The following morning, a small regiment of force and supplies had gathered outside the gates on the road. They were ready to follow Aslan and their High King. Lucy and Edmund were the first to join the party. Susan followed next, obviously still dubious with the whole scenario, but willing to stand by her brother for now. They waited on Aslan and Peter. Susan gasped on Peter's approach that morning.

Peter was paler than usual and looked increasingly tired. Lucy touched his hand assuringly. Peter smiled lightly. Aslan watched as he climbed into his saddle and remained close by.

"We ride now." Peter commanded.

Lucy crept up to Aslan's side and patted behind his ear.

"Is Peter ok Aslan?"

"Peter's life force is tied to that of Mirsan. As she wanes, it appears that Peter's strength is too. We must hasten young Lucy, for this to come about in a happier way."

Lucy's concern and fear heightened, but appreciated Aslan's honesty. She observed Peter as he rode silently onward with the party.

Peter's mind was exhausted and confused, but that drive within him to push on commanded him. He was terrified of this connection, this power over him, but he could not, and didn't want to deny, what he felt and thought for her. Which in itself was kind of frightening. He had never felt anything quite like this for anyone. The only love he had known all his life was that of family; like that for his siblings, the fatherly guide he saw in Aslan, his mother, the narnians that looked up to him as their monarch. This was a lust he felt when he thought of her. A passion one would feel for another in such a way that could only be described as a love. But he couldn't be sure. It was not like he had loved a woman in such a way before.

He wanted to understand it.

But I want more than that, he thought as the party rode along, following the road that was lead north. I want to be there when she opens her eyes, he thought, I want to lift her up from where she lies and hold her, smell her hair and feel her arms around my neck. Peter shook himself from those thoughts. The images that came with them left him anxious. He kept his eyes on the far horizon, waiting for the mountain to come into view. Even though he knew it would be a few days ride before that would happen.

For four days straight the party rode northward. Only stopping to make camp for the night. Peter often remained in solitude at those moments, only occasionally making small talk with Aslan and asking the others if they were ok. He was not sleeping, his siblings noted. They woke often to find a candle lit in from within his tent, or to find him on the fringes of the camp, just sitting in the moonlight looking north.

"This isn't right, I just allow myself to believe this is right." Susan was frustrated with Peter's distance and waning strength. She was confronting Aslan, to get him to do something. Even though somewhere inside she knew there was nothing Aslan, or anyone, could do for Peter.

"It's unnatural that any one person could have such a hold over another. It's unnatural that someone you've never met can have such a power over you."

"Do not spouses have such a power over each other?" Aslan challenged.

"Yes, but they have grown together and gotten to know the other."

"Does not love at first sight provide the magic of instantly feeling that they know one another?"

"I don't believe such a thing exists. How can you know someone you've never met or spoken to, that you actually do know nothing about?"

"Maybe you're fighting this Sue because such a thing has never happened to you." It was Edmund that spoke, defending Aslan's argument. "Or is it jealousy that Peter now turns to another woman, that isn't you or you trying to fill mother's boots?"

Tears of defeat welled in Susan's eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. She pressed her lips together tightly and left them, retreating to her own pavilions.

"Edmund." Aslan spoke.

Edmund shrugged it off. He was tired of Susan assuming she was the head of the family. He was tired of Susan trying to control everything and everyone around her. And if it was something she did not deem was right or acceptable than it simply wasn't. This behavior of hers had been on the increase since mother had passed. She was not mother, and now that mother was gone, that didn't mean she was the only one in charge or had the faculties to take care of them.

On the fifth day, in the mid afternoon, the mountain came into view. The party halted briefly as Aslan had pointed it out.

"There is our destination ladies and gentlemen. The living one rests inside."

Peter had risen in his saddle, a longing in his weary face. Then Peter fell from his saddle. Aslan, Lucy, Edmund and Susan rushed to his side. The centaur kept the concerned party at bay so Peter would not be crowded. He had not passed out. But he was disoriented. His focus on things was off and was drifting in and out. Mumbling like he was having a conversation with someone. His breathing was shallow.

"Make camp!" Edmund ordered, taking control in Peter's stead. "Prepare the High King's pavilion."

Attendants and soldiers stood at attention and rushed to unpack the camp site. Peter was still out of it. His head rested in Lucy's lap as Susan fed him droplets of water and soaked his brow to cool him. It had taken a mere twenty minutes for Peter's quarters to be made ready. The Centaur had his sovereign lifted onto a make shift stretcher and taken into his pavilion. They took care to lay him on his bedding. The centaur ushered everyone out except for Aslan, Susan and Lucy. Edmund felt he would better needed out in the camp setting things up, making plans, should Peter remain ill for the moment.

Inside the High King's pavilion, Peter was restless, half way between dream and reality. He tossed and turned, mumbling. At one point he tried to get up, calling her name, but the girls forced him back down again. Aslan instructed a handmaiden of Lucy's to concoct a herbal formula, one that would help the High King rest. She returned swiftly and they helped Peter to drink it. It took awhile, but the concoction worked and he eventually drifted into a semi relaxed sleep.

The camp buzzing with concern and excitement all at once. What was happening to their King? Aslan called the camp into a meeting. He positioned himself on a rock and addressed them.

"As you know, we are here to rescue what could be the last Living One. Our High King is in a difficult position. His very life force is tied to hers. As her life wanes, so does his. It is unexplainable. Their lives are fated to be intertwined. Their connection is solidified. We must work together and quickly, so that we don't lose them both. You have your orders, proceed with them."

The centaur gave the final command. The entire party ran to different corners, making the final rescue preparations. Aslan worked with Lucy on the enchantments to free Mirsan. Aslan only hoped they had made it in time. He did not fully understand the extent of Peter and Mirsan's connection till now.

Hours later, a small party returned from the volcanic mountain. They were dirty and covered in soot and smelt of burnt earth. They stated a clear hole had been made for entry into the molten chamber. Peter was still unconscious. Aslan judged that going by Peter's deterioration, they did not have long, and maybe not long enough to wait for Peter. Aslan gave the orders to prepare the rescue party. He told Susan to stay behind with Peter. Lucy was to travel into the mountain with Aslan, to help him break the enchantments.