Note: So sorry for the wait! Document Manager wasn't working yesterday for some reason, and I couldn't get the chapter uploaded. Very annoying. But, as a result, I will be posting both yesterday's chapter and today's chapter today, and then everything will be back on schedule. Actually, this might even work out better, because chapter 21 is really quite short.

Chapter 21


The blood did not wash off easily. Peter scrubbed his hands until their redness was from the rough cloth and warm water, and not from holding in his brother's life. Finally, they were as clean as Peter could get them; even though he could still see the blood in his mind's eye, seeping through his fingers – mocking him for his failure as king and brother.

Peter's hands were barely dry when he caught sight of a rather harried-looking Caspian passing by the room he was in. "Caspian!" Peter saw a look of irritation cross the young king's face, which turned quickly to repentance. The High King drew up to Caspian. "I…I was wondering…" Oh, it was still hard to admit his failing and lack of knowledge! "Edmund mentioned someone named Hwella?"

It was not much of a question, but Caspian understood. "Hwella is a descendent of Edmund's friend, Philip. She treats her position as a Kingbearer with the utmost seriousness." Caspian laughed slightly. "She does not take Edmund being injured very well. I only just managed to convince her not to gallop in and disturb his rest."

Peter held back a sigh. How much had he missed by being so absorbed in himself? A descendent of Philip, Edmund's most loyal friend…He should have known. He should have known she existed, maybe used that friendship, as he had Philip's, to take care of Edmund, keep him out of trouble, away from danger.

"Peter?"

Caspian's voice brought him out of his contemplation. Peter shook his head, forcing his thoughts to move on. "We never finished our conversation from before," he commented, changing the subject. Caspian grimaced and did not quite meet Peter's eyes. Peter wondered if the other boy thought the High King would begin listing his faults or something. That was not his intent. "I think we can admit that we both made mistakes. I was hoping that we might…start over?"

"Start over?"

Peter winced at Caspian's confusion. He hated doing this sort of thing. "What I mean is: we can't change what happened. But maybe, we can move on from here and not dwell on it. Focus on what we need to do now."

Understanding dawned on Caspian and he gave a small smile. "Doctor Cornelius said something similar. I…That sounds like a good idea."

Peter nodded and the two kings stood awkwardly in the hall for a moment before Caspian excused himself and they separated. With a sigh, Peter turned and walked down the tunnel. Now he needed to do something even harder: apologize to his sisters.

~*~

It was both easier and harder than Peter expected. He had barely begun apologizing before Lucy was hugging him, assuring him that all was forgiven. It almost hurt to see the similarity between how Lucy so happily forgave him and how she had done the same with Edmund when he had first returned from the White Witch all those years ago. Still, Peter should not have been surprised that Lucy forgave so easily: it was not in her nature to hold grudges.

The same could, unfortunately, not be said about Susan. She remained silent as Peter apologized, confessing each of his mistakes and asking forgiveness. After he finished, Peter averted his eyes from Susan's cold gaze; in her words she absolved him, but he knew she was still struggling to forgive him in her heart. As they parted, Peter could only hope that Susan's gentle nature would help her overcome her anger at his prideful actions.

Peter spent the rest of the day helping the wounded and grieving Narnians, and organizing the scouts to look for signs of Telmarines reprisals. He did not let himself sulk anymore. Instead, he worked to humble himself, think of others instead of his own problems and faults. Later. Later he would repent and submit to Aslan's justice; whether before the Lion himself or before his Just King.

Night fell quickly. When he reached his room, Peter was glad to see Edmund was still fast asleep, sedated by the healing power of the fireflower cordial. Caspian, who was also readying for bed, was not so happy. "I was hoping…" Peter easily finished the dejected whisper. I was hoping Edmund would be awake. I was hoping I could apologize.

The High King tried to give him a reassuring smile. "We have tomorrow." The assurance seemed to work and the two older kings remained silent as they finished readying for sleep. With torches extinguished, Peter listened as Caspian's breathing evened out. He wrestled his own thoughts behind mental shields, attempting to quiet his mind. Eventually he was successful; but as he drifted off, Peter could not help the grateful thought that escaped: Thank Aslan that we still have tomorrow.

~*~

Morning came too fast. Peter did not exactly feel ready to face daylight, face his family and the Narnians after sleep had worn away the shock of the previous day. But he had to organize more defensive plans, and Peter could not leave Caspian to deal with everything alone. If anything, they needed to present a united front for the Narnians, especially with Edmund recovering from his injuries and not able to provide a cover of unity for them as he had been doing before. So Peter left a still-sleeping Edmund in the room and braced himself to face the day.

He kept busy. If the Telmarines were smart, they would hit back immediately. Without very many options left to them, the Narnians began preparing for a siege. It did not give Peter any joy as he saw Caspian begin to realize just why they had rejected the idea of a defensive battle before: The How would start crumbling the moment the Telmarine siege weapons began hitting it. There was not a large enough water supply within the How for all the Narnians. They barely had enough food for the present, let alone the future. Deep down, Peter knew they would have to meet the Telmarines in pitched battle: better to die with sword in hand than beneath falling rock and hunger.

Nor did he have much time to find a different plan. By mid-day, one of the scouts, a Robin, returned. He brought news that, despite previous Narnian sabotage, the Beruna bridge was finished. The Telmarine army would reach the How by the next morning.

Peter managed to keep his facial expression calm at the news. He turned to Caspian, who had been helping him move the food supplies deeper into the How. "Will you please get Edmund? Hopefully he's fully recovered by now." Caspian nodded, giving Peter a thankful smile. There would be little time to talk personally now, so Caspian was grateful to have even a few moments to apologize to Edmund for his actions.

While Caspian left to wake Edmund, Peter himself went to find his sisters, his face grim but determined. They had a battle to plan.