A/N: Surprise! Hello friends. It's been a long time I know but these past few months have been hectic. For one, I've finished exams (thank God), for another, I've had a large move to another part of the world, and, on less happier note, I've had many personal problems that have delayed me from even opening this fic to continue. Things are getting better, gradually but they are, and now I feel back on my feet and really want to finish this fic.

Again I apologize, but am happy to be back!

Chapter 17: Friend Yet Foe

Susan paced, quickly, back and forth from the guarded doors of Peter's chambers, breathing stifled and skin clammy. She was still in her hunting gear, her dark hair in a rather messy bun, the hem of her skirt dirty and slightly torn. Her ears were ringing, her heart was still pounding, and her mind continuously swept through one thought: Thank Aslan for my horn.

She blew it, twice, and in no longer than five minutes, Peter was carried by Oreius, who led a group of armed centaurs, his stern expression evaporating immediately to be replaced with concern at the sight of Peter bleeding and helpless. Susan had mounted her horse, having followed Oreius and Peter side by side, ignoring and refusing to look at Thea, who she could hear crying against Magnus.

She refused still. The girl was obviously not to be trusted, she told herself, but what proof had she? She had only witnessed one of the mercenaries toss her aside in favor of killing either her or her brother, the High King. Who would believe her? Who would take the word of a supposedly heart-broken, recently-orphaned girl over her own? Perhaps Magnus, she thought. He is an honorable man. He is a sensible man. And he must know.

She stopped her pacing as Lucy and Edmund, both sickly pale, came into view; she ran to them and embrace both of them in her arms, thanking Aslan for their safety.

"How's Peter?" Lucy said against her shoulder.

Susan released the both of them, tears threatening to spill. "Tyr said he would probably survive, but…oh, Lu, the wound's so deep. He's lost so much blood…"

"What happened?" Edmund gasped.

Susan sighed. "Our hunting party was attacked by a group of mercenaries. I – I did everything I could but they…they shot Peter down."

Lucy sniffed and Edmund closed his eyes, as if that were the only solution to making it all go away. "Mercenaries…from Lune?"

Susan paused. "Oreius said it is most likely."

"Oh, Su!" Lucy squeaked. "It's as if the terror w-will n-n-never end!" she was sobbing now, and instinctively, Edmund wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I just c-can't believe it!"

At that moment, the physician Tyr burst through the doors of Peter's chambers, palms bloodied and expression weary.

Immediately, Susan, Edmund and Lucy rushed to him. "Tell me, Tyr," Susan was saying, gripping the small man tightly. "How is the High King? How is my brother?"

Tyr sighed, wiping his hands on his front. "He will live, majesty. He will most certainly live."

Susan let out a gasp of relief, Lucy smiled through choked tears and Edmund felt his heartbeat slow down.

"Yes, majesty," the physician said. "Aslan's blessings among us all. Though tricky, I managed to remove the arrow used to shoot down the King, and, through sheer luck, managed to stifle the bleeding. It seems he has not severed a severe artery, but for sure measure, I would recommend Driadidna in the rare case of infection or – Aslan forbid – if the arrow was poisoned."

"May we seem him now?" Edmund prodded.

"If you desire," Tyr replied gravely. "For his High King's sake, I put him to sleep with a variety of medications. See him if you must, I just urge you not to wake him."

"Yes," Lucy replied, tears slightly drying. "Yes, of course. Thank you, Tyr."

The little physician nodded and hurried away, desperate to cleanse his hands of the High King's blood.

"Oh, thank Aslan," Edmund said once the tired physician hobbled away. "We've been lucky too many times, Su. Too many times." When he saw that Susan was not replying, or listening, for that matter, he waved a hand into view. "Susan? Su?"

"What is she doing here?" There was venom in her voice; icy venom that took Lucy and Edmund aback so much they each gave a little jump.

Susan was indicating Thea, who had just hurried into the corridor, clutching at Tyr's robes and asking him of Peter's condition.

"Susan, relax," Edmund prodded, holding both hands up as if Susan were attacking him instead. When Susan whipped to stare him straight in the face, he relaxed his stance. "What's the problem? Why shouldn't the Lady Thea be here? She was with you when it happened, wasn't she?"

"I trusted Oreius would tell you, but I suppose he doesn't believe me either," Susan snapped uncharacteristically.

"Tell us of what?" Lucy asked.

"I don't trust her," Susan said, eyes still glued to Lady Thea, who now had her hands to her paper-white face, listening intently to Tyr's slow words. "Not at all."

"What's not to trust?" Lucy demanded. "Lady Thea's the kindest lady we've ever had under this roof!"

"She wasn't attacked," Susan explained. "I set aside my status in favor of nobility, but who would attack and try to kill a queen and a high king instead of a lady? Should there be no witnesses? What sense would that make?"

"They were assassins," Edmund reasoned. "They're hired to target one person and they're hired to kill that one person, aren't they?"

"Not these assassins," Susan retaliated hotly. "Aldred murdered, just days ago, and if these are the same savages sent by Lune shouldn't Thea have been killed or even maimed as well? I saw it with my own two eyes. One of them ran straight at her, looked her square in the face and bolted. What more proof do you need?"

"None!" Edmund said. "Su – you're – you're probably tired – you're stressed –"

"I am not!" Susan said, standing her ground. "This is a war we're fighting, Ed. Remember that. Remember what Oreius told us. That anyone could be an enemy – that anyone could be a serpent hiding amongst the roses."

"Thea," Lucy warned, and Susan and Edmund spun round to see the Lady hurrying towards them.

Susan stiffened her expression as Thea bowed. "My honorable queens and king."

It was hard on Edmund's part, to mask his suspicions based on Susan's theories in front of the convict herself, but Edmund managed a smile. "Honorable lady. How is your uncle?"

"Oh he's fine," Thea brushed off, eyes widening at Edmund's concern for a supposed lesser. "He will be well. How is –"

"Well," Susan cut her off immediately, still staring her dead in the face. "They say the arrow might have been poisoned, you know." You know? Edmund thought. As if she would. He prayed to Aslan Susan would tone her hostility down a little; though possibly guilty, Thea looked completely shaken. Susan continued, "But he's fine now, in a deep sleep, you see. They expect him to wake up sometime around dawn."

"Oh, what a miraculous relief!" Thea proclaimed, and she reached out for Lucy's arm, squeezing it reassuringly. "The High King lives, and Narnia rejoices."

"Too close a call," Susan half-mumbled, brushing a lock of slipped hair from her bun from her face. "But if you don't mind, milady, we are to see the High King, even though he slumbers, and pay our condolences to Aslan for sparing his life. A visit, of sorts." The next few words were delivered with overwhelming animosity. "A family visit."

Lucy widened her eyes, and had to stop herself from slapping her hand to her mouth. Edmund closed his, as if the blow were directed at him. Susan only maintained her unfriendly, toothy smile and the Lady Thea, though wounded, bowed ever so low. "As you wish, my gentle Queen. My blessings to your brother." And, gracefully, she turned and walked away.

Edmund eyes were still closed as Thea went out of earshot. "I cannot believe you said that."

"Oh, don't badger me with that rubbish," Susan only said, turning on her heel to stalk away.

Lucy caught her soldier. "Susan, please listen. Until now we don't know anything about the attack or if Thea was even behind it. I didn't want to have to bring this but… I've spoken to Tyr, and you know what he said? Driadidna, Su. It causes hallucinations."

Susan, mouth open, turned from Lucy to Edmund, then back to Lucy. "Halluci – you don't believe me!" it was almost a screech.

"I'm not saying I don't!" Lucy argued defiantly. "I'm just saying – Tyr's told me everything! Everything about the side effects, at least. Drowsiness, unhappiness, paranoia – hallucinations. Until we have full proof – until we have full evidence –"

"But you do have evidence!" Susan said, her pale face red, her eyes sparkling. "My word! Your sister's word, over that of Lady Thea's!" she said the name with the most venom possible, and again it felt like a blow to Edmund. "You believe me mad!"

"Susan," Edmund said, almost whispering. "We want to…really, we do…"

Susan said nothing more, and turned so fast Edmund was temporarily blinded by the red of her robes. She stalked, almost ran, choking out a sob before her robes whipped out of sight. It was quiet for a while, and then Lucy spoke. "I never meant…"

"I know you didn't," Edmund said, almost at once.

Drama! What do you think of the Lady Thea? And what do you think is to come?

Until next time,

xx Izzy