A/N: The story is wrapping up, there will only be two chapters after this one. I want to thank all you guys for being so faithful, and just hold on a little more, the end is near! As always, reviews are very much appreciated.

Chapter Twenty-Two – Emotional Battle

The battle had been a lot of fun for Corin. Shasta was a really nice guy, and the pair got along beautifully. They had taken sticks and used them as swords in a pretend battle. Since Shasta didn't know anything about fighting, the "battle" soon turned into a seminar in which Corin taught Shasta the basics of swordplay. Meanwhile, the fisherman was napping in the next room.

After a while, Corin decided to ask, "So, why are you Calormens here?"

Shasta bit his lip. "Don't tell Father I said this… I overheard him talking to a man who was travelling throughout the country announcing the war. Father and the man agreed that the man would tell Father where the battle would take place so Father could go there and steal any valuables left behind afterwards by the Narnian soldiers or those who had been evacuated. To me, he made up another excuse, but he is just waiting for the battle to end to pick possessions off Narnian casualties."

"That's awful!" said Corin. "How can you stand to be with someone like that?"

"I can't. I don't like him at all, and even though he is my father, I want to get away from him."

"Well, then you must stay with me and my father in Archenland," said Corin.

At that moment, a soldier outside yelled Corin's name.

"What is it?" asked Corin, stepping out.

"Your Highness, your father is seriously injured. He may not live much longer. You must come and see him."

Corin turned white. He staggered toward the men, with Shasta behind him. The two boys climbed on behind other soldiers and were rushed to the camp. Shasta waited outside as Corin pushed open the tent flap and walked in.

The young Prince found not only Edmund but also Lucy on the ground, crying. Lucy stood up and went to hug Corin. Edmund was immersed in his own thoughts and didn't even register the new arrival.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Father… Father…" was all Corin could manage. He was unsuccessfully trying not to cry.

"It's okay. Let it out. It's normal to cry. And I'm here for you. So is Edmund. You are not alone."

Still saddened by the death of King Lune, the various monarchs discussed who to send to the conference. In the end, the following people went: Peter, Susan, Edmund, Lucy, Liam, General Lefman, and Jameesh (he was thrilled when Lucy went to see him and asked if he would help with the treaty). Corin had been offered a spot but he was unwilling to leave his father's side. Also, the group had decided to come with seven people, not eight, because, as Edmund put it, "One of these spots should belong to King Lune." Rabadash also accompanied them to be returned to his father.

As part of the treaty that was agreed upon, Narnia, Galma, and Archenland could all send five representatives to stay in Calormen and make sure no "suspicious activity" was taking place. This would continue for the extent of the Tisroc's reign. Rabadash and the Tisroc were not allowed to travel to any of the three nations. Calormen was given a maximum army and navy size, and each country could check that this was being enforced once a year. Calormen also had to pay reparations to the three countries, especially Archenland. Edmund would use the money to devise a new security system for the most important members of the country and to hire more advisors to help him in his work in Archenland. Lastly, Mr. Butler would be arrested for treason and imprisoned for life. The Tisroc reluctantly agreed to all this and left the meeting quite dejected.

Lucy saw how upset Edmund still was, so she came up to him and took his hand. "Come walk on the beach with me," she offered. He didn't reply, but he followed her. Lucy tried to make light conversation as they went, but eventually she quieted down when she realized her small talk was not improving Edmund's mood. Then the pair rounded a bend and Lucy noticed something odd.

"Why, Ed, look at this. It's a boat pulling up to shore."

Sure enough, there was a small merchant's ship anchored just off the coast, and a young girl was securing its bow line in the rocks. Edmund recognized her at once.

"Miss Butler!" he exclaimed.

Kiara turned and smiled when she saw him. "King Edmund!"

"What are you doing here?" he questioned, picking up the pace to approach her.

"Prince Corin left me, so I had to follow and make sure everything is okay," she answered.

Lucy caught up to Edmund and Kiara. "Hello, you must be Kiara."

"Oh," said Edmund. "Right. Lucy, meet Kiara Butler. Miss Butler, meet my sister Lucy."

"I've heard so much about you from Peter and King Edmund," said Kiara, shaking Lucy's hand.

"As have I. I'll tell Peter to come see you. He'll be delighted you're here." With that, Lucy ran off.

Edmund and Kiara looked at each other awkwardly. "So… we won the war," said Edmund. "You are free to marry Peter… if you chose to." He knew he had to deliver the news, but he couldn't help himself. He had to add the last part in a desperate attempt to find out if Kiara had the same feelings for him that he had for her.

She looked confused. "My father still hasn't agreed to it."

"Oh… maybe you should sit down. I have to tell you something." Edmund explained Mr. Butler's betrayal and his future. Kiara was in tears by the end of his narrative.

"I'm so sorry," he said.

"It's… it's better that I learn this now." She was still sobbing. "But what about you? You look as if you've been crying."

"My best friend was killed today."

"Oh dear… that's awful. I guess we both need a little comfort."

The next thing Edmund knew, Kiara had shifted her weight to sit on his legs. She was in his arms, he was stroking her hair, and her tears were making little sounds as they hit his armor.

All of Edmund's sadness welled up in him, hurting him, and, without thinking of the consequences of his action, he did the one thing that would make him feel better.

He gently pulled Kiara's head up and pressed his lips to hers. They were sweet and soft, and he tasted just a hint of salt from her ocean journey.

It was over before he knew it. "Kiara!" The cry came from the bend. Kiara pulled away. She looked into his eyes, frightened and exhilarated.

She looked over and saw Peter standing there. He had removed his armor and was wearing just a plain white shirt and pants. The wind was ruffling his hair. He was just as she had left him, except for his eyes. In them, even from a distance, she saw hurt. And hatred. Directed toward her. Because even though her heart was still thumping wildly as she looked at him, she had changed.

"Peter, you're here," she said.

As he drew near, Peter was dismayed. His fiancée had been kissing some guy (Peter couldn't tell who from a distance). He had won a war for her, and she repaid him by cheating on him.

When he got closer, he felt as if the dagger that had been plunged into his heart was twisted viciously. The man she was with was Edmund. His brother had back-stabbed him.

Edmund was stunned and embarrassed. He didn't know why he had done something so foolish, but what was even more embarrassing was that he didn't feel sorry.

Kiara saw Lucy and another girl, probably her sister Susan, walking behind Peter. Susan had a reproachful stare directed at her legs. Suddenly, Kiara realized she was still sitting on Edmund. She pushed herself aside and straightened her dress, which had blown up past her knees due to the wind.

"What is this?" Peter asked when he was next to Kiara and his brother.

Kiara put her head down and let new tears fall.

"Answer me," he ordered.

She put her head in her hands. How could she possibly explain the situation to Peter?

Edmund intervened. "Leave her alone, Peter."

"Why?"

"You don't understand."

"What is there not to understand? My fiancée is cheating on me. With my brother."

From his first time in Narnia, Edmund had learned to tell the truth. He couldn't throw Kiara under the bus. This was his fault. Peter must know that. That way, they could still be happy together.

"I kissed her. Not the other way around. She pushed me away."

"I saw you guys. That was no one sided kiss."

"You should be mad at me, not her."

"I am mad at you. But I will deal with that later. Now, Kiara, I want you to get away from me. I could never be with someone like you."

"Peter, she just had a long journey across the ocean, just to see you," said Susan. She had analyzed Kiara and saw that regret was emanating out of her. She knew Peter had a right to be angry, but pushing Kiara away was not, in her mind, the way to solve the problem.

"You mean to see Edmund." He turned back to Kiara. "Be out of here by tomorrow at dawn."

"Peter… please… I love you…" Kiara managed to articulate.

"Save it for someone who will believe you." He turned to Edmund. "Now you."

"I get that you're angry with me Peter. But can I just say… ow!" Edmund was sprawled on the ground, having just been punched by Peter. His older brother then knelt down and started sending down a string of punches on the younger, weaker boy. Edmund didn't try to push Peter off or hit him back. Every punch reminded him that he did not feel remorse for kissing Kiara.

Finally, Peter slowed down. He stood up and wiped his hands, which were bruised and bloody, on his shirt, leaving dark red stains on the white fabric just over his heart. Edmund sat up.

"I apologize, Peter."

"Don't call me that."

"Pardon me?"

"You are not my brother. You have no right to speak to me so informally. You are no better than the traitor child who tried to kill me and my family all those years ago."

Had Peter said anything else, anything at all, Edmund would have put his head down and accepted it, because it would have been true. But saying that Edmund hadn't changed was going too far.

"How can you say that? Are you forgetting the relationship we have forged? The trust we built?"

"I was silly to trust you. I will never trust a single thing you say again."

"Just trust this one: I was wrong to do what I did and take advantage of you. I cannot say I am sorry because I fell in love. It was not spite, it was no plan, it was a teenage guy listening to his heart rather than his brain. And though I've tried for years to only listen to my brain, this time I messed up. But that shouldn't be a reason for you to throw away what you have with Miss Butler. She is an amazing person and any guy would be lucky to have her. She wants you. So be with her, and forget about my stupidity. Don't ruin your life because of me."

With that Edmund stood up and, wincing from the pain all over his body, walked back to camp.

Kiara was on a hill next to the camp. Susan had found her and had tried to comfort her, with little success. Suddenly, her brother appeared.

"Su, would you give us a moment?"

"Of course." Susan hurried off.

The Narnian King sat down across from Kiara.

"I love you, Kiara Butler," he said simply. "And seeing you with my brother is painful. It will take me a long time to heal."

"I never wanted to hurt you," she replied.

"Well, sometimes you have to pay for the consequences of your actions, even if they are unintentional. Tell me plainly: who do you want to be with."

"Answering that makes the other person feel like their time with me was worthless. But it wasn't. You are both amazing people."

"But you cannot change what's in your heart."

"No, I can't. I'm sorry."

"So it's him?"

"…Yes. I didn't know when I was in Narnia or in Galma, but then, coming here, seeing him on the beach, at the bend of the shoreline, Lucy at his side, made me realize that I want to be with him. And that kiss… it just confirmed it. I'm sorry."

"No, it's fine. I mean, you can't have us both." He stood up to go.

"Wait!" He paused. "Promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Make peace with your brother. You need each other, you have ever since you stepped into this world, whether you realize it or not."

He smiled weakly. "It's because you say things like this that I will have trouble getting over you."

She stood up and hugged him tightly. "I can't express how sorry I am. I made you think we could have a future together. But my heart decided we couldn't. But can we stay friends?"

He nodded. "Friends."

A/N: Please review telling me who you think Kiara chose!