"Send this little girl into the deepest, darkest part of the forest alone when war is on our door step? That is our plan?" Trumpkin couldn't believe his ears.

Peter had decided, and Lucy, Edmund, and Susan agreed, that the only hope for victory that the Narnians had was in Aslan, and that it was thus necessary to find him. The children were quite convinced that he was in the forest, as Lucy had seen him, for they could never imagine him abandoning Narnia at its time of dire need. They were assured that he was out there, waiting for them to come and find him. Lucy was, after all, a very honest girl, and she wouldn't have made up a story about seeing the Lion for attention or any other assortment of reasons that children have for inventing tales. It was, then, to be believed. Aslan was always there when needed in the past, and the Pevensies saw no reason that that would change now.

The Narnians and Caspian were, however, a bit harder to persuade, for they were not so certain in their beliefs of Aslan as the Kings and Queens of Old were. The Great Lion had not been seen in Narnia for nearly a thousand years, and many of them had not even heard of he Lon until the Pevensies had arrived. How were they to believe that he would be there now? And why would he not just come; why did he need to be sought out? Why did he abandon Narnia in the first place? And would he even be willing to help this time? The Narnians didn't understand the way that the Lion worked as the children did, nor did they understand that, as Lucy said, nothing happens the same way twice.

"It's our only chance," urged Peter. He knew that there was no other way.

"And she won't be going alone," Susan spoke up. Everyone turned to look at her.

Trumpkin approached her and Lucy, who were standing next to each other, with a look of sorrowful shock on his face. "Haven't enough of us died already?" He could see hope that the Telmarines could be defeated.

"We cannot so easily lose hope, Trumpkin," Trufflehunter said. "These Kings and Queens have not, and nor have I. We must now put our faith in the Great Lion Aslan."

"How long will this take?" Trumpkin asked, addressing Queen Susan.

"There is no way of telling," Susan answered honestly.

"We have to hold them off until they get back," Peter said.

"And what if they don't come back?" Trumpkin was now very concerned.

"We will," Susan said with great certainty and dignity. "We will come back."

"But you could be killed!"

"And that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make!" She was now on her feet. Susan felt so strongly that Aslan was out there somewhere, waiting to be found that she was willing to risk her life to find him. She knew that there was no other way.

"If I may," Caspian said, speaking for the first time during the whole meeting. When no one protested, he stood up and continued. "Miraz may be a murderous and foul bastard of a king—"

"Rightly put," Reepicheep interjected.

"—But king he is. And as the King of Telmar, he must abide by the nation's laws, expectations, and traditions. There is one in particular that may buy us more time."

"We're listening," said Peter with great interest.

"It is a long held Telmarine tradition," Caspian continued, "that if challenged to a duel, the King cannot refuse, for it will endanger his reputation with the people. If you, King Peter, challenge him to a duel, the Queens would have more time to find Aslan, and Narnia's beings will be safer for longer than they otherwise would."

"Do you think you could beat him, Peter?" asked Susan.

"Will you be alright?" worried Lucy.

"When can we start?" asked Edmund.

"It's the best shot we've got," Peter said, clasping Caspian on the shoulder. "Let's do it."

xXxXxXxXxXx

The meeting slowly began to disband, and Susan walked over to her brother. He was talking to Trufflehunter, Reepicheep, and Edmund about the duel that was to come. They were telling him that the challenge must be presented formally, and that a document requesting the king to fight was necessary. Edmund, Reepicheep, and Trufflehunter left to go draw up such a document, and Susan and Peter were left alone in Aslan's tomb. Upon hearing his sister's gown rustling near him, Peter turned to face her.

"You and Lu should be leaving," he said solemnly.

"Yes, I know. Caspian's gone to ready his horse for us, and Lucy is getting our gear." She then placed her hand on her brother's cheek. "Are you sure you want to do this? You don't have to."

"It's our only hope," he answered softly. "I must."

Susan gave him a small smile. "Your courage will do you well." She then pulled her brother into a hug. "Do be safe," she urged him, sorry that this was the path that must be taken.

"I will, Sue," he said, returning the embrace.

She released Peter and gave him one more loving look, fearing that it would be her last, and turned to go meet Caspian and his horse before Peter could see tears falling from her cheeks.