I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. In the week after the White Witch incident, I felt like something was about to happen, but nothing ever did.

I was pacing in front of the carving of Aslan, trying to convince myself that nothing would happen, and that I was just paranoid, when the sound of running footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts. Edmund rushed into the room, dressed in full battle gear. "You'd better come quick." He said.

It's coming, I thought as I followed him outside, where the other Pevensies along with my brother, already were. I gazed out towards the forest to witness the full power of the Telmarine army closing in on our fortress. The sun glinted off their spotless armor.

"This is it." I said solemnly. "This will end; one way or another."


Back inside the Stone Table room, we held a hurried emergency meeting.

"Cakes and kettledrums!" Trumpkin exclaimed. "That's your next big plan? Sending a little girl alone into the darkest parts of the forest alone?"

"I don't like it either." I said. "But it's our only option."

"And she won't be alone." Susan added.

"Haven't enough of us died already?" Trumpkin asked. Peter, Edmund, Caspian, and I winced. That was a low blow, bringing up Nikabrik.

"Nikabrik was my friend too." Trufflehunter the badger said. "But he lost hope. Queen Lucy hasn't. And neither have I."

"For Aslan!" Reepicheep cried.

"For Aslan!" The rest of us echoed. In that moment, the power of Aslan pulsed in the air. It was gone as soon as it came.

"All the same," Trumpkin said, turning to Lucy. "I'm coming with you."

"No." Lucy said firmly. "We need you here."

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

"Courtney-" Caspian started, but I cut him off.

"Don't even try." I said aggressively. "I'm staying here." Caspian opened his mouth again, but I kept going. "I'm not about to abandon this place. If I have to die, it will be to give the rest of the army a chance."

Caspian accepted my decision, albeit reluctantly. "One thing I wish to add." He stepped forward. "Miraz may be a tyrant and a murderer. But as king, he is subject to the traditions and expectations of his people. There is one in particular that may buy us some time."


I was selected, along with Edmund and a centaur named Glenstorm, to inform Miraz that we intended to follow through on a tradition.

Before Susan and Lucy left for their mission, I enlisted their help to choose a dress to wear as part of our diplomatic duty.

"What about this one?" Lucy asked, holding up a strapless, light pink dress from my closet (posted on my Pinterest page). Pink wasn't really my color; it had been a gift from some visiting royal prince about a year ago. But even I couldn't deny that it was gorgeous.

"I'll try it on." I said, stepping into the bathroom attached to my room. The dress fit me well, tightly clinging to my upper body and flaring out from my knees to the floor.

I came out into the main room. "So?" I asked. "What do you think?" I did a spin, causing my dress to spin around with me.

"It's perfect." Lucy said, admiring my dress. Susan nodded in agreement.

I smiled. In the weeks; months that it had been since I first left my home and my uncle, I had learned to live in the moment; to appreciate the small things and to not spend my life fearing what was to come. This was one of these moments that I would look back on as a bright spot in my life, if we survived, that is.

"Good luck." Susan told me.

"You too." I said. I took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.

Susan smiled sheepishly. "I don't know what to say now."

I laughed humorlessly. "Neither do I." I gave her a hug. She paused for a second, caught off guard, but returned the hug. "I'm gonna miss you."

"So will I." I extracted myself from her embrace and hugged Lucy as well.

"Good luck." I told Lucy. "Things won't be the same without you here."

"We'll only be gone a day or two." Lucy said.

"I know." I sighed. "Don't worry; I'll make sure your brothers don't get themselves killed."

"Thanks." Lucy said. "I know you'll keep them safe." After that, there was nothing left to say.

"I have to go." I said, partly because it was getting awkward, but mostly because it was true. I had spent longer than I had anticipated talking with Susan and Lucy. I had been with them nearly every day and even one day without them would be strange. As I walked out, I paused and turned back. "Goodbye." With that, I turned my back on the two of them, heading to the unknown.


"I really hope this works." Edmund said to me outside, as we were making final preparations to meet with Miraz. "If this fails, then Susan and Lucy are doomed."

"Have a little bit of optimism, this will work." But despite my cheerful attitude, I knew we had a slim chance of this succeeding. Oh Aslan, please let this work.

"Ready?" Edmund asked.

I took a deep, hopefully calming, breath. "As ready as I'll ever be."


With green olive branches in hand, a symbol of peace, Edmund, Glenstorm the Centaur, and I made our way straight to the heart of the enemy camp.

When we arrived at the main tent, Edmund and I stepped inside while Glenstorm waiting outside. We didn't want our entire party in one place, just in case.

Edmund read the challenge from Peter to Miraz and the assembled high-ranked members. "I, Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election and by conquest, High King of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, and 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." He rolled up the scroll he was reading from.

"Tell me, Prince Edmund-" Miraz started, completely ignoring my presence.

"King." Edmund corrected.

"Pardon?" Miraz asked.

"It's King Edmund actually. Just king though. Peter's the High King." Edmund spread his hands, "I know, it's confusing." I let out a soft snort.

Miraz raised an eyebrow, but let it go. "Why would we risk such a proposal when our army could wipe out yours in one night?"

"Haven't you already underestimated our numbers?" I asked. It had pre-determined that this would be my part. "Only a week ago, Narnians were extinct, right?" I allowed a hint of my smug smile show.

"And so you will be again." Miraz said.

"Then you have little to fear." I said, with confidence I did not feel. He would give his decision very soon.

Miraz laughed. "This is not a question of bravery."

I was hoping that he would say something like that. I would be able to bait him now. "So you're bravely refusing to fight a swordsman half your age?" I snickered. "Maybe a third your age."

"I didn't say I refused." Miraz said sharply.

"You shall have our support, Your Majesty. No matter you decision." A Telmarine lord said. Nicolás, if I remembered correctly.

"Sire," Lord Sopespian said, "Our military advantage alone allows us the perfect excuse to avoid-"

Miraz stood up and drew his sword. "I'm not avoiding anything!" He exclaimed, cutting off the lord.

"I am merely pointing out that my lord is well within his rights to refuse." Sopespian said calmly. I had like Lord Sopespian more than most of the other lords; he was often times the voice of reason, whether or not his reason was listened to.

"His majesty would never refuse." General Glozelle said, "He relishes the chance to show his people the bravery of their new king."

Miraz pointed his sword towards Edmund. "You had better hope your brother's sword proves sharper."


After this chapter, I'll post one more next week, then I'm going on vacation for 3 weeks! I won't have my computer with me, so I won't be able to type anything. I'll try typing it up on my phone, but no promises and if I do it will probably be pretty short.