Caspian and I decided it was best to steal some weapons from the Talmorines. They were a good distance from Aslan's Howl, where we were staying, they were trying to build a bridge.

We were lucky with not needing to steal any right away. At night, some of the Narnians would sneak in, while they were sleeping, and steal their weapons and some armour. Bt we can wait.

We decided to walk into the forest to get some sleep. It felt odd not needing to go do patrol, but I liked it.

I walked deeper into the forest, to get some wood for a fire. Trufflehunter joined me and was picking up stones.

"You really like that prince, don't you?" he asked as I picked up some stray twigs.

"I can never fault you observe nature, " I bet down, and as I reached out, I saw my ring. "I know he is the one who can turn the tides of this everlasting war. I know no one saw it, but I have known of him since before I fought against the White Witch. He is one part of every dream I have had, good or bad."

Trufflehunter seemed content with my answer, "So, would you allow him to court you?"

We were both laughing at this point. "There is the possibility that he will court me. If it does come up, I would not be indifferent to the idea, nor will I disclose it to happen."

Trufflehunter seemed to chuckle a little, "I find it so funny that you refused all those men you have told us about, who visited from other worlds. Yet, you are happy with the descent of the man who stole our home from us. You can be a little odd sometimes."

I twitch my head a little, "A little?!"

"Yes."

"I am not odd!"

"You so are. For one, you have your crown, and didn't think of what would happen if the Talmorine soldiers would do if they found you."

"For reference, they did find us, but Reep took care of them. Also, my crown made sure that Caspian could speak. It silences a room in mear seconds, and I might need this crown after this is over.

"Also, I must say, the men who attempted to court me before we're all horrible to me, and I could tell they were bad."

"I can say that that is true, but still." Trufflehunter and I were having a good laugh, it was always fun to talk to him. "I will miss you when you leave us."

I looked at him, with a sad look on my face, "Know this, you will never lose me. I will always be your friend. I can say thank you a thousand times, but never feel as though I did enough to match your generosity. I will always be grateful to you."

Trufflehunter dropped the rocks on the ground and hugged me. "I will always be happy to help you. You are our high queen."

I smiled and hugged Tufflehunter tighter.

As we got to the campsite, I saw Caspian, sitting down, staring off into the distance.

I put the firewood down and walked over to him.

I sat down on the grass, beside him, "You doing okay?"

He looked at me, and looked down, to the ground. "Not really. I know what people expect me to do, but I don't know how to do it."

I put my hand on top of his. "I know how that feels."

Caspian looked at me as if I was speaking gibberish. "How can you know how it feels? You have to know what to do, you always have."

I looked down at my ring and smiled a little. "It wasn't always like that. When the kings and queens left to their world, I felt truly lost. Aslan left 15 years before that, and I had no contact with him.

"I was so lost. When Caspian the I showed up, everything just went downhill. I tried to get him to become a part of my council, but he didn't see me as a ruler. He had strong beliefs, and I didn't fit them in his mind.

"He attacked my home, forcing us into isolation in the forest. I was scared of what to do. While I was in the king's and queen's world, I had a mask of happiness on my face. I kept that up, for the entire year."

I sighed and looked at Caspian, so see him a little upset.

"What I'm trying to say, is that we are all lost at one point or another. The thing we can do about it is if we are willing to continue on the same road, with us possibly being lost forever. But there is a second option, to take the second road, it may be rockier, and steeper, but it can lead us to where we need to be."

I looked at Caspian again, to see him smiling. I rested my head on his shoulder and smiled. "How do you know so much? This is beyond what I can consider an option."

I smiled and sighed. "It comes with my age, I can never die with my bracelet on. I also know from my personal experiences."

We rested there for a few minutes, before Caspian got up, and led us back to the camp, just as it was starting to get dark.

I got on the ground, and Caspian snuggled up next to me. I know this is similar to what Peter did, after my first near-death experience, but I don't mind this. I know this is happening, and I am thankful he is being protective of me.

I looked around, to see Peter and Edmund fighting, big thugs. I didn't know what was going on. I tried my best to walk to them, but nothing.

I also saw Trumpkin in front of who I assume is Miraz. In front of his entire council, that isn't his. Trumpkin was beaten, and then I see some soldiers trying to drown him.

I see Lucy almost getting attacked by a bear.

I also see Lucy, a part of a cliff came in under her, and she fell.

I wasn't sure what was going on, but I felt the arms of Caspian around my small frame. I looked at him and hugged him.

I was having a small nightmare, but woke up, to Capsian's arms, not around me.

I got up and followed my intuition.

I walked deeper into the forest, and found a clearing. I did have my cloak on, so no one would recognise me from afar.

I walked and felt someone coming to attack me. I quickly pulled my sword out and pushed back the figure.

I looked up to see Caspian attacking the PERSON!

I looked at the person, to see "PETER!"

I pulled down my cloak and saw the relief on Peter's face.

I saw his brother and sisters walked over a hill, that was close by.

I saw that Caspian had stopped attacking Peter, and looked at him oddly.

"Prince Caspian?" Peter asked, as if knowing exactly who he was, it confused me.

"Yes?" Caspian asked, while answering the simple question. "High King Peter?"

"I believe you called." Peter started, and I want expecting them to be so young. But, time is weird around here.

"Well, yes, but... I thought you'd be older." Caspian looked at me, as if he was asking for validation.

"If you like, we could come back in a few years..." I was starting to hate Peter for taunting us with the idea that he would not save us until they were older.

"Listen here Peter, " I walked up to him, and grabbed the top of his ear, shocking everyone, with me shouting a little. "we have waited patiently for you all to return, and not taunt us with you leaving when we need you the most!

"I have waited for 1300 years for you to come, all of you. You may be the High King, but that does not mean you can act as off you are better than everyone else.

"I have put up with a lot since you left. I was expected to take on the Talmorines after you left. I tried to take Narnia back multiple times, and many of my people were killed because of it. DO NOT TAUNT US WITH YOU LEAVING BEFORE YOU HAVE DON'T ANYTHING!" I shouted, I don't mean to, but I have had enough.

I let go of Peter and glared at him.

"What happened to Ariel?" Lucy asked, in a whisper, that I could hear all too well.

"I have mentally aged, I have taken the weight of my people by myself. I don't expect you to know by yourself. You all had someone beside you, but being a High Queen, by yourself, with a war on your hands, hardens you. I have a soft heart, but my skin is harder than it has ever been."

Reep climbed onto my shoulder and looked at me worriedly. "Are you sure you your Majesty?"

I sighed, "Sorry, I am just tired of having the weight of all my people, and needing to worry about a war that is not needed."

"Its okay, Your Majesty, we know the pain you went through, most of us were there." Trufflehunter said as he held my free hand.

"You're just... You're not exactly what I expected." Caspian stated, as he held onto my other free hand.

"Neither are you." Edmund spoke, as he stared at Caspian.

"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes." I spoke, with humility in my voice.

"We have anxiously awaited your return, my liege. Our hearts and swords are at your service." Reep jumped off of me, and landed in front of Peter.

"Oh, my gosh, he is so cute." Lucy spoke, as she had stars in her eyes.

"Who said that?!" Reep said, in a very intimidating voice. He also whipped his sword around a little, like it would threaten anyone who didn't know him.

"Sorry." Lucy put her hand up, signalling it was her.

Your Majesty, with the greatest respect, I do believe "courageous," "courteous," or "chivalrous" might more befit a knight of Narnia." Reep spoke with complete respect to Lucy.

"Well, at least we know some of you can handle a blade." Peter glared at Caspian, trying to be intimidating.

"Yes, indeed. And I have recently put it to good use, securing weapons for your army, sire." I stared at Reep, questioning what he meant.

"Excuse me, but who was it that took advantage of the White Witches pettiness, and killed her, when she thought she was at an advantage?" I asked, knowing the answer. "I know Peter brought the army, I understand that, but I killed the Witch."

"Are we jealous my sweet queen?" Peter walked up to me, with a creepy look on his face.

"I can kill you without a second thought, don't make me regret protecting you beforehand!" I spoke, with hate in my voice.

Caspian reluctantly handed Peter sword back to him, and I held onto his hand.

Caspian and I lead the Pensieves, and the Narnians that followed us before, followed us to Aslan's Howl.

I smiled as I saw it. As we walked up to the entrance, centaurs held swords up, forming an arch.

The others walked though, while Caspian was hesitant. I got a hold of his and, and walked him through the arch.

As we entered in the Howl, I knew I felt at home.

"It may not be what you are used to, but it is defensible." Caspian spoke, as he showed the way around the Howl, with Narnians making more weapons.

I walked into a room that I didn't see before, and walked in, grabbing a torch, to help lead the way. The others followed after me, Caspian holding another torch.

As we entered, I knew there was more to this place than I cared to admit.

Caspian lit a substance on the floor, which lit the room in flames.

"It's us." Lucy said as I walked up to my portrait.

I felt my heartbreak. This place has negative memories associated with it.

"What is this place?" Susan asked as I graced my hand against my portrait. I noticed that my portrait was smaller than Peter's.

I felt my heart breaking farther. I didn't need to be seen as a lower being to Peter.

"You don't know?" Caspian asked, as walked up to me.

I saw another opening and saw the Stone Table. I knew we needed to do something. I walked in, and saw Aslan's head.

"He must know what he's doing." Lucy said, as she smoothed his stone main.

"I think it's up to us now." Peter spoke, as if he knew we didn't have much of an option.

"It's only a matter of time. Miraz's men and war machines are on their way. That means those same men aren't protecting his castle." Peter spoke, with mock wisdom in his voice.

We were having a meeting, to discuss what our plan of action was. I stood tall, I knew more about that castle than anyone else.

"What do you propose we do, Your Majesty?" one of the Narnians spoke, likely excited to see our decision.

"We need to get ready for it." "To start planning for..." "We need to prepare..." Caspian, Peter and I all spoke at once. Caspian backed down, as if he was afraid. I held Caspian's hand, trying to reassure him.

"Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us." Peter spoke with such authority, it made me a little sick.

"That is not possible, I have tried many times to take that castle, but they have always been one step ahead of us. It always the choice between going alone, or going was the Narnians. Both could lead to a blood bath if we are not careful.

"What we need to do is prepare them. We need to draw them to a area they will have a hard time attacking in, and hit them then."

"We'll have the element of surprise." a Narnian agreed with me, and I was happy.

"But we have the advantage here!" Caspian said, as he held onto it hand.

"If we dig in, we could probably hold them off indefinitely." Susan pointed out, it wasn't the best solution, but anything was better than putting ourselves in danger.

"I, for one, feel safer underground." I smiled at Trufflehunter, he has a point, we are safer under the ground on which, they stand.

"Look. I appreciate what you've done here, but this isn't a fortress. It's a tomb." I looked at Peter, did he have to point that out.

"Peter, I don't like it completely, but it is one of the best options we have come up with. And remember the times I tried to take that castle. Oh right, you would not remember, I had to do it alone.

"He took advantage of the fact I was alone and attempted to take me alive. The scares I wear now, are from those battles, they believe me to be dead, if we attack, no matter how we do it, I can kill many people, if they know who I am, they will see me as nothing but a ghost."

"We could collect nuts!" as sweet squirrel said. I can't describe them in complete justice, so I will not attempt.

"Yes! And throw them at the Telmarines. Shut up!" Reep pointed out the absurdity of the plan, and I would agree with him in this regard. "I think you know where I stand, sire."

I glared at him, this is ridiculous.

"If I get your troops in, can you handle the guards?" Peter spoke, a he looked at Glenstorm.

"Or die trying, my liege." I looked worriedly at Glendstorm, he didn't need to die like this.

"That's what I'm worried about." Lucy spoke up for the first time, and we all turned to her.

"Sorry?" Peter must have been confused with this odd sentence.

"You're all acting like there's only two options. Dying here, or dying there. The only one who has any sense is Ariel. She fought them, she knows what they are like." I smiled at Lucy, she did make a lot of sense.

"I'm not sure you've been listening." Peter spoke with near hostility in his voice. "And Ariel, you don't know what you are talking about!"

I glared at him, "Oh really. Have you forgotten who defeated the White Witch? Who looked death in the eye, to be here? You do not know anything. You are not even consulting me on our previous strategies. Do you think I did something wrong, so they are of no use to you?!"

"There must have been something wrong if we are here now!"

"Things happen for a reason. I think the reason why I failed, is to come out with the best strategy at the end of it all. Not every fight is successful!" I walked or of the meeting fuming.

I was almost out of the Howl when Caspian caught up with me. "Ariel! Are you okay?"

I turned to him, with tears in my eyes. "No, I'm not!"

I collapsed onto the floor. Caspian sat next to me, and wrapped his arms around me.

"I feel lost. I was the one who killed the White Witch. I was the one who was left behind. I was the one who fought every chance I needed to. And no one even treats me as the High Queen anymore, not even as a queen."

I cries into his shoulder.

"I feel as if they appreciate Peter more, because he lead the army when I was supposed to be dead. As I hate it."

Caspian stroked my hair, and asked the question I wanted to avoid. "What is going on between the two of you?"

I pushed some of my loss hair out of my eye. "He kissed me on our coronation. Think became strange after that. And I hate him, because he is taking all of my credit, even though Aslan made me the High Queen."

Caspian continued to comfort me, and I appreciated it.