Sorry/not sorry for that cliffhanger. :P Yep, I'm evil with things like that.

In the caves, Peter, gasping for air, was still gripping Susan tightly as she screamed in agony. His head was tucked into her neck, hiding his hot tears. Even in his worst nightmares, this had not crossed his mind.

Once Susan had managed to control herself from screaming, she began stroking Peter's hair comfortingly, easing his pain as well. Her actions made him feel like they were siblings again and felt free to speak with her once more.

"Su, I'm so sorry," he whispered to her. "I…If I had known…you know I'd never command them to hurt Ed."

"I know. I know," she whispered back, much to his relief. He had thought this might be the last straw for their family if she blamed him for this as she seemed to for the rest. "I...That's one thing I could never believe of you. Just like…like how I couldn't actually bring myself to really poison you."

It took Peter a moment to register that Susan was telling him. He choked up, unable to respond, but instead kissed her cheek softly. That seemed to pacify her as well, for she sank down and dried her eyes, seeming to remember they had company. Peter followed her example numbly.

"Linn, what happened?" Susan said, attempting to keep her voice strong, but when it wavered, Peter grasped her hand to help support her. Out of the side of her eye, Susan saw that some of the Animals had begun sniffing as though something was amiss, but was too distracted to care.

"We were escaping Cair Paravel, just past Mirari Path. The King Edmund…he…began asking about the Queen's plan," Linn began, her tail twitching back and forth nervously. The Animals began sniffing some more. Peter was about to say something, but then couldn't bring himself

"I don't care about that. What happened to my brother?!" Susan said in a guttural sob.

"I…I'm getting to that, your Majesty," the Fox said nervously, dipping her head to the Queen even though Susan hardly cared. "He…he said it would take a miracle for your Majesties to ever reunite once again."

"The only miracle I want right now is my brother back," Susan said miserably, feeling that nothing would fill the void in her heart.

Linn's tail twitched awkwardly at that remark. "I…Well…that was about the level of the miracle he was hoping for."

"What does that mean?" Peter frowned, pulling Susan in closer to his heart. Around them, even more of the Animals seemed alert to something. A passing thought in both of the siblings' minds realized it was a sure sign of an intruder, but neither could be bothered to care now that their brother was gone.

The Fox took a breath so deep that her entire body shook. "The King knew a tragedy such as his death would bring you together and hoped that at his returning you would still be brought together."

Susan's eyes widened as Peter clutched her more tightly. "W-What?"

In the distance, they could hear light footsteps. Suddenly much more interested in who the mysterious intruder may be, Susan quickly got to her feet, Peter being dragged along. "E-Edmund?" Susan said tentatively, afraid to even hope.

"Um, hi," Edmund said slowly, walking around the corner, very much alive with his typical lopsided, sheepish grin on his face.

"Edmund!" Susan and Peter both shouted, rushing towards him.

"Don't you ever do that to us again!" Susan exclaimed.

"Ed…I can't believe…this is…Ed…" Peter choked up, twisting his fingers into his brother's hair as he cried. Many of the Narnians too wanted to go to their young King, but held back to allow his siblings their moment with him.

"Don't worry, Su. I really hope nothing like this happens again," Edmund muttered into Peter's tunic, smothered but happy to be so. "Especially since there won't be another situation like this, right?"

"It won't. I swear," Peter promised immediately. Edmund would have never hurt Susan this way unless he thought the situation was desperate.

Susan glanced at Peter. There was no way the man who had showed so much anguish could have acted so against them. "It won't."

"You trust me?" Peter said hesitantly.

Susan pursed her lips, then nodded. "And you I? Even after poisoning you?"

"But you didn't. So…I know you can't do something like that," Peter murmured, his attention still on his little brother. He was surprised by a gentle kiss to his cheek. While Susan was more than affectionate with her two little siblings, she was generally more reserved around Peter, especially in public. He reached for her hand to squeeze it gently.

"Then…there's a lot to talk about now that we're all on the same page," Susan said, trying to regain control over her emotions.

"First thing is to restore your good names," Peter said firmly.

"Than this whole façade would be for naught. We will simply modify Edmund's and my plan," Susan argued quickly, the moment quickly lost as they began to squabble as they always did.

But to her surprise, Peter relented. "Well, I suppose that's your call then. It's just that I wish you'd come back to the castle with me though."

Susan softened slightly. "I wish that too. But…"

"I know," Peter agreed. "I…I'll bring Lucy here tomorrow."

"She can't. Everyone will know if she knows. What you will be doing tomorrow is putting the fake me on trial for Edmund's escape," Susan said firmly.

"Everyone leave us," Peter ordered to the various Narnians around them. Hesitantly, the Narnians shuffled off. However, several stubbornly stayed. "All of you," Peter ordered to the Centaurs. Susan nodded curtly to the guards who were still surrounding her and Edmund.

"With this façade, Edmund and I are free to investigate. Their concentration will be on the castle," Susan argued instantly.

"This means losing troops to supposedly searching for Edmund," Peter tried countering. Mostly, he just wanted them home where he could keep an eye on them himself, but that was sure to not go over well with Susan.

"We can arrange for a significant number of the troops to be those involved in the plot," Edmund suggested cautiously.

"We aren't going to budge on this. Too many of our plots are already in motion," Susan said, her mouth set hard.

"Just how many plots are you involved in?" Peter groaned, frustrated.

"Peridan has all the intelligence we had when we last spoke to him and will fill you in. Or send someone to fill you in if there's no way for him to access you without raising suspicions," Susan said succinctly.

"Peridan. What exactly is his story?" Peter said, remembering his annoyance and anger at Peridan.

"I wouldn't mind knowing that either," Edmund said in an almost amused tone.

"What does that mean?" Susan exclaimed, turning to Edmund who simply shrugged, a small glint in his eye.

"What?" Peter said, even more confused.

"Fairly sure he's more than just loyal to Susan," Edmund snickered.

"Edmund!" Susan protested as Peter balked. To keep Peter from asking questions that she wouldn't have the answer to, she quickly changed the topic, "The longer you linger here, the more suspicious this is, for your practice sessions do not often take this long. You must return to the castle presently. I will find some way for Peridan to fill you in. In the meantime, do not trust anyone. Some of my ladies and guards as well as Edmund's men and guards are most definitely involved. Anyone we left behind, those are the ones we cannot yet trust, save those Esperanza and Peridan will direct you towards."

"I will speak to them anon then," Peter promised.

To his surprise, Edmund started to him, tightly hugging him. Peter embraced him back, smoothing his hair like he had when Edmund was little. "Love you, Pete. Be safe," he mumbled.

"Love you too, Ed. I'm so sorry for ever doubting you," he said, trying not to cry again. After thinking he had lost his brother, he could never let Edmund go again. But the way Edmund was so comfortable in his arms made it clear that Edmund too had forgiven him completely. Peter could have stayed like that forever if there hadn't been so many things pressing on them.

As they pulled away, Edmund said, "If you tell anyone this happened, I'll deny it."

Peter laughed. "Same, brother."

Then he turned to Susan, whose arms were crossed tightly against her body, clearly not about to demonstrate any sibling love. "Farewell, dear sister."

She looked like she might be struggling, but all she said was, "Remember, don't trust anyone unless we've checked them out for you."

Peter nodded curtly before turning away to find his Centaurs, a bit hurt that she couldn't even give a proper farewell. But halfway down the hall, he heard her almost reluctantly say, "Wait."

He turned back and saw she had uncrossed her arms. "Susan?" he asked hopefully.

She quickly crossed to him and gently kissed his cheek.

"Love you, Su," he began. She seemed a bit startled, but smiled softly.

"You too. Keep safe. And keep Lu safe. I'm worried about her," Susan said, brushing a strand of hair out of his eyes in a motherly fashion.

"I will. I won't fail you again," he promised, embracing her. She stiffened, but eventually embraced him back.

After Peter was out of earshot, Edmund turned to Susan. "So you actually trust him now?"

"No," Susan said bluntly. "I trust that he wasn't behind any of this framing. And I trust that he believes us. But I don't trust that he'll go along with our plans. And you?"

"I agree," Edmund said, much to Susan's surprise. "That's why I arranged for his Unicorn to have a broken leg and for one of Phillip's cousins who is loyal to me to be Peter's steed for awhile. And Mr. Tumnus knows to report anything and everything to Peridan."

"So if Pete says anything during his rides or anything to Lucy, we'll know," Susan realized, rather surprised.

"Or more importantly, Peridan, Esperanza, and the others we have at Cair Paravel will know and hinder him until we can stop him," Edmund agreed.

"If Peter finds out, we might still end up warring with him," Susan mused uncertainly.

"That's why I did it without your knowledge. So the blame would rest squarely on me," Edmund said.

"He does forgive you much more easily. Good work, brother," Susan complimented.

"I learned from the best," he said a tad sarcastically, almost inaudible to her ears. She winced slightly, not sure that was really what she wanted her little brother learning from her.

"Sire, I have horrid news to bring you. And I loathe to be the messenger, but you must know that your brother has escaped," Lord Morren said, rushing up to Peter with Peridan and one of Peter's advisors Jason flanking him.

Peter stared for half a second before realizing this was supposed to be brand new news to him. "How did this happen?" he demanded, faking anger.

"Peridan was a witness to this," Morren said, pushing Peridan forward.

Peter assumed Peridan must have helped, but wondered how he was going to explain that to Morren. Peridan, trembling like a coward, began, "I…I felt guilty for speaking against one of Aslan's chosen, even if the King is in fact guilty. So I went to apologize. J-Just in case. He instead lashed out in anger, striking me down. I was knocked unconscious, but came too just in time to see an assortment of treacherous Narnians accompanying the King out his window. I could not move in time so I called out for help, but the King disappeared too quickly."

Peter suddenly seemed overly aware of himself, wondering how he would react in such a situation. He settled for glaring and curling his hands into fists. "How do I know your testimony is true?" he challenged.

Peridan seemed confused by Peter's question. But then Morren spoke up, "Sire, Peridan is marked, do you not see it? And he has no love of the traitorous King, that I can solidly assure you of."

Peter nodded curtly, satisfied by the answer. Morren of course took it as Peter was assured that Peridan was being honest, but Peter was rather satisfied that Morren did not suspect Peridan of working with his sister. As for the precise reason why Peridan was so devout to his sister, that Peter would discern later.

"Sire, what will you have me do?" Jason asked.

"Nothing. I'm sure the soldiers are already searching for him far and wide. But they won't find him, will they? He was always too good with the shadows," Peter mused, remembering to act angered again.

"Aye, it would take a clever trap to ensnare him," Jason agreed. Peter stopped, noting that he had not mentioned anything about entrapping Edmund.

"Perhaps interrogating her Majesty may provide some answers," Peridan suggested. "They have always been close."

"The traitorous Queen. Now there's an idea!" Morren said, as though something had only just occurred to him.

"And what idea would that be?" Peter said crossly, not having to fake annoyance now.

"Why, the two are thick as thieves. Literally may I add after all the riches your Centaurs found in their chambers," Morren said. "If he thinks he can save her, I doubt he could possibly stay away."

"I disagree. We cannot allow the Queen to be in any situation where she might escape, particularly since the King has escaped," Jason argued. "Sire, if I may, I recommend higher security on her. Or perhaps, even though I am loathe to say it, a more drastic measure to ensure she does not get away with this. Many Narnians are furious that the treacherous King may get away with his crimes."

"They've already been put on trial," Peter stalled.

"To no conclusion. And now that the King has chosen to escape, their guilt is clear," Jason concluded. "Treason of the highest order. Who would have thought it?"

"Aye, indeed," he said absentmindedly. He then made up his mind and decided to allow them a version of the truth so they would feel as though he trusted them. "I shall speak with my sister. Perhaps I can save her yet if she is willing to divulge the location of my runaway brother."

"And otherwise?" Morren said, a tad too interested in Peter's opinion.

He willed himself to look hard, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. "Then let her stand trial for their crimes. If she will not bend, then I have no choice."

"No choice?" Peridan blurted out.

Peter strode past them harshly as he said, "You know what the law calls for traitors."

"Your Majesty, your brother the High King to speak with you," a valet announced. Esperanza stared blankly ahead, unsure she could survive another bout with the High King not finding out her identity.

"Tell him I am tired and wish to rest in peace," she instructed.

"He says he will not take no for an answer," the valet pressed.

She sighed. "Then see him in, please."

She realized her mistake when the valet reacted to her saying please. The Queen would have never added the please, save perhaps with her siblings or when asking someone to go against her siblings. Not that she was impolite, but rather it was not in her nature to phrase commands as requests. She quickly covered with the sort of curt statement that would be much more in Susan's nature. "Well, go on with you. If he is to come, then might as well sooner rather than later."

"Yes, of course, your Majesty," the valet said, bowing and exiting hastily.

Esperanza quickly busied herself with pretending to be engrossed in a story to use the book to cover her face.

"My lady sister, I thought you might want to be let out of your chambers for a walk with me for an hour or so," the High King offered. As tempting as the idea of leaving the chambers was, she knew he would be able to discern her identity to easily if they left and were together for so long.

"I'd rather stay here and read," she declined.

"I'm sure I could tempt you away. You know what? There's this pathway I've been meaning to try that I am sure you will love. Your former lady, now Dame Esperanza recommended it," he said.

Esperanza carefully controlled her reaction, but glanced at Peter's face to read him, particularly since she had no recollection of ever suggesting any pathway in the few interactions she had had with the High King. From his raised eyebrows, she knew it was a hint. She neatly placed her book on the nightstand and said, "I suppose a walk may be nice, brother King."

"Excellent," he said, beaming as he offered her his arm. They silently went down to the garden, but Peter seemed to not slow his pace even then, until – much to her surprise – he led her into an old shed.

"It may not look like much, but it is soundproof even from my guards outside. I thought it might be a safe place to speak to you, Dame Esperanza," he said pointedly.

"So her Majesty did contact you then," she mused as though it did not particularly matter to her, although she had been against letting the High King know anything, still suspecting him.

"She didn't originally plan to?" he questioned hotly.

She started, realizing she had to find a diplomatic way of answering. She finally settled for the truth, which was surprisingly fair. "Well, ah, if you seemed to be determined beyond reason to convict them, then no. She entrusted Peridan with the task of deciding whether to send you to her based on your actions at the trial."

His anger seemed to subside as he nodded in agreement to her words. "Aye, I'm almost surprised then that he tipped me off. But I need to know. Who is it I am supposed to trust here? We didn't have time for that."

She mulled over it for a minute. If this was a trick, she would simply be handing him a list of those who had committed treason against him by being loyal to Edmund and Susan. She settled for naming those who he already knew or could easily escape prison. "Peridan. Myself. If you need allies in Galma, I can enlist my husband, but he knows nothing as of yet. Linn the Fox. Shreen the Centaur. Renny the Rat. Aarne the Ant. Other than that, I feel that my Queen and her younger brother King may be trusting too many."

She felt his heavy hand on his shoulder as he leaned in and whispered, "By trusting too many, do you mean me?"

She tried to hide her shudder as that would have given her away. "Of course not, your Majesty."

"Good. I'll need you to trust that what I am going to do next will work," he said.

She couldn't help feeling a sense of foreboding. "And what is that, Sire?"

"Execute you."