In the morning, Ester woke up to an empty bed. Peter was probably off making plans. More plans. Where more good people would die, on both sides. It seems, that the group couldn't visit Narnia peacefully. First, they must fight a war. Then live in peace. But, Ester would never leave the Narnians to fend for themselves, ever. She cared deeply for the people, and the trees. And the waters. All of it. Narnia ran through her veins. Through all of their veins. And someone has tainted the land, and they must be punished. No one owns the land. A lesson the Telmarines must learn if they are going to live in these lands.
She sat up in the bed, quickly realizing that she was still where Lucy usually rested her head. There was a dress laid out nearby, so she threw it on and left. Looking for the Pevensies. Any one of them really. She found Susan, sitting at a small table, eating breakfast.
"Mornin'," Ester said, walking up. "Thanks for last night."
"You know I'd do anything for you, even if it was pretty gross," Susan said, shaking her head. "But it had to be done."
"Well, thanks anyway. You wouldn't believe the pain."
"I can only imagine."
"Will you tell me what happened?" Ester asked, grabbing a small plate of food for herself. "Were we successful at the battle?"
Susan looked at her lap. "No, it was awful. Neither of those hotheads knew when to give up. And it cost us so many lives. Of good people. The gates were shut, and they were forced to fight until they died. They were doomed from the moment they entered the gate. We were too risky, and we've failed a lot of people."
"I had no idea," Ester said. "Why hasn't Peter told me any of this?"
"Something is wrong with him, he thinks he's invincible. I love him, he's my brother and I trust him but his judgment lately has been questionable. I don't know if he's quite as fit for the task as he once was. And I have to wonder if Narnia is past saving." Susan pushed her plate away.
"Narnia has forever to bounce back, it's the people that need to be corrected. And people – we can fight." Ester looked stern, in a way that made Susan sit up straighter, and cough.
"Of course, I just, I worry," Susan said.
"When it's time, Aslan will be here. And I know that you know that."
Susan nodded, and said goodbye. She had to go brush up on her skills. There was no more room for error. Soon enough, the Telmarines will be here. With numbers incomparable to the Narnians. But there was still time. Last time, the Witch's army outnumbered them three to one, maybe more, and Aslan's army was still victorious. If only Aslan would show himself. They needed him.
"Ester! Hurry!" Lucy shouted, running up the hallway to her. "They're here."
Ester was up in a second, running towards the great stone opening at top speeds. She was afraid to see the army, but she had no other choice. At the entrance, her and Lucy stood, side by side, holding hands. Peter was above, looking down at them with the same looks they had, fear. They were not ready for a war. They were barely ready for a sneak attack that they had planned.
The other side had catapults, and numbers that Ester couldn't have imagined if she'd tried. "To the table," Peter shouted. "I have a plan."
Quickly, they all gathered around the stone table. The place where history had been made once, and hopefully, again now.
"Lucy, if you're up for it. You need to go into the woods. With Susan. Aslan is out there, and we need him. And you're the one who's best able to find him." Peter leaned against the table.
"Cakes and kettledrums... That's your next big plan? Sending a little girl into the darkest parts of the forest? Alone!" Trumpkin said, pointing at Lucy. He wasn't having any of that nonsense.
"It's our only hope," Peter said.
"And she won't be alone." Susan stood up straighter.
"H... Haven't enough of us died already?" Trumpkin said. The fear and emotion in his voice made Ester's throat tighten. She moved to stand beside Peter, a small gesture to support his plan. She trusted Lucy, and Susan. They'd be able to take care of themselves just fine.
"Nikabrik was my friend too. But he lost hope," Trufflehunter said, moving to stand by Trumpkin and Lucy. "Queen Lucy hasn't... and neither have I."
"For Aslan," Reepicheep said, putting his blade across his chest in a sign of loyalty.
"For Aslan!"
"For Aslan," Ester said, leaning into Peter's side. He nodded at her, fully aware that they couldn't spare her in this fight. They couldn't lose a single number. She would have to fight.
"Then I'm going with you," Trumpkin said.
"No. We need you here," Lucy said. There was no way they could lose both Trumpkin and Susan in this fight. It was tough enough losing Susan to the mission.
"We have to hold them off until Lucy and Susan get back," Peter said.
"Peter, just because it worked that way last time doesn't guarantee that will happen again," Ester said, squeezing his arm.
"If I may... Miraz may be a tyrant and a murderer. But as king, he is subject to the traditions and expectations of his people. There is one in particular that may save us some time." Caspian's inside knowledge just might be what would win them this war. "Hand to hand combat. A fight to the death."
"To the death?" Ester asked unsure of where this was going. "Peter, surely there has to be another way."
"No, this will work," he said, nodding to Caspian. "Let's get this in writing."
"I'm on it," Edmund said.
"If I may help," Caspian's professor said, rising from his seat on the steps. Edmund nodded, and together they set off down the hall.
"To the death?" Ester asked again, as everyone set off to begin with the arrangements.
"Not doubting me, are you love?"
"I would never doubt you, but worry about you... that I do all the time," Ester said. "I need you to win. There will be no dying, okay?"
"Yes ma'am," Peter said, sliding an arm around Ester's waist. She hadn't realized that everyone else had left the room.
Peter yanked her off of her feet, startling her, as he pressed her against the wall. "I think I need a few minutes to boost morale," he said, leaning down to kiss her. Every kiss felt like the first kiss, but this time, she feared it was the last. So it shall be one to remember. She threaded her shaky hands into his hair, holding it like reigns. Their lips flowed together like water, matching each other perfectly with no limitations. The kiss was so passionate, that it reminded her of how far apart they'd been intimately. She'd missed his body, and the way he moaned if she pulled his hair just like ... that, and with the little tug he moaned, heating up the kiss even more by sliding a hand up her thigh and a tongue into her mouth.
A cough broke them apart, and they both looked over at Caspian standing there awkwardly. "You're sisters have just been off, and your brother is walking back through the field now."
"Yes, thank you Caspian. I'll be out in a moment," Peter said, straightening himself out.
"Please be careful," Ester said, fixing her own appearance. "I love you so much."
"And I love you, now stop worrying like this is goodbye or something, because it's not." Peter kissed her again, hands warming both of her cheeks as he grabbed them to hold onto her. "I'll be back to kiss you once it's all over."
"You don't think this will prevent the war... do you?" Ester asked, following him across the room.
"No, I don't. So go put on your armour, and don't get hurt." Peter then took off a little faster, leaving Ester to suit up.
It was like travelling back to a year ago, or hundreds of years ago, to when she first got to Narnia. Everything happens too fast here, there's no way to brace yourself for what's coming. It's like, hiding behind a chain link fence. No matter what you do, you're destined to get caught. And right now it kind of feels like Narnia has got them by the hair, and won't let go until they've proven themselves, time and time again.
Now, fully armoured, Ester would have to go watch the love of her life fight Miraz, killer of Narnians, to the death – and hope that the death is not on her side of the war. She walked out the the arena, chain mail clinking as she walked. Peter was still inside, presumably with Edmund, having a final plan dubbed out in case Peter doesn't come out as victorious.
Ester stopped when she came to the centaurs, pulling off her helmet and tucking it under her arm. She leaned against a broken column in silence, as Miraz stared her down – clearly unaware that there were daughters of eve among the ranks of the Narnians. As Peter began to exit the tunnels, their side of the war went crazy with support, clear that Peter was their King and they backed him through anything.
Once a King or Queen...
Ester was a brick wall. Showing no emotion to the enemy was on of the ways she kept herself sane during time like these. She may be in serious trouble, and she may lose a fight and die – but no one will be calling her weak or timid. Although, if one knew to look, they would see the flash of concern that twinkled in her eye as Peter walked past her. In that second their eyes connected, so much love and support passed through them that morale was boosted even more for Peter. And he knew that no matter what, he would win this for her.
Peter and Miraz were face to face, both wielding weapons and getting ready to battle. "There is still time to surrender," Miraz said, his face mask muffling the words.
"Well, feel free."
"How many more must die for the throne?"
"Just one," Peter said, lowering the mask of his helmet. It was time. There was no going back now.
Peter took a running start, and used one of the broken columns as a way to jump up and try to attack Miraz from above, but it was blocked. Ester stood leaning in the same spot, refusing to show weakness and flinch, even when Miraz hit Peter with his shield. It wasn't until Miraz knocked off Peter's helmet that Ester began to worry. There was a clear striking zone there, and if Miraz were to hit it...
Ester couldn't think about that. She had to just watch and hope for the best. Peter was knocked to the ground, leaving his open for attacks, but Miraz took it a step further, and stepped down on Peter's shield, hyper-flexing his elbow, or maybe even breaking a bone.
From the tree line, Caspian came riding onto the field with Susan on the back of his horse. But no Lucy. After Miraz called a three minute respite, Peter hobbled his way over to Ester, clearly in pain. "Lucy?" he asked, letting Ester slip her arm gently through his own. Even though he couldn't feel her skin against his own, just knowing that she was there was nice.
"She got through... with a little help," Susan said, gesturing to Caspian.
"Thanks," Peter said.
"Well, you were busy."
"You better get up there, just in case. I don't expect the Telmarines to keep their word." Peter nodded up at the archers.
Susan nodded, and hugged her brother, but he winced in pain. "Sorry."
"It's alright," he said, shaking it off.
"Be careful," Susan said, genuinely concerned.
"Keep smiling," Ed said, looking at the concerned crowd. They didn't have any room for any more loss of hope. They were already running on fumes in that area.
Through the pain, and with gritted teeth, Peter smiled, and held his sword up towards the Narnians. They all cheered in response. Susan ran towards the entrance, and could be seen joining Trumpkin. Peter sat down, while Edmund did what he could to patch Peter up. "I think it's dislocated," Peter said, as Edmund looked at his shoulder. "What d'you think happens back home if you die here?" Peter looked up at his brother. "You know you've always been there, and I never really..."
Edmund snapped Peter's arm back into place, making him groan and stop talking. "Save it for later."
Peter stood, and took his sword back from Edmund. "I love you," Peter said to Ester.
"I love you," she said back.
Peter stepped forward, both of them opting out of using their helmets, and the match went back into full swing. Both of them getting a few good hits on the other. Peter was once again knocked down but he managed to swing his feet and get Miraz on the same level. Ester retook her position leaning against the column. The absolute skill of both men was an interesting match, and it ended with Peter getting Miraz on his knees, begging for a respite.
"Now's not the time for chivalry, Peter!" Edmund shouted. But Peter seemed to become the Peter he used to be in a moment. He left Miraz there, his patience and mercy shining through like the northern lights.
But Miraz was not a man of honour.
He reached for his sword as Peter walked away, and swung. But Peter is smarter than the Telmarines would ever give him credit for, and managed to flip the sword around, and stab Miraz through the abdomen, reducing him to his knees for the second time. This time begging for mercy. Peter held the sword, ready to strike. A quiet exchange of words left Peter holding out the sword for Caspian to take. Hesitant steps led Caspian to stand before his uncle, shimmering sword in hand. Peter left, leaving the two relatives to resolve it, or rather, leaving Caspian to avenge is father. Peter walked to Ester, and stood by her, saying nothing and watching the scene, just like she was.
Caspian stood there, unsure of what to do. But he held up the sword, ready to strike through his uncles head. But Caspian was a goodhearted man, and instead stabbed a small crack in the stone, leaving the sword erect in front of his uncles body.
"Keep your life, but I am giving the Narnians back their Kingdom," Caspian said, leaving the battle arena. It was the kind of end that they respected. Peace.
The Narnians believed in peace above all else.
The Narnians cheered greatly as Caspain and Peter raised their hands in victory. But Ester kept her eyes on the Telmarines, for she didn't trust them. She watched as one of Miraz's men, thrust one of Susan's arrows up into Miraz's torso.
"Peter!" Ester shouted, pointing at the scene. "They'll blame us!"
"Put on your helmet!" Peter shouted back, rushing over to her. "Looks like we will be fighting a war today, stay strong my love, and we'll both be fine."
In front of them, Miraz fell to the ground, arrow sticking out of him like a sign of war. But it was his own men who betrayed him, not the Narnians. "Treachery! They shot him! They murdered our king!"
"Be ready!" Peter shouted at the archers, who all readied their bows.
"Peter!" Caspian shouted, pointing as one of the soldiers came towards Peter with his sword drawn. Peter easily handled him.
It was time. War was unavoidable now.
