I want to thank everyone who has read the first chapter of this and left reviews! I can't tell you how much it means to me! I have had a lot of ideas for this story but nothing that fully came together. So when I posted it I really was just going to leave it a One Shot. But so many people have been reading and the story has been stuck on my mind so I wanted to put another part to it out to give some context. I'll probably add a few more chapters, though this is going to be a little different lay out than most stories.

Thanks so much for reading! Please let me know what you think. You guys are fantastic!

As always, I own nothing.

Peter said she'd be fine. Told her that he couldn't take the time out of his schedule to spend time with her. He couldn't be bothered. Not then. Not when there had been so much to do.

And then it had become his biggest regret.

Now Peter looked at all three of his younger siblings. Piled together, they were all finally asleep. Lucy right in the middle, her bruised face prominent against her ghostly pale skin. Why had he brushed her off that day? He'd asked himself that every day that followed. Every day she was gone. He beat himself up for it daily, and to make matters worse he blamed and took out his frustrations on Susan and Edmund when they hadn't done anything wrong, when they were seeking him out for comfort. They were hurting just as much as he was. And he had turned them away like he had Lucy that day. He had yelled at them once Lucy was gone, even though he was so grateful that they were safe and with him that it nearly hurt. He had apologized profusely for it. He hated how out of control he felt by the whole situation. He was supposed to take care of them, after all.

Some job I've done.

But here they all were now. Safe. Together. It had felt like so long since this was something real, something attainable. Thank Aslan it was now.

Lucy had cried. Which shredded any last bit of his heart that had remained intact. Once she was sure she was really with her family she sobbed, which made her siblings do so as well. It was not an easy homecoming, but at the same time, it was the best thing Peter felt since hearing she disappeared.

Peter remembered that day so well. Tumnus came asking first. Lucy hadn't met him for afternoon tea like they planned. None of the servants had seen her in hours. A couple of guards mentioned they had seen her walk out towards the ocean. The mermaids reported hearing yelling from shore, but it didn't last long.

"Peter, she's not here. No one has seen her. I'm really getting worried – Lucy wouldn't just wander off for so long without telling anyone where she was going. And she most definitely wouldn't have missed Mr. Tumnus. He just got back from Lantern Waste." Susan had said.

A few hours later it was Edmunds turn to speak his worries.

"Her dagger and cordial were found near the tree line. Some of the brush was trampled and broken. Like someone tore through it in a hurry. I really think something's happened to Lucy."

Needless to say, none of the work Peter told Lucy he had to get done actually was accomplished that day. If only he had paid her attention.

It was a week later before any word of her surfaced. As plain as day too, as Lucy found herself thrust through a door, landing hard on her already bruised hands and knees, staring at very familiar tile flooring.

'It can't be.' She thought. She heard gasps and commotion. But all she could do was stare at the tile a moment longer, hope rising in her. Tentatively Lucy looked up to stare at the stark faces of her brothers and sister. All three jumped from their throne. Just as Lucy was yanked back up by Illnath, a knife pressed to her throat, stopping Peter in his tracks as he was the fastest running towards her.

A door. A large wooden door that had once been inside of Illnath's Keep was now standing lone and wide open in the middle of Cair Paravel's throne room. Lucy had seen a light before being pushed through. She had no idea this is where she would have ended up.

The eldest three Pevensie's had been holding a court with their leading captains and counselors to discuss any news about Lucy and to plan the next best choice of action. Armies and parties had been sent out searching since the night she hadn't come home. Peter, Susan, and Edmund had racked their brains thinking of where she might be. But nothing much had turned up. And now here she was, the lost Queen, appearing in her home. But she was nothing close to safe or sound.

Dressed in a fine gown, sure. But free of bruises and cuts was not Lucy's fate. She was meant to look like a like a hurt little girl playing dress up. And she felt like one, especially with the cuff strapped tight around her wrist. That few weeks she had endured an odd assortment of treatment. Some days she was allowed to come out of her cell. She'd get to walk around. She'd be responsible for keeping the place clean, for tending to the enclosed garden, for making Illnath his supper. And every night after setting his food out he would ask her to sit and eat with him. But she was also questioned throughout the day. Questioned about her family, about ruling Narnia, about Spare Oom and Aslan. But no matter how honest her answers may have been, if Illnath was displeased with any of them, Lucy would be punished.

And then there were the visions. There he really got creative. Illnath used much of his power to mimic memories and stories Lucy had been compelled to tell him about her family. Other times he would just make things up, producing false memories that felt so real, so good and true.

Then there were the times he would warp her brothers and sister. Twisting her visions to show a family that hated her, that was glad to have her gone. One that didn't love her, that saw her as their own burden to raise. Illnath would either sit back and watch or play the parts of Peter, Susan, and Edmund whenever he pleased. As Peter, he yelled at and hit Lucy. As Susan he would say the cruelest of things, honing in on her biggest insecurities and doubts. And as Edmund he'd lead Lucy through dark woods and cold mountains, promising a safe journey only to hand her over to the White Witch with a grin.

But the worst of the visions were when Illnath showed Lucy just how her siblings were really handling her being gone. Lucy watched as Peter yelled at and fought with Susan and Edmund. How Susan cried and prayed for Lucy's safe return. How Edmund searched frantically, never allowing a moments rest. She watched as all three of them barely slept, allowing their other duties to fall to the wayside as they never ceased in their search. Of how a rift was forming between them as they constantly bickered back and forth.

But he never once showed the three of them coming together, finding comfort, forgiveness, and strength with one another. He didn't show her the late night talks, the family prayers said, or how the three tended to cling to one another when together, silently refusing to leave each other's side no matter how much they argued. Only the parts that hurt were allowed to be seen by Lucy, feeding into the idea of a broken family.

And then he'd leave Lucy alone to shiver at night and ponder over which of the visions she saw were real – if any of the punched Peter threw at her were real, as she rubbed at the bruises they left. If Susan really was lying awake, crying at night, or happier with her gone. Or if Edmund was searching for her out in the middle of the night, or just fighting with Peter over nonsense like when he was little. All of it gnawed at Lucy, left her aching and longing even more for her family so she could make sure things were set right. She prayed and prayed and prayed. And she endured and endured and endured. That's why having that little bit of a hope that filled her once she recognized the tile under her hurt so bad once taken away.

It hurt Peter, Susan, and Edmund too. The memory of that night was raw in their minds. And as Peter thought back on it, it still hurt, even if Lucy was sleeping soundly by him now, for the first time in so long. He could still see that knife pressed to her neck.

**** Flashback****

"You know she's talked about you. About how your three were going to find her – going to save her. Must be kind of a let down knowing that I had to bring you to them, huh Lucy? That your big brothers and sister, who are supposed to protect you, couldn't even do that?

Lucy only jerked her head away as best as she could as Illnath's face angled towards her, breath hot on her cheek. Peter's jaw clenched tight, teeth grinding.

Lucy couldn't stand this. If she had no choice but to stand there and be defiled in this way in her own throne room she would at least fight back. She pulled her face back to him with a harsh tone and a jerking of her body. "Why did you bring me here? Afraid your little plan would fail? That you needed to go ahead and bring me home before you were found out?"

"Oh no, dear one. This is just for fun."

"It won't be when your head is removed from your neck." Peter interjected, raising Rhindon.

Illnath simply laughed. "I'd love to see you try, High King Peter." He spit out the title.

"Stop using a young girl as your shield, you pathetic excuse for a man, and you will."

Illnath quirked up an eyebrow. "I imagine you're requesting a game of skill? You may be outmatched, your Highness."

Peter didn't falter, his gaze unyielding, making the room colder. He raised his sword higher.

Illnath smiled. "Well then of course. Who am I to refuse a King." and with that he threw Lucy onto the ground.

Peter dashed forward, wielding Rhindon, ready to come down on the man. His strides were quick and wide, clearing the space in mere seconds, only to be jolted to a stop.

Peter couldn't move. His sword was hoisted above his head and he was just a ten feet away from Illnath and Lucy. He forced himself forward as best he could, willing himself to take another step and finish the job he intended, but he wasn't able to. His eyes flicked to Lucy, who was on her hands and knees, looking at him with knit eyebrows, fear and worry etched on her face, but not surprise. She had expected something like this.

Peter looked back at Illnath who was simply holding his hand out, an almost delirious smile plastering his face. He burst out laughing, something that sounded cold, yet sincere. He was keeping Peter from moving and truly enjoying it.

"Oh Lucy, do you think we should have warned him? Though you'd have thought that our grand entrance would have been enough to make him realize I have magic and I'm quite good at it."

At that moment Illnath caught a swift movement from the corner of his eye. Susan, Edmund, and soldiers had started running forward.

"Stop!" Illnath's tone turned dark in an instance. Everyone in the throne room except for Lucy froze in place just as Peter had.

"How stupid do you all have to be? I mean honestly, I knew losing Lucy would make you desperate but I didn't think it'd make you foolhardy. Interesting."

Lucy looked around the room, taking in the scene. She looked to Edmund and Susan and watched their faces contort as they struggled unsuccessfully to move.

"Why are you doing this – what do you want?!" Lucy had had enough. The strain was unbearable. The second she recognized the tiled floor she felt hope rushing into her. She knew it was a dangerous feeling to have when Illnath was around. But then she'd seen her siblings and thought there was a chance. Until now.

Illnath only blinked at her.

"I said, why are you doing this?" Lucy's blood ran cold. She felt she could breathe fire at that moment.

"Because someone had to!" Venom dripped from his voice when Illnath replied. He cleared his throat then, looking like he was bothered he'd let himself get riled up. He returned his attention to Peter.

"Young king, you should know Lucy talked about you. She talked about you as well, Susan, Edmund. She spoke often of her home here and how she has missed it. Oh, but don't worry, I took care of her quite well, or at least I tried to. If only she'd not been so stubborn when it came to obeying the rules. You three really should work on that. Hasn't it been your job to raise her? I'm ashamed of the way she has been acting. It really makes you all look bad. Anyways, I fed her and clothed her and gave her somewhere to sleep, just as you all would. Though she never seemed grateful. Is she like that with you? Children. They're all bad, aren't they? Oh, but I'm sure you tried. Lucy is just a difficult one. She chooses to learn the hard way. Which is why she had to be punished. Often. No bother though, I really didn't mind. I found quite some innovative ways to" he glanced at her, "well, help her learn her lessons. I –"

"Stop it." Lucy's eyes were closed. Her mind was trying not to flash back to her learning her lessons. She couldn't even look at her siblings. They already had to see the awful state she was in. Lucy couldn't bear them being forced to hear all the ways he tormented her, too.

Illnath stilled at her words and turned his gaze over to where she was on the floor.

"Just stop it. You can do what you want to me, just leave them alone. They don't need to hear this. I don't want them to."

Illnath looked inquisitively at her like he had many times before. "Dear Lucy, don't you understand? I don't want to hurt them. I've brought us here to give your brothers and sister the thing they've wanted most, the thing you've wanted most for so long."

Lucy looked confused and when she didn't answer Illnath decided to show her what he meant.

Illnath looked to Peter and with a flick of his wrist, the King was released from the spell so quickly he nearly dropped Rhindon. Peter went to run to Lucy but stopped himself, unsure of what Illnath was up to. He glanced at Lucy for some inkling of understanding but found her to be just as lacking.

"What are you waiting for? There he is, there is your big brother, Lucy. I've brought you home." Illnath looked genuinely confused as to why Lucy wasn't catching on. For her part, Lucy looked just the same. There was no way Illnath was just going to let her go. She looked to Peter. His face was pained, desperate. She could tell all he wanted was to run to her, but was thinking it was a trap. Lucy thought the same but when she returned her gaze to Illnath he was simply waiting, gesturing for her to go to Peter.

But she didn't dare move. She couldn't think straight. Too many thoughts were running through her head, This was the closest she had been to being safe since she was taken. This was the chance she'd been praying for. Peter was right there, so close. Her heart ached while her wounds stung. Her muscles were screaming to run to her brother but her mind was telling her not to go, that it was a horrible trap. That Illnath would only rip her back to him with magic. That she would be tormented once again.

But she didn't care. Nothing he could do to her would be much worse than what he already had. And her family was here, and the guards. There was a chance for projection.

So Lucy ran. She stumbled but took no noticed as she hurried as fast as her legs could take her to her brother. Peter's heart felt like it stopped beating when she took off. He shot a glance at Illnath who only stood still, looking pleased. Peter took steps forward, meeting Lucy, and wrapped her into his arms, an embrace that felt stronger than any he'd ever given her. He had her, she was safe as long as he had her because he wasn't letting go no matter what.

Lucy heaved a cry into Peter's chest once she hit it. He stumbled back slightly with her force but immediately wrapped her up so tight she felt like she couldn't hardly breathe. She didn't mind, though. Peter was warm and good and safe. He was home. She was safe as long as he had her.

Peter kept Lucy pulled into his side with one arm as he raised Rhindon again with his other.

"Oh, how she has longed for you, Peter. You should have seen the dreams she has had. I even gifted her with visions of you and your siblings. Of all your favorite places. She was always so happy to see you. But then again with the crying and yelling at me as soon as they were gone. So, I finally started showing her visions of you three dying so she'd be happy when she awoke, knowing you were safe. And then there were the times I showed her how you three were handling her being gone. I was surprised to see how easily you blame Susan and Edmund for her disappearance to make yourself feel better Peter. I mean, it is your job to protect them all isn't it? After all, you are their big brother. And all your sister and brother wanted was reassurance and comfort from you, yet you couldn't do any of that, could you? Pity, really, they look up to you so. Can't say I know why. I speculate it has something to do with the lack of a parental figure. They cling to whatever is available. Even if that person only berates them."

"Shut up." Lucy spat.

Illnath clucked his tongue. "Really Lucy, is that any way to talk to someone who just did you a favor? This was what I was talking about, her behavior is appalling."

Ignoring what he said about Lucy, Peter felt the guilt rising in him at Illnath's words about himself. He knew he was telling the truth about him blaming Susan and Edmund, but he apologized for that. He tried to make it right. He was trying to do the same now for Lucy. He put on a brave face and tightened his grip on her and his sword. But he was at a loss for ideas on how to handle their current situation. If he let Lucy go, would Illnath get a hold of her again? If he tried to strike him, would he be frozen once more? How do you fight someone like this? He decided to keep him talking to get more out of him, and to get some more time to come up with a plan.

"What do you get out of hurting a little girl? Whatever problem you have with me, you didn't need to hurt Lucy to solve it."

"There you go again, Peter, making things all about you." Illnath turned his gaze beyond Peter. "Susan, Edmund, you must know what I'm talking about. I mean really, it has to get tiring hearing the High King constantly assume everything is about him. No, you really shouldn't flatter yourself, Peter, I took Lucy not because I have a vendetta against you, but because I have one against all four of you."

"Why? What did we ever do to you?"

But Peter didn't get an answer he was looking for..

"I paid close attention to you four. The stories are true, you are exceptionally close. But that only makes you easy targets. Remove one, and the other three will crumble, I figured. And if that were the case, how would you handle it? Would you live up to those titles? I'm not so sure that if I turned myself in right now that the Gentle Queen would be so gentle or kind in my treatment, and I doubt the Just King would treat me just as fair and mercifully as he did the captured Fell creatures." Illnath paused, sending a pointed look to Narnia's other two leaders before returning to the two before him. "And well, Peter, you haven't been all that Magnificent, have you? I mean you can't even protect your innocent baby sister while she is in your arms. And now all of Narnia will see it."

"What do you mean?" Peter questioned.

Illnath paused, his eyes catching glimpse of something and flicking back to Edmund for a split second with an unreadable, almost nervous, gaze before he snapped his fingers.

That's when Lucy screamed.

"Peter! Peter?" Lucy starting clutching onto her brother for dear life.

"Lu? Lucy, what is it? What's wrong?!" And that's when Peter noticed. Lucy's grip started loosening no matter how hard she tried to hang on with her face fading before his eyes.

"No no no no no. Lucy, Lucy it's okay I got you. Stay with me." Peter grappled trying to keep a hold on his sister. But it seemed like his efforts made it worse. She continued to fade away.

"Peter," Lucy looked up to her oldest brother and just stared at him with matching blue eyes. Peter felt sick. He must have looked completely mad to everyone else as he tried his hardest to keep the wisps of smoke and fog that was quickly becoming Lucy in his grasp. But still she faded until she was gone, slipping through his fingers like sand.

Peter, Susan, and Edmund all felt their hearts drop when they saw Lucy appear once again locked in Illnath's arms. The cuff on her wrist glowed a bright, burning red. Lucy had unshed tears in her eyes as she looked at her siblings. They were so close but she felt so far away. The warmth she felt when next to Peter was quickly slipping away from her.

She tried to fight Illnath, to push out of his embrace. But his grip only tightened as he chanted something under his breath. Wind started filling the room and clasps of thunder. The room erupted in voices as Narnian's were loosening from the spell.

Lucy continued to struggle against Illnath. He slapped her hard and grabbed hold of the cuff around her wrist. Just then Edmund came running into view, flying past Peter. He reached Illnath and came down hard with his sword. Illnath swerved, pulling Lucy and himself backward. Edmund swung again, careful to miss Lucy, and slashed Illnath's cheek.

The sorcerer cried out in pain as an arrow whistled by, embedding itself into Illnath's shoulder. He doubled over for only a second before gripping Lucy tighter. Susan wanted to send another but couldn't get a clear shot as Illnath pulled Lucy in front of him.

"It's been a pleasure, your Highnesses." Illnath said through clenched teeth as the door they came through flew open. Lucy tried to fight him but suddenly felt drained of all her strength. His grip on her cuff was sucking the energy straight from her once again. She was shoved through the door with Illnath on her heels and landed hard on the cold, dark stone floor of his keep.

Edmund swung once more as Illnath went to step through. But he had been a moment too late, only having caught the sorcerer's garment. Peter, who was right behind Edmund, pushed the door open and jumped through, only to find himself still in his throne room. The door post fell backwards at the movement and dissipated into thin air, sending up a flurry of smoky wisps in its place.

Peter let out a shudder at the memory of watching Lucy fade. Of having her in his arms only to watch her get taken away while he could do nothing to stop it. He looked at her now, the cuff that connects her to Illnath still on her wrist, yet while also being surrounded by her family, and silently thanked Aslan that he had another chance of keeping her safe. And begged the Great Lion that he wouldn't fail again.