Andy tried not to cry. Peter had arranged for her and her father to be taken home early by his most trusted guards. She was worried, however, that Peter would never come back from this blasted war.

He'd smothered her in kisses before she left, assuring her over and over that'd he'd survive, if for nothing else, for her, and she'd kissed a handkerchief and pressed it into his hand before she left.

3 days later Narnia rode off to war.

Sam did not cry. She was very adamant to herself, telling herself silently, 'You WILL not cry.' She did the traditional thing; she kissed a handkerchief and offered it to Edmund. It was, indeed, an old Narnian tradition to give you blessing via handkerchief to your sweetheart.

She did what was necessary. She watched him ride of, then turned and walked to where Susan and Lucy were standing. They were already miles from Narnia, in a war camp. The trio retreated to a tent, and did what was necessary,

That is, they suited up for war.

Lucy and Susan had armour, and Sam had her chain-mail shirt that she'd gotten for her birthday. Susan loaned a leather bodice to fit over her chain-mail and a pair of tall brown leather boots. Sam objected to wearing a skirt and wore brown trousers instead with chain-mail round her knees. She strapped her sword round her waist and tied her hair back. Together, the three saddled their horses and rode off, to war themselves.

The first battle went well. The kingdom of Nayliand, for that was what it was called, had been a great and powerful country when Sam was born, but plague and famine and drought had fallen upon it and weakened it greatly. This was believe to be a short was.

Sam sustained no injuries, and was working in a hospital tent until the next battle. She treated patient after patient, most of which had fairly curable wounds. A few were impossible to save, and she wept for them, but quickly she dried her eyes and went about the next person.

She only had to treat humans, thankfully, for every creature had healers of its own kind. Soon, a pair of men carried in someone she knew.

Peter.

"Sam?" he moaned. "Oh, Edmund's going to kill me. What ARE you doing here-ow!"

Peter had tried to sit and up fell back down on the cot with another cry of pain. Sam looked him over quickly.

"You've got a sprained shoulder and a few minor gashes. I'll bandage the gashes and brace that shoulder so you can keep fighting."

And so Sam went about that while Peter threw questions at her like rocks.

"Why are you here?"

"This is my country, too."

"So?"

"And it's keeping me from marrying that stupid King."(for he was a king by then, no longer a prince)

"You couldn't have JUST worked in a hospital?"

"I want to fight."

"But Edmund and I don't!"

Sam slammed down a bottle of medicine.

"Peter Pevensie, this is my country, my future, and my friends. I refuse to leave all that up to someone else, no matter how reliable that someone else is. Now you shut your royal mouth, because this is just because I'm a girl, and if I weren't you would wholly support this!"

And Peter was quiet.

Later, Sam was about to dismiss him, when she put a hand on his uninjured shoulder and said softly, "Listen…You won't tell Edmund I'm here, will you?"

Peter looked at her for a long moment. "Sam, if he asks about you, I owe it to him to answer truthfully. But I won't go right out and tell him unless you get hurt. Then he deserves to know, so he can come help you."

"Alright."

Peter left and Sam sighed, running a hand through her hair.

The night continued, with Sam finally being discharged to get some sleep, and the following day was just council meetings. The day after that, another battle came. Sam spent another two days working in the makeshift hospital, and talked to Peter briefly to see if Edmund was alright.

"Well-" Peter hesitated, and Sam blanched. "He had a few minor injuries, along with exhaustion and a bit of dehydration, and he was hallucinating. He's fine now."

"He's okay? Are you sure?"

"He's fine, and that was yesterday. He slept msot of that day and he was awake and fine for war council today. Only, that night he was recovering from all his ailings, Sam, he kept calling for you."

"I wish you hadn't said that, Peter. Do you think I should talk to him?"

Peter looked thoughtful.

"I don't think so, unless he gets hurt again. Seeing you'll only worry him more, and he'll fight badly."

Sam nodded. Unexpectedly, tears came to her eyes. She turned away, trying to hide it. Reaching for a handkerchief, she realized she'd given it to Edmund.