The atmosphere was sombre in the How. They may have had a plan, several in fact, yet there was little the kings and queens could do to convince their people that they stood a chance. It did not matter that High Queen Susan and Queen Lucy, with Caspian's help, were getting ready to brave a much wilder Narnia than the one they had once grown up in, to find their saviour. They found no hope in King Edmund's return, where he told them Miraz had agreed to the terms they had set forth, saw no point in the sacrifice High King Peter was willing to make.
All of them wanted to fight for Narnia. Yet the question if there was even a Narnia left to fight for, lingered in their minds.
"Everything seems to be going as it is meant to."
"Agreed."
"You don't think I'm ready."
"It's been a long time."
"Sometimes I think it's not enough."
"Will you be able to, once the time comes?"
"I… I don't know."
When Edmund walked out of the How with Peter, to the sound of cheers from their people, he wondered if it would be enough. Could the duel truly buy them the time they needed for Lucy and Susan to find Aslan in the vast forests of Narnia? The Telmarines may have agreed to the terms set forth for the duel, but he knew better, had been taught better than to believe they were going to keep their word. Glancing to his right, he found Adeline standing with Glenstorm's sons. One of them, Suncloud, lifted her onto his brother's back, allowing her a better vantage point. Edmund could not lie. He was hurt that she had chosen not to be at Peter's side, his side, during the duel. "Be careful, Pete," he said, turning his gaze away from the blonde. "I don't think we should trust them not to use dirty tricks."
"She'd have our heads if we did," Peter replied, before wincing. "Sorry." It was as odd for him to see Edmund and Adeline on the outs as it was for everyone else. To his knowledge, they had not spoken since just before Edmund went to issue the challenge to Miraz. "She'll come around, you know."
Once again, Edmund glanced at his best friend. She stood on Ironhoof's back, hands on his shoulders to keep herself steady. "Maybe," he murmured. "If you survive." Peter nodded solemnly, their eyes meeting one last time before he stepped out to meet Miraz. Fists clenching, Edmund prayed to the Deep Magic and Aslan and the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea that 'single combat to the death' would not mean that he would be losing his brother.
"There is still time to surrender," Miraz said, watching his young rival intently.
Peter shut down everything except his instinct and the memories of his training with the Commander as he glared right back at Miraz. "Well, feel free."
"How many more must die for the throne?"
"Just one."
A warm hand slipped into his as the first clang of clashing swords rang out across the battle grounds. Edmund, eyes still locked on his brother, allowed the slightest of smiles. He did not need to look to know that he was forgiven. Even after such a long time, he still recalled the first time she had held his hand, if just briefly, just before his first-ever battle. Gently, Edmund squeezed. After a moment's hesitation, she squeezed back.
Begrudgingly, Adeline had to admit that Miraz was a far better fighter than she had expected. At least if one took into account his age in comparison to his opponent, as well as the general lack of experience the Telmarines had in the arts of war. The false king, the second usurper of the Narnian throne, handled himself well against Peter. It was glaringly obvious that, despite his technically younger age, the High King of Narnia had the upper hand. He landed several more blows than Miraz and Adeline allowed a smug smile at the fact. She had trained him personally, after all.
The grip on his hand became vice-like when Miraz managed to slam his shield into Peter's face, knocking his helmet off. Edmund winced, hoping his brother would not be too out of it. "He'll be all right," he murmured, trying to reassure himself as well as Adeline. "He'll be just fine."
Barely hearing Edmund's half-hearted attempts at comfort, Adeline had to look away when Miraz lunged at Peter in spite of a bloody gash above his knee. Bile rose as Peter wound up on his back, giving Miraz a chance to step on his shield. Her leonine hearing picked up the sound of bones moving unnaturally and she gasped, turning to rest her forehead on Edmund's shoulder to avoid seeing how Peter's arm undoubtedly hung limply, either broken or dislocated.
"Adeline…"
She looked up, turning her gaze to the east. Caspian and Susan arrived to the battlegrounds. Without Lucy. "Oh no." Adeline faced the duel again, where neither Miraz nor Peter was fighting any longer. They exchanged words, calling for a short respite. Relieved, she let go of Edmund, letting him go get Peter's helmet while she took care of the injured king. "You can't be honourable here, Your Majesty," she fretted, gently testing his arm. Fortunately, nothing seemed to be broken.
"Where's Lucy?"
Susan's gaze showed worry, but thankfully she seemed unharmed. "We were chased, but she got through," she said, glancing at Caspian. "With a little help." Glad to see that he was relatively unharmed, Susan embraced her brother. Then she turned to Adeline, giving a brief warm smile. "Am I to get into position?"
"Why are you asking her," Peter protested as playfully as he could manage through the pain. "I'm the High King." They all laughed nervously but he nodded at his sister. "You should probably get up there, I don't trust them to make good on their word."
Susan left and as he followed her with his gaze to make sure she made it up okay, he saw the anxious expressions of their soldiers. "Keep smiling," he muttered to his brother. "They need the encouragement." And when Peter smiled, so did Edmund, dutifully upholding the air of nonchalance, instilling in the soldiers a confidence in their High King that he himself did not possess.
"Sit," Adeline ordered quietly setting down a stool. "I'm afraid I can't give you a sling, given the circumstances, but I can reset the shoulder." She let Caspian remove Peter's shield before she moved into position.
Confident that she would be as gentle as possible, Peter focused on his brother. "I don't know if I'll survive this," he said mellowly. "And you've always been there for me and I—" The rest of his speech was cut off by a cry of pain as Adeline suddenly pulled his shoulder back into place.
"Not sure if you've noticed, Pete, but this isn't the time for sentiments," Edmund replied. "Save it for later." He held out Peter's helmet to him as Adeline helped him up, rolling his eyes in exasperation when his brother shook his head. Though the older Pevensie brother came to regret that decision not even a minute later when the duel recommenced and Miraz aimed several hits with his shield at Peter, one of which landed squarely in his face.
Almost immediately, Adeline's fingers twined with Edmund's again. Silently, they discussed the fight before them, squeezing or tapping to convey their opinions. Both of their grips tightened considerably when Peter was sent chest first into a large rock. He fell to the ground, but in a move so quick Adeline had to smile, he had Miraz lying beside him.
The duellers were on their feet quickly, but Peter took advantage of Miraz's lack of breath, lunging again and again. He managed to disarm the older man. Soon enough they were both without weapons, with only Miraz's shield between them. Understand that war is unpredictable. To be a proficient wielder of only one weapon will kill you. Peter, remembering Adeline's words from their very first training session with her, used the shield to his advantage, twisting Miraz's arm. Before he could do further damage, the Telmarine's elbow made painful contact with his chin. The shield slid off, allowing Miraz to shove Peter into another rock.
Holding Edmund's hand in both of hers, Adeline tried to see a way out for Peter as the usurper picked up his sword. She was proud to see that he had taken her advice to stop being quite so honourable to heart. Using his gauntlets to block the blade swinging towards his head, Peter used his momentum and Miraz's temporary distraction to slam a fist onto the bandaged wound on the false king's leg. Subconsciously, she lifted a hand to her own wound, hidden beneath her shirt.
"Respite," Miraz called. "Respite!"
Everything stilled as Peter hesitated. Edmund could hear the soldiers behind him urging Peter to end Miraz then and there. "Now's not the time for chivalry either, Peter," he shouted, knowing without looking that Adeline was pinching the bridge of her nose. But his brother was not Adeline, nor was he quite as merciless as Edmund. He lowered his fist and started to walk away. The blonde warrior beside him cursed colourfully in a language he did not recognise and Edmund, in spite of not understanding exactly what she was saying, was inclined to agree with her. "Look out!"
The audacity of that boy. Adeline could not believe her eyes. He turned his back on his adversary. Was that not one of the first things she had thought him? Never let your own view of your opponent convince you to be merciful. Peter had made that same mistake sparring with his sister. But Adeline had underestimated him. He turned immediately, catching Miraz's blade. He wrung it out of his hands, sinking to one knee as he stabbed it up beneath the Telmarine's armour. In her mind's eye, she could see how Lucy, using her size, had tapped a dull blade into Peter's armpit. And now, thirteen hundred years later, Peter had made himself smaller, allowing access to the weak points in Miraz's armour.
Edmund had to chuckle as cheers rose behind him and tears of pride welled in Adeline's eyes. "He does learn, after all," he laughed, nudging her. "You were a great tutor." She nodded, not even bothering to fight the wide grin on her face. But as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished. Befuddled, Edmund turned his gaze to his brother again. What was he doing?
"What's the matter, boy," Miraz taunted, panting heavily. "Too cowardly to take a life?"
Lowering the blade, Peter shook his head. Miraz did not know. He had not studied under Adeline, the Great Warrior from the Land Beyond the Sea. He knew not of mercy, honour or justice. It would not be justice if Peter killed him. That right belonged to someone else. "It's not mine to take." He turned to Caspian, holding the sword out to him, hilt first.
Nothing about the situation was anything like how Caspian had imagined Miraz's demise at his hand would be. He had thought he would have his people, a united people, behind him. He had wanted to be a king, executing a traitor and murderer because it was right. Yet, as he accepted the sword and stood before his uncle with it raised to strike… he did not have a united people behind him. He was no king.
"Perhaps I was wrong," Miraz lamented drolly. "There might just be a Telmarine king in you."
No. He had no more right to take Miraz's life than Miraz had when he murdered his own brother. It was not his throne. Not yet. Caspian refused to be the king he had been raised to be. To kill Miraz would not make things right. That was not the Narnian way. We are predecessors and successors and as such, we must be willing to teach and learn, rather than indulging in your pointless, useless battle for power. He had learned about mercy and kindness, bravery and honour. He had learned that a true Narnian king was given his place after proving his worth. Ours? Bold words coming from someone whose place in Narnia was given to him only after it was taken by force from those who earned it.
With a cry, Caspian jammed the sword into a tuft of grass growing in the cracked stone beneath his feet. "Keep your life," he growled, "Your choices are yours to atone for." He stood up straight, glaring down at his uncle. To make things right, to earn the love and trust of the people, he needed to correct the mistakes of his ancestors. "I'm giving the Narnians back their kingdom," he hissed, "Call off your men, don't force them to fight for nothing."
"A magnanimous choice," Adeline murmured, leaning closer to Edmund and Peter. "Do we trust them to stand down?"
"No."
"Absolutely not."
She nodded slowly. "I'll go prepare the soldiers." Edmund's fingers clamped around hers, a silent plea for her to be careful. Adeline squeezed back before gently prying her hand out of his grip. "Meet me on the battlefield?" He nodded.
Keeping his gaze on her back as she disappeared amongst the throngs of cheering Narnians, Edmund tried not to worry too much. Adeline was a capable warrior, her experience far surpassing his own. Or anyone still left alive, for that matter. He patted Caspian on the back as the prince passed him, proud of his change of heart, while his mind still lingered on the blonde girl in the How. Glenstorm smirked almost imperceptibly at him, which left Edmund furrowing his brows. Had he missed something? When the centaur's smug, knowing glance suddenly dropped into a look of barely concealed shock, the young king whirled around.
The gasps of their people had Caspian and Peter turning around as well. The sight that greeted them was one none of them had ever expected. Miraz, in the arms of one of his closest men, Sopespian if Peter remembered Caspian's information properly. An arrow stuck out of his side. An arrow fletched with red feathers. In an instant, the High King of Narnia knew what would happen. The calls of treachery were echoing across the field. He looked up at Susan. "Be ready!" With his brother at his side, Peter took to the frontlines, killing the remaining Marshal of the Lists as he attempted an attack. He refused to hide. If his people were going to die, he would be among them.
Receiving a signal from Peter, Caspian and Glenstorm galloped into the How, where the rest of their forces were waiting with Adeline at the helm, atop Suncloud's back. The Telmarine prince sidled up with her, torch in hand. "Narnians," he shouted. "Charge!"
Adeline clutched Suncloud's shoulders as he followed orders, the gathered Narnians diving through the tunnels. Her gaze, in spite of the flurry of movement around her, never left Caspian. He charged forward on horseback, features set in determination. A fanfare. Under his breath, the prince started counting. A slow smile stretched over Adeline's lips. He was no king, just yet. But with some guidance, he would be. And that, well, it was something she could live with.
"Eight… nine…"
"To arms," Adeline called.
"Now!"
Around them, clubs and broadswords and axes swung, obliterating the columns holding the ground up above them. Adeline burrowed her face between Suncloud's shoulder blades to shield her eyes from the onslaught of rocks and dirt. The tunnels closed behind them, the ceiling caving in under the weight of the Telmarine cavalry. Distantly, she could hear Peter call for the Narnians above ground to charge. One hand on the handle of her silver dagger, the other clasped around Suncloud's upper arm, she blinked against the sudden harshness of the light. The hatch was open and the battle had begun.
The second they were above ground again, Adeline slid off the centaur's back and trailed her gaze over the open wound in the earth. The soldiers who had been lucky enough to survive Narnian arrows were scrambling to climb out and resume the fight. One of them was trying to get to Caspian. She threw a knife. It hit its mark and the prince turned around, meeting her eyes. For a moment, they stared at each other. They had come to an understanding.
"Adeline!"
On instinct, she ducked. Something whizzed over her head, a gurgled sound behind her causing her to turn around. A Telmarine lay dead at her feet, a bolt from one of his own crossbows sticking out of his throat. Edmund was with her in an instant, lowering aforementioned crossbow in favour of helping her up behind him on a horse. "What is it with you that always has you appearing with enemy colours," she asked breathlessly. "Need I be worried?"
"What is it with you and almost dying in every battle," he retorted. "I thought you were supposed to be the best fighter in Narnian history." Across the field, Peter called for retreat. Edmund spurred the horse on, feeling Adeline clutch the back of his chainmail. They needed to regroup. Lucy was nowhere to be seen. He heard the blonde behind him gasp when several rocks from the Telmarines' catapults hit the How, crushing the entrance. It took several lives as it fell.
Not one to waste blood that could be spared, Adeline left Edmund. She immediately felled two Telmarines, killing a third with Reepicheep's help. The wound on her ribcage ached and she would not be surprised if she was bleeding. She whipped around, letting the Mouse Chief use her shoulder as leverage when he launched at another adversary. The Telmarine infantry had been let loose. They were vastly outnumbered. For Narnia, she thought, grimacing in pain as an enemy blade left a gash in her upper thigh. For Aslan.