"...too late?"

"She was...arrow!"

"Just...space. I'll come..you..."

My eyelids are sealed shut like they were sewn together, but my ears still work. I can hear some phrases, but I can't pinpoint exactly what they're saying or who 'they' are. The next thing that I register is a door slamming shut, though whether someone came or left, I'm not sure. I try to take a breath, but a sharp, intense, strange feeling erupts through my shoulder, and I gasp for air, my eyes flying open at a surprisingly fast pace. They search around, selfishly devouring everything in sight, although I only saw light, colorful blurs. I try to sit up but the sensation in my shoulder suddenly turns to white hot pain and I give a yelp, falling back on what I assume is a bed. "Lucy, thank goodness you're alright!" The voice sounds familiar, but my vision is still blurry, and I can't tell who it is. My right hand slowly moves to my face, and I rub my eyes, the blurriness slowly fading from my vision, and everything slowly comes into focus. Lolling my head to the side, I see long, brunette locks falling into greyish blue eyes that are full of concern. "Maria, what-"

"Shhh, you've been through a lot. You're lucky that prince Caspian is stubborn like you. Apparently, when you told him to go to the great hall, he only went just inside the castle walls to where he could watch you. When I went to get him, I ran straight into him." I nod, and turn my head to look up at the ceiling, and I notice that it does not have the constellations arranged in perfect order like mine does. Instead, the ceiling is lower, and it is a plain white, small cracks stretching out from the corners. "Where am I? This is not my room."

"No, we couldn't get you there in time. We took you to the closest place that was safe, and that just happened to be my home." I nod, and close my eyes. "I'll be right back. Your family will be so happy that you're okay." Maria states, and a few seconds later I hear what I assume to be a door opening then closing. Taking this moment, I open my eyes and use my right arm to slowly and extremely carefully prop myself up on the pillows behind me. Looking around the room, I see a small wardrobe, a lopsided chest, and an old looking quilt, separating the room in half. A low creaking echoes through the small home, and the curtain is pushed back, Maria in the lead, followed by Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Caspian. "Lucy! Oh, thank Aslan you're alright! I was so worried!" Edmund rushes past Maria, careful not to push her over. Taking the seat that Maria had recently occupied, he bombards me with questions. "Are you okay? What happened? Why did you get shot? Was it an ambush? Did someone send the boy to kill you? Who-"

"Ed!" My voice comes out strangled, and I find it impressive that I said anything at all. "Not now." He goes to open his mouth, but a hand rests itself on his shoulder. Susan's hand. This surprises me. It isn't that we don't get along, we just don't get along as well as Ed, Peter and I. "Come, let me sit." Edmund starts to protest, but realizes that its futile, and stands, taking a place next to Maria. "Lucy, how is your shoulder?"

"It's... Um... Sore. And hurts when I move. And talk. And breathe." She nods, and looks toward Maria. "Maria, go to Lucy's chambers, bring her some clothing, and another cloak. She's going to need to stay here until she can move. You can take her chambers if you would wish while she's here." Maria's face looks confused, but she curtesy's, pushes back the curtain, and exits the small home. "Prince Caspian, did you hear anything the boy may have said that let you know who he was, or why he tried to kill my sister?"

"Hmm? Oh, um no. I'm sorry." Peter sighs, putting his head in his hands. My eyes dart to the Telmarine prince, and I notice that he is staring at me, looking straight through me. "Peter ..." I manage out, my voice a harsh whisper. "What is it?"

"Come here." He leans forward, and I whisper in his ear what the boy said to me, and when I tell him who the boy said sent him, he sits up abruptly, turning slowly. "Susan, would you come with me momentarily? Caspian, watch her, will you?" The eldest in my family stands, and grips Edmunds shoulder, giving him a small smile. "Watch him." And with that the two push back the curtain, it's heavy material muffling the sound of wood slamming against wood. Edmund huffs, starting to pace as Caspian kneels next to the bed. He reaches a hand out towards my face but I instinctively jerk back, wincing and gasping slightly at the sudden movement. The prince's eyebrows knit together in confusion. "What's the matter?"

"N-nothing."

"Oh, really? You're looking at me like you're terrified."

"Of course she's terrified! She was just shot!" Edmund exclaims, walking to the end if my bed. I study his face, and notice the muscles are tense, his hands are in fists at his sides, and soft, angry blotches cover his cheeks. "Caspian, go wait outside, please. We need someone guarding outside as well as inside."

"Why can't you go outside? It's freezing out there! You're used to it, I'm not!"

"I won't go because she's MY sister, NOT yours." By now, I can see the anger in his eyes, not hiding very well in the milky blue sea. When the prince crosses his arms, Edmund's very thinning resolve snaps. He yells, "You are OUR guest, not the other way around, and I am king, not you, so you WILL do as I say! Go guard outside!" He then turns to me, ignoring our guest. When we're sure he's gone, Ed speaks. "Lucy, what happened? What did you tell Peter?"

"I- I can't." I manage, closing my eyes. "How long... What happened?" Ed sighs when he realizes I won't be telling him anything anytime soon, and goes ahead and answers. "When Maria brought us to you, Caspian had already taken the arrow out, the idiot. You had lost so much blood, we weren't sure if..." He trails off, and I open my eyes to see tears that I rarely see threatening to escape. "We didn't know what would happen. Thank Aslan that Maria's mother was a healer, and that she taught her all she knew." I give a weak smile, reaching out to grip his hand. "But... How long was I-was I out?"

"... Two days." I nod, somehow not surprised at the new information that was given. "Then why are... Why are the- the Telmarines-"

"Peter asked them to stay. He wished to investigate everyone." At this information, I look away, but quickly return my gaze to my brother. "Ed, please... Send in Caspian. I have a matter I wish to discuss with him."

"Why? Did he do something to you?" Edmund almost growled, his dislike for the prince of Telmare evident in his creased eyebrows and upturned smile.

"No, no nothing of that sort. I just have... To tell him... Something." I plead silently, begging him to get our guest. His face softens at my pleading look, and he sighs in defeat while dropping his head. "Alright. I'll be right outside the door. I slipped your dagger under your pillow. Don't hesitate to use it if you must." I nod, and he gives me a small, light hug, kisses my forehead, and exits. Seconds after the door is opened again, the quilt is pushed aside to reveal the Telmarine prince. He slowly makes his way to the stool, his eyes peering with confusion, curiosity, and something else I can't place. "Yes, your majesty?"

"Prince Caspian, you knew, didn't you?" The confusion that had been accompanied by several other expressions is now the only one he had. "Pardon?"

"You knew your uncle was planning to kill me didn't you?" His eyes grow wide, the confusion and now anger more evident. "What?! Why would you blame him?"

"The boy that shot me said he was hired by a 'certain' Telmarine king." I plead silently, and his look softens as he sets himself down on the stool. "Queen Lucy, my uncle may be a tyrant, rude, and unkind, but he would not risk his kingdom by hiring a hit on the queen of narnia."

"It's just, given your countries reputation, it is hard to believe he wouldn't." I take a sharp breath before continuing. "I told Peter." Caspian's eyes shoot open, and he looks at me like my head has disappeared. "Why on earth would you do that?" He asks, jumping up.

"He needed to know!" My voice raises, and I try to sit up before a strong pain shoots through my shoulder. I gasp, and fall again. "I had to tell him." After taking a soft breath, I look at the dark haired prince. "And anyways, it shouldn't matter to you wether I told my brother or not. Can you look me in the eyes and tell me with complete certainty that your uncle would not have hired someone to kill me?" Caspian looks down at me then, and I can see in his eyes that he can't. "No. But I don't understand why he wanted you dead. No offense, of course, your highness, but high king Peter seems of a bigger threat, so why kill you?"

"Because she is the one best connected to Narnia and the great lion himself." Capsian visibly stiffens, a calm panic gleaming in his dark eyes. "King Peter. I hope your interrogation went well?" I look at my brother, his crown resting peacefully atop his golden locks. "I wish I could lie and tell you yes." He sighs, sitting at the end of the bed. "King Peter, I did not know of this, I swear to you. If I had, I would have done everything in my power to-" Peter's hand raises, silencing Caspian's speech. "You do not need to explain yourself to me. I believe you. I do not trust you completely, but I do believe you." Caspian nods at Peter, then they turn to me. "Sister, we have much to discuss."