As dawn arose the following morning, a faun on sentry duty spotted a Telmarine soldier and reported in when the lone soldier urged his horse back into the trees.

"It's only a matter of time." Peter said, looking at those who were gathered for a council. "Miraz's men and war machines are on their way. That means that those same men aren't protecting his castle."

Reepicheep, the mouse who had spoken to them before, looked to Peter from where he stood. "What do you propose we do, Your Majesty?"

Kari watched as Caspian and Peter both tried to answer and she felt the tensions rising between them. She stepped forward, putting a hand on Peter's arm as she poured some of her energy into them.

"Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us." Peter said.

"That is crazy, no one has ever taken that castle." Caspian protested.

Peter looked at him. "There's always a first time."

Trumpkin leaned forward, adding, "We'll have the element of surprise."

"But we have the advantage here!" Caspian again protested, looking to Susan as she came to his defense.

"If we dig in, we could probably hold them off indefinitely."

"Our supplies would run out long before we could, though, Susan." Kari said, sighing. "Even if we did hole up here in the tomb, what happens then? Miraz and his army could very easily block any and all attempts to replenish what we need. We'll be stuck here, no food, no water, no medicine. Trapped without any chance of escape."

"Look, I appreciate what you've done here," Peter started, turning to Caspian, "but this isn't a fortress, it's a tomb."

"Yes." Edmund said from his seat. "And Kari is right, if they're smart the Telmarines will just wait and starve us out."

"We could collect nuts!" A squirrel voiced enthusiastically.

"Yes! And then we can throw them at the Telmarines!" Reepicheep mocked, turning to the squirrel. "Shut up."

"Reepicheep, do not be so quick to discount the ideas of others." Kari warned, looking at the noble mouse. "Sid is just trying to be helpful."

"O-Of course, milady, my deepest apologies." Reepicheep's ears lay back and his tail drooped.

Kari smiled. "It is not me that you need to apologize to. Besides, it's not a bad idea. Imagine the confusion that we could cause by raining a halestorm of nuts down upon the enemy."

Everyone looked at Kari as she spoke, chuckling at the image she planted in their minds, and Caspian was beginning to see why she was considered to be just as great as the kings and queens of old.

"I think you know where I stand, sire." Reepicheep said, looking to Peter.

Peter thought a moment, then turned to the head of the centaur clan. "If I can get your troops in, can you handle the guards?"

Glenstorm looked around for a moment, then nodded. "Or die trying, my liege." He bowed his head.

"That's what I'm worried about..." Lucy said from her seat upon the broken stone table.

Peter turned to look at her. "Sorry?"

"You're all acting like there's only two options: dying here, or dying there."

"I'm not sure you've been listening." Peter said.

"No, you're not listening." Lucy retorted. "Or are you forgetting who really defeated the White Witch, Peter?"

"Peter, listen to your sister." Kari said, a hand on his arm when she sensed anger rising in him at Lucy's comment.

"I think we've waited for Aslan long enough." He shook off Kari's hand before storming off, leaving his family and friends in the chamber alone.

With their next plan of attack, the council dispersed. Caspian looked to his sister, seeing her a bit distressed. As the others left the chamber, he came to his sister's side.

"Kari, are you alright?"

Kari sighed, looking to her brother. "Yes..."

"Why don't we go for a walk?"

Kari nodded, following her brother through the halls.

"What is on your mind, sister?"

Kari looked to the skies as they stepped outside of the tomb. "I worry for Peter... I worry for all of you..."

"Do you believe that we can succeed, that Peter's plan can succeed?"

"I do. Peter would not suggest something of this scale if it were not possible." She sighed. "Though, there will be casualties on both sides. There's no getting around that."

Caspian knew his sister was right and looked to the stars above them still shining in the early morning sky. He stood with her silent for a few moments, then asked, "Tell me what happened, Kari, after you were brought to the woods."

Kari smiled at that, chuckling softly. "It's a long story."

"We have some time before we need to return to the others."

Kari looked back to the sky and began her tale. "I was taken to the woods as a very young child, that much you know already. I was given to a faun named, Shain, and his wife, Riari. They took me in, raised me as their own. I grew up amongst the Narnians, calling many of them my friends."

"What happened?"

"I was ten when I found the cave that brought me to Narnia during the Long Winter. I was found by the Beavers, who- just like Shain and Riari- took me in and cared for me. When I awoke in their home, I had retained very few memories after hitting my head." She smiled as she remembered. "For four years, they cared for me, helped me remember what they could, then one day the Pevensies came. Finally, the days of prophecy were upon us."

Caspian stood there with his sister, watching the sun rise as she told her tale. He listened to every detail she gave, from their meeting Aslan the first time to his great sacrifice to protect Edmund to the battle against Jadis and their victory to the coronation and her marriage to Peter not long after. She even told him what the Pevensie's world was like, how different and confusing it was, how she longed to come home to Narnia but was content so long as she was with Peter.

"Then, a year later- at least for us- we returned to Narnia only to find ruins and a land we no longer knew. Our home was gone, our friends and those we called family had long since passed. And now, I find that I have returned to my own time." Kari looked to Caspian. "It's strange, but the best part of it all is that I finally found you, Caspian. I finally found my family."

Caspian pulled her into his arms at that and hugged her. "And I have missed you so much these last thirteen years." He stepped back. "Professor Cornelius often spoke of your safety, in the care of some trusted friends. He knew you were special, as we all did."

Kari sighed. "Apparently, my gift is that of empathy and with it comes the ability to alter one's emotional state at will. After Aslan had restored my memories, he explained to me how my gift worked. It was then that I understood why our mother and father feared for my safety, why they sent me away to keep me safe."

"If Miraz were to get his hands on someone of your skill with a gift like that, I cannot imagine the terrible things he would force them to do in order to abuse that power."

"Exactly." Kari looked back to the entrance they had come out of to find Edmund standing there. "What is it, Ed?"

"Caspian, you're needed in the armory. Kari, Peter wants to speak with you."

"Of course."

They followed Edmund back into the tomb, going their separate ways- Caspian with Edmund and Kari going off to find Peter.

"Peter?"

Peter looked up from where he paced, having returned to the chamber of the stone table. "Kari..."

Kari could sense something was troubling him. "What's wrong?"

Peter sighed, turning towards her as she came to his side. "I'm sorry..."

"For what, love?"

"Earlier, during the council..."

Kari put her arms around him and smiled as she held him. "There is nothing for you to apologize for, Peter. We are at war once more and in an even more difficult situation that before."

Peter hugged her back, breathing in her sweet scent. "Am I doing the right thing, though?"

"You're doing what you think is best for our people, just as you always have." Kari stepped back and looked at him. "Don't begin doubting yourself now, love. We'll make it through this, together." She touched his cheeks, searching his eyes. "And as always, I am at your side."