Chapter 20

Lucy smiled as she saw the Narnians pull back, being replaced by the fresher Archenlanders. She leaned over the edge, straining her eyes for a sight of Edmund. She frowned as she saw him.

"Susan? Why isn't Edmund retreating?" she asked, then pointed out the fighting figure on the battlefield.

"He probably thinks it wouldn't look good if the Narnian king retreated. But I haven't seen Peter or the Tisroc" she said and the pair put their backs to the horrifying picture. Lucy leaned on Susan's shoulder and Susan smiled and kissed the top of her sister's head in a motherly way. Suddenly Lucy felt Susan grip her arm tightly.

"Lucy look!" Susan said and Lucy turned around to see hundreds of horsemen riding down through the trees.

"The Perak!" Lucy breathed and she felt her terror rising as she saw how many of them were there.

"Lucy, you have to warn them! Tell them to put the Narnians back!" Susan said and Lucy nodded and she concentrated. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut and thought of the Narnian soldiers. But all she could think was the sight of the Perak and all she could feel was her panic.

"Susan I can't! I get do it! Help me Susan!" Lucy said and Susan panicked. Lucy saw Susan run down and grab Ladine. Lucy balled her hands into fists and squeezed, feeling her nails digging into the palm of her hand as she desperately tried to concentrate. She heard the squawk of eagles and she breathed deeply.

"Pull yourself together Lucy. It's all right if you can't do it. but I've got to try." she said and she very gently slipped into the spell. She saw Caspian looking up at the sky and jump when he saw Lucy.

"Hello!" he said and he tried to continue, but Lucy interrupted him.

"Turn back! The Perak have arrived! Turn around, now!" she commanded and Caspian looked disbelieving for a split second, before he gave his command.

"Turn back! Turn back!" he yelled and galloped off into the fray again. Lucy glared at the disbelieving soldiers and the loyal soldiers turned around and ran, or galloped back towards the battlefield. Lucy sighed and opened her eyes to find herself back up on the mountain. She turned around to see Caspian charging back, leading the steady stream of soldiers to fight the Perak. She smiled.

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Edmund could feel himself slowing down. His movements became sluggish and predictable. He saw the Calormens pressing down on all sides and he swung his sword, forcing his mind to notice everything: the tell-tale shadows that signified a surprise attack, the flicker of movement from both sides that showed another Calormen had come over to try his luck. He turned his head as he heard Caspian's voice over the screams and he frowned. But that lack of concentration gave his enemy the chance they needed. Edmund gasped as he felt a sword nick his stomach in the place just under his chain mail. He swung around and avenged himself, but he was bleeding steadily and this spurred on the Calormens, who pressed closer and became more adventurous. He swung desperately, knowing that this was probably his last battle. He could only wish for a miracle as he felt the second sword draw blood.

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Lucy gripped the edge of the mountain depserately.

"I can't see him Susan! I can't see him!" she screamed, her eyes trying to detect the man she loved. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Who cared if the Calormens saw her? She thought of Edmund and when she opened her eyes she was still on the mountain top. She saw Ladine on the other side of the mountain, she concentrated and when she opened her eyes she saw the back of Ladine's head. The Archenlander swung around, but Lucy disapeared. She shut her eyes again and let the memory of Edmund wash over her, his handsome eyes, his charming smile, the way he kissed her like it was the last kiss he would ever feel: slightly urgent, but slow, gentle but passionate. She knew even before she opened her eyes she was still where she had been before.

"Edmund! Where are you?" she whispered, the feeling of sorrow disfiguring her face as proper tears rolled down onto her cheeks. She wiped her hand across her cheeks then ran over to Susan.

"Susan! I can't reach him!" she cried and Susan bit her lip and put her arm around her sister.

"I'm sorry Luce. You know what that means..." she said and her little sister squeezed her eyes tightly shut.

"No. I know he's not dead. I'm going to find him." she said, pulling out of her sister's hug.

"Lucy." Susan said but Lucy shook her head.

"No. I'm finding him!" she yelled, then she grabbed a bow and arrow and stuck a knife into her belt before she ran down the mountain, scrambling over the rocks.

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Susan watched as her sister disappeared into the battle, then turned to Ladine.

"Edmund's dead." she said and the princess nodded.

"I know. But Lucy wants to find him. Let her do what she wants to do." the Archenlander advised and Susan nodded.

"I know, but..." she didn't finish her sentence, but Ladine still understood. Susan saw Ladine biting her lip.

"I admire your sister." Ladine said and Susan raised an eyebrow.

"She's doing what she wants to do, even though she knows she could get killed." Ladine said, looking wistful, "Susan? I'm going down there."

"What? Ladine, no!" Susan said, grabbing the younger girls hand.

"I can't just stand here and watch my people die! Then I'm nothing except a female Peter! That's why Edmund still fought on and didn't retreat! Because we're doing this because of him. And the only reason why the Archenlanders came was because I convinced my father. And what am I doing? Standing here watching my people get killed!" Ladine said passionately and Susan dropped her hand from Ladine's shoulder.

"I'm sorry. Go on." she said and handed Ladine a sword. The Archenlander looked at Susan then hugged her.

"Thank you." Ladine whispered, before she turned and left. Susan watched her retreating back then swallowed. She knew what Ladine and Lucy was right. She bit her lip as she realised what she had to do.