Disclaimer: I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia. C. S. Lewis does

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Lilura was feeling distinctly uncomfortable as she observed Jadis stalk around, through her lowered eyes. She clenched her hands into fists and raised her ivy-green eyes.

She could not understand how they had slipped through her fingers. Five hundred monsters against a handful dozen and yet they had escaped. How?

The frustration brimmed in her and the anger at having failed yet again. She turned around, staring at the icy courtyard of Jadis' palace which had, somehow, survived all these years. Lilura could feel Jadis' eyes burning into her back and she could almost see the smirk on her face.

Jadis never smirked. She scorned. And just now, Lilura was the target of her scorn.

"So." She finally said, her voice cold and forbidding. "You have failed…. Again."

Lilura whirled around, her cheeks spotted. Jadis however was pale, so pale she looked like a marble statue.

"I did not fail." She said, keeping a check on her temper. "Do you think that Aslan would have let us so easily capture the kings and queen?"

"But Aslan wasn't there." Jadis said coolly, leaning back against her ice throne. "You had every advantage and you did not use it."

"There was strong magic at work." Lilura insisted. "They were few but they managed to escape. Moreover, when they escaped, they ran into the woods and so they must be in the woods. But my men have scoured every inch o the forest floor and have found no trace of the m. Neither the children nor any of their party. They have disappeaed."

"Those are the excuses of a person laying the blame on everything but herself." Jadis stood up and Lilura felt the icy power radiating from her. Jadis had grown stronger, she realized. More monsters, more evil beings had joined their cause and now Jadis' power was growing steadily.

Somehow, that made Lilura afraid. Trickles of apprehension ran down her spine.

"There were three boys. One fair of hair and the other two raven-haired. There was no girl with them." She said into the silence. "Is it possible that the queens have not come back."

Jadis raised a dismissive hand. "It is not possible. Aslan would not be a fool enough to divide them. The girls must have been left back purposely with the people. "Jadis' multi-colored, wide eyes found Lilura's green orbs. She settled back. "The fair one was Peter. Resourceful boy but has many fears in his heart. His brother, Edmund, however is another story. He is weak of the heart and can be swayed. He fears me and my influence. The third was undoubtedly that wretched Caspian. He is new and has blind faith in Peter and Edmund but he must have his own insecurities."

"And what of queens, assuming they have come back?"

Jadis' eyes turned even icier. "I did not assume. I said they have come back."

Lilura bit her lip. She knew better than to talk back.

"Susan… The elder queen does not have much faith. I have seen her heart. She does not believe but the younger… Lucy…. she will die before she loses faith in Aslan."

"And the rumored High Queen? What of her?"

Jadis did not reply and instead studied the iced throne she was sitting on.

"She is strong. She held off our brother alone." Lilura persisted, enjoying Jadis' silence. "You must find out more about-"

There was a piercing sound and icicle darts threw themselves at Lilura. She did not flinch back but her eyes narrowed. "Careful sister, do not forget that you are better off having me as an ally."

"And you," Jadis spoke, her eyes ruthlessly boring into hers. "Never forget that you are a nearly worthless ally."

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Peter thought he would rather face down an army of Minotaurs than stand here before Isabela.

Finally, Isabela took a deep breath and raising her emerald eyes, asked quietly. "How have you been?"

Peter would have smiled if the situation hadn't been so serious. There was no humor in Isabela's voice and he did not feel like smiling right now.

"Nothing much." Peter shrugged. His own blue eyes were raised.

There was silence again. A silence so deep they could hear each other's breath.

"We… All of us. We came back some time ago." Peter said quietly.

"I know." Isabela replied. Again there was silence.

"Did you visit Cair Paravel?" Isabela asked and Peter thought he heard a slight tremble in her voice. He thought it odd: of course they had visited. They had been there right now: from where Isabela's army had rescued them.

"It's ruined." He said bluntly. "Everything has been destroyed. Only some-"

"Valuables remain in the basement." Isabela said. "I know. Your weapons too. It was us who put them there."

"Us?"

"Mr. Tumnus, Orieus and some other Narnians." Isabela moved away towards the corner. Peter noticed now that there were paintings on it: just like in Aslan's How, depicting different scenes of their reign. Isabela fingered one of them lightly. "When we knew that we were fighting a losing cause."

"If you left the castle then." Peter questioned, not moving from his position. "Why did the Telmarines attack afterwards?"

"Vladimar didn't destroy Cair Paravel. You don't destroy what you want to conquer. The Telmarines just destroyed it because they were afraid of Old Narnia. They feared it and so they destroyed it."

"What happened to you?" Peter asked, crossing his arms over his tunic.

Isabela gave a weary smile. There were dark bags under her eyes. "Many things. Nearly all of them sad."

She cleared her throat and wiping her dusty finger on her dress, she smiled and made to move out. Peter caught her arm.

"Isabela." He said softly, his own eyes never leaving hers. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" She questioned, her loose hair softening the lines of her face. "If you are talking about Alexander, then I am sorry about Heidi."

"For everything." Peter countered, his hand never leaving her arm. "I… I don't expect you to forgive me but Isabela, I truly am sorry."

Isabela's emerald eyes darkened to forest green in the light of the lanterns.

"I forgive you." She finally said. "But I will never forgive myself for loving you."

She walked away and this time Peter let her go.

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In the refuge of the darkness, Isabela paused to compose herself. All the memories came rushing back at her. The burning courtyard, the crumbling pillars, the Narnians dying around her. The long months of siege.

She heard the sound of footfalls and hastily stood up straight. It was Caspian, his tanned face worried and apprehensive.

"Isabela… are you alright?" His voice was concerned.

"I am fine." Isabela eyed him. "How long were you outside?"

Caspian flushed and rubbed his temples. "Not long. I was just coming to call you and Peter…."

"Did you hear us?"

"No." Caspian stared at her defensively through his black locks. "I apologize if I intruded but I would never listen to your conversation."

Isabela smiled and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder. "I believe you, Caspian. You had better call Peter. I have to talk to Finn or he'll have my head in the morning."

The subtle humor in her voice put Caspian at ease and he relaxed. "I'll call him now. He never ate during the journey if he could help it. He wanted the others to have his share."

"That's Peter. Willing to sacrifice his own self for the sake of others." Isabela heard the bitterness in her own voice. Apparently Caspian didn't notice it.

"He's a noble king." He agreed, shaking his head. There was pride in his voice. "He is the true leader of Narnia."

"Yes, he is." No one could deny that. Isabela glanced around and again motioned for Caspian to go ahead. Caspian nodded briefly and strode away. At the corner, he hesitated and turned back.

"Isabela, may I ask you something?"

Isabela nodded. Caspian's voice shook slightly but he held himself composed.

"When I first spent time with Peter, he knew of you. But, forgive me, the old tales also mention your son. Peter knew nothing about his son."

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Okay another late update and a cliffhanger. The same ending note: any comments or criticism is welcome.

L. Potter