Hey guys!!! Thank you so much for the reviews (and a special thanks to my two readers that were kind enough to point out my few mistakes, so I could quickly go back and fix them—I apologize for being careless is the last chapter). Anywho! This next chapter is part one of how the How is discovered by the Telmarines. It is really nothing more than setup for the next chapter, which will be out very soon! Read, enjoy, and leave a review!

Chapter 11

Part I

Something Bigger than Us

Peter awoke with the sun in his eyes, a horrible crick in his neck, and an arm that he could not feel. Beside him Cara slept soundly, her head still resting comfortably on his shoulder and her leg draped over his. Feeling her chest fall steadily with his, Peter's comfort suddenly became unimportant, and even though he hurt in various places, watching Cara sleep was well worth the pain.

For nearly an hour Peter laid in the sun with the sounds of morning around him and the High Queen clutched in his arms. As his fingers stroked across her face and through her hair, Cara's eyes began to flutter open. Peter watched as a smile spread across her face and her arms wrapped tighter around his body.

"Good morning," he whispered softy into her hair.

"Indeed," Cara mumbled into his chest, before stretching and pulling her body away from his. Although Peter missed the contact, he was quite happy to finally be able to change positions and massage the back of his neck, which was now throbbing with pain.

"I suppose they will be wondering where we are," Cara commented as she climbed to her feet and cast her eyes across the bright valley before her.

"Probably," Peter responded. Cara turned from the valley and watched Peter as he rubbed his hands over his aching body. It was hard for her to believe that just moments ago her body was clutched by those hands, and the thought of it caused a small blush to spread across her cheeks.

"Perhaps it would be better if we do not venture down together," Cara said suddenly, for the thought of prying eyes on them was beginning to consume her. Peter stopped what he was doing and looked to the High Queen.

"Why would you offer up an idea like that?" he responded with a look of confusion.

"It's just…" Cara started as she averted her eyes away from Peter. "It's just that we both have been missing, and others might…others might," Cara stuttered as she gestured frantically with her hands. Peter watched her with mind amusement as her face became an even deeper shade of red.

"Nonsense," Peter finally said as she pushed himself to his feet. "No one will think anything of it. I promise." Cara nodded at his words, her eyes still refusing to meet his.

"Come on then," Peter said with a soft sigh. After looking briefly to Peter, Cara followed him through the trap door and down the long corridor that led to the Stone Table.

When they arrived, both still looking sore, tired, and rather ruffled, Susan immediately ran to them. "Where in heaven's name have you been," she yelled to Peter before her eyes left him and landed on Cara. Suddenly her look of concern turned to one of anger. "Honestly, Peter," she said as Peter came to stand before her.

"Honestly what, Susan?" Peter asked in a tired voice.

"Honestly we have been searching for the two of your for nearly an hour," she shot back. Peter made to move past her when she put her hand up to stop him. "Honestly," she said louder and moved closer to her brother, "we thought that two of you might have been kidnapped, or worse. Now you simply come traipsing down the stairs—together—looking far more rumbled that anyone should, and acting as if nothing is wrong with the situation."

"Nothing is wrong with the situation," Peter argued back.

"Surely you cannot be serious," Susan said with a look of disgust.

Behind the arguing royals a small group was beginning to gather, not to mention that Caspian, Lucy, and Edmund were only standing feet away. As Peter and Susan continued to shoot harsh words between each other, Cara's skin began to burn with embarrassment. Peter was obviously wrong in his earlier assumption.

"Please—dear sister—enlighten me on the subject then," Peter yelled as Susan continued her tirade upon him.

"Just visualize the situation, Peter," the gentle Queen said with a dreadfully calm voice. "Both of you," she continued as she gestured to Peter and Cara, "were missing for the entirety of the morning, and now—both of you—suddenly appear looking as if you spent the morning rolling down a hill."

"We fell asleep together watching the sunrise, Susan. Stop being so accusatory," Peter countered.

"Well that is all good and romantic, Peter, but it is not acceptable behavior for the High King," Susan explained calmly as her eyes shot daggers into Peter. "I do not care how old you used to be and what exploits you ventured on at that time, but if you wish to have Cara beside you, you will do it correctly and court her, not treat her like one of your many conquests."

Peter let out a heavy sigh as these words fell from Susan's lips, and with weary eyes, he looked to Cara. The High Queen was staring with wide eyes at Susan, her mind working to take in what she had just heard. Slowly, her look of shock changed to one of anger, and her eyes moved from Susan to Peter.

"Thank you, Susan, for that remarkably enlightening speech," she said through gritted teeth, before pushing past Peter and making her way out of the chamber. Caspian cast Peter a quick glance before following after her.

"Brilliant," Peter muttered to himself while turning to Susan. "Just bloody brilliant!" he shouted before turning on his heel and disappearing down a darkened corridor.

"Well done, Susan," Edmund said after a thick blanket of uncomfortable silence fell upon the room.

"I was only try—" she started when Edmund cut her off.

"Haven't you already said enough?" he said before striding past her and making his way down the corridor after Peter. Susan watched him go with heavy shoulders.

"There are far bigger things going on, Susan," Lucy said as she took Susan's hand in hers. "This will pass as quickly as it came."

BBBBBB

Cara's chest was tight with emotion as she made her way out of the suffocating How and into the burning sunshine. She did not know why she was angry or hurt, but Susan's words seemed to dive into her heart and wrap a cold encasing around it. Suddenly, the glances and gentle touches that she and Peter shared seemed hollow and forged. Each smile was received by women before her. Each caress was a well practiced façade.

As Cara walked deeper into the valley an urgency to flea began to pulse through her. Never before had she felt this kind of pain, for her heart generally wore the same armor that her body did, but Peter's subtle looks had worked their way through her shield like a parasite looking for a host.

"Cara," a soft voice said behind her. Cara quickly turned, startled by the sudden sound. Caspian stood near the entrance of the How, the soft wind blowing his dark tresses into his worried eyes. A pang of hurt hit Cara, for something deep inside of her wished that it had been Peter that had followed her out.

"Yes," she responded bravely, trying to hind any sort of pain from her voice. Caspian felt silly as he stood before Cara, for he truly had no insight to her situation, nor was he any good at offering comfort.

"Would you like to…um. Would you like to help me with the troops? We need to decide where our strengths and weaknesses lay," he asked in a bashful voice.

"Of course," Cara replied, happy to have something to keep her mind away from Peter. Caspian's face erupted into a smile at her words, and without thinking he offered her his hand and ushered her back inside.

"You know," Caspian said as he and Cara walked to the chamber of the How that held all of their weapons, "the Telmarines tell stories of your reign."

"Is that so?" Cara asked absentmindedly, for thoughts of Peter still consumed her.

"They call you a witch," he added.

"A witch?" Cara asked, her mind finally focused on Caspian.

"Yes," he replied with a laugh. "I know now that these tales are far from true, but I did wonder when we first met."

"A witch?" Cara asked again with light laughter in her voice. "You actually believed that I possessed unnatural powers?"

"Well it is difficult to forget what you have always been told," Caspian explained.

"What kind of powers did I possess?" Cara asked as the two royals entered the chamber and took a seat beside a large pile of swords.

"The Telmarines that created the story were not imaginative enough to delve that deep into their illusion," replied Caspian. Cara looked at him in mock astonishment.

"My powers weren't even described? The injustice!" she said causing Caspian to laugh whole heartedly.

"I can see where their idea stemmed from," Caspian responded once his laughter subsided, his eyes watching the High Queen intently. "You do command attention, and that is a power within itself."

Cara looked down uncomfortably and pushed a piece of hair behind her ear. Earlier that day, Caspian's words would have caused her to smile and think happily of Peter, but now they seemed to only mock her pain.

Seeing that he had caused Cara slight distress, Caspian placed his hand upon her chin and forced her dark eyes to look into his. "Do not allow Susan's words to ruin something that reaches beyond the physical yearnings of man," he said softly.

"How do I know they reach beyond such needs?" Cara asked with lost eyes. "Perhaps I am nothing more than a silly girl and these feelings do not reach beyond anything."

"Perhaps you are right," Caspian responded with a sigh, "but there is only one power in life that can answer that question."

"And what is that?" asked Cara. "Aslan?"

"No," answered Caspian. "Time."

BBBBBBB

The remainder of the day continued with little excitement, which was mainly due to the fact that practically no one was talking. Peter and Edmund stayed deep within the How and far away from Susan, while Cara and Caspian spent their time looking over the troops and assembling brigades.

Lucy stayed close to her sister, for she knew that Susan's words were not meant to cause harm. The two Queens walked among the woman and children that lived deep within the How, helping to gather food and other such supplies.

It was not until near supper time that everyone was brought back together due to some untimely circumstances. Lucy and Susan were stacking pounds of fruit into the corner of a far chamber when a group of Narnian children rushed inside. One of them was trying desperately to reach his mother, while the other three were pulling him back and speaking in rushed whispers. The commotion caused many to stop and watch as the boy ripped his hands away from the grasp of the others and cantered over to his mother.

"You are nothing more than a tattle tail," a young dwarf shouted at the centaur as he pulled his mother's ear close to his mouth. Susan and Lucy watched as her face went from annoyance, to disbelief, to complete fear.

"When did he leave, Castlestar?" she asked quickly as her hands wrapped around his shoulders. "Tell me now!" she shouted when he did not respond. Susan walked quickly over to them and placed a soothing hand on the centaur's arm.

"Is something wrong?" she asked softly.

"Tell your Queen what you told me," Castlestar's mother said to him. The boy looked at Susan with wide fearful eyes.

"A group," he started but was cut off by the same young dwarf that spoke earlier.

"Just go and ruin everything, Castlestar!" he said with a scornful tone.

"Hold your tongue," Susan shot at the boy, who immediately cowered and looked away. "Tell me," she said in a softer voice to the centaur. The boy gulped before continuing.

"A group left for the woods nearly an hour ago," he explained. "They were bet to enter the wood and cross the river."

"To go where?" Susan asked quickly. "Where?" she repeated when the boy did not respond.

"The Telmarine camp," he said quietly.

Keeping a strong hold on the boy, Susan pulled him through the corridors with Lucy and his mother trailing not far behind. "Where is Peter?" she asked hurriedly when she passed Glenstorm in the chamber of the Stone Table. The centaur looked at her with worried eyes before pointing down the long corridor that Peter and Edmund had disappeared down earlier. After offering a thankful nod towards the general, Susan continued down the corridor where she found both Edmund and Peter huddled over an old map.

Both Kings looked up upon hearing the sound of intruders, their expressions going from irritated to worried. "Something wrong?" Edmund asked as he eyes washed over the child centaur.

"Tell your Kings," Castlestar's mother said from behind him. Mustering up all of his courage, the boy stepped forward and told his tale to Edmund and Peter.

"Where are Caspian and Cara?" Peter asked once the story was finished; his voice was urgent and commanding. Susan indicated that she had not a clue, and with a heavy sigh Peter turned to Edmund.

"Go and ready three horses." Edmund nodded at his brother's words and sprinted from the room.

"Lucy, go with Susan and attempt to keep everyone calm, and try to keep word from spreading," he ordered. Both Queens immediately left the room and returned to their former chamber.

"You two," Peter said as he indicated to Castlestar and his mother, "help me find the High Queen and Prince. If you find them, tell them to meet me at the entrance of the How." Shocked by receiving an order from their King, both centaurs stared open mouthed before shaking the excitement from their head and hurrying off in separate directions.

To further the horridness of Peter's day, it was not Castlestar or his mother that found Cara and Caspian, but the High King himself. Peter was making his way towards the head of the How when the Cara's distinct laugh reached his ears. With one more turn of a corner, the High Queen and Caspian became visible in the dim lighting. Both were laughing as they walked towards Peter, with their eyes upon each other and their arms linked.

"Is that truly her name?" Cara asked with another laugh.

"Truly," Caspian responded, "I had the hardest time saying it when I was little."

"Well I wouldn't doubt that," she responded, "it is rather difficult to say even now."

Peter tried to remain calm as he approached the two royals, but his anger was blatantly displayed on his face. "Caspian," he said causing both the Prince and Cara to stop abruptly. Cara' face immediately began to burn with humiliation as Peter made his way towards them.

"Yes?" Caspian asked quickly.

"Go to the entrance of the How. There you will find Edmund waiting with your horse," Peter explained in a harsh tone.

"Is something wrong?" Caspian responded.

"Edmund will tell you everything. I shall meet you there momentarily," Peter answered with a look of annoyance. After casting one last look at Cara, Caspian hurried out of sight. Overwhelmed by the possibility that something might be wrong, Cara cast away her feelings for Peter and looked to him with worried eyes.

"What has happened?" she asked hurriedly.

"A group of children are heading towards the Telmarine camp," he explained causing a look of horror to spread across Cara's features.

"I'm going with you," she said as she went to follow Caspian's earlier steps. Peter's hand immediately shot out and latched on to her wrist.

"I need you to stay put," he explained as Cara cast him a look of confusion.

"Have we not been over this before?" Cara shot back as her looked of confusion was replaced with a scowl.

"Don't look at me like that," Peter said with sigh and stepped closer to the Queen. "I need you here, Cara," he explained.

"Why? Susan and Lucy are both here. What services can I offer that they cannot?" she asked as she looked Peter directly in the eyes.

"You can protect this How better than either of them," Peter responded, causing Cara's scowl to falter. "If those children have reached the camp, I do not know what will happen, and if any problems do occur, you are the only one I trust to rally the troops and protect our people."

Slightly shocked by Peter's ode of confidence, Cara turned her head away and glanced at the ground. "You're saying that to get me to stay," she responded after a moment of silence.

"No," Peter replied, "I'm saying that because it is true."

Cara returned her eyes to Peter before offering a small nod and walking deeper into the How. Peter watched her back, hoping—praying—that she would offer him a few soothing words before he departed, but as Cara turned the corner at the end of the corridor, he realized that she had nothing more to say to him and probably would not for a long time.

With one last look, Peter turned on his heel and headed for the entrance to the How, his heart feeling even heavier after his talk with Cara and her lack of words.

"Peter," Cara's voice rang out as it echoed down the corridor. The High King immediately stopped in his tracks and spun around. Cara stood awkwardly at the other end of the corridor with her hands linked in front of her.

"Yes," Peter offered back, slight hope releasing the heavy burden on his heart. Cara's mind seemed to be fighting a battle as she stood before him, for her eyes moved everywhere but on Peter, and her fingers twitched uncomfortably.

"Come back," she said softly as her eyes finally landed on Peter, and for a brief moment, she could not help but believe that the kindness in his eyes truly was meant for only her. The moment left as quickly as it came, and before the High King could respond, Cara turned around and disappeared once again down the corridor.

Feeling completely ill at ease, Peter made his way to the entrance of the How, where he found Edmund and Caspian waiting patiently upon their horses. With one swift move, Peter mounted his horse and urged him into a gallop. Behind him lay everything he had ever loved, and before him stood a power that could rip it completely apart.

Part two coming soon!