The three months of learning for Makeeda went faster than she thought it would. She enjoyed living amongst her own race, as did Edmund. It was pleasant for them, but they knew they had duties to return to in Narnia. After the first two months had passed, Shruikan and Saphira had created an egg, which Eragon locked away for safety.

After saying goodbye to the Dales reluctantly, and bidding Eragon and Saphira farewell, Makeeda, Edmund, and Shruikan all departed for home. Saphira and Shruikan had the hardest time saying goodbye, however, their bond a fierce one in the three months they'd spent together.

It was another long month of travel before they made it home, but they did so safely, nonetheless. After having so much time apart, the Pevensie siblings all made a point to go on a hunt together. Makeeda and Gabriella decided to stay behind in the castle, helping the cooks prepare the table and food.

"I love you."
"Be safe."
"We will." Edmund said as Makeeda gently put his crown on his head.
"I have a bad feeling…" she said, watching him strap his sword to his waist.
"We know the woods, Keeda. We'll be ok. I promise."
"I shall go if there is reason to fret." Shruikan said, crouching beside them as Edmund got ready to leave.

Makeeda looked to her dragon, then back to Edmund, shaking her head.

"No, stay." she said, trying to shake the bad feeling in her gut. "They will be alright."

Edmund kissed her before getting on his horse.

"I love you." he repeated.
"I love you too."

Peter also bid his wife goodbye as he got on his horse. The queens watched the four of them trot off into the forest. Makeeda felt her heart hammering in her chest, wondering why she felt so worried about them. They knew the forest, and Narnia had been at peace for fifteen years. There was no reason to fret.

"Let us go." she told Gabriella, as they turned to walk back into the castle.

They went to the kitchen, ready to help prepare the food for the dinner that night. As Makeeda and Gabriella dried their hands after washing, Makeeda felt the ache in her chest break. She gasped, feeling her environment change slightly, looking to Gabriella for a reason. She seemed hurt as well. Makeeda felt her mind being probed, letting Shruikan into her thoughts.

"Makeeda…"
"I am fine."
"What was that?"
"You felt it too?"
"Of course…"
"Search for them, make sure they are alright."
"I am already going."

The Queens went back to what they were doing, Gabriella desperately attempting to wash away the worry that Makeeda was giving her. Makeeda, however, could not. She had a great pit in her stomach, trying to think of anything that could possibly harm the Kings and Queens. There wasn't much that was known in the woods that they should fear, but Makeeda knew there was something wrong.

After the food was ready, and the table was set, the Queens sat, waiting. After she got hungry, Gabriella ate as if she normally would, but Makeeda refused. She could not even look at the food without feeling sick. They were past late returning to the castle from their hunt. Even Shruikan hadn't returned with news yet. Makeeda knew this meant he was not finding them but would not return until he did.

Eventually, Gabriella went up to bed, telling Makeeda they probably stopped to camp for the night. It was storming out, but that would not have stopped Shruikan from finding them by now. Makeeda was not swayed from her worry, but did not want Gabriella to feel the way she did, so did not argue her point. After sitting alone at the long table for a few moments, Makeeda gave up on willing herself to move.

She laid her head down on the table, waiting for Shruikan to probe her mind once more, to hear his deep, smooth voice in her thoughts. Time seemed to move so slowly, Makeeda's thoughts drifting away. Her eyes soon grew too heavy be held open any longer, and she slowly gave in to the state of unconsciousness.

There was a scream. Makeeda opened her eyes to see trees blended with the sky. She sat up, hearing the scream again. She was in the woods, she realized as she looked around. She caught sight of someone running, and she stood, hearing the scream again. She stood up, watching soldiers chasing Gabriella through the trees. She reached for her bow, but it was not strapped to her back anymore. She saw one of the soldiers draw their own bow at Gabriella, and Makeeda shot a spell at him. Their attention was averted to her, making her run now too. She and Gabriella ran together, getting out of the trees quickly.

"Shruikan!" Makeeda yelled, searching the skies for her dragon. She could not feel his mind at all, and knew he was no where close. She wasn't defenseless though, she thought as she stopped running to face the soldiers.

"Makeeda, what are you doing, come on!" Gabriella yelled, stopping as well.
"Wait." Makeeda said, putting her hand out. A protective barrier was cast out around them, making the soldiers stop before them. "What do you want? Why do you chase your Queens?"
"Queens?" one of the men said. "There is only one Queen in Narnia."

Makeeda looked to Gabriella, who stepped forward.

"I am your Queen." she said. "Why-"

The man laughed at her.

"You are no Queen." Gabriella and Makeeda looked at each other questionably, wondering where the man was from. "You two need to come with us."
"Why?" Makeeda asked.
"The King demands Narnians to be brought before him when they are found." he said, looking at Makeeda's ears.
"What King?"
"King Miraz."
"The only Kings Narnia has are the ones crowned by Aslan." Makeeda spat at him. "We will not bow down to any other men."
"No other man is worthy to call himself a King of Narnia except King Miraz."

Gabriella stepped across the barrier Makeeda held, slapping the soldier's face. Makeeda tried grabbing her, but the soldiers were quicker. Makeeda dropped her defenses, knowing she was to protect Gabriella at any cost. She shot a spell at one soldier, knocking him to the ground before being grabbed by another. She struggled fiercly, but they were ultimately stronger than she, and they took her and Gabriella forcefully, rendering them unconscious after several moments of struggling.