Disclaimer- I am sad to announce that I do not own Narnia.

Okay, so sorry that I took FOREVER to update. I didn't mean to wait this long but I got an idea for a new story and wrote the first two chapters of that while everything was still a frest idea in my mind. It's a Narnia/Lord of The Rings crossover that has Peter and Susan in Middle Earth while Lucy and Edmund are back in Narnia for the adventure of the Dawn Treaser. The story is titled The Chronicles of Life and Death if you are interested.

Okay, enough talk... Moving on with the story.

Five weeks, six days, nine hours, a couple minutes, and a handful of seconds: that is how long I have been in isolation and it was starting to break me down inside. My mind was fuzzy like I had not used it in years and was now filling with nothing but cobwebs. I had no reason to use it now seeing as I had no books nor anything else to occupy my time. Rabadash had the books taken away as soon as he realized that his mother had given them to me.

The Prince says that I am still being difficult and uncooperative with him and he will now have to "break me" the hard way. To him, that meant no human contact whatsoever. I haven't heard any form of a voice since my second day here and I felt more alone than a person ever should be allowed to. The only way I knew that life still existed outside of these walls was by looking over my balcony and seeing the people hurrying through the streets of Tashbaan below me.

Now, I could tell you that this isolation thing was not too difficult for me seeing as I was left alone for most of my life; but, this was different. Like Chinese water torture, the longer I went through this, the closer to insanity I became.

I was hearing things.

My physics teacher would talk to me in the night, asking if I knew the correct formula for some equation or another. I heard my mother whisper how worthless I was as I sat on the balcony and watched the horizon. I heard Edmund's words ringing through my ears over and over again, all reassuring that he would come back for me. When I heard those words, I knew I was going crazy for it seemed more likely that my mother and physics teacher would be likely to be talking than he.

Edmund lied; he wasn't coming back for me. No one was. If they were they would have been here by now, rescuing me from this hell hole and whisking me back to Narnia and the peace that was so easy to find there.

I remember how anxious I was for their return the first couple weeks but as the days came and went my faith in them began to fade. By week three, I had completely abandoned hope that they were returning.

I didn't blame them, I suppose. After all, who was I to them but a nuisance who fell into their laps all those months ago? I was not part of the family nor anyone of any importance in their country. It made sense to me that they left me here and I understood why they did it.

After my realization, I no longer looked to the horizon for hours on end. I instead looked to the crowds in the market below me; they were my only sense of normalcy and existence.

I watched as the venders set up their booth's every morning and tore them down every night. I watched as women, who I was beginning to recognize by their faces, came to the same shops everyday to buy what they would need for dinner that night. I watched on as everyone's lives went on and mine stood still. I lived vicariously through these people and feeling a sense of life was more important to me that staring out at the ocean waiting for a boat that would never come.

I heard the door open behind me and a tray scrap across the floor and into my room. I looked back to see my usual, daily meal: bread and water. I rushed over to the small tray, sat on the floor, and began to eat like a wild animal.

It took me a few seconds to calm myself enough to think rationally. This single piece of bread and glass of water was all the food I was allowed to have for the day and I had to ration it carefully. If I ate it all now, I would be starving tonight and the pains from it would keep me awake.

I couldn't help but wonder if this was what it was like in the Great Depression when families did not have enough money to have three square meals a day. Sure, I had lost weight, which I have never complained about doing before, but soon enough two pounds turned into five, then ten, then fifteen and now I could see part of my body that were not supposed to be peeking out through my skin such as my ribs, spine, and cheek bones.

Slowly, I took the half devoured piece of bread back on the tray, picked it up, and placed it on the table next to my bed. I frowned as I walked away from the food and back to my chair on the balcony. I sunk into the chair, my heart pounding in my chest as I relaxed. Along with losing weight, I began to grow weaker and weaker as the time passed by. The single act of running to the plate of food exhausted me and I hated how vulnerable I had become lately.

No strength, no food, no company, no energy, no will to live, nothing. I was weak and alone and that is why I was losing my mind. At this point in my captivity I did not even care if I lived or died. I wasn't going back to Narnia, I wasn't going back to New York. I was just stuck in this room like a stick in the mud. The idea of giving in to Rabadash was getting better and better every day...but so was the idea of jumping off this balcony. I just wasn't sure which one would hurt less.

Should I just stop being so stubborn and just do what Rabadash asks of me? Wear a dress, sit silently at meal times, and be his mistress...

If you asked me this question a month ago I would have rejected it instantly but now it didn't seem so bad in comparison to the life I was living, if you could call this a life at all.

The prince had been right all along when he said that I would break and eventually obey him. That point was coming closer and closer now but I still had some fight left in me that could reject him still.

I closed my eyes and let the salty ocean breeze come over my face soothingly. If only I could fly on those winds and leave this place behind me...

"Lina?" A voice called to me through the veil of sleep that surrounded me. I wrinkled my nose at the sound of a voice before turning over onto my side and settling into the bed. "Lina?" The voice said again, this time it was accompanied by a gentle touch on my arm.

My eyes shot open.

The voices in my head were now touching me. That was fantastic and I knew I lost it for good at that moment. I slowly turned to see which of my imaginary friends had something so desperately important to tell me that it could not wait untill morning. I let my eyes adjust to the darkness and saw that a person was looming over me. Great, now I was seeing things too.

I blinked a few times and vaguely made out the shape of a handsome man with broad shoulders and shaggy blond hair. I smiled up at the figment of my imagination. "Hello, Peter. This is a first."

The man looked down at me with concerned eyes but smiled slightly nonetheless. "Lina, we have to hurry." He said.

"Where are we going?" I asked, playing along with the image's game.

He looked at me strangely and sat down next to me on the bed. "I am taking you away from here, of course."

I furrowed my brow and sat up. "Why?"

The dream Peter's mouth dropped open. "Why? Because you were kidnapped by Prince Rabadash and I am going to get you out of this city...are you well, Lina?"

I started laughing. "Of course, I am, Peter! I am dreaming of you! Or I am just talking to myself...either is plausible at this point."

Peter fell silent next to me. The man took my hand and covered it with both of his own. "Love, this isn't a dream. I am really here."

His eyes held no mockery nor lies as I looked deeply into them. I continued to study Peter, examining his face. Slowly, I lifted my hand up to touch his cheek. A gasp escaped my mouth as I actually felt the stubble on his cheek and chin, like the mirage hadn't shaved in a week. I kept stroking his cheek, waiting for the image to turn to mist and then disappear entirely but that time never came. Peter's hand came up to wrap around the one I had rested on his cheek. I gasped again and jumped away from him. This figment of my imagination really got me going for a while...I almost believed that Peter...He was...

I got up from the bed and started to pace and pull at my hair in frustration. "No, no, no, no...," I muttered to myself.

Peter shot up too. "Lina, what is it?" He asked calmly, too calmly.

I paced for a while longer before I finally looked at him and began shaking my head again. "No, you are not real. You are not here." I shook my head some more and went back to pacing.

I saw as Peter stared at me with an expression of horror and confusion. He suddenly came around the bed and grasped my shoulders firmly but gently. "Lina, look at me!" He said, almost panicked.

I hesitantly raised my blue eyes to met his and felt tears well up in my eyes. Oh, how much I wished this was really Peter. "Lina, this is me. I swear it to you."

I shook my head, not willing to except that he was telling the truth. I would not allow myself to hope. "No, I'm insane and you are just in my imagination. You're not the real Peter. You know why? Because he's not coming back for me."

A hurt expression appeared on his face and his hands dropped from my shoulders. "Is that what you really think?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "What else am I supposed to think after almost six weeks?" I waved off the comment. "But I don't blame you for not coming so it's fine I'll just-"

"Dear Aslan, Lina! I'm here! I came back for you! You know why?!" He said, mad and frantic.

I shook my head. Peter stared at me for a moment before he wrapped his hand around the back of my neck, pulled me to him, and placed his lips against mine. I was stunned at first, not able to do anything but stand there frozen. But soon, I let myself melt into Peter's arms and kiss him back.

I felt something in that kiss. It didn't seem fake or dreamlike, just...real. Peter ended the kiss and slowly backed his face away from mine so he could look me in the eye. "I came back for you, Lina, because I am in love with you."

I stared at him for a second longer, remembering the kiss that just happened between us and that was when I knew I was not dreaming anymore. Peter was here. He had come for me. A smile slowly began to creep across my face as both my hands went up to either side of his face. "It really is you." I said in a whisper.

Peter nodded, sighed, and smiled along with me. "It really is, Love."

I let a chuckle escape my lips before throwing myself into his strong arms once more. "I'm sorry I doubted you." I said into the nap of his neck.

His arms wrapped around me tighter and he leaned his head down against mine. "Do not be. There is nothing you need apologize for." He said soothingly.

"But I should never have-"

Peter touched a finger to my lips to stop me. "Hush, Lina. We can talk when you are safe on the ship."

I nodded slightly to show I agreed. Peter smiled and took my hand in his large one. "Okay, let's go."

We were headed to the balcony where a griffin hovered, waiting for our return. We were half way across the room when an arrow came up through the air and hit the griffin's wing. The creature cried out in pain as fought to stay in the air. Peter ran even faster toward the balcony, towing me behind him. We were almost there when I tripped over my feet and fell to the ground with a sickening crunching sound coming from the bones in my ankle. I hissed with pain and grabbed my ankle, as if this was going to help ease the pain. "Damn it!" I said, swearing out loud for the first time in my life. "Why is it impossible for me to walk!?"

Peter didn't respond, he just scoped me up into his arms and ran over to the griffin. The animal was now landed on the balcony and hissing quietly to himself. "Can you fly?" Peter asked the griffin.

The bird looked up at him and tried flapping his wings. He made it a few feet up in the air and stayed there. "I will try to manage, Sire, at least until we get to the ground." He said, trying to be brave. By the griffin's voice and shiny feathers I was able to guess he was a young fellow. Peter nodded and put his back to the griffin.

"Hang on to me," Peter said.

At the same time he spoke, I heard the clear sound of pounding coming from the outside of my door. My head shot around to look at it and saw the wood vibrate as the pounding continued. I was confused about why they could not get in seeing as my door was locked from the outside. But then I saw that a chair was propped up against the handle. Peter must have put it there when he arrived.

I turned back to the high king whose lips were pursed and tense. "Get us out of here!" He commanded the griffin urgently.

The griffin nodded, sunk his claws into Peter's tunic, and began to flap it's wings vigorously. The animal tried and tried with all of his might to fly away from the balcony but he could not get us off the ground. The combined weight of Peter and I was just too much for the wounded griffin. The animal finally stopped flapping and dropped Peter's tunic before he himself fell to the marble floor. "I am truly sorry, my lord, but I cannot-"

"It's alright. Go back to the ship and tell my brother of this development." Peter instructed. My eyes went to him. So, Edmund was here too? That meant he did not lie to me all those weeks ago...

The griffin said he would do his best to get there and nodded before frantically flapping his wings and going over the balcony. He barely made it ten feet away before his altitude began to fall.

Another booming noise came from my door and I clutched onto Peter even more than before. I looked from the door, to Peter, to the griffin flying away, then back at Peter. He stared at the door with such anger in his eyes that I was sure he was about to take on whoever came through there without hesitation.

One more pound on the door and Rabadash followed by five men burst into the room with swords raised. At the same time, Peter swiftly switched his grip on me so I was no longer resting in his arms but standing next to him on one foot with all my weight against him. He had one arm wrapped tightly around my waist and his other hand held his sword.

Rabadash looked at the two of us with a blank expression on his face. He continued to stare which made Peter wrap his arm tighter around me. Seconds that felt like days passed before Rabadash shook his head mockingly, clearly amused. "King Peter, what a pleasant surprise," He said in a courtly tone.

"It shouldn't surprise you that much, Rabadash, considering you stole a girl from my court," He said, not bothering with manners.

Rabadash tilted his head and smirked in Peter's direction. "Ah, my lord, we both know she is more to you then simply a lady of the court." Rabadash's dark eyes then went to me. "Hello, Lina. Long time, no see. Have you finally realized your place?" He asked, studying how I cowered away from him next to Peter. I took a shaky breath as I realized how truly terrifying the man was to me now.

"Do not talk to her!" Peter said loudly.

Rabadash grinned. "Ah, you forgot, King Peter that this is my country and you do not get to bark orders at me." The next moment, Rabadash jerked his head in our direction and the guards around him came toward us. I saw that Peter was contemplating trying to fight them off but there was just too many of them: five to one were not good odds. One of the soldiers came over to me and tugged me away from Peter's grasp. Instantly, my injured ankle gave way under my weight and I fell to the ground. Peter made a motion to come to my aid but he was being held back by two guards.

Rabadash looked at me as I sat on the ground, hissing in pain, before shaking his head and letting a chuckle escape his lips. "Ah, Lina! You are injured! How did this happen seeing as you have not been out of this room in over a month?"

I looked down and did not answer. I heard the prince annoyed growl at my lack of response before he came over and knelt before me. I turned my heard away from him only to have his rough hand come up to my chin and pull my head back to look up at him. "Answer my question, Lina," He said with malice dripping from every word. I gazed into his cold, dark eyes and I felt the words begin to work their way up my throat.

"I-I fell."

The man began to glow like he had won a small victory by making me talk. "And why did you fall?"

I glanced over to Peter who was trying to get out of the guards grasp and over to me. I felt my chin being tugged back to Rabadash again and I spoke. "Because I tripped over my feet."

Rabadash smiled. "Thank you for answering, Lina." He turned to Peter. "See, my king? All women will submit and obey in time. Lina was just a little harder to break than most."

I looked down again as he talked, feeling ashamed that I did not defy him. How I had changed in the past month...I had become a broken horse.

I suddenly felt my body leave the floor again. I looked up to see that the prince was the one who carried me this time. "Get off of me." I said weakly, trying to push against his chest. Unfortunately, I had no strength left and could do nothing to stop him.

"Put the Magnificent King in the dungeons. I will deal with him later." Rabadash ordered the guards as he walked away, carrying me in his arms. I looked back at Peter and struggled to get out of the prince's terrifyingly strong grip. Peter's eyes looked wild as I stared into them. He was trying to think of something, anything, to get us out of this mess but it looked like he could find none. I saw something suddenly click in his mind and he looked back at me.

"It's just like you to be a coward, Rabadash." Peter said in a challenging tone.

The prince suddenly stopped walking, paused, and turned around to Peter. "And what makes you say that?"

It was Peter's turn to smile. "Any royal can kill an unarmed man. It isn't a hard thing to do without honor, prince."

From the corner of my eye I saw Rabadash's lips purse tightly together. For the first time that night he did not look the slightest bit cocky. I turned my head back to Peter and wrinkled my forehead, silently questioning what he was up to.

"And what do you purpose I do with you then?" The prince asked.

Peter smiled. "Challenge me to single combat."

Rabadash raised an eyebrow and stayed serious. "Say I do this. What do I receive when I win?"

Peter pursed his lips and looked at me.

Rabadash began to smile. "Ah, we are fighting for the girl then?" He looked at me. "Well, Lina, you are most wanted by this king if he is willing to die to save you."

I looked at Rabadash and then at Peter. I shook my head no at him; the king ignored me.

"If I win, Rabadash, Lina returns back to Narnia with me and you will never step so much as a foot in my country ever again." Peter said, stating his terms.

Rabadash thought about this for a moment before smiling and nodding. "Alright. If I win...Lina stays here and...you die." He told Peter like it was the most simple thing in the world.

My eyes widened as he stated his terms. Peter simply could not agree to this-

"We have an accord," Peter said sternly without a moment's hesitation; the man then nodding his head. Rabadash did the same in return.

At that moment, a sudden burst of life came back to me and I began to yell at Peter. "Peter, no! I cannot let you do this!"

Rabadash smiled over at me. "Ah, but it is already done."

My mouth dropped open into an 'O' shape and I looked back at Peter.. The man was pale but he still held an air of confidence about him. "Peter..." I didn't even know what to say to make him reconsider. The king looked up at me and smiled, trying to be reassuring. Rabadash set me down on the bed before going over to Peter and shaking his hand, making their bet official.

"Change of plans, then. Guards, escort him out of the castle and back to his ship. The man should rest for he will truly need it tomorrow morning." The guards nodded and started dragging Peter out of the room. His eyes stayed on me as he crossed the room.

I couldn't just stand there as he walked away. I shot up from the bed, despite the pain protesting against it, and hobbled over to him. Somehow, he too, was able to overpower the guards who had him and meet me halfway. He took me in his arms and my weight from my ankle.

I felt tears overflowing in the brim of my eyes. "Don't do this, please. There has to be another way." I pleaded with him.

"There is no other way, Lina...Do not worry about me, love. I will be alright," He whispered into my hair before he was pulled away from me again and out the door. My eyes followed him until he and his escorts disappeared around a corner.

I collapsed onto the floor again, not able to stand on my wounded ankle any longer. I vaguely realized that Rabadash was still in the room and heard him talking. He walked slowly over to the door and stopped in the frame to look over his shoulder at me. "Get some rest, Lina. You look terrible." He smiled devilishly before walking out the door and locking it behind them.

I didn't know how much time passed as I sat on the floor staring at the door. All I knew was that Peter was back in my life and tomorrow he could be ripped out of it once more. This whole thing ended tomorrow one way or another.

Intense stuff... lol. I hope you liked it and thanks for reading!