Well finally here it is the next chapter - I am really sorry for keeping you waiting ... summer break is here and my life seems to be busier than before ;)

Thanks to Jill G. Lowry for beta reading the chapter :) ... and thanks to everybody who left a review on the last chapter :) - loved to read them.

So enjoy reading!!


As Edmund watched his siblings he realized how much he had missed them. He realized that they were the one thing that made Narnia feel like home for him. It wasn't the fact that he was a king in Narnia, it was not the fact that he had befriended many talking beasts nor was it the fact that he had spent most of his lifetime in Narnia that made him feel at home. It was the presence of his siblings. They were his family, they were the people without whom he could not spend his life, they were the ones he cared most about and who cared most about him.

Right now they were discussing various battle plans, though Edmund normally put his heart and soul in making battle plans, being the best at making strategic plans, he took a back seat this time, too busy watching his siblings.

Even though every one of them tried to hide their feelings, putting their own needs back for the greater good as they had always done when kings and queens, Edmund could tell that all of them had some feelings to struggle with.

Lucy was constantly interjecting that the plans were too dangerous and too risky. It was obvious to Edmund that she wasn't content with the situation, that, as always, she wanted to prevent a war that she didn't want to risk the life of that many brave men and animals, that she wanted to wait for Aslan. And even though Edmund had always admired and supported her faith in Aslan, knowing that she had a special bond with him, he knew that this time the war was unavoidable and that this war decided the future of them all.

And it was exactly that decision about their future that Susan feared, a future she wasn't able to decide on her own, a future without the man she loved, a future without Caspian and Narnia. She was talking to King Nain, wanting to know everything about their new enemies. She was looking everywhere but at Caspian, who was constantly looking at her, love and longing but also sadness in his gaze. Something had happened between those two, something other than the obvious, something they were both sad and embarrassed about. Edmund could tell that from the way Caspian looked at his sister and the way Susan avoided his gaze.

And then there was Peter, who kept himself in the background, which was something he normally never did. He had changed, he seemed more mature but also hurt and obviously it had something to do with the princess of Archenland. Edmund could see it in the look of his face everytime her name fell. It seemed she had betrayed Peter's trust, causing him to constantly question the reliability and the trustworthiness of the people from Archenland.

"And where is the Tisroc in all that?" Susan asked, a question that attracted Edmund's attention.

"That is a question I have been asking myself constantly. He was at Anvard shortly after they invaded Archenland but left within a few days. I do not know where he went, but I doubt he returned to Calormen." King Nain stated looking a bit worried.

"Let us not worry about things we can only assume. We need to concentrate on the war that is imminent." Eustace stepped in.

Edmund nodded, "Eustace is right. This war decides about our future. We need to win it!"

"But at what price?" Lucy asked, shaking her head.


When Lucy ran out of the tunnels after they had finished discussing matters, Edmund followed. She stopped on a cliff with an overview of the men and creatures gathered in front of the How.

Edmund stepped next to her, "You are not going to ride off again, are you?" He tried to joke, but Lucy didn't even smile.

"I saved most of these people's life when I rode off three years ago," the young queen said, remembering the day she had found Aslan in the woods, "I was right at that time even though nobody believed me at first."

"Like Aslan said, nothing happens the same way twice." Edmund pointed out, turning to face his little sister, "This time it is different. Why do you think Susan and Peter were allowed to return? Do you think Aslan would have changed his mind if not for a reason? This war is a test, a test to prove their faith in him even though he is not with them, a test to prove their loyalty to Narnia. Something has changed their fate and it is still changing..."

"So we are fighting this war, we are risking all of these brave men's lives just because Susan and Peter may stay in Narnia?" Lucy asked with anger in her voice, "That is just not fair!"

"No, we are not fighting because of Su's and Pete's fate" Edmund shook his head, "We fight for equality, for freedom and for justice. We fight for those who can't fight on their own. We fight to protect our people. We fight for Narnia and for Aslan like we always did, like we will always do. Think of the Golden Age, Lucy. Aslan hadn't always been there when we fought wars, because we always had faith in Him and He had always had faith in us as well. Sometimes we have to fight on our own, not because we have lost our faith in Him or because He has lost his faith in us, just because sometimes we have to decide about our own destiny, sometimes our future is upon us. And deep down in your heart you know that we are not fighting this war tomorrow because we have lost our faith but because we want to prove our faith in Aslan."

When Lucy finally turned to face Edmund, she had tears in her eyes, "I am sorry, Ed. I should not have doubted your faith in Aslan. Maybe you are right. This war is a way to prove our faith. I guess I just fear that any of you loses his faith. I am truly sorry..."

"Well after all you are the youngest one. You can't always be the wisest one." Edmund joked and this time it worked.


Finally the day, the hour, the minute had come, the time that would decide everybody's destiny was finally here, the day that would decide Narnia's future and the future of the kings and queens of old, although they didn't even know this.

While Peter, King Nain and Eustace stayed with the forces in front of the wood, Caspian, Edmund and some of the soldiers had accompanied the archers into the woods, to help them up in the trees. Lucy was back at the How waiting with the eagles for their attack.

Edmund watched his sister, who looked a bit disturbed, "Is everything alright, Su?"

"Yes, it's just... I don't know. Maybe this plan wasn't such a good plan after all." Susan worried, "I mean maybe it's really too risky, too dangerous... I don't fear for myself, but I don't want to be responsible for the death of so many good men." She looked around, watching the men as they made ready for the battle.

"Don't worry, Su. It's a good plan. Everything will be alright." Edmund tried to comfort her.

Susan hugged her brother, "Thanks Edmund."

"Watch after yourself, Su. And don't play the heroine." Edmund grinned, "That's my job." he added joking.

Susan smiled, "Edmund, the heroine, indeed. It's good to have you back, Ed." She turned to Trumpkin, who was standing behind her, "Are you ready, DLF?"

"I am always at your back." the dwarf answered, "But you'd better get up first."

Susan nodded, "Can you boost me up?" she asked her younger brother.

"I guess I am not tall enough. You better asked Caspian." Edmund suggested, looking around, searching for Caspian. Before Susan could even object, he spotted the young man, who was currently helping somebody else up in the trees and shouted, "Hey Caspian, can you help us over here?"

Caspian came over slouchy and when Susan met his gaze, seeing his dark brown eyes that sorrowful and sad, she felt guilty that she had hurt him that much.

"Can you boost Susan up?" Edmund asked.

"Of course." Caspian bent over and cupped his hands for her boot. Susan hesitated for one moment, then stepped towards him, placed her foot in his hands and laid her hands on his shoulders to steady herself. They both lifted up and Susan reached for the first branch.

Once she sat on the first branch, she helped Trumpkin up, who immediately climbed higher until he was barely visible through the leaves.

Susan turned around once more, looking at Caspian, "Thanks."

Caspian just nodded, "Come back safe." Then he turned around and walked away.

As Susan watched him walking away, she wanted so badly to call after him. She thought of what Aslan had said: The future does not belong to fear. It belongs to freedom. Maybe this meant that she was free to decide about her future, free to decide where to be and with whom, free to choose her destiny.

But as she opened her mouth, no sound came out of it. This was neither the right place nor the right time to think about that. They were in war; she needed to concentrate on that.

She climbed higher and settled into her post next to Trumpkin.

"Tell the others not to shoot before the sign." Susan said quietly to Trumpkin, who passed the information on to the other archers.

Then there was silence. The archers now needed to be completely silent in order to not be seen by the Calormen army, which would come soon.

In the meantime Edmund and Caspian had returned to Peter, King Nain and Eustace, who had gathered the army in front of the forest. They moved their horses next to Peter's and watched as the Calormen slowly emerged between the trees. Their army was indeed gigantic.

Susan watched the Calormen soldiers through the little gaps between the leaves, feeling a bit uncomfortable, thinking of herself between those amounts of enemies. She took a deep breath and fit an arrow to the string. She nodded towards Trumpkin, who moved his hand to his mouth and imitated the cry of an owl, the sign they had agreed on.

Then Queen Susan the Gentle released the first arrow and the war for their fate began.


So the war began - finally - next chapter will be all about it :) ...

What else to say about this chapter - it's kind of a chapter from Edmund's point of view - everyone of siblings had such a chapter so I thought it would only be fair if he had one as well :) ...

not really much important stuff or new stuff in this chapter - so again a filler chapter .. but next chapter will be a very important one! :)

Well I hope you enjoyed reading - as always I would like to hear your thoughts about it.

Oh and if anyone is interested I made a video about the Pevensies and Caspian a while ago - it's on youtube and it's called Narnia - Caspian & Susan - Come Home (unfortunately I can't make a link ...) - it's not related to this story but maybe you'll enjoy to watch it :)

Well I am looking forward to hearing from you - and next chapter will be sooner than this one - promise! :)