Goooooood day, my darlings!
I'm not going to say much today since this chapter is... how to say it...? uhmm... interesting, perhaps?

Well, whatever it is, I'm sure you're gonna like it... *wiggles eyebrows*

ENJOY!

CHAPTER NINE – The Confession & The Challenge

"Cakes and kettledrums! That's your next big plan?" Trumpkin asked outraged "Sending a little girl into the darkest parts of the forest? Alone!" He continued walking to Lucy

"It's our only chance" Peter justified

"And she won't be alone" Susan added

"Haven't enough of us died already?" The dwarf asked Lucy

"Nikabrik was my friend too" Trufflehunter said, sitting next to Edmund and Fayne "But he lost hope. Queen Lucy hasn't… and neither have I"

"For Aslan" Reepicheep said presenting his sword

"For Aslan" The Bulgy Bear echoed faithfully

"Then I'm going with you" Trumpkin told Lucy

"No, we need you here" She said placing a hand on his shoulder

"We have to hold them off until Lucy and Susan get back" Peter said

"If I may…" Caspian started gaining the looks of everyone in the room as he looked over at Doctor Cornelius and then at Fayne before continuing "Miraz may be a tyrant and a murderer… but as king, he's subject to the traditions and expectations of his people…"

As Caspian said this, she lifted her head in acknowledgement and a concerned frown covered her forehead.

"There is one in particular that may buy us some time" The prince said

He explained how, in many past Telmarine wars, the king had fought in duel against the enemy king and whoever won would not only be the champion of the duel but the loser's army would have to surrender before him.

The problem with that was that in order for one of them to win, the other had to lose; die.

As commander of the Narnian army, Peter would be the challenger who would fight against Miraz and the mere thought of it made Fayne's blood freeze.

While Peter, Edmund, Caspian and Doctor Cornelius wrote the challenge on parchment and while Susan and Lucy got ready to go out looking for Aslan, Fayne paced up and down trying to decide whether to tell Peter what she thought or not.

After a while of hearing her footsteps, Peter decided to go to Fayne and see what was bothering her, apart from wanting to apologize to her.

"Fayne?" He asked, making her pacing stop

"Peter" She replied facing him

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. No… no, I'm not"

"What's bothering you?" Peter inquired walking a little closer to her

"You"

"Me?" He asked surprised

"No… I mean… well… not you… but… what you want to do…"

"What do you mean?"

"The challenge. You can't fight against Miraz" Fayne told him honestly

"Of course I can! What are you trying to say? That I am weak?" Peter questioned feeling insulted, yet again

"No! Of course not! I know you're not weak! I'm just… I fear for you…" She confessed looking down ashamed

"You fear for me?" He repeated

"Yes… I don't want you to get hurt…"

"Even after what I said about Caspian and… the Telmarines and… you?" She nodded at his question "Why?"

"Because… because I care too much about you to lose you" Fayne said. Another confession

"You… you care about me?" Peter repeated

"Would you stop repeating everything I say?" She exclaimed exasperated

"Sorry… I just… I can't believe it…"

"Why not?"

"Well… because… you seem mad at me most of the time… as if I was a silly boy trying to be an adult"

"Well, you do sometimes act as a silly boy trying to be…"

But before she could finish the sentence, Peter silenced her with his lips, pressing them against hers.

Fayne widened her eyes in shock and even pushed him away and slapped him.

He placed his hand over his sore cheek but still stared at her and with an intense look he cornered her against the wall, pressed his body against hers and kissed her much more passionately than before.

This time, Fayne didn't fight it. She let herself be embraced and kissed as she surrounded Peter's neck with her arms as her hands occasionally ran through his hair.

"… an adult" She finished her prior sentence as they parted, panting slightly

"I'm sorry for everything I said. I'm sorry for everything I've done that has hurt you" He whispered against her mouth

"No… I am sorry… I push you to the edge until you can't keep it inside… I'm sorry…"

He didn't let her say anything else and kissed her again.

"Don't do it…" She suddenly said, placing her hands at both sides of his face

"What?"

"The duel… don't"

"I have to…" He said kissing the palm of her right hand

"You don't have to… we can fight them until Lucy and Susan find Aslan… you don't have to do this on your own" She begged

"If I don't try, everything we hold dear will be lost"

"I can't lose you… not now that I've found you"

"That's why I have to do it. If I don't fight against Miraz, you could die and so could the others…" He said and held her close, kissing her hair "I love you too much to let you die…"

"You… you what?" She asked looking up at him

"I love you" He said once more with security and she smiled widely

"I love you too… I've loved you since the first time you called me stubborn"

"I've loved you since the first time you called me a stuck up arse" He said making her laugh "Maybe the White Witch was right"

"About what?"

"I can't do this alone… but with you beside me, I can"

Unbeknownst to them, Caspian had witnessed and heard everything.

He had gone out of the chamber looking for Peter when he had heard the High King talking to Fayne. He had hid behind a wall and seen it all.

He didn't really know what to think. He remembered what Susan had asked him earlier, about his feelings for Fayne 'She doesn't love me anymore' he told himself,

'Maybe I should move on too'.

After a little while, Peter sent Edmund along with Glenstorm and Wimbleweather the Giant to let Miraz know of the challenge.

The three of them were carrying a plant as a sign of peace.

"Perhaps they intend to surrender" Glozelle told Miraz as the King looked out with his spyglass

"No… they are much too noble for that" Miraz said

At Miraz's 'tent', Edmund stood in front of the most important Telmarine lords while Glenstorm and Wimbleweather waited outside.

"I, Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election and by conquest, High King of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, 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" Edmund scrolled the parchment as he finished reading and faced Miraz

"Tell me, Prince Edmund…" Miraz started

"King" Edmund corrected

"Pardon me?" Miraz asked in shock

"It's King Edmund, actually… just king, though. Peter is the High King" Miraz shifted on his chair uncomfortably "I know… it's confusing"

"Why should we risk such a proposal when our armies could wipe you out by nightfall?" Miraz continued after glancing at Sopespian for a moment

"Haven't you already underestimated our numbers? I mean… only a week ago, Narnians were extinct" Edmund objected

"And so you'll be again"

"Well, then you should have little to fear"

"Ha! This is not a matter of bravery, boy" Miraz said with a smile on his face

"So, you're bravely refusing to fight a swordsman half your age" The young king snapped back

Miraz suddenly lost his smile and leaned forward "I didn't say I refuse"

"You shall have our support, your majesty" One of the lords commented "Whatever your decision"

"Sire" Sopespian intervened "Our military advantage alone provides the perfect excuse to avoid what might otherwise be…"

"I'm not avoiding anything!" Miraz exclaimed standing up and unsheathing his sword menacingly, his pride wounded

"I was merely pointing out that his majesty is within his rights to refuse…" Sopespian continued but was, once more interrupted

"His majesty would never refuse" This time it was no other than Glozelle "He relishes on the chance to show the people the courage of their new king"

Miraz shot his general a deadly look but then turned his attention back to Edmund.

"You" The Telmarine king proceeded pointing his sword at Edmund "You should hope your brother's sword is sharper than his pen"

Edmund smiled slightly. Miraz had taken the bait.

Back in the How, Peter and Caspian walked into a different and smaller chamber discussing some things about the battle and the duel.

"This is not what I meant. I should be the one doing this" Caspian told Peter

"I think we've already tried that" Peter replied more to himself than to Caspian but the prince did hear him and they both stopped. The High King sighed and putting a hand on Caspian's shoulder, encouraged him to keep walking as he continued "Look, if there's ever going to be peace with the Telmarines you have to be the one who brings it"

"I cannot if you won't let me"

"Not like this" Peter replied "If I don't make it, Narnia's future is in your hands…"

"What about your own future?" Caspian asked as both of them halted

"I was thinking about a career in medicine" Peter replied sarcastically, giving his back at Caspian

The High King looked down at the stone-improvised table which lied in front of him.

Trumpkin was preparing his armour as Reepicheep and the Bulgy Bear watched in silence.

The dwarf handed Peter his helmet and he took it and stared at him with an unfathomable expression.

"Your highness…" The Bulgy Bear started, making Peter look up at him

"Yes?" He asked softly

"I'm a bear… I… err…"

"And a fine one, I'm sure" Peter said half smiling

"B-b-begging your pardon… but… tradition holds that you pick your marshals" The bear indicated

"He's right… you need to choose your seconds" Caspian agreed, leaning against the nearest wall as Peter passed his hands over his armour

"Don't choose him" Trumpkin said looking at the Bulgy Bear "He'll fall asleep and suck at his paws"

"Sire, my life is forever at your command but… I had thought I might represent you on this challenge" Reepicheep suggested chivalrously making Trumpkin chuckle

"As you know, my good Reepicheep, many humans are afraid of mice. It wouldn't be fair for Miraz to have anything in sight that could menace to dilute his courage" Peter explained quite philosophically

"Of course…" Reepicheep said "Your majesty is the mirror of honour" Peter couldn't help to laugh slightly at this "That is exactly what I was thinking"

Peter then turned back to the Telmarine prince "Caspian… call Glenstorm. I want him, Ed and…"

"Please…" The Bulgy Bear cut in once more "Your majesty"

"It is your right… and my honour. But you must remember not to suck your paws" Peter said quite seriously but with a hint of amusement

Trumpkin looked over at the bear who was, indeed, sucking his paws and groaned "Oh, he's doing it right now!"

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Peter asked the bear, more seriously this time, carrying his shield

"Are you sure that you are?" Caspian asked, vanishing all sense of fun out of the conversation and making Peter look at him with insecurity

Reepicheep, Trumpkin and the Bulgy Bear exited the room and left Peter and Caspian alone.

"What about Fayne?" The prince asked after a while. This definitely earned him the High King's attention

"What about her?"

"She loves you… and I know you love her too"

Peter didn't even dare to ask how he knew for he had just confessed his true feelings to Fayne and, honestly, he didn't want to get into yet another fight with Caspian over his eavesdropping "I do"

"You are not sure whether you're going to make it or not, Peter. You can't do this to her"

"I've already discussed it with her"

"Let me do it" Caspian insisted "Let me be the one to fight against Miraz"

"No, Caspian. Like I said before, if anything happens to me, you will be the one to lead the Narnians"

"I thought you had said I had no more right to do that than Miraz…"

"I was wrong" Peter accepted and looked beyond the walls of the chamber "Caspian, if I don't make it I need to know you will do everything in your power to make Susan, Lucy and Fayne safe. I know Edmund will help you… I just… I need to know they will be alright"

"Fayne won't accept it" Caspian said

"I know" Peter chuckled remembering how obstinate Fayne could be "But I need to know she will be safe and that her future will be untouched"

In that moment, Caspian could see nothing but sincerity in Peter's eyes. He truly loved Fayne and he was willing to do anything within his power to keep her safe.

Forty minutes later, after Edmund had returned from the Telmarine encampment, Susan and Lucy were more than ready to start their journey into the forest in their search for Aslan.

"Take care, Lucy, please" Fayne told the young queen and she put a grey cloak around her shoulders

"I will, Fayne. Susan will be with me and so will Aslan" Fayne smiled at Lucy's reply "Fayne… don't let anything bad happen to Peter"

"I won't, Lucy. I promise… I fulfilled my last promise, didn't I?"

Lucy nodded and after hugging Fayne, she approached to the horse Caspian was holding for her and for Susan.

Susan walked to Fayne and also hugged her before following Lucy.

Fayne glanced at Caspian and after nodding at him, she walked back to the chamber where Peter and the others were.

"Destrier has always served me well. You're in good hands" Caspian told Susan and Lucy as he fixed Susan's foot on the sides of the horse

"Or hooves" Lucy joked making Caspian smile at her

The prince then looked back at Susan. He looked at her like he hadn't done before. He looked at her the way he had seen Peter look at Fayne and that made him utterly nervous.

"Good luck" He softly told her

"Thanks" She replied dryly and trying not to lock eyes with him

For the past three days, she had started to feel irrevocably attracted to the Telmarine prince but she didn't feel she could take her guard off just yet, and even less because of Caspian's feelings towards Fayne.

Caspian felt a little taken aback by her reaction and looked down.

"Look" He said taking something out of his pocket "Maybe it is time you had this back"

It was Susan's horn. She stared at it for a moment before looking back at Caspian.

"Why don't you hold on to it? You might need to call me again" She replied

Was she flirting with him?

Caspian widened his eyes and smiled, putting the horn back into his pocket as Susan and Lucy rode away.

"You might need to call me again?" Caspian heard Lucy repeat amused

"Oh, shut up!" Susan scolded

He couldn't help to laugh at the idea of the Queen flirting with him.

Maybe she liked him too.

Meanwhile, as she walked back to the centre of the How, Fayne walked by one of the chambers and heard Peter's and Edmund's voices.

"How did he look?" Peter asked Edmund. He meant Miraz

"He looked… well, at first he seemed amused but then… he looked pretty scared, to tell you the truth" Edmund responded as he helped his older brother to put his armour on

"Then Caspian and Fayne were right…"

"And you?" Edmund questioned

"Me?"

"How are you?"

"I'm… good…"

"You don't sound convinced"

"I am… I just… I concerned. Yesterday, Fayne asked a question I haven't wanted to answer but now I think I should been asking it myself" Peter said. Edmund waited for him to continue "What happens if we fail? What happens if I fail today?"

Edmund just looked at his brother in the eye, not able to give him a comforting answer.

"You will not fail" Fayne said, suddenly walking in

"Fayne…" Peter murmured

"I… I'm going to get ready as well" Edmund excused himself and left the chamber but not without giving Fayne a little smile on his way out

She walked up to Peter and took on Edmund's job, assisting Peter with his armour.

Pulling the straps, placing the armour pieces on the right places, she walked around him, her hands never leaving his body and her mouth never uttering a word.

After some minutes, as she passed in front of him, he took her hands and made her look at him.

"What happens if I fail?" He asked again softly leaning his forehead against hers

"You will not fail" She repeated

"Look, Fayne…" He started, looking deeply into her eyes "If Miraz… if he wins the duel, I want you to…"

But she didn't let him say anything. She placed her hand over his mouth and shook her head.

"Don't say it"

"I have to" Peter replied removing her hand from his mouth but keeping it in his "There's a chance… I may die today. If Miraz kills me, I want you to take Lucy away with you. I know Susan and Edmund can take care of themselves but I need to know you'll be safe. I need to know that, whatever happens to me, you'll survive"

"You are not going to die, Peter" Fayne said sternly "And whatever happens, I'm not leaving Narnia unprotected. I will make sure Lucy is safe but I will not give up on Narnia, you hear me?" She softly caressed his cheek, making him close his eyes "And I will not give up on you"

Neither of them could smile. They just looked deep into each other's eyes and then shared a tender, yet passionate kiss, sealing their words.

"Ahem…" Edmund interrupted making them both look over at him "Peter, it's time"

Peter nodded and after kissing Fayne's hands, they followed Edmund out of the chamber willing to face whatever was to come.

Uuuu... evil Miraz!

*readers: we seriously doubt that was the highlight of the chapter*
*Angie: I have to agree... THEYT FINALLY KISSED!*
*readers: WE KNOW!*

I can't say much about anything after that, to be honest... I was dying to write this chapter so... just... read it and re-read it and... dream about it, will you? ;]

See you soon!
xoxoxo