Hey guys! Did I say how much I LOVE your reviews, I apologize for the wait, I was going to update Friday but the wifi didn't work, sorry.

I redid the whole chapter, and made it longer just for you guys.

Thanks for the reviews, everyone is welcome o leave theirs.

Good reading ;)

Chapter XXI

As Annabelle entered the room, she had that feeling deep in her gut that something wasn't right. First of all, the balcony doors were open, while she could have sworn that she closed them that morning. She turned around to scan the room, only to find five armed men surrounding her, with big bad weapons. Another one, far in the corner, was cloaked, but his grave voice sounded young enough:

"Hello My lady, I apologize for this small impromptu visit, but may I ask you to accompany us?"

"You seem really nice and all, but sorry No." she answered with a fake smile.

"Oh of course silly me, I forgot, actually it wasn't a question but a demand, you don't have a choice."

"Make me." The poker face that Annabelle perfected for years revealed nothing of her feelings. But inside, she was terrified, scared, panicked, frightened, anxious…. You get the meaning. She tried calling Edmund's name, but apart from their conversation, nothing could be heard, something strange was playing. Gathering her wits, she remembered every lesson Edmund gave her.

Rule Number one: always stay armed. Check. She held the hilts of her daggers, which were hidden under her skirts, tightly.

Rule Number Two: Check your surroundings, find escapes, analyze the enemy. Done.

Rule Number Three: the best defense is attacking. Not blindly but using your head, don't worry about playing dirty, as long as you survive, don't lean on your strength , use speed and swift moves.

Rule Number Four: Never turn your back on your enemy, and if he got the advantage wait until the last moment to make your move.

With these rules in her mind, she took a deep breath, made a quick prayer, and then charged like a wild cat. With Edmund's voice twirling in her head she managed to kill two and without pondering their death went to the next. They were professionals but dumb, and using her man's clever tips she got rid of them but was tiring fast.

Suddenly she felt a cold presence behind her. She hit her attacker, who was the cloaked man, and called out for Edmund before he covered her mouth and darkness claimed her.

Back at Cair Paravel, the pevensies were struggling trying to come up with solutions, or at least answers to Annabelle's abduction, but none made any sense, the only logical one was that they used her to threaten them.

"I suggest we send a search party." Began Susan but Lucy cut her off:

"We already looked, no trails were found, it's like they vanished in thin air. What do you think Ed?"

All the while Edmund stayed silent, but you could almost feel the fury raging inside of him, his cool exterior was only a bad presage for those who kidnapped his beloved. His voice was as cool as his face when he responded Lucy's question:

"There's no need, you see they will send us a message I'm sure, and we'll be more than ready for it, speaking of which." As he finished the words, he ducked, gracefully missing an arrow aimed for his throat, to it a piece of parchment was attached.

His audience felt like clapping, maybe later, now certainly isn't the moment, they thought. Edmund knelt and opened the note that said:

THE LADY'S WITH US. IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER ALIVE, COME OUT AT MIDNIGHT TO THE DANCING LAWN, ACCOMPANIED ONLY BY QUEEN SUSAN. DON'T IGNORE OUR DEMAND OR ELSE YOU'LL REGRET IT.

X

"They are quick." Caspian muttered.

"Well, the one who wrote this really likes books, it's ridiculous, so old, and what's up with THE LADY'S WITH US of course she's with you, you kidnapped her, where else would she be? And the dancing lawn? Where in this damn place? it's huge." Lucy ranted on and on which gained smiles from her companions.

"Count on Lucy to bring up our moods when we're depressed." Peter pointed and ruffled his sister's hair, and then he looked seriously at Edmund and Susan:

"What will you do?"

"We'll go." Edmund answered simply, while Susan looked at him like he was crazy:

"Ed, it's a trap."

"Really? I didn't know." He replied sarcastically, at least anger didn't steal his dry humor " He asked us to meet him, no ransom no request from royals, of course it's a trap, the reason we'll know it sooner than you think."

They looked at him confused as he nodded to Glenstorm who was standing by the door the whole time, the Centaur opened the throne room's double doors and dragged a tanned man to the just king.

"Now we'll get our answers."

"No blood on the marble." Susan warned, while Lucy rolled her eyes.

Some screaming later, Edmund was wiping his hands while giving a report of what they learned, if he was less furious he would have taken him to a dungeon and asked him properly with no witnesses, but that certainly wasn't his mood at that moment.

"The kidnappers are a group of ten Calormen, they were hired with money from someone that he claims knows nothing of but by the amount he gave, must be rich, maybe even the Tisroc himself, but that possibility got erased simply because he would have sent someone directly without kidnapping Anne, he won't be at the meeting, but has business with me, I understand, I have many enemies, but Susan? So here's what we'll do, me, Lucy and Caspian will go, Su, you stay here, they don't know your face, their master won't be present, at least if something goes wrong they will have the pleasure of dealing with our young sister, no easy thing I assure, Glenstorm, bring ten soldiers, you'll hide until I give you the signal, got it?"

No arguments were made, apart from Susan wanting to go herself, but a small amount of convincing did the trick. Edmund continued:

"We'll send out a talking bird, a griffin would be too risky, ahead of us, he'll make sure no other is involved, and like Lucy said figure out where the damn meeting place is exactly."

At that, everyone excited the room and went directly to the armory.

"Don't frown Susan, all will be well." Peter tried to assure his sister.

"I don't know Peter, something doesn't feel right, I think Annabelle is more useful to the kidnapper than any of us."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know, like I said it's just a feeling."

"I really hope you're wrong."

On the other side of the room, Adam was trying to convince Edmund to include him in the plan:

"No, it's too risky, you're the crown prince, and only heir to Archenland's throne, your only responsibility right now, is to stay safe, your country needs you more alive than dead."

That's was all it took to convince the young prince. Meanwhile Lucy was helping Caspian into his armor, both in comfortable silence, before the former spoke:

"Lu, promise me to stay safe."

"No I will go straight to the danger and kill myself." She responded not taking her eyes off the buckles.

"Lucy, promise me."

"I promise." The young king sighed in relief before she continued "I'll try."

If it wasn't for the teasing smile on her face, Caspian would have already forbidden her from going.

Midnight came, Edmund and Lucy stood alone in the clearing where they "guessed" the exchange would be made. Really, the bad guy is really bad at being bad (whatever that is, you get the meaning).

They waited for almost half an hour, before the villains came, well they looked like the dumb kind but well, dragging a half sober Annabelle who was smiling dreamily. The outcome of the evil plan "kidnapping a damsel in distress" was turning to ridicule.

"No sense of time I see." Edmund carefully began.

"We were troubled by the young lady, please forgive us your highness." A bulky Calormen said with a fake smile on his ugly face "This I assume is Queen Susan."

Ed nodded regally while Annabelle began giggling like a crazy teenage girl, the whole group present turned to her:

"Anne, are you okay?" Edmund asked.

"Oh Ed hi, why do I see two of you?" he turned to the Calormen.

"What did you give her?" The bandit grimaced in regret before answering:

"She was struggling too much on our way, so we gave her ale to knock her out, but it had another effect entirely." Lucy bit on her lips to keep from laughing:

"Anne, are you drunk?"

"Oh I'm not Lu, or Su, or Lu. Wait, are you Susan or Lucy?"

"Who do you think she is?" asked Bulky man.

"I think it's Susan, NO NO NO Lucy, now I'm confused."

"What makes you think she's Lucy?" he asked carefully.

"Memories."

"And what makes you think it's Susan?"

"Handsome king."

At that Edmund rolled with laughter, while the bandits took out their weapons.

"You set us up." Edmund still gasping for breath answered:

"Too late, CHARGE."

Caspian who was watching the whole scene with great amusement, heard the signal, and then all hell broke loose.

Swords out, they charged, but Edmund already managed o kill two, while Annabelle danced from kidnapper to other after picking up a dagger, stabbing them, with ropes on her hands, Lucy was running after her, trying to undo her bindings, not aware that Caspian was protecting her back. After ten minutes, narnians were already taking care of the corpses.

"Annabelle, great work." They young lady squealed after seeing Lucy.

"OH now I remember you're Luuuucyy, I missed you, where was I by the way? I don't care-" her rambling was interrupted by Edmund's fierce hug, he checked her for any injuries, not finding any he asked her:

"Are you okay?"

"Yes Ed, I'm great, why are you spinning, oh you're handsome king by the way."

"Annabelle." He looked at her seriously, his hands on her shoulders " Remind me to never ever get you drunk."

"Okay, I feel dizzy." With that Annabelle fainted, the just king's strong arms caught her just in time, before he mounted on his horse, relieved that his love was safe.

Lucy and Caspian, in the meantime, were still having difficulty at stopping their hysterical laughter.

I bet you didn't think it would turn out like that, tell me what you think.

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