Lily gasped as she heard many different noises at once. Edmund must have signaled Glenstorm because she heard hooves and different noises from the city. She sat on her horse impatiently as she turned her head, looking from the city to the courtyard on the other side of the gate. She thought she heard yelling from inside the castle.

Guards began yelling and she saw some running across the battlements. Then she heard the bell in the bell tower, alerting the soldiers.

Then she saw them: Peter, Susan and Caspian were running out onto the courtyard towards the gate house.

"They're coming!" she shouted to them.

The three of them began pulling at the gate wheel, the chains clanking and pulling against their pulls.

Susan began shaking her head, looking up at Lily on the other side of the gate. "Peter! It's too late. We have to call it off while we still can!"

"No!" Peter shouted, using all his strength to pull on the wooden wheel. "I can still do this! Help me!"

Susan joined them again, frustration in her eyes.

"Exactly who are you doing this for, Peter?"

Peter glanced up at his sister darkly.

Lily ducked her head and rode under the gate, quickly dismounting and drawing her sword. She saw the soldiers on the battlements, coming down the stairs and pouring into the courtyard.

At that moment, the Narnians rushed through the gate, their hooves a sound of great power on the stone.

"FOR NARNIA!" Peter shouted and he, Susan and Caspian rushed towards the guards with their weapons drawn.

Lily went to the closest soldiers, their swords instantly clashing.

Chaos erupted all around them: the Telmarines were terrified at the sight of the beasts and strange creatures and were more scared when the Narnians cried out into the night, yelling as loudly as they could.

Lily did not know where to turn but fought whichever soldier approached her. She stayed by Susan, who was taking out the soldiers on the battlements. Lily told her where to shoot; the generals were higher up in the balconies.

Caspian fought near Peter, both their faces gleaming with sweat, and their swords covered in blood.

Then Lily saw her brother, fighting along with Gabriel who had entered with the Narnians.

High above the chaotic courtyard was Miraz with his generals, watching the battle with amused eyes.

"Signal the archers."

General Glozelle gave the order without hesitation. The archers along the balconies took aim and awaited the general's hand to fall, signaling them to fire.

"Get that gate closed," Miraz said coolly.

The general gave another signal and one soldier at the gate house raised an axe, ready to fall on the thick chord of rope that held the gate fixed above the archway.

Peter saw what was about to happen.

"FALL BACK!" he yelled.

Caspian saw this too and he whistled for his horse. Glenstorm came to Peter and Peter pointed to his sister.

"Go! Get her out of here!"

Susan grabbed Glenstorm's arm and was pulled onto his back.

The soldier in the gate house cut the rope but the minotaur was watching too and ran under the archway, catching the iron gate with his broad shoulders.

"Give the order," Miraz said.

The general dropped his hand and arrows flew, like rain, over the Narnians, falling towards them. Many fell instantly and the Minotaur was struck several times. His cry rang out through the castle.

"Back to the gate! Fall back!"

The Narnians ran to the gateway, ducking their heads as they went under and ran out onto the bridge.

Lily could not find her horse but Caspian grabbed her arm, pulling her up onto the saddle. She held onto him tightly and waited to feel an arrow strike her but they went under the gate, past the wounded minotaur. She looked ahead across the bridge and saw Susan and Peter and some of the Narnians. She looked back only to see the great Minotaur fall to the arrows, the sharp edges of the iron bars cutting into him.

But she saw something else too.

Her eyes widened and her heart seemed to stop. Standing at the gate, his hands gripping the bars, his eyes meeting hers and the horse beneath her took her away across the bridge.

Her voice ripped out of her, stinging her throat.

"LELAND!"

Caspian's head whipped around in time to see Lily slid off the horse, sprinting back down the bridge.

"LELAND!" She yelled again, her voice piercing the night, louder than any man or animal's. Her feet thundered down the bridge and she slammed into the iron gate, her hands tearing at the unforgiving bars.

"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!"

"Lily," Leland said calmly, trying to touch her frantic face. Gabriel was next to him.

Tears filled her eyes and her voice grew hoarse.

"I WON'T LEAVE YOU!"

"Lily-" But Leland knew there was no way to calm her down, not as long as he was trapped behind the gate. He looked at the gap between the gate and the stone beneath it where the minotaur lay dead. There was not enough room for him to slid through under the sharp points of the bars.

He looked at his sister desperately then to the prince that was running after her.

"Caspian!"

Caspian slammed into the gate as well and looked at his friend in panic.

Narnians were all around Leland, all trying to climb the gate, all trying to escape. They all heard the general's voice, commanding more arrows.

"Get her out of here!" he yelled, his voice becoming panicked too. He took hold of Lily's hand, "Lily, listen to me."

"No, no, no," she sobbed, tears flowing down her face.

He reached through the bars and touched her face. Narnians were falling all around him.

"It will be alright," he said, smiling at her.

She held his hand to her face.

"Tell Eris I'm sorry," Gabriel said, his eyes filled with pain.

Lily touched his face through the bars, her sobs chocking her.

Leland's eyes pierced into Caspian's, "remember your promise."

Caspian nodded, his face grave.

"Now go!"

Lily felt hands wrap tightly around her arms but he still pulled at the bars with all her strength, the skin on her palms tearing.

"NO! LELAND!"

Caspian whistled for his horse.

"I WON"T LEAVE YOU!"

"Be strong, Lily," Leland said softly.

Leland drew his sword and Gabriel did the same. Together with the surviving Narnians, ran back into the courtyard, yelling.

"NO!" Lily fought against Caspian's hold but she was pulled up onto his horse. Her wails echoed in his ears as they rode back down the bridge where the others waited. Susan was crying.

"LELAND!"