Hey guys!
Chapter 12 is now here! I really hope you guys like it.
As I explained before in chapter 1, I have two college midterms coming up in two weeks, both of them on the same day, so I have a quite a lot of studying left to do. I will try to advance as much as I can with the edited version of the remaining chapters but you guys won't probably hear from me until June 5th, the day I'm finally free from school, at least until July.
Once I finish with the edited version of the other chapters, I will begin to publish them hear but in the meantime, please stay tuned and I would love to hear what you think of the story so far! Feel free to review or just PM me.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Beth's storyline. The rest belongs to its respective owners.
Thank you so much for reading! Feel free to fav and follow the story too!
Chapter 12 "Losing My Religion."
"I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed/ get along with the voices inside of my head/ you are trying to save me, stop holding your breath/ and you think I'm crazy, yeah you think I'm crazy"- Eminem ft Rihanna, "The Monster."
Caspian woke with a start, immediately groaning as a throbbing headache made its painful entrance.
As everything slowly stopped spinning, he finally focused on his location, noticing for the first time the familiar ceiling of his room, his uncomfortable cot underneath him.
What had happened?
"Good. You're awake."
Caspian turned his head slowly, frowning as he took notice of Beth sitting tensely on Edmund's cot by the other side of the room. The king in question stood beside her, Trumpkin a few feet away by the door.
All of them glared at him, obviously waiting for the prince to speak.
Caspian sat up slowly, ignoring his injuries as he frantically searched for the last hours events on his mind. The last thing he remembered was the trip back to the How. Finally, he let his frustration speak as he noticed how protectively the Just King seemed to be standing next to the princess. "You brought bodyguards with you? Whatever made you think you needed them?"
"You put a sword to my throat, Caspian. As you can imagine, no one really trusts you right now." Beth replied, her voice cold, her gaze emotionless.
Caspian felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. "I could never do that. Beth, what is going?"
She stood up and took a step forward, her companions following her every movement. She looked at him with clear distrust."Don't you remember what happened?"
"The last thing I remember was coming back from the raid," Caspian replied, growing frantically worried as his three friends blanched in surprise. "What? Please, you're scaring me. What should I be remembering!?"
Edmund sighed and glanced at his girlfriend. "Lucy said he banged his head against the floor. This is probably a temporal memory loss caused by the injury."
"We do need to know what his ties to the traitors are, though, just in case. Your Grace, we need to use it." Trumpkin's voice was harder than usual, as if trying to compensate for a loss.
Caspian looked on in bewilderment as both men turned to Beth as if she's their leader.
He might have no recollection of the past few hours but he could read people, their expressions and the meaning behind their words so he knew for a fact that whatever he was forgetting, whatever had happened before, Beth had become their leader because of it.
He studied his oldest friend, noticing the now golden eyes, the regal posture, the authority in her voice and actions that spoke of a true warrior.
He slowly sat, doing his best to ignore the dizziness he felt. He stared right into Beth's eyes, scared of what the answer would be but still, needing to know. "Beth, what did I do?"
Beth frowned at Caspian in a thoughtful manner before taking a flask from her pocket. With wide eyes, Caspian recognised Lucy's cordial.
"You are right, Trumpkin. Shall we begin?"
*Several hours earlier*
Peter couldn't see a thing.
He didn't know how long it had been since everything had gone black. He didn't know how long it would be for light to come back.
It seemed as if everyone was screaming around him and yet, he couldn't decipher what were their saying or who was beside him.
He didn't know where he was anymore.
And, as sudden as the darkness had arrived, it disappeared.
He stood at Beruna, in the midst of the battle against the White Witch, staring into the eyes of Jadis herself as she approached him, weapons drawn.
But then, she was cut off by her brother as he jumped from a nearby cliff and attacked her.
Panic filled Peter as he remembered.
He had lived this before. He knew what was going to happen.
He tried everything he could think of. He fought as hard as he was able to scream at Edmund to run. He fought relentlessly to warn him, to shield him for what was going to happen.
But he couldn't move, he couldn't speak, and the battle kept going around him without interruption.
So he watched silently as Edmund broke the witch's wand.
He struggled even harder against his invisible binds as Jadis and his brother fought.
He screamed in pain when Edmund was stabbed, bending over as if he had received the blow too.
Jadis then turned towards him but all he could see was his brother's lifeless body, paling slowly yet surely as blood flowed freely from his wound.
"THAT'S ENOUGH."
Peter opened his eyes, gasping breathlessly as he glanced around in a panic frenzy, struggling to gather his surroundings.
Slowly, he glanced at the others, checking on them. He'd make sense of what happened later. Now, he needed to know they're okay.
Edmund crawled slowly towards his girlfriend, who was struggling to stand up. Both their bodies where shaken by tremors. They clutched each other tightly as they stood together, almost as if they just'd gone through hell.
Susan and Lucy, both openly sobbing, slowly made their way to Peter and helped him up.
"What was that!?" Lucy exclaimed hoarsely, still trying to catch her breath as sobs rocked her entire body. She hid her face in Peter's chest as she took deep breaths.
Peter gathered Susan in his arms too, dread filling him as she looked at him with hollow eyes. She had sported that same look every day during their last year in England.
As if knowing what he was thinking, Susan shook her head and buried her face into her brother's chest, mumbling incoherently all the while. Peter leaned down, trying to identify her words.
"It was all a dream. It was all a dream."
Peter frowned concernedly at her before looking at the others. "What was that? Did we all see the same thing? I was-"
"We didn't, Pete," Beth whispered weakly but stood firm with Edmund's help. She was pale, her golden eyes almost unnaturally bright, but she smiled weakly at Edmund as she gestured for him to let go. "But we don't have time to talk right now. The Witch is almost back. We need to stop them."
Peter and Susan frowned doubtfully while Lucy and Edmund nodded. The youngest glanced at her siblings before speaking without hesitation. "Well, if Jadis is coming back, that makes it your business as Aslan's daughter. Whatever your orders are, we'll follow."
Beth looked at her fearfully before glancing at Peter for approval. When the High King nodded, she took a deep breath before extracting herself from Edmund's hold with a hiss, holding up her hand when he reached for her. "I'm okay. You, Lu and Pete need to stop this now. Susan and I can help each other reach the Stone Table."
Peter opened his mouth to protest but Beth pushed him lightly towards the exit as she grabbed Susan by the waist. "Look, you want to argue and miss our window? Be my guest but Jadis's coming back. We need to move before's too late. Go. Now."
Peter looked into her golden eyes and felt the same wave of strength he felt every time Aslan was near him. With a sigh and trying to overcome his conflicted feelings, he nodded at Edmund and Lucy.
"You heard Aslan's daughter. To the Stone Table."
The Kings and Queen of Old slowed their run as sharply as they could when they reached the corridor where their pictures were displayed.
As silence enveloped them, they realised they could feel the air around them turning stale, rotten, as if a foul presence was making itself known.
The three monarchs scowled as they crouched their postures into an attack stance, and were unsheathing their weapons when Caspian's voice echoed through the tunnel.
"Jadis," he spoke, his voice completely detached from emotion.
It was in that moment that the Pevensie knew for a fact that something was wrong. For a person like Caspian, who was always so passionate, to speak in such emotionless manner, it was just an indication of how messed up things were.
Peter growled and stepped forward, determined to stop this madness but, as his siblings reached to hold him back, she spoke and they all froze completely.
"One drop of Adam's blood and you free me," the White Witch said as they slowly headed to the entrance. The siblings shivered, her voice bringing all of their worst memories back to mind.
She spoke just like they remembered, disgustingly sweet and cold and for a moment, they all saw themselves back at Aslan's Camp when Jadis went to claim Edmund's life.
This time was different, though.
No Aslan would come to save them now.
They knew it was up to them, and it was that feeling of despair that gave them the courage to move forward.
The last time they had been there, the fire lit around the room had gave them a sense of hope in spite of the challenge they were about to face.
That feeling now seemed like taken from an old, already forgotten dream.
The room was extremely dark and freezing cold, almost as if the witch's soul was expanding through the room the more strength she gained.
Just as Peter, Edmund and Lucy turned the corner and assessed the situation, the witch continued addressing the Telmarine prince in a false submissive manner.
"Then I'm yours, My King."
"No!"
It had been as if everyone was waiting for a signal to move so, when Edmund screamed and alerted their enemies of their presence, all hell broke loose.
"Caspian, stop!" Peter yelled, his mind only focused in getting Caspian away from the witch.
Caspian turned to him in complete bewilderment, as if only then understanding how out of his hands had the situation got. Behind him, Jadis straightened and, lips pulled up in a furious snarl, gestured for her minions to attack the Kings and Queen of Old.
It was then that they understood what had happened to them earlier because, as they stepped closer and their enemy ran to their encounter, their worst memories came to the forefront of their minds once again, filling every hidden space in their heads until at last, they could think of nothing else.
Peter shook his head and gestured at their siblings. What the White Witch hadn't taken into account was that no magic or illusions could counteract the great team the Pevensie were so, like a flawless machine, Lucy ran left to Nikabrik's encounter, Peter quickly following her when it seemed both the dwarf and the witch wanted to attack her sister simultaneously. Edmund on the other hand ran right and attack the werewolf head on.
"Come on! Come, boy," Jadis urged Caspian, knowing her time was running out, in her haste forgetting to soften her tone.
As if bewitched, Caspian took a hesitant step forward, his bloodied arm extended.
Behind him, the battle went on.
Peter was thrown aside by the witch when the High King was distracted for a second, but quickly recovered and with a slash killed the enemy.
To his left, Nikabrik grabbed Lucy and roughly pushed her away, following her with her knife raised and a maddened snarl on his face but before Lucy could do anything but stare at the dwarf in horror, before Peter could take even one step in his sister's direction, Trumpkin appeared as if from thin air, and stabbed his close friend on the back.
Behind them, Edmund was finishing the werewolf off, so Peter quickly ran towards the prince, pushing him away as soon as he stood beside him.
"Get away from him!" Peter yelled at Jadis, barely acknowledging the groaning prince laying on the floor beside him.
Jadis backed away into the ice once again and tilted her head as she stared thoughtfully into Peter's eyes.
Peter faltered as his worst memories came to his mind again but soon enough, the memory of nearly losing Edmund was buried by others, more recent ones.
He remembered how divided his army was, with half of them supporting Caspian, half supporting Peter.
He saw the raid clearly in his mind, as if living it again. The bickering, his arrogance, his useless bravado.
And the dead. So many of them and all by his hand.
Peter shook his head and stared defiantly at the White Witch, his sword drawn but that moment of doubt had been harmful enough. Jadis smirked and took her hand out of the glass again.
"Peter, dear," Jadis said, her eyes calm, her voice relaxed, as if she knew Peter would no longer put any fight against her. "I've missed you. Come. Just one drop. You can't do this alone and you know it."
Peter hesitated as her words sunk in.
All alone.
He knew it, deep in his heart he knew that his dauntless act was just that. He knew everything had been lost when Aslan didn't appear to help them.
Aslan was gone. His daughter was useless.
It made sense that the only one who could help them was the one who embodied everything opposite to what Aslan did.
Peter lowered his sword almost unknowingly but then, the clearest voice he had heard that day spoke from behind him.
"So, you're the one who killed my father," Beth spat as she stood on the Stone Table, her loaded bow aimed at the Witch's heart.
Jadis widened her eyes in horror. "You."
"Yes, me," Beth replied evenly, almost sounding bored of the conversation. She smirked at the White Witch. "My friends are not alone. Not now, not ever."
And, as Beth shot, a slash was made through the middle section of the ice.
The White Witch extended her arms upwards in pain as if feeling tremendous pain.
Beth fell to her knees, gasping for breath as her arrow sunk into Jadis' heart, the burden in her lungs fading as the White Witch no longer had any power over them.
Before her, Caspian raised hastily, both him and Peter looking up at Jadis in confusion as they spotted a shadow behind the ice.
Finally, Jadis screamed in pain just before the ice exploded. They all covered their faces as ice fell everywhere and, once the coast was clear, they looked up at the mysterious saviour.
Edmund stood there, panting breathlessly, his furious glare fixed on Caspian and Peter.
"I know. You had it sorted," Edmund snarled quietly, both boys returning his look with guilty expressions.
"How could you?" Lucy spoke hurtfully as Trumpkin helped her up. Both leaders turned to look at the youngest queen just as she glared at Caspian with outrage and at Peter in mere disappointment.
Without uttering another word, Edmund stepped through the ice, shoving past his brother and Caspian as he made his way towards Beth.
Beth was clutching her head as she hysterically gasped for breath, rocking back and forth as she rested on her knees. She tried to wipe her tears as Edmund knelt before her.
"Are you okay?" Edmund asked lowly.
Beth nodded rapidly, slowly looking up at Edmund. "Jadis made us all see our worst memory. Mine is one I've had blocked from my mind for a long time. Just give me a minute to catch my breath, love."
Edmund nodded and gently wrapped his arms around her, helping her up. "Let's get you somewhere so you can breathe easier."
Caspian and Peter followed the couple with their gaze, and it was then that they spotted Susan standing by the room's entrance.
Susan smiled weakly as the couple walked past her but, as she was left alone with Peter and Caspian, she turned her gaze on them, her usual gentle ice blue eyes enraged as they lay on the guilty pair of leaders.
"Well done, Your Graces." Susan spat angrily before turning the way she came, leaving the telmarine prince and the High King on their own.
Peter turned back towards the broken portal and stared at Aslan's carving as his acts sunk down on him.
He had almost brought back the witch who kept Narnia in an eternal winter for more than a century. The witch who almost killed his brother. The witch who killed Aslan.
Without a word to the disgraced prince, Peter turned to leave but then, Caspian spoke from behind him.
"Peter. I don't feel so good."
Peter turned back just in time to see the prince collapse, hitting his head against the hard stone in the process.
Lucy kept her eyes closed, terrified of what she would see once she opened them.
But then, the music started. A tune that chilled her to the bone yet so intriguing that slowly, she dared a glance at the scene before her.
Once she did, she wished she'd had the good sense of never having gone to that place.
The witches around the Stone Table were hitting their walking sticks against the floor. Slowly, evil dwarves, minotaurs and demons began howling, singing and dancing.
Above them, the White Witch regarded Aslan as if looking at her next meal.
Lucy barely noticed the tears rolling down her cheeks. She desperately wished she could do anything, that she could change the course of what she knew was a moment already written in stone.
"You're giving me your life, yet you're saving no one" the witch whispered yet somehow, Lucy heard her as if she had whispered at her ear.
Besides her, Susan reminisced a ghost, immobile, pale as snow, eyes wide in horror, mute from the shock.
Lucy willed herself to be able to move. She couldn't watch this again. The pain was too much, she couldn't go through this again!
Yet, as the time before and the time before that, there was nothing she could do to prevent herself from witnessing it all over again.
Soon enough, Jadis's knife buried itself in Aslan's heart.
And Lucy screamed.
"Lu!" Peter thankfully snapped her out of her thoughts.
Lucy turned towards her brother, eyes glazed as she struggled to return to the present and once she did, she smiled at her brother in relief. As angry as she was with him, she needed the comfort of her big brother immediately.
She could reprimand him later.
"Lu, what happened?" Peter asked concernedly when his sister ran into his arms. He sighed when he felt his sister shaking her head frantically.
"Lu, I won't push you but whatever's going on, I'll help you. I promise" Peter said, smiling slightly as he felt her sister relaxing in his arms. He knew he had lost a great deal of the trust his siblings had on him, and he wanted to regain it as soon as he could.
Lucy suddenly stepped out of his arms, Peter frowning at her, but nodding understandingly when Lucy grabbed his arms and pushed him forward into a stroll with her.
Lucy took her time speaking, which concerned Peter even further, as it was a first from her. Finally, she glanced at Peter from the corner of her eyes. "Remember how Beth said we were shown our worst memories when the White Witch was summoned?"
Peter shivered as he recalled his memory. If Edmund wasn't so angry with him right now, he would be looking for the Just King to hug him tightly. "Yes. I remember. Do you want to talk about yours?"
"It was the night Aslan was killed by the White Witch," Lucy admitted quietly, her eyes on anything by her brother as she recalled that terrifying memory once again. "I already told you about that night but...I was just reminded of how traumatising it was you know? For Aslan, who in my book represents everything good, to be killed so effortlessly by such an evil force...I know He sacrificed himself with an ulterior motive but still, that night was the worst night of my life. That was the first time I had no optimism left. I actually thought it was over and that we were all going to die."
Peter nodded thoughtfully as he carefully processed what Lucy said. He then pushed them through a more secluded corridor so they could talk freely. "My memory was watching Ed being stabbed by the White Witch. It had taken me a long time to understand Ed and when I finally did, we were faced with imminent war. When Edmund was hurt in the process of trying to protect me, it was as if I was stabbed too. I felt so guilty that Ed was on the verge of dying because of me. And the worst of it was that I couldn't do anything about it. I couldn't get there in time. All I could do was watch."
Lucy gripped his arm comfortingly when Peter's voice broke. "We just have to remember that's all in the past. We're going to be fine. We have to be."
Peter sighed, shaking his head reproachfully as he remember his earlier actions. "We almost had to go through that again. You're right, Lu, I forgot about my faith for a second, and I almost brought our greatest enemy back."
Lucy hesitated before stepping before Peter, forcing him to a stop. King and Queen stood before each other, the latter hurt yet open to hear her brother, the first one desperately willing for his family to forgive him.
"Why didn't you stop her?" Lucy's question was simply, her eyes clearly willing him to answer, yet for a moment Peter was speechless.
"I think I never wanted to bring her back," Peter finally whispered, struggling to look at her sister as her defiant gaze never wavered. "I think I was so focused on our horrible odds and still shaken up by the raid so I was willing to take help from anyone who would offer. I think I stopped believing in Aslan, in Beth and in all of you. And I'm so sorry, Lu, I can't begin to say how sorry I am."
Lucy stared at her brother for a second before suddenly embracing him tightly. "Don't you dare do that again."
Peter laughed joyfully, the relief of having one sister forgive him bringing him back some of the warmth he left back at his encounter with Jadis. "I promise. I'm so sorry."
Lucy looked up at him, her face filled with hopeful wondering. She realised that Peter hadn't asked for her forgiveness in a long time, and that told her she was no longer talking to the idiot who would fight anyone who walked past him in a way he didn't care for. "You're back, aren't you? You're back to your old self?"
Peter smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry it took me so long."
Lucy hugged him again and they stood motionless for a long moment until Peter stepped back from the embrace rather suddenly.
"I'm sorry, Lu, but I actually came to find you because of Caspian. He fainted when you all left the room after the...incident." Peter spoke in a rush, holding his hands up defensively as Lucy narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "I swear I had nothing to do with it!"
"Fine, where did you leave him then?" Lucy asked patiently.
Silence was made as the mighty High King looked at anywhere but his feisty sister.
Lucy placed her hands on either side of her waist, feeling as if she was the oldest for a change. "Peter!? You left him in that room surrounded by all that ice?"
"It's not as if I could have moved him!" Peter replied, voice tinted with panic. "The guy is huge!"
Lucy groaned, rolling her eyes in exasperation but in that moment, a scream was heard further into the tunnel.
Peter and Lucy looked at each other with trepidation before running towards the sound, their hearts quickening in stress as they spotted someone sitting with its back against the wall of the tunnel, their hands clutching their stomach.
They hastened their pace as they recognised the creature in question.
Adrien.
"Adrien! What happened?" Lucy asked hurriedly as she knelt besides the centaur, immediately examining his injury.
Adrien looked at them through unfocused eyes, the grip his hands had on his injury weakening by the moment, so blood spilled more as he deteriorated.
"Lucy," Adrien whispered, struggling to keep his mouth open as Lucy hurriedly made him swallow a drop of her cordial.
"He's the one who lost his uncle at the raid, right? Su told me about him." Peter knelt on Adrien's other side, worriedly studying his wound for any signs of healing. "Adrien, can you hear me?"
Adrien closed his eyes but nodded weakly before Lucy or Peter could freak out.
Lucy gripped his hand as Adrien opened his eyes again, all of them relieved as his wound closed. "He was my friend. I thought he was my friend. he told me he needed one of the Kings or Queens but I didn't know where any of you where and he just snapped...I don't remember anything else until the moment I heard you two running towards me."
"Who was it?" Peter asked, his voice hard. He was in High King mode again.
"His name id Blackthorn. He's a centaur," Adrien managed to whisper before dozing off, his head falling lifelessly to one side.
"Pete, take Adrien to the nursery. I will go look for the others, check on them before we start looking for this traitor," Lucy ordered, rolling her eyes in exasperation when Peter remained stubbornly seated. "Peter! I can't carry Adrien and we need to move as fast as we can! Go!"
Peter nodded reluctantly and walked away as fast as he could with Adrien on his arms.
Lucy looked at them for a long moment before taking a deep breath and running the opposite way, desperately trying to figure out what would she tell Beth.
Beth sighed as she heard something crashing downstairs.
It seemed the drama had began earlier that day.
Beth checked herself on the mirror before exiting her room. She knew she had better chances of escaping him if she was flawless. She was wearing a blue tank top, a black jacket, light blue jeans and white sneakers. Her hair fell like a cascade down her back, perfectly straightened.
After all this time, she had become professional in being silent but still, she was extra careful not to put any weight on the loose floorboard on the hallway. She walked within the shadows, trying to assess the situation as much as she could from the top of the stairs. She needed to check on her mum before retreating to the safety of her room with a relatively peaceful mind.
But then, both her mum and him appeared by the reception hall, her father pushing her mother behind him by the hair.
Beth couldn't help herself. She screamed.
Jack immediately looked at her. His eyes were blood red.
She tried to run, she tried to do anything but it was too late.
"Beth! Wake up!"
Beth opened her eyes drowsily, frowning at the obvious distress in Edmund's expression as he leaned above her anxiously.
As she remembered, she sat up in a hurry, glancing around to assure herself that she was in Narnia and not back in that hell. She couldn't go back there ever again.
"Beth, you're alright," Edmund whispered firmly and held her tightly from behind, Beth leaned back, looking for support as she realised she was shaking. "You're here with me. It's okay. It was only a memory. I'm here."
Beth shuddered for a last time as she began to regain her strength. She turned towards Edmund and noticed that his eyes were heavy too. She remembered then, that they both carried emotional baggage.
She only hoped they could help each other in letting those weights go.
Beth snuggled her face into his shirt and relaxed slightly as she smelled his calming scent. "It took me years to block that memory from my mind. The Witch released it so easily, I don't know how will I be able to block it again."
"You don't have to," Edmund mumbled, his heart pounding painfully because of his grief and hers. "I'm here. You can download it on me. I promise I can take it."
Beth shook her head. Hesitantly, she looked up at Edmund, her eyes red rimmed, filled with fear and strength. "I don't want to talk about it. Please."
Edmund nodded. "Then we won't. But I'm here, my love, and I'm never leaving."
Beth looked intently into his eyes, as if wondering whether to believe him. Finally, she settled comfortable into his embrace with a sad sigh.
They sat in silence for a moment before Edmund suddenly chuckled, his voice laced with bitterness. "I can't believe the nerve of those two. Allowing her to come back. Unbelievable."
Beth straightened at that, her memory immediately forgotten. She offered him an encouraging smile. "Yet you stopped them and you destroyed the portal. You must feel proud of yourself."
Edmund returned her smile, albeit slightly, and raised from his spot on the floor, choosing instead to pace around the small terrace they were at. Beth followed his every move with apprehensive eyes.
Edmund clasped his hands before his head and suddenly stopped, shooting his girlfriend a guilt glance. "Not really, actually. I thought it would but all I can think of is how Caspian tried to bring her back, despite knowing what she did to Narnia. How Peter didn't stop either of them, despite having fought against Jadis."
Beth stood too, her face calm, yet understanding. "It made you feel as if your betrayal had been for nothing."
Edmund, who had been pacing again, froze as he heard her words. He finally glanced at her, his face the one of a broken man. He didn't have to nod. They both knew she was correct on her assumption. "I thought that if my betrayal could be helpful in anything, it would be in that no one would do such a thing again after seeing what almost happened to us. Perhaps it was too optimistic of me to think so but in any case, I thought my family would never go down that path again."
As Edmund started pacing again, his mind clearly racing, his heart heavy with memories of worse times, Beth could only look at him with tremendous pain, as if she could feel the conflict that radiated from her boyfriend.
After granting him a moment to gather himself, Beth snapped out of it and wiped her eyes hastily. He had comforted her countless times. It was time to do the same thing.
"Look at me," Beth spoke, thankful when her voice came out steady.
Edmund stopped pacing but wouldn't return her gaze, instead choosing to rub his eyes against his shirt's sleeves. His voice came out muffled as he spoke. "I'm okay, love."
Beth walked forward slowly , as if approaching an scared animal. As she arrived before Edmund, she slowly gathered her face and gently made him look at her. She smiled lightly when Edmund looked at her almost with panic.
"Whatever made those idiots trust the White Witch, that is not your fault. You made mistakes, yes, a long time ago and you've never been anything but honourable and good ever since," Beth declared passionately, tightening her grip in his head when he tried to evade her eyes. "Listen to me, Edmund Pevensie. You are the best person I know. You inspire me, challenge me, and make me want to become a better person in order to be deserving of you. You are my person and I'm extremely proud of you, so I won't accept you talking about yourself like this. Is that clear?"
Edmund stopped fighting against her grip and slowly smiled, his heart healing more with each second Beth looked right into his eyes and tried to make him see what she saw in him.
"I don't know what to say." He finally wrapped her arms around his waist. He chuckled lightly as he shook his head. "I don't know what I did to deserve you."
Beth smiled sweetly. "You're you, and that's enough...and, yes, I might be a little bit biased but I meant every word."
"Biased, huh?." Edmund's smile turned teasing and Beth's eyes brightened with relief.
"Well, when you have a boyfriend as good kisser as you, it's kind of impossible to be unbiased," Beth replied with a shrug.
"Huh, good to know." Edmund nodded with mock seriousness before smirking and leaning down to kiss the princess.
Every kiss they had shared before, they never had much time or they were immediately interrupted, so they had never really let go of their self-control or the general nerves at being intimate with the other.
In that moment, despite everything going on and the not small possibility of being found, they were on their own, in a secluded place and, as they wrapped their arms tightly around each other, never cutting the kiss, all they could think of was that, when having a bad day, the person in their arms made everything infinitely better.
But, well, all good things must come to an end.
"BETH! ED!"
The couple broke the kiss, startled by Lucy as she screamed on her way towards them. Panting slightly, the pair exchanged an alarmed look as Lucy appeared before them, face pale and distraught.
"Lu, what is it?" Edmund asked, his voice slightly exasperated by the interruption but still, worried as his sister looked at them with fear.
"We have another traitor in our army. Blackthorn the centaur. He attacked Adrien after asking him if he knew where we were. Adrien is recovering in the infirmary but now Susan's missing," Lucy explained in a rush, gasping for breath as she finished her update.
"Susan!?"
"Adrien!?"
Beth and Edmund exchanged a glance before the first one hid her face in her hands as she tried to ground her feelings until the problem was solved and the latter walked towards Lucy, who bit her lips nervously and regarded the couple almost with apprehension.
"Okay, we just need to come up with a plan," Beth finally declared as serenely as she could. Both monarchs turned towards her. "What do we know about Blackthorn? Is he also with the White Witch?"
"I don't know. I thought we could ask Caspian but he's still passed out. He fainted after his encounter with Jadis," Lucy replied.
Edmund rolled his eyes before nodding at Beth. "Lucy was right, love. Jadis is a sworn enemy of Aslan, so, until we figure out whether Blackthorn is with her, you rank above and whatever you want us to do, we'll comply."
Beth was daunted with the realisation that she was their leader in this quest. She was responsible of saving them from their ancient enemy, so they could fight the more recent one, the Telmarines, another day.
Beth shook her head. She could study her inner conflict later. Right now, all that mattered was the safety of her friends and her people.
"Lu, go and find Peter. You two are in charge of finding where Blackthorn took Susan," Beth ordered, barely sparing her friend a glance when she nodded and hurried away. "Ed, you and I are talking to Caspian. We need to find out whether he's part of this betrayal."
"Do you think he could be?" Edmund asked as they both walked away from their oasis and back into reality.
"I don't know but your sister and my brother have been injured because of this plot. If he is part of this, I will kill him myself."
*Back to present*
Caspian stared at the couple before him in shock, taking a few moments to wrap his head around their story.
They had helped him sat up and Edmund and Trumpkin kept a close eye on him while Beth caught him up on the latest events as he slowly regained memory.
With every memory he recollected, he felt even worse and began to understand why were they so wary of him but really, they didn't need to go through such great efforts. He was too busy trying not to wince in pain at the headache forming behind his skull to be an actual enemy.
As he heard the last part of her story, Caspian looked up at Beth, shame momentarily forgotten. "Do you seriously think I had any part in this plot? I've been knocked out for the last hours."
Beth opened her mouth to reply but Edmund cut her to it. "Can you really blame us, mate?"
Beth turned to her boyfriend with a warning glance. "Ed, this is not the time."
"The guy threatened my brother and girlfriend with a sword. What would you have me do? Hug him and be best friends with him again?"
Beth sighed, as if trying to search for patience, and reached over to rest a hand on the Just King's shoulder. "I'm not too happy about him either but your sister is in trouble. We need to take care of that first."
Caspian, who had cleverly decided to stay silent, cleared his throat nervously. "If I may, I think I know where she is. There's a lower ground we haven't used yet. When we first came here we thought of using it for supplies but the structure is too weak. Now it is abandoned as far as I know."
Beth studied him carefully before nodding. She glanced at Trumpkin. "Go. See if you can find Peter and Lucy on your way."
Trumpkin nodded and bowed before leaving the room, the three former close friends left in awkward silence.
Caspian regarded them with a heavy heart as he realised just how much he had messed things up. He had no idea what had happened to him but it wasn't time to search his soul for an answer.
His friends were all he had left, and he would do anything to win them back.
As Beth and Edmund started heading towards the exit, Caspian raised hastily, trying to shrug off the feeling of dizziness. "Can I go with you?"
Edmund turned towards him with a furious glare but Beth threw him a stern look. She turned towards Caspian and cocked her head with curiosity. "I thought calling for them was a mistake. I thought you didn't care about us."
Caspian shook his head, his voice trembling out of despair at being believed by his best friend. "I care. I swear I care. Please, let me help."
Beth nodded before unsheathing her dagger and pointing it threateningly at the Telmarine prince. "Don't make me regret this."
Caspian nodded and after hesitating, the three leaders, the former best friends, rushed outside.
They would sort everything later.
Until it was over, all that mattered was Susan.
As she regained consciousness, Susan was very careful not to give any indications of her alertness.
She tried to remember what had happened, panicking slightly as she realised how foggy was her mind but then, she remembered walking towards the archery training grounds to blow off some steam.
She never reached them, though.
She focused on the ground and air around her, her senses heightened by adrenaline. The ground felt exactly like the same stone one that covered the surface of the How, so at least, she realised with a certain sense of relief, she hadn't changed locations. On the other hand, the air felt stale, as if it was nowhere near an open space.
She grimaced slightly. She was probably in an inhabited space, which meant it was less likely she would be found by her family.
She opened her eyes slightly, but it was then that he heard footsteps approaching her. She went slack again, hoping she went unnoticed by her captor but then, she was pulled up by the hair.
Susan opened her eyes, startled by the sudden pain and flinched when she found her captor's face inches away from her own.
Susan tried to force herself away from his grip, her feet dangling a few feet above the ground as she tried to free her hair. She avoided his hateful face as best as she could. "I command you to let me go!"
Blackthorn had always seemed harmless to her. Stoic, yes, and perhaps a little too quiet but never dangerous. It stunned Susan to discover him as her captor but then again, grief had done great changes in the people around her. People had come back to their senses and people had lost their minds. People had grown closer, and people had fallen apart.
People had chosen love and people had chosen hatred.
Blackthorn threw her unceremoniously onto the floor and Susan immediately dragged herself away, trying not to wince as her ankle started aching from the fall.
Susan backed herself into a corner, looking desperately for a way out of her situation as the centaur crouched down, staring at her with dark eyes. "I'm sorry if I've caused you any pain, Your Majesty but then again, I don't think your pain can begin to be compared to mine."
Susan frowned, her mind racing as she tried to recall any information she might have about the centaur before her, any reason why he hated her so clearly at that moment. "Whatever's happened, this is no way to solve it. Please, I can help if you could just see to reason."
Blackthorn slowly unsheathed his sword, making Susan flinch as she tried to make herself as small as she could, panic having full control of her. "My sister died last night, because of King Peter's foolish raid. Your brother killed my sister. Now, I'm going to kill his. I'm sorry, Your Majesty."
He raised his sword to make the final blow, Susan trying her hardest to not look away because if she was to die then, she would do so as bravely as she could.
And then, help arrived.
An arrow struck the sword mid air and flew it out of his hand as another blade was placed against the centaur's throat.
Susan smiled. She would know that sword anywhere.
Peter.
"Get away from her," Peter ordered, his voice cold, his expression hard, as he stepped around the centaur, his sword carefully poised against his throat.
Right then, Susan forgot all anger she felt towards Peter. It might have been the side of him she liked the least but that overprotective, authoritative nature of his was who her brother was. It was then that she knew the immature fool who had lived with her last year in England was no more.
King Peter was back.
Blackthorn slowly raised his arms and put them behind his head, immediately being pushed away towards the opposite wall by Peter and Caspian.
Susan tried to stand, unnerved by the surprising appearance of the Telmarine prince but immediately, Edmund and Lucy were holding her down, Beth and Trumpkin a few feet behind them, glancing between both groups with arrows notched to their bows.
"Stay down, okay? Let me see the ankle." Lucy spoke, her hands trembling as she reached for her cordial.
Edmund reached over and took the flask from her hands, opening it gently. He smiled warmly at his sisters. "We are okay. We are all okay."
"It is only a sprain," Susan grumbled, trying to push her sister away from her. "C'mon Lu, this is ridiculous."
"Don't be so uncooperative," Lucy snapped, slapping Susan's hand away when she tried to reach for the cordial. "You're being healed right now and that's the last I want to hear about it."
Susan looked up as she allowed her siblings to treat her in time to see Peter, Trumpkin and Caspian leading Blackthorn away. Caspian glanced at Susan and smiled nervously as they walked away.
Susan couldn't help but smile back. Right then, she felt nothing but gratitude towards her saviours.
"Caspian, wait." Beth, who had stayed behind, suddenly called out, the rest turning to look at her with suspicious looks, Edmund especially. "You should stay, Ed and Lu will need help in carrying Susan to the infirmary. I can take Blackthorn into custody with Peter and Trumpkin."
Edmund opened his mouth to protest but surprisingly, it was Susan the one who interrupted him. She slowly stood up with the aid of Lucy and looked at everyone but Caspian. "I am okay with that."
"Are you sure?" Edmund asked pressingly. Behind them, Peter was too busy glaring at Beth.
Susan nodded and tried to ignore the nervous knots in her stomach. "Yes, I am."
Edmund turned to look at his girlfriend with frustration. Beth merely smiled sufficiently before kissing Susan's cheek and walking away rapidly.
Caspian walked towards them in a much slower manner, his eyes nervously darting from sibling to sibling. Finally, he gestured towards the Gentle Queen, who his sister was having a hard time carrying. "Lu, I can take over if you want."
Lucy bit her lip before she studied her brother and sister for their say in the matter. Finally, she grinned and stepped away. "All yours, Caspian. I'll go ahead and see if the others need any help."
Caspian slowly took Susan's arm over his own and supported her as she hopped unevenly towards the exit, her feeling on the ankle returning slowly.
As Lucy left them, it was as if she had taken all sense of normality between the group with her, leaving them in a tense, awkward silence. Caspian gazed at the girl besides him nervously before clearing his throat, desperately trying to win their favours back one by one. "Are you comfortable, Susan?"
Susan wanted to wince. Physically? Yes. With the situation? Not so much. However, he did deserve a chance, so she settled for smiling slightly. "I am, Caspian. Thank you for your aid."
Caspian nodded before glancing over towards the huffing Just King. "Ed, I-"
"I don't want to hear it."
Caspian sighed. He hoped he could make things good between them eventually.
They were the only real family he had ever had.
He was again at the forest.
He had been running for so long. It seemed like he had always been running.
He could only hear his breathing and his heavy steps as he ran through the mud floor, narrowly avoiding branches, leaves and roots.
The forest was so quiet. There seemed to be no one there. No one witness of his escape. No one witness of the futility of it.
His breath was laboured, his lungs ached. His heart was panicking, coursing his anxiety through every vein of his body.
He was anxious as he wondered how much longer would he have to run.
He was even more anxious as he thought of what would happen if he dared to stop.
He needed to find his uncle. The horn had been blown. The Kings and Queens of Old were coming back. That was his only hope of finding a new home.
But now, he had to run. He had to run for his life and hope it was enough.
But deep down, he knew better.
He knew he would always be running.
Adrien yelled hoarsely as he sat up, immediately frowning as he noticed where he was.
He wasn't in the forest, running from his sister's murderers and in search of an uncle he hadn't seen in years.
He was at the infirmary for the second time that day.
It had been a dream. That time.
As Adrien lay again with a thud, Princess Elizabeth appeared beside him, pressing a cool hand to his forehead as she looked at him worriedly. "You're okay, Adrien. It was a dream. We healed you and you're okay now."
Adrien frowned in confusion but then, he began to remember. He looked around them, noticing that the royal family was there, Queen Susan and Prince Caspian on cots too, before returning his gaze to the princess and noticing her golden eyes. "Your Highness! Your eyes! You-."
"Yes, Adrien, it appears as if my true heritage was hidden from me." Beth chuckled humorlessly. She grasped Adrien's hands into her own. "But Adrien, my name is Beth. After everything that we've been through, we should be friends, don't you think?"
Adrien nodded, smiling shyly. He had grown very fond of the princess. "I'd like that, yes."
Beth winked at him before turning towards the group. "Now that Adrien's awake, perhaps we should all discuss the recent events."
Adrien was stunned at how immediately the monarchs, their leaders, followed the foreign princess's suggestion. Perhaps it was her new status, perhaps what happened had made them leave aside their differences and egos. That, he'd never know.
Beth settled besides Adrien more comfortably, smiling in fond exasperation when Edmund stood next to her protectively. To his left, Susan sat up on her cot, Lucy perched up beside her. To his right, Caspian sat straight, his expression uncomfortable as he clearly felt the animosity towards him. Peter closed the group, leaning against the wall before them next to the entrance.
As if summoned, an elderly dwarf entered the room, his posture tired yet straight.
"Excuse me, Your Majesties," the dwarf began as he bowed. Adrien was instantly soothed by his warm, calming voice. "I believed you called."
"We did, yes," High King Peter replied, a not so authentic smile on his lips as he stood straight with his hands grasped behind his back. "Could you please check if Queen Susan and Adrien are completely healed?"
"Prince Caspian too, please." Queen Lucy added, rolling her eyes when her brothers glared at her.
"Of course, Your Majesty." The dwarf nodded before walking towards Adrien. He stopped before Beth and smiled. "I'm glad you're feeling better, Your Highness."
"My dear old friend," Beth smiled brightly before hugging the dwarf tightly. "You've known me for far too long to address me formally."
"Old habits die hard, as you know," The dwarf replied as they pulled away and patted Beth's shoulder in a fatherly manner. He then locked eyes with Caspian and his smile disappeared as his forehead furrowed worriedly. "Caspian, my boy, are you okay?"
"I am. Please, tend to the others first." Caspian said, his eyes lowering in sadness as Edmund snorted. He then smiled weakly at Adrien and Lucy. "Lucy, Adrien, I'd like to introduce you my tutor, Professor Cornelius. He was one of my only friends before escaping the castle."
"Besides Beth, you mean," Edmund uttered quietly, wincing when Beth elbowed him on the ribs.
If Professor Cornelius heard, he chose to not reply. He smiled gently and bowed at the group. "It's an honour to finally meet the legendary Kings and Queens of Old. And also to meet you, brave Adrien. How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay, King Peter and Queen Lucy arrived just in time," Adrien replied, wincing a little bit as the professor felt where he was stabbed a few hours ago. He glanced at Beth. "What happened to Blackthorn?"
"We imprisoned him down at the lower grounds. We'll see what to do with him once the war is over," Peter replied instead.
"Why would he do this, though?" Lucy asked, moving away as the tutor moved over to check on Susan's ankle.
"Because of grief," Beth replied evenly. She glanced at the entire group in turns. "We all reacted differently to the grief we felt today. We all lost different things, and it made us lash out in different ways."
"We were all struck in a different way," Susan added, closing her eyes tightly as her ankle throbbed when Cornelius moved it slightly. "Because of the raid and the White Witch."
"You said the White Witch made us see our worst memory," Edmund began slowly as he looked at his girlfriend, his eyes glazing over as if his mind was travelling somewhere far away.
"We all definitely saw them but Jadis has never been known to do that. Wouldn't you say it was someone or something else?" Peter asked sceptically.
Surprisingly, Beth nodded. "Actually, I have a new theory. One that Caspian made me think of, in fact."
Caspian eyed the princess from over the professor's shoulder as the latter examined his head. "Me? How so?"
"When Miraz told you I helped in covering up your father's murder, did you want to believe him?"
Silence seemed to heighten as Beth spoke so bluntly. The royals and Adrien looked from one friend to the other, mentally debating whether they should intervene.
Caspian gulped visibly. "I didn't want to, of course. There...there was something telling me that I should though, and that I should have seen it coming from you."
Edmund clenched his fists angrily at that but Beth levelled him with a look before nodding at the prince calmly.
"I think it was the witch the one that's been messing with our heads since yesterday. I think it was the wand that gave her that power and it was because of our bond that it struck you too when you felt the pain of knowing what happened to your father. Once Jadis was at the portal, that power was heightened to make us relive our worst memories and use them as distraction so that the White Witch could come back. By then, we were all traumatised for different reasons, so it struck the rest of us."
Caspian lowered his gaze shamefully. "I didn't see my memory until I was out of the circle."
"That's what must have make you passed out later. The sleep deprivation combined with blood loss, relived trauma and a sudden surge of adrenaline explain why you fainted," The Narnian tutor quipped as he began wrapping up his equipment.
"But is it going to pass?" Susan asked anxiously. "Are we going to still have these damned memories?"
"The more we think of them, the better chance we'll have of remembering them again, right?" Adrien shrugged.
"How do we stop thinking about them, though?" Edmund asked.
Beth smiled slightly, her hand finding Edmund's.
"Isn't it obvious? We think and make happier memories. We carry on with our lives."
"Where are we going?"
Beth looked back distractedly at the centaur following her, her focus on finding the right path. "I'll tell you in a second. Let me find it first."
"Find what?" Adrien asked, frustrated as he hadn't got any answers since he'd started following her ten minutes ago. He took longer strides and caught the princess arm, making her stop. "Beth! Will you just tell me, please?"
Beth rolled her eyes, immediately beaming as she glanced at the makeshift door beside her. "Here it is!"
Adrien frowned as he looked at the entrance too. He assumed it was the entrance to a living quarter, and as far as he knew, they hadn't occupied that corridor yet but other than that, he failed to see what was so interesting about it.
After a full silent minute, Adrien turned towards Beth and deadpanned. "I don't see the cause to your enthusiasm."
Beth sighed. "Will you just enter?"
After hesitating, and truthfully fearing for his friend's mental sanity, Adrien slowly pushed the makeshift door aside so he could enter, taking a good look at what turned out to be a bedroom for two people. Adrien took a good look at it, noticing how the cots were made with clean sheets, how it seemed as clean as it could be in The How.
Almost as if they were new quarters.
As Adrien glanced at the belongings, he stepped forward almost unconsciously. He walked towards the cot on the left, noticing that his few possessions were on his cot. His family's painting, now all of them gone, lay on top of his pile.
Adrien picked it up as Beth followed him into the room. He glanced at the other cot, his eyes widening as he noticed dresses and weapons. Beth's sword and quiver lay on top of her cot.
Slowly, the centaur turned towards Beth, still clutching the picture. "What is this?"
Beth put her hands on her waist as she glanced approvingly at the room. "I was wondering if you would like to live with me as we're both alone here. We could take care of each other, be siblings, if you wanted to."
Adrien gulped emotionally. If he was being honest, he had been worried about being on his own now that his uncle was dead. "I don't want to be a bother. You must have so many things to do."
"I do, yes." Beth sat on her cot and smiled at Adrien. "But you could never be a bother. Adrien, we've talked little but I know you were worried about being alone. You've been through things no kid should ever be. I know what it's like to be helpless, I've been there myself, so if there's anything I can do to help, then I want to do it. I really care about you, kid, and I'd love to be your sister. If you are comfortable with this, of course."
Adrien glanced around, noticing how much thought Beth had put into it, how much care and love was shown through every inch of the organised room.
They were at the worst possible of places in the worst possible circumstances but right then, the hole Adrien had had in his heart for a very long time was finally filled.
He had known his uncle for a short period of time and it had still hurt and he had still felt devastated when he didn't come back from the raid but he had felt alone for longer than that.
Now, his worries were lay down to rest.
And, truthfully, this took no thinking at all.
Adrien crossed his arms as he regarded Beth with a frown. "Is your boyfriend going to be here all the time? 'Cause I don't want to have to leave the room constantly because you two are being gross."
Beth laughed and wiped her watery eyes before standing to wrap her new brother into a bear hug. "I will talk to Ed, I promise."
"Good." Adrien looked up and smiled timidly at his big sister. "Thank you...sister."
Beth's answering smile was blinding. "You're welcome, brother."
They had decided to discuss things over at the place where it had all started.
They were all around the Stone Table, slowly looking around, noticing how it seemed so different from a few hours ago when Jadis almost came back. They all avoided looking at the others, hoping they wouldn't get to talk first.
Beth stood inside the circle, looking up at the portal almost in fascination. "I always imagined the White Witch to be ugly, like the witches our parents would tell us about, green and with huge zits. I never imagined her to be beautiful."
"Beautiful, yes. But evil and Narnia's worst enemy," Edmund replied from his place beside her, crouched down as he studied the melting ice from the portal. He then straightened and leaned forward, his lips inches away from Beth's ear. "Unlike you, beautiful saviour of Narnia."
Beth pushed him away playfully before smiling lovingly at him.
Behind them, Lucy sat on the Stone Table and sighed resignedly at the couple before looking at the rest. "We should get on with our meeting. We do need to supervise the patrols."
Susan, who was examining the ice from the other side of the broken portal, nodded her agreement and looked expectantly at the room's entrance. The other three followed her look.
Peter and Caspian stood side by side, his postures rigid yet brave, as they glanced nervously at each member of the broken group.
After hesitating, Caspian walked forward, Peter following him. They both stood before the Stone Table, in front of the others.
The Telmarine prince cleared his throat. "You were right when you said grief made us react in different ways. It doesn't excuse my actions but if I will attempt to explain my process of thought, then I need to start from the beginning. At the castle."
"When Miraz told you I had taken part in hiding your father's murder," Beth intervened evenly, "And you believed him."
Caspian didn't glance away from his best friend. "Yes. We've established the witch had a part in that but I must be truthful. I think I also wanted to believe him. I wanted to blame someone I had around about this, someone I could take my anger on. I know it sounds stupid but I knew I couldn't get my revenge through Miraz or Prunaprisma. But you, Beth, the best person I know, I could take it out on you, because you're here. And I am so sorry for threatening you."
"Well, I feel so at ease right now," Edmund retorted sardonically, rolling his eyes when Beth glared at him before frowning at his brother. "And you? What's your excuse?"
"You know how Jadis messes up your mind, Ed. When I stood in that circle, I was desperate to win this war for our people. We lost so many and when we came back...for a second, I thought that if any help arrived, even through the form of a former evil, then we should take it. It was one second, but the damage was done and I was weak against her."
Edmund's usually dark eyes were lit with furious fire, his voice reduced to an angry hiss. "You know what she did. You know how she traumatised me and how difficult it was to actually fight her! In fact, if it weren't for Aslan we would have died! You and I and the girls, we would have all died if it were left for the White Witch to decide!"
"I know," Peter replied. He walked around the table, unsheathed Rhindon and knelt before his brother humbly, the rest looking on in astonishment. He looked up at his amazed siblings with a serious expression. "Ed, girls, I have made so many mistakes. Here and back in England. I've let myself be controlled by my own anger and arrogance, so I stopped listening to your advice, counsel and opinions. There's a reason why the four of us ruled together and I forgot all about it until now. From this day forward, I solemnly swear I will believe and trust everything you say to me. I will do everything in my power not to lose the trust you've placed in me again."
Silence was made as both sisters approached the two brothers, Beth stepping back to give them some space. The Kings and Queens of Old regarded each other. Once adults, now kids. Once in peace, not at war. Always and forever with their hearts in Narnia.
Finally, Edmund smiled slightly. "Well, I was forgiven once by you. I'd be hypocrite if I didn't return the favour."
Susan nodded, a small amused smirk on her lips. "This is the first time you've shown some humility. We can't not forgive you."
Lucy reached over and patted her oldest brother's arm. "Rise, big brother."
Peter let out a relieved breath and rose, smiling at his siblings thankfully before looking ahead at the princess. "Beth, what about you?"
Beth shook her head with a smile. "Pete, it's forgotten. I forgive you."
"Well, now that that's taken care of," Susan called as she glanced at the silent prince. Caspian returned her look nervously. "Perhaps we should speak in turns and vote whether we forgive Caspian's crimes."
Silence was made as they all thought of their answer. Edmund, who had his mind set, glared at Caspian as he waited for the others to speak.
Caspian waited as patiently as he could, his heart hammering in his chest. Regardless of what they said, he would fight to regain their trust but still, he felt desperate of knowing where they stood.
He needed to know whether he had lost anyone that day.
"Well, I forgive you, Caspian," Lucy finally began, her voice light as if it brought her relief to end her struggle with a friend. "Like you said, we were all forced to see our worst memories. We all went through hell last night but you guys, what you saw in that raid was slaughter and it messes with people's minds. Today, it could have been any of us the one who snapped."
Caspian tried to conceal his infinite joy at her words. "Thank you, Lucy."
Peter walked forward a few steps, his head cocked slightly as he studied the Telmarine. Finally, he nodded as if he'd come to a conclusion. "When you woke up after hitting your head, you were weak by this morning's events and you were slowly regaining your memory. You knew we all hated you but still, you chose to cone with us to help Susan. That takes courage so, while I still don't like you, I forgive you too."
Caspian nodded gratefully before looking apprehensively at the other three. He knew they would be the hardest to win back.
Edmund, Susan and Beth glanced at each other nervously, as if trying to convince the other two to go first.
Suddenly, Susan stalked forward graciously, walking over the Stone Table and landing before Caspian on the other side. Her face was serious. "I don't like being indebted to anyone else. You saved me today, so I forgive you, but you will never betray me again."
And with that, she left the room without looking back.
Caspian followed her with a concerned glance before sighing and rubbing his forehead. He should have known not all of them would be so gracious. He had hurt them deeply after all.
Edmund glanced at Beth, noticing how she fidgeted with her hands. Then, he stepped forward and looked into his former best friend's eyes. "You were my best friend. I trusted you. In only one day you threatened your oldest friend, you threatened my brother-"
"We threatened each other, actually," Peter intervened, blushing slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
Edmund glared at him before looking at the prince. "You threatened my brother and made a scene in front of the entire army and, because that wasn't enough, apparently, you tried to bring the greatest evil known to Narnia back to life. I'm having a hard time trying not to hit you in the face, right now, so forgiving you is close to impossible."
Caspian nodded understandingly, his eyes dropping sadly. "I understand."
Slowly, all of them turned towards Beth, who had taken a few steps back. She rubbed her forehead tiredly, as she hesitated on how she was going to convey her message. Finally, she stared right at the prince. "I've told you stories about my father, the man I thought was my father anyways. I assume you remember."
Caspian nodded and closed his eyes brokenly, knowing her answer already. "Yes, I remember."
Beth crossed her arms as if sheltering herself in them. Besides her, Edmund and Lucy frowned at her worriedly as she too had confided in them. "You know he was violent. Towards me and towards my mother."
Caspian tried to plead. "Beth, I-"
"My worst memory's about him. About the worst night of my life. About how he hurt me and my mum. And I haven't stopped thinking about it ever since you threatened me with that sword." Beth growled, barely noticing that her eyes filled with unshed tears. "I have come to terms with my story, I'm a survivor. That man is why I became a feminist back in England and I carry that way of thinking with me every day. So I won't take this abuse, not from you and not from anyone."
"Beth," Edmund whispered, reaching for his girlfriend but she shook her head with a small smile.
"I'm fine, love." Beth looked again at Caspian. "Perhaps some day I will forgive you but today, I can't. Excuse me."
And without another word, she kissed Edmund lightly on the lips, smiled at the rest and walked away as calmly as she could.
The rest looked at her with grief, saddened by the pain she felt. Caspian especially, knew what it was like to live with an abusive person so he understood perfectly and in a way, he was glad she couldn't forgive him.
After hearing that, he couldn't forgive himself either.
"Well, that's nicely handled," Peter finally quipped quietly, Caspian glaring at him as he heard.
Besides Peter, Lucy raised an eyebrow and looked expectantly at Edmund.
Edmund sighed. "I know, I'm going. Perhaps we should all go to sleep. It's been a long day."
Edmund kissed her sister's forehead and patted his brother's back before looking at Caspian with a glare. "Thank you for that, mate."
The Just King then jogged away, trying to catch up with his girlfriend, Peter and Lucy following him in a slower manner as they talked to themselves.
Caspian stayed on his own, staring at Aslan's carving as he desperately tried to seek comfort and counsel.
"Beth! Wait!"
Beth sighed as she stopped walking and turned towards her boyfriend with a small smile. She always loved to see him but it had been such a hard day and all she needed now was to sleep.
She couldn't pretend as if she didn't know he was going to follow her, though. He always did, and that's why he was one of her favourite people.
"Hey." Beth reached up to kiss his cheek as he stood beside her, trying to act as nonchalant as she could. "What's up?"
"Can I walk you to your room?" Edmund asked innocently and smiled when she nodded and took his hand in hers.
They walk side by side silently for a few moments, Beth trying to find the correct words, and Edmund waiting patiently for her to do so.
Finally, Beth glanced at him. "Do you think I was too harsh with him?"
"I think it was hard for him to hear it from you," Edmund replied honestly. He sighed and wrapped an arm around her waist. "But he doesn't get to make you feel guilty about it. Whatever you feel it's okay and it should be accepted."
Beth nodded slowly before raising her eyebrows at Edmund. "When did you get so clever?"
"I think you are a good influence to me, Beth, as hard as it may be to believe." Edmund replied with a smirk, laughing when Beth elbowed him in the ribs lightly.
"You're a riot, my king." her voice was light. She tried to escape his grip but Edmund swiftly caught her hand and twirled her into a waltz, smiling when his girlfriend looked brightly at him.
"How very spontaneous of you, Mr. Pevensie," Beth giggled as they danced past two awestruck fauns.
"You have no idea, my love," Edmund winked and, after a few more twirls, they were by her door. They could hear the girls and Adrien's voices through it.
Beth looked up at him. "What are your sisters doing here?"
Edmund smiled gently at her. "They were worried about you. They want to make sure you're okay, I suppose."
Slowly, Beth nodded and turned to look at the door again. Both teens stood side by side before it, their hands gripping the other's, knowing that while neither of them wanted to say goodbye, it was the proper thing to call it a night.
Finally, Beth turned towards Edmund and reached up to kiss him. "Thank you for walking me, Ed. Goodnight."
She turned to enter her room but Edmund caught her wrist before she could open the door. His face was flushed as Beth turned to look at him with surprise written all over her face. "On second thought, I don't think I want to part from you just yet."
"Do you think it's proper for a fine lady like me to go anywhere with you?" Beth smirked at Edmund as he blushed even deeper. She reached up to touch his cheek, fascinated as he rarely ever flushed. "Because I'm not sure how you people from the 40s would react to that sort of behaviour."
"Well, as long as we chat for a while, there'd be no harm done to our reputations." Edmund grinned back, widening his eyes pleadingly as Beth cocked her head thoughtfully.
Finally, Beth sighed dramatically. "Well, I guess it can't hurt to go with you for five minutes..."
Edmund's answering smile was the widest yet. "Great."
They ended up by the balcony they had been at that morning, both of them looking at anywhere but the other as they recalled their kiss.
Beth let go of Edmund to sit on the floor, patting the place beside her as she glanced at him. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Always," Edmund replied as he sat beside her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
"So, the White Witch made us relive all of our worst nightmares," Beth began rather hesitantly but relaxed as Edmund eyed her calmly, patiently waiting for her to continue. She snuggled into him. "And she almost came back to life today. I was wondering if you wanted to talk about what you saw."
Edmund gazed forward into the darkness as the memory came back to him.
Ice. So much ice.
Cold.
Fear.
Betrayal.
A scream.
"Edmund, you don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to," Beth rushed to say when she didn't get any answer. She looked up at him concernedly. "I'm sorry I asked."
Edmund looked at her and smiled as he recalled that his worst nightmare could never come true. He had learned, and he would never be a traitor again. He remembered that the worst decision of his life had been left in the past and that his current life, apart from the war, was pretty excellent.
All he needed to decide was whether he could trust her with his past.
And as he gazed into her eyes, he knew for a fact that he could.
"It's okay. I trust you," Edmund replied with a small smile. He kissed her temple. "I want to tell you about it."
"I thought you had gone to sleep," Peter mused without taking his gaze away from the bright stars.
Caspian walked slowly until he stood besides the High King and folded his arms defensively. "I couldn't sleep."
Peter glanced at him shortly before both men looked away, silence reigning for a few minutes as the two immersed themselves in their thoughts.
"When Beth appeared in Narnia and spoke in my favour when trying to summon the Narnians to our cause, I thought to myself that I would always be indebted to her. The same thing happened when Edmund defended me when you and I argued about the best strategy for the raid." Caspian suddenly admitted. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he felt Peter's gaze on him. "Today, they both went through hell and I wasn't there to help. I was part of the problem."
Peter nodded understandingly. "I understand. I now look at my last year in England and I see how I damaging I was to my siblings. I thought I was sparing them by getting into fights with strangers but I was only making excuses for myself. They were already in pain and by being an aggressive moron, I only furthered their pain."
Caspian sighed. "I can't blame them for not forgiving me. I'm glad they didn't for I hardly can forgive myself but still, it pains me greatly that I lost them today."
"I don't think you could ever lose them." Peter shrugged, smiling slightly when Caspian turned to him with hopeful eyes. "I always thought the four of us were so complete as a group that we had no need for anybody else in our family. Then, Beth and you came along and yes, my brother and sister fell for the two of you but you changed me and Lucy as well. You two belong with us and Ed and Beth will see that eventually."
Caspian cocked his head inquisitively. "I thought you didn't like me and Susan."
"I don't," Peter replied honestly, "but I'm trying to change for the better and one thing I need to stop doing is trying to control my siblings' life. My sister, just like my brother, will choose for herself who to be with and I won't say anything against it."
"I appreciate your words but I don't think I could ever be brave enough to pursue anything with your sister. I don't think I could ever be worthy of her." Caspian replied slowly, almost painfully as he gave up on his feelings for the Gentle Queen.
"Well, you aren't, not now." Peter agreed, laughing slightly when Caspian glared at him. "But before this, you were. You challenged my sister, you complemented her and you were able to understand her in a way I've never seen before."
"Why are you being nice to me?" Caspian asked then, confused as the High King hadn't make not even one mean comment at his expense.
Peter shrugged. "I take no satisfaction in attacking a man who is already defeated. Besides, I need to recover peace for my family's sake, and I will only be able to do so if you regain their trust."
"You would be willing to help me." Caspian stated sceptically. "Why?"
Peter smirked, "That's what happens when you lose your pride. You care more about the others than yourself."
With that, Peter turned to retreat into the How but then, as if having a sudden realization, he froze in his steps.
"Caspian?" The High King called without turning around.
Caspian frowned at his back. "Yes?"
"Your worst memory. Was it about Miraz?"
Caspian shook his head. "It was about my father and the day he punished me for reading about the Old Narnians. He forced me to stop believing in them."
Peter slowly turned around and smiled warmly at the telmarine.
"There may be hope for you yet, Prince Caspian."