A/N: Hello! Merry belated Christmas and Happy New Year! I finally finished this chapter.A brief recap: Lucy was captured by the White Witch. Helen was turned to stone Susan and Redian were ambushed by the wolves who found Aslan's Camp and now Peter and Edan are on their way to help Susan. I really loved writing this. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter Thirty-Six

The two boys ran through Aslan's camp, the sound of growls becoming more prominent as they drew closer. Edan saw Redian, struggling to stay out of reach of about four of Jadis' best wolves, the captain among them. If she had sent out a force of her best, Edan shuddered to think what was happening to Lucy. The knight had already been felled unconscious and was pinned under the weight of one of the more fearsome brutes, Oppugno, who turned upon hearing their approach.

Peter had already pulled his blade back out and was currently aiming for Oppugno's side. The wolf swerved nipping at his fingers.

"Oi! Pudgy!" Edan whistled. "Why don't you pick on someone else?"

"Protecting the false king, Your Highness?" The old wolf snarled. "Treachery!" He pounced as Edan swirled grazing the beast's side.

"Just what do you call ambushing a helpless girl?" Edan sneered. "I thought you an honorable fighter 'Pug really."

The talking ceased as Oppugno's hackles bristled and he lunged. The attacks became more intent as the real fight began and the jeers ceased.

Peter was busy himself holding the blade at arm's length in front of Maugrim, his eyes betraying all of the fear he felt.

"Peter! Don't just stand there!" Susan screamed as the branch began breaking under her. "Peter!"

"Time is running out Son of Adam," Maugrim taunted. "Tick tock."

Peter's heart stopped. He had trained to fight, yet the prospect of this was stopping him cold. Peter, you imbecile!

"They need help." He heard Orieus' voice and the sound of a blade being drawn, but didn't dare take his eyes away from the wolf captain.

"Hold General. This is their battle alone." The golden voice spoke, commanding enough to stop even Orieus.

"Time's up Son of Adam," Maugrim snarled as he jumped toward Peter. Susan screamed as Opungo slammed Edan onto his back. She watched in horror as a minotaur walked over to him, tied his hands and hoisted him over its monstrous shoulder as if he weighed no more than a rag doll.

Redian's eyes blinked open as everything slowly came into focus and the memories flooded back. He and Susan had been practicing archery when they were ambushed. Peter and Edan had come running in and…

"Your Highness!" Redian looked up as he saw the younger boy struggling to remove the dead weight of the wolf from on top of him. He sat up helping Peter push the wolf aside with a groan. "Are you alright?"

Peter held a hand out to the knight, looking to Redian utterly deflated. "I should be the one asking you that question."

Redian shrugged giving a half-hearted smile he hoped was encouraging. "It's nothing I haven't seen before."

Peter nodded as his eyes flitted around the outskirts of the camp. No sign of the other wolves, but Orieus had already went over assisting Susan down from the tree. No sign of Edan either. Had they taken him? Another darker thought encroached. Had he gone willingly?

"Peter," He turned around and saw Aslan. "Clean your sword."

Peter shot a questioning glance to Redian. The knight was holding his side. As he caught Peter's gaze, he smiled.

As Peter wiped his blade, he felt the gentle gaze on him. Could He tell? Did He know the dark places that his mind was going? There was no way to know for certain.

"Kneel." The command was given with a proud nod.

Peter could sense the hush around him almost instantly. Everyone knew this was important. He felt a pull in his chest. A knighting ceremony? The longing for his parents hit in earnest. Peter lifted his head toward Aslan, struggling not to let his true emotions show as Aslan spoke.

"Rise Sir Peter Wolfsbane- Knight of Narnia."

Lucy groaned as her eyes blinked open. Her body screamed out in protest as she sat up taking in her surroundings. She was back in the cell in the basement of Cair Paravel. The only light came from a torch mounted to the wall near the foot of the staircase. The memories hit her in a flood. She had been pulled away, separated from her mother. The dwarf, Ginarrbrik is what Jadis had called him, had pulled out a whip. He yelled obscenities, targeting nearly every inch with a resounding thump, kept telling her that no one fought Jadis and won, no one should speak against her, her mother and siblings were as good as dead… because of her.

She took in a shuddering gasp of air, thinking only about the act of breathing. She'd never had to think about breathing before. Suddenly, something Edan had told her came to mind with bitter amusement. As long as they don't fight, she won't hurt them. Was that what he had said? She was worried about her parents, and she had gone and done exactly what she had been warned against.

"Go and check on the girl!" She heard a growl and feet on the steps.

"Sure Troidaire! Thanks for untying me by the…" Was that Edan? What was he doing here?

"Just GO!"

Lucy blinked as she saw Edan appear at the foot of the steps. He looked worse for wear. His sleeves were torn, there was a juicy black and purple bruise on his cheek and he seemed to bend forward every time he took a step. Something had been done to him that much was obvious.

"Lucy! Are you alright?" He crouched in front of the bars, fumbling with a bag he carried.

"I've been better." Lucy replied. She looked him up and down worriedly. "You look terrible."

Edan shrugged finally finding what he had been looking for. "This? I've had worse. Here." He pushed a small piece of candy through the bars.

Lucy took the sugary morsel, flipping it in her hand. "Thanks." She put it in her mouth.

"I'd try to sneak you out, but they won't give me the keys." Edan sighed. "I'm as much of a prisoner as you are."

Lucy felt strength slowly returning. After days of nothing but insult and injury, the small act of kindness was just enough to renew her fighting spirit. "Let me help." She pulled off her boot revealing the crystalline vial. "Your dwarf isn't very smart. He threw me in here but didn't think to check my shoe."

Edan's eyes widened. "Your cordial? Lu, I can't… you use it." She shook her head. "I don't think that's what Father Christmas would give it to me for."

"Well, I'm not using it either then," Edan said. "Hide it away before Jadis comes down!"

Lucy nodded pushing the vial down into her boot and sliding it back on. "How are the others?"

Edan glanced away heaving a sigh. "They're worried for you. We managed to make it to Aslan, told Him that you had been taken. He should be sending out a search."

Lucy nodded. "He knows what He's doing. That's what Father always says."

"I don't know if they believe that just yet." Edan gave a sad smile.

Lucy reached a hand through the bars taking Edan's hand in her own. "They'll see."

Peter toed the grass with his boot looking out at the view ahead. From the hill where Peter stood, it was possible to see the whole camp in its working glory. If you looked down just so in the position where Peter was, you'd see the flags and the tents, Narnians of all territories secure in their safety. A gentle breeze whistling as dryads laughed, a temporary respite from the war just on the horizon.

"Sir Peter, just what exactly do you hope to accomplish staring out to nowhere?" A laugh was evident, a last ditch attempt to lighten the mood.

"To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure we can accomplish much, Redian." Peter turned to face his friend. "Shouldn't you be preparing to leave with the others?"

Redian waved away the question. "I'm testing to see how desperate they are."

A small smile appeared on Peter's face. "You never were good at realizing a serious moment."

The knight shrugged. "Things get tense, I get nervous. I get nervous, I get funny. I think that's why your father kept me on so long." He cuffed Peter. "To keep you from gettin' lost in your head!"

Peter smiled again, but it quickly dissipated. It was impossible to even find his best friend's usual jests amusing with everything else running through his mind. "Do you think we'll find them?"

Redian nodded. "I do. You doubt it?"

"No." Peter spoke hurriedly causing Redian to raise an eyebrow. "I'm not… certain."

"Don't think so much mate." Redian said. "When you start to second-guess it doesn't suit you." He clapped Peter on the shoulder. "We will return with your sister. That is a promise."

Peter held out a hand. "I'll hold you to that."

"I wouldn't expect anything less." Redian gripped Peter's hand before turning and heading in the direction of the search party.

Alone once again, Peter found himself looking around the camp. He didn't know what it was he was searching for until he saw his sister, her arms wrapped in a nervous self- embrace watching the huge tent's flap beckon in a flurry. In less than five minutes, he had made his decision to see how she was doing. He walked over and cleared his throat.

"Oh!" Susan gasped. "It's you Peter."

He smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "How are you?"

"As well as can be expected." Susan shrugged as her eyes locked onto the tent. "I really don't know what to think."

"Me neither. Part of me wonders if all of this will lead up to anything at all."

Susan's mouth twitched. "They've got you scared?"

Peter straightened crossing his arms. "Oi! What's that supposed to mean?"

Susan turned away hiding her laughter in her hand as her tone became teasing. "Oh nothing really. I just never expected that Sir Peter Wolfsbane would be scared of anything."

"And you believe you can back that up?" Peter's eyes lit up as he stepped towards her.

Susan backed away shrieking as she ran. "Peter… I didn't mean it!"

Instantly the cares melted away as Susan's jesting took effect. The two oldest Pevensies suddenly found themselves running through the camp, a game of "catch 'em if you can" leading them further and further from the boundaries of their tents and closer to the far edge of the grounds. It was a long time later when they finally collapsed at the edge of the stream tears flowing freely down their faces.

Susan used the moment to take stock. After the initial amusement faded, all that seemed to remain was an overwhelming exhaustion. Susan's gaze landed on Peter. He lay on his back, one hand on his stomach and the other supporting his head. His eyes were closed and his breathing steady, almost meditative. It was an illusion of calm, but there were signs of old man weariness. In the slight pinch of his brows, the wrinkles in his forehead and the slight clenching of the hand that rested on his stomach.

"Su," His voice was soft and thoughtful, just barely there, but enough to snap her out of her study. "There's something I've been wondering about."

"What is it?"

And then Peter sat up as his eyes found hers. "Edmund. I think… he found us."

A/N: Dun dun duuun. The moment of truth. So what do you think Susan's reaction will be? How do you think Lucy and Ed will get out of imprisonment? Any predictions for the big face off between Jadis and Ed? Sound off. I love seeing responses. It helps me write faster. :) Until next time.