"I can assure you, Your Majesty, that she will be quite all right." Trufflehunter had lost count of how many times he had uttered that sentence since he had sent the poor girl away from his makeshift medical room. He knew that it was at least once to each of the Your Majesties in the near vicinity. The Commander had worn him to silence regarding her whereabouts, which inadvertently forced him to allude that she was still in his care. As respectfully as he could, he shooed High King Peter away. "She will need plenty of rest, so I must really insist that she be left alone, Your Majesty."

Irritated that the badger seemed to listen to Adeline more than he did anyone else, Peter walked away, grumbling to himself. He wanted to see that she was all right, not just hear it from someone else. Yet, his attempts at slipping past Trufflehunter were as fruitless as his siblings'. He wanted to… needed to apologise. If she demanded it, he would plead for forgiveness. Adeline had dedicated her life to Narnia and, though it was never acknowledged, she had undoubtedly been close to losing it too many times for comfort. And Peter had nearly given it all up because he was tempted by the whispers of power and glory.

"She's not actually there, you know."

Whirling around, Peter found his brother looking at him with a frown on his face. Of course. If there was anyone who knew where the elusive blonde was, it would be Edmund. "You've known the whole time," he stated, realising it was true as he said it. "Have you seen her?"

"Don't you think it's best to just leave her to it?"

"I…" Peter trailed off, unsure if he really should divulge his reasons for wanting to find the Commander. Edmund was Adeline's best friend. He wanted to protect her and she, for reasons beyond Peter's understanding, let him. "I want to… I don't know." The High King sighed. It was all very confusing. He was not ignorant to his need to have Adeline look at him with admiration and pride in her gaze, nor was he blind to the utter splendour that was the Great Lion's daughter. "I think I might fancy her."

Edmund blinked. He had not expected that. Nodding slowly, he tried to figure out why the notion of his brother fancying Adeline did not quite sit right with him. "And you want to tell her that."

There was an uncomfortable lump in his throat that he could not get down. "We are fighting a war, Ed," he said quietly. "I don't want to face death, again, without knowing…" Because that was the truth of it, was it not? Peter did not actually know for certain what he felt for Adeline. He knew she was beautiful, that her support meant more to him than he would ever be able to express. But he could not tell if he loved her the way required to form a relationship beyond platonic companionship.

"She's in the forest."

Peter stared at his brother for a moment, trying to read the expression on his face. Then he nodded gratefully and went off in search of Adeline.

Later, Adeline sat down beside Edmund. He made no move to indicate that he was aware of her presence. His gaze was unfocused, locked on the mountaintops to the west, though unseeing. Several ledges below them, Caspian was in conversation with his professor, a half-dwarf by the name of Cornelius, who Adeline found to be an excellent conversationalist. Out of respect for him, she made an effort not to hear their conversation. Instead, she kept her attention on her friend. "Did you know that your brother kissed me earlier today?"

Despite his resolve to remain unaffected, Edmund's nod was far more tense than she deserved. Peter had spoken with him almost immediately afterwards, and he was aware that Adeline had been unmoved by the gesture. "You must be thrilled." Because while she had seemed unmoved, he knew her well enough to know that she was perfectly capable of hiding her feelings. And how could she not be thrilled to know that Peter, High King Peter the Magnificent, Emperor of the Lone Islands, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Lion, had wanted to kiss her. Most girls back home wanted him to, and that was without knowing his titles.

Amused, Adeline raised her eyebrows. "Not quite." Surprise coloured Edmund's features as he finally turned to give her his full attention. Clearly, while Peter had told him that they had kissed, that was as much as he had been willing to divulge.

"What happened?"

Peter found Adeline deep into the forest, kneeling by a spring. He watched as she slipped her hands into the water, colouring it red briefly as she washed the blood of her kills away. Beside her, a dead deer and some rabbits lay flayed. "Are you really in the right shape to hunt?"

"I am injured, Your Majesty, not dying."

"Perhaps, but I'd appreciate if you at least brought someone with you."

Adeline stood, drying her hands on her trousers. The way he was leaned against a tree, trying to convey an image of calm, told her what she needed to know. He was ready. "Worried, Your Majesty?"

"Yes," Peter responded immediately. "If I believed I could without risking your wrath, I would ask you to stay clear of the upcoming battle against Miraz's forces." He took a few cautious steps closer, mindful of the fact that she preferred not to be touched. His movements were slow, deliberate, letting her know what he wanted to do. "I care for you, Adeline." Slowly, he placed a hand on her jaw, thumb stroking along her cheekbone. She did not back away. She did not even appear surprised.

His lips slanted over hers gently and Adeline internally sighed. One day, there would be someone lucky enough to earn his affections. She was not that person and she could feel that he knew it the second their lips met. It was brief, so brief she almost wondered if she had imagined it all. "How do you feel, Your Majesty?"

"Strangely underwhelmed." His eyes widened as she fought against a smile of amusement. "I didn't mean that it was bad, or anything like that," he rushed to reassure her, realising how his words could be interpreted. "It just wasn't what I thought it would be."

Adeline nodded, patting his cheek placatingly. "Not all things are."

Peter looked down at Adeline, really seeing her for the first time. And he realised that she was right.

Edmund sat silent even after Adeline finished telling him what had happened. His mind spun with a myriad of strange emotions. He was relieved that his brother had found that his interest in Adeline was superficial, at best. But his relief confused him. Had Peter and Adeline come to some form of understanding, it was not in his place to be upset, nor did he have any reason to be. Yet, he was glad to know that Adeline did not seem to hold any affections for his brother beyond those of a good friend. The blonde must have noticed his troubled mood, for she simply squeezed his shoulder and left him alone with his thoughts.

Considering the relative peace they had been allowed for those hours since the attempt at resurrecting the Witch, Adeline should have known that the battle was imminent. She had barely even left Edmund sitting on the ledge before she heard his steps echoing in the tunnel behind her. He nearly crashed into her as he turned a corner, halting just in time to stop a collision. "What's wrong?" His closeness bothered her in a way it never had before. But the expression on his face had Adeline shoving those thoughts away.

"They're here." Edmund's heart was beating faster than he had expected it to and he tried to steel his nerves as the scent of wildflowers and sunshine clouded his mind. He shook his head. "You must spread the news and ready our forces for battle," he said, brown eyes meeting gold. His breath hitched. What in the world…

"Is that an order, Your Majesty?"

And just like that, he was back in familiar territory. "Yes, Commander, that is an order."

The council gathered quietly amongst preparations for the battle. They needed plans. A simple charge would lead them all to their deaths, the Telmarines far outnumbered them. Help. They needed help. And Peter knew how to get it. "Adeline, do you have any idea where your father might be?"

"I've not seen him since after we defeated the Witch's forces, centuries ago," Adeline replied. "You lot have seen my father more recently than I have." She nodded to Lucy, who inclined her head in acknowledgement. "You last saw him as he led you across River Rush, so I would search those forests, perhaps all the way to Glasswater Creek."

"And while our Commander is off searching for her father, what are we to do," Trumpkin asked bitingly. "There's not enough time to—"

Edmund cleared his throat, sharing a look with his siblings. "Sending Adeline to look for Aslan would be useless," he stated. "He only shows himself when he's needed and while she's his daughter, Adeline's lived for centuries without him."

"Then who else would be willing to go chase a fantasy through the darkest parts of the forest?" The dwarf felt himself go pale when the Kings of Old, as well as that wretched Commander of theirs, turned their gazes to Queen Lucy. "You mean to tell me that you're planning to send a little girl to find a supposed Great Lion, that may or may not exist, on her own?"

Susan stepped forward, cutting Adeline's growl short. "She won't be on her own," she defended, meeting Trumpkin's worried gaze. "This is the only way we could get ourselves even the slightest chance against Miraz's army."

"Send someone else," he insisted. "There must be someone, anyone, else willing to do this!"

Adeline shook her head. "My father admires Her Majesty," she revealed. "He finds her unwavering faith and everlasting courage to be endearing and I agree with him." Lucy blushed furiously, making Adeline smile. It was not often she deigned to compliment her kings and queens, constantly pushing them to earn her respect rather than just letting them know she was proud. "He'll find her because she hasn't, at any point in time, stopped believing he would be there for her."

"All we need to do is hold them off until Lucy and Susan get back," Peter explained, "So long as they are waiting for us to make the first move, the girls should have safe passage."

Caspian stood. "If I may give a suggestion." He waited until Peter stepped aside, allowing him the floor. "While Miraz is a tyrant and a murderer, he is bound by the traditions and expectations of his people," he said, meeting the Commander's widening eyes. "I'm sure there are similar traditions stemming from Old Narnia as well." For the first time since meeting her, Caspian sensed that he had her approval. And that meant enough to encourage him. "There is one that could buy us some time."

"A duel to the death," Adeline whispered, her words echoing in the silence following Caspian's proclamation. "I've not witnessed one since before the Age of Winter." Her gaze turned curious. "Are they common practice with the Telmarines?"

"No, though they occur often enough for the rules to be known by even young children." Caspian glanced around, surprised to find that no one spoke up against him. Perhaps the Commander's approval gained him back some of the respect he had rightfully lost when he nearly betrayed them to the Witch. "A delegate will be sent with terms, and once an agreement have been met, the elected champions will engage in single combat, until one party either forfeits or dies."

Adeline nodded her approval. "Barbaric and to the point," she said, pleased. "I'd be happy to—"

"Forgive me, Commander, but Miraz would never allow himself to look weak by sending any other champion than himself," Caspian interrupted. "He would expect us to do the same."

All eyes turned to Peter. He bit his lip thoughtfully for a moment. Then he sighed. "I'll issue the challenge," he stated. "It is my duty to fight for the freedom of the Narnian people." Which was not to say that there were not any nerves on his part. A long time had passed since his days practising single combat with Adeline and his siblings and he was fairly rusty still. "We'll need delegates to send with the message."

"I'll go."

"Absolutely not."

"You know it's the only option."

"Just because I know it's the only option, that doesn't mean I have to agree with it."

Edmund pinched the bridge of his nose. "Adeline, you are fully aware of how this needs to be handled, you're the one who taught us," he stated, sighing. "I'm the diplomat, you know." He looked at her, struck by the way her golden gaze swam with emotions. Standing, he took both of her hands in his. "I'll be careful," he promised. "If it makes you feel better, I won't go alone."

"I'll come with you."

He shook his head. "You must organise the troops, command them as you have so many others," he chided, letting her go, "Your place is here."

"Is that an order, Your Majesty?"

Exasperated, Edmund nodded. "Yes, Commander, that is an order."

Glenstorm, along with the rest of the council, watched the interaction with avid interest. "If it pleases the Commander, I offer my services in escorting His Majesty, with a vow to die protecting him should it be necessary." Adeline glared at him, furious. But King Edmund nodded.

"I should hope it won't come to that." He turned to Adeline. "There, your most trusted soldier will be at my side the entire time." She did not look particularly pleased. Edmund nudged her shoulder gently. Adeline, clearly in a worse mood than he had expected, shoved past him, out of the chamber. He stared after her, confused.

While the others discussed the finer points of the terms to be put forth with Miraz, Susan slipped away from the chamber unnoticed. Unlike her siblings, she was not oblivious to what had transpired to cause Adeline's temper to flare. And, being the gentle sibling, she figured it was for the best if someone tried to calm the Commander before they unleashed her upon the Telmarines.

Adeline was struggling with the straps of her breastplate when she heard Susan approach. The bandage around her ribcage, meant to stop the bleeding from the reopened wound, forced her to adjust the straps to fit her properly. Only her hands were shaking so much she kept losing her grip. With a growl of frustration, she threw it away, deciding to fight without it.

"It wouldn't kill you to ask for help," Susan said quietly. The Commander stilled. Without fanfare, Susan picked up the breastplate, depositing it on a nearby rock before she carefully walked closer to the blonde. "May I have a look at your wound?" Adeline said nothing, but obediently lifted her shirt. Surprised, the High Queen unwrapped the bandages. It did not look as though it was getting infected again, healing rather nicely in spite of having split open the night before. "I'll be back in a moment."

She left Adeline to go find new bandages, tossing the old ones in the fire. When she returned, she half expected the blonde to have made a run for it. But Adeline were stood exactly where she had left her, still holding her shirt up. In silence, Susan wrapped the fresh bandages around her friend's torso. Then she could no longer help herself. "You fancy my brother," she said, securing the end of the bandage. Without waiting for an answer, Susan picked up the breastplate, helping Adeline into it. "He fancies you too, you know," she continued, adjusting the straps on both sides to accommodate the bandage and make sure it did not sit too tightly over the injury. "Though I doubt he knows it yet, since he's got this unfathomable tendency to understand things a little too late."

The time he betrayed them to the Witch was on both of their minds. "I've come to understand that," Adeline replied cautiously. "I take it you don't approve?"

"I think you might be the only one I'd trust with him," Susan said after a moment of contemplation. "He can be a bit of an idiot, and I highly doubt there's anyone else willing to put up with him." She tried to keep her face void of emotion, but the barely contained mirth on Adeline's face had her grinning. "Edmund will be fine," she said, sobering. "Sometimes I think he survives just to spite the memory of the Witch."

Adeline nodded. "Thank you, Your Majesty," she said respectfully. "For the help and… for the encouragement." It had been a long time since anyone bothered with trying to tell her that she was letting her worries get to the best of her. It gave her a warm feeling. "My affections for your brother… I've never acknowledged them before."

"Are you going to tell him?" Susan smiled as Adeline looked down at her trembling hands. It was utterly adorable to see her nervous. The queen could not recall ever having seen that before. "You should," she said bluntly. "You might just stun him into staying here." The blonde laughed, a sound that was abruptly cut off as someone else suddenly entered the makeshift armoury. Susan turned around and could not contain the massive grin on her face. "I'll give you two a moment."

Clearing his throat as his sister left, Edmund tried to pretend like he was not affected by her playful demeanour. What in the world had been said? Was he in trouble? Judging by the return of Adeline's sour expression, yes, yes he was. "After you left, Wimbleweather offered his services," he said awkwardly, unused to being on his best friend's bad side. "I'll be well protected."

"If you would let me come with you, I can assure you that no one would get close enough for you to even need protection," Adeline snapped. "But I would never dream of defying you, Your Majesty." He looked at her as though she had struck him and guilt turned her stomach to lead. She did not want to argue with him. With a deep sigh, she allowed herself to close the distance between them, reaching up to inspect a cut on his cheek she had not noticed before. "Why can't you just stay here?"

Edmund closed his eyes, forcing himself to focus as wildflowers and sunshine filled his senses again. "You prepared me for this," he whispered, breath shaking as her fingers gently traced down his jaw. "You know it's my duty."

"Just because my head knows, that doesn't mean—"

"Your Majesty, we are ready."

They both turned their heads to find Glenstorm watching them, a visibly annoyed Susan glaring up at him. Adeline stepped away from Edmund, turning her back to him. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something to reassure her. Nothing came out, so he sighed and left with the centaur and the giant to deliver the challenge to Miraz.