A/N: I wanted to get this chapter out as I'm not great at action scenes and I was putting it off. Hope it's ok for you.

Disclaimer: own nothing

P.S: The High King's Oath is adapted from the devotion to Lord R'hal in the Sword of Truth Series.

The duel

Edmund and Peter were in their sleeping quarters, Lupa watching from the door with his golden gaze fixed upon his Kings. Edmund was helping Peter don his armour for the duel, a tradition they had that dated back to the Golden Age. Rather than have squires or valets assist them the brothers always helped each other with their armour. It was a ritual that gave them both comfort and each King needed that comfort this day.

Peter turned to Edmund, revealing the doubt that he would never allow his people to see, for the first time. Here in front of his brother, who held his absolute trust, he could let his vulnerability show.

"Ed.." he started.

"Stop Pete," Edmund replied. "Do not doubt yourself. You can do this. We all believe in you … I believe in you."

Wordlessly Peter drew his brother into a hug. Edmund could feel the tension in his brother and hugged him back hard. Trying to transfer some of that tension out of Peter and into himself through the force of his embrace.

Peter eventually released himself from the embrace and made to leave the cave, but Edmund stopped him.

"My King" he said formally. "There is just one thing I would do and say before you go."
Peter turned to him questioningly, a frown of puzzlement on his face at Edmund's formality.

Edmund sank to both knees and struck his fist to his chest. The sign of obeisance of a King to his High King and started the 'High King's Oath'

"May the High King guide and protect us.

In his light we thrive

In his mercy we are sheltered

In his wisdom we are humbled.

I live to serve.

My life is yours."

Edmund dropped the formal pose and grinned up at his brother who stood speechless before him.

"I just did not want you to be in any doubt of who I regard as High King" he said. "I was only High King while you were not in Narnia and now that you are here, I will ensure that any who think otherwise are set right." Here he looked to Lupa who nodded his head in acquiescence.

Peter sank to his knees beside his brother and gave him a silent embrace.

They were interrupted by a cough from the doorway. It was Trumpkin, coming to tell them that it was time for the duel.

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Peter and Edmund, with Caspian behind them, walked out of Aslan's How to the deafening cheers of the Narnians.

Miraz regarded them from the Telmarine front lines with a scowl. He turned to Glozelle

"If it should appear to be going poorly… "

Glozelle looked with consternation at the crossbow in his hands.

"Understood, my lord." He replied reluctantly.

As they met in the middle of the area marked out for the duel, both Kings drew their swords and began circling each other, testing each other's defences. Miraz grinned at Peter mockingly.

"There is still time to surrender."

Peter cocked is eyebrow at the usurper.

"Well, feel free!" he answered.

"How many more must die for the throne?" Miraz almost snarled at Peter.

"Just one." Peter growled pulling down his helmet and jumping at Miraz with his sword drawn. The two armies cheered as the fight began.

The blows from both opponents fell so fast that it was almost impossible to follow, but at last, Peter, with a low swing of his sword, cut Miraz's leg and drew first blood. At this Miraz glanced meaningfully at Glozelle who stood behind him holding the crossbow loosely in his hands. Seeing that his General made no move to shoot, Miraz swung wildly at Peter who fell to the ground but quickly stumbled to his feet again only to be tripped by Miraz who stepped on his shield, crushing the arm and shoulder beneath it with is weight. Peter let out an almost involuntary moan at this.

Miraz continued to attack Peter as he lay on the ground, but Peter was able to roll away from his blows and trip him.

Both men rose to their feet gasping for breath.

"Does His Highness need a respite?" Miraz gasped, clearly needing one himself.

Peter moved his left arm trying to ascertain if it was broken.

"Five minutes?" he returned.

"Three." Miraz ground out.

Miraz walked back and threw his helmet down in front of Glozelle.

"I am sure you won't let it get that close again!" he spat at his general.

At the Narnian line Edmund approached Peter and helped him take his armour of his left arm so that he could examine it. Peter winced.

"Keep smiling." Edmund muttered to Peter. Peter looked at the Narnian army and saw their worried expressions. He raised his sword and forced a smile through the pain, resulting in another deafening cheer from the Narnians.

As Caspian came over to help Peter, Edmund could see Tess and Susan among the archers on The How also looking down worriedly. He gave Tess a small smile remembering the brief argument they had had before he had gone to help Peter with his armour.

"I want you up with Susan on The How with the archers" he had said to his wife.

"What happened to you wanting me no further away from me than this" she countered, slipping into his arms and pulling his head down to hers for a kiss.

Edmund leaned into the kiss. He wanted with all his body and soul to just stay here with his wife and lose himself in her. But …

"We can't Tess" he said pulling away. "I need you safe."

Tess pouted at him.

"Besides" Edmund added as an afterthought. Susan could do with your support after all that has happened with Miraz."
If anything Tess looked even angrier.

"Edmund Randal Pevensie" she growled at him. "Do not use your sister as an excuse. She is the strongest woman I know. And you know well that she does not need me to hold her hand!"

Edmund sighed drawing Tess back into his embrace. The truth then …

"I cannot concentrate on Peter and you at the same time. I can't keep you both safe so close to Miraz. If you were there, so close to the enemy, my eyes would be drawn to you instead of on my brother."

Tess rolled her eyes.

"Why did you not just say that in the first place?" she asked exasperatedly.

Edmund shrugged and gave Tess the crooked grin that he knew she could not resist. It worked. Tess leaned into him for another kiss …

Shaking his head to bring himself back to the present Edmund tore his eyes away from his wife to examine Peter's arm as Caspian looked worriedly on, Edmund turned to his brother.

"I think it's dislocated … On three."

Caspian grabbed Peter to hold him in place as Edmund grasped his brother's shoulder and arm firmly.

"One"

"What do you think happens back home if you die here? …"

"Two"

"You know, you've always been there. I never really—Arrggh!"

"Three." Edmund had pulled the shoulder back into place. "Save it for later."

Nodding at his brother with a forced smile Peter walked back out to meet Miraz.

Taking the offensive in the hopes of wearing the older man out Peter attacked quickly, but Miraz showing great skill was able to block the High King and began an offensive of his own. Peter was hard put to defend himself against the heavier man who was making full use of his weight and bulk.

Eventually however Miraz showed signs of tiring and began to slow down, eventually falling and losing his grip on his sword following a frenzied attack from the High King. Peter raised his sword and was about to strike and end the duel …

"Respite! Respite!" Miraz gasped.

Seeing Peter hesitate Edmund yelled from the side lines.

"Now's not the time for chivalry, Pete!"

But Peter lowered his sword and started walking back to his side. However, as his back was turned, Miraz took up his sword and ran towards Peter's unprotected back – unprotected that is, apart from the watchful eyes of his brother.

"Look out!"

Hearing his brother and seeing where his frantic gaze was directed Peter dodged the blow just in time and grabbing the sword as it fell used its momentum to twist it towards his opponent and stab him beneath his arm.

Miraz moaned and fell to his knees in front of the High King.

Seeing Peter hesitating to strike, Miraz sneered up at him.

"What's the matter, boy? Too cowardly to take a life?"

Peter stood in front of the usurper, the countless lives that he had had to take running through his mind. 'But not this one' he thought to himself.

"It's not mine to take." He said to Miraz, every inch the High King. Then Peter turned and looked at Caspian handing his Uncle's sword to him.

Caspian strode forward with rage in his face taking the sword and slowly raising it over his Uncle's bowed head.

"Perhaps I was wrong." Miraz said looking up at Caspian. "It seems you have the makings of a good Telmarine king after all." He finished bowing his head again.

Caspian thought of all the lives that Miraz had taken; his father, the Narnians, countless others. He raised the sword and prepared to strike, but at that moment something caused him to glance briefly over his shoulder at Susan who smiled sweetly at him. He remembered their conversation that morning …

He had deliberately sought Susan out, she had appeared to be avoiding him the night before and he did not want to go into battle with things left unsaid between them. He found Susan sitting in the room with the Stone Table gazing up at the carving of Aslan.

"Did you know that it was the night that Aslan was killed at the Stone Table that I really started believing in myself, believing in Narnia, believing in Aslan?" Susan asked without turning around.

"Why then?" Caspian asked softly.

Susan sighed. "It was the first time I took a risk for Narnia. Aslan told us to go but I decided that we should stay … that as future Queens we had the responsibility to see what happened and to act accordingly. Up until then I had been listening to my fears, disguised them as logic. I looked to the past instead of looking forward to our future in Narnia. That night is when I feel that I began to be a Queen."

"Susan …" Caspian approached the Queen slowly.

"No" Susan finally turning to him. "Let me get this out … When we went back to that other place, England. I was so devastated that I had to protect myself. So, I went back to the old way again. The logic, the looking back instead of forward. I forgot to live. And then, when I came back here. I was so scared, scared that it wouldn't last. That I didn't let it in." Here she turned to Caspian.

"I didn't let you in. But then with all that happened with Miraz. I realised that I had to let myself believe again. Believe in myself … Narnia … Aslan … you."

Caspian stared in disbelief at the Gentle Queen. Was she saying what he thought he was saying?"

Susan smiled gently at him.

"I'm standing at the Stone Table again Caspian" she said stepping up to him. "And I'm ready to look forward … with you."

Caspian stared into Susan's bright blue eyes lovingly. He had waited so long for this moment and now, now he was almost afraid to act. Achingly slowly he reached out his hand and traced the contours of Susan's cheek. She leaned into his touch, reaching her own hand to stroke her fingers through his hair. Caspian bought his other hand to the nape of Susan's neck and drew her to him.

Every other time they had kissed, it had been on the spur of the moment, without thought or planning, frantic and rushed. But this kiss was soft and tender. Each taking the time to enjoy the other in their newfound love. Caspian drew back slowly.

"But I have made so many mistakes. I am not worthy of you … not worthy of Narnia …"
"Caspian" Susan said sweetly. "You have admitted your mistakes. Apologised to me, to my brothers, to the Narnians. And you strive for a better future. That makes you a better man already. And in any case, you are all that I need, all that I want."

And with that Susan brought her lips back to his …

Caspian turned to regard his Uncle kneeling before him.

Susan was his future, Miraz was in the past. He had to start living for the future, not mourning the past. Had to work to make things better, not focus on regret for what he had lost. Caspian raised the sword even higher and with a loud scream stabbed it into the ground in front of his Uncle.

"Not one like you." He hissed. "Keep your life, but I am giving the Narnians back their kingdom."

As Caspian strode away from his Uncle without looking back the Narnians cheered him raucously.

While all the Narnians were focused on Caspian, Glozelle walked over to his defeated King with the pretence of helping him up.

"I will deal with you when this is over." Miraz growled at him furiously.

But behind Miraz's back, Glozelle took out an arrow and stabbed it into his King's back.

"It is over." He murmured softly as Miraz gasped and fell to the ground at his feet.