Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Authoresses Note: I know it's been a while since I've updated, but in my offense I've been REALLY busy. School is catching up with me, and I'm just now getting over being sick. Plus I've given you a long chapter... so you'll give me a break for that... right? And please review! The more reviews that faster I'll update!

The Return

Chapter 7

"We have to strike them before they strike us." Peter stated.

"But that's impossible, no one has ever taken that castle." Caspian replied.

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

"Besides, if the Telmarine's are smart, they could just wait and starve us out." I said.

"Yeah... if." Peter said a smirk on his face.

I heard Susan snort.

"Well, if they were smart enough to take Alex, then I'm sure they could think of that." Peter said.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked standing up.

"Alex is smart. It wouldn't be easy. They would have had to catch her off guard." he replied.

Susan nodded sadly.

"And another thing, if we attacked them first, we could get Alex back." Peter said looking over at Caspian.

Caspian looked down and nodded his head.

Peter looked over at Wimbleweather.

"If I get your troops in could you handle the guards?" he asked.

After a moment Wimbleweather nodded his head. "Or die trying." he replied.

That's not exactly an asured answer.

"That's what I'm afraid of." Lucy mumbled.

Hmm, apparently she agree's with me.

"I'm sorry?" Peter said, apparently not understanding.

"Your all acting as if there's only two options, dying here, or dying there." she replied.

"You really shouldn't be listening Lu." Peter said turning around.

"No your not listening." she said, making him turn back around, she then took a quick glance over at me "Or have you forgotten you REALLY defeated the White Witch, Peter?" she asked.

He glarred at her. "I think we've waited for Aslan long enough." he said, turning to walk out, but I stopped him.

"When were we waiting? You immediately jumped into action." I said.

He shoved past and kept walking. I growled and walked out, but went a different way. I heard someone coming after me.

"Ed!" I heard Lucy call. I turned around and she bumped into me. I smiled.

"Yes, oh hyper one." I teased.

She gave me a slight glare.

"What is it?" I asked, chuckling lightly.

"Nothing really, I just wanted to make sure you were ok." she replied.

"Thanks Lu, but I'm fine." I replied putting an arm around her shoulder's.

She hugged me back. "I want to go with you." she said.

"What?" I asked.

"The castle assault. If your going, I want to go with you." she replied.

"Lu, if it is going to happen, it's too dangerous. You can't go." I said.

"Ed, you know I'm stronger than I look. Please." she begged.

I sighed. "Lu, I know your stronger than most, but still someone Peter's size could hurt you easily, maybe even kill you." I replied. She looked down. "Lucy, one day you'll be able to fight again, but for the time being, I want you to stay safe here." I said. She nodded. I put my arm around her and we walked outside.

"Ed, do you think you'll be able to get Alex back?" she asked.

I sighed. "I sure hope so Lu." I replied.

I could understand her worry. Alex was, is her best friend. Now, we could only hope that things went the way as planned.

After Peter and I had calmed down a bit, we came back to plan for the assault on Miraz's castle. Even though we avoided each other as much as possible, when it came for time to leave, he approached me. I tried to avoid him, but he blocked me in.

"What do you want?" I asked rolling my eyes.

"What I should have done earlier, apologize." he replied.

I raised an eyebrow. Ok, who kidnapped my brother? I shook it off. "No need to Pete." I said, trying to walk past him, but he stopped me again.

"Last time we had been mad at each other, and hadn't apologized you nearly died." he said, apparently referring to Beruna. I looked down. "For what felt like an eternity, I thought I would never get the chance to apologize and tell you I acctually do love you, even though it doesn't seem that way." he added.

I felt the lump in my throat rising. Dear Aslan, does he always have to be so emotional before battle! I sighed. "Look, Peter. I don't hold anything against you. I haven't held anything against anybody since Aslan did what he did for me. You don't have to apologize, there's no need." I said quickly.

He stopped me again. "Even if I don't have to apologize, I want to, in case I never get the chance." he said.

"Peter! Who said anything was going to happen to me!" I exclaimed.

"I wasn't acctually refferring to you." he replied looking down.

That's when it struck me. "Peter, what are you planning on doing?" I asked.

"Nothing out of the ordinary." he replied.

Oh, Aslan. Whenever Peter did something, ordinarily he got hurt. "Peter Pevensie, what are you planning?!" I exclaimed. He slammed his hand over my mouth.

"Sssh!" he hissed. I shoved him off.

"What are you going to do?" I asked.

"Listen, I want you to stay here. I'll retrieve Alex. You have a wife to take care of, and in a few months, a child to raise." he replied.

"I am NOT staying here." I replied.

"And why not?!" he exclaimed.

"Because if I go, then I get to see Alex sooner." I replied.

"But Ed..."

"Peter, I'll be a nervous wreck if I stay here."

"But Edmund..."

"But nothing. I'm going. I'm sorry too. Love you too. Good-bye."

I shoved past him. I was slightly frazzled by that little insident until Lucy came running forward and threw her arms around my waist. "Be careful Ed!" she exclaimed.

I chuckled. "What, you expect me to go into a dangerous castle and be careless?" I asked.

"Well... no." she replied.

"There you go. I don't plan on doing anymore than we already have planned. The sooner we get in and out, the better." I said.

"And the more damage you cause to the Telmarine soldiers the better, right?" she asked brightly.

"Exactly." I replied tapping her nose.

She retightened her grip. I kissed the top of her head. "I love you Lucy." I said.

"I love you too Ed." she replied giving me a final squeeze "By the way, have you seen Peter?"

I nodded. "Go in the direction you saw me coming." I replied.

She nodded and took off.

"Peter's pep talk, coming up." I mumbled with a smile. Susan walked up a smile on her face.

"Lucy got to you too huh?" she asked.

"Yup." I replied.

"Well, that's probably a good thing. Lucy the Valiant to the rescue." she said.

We started walking where the Narnians were assembling. When we got there, Caspian was already there, a slight smile on his face. Susan and I exchanged a glance.

"Lucy?" we said in unison.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"She's our sister. Plus she has a way of..."

"...making anyone smile despite the situation." I finished for Susan.

He raised an eyebrow and looked between us.

"It comes with years of practise." we said in unison.

He opened his mouth but immediately shut it again and blinked a few times before turning away muttering something under his breath. Susan and I looked at each other, and that's all we needed to crack up laughing. We were both gripping our stomach's from laughing so hard when Peter walked up, a slight smile on his face. Susan and I composed ourselves.

"Nothing." we replied in unison.

"You two really have to stop doing that." Peter said shaking his head, but the smirk was still on his face.

"Awe, come on." we said in unison once more.

Peter sighed and walked away. That made Susan and I laugh again. Throughout our entire lives, after Narnia anyway, Susan and I were the only ones who had been able to do finish each other's sentances, or say things at the exact same tme. Even Alex and I couldn't manage that. It was a special talent, and it threw off enemy's at the perfect time's, on our account anyway. We stopped laughing and took our posts.

"Be careful Ki...Edmund. For the first few minutes we won't be there." Caspian warned.

I nodded. "Thanks. And be careful yourself." I said.

He nodded and walked over to the gryphon that was to carry him. I stood in front of the one that was to carry me and took a deep breathe.

"Are you ready your majesty?" he asked.

I nodded and looked forward. "Ready as ever." I replied.

The gryphon took flight, grabbed me around the chest and once we were in the air, he grabbed my legs and started towards the castle.

It had been exactly after sunset when we started, so by now it was pretty late. Caspian had pointed out the tower we should land on, but apparently he hadn't known there would be a guard there. The gryphon mmediately came up with a plan, that seemed the only optional choice. Oh well, one less Telmarine for battle. My jaw locked as we landed on the roof. This man was only holding up the process, but it was either this or give it up altogether and that certainly wasn't an option either. But it didn't take long, thanks to the gryphon.

"I'll be watching for you!" he called, flying away to hide.

I pulled my electric torch and pointed it into the distance. For the time being it was to show them I had made it safe and not for Susan not to shoot at this particular tower. I saw the three gryphon's carrying my two elder siblings and Caspian and bit my lip. I could only hope this worked, otherwise I was going to regret the last words I had spoken to Peter in private. I knew what he had meant, but I was still licking old wounds when he approached me, and had he been the older brother I knew, he would have known to keep his distance, but no, Mr. Self-righteous stepped in. He was better, but still not quit himself, and he obviously didn't remember the tidbit of information about staying away from me until I felt time to talk. But he had forced the issue, so he got the talk he wanted, just not in the way he wanted.

I was working through my thoughts, and soon it was tme for me to go and find Alex. Caspian had explained where the chamber's were, and I just had to find my way through the maze. More than once I was nearly caught, but luckily I wasn't and soon I had gotten there. I had to kill the guard to get the key's, but I was determined to get Alex back, and nothing was going to stop me at this point... nothing.

I ran through the main chamber doors and looked around. I soon found her and my heart lifted. I ran over to her and unlocked the chains.

Apparently I had caught her off guard because she mumbled "Can't you idiots let me get 5 minutes of sleep."

I smirked and bent down to where I was just above her ear. "Oh, so I'm an idiot now, am I?" I whispered.

Her eyes went wide and she sat up. "Ed." she whispered throwing her arms around my neck.

I closed my eyes for a moment, holding her in my arms.

I pulled back and looked her over. "Are you ok, did they hurt you?" I asked.

"A few hits, but nothing can't handle. And they don't know I'm pregnant so luckily they stayed from my stomach." she said.

"Did you have any pains while here?" I asked.

She looked down. "Twice." she replied.

I gulped. "Let's just get you out of here." I said shaking my head.

She grabbed my wrist. "Wait, there's someone else we have to help." she said.

"Well who is it? The sooner we get you out of here.." but I was interupted by footsteps.

I pulled my sword and placed myself in front of Alex. Caspian came in. "Caspian, what are you doing here?" I hissed.

"There's someone else here that needs to be freed." he replied.

"It's going to be all of us if we don't get out of here." I said tossing him the keys.

"You two go, I'll be right there." he said.

"But..." but Alex stopped when she saw who Caspian was unlocking.

"Come on, let's go." I urged helping her to her feet.

She followed behind me. "What's going on?" she whispered.

"I'll explain later, but we've got to get to a tower for now." I whispered.

"Then follow me." she whispered taking the lead.

"This is what I get for choosing a wife that's even more head strong than I am." I mumbled.

"I heard that." she hissed.

"And what are you gonna do about it." I hissed rolling my eyes. She stopped and turned facing me.

"For that... you'll have to wait until we get back to the How." she whispered before turning back around.

Dear Aslan she sure knows how to send a shiver down my spine. When we finally made it back to the tower, which strangely turned out to be the one I was at before, I found it was still early.

"Ok, good timing. We're good. We're safe... your safe." I whispered.

"Then since we have a bit of free time, there's something you need to know." she said, a grin spreading across her face.

"What?" I asked nervously.

But before she could say anything more, I felt my torch slip fom my belt. I looked down and sure enough, it had fallen. I cursed under my breathe.

"Come on." I whispered to her. I walked down the stair way and stopped when I found that a Telmarine had found my torch. Wonderful. "Stay here." I whispered to Alex. I sucked in my breathe and jumped on the man's back.

Unfortunantly, he fought back, to be expected, but that made the situation worse. Out of the corner of my eye I could see another coming my way. 2 against 1... yeah that's fair. But instead of feeling the weight of another fighter, I heard the sound of clashing metal. When I looked over I saw Alex fighting the man.

"ALEX!" I exclaimed.

"Not a word." she growled.

"Where did you get the sword?" I asked.

"It was on the wall." she replied.

"Be careful!" I called.

"I'm fine." she replied.

Before I could reply, the Telmarine that was fighting me had me against the wall.

"Now, Ed, now!" I heard Peter call.

"I'm a little busy, Pete!" I replied.

I had to head-butt the Telmarine to get free. Note to self, if I have a head-ache later... remember why.

"'Now' what?" I heard Alex call hoarsely.

"You'll see." I replied. I found she had been disarmed, but was still doing fairly well. Just as I thought this, I was disarmed. I grabbed for my torch, and without thinking I wacked the man upside the head before pushing the other over the side of the tower. I then looked at my torch. And when I tried to turn it on... nothing.

"Oh no." I mumbled.

"Let me guess... that thing is part of the plan." Alex asked.

"Yes." I mumbled trying to get it to work.

"I knew that thing was going to be the death of us." she said.

"Not us, but them." I said motiong toward Peter Susan and Caspian.

"Oh, Ed!" she exclaimed.

After a moment she yanked it from my grasp. "Give me that." she mumbled. She tapped it on the wall a few times and the light came on. "There!" she said handing back to me. I let out a sigh of relief and flashed the torch towards the woods.

The moment I did I heard Wimbleweather's call of "Charge!" The Narnians got there just in time.

"Now what do we do?" she asked.

"Keep hidden, basically." I replied.

"Well that's no fun." she said.

"Then come on. Maybe we can get a better view of the battle." I said.

"Better than nothing." she sighed.

But when we did find that spot, what we saw was nothing we wanted to see. Telmarine archers were lining up across the roof. They were aiming at the Narnians, that I could tell.

"Look." Alex whispered pointing to the Telmarine that was obviously shouting out the orders.

"Hold on tight." I whispered, pulling my arm around her waist. When she did, I jumped over the edge, aiming for the man calling the orders. And luckily I knocked him off before he shouted 'fire'.

I was scowering the courtyard when I heard Peter call mine and Alex's names. I looked over and saw the archers looking at us. I looked behind us and saw a door. I pushed it open, grabbed Alex and pulled us both threw.

She landed on top of me but I kicked the door closed with my foot. There was a hint of light, just enough for me too see her.

After a moment I shook myself. "Are you alright?" I asked.

"Perfect." she replied, blinking a few times.

"We might want to get up now." I said.

"Right." she said getting up. As soon as I got to my feet, the door was being banged open.

"Come on!" Alex exclaimed, grabbing my arm.

She pretty much dragged me through the halls, looking for a place we could either hide out until they went by, or a way out. We got out of sight and she pulled me into a small room. Both of us were out of breathe, and we tried to control our breathing as we heard the Telmarine's going by. We were in complete darkness, but I could feel her pretty much smushed against me. It seemed to be some kind of broom closet or something of that sort. But even in the darkness, my lips managed to find hers. I pulled away before we got to carried away. I peaked my head outside and saw the coast was clear.

"Come on." I whispered.

I pulled her from the room and we were only found by a new group of Telmarine's a minute later. We found a new room, and hoping to keep them from getting in sooner, I blocked the door with my torch.

"Ed... we have a problem." I heard Alex say.

"Wha..." but I stopped when I saw that we were on a tower. I walked over and looked over the edge... long way down. A second later I heard the Telmarine's banging at the door. I pulled Alex over to me. After a few moment's, the Telmarine's had made it through.

"Look down, my son." I heard Aslan say.

I did as I was told and found the gryphon flying toward us. I stepped up on the ledge, pulling Alex with me.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Trust me." I whispered in her ear. She loosened up, and leaned against me. I looked over at the Telmarine's, a smirk growing on my face. I pulled my arms around Alex's waist, and leaned backwards. For a moment we were falling, but the next minute we were safely on the gryphon's back.

"Back to the How?" the gryphon asked.

"Yes." I replied.

We had to fly over the courtyard, and when we did we saw that we had lost over half the army.

"Oh no." Alex whispered. Her voice was watery.

I pulled my arms tight around her. "It's going to be ok." I whispered.

She only nodded in reply.