A/N: Honestly I really don't know about my writing anymore. I like it...then I go back and then I don't. I just feel like my stories need updates but I just don't want to write out crap that doesn't have real process or thought. I thought about it, but is it giong in the direction I want it? Just to warn you guys I might pull some revision on you in the future and this story in Prince Caspian is going to be short because I want to move onto Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Anyways Happy Reading!

Chapter Ten: The Chances We Take

After Kristen was washed and dressed she left to seek Peter out. She found him half asleep in the Stone Table room, looking up at Aslan's relief. His eyes were half closed but the moment she stepped into view he sat up quickly and stared at her. She looked clean, her hair pulled back, an old shirt on her thin frame and black pants. She looked so beautiful, and he wanted to tell her but, he felt that she wouldn't receive it well. She smiled though and knelt in front of him and reached out taking his hand. She looked at his hand in hers and then back up into his pale blue gaze.

"Peter." she said and he looked down, ashamed to even meet her gaze.

"I'm so sorry, my love. I didn't want you to get hurt. I shouldn't have left you."

"I don't blame you. I went along, knowing the risks."

"Yes, but I should have listened."

"It matters not, it's already done, no point dwelling on it."

"But...you got hurt." he said as he looked back at her with a defiance in his eyes. That defiance told Kristen that he was prepared to take all the blame of her injuries on him. "Because of me, you have...that scar."

"Because of me, I have this scar. Not you."

"I'm an idiot."

"We both are. I hurt you too. I belittled you, and treated you less than a man you really are. We were both at fault for our pride...and me more so for my indiscretions."

"Indiscretions?"

"I kissed Ed. It wasn't his fault...I asked him to. I was upset. He was there and I had to know."

Peter looked at her for a long time. At first jealousy waged a war in him. How could his brother do that to him? Or her for that matter...but he breathed and looked deep into those honest filled orbs that seemed to always hold a deeper truth and he knew she was sorry. Peter knew she loved him and here she was being honest and standing by him. For once his pride didn't get the better of him, or his damn heart, but his logical sense took over. He loved this creature so much.

But as he looked on he saw another thing that was truthful in her gaze. She was so scared.

"I don't blame you." he sighed as he leant back against the Stone Table and looked back at Aslan. "I always knew, something would happen between you two. It was like a...bomb ready to go off. You never looked at me, the way you looked at him."

"I love you. But..."

"I wasn't your first choice." he finished. "I know that too."

"You know this logical and calm Peter is very scary." she said and he smiled weakly but still wouldn't look at her. The only thing that was keeping the conversation going and okay to keep going was the fact he hadn't tore his hand away from hers.

"But, you've never lied to me."

"No."

"Then if we broke up, would you go to Ed?"

"I don't know. I don't think that's fair to anyone. Edmund and I just had one kiss, one that was stolen from us, and a moment we never got to share. We won't ever do it again, I promise."

"I want you to be happy." he looked back at her. "I want you to have a man who can give you all the attention and things you deserve. Because you're extraordinary. I look back on our relationship, and it was so..."

"Forced." she finished and he nodded.

"We had such a hard time finding space for one another. I always envied how you and Ed would just sit there and read and be comfortable. Or just spend time with one another and it mean so much more. Our relationship came second, after everything else. And it's still second. You don't deserve that."

"Then we'll work on it."

"Who are we kidding? We'll be separated again. I go back to England in my time and you go back to America in yours. We'll always be lost to one another and it's not like I can go back and search for you...you won't even be born yet."

"Then we need to work on us, with the time given. I don't care...we need to fix this...fix us. Because now you're the only one for me. I won't abandon you, Peter. I'm here for you, to stand by you, like a woman would to the man she loves most ardently."

"I don't deserve your love."

"I don't deserve your forgiveness. But we deserve one another, and a chance at a moment of happiness."

"I don't know what to do. I'm not the King I once was Kristen. I'm only half the man you see..."

"No...you're still Peter to me. That man that would walk down the beach with me at night, and sleep with me on the warm sand till morning. You're still the Magnificent King, in your heart. It's time you started trusting it. Trusting me, and everyone around you. It's time you trusted Aslan."

"You're right. It's time I trusted him." Peter said and she smiled and then leant forward, bracing herself on her hands and knees and kissed Peter full on the lips. He breathed into it, entranced as if it was their first. It was different than the previous ones they had shared. There was no coldness or forced rigid movement but warmth and this sensation to be close.

He grabbed her and pushed her down onto the ground beneath him and claimed her lips for his own. They kissed till they ran out of breath and he pulled away gazing down at her. Her face was back to being warm as a faint flush pinked her cheeks. She smiled at him and reached up placing a delicate hand on his face. He kissed her palm and sighed as he lay down, resting his head on her chest. She laughed and ran her fingers through his hair as they lay there by firelight.

"I love you." He said to her.

"And I, you."

"I know it's hard, but when we leave…no matter how much I love you, eventually I know I'll have to let you go."

"When that day comes." she whispered staring off into space as her fingers gently raked through his blonde locks. "We'll be ready."

"How are you so sure?"

"Because, we know it'll happen. So it's not going to be such a shock. We'll take it for whatever it is, and that's that. But for now, we know we can love one another and it be okay. Use the time that's given, not waste it. Heaven forbid we already have done enough of that."

Peter propped himself up on his arms and gazed down at her. He watched her so carefully, committing every inch of her to his memory, before closing his eyes and kissing her again as gently as he could. When he pulled away she had her eyes closed too and was so peaceful and serene. This is how he wanted to remember her, he wanted her to be at peace.

"You make me, so happy. Just being able to look at you, brings me joy. I don't need much, Kristen, but it's painful to know we can't get married, have children of our own, be in love forever."

Her eyes opened at his admission and she took a deep breath before sitting up, forcing him to sit up as well. She searched his gaze and nodded.

"It would have been nice to have those things too. Guess...we'll never know."

They didn't know where to take the conversation next but at that moment Edmund decided to interrupt as the two of them stood quickly upon hearing someone approaching. Edmund spotted them both and for the first time in a long time he didn't feel so much jealousy. He looked at his brother however fearing he would see distrust but found only genuine confusion.

"What is it Ed?" Peter asked and Edmund took a breath and looked reluctant.

"There's something you ought to see."

He turned then leading the way out and Kristen and Peter had no choice but to follow. They clasped hands, jogging down the hallways and down a windy tunnel until they reached the balcony ledge that was over the How entrance and overlooked the courtyard and plains. There before them, was the outfitting of a Telmarine army and it was vast and great. Kristen stiffened at Peter's side and he noticed it as he looked at her.

"It's only a matter of time now." Caspian said. Kristen looked to her right to see Caspian and Susan standing not too far off, together, his arm now around her, palm touching the small of her back almost intimately.

"We have to prepare." Peter said commandingly as all his regal King mannerisms clicked into place. "Let's call an emergency session and start mobilizing some plans. If they play by rules of engagement they have to give us two days."

"I don't think they will, not Miraz." Cornelius said gravely.

"Ed, round up the troops to meet, Kristen," Peter turned to her and took her other hand holding it tight. "I want you to go and get some rest."

"But the meeting! You can't honestly–,"

"Please. For me. Just go and lie down for a few hours and we'll fill you in when you wake. I promise...I'll be a better King. Lead by example, be rational, but still lead with my heart. All the good things you've taught me like a wife would to her husband. But my heart would feel less heavy to know you have rested. Besides I'm going to need you...you're my best fighter."

Kristen had to tuck her pride away and slowly allow herself to agree. She nodded and slid her hands from his, as she kissed him softly and turned walking into the How. She was a tad tired after all...a few hours of sleep wouldn't be remiss. When she arrived to her quarters she looked at the bed and felt it's pull. Slowly walking over to it, not bothering to take her boots off, she lay face down and pulled a blanket over her body. She lay there for moments eyes wide open as she stared at the wand that was now sitting on her table. It's red jewels had not faded to white again, only guessing as to what new powers she could discover by using it. Kristen sat back up and stared at it, as it slowly began to roll on the table towards her.

In the next instant she had to lash her hand out to catch it as it came flying towards her. As her hand grasped it she felt a surge of heat and she looked at the wand and rotating it a few times inspected it further.

"What is it you do?" she asked the object and it's response was a slow glow from inside of it. She shook her head in amazement and then settled it under her pillow and lay back down. Gently the waves of sleep overtook her, dragging her back into the undertow.

Kristen awoke to someone shaking her gently. Her eyes opened and blinked away the sleep as blurred images started coming into focus. She rolled onto her back and wiped her tired eyes before sitting up and now was looking at Caspian.

"Caspian?" she asked and he nodded.

"Peter told me to come wake you. We haven't been able to decide on what to do about this situation, and we all agreed it might be best to bring you in."

"How long was I asleep?"

"Two hours."

"Two hours and you haven't thought of a single thing?"

"Well...some things, but, just come along. It'll be better explained when we are all there."

"Alright."

"What is that?" Caspian spotted something shining sticking out from under her pillow and removing it he saw the wand. His breath caught as he stared at it and then looked to Kristen shocked, as if he couldn't believe she had it in her possession. "Why do you have this?"

"It's mine now...or at least for the time being." Kristen snatched it up and stood up heading for the door.

"It was the White Witch's you can't possibly use it! It's evil!" Caspian stood up and rushed to her as he took her arm and turned her around.

"I know that." she said evenly. "But it's worth a shot to use. I'm the only magic user in this whole place...it might buy us some time."

"At what expense? My professor told me about old magic...he said that if you use too much, it can hurt you."

"I know."

"Are you so prepared to lose your life? You almost died, and I cannot bear to see Susan cry again."

He looked shocked with himself then as he slowly let her arm go and Kristen looked up at him amused and with a knowing glint in her eye. She tied off the wand to her belt and then folded her arms, raising a brow at the young Prince.

"Come again? Do I detect the sounds of young love in your conviction and voice?"

"Kristen, I-I..." Kristen rolled her eyes at him and then started listing off things quickly.

"Her favorite color is purple, her favorite time of year is spring, her favorite animal is a rabbit, she likes walks on the beach during sunset, loves horseback rides through the forest, she would prefer vegetables to sweets, her favorite flowers are tulips and preferably the white ones. Let's see...she hates when people shuffle their feet, or foul language. She absolutely cannot stand when people treat her as if she is an incapable woman with no opinion, and she sees the logical side to things rather than the first obvious thing that comes to mind. But most of all, she loves her family and will not consider a man who does not love them too and treats them with respect. But I don't think you have to worry...you're well on your way to a unanimous approval."

Caspian stared at her like he had never seen her before and he nodded as he blinked a few times and gaped some more.

"So you mean to tell me...you're okay with...us?"

"Why wouldn't I be okay with it?" she pat his shoulder and then motioned with her head for him to follow her. "Come on, we have a meeting to attend."

"Kristen, I still don't approve of you using that...thing." he gestured to the wand now tied at her belt and Kristen looked to it too and sighed.

"No one approves of it, but bottom line...it's my life."

They were all convened once more in the stone table room all of them sitting there with grave looks on their faces. Everyone seemed to perk up upon seeing a clean and well rested Kristen and Lucy got up from her seat and ran up to Kristen and hugged her. Kristen hugged the smaller girl with affection, cradling the back of her head gently and resting her head on top of hers.

Next was Susan as she hugged her friend the two of them whispering words to one another in kindness. Kristen then looked to Peter, her king, as she then walked up to him and reached up placing a gentle hand on his face. He smiled and placed a hand over hers and then turned as he pressed his lips to her palm.

"Good evening. Sleep well."

"Well enough. Shall we?" Kristen gestured to the room filled with Narnian's and he nodded as they both lowered their hands but kept them clasped. "What decisions have we made thus far?"

"That Lucy is going into the woods to find Aslan. It seems he will only appear to her." Edmund answered.

"Lu?" Kristen asked as she pointedly looked at the younger girl.

"I can't be afraid. I have to do this."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, you should be here…seeing as you're good cause to war and all."

"Speaking of which…that wand seems to have taken a liking to you." Edmund pointed out as he eyed the instrument attached to Kristen's belt with disdain.

"It has."

"Have you learned to use it yet?" Peter inquired and Kristen shook her head as she unsheathed it and held it up.

"No the thing doesn't want to cooperate but I feel power from it. I tried pouring my energy into it, but, nothing happened." Kristen shot a quick look at Susan who was staring at the ground with a frown on her face. Susan hadn't told everyone that Kristen had limits, and that she could possibly die again from it. But in that moment Susan looked like she wanted to stand up and tell everyone the truth but one look from Kristen kept her seated by Caspian.

"Try to figure it out before the battle. It would prove useful if we could get some use out of it." Peter said and then turned to the others as they began shooting out ideas. Kristen stood there leaning against him as she chewed her bottom lip in thought.

"Of course." She whispered after a few moments of thinking and this caught the attention of the others. "I know what we need to do."

"What?" Lucy asked.

"Caspian, the rules of engagement do they not apply to your people? Especially the rules of engagement involving a King."

Caspian looked at her and then it dawned on him as he nodded and stood up.

"He may be a tyrant and a murderer, but he still has to uphold the laws of the King. What is expected of him. And his pride would not dare refuse."

"What are you two talking about?" Susan asked a little annoyed that she wasn't getting what they were insinuating.

"Peter what would happen if say…King Lune has asked you to duel him for your war horse? By obligation you'd have had to accept…as a King of Narnia." Kristen explained and Peter nodded.

"By rules of engagement. I don't understand through."

"To give Lucy time to find Aslan, we prolong the battle." Kristen explained like it was obvious.

"To challenge Miraz to a one on one battle." Caspian nodded. "But who?"

"It's obvious isn't it?" Peter said as he realized now and resigned himself. This was for his family, his love and for his people. "I have to, as High King of Narnia."

"No, I will. My life isn't as valuable." Caspian said as he walked up to Peter and placed a hand on his shoulder. "These people need their High King to lead them."

"No they need their future High King to lead them into battle." Peter placed his hand on Caspian's shoulder mirroring the action of friendship. "This is something I need to do. To make amends."