Maddie and Caspian caught up with Edmund outside. "They're off," said Maddie. Edmund put an arm around her and kissed her on the forehead. "How's Peter doing?"
"Fine. He hasn't been saying much, though."
Darby stood in the middle of the super tiny rock arena, if you wanted to call it that, dressed as Peter. She waited for Miraz to take his first step into the arena. After that, he would die at her hands.
Mallory and Logan stood by Edmund, Maddie, and Caspian. Mallory was repeatedly staring at Peter. Something wasn't right...She just knew that it wasn't Peter. Pulling Maddie by the wrist, she quickly began to run back into the How. "What are you doing?" called Maddie, releasing herself from Mallory's grip and running beside her. "What's wrong?"
"That wasn't Peter. Did you notice? And Darby wasn't there..."
Maddie remained silent for a moment, thinking this through. And then it came to her. It's so obvious.
"That's Darby in Peter's place, Mal."
On horseback through the forest, Alyssa couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed. She continually kept turning around, but no one was there. Then, for a while, Alyssa stayed situated, not turning around. Even then she felt vulnerable. As she was about to tell Lucy and Susan of her suspicions, another pair of hoofsteps confirmed it. She turned around, and there were way too many Telmarines on horseback to count. "Damn!" shouted Alyssa, jumping off the horse and drawing her sword. She had a really bad feeling.
Back in the arena, Darby stood nervously, eyeing the places where Maddie and Mallory should have been. Where did they go? I need them for moral support! she thought. Oh wait... Peter needs them for moral support. Sure.
Miraz finally stood from his chair, eyeing Darby with distaste. He put on his helmet and walked into the arena. The two circled each other. "I'm not going easy on you, boy."
"I know," said Darby in her Peter voice.
"Really, Peter, how many of you have to die?"
This pissed her off. "Just one!" she cried, momentarily forgetting her guy voice. She couldn't see Miraz's face, but his body posture sent off the vibe that he was surprised. Darby used that to her advantage. She climbed onto a rock, jumped, and swung Peter's sword down upon Miraz.
In the forest, Alyssa knew that she would be surrounded. "You two go on!" said Alyssa, shooing Lucy and Susan on. She heard a sudden thump behind her, and she turned her head around to see who it was. "What are you doing?" hissed Alyssa. "Lucy needs you!"
"Lucy can take care of herself," said Susan coolly. "You don't believe you can take all of these soldiers alone, do you?"
As Lucy and Desiree thundered off into the depths of the forest, Alyssa and Susan stood back to back, their weapons drawn. "This is the only time we'll work together, Susan."
"I know," Susan said, shooting one of her arrows at the oncoming soldier.
Together they managed to take down the majority of the soldiers that were coming towards them. They worked silently, not saying a word. As the soldiers' numbers started to dwindle, both of the girls let their guards down.
Their first mistake.
A Telmarine soldier grabbed Susan from behind, his sword at her neck. "Drop your sword!" he barked at Alyssa. "Or she dies!"
Alyssa debated this for a moment. As much as she despised Susan, she did not want her dead. However, the chances of Alyssa overpowering the Telmarine solider without her sword were very slim.
Luckily, she didn't have to choose. A young man on horseback charged in on the scene and sliced the Telmarine soldier, who collapsed, unconscious. Alyssa smiled up at Caspian, who grinned back. Alyssa hopped on in front of Caspian, while Susan was in back, looking smug. Maybe she got to hold on to Caspian, but she didn't have his arm around her waist, like Alyssa.
Mallory and Maddie were racing to Peter's sleeping quarters. If their suspicions were true about Darby…
They were. As Mallory threw the blanket in the doorway aside, she and Maddie came face to face with a bonded and gagged Peter. He looked positively frantic.
"Oh my God, Darby!" shouted Maddie. She and Mallory began untying him. As soon as he was free, Peter pulled out his gag.
"Darby!" he yelled, running out of the room.
Shrugging, the two girls followed him out, where he was running to Darby.
The battle was not going well for Darby. She tried as hard as she could to disarm Miraz, but it was difficult because of the difference of their years of experience. When it couldn't get any worse, it did. Miraz rammed into Darby's side, and she fell, twisting her leg. She tried to get up, but her foot was in agony; it was broken.
Miraz kicked her on the side several times, breaking her ribs. He also kicked her in the face.
Blood was everywhere: in her mouth, in her nose, in her ear… Miraz administered one final kick to her head, which sent her helmet flying. He raised his sword, ready to plunge it into her heart.
"STOP!" came a sudden voice. "IT'S AN IMPOSTER!" Darby opened the only eye that would; the real Peter was rushing towards the arena, looking completely disheveled. "I'M THE REAL PETER!"
Darby's eyes rolled into the back of her head as she passed out.
Peter froze, staring at Darby's limp form. "D-Darby?" he said, horrified.
Maddie and Mallory rushed to the arena, staring wide-eyed at Darby's figure. Mallory gulped. "Is she…is she…?"
"No," said Maddie. She pulled out a flask. "Lucy gave it to me. She thought we'd need it." With shaking hands, she opened the flask and proceeded to pour one drop into Darby's mouth.
Darby's eyes flickered, and her wounds began to disappear. "What happened? Why are you all standing—" She went silent as she sat up and saw Peter.
Miraz was staring in shock at everything that was happening. "Timeout?" asked Peter. "Five minutes?"
Miraz gained control of himself. "Three!"
As Maddie and Mallory helped Darby up and out of the arena, a horse came into view, carrying Alyssa, Caspian, and Susan. Peter approached them. "Lucy?"
"She got through," said Alyssa. "What's happened here?"
"Exactly what I want to know," said Peter. He walked towards where Darby was sitting. Alyssa jumped off the horse and followed him, realizing what Darby had done.
Darby tried not to sink back as Peter came up to her. "Why'd you do it?"
"Uh…"
"Am I not strong enough? Brave enough? Man enough?"
"N-no…"
"Then why?"
"Because I love you!" she blurted out. "I'd rather you live without me than die!"
Before Peter could answer, Miraz asked, "What's the matter? Too cowardly to take a life?"
Glaring, Alyssa said, "It's not theirs to take." She picked up Peter's sword and handed it to Caspian.