Heyla, I just wanted to give a big thanks to all my reviewers. You guys really do make my day and make me feel like I'm a somebody. Review and let me know what I can do to satisfy you. I'm here for input and guidance, so please help me out. Thanks to Alice and Victoria, as well. Love you both. And to my wonderful beta, Shadow!
Oh, yes, I would also like you guys to check out my one-shots. You have done such a fabulous job with reviews on this piece, I would love to kknow what you think. There is also a sequel coming soon for What He Didn't Deserve. It will be another song fiction, but this time to a Bayside song. Watch for it!
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Negotiations
Chapter Six
A fist connected solidly with the stone wall, resounding in a loud 'crack'. Huffing and stalking around the cave with steps like a rampaging bull, Peter paced the room, frustration etched on his face. His blonde locks jutted out in odd angles, a result of running his sweaty palms through it all night. Cerulean eyes were flushed with fury and scorched the surfaces they landed on. Peter, so distracted by his missing brother, even failed to notice the blood that tricked from his busted knuckles and stained his fingers an eerie red. Or, rather, he simply didn't care.
Lucy was awkwardly seated on a rock near the exit; the light from the moon highlighting her face, and the glistening tears that raced down it. The young queen's dress clung to her, saturated so much that she had to peel it from her body. Her eyelashes were wet with tears that were waiting to fall while she quietly sobbed to no one but herself. Her mind wasn't on her appearance though; it was with her brother, trapped in an enemy camp.
Like her brother and sister, Susan was beyond her own mind. Her dazed eyes stared into a world that didn't exist; a happier world where she could keep her baby brother safe, where she could keep her whole family safe.
The subtle draft shifted her skirt and danced with her hair across her shoulders. Susan's clammy hands rubbed together anxiously and trembled slightly as she pressed herself further into the small niche in the cave wall.
Caspian the Tenth watched the three siblings, chewing on his lip and gripping the air so hard his knuckles faded to white. He hated how he couldn't ease their pain. Caspian had always been the one his people had turned to for hope, so why was it so hard to get these three monarchs to believe. Edmund and Caspian didn't really know much about each other, nor did they really care to, but he knew that the boy must be very precious to bring this much grief and confusion in his absence.
Leaning rigidly against the wall, Caspian's gaze shuffled through the room, landing on each monarch and then shifting to the next. They were alone in the room and he was forced to keep himself occupied with a lit torch that hung off the wall.
"How did we lose him again?" Peter's outburst startled the room from its stupor. Lucy's eyes darted up to meet his, fear evident in her deep brown irises.
Peter's crazed expression gradually dropped, softening as he approached his baby sister. Taking his battered hand, he laid it on his sister's and gave a gentle squeeze.
"I'm sorry, Lu. I've never had the greatest of hold on my temper, have I? This isn't helping him at all."
"We need to pull ourselves together before we can do anything to help him." Susan's voice rang out across the room, as logical as ever. Pulling herself up off ground, she stumbled toward her siblings.
Contrary to their situation, the King and Queens of Old held their heads high and held their composite quite well.
Caspian stood back as the three shared a brief embrace, a desperate attempt to reassure each other, before making his presence known once again.
"Your brother is a mighty king with a strong spirit." Caspian encouraged with his thick Telmarine accent lacing his words. "Edmund will pull through this."
A faint trace of a smile bled onto Peter's face and a tear slid down his cheek solemnly, but he immediately wished he could take it back. Turning around so his back was to the prince, Peter released his sisters' hands and let a sigh escape.
The message ran through his mind like a movie, playing his words for him to hear over and over.
'King Miraz of Telmar,
As High King, and with the full support and compliance of Narnia's queens, I hereby over-rule King Edmund's noble sacrifice. His offer to surrender himself was made without my knowledge nor my approval. Therefore, I demand his immediate return. If this endangers the lives of my subjects, then so be it. We, as a nation, are under no more threat than we had been before. I expect you to honor my decision and respond accordingly. We shall meet again on the field of battle.
High King Peter of Narnia.'
The letter haunted him and appeared before him every time he closed his eyes, Miraz's malicious glare resonating in the ink.
Honestly, Peter did not anticipate Miraz's cooperation. However, the document was official and a direct declaration of his wishes and, as a king himself, Miraz was obligated to comply. After all, the Telmarine king had a reputation to protect.
The Narnian monarchs hoped, for their brother's sake, that this would buy time for Edmund.
But still, what unnerved the Narnians most was the blaring possibility that the young captive could be returned that very night. Or he might never be returned at all.
The thought penetrated the high mental fortress that Peter had spent years building and it crumbled to useless bits around him. It had been weakened since the day he had returned to his dull England life. His emotions rushed to the forefront of his mind and he had fought ever since to keep the overwhelming feelings under wraps.
Then, barely audible, Lucy mumbled out in weak voice, "You know, all I can see is my big brother slipping away from me in the Battle of Beruna. His face was so...pale. I c-couldn't stand to l-l-lose him again!" Lucy's tender disposition melted into tears as she fell forward into her sister's arms. Susan just held her close to her heart as she wept, making small circles with her fingers on Lucy's back and ignoring the tears that were drenching her dress.
"Don't worry. I won't let this happen again. Ever." Peter declared firmly, determination etched on his face.
"Nor will I," said Caspian to assure the trio. He was prepared to risk everything for this family, and for this nation. The bond these people shared was irreplaceable, and Caspian would not stand by silently as his own flesh and blood severed these delicate family ties.
Caspian's eyes shone elegantly in the light of the moon. "The sun may be setting, and the shadows may grow while we sleep, but dawn will come again."