So here it is - finally - the next chapter - I am really sorry for the long waiting - but again university just kept me occupied!

So without mincing matters - enjoy reading!

The dead body was lying in the hall, where the council met, covered in blood, Caspian's dagger still tucked into the chest, exactly where the heart had once beaten.

It was a horrible sight. Nevertheless many people had assembled, looking shocked at the dead body, whispering with each other about what might have happened.

"Out! Everybody gets out of here!" Peter yelled, angry about so many curious onlookers. With another glance at the body, they left the room, preparing themselves to spread rumours.

When Peter turned around, he saw Caspian rushing into the room, looking shocked as he saw the dead body. The high king unsheathed his sword and ran towards Caspian, attacking him immediately. Before Caspian knew what was happening to him, he was pushed against the wall, Peter's sword at his throat.

"Did you do this?" Peter yelled, his hands and his voice trembling.

Caspian shook his head, "Why would I do this?"

"I don't know, maybe because you threatened to kill him an hour ago? Maybe because Lord Delian was one of your worst enemies? Maybe because you are blind in rage and love?" Peter yelled biting.

"Peter, let him go!" Lucy shouted, approaching her brother, lying one hand on his shoulder to calm him down, "It wasn't him."

She had been the one who had found Lord Delian's dead body in the hall and she had followed her first instinct and had screamed. She hadn't seen anybody but she knew it hadn't been Caspian. She trusted him, she knew he would never do such an awful thing.

Peter dropped his sword, "Do you even know how much trouble this causes?"

"I DIDN'T DO IT!" Caspian screamed, angry about the false accusation, withdrawing himself from Peter.

"It's your dagger in him. You're the one who wanted Lord Delian dead so badly. Why would I believe you?" Peter asked, his voice still loud and angry.

"Because I thought after everything we've gone through together, I would belong to your family, or at least be your friend and friends believe each other." Caspian shouted with glassy eyes.

"Of course, you belong to our family, Caspian." Lucy said, glaring at Peter admonitory.

At these words and Lucy's glance Peter composed himself a little bit, continuing with a calmer voice, "But even if we believe you, everybody else will think that you killed him. The people will think that you're a murderer, they will think that you are like Miraz."

"I AM NOT LIKE MY UNCLE!" Caspian shouted furiously.

"We know that, but, Caspian, the people are scared, they are afraid of the coming war. There are already some people that are against you and especially against us and this murder will make it even worse." Peter said a lot calmer than before and gave Caspian a pat on his back.

"So who did it then?" Cora, who had kept herself in the back so far, asked.

"Either somebody, who wants Caspian to lose the trust of his people, or somebody who wanted to silence Lord Delian. And either way we still have a traitor in our rows!" Peter concluded, looking everything else than happy.

Caspian felt raw as he watched his love fighting for her life. Susan was burning, her normally white skin was red and she cried in pain from time to time. Caspian wanted to take her pain on himself, but there was nothing he couldn't do and that was the worst thing for him. In a battle he could fight, defending himself and others, smashing his sword against his enemies, living out his anger, but if somebody lied in the bed ill, there was nothing one could do except for waiting and hoping.

He hadn't left Susan's side since they had found Lord Delian's dead body, not only because he wanted to protect her from the traitor, but although because he wasn't able to do anything else, to concentrate on anything else while she was fighting here for her life. He couldn't do anything to make her pain less, but what he could do was being with her, caressing her hand, dabbing her forehead with a wet cloth and talking to her quietly.

He had been sitting next to her for six long hours, which had seemed like eternity to Caspian, when she finally opened her eyes.

"Caspian..." she whispered before her voice broke down again.

"Shh, you have to save yourself. You're still weak." Caspian said caring, stroking her hair.

"Lucy, Peter..." Susan breathed out.

"They are fine. I'll send for them." Caspian said, stepping to the door, sticking out his head to tell one of the soldiers to get them. He had sent the protesting Lucy to bed, so that she would get at least some hours of sleep and he wondered himself where Peter was, since he hadn't seen him since their fight.

"Where's the cord..." she couldn't finish her question because of a coughing fit, but Caspian knew what she wanted to asked.

"Somebody stole the cordial. But you are going to be fine. Everything is alright. You just need time to rest." he tried to convince both of them, looking worried down on her weary face, "You're going to be alright." he repeated, dabbing her forehead with the wet cloth again, tears in his eyes.

Susan just shook her head, tears running down her cheeks.

"You're going to be alright." Caspian repeated, wiping away the tears from her cheek, resting his hand there, "Aslan won't let you die. He can't let you die."

"He's taking me to his country." Susan breathed out, her look deadly serious, "I can feel it, Caspian. I am going to die!"

Peter couldn't sleep. Well that wasn't surprising to him, after all, his sister was fighting for her life. And if he had been able to sleep peacefully, he wouldn't be the brother he was. But he couldn't be with her either, although he knew he should be at her side, even if he couldn't help her, he should be there for her.

But that was just the point, he couldn't help her. And he just couldn't watch her enduring all this pain, while he couldn't do anything against it. He couldn't help her like he hadn't been able to help Edmund. And this helplessness was wearing him down.

So Peter had stocked up on work the whole day to avoid thinking of his sister being that near to death. He had interrogated everybody in the castle if somebody had seen or noticed anything about Lord Delian's death, without any result.

Later that day he had ridden to Aslan's How, where they had gathered their troops for the upcoming war. There he had overseen the training, given a few tips here and there. It had reminded him so much of Aslan's Camp when they had fought against the White Witch and he had wished so much that Aslan would have been there, like he had been then.

When he came by the tree near the river, where he had defended Susan and Lucy against the wolves more than thirteen hundred years ago, an idea came to his mind. This had been the place, where Susan had first blown her horn and she had received help. So maybe they just needed to blow the horn and Aslan would send them help or even come on his own.

So he had ridden back to the castle as fast as he could. He had turned the whole castle upside down, but again with no result. He hadn't found the horn, not even with Lucy's and Trumpkin's help. Either the traitor had stolen it as well or Susan had made a real good job hiding it.

In the evening he had kept himself occupied by making different battle plans. And right now he was heading for the kitchen to see if the cook had left some desserts. When Peter entered the kitchen, he noticed that he wasn't the only one, who had had this idea.

Cora was sitting at one of the preparation tables, curled up in a chair in a white silk nightgown and a dark green robe. Her dark hair hung loose to the middle of her back. As he walked in she looked up appalled and their gaze met.

"What are doing here?" Peter asked rapidly, not knowing what else to say.

"I couldn't sleep. I thought something to eat might help." She pointed to three small bowls on the table before her, one of strawberries, one of whipped cream, and another of sugar.

At this sight, Peter could feel a twinge in his heart. This had been the way Susan had always eaten strawberries back in the golden age.

"Lucy told me that this is the only proper way to eat strawberries." Cora continued, "Do you want some?"

Peter shook his head, "No, thanks. I've never liked that. I think it's too sweet. Susan always said I've no appreciation for the finer things in life." He approached Cora looking sadly and sat down on the chair next to her.

"How are you?" Cora asked caring, watching him worried.

Peter turned his head, looking into her green eyes meaningful, "How would you be if it was your brother lying in there, fighting for his life?"

Cora nodded understandingly and looked down sorrowful, breaking their eye contact, "You know, when I was little, my father always told me stories of the Golden Age before I went to bed. He told me about the gorgeous festivals back then, about the tournaments, about Prince Corin and Avaris, about the Archenland Conflict and about the Kings and Queens of Old. He always said that, no matter how young and inexperienced you had been, you and your siblings had been the greatest rulers Narnia had ever seen." Cora paused and glanced at Peter, who was looking quite confused, not knowing where she wanted to get at.

"He told me about so many adventures you've gone through, so many difficult situations you've managed." Cora continued, "He said that you found your strength in your family, that you were that strong because you stuck together as a family..."

"Back then it had been much easier, than it is now." Peter interrupted her, still not knowing what she wanted to say, "Narnia was different then. And Aslan he had always been there when we needed him..."

"And he still is!" Cora adjusted, her voice sounding enthusiastic, "As long as you don't lose your faith, he will be there when you need him. But it seems like he thinks that you can handle this on your own. It seems like he has faith in you that you as a family can deal with this situation. And after everything I've heard about you and your family I think that too. You just need to have faith in Aslan, in your family and in your own strength."

Peter just looked at her stunned. Cora blushed, "What?"

"You're unbelievable." Peter said looking at her with wide eyes, and before he knew what he was saying, he continued, "If I hadn't already fallen in love with you, I would certainly now."

At these words Cora's cheeks got even redder than before. Looking down again to hide her face, she whispered, "There are so many things you don't know about me!"

Suddenly the door to the kitchen was pushed open and a soldier rushed in, "Your Majesty, King Caspian sends me. Your sister, the Queen Susan, is awake."

So this is it - I hope you like it! :)

Any guesses who killed Lord Delian? Any other thoughts? :) Reviews would be great as always and as always thanks to those who reviewed so far - I love to read them!!

And again I am soooooo sorry for the long waiting - this time I am going to update sooner - promise!!