Chapter 21: War

Peter's POV

"We'll attack here, Edmund you'll lead the Archland army to the right and wrap around where" I told them letting my hand run along the path they were supposed to take. "Orian you'll go the opposite way and block them in" I told them, "While I lead the rest down the center. We'll send the griffins and dwarves over head. Aim for their armories, their stables, anything that will burn. I want that city to burn to the ground. The women and children will not be harmed in anyway shape or form. Prepare the armies" I clenched leaned over the map of the city capital.

Orian and the others quickly left, expect for Edmund and Susan. "Peter, I know you want Aria back but you've already gained so much Carlormene ground, we're marching against their capital tonight. Please take a break" Susan squeezed my arm. I looked at her, "and what would you have me tell Aria when we rescue her? That she missed her father on his death bed because we decided to take a break?" I questioned her. She gave me a look. "You know what I mean Peter, there's no need to get an attitude with me" she snapped before turning around and leaving. The tent flapped angrily behind her. I looked over at Edmund. "What do you think?" I questioned him, "I understand why you've taken down Carlormene so quickly and it has incredibly inspired the troops" Edmund said quickly. I smiled and fell back into my chair. I was exhausted.

"Though I do think you should think about what you're going to find when we do rescue Aria" Edmund said softly. I looked up at him. "What do you mean?" I questioned him. "It's no secret that our Narnian army fights for Aria just as much as they would for Susan or Lucy" Edmund said and I smiled at that. In the small amount of time she had managed to be in Narnia the people loved her already. "But you've heard the rumors from the armies, as well as what Mr. Tumnus saw" Edmund reasoned, I glared at him.

"She would never" I snarled, "that doesn't change what he saw" Edmund corrected. "He doesn't know what he saw" I spat. "And you do?" Edmund questioned, "I know Aria, and I know she'd never be with Rabadash" I told him. "I'm not saying she is Peter, I just want you to prepare yourself Pete" he said rationally. I knew Edmund was just doing his duty as my younger brother and second in command. But none the less. "It's only a rumor" I told him resting my chin in my the crook between my thumb and forefinger as I leaned back into my chair. "I hope you're right Pete" Edmund said softly before leaving the tent.

The flaps slapping closed behind him. It had to be a rumor. It just had to be.

Aria's POV

"Aria" his deep thundering voice whispered in my ear. I shivered turning towards him instinctively. I nuzzled my nose against his cheek, my body contouring against his. His fingers ran across my cheek as his arm tightened around me. Keeping me locked against his chest. I could feel his lips trail against my ear, a giggle escaping as I squirmed. "But I don't want to" I whispered, "wake up Aria. I'll come for you soon" he whispered. "But I want you now" I complained pulling at his shirt. He chuckled, "you'll have me soon my dear Princess" he'd whisper. I moved my head on his bicep, my eyes opening slowly. His blue eyes looked back into mine briefly, a smile tugged at his lips.

Then he'd disappear.

I sat up with a start, my heart pounding a million miles a minute. I clenched the comforter to my chest and ran a hand through my hair. "Goddamn you Peter Pevensie" I sighed before throwing the blankets off me and put my cold feet on the floor. I could just make out the stables through my window from the spot on my bed.

This had been happening for the past month. Secret meetings, hushed whispers between guards in the hallways that instantly silenced when I approached. I had been trying for the past week and half to gather what information I could but Rabadash was doing a good job at keeping me in the dark and it was beyond frustrating. Not only that but Rabadash had moved my confinement area. I could only look around the back of the castle now and it was aggravating.

I paced back and forth as I just finished threatening Gabriella's life for the millionth time in exchange for information. Still nothing. It was past dusk and I couldn't sleep. I was to antsy. The letter I had received from Peter was frayed at the edges, the edges rough from repeated folding and unfolding, it was about to fall apart at any moment but yet I couldn't stop looking at it. Rereading it. Remembering our nights out in the gardens, or in on my window seat in my room in Cair Paravel.

I missed his kisses, his hugs, just his mere presence I missed all of it. I missed him and I hated myself for it. I'd had this argument a thousand times and I still wasn't anywhere close to figuring it out. I looked up at the sky only for furrow my eyes as my mouth went slack. A dwarf was flying!

Looking closer I could just make out the edges of a griffin's wings. The dwarf fired a shot as the tip of the arrow flamed red. It nailed a house lighting it on fire. Then I heard it. The people's screams. The castle was suddenly in an uproar. I took my chance. I turned on the spot and ran for it. Running down the stairs there was no guard. He must have been called away to protect the castle. If I could get to the lower levels then I could jump and pray I didn't hurt myself. I ran down stair case after stair case.

"Princess!" A guard shouted, I turned on the spot and he came running after me. I backed up against the terrace and looked down. I couldn't believe my luck. I quickly threw my legs over the terrace and jumped. I landed on Demetrius's hard saddle. Grabbing his reigns we bolted down the streets. Smoke clouded the streets. I couldn't see. I didn't know which way to go. We were lost within the streets but still Demetrius charged forwards. "Demetrius where are we going?" I demanded as he reared up on his hind legs. Before stomping back down and taking off again.

Well at least he had a direction in this mess. We flew through the allies till I ran into Orian. "Orian!" I shouted, he turned at my shout. "Princess! The High King has been looking for you! He's marching on the castle now!" He shouted, "Which way is the castle?" I shouted, and he pointed. I turned Demetrius in that direction and we set off once again. Dodging and weaving throughout the many people screaming furiously at each other. I finally spotted the castle, and right there in front was the blonde haired king. He was gorgeous as he fought better than I had ever seen him. He slayed the last man in front of him. "Peter!" I screamed dismounting Demetrius and running towards him. He turned at my shout, his mouth falling open at seeing me. "Aria!" He called to me.

I smiled the distance closing between us fast. His face distorted as he shouted, "look out!" He moved to get to me but I felt the hand on my arm before he could. I was hauled up onto a horse across Rabadash's lap. A sword resting against me. The cold blade resting against my racing pulse.

"Let her go!" Peter shouted as the crowd around us fell silent as they watched. "Let us, my father and my armies pass peacefully or I'll kill her now" Rabadash growled. "You wouldn't dare kill her" Peter growled, the blade pressed tighter against my throat. "What's the point of letting her live if I can't have her?" He growled. I clenched my jaw. He would do it. I knew he would. Peter clenched his jaw, his eyes darted around as all eyes fell on him. I clenched my jaw, Peter couldn't back down. Not now, he had Rabadash and the King of Carlormene. He couldn't keep the respect of his people and let them go free for my behalf.

His eyebrows furrowed with hated fro Rabadash now doubt. "Peter" Edmund said softly, Peter glanced towards him. At hearing rustling I looked, a pathway was forming through the streets. Narnian's and Archland alike were moving. Clearing a pathway for us. I stared in awe at them. Rabadash smirked and kicked his horse to life. We bolted down the streets. I turned to look over Rabadash's shoulder. Peter was clenching his sword. "Follow them!" He bellowed before mounting Maul and kicked her to life as the armies followed us.

"You can't keep me here Rabadash it's only a matter of time before Peter breaks in!" I shouted at Rabadash. He glared angrily at me as he paced back and forth. I stood next to the window watching the piles of bodies burn. We had been trapped here for two weeks and it was already taking it's toll. The town was to small to hold the armies of Carlormene. People were starving, fighting over little scraps of food and they were dying. "You've already lost Rabadash just throw out the white flag already! You've lost half you're army!" I shouted at him, he turned quickly his hand slamming on the wall next to me. I shivered as his body pressed up against mine. His dark eyes glowing with fury.

"I'm not giving up on us" he snarled. I furrowed my eyebrows. "Do you really think that there's an us Rabadash? There's never been an us!" I shouted in his face. Why couldn't he understand? He grabbed me and forced me down on the bed as he straddled my waist. "If I can't have you then I'll make it so he won't either" he snarled, one of his large hands pinned both of my wrists above my head as his lips found my pulse point. His other hand grabbing my dress and running his hand up my thigh. I screamed trying to kick him off. His hand came up and smacked me straight across the face. I gasped as pain seared through my face.

"Quite you're screaming" he growled his hand undoing the strings on the front of my dress. "Rabadash stop it!" I screamed at him trying to buck him off. He grabbed the front of my dress pulling it open revealing my white under dress. I glared at him and bit his nose. He recoiled quickly holding his nose. "You bit me!" He snarled, "You're trying to rape me!" I shouted back and he glared. He opened his mouth to retort only for the door to suddenly be burst open.

Soldiers stood in the doorway as they held their unsheathed swords. Rabadash instantly sat up. "What's the meaning of this?" He demanded grabbing his own sword. "You've starved our city, you're killing it's people all over some worthless girl. Not anymore. We've already taken care of you're father and now we're going to take care of you" the soldier in the front snarled.

Rabadash grabbed my arm and hid me behind him. I quickly redid the front of my dress, tying it closed as Rabadash got into a deadly tangle with the group of soldiers. Now Rabadash was a skilled fighter, but I knew if he lost this battle then I would too. I grabbed the sword from a fallen soldier and quickly attacked a few of my own. I groaned at seeing the blood on the edge of my sword. A dead body now lay in front of me.

It was for necessity but the blood dripping off the tip of the sword was saying something different. Rabadash grabbed my hand and pulled me through the doorway and down the hall.

Peter's POV

"It's only a matter of time Peter" Edmund said again, "We don't have time Edmund!" I snarled at him looking over the map again. There had to be a way in there. Rabadash would no doubt take advantage of the time he had with Aria now that there wasn't a lot of time left. I clenched my jaw. "Peter, there might be a way in" Susan said. I looked up at her. "How?" I questioned and Princess Arland walked into the tent. I glared at her.

"Look I'm sorry for what I did High King, I see now that you love Aria and I'm sorry for that. But Rabadash is destroying our country for a naught cause. They'll open the gates for me. Some of the troops can disguise themselves as handmaidens and come in. Find you're princess and leave" she said. I narrowed my eyes at her. It sounded like a good plan. "And what if it's a trap?" I questioned her. "It's not" she said softly. "I'm really sorry for what I did High King" she apologized.

I looked over at Edmund. "It's a good plan, you and me as well as a couple others can sneak in and find her" Edmund reasoned, "I'll go too. We'll open the gates while you find her" Susan said. "It sounds like a plan, let's go" I snarled grabbing some fabric. We wrapped it around ourselves and waited. As planned they opened the gates for Princess Arland and she distracted them while we crept away.

"Go Peter, we'll open the gates. Go find her okay?" Susan smiled squeezing my arm. I smiled and nodded as I took off through the streets.