The How was quiet that night. Those who stayed behind were uneasy, but none more than you.

It was impossible to sleep. You closed your eyes and saw death. You finally gave up and sat by the Stone Table, staring at Aslan's face carved into the stone. It gave you some peace of mind but didn't ease your fear.

"Can't sleep?"

You looked at your hands in your lap. "No. I can assume the same with you, yes?"

Lucy sat down beside you, her gaze going straight to Aslan. "All that's left of my family is fighting for Narnia. Sometimes Peter can make rash decisions and put himself in danger. Edmund, too, but I think he's grown up since the White Witch."

"I don't think Aslan would call you back so your family could die."

"Actually, Caspian called for us with Susan's horn."

"Yes, but Aslan allowed for it, right?" You looked at the youngest Pevensie. She had a sweet smile.

"You're right."

You turned back to Aslan. The longer you stared, the more you wanted to close your eyes and listen.

"Are you afraid for Caspian?"

"Yes… and all the Narnians he's worked so hard to gather." You put your face into your hands. "A Telmarine gathered Narnians to fight back against his people, Lucy. Your brother just sent them to their grave. He's going to underestimate Miraz. Don't you feel it? There's so much death in the air and it's not from this place."

"Aslan will protect them," Lucy assured.

"But who will we lose to keep them safe?"

She didn't have an answer.

You closed your eyes when you rested your head against the Stone Table. Peter Pevensie was a fool and you wanted him to feel that, to understand the mistake he made. You fell asleep there.

The horn ripped you out of sleep and you bolted outside before Lucy was able to stand up. You wondered if she stayed there all night.

The sky was grey, the sun hidden even though it'd been up for a few hours. Something about it clenched your heart. The smaller party walking toward the How made it hurt more. It was so easy to cry as you realized you were right.

Lucy walked past you. "What happened?"

Peter glared at Caspian. "Ask him."

You went to Caspian's side, scanning for any visible injuries. Susan said Peter's name as a warning, but the tension finally snapped.

"Me?" Caspian stepped closer to Peter. "You could have called it off. There was still time."

"No, there wasn't thanks to you. If you'd kept to the plan, those soldiers might be alive right now."

"And if you'd just stayed here like I suggested, they definitely would be!"

You looked between the two, tears still falling. "I warned all of you. Our numbers are small enough as it is. We didn't have to lose them. Weren't their lives worth more than this?"

"You called us, remember?" Peter's eyes shifted between you and Caspian.

"My first mistake," the prince said, his voice low.

Peter started to step away. "No, your first mistake was thinking you could lead these people." Peter studied you. "Maybe you should go back to Anvard where you belong."

You opened your mouth to give the High King a piece of your mind, but Caspian beat you to it. He stepped even closer to Peter with fury in his eyes.

"Hey! You do not talk to her that way. You're the one who abandoned Narnia."

"You invaded Narnia. You have no more right to it than Miraz does! You, him, your father… Narnia's better off without the lot of you."

Caspian shouted and drew his sword. Peter drew his as well.

As furious as you were with Peter and what he said about Caspian, you didn't want anyone to get hurt. You wrapped your hand around Caspian's bicep right as Edmund yelled at them to stop.

It all died off when Glenstorm brought an injured Trumpkin through all of you. Lucy was there in an instant, pouring a drop from her cordial into his mouth. He sucked in a breath and opened his eyes. He scanned all the staring eyes.

"What are you all standing around for?" he said. "The Telmarines will be here soon enough." The dwarf looked at a smiling Lucy. "Thank you, my dear little friend."

It was sweet, but your mind was too focused on Peter and Caspian marching away from each other. Caspian went into the How and Peter checked in with the remaining troops.

You glanced at Susan who seemed torn on who to follow. Her eyes met yours. You watched her a second longer before going after Caspian. If she had to choose who to go to, then she had some thinking to do. Family was important, you got that. but if she was going to stare after Caspian like she wanted something from him, she was going to have to choose him over her brother. If she wouldn't do it, you always would.

Caspian was pacing his room - if it could be called that. No one really had rooms. They were more like tiny private caves.

"Caspian," you breathed, leaning against the wall of the room. "Talk to me."

He stopped where he was and stared at the ground. "Do you think he's right?"

"Right about what? Who? Peter?"

"Do you think I shouldn't lead these people because I'm not one of them?"

You huffed. "You're the only person who can, Caspian. A Telmarine leading Narnians? You are going to bring people together. The Narnians followed you before the Pevensies arrived. If you weren't meant to be here, the Narnians wouldn't be here with you. We wouldn't be getting ready for the biggest fight of our lives." You walked over to the prince and made him look at you. "Peter is mad and upset about what happened. He knows he was in the wrong and doesn't want to admit it… so I hope. Don't listen to what he says. Tensions were running high and I bet he feels his position is being challenged by you." You smiled. "You are going to be an amazing king, Caspian. People want to follow you and they will."

Caspian searched your face. All he found was admiration. It was too much to stare at. He looked away.

"Take some time for yourself, okay? Think about it and when you see your worth and your ability to bring people together, come find me. I'm here for you as always." You gave him a tight hug. "I'm glad you made it back safe."

He ran his hand down your hair before hugging you back. "Thank you, Y/N."

You and Caspian went your separate ways, he down the hall and you on a search for Cornelius. You found the old man sitting on the ledge outside the How.

"You are a sight for sore eyes," you said, crossing your arms over your chest with a grin.

Cornelius looked at you in surprise. His cheeks moved up when he smiled, and his eyes sparkled. "Princess Y/N. It's has been far too long."

You sat down and wrapped your arms around his shoulders. "It has. I'm glad you're here. Thank you for getting Caspian out of the castle before Miraz… We wouldn't be here without you. I wouldn't be here."

"I promised his mother and father I would protect him. I was keeping that promise."

"What happened after you got Caspian out?"

He sighed and rubbed his hands together. "Nothing for a while. Miraz was suspicious of me from the start, trying to trap me into admitting what I did. Then he had proof. He locked me away waiting to end my life. If it weren't for this upcoming battle, he would have done it."

"I'm so glad you're here now." You rested your head on his shoulder and took one of his hands in both of yours. "You mean the world to Caspian."

"I would say the same about you, Y/N."

Squeezing his hand, you surveyed the area. "Caspian is losing faith in himself because of Peter. We need to make sure he doesn't lose himself.

"I think that's a task suited perfectly for you."

"And you."

Cornelius chuckled. "He always listens to you far better than me. I will help where I can, but I think you'll be doing most of the work."

You smiled a little.

Suddenly, Trumpkin, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund ran into the How looking worried. You dismissed yourself from Cornelius and ran back inside. You arrived to see Trumpkin fighting Nikabrik, Peter and Edmund fighting two strange creatures, and Caspian standing in a circle with his hand out toward a woman in ice.

"Who is that?" you asked Susan since she hadn't joined the fray.

"The White Witch." She strung an arrow and let it fly.

Drawing your sword, you pulled Nikabrik away from Lucy, hiding her behind yourself. He hesitated long enough for Trumpkin to stab him in the back. He fell over dead.

Your attention went to Peter as he shouted at the witch, pushing Caspian out of the circle.

"Are you okay?" You checked Lucy over for wounds.

"I'm fine. Go check if Caspian is okay."

Without hesitation, you ran over to him standing back up. Blood was on his hand.

You took his cut hand and sighed. "Oh, Caspian…"

"I-I… I didn't want that… that witch."

"I know. It's okay."

The witch screamed, catching everyone's attention. Even the hypnotized Peter stopped reaching for her. The ice she was encased in shattered. Edmund stood behind where the wall of ice was, sheathing his sword again as he stared down at his brother.

"I know. You had it sorted." He walked away.

Peter and Caspian looked at each other and the carving of Aslan. Both turned to see Susan shaking her head and leaving them. Peter stared at your disappointed face

You led the prince to the makeshift infirmary and made him sit. You asked a centaur for a wrap and salve and got to work. Caspian's eyes burned through you.

"That was foolish, Caspian. Seeking help from the White Witch?"

"I… I didn't know. Nikabrik made it seem like he could help me – us – but it was a trap. If I had known… I never would have agreed."

You cleaned the cut roughly, ignoring the hiss from his lips. "You have to believe in yourself or we won't win this. Doubt makes us weaker. I told you… Why didn't you listen to me, Caspian? I don't tell you these things to hear myself talk. I want to help you."

"I'm sorry."

Wrapping his hand was a gentler process. "If you must seek help from a higher being, go to Aslan. Cornelius didn't teach you about him for nothing."

He nodded slowly. "That's a much better idea."

One corner of your mouth turned up. "I think so, too." You tied the cotton wrap off and gently touched it with your fingertips. "Maybe you should take some time to talk with Cornelius after you rest."

"Will he say anything different from what you've told me?"

"I don't know. But he's far wiser than I am and sometimes we listen to our teachers better than our friends."

Caspian sighed and closed his fingers around yours. "I do listen to you, Y/N. I don't know why I didn't today. I'm sorry."

You met his sorrowful gaze. "Sometimes you have to learn by not listening. I hope that this is a mistake you learn from rather than repeat."

"I do, too."

You tapped his forehead with your pointer. "Now go sleep, Caspian. I'm sure Miraz is on his way with an army and you should be well-rested for a fight."

"I owe you everything, Y/N."

You stood and smiled. "No, you don't. I want to help you because you're my best friend. I want to be here for you. I'm always going to be here for you. Never forget that." And you left him with a wiggle of your fingers and a toothy grin.