MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Author's Note

Well here it is Chapter 10, the final chapter. This story hasn't done half bad, seeing as it started out as a one-shot. Hope you've had as much fun reading this (errors and all) as I had writing it, and thank you ahead of time for those who chose to review this last chapter.

Replies to Reviews :

Red Ranger Chick – Don't worry, it's nearly over and we've almost reached the top of the cliff… of course this is usually when the ground falls out from under our feet but I'm not giving away the storyline… hem…hem.

Du Weldenvarden Farcai – Moi, evil I think you've got the wrong girl, I'm not evil, it's just an act I swear and hope you don't see the crossed fingers behind my back.

Erin MB – This threatening people is fun, I should do this more often. Thanks for your reviews, all 9 of them, I just hope I don't let you down with this last chapter. Well enjoy :)

Aangsgal – Lol ;)

Astral – Thanks for the review, your feeling was correct that is Peter's intent but not plans go accordingly…

Tarien Lakilea Tel'anor – Hmm… not a bad idea burning him to death, maybe can use that in my next story… Evil Cackle Thanks once again for taking the time to review.

Happyhipposluvmcr – How many reviews! Well thank you, I think.

A/N 2

Speaking of my next story I think I just came up with an idea, though you won't see it at least until February 2006, I want to complete the first few chapters before I start posting. So until February thank you to all those who have honoured my story by reading it and a special thank you to those who reviewed my story. Another mention, extra special thanks to Erin MB who has reviewed every single chapter, without fail, thanks.

So enough mushy stuff and onto the story.

Chapter Ten

Peter felt a sharp twinge, just below his elbow as a pained yell tore across the courtyard. Confused he tried to turn and face his would be executioner but his bonds prevented him. He only managed to get halfway but out of the corner of his eye he watched as the man behind him spluttered and buckled, a golden feathered arrow protruding from his breast. The pain in his arm was forgotten as he saw the arrow's owner, and slowly a drop of blood trickled and fell to the wooden boards below, beginning a fatal cycle.

Edmund watched as the executioner was shot dead, then he followed the crowd's gaze as it fell upon a young woman of about thirteen, fourteen with raven coloured hair and wearing a flowing hunting kirtle. She was stood on a barrel cart, bow still raised, ready to fire another shot, Edmund had never been so glad to see his sister before in his life and it was all he do not to cry out in joy. Everyone was so preoccupied with watching the archer that no one noticed a small shadow weaving in and out of the crowd.

Making sure everything was in place Susan drew another arrow and fitted it to the taut string and then fired into high above the crowds' bewildered faces. Caspian, who was waiting at the other side of the courtyard, nodded to his troops at the signal, and they attacked. Suddenly the courtyard was filled with battle cries, animal and human alike. The Old Narnians declared themselves, guards rushed onto the scene and the ordinary folk fled to watch from the safe distance of their respective homes. It's cover fast disappearing the shadow quickened it's pace and softly blended into the silhouette of the scaffold. It waited until the battle had started, and then began the long climb up the side of the platform.

Peter was quietly watching the battle, from his vantage point on the scaffold he had the best overview of the battlefield he was so intent on what was going on, that the friendly little face that popped up to greet him caused him to try and jump back.

"Lucy," he whispered, "what…" Lucy just smiled as she used her small dagger to slice through the ropes that held her eldest sibling. Her task done she hastily whispered,

"No time to explain," and she was gone, just another face in the crowded courtyard. Peter, now free but still a prime target looked frantically around for a weapon, he was in luck. There next to the executioners body was his sheathed sword and Peter wasted no time in unsheathing it. Looking around, he looked for an entrance into the fray, seeing none he looked again. This time something did catch his eye but it wasn't what he had been looking for, but still he tore off in the direction of his prey.

Edmund just watched as the courtyard erupted into a battleground. The palace guards were struggling against the might and number of Old Narnians. Amid the chaos of the improvised war zone, Edmund noticed the rather bulky figure of the usurper; he was fleeing the battle, heading for the safety of the castle. Even though it was Miraz who first captured his attention, his eyes quickly travelled to the shadow following him, sword in hand. Even before he could turn and ask permission to join the fight the soft voice almost purred his consent for the young King to help.

"Go, your brother may need you." Edmund felt the weight on his shoulder lift and he was off. He picked up a discarded Telmarine sword and managed to shove his way through the fighting without hassle, soon he was clambering up the stone stairs and into the Castle, praying he wasn't too late.

Once inside the Castle, Peter was taken aback with the bleakness of it. There were no tapestries hanging on the walls, only sharp, black, dangerous looking sconces holding smouldering, torches. Peter heard footsteps behind him and barely managed to bring his borrowed sword up in time to block. Miraz was upon him, madly wielding one of the sconces, he forced Peter through a doorway into the darkened room beyond. It was all Peter could do not to receive a fatal hit, as Miraz continued his rampage, he knocked over tables, chairs and candles, plunging the already dim room into darkness. The High King winced as some hot wax came into contact with his bare upper body. Some fell on his chest but most landed on his right arm and Peter was confused as to why that stung more than the softer skin of his torso. In the gloom Peter scrambled towards the light flooding from the doorway he had entered through. His arm felt like it was physically on fire, in his haste to catch Miraz, Peter had forgotten about the pain he had felt there earlier. Little did he know that the wax had just saved his life.Edmund had just stepped over the threshold into the uninviting, dreary hallway, when an almost doubled over figure crashed through a doorway to his left. Peter was pale and sweating, and Edmund could clearly see the still cooling wax that caked part of his upper body. His brother slowly staggered over and he hastened to catch the weaker boy. Just as Edmund reached his brother Miraz burst from the doorway, so half carrying Peter Edmund set off down an adjoining passage with a very irate Miraz thundering down behind them. Eventually the younger boy's legs gave out and deposited both brothers in what looked to be the great hall. They only had a moment to gather their wits and their strength and then their pursuer was upon them. The next few minutes were a blur of swords, sconces and Kings, until Miraz managed to pin Peter to the ground, then the fight was over.

Susan was worried, of course she was worried, everyone was, except maybe Aslan, he was just stood there waiting. He hadn't spoken to them and no one wanted to disturb him so silence had descended on the company like a thick, black, cloud. The battle had long ago been won so the victorious party had nothing to do but wait. It had been days, Susan was sure of it, and if not days then hours at least since she had last seen either of her brothers. Lucy was looking just as worried, playing with her cordial absentmindedly and staring off into the darkness of the castle doorway. Susan was almost at the end of her tether when a hunched figure appeared from the shadows, no wait it was two hunched over figures, they were all right! She was just about to rush forward when Aslan finally moved from his perch and padded towards the two Kings. The three of them talked for a few agonising minutes and then they all processed to the cheering of the crowd. Susan and Lucy took this as a good sign and rushed forward to greet their brothers. Peter was limping slightly and his left arm hung motionless at his side, while Edmund was walking fine but had a deep gash across his shoulder, his tunic shirt was in tatters and his right cheek was turning a bright shade of purple with his eye protruding further than normal. Lucy's vial was already out and both boys were backing off, protesting, Peter got off, but Edmund had a drop forced down his throat. Peter only got off because it was obvious that neither his leg nor arm was broken and his back was already healing itself quite nicely as Peter put it. Nobody noticed the blemish on the High King's right arm that was buried under a layer of wax.

That night there was a huge celebration as Caspian was crowned King of Narnia, Peter watched on as Aslan proclaimed to the news to animals and humans alike. All were shouting praise and cheering. Dancing followed and Susan delighted in dancing with no less than five partners, including Peter, Caspian and Edmund, Lucy stayed near Peter the entire time and while he and Susan were dancing she invited Trumpkin to the floor and stayed as close as she could. Edmund didn't move for most of the celebration, preferring instead to talk to Caspian, telling him of all the adventures they had had in the Golden Age. Doctor Cornelius danced a couple of times with the Nurse but both of them just stood next to Caspian, also listening to Edmund's tales, for most of the festivity.

It was nearly ten o'clock when Peter finally slipped away after making Edmund promise he would dance with Lucy to keep her company. It was a cool night, the stars were smiling and the moon was watching with a full eye, there was a slight breeze and Peter shivered as he stepped into the courtyard. It was weird to think that only hours ago he was standing on that platform waiting for death, it seemed an entirely different lifetime. Slowly he made his way over to the scaffold and almost gingerly climbed the wooden steps, he ran his fingers over the two posts he had been tied to and he looked at his right arm, where the executioner had held the blade before he dropped it. Still deep in thought Peter rolled back his sleeve and the ripped piece of linen he had secured around the wound he had discovered while cleaning off the wax. It was not a deep cut but it was deep enough to partially slice through a major artery, the wax had stopped him from bleeding to death but it had blistered the skin around the gash so it was even more painful. No one knew about the abrasion and he preferred to keep it that way, he didn't need a load of fuss, the last time he had been hurt in this fashion he wasn't allowed to leave his room for a week, courtesy of his siblings and that was when he was in his twenties, so he definitely didn't have a chance, being only a teenager. He gingerly laid a finger on the injured area, it stung so he withdrew his touch and re-wrapped the bandage and rolled his sleeve back down.

"What are you doing?" Peter turned to see Edmund standing calmly just atop the steps.

"Thinking."

"About the duel?"

"Yes, it's a good job you were there Ed, he almost had me."

"Only for a second." Peter looked away.

"That was a second too long, Ed."

"Yes well don't beat yourself up about it, like I've said before, nobody's perfect, we all make mistakes, I made the biggest mistake you can make. Yours seems like a tiny accident compared to mine. Buck up Peter, who's supposed to protect us if you quit."

"I thought mothers were in charge of protection." Edmund grinned.

"Only when fathers are unavailable." Peter smiled at the compliment.

"You wouldn't have said that a year ago."

"Well you wouldn't have cared a year ago." Peter's face fell.

"I would have Ed, I just wouldn't have shown it." The brothers embraced, and the conversation died away in favour of lighter topics.

"Ed, shouldn't you be watching over Lucy." Peter looked suspiciously at Edmund.

"I left her with Trufflehunter and Trumpkin, she's fine."

"She better be, or you dear brother will be dead." The Kings' laughter echoed into the cool night air.

Epilogue

Peter looked about him as he dressed into his nightclothes, the plain dreary walls of his bedroom, the boring, ancient old nightstand and the creaky, hard, wooden, bed. He looked behind him at his dorm mates beds and nightstands, everything seemed so dull and ordinary. Then he glanced at his right arm, there was the cut and the blistering around it, his painful reminder of his recent adventure in Narnia. It had been a blow when Aslan had told him that he could never go back, but he would be strong, he was needed in this world now. Hearing footsteps he quickly buttoned up his night shirt, covering the memento, too many questions lay there, none of them answerable. Sighing, Peter climbed under his sheets and blew out the candle by his bedside, he was asleep in moments and dreams assailed him. Dreams of Lions, battles, Kings, Queens, talking animals and of a magical land that Peter could quite happily call home.

Edmund stared at his ceiling, it was as he remembered it, apart from more paint had peeled off and the cobwebs had shifted around slightly. Sleep just wouldn't come to him tonight, he was thinking over their latest adventure in Narnia, was it selfish to be glad that Peter couldn't go back and therefore was not likely to die anytime soon. He decided it was selfish and so he stopped thinking about it. Instead he became increasingly interested with the spider climbing up the faded wall and onto it's web, waiting for an unsuspecting fly to fall prey to the sticky trap.

Miles away two girls were happily asleep in bed oblivious to their brothers' musings.

THE END

A/N So there you have it, the last chapter. Hope you enjoyed it and for one last time please Read and Review.