hand tightly. The Narnians cheered.
"Lex, you're cutting off my circulation," he said jokingly.
"Sorry," I said letting go.
"It's okay, but you know, I'll be fine," he told me. We reached the little arena and I helped him with his armour.
"Don't make a promise you can't keep," I told him.
"I'll be fine, I promise," he said. He kissed me before he slipped on his helmet.
"Gosh, I love you," I said hugging him tightly.
"I love you too," he said. I looked over to Miraz and his men, talking animatedly. Peter pulled away from me and shook Edmunds hand. He drew his sword and stepped into the arena.
"There is still time to surrender," Miraz taunted.
"Well, feel free," Peter jibbed at the 'King'.
"How many more must die for the throne?" Miraz asked.
"Just one!" Peter shouted back. He ran up to a fallen coloumn and jumped off it bringing his sword down on Miraz's shield.
The whole fight was only heard and not seen by me. I closed my eyes and hid behind Bulgy Bear. I prayed that everything someone groaned it wasn't Peter, but Miraz. That was when I heard Peter yell, Bulgy Bear gasped and I jumped out from behind him to see Miraz bleeding at his leg and standing down on Peter's shield dislocating his shoulder.
"Get him off," I yelled to Edmund. He shook his head, he knew Peter could handle this.
"Does his highness need a respite?" Miraz asked.
"Five minutes?" Peter replied.
"Three."
Susan and Caspian came riding out of the woods and down towards us.
"Lucy?" Peter asked.
"She got through, with a little help," Susan motioned to Caspian.
"Thanks," Peter said.
"Well you were busy," Caspian replied smirking. Peter returned the look and then faced the How.
"Better get up there, just in case. I don't expect the Telmarines will keep their word," Peter told Susan.
Susan nodded and hugged Peter. He winced. "Sorry."
"It's alright," he told her.
She then hugged me, "Take care."
"You too." She walked off and Edmund started.
"Keep smiling," he said through gritted teeth. Peter pulled the cheesiest grin he could muster and lifted his sword. The Narnians cheered.
Edmund pulled up a stool and Peter sat down.
"How are you?" I asked gently as Edmund surveyed his arm.
"Sore," Peter told me, smiling softly. He then turned to Edmund, "I think it's dislocated...What do you think happens back home if you die here? You know you've always been there for me and I've never really-Argh!" Peter yelled.
"Save it for later," Edmund said cheekily.
"Helmet," I said as I passed it to Peter. He waved it away and upon seeing this, Miraz did the same.
Peter stepped out onto the arena as did Miraz. Peter attacked quickly, but Miraz parries. He then starts hitting Peter with his shield. Peter falls, and Miraz ran towards him. Peter blocks and then trips Miraz. They both recover. Peter knocks Miraz' sword out of his hand. They continue fighting, Miraz using his shield. Peter tries to stab Miraz but fails. Miraz knocks Peter's sword out of his hand. Miraz tries to slam his shield into Peter, but Peter catches it. Peter twists Miraz' shield behind him. Miraz elbows Peter in the face and then pushes him into a pillar. Miraz picks up his sword and swings, but Peter blocks it with his vambraces. Peter stands up and punches Miraz' wounded leg. Miraz yells and falls down, dropping his sword.
"Respie! Respite!" Miraz yelled. Peter stood over him, holding the sword up.
"Now's no time for chivalry Peter!" Edmund called out.
"What's wrong boy? To cowardly to take a life?" Miraz taunted.
"It's not mine to take," Peter ground out. He walked over to us and handed Caspin the sword. I hugged him tightly. Thank Aslan he was okay.
Caspian walked over to Miraz slowly.
"Perhaps I was wrong boy, it seems you have the making of a good Telmarine King afterall," Miraz said as Caspian raised the sword. Miraz bowed his head as the sword kept getting higher and higher. Caspian let out a yell and drove the sword into the ground.
"Not one like you," he spat. "Keep your life, but I'm giving the Narnians back their kingdom."
I sighed and embraced Caspian.
"What are they doing?" asked Edmund as Miraz fell to the floor. I spotted one of Susan's arrows in his lower back.
"They cheated!" I yelled.
"Treachery! They shot him! They murdered out King! To arms Telmar!" Sopespian ordered his army. Both armies got excited and yelled out.
"Go Caspian!" I yelled. He nodded and took of on his horse into the How. The battle was beginning and I was more frightened than I had ever been. Something felt terribly wrong.
