Though worlds will die and worlds will grow

Out of death, life

Out of night, day, glory from sorrow

Out of grief, joy

Out of storm, comes strength for tomorrow

Out of dust, gold

Out of fire, air, comfort forsaken

Out of rage, calm

Out of loss, find, glory awaken

'Wonder', Laura Michelle Kelly

Peter pulled down his helmet and charged at Miraz. I drew a sharp breath and held it as it began.

Peter still had the skill and remembered the sequences as he parried Miraz's blows and attacked with his own. I could tell by Miraz's own slight faults and faltering steps that he had underestimated his opponent.

But I ignored Miraz, I concentrated on Peter. He was managing but I knew that at the end of the day, Miraz was the stronger, even if Peter was the better swordsman. And this battle would end before the day did...

Peter struck Miraz in the back, but Miraz span around to knock off Peter's helmet. I stifled my scream as Peter's chainmail coif fell back and he shook his blonde hair out of his shocked blue eyes.

Low, I told myself, go low. He made the same move I would have done. He refused to let it distract him and swung low, slicing across Miraz's leg. Miraz glanced back at Glozelle before making his own swing. I clapped my hand up to my mouth again and shot Edmund a frightened glanc as Peter fell but he recovered fast. Miraz stepped toward him and stamped down hard on his shield. I couldn't help myself this time, my scream mingled with Peter's cry of pain. I could guess what Miraz had done. By treading on the shield, Peter's arm would be jerked with it!

Miraz swungs again at the ground but Peter just rolled out of the way in time. Miraz swung again and again at the ground, Petr blocking him until he managed to trip the older man. Miraz fell to the ground with a grunt and Peter took the oppurtunity to get up. Miraz followed suit. My heart was in my mouth as they faced each other, both breathing heavily. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a horse and two riders. Caspian with Susan. I swallowed. Where was Lucy?

"Does his highness need a respite?" Miraz mocked through gritted teeth.

"Five minutes?" Peter panted.

"Three," Miraz spat.

Pete turned away, his face gritted in pain. I couldn't enter the full arena, but as soon as Peter was close enough. I took his sword from him, and helped him across, Edmund assisting from the other side.

Caspian and Susan dismounted and approached. I looked up at them from where I was by Peter.

"Lucy…" Peter muttered.

"She got through…" Susan replied reassuringly, "with a little help."

"Thanks," Peter said to Caspian, and I squeezed his hand. The two kings had put aside their differences.

"Well, you are busy," Caspian shrugged meaningfully.

Peter looked back to the How. "Better get up there, just in case," he told Susan. "I don't expect the Telmarines will keep their word."

Susan gave Peter a quick hug and he winced, gripping my hand in pain.

"Sorry," Susan said quickly,

"It's alright," Peter muttered.

"Take care," Susan replied, before turning back and walking quickly back to the How.

"Keep smiling," Edmund muttererd to Peter.

"Here," I added and passed him Rhindon. Peter raised the sword and forced a pained smile. The Narnians cheer gave an almighty cheer at the positive sight of their king.

Peter suddenly dropped the sword with a groan, turning back to Miraz so the Narnians wouldn't see his pained face. He gripped his arm and Edmund looked down at it.

"I think it's dislocated," Peter muttered and I bit my lip. Edmund set about preparing to relocate it and I crouched down beside Peter, taking his hand encouragingly again.

"What do you think happens back home if you die here?" Peter asked Edmund, refusing to meet my eye as I looked up at him. "You know, you've always been there. I never really- aah!"

I held Peter's hand tightly as he clenched it again in pain. Edmund had relocated his arm.

"Save it for later," Edmund replied sharply.

Peter looked at me, and I nodded. I didn't want to hear this now. Peter swallowed and stood up but shook his head when Edmund offered him his helmet back.

"Be careful," I whispered, and Peter looked at me. He nodded sincerely, his blue eyes boring into my own for a moment. He leaned down and briefly kissed me but I could sense the emotion. He was scared.

"And don't be too honourable," I added swiftly, earning a quick smile. Then he strode back into the arena to meet Miraz, who was limping slightly from Peter's attack. Peter wasted no time, he attacked quickly, but Miraz parried. Miraz then left his sword and began slamming Peter with his shield. I stared as Peter fell, and

Miraz rans towards him. Peter blocked a blow and then tripped Miraz again. The both recovered, but then Peter knocked Miraz's sword flying out of his hans out of his hand. I allowed myself a small smile as they continued fighting, Miraz resorting to using his shield. Until Miraz managed to knock Peter's own sword from his hand. Miraz tried to slam his shield into Peter, but Peter managed to catch it, twisting it behind Miraz's back. Miraz brought up his elbow to meet Peter's face and shoved him back against a pillar. Miraz proceeded to retrieve his sword and swung it with a deadly blow, but Peter brought up his vambraces to blocks it. Peter stood up and punched Miraz hard against the wound in his leg. Miraz roared and collapsed, his sword clattering to the ground.

"Respite! Respite!" Miraz panted and I saw Peter hesitate, despite my warning.

"Now's no time for chivalry, Pete!" Ed yelled beside me. He looked at me. "Why does he always do this?"

"He's the high king?" I shrugged quickly, before turning back. Peter was still hesitating, Miraz's hand held up as the usurper prepared himself for the killing blow he knew should come next. But Peter lowered his arm and started walking back to us.

It didn't take a genius to guess what Miraz would do next, he'd said it himself; 'We Telmarines would have nothing had we not taken it'. The moment Peter's back was turned, Miraz grabbed his sword and lunged forwards.

Edmund and I shouted out simultaneously. "Look out!" Ed yelled, as I called, "Peter!" Peter dodged just in time, grabbing the sword, and twisting it around. Before digging his blade under Miraz's unprotected arm. I let out my breath in a rush as Miraz gasped and fell to his knees. Still holding the Telmarine's sword, Peter was hesitating again.

"What's the matter, boy?" Miraz growled. "Too cowardly to take a life?"

"It's not mine to take," Peter replied coldly and turned back to us. To Caspian. I nodded appreciatively to myself as Caspian stepped forward, and Peter handed Miraz's swrd over to him, before stepping back to Edmund and I. Caspian slowly raised the sword in preparation to make the blow.

"Perhaps I was wrong," Miraz panted. "It seems you have the makings of a good Telmarine king after all."

Caspian roared as he plunged the sword down. I winced, expecting to hear Miraz's scream, but I heard nothing but the dull thud of the blade cutting into the earth at Miraz's knes.

"Not one like you," Caspian replied. "Keep your life, but I am giving

the Narnians back their kingdom."

Caspian stepped back to us and he and Peter exchanged a nod of understanding as the Narnians cheered behind us.

"Treachery!" a voice suddenly yelled and I whirled around to se Sopespian standing over a body, a sword raised above his head. Miraz's body, Miraz's sword. "They shot him! They murdered our

king! To arms!"

I stared around at Peter in shock.

And then I noticed in horror, the red feathered arrow in Miraz's corpse. A Narnian arrow.