Chapter 21

The resolution to a war is never easy. Sophia had not had enough experience with war to have a full understanding of what it entailed exactly, but she knew enough from what she saw now. The Calormene soldiers that had dropped their swords not ten minutes earlier were now being herded into one tight group of men; bereft of weapons.

Some tried to have their hand with a rebellion, but the attempts were silenced the moment the men got a glimpse of Aslan, strolling through the ranks with Caspian and Susan at his side. The three seemed to give off an aura of foreboding, or diplomacy and that they were not to be trifled with. All attempts at rebellion were not even thought about after that.

After the soldiers had dropped their weapons and surrendered, Peter had appeared at the site, with Alena holding on tightly to his arm. Peter looked slightly shaky and pale, but he had a wide smile on his face at having Alena back. She clutched his arm tightly, with her knuckles turned white. She also seemed to tremble on her feet. She couldn't stand straight, and her legs seemed like they couldn't bear her weight.

She leaned heavily against Peter, whilst the man himself seemed on cloud nine. Every now and then, he would whisper something in her ear, to which she would smile. He gallantly supported her as she trembled, even offering once or twice to carry her in his arms in absolute need be. Sophia watched their exchanges with a smile. To see her friend so at peace and happy made her feel the same.

Sophia walked over to Peter, hating herself for interrupting the moment between him and Alena. "Samuel?" She inquired. Peter shook his head ruefully. "I didn't see him. I hope he lives." He said. Sophia returned his words with a nod, before turning and walking to the edge of the valley, looking into the mass of soldiers.

"You ought to go to the camp. Lucy will give Alena some of her cordial." Sophia instructed, not looking at Peter and Alena but addressing him from where she stood, overlooking the soldiers that were gradually surrendering their weapons. Her mind was elsewhere.

Samuel. She hoped he was alive indeed. She wished her cousin had somehow escaped all of the fighting. He wasn't strong like the rest of his family. Samuel spent his time with the horses in the stables. He wasn't used to the brutal fatality of war and battle. Sophia hoped that among all of this he had found a way out alive.

Daniil materialised beside her. His eyes were weary and weathered. Sophia wondered why he had taken the course of action he had, deliberately standing up to Aspar and going against his older brother's visions for the future. In a sense, he had instigated the contact that killed Aspar. Sophia was grateful to him, if not a tad aware of any, if any, betrayal he would commit.

She turned around to face him. She frowned. "What have you done, Daniil?" She asked tiredly, her voice straining with fatigue. Daniil shook his head and looked away. "I do not know, cousin. I wasn't thinking when I acted. I only knew that Aspar was wrong, and had been wrong all along." He answered, straining against the tiredness that threatened to take him.

Edmund had been talking with Peter and Caspian, and spotted Sophia and Daniil talking together. His eyes narrowed, and he excused himself before walking over and taking Sophia's hand. She gave him a grateful smile. Together they turned to back to Daniil.

He smiled grimly. "What happens to me, once we get back?" He asked wearily. Sophia shook her head. "I don't know. Caspian hasn't told me." She replied. Daniil scoffed. "And he tells you everything, doesn't he?" He asked. Sophia stiffened beneath the hand Edmund had placed on her lower back. "Well, not everyth…"

"STOP LYING TO ME!" Daniil thundered, before being stopped by the tip of Edmund's blade, poised at his throat. In a flash, at his eruption Edmund had pulled it out and held it in front of him, ready. Sophia had staggered back, and paled significantly. Edmund's eyes had gone cold with a weathered type of expectancy. Daniil leaned back.

"I'm sorry, that was mean. I just wanted to see what you would do." He explained, his tone softer. Edmund lowered his sword, but did not sheath it. Sophia's eyes became hard. "Did you know of the plot? What Aspar told me?" She asked coldly. Daniil's jaw set. "Yes, I had known. Ardu swore me to secrecy. Aspar broke that oath when he told you." He answered.

Edmund's face went cold. "What did it entail?" He asked. Daniil's eyes settled on Edmund. "Sophia was always Ardu's heir by birth. As she got older, Ardu and his wife tried many more times for a son. They only stopped after Garvin was born and his mother died in childbirth. Ardu wanted so desperately to have a son on the throne, instead of his daughter." He took a breath, and continued.

"So when his wife could bear him no more sons, Ardu brought forward a plan. He had seen how his daughter bore a love for battle and war. Ardu had her trained so she could become a war machine in service to him; completely susceptible to his will. But Sophia had a will of her own. She thought rebellious thoughts, and thus wasn't able to become Ardu's assassin."

"So, Ardu brought forward a plan. Now, he would break her will every few days at a time. I'm sure you know of this. But against all odds, Sophia endured. Her will stayed strong. Ardu discovered that perhaps this new method wouldn't work. So, he proposed a something new. Aspar would become his chosen successor, and Sophia would be terminated. She had already been allowed to live for too long. She was a nuisance and was to be killed. Before Ardu's men got the chance, however, she fled, and all of this began." Daniil finished.

Sophia sighed and turned away. Edmund squeezed her hand in reassurance. "Come on." He said curtly, and prodded Daniil's back with the tip of his sword. Daniil walked out in front of them as they made their way through the ranks of Calormene soldiers that had been created in front of the Narnian camp, where they could all be seen.

It was obvious that the Narnian monarchy didn't trust Daniil. Although they had been watching when he betrayed his brother and uncle, the action was so sudden and surprising that the Narnians wondered whether the same would happen to them. It was justifiable, really. Daniil could understand why they were acting in the way they were.

Susan and Caspian were already reunited. As the heat of the battle died down, with Aslan overlooking the surrender of the Calormene soldiers, they met again. They had been standing metres from each other when Daniil betrayed Aspar, but the intensity of the moment meant that they couldn't bear to look away.

Now, Susan turned ever so slowly, and released a pent up breath. She looked at Caspian as though through new eyes. He, too, had turned towards her. A tiny tear at seeing him unscathed fell from her eye and dripped onto her cheek.

The next second, she was running towards him, with her battle skirts swirling around her legs. Caspian had sheathed his sword and was running towards her. Like in a film they met in the middle. With a great deal of momentum Susan crashed into Caspian's chest and his arms moved of their own accord to clasp themselves around her waist.

Susan let out a merry laugh before Caspian leant down and quieted it with a kiss. Susan responded in a slow manner, not willing to take it further. She just needed to reassure herself that Caspian was holding her, and that he was relatively unscathed; but alive. Caspian saw her need and slowed the kiss down, until finally pulling away.

He looked down at her with sparkling eyes full of gentle love and happiness that she was entirely unhurt. Susan hadn't once been hurt. The rest of her archers were still alive, and no one was injured. It was a completely successful campaign in that respect. The silver that was laced in Susan's blue eyes shone with happiness and mirth.

Her hands roamed over Caspian's broad back, inspecting for any injuries that might have been there. Caspian moved away from her to clasp her hands in his, and he leant forward so that their foreheads met. "You are unhurt?" he asked. Susan nodded with a smile. Caspian mirrored it, and Susan's heart did a little flip.

"Are you?" She asked moments later, concern etched onto her face. Caspian's deep brown eyes flitted away. Susan frowned. She looked Caspian over, and was horrified to see a cut of moderate length on the upside of his shin. His boot would have stopped it, but the piece of footwear was shredded beyond recognition.

She kneeled down and inspected it. Her fingertips skimmed over the abused skin and Caspian hissed out in pain. Susan rose and her frown deepened. "You need to rest. You're beyond exhausted." She said. Caspian shook his head. "Not before you rest." He replied stubbornly. Susan rolled her eyes. Even when he was white from blood loss, he still persisted in her safety. If it wasn't terribly chivalrous, it was foolish.

She took his hand and squeezed it. Caspian responded with a chaste kiss on her forehead. He walked with a limp, so Susan cast her arm around his side and helped him lean on her, and together they walked down the hill before meeting Aslan halfway down. The golden lion exchanged few words with them as they strode in between the ranks of the Calormene soldiers.

Behind them, Sophia, Edmund and Daniil, and Peter and Alena walked down the hill in groups of three and two respectively until they reached the camp.

They arrived in the camp only ten minutes later. Sophia and Edmund brought Daniil to where Ardu was held by some soldiers that had come to collect him. They tied his hands behind his back and made him lean against a wooden post. It wasn't humane what they were doing, but it was the only precaution they could take to ensure that Daniil didn't betray them.

Contrary to Ardu, who was screaming expletives at his guards, and tried desperately time and time again to remove the rope binding his wrists by ripping and pulling at the post, Daniil sat down on the ground and crossed his legs. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Next to him Ardu was still muttering and calling, before turning on his nephew.

He threw every expletive he knew at his younger nephew, blaming him for the death of Aspar, for Calormen's surrender and defeat and other, terrible things. The guards were slow to intervene. Daniil had his eyes screwed shut, shutting the tears that had risen out. The guards tore a swearing Ardu away from his nephew. Daniil gave them a grateful look.

Peter and Edmund arrived shortly after, and conversed quietly with Daniil. Alena was not with Peter, and Sophia not with Edmund. Alena was sitting the healing tent, being administered to by Lucy's group of healers. She had not yet been given a drop of cordial, because her body was so distressed after the events and being cooped up in the cage without proper sanitation, food and water.

She would have to lie flat on her back for a small amount of time, before trying to stomach some food, and perhaps even drink. If her body became stable after it, she would receive a drop of cordial. It was a long process and not entirely without pain, but it was necessary.

Sophia was with Alena in the healing tent, resting from the battle. Her limbs were weary and her eyelids were drooping. Edmund, being the incredibly attentive (And somewhat annoying) man he was, had told her to rest up in the healing tent. Unable to argue further, she had complied.

To her complete joy, she had found Samuel already there, resting on a brancard with Lucy tending to his injuries. There were smiles passed between the two before Sophia came over to lie beside him. He had escaped the battle on one of the horses that belonged to a fallen man, running around the outskirts when everyone was fighting. He had sought out the healing tent. Aspar hadn't let him off easy.

He had a large bruise spreading over the surface of his right hand, after Aspar had stomped on it. He had a deep cut above his eyebrow that was healing rapidly, thanks to Lucy's cordial. Samuel just embraced her with happiness.

Back at the posts, Peter gave Daniil a questioning look. The man nodded, and stood up. He brushed the dust off of his armour and allowed the guards to untie his wrists. He followed Peter through the crowd of Calormene soldiers that had gradually entered camp, kept in their groups. Aslan was nowhere to be found.

In the centre of the camp, surrounded by a large number of Calormene and Narnian soldiers, stood Caspian. He was not talking, but rather waiting for the talk to quiet down. When it finally did, Peter and Edmund joined him on his pedestal; the trunk of a fallen tree, and looked out over the soldiers. In the entrance to the healing tent, Lucy, Susan, Alena and Sophia looked on.

"Narnians, Calormenes!" Caspian called out over the murmuring men. The murmuring and muttering continued unabated, and Susan could see her brothers roll their eyes. The next moment they both stepped forward. "Narnians, Calormenes, friends, countrymen, lend me your ears!" Peter shouted, with Edmund yelling beside him.

The sounds died down and more than nine hundred heads turned to look at their leaders and defeaters. "Let us mourn." Caspian continued, sounding somewhat quieter but still being able to be heard. "Let us mourn for the blood-brothers and brothers and friends we have lost today. Let us mourn for the fathers, sons and brothers who will never return to their families again. Let us mourn for any who has fought, for I tell you, anyone who has fought against or beside me on this day is my brother. Let us mourn them and wish them eternal peace in Aslan's country." He said, ending the sentence on a soft note.

The soldiers repeated his words in a monotone sound, adding quiet prayers of their own for any who they had known to be dead. "Gentlemen, the war has finished for good. Never again will you have to lift a blade against another man, be they your brother or your friend or even your enemy. But things must be taken care of. General Aspar is dead. He was killed in a confrontation, with his nephew and his uncle, the king, present." Peter said. A few gasps rippled through the crowd of soldiers, but Peter continued.

"I am not sure that all of you knew, and I suspect not, but there was a plot against the Princess, Sophia. She was to be killed, and Aspar were to take her place. For this act of treason and treachery against the princess, a member of the monarchy, Ardu has been de-throned and his title taken away from him." Peter ended.

The crowd erupted in fits of outrage, but Susan saw a reason to Peter's actions. The Calormene army was completely at the mercy of the Narnians. In the case of rebellion, the army would find themselves dead within ten minutes. De-throning Ardu also ensured that the corrupt king wasn't at power anymore.

"Calormenes, Narnia will let you go. We are not a cruel people and we will let you travel back to your country and live in peace for the remainder of your lives. But Ardu will no longer be your king. Instead, Daniil will take his place. Daniil is a brave man, a gentle man and a king who will treat each of you with respect, and not as property." Peter finished, his words rendering the muttering and murmuring men to silence. When he finished, the soldiers again began to talk amongst themselves.

Ardu had been brought forward in the meantime, and he now kneeled in front of the kings that stood on the log, with his head bent. Seeing their king kneeling, open and vulnerable in front of the Narnian kings caused the soldiers to quiet down again. Men stood on other men's shoulders to be able to see. Men climbed fence-posts and trees to see the events unfold.

Edmund stepped forward. "Let it stand, Ardu Kingsson, that on this day, and from the days that will follow that you are no longer king of your country. The burden of the throne, the responsibility of the crown will fall on your nephew, Daniil, General of the left regiments. Do you stand as a testament of this decision? Do you testify?" Edmund demanded.

Ardu raised his head, and with a pained expression, and through gritted teeth he said, "Yes. I do testify." Edmund nodded with satisfaction. "Then stand aside and listen to your daughter." He said, before motioning Sophia up with a jerk of his head. Sophia, shocked, stumbled to the front and stood on top of the log.

This wasn't planned. Peter and Caspian traded looks of surprise and confusion. Nevertheless, Sophia still stood in front of over nine hundred soldiers, a mix of Calormene and Narnian men. She coughed to clear her throat and Edmund steadied her with a hand to her waist. She smiled gratefully. "Father, you and I have had our run-ins, haven't we?" She asked forlornly, looking down on the man with something alike to pitying smile.

"Father, the throne is no more a place for you. You are corrupt and decrepit. The monarchy is slowly descending into a pit of darkness, with nothing but selfish greed ahead of us. Look at the way you have treated Daniil. The way you have treated me. I was nothing but a nuisance, wasn't I?" She asked softly.

Ardu did not look up. Sophia gave another roiling cough and straightened. "Men, you are living witnesses today. Ardu, this is your sentence;" She said, and finally Ardu's head rose. She was slightly shocked to see nothing but pure hatred in the deep pools of brown. "You have been stripped of your title. You are no longer a king but a Lord, who lives humbly in the palace away from the monarchy." She said.

Ardu's eyes were speckled with slight desperation. Sophia deliberately avoided his gaze. "As for Savir, he will be relocated to the village, and he will live with infertile parents, just like you had sent Garvin away. Savir will live never knowing of his royal status. This is only as you have preordained it, father. That is all I say to you. Live humbly and peacefully, Lord. And may our paths never cross again." Sophia finished, before stepping off of the log and walking away.

She made it to the healing tent, where Alena, Lucy and Susan ran forward to hug her tightly. Tears had begun to fall from Sophia's eyes and they were soaked up by the girls' dresses. Edmund saw it happen and made a move to go to her, but Peter held him back. "This concerns her and the girls only. You would not understand." He said carefully.

Edmund eyed them but let it go. It was difficult for him to accept it, but he would have to cope. He was a king, after all.

As the afternoon progressed and the night drew near, the Narnians began to send the Calormenes on their way back home. Battle-weary, forlorn and with low spirits the men were quick to obey, and soon groups of men were leaving over the horizon. Peter had left a few generals in charge, and they directed the Calormenes on their way. Daniil had left in front, with Ardu trailing behind him.

The man was a mess. He had completely given up any hope of rebellion, and seemed to go along with what the Narnians had deemed. Surprisingly, none of the Calormene soldiers had committed an act against their Narnian defeaters. They just listened and obeyed.

Susan and Caspian watched as the soldiers vanished over the hills, leaning into one another with happy smiles. Comforting gestures passed between them. It wasn't long before Sophia, Edmund, Peter, Alena, Lucy and Samuel joined them. Samuel had decided that he wouldn't return to Calormen. There was nothing left for him there. He would live in Narnia with his cousin, happy and at peace.

They looked out over the horizon together, watching the soldiers disappear. A sudden warm presence startled all of them and they turned around simultaneously to face Aslan. The grandeur and majesty he emitted drove all of them to their knees and they kneeled in front of the Great Lion and bowed their heads.

Aslan's golden gaze swept over them. "Rise, Kings and Queens of Narnia." He said softly, and Susan, Caspian, Peter, Lucy and Edmund rose. Sophia, Samuel and Alena remained kneeling. Sophia had her sword drawn with the tip resting in the sand. Aslan walked out in front of her and placed a heavy paw on her right shoulder. Sophia winced slightly at the sudden weight.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the others looking on. Aslan removed his paw and sat. "Rise, Lady Sophia the Fearless, Knight of Narnia. For your reckless valour, your abominable honour and you determination and endurance I give this title to you. Bear it humbly. Narnia is blessed to have you, as I am I." He said, his voice heavy with deep compassion. Sophia slowly raised her head and stood. Her sword was still clasped in her hands. She stared out into the distance, trying not to let the gigantic smile stretch across her face.

Aslan smiled, and that did it. A giant grin formed on her face and set her cheeks alight in a fiery blush. "I thank you deeply, Aslan." She said, before bowing gallantly. Aslan nodded in response, mirroring her smile. The others closed in around her, saying their congratulations and hugging her.

Aslan looked on to the merry happenings, and knowing that they had deserved this, he turned away and prepared to slip quietly away into the night. "Kings, Queens, Knights, daughters and sons alike," He said, gaining their attention. "Today Narnia was shown a measure of complete bravery and selflessness. You stood tall in the face of death, and for that I commend you. This war will certainly never be forgotten. I give my blessings to your futures; all of them, and wherever they may lead you." Aslan said, and the Kings and Queens in front of him straightened.

Aslan smiled. "I must take my leave. Until next time, I bid you farewell." He said. Lucy wiped a tear away. She walked up to him and buried her hands and face in his mane. He stood and allowed her to pet him. "I shall miss you too, dear one." He whispered, nuzzling against her.

The others looked on with fond expressions, before joining in themselves. When it was finally time to go, they stood together and watched as Aslan disappeared into the twilight. Caspian and Susan watched until they could see him no more. Their hands were linked together and they smiled to each other.

Their love had endured two wars. Two corrupt kings and more than a thousand soldiers could not have torn them apart. They were the perfect testimony of perfect love that endured all obstacles thrown at them.

And as they turned and broke up camp, and afterwards trudged home in the dying light of the day, their hands remained linked. Aslan once again helped them cross forests and plains, and they were home just before the bell rang for the eleventh hour.

The soldiers were weary and tired. The moment they returned to the city, the army broke up. Clumps of soldiers left into the city to leave for their homes until finally the eight members of the Calormene and Narnian monarchy were left, looking up at Cair Paravel. The grand castle stood out in the blue-black sky, and the stars sparkled down on them.

They all retired together, in pairs, save for Lucy and Samuel. No one questioned a thing, because they were simply too tired to care.

It was needless to say that they all slept exceptionally well that night.

There you have it. Chapter 21. The resolution. That only leaves the wedding and the epilogue to be posted, and then the story is complete. Thank you guys again for all of the amazing reviews to this story. I really appreciate the input and the feedback!

Now, I am going to be away for approximately four days, and I don't know whether I will be able to type in that time. However, I will try my hardest to have the wedding posted around next week wednesday. I cannot make any promises though, but I hope you can support me through it.

Thanks again!

~SunsetWanderer

Chapter Question; What do you predict for the futures of all our characters?