Hello all! The third chapter has been revised, but I might've miss somethings, so go easy on me! But I hope you all enjoy it!
A huge thanks to Mslolz411 and Amandla123 for favouriting/following this story! Your support means so much, so this chapter is dedicated to you!
To Aori Rihito: The part where they can't be together upsets me too, but it makes for an interesting story! P.S. I hope your kokoro is okay, but what is it?
Enjoy!
Third Year after the Battle of Beruna
January 16th
They had boarded the ship for the Lone Islands two weeks before, to arrive on time for Eden and Kris' wedding. Everyone was beyond excited, the girls even more so as they never thought they'd have the chance to get married five or so years ago.
"Mr. Tumnus is calling for tea," Lucy said excusing herself from the top deck where they all stood.
"I think I might join you," Ilana said. The two went off happily. The shore of the Lone Islands were coming into sight and it wouldn't be long until they arrived.
"How about another spar?" Edmund asked Peter. They'd had one the day before and Edmund was eager to best his older brother.
"Why not? As long as your capable of another beating," Peter smirked.
"We'll see about that," Edmund said drawing his sword.
"Well, it looks like it's going to get rather heated out here, so I'm retreating to my chambers," the gentle Queen bowed. The girls saluted rather sloppily much to Susan's dismay for imformality and watched the two royals battle it out under the sun.
"I think your man might surpass his older brother," Ella told Liora.
"Give him a few more years with Orieus and Pessia as trainers and he'll beat us all," she joked.
"You would never let that happen. You'd probably beat him into an engagement," Pessia laughed. Edmund attack Peter but it was easily blocked and the swords clashed once more.
"Can we just focus on Eden's wedding and Ella's engagement," Liora winked.
"Eden's wedding yes, but what engagement on Ella's behalf?" Pessia asked genuinely confused.
"What do you mean what engagement? They'll eventually get married, I'm sure," Liora pointed out. Ella just rolled her eyes, she wasn't even thinking of that.
"But they can't," Pessia said. Ella was broken out of her trance and looked to Pessia.
"What?" she asked.
"Remember? It's the same reason you weren't allowed to marry Athan," she said.
"No, she didn't marry him because he was a traitor," Liora reminded her sister.
"He wasn't," Ella said sternly.
"Still blind to that fact. How do you think her soldiers got in the gates?" Liora started, growling softly.
"Enough. He's dead, so is the witch and this is now about Peter and Ella." Pessia silenced them.
"Right, so what are you saying?" Ella said looking back to the spar. Peter had just gotten the upper hand twisting Edmund's sword around so it became stuck.
"Remember, King Frank and our father made a rule that royals cannot marry high standing people of the order."
"Surely, that's not still in place," Ella laughed it off. Edmund had hit back, ducking and weaving around Peter, making him utterly confused.
"Who knows," Liora said shrugging. The rule didn't apply to her and Edmund, she was just a lieutenant.
"Just be careful," Pessia warned. Peter had got back on track and caught Edmund's sword and it flew through the air. Edmund was left defensless and the crowd that had gathered cheered. Liora walked off to Edmund, Pessia to join Susan, which left Ella standing there thinking about the one hundred year old rule that may or may not still apply to her.
January 25th
"We need more pins," Ella mumbled as she sat there trying to get Eden's unruly curls in to some sort of bun.
"They should be in the third draw on my vanity," Eden instructed, taking her hand away from Ilana to point. Ilana rolled her eyes as was fed up off painting Eden's nails by now. Pessia scurried off to find them when the door opened.
"We have the dresses," Susan beamed walking in ever so happily. She and Lucy were both holding white, silky dresses. It took them both to get used to the fact the bride wore red in Narnia.
"They're absolutely beautiful," Lucy beamed pulling hers off the hanger.
"The Lone Islands do have the best fabrics," Eden winked. Pessia returned with the pins and started helping Ella once again with the hair. They managed to get it into a bun with multiple twists and braids, with three red flowers albeit a little messy.
Eden stood up, nails painted, hair done, make up on and smiled brightly.
"It's time," she said happily. Ella bought out the the red wrap and under dress and laid them out on the bed. Eden put on the red under dress and all the girls took hold of the red wrap with gold embroidery and started wrapping it around her.
"I've never seen anything like it," Susan mused and Eden smoothed the dress out.
"Where else but Narnia?" Ilana smiled. Everyone else got their own dress and changed into them. They arranged their red bouquets and waited patiently for the knock at the door to tell them it was time.
Lucy led the way, followed by Susan, Ilana, Liora, Pessia and then Ella. She threw a wink back at Eden when they arrived at the ballroom doors and told her to breathe.
"You're nervous," she teased.
"You would be to if you were about to marry the man you loved," Eden joked. Ella knew it was a joke but could not help think about the rule Pessia had bought up. However, she pushed it aside when the doors opened and Lucy began the walk down the isle.
Pessia passed Kris on the step and gave him a wink, he nodded as if understand her warning: Make her happy or else. When Eden finally made her way down the isle, the guests stood and threw flowers off good luck, a typical wedding tradition.
"Hi," Eden mouthed when she'd made her way to Kris.
"Hi," he mouthed back. Eden's eyes shone and the ceremony began.
Eden started crying half way through, a sight that nearly bought everyone else to tears. And the happy tears built during the vows.
"Do you, Kris Idino, King of the Lone Islands, take Eden, Princess of Narnia to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
"And do you, Eden, Princess of Narnia, take Kris Idino, King of the Lone Islands as your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," Eden hiccuped. Ilana laughed, she'd never seen Eden in such hysterics before.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife, King and Queen of the Lone Islands. You may now kiss this bride." The congregation stood and clapped happily as Eden and Kris had their first kiss as man and wife. It was then as Ella wiped away her happy tears that she caught Peter's gaze.
He smiled at her and she smiled at him. It didn't matter about the rule if it still applied. No one could stop her feelings for him. Never.
February 16th
They'd stayed a little longer in the Lone Islands. They met Kris' family for the first time and went on tours and hunting trips like a big family should. No on wanted to return home, especially to the news they received.
They were not even into the Cair before the council had swept Peter, Ella and Edmund away.
"What is the meaning of this?" Ella asked grumpily. They'd only been home five minutes and swept off for duties. She practically had to hit Edmund to wake him up. Again.
"Grave news has come from the Northern Border patrols, your majesties," Lord Peridan said softly as if not wanting to anger them more.
"What sort? Political?" Edmund asked, knowing that it would be problem if it were.
"No sire, it's war."
"War? From who?" Peter asked sitting up staright.
"We've received many letters from the Northern Patrol. Many vilages along the border had been destroyed and pillaged by the tribes in the Wild Lands."
"Why would they have come down so far to attack us?" Ella asked.
"Seems as if the remaining witches supporters have infiltrated their ranks," Lord Peridan said, showing them an image of the witches symbol one of the guards drew when surveying the damage.
"It can't be possible, Eden herself helped eliminate them," Edmund pointed out.
"That was only a portion we believe. Not all of them followed," Lord Onotore told us.
"What do you suppose we do Peter?" Ella asked.
"I think we should wait until threat is prominent," Peter said.
"People are dying," Edmund pointed out.
"Two villages Ed, at the highest point of the border. If they start moving down then we'll see," Peter said working out a plan in his head.
"You can't be serious," Ella muttered.
"We'll give you all some time," Lord Peridan said sensing things were about to heat up. The council members left, and only Oreius stayed.
"What?" Peter rounded on Ella. "What do you suppose we do then?"
"Go to war," Ella told him.
"Without any sort of plan or political gain?" Peter asked.
"Peter, no wars help political gain. If we go to war we clearly establish our Northern Border and save hundreds of other families that live there," Edmund backed Ella up.
"And what if we lose more people? What if we lose one another? Those tribes are vulgar and even more so with the witches supporters behind them," Peter protested.
"You are the King. People will follow you no matter if it costs them their lives, they would happily die for you than watch others dying. I know these people, and I know they have as much faith in you as I do," Ella told him.
"And we won't lose one another, we're smart and good fighters, we'll wear normal armour to, so we don't attract attention."
"I just don't want more Narnian blood on my hands," Peter said rubbing his eyes.
"It won't just be on yours. I'm the General and Edmund is a king too. We do this together," Ella said comforting him.
"It's up to you Pete," Edmund said, hand on his hips.
"Right, we'll assemble the army. We'll leave in two weeks, Edmund alert the Lord's of the decision and write to our allies see if we can get some back up," Peter instructed.
"Ella, get the order together, they'll lead the march. Orieus, start training them hard. I plan to bring the whole army back."
"Yes, sire," Oreius saluted and left. Edmund too went off the start his letters.
"You're doing the right thing," Ella told Peter.
"I just want my people to be safe," Peter told her. She nodded and gave him a kiss on the check.
"I better go tell the girls," she told him.
"They'll hate you for ruining their homecoming," he joked.
"It's not the first time this has happened," she replied backing out of the room. When she was out of sight, Peter shook his head. It hadn't even been five years since the Battle and now they were heading into another one. He couldn't believe it.
March 2nd
"Please come back to us," Susan whispered as we got on the horses.
"You don't all have to go," Lucy pleaded.
"My dearest sisters, this is apart of our duties, you know that as well as we do," Edmund pointed out.
"Yes, but you know what they're like brother mine, dangerous, vulgar. The thought of losing you is unbearble," Susan replied.
"Well don't think that way, and we'll be back in a short time," Peter said kissing both his sisters.
"Three months is hardly a short time," Lucy whined.
"It may be less if we win tremendously," Ella said hugging the girls who were staying behind.
"Then win, and come home safely. All of you," Ilana said.
"We'll do our best," Pessia said, jumping onto her horse.
Oreius cantered up, "The army is ready behind the order. I suggest we make a move."
"Alright, we better go you two," Ella told her accompanying sisters. They nodded and the said their last goodbyes and made their way to the front of the pack were the order was.
"We love you," Susan called out as her brothers left too, to led the army.
At the sounding of the horn, the entire army started their march. The journey would be a long one. They had to make their way to the safest village yet, Umira. The one of the only villages to not yet be burned or destroyed. It took about two weeks.
March 16th
When they finally got there, it was thick with smoke. They'd ridden there hardest to avoid being late to defend it, yet it was in vain. The army went silent. The girls dismounted their horses as did the Kings.
"Forward," Ella broke the silence. "Search for survivors." The army dispersed. The men who had come from here to serve hurriedly ran to what was left of their houses. Pessia's heart broke for them as they broke down only finding rubbled and burned remains. The fountain in the middle of the town was broken, spurting up red water.
Ella was searching a seemingly unharmed outhouse when she heard voice from inside. She drew her sword and kicked open the door. To reveal four small children and one baby. They were covered in sut, tear streaks down their poor faces.
"It's okay, you're safe now." They ran to her, throwing their arms around her, sobbing. "We're going to keep you safe, okay."
"What about our mum?" asked the only boy. Ella didn't know what to say. How did you tell a child their parents had died?
That's when the oldest one spoke, "She's with Aslan now Lief, they're safe too." She'd had more courage than Ella.
"What are your names?" Ella managed to asked.
"I'm Thea, my sisters Hebe and Cassa, my brother Leif and our baby brother Eetha, he was born a few days ago. Not even our father has seen him yet."
"Well I'm Princess Ariella, and I'm going to make sure you all stay together at Cair Paravel, would you like that?". They nodded their heads. Ella took Eetha from Thea and she held the hand of Leif whilst Thea took the hands of Hebe and Cassa.
"Peter," Ella called out. Peter saw her and ran over. "Get them to the Cair."
"Mr. Tumnus!" Peter called as he knelt down to the children to check for wounds.
"Thea!" a mans voice called out. Tumnus ran over and so did another man.
"Father!" Thea cheered.
"Thank Aslan," Peter mumbled, thankful the children hadn't lost both parents.
"You're all okay!" the man smiled as his children hugged him.
"Dad, Dad the baby," Leif told him. Ella handed the man his fifth child, and he started to cry. His wife had given him so much and it hurt him to know he couldn't even protect her.
"Tumnus, get them back to the Cair," Ella told him. He nodded.
"Sir, I think it's time you and your family made their way back to Cair Paravel. They'll ake care of you." He led them away, on borrowed horses. At least some townspeople were safe.
"This is my fault," Peter berated himself.
"You didn't know this was to happen," Ella told him.
"I delayed our departure though. If we'd come a week earlier that man would still have his family. His whole family," Peter said sitting on the fountain lip.
"Peter, look around you. No one could've stopped this, if we were hear we might've been dead now too."
"No survivors," Pessia said solemnly walking up to them.
"Five," Peter told her. Pessia shot Ella a strange look.
"Children," she finished. Pessia nodded.
"Peter, the men, we need to rally them," Edmund said walking over, Liora not far behind.
"Most of our men where from here," Liora pointed out. Peter nodded, standing up to face his army. The rest of them turned as well.
"My dearest people of Narnia. Today, we have come too late to save our wives, our mothers, daughters, nieces, aunties and our sons. We have come too late to stop the tribes of the Wild Lands and the remaining Witches supporters. However, tomorrow, we will march upon them and take them away from the beloved land of ours, for our dearest, lost, loved ones. No revenge will ever fill the hole we feel in our hearts, yet the knowledge that many more will be safe will. So today, I promise you, that I, my brother and the Lioness' will be besides you helping save the rest of Narnia. Today and forever more!"
The men cheered despite the bloodshed that surrounded them. They cried out of pain, and revenge, of happiness knowing their loved ones were with Aslan now. This was to date, their biggest war yet.
March 17th
Oreius approached the royals early the next morning. Baring the news they needed.
"They know we're here," he said.
"Good," Peter said pacing around the tent.
"The plan?" Pessia asked.
"The order will march out in the clearing a few miles out," Edmund started.
"And the army will be in amongst the trees, ready to attack when they're close enough," Ella finished.
"So the order is the bait?" Liora asked.
"Yes, but you're the best fighters in Narnia, you and your men will be able to hold your own until the horn sounds," Peter pointed out.
"Shall we get the army ready them?" Oreius asked.
"Ready them for half an hour departure. No doubt those men of Umira and already to go," Peter instructed. Oreius nodded and headed out of the tent. Edmund too left, holding the flap open for Pessia and Liora. Ella however stayed with Peter.
"This doesn't feel any different from the Battle of Beruna," she told him, eyes sweeping over his bare back and he struggled to get his undershirt on. She walked over and undid the knots up the top so his head would fit through.
"Thanks," he said. She leaned against the table that held his uniform and passed him his items of clothing. "Its war, it feels all the same."
"Not always," Ella told him.
"You're nervous?" asked Peter slightly surprised.
"I feel like I have more to lose now," Ella told him.
"And you didn't last time?" he asked concerned and confused.
"Last time if we lost, it was a certain death and Narnia would remain the same. This time, we lose, it equals chaos, the loss of a peaceful Narnia, the loss of peoples happiness, the loss of my family," she pointed out.
"El," Peter stood up from leaning on the table next to her. He came round to face her and took her face in his hands. "If we lose, we fight harder next time, I'll never let harm come to you, the family or our people. We're stronger than them. Plus, Aslan is on our side."
"Okay," she nodded.
"Okay?" he asked smiling softly.
"Yes," she replied.
"Good," he said before kissing her. She gripped onto his chain mail tightly, treating it as their last kiss but hoping it wasn't. "Now you better get ready."
"Stay close," Ella instructed the order as they marched out into the clearing. They all couldn't see past the hill and knew the tribes would come over shortly.
They heard a foreign cry in the distance and then a hundred twangs. Liora looked to the sky.
"Incoming arrows," she bellowed.
"Shields up!" Liora ordered. The rest of the order put up their shields. The metal arrows heads either bounced off or pierced the shield slightly, but no one was injured.
"Brace yourselves!" Ella yelled as she saw the tribesmen running towards them, spears and swords drawn to fight.
"We better pray this plan works!" Pessia yelled drawing her sword. The men got closer, their yells may have been in a different language but knew they'd be the same if it were Ella yelling the orders.
The first spear was thrown and Ella ran forward, "NOW!". The order surged forward no matter how out numbered, the fought until all the tribes people were in the clearing.
"Where is Peter?" Liora groaned and she cut down another man.
"Behind you!" Pessia screamed.
"What?" Liora asked, she turned around, "Peter?". Ella ran forward in lioness form, tackling and tearing the tribesman about to kill her sister.
"Thanks," she breathed out, refocusing and turning to the man next to her. He strung his bow but Liora grabbed it, twisted it and moved around until the mans arms were twisted behind his back. Pessia finished him off.
Ella phased back into a human and picked up a second sword. She always liked fighting like this, it was better for offense.
"Peter, where are you?" she gritted and she disarmed a man and struck him dead. Just as if he'd heard her, the rest of the army came out of trees and began their assault.
Liora caught sight of Edmund and made her way over to him, fighting back to back like a well oiled machine. When he ducked he attacked and when he seemed beat, she'd come to his rescue. Pessia, chose to fight alone. Taking on three men at a time, cutting them down to droves no matter how many cuts she got from there hopeless attempts to kill her.
Peter was a target as High King. He'd forgone his normal helmet for his gold one, taunting the tribesmen. It was a symbol and he'd been bombarded with spears and swords. Ella fought near him, just so she could intervene if it comes to a bad situation.
She gave in however, and dove in to help him.
"About time," he grunted as he kicked a man away after turning his own arrow onto him.
"I thought you had it under control?" Ella told him, ducking and side sweeping another man.
"Help is always nice," he said as they turned back to back. He grabbed her arms and flipped her over bringing her feet down to kick his opponents head. He was out cold. They faced each other, Ella shaking her head before she reached for her dagger and threw it to a tribesman making his way upon Peter.
Peter's small smirk dropped as he caught a sight in the distance. Ella turned, still trying to fight off the men around her.
"Edmund!" he yelled. His sword went flying as he drove through the men surrounding him. I followed, hot in pursuit. Something was wrong I could feel it.
"Get him out of here! Now!" Peter screamed to two Narnia men. They hurriedly put his arms around their shoulders and dragged him off.
"Fall back?" asked a man further down.
"Fall back!" someone else called.
"What are they doing?" Peter asked as some men followed the wounded Edmund.
"They think it's a fall back!" I yelled in disbelief. However, she looked around. A lot more Narnians were dead then they'd anticipated. Peter had seemed to see the same sight. A fall back didn't seem so bad now.
"Fall back!" he yelled.
"Fall back!" I called out.
"Ella!" Liora called out dragging Pessia along with her. Fighting on her own seemed to take a toll on her. She had a long gash on the side of her body.
"Get her out of here," I told her as I ran over.
"Aren't you coming?" she asked as I turned around. Peter was still out there and so were some of our men.
"Peter," I told her.
"Hurry up!" she yelled back. The battle seemed to be going well, however in a matter of minute it turned to hell. It had started to rain to, the ground below slowly turning into mud. Ella slipped and fell landing on something hard. She looked down to see a golden helmet. Peter's golden helmet.
She looked up to see Peter and two other men being dragged off by the tribesmen. She drew her swords.
"Peter!" her cries alerted the tribesmen and they came for her. She could hardly see through the rain and mud covering her. It was a torrential downpour in a matter of minutes. The men brandished knives and swords.
Ella turned in a full circle, swords flying, she had basically sliced a man in half and injured another. She moved forward, taking on two at a time, her swords flying like daggers. She ran forward, faster until she was grabbed by the hair. She cried in pain as she was pulled back, a dagger to her neck. She cried out, for someone, anyone. This was it, she knew it.
Then a man, with a painted face and elaborate head dress stood forward and spoke. She still struggled, however the man holding her dropped he dagger and instead knocked her out. It was days before she woke again.
April 4th
"They're back!" Lucy screamed happily. She bolted down the stairs. They must've won, she thought. Ella had said they'd be back if they won tremendously. She pushed the front doors open, expecting to here a fanfar of victory. Both their was silence. The faces of the soldiers were covered in mood and blood, finished off with frowns.
Susan joined her, bringing the banners, wearing a great smile, but dismissed them when she noticed the grimness of the men.
"Where are they?" Susan asked Lucy. Lucy shrugged.
"Peter? Peter!?" she yelled.
"Edmund! Ed!" Susan started. The pushed through the ranks to find them, but were stopped by Liora. She too looked like death had knocked on her door.
"What happened?" asked Susan taking the lioness in.
"I don't even know," Liora said harshly. "All I know is that Edmund and Pessia are wounded, badly."
"And Peter and Ella?" Lucy asked, searching the red heads eyes for some clues.
Liora looked down to the bulging bag beside her. She opened it and pulled out Peter's gold helmet that she found when they went to search for them after they realised they hadn't returned.
"They're dead?" asked Susan, her voice racked with sobs.
"We can only assume so," Liora said, a tear falling from her eye at the thought of another sister gone. Susan fell to her knees in front of the whole army. Not caring about her royal position anymore. Lucy howled like a wolf in the night. Her tears shook her body. The army gravley began to sing. They began to sing the song that Narnians before them had sung when they'd lost Kings and Queens before their own.
June 11th
Neither of them knew how long they'd been captives for. If felt like years but they could only guess it'd been months.
Peter had yet again been taken for a questioning and Ella was left to potter around their small hut.
"Where is the King?" the translator asked Peter. He closed his eyes. Ella had told him not to give away his true identity. Who knew what they wanted with him.
"I don't know! He's probably still alive," he told them for the hundredth time.
"Why would he leave his general out here then?"
"Who said she was the general?" Peter asked back. The chief, Nagil, looked to the translator to tell him what Peter had just said but he didn't relay.
"Just answer or we'll both die," he pleaded.
"He probably thinks she is dead too," Peter obliged. The chief rolled his eyes at this and spoke.
"What did he say?" Peter asked.
"They're bringing the girl in. He believes it's time to torture her." The translator, Jeru was a good man. He too was a Narnian, however, he married a tribeswoman and when the withces supporters came, the tribe went corrupt.
"No, not Ella! Do not hurt her!" he pleaded. The chief took note of his aggression to stop them from getting to Ella. He spoke to Jeru and the mans face dropped.
"He says, he knows you know something. He knows the King is blonde as are you. He knows the man who wore the golden helmet has blue eyes too. He knows that this isn't coincidence that you too have a fascination with the General Ariella. He believes the more they hurt her, the faster you'll speak."
Peter froze, he was such an idiot. They began to whip him but all he could think of was Ella. In a matter of minutes Ella was bought in. The men pushed her hard into the wall and she bounced off it falling the the floor.
"No! Stop!" Peter yelled. He was dripping with blood and rolling in pain. Yet he had the strength to save her.
"Peter, quiet. It'll get worse if you keep protesting." Peter shut his mouth as he watched various men undress her.
"Don't touch me!" Ella yelled. "Get your hands off me!" she continued. But they smacked her every time she moved or yelled. So she gave up, lying there as they stripped her bare. Peter looked away, as if to save her modesty.
"Peter," she sobbed. He turned around, she was on the floor, back facing them whilst they readied the whip. The chief spoke and Jeru translated.
"Are you the king?" Jeru asked. Peter looked to Ella. He knew Nagil, knew who he was. He knew if he'd lie they'd whip her. Ella shook her head: Don't tell them.
"No," he muttered. Jeru told Nagil and he smirked. He nodded to the guard and the guard whipped her twice, drawing blood. She screamed out and Peter flinched. Her naked body balled up as if to protect her.
"Where is the King?" Jeru asked.
"In Narnia," Peter spat. Ella was sobbing violently, the pain and embarrassment of being naked took over her body.
"Argh! Aslan please!" she screamed out. This time they whipped her three times, on new skin and the torn skin.
"Please just stop," Peter pleaded. They whipped her again at Peter's outburst. He began to tear up. He couldn't help her. The men holding him pulled him back tightly every time he had tried to.
Nagil spoke and instructed Jeru to get a stoke out of the nearby fire. He walked over to Peter with the burning hot instrument.
"He wants you to mark her."
"What?" Peter asked. He was not doing this.
"He wants you to write your name upon her skin so she'll always remember the weakling who let her be tortured."
"Ella, please, let me tell them," he begged her.
"No! We will not be victims of them!" she screamed.
"Look around El! We already are!" Peter pleaded. He couldn't do this. She was already red raw and bleeding.
"Do it!" she sobbed. Peter had no other choice. He crawled over to her, the stoke still glowing orange.
Nagil spoke and Jeru told Peter, "He wants you to write your real name."
"Ella," Peter started.
"Do it," she said sternly. He bent over her to reach her right shoulder. A tear fell from his eye on to her broken and bleeding body. He pressed the stoke against her skin, making a line of burnt flesh. She screamed and howled, but stopped herself knowing Peter would never continue. Nagil smiled seeing the letter Peter continued to draw, making a loop. 'P' was now forever etched onto Ella's body.
Ella's whimpers grew, her body shaking and Peter had had it. Instead of writing the next letter, he swing the spoke around, stabbing one guard and then taking it out to get Nagil in the leg. What happened next, neither of them knew.
July 16th
"Susan?" Odel asked knocking on her door. She stopped sniffing and wiped her eyes.
"Come in," she said as cheerily as she could. It'd been at least two or three months since they'd lost Peter and Ella. She still hadn't recovered.
"Hey, I thought I'd stay for the week instead for the day," Odel said sitting beside her.
"How wonderful," she smiled.
"You don't have to do that around me," Odel told her.
"Do what? Talk?" she tried to laugh.
"Pretend you're okay," he said stroking her cheek. Her fake smile dropped and she fiddled with her hands.
"I'm a Queen, I have to be strong for my people."
"Not in private, with your boyfriend," he pointed out.
"I don't want you to see me as weak," she told him.
"Weak? Su, I believe you are anything but weak. You're now ruling a country without your High King and your General. You've taken on Peter's role whilst keeping your own. You're strong, not weak," he told her.
"I don't know if I can do this for much longer by myself," she told him, her lip starting to tremble.
"Well, you won't have to," Odel told her.
"What?" she asked confused.
"I see you doing all these things by yourself. Lucy's to young, Edmund's too distraught and still recovering. And I know you need me to help you, but you just don't ask."
"Because you have your own worries," she told him.
"Susan, I love you. Your worries are my worries and I am willing to stand by your side while you rule Narnia. My brothers can fight over the Galman throne."
"What are you saying" she asked him.
"Susan, will you marry me?" he asked her. She didn't even need to think, the word just tumbled out.
"Yes."
August 1st
"Jeru, you must promise me if you do this you won't be punished."
"I can't promise anything," he told Peter. Ella was sleeping, her bandages had just been changed and she was still in pain from her healing wounds.
"Take this letter to Cair Paravel and tell them it's from Peter, they'll let you in if you show them my penmanship," he said.
"Of course."
"Now be safe, save yourself before us, in all matters okay?" Peter asked.
"You're the King," he objected.
"Yes, but you're the man who has saved us so far. It's the only thing I have to repay you," Peter told him. Jeru nodded understandingly, drew his hood and stole away into the night.
Peter turned around and sighed. Jeru was their only hope, until then they had to bide their time. Peter walked over to the bed Ella and he shared and drew the covers over her bandaged body. They'd been through the worst together and it was times like these he truly understood his feelings for her.
"Peter," she mumbled.
"Yes?" he answered her.
"Will we die here?" she asked. She often did when they were alone.
"El, I told you I'd never let anything happen to you," he whispered to her. She rolled over, reminding him offhandedly about the times he couldn't save her.
"Can you come to bed then?" she asked.
"Of course," he said. He drew the covers and got into bed. He pulled them over himself and Ella and wrapped his arms around her, careful not to reopen any of her wounds. He never thought he'd lie with a girl before his was married, or feel a womans bare body next to him. But here he was and it was nothing like he'd ever imagined.
September 2nd
The guards rushed Jeru to the royals. They were sitting in the library. Today it was Edmund's birthday, but he didn't feel like celebrating. He still hadn't forgiven himself for letting Peter die.
"Oreius," Pessia greeted him.
"Your majesties, this is Jeru," he said.
"Hello," the chorused.
"He has some good news," Oreius told them.
"I doubt it," Edmund muttered.
"What is it?" Susan asked politely.
"I bring a letter from your brother and general," Jeru told them. Edmund rushed to him and ripped the letter out of his hands. He opened it right away whilst the others looked on with anticipation.
"We're alive. They've kept us captive. Come quick dearest family. Peter," Edmund read out.
"They're alive!" Ilana exclaimed. They didn't know whether to cry or laugh, so instead they sat, letting it sink in.
September 26th
"These damned bandages!" Ella complained as she scratched. They were itchy and binding. She could hardly move or breath.
"They'll be off soon," Peter told her. He was trying to make food for them both for dinner, out of whatever the tribesmen had given them.
"Get them off now," Ella pleaded.
"If they see you've healed, they'll start hurting you again. I don't want that to happen," Peter told her again. Ella rolled her eyes.
"Peter, they can't possibly hurt me more than they have," she told them. She began to search for a way to take them off. Peter sympathised, he too had felt the uncomfortableness of the bandages.
"Come here," he said. Ella walked over to him slowly and took a seat on the floor. He knelt down and fiddled around for the tie. He was well aware she had no other clothes than the ones they'd ripped off her. But he had another shirt, so that would have to do. He finally untied the know and began unwrapping, layer by layer. Each time he unwound a bit more skin would be seen and he couldn't help but look away. This wasn't proper.
Once he was finished she stayed there not bothering to cover up. He looked at her back, hardly a scare beside the 'P' he'd been forced to mark upon her. He ran his fingers of it and she shivered.
"Ella, I-I'm sorry," he said.
"I told you to do it. Don't be sorry," she replied softly. Instead of moving to get her the shirt, he sat behind her pushing her long, brown curls over her shoulder. Her body was glowing from the light of the fire.
"I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you," he told her. She shook her head. He leaned towards her and placed a trail of kisses along the back of her neck, "I promise."
Ella turned around, facing him. He took her in. She was beautiful. She pulled him close and kissed him. He felt her through his shirt and grabbed her harder. She pulled back, taking his shirt off and threw it aside. They were now skin on skin and Peter shivered at her touch. He moved his kisses from her mouth down her body.
He collected her body and picked her up, taking them to the bed. He laid her down and smiled. He knew it was only going to happen because of the circumstances they were in, but he didn't care. He knew he loved her, even if he hadn't told her. She too didn't care. No one would know and she wanted to show Peter her love for him.
She pulled him down to kiss her and opened her legs for him. He rested down and she smiled as she felt him between her legs. His hands roamed her body before they undressed her and himself. He kissed her thoroughly and passionately and when they were finally one she couldn't help but moan in pleasure.
When the deed was done, they laid there, perfectly content at where they were and who they were with. For just a moment, Ella forgot all the rules and Peter forgot they were captives or what he'd just done was no way for a young man to act. However, he put it down to love. Ella, too put her actions down to love. Nothing mattered in that moment, in their own little world.