"Edmund…"

Makeeda's eyes were locked on the Pevensies as Gabriella brushed passed her, running into Peter's arms. For a moment, she and Edmund did not move, wondering if the other was going to do so first. He did though, taking her into his arms. She was in shock as she slowly wrapped her arms around him in return, taking in his scent as she held back her tears.

"What have you been?!" she heard Gabriella cry.

Makeeda and Edmund let go of each other so Makeeda could hug the other three. She spotted another man, stopping in front of him.

"Who are you?" she asked.
"This is Caspian." Peter told her.

The hair on Makeeda's arms stood on end, her body shaking slightly as she remembered the Telmarines. She would be sure to keep a close eye on him. She looked back to Peter.

"You brought him here?"
"We met half way."
"Peter, there are things you need to be aware of before he is welcomed as a guest here. Narnians are not his allies."

She could see Gabriella giving her a daring look, but paid it no mind. Peter looked to Caspian, then back to Makeeda.

"We should talk then." he said. "Later, though. Let us get settled here. The new Narnians will be needing supplies for battle, yes?"

Makeeda nodded, glad to have Peter's leadership back already.

"Come in." Makeeda replied, a knock rapping on her door.

Edmund entered the room, looking around slightly before making eye contact with her.

"May I?" he asked.
"Of course."
"This is your room?"

She stared at him, hating the part of him she remembered to brush off things that bothered him.

"You haven't aged, you haven't changed at all." she stated.
"Neither have you." he replied. "How fast did it happen for you?"
"Overnight… I went to sleep and woke up here."
"Did anything happen to you?"

She could tell he knew something she did not. She stood, walking over to stand in front of him.

"What would happen to me?" she asked.
"Just answer the question…"
"What do you think happened?"
"I know what happened." he said. "You think Gabriella would keep it from Peter?"
"I waited up for you four to come back…" she said after letting out a deep sigh. "I woke up in the forest. Telmarine soldiers took us to the castle. We were imprisoned. I do not know what exactly the arrangement was, but it would seem that Gabriella and I were assigned a soldier. We were beaten, tortured… Raped. The first night we were official prisoners there, the King had us do a walk in the dining room, unclothed, to show us off to others-"
"Keeda, stop-"
"Why?!" she said, watching his emotions run wild in his eyes. "Can you not handle knowing what became of us after you four abandoned Narnia?!"
"We didn't mean to leave." he said, raising his voice over hers. Silence enveloped them for a moment as he gathered his emotions back into containment. "We found where we had come from, the wardrobe. We went through it, but couldn't find our way back…"

Makeeda touched his face gently before he pulled her into a kiss. She could have floated away if he didn't have a grip on her, she was sure of it. Over a thousand years since she'd seen her husband, and here he was, alive as he had been on the day he had gone missing. They broke apart after enjoying the kiss for a few moments.

"Did you ever forget about me?" she asked.
"Never. I couldn't, even if I tried." She smiled, running her fingers through his hair as he touched her face.
"How long were you gone?"
"Two years."
"It would seem I was worse off."

He laughed.

"I couldn't imagine a thousand years without you by my side…"

She smiled.

"I hope Peter is satisfied with what I have built here."
"Those Narnians have followed you loyally."
"Do you expect any different?"

He rested his forehead against hers lovingly.

"I am sorry for what I did not protect you from… But they will pay."
"I know they will." she said, giving him another kiss. "Will you stay with me in here?"
"Of course." he agreed, pushing his lips onto hers again.

Makeeda followed Edmund around the tomb, stopping when they found Peter, Susan, Lucy and Capsian in front of the crowd of Narnians. They were upset with something, as could be determined by their noise. Makeeda stepped forward.

"Be at peace, Narnians." she said, the crowd listening as her voice rang through the tomb. She looked to Peter, then back to the portion of the Narnians that had traveled with her from the Varden. "I have to thank you. Your unyielding tolerance, loyalty, respect, and devotion to me is flattering and appreciated. I know when Gabriella and I first got here, she gave me her control as High Queen. I have been honored and privileged to be your leader. Due to recent events, though, I, as your Lady, step down. Peter is the High King, and I follow him."

The elves seemed to disagree with her, raising their voices again in protest. Caspian stepped forward, addressing them.

"Who are you people?" he asked.

They hushed at his voice, staring at him.

"They are the Varden." Makeeda said, staring at him as well. "They are my Elven brothers and sisters. They are my people."
"Where is Eragon?" Edmund asked.

Makeeda felt Shruikan retract even further from her mind now. She looked to Edmund.

"Eragon is dead." she said, the Varden dead silent now. She looked back to Caspian, glaring. "He was killed by Telmarines."
"What?!" Edmund said, the remorse clear in his voice.
"Eragon was the other Dragon Rider, wasn't he?" Susan asked.
"Yes." Makeeda replied, not taking her eyes off of Caspian. "A glorious leader, shot down like an animal by those monsters."
"This is a conversation left for private quarters." Shruikan told Makeeda.

She looked away from Caspian, finding Peter.

"What is your fist line of business?" she asked him.

Caspian and Peter both stepped forward to respond, giving looks to each other before Peter went forward with his sentence.

"We need to strike the Telmarines before they strike us." Peter told them.
"That is crazy." Caspian replied. "No one has ever taken that castle."
"There's always a first time." Peter said.
"We'll have the element of surprise." Trumpkin said.
"We have the advantage here." Caspian replied.
"If we dig in, we could probably hold them off indefinitely." Susan spoke up.
"I, for one, feel safer underground." a badger told them.
"Look," Peter said, looking at Makeeda. "I appreciate what you have done here, but this isn't a fortress. It's a tomb."

Makeeda nodded.

"My people follow your lead." she replied.
"You cannot speak for all of these Narnians." Caspian told her.

She shot a glare at him, a fire igniting in her chest.

"I am Eragon's second in command, and therefore, the Varden will listen to me, Caspian. I am the Keeper of these Elves. I am telling you this once, so hear me well… Neither my people or I will follow your command. They will serve in Peter's army. That is as clear as I can make it for you."

Caspian didn't seem to have a response for her, looking to Peter.

"We need to prepare ourselves…." Peter said, looking Bane. "If we get your troops in, can you handle the guards?"
"Or die trying, my liege."
"That's what I'm worried about." Lucy said, her voice small amongst the others debating in the room. "You're all acting like there are only two options: dying here, or dying there."
"I'm not sure you've really been listening, Lu."
"No, you're not listening. Or have you forgotten who really defeated the White Witch, Peter?"
"I think we've waited for Aslan long enough." Peter replied, turning away from her.

As the Narnians around her dispersed, Makeeda looked to Lucy, feeling sympathy for the little girl who still believed so hardly in Aslan. She felt a hand touch her shoulder, looking over to see Edmund.

"I know this will be hard for you to understand, but… I want you to stay here." he told her.
"No." Makeeda said bluntly.
"Please, Keeda. I want you safe."
"Edmund, I just spent the last thousand years believing you were dead, I am not leaving your side." she told him. "I am your protector. I go."
"It is my duty to protect you…"
"Ed, I am going with you."

He touched her face gently, stepping closer to her.

"I love you."
"And I you. That is why I am going."
"How long has he been gone?"

Makeeda lowered her head, feeling the sadness pang at her heart.

"Not long… We moved here after it happened. We have been here for almost a month."
"Where is Saphira?"

Makeeda still could not feel Shruikan's presence in her mind.

"Edmund, she is gone too… I wouldn't advise talking about it in front of Shruikan. He is still hurting."
"How did it happen?"
"A Telmarine shot him with an arrow…"
"And Saphira?"

Makeeda looked into his eyes.

"Edmund, she died with him."
"I don't understand." he said.
"A Rider survives if their dragon dies, but if a Rider dies… So does their dragon…. Saphira died when Eragon did."

Edmund looked sympathetic.

"I'm sorry…" he said.
"Like I said, just don't mention it in front of Shruikan."
"And what of you?" he asked. "Are you alright?"

Makeeda knew she was not, but she knew she couldn't appear weak at the time. She nodded at him.

"Yes." She turned to the forge. "We should go."