Disclaimer: All characters are not owned by me and are used without permission solely for the entertainment of fan-fiction readers.

Author's Note: Will Peter be able to buy enough time for Lucy and Susan to find Aslan?

Chapter 2: The Duel

Caspian could not shake the nagging urge to follow to the Queens into the wood. He had a rather bad feeling that something awful might happen if he didn't. He knew quite well that both young ladies could take perfectly good care of themselves. There were few indeed that could hope to rival Queen Susan's mastery of the bow and arrow. She was always calm and collected, never allowing her wits to leave her in battle.

It was a trait that the prince admired greatly in her and it was probably one of the reasons why he was so intrigued by her. But he could not shake the feeling in his stomach. So following his instincts, the young prince went to fetch another horse.

He was soon galloping after the sisters' trail.

- - - -

Susan urged Destrier forwards, faster and faster. They must find Aslan. Everything depended on it. She imagined Peter, about to face Miraz in single handed combat. Her brother was a very accomplished swordsman, but he was also 1300 years out of practice.

It could only help to hope that his memory would serve him well. It did not worry the Queen much, her own memory of the bow had come easily enough.

Suddenly, the distinct sound of hooves filled her ears. Holding tightly onto the reigns, Susan looked over her shoulder. To her dismay, several Telmarine soldiers had spotted them and were now in pursuit. It would be difficult for Destrier to outrun the soldiers bearing both of them.

They could not afford to be caught.

"They've seen us!" shouted Lucy.

Susan made a split second decision and pulled Destrier to a halt. She jumped off the horse and pushed the reigns into Lucy's hands.

"Take them", she commanded.

"What are you doing?" demanded Lucy franticly.

Susan looked at her sister, "I'm sorry Lucy. But it looks as though you'll be going alone after all".

And with that, the older queen slapped the dark horse on the backside, sending Destrier galloping away. With one last look at her sister, she turned around, pulling her bow out from behind her.

Now she could only wait.

Lucy hated the thought of leaving her sister behind, but she knew what was at stake. The future of Narnia depended on her finding Aslan. Time was of the essence for all of them. No one knew how things were going with Peter and the Telmarines were certainly not to be trusted to uphold the bargain.

Susan silently prayed that Lucy would be alright. They needed her to perform this task. Without it, all would be lost.

They surely would not be able to hold off the superior Terlmarine army. Their numbers were considerably smaller, especially after the raid on Miraz's castle. And Peter . . . but she needed to stay alive first before worrying about her brother.

The soldiers were closing in fast, but they were all within clear shot. She could only hope to shoot them down before they reached her. For though Queen Susan mastered the bow and arrow, her hand to hand combat was not quite as skilled. She had hardly ever even held a sword in her hand, much less wielded one in battle.

No, she must down them all before they reached her. It was her only chance. Susan suddenly wished now that she had taken Caspian's offer to return her horn. It would have been most useful right now.

Concentrating on the rapidly approaching Telmarines, the Queen expertly aimed and struck the first soldier when he was about ten paces from her. The second and third arrows quickly followed. A fourth also hit its mark, but the enemy was very close now. A fifth soldier reached her before she could string the next arrow, brandishing his sword. She had to duck quickly to avoid being slashed, whirling around and preparing to shoot.

But as she turned, Susan was knocked down by one of the other, riderless horses. She fell heavily against a fallen tree trunk, knocking her bow out of her hand. She scrambled on the ground, trying to get her bearings. The soldier had now turned around and was riding towards her, his sword ready to strike. Her bow lay hopelessly out of reach.

The Queen braced herself as the soldier was nearly upon her, ready to face her fate. But just as the soldier was about to wield his sword, a yell filled the air, and a horse jumped over Susan. The sound of two swords meeting met the young queen's ears, and soon, the final Telmarine soldier lay dead on the ground.

Caspian rode up to the queen, looking her over to be sure she was unhurt. Susan looked shocked, but offered him a grateful smile. She admitted that she was rather glad to see him, in more ways than one. His charming smile gave a lift to her heart.

The Telmarine Prince reached his hand out for the Narnian Queen.

"You are sure you won't be needing that horn?" he asked teasingly.

Susan jumped to her feet. Caspian grabbed her hand and pulled her up behind him in one strong, swift motion. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around waist, her face growing slightly red at the close contact with the handsome young prince.

But he didn't notice and pressed his horse forward, back to the How.

"How is Peter fairing?" asked Susan over the thundering hooves of their steed.

Caspian turned his head to the side slightly, "I would not know. My concern for the Queens caused me to leave almost as soon as they had departed".

Susan blushed at this comment. She was glad he could not see her face.

"I am most grateful that his majesty cares so much for our safety", she said.

His lips turn up in a smile, "Perhaps you will rethink the return of your horn now?"

Susan laughed and pulled herself closer to Caspian. She was enjoying this closeness they were sharing. It was comforting to feel safe, even though it would not last long. The battle would be upon them soon, regardless as to whether or not Peter won.

Caspian smiled to himself as he pushed the horse to go faster. The feel of Queen Susan's weight leaned against his body did not bother him at all. He actually found himself enjoying it very much and hoping it would happen again soon.

But they had more pressing matters to think of now.

- - - -

Susan took in a sharp breath as she and Caspian rode up to the How. They had heard the cheering from both sides back when they were still in the woods. She had been nervous ever since, not knowing whether the cheers meant things were going good or not.

"Go straight to Peter", Susan said into Caspian's ear and he nodded in agreement.

Once they reached where the two Kings were fighting, Susan gasped as she watched Peter deflect a particularly brutal blow from Miraz. Her grip on Caspian tightened. She could see Peter watching them as they arrived, his eyes questioning them both.

Caspian dismounted and then helped Susan down. She hardly acknowledged him and walked briskly over to where Edmund had once stood. Her brother was now helping Peter limp over towards Susan, who was now joined by an unhappy looking Caspian.

"Lucy?" Peter asked with terror in his voice.

"She got through . . . with a little help", Susan said, motioning to Caspian.

Peter turned to the Prince, "Thanks", he said gratefully.

Caspian smirked, "Well, you were busy".

Peter laughed dryly. He and Caspian exchanged looks, a silent message passing between them. Peter looked at Susan.

He gestured towards the cliffs, "Better get up there, just in case. I don't expect that the Telmarines will keep their word".

They all knew it was true.

Susan nodded solemnly at this. But before she left them, she grabbed her brother into a hug. Peter groaned in pain from his wounds.

"Sorry", Susan said.

"That's alright", gasped Peter.

Susan gave him a grim look, "Be careful".

"Keep smiling", Edmund cut in.

They had to keep the moral of their troops up. If they believed that their king was defeated, they would not have the spirit for battle. They needed to save face in order to keep their troops in the right state of mind.

Susan turned on her heel and marched towards the How. As she did this, both Peter and Caspian turned to the gathered Narnians. Peter forced a smile and raised his sword to the crowd, while Caspian watched Susan leave.

Edmund and Caspian tended to Peter, who looked an awful fright after his exchange with Miraz. Peter shouted out in pain when Caspian lifted his left arm to remove his shield. Edmund looked worriedly at his brother. The High King looked back, his eyes full of pain.

"I think it's dislocated", Peter said, looking down at his left shoulder.

Edmund nodded and moved towards the shoulder. While he was examining the injury, Peter looked at him again.

"What do you think happens back home, if you die here?" he asked, deep in thought.

The two young Kings exchanged troubled looks. Peter gave his brother a weak smile.

"You know, you've always been there. I never really . . . UGH!"

Edmund had moved Peter's shoulder back into place mid-sentence.

"Just save it for later", Edmund snapped before walking away.

Peter gasped for air while Caspian pulled him to his feet. Edmund handed him his sword. Miraz stood ready a few feet across from him. Peter painfully took his shield on his injured arm again, but refused the helmet his brother offered.

The two Kings walked out to meet each other and soon re-engaged in combat. The cold sound of steel upon steel echoed through the field as both sides anxiously watched their leaders fight. Susan flinched at every blow Peter received, her body in a cold sweat. She gave a worried look to Trumpkin, who stood next to her.

The two monarchs were so tired now, that they were feebly hitting each other with no effect. Soon, Miraz had lost his grip on his sword and Peter slashed at him angrily with his. Miraz hid behind his shield, holding it up with both hands. The next moment, Peter was also unarmed and Miraz was bashing him with the shield. The two grabbed and pushed at each other, fists flying out randomly, trying to connect with anything.

Somehow, Miraz pushed Peter into the rocks and the High King stumbled, allowing the Telmarine to snatch up his sword. He was soon hacking at Peter, who had to swerve left and right to avoid being cut down. But Peter retaliated by hitting Miraz in one of his wounds, causing him to fall back and tumble to his knees.

"Respite!" screamed Miraz, holding his hands up in mercy.

Peter paused at this.

"Now is not the time for chivalry Peter!" shouted Edmund.

The cheering crowds grew silent as they watched to two Kings stared each other down. Susan held her breath and she watched Peter walk away from a fallen Miraz. With his back to Miraz, the young King did not see him jump to his feet, wielding his sword at him.

"Look out!" Edmund warned.

Peter ducked and whirled around, ripping the sword from Miraz's hand. Before anyone could even breathe, Miraz had been stabbed with his own sword. Unfortunately, it was not a mortal wound. Caspian let out a breath of relief.

"What's the matter, boy? Too cowardly to take a life?" Miraz growled.

"It's not mine to take", sneered Peter.

He turned and held out the sword to Caspian. The Prince looked at Peter for a long time before walking forward to take it. Susan watched as he lifted to sword up above his kneeling uncle. She knew it was his right to kill Miraz, but somehow, it didn't seem right. He may be a Telmarine, but Caspian was different.

Miraz eyed his nephew, "Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe you do have the making of a Telmarine King after all", he said.

Caspian took these words in and looked at his uncle angrily. He wanted to kill him so badly. He wanted revenge for his father and for himself. Every part of his body ached with the urge to strike Miraz down. But his uncle's words had made him realize that he had come too far now to turn into something which he was not.

He was not like him.

Caspian yelled out in anger and drove his sword into the ground in front of Miraz.

"Not one like you", he said.

Miraz looked up at his nephew in surprise.

"You keep your life, but I am giving the Narnians back their kingdom", Caspian said with finality.

Susan let out the breath she had been holding. She was glad that he had not killed his uncle. It would have weighed heavily on the young Prince's shoulders. She also knew that he was a better man than his uncle could ever be. He had just proved it.

The Narnians cheered for their soon to be king. Looking down at Caspian, Susan caught his eye on her. She gave him a small smile and he returned it. He started walking towards her and her heart began to race at the thought of him being close to her again.

But, her thoughts were interrupted with a cry. Caspian turned around.

"TREACHERY!"

Miraz's own men had killed him with a Narnian arrow, most likely taken from the raid on their castle. They were so eager for a battle against the Narnians that they would kill their own king to instigate it.

"They murdered our king!"

Peter pointed to Susan and the archers, "Be ready!"

And the battle began.

- - - -

This was a kind of a standard filler chapter. The next one will be more off-script and have more Susan/Caspian moments! R&R!

- Lady Artemis -