Author's Note: *creeps out of hiding* Hey everyone! I'm so sorry that this has been so long in coming. My muse abandoned me again, and it's only in the last two days that I've been able to sit down and hammer out this chapter. I hope that it meets your expectations, and I hope I haven't lost any of my readers because of the delay.

Chapter Twenty-three: Hard Decisions

"There's no sign of him," Edmund reported to the grim-faced members of the war council. "The guards are continuing a quiet search, just in case we missed him the first time, but it looks like he made it away cleanly."

Peter shook his head and balled his right hand into a fist, resisting the urge to slam it onto the table in frustration. Not only would it do absolutely no good as far as getting Larez back, but it would hurt.

"That is something else that we didn't need to happen now," Peter growled. Even with the reinforcements from Archenland, they were outnumbered. He and the rest of the Council had been poring over the maps and scout reports, in an effort to find some way that the Narnians would be able to win in a pitched battle against the Telmarines. But they had come to the conclusion that short of a miracle from Aslan, the Telmarines would likely win any battle that came to the How.

Peter's lips tightened as he glanced once more over the plans on the table. While they were all good plans, they weren't enough. They needed Aslan, and they needed time, two things that they didn't have. The plans that they had laid out were solid, and the Narnians and their allies were well on their way to making the preparations so that they would be ready when the Telmarines finally showed up.

"Edmund, come with me," Peter said finally. "We need to talk to Susan, Lucy, Krisalyn, and Aislynn." He turned to the rest of the assembly. "We'll be back soon. In the meantime, please keep working on the preparations."

Edmund nodded and followed his brother as they left the Council chamber. He didn't say a word as he walked alongside his brother, not even to question why Peter felt that they needed to speak to the rest of their family. Peter was grateful for his silent support. He knew his brother trusted him, and he was relying on that trust more than he had anticipated.

They found the rest of their family working quietly alongside the army, wordlessly carrying supplies, fastening armor, and pitching in wherever someone needed a hand, no matter how dirty the job. It was one of the many things that had endeared their people to them, the fact that the monarchs weren't afraid of hard or dirty work, and didn't hold themselves above their people.

Susan spotted them first and quietly rounded up Lucy and Peter's wife and daughter before leading them over to where Edmund and Peter were waiting. The Gentle Queen absently brushed at some dust that clung to her skirt as she looked at her brothers. "What is it?"

"We need to talk," Peter told her quietly. "We have some plans we need to discuss with you."

The four women nodded and followed the two Kings out into the corridor and into a smaller, quieter room away from the bustle of the rest of the gathered armies.

"There's no sign of Larez?" Krisalyn asked immediately, her eyes moving between Peter and Edmund.

"Not yet," Edmund replied. "The guards are still looking, but right now it looks like he got away."

"That's part of what we need to talk about," Peter added. "We've gone over every scenario we can conceive of, and even with Cor's forces, we're still outnumbered. We need more help."

"There aren't anymore Narnian forces," Susan said, her tone worried.

"And Cor has brought all the forces he can spare," Krisalyn added. "Archenland is in a bit of difficulty with Calormen right now. Fortunately, the conflict is still building, and my cousins left good generals in place to command the remaining troops if Calormen regains their courage and tries to make an attack while they're gone."

"We need Aslan," Peter said softly. "We've done everything that we can possibly do, and despite all our planning, I don't see any way we can come out victorious without Aslan's help."

"We've been praying for his help all along, but he hasn't answered us," Krisalyn pointed out. "We went to him right away when you first disappeared, but he remained silent all these years. Most of the Narnians have lost faith in him, I think."

"And that might have been the problem," Lucy said quietly. "Aslan acts when it is necessary, and not before. He could have defeated the Witch at any point during her reign, but he waited a hundred years, until he was ready to call to us before he acted."

Her family looked at her oddly. While it was true that Lucy, of all of them, was the one who had the strongest faith in Aslan, right now they were uncertain what she was saying.

Lucy looked between her family and smiled softly. "I told Peter earlier that the last time we faced an enemy of this magnitude, Aslan came to assist us and proved why we and the Narnians had faith in him. But this time, I think we need to prove ourselves to him. We've done what we could on our own, now we need to actually act to earn his aid."

Peter nodded in agreement. "That was my thought as well, thanks to you, Lucy." He took a breath, quickly running his plan through his head one more time before he mentioned it. He knew that they would be quick to point out any flaws, which was something that he deeply respected. "I think we need to go and find Aslan."

Dead silence met his announcement. Peter looked between them as they stared at him, apparently trying to figure out what he was talking about.

"What did you have in mind, Peter?" Edmund finally asked, watching his brother closely. It was a positive sign that none of them had dismissed the idea right out of hand, but now it was time for them to hear the rest of the plan and dissect it.

Peter took a deep breath. "On our way here, Lucy thought that she saw Aslan at the gorge near the Dancing Lawn, remember?" His siblings nodded after a moment's thought, while Krisalyn and Aislynn looked puzzled. "Lucy is the only one who has never had a moment's doubt that Aslan would help us – she's always trusted him, no matter what the situation."

Lucy looked like she was about to object to that statement, perhaps with a reminder about what they had discussed earlier, but Peter didn't give her a chance to say anything. "She's proven her faith in Aslan over and over again – and she was the only one who saw him at the gorge. I think, if anyone can bring him to our aid, it's you, Lu."

Susan's eyes narrowed. "How exactly do you propose she do that, Peter?"

Now for the part of his plan that they would probably have the most difficulty with – it was the part that he had the most difficulty with, since it would mean sending Lucy into extreme danger.

"We give Lucy a horse and we send her out to find him," Peter said. "On a fast horse, she'll be able to do everything except fly, since she's so light. If we can find some way to distract Miraz and his forces, she'll have a good chance to get through – and I have no doubt that Aslan will find her long before she reaches the gorge."

There was silence for only a heartbeat before Edmund and Susan burst out in protest.

"You can't think of sending her out alone, Peter!"

"Not a chance!" That came from Edmund.

"Fast horse or not, it's too dangerous."

Lucy didn't say anything as she waited for her siblings to stop protesting. Peter placed a hand on her smaller shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly, and Krisalyn and Aislynn wisely stayed out of the discussion. Even though they both had the right to discuss something that could impact Narnia's survival, they knew that right now this was between the four monarchs.

Finally, Susan and Edmund fell silent, running out of protests. Peter waited for two heartbeats before he spoke again. "I don't like the idea of sending her out there either, but I think it's the only choice we have. Ed, you and Su are both needed to help lead our forces, and if we send another Narnian, I don't think this will work, because I don't think they have the same devout faith that Lu does. I'm usually the first person to object to anything that puts her in danger, but we're out of time and options. Aslan is the only person we have in our favor that could turn the entire situation around."

"You can't send her out alone," Susan said firmly.

"You don't think I can do it, Susan?" Lucy finally asked. Even though Peter hadn't asked her about this before he brought it up, she wasn't going to object if it meant that she could do something to help her country and her people.

"I know you can, Lucy," Susan replied instantly. "But no matter what you learned from Oreius before, it won't do you any good while you're on a horse and trying to get past sentry lines – especially not now, while you're back to being nine again."

"What if I went with her?"

Dead silence again, before they turned as one to look at Aislynn, who had stepped forward with a determined look on her face.

"No."

Peter and Krisalyn both looked at each other; surprised that the same thought had left their lips simultaneously. There was a moment of awkward silence before Krisalyn turned towards her daughter. "You're the one person we can't afford to risk, sweetling. You're Narnia's future if we make it through this."

"I'm the heir," Aislynn said, setting her chin firmly. "But only by birth. Caspian has been more of a leader than I have since all of this started – and the Narnians know nothing about me. They have no reason to accept me as their rightful ruler, no matter that you and Father are my parents. I need to prove myself to them."

Telmarine Encampment – Beruna Ford…

Larez emerged from the edge of the forest, following the sound of voices and hammers to locate the encampment. He stepped out from the trees and was immediately stopped by the guards that were posted at the edge of the bridge closest to him.

"Identify yourself!" one of them snapped, reaching for the sword at his hip.

"Larez, Commander of the scouts," he replied. "I need to speak with General Glozelle and Lord Miraz immediately. I have important information about the enemy rebellion."

The guard nodded and saluted. "Yes, sir. I'll go and let them know you're here." He turned and headed across the bridge towards the command tents that were set up on the far side of the river. Larez watched him, noting the number of soldiers and siege weapons that were being readied for the assault. His information would come in good time, then.

While he waited, Larez thought back over everything that he had seen. Besides the Narnian beasts that were rising up against their rightful lords, the Archenland army had taken the advantage of the rebellion to align with them so that they could conquer Narnia and add it to their own kingdom. There could be no other reason for the King of Archenland himself being present at the rebel's hideout.

Such an act – sneaking into Telmarine lands and bringing a whole army with them – was grounds for a declaration of war. In the last twenty years, the Telmarines had been content with the lands that they already held, and had left those of Archenland in peace. Narnia was a relatively unsettled land, with plenty of resources and riches to last for quite a while. Archenland had said nothing when they settled here, so for them to act now was suspicious.

Not that it mattered. From what Larez had heard as he was escaping, even the combined forces of the beasts and the Archenland army weren't enough to defeat Lord Miraz and his men. It was only a matter of time before the threat was wiped out permanently.

"Commander Larez?"

Larez brought his attention back to the returning guard and nodded. The guard waved him on. "His Majesty and General Glozelle will see you in the command tent."

Larez hurried across the bridge, brushing past the guard on the way. Some members of the work force were adding the final touches to the bridge, checking it over for soundness before the army marched across. He approached the command tent, and one of the guards posted outside pulled back the flap to admit him.

Larez entered and quickly glanced around the small space before he bowed in front of the General and Miraz. "My lords, thank you for seeing me."

"You have a report for us, Larez?" Glozelle asked. "I expected word from you several days ago."

"I apologize for my tardiness, General. I was taken prisoner by the rebels and only just managed to escape after being held for several days. But I have important information relating to their forces."

"Report."

"I have located the main source of the Narnian forces. They are just across the bridge, about a few hours' march. A large hill that hides a series of caverns and dug-out passages holds the entire gathering of the enemy forces. Even more importantly, the King of Archenland has traitorously allied himself with the beasts and sent his army across our borders to join with them."

Larez looked away from Glozelle as Miraz – wearing a heavy golden crown on his head – rose to his feet, his fists clenched at his side. "Did you see this?"

"I didn't see the King himself, but I saw his forces and I heard the enemy talking about how he was meeting with the Narnian leadership. They're preparing to defend their meager little fortress."

"Caspian is there?" Miraz asked, his tone intense as he stared at Larez.

Larez nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"Can you lead us to their base?" Glozelle asked briskly.

"Yes, sir." Larez replied, saluting sharply. "There was one other thing. When I was caught, Prince Caspian tried to question me, to get me to turn against our people. But when I wouldn't be swayed, there were two other young men who tried. One of them was dark-haired, about twelve or thirteen years old, and the other one was about sixteen with golden hair and blue eyes. The golden-haired one was…confident and quietly angry. Caspian referred to them as "Majesties".

"What did you say?" Miraz demanded.

"The older one claimed that they were the rightful Kings of Narnia. He said that they had been appointed and crowned by someone named Aslan, and that they had the authority to name Narnia's rulers, and could only be overruled by Aslan." Larez paused. "He also claimed that they had not granted any authority to you, Your Majesty."

Miraz's face went blank and cold with rage. "I want the army ready to assault their base within the hour!" he ordered Glozelle.

"Aislynn…" Peter wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't even sure he had any right to tell her what to do, given how new their relationship was. As the High King, he could order her to stay behind, to stay safe, but as her father…

Edmund tapped Susan and Lucy on the shoulders and indicated that they should leave the little family alone to work things out. Susan nodded and pulled Lucy with her as they slipped out, leaving Krisalyn, Peter and Aislynn alone.

Peter barely noticed that they were gone. His attention was fixed on his daughter. "You don't need to prove anything. You're the rightful heir. Whatever happens, the Narnians will accept you. You've more than proven your devotion to them in the way you've pitched in to help them in their time of need."

"That's not enough for me, Father." Aislynn's tone was urgent. "Until I met Aunt Lucy, I had no idea that I was the heir, and the Narnians seemed to have no idea that I existed. We're about to go into this huge battle…Mother saw to it that I was trained to defend myself, but that's not the same thing as fighting in a battle as a soldier." She paused and looked between both of her parents. "The one thing that I can do is help to protect Aunt Lucy. I want to help, and you don't want to send her out alone."

Peter glanced at Krisalyn questioningly. After a moment, Krisalyn sighed. "She does know how to defend herself Peter. I insisted on that as soon as I felt she was old enough. Oreius trained her to use a bow, sword, and dagger. If anyone can protect Lucy, it would be Aislynn."

"Please, Mother…Father. Let me do this." Aislynn pleaded. "I can do this." She paused and looked between them. "I need to do this."

"Aislynn, it's not that we don't think you can." Krisalyn's voice was gentle but firm. "We just can't afford to risk you."

"But if I am willing to take the risk, isn't that my right? Don't I, as Narnia's heir, have the right to do what is necessary to protect and defend my country and my people?"

Peter closed his eyes for a moment as his daughter's words echoed in his mind. They were so eerily familiar…

"Lucy, what do you think you're doing?" Peter asked as he crossed the training field to where Lucy stood with a short sword with one of the Fauns who helped to train the newest recruits to the army.

"What are you talking about?" the thirteen-year old Queen asked, turning and lowering the sword that she was holding.

"This. What are you doing?" Peter spread his arms out to indicate Lucy, the Faun, and the training field before he crossed his arms and waited for an answer.

"Learning how to use a sword."

His sister's words were matter-of-fact and her tone determined. Peter frowned deeply. "Why? You don't need to. Oreius has already taught you to use your dagger and you know how to use a bow. Why do you need to know the sword?"

"I don't need to know how to use a sword, Peter. But I want to. I want to learn as much as possible to defend Narnia."

Peter was still confused by her reasoning. "Lucy…it's not your responsibility to ride out to the battlefield. That's why Edmund and I were appointed as Kings, and that's why we were assigned to govern the areas where trouble is most likely to come from. You don't need to defend Narnia in a fight."

"Peter, I am not just a pretty face that you and Edmund need to protect. I'm a Queen of Narnia, and like you, I made a promise that I would defend my country with all of my ability and strength. I have a right, as Narnia's Queen to do whatever I feel is necessary to fulfill that promise."

Despite his and Edmund's objections, Lucy had gone on to learn the sword and even though she had never ridden out with them to the battlefield with the sole intent of fighting beside them, her knowledge had served her well. There had been twice when, on the way to administer her cordial to critically wounded Narnians after a battle, her party had been attacked by Fell Beasts and she had been forced to pick up her sword to defend herself until reinforcements could arrive.

Now looking at his daughter, with her blue-violet eyes and the determined expression on her face, Peter felt his resolve crumbling. In so many ways, even though he barely knew his daughter, she reminded him of his littlest sister. Lucy was stubborn and determined and she never took "no" for an answer, unless there was overwhelming evidence that what she was intending to do was ill-advised.

"Aislynn, as your father, I feel like I have to say no, and I'm sure that your mother feels the same way," Peter began, watching her closely. Her face fell and she looked upset and angry at his words. She opened her mouth like she was about to argue, but Peter held up a hand to halt her words. "But, as Narnia's High King, it's my responsibility to do whatever is necessary to defend Narnia and uphold Aslan's law, no matter what my personal feelings may dictate. This isn't going to be the first time that I've had to send someone out on a mission for the good of Narnia even though my feelings are telling me that I shouldn't."

He took a deep breath. "My heart is telling me that sending Lucy out is the only way that we can win this war. But my heart is also telling me that I have to do everything I can to protect her because she's my little sister." He paused for a moment to let his words sink in. "I'll permit you to ride out with Lucy and find Aslan…but you need to promise me, Aislynn, that you will be careful and that you will come back safely." He blinked back the tears that pooled in the corner of his eyes. "We've only just found each other…and losing you would destroy me."

Aislynn seized him in a fierce hug. "Thank you Father! Thank you!" He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly for several seconds before she pulled away and embraced Krisalyn. "I promise, I'll be as careful as I can, and I'll do everything in my power to make sure that Aunt Lucy makes it back safely too…and that we find Aslan."

"I know, Aislynn…that's why I'm allowing this," Peter said quietly. He looked up at Krisalyn and met her violet eyes. He saw the worry and fear for their daughter buried there and he knew that she wasn't happy with his decision, but she also understood that they were in a desperate situation, and that only a desperate action would give them a chance to survive.

Aislynn let go of her mother and looked between her parents. Krisalyn looked at her and gently squeezed her shoulder. "Sweetheart, I need to talk to your father alone for a few minutes."

"All right, Mother," Aislynn nodded. She smiled at both of her parents before she turned and slipped quietly out of the room.

Peter took a deep breath before he turned and faced his wife. "Kris, I know that this is going to be hard for both of us, but we need to give her the chance. If I had any other choice, I would be keeping her here, where she would be safer, but we really are in a bad situation. We need to use every person and every resource that we have in the best way that we can. Aislynn has volunteered to do this, and I can't refuse just because she's my daughter and heir."

"I understand, Peter. Don't forget, I was raised a princess and trained to rule from the time I was old enough to understand my duty and responsibility. I understand the burden that ruling places on you and the way you have to weight your options and resources." She closed her eyes and let her breath out slowly. "But as a mother…as Aislynn's mother…all I can think about is her coming back hurt or dying…or not coming back at all."

"Kris…"

Her eyes opened and she leveled a look on him that withered him inside. This wasn't the woman that he loved so deeply and had been so devastated to lose. This was a mother, full of protective fire, and angry that she was going to have to watch her child being sent behind enemy lines in a desperate gamble that may or may not pay off.

"Peter…you don't understand. You weren't here. I raised Aislynn single-handedly. You weren't here to see her born, or to see her first steps, or hear her first word. You didn't have to deal with her questions about where you were, and why all of her friends had fathers and she didn't."

"I wanted to be, Krisalyn. All the time I was gone, I thought that it was a matter of months that were passing, and it was only four months for me. I came here, and I was expecting to find that you were still pregnant. I wasn't expecting to find a grown daughter. Missing out on her life…you have no idea how much pain that idea causes me." Peter replied.

"Peter…you're still my husband, and you're her father. I won't deny either of those things. Moreover, you're Narnia's High King, now and forever. That also cannot be denied…but don't you dare pretend that you have any concerns about her as a father." Krisalyn's tears streaked down her cheeks as she fought her emotions. "Right now you have to think as a King, not a father. She is a grown woman…and you know nothing about her."

Peter didn't know how to respond to this attack. Yes, over the years that they had been married, they'd had a few arguments, mainly dealing with how often Peter's duties and responsibilities had had to come first in their relationship. But she had never, even when she had been most angry or upset, attacked him in this manner. Some of her anger was justified, and he couldn't deny that her words were true, but the way that she said it…that was what hurt the most. Not her words, which were facts, but the tone in her voice, the bitterness and the anger she was trying to repress.

"Krisalyn…there's more to this than just allowing Aislynn to go with Lucy isn't there?" There had to be something more…he couldn't believe that she was getting this worked up about the decision when she knew the situation that they were in. There was no reason that she should be reacting this way.

He knew that he was right when she looked away from him and couldn't meet his eyes. Something more was bothering her and he didn't know what he could do about it. She was angry and upset…and husband or not, he wasn't sure he had the right to question her about it. He'd been absent from her life for too long.

He took a deep breath and gently walked over and rested a hand on her arm. "Krisalyn, whatever it is, talk to me. I can't hope to help you if I don't know what's going on."

"You can't help me, Peter."

Those words chilled him and he cast aside all his thoughts about Narnia and the upcoming battle as he focused solely on his wife. "Kris…"

"No, Peter."

"Krisalyn." He firmed his tone and left her no room to argue, just as he had when he had spoken to her after her arrival at the How. She could never argue with that tone, nor could she keep anything back.

She closed her eyes and suddenly looked weary and tired. The expression on her face literally froze him. "I'm dying, Peter."

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