Chapter Thirteen: I Must Not Chase The Boys

Rose was riddled with guilt. She hadn't told Peter the truth since they'd returned to Narnia, and she wished she could have let him down a little easier. Anything would have been better than him walking in on her kissing Edmund. Of course, she hadn't exactly been speaking that much with Edmund, either. Things had been very hectic, what with planning what should be done with the Telmarine situation.

Eventually, Caspian had told them that if Peter challenged Miraz to single combat, he would most likely accept the challenge. Edmund and Rose were sent to give Miraz their conditions under the white flag.

Rose wasn't happy about this at all, but she stood beside Edmund, garbed all in armour and with her arms folded across her chest as she listened to him read off the scroll.

"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."

Rose's head snapped up as Edmund started rolling up the scroll. The fight was to the death? She really hoped that Peter knew what he was doing.

"Tell me, Prince Edmund..." began Miraz.

"King," Edmund corrected.

Miraz raised his eyebrows. "Pardon?"

"It's King Edmund, actually. Just 'king' though. Peter's the High King. I know, it's confusing."

Rose found herself trying to hide a smile. Miraz didn't seem to care.

"Why would risk such a proposal when our army could wipe you out by nightfall?"

Edmund did not look deterred. "Haven't you already underestimated our numbers? Only a week ago, Narnians were extinct."

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

Edmund lifted his chin. "Then you should have little to fear."

Miraz threw back his head and laughed. "This is not a question of bravery."

Rose begged to differ, but she said nothing at all. In fact, she couldn't quite understand why she'd been sent along with Edmund in the first place.

Edmund smirked. "So you're bravely refusing to fight a swordsman half your age?"

The laughter died in Miraz's eyes and the smile dropped from his face.

"I didn't say I refused," he replied.

One of the Telmarine lords spoke up. "You shall have our support, your Majesty, whatever your decision."

Another lord, sitting right beside Miraz, also voiced his opinion.

"Sire, our military advantage alone allows us the perfect excuse to avoid..."

Miraz's eyes flashed dangerously and he stood to his feet, drawing his sword. Rose observed this carefully. Clearly, there was tension between Miraz and his lords.

"I am not avoiding anything!"

The lord who had spoken threw up his hands.

"I am merely pointing out that my lord is well within his rights to refuse."

"His Majesty would never refuse." Rose turned to look at a hard-faced Telmarine soldier standing behind her and Edmund. "He relishes the chance to show his people the bravery of their new king."

"You." Miraz pointed his sword at Edmund. "You should hope your brother's sword is sharper than his pen."

Edmund didn't seem threatened. On the contrary, a smile crossed his face and he inclined his head to Miraz and the lords, before he and Rose set off towards the How. Rose sighed heavily.

"Well, I don't see why I had to accompany you."

Edmund grinned wickedly. "Decoration purposes."

Rose nudged him, smiling as well.

PARAGRAPH

As Peter was getting ready for his battle against Miraz, Rose decided this would be the best chance to see him. She didn't know how things were going to go on the battlefield later on. She crossed the room and started helping him fasten his breastplate.

"Peter, about earlier..."

"I don't want to hear it." His voice was cold and would allow no objections. He refused to look at her, and this hurt Rose. She fixed up his chainmail as he stood there, completely immobile.

"You're going to fight Miraz. I just need you to know..."

"What, that you're in love with Edmund?" he jeered, whirling around to face her with anger in his blue eyes, "I know. I saw you both earlier. Though it would be nice if you'd told me sooner."

"What do you expect?" cried Rose, firing up, "You give me the cold shoulder for a year, and now we're back in Narnia, you expect nothing to have changed? Edmund's always been my best friend, but now I love him. I love you as a friend, Peter, nothing more."

He put down his helmet and advanced on her. Rose stood her ground, refusing to let him intimidate her. The High King may be able to scare others, but not her. She tilted her chin defiantly.

"You married me when you only loved me as a friend?"

She shook her head with a sad sigh. "It was different then. Things change over time."

Peter nodded, seeming to relent. He pulled up his helmet. He didn't look enraged anymore...just sad. Rose was, too. Sad that the Peter phase of her life had passed her by. It had been a good one – but she just didn't love him anymore.

"I know. But I still love you, even if you have broken my heart."

Rose glanced at him in disbelief. "It's not always about you, Peter. Just because you're the oldest, the High King...it doesn't mean you get it all."

PARAGRAPH

Peter marched out to battle with Edmund by his side. Rose lingered behind, not wanting to cause any trouble. Once Peter and Miraz marched into the field, Miraz noticed just how young the boy he was fighting was. No older than eighteen. This surprised him, as did the intensity of the Narnians' cheers.

Peter was accompanied by his younger brother, the boy who had delivered the message to Miraz – and the girl, probably the same age as King Edmund. Miraz knew better than to underestimate her, though – this was Lady Rose, Protector of Narnia.

Miraz stepped forward and the two began circling each other.

"There is still time to surrender," he told the High King.

Peter glowered. "Well, feel free."

"How many more must die for the throne?" Miraz sounded confident of his victory already.

"Just one." Peter pulled his helmet down.

The fight began, and everyone watched in nervous anticipation as the duel between the High King and the tyrant grew more and more fierce. Caspian returned with Susan, and Peter took a respite, clearly exhausted.

"Lucy?" Peter asked of Susan as she and Caspian rode up.

"She got through, with a little help." She indicated Caspian, who Peter turned his attention to.

"Thanks." He said the word almost reluctantly.

"Well, you are busy," Caspian replied coolly.

Peter looked up at the How, where the archers waited on the edge, and then glanced across at his sister.

"Better get up there, just in case. I don't expect the Telmarines will keep their word."

Susan moved in to hug Peter. He winced, clearly bruised and battered from the duel.

"Sorry," Susan muttered as she released him.

"It's alright."

"Take care," Susan warned as she moved towards the archer's post.

Edmund looked at the crowd and then looked at Peter.

"Keep smiling," he mumbled.

Peter forced a huge smile and raised his sword triumphantly. The Narnians cheered wildly. He turned away, grimacing as he sat down, holding his shoulder. Edmund moved closer to take a look at it.

"I think it's dislocated."

He sat in brooding silence for a little while.

"What do you think happens back home, if you die here?" He turned to glance meaningfully at Edmund, "You know you were always there for me, and I never..."

Peter groaned in pain as Edmund relocated his shoulder, and even Caspian grimaced.

"Save it for later," Edmund told him.

Peter got up and glanced at Rose, the girl he'd always loved. Would he lose her, would he lose everything? Before she could say anything, he grabbed her by the arm, pulled her forward and kissed her on the lips.

Miraz noticed this and chuckled.

"It seems that the High King is a bit of a romantic."

Edmund rolled his eyes pointedly as they broke apart. Once it might have hurt him to watch Peter kiss Rose, but now he was assured of Rose's love for him, he knew that it was all on Peter's part.

"Show off."

As Peter marched back into battle and Rose gazed desperately after him, Edmund put his arm around her shoulders.

"He'll be fine, Rose."

"Can you promise me that?"

Edmund wasn't so sure, but the battle ended in Miraz's downfall, with him kneeling and Peter's sword pointed towards his head.

"What's the matter, boy?" Miraz demanded, looking up at the young man, "Too cowardly to take a life?"

Peter glared at him intensely. "It's not mine to take."

He handed the sword to Caspian, who moved forward to glance down at his uncle with pure and utter loathing. Rose pressed her hands to her mouth, wondering what was going to happen. Surely Caspian would take this chance to kill his uncle?

"Maybe I was wrong," muttered Miraz, "Perhaps you do have the making of a Telmarine king."

With a battle cry, Caspian plunged the sword...into the ground. He glared across at Miraz, who was looking at him with surprise – as was everyone else. Telmarines and Narnians alike had gone silent.

"Not one like you," Caspian spat.

Miraz looked quite relieved.

"Keep your life," continued Caspian, "But I am giving the Narnians back their freedom."