Chapter Twenty-One: Escape From Anvard Part 2

"We should stop here for the night. It's much too taxing too keep moving forward."

Peter frowned, hearing Caspian's voice break through the darkness. He could hear it in a soft murmur toward Susan, who was ahead of the group. Lucy and Brielle were on a horse a few feet behind them while Edmund stuck to the back of the group. Their horses plodded quietly over the ground as they traversed closer to Telmar.

They were a few hours away, Peter was sure. They'd made good time with how quickly they'd raced off into the night, not daring to slow down until they'd put a few miles and a few creek beds between them and Anvard. The bottoms of his pants were nearly dry, a reminder of the waters they plunged through without a second thought.

His bones rattled with each harsh thump of his horse jumping down from a steeper incline. Muscles ached in ways he didn't remember with having to lift and lower himself along with his horse's movements. It made him grit his teeth, but not as much as the way the others were talking about him, looking at him, as if he was damaged goods.

As if he couldn't hear.

"No," he commanded, voice breaking through the darkness. "Keep going."

At that, Susan twisted around in her saddle, turning away from Caspian. She shot her brother a worried glance. Peter looked evenly back at her. "Peter, if you keep pushing yourself forward, you're going to hurt yourself. I don't think it's very wise to exacerbate your injuries any further."

"I'm fine," Peter insisted.

"Pete, you're practically falling off your horse," Edmund spoke up. Peter turned around to glare at him, ignoring the pain that shot through his body as he did so. Edmund lowered his gaze, momentarily ashamed—or else it was the older brother, younger brother dynamic they repeatedly got stuck in—then lifted it once more. "Whether you're tired or if you're still in pain, it's not good if we keep going."

"I'm fine!" Then he winced when there was a particularly hard jolt that nearly sent him flinging forward, to wrap his arms around the neck of his horse. With a sigh, he sat up straight and tossed his reins aside. All eyes turned toward him. "If we don't get further away from Anvard, we're opening ourselves to an ambush."

"We've got an even better chance for an ambush, one we wouldn't succeed in, if you continue to push yourself," Caspian said firmly. He took in a deep breath through his nose, eyes shifting for a moment before he nodded. "I'm making the decision, we're stopping here." He pulled hard on his reins, his horse immediately dropping his head and coming to a stop.

The others did as well.

Anger rushed through Peter. "You don't get to decide what we do and don't do!"

"And I suppose that's your job?"

"As the King of Narnia—"

"—We're all Kings and Queens here," Susan interrupted, voice rising far enough to be a harsh yet stern whisper. Her eyes darted around the trees that surrounded them in case she could find anyone who was waiting them out. "None of us hold a higher rank than each other! Arguing isn't going to get us anywhere!" She glared between the two before turning her attention to Peter. Her glare remained. "Stopping isn't just for you, we're all tired, and all have to get some rest!" With that, she dropped her own reins and slid to the ground. "We're stopping for the night. Right here!"

Brielle and Lucy immediately slid down from their horse and set about making up camp. Peter could hear Edmund do the same behind him. He and Caspian sent one more glare at each other before they each did as they were told as well. Peter slid to the ground, gasping out a wince, pressing a hand to his side when he felt a stab of pain shoot through him.

"You know, one of these days you have to listen when we say you need to rest," Edmund remarked, coming up on Peter's other side. "Though we know, getting you to listen is like telling Lucy she needs to stop dreaming."

Peter fixed his brother with a hard stare. "I'm fine, Ed."

"If you were fine, you wouldn't have to keep insisting you were fine," Edmund gazed at his brother while Peter fell silent, looking away. He didn't speak again until Peter looked back at his brother. "You've been like this since things with Miraz ended. Even worse than when you took on all those bullies at school." Peter sighed. "You know I'm right."

"And I know you wouldn't usually say these things without the threat of death," Peter remarked grudgingly. He wrinkled his nose, watching Caspian, Lucy, Susan, and Brielle set up and get a campfire going. "I must look horrible."

"Not any more horrible than you usually do," Edmund joked. His smile faded after a second. "But it is worrying. You're pushing yourself so hard…I think Lu's afraid if we don't watch you, you'll keel over."

"Lucy has always had an active imagination."

"You haven't stopped since we got back here." Edmund shrugged. "I thought you and Caspian were getting along…you're not alone in trying to run things anymore. Caspian is an ally of ours, not our enemy. It's not like he's going to wait for you to go to sleep and stab you through the heart just so he can run all of Narnia and Telmar." He smiled at his own joke.

Peter smiled in response.

"What's going on with you, Pete?"

What was going on with him?

Everything and nothing.

Wishing for the life he'd want before he was ripped away from Narnia, but knew he'd never had again. He wanted nothing more than for his mind to be clear of all worries and guilt of what he'd missed in the years they'd been gone. Why did it seem like the others were able to move on so quickly when he was stuck in the same place? When the guilt tore at him day after day. When the choices he'd made all had consequences that seemed like it was the wrong choice no matter what he did. Where it seemed to be easier to be at odds with Caspian, for taking away the life and kingdom he'd known forever all because he was anointed King since they stopped Miraz.

Where it seemed he had all the pressure of the world on his shoulders that would never ease up no matter which world he tried to live in. In Narnia, he had to be a King and was responsible for everyone and everything in the kingdom. In his real life, which he barely thought about, he was…nothing in comparison. It was a hard transition, going back to real life, where he had to live everything over again. Where he didn't have the same respect he'd once had before…going back to being another face in the crowd.

They'd fixed things with Miraz but…things still hadn't truly been fixed. If his ambush had anything to say about it. His presence in Anvard had put all of them in danger, and, more importantly, put the bourgeoning treaty in danger. If the Calormens had already soured the Archenlanders on Narnia as it was, the castle being overrun by Calormens made things irreversible.

"Nothing," Peter finally replied.

"You'd tell me if there was?"

"Of course I would," Peter replied. He reached out and lightly jostled Edmund on the shoulder, hiding the pain in his face when Edmund did it back to him. He stepped away from his horse, gently brushing his fingers along its side in a calming gesture, then moved to sit by the fire.

He pressed his hand into his side, as he lowered himself to the ground and looked into the fire, allowing the flames to warm him. As the others settled down, Brielle swept around the royals, giving them packages of food they'd snuck away from the kitchens before sitting down herself.

They ate in a long silence, working to lower the adrenaline that rushed through their veins from how quickly they'd fled into the night. Finally, Peter took in a breath, a calming one, and said, "Once light breaks, we need to return to Telmar."

"They'd expect us to go there, wouldn't they?" Caspian murmured. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Maybe it'd be better if we were to go to Cair Paravel."

Lucy's eyes widened in surprise. "It hasn't been completed."

"I'd think the Calormens would look for us there as well," Susan surmised. "They'd found Peter out there before. Once word gets out that they were unable to strike Peter down twice…they'll erect an army to come take us over by force." She shook her head. "If only we could figure out what it was they wanted. Why they're waiting until now." She lifted her gaze toward Caspian. "You don't think this was something Miraz had cooked up, as a new measure in case he failed?"

Caspian looked to Susan with a gently smile. He shook his head, then reached up to push his hair back from his face. "There wasn't much time to talk about it. He was too busy planning my own death once his son had been born."

"Of course." Susan lowered her chin, shook her head. "I should've realized it'd be a rude question."

"It isn't rude, it's something that's crossed my mind as well." Caspian frowned deeply. The shadows on his face flickered wildly. "There's a lot of things my uncle could've decided without my knowledge. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Dr. Cornelius. I know he and the rest of the Telmarines want to erase their discomfort over the ways they're connected to what my uncle had done over the previous years. They'll do whatever they can to help us. All of Miraz's followers were wiped out with Aslan's roar."

"Then Telmar must be safe," Lucy decided. "They're waiting for us to get back. If it wasn't safe, they would've sent word."

Edmund shrugged quietly. "She's got a point." He bobbed his head back and forth. "I hate to admit it, but she has a point." He rolled his eyes when Lucy gave a pleased smile. It wasn't every day that Edmund gave any of his siblings a compliment without it coming from a begrudging place. "We haven't heard anything from Telmar, and we planned to be back after talking to King Nain and Queen Aria as it was…"

"We're just arriving sooner than anyone anticipated," Peter said. "That shouldn't make a difference. They're waiting on our return, and should have patrols out the closer we get." His knees started to bounce up and down. The leftover adrenaline of their race from Anvard starting to drain away. He ran the palms of his hands over his knees, trying to wipe away the sweat. "Assassination attempts…" he shook his head. "There's always a risk of it whenever we travel. The closer we get to Telmar, the better off we'll be."

"I know you want to get there as soon as possible, Peter, but that's not a question right now," Susan said firmly. "We want to ensure we're safe before we rush off into a trap. Don't let your anxiety cloud your judgements."

Peter opened his mouth to respond then closed it again.

Anxiety?

He didn't have anxiety over anything. He just wanted answers and to know what it was they were heading into. A war. That was clear. Dulcea had even predicted it. And he didn't believe in predictions.

"I knew of that to happen long before it had," Dulcea interrupted. "But no one believed me. No one believed I could see the future. I've seen the rise and fall of Miraz, and of Caspian coming into power once the Telmarines were defeated." Dulcea's eyebrow rose. "But there's more than that to prove my abilities. There's going to be a war coming from a direction you will not be able to prepare for. Other than my words, there will be no preliminary movements that will come to your attention until it is too late."

"A war that can only be stopped once all differences are set aside. Once the greatest thing of value has been sacrificed to stop the warring sides. If not, there will be much loss, darkness spreading all over the lands."

"Dulcea said as much," Peter murmured, eyebrows coming together as her words slammed into his head. He ignored Lucy's triumphant look at the mention of the fortune teller's name. "There was going to be a war coming from a direction we won't be able to prepare for. I never prepared for any assassination attempts coming while I rested in the infirmary." He rubbed his chin. "Almost as if they knew."

"The Calormens had been on their side before," Susan agreed. "To tell Archenland that we weren't to return, that Narnians were a threat. It wouldn't be so out of left field if they agreed with them now."

Brielle spoke up for the first time from getting away from the castle. Her eyebrows came together, irritation passing over her face. "Archenland wouldn't do that," She protested. "They wouldn't turn their backs on Narnia that quickly."

Lucy reached over, pressing her hand on top of Brielle's. "We know Archenland was your home, but it's changed, too," she pointed out. "Since the time we've been gone…since you've been gone. It may not be the same as it used to be."

Brielle looked at Lucy in dismay, closing her mouth. He cheeks puffed as she pouted. "They may be trying to protect themselves, but the Calormens are enemies to everyone. King Nain and Queen Aria wouldn't align with them outright."

Peter tapped at the ground with his index finger. "Then how'd the Calormens know to attack me there?"

"Maybe they followed your company back from Cair Paravel?" She suggested.

"And how'd they know I was going to Cair Paravel?" Peter demanded. "Only the company at Anvard knew I'd be traveling."

Edmund tilted his head back, running his hands over his face. "Please don't start another one of your fights," he groaned. "It's usually really bloody funny but I'm too tired to take it right now." Lucy giggled quietly while Caspian and Susan exchanged a glance and knowing smile over the flames.

Something flashed over Brielle's face that made her look away, bringing her hand up to rub against her brooch. Her mouth moved as if she were muttering something, but the sounds of the woods around them, the crackling of the fire, drowned out what she was saying. Peter watched her closely, not particularly liking that he was bursting her bubble, but knew it had to be done. It was for her own good. If Narnia wasn't the same as it used to be, then Archenland couldn't be either. It was a tough reality to face, but the sooner she did…

"King Nain was taking his time to make a decision about re-strengthening the treaty between Narnia and Archenland because there's already an alliance between Archenland and Calormen," Peter said slowly, everything falling into place in his mind. His tone became harsher as the seconds passed. "Once Archenaland was aware we were going to visit them, they probably sent word to the Calormens."

"You don't know that," Brielle snapped.

"They've been conversing with each other the entire time!" Peter snapped back. "Watching us…" With a huff, Brielle got to her feet, stomping away from the fire, muttering under her breath as she lifted the bottom of her dress high to keep it from snagging on the branches and twigs she crashed through. "The sooner you accept it, the better!"

"That's enough," Susan snapped. "That's enough from everyone!" She got up to follow her lady-in-waiting.

Peter closed his eyes, brain immediately flashing him back to laying in the bed in the infirmary. How he felt something…a sort of presence that had been tracking him, following him since he'd been ambushed at Cair Paravel. A mind's eye watching him every time he moved, took in every miniscule twitch of his toes or fluttering of his eyelashes. As he faded in and out of sleep, working to recuperate from his wounds, the darkness made it worse. Where he would lay his head down and become consumed by his thoughts.

The presence would increase in size, seeming to press down on him from all sides.

Then, finally, he opened his eyes to find Brielle leaning above him. Brought up his hand to grab her wrist, pulling her to safety so that the assassin behind her wouldn't skewer them on the same blade. He could still hear his mattress being ripped in half from the sword that sank through it like it was a marshmallow. Then, when he'd grabbed the sword and strung it through the assassin, it was with all the power and force of that presence behind the plunge that drove him forward.

The presence was there then, surrounding him in the darkness of the night. Pulsing and swelling as his anger grew and faded with each breath.

"We'll go to Aslan's How," He finally decided. "Wait things out, then return to Telmar. Make sure we double our efforts of patrols as we work to figure out what to do next. Wait for Cair Paravel to be completed. Strengthen our numbers and become prepared with the war comes our way."

"War hasn't been declared yet," Edmund reminded him.

"It's only a matter of time," Peter said firmly. With that, he laid back to go to sleep, purposefully turning his back to the others.

He let out a deep breath, working to relax so he could get peaceful sleep.

If sleep would consume him. The last time, he had fallen into an endless slumber that brought up harsh memories and turned them into the worst nightmares. Pitch black darkness surrounded him with what sounded like a haunting wolf howl in the background.

Hours passed.

Brielle had come back to the campfire after taking tie to cool off. Caspian, Edmund, and Lucy had all fallen asleep, but Susan stayed awake, watching the fire. Peter's words rolled through her head. She wondered the truth behind it, if there was any way that the Calormens and Archenlanders weren't working together, but all signs pointed to it being the most logical answer.

Susan always dealt with logic and reason. It had never let her down. Things certainly have changed in Narnia, in other kingdoms… she wondered, though, if part of the change was her fault. If Peter's being assaulted, in some way, had to do with her approach to Queen Aria's taking court over the criminal in the Anvard courtyard. She had stuck her nose in another kingdom's business, knew it was a risk to the treaty, but couldn't bare to see a life taken out when there wasn't a just trial to determine if the punishment fit the crime.

Things had taken a turn for the worse shortly afterward. It'd be foolish to think she didn't have a bit to do with it.

"Would you like me to undo your hair before you go to bed?"

Lifting her head, Susan saw Brielle had moved next to her, her hands pressed into her lap as she waited for her queen's word one way or another. Susan smiled and nodded, allowing Brielle to rise and shift behind her.

"I know it's hard to feel you have to constantly prove your allegiance to Narnia," Susan said quietly, not wanting to rouse the others. She gently lowered herself to the grass, tucking her legs beneath her. "Especially with Archenland being as much a home to you as Narnia was. Sometimes, we forget you had a life there. Just as we had a life back in England."

Susan closed her eyes against the brushing of fingers through her hair. As Brielle quietly and deftly took the pins out of her hair and unbraided the long ponytail that fell down her back. Susan opened her eyes once more. "I know you're upset with him," Susan said quietly. "Which isn't much of a surprise, you two have been at each other's throats since you laid eyes on each other." Brielle made a low humming sound. "But Peter's right." Susan ignored the sharp tug of her hair, a shocked response from Brielle to the queen's comment. "It looks like the treaty hasn't been taken because of the Calormen hold on Archenland. There's nothing we can do about it now, if they've made their choice. And it'd be best for you if you broke your ties with Archenland."

Susan reached up her hand and grasped Brielle's. Susan twisted to look at her over her shoulder, looking her best friend in the eye. Brielle looked back at her, listening intently. "I told you before, it'd be a betrayal we couldn't overlook, if Archenland didn't accept our treaty. It appears that things are going that way. We must be prepared, one way or another." Susan pressed her lips together. "I have to ask…do you think Silas or Vincent have anything to do with what happened to Peter?"

Brielle immediately shook her head. "They'd never do that."

"Silas is part of King Nain's royal guard, he's a knight."

"I've known Silas a long time—"

"—Silas is someone you used to know; Narnia has changed in that time." Susan's eyes turned hard, hoping, wished Brielle understood what she was trying to say. Hoping she knew it was for her own good. "Caspian's loyalties were tested in our battle with Miraz, it seems that yours are going to be tested if this war comes to pass. It's not going to be easy."

"I don't expect it to be." Brielle slid her hand out from Susan's and went back to finish untying Susan's hair. When she finished, she framed it around Susan's face then moved to sit next to her. The two watched as the last embers of the drying fire burned out. "I reckon I don't know what I'll do when I get to that point."

"We'll be right there with you." Susan grasped Brielle's hand once more, held it tightly in her own. "Just like you've been there for us with Jadis and Miraz. I hope it brings you some peace."

She really did.

It was hard to see how haunted Brielle had continued to seem as the days continued to pass. A if something was plaguing her.

A/N: And, we're finally moving into the second arc of the story! There's plenty coming up, but what are you looking to see more of? Peter and Brielle? Susan and Brielle's friendship? The Pevensies' relationship with each other? Brielle's time in Narnia? There's a lot more coming!

Thanks for sticking around as I start to update again.

Cheers,

-Riles