Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Authoresses Note: Ok, this is a fluffy angsty chapter, but after this one, it should be farely action-packed. Anyway, sorry it took so long to update. My laptop battery died and I had to wait for a new one. So I may post the next chapter today. Maybe... hope. Please review!

The Return

Chapter 9

Edmund's POV

"Has anyone seen Alex?" I asked, nearly frantic.

"Last time I saw her was at the Stone Table." Caspian replied without looking up at me. I nodded my head.

"I saw her go into a little side room." a faun spoke up.

"Take me there!" I ordered. The faun nodded and led me to a small room. It was dark and surprisingly cold. "Alex?" I called. No reply. I then found her curled up in the corner. She was unconcious! "ALEX!" I screamed kneeling down beside her. I touched her arm and she felt like ice.

"No, don't hurt him." she mumbled in her unconcious state.

"Hurt who?" I asked.

"No please. Leave him alone. No, please." she mumbled.

"What?" Peter asked kneeling down beside me.

"No please! Ed! Run!" she mumbled.

"Run? From what?" I asked.

"Don't leave me. I love you." she mumbled.

"She must be dreaming." Peter stated.

"No she's talking incoherent thing's because she's drunk... OF COURSE SHE'S DREAMING!" I snapped.

"And she's freezing. What could..." but he broke off his eyes going wide.

"What?" I asked.

"Remember when we went to get her from the witch and you had to fight Jadis to free her?" he asked.

"Remember it! She was bleeding to death in the process! Of course I remember it!"

"You weren't able to focus on anything but the fight. Me on the otherhand could focus on both. She was mumbling the exact same things while you two were fighting."

"So that means... she's dreaming about that."

"I'm guessing that."

I looked back down at Alex. She started mumbling the same things again.

"By the Lion! I think she's stuck in the memory!" Peter exclaimed.

"Well how do we get her out?!" I asked.

"If I knew that don't you think I'd be doing something about it."

Becoming even more frantic than before, I looked back down at Alex. She was now shaking. If she was stuck in the memory, she was dying over and over again. Eventually that would take over and she would have to succumb to her actual death. "Dear Aslan, what do I do?" I thought. Instead of a reply from Him, words from long ago rang throughout my mind.

"Kiss me."

Alex! That was it! That would be what would bring her out. But my guess is I would have to time it right. So I waited until her mumbling subsided, and I saw he mouth the words 'kiss me'. And I did just that.

"Ed, now's not the time for sucking face." I heard Peter snap. I ignored him and a moment later, Alex joined in the kiss. Who knew one simple kiss would turn into the answer to freedom later in life. Except this kiss wasn't so simple. I was tempted to tell Peter to leave, closing the door behind him, when Alex finally pulled apart.

"New record." she gasped.

I snorted. "I'm not so sure about that."

"A close second."

"Well then let's make a first place." I said pulling her lips to mine, once more.

"Oh dear Aslan, you two are gross." I heard Peter say.

"Not gross, in love." I corrected without even pulling away from Alex.

"Whatever you say captain kiss-alot." he said walking out.

"You know, he wouldn't be saying that if he had been married, pulled apart from the girl for a year, only to be reunited when the land they both love is in complete and utter turmoil! And also to find out that she's pregnant!" I said.

"Calm down, Eddie, calm down. Easy. Remember... Just Just Just. Ok." she said.

"Sorry." I muttered.

"It's ok. Your cute when your angry."

"Which seems to be a rare event, huh."

"Too rare. Come on. We've got too much to plan to just lag around."

"Lag around? So I'm boring am I?" I asked, sounding offended.

"Oh shut up." she grumbled walking from the room.

I smirked and walked after her.

"That's your next big plan, sending a little girl, into the darkest parts of the forest, alone?" Trumpkin asked, pointing at Lucy. I felt Alex tense up beside me.

"It's our only chance." Peter countered.

"And she won't be alone." Susan added.

"Ha...haven't enough of us died already?" Trumpkin asked, looking at Lucy. There was a pleading look in his eyes. At this, Trufflehunter stepped up.

"Nikabrik was my friend too."

"And mine." Alex said quietly.

Trufflehunter turned and gave her a reassuring smile before turning to look back at Trumpkin. "But he lost faith. Queen Lucy hasn't." he finished.

"For Aslan." a mouse spoke up.

"For Aslan." the Bulgy Bear added.

A few glances were passed around the room.

"Then I'm going with you." Trumpkin finally said to Lucy.

"No, we need you here." Lucy replied placing a hand on his shoulder.

"We need to keep the Telmarine's distracted until Susan and Lucy can get into the woods." Peter said.

The room fell silent. I was about to suggest someone going out, playing dead and while the Telmarine's celebrated that could be their ticket, but Caspian spoke up first.

He stood and walked forward. "Miraz may be a tyrant, and a murderer, but as king he is subject to the traditions and expectations of his people. There is one in particular that may buy us some time."

"Well, out with it. We don't have a moment to waste." Peter said clapping him on the shoulder.

"A dual." Capian said simply.

A spark came to Peter's eyes. I knew what that meant.

"No! Peter!" I exclaimed, jumping to my feet. He looked over at me. Acctually everyone looked over at me. "You can't do this!" I exclaimed.

"I'm the only one who can, Ed." Peter said.

Caspian looked utterly confused. "You apparently didn't catch my meaning, I meant me dual him, not anyone else."

"You can't. Your the heir to the throne. I'm the only one who can." Peter said. Caspian looked down, defeated.

"Your forgetting about one other person who can." I said.

Peter looked back over at me. "And who's that?"

"ME!" I exclaimed as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I heard Alex gasp.

"Absolutely not!" Peter snapped.

"Why not?!" I exclaimed.

"Because, you've got a family to raise! I don't!"

A glare formed between us, a silent battle of will's, both of us trying to weaken the other. A fist fight was getting ready to erupt, that was clear, but before it could I felt a hand on my arm. I looked down to see Lucy.

"He's right, Ed. He's the only one who can. Plus he's bigger than you. It would be better if he fought him." she said.

I looked up at Susan. "At least you side with me, right?" I asked.

"I'm sorry Ed. But I'm with Peter. Your both valuable, but... for Alex's sake." she replied gently.

"Alex? You agree with me, don't you?" I asked looking at her.

She only looked down. "Not this time, Ed. I'm sorry." she said in a quiet voice.

"But... no! Peter can't do it!" I said glancing between them.

"Ed, I'll be ok." Peter said putting a hand on my shoulder.

I pulled away from him though. "You don't know that! You could die!" I exclaimed.

"And why aren't you saying that to yourself?!" he yelled. I found myself unable to reply.

"Please, Ed." I heard Alex say.

"Fine. But I hope you don't want me to watch!" I snapped walking from the room.