Hey. Thanks for all of the reviews, I love reading them!! Sorry it took me longer than usual to update, but I have been REALLY busy! I hope I update faster for the next chapter though.
The How bustled with Narnian soldiers, preparing for an inevitable battle. It was unsure what the next move should be, surely the Telmarines would be here soon that was for sure. The raid had put the Narnians in low spirits, everyone walked around with low hanging heads, but still working hard, in full support of their leaders. Adalina was amazed by them every day. The difference between them and the Telmarines was so vast. Telmarines would turn on each other at the first sign of failure; loyalty was a mythical word in their language.
As Adalina wondered through the vast tunnels she couldn't help but think of her encounter with Caspian the other day. It was relieving to know that their relationship may be salvageable after all. But then again, they were all they ever had to comfort each other, their friendship may be salvageable, but anything more may still only be a distant dream. She had never imagined her future with anyone but Caspian, as unrealistic as it was.
Adalina let out a frustrated sigh and leaned her back against the hard stone wall. She had to get over him, friends they could be, but nothing more and that wouldn't change whether they won this war or not.
Adalina's thoughts were interrupted by Susan's voice. "Adalina, come quick, you should see this too."
Adalina followed Susan as she ran through the tunnels, coming out on the ledge on the face of the How. Caspian, Trumpkin, the Professor and the rest of the Pevensies were already out there, staring intently on the scene below them. Just as Susan and Adalina arrived, Peter, Lucy and Edmund came running up. The sight in front of them stilled all of their movements.
The Telmarine army was emerging from the thick wooded forest. Each soldier in sync with the next, they moved as one solid unit. The massive fleet seemed to expand upon the entire field. Their numbers far surpassed the Narnians.
Just as the cavalry came to a stop, nine men on horseback trotted forward. Suddenly, Adalina felt a pang of hurt jump through her veins. She recognized more than one face. Her land, Galva, had pledged their troops to Miraz. Adalina's inherited land had been entrusted with her distant cousins, the closest blood relatives she had, after her parent's death. She had almost no association with her land and its people at all, but it still hurt her to know that she would have to fight against the very people her parents protected so many years ago.
As she stared down at the assembly of troops she felt a hand twist around hers. She hadn't notice whom she had stood next to, but she realized it must have just been habit. Caspian kept his eyes forward the whole time, while his hand tightened its grip on Adalina's.
As the Telmarines retreated back to their camp, just behind the curtain on the tree's branches, the Pevensies, Trumpkin, and the Professor retreated back inside the How as well. Adalina had yet to move and Caspian stayed behind as well, although Adalina didn't think Caspian would be able to go if he wanted, her grip and his hand was deadly.
Caspian broke the silence first. "I am sorry. I am sure Miraz gave them no choice."
"I am sure too, but it still hurts for some reason. I hardly know them, but I still feel like I have a connection there, you know?" Adalina questioned.
"I know." Caspian turned, taking the hand that was wrapped in his and placing it in both of his hands. "But I know you will be ok." He looked into her eyes with one of those deep, I-can-protect-you kind looks of his. You felt your body grow with the need to lie in his arms. I have to stop feeling this with him! You mentally scolded yourself, trying to shake off the feelings. You pulled your hand out of his and fled the scene with only a simple 'thank you'.
Adalina spent the rest of the day out in the field, basking in the cool spring air and soft sunlight while playing with the Narnians and occasionally working in some practice with her sword, when she could find a worthy opponent.
The day had begun fading when she finally decided to retreat back inside. As she walked the familiar tunnels back to the room she shared with the Pevensies and Caspian she heard a call behind me.
"Adalina!" she twisted around to see who the voice belonged to. She turned to see Peter standing merely inches away.
"What is it?" Adalina said with a hint of worry in her voice.
Peter slowed his breathing and relaxed, sending the signal to Adalina that she could do the same.
"Look, I just wanted to apologize about the other day. After the raid, you were right I shouldn't have brought up Caspian's father and I am sorry."
Adalina was a little shocked; she would never have expected Peter of all people to yield an apology. "Thank you," she responded hesitantly, not really sure what she should say. "but … you were partly right."
Peter gave her a curious look. "What do you mean?"
"The Telmarines, you were right, Narnia is better off without us." Peter started to interrupt, but Adalina kept going, she couldn't lose her train of thought or else she would never get to her point.
"But you can't go back in time, Peter. The Telmarines are here and there is nothing you can do about it now, except fight for the Narnians. I know what the Telmarines did to the Narnians was terrible, and I wish I could change that, but I can't. I will tell you this though – Caspian and his father never participated in that, the Telmarines tried to exterminate the Narnians long before either of them. And I know it is hard for you to give up power and control, but Caspian is a great leader and he is what is best for Narnia now."
There was a brief silence before Peter began, "I know. Caspian will be a great leader for the Narnians, but you are right, it isn't easy for me to give up power. I am not being greedy, it is just that Narnia was my home for so long and I care about them all so much. I just want to do what is best for them."
Adalina lowered her voice to a more soothing, calm tone. "Peter, I have read many stories of the Golden Age of Narnia, and I don't think this time will be any different. You may stay another ten or fifteen years or you may stay ten or fifteen days, but I know you won't be staying forever. You and your siblings are great rulers, but it is inevitable that someone else will have to take power. And the person best suited for that is Caspian, but he will never do it if he doesn't have you and your siblings support."
"I know, it is hard to think we won't be staying forever, but it is true. And I know it doesn't seem like it, but I do support Caspian, I know he will be a just ruler." Peter's words were reassuring, she was afraid he might go ballistic at the thought of letting Caspian rule his people.
Adalina smiled, "I am glad to hear you say that." Without letting the smile fade she looked up into his clear blue eyes, "And thank you for hearing me out." Her gentle words quietly slipped off her tongue as her soft hand slowly cupped his cheek.
Peter stood almost frozen as her lips moved closer and closer to his. Finally feeling contact, Adalina lay a chaste kiss on Peter's lips letting it linger a little too long, just to try and feel a connection. But she never felt one, it wasn't like kissing Caspian, her body didn't tingle or feel weightless, and she was sure if she did it again, for longer, she would still be able to stand.
Withdrawing, she saw Peter's elated expression. She gave his a small smile to cover her disappointment and swiftly fled down the narrow corridor, not noticing the black eyes burning with jealousy, hiding in the shadows.
Once the coast was clear, Caspian stepped out of his dark hiding place and continued toward his former destination with a noticeable irritation in his step and anger streaming down his face like sweat.
Peter pranced off a few moments after Adalina, with no real destination, but he didn't care. He felt like nothing could put a damper on his mood, not even the pending war. His swagger and facial expression said it all. He couldn't have been more pleased with himself. He thought he had won her over, I guess women really are attracted to a man in charge, he thought to himself.
Lost in his boastful thoughts, he didn't notice his sister nearing him.
"What are you so happy about?" Susan asked, a bit annoyed by the mile wide grin still plastered on his face.
Before answering he took a look around, just to make sure there wasn't a large crowd. There was no need to spread personal information to the whole army, yet anyway. "Well, I will have you know that I just came from having a little chat with Adalina. We reconciled and I feel like we really understand each other better."
"So why are you really so happy? I know it isn't just because of a new understanding." Susan could tell when peter was holding back and it was obvious from the expression on his face as he spoke that he was just asking to be prodded about it.
"Ok…well, our little understanding concluded with a kiss?" and as if it was possible, the smile on his face grew even bigger.
Susan rolled her eyes at his lovesick gesture. "You have got to be kidding me. Peter, I wouldn't get too hung up on Adalina's affections. I know you like her a lot, and I don't blame you, she is a wonderful woman. But … I just wouldn't get your hopes up about anything more."
Peter let his smile fall just slightly as he took in his caring sister's words. "Susan, I know you are just showing you care, but you don't need to worry about me. You're right, I do like her very much, but I realize that we may not have a lot of time here. I just want to spend the time I have here the best way possible."
Susan felt bad tearing his spirit down, but she couldn't let him think he could have something that was so out of reach, it would just disappoint him more in the end. "Peter, you're not really seeing my point." She looked into his eyes, searching her mind for a gentle way to put this. Peter just returned her gaze with curiosity. "Peter, you can't win over a heart that already belongs to someone else."
This seemed to throw Peter through a loop, confusion now consuming his features. "What do you mean by that?"
"Adalina cares for someone else, if I am not mistaken, she is in love." Susan saw Peter's elation drain from his eyes as Susan's words registered in his mind.
"Who would she be in love with?"
"That I am afraid I can't tell you, but please, just be careful with her, for both of your sakes."
Peter paused for a moment, then shaking his head said, "No, no, Adalina hasn't shown any signs of interest in anyone else. I realize you are my sister and you want to protect me, but there is nothing to protect me from. Adalina and I can have a relationship, for as long as it lasts and it will all turn out just fine."
Susan let out a sigh, Peter was stubborn and she knew that she shouldn't try and push it with him. "Peter, just be careful and at least consider what I told you to be true." She turned and left, not wanting to say more and worsen the situation.
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