Hey guys!
Chapter 13, part II is here at last!
I've made some big changes in comparison to what I wrote a few years ago so I'm a little nervous about the whole new direction this has taken. Please let me know what you guys think in the comments!
Also wanted to let you guys know that the final battle is coming up. We have one more chapter to go and then chapter 15 is going to be divided in three parts, all of them revolved about the battle. Things are about to get real, people!
Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this and please vote and follow!
Disclaimer: I only own Beth's storyline. The rest belongs to its respective owners.
Chapter 13. Part II. "The Usurper."
"Only justice will bring peace." - Avatar Kyoshi, Avatar: The last Airbender.
Miraz had never been a believer of fate or destiny.
For a man as assertive, as tough as he was, those were illogical beliefs, created for people to desperately hold onto when in difficult times.
Miraz needed no strength, no drive from anyone rather than himself.
All of his life, his goal had been clear, his plan laid out in front of him. His success, he didn't owe it to anyone but himself.
He was a true Telmarine. He had known so ever since he was old enough to understand his position as a younger sibling.
The throne of Telmar had always belonged to him and, like he had told Caspian, that had meant he needed to fight against anyone standing in his way to get what he wanted.
Caspian IX had been almost too easy to deal with.
For a short moment he had worried he wouldn't be able to finish his nephew off when he ran away from the castle the day his son was born but at the end, it had paid off in his favour, and the whole telmarine court had been against the King's son even before Miraz had been acknowledged as the clear candidate for the Throne.
As he entered the Throne Room regally, heavy cloak trailing behind him, his step rhythmic and heavy against the marble' tiles, he glanced at the chair by the other end of the room and straightened proudly, knowing for a fact that after everything he had done, he had finally gotten his ultimate wish, and what he deserved at the end of the day.
King Miraz the Protector of Narnia.
Yes. It sounded right.
His brother had been the owner of that throne for far longer than he deserved until he took care of him.
And now, he would take care of his nephew and any foul creature that dared to defy him. In a few weeks, he would ride towards the filthy hole his enemy was hiding in with his entire army to finish the ridiculous Narnian threat once and for all.
Then, it would be time to begin with the next stage of his plan. He would conquer the rest of the countries in the continent, beginning with Archenland, until there was no place or person that could be a threat against him or his race.
For that, he had been careful to initiate negotiations with his international allies.
And, oh, had they complied generously.
"Beruna pledges its troops for the battle!" Beruna's lord announced as Miraz walked past him. His voice resonated in contrast to the reverent, almost fearful silence reigning amongst the court.
Good. Let them fear.
"Galma pledges it's troops for the battle!" Galma's Great Duke announced as well as Miraz walked past him.
Miraz smiled sufficiently, subtle enough for no one to see.
The finest archers in the whole world were from Beruna and Galma.
"Tashbaan pledges it's troops for the battle!" The Calormene diplomatic called, his accent harshening his voice even further.
Miraz finally arrived to the bottom of the stairs and looked up at the throne that was finally his. He gazed almost in wonderment at the beauty of it, the sunlight reflecting on the gold melted into the iron. It's features sharp in true telmarine fashion, it's size only meant for a king like himself.
He was so close.
"Ettinsmoor pledges it's troops for the battle!" another lord declared but Miraz wasn't paying attention anymore.
Miraz knelt on his place, sinking his head under the weight of the crown that Lord Glozelle placed on his head. It was a welcoming weight though, since he knew it should have been on his head for many years now. He had even missed that crown, even though he had never had it, but it was finally in his possession.
He was the one called the Protector, after all.
Protector of Narnia.
Protector of its people.
The crown always belonged with those like him.
Miraz climbed the steps and sat on his throne, facing his court as they all bowed for their new king.
Miraz smirked lightly.
It was just as he had pictured it.
"Long live the King! Long live the King!"
Miraz glanced around the room slowly, taking in the feeling of accomplishment he felt, the feeling of realization that he was done, that his objective had finally been obtained.
In a few moments he would have to go outside with his wife, Queen Prunaprisma, in order for the commoners to get a glimpse of their new rulers.
He was now the king who would lead them all into a New Narnia, one without any menace, one in which the only acceptable citizens were the Telmarine ones.
He would deal with Caspian later.
He would invade Archenland later.
Now, now it was time to rejoice.
"Long live the king!"
"Adrien."
The young centaur turned, bowing his head respectfully when he recognized Glenstorm as the one who had called him. "Good morning, Glenstorm."
"I'm glad to have caught you," Glenstorm continued in his deep voice as he fell into step with the younger Narnian. "I never had the chance to offer you my condolences over you sister's death."
"Oh," Adrien looked down, saddened by the thought of his older sister Lya, who had died at the hands of some hunters a few days before he encountered his uncle and joined the Revolution. "Thank you, Glenstorm."
Glenstorm looked down at the kid with understanding eyes. "I understand how you must be feeling, young Adrien. To lose one's family is the worst nightmare a Narnian can endure. Try to find comfort in that your family was essential to our Revolution. Without Lya and your parents before her, there wouldn't be so many of us left."
Adrien looked up in surprise at that. "What do you mean? The revolution only started when Caspian joined us."
Glenstorm sighed, as if confirming a fear of his. "Come, take a walk with me."
The pair headed towards the armory, Adrien staring at Glenstorm, eager to know more about his family. Finally, Glenstorm had enough of the young centaur's eyes on him so he turned towards his companion.
"Our revolution started many generations ago," Glenstorm explained, "Our race has never known the meaning of giving up so, while the strategies and leaders varied, the revolution has always been alive. Prince Caspian, Princess Elizabeth and the Kings and Queens of Old only gave the movement the leaders and direction it needed."
"But what about my family? How were they essential to the revolution?" Adrien exclaimed, "They never said anything to me!"
"Well, they probably wanted to protect you, considering how young you are, but you would have found out soon enough," Glenstorm explained, bowing his head as they walked past a couple of centaurs chatting in the corridor. "For generations, ever since the Kings and Queens of Old left Narnia, your family has been at the head of the revolutionary movement. They led the first battles against the invaders and were behind the strategies that kept our race alive through the centuries."
"Why my family?" Adrien asked, struggling to grasp the information thrown at him. He couldn't help but feel there was something he was missing.
"Adrien, your family descends directly from Oreius, High King Peter's general in the battle against the White Witch," Glenstorm replied, ignoring Adrien's gasp in response. "Throughout the centuries, your family, for one reason or the other, have all chosen a life of fighting instead of a peaceful one. They have all stood at the head of the war against the Telmarines and at some point, each member of your lineage has died at the hands of the enemy so eventually, some have began to spread the rumour that your family has been cursed. I was your father and sister's second-in-command and I will be eternally honoured by that."
"Cursed..." Adrien trailed off, his voice faltering with shock. He followed Glenstorm into the armory slowly, as if not paying attention to his surroundings. He finally looked at Glenstorm when the older centaur disappeared into the rows lined up with weapons of all kinds. "Does that mean I will have to be a leader too?"
"If you want to fight, then yes," Glenstorm called from the distance, "But that is not a choice you should be making now. There's much left for you to experience in your childhood before you decide what you want to do with your life."
"I don't think there's anything for me to consider. There isn't a choice for me to make, not really. When I see what the Telmarines have done to us only for being different from what they know...I want to fight. For my people, for my family and for myself," Adrien said with determination as Glenstorm made it back to him carrying a covered long package. "I don't know how to lead, though."
"When the time comes, Princess Elizabeth and I will teach you, young Adrien," Glenstorm replied with a proud look. He bent down as he handed the package to Adrien.
Adrien took it hesitantly, its length almost the same as the centaur himself, and looked up at Glenstorm with doubtful eyes. "What is this?"
"Your sister gave it to me when she first got news of the hunters coming after her," Glenstorm replied, watching as Adrien uncovered the large sword. "This is now your legacy, descended from Oreius himself. When the time comes, I'll teach you how to use it."
"Are you serious?"
"What, too scared?" Beth smirked at her boyfriend as she swung her sword expertly. Her golden eyes glinted cunningly as Edmund hesitated.
"What is going on?" Peter asked from a few feet away, where he and Caspian were training too. The unlikely pair of friends stopped their fight to look at the couple with curiosity.
Adrien, who had been sitting on the grass between both fights, sullen at not being allowed to fight, replied moodily, "My apparently indestructible sister wants Ed to attack her as if she was an actual enemy so she can test her powers."
"My instincts are much hyper aware since yesterday. I want to see if my sword fighting has improved," Beth added. She squinted at the other pair of fighters before smirking and beckoning them over with her sword, "Come and join us. The others are having lunch now so no one will be witness of how easy I'll defeat you."
"This new found annoying arrogance of yours, is it due to your powers too?" Peter asked, making his way over anyways, Caspian trailing behind him.
"I think it's hot," Edmund commented, shrugging when the other boys looked at him with a disbelieving look. "What? She's my girlfriend, I'm allowed to say that."
"Anyways," Beth rolled her eyes, ignoring her slightly flushed state as much as possible. She glanced at Caspian. "Tell them that I've always been like this."
"Beth's right," Caspian agreed with a proud smirk, "She's always been too confident for her own good when it comes to fighting."
Beth flourished her sword in a mocking manner before stepping into the middle of the circle made by the three boys. Behind them, Adrien stood hastily, excited by the fight.
"Hey, Adrien, care to make this interesting? I bet you a week helping in the kitchens that the three of us win against her," Peter called as he began to round the princess, looking for any weak spots.
Edmund frowned in concern as he heard his brother's words. "Wait, Caspian is fighting you too?"
Caspian's eyes widened uncomfortably as he caught on the implied meaning of those words. "I don't have to-"
Beth waved at the prince in a no nonsense manner before shooting Edmund with a reassuring look. "The more the merrier, Ed. I promise you I'm comfortable with this."
Edmund hesitated before sighing and waving his sword, testing its balance. The three boys walked around Beth, trying to decide how to attack while Beth hastily pulled her hair into a messy bun, her smile wide in excitement at the challenge.
And then, it all changed.
It all started by a voice, one Beth hadn't heard in years but one she hadn't been able to forget.
"I've missed you, my dear."
Beth froze, her eyes widening in fear as she glanced wildly around them. "Did you hear that?"
Edmund straightened too, frowning in confusion and alarm at his girlfriend's distress. "Hear what?"
Peter and Adrien frowned too but Caspian pointed his sword forward, his eyes narrowed with trepidation at something beyond their eyesight. "Look."
The two kings, the princess and the centaur all turned towards the How, unconsciously standing closer together when wind began to pick up around them, the sky growing stormy.
Beth took all of that in within a short moment, the rest of her focus solely placed on the black, unnatural void growing a few yards before them.
The five of them grew completely silent, their swords drawn, their stances defensive, as the void grew large enough for an adult to go through it without bending. Peter, who stood closest to Adrien, beckoned the centaur closer, and stood before him defensively.
For a mere moment, they could another land through the void, this one devoid of any colour, varely lit with any light. A cold breeze trespassed the void, the group shivering as it brushed past their not enough covered skins.
And then, the image of that horrifying land was obscured by the silhouette of a person. That man slowly passed through the void, hesitating before placing his feet on the grass in luminous Narnia.
That man carefully squinted at the sun, almost as if expecting the warm to burn him into ashes. When nothing happened, he looked straight into the princess's eyes and smirked.
Beth paled, her grip on her sword faltering for a second as she recognised the face that had starred in her worst nightmares.
The man that she had recognised as her father until recently.
The man she was in that accident with.
Jack.
"I see you've grown in more ways than one, my dear," Jack drawled, his step calm and confident as he approached the princess, seemingly growing taller as Beth cowered before him. "You've become who you were always meant to be. Good for you."
None of the boys had to ask who was this man that had appeared all of a sudden in their country. They all knew about Beth's past and, most importantly, they only had to glance at their petrified friend to connect the dots.
After all, they all knew only one person could frighten her so.
Beth frowned at the man, taken aback by how different he seemed. He wore a chain mail under a black leather vest. Twin swords hung across his back, and a knife was strapped to his waist. She knew his features weren't any different, that he had always been that tall and that evil looking but in a way, it seemed as if he had thrived in that shadow land, and finally managed to become as evil as he could be.
Briefly, she wondered if what happened to him was similar to the change she underwent in Narnia.
"It seems the cat's got your tongue! Some things never change, right dear?" Jack smirked. Slowly, almost as if he didn't mean to, he unsheathed his swords, their blades as black as the darkest night, and pointed them at the boys around Beth. "Why don't you introduce me?"
Casually, Edmund stood before Beth, hiding her from Jack's cold eyes. Peter and Caspian flanked his sides silently, Adrien standing behind Beth and holding her hands in silent support. Edmund glared at the man before him murderously, holding his swords defensively as he spoke in his most authoritative voice he could gather. "I'm King Edmund the Just of Narnia, crowned by Aslan Himself and I order you to go back to the place you came from. You were not invited to this world."
Jack nodded in mock acceptance before trying to glance past the King. "C'mon Beth, do you really want me to deal with your boyfriend and your friends? After all this time, don't you know what I'm capable of doing?"
"Leave them out of this," Beth snapped, her voice back. She walked past Edmund, shaking her head when the three boys tried to reach for her, her eyes never leaving Jack's. "This is between you and me. It's always been. You came to Narnia because of me, right? Well, let's have it. Let them go inside and we'll fight the fight we were always meant to have."
"You are right, this doesn't concern your friends. I should get them out of the picture," Jack mused softly. He cocked his head for a long, dreadful silent moment before his eyes turned entirely pitch black, his face no longer holding any humour.
He then snapped his fingers and disappeared.
Only to appear before Edmund and stabbing him with his blade.
"ED!" Peter screamed as he reached for his brother, Caspian holding Adrien back when he tried to follow.
Beth covered her mouth as she gasped, her eyes tearful as she followed her boyfriend's fall with her eyes. She was witness of his pained gasp as the steel ran through him, his pained eyes looking at her with panic, trying to reassure himself that she was okay, his currently situation forgotten momentarily as he focused on her only.
Beth looked at Jack with renovated anger, her golden eyes brightening as her power bottled up inside of her. She took in his smirk and the winning streak in his eyes, figuring out his move at last.
After all, she wasn't cunning because of her training in Archenland or the influence of her brother Tor and Caspian.
She was cunning because she had to come up with a way to survive. She was cunning because of Jack.
He was trying to break her into submission so Beth walked straight towards him instead, her sword aimed at Jack. She snarled, her eyes wide with fury, "Why are you doing this?"
Jack sobered up at that, as if angry by her own rage. He stalked forward, grabbing Beth by her hair as he snapped his fingers again. At once, Peter, Caspian and Adrien fell to the ground clutching their throats as air slowly escaped them.
Edmund turned his head to look at Beth, his eyes widening as he caught sight of the grip Jack had on her. He tried to sit up but fell down again with a thud, tears slowly falling down his cheeks as he sloppily applied pressure to his wound.
Meanwhile, Jack began to drag a reluctant Beth back towards the void he came from. "Do you think I wanted to come to this country so full of ridiculous love and light? Do you think I liked being sent here, only to check on you and confirm you're still the same spineless girl I've always known? If you had managed to obtain your True Nature yesterday, like you were supposed to, I wouldn't be here!"
"How do you know about that!?" Beth screamed in return as she shoved his hand away in vain, his grip far too strong. "Let me go now!"
"Who do you think sent the lighting that broke that terrace, my dear?" Jack drawled harshly, "But it doesn't matter now. I'll help you gain your True Nature but not here. You're coming to the Shadowlands with me."
"NO!" Beth screamed, at last managing to free herself. She fell to the ground with a thud, gasping for breath as she used her improved instincts to study her surroundings. Her hair fell around her, let loose from its binding, and formed a protective shield around her face.
She could hear Edmund breathing in gasps behind her, the others growing still around him as the air in their lungs slowly ran out. She could feel their lives slipping away through their fingers, their hearts slowing their beating as the damage in their systems continued.
Before her she could feel the heavy steps of Jack as he approached her. She recognized those steps. Those were the steps of a man who thought himself the winner in that fight.
All of those years of fear, hiding and trauma sped through her brain.
But then, so did the happier memories of her life in that world and the previous one. Her mother's smile when Beth asked what she wished for her birthday, the first image she had of Robin when her mother had the ultrasound, the rides with Tor through the forest, the training sessions with Caspian, the long walks with King Ersan, her narnian friends, the solidarity Susan had offered her, the protection Peter had given her, the pure childish joy Adrien had spread in her life, the sisterhood she and Lucy had.
And Edmund.
He made her feel safer and more loved than she'd ever had.
He needed to live.
And so did she.
As she decided that, her hair began to glow around her.
At last, Beth stood up, in an unconscious level aware that her entire body was glowing with a golden light, her True Nature finally claimed.
Before her, Jack smirked, his eyes not longer triumphant, but guarded. "I knew you had it in you, my dear."
"You know nothing about me," Beth snarled in return. She raised her hand, the winds picking up again in response, now under her control, and used them so they would drag Jack back towards the void. "I am the Daughter of Aslan and like my father, I am Narnia's Saviour. I'm in control of Narnia's elements and I decide who is welcomed in this world. I command you to go back to your Shadowlands at once."
Beth continued walking, the winds faster than ever around them. Jack finally reached the void, struggling to hold onto its edges as the winds pushed him back but it did not seem to faze him as he smirked at the princess when she stood tall before him, her light a stark contrast against the dark depicted in that void. "We will meet again, my dear."
"Do not call me that," Beth replied coldly before punching Jack in the jaw, the void closing itself as Jack fell back onto the Shadowlands.
As Beth felt herself returning to normal, she breathed deeply, her eyes still on the space that void had been a few seconds ago. However, before she could feel any pride or triumph over her standing up to that monster, she heard gasping behind her.
Her eyes widened as she turned, running back to her friends a second later.
Edmund.
Peter, Caspian and Adrien seemed to have recovered and by the time Beth made it to them, they were already on their knees besides Edmund, their hands on his wound as they tried not to scare the injured king further.
"How is he?" Beth asked pressingly as she sank onto her knees besides Peter.
"We're losing him, much faster than I thought it possible," Peter spoke as calmly as he could, his medical knowledge allowing him not to lose his mind as he focused entirely on Edmund. He glanced at Adrien, "Adrien, I need you to run and get Lucy. Tell her to come with her cordial immediately. Do not tell her anything else."
Adrien nodded but before he could stand up and run, Beth held up her hand, her eyes on her boyfriend. As if on cue, Edmund sat up to vomit, his lips turning slightly blue. "Wait! I think I know what's happening to him."
"What do you mean?" Caspian asked frantically, his hands, the largest in the group, bloodied as they tried to keep as much blood as they could inside Edmund's body.
For an answer, Beth reached over and ripped Edmund's shirt open, the blue hue of his skin glaringly obvious. She gestured at Peter, who stood closer to his head, shakily, her voice wobbling for the first time. "Check his pupils."
Peter hurriedly followed her command, Edmund seemingly falling unconscious after puking. The blonde king looked up towards Beth with pure grief. "They are dilated."
"What does it mean?" Adrien asked fearfully.
"Poison," Beth stated mournfully. She hesitated, her eyes on his wound, before looking up at Adrien with a small smile, trying to look as confident as possible. "He's going to be fine but I need you to get me Lucy and her cordial now."
"But-"
"Go!" Caspian ordered him before looking at Beth with alarm. "How is he going to be fine?"
Peter remained motionless, his eyes alternating from his brother's still form to the pale princess beside her. He cradled his brother's head carefully as he silently waited for a miracle.
"I can do magic, Professor Cornelius said so himself. Just, let me concentrate." Beth snapped in an attempt to cover her own fear as she gazed at Edmund's sleeping face.
She closed her eyes momentarily as she remembered all of her happiest memories in Narnia. In all of them, Edmund was there, so it wasn't too difficult.
When she opened her eyes, she was glowing again.
She didn't want to do this, of course she didn't but she thought of Caspian unable to make amends with his best friend before he died. She imagined Susan and Lucy's faces when they discovered their beloved brother was dead. She pictured Peter's life knowing his darkest nightmare had become a reality.
She had a family too. Adrien depended on her and so did the others, so did Narnia but, as she placed her hands on Edmund's open wound, she imagined her life without the boy who managed to heal her the enough to be able to stand up for herself. The man she was sure she loved deeply, even if she was too coward to say it aloud.
She imagined having to face the pain of losing him every time she woke up.
She was Aslan's Daughter. If there was anyone who could take this, that was her.
So, she focused on the poisoned wound, releasing a breath she didn't know she was holding when she felt the poison flowing from his insides back outside and into her own veins.
"What are you doing?" Peter asked as Beth gasped in pain, her hands never leaving Edmund's wound.
Beth chose not to reply, her focus on making sure all of the poison was gone from his system. As she was done, she gestured Caspian to put his hands back where they were to make pressure, and closed her eyes firmly as she regarded herself, trying to sense any indication of weakness or detrimation on her part.
If anything, she felt stronger than ever, so she looked up and gazed at Peter, smiling through the fear she felt. Slowly, she stopped glowing and returned to her normal state. "I took the poison from him. He needs Lucy's cordial but he should be okay."
"You did what!?" Caspian exclaimed in outrage but Beth ignored him.
New tears dropped from Peter's eyes as he gripped Beth's bloodied hands onto his own. "Beth, I'm so sorry."
"I'm going to be fine," Beth replied, her own voice moved with emotion. She looked at the two boys with as much confidence as she could muster. "We're all going to be fine."
Before any of them could reply, a new voice entered the conversation, this time a weak, tired one.
"What happened?"
Peter moved aside as Beth leaned towards her boyfriend. She tried to conceal her fear and anguish as she kissed his lips longingly. "You're going to be fine, my love. Stay still."
Edmund smirked weakly, his skin back to the marble tone it had always had. "I know I am. I am with the best warrior in all of Narnia."
Beth barked a laugh as she kissed him yet again. Soon enough, he lost consciousness but Beth never left his side, her eyes on his face, anxiously waiting for this to be over, for him to be safe, so she could know with certainty she had made the right choice.
After what seemed like an eternity, Caspian announced, "Lucy is coming."
Beth let out a breath, her hastily risen barriers dropping, and buried her face in the crook of her neck, her tears quickly overpowering her self-control as she sobbed over the harsh new reality she had to face.
Edmund felt as if he was burning inside.
His every cell was in agonizing pain, his every limb ached from exertion whenever he expelled even the most shallow of breaths. He had never felt this way, so weak, nauseous and in pain, and it only got worse as he slowly regained consciousness.
He used the relative breather his dazed mind was giving him and tried to regain his bearings, fighting against his racing, feverish mind to obtain his memories.
What exactly had happened?
Slowly, the pain began to disappear, melting away from his body, his mind growing clearer as a response.
At once, his memories were regained, and started flashing in his mind in a quick succession.
And, barely having even processed their meaning, his eyes snapped open.
Immediately, his siblings faces appeared floating above his head, their expressions frantic with worry, their eyes exhausted from the stress.
Peter, especially, looked positively haunted as he reached for his brother's hand. When he spoke, his voice came out as a whisper. "How do you feel?"
Edmund frowned and tried to sit up, only to be held back by his sisters. He fell back with a thud and looked at Peter with mild alarm. "Where am I? How long was I asleep?"
"Most of the day," Susan replied instead. She wiped her tears off before gesturing at their sister. "Lucy got to you just in time. A few more seconds and it would have been too late to save you."
Edmund nodded, processing things slowly, but then noticed that his girlfriend was nowhere near him fussing over his well being. "Where's Beth? Is she okay? Did Jack get to her?"
"I'm here, Ed."
Beth appeared within his line of vision, smiling tearfully as she gripped his hand into hers. She was now wearing a leather vest over her green dress, her bracers strapped to her forearms and her hair pulled up in a complex, tight braid.
Peter moved aside so they would have more space and Beth leaned forward to kiss his forehead. "I'm so glad you're okay."
Edmund frowned at her, even more concerned as he took in how anguished his girlfriend looked. He glanced at the others, trying to remember any injure of his that put them in this state.
He came up empty.
He knew there was something missing, something that happened while he was asleep, something that they even feared telling him. Considering that, he wasn't sure he wanted to know but he knew he had to. If Beth or any of them was in trouble, he needed to know so he could help.
"What happened?" Edmund finally asked.
Beth hesitated, trying to remain seemingly calm before she nodded and gripped his hand before glancing at the others. "Would you give us a moment, please?"
Peter, who was closest to them, immediately nodded in agreement. He smiled at Beth in support. "We'll be right outside."
The girls hugged Edmund before following the eldest Pevensie out of the boys' room but the Just King barely paid them any attention. His eyes were on his girlfriend, who watched the others go while biting her lip unconsciously.
"Beth, what's going on? What did Jack do?" Edmund asked pressingly when he couldn't take the tension anymore.
Beth sat by his side on the cot, brushing her fingers through his hair. She wiped her eyes impatiently when they began to tear up. "I'm so sorry I couldn't stop him, my love. I should have known better than to think he would only go against me. I'm so sorry."
"Fortunately, we have a magic potion in our power, so there's no reason to panic" Edmund teased, his weak chuckle dying off when Beth didn't return his smile.
"He wanted me to reach my True Nature. He was working for someone in the place he came from, the Shadowlands he called it, and he was sent from that place only for me to obtain all of my powers," Beth began, her voice wavering at times as she relived the trauma she just lived, when she thought it was over. "When I expelled him back into the void, I ran to your side and you...you had so little time, my love. I could feel your life, just slipping away slowly, with each second that passed, and it was so traumatizing. I don't know how we would have bear losing you."
Beth closed her eyes mournfully, tears spilling down her cheeks as she did so. Edmund reached up weakly and wiped them off before caressing her cheek comfortingly. His voice was hoarse, shaken by fear. He had been injured before, but he could tell this had been different, and he was now dreading the rest of the story. "What happened then?"
"Before coming to Narnia, I began chemistry lessons with my tutor, out of interest only. We studied poison, how it can be made from the most simple chemicals, its basic symptoms and the different ways they can affect a person." Beth shook her head in disbelief, "I don't know the kind Jack used but it was a textbook case - blue lips and skin, dilated pupils, you presented them all. That monster must have intended to poison me but he must have realized he would have hurt me more if he poisoned you instead."
Edmund sat up in alarm, ignoring his weakened state, and shrugged her hands off when Beth tried to stop him. Out of fear, his voice came out as accusing, his eyes wide and set on hers. "How am I not dead? What happened then, Beth?"
Beth took in a deep breath, her eyes watering but fixed on his. This was the moment she was dreading with all her heart but she had to continue, for him and for herself. He deserved the truth, after all, and she deserved to carry a burden as little as possible.
"It was the only way, Ed," Beth replied, her voice coming out as a grieving whisper, "I knew I could do magic and in my True Nature, my powers would only be heightened. I didn't know the extent of my powers but I had the feeling that if that poison went into my system instead, because of who I am I would be resilient enough to withstand it until I find the cure. I will talk to Aslan once this is over and I know everything's going to be alright so please, don't be angry. I'm okay."
"Okay? You're dying, Beth! You're dying because of me!" Edmund's voice got louder the more the information she gave to him sunk into him. Steadily, anger built within him, filling him with strength he did not have moments ago. He shrugged her hands off harshly when she tried to reach for him. "I'm furious at you! How could you do this!? You can't just keep sacrificing yourself for everybody and hope to be alright by the end!"
Beth stood up as calmly as she could at that, cleverly walking to stand by the foot of his cot to give the two some space. She straightened, trying to defend her actions with authority but her golden eyes, wide with pain, betrayed her. "Didn't you hear what I just said? I know this is scary but it paid off and also, I didn't really have a choice. Now we both are going to be okay. Ed, if it wasn't for me, you would be dead right now!"
"Well, maybe I should have been, that'd be better than you risking your life for me!" Edmund shook his head in disbelief as he screamed, too angry to be deterred, even by Beth's wounded look. "Aslan's Daughter or not, you need to put yourself first from time to time!"
Beth raised her arms in exasperation, her self-control nonexistent as Edmund continued to attack her. "You don't think I did? How do you think I would feel if I let you die because of a fight that was mine to begin with? I would be a mess if that had happened!"
"And how do you think I feel right now? You don't think I'm a mess right now?" Edmund's words were harsh, fuelled by the fear he felt. He could only think about how she could have been dead by the time he woke up. Fortune had smiled on her that time, yes, but who knows how long that fortune would last if she continued to be so reckless? "Watching my best friend risk her own life because she loves everyone more than herself!? You can't just put yourself at risk over and over again based on some loose logic! What if you had died, huh? What if you had been wrong, how do you think we would have all dealt with your death!? I would lose my freaking mind if you had died because of me!"
"You don't get to say that, you don't get to put me as too reckless to get the whole picture! You don't think it wasn't hard for me? Of course it was! Adrien depends on me! My people depend on me! I had to make a choice, and I chose to put at risk the strongest of the two of us and that's me. If anyone had a chance dealing with this, that's me, so I let myself be led by my instinct and it paid off," Beth glared at her boyfriend defensively, her rage allowing her to speak loud and clear. "I'm so frightened by this, but I don't regret it, not for a second, because we both are live in response to it! Now, because of me, we get the chance to fight over this, make up, and move on to what really matters, freeing Narnia from Miraz!"
Silence enveloped the two of them as they stared at each other, both overcome with love and fear for each other, both too stubborn to try to see the other's view while they were so angry. Edmund was frightened for her, and Beth was using her stubbornness as an aid not to crumble by the fear she felt for herself. They both wanted to comfort each other and let the matter be over, but they both felt this was a matter they couldn't give any room to what the other thought.
Finally, Beth sighed and rubbed her forehead, suddenly noticing how tired she was after a day so filled with emotions. "Look, you should rest and see Professor Cornelius, just to make sure you're developing smoothly. I'll look for him and come back later to check on you, okay?"
She took a step towards him before faltering, shaking her head and walking away, Edmund following her out with his eyes before sinking down onto the cot with a curse.
Beth's eyes widened as she stepped outside and her eyes landed on her five friends standing there.
Lucy reached and took her hand, her eyes filled with unshed tears. "He'll come around, Beth. I know he will."
It was as if those words finally sunk the situation onto Beth. She covered her mouth in horror as the fear for her future and the dread for the wars to come landed within her.
Caspian took a hesitant step forward as he whispered, "Are you okay?"
She needed comfort, a constant, someone who had been with her through everything, for better or for worse.
So she ran past the three Pevensie and crashed Caspian into a hug, hiding her face with her hair as she let out silent, sorrowful tears, the anguish she felt too much for her to say anything.
"Thanks," Beth spoke as she felt a blanket laid on her shoulders.
Caspian smiled thinly before sitting besides the princess. "Don't worry about it."
After Beth finally calmed down, they had wondered outside the How, looking for any hiding place where they could rest from their obligations just for a few hours. Beth needed to process everything that had happened and Caspian needed to be there for his best friend so they had left the Pevensie in charge. Now, they both sat on the grass a few feet from the How's lateral entrance, both of them with their eyes on the forest before them.
Beth suddenly chuckled darkly, her eyes glinting with unshed tears. "I can't believe how, even after all this years, that monster just manages to appear from thin air and break my life. I have to give it to Jack, he's managed to become professionally evil."
"You don't have to be tough with me, Beth," Caspian replied lowly, "It's okay if you're scared. You don't have to pretend otherwise now."
"I am scared. I'm bloody petrified," Beth admitted after hesitating. She finally looked at Caspian with determination. "But this isn't over. I know that Jack will come back and this place, this Shadowlands, whoever is in charge, they were targeting me specifically. Until this is over, I need to stay calm so I can think and survive."
Caspian shook his head in disbelief before shooting the princess a proud smirk. "I don't know how you can deal with all of this. I'd lose my mind if I were you."
"I could wish for my life to be different," Beth shrugged humbly, "But it wouldn't change a thing, so I won't waste my time. Besides, I need to count my blessings. If it wasn't for who I am and for what Jack did, as despicable as it was, I wouldn't have met any of you."
"You know, when Jack choked me, I could still hear what he said to you, how he mocked you," Caspian suddenly changed the subject before placing a hand on the princess shoulder in support. "Beth, I need you to know you've never been weak. You are the strongest warrior I know and I'm so proud of you."
Beth looked at him with trust, a trust Caspian hadn't seen ever since the raid. For a few moments, both friends were silent as they rejoiced in their friendship finally being mended.
It wasn't for nothing they were best friends. They knew each other inside and out so they felt there was no need to voice any feelings or talk about it. They knew all of it already.
"I've missed you, my dear friend," Beth finally admitted.
Caspian squeezed her shoulder warmly before reaching forward to hug her, inwardly releasing a breath he had been holding ever since their friendship broke. "I've missed you, too."
Unknown to them, Edmund stood hidden by the shadows behind them, his resolve faltering as he kept thinking of what he was about to do, what he felt compelled to do.
He was glad Beth and Caspian were friends again, he was glad she had that support again.
To him, Beth meant more than what he could express. She had been such a good friend to him and had helped him in so many ways that not even her was aware of. Hell, he owed her his life and he was so grateful but the thing was that Jack, the poison, it had felt too real, too much.
He had realized that the stakes were too high for him to be comfortable and he needed time.
The worst part of this was that he was only now realising how much he loved her. He loved her almost as much as he was scared of her and for her. He feared losing her, he was scared of watching her die because she was so selfless she wouldn't hesitate before risking her life to save him.
The thing was that, even before they dated, Beth was his best girl friend. They had been in sync ever since they first laid eyes on each other and he didn't want to let that go but, more than anything, Edmund wanted her to get the life she deserved. He wanted her to live as fully as possible and for as long as she could.
She had said so herself. Jack attacked him because he knew that's the way to hurt Beth the most. He was a weakness to her so, if she was free to thrive without him, then the pain this decision caused him was worthy.
"Hey," Caspian suddenly said as he caught sight of the Just King. He glanced at the princess before stepping out of their hug and standing up. "I'll go check on the patrols. Let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you," Edmund said honestly as Caspian walked past him, "For everything."
Caspian nodded with a small smile. "Don't worry about it."
Tensioned silence enveloped the pair as the prince departed them.
Beth stood from the grass slowly and crossed her arms in a shielding manner. Her golden eyes were guarded as they regarded the king, almost as if she already knew what he was going to do.
"It's not like you to stay silent," Edmund finally commented when it was clear his girlfriend wasn't going to speak first.
Beth shrugged, small smile on her lips. "You look like a man on a mission. I thought I'd let you speak in peace first. I'm glad to see you on your feet, though."
Edmund nodded slowly. He stared at Beth, hating the emotional and physical distance between them. He wasn't used to this strain between them so, finally, he sighed, and walked towards her, embracing her by the waist tightly. "I'm so sorry I yelled. I'm extremely grateful for what you did, Beth."
Beth shook her head against her chest, her frame slightly more relaxed now that she was in his arms again. "You're right, though. This hasn't been easy for neither of us. It seems as if it's been one drama after the other ever since the raid."
Edmund sighed tiredly before kissing her forehead. "Yes, that sounds about right."
Silence enveloped the pair before Beth suddenly stepped out of his arms. She liked to believe she knew Edmund better than anybody so she could almost feel the grief coming out of him in waves as easily as she could breathe.
Beth then looked up towards the sky, her back to Edmund, and closed her eyes as she tried to summon any leftover strength she might have left.
She knew what he was going to do and, while she respected it and understood his pain and concern, she grieved too. She mourned the happiness that had been between them that very morning, and she mourned the relationship she had come to cherish deeply.
After a long moment, Beth turned towards him, her eyes welling up but fixed on him, determined on accepting the new change of events bravely.
"Do it, Ed," the princess whispered, thankful when her voice didn't wobble. "It's okay and I understand but I won't do it for you. Today, I don't have enough strength to do it for you."
Edmund rubbed his eyes against his sleeve to wipe his tears off. "I need you to know I didn't mean to be so harsh. I think you're the most caring, loving person and I know and I'm so grateful to you for saving my life. You're my best friend and I know I'm supposed to be supportive but I just-"
Beth smiled sadly, reaching to grab his hand as she cut him off gently. "It's too much for you, I know. It's been too much too fast. Everything's gotten so intense so quickly, I understand that it's hard to catch up."
Edmund nodded, his eyes wide with grief. He had underrated the pain he would feel for doing this and for causing this much pain in the princess too. He reached down and kissed her knuckles sorrowfully before looking at her again. "I do love you, Beth, I love you so much and I wished I wasn't so scared but I can't bear the idea of losing you. I don't want to just sit by and wait for the day you give up your life trying to save me. I meant what I said before, I would lose my sanity if you, my beautiful girl, died because of me. I'm so sorry."
Beth allowed her tears to roll down her cheeks silently as she stepped closer and hugged Edmund tightly, burying her head in her chest so her voice came out muffled as she replied emotionally, "I love you too, Ed. It's okay. It's okay."
They rested their foreheads together, their bodies shaking with tremors as they realized that eventually, they would have to step away from each other. After a long moment, but shorter than either of them would have liked, Beth took a small step back and held up her hands when Edmund tried to reach for her out of reflex.
"Please, don't." Beth pleaded. She looked at him for a long moment before wiping her cheeks, trying to be as presentable as possible for when she entered the How again. "Just let me go, okay? I'll see you tomorrow."
And with that, Beth walked away without looking back, her posture straight even as her heart began to crack.
Edmund watched her go, his heart breaking as more tears rolled down his cheeks. Once she was gone, he sat on the grass and seeked comfort in the calming, Narnian sky above him and tried to reassure himself he had made the right choice.
The next six weeks passed extremely quickly and slow all at once.
Caspian sighed as he sat on the verge of a terrace and thought of everything that had been going on recently.
After Beth's encounter with Jack, things had died down to a relative calmness. The six of them had ruled together, overseen all sorts of decisions and activities and had done their very best at trying to keep the moral perpetually high. They had fought and disagreed at times but he felt as if they had finally found the right coordination, so the six of them were now able to work together with problem.
Beth and Edmund had been friends first so it was easy for them to go back to that but a certain distance was now present between the former couple, mainly put there by the princess. Now that they were friends again, Caspian had been her confident when it came to her relationship with the Just King so he knew that she was trying to respect Edmund's wishes, while also sparing her heart as much as she could. Now, her focus was on Adrien and on trying to become the best leader she could.
Edmund and himself were cordial towards one another, slowly regaining the trust they once had, though the remaining distance between them didn't stop Caspian from being able to read Edmund as well as he did before the White Witch. The Just King seemed to have taken the break up even worse than Beth, and still lighted up whenever the princess walked into the room, sulking when Beth didn't sit beside him or didn't talk to him as much. Caspian understood his friend, though. He knew what it was like to fear being hurt because of love.
Peter and himself were now a really good team, to tell the truth. Caspian still found him annoying, with his alpha male tendencies and his idiotic arrogance, but he understood the High King better now, and he liked to think Peter understood him better too.
Lucy had remained the same, mostly, though she had found herself a new hobby in annoying Edmund over his break up with Beth. She, in the particular position of being Edmund's sister and Beth's best girl friend, found herself with conflictive feelings towards his brother, and often struggled between empathizing with him or throwing a heavy object at his head. It was quite amusing to see, though she made it a point to never annoy Edmund in front of the Archenlandian princess, since Beth didn't really want her to intervene in this matter.
Susan and Caspian, they were slowly becoming something. They were afraid of being hurt, especially when looking at the other couple in their midst, but now that their feelings for each other had been acknowledged, some of the tension had disappeared between them, which was relieving.
All in all, life had been easy and difficult in the How. They had fought, strategized, practiced, worried, laughed, and grown as leaders and as humans. They could all feel the incoming threat, closer with everyday that passed, so they had unconsciously made a pact to spend those weeks as best as they could.
"I never thought I would see the day you were willingly up at sunrise, my boy," Professor Cornelius suddenly spoke from behind Caspian, chuckling when the Telmarine Prince startled. The elder Narnian then sat next to his pupil as Caspian looked up, surprised of how long he had been sitting on that terrace, as he had been up since the middle of the night.
Caspian shrugged with a laugh. "I fell out of bed?"
"That sounds about right." Professor Cornelius nodded amusedly before looking at his pupil with a knowing expression. "You look as if you had a lot in mind."
Caspian faltered, his smile melting off as he thought of what he wanted to ask his Professor. He had had many opportunities before, but he had never found himself brave enough to ask his friend about his father, especially when considering how much of a mess he had been when he first heard of how his father actually died.
Caspian knew he had to, though. If he was to take his father's crown, he felt he owed it to him to learn the truth.
"Why did you never tell me?" Caspian finally asked, "I deserved- I deserve the right to know how my father was betrayed and killed. I could have brought my uncle into justice."
"Don't be fooled, Caspian, you wouldn't have been able to do nothing. Miraz has been the King for years, ever since your father died. The only difference is that he has no crown but he's always had the Telmarine court and army wrapped around his fingers," The tutor replied with a soothing voice as he rested a hand on Caspian's shoulder. Cornelius then shook his head with a regretful sigh. "You weren't supposed to know until you won this war, Caspian. I'm so sorry I told you the truth before you were ready to hear it."
Caspian shook his head in exasperation. "Don't blame yourself, my old friend. I shouldn't have let myself be so shaken. Miraz has always been a treacherous snake, why should I get to be surprised? I'm supposed to look out for this people but after that night, I made a fool of myself in front of my troops, I threatened my own best friend and I almost brought the White Witch back to life. The blame is entirely on me."
"Even Kings and Queens aren't perfect, Caspian. You've made a mistake, dear boy, but you've atoned for it completely," Professor Cornelius assured him with a honest smile. He then looked away into the ample forest surrounding them. "My mother was a Black Dwarf from the Northern Mountains, have I ever told you that? I risked my life all this time ever since I met you so that one day...you would get to be a better King than those who preceded you. And I'm still sure that that's what will happen."
"I couldn't even protect my own family! Beth, Ed...," Caspian snorted before running a hand through his brown locks impatiently, his head down. "I've failed you, my friend."
Professor Cornelius smiled at him knowingly in response. "Everything I told you and everything I didn't, it was just because I wanted to give you the best chance to a life where you have everything you want. I believe in you, Caspian, and that won't change. You have now the chance to become one of the most noble contradictions in history. You have a chance to become the Telmarine who Saved Narnia."
Before Caspian could answer, Professor Cornelius raised and patted the prince's back before retreating.
Then, his voice resonated behind the prince.
"Now you only have to believe in yourself as much as we all already do."
"I apologise for my delay," Caspian said as he entered the room where the Pevensie and Beth were gathered.
"Don't worry, it wasn't uncomfortable at all," Peter quipped sardonically as he took his place on one head of the table and shot a pointed look at his brother.
"Shut up, Peter," Edmund shot back from his right before secretly glancing at the princess by the other head of the table.
Beth, who had been humming to herself, ignored them and stood from her chair. She regarded Caspian seriously. "It's okay, Caspian. Shall we begin?"
The others all nodded and while Caspian moved to Beth's right while Susan spoke from Peter's left.
"The troops have all been notified," the queen declared while she unrolled the sketch of their battle plan, "They have divided and two troop leaders have been assigned to each group. They will report directly to us."
"Excellent," Peter nodded, "Now, we all agree the battle plan itself has been perfected, right?"
Beth nodded, "I have been working in perfectioning my senses. Once the underground army begins moving, I'll be able to notify you all."
"That means Beth can't go with them," Lucy intervened from the princess's left, "and since I'm leading the injured, the elders, and the children to safety, I'm also out of the equation."
"I'll go," Caspian decided, "The Telmarines will be expecting me to be in the front line, ready to counteract their attack. They won't see it coming."
Peter nodded, "Of course, we will have to review this once they come and we get an idea of their numbers but we should divide the rest of the groups now. That way, we can take it from there if we need to make any alterations."
"Well, I'm leading the archers, of course," Susan stated before pointing at the sketch of the How, "we will be by the higher terrace of the How. That way, there'll be room for all of us and we'll get a clear view of the battlefield."
"Edmund and I will each oversee a group of the swordsmen above ground," Beth suddenly stated, shrugging when the others looked at her surprise. She glanced calmly at the wide eyed, raven-haired' king. "You and I have always been able to work well together. It's okay if you're not comfortable with this, though. I can always work with Peter."
"No, I think you're right," Edmund replied hurriedly before smiling lightly, "It'll be a pleasure working with you again."
Beth merely nodded before looking at Peter, easily ignoring the amused smirks sent her way. "You should supervise the entire army, Pete. You have the most experience, after all, and your strength has always been in your leadership skills."
Peter glanced at the others, looking for confirmation, and smiled when they all nodded. "Very well, then. Unless we have anything else to discuss, I'd say we should carry on with our duties. The Telmarines will be here soon."
Beth nodded and grabbed her quiver from its place leaning against the wall behind her before hanging it across her back, the strip tight against her leather vest.
She patted Lucy's arm in a friendly manner as she walked past her on her way to the exit. "I'm training the swordsmen today. I'll see you later at dinner."
Heavy silence hung around them as she left the room without looking back. Then, as if on cue, they all turned towards the Just King.
Edmund scowled as they all looked at him with pity. "Cut it out."
"I know I've always joked with dropping you on your head one too many times when you were little but I'm starting to think I might have been onto something." Peter shook his head in mock pity as he arranged their papers into a neat pile.
"And you didn't have enough with breaking up with her, you had to make it uncomfortable to all of us by looking at her with enamoured eyes every time she's in the same room as you?" Lucy snapped, glaring at her brother with passion.
Edmund crossed his arms defensively. "Look, what happened between Beth and me is none of your business, alright? It's between her and me only."
"We get that you're afraid, Ed," Susan intervened in a soothing manner, "But we also know that you miss her. It's obvious. You might not think you're brave enough for being with her but, if it is what you truly want, I promise you are. I've never seen a couple who understood one another like you two did."
"I do miss her, okay?" Edmund finally exploded and glared at his companions in turns. "I thought my fear was greater than my love for her and I was wrong but I won't do anything, okay? I loved her when I broke up with her and I still had no trouble hurting her. I won't hurt her again when I 've only come to love her more so cut it out, okay? Cut it out with the blame, and the comments and the advice because I'm just reminded of the complete idiot I am."
Shocked silence fell amongst the group, the Just King frowning intensely towards the table, as if offended by it, while the others looked at each other with alarm, none of them knowing what to say at the sudden outburst.
Lucy slowly touched his arm comfortingly, knowing that last part had been directed at her. "I'm sorry for everything, Ed but I love you, and I love her, and I want you guys to be happy. I know it's scary but she loves you too, I know she does."
Edmund looked up and gestured at Caspian, ignoring Lucy altogether. "And you?"
Caspian smiled innocently. "What about me?"
"This is a sort of intervention, right? You've all said what you thought about my relationship, so let's hear it from you too. What's you great piece of advice?"
"Beth would kill me if she knew I was weighing on this so I won't," Caspian shrugged, "I'll just say that you need to talk to her, if only to clear the air so you aren't awkward towards her anymore."
Edmund nodded slowly before raising from his chair and snapping at them, "I hate you all."
With that, he left too.
They all watch him leave before Peter turned towards the rest of the group with a smirk. "I bet you they'll be back together by the time the battle even begins."
"I'm in," Lucy replied without hesitation, shrugging when Susan glanced at her scandalised. "What? I need to win against Peter at least once. Besides, Beth would be a fool not to make our brother suffer a little bit at least."
Susan processed all of that in silence before shrugging and turning towards Peter. "I want in, too."
Caspian smirked. "Count me in as well."
Beth gazed back towards the How and sighed as she noticed the king walking towards her. Immediately after, she turned towards her army, trying to find any Narnian who might be in need of assistance.
Those last six weeks had been painful and rewarding at the same time.
She still understood Edmund and really, she would have probably done the same thing had she been in his place. She was just a pawn in the big game, in a way, but she had been used for evil purposes and now, she carried poison inside of her. Professor Cornelius had assured her she would deteriorate in a much slower rate than any normal human, giving her the time to talk to Aslan and find out how to get rid of it but it was still a serious matter. Most days, she felt like she carried a bomb within herself, slowly ticking down until it finally exploded, taking herself and anyone too close to her.
So, she was partially thankful Edmund had decided to put distance between the two of them. If she exploded, she did not want to take him with her.
Still, Edmund had basically admitted his fear was greater than his feelings for her so she had been really hurt. During those past few weeks, she had been taking every ounce of pain she felt over Edmund, every inch of rage she held within herself because of Jack, and every quote of fear for her future and she had put it into use, making Adrien, her people, and the control of her powers her sole focus.
Six weeks later, she had become quite resourceful with her powers, she had been tutoring Adrien with excellent results and her army could use both the Narnian and Archenlandian combat styles in a professional manner.
She had remained friendly with Edmund, of course, but she had formed a habit of avoiding him whenever she could. She still loved him, no matter how much she fought with herself in order not to think of him, but she needed to step back from him because of his request, and in order to protect whatever was left of her heart.
All in all, she had survived and that, despite the pain, made her feel stronger than ever.
However, it would help if Edmund moved on and stopped looking at her as if she was the only girl in the world to him.
As if on cue, Adrien, who had been practicing with a wooden sword, fell into step with her, smirking with amusement as he did so. "You're avoiding him, aren't you?"
"Please tell me you have urgent news that'll get me or him away from here. They don't have to be real," Beth muttered urgently, her gaze on the fighting pairs around her.
"I think you should talk to him, actually," Adrien replied, shrugging when Beth glared at him, "I don't know what to tell you, sis, the guy is clearly an idiot since it's obvious he never wanted to break up with you in the first place but I think you should let him speak his mind. Maybe you won't be so miserable after that."
"Bold of you to assume I'm miserable," Beth replied, her voice frightfully calm.
"You laugh way less," Adrien counteracted earnestly. "You've tried to keep yourself together for the army and I think you've fooled them but when I'm with you, it's obvious you force yourself to be extra happy. I've noticed you get this really sad look on your face whenever you think I'm not looking."
Beth stopped walking and looked down at him with an impressed smirk. "I see someone's been practicing his observing skills."
Adrien smiled innocently. "I'm only looking out for my big sister."
Beth regarded him silently before sighing and turning, noticing Edmund was already making his way through the different pairs and groups of fighters. She sighed again and turned towards the group. "Everyone, gather around!"
At once, her army surrounded her, waiting attentively for her to continue. Beth noticed Adrien's triumphant smirk and Edmund's obvious nerves before sighing again. "I've seen enough for today so I'm happy to announce you've all picked up the hardest moves of the Archenlandian style without a problem. Tomorrow we will try to combine this style with Narnia's more aggressive one. You are all dismissed."
At once, the Narnians bowed and retreated back towards the How, chatting amongst themselves as they did so. Beth turned towards Adrien and placed her hands on his shoulders. "I want you to know I never fake the happiness I feel when I hang out with you. You're my brother, after all."
"I love you too, Beth," Adrien replied cheekily. "Have fun!"
Beth watched Adrien go with a smile before turning towards the shields and spare swords thrown around her, knowing Edmund was within ear shot. "I hope you didn't want any fighting lessons because you're too late."
"No, I'm not here for that." Edmund replied as he inched closer towards her. He finally stood within her eyesight but not close enough to make her uncomfortable. He glanced towards the weapons too. "Do you want any help?"
"It's okay. I've been practicing," Beth replied easily before raising her hand and focusing on the items lying around her. At once, they levitated themselves to lay on a pile before her feet. She set eyes on the Just King for the first time and shrugged. "I'll take them with me when I go inside. Now, why are you here exactly? Is there anything you need?"
"You," Edmund replied out of reflex, cringing inwardly when Beth's eyes widened at his answer. He didn't mean to be so blunt. Edmund scratched the back of his neck nervously before sighing and looking straight into Beth's eyes. There was just no easy way to approach this matter. "I miss you, Beth."
"No, you don't." Beth had seen this coming and she wasn't impressed at all. "You feel uncomfortable but really, you don't have to be. I don't hold it against you."
"I was an idiot, okay? I was scared and I chose to linger on that instead of trusting you. You had so much faith and trust in yourself that day and I should have believed you when you said everything was going to be okay." Edmund replied, increasing the pace of his speech out of nerves when Beth turned her back on him. "I don't know what else to say but I just, I love you, Beth, and I'm tired of being away from you."
Beth froze at that, and tried to shrug off that painful pang she felt by those words. At last, she turned towards Edmund with a fierce look.
"Don't say another word, okay? I understood and, out of the respect and love I feel for you, I walked away when you asked for time," Beth snapped, thankful that the others seemed to be readying for dinner so they were on their own outside. "Has anything changed? Now you're just playing with me so cut it out and figure out what the hell you want. Until then, do not bother me."
Edmund took a step forward, his voice dropping to a hopeful whisper. "Do you still love me?"
Beth groaned in frustration, "That's all you got from that? Yes, of course I love you but it doesn't matter! You hurt me that day, Edmund, and you're hurting me even more now. Stop with this and find yourself a hobby or something."
Edmund inched closer towards her, his lips pulled up into a light smile when Beth didn't step back.
Beth held her ground and ignored the butterflies in her stomach at being close to him for the first time in six weeks. "What are you doing?"
"You don't trust me a lot right now, huh?" Edmund asked, finally stopping advancing when he was five steps from her.
The message was clear to Beth. He was giving her the space to walk towards him or the other way.
Beth wanted to run away.
At the same time, she wanted to be back in his arms, where she felt most at home.
So compromising, she stayed put and crossed her arms. "What do you think?"
"I deserve that," Edmund acknowledged softly. He looked at her longingly, wishing for nothing but to embrace her, but staying away out of respect. "And I'll give you time to process this but do you believe me? Do you believe me when I tell you I love you?"
Beth opened her mouth to reply but a noise from the forest made her turn around and close her eyes to focus.
Steps.
Horses.
Catapults.
There was so many of them.
"What is it?" Edmund asked worriedly from behind her.
Beth turned towards him with alarm. "They are here."
She signaled the guard on the terrace just above the How while Edmund frowned as he studied the forest before him. "Where are they? I can't see-"
As if on cue, row after row of soldiers began emerging from the woods, their step identical, their armours identical from the others.
Company after company formed itself before the How, catapults lining up behind them.
Caspian had been right, Miraz had decided it was time for the final blow and had brought his entire force.
The final battle lay before them.
"I need you to get inside and gather the others," Beth ordered as she looked at Edmund, "I'll be right behind you. I just need to check if there's any of our own by the lateral side of the How."
"Wait, Beth, I-" Edmund began but Beth shook her head.
"I believe you," Beth cut him off with a small smile. She reached forward and hesitantly took his hands in hers "and I love you too but there's no time for that. You need to go."
Edmund nodded and after faltering, kissed her forehead before smiling at her and walking into the How.
Beth watched him go before facing the sea of silver armours before her.
The Telmarines thought the Narnians had no one to ask for help.
And they couldn't be more wrong.
Beth needed them to know that. She needed them to know Aslan was by their side, just like she was.
So she turned into a lion.
And roared.
Peter couldn't help but wonder why he found so much comfort in looking at Aslan's carving.
After everything that had happened in that room, he somehow could look past it and find reassurance in that everything would be alright whenever he merely looked at the image of the Great Lion.
Maybe that's the trick. Maybe he had to find the light and hope amongst the darkness that was currently surrounding them. He thought he had made progress in that front, to tell the truth, but still, no Great Lion had been summoned to help.
So he couldn't help but worry. He had faith, of course, but he worried all the same. He worried about his people, Narnia's future and himself.
What if the amount of faith he had in Aslan wasn't enough anymore? What if he ended up leaving Narnia for good as punishment?
What if he never saw his home or his king again?
He then decided the worst part about war was the waiting. He was sick of it.
He wanted it to be over already.
"Peter?" Lucy asked as she sat beside her brother. Peter smiled at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders before looking up at the carving.
"I wish I could be like you, sometimes, Lu," Peter admitted without looking at her, "You have no idea of how lucky you are."
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked with a frown.
Peter glanced at her, "You were lucky to have seen Him. I wish I could have, too."
Lucy smiled in understanding. "You could have seen Him too if you wanted to."
Peter nodded slowly. That was the quid of the matter, after all.
Everything's a choice. Lucy had always chosen to see Aslan while he and Susan struggled with that matter constantly.
It was hard to believe in someone you couldn't see.
He hoped he hadn't regained his faith too late for it to matter.
"I think I was embarrassed of all the poor decisions I took when I was in England," Peter said, cringing inwardly as he recollected all of those pointless fights yet again. "But also, I wish he could have just given me some sort of proof, you know, something to hold onto."
"Perhaps we're the ones who need to prove ourselves to Him, Pete," Lu said softly as she grabbed Peter's hand into her own. She then smiled trustingly at him. "And, just for the record, you have us all to hold onto."
Peter smiled at her.
Everything's a choice.
It was for something she was the bravest of them all.
"Pete, Lu," Edmund suddenly appeared beside them, his face marred with anxiety.
"Please, tell me Beth didn't take you back. I would very much like to win a bet for once," Lucy quipped with a laugh.
Peter smirked at that but then, he noticed how Edmund ignored the sarcastic comment altogether. The High King frowned at his brother, dread growing inside of him. "What is it?"
Edmund shook his head. "You better come quickly."
The three siblings rushed outside towards the high terrace, where a crowd had already gathered.
Caspian and Susan, who had been standing side by side, turned towards him as they heard their incoming. The Gentle Queen glared at them. "Where have you been!?"
"We're here, alright?" Edmund bit back but Peter ignored them as he walked past them, his eyes on the incoming army.
From that height, it looked like a see of silver ants, endless, all of them working like a perfect machine.
He took in the catapults, the cavalry, the crossbows, and the several generals that rode into the clearing last, swiftly moving towards the front of the perfectly organized army.
Peter noticed the responsible of it all at once, riding last in a golden armour, his horse almost blinding white.
Miraz.
Caspian had been right all along. Telmarines were predictable in their own self-pride.
Peter smirked lightly. That reassured him.
Besides him, Lucy glanced around with a frown. "Where's Beth?"
"By the entrance. She wanted to make sure everybody got inside," Edmund replied immediately.
In that moment, they all heard a roar.
Edmund smirked. "That's my girl."
"I'm sorry, your girl?" Lucy asked in consternation.
Before Edmund could retort, Peter carrasped and looked at his siblings and Caspian. "We need to have a meeting, now."
Without waiting for a reply, Peter walked back inside, heading straight for the only place that could fit them all.
That roar had brought him back the strength and resilience he needed to face the next chapter of the war.
But also, it had reminded him that Aslan was no tamed lion.
He wouldn't come on his own. He needed to be found.
Peter walked with renovated determination as he figured out what they had to do next.
Their plans needed alterations.
So, Edmund's Beth break up didn't actually happen when I first wrote this fic a few years ago but I thought they needed a break from all the drama. Also, Adrien's storyline wasn't quite like this in the last version of the fic but I've read the following chapters again after many years and I have other ideas for our young centaur :)
What did you guys think about this chapter? Let me know in the comments! Stay tuned for chapter 14!