Chapter Ten: The One You Love Best

The next few days flew by fast in Rose's eyes. They had rescued a dwarf, Trumpkin, from a pair of Telmarine soldiers. It had shocked Rose and the Pevensies when Trumpkin had explained that Telmarines had been in Narnia since just after they left. They had been summoned into Narnia because someone had blown Susan's horn.

Apparently the one who had blown the horn had been Prince Caspian – the rightful heir to the throne, who was around Peter's age. His uncle had usurped the throne and Caspian was attempting to rally Narnian support to take it back from him, promising them all freedom. Trumpkin had agreed to show them to the Narnians in the hope that they could help sort this whole situation out.

What confused Rose the most was the way Edmund and Peter were starting to act. Peter was becoming far overconfident, almost arrogant. He always had to be in control, always had to be the one to make the big decisions. He was so used to his position as High King, and was prepared to use that to his advantage.

Edmund was more sullen and antisocial than usual, hiding from the world in his own secluded peace of mind. He refused to talk to any of them, especially Peter who he now seemed to hold in contempt.

"Jealousy," Susan explained, "They both like you – so they're envious of each other. Especially Edmund."

This astonished Rose. She had been convinced by Edmund that Peter still had feelings for her...yet she hadn't known that the younger Pevensie brother possessed those same feelings. Edmund had hidden the truth well and Rose wondered why he hadn't told her. Of course, there had been Valentine's Day...but just like the year before, Edmund had given her his note and then left her well enough alone. Rose had been confused as to what his feelings really were.

"Why Edmund?" queried Rose, frowning in thought.

Susan's gaze was searching. "Because the last time we were here...you were married to Peter, remember?"

"Yes, but..." Rose wasn't quite sure what to say, how to act in the face of this. Edmund and Peter, jealous? Over her? "I'm not married now. I'm only fifteen. Things were different then."

Susan sighed. "All I'm saying is, if you don't make up your mind, Rose, this fighting is only going to escalate. And even when you have, I doubt everything's going to be fine again."

Before Rose could ask what she meant, Susan had rolled over and fallen asleep. The younger girl sat there thinking for some time. Did she really have to make a decision? Would Rose have to end the battle of wills between two brothers, bringing one of them solace and the other bitter sadness?

PARAGRAPH

Rose, aged eighteen years old, was swelling with rage and hate as she observed the young man before her, a delighted smile crossing over his face as he observed her with mocking in his grey-green eyes. She gave a cry of fury and lunged at him, throwing him to the ground.

Brody was not a fighter. Rose hit him again and again, not caring about the violence that simply erupted from her. She was overcome with hot rage that this sorcerer was destroying them.

Then she went rocketing backwards and slammed into a wall. Her head smacked painfully against the stone and she swallowed blood. Brody clambered to his feet, his face scarlet with his own blood and one of his eyes puffy. He laughed shakily.

"I guess I was wrong about you," he hissed, his voice cruel. Rose knew she'd made him mad by attacking him and her stomach free-fell. It wouldn't be her to suffer the consequences; of that she was certain. "You're not as smart as I thought. What happens next is your own fault, so you've got only one person to blame…"

Rose felt cold. "Brody, what are you going to do?"

He laughed darkly. "I told you I would let the others live if you complied. Because of your little display just then, Peter dies. You shouldn't have tried me."

"No, please." Rose suddenly found herself begging. For the young man she loved, anything. Tears were welling in her eyes and she couldn't believe she was crying again. "Anything but that. Brody, I will do anything…just please, let him live!"

Brody was smiling again. This was what always happened. He was in power, and then she attacked and found herself with only more to lose. She was sick and tired of grovelling at his feet and dreamed of a day when she might plunge a sword through his heart.

"Too late, my dear. You've made your mistake, now you must suffer the consequences."

"Then take it out on me!" cried Rose, wiping furiously at her tears, "Do whatever you want to me, just don't harm Peter!"

PARAGRAPH

Rose sat up, gasping for air. That memory made her shiver and her nightmares reminded her all too clearly that the Golden Age had not been entirely composed of happiness. There had been Brody, the sorcerer who had nearly ruined Rose's life. Then there had been Prince Reagan of Archenland, so charismatic and charming...yet he had ulterior motives the whole time.

She lay back, sighing heavily. It had only been a nightmare. Brody was long gone. He couldn't hurt them anymore. Just sometimes, it took some convincing for her to get that through her head.

PARAGRAPH

Prince Caspian wasn't what Rose had expected, and there was instant rivalry between him and Peter. Caspian was about eighteen, with tanned brown skin, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He was a Telmarine; it wasn't just the accent they could tell by.

Caspian's gaze turned on Rose. "I've heard of the Kings and Queens, so you must be Princess Rose." A smirk lingered on his lips as he gazed between her and Peter. "High King Peter's wife."

Peter flushed furiously, and Rose was quick to shake her head. She needed to set things straight right from the start.

"That was a long time ago. Not...not anymore."

Caspian shrugged and left the matter alone, but Rose still had to put up with Peter's filthy glare in her direction. She stared brazenly back at him, wondering what his problem was. What she'd said had been true and she'd be damned if she was going to let him pretend any different. The tension she thought had gone was rising once more...and it wasn't just between Peter and Caspian.

Maybe Rose was mistaken, but she thought she saw a slight smile of triumph on Edmund's lips once she had denied she was married to Peter still. Married...the word made Rose shudder. She had been an adult then, but she wasn't now. She was going to grow up again, and this time, the decisions she made might be different.

She talked with Lucy and Susan the whole time, still avoiding conversation with Peter. He seemed annoyed about her denial, and Edmund far too smug. She rolled her eyes behind their backs. Boys.

PARAGRAPH

Aslan's How was underground, much to Rose's surprise. This had been the place where Aslan had sacrificed himself for Edmund's sake...yet now after over a thousand years, it was underground. Susan and Lucy had been deciding what they thought of Caspian. Rose thought he seemed nice enough, although she couldn't be certain because they had only just met him.

"Girls!" It was Edmund, his eyes wide with shock. "You'd better come quickly. There's an urgent meeting starting right now."

Apparently, a Telmarine soldier had been sighted in the forest. This was reason for concern – how had the Telmarines managed to get across the river? Discussions immediately commenced about what should be done.

"It's only a matter of time," Peter said, raising his voice so that everyone could hear him, "Miraz's men and armies are on their way. That means those same men aren't protecting his castle."

"What do you propose we do, your Majesty?" one of the centaurs asked.

"We need to get ready for it..."

"To start planning for..."

Peter and Caspian had both spoken at the same time. They looked daggers at each other, which slightly amused Rose. They were the same age and both used to holding high authority. This wasn't going to go well.

Peter frowned disapprovingly at Caspian. "Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us."

Caspian shook his head. "Crazy. No one has taken that castle."

"There's always a first time," Peter replied, overconfident as always.

"We'd have the element of surprise." Rose found herself forced to agree.

Peter offered her a small, assured smile. She ignored him. Now wasn't the time to focus on him.

"But we have the advantage here!" insisted Caspian.

"If we dig in, we could probably hold them off indefinitely," Susan piped up.

Peter shot his sister a filthy look as if she had just betrayed him by siding with Caspian. Susan averted her eyes.

"Look," Peter was beginning to sound exasperated, "I appreciate what you've done here, but this isn't a fortress. It's a tomb."

"Yes," Reepicheep, the leader of the warrior mice, agreed. "And if they're smart, the Telmarines will just wait and starve us out."

"We could collect nuts," a squirrel suggested unhelpfully.

"Yes, and throw them at the Telmarines!" Reepicheep responded sarcastically, "Shut up." He turned his attention on Peter. "I think you know where I stand, sire."

Satisfied, Peter turned to face the leader of the centaurs.

"If I get your troops in, can you handle the guards?"

The centaur looked hesitant, but he nodded. "Or die trying, my liege."

"That's what I'm worried about."

Peter turned to frown at Lucy, who was sitting on the cracked stone table where Aslan had given his life.

"Sorry?"

"You're all acting like there's only two options." To Rose, Lucy sounded mature beyond her thirteen years. "Dying here, or dying there."

"I'm not sure you've been listening..."

"No, you're not listening," Lucy snapped at Peter, before her voice became lethally quiet, "Or have you forgotten who really defeated the White Witch, Peter?"

This was a blow to Peter's pride. His face hardened and his eyes blazed. Lucy was watching him carefully, but the High King simply drew himself up to full height.

"I think we've waited for Aslan long enough."

The discussion continued and Lucy deflated, upset that Peter had not taken her advice about seeking out Aslan. Rose moved over to her and put a comforting arm around the younger girl's shoulders.

After the meeting was over, Peter walked up to Rose and Lucy. There was a triumphant look about his face, but his blue eyes remained solemn.

"You can both stay here."

Rose's eyes flashed dangerously. "I don't think so, Peter. I know how to fight, as you well know."

"Lucy doesn't," Peter pointed out, "And she might want some company in the How."

"Oh, don't try the guilt trip on me," snapped Rose, folding her arms across her chest, "This was your idea, and you can take the blame for it. I'm going whether you like it or not."

Peter sighed, his resolve softening. "Rose, please. I only want you safe. You know how much you mean to me."

"Do I?" Rose half-laughed, "Since we got back from Narnia, you shunned me aside and ignored me. We were friends, but that's it there. Just friends. If you're ashamed of being with me, you should have thought of that before."

"I'm not," insisted Peter, "I'm in love with you, Rose. I still am. Things are different in England to here in Narnia. How can I deserve you if I'm not the best person I can be?"

Rose sighed, folding her arms, and Lucy discreetly slipped away into the background to talk to Reepicheep. He was trying to make her stay by proving how much he cared, but Rose knew that it was her duty to go and to fight – she wasn't a damsel in distress, and Peter knew that all too well.

"For a year, we were back from Narnia and you acted as though nothing had happened."

"Exactly!" exclaimed Peter, "Things don't just change suddenly. If you and I were suddenly together...well, people can't know about Narnia. They'd think we're crazy. What about Valentine's Day? I showed affection then."

So did Edmund...once again.

Just like the previous Valentine's Day, Peter had showered Rose with an expensive gift and beautiful card, but Edmund had just been simple about things. His letter had revealed more of his feelings this time, however:

My heart breaks without you. I know you love him, I know I don't deserve you, but I don't know what to do. I'm always the one in the shadows, forced to watch on and fake a smile when I know the truth.

But what was the truth? Peter might still love Rose, but Rose wasn't sure if she loved Peter anymore. He was a wonderful young man, and he had very good qualities, but Rose sensed something had changed between them. She wasn't amazed that someone like Peter could love her anymore. She wasn't sure what she thought.

If she didn't feel the same way, did that make her a horrible person? Did that mean she was a selfish cow? She could think of plenty of other girls who would go out with Peter – she just wasn't one of them anymore.

Rose's feelings had been muddled since they'd returned to England. Now that they were in Narnia, she was certain of how she felt. Things weren't the same. She didn't love Peter anymore.