Disclaimer: Never have I ever owned a published novel (yet). This is just me putting an ornament on someone else's palace.

Beta'd by trustingHim17, as always! My thanks for the skilled help with commas, phrasing, and clarity!

OOOOO

The Hawk bowed its brown head then, as if he could not help himself, peered up at Peter, taking in every part of his appearance. "Your brother and the main force are split in three parts, Your Majesty, and they besiege the three entrances we have found. This one we missed. I am sorry. We tried—the Squirrel Patterfeet told us you were unharmed-"

"It is found now, and I along with it," Peter reassured the Bird.

"Your sisters stay with the archers above the field of battle-"

"Both my sisters came here?" Peter interrupted, frowning as he noted the plural. Lucy had fought in battles before, despite her brothers' initial misgivings, but Susan hated war and had only fought twice, when Cair Paravel itself was under siege.

The Hawk paused. "The entirety of Cair Paravel's residents wanted to come, High King. The gardeners offered their skills with shovels, the maids and cooks with services for food and armour on our way—there is not a single page who didn't want to come to your rescue. I don't think these men knew what wrath they were unleashing, once Queen Susan came back. None of us could bear the set face with which she recited the villain's terrible words. I am glad that you are found, and well."

"For which we may give thanks to Aslan," Peter responded, a bit absently. He turned, scanning the mountain above the cave entrance. If the archers were above, and if his sisters were there—he would not have Uvayeth see them. "Fly to our nearest soldiers and bid them come here; once you see them arrive, fly to the other closest entrance and tell them in the space of an hour to attack. Our group will enter this unguarded entrance and come at them from behind. We end this evil today, by the grace of Aslan." The Hawk nodded, and Peter launched him into the air. He saw the scout safely away and turned to the two soldiers. "Bind your former master; we leave him here." The two moved swiftly at his command, and Peter smiled, knowing that seeing the swift obedience of the Hawk had transferred a little of Peter's authority to these two soldiers. They were his—for now.

"Peter!" The High King straightened, searching the mountain rising above him. "Peter! Peter! Fair brother, we're here!" There, scrambling over the mountains, he saw them; four Fauns, several red or black-bearded Dwarves, and there, in the midst of them, his two sisters. They scrambled down the rocks, sliding, stumbling, a Leopard at either side catching the girls if they fell too far. Peter smiled; apparently Edmund had had enough of family members in danger and was taking no chances with their sisters.

"Stay and guard our entrance," the High King commanded. "Remember, your choices are justice with us, or imprisonment and then murder with them." He raised his hands and grabbed the rocks above his head, swinging himself up over the entrance to the cave. He got one leg over the nearest ledge, and used it to raise himself to the more gradual slope. He was not going to let his sisters do all the work for this reunion; he had missed them.

Up, and up, and up, and he could hear the claws scratching stones as Leo and Por scrambled to catch his almost frenzied sisters, Lucy still calling his name. One more boulder, and he braced himself. Lucy's arms were around his waist a moment later, her weight testing his balance, and Peter held her close with one arm. The other he reached out to Susan, who had taken the more difficult path (sparing her younger sister), and who was pushing stray hair out of her face as she scanned him anxiously. She smiled as water began filling her eyes, and she came forward and buried her head in Peter's other shoulder. Peter, still alert to danger, relaxed as the Fauns and Dwarves surrounded them, faces out and standing guard. He closed his eyes and held his family.

Lucy was the first to pull away with a breathless laugh. "Our brother Edmund will be jealous that we found you first. His face was grim indeed when he heard what that wretch threatened."

"You are not hurt?" came Susan's gentle inquiry. Peter shook his head.

"Not more than when last you saw me, Gentle Queen. A few bruises and healing scrapes." Holding Susan closer for a single moment, he let his soul settle—his sisters were here—and let her go. "Part of our soldiers should be here soon; I mean to lead them through the tunnels and take our enemies from behind."

"We come with you," Lucy interrupted him. Peter looked at her determined face and inwardly groaned. It was rare he had won against her when her she looked so set.

"Truly, my brother, I also wish to keep the peace of mind that seeing you brings, far more than staying peacefully atop a mountain whilst you do battle inside it," Susan added quietly and earnestly. Peter studied the two faces, his heart giving in. His absence would have been quite hard on them.

"I do not think I have the time to win this argument." The High King turned, readying to climb back down. "But this I require; you stay behind the soldiers at all times, and if the battle goes against us and we are captured, you do not reveal yourselves as Queens. For this, I have your words?"

"You have mine," Susan agreed, her tone firm as she took his offered hand and began to once again climb down, the Fauns and Dwarves climbing down beside them.

"And mine." Lucy had taken his other hand, and he heard her tone rise to merriment again. "But I do not think the argument would have gone in your favor, brother mine."

"No indeed," her sister serenely agreed. "For the three of us decided that until you are safely back on your throne orders to the three of us hold no weight; you are captive rather than king."

Peter mock-scowled; but the gentle ribbing of his siblings was the sweetest thing he had experienced since he left them behind, and he knew they were well aware of it.

"And our brother Edmund longs most anxiously to find you, so that he too may enjoy your presence when you are without your authority. Have you seen him?" Susan asked, pausing and releasing Peter's hand to climb down a particularly large bolder. Behind her Leo growled anxiously.

"No," Peter admitted, gladly taking the hand she held out again. "I sent one scout to make him aware of what is happening, but-" He scanned all of the mountain within eyesight once again. "I wish he were here," he admitted quietly, too low for any but his sisters to hear. "Perhaps together we might have persuaded the two of you to stay behind," he added with a smile. He stopped, tugging on their hands to stop them as well. He turned, kneeling, and grabbing onto the rocks with a firm grasp before letting his body swing over the opening into the mountain. Once he stilled, he let himself drop, a Faun dropping to the side, and both of them immediately holding up their arms for the next soldier. Oreius had made them practice this, till speed and silence made the motions almost a dance. Once all the archers had landed, the sturdiest Faun and King Peter reached for the Queens, gently landing them on their feet. Leo and Por jumped down, Por with a quiet snort for the two-legged creatures' lack of balance.

The two Calormenes were eyeing the Narnians warily, but Peter nodded to a still-sleeping Uvayeth, and they remained where he had commanded.

At that moment swift footsteps, coming from the mountain's side, reached Peter's ears. "In the cave!" he hissed. "Dwarves in front, then Queens, Fauns watch the rear! You and you, pull Uvayeth inside, but do not untie him!" He waited till the soldiers and his sisters were inside, the Dwarves leaning against the rocky sides in which they were so at home, bows bent and arrows strung. Peter stood with the ones on the far wall, waiting, waiting, as the footsteps—several sets, a troop was coming, but Narnian or kidnappers?—grew louder.

A rhythmic marching; soldiers, most likely, and the Calormenes hadn't come, but still-

A screech from overhead; Peter looked up. The Hawk was circling again, and Peter ducked outside, echoing the call. Once again the Bird dived for his arm, settling there just as two, five, no, seven Great Cats bounded into sight, the first heralds of the approaching group.

"We took a winding path so it would appear we joined the other two portions, King Peter. I've delivered yours commands to the other two groups, and your brother-" the Hawk paused, his feathers ruffling and falling nervously. "Your brother commanded me to tell you that if you injured yourself any more in a battle where you've sworn not to fight he's sending on you a delegation to Archenland for a month to keep you out of trouble. Since Prince Corin causes all the trouble their land needs. Sir."

Peter laughed out loud, and he heard the silver laughs of his sisters join his. "Well delivered, good cousin. Fear not! I am not quite so foolish as to join a battle when I may not bear a sword. These be the soldiers that were sent?" He turned, and his face lit up. He strode forward, transferring the Hawk to his shoulder so he could hold both hands out to the ageing lord. "Lord Jarrick,* the sight of you is most welcome. I had thought you had forsaken all essaying to war!"

The common-sense man shrugged his shoulders. "That was before our High King got himself captured; there's no man or beast in Narnia who wouldn't head the call to war then. It's good to see you, High King Peter." He clasped Peter's hands in return, holding them firmly in his rough-callused palms, squeezing them once firmly and then releasing them. He bowed and gestured at the soldiers behind him. "We are yours to command, High King. I hear you lead us to take these rascals by surprise?"

"Yes, and at once," Peter agreed. "Dogs to the front! Are there Dogs?" Three came bounding forward, brown and black ears pricked, eyes bright, and tails wagging. "I know not the way to the entrances, only to the main cavern. Once there—silently!—use your senses to lead us to where the men lay armed. Soldiers first, archers behind. Archers!" he said, turning to those still inside the cave mouth. "There were yet some villains sleeping when we came out. Divide yourselves, half to fire at the front, half behind, lest we ourselves be surprised. Queens, you know your station. Leo, Por, at their sides at all times. Gruffkiln, take a soldier and watch our captive with these Calormene guards; his hand is in this kidnapping. Bring him with us, but after the soldiers. In the name of Aslan—we go!"

He led the way, feet swift, and three of the Cats bounding beside him. He was grimly grateful for their presence; his own helplessness still irked him. But now—at last—this evil would be ended.

Past the turn, into the dimly lit torches, the heavy breathing of Dog, Dwarf, and the quiet breathes of Cat and Faun filling his ears. He might be helpless—his companions were not.

Farther, farther, light once again red and dim—and beside him, the Cats' fur began bristling. He slowed; now he could hear it, noises, grumpy and shouting, from ahead. Farther, farther, then the opening he sought, slipping through it and to the side, seeing three men, and two there, arguing far in the cavernous room. His troops spilled out behind him, and then the soft twang he'd heard so often before, echoed several times. All five men fell, arrows in their chests. A pause; Peter looked to the Cats, trusting their vision in the dark.

"No more here, my King," and he nodded, turning to the rest.

"Dogs, to your work," he offered softly.

A low growl, and sniffing, then the three ran in varying directions, each arriving at different doors. As they arrived at each they stood, silhouetted, nose to the floor to catch the scents. Another low growl, "Food!" as a short yip, and the smallest one, with the shortest fur, dashed off to the next door. The other two were not far behind.

From one door to the next, to the next, to the next, till the oldest turned excitedly, his long ears flapping at his speed. "Here, here, I can smell them!" he yipped, and the soldiers marched forward. Peter fell in with the Queens, for his oath at least allowed him to attack any man who dared harm them. Were it not for the danger to his sisters, he'd wish someone to try it.

"Quiet!" Jarrick commanded; he'd taken the lead once more. "Cats to the front, ready to jump them from behind; but wait first. Archers, you shoot first, and see how many you can reduce; as soon as the volley is away, Cats attack. We'll see how long they'll last, fighting at both ends!"

The passage they entered was short, the white light falling on them within a few strides. The opening was barricaded, though, wooden beams walling it and braced from behind till just below a man's height. The kidnappers were behind the wall, jeering at the Narnian soldiers on the other side. The archers entering had arrows already strung; they swiftly took their stance. Jarrick halted and crouched, the soldiers behind him crouching as well, the Cats tensing to spring, and then with a twang the arrows were released, seven of the fifteen men going down with cries of pain and three more immediately falling to the claws of the snarling Cats. The remaining five turned, jeers turning to cries of panic, only to be met by the swords of the remaining soldiers. Two of the kidnappers surrendered; the other three met their end in seconds.

"Is that the High King?" questioned a sharp voice outside, and Peter caught his breath.

"Edmund!"

"Peter!" A scraping noise from the outside, as the King tried to get through the barricade, and Peter ran forward, motioning for help to remove it. Before they could begin, however, Edmund's face appeared over the top, followed by his mail-clad waist, and then he was swinging one leg over. He swung the other over and dropped, already reaching for his brother. Peter hugged him, feeling the chain-mail on his shoulders, the sturdy strength of Narnian's Judge, and felt the last of his tension leave. Edmund pushed back a moment later. "You are unhurt?" Peter nodded, but Edmund eyed him anyway. "I'll take not your word for it, brother, but those of Narnia's healers, once the battle is over. Be our sisters with you?" he added anxiously. "Our good cousin Patterfeet saw them hurrying over the mountain—did you fin-"

"We're here, Edmund!" chorused the Queens, also pushing forward, and Peter reached out to hold them all, the Four joining in a longer, sweeter hug.

"And Peter is all right," Lucy assured Edmund, her voice coming from somewhere below Peter's face. "We watched him through the caves, and truly he moves with the quick feet of a soldier, and the freedom of the well!"

"Though I think a visit to the healers would be well, if only as punishment for the worry he has caused. What does the Just Judge think?" Susan asked.

"I think it were a fitting punishment and a wise one," Edmund agreed. "Will you let me go now?"

The Four laughed, and turned to the matters around them. Jarrick stood supervising the binding of the two prisoners, putting them with Uvayeth in the back, and assigning them more guards. Peridan and the remaining soldiers outside had just finished watching the Dwarves hack through the barricade. Together they threw the pieces to the side.

"You are yet bound not to fight?" Edmund asked Peter quietly.

"Unless harm threaten Susan," Peter responded, also softly.

"Then our sisters' well-being to you, and the enemy to me?" Peter grimaced. He would prefer to fight Dagguer himself, but what he preferred was foolishness. He nodded, and the Just King grinned, his eyes and teeth glittering in the light. "It is well, my brother, for a heavy reckoning awaits him. I have much enjoyed the thought of all I might do to such a man."

"Then take this into account in your reckoning." At Peter's tone the Queens also turned, and Edmund gave Peter his full attention. "His trade is the Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve, to a set of giants yet unknown, in a castle called Harfang." He paused, for truly this still sickened him, but hiding the truth, even from his sisters, did no one favours. "They buy our kind that they might make pies of us and eat us." Lucy and Susan drew in shocked breaths, and Edmund's grin dropped away to a look harder than the rocks around them.

"He knew of this as he traded them?" he asked quietly.

"He told me of it himself. Patterfeet did not tell you?" Edmund shook his head.

"We did not give him time."

"And the Narnians he kidnapped—are they still here?" Lucy whispered, heart-breaking sorrow in her tone. Peter shook his head, unable to look her in the eyes. This was all their failure.

"A reckoning indeed," Edmund said, his tone implacable and stern. Peter felt his brother's gloved fingers clench around his arm, and he looked over at his brother. "Did he mean this to be your fate?"

"Only if Uvayeth did not produce his fifteen slaves to take my place." Edmund grasped him more tightly, and Peter held his gaze a moment. "You came in time, my brother."

"And I give most heart-felt thanks to Aslan for that," Edmund sighed, his hand unclenching. "Stay with our sisters, would you? I do not like to have you away from us yet." He turned away before Peter could reply, already issuing orders, sending a few soldiers back to the beach to secure it, another six to take the prisoners along with them, and then, with Peridan beside him and the Dogs before him, heading back to the cavern down the cave.

One more large group left, Peter thought. One more group of evil-doers to punish for the harm they have wrought.

And Dagguer must be with them.

OOOOO

*Introduced in A Turtle's Tale.

Response to Anonymousme: I'm really glad it ended well. I'm guessing this one not quite so much? :) I did at least include the reunion for all three siblings! But the fight with Dagguer is the climax, so I wanted it to have its own chapter; plus, this chapter was five pages long already and I didn't want to be up till midnight writing it since I'd promised to get groceries for my mother and Aldis isn't open that late. But I'm sorry all the same. Thank you for catching both of those typos! They've been fixed; they always bug me if I go back and reread the story months later, but it's almost always on my phone where I can't fix them, so I really appreciate getting the chance to fix them beforehand. We live without fiction (or updates to our fiction), but it's a little less pleasant. I've been waiting for the sixth book of The Thief series ever since a couple days after the fifth one came out (after I finished reading it), and it was to come out 2019, but something happened (we haven't been told what), and it's delayed indefinitely. As a writer I understand how that can happen; as a reader, I scowl at the need for patience! And by the way-I'm glad you liked Patterfeet, I know he wasn't in this chapter, but he will be in the next one!