A/N - I'm back and this story is finished. Since it's Easter I'm going to give you as close to an Easter egg as possible over the internet, TWO chapters! These two chapters mark the end of this episode of Narnian adventure, I hope you enjoy them. Again welcome to any new readers and remember that there is a poll on my profile about a potential follow on story so please cast your vote as to whether I should begin a new distraction from my university work!

Really wishing I could nip into Narnia now but alas, I don't own Narnia so can't just wander in as I please...

Chapter 17 – This is not over…

An archer fired an arrow at the Lord Commander from within the reception room, striking me in the left shoulder. I cried out as pain radiated down my arm and across my chest, a red stain appearing on my tunic around the arrow. As my eyes closed against the pain I missed the concern on King Caspian's face as he spun at the sound of my cry.

"Hold your fire!" I heard the King shout, having removed his gag.

"Make a path." Growled the Lord Commander, when nobody moved he repeated himself, pulling the dagger against my neck, bringing forwards a trickle of blood, "I said, make a path."

"My Lord?" Called Harriot from within the room, the obvious leader of the rescue.

Caspian looked at me before nodding, "Do it."

The crowd of soldiers parted grudgingly, allowing the Lord Commander to force me through in front of him followed by the remainder of his own guards, once clear of the balcony he spun around, his knife still at my neck and smiled. "This is not over King Caspian."

I grunted as he pushed me ahead of him through the open doorway and into the maze of corridors in the castle. I could hear the sound of running footsteps following us but the Lord Commander managed to keep a turn or two ahead of the pursuing soldiers. I stumbled as he pushed me forwards, falling heavily onto my knees but managing to roll my right shoulder under me to avoid falling onto the arrow still protruding from my left shoulder.

I was dragged back to my feet before the Lord Commander threw me towards the Loyalist soldiers as they rounded the final corner before making his escape. A surprised soldier barely caught me as I was propelled towards him, he lowered me to the floor against a wall as gently as possible before joining his companions in the chase.

Caspian was at my side in seconds dropping his sword, which had he presumably reclaimed from Harriot, and examined the arrow in my shoulder, forgetting his own injuries. "Are you alright?" he questioned, cutting away the tunic and shirt with my dagger.

"What do you think?" I hissed through clenched teeth, trying not to shout out in pain.

Caspian looked at me with worried eyes before catching the hint of a smile on my lips. "Of course, stupid question."

I laughed slightly before discovering it was a bad idea with an arrow stuck in your shoulder. "At least we're alive. I had my doubts."

Caspian paused as he moved to cut the bindings on my wrists, his own still bound by chains. "The plan..?"

"Never really existed." I admitted with a smile. "I let myself get captured to protect you since I had the best chance of not being killed on sight, then left the rest to Harriot. I think that all went pretty well, all things considered." I added as the King moved back to my side. I cupped his face with my uninjured arm, "You're hurt." I said, rubbing his cheek gently.

"It's not so bad," he replied, as he cupped my hand with his own before moving back slightly. "Are they my clothes?"

I smiled as two soldiers appeared from down the corridor, they had caught and captured the Lord Commander of the Free Telmar Movement with help from the Old Narnian Company and Narnia United in Peace troops. He was now making his way down to a cell along with any of his men who had surrendered, waiting for the King to decide their fates.

"Perhaps later." Said the King, "In the meantime send for the doctor, and could you find some keys for these?" he held up his hands at which point the two soldiers blushed slightly and exited quickly. He smiled as he turned back to me, "Honestly Ariadne, are you alright? I mean about what they did to you as well."

I nodded, once again cupping his face with my hand, "I'm just glad you're ok."

What happened next was a complete surprise as not only was I not expecting the King to kiss me, but I didn't expect myself to let him. We stayed locked together in a subdued passion for a few moments before he pulled away, resting his forehead on my own.

"They will come in disguise and attack from afar

Before questions of identity and words will spar

An innocent's life will be set in a trap

As the final puzzle begins to unwrap

They will arrive in sleep and by their natural charms

The Bringer of Peace will bear no flags or arms

Frail at first but strong at the end

A broken land the Bringer shall mend"

Caspian whispered the words of the prophecy, my prophecy, raising his hands to hold my own. "You are the Bringer of Peace Ariadne, with Commander Yarlet in the dungeons the fighting will stop." He kissed my lips softly before moving away.

I opened my eyes, looking at his face and body, taking in every cut and bruise, determined never to forget how the King looked at this precise moment. My pains were temporarily forgotten in my moment of complete bliss, studying the Kings tired face as he in turn studied our hands, mine still bearing scraps of the cloth which had bound them, his chaffed and raw from the chains he still wore.

My eyes widened in horror as a soldier approached wearing the black uniform of the Free Telmar Movement. "Caspian!" I exclaimed and without a thought I pushed the King aside and grabbed my dagger from the floor beside me and pushed myself to my feet. The King recovered quickly, scrambling to his feet holding High King Peters sword, facing the approaching soldier.

The soldier stopped, quickly pulling off his helmet and throwing it to the ground. "It's OK, it's me, Ilius."

I smiled as I sank back to the ground. "Nice of you to join us." I said with a groan.

"I took a leaf out of your book and tried out a disguise, luring the Free Telmar soldiers away from the balcony while Harriot stormed it with his men." Explained the old solider as he moved closer. "You're hurt. Let's get you somewhere more comfortable." He said, as he handed his sword to the King and lifted me in his surprisingly strong arms.