"Congratulations." I smiled at Peter as we walked back towards camp a while later.
"Thanks." He grinned.
"I…I'm sorry that Susan and Lucy were put in that situation." I apologized.
"What?" Peter glanced at me curiously.
"I should've been watching them. I didn't know they were going to come down here." I explained.
"It's not your fault. If they told you they were going to stay in the camp and they didn't, then it's their fault." Peter said.
"I still feel bad, though. That's twice that you three were put in danger and I did nothing." I sighed.
"Sam, I've told you. When you're supposed to protect us, as Patronus, it will happen. You will know." Peter gave my hand a squeeze and smiled.
"Yeah, ok." I nodded.
"Now, I suppose we should go eat lunch." He grinned, looking over his shoulder at Lucy and Susan.
"Come on. Telum will probably have lunch ready." He called out. At the mention of food, Lucy hurried, and at the mention of Telum, Susan's pace increased.
"It's amazing what a little motivation will do." Peter laughed, and I couldn't help but grin.
After we had all eaten lunch, Susan and I headed off to archery practice.
"I'm sorry, Sam." Susan said suddenly as we spoke.
"For what?" I asked.
"I told you that Lucy and I were just going to walk around the camp. I hadn't really planned on going down to the stream." She explained.
"It's fine. I should've been watching you closer." I shrugged, sighing.
"No, you did as much as you could." Susan tried to reassure me.
"Not even close." I mumbled, still mad at myself.
"What?" Susan strained to hear my comment.
"Let's hurry. Telum will be waiting." I said, walking faster and motioning for Susan to keep up. She sighed, but quickened her pace as well.
When we reached the archery field, Telum was standing at our usual spot in front of one of the targets.
"Hello, Telum." Susan smiled at the Elf as we approached him.
"Hello, Your Majesty, Patronus." He bowed to Susan and then nodded to me.
"What are we doing today?" I asked, taking out my bow.
"Firing at a moving target." Telum replied.
"What's the target?" I looked around.
"That." Telum pointed to a horse, which stood nearby munching on some grass.
"Did he say it was all right?" Susan asked, bewildered.
"No, he can't talk. He's not like the other animals you see in this camp." Telum shook his head.
"That doesn't make it okay for us to shoot at him!" Susan objected.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. He won't be harmed." Telum tried to assure Susan.
"What if I don't aim properly? Am I to believe that my arrow can not possibly hit him?" Susan was really upset now.
"Your Majesty, the arro-" Telum tried to explain.
"Do you have some magic shield around him?" Susan continued.
"The arrows ar-" Telum attempted once more.
"Don't tell me the arrows are magic. Don't even try." Susan shook her head.
"Susan!" Telum shouted, surprising all three of us.
"Yeah?" Susan said softly.
"The arrows are blunt. The horse already has light armor on. If you hit it with an arrow, it won't feel a thing." Telum explained, almost gently.
"I'm sorry, Telum. I am just so…sick of…never mind. Please forgive me for overreacting." Susan apologized.
"It's fine." Telum gave her a smile, which she returned.
"Ok, let's get to work before I throw up." I said with a mock gagging sound.
"Of course. Let's." Telum nodded, but I saw him give one last smile at Susan.
