☆

ON HIS GRYPHON, Edmund flew over the castle, surveying the carnage that lay below him. The troops had retreated a mere five minutes ago and the Narnians were on their way back at the How, while the youngest king insisted on sweeping the courtyard in hope of rescuing any survivors. Peter didn't say anything when the boy offered to search, instead the older boy who was usually full of commands was silent. It was a heavy silence. One that wasn't comfortable or uncomfortable, just heavy.

As Edmund soared over the castle, the glint of a sword caught his eye as he squinted to see- and once he did his heart stopped. He felt like vomiting out the contents of his stomach upon seeing what he saw. Eliza lay on the cold, hard ground, her hair splayed around her, and an arrow protruding from her stomach surrounded by a large gash oozing blood. She looked deadly pale, her translucent complexion making her stand out among her dead Narnian comrades.

The boys stomach churned and his heart raced as he dived down to wards his twin, putting himself in the range of a Telmarines crossbow if they were to fire. The gryphon swooped down and gently lifted the girl from the floor with his claws, before flying back up into the skies. Edmund bent down around the side of the gryphon, reaching to take Eliza's limp hand into his own. A small sigh of relief went through him as a he felt the flutter of her pulse.

It was faint but it was there.

"Hold on Liza, I got you." Edmund whispered, as he flew over the tree tops. As of right now they were working on a clock. If he didn't get Eliza back on time, she would die. She couldn't die.

He wouldn't let her.

☆

LUCY EMERGED from the How upon hearing the Narnian trumpets. The army, led by a distraught Peter and a furious Caspian, returned from battle. Lucy's face softened, "What happened?" She asked, earning sighs of frustration from both boys.

Peter wiped his red eyes. "Ask him." He spat, pointing at Caspian accusingly, making the prince scoff loudly.

"Peter." Susan snapped back, her cheeks red and tear stained after hearing about what Peter had seen at the gate.

"Me?" Caspian retorted, "You could have called it off. There was still time." The boy was infuriated that the High King would dare place the blame on him.

Peter laughed bitterly, "No there wasn't- thanks to you. If you'd kept to the plan, those soldiers, my sister might be alive right now." He yelled.

"Sister?" Lucy echoed in confusion, her eyes scanning the crowd urgently, for Eliza's face, but came up empty handed. Surely she wasn't- was she?

Caspian clenched his jaw in anger, "And, if you'd just stayed here like I suggested, they definitely would be- so would Eliza!" He replied.

"You called us, remember?" Peter snarled, stepping away from the Prince as if his sisters name provoked him even more.

Caspian shook his head, "My first mistake." He remarked with a scowl.

"No. Your first mistake was thinking you could lead these people." The older Pevensie hissed back.

"Hey!" Caspian snapped, "I am not the one who abandoned Narnia."

"You invaded Narnia." Peter continued, "You have no more right to it than Miraz does! You, him, your father... Narnia's better off without the lot of you!"

Knowing he'd hit a nerve, Caspian shouted loudly, and they both drew their swords.
Edmund waded through the crowds in a hurry, "Stop it!" He yelled loudly, as his gryphon landed, placing a limp Eliza onto the grass.

A ripple of gasps and cries rang out over the How at the sight of their Queen. Peter spared no time, rushing forward dropping to his knees beside the girl. Lucy unlatched her cordial quickly and ran to her older sister who hadn't moved.

Edmund cradled Elizas head in his lap and Peter held her hand letting a tear slip down his face as Lucy poured a drop of the purple liquid onto her lips, "I-I'm Sorry, El." the older boy murmured quietly, over and over again, "I should've listened to you."

He was met by the silence of the girl. Her lips were a deep purple in colour and blood was beginning to crust from her wounds. The Narnians all bowed their heads in respect as the siblings gathered around their sibling. "come on, COME ON!" Edmund cried out in desperation , Susan wrapped her arms around the boy letting him lean back into her and let tears slide down his cheeks.

A single gasp startled the family while they mourned as Eliza inhaled loudly and her eyes shot open. "NO! GET OFF! LET GO OF ME!" She yelled in pure panic, her breathing getting heavier by the second.

"Hey, Hey, hey!" Peter said, holding her fists from attacking him, "It's just us." The girls face contorted into sadness, her eyes watering as she was assisted to sit up.

"They're dead."'she mumbled, shaking her head, "They're all dead. They killed them. They killed them all." Susan and Peter exchanged a worried glance at each other as their sister spoke to herself.

Edmund who was sitting behind the girl, snapped out of his shock and embraced the girl in a tight squeeze. The girl looked down at her fingers which were intertwined with Peters. Eliza's lip trembled as she turned slightly and threw her arms around her twin, letting herself cry into his comforting shoulder. She had failed as a leader. No man left behind- Yet here she was alive while her men were dead.

Eliza was pulled off of Edmund and straight into the arms of her older brother. The older boy choked on a sob as the rest of her siblings encased her in a hug. The girl closed her eyes, sinking into the familiarity of her family as they embraced each other in a hug.

She felt safe but the sounds of the Narnians cries of agony still echoed through her mind like a boomerang- just going back and forth with no end. She knew that Aslan would look after them in the afterlife. Eliza just wished she was there with them.

☆

IT HAD BEEN A few hours after she had been miraculously healed, and the sun had set in the west, inflicting night upon them. Eliza sat outside on the rocks, her feet dangling off the edge as she gazed up at the millions of little lights in the sky. She thought of them as ones they'd lost, that every star represented one person who'd lost their life.

As much as she tried, her mind couldn't stray from the fight only a mere night ago. After being saved by Lucy, the girl had been ordered to bed rest- but then again, they knew she would never obey. There were a few guards on duty that she had to evade but other than that nobody knew she was out there. Her gaze was set in the distance, her eyes glossed over and her arms were pressed tightly into her chest.

The sound of footsteps approached the edge and somebody lowered themselves down onto the edge to sit beside her. "You should be inside." Peter said softly.

"No." Eliza replied, looking down at her trembling hands, before pointing to the stars "I should be with those Narnians."

Peter wrapped a loose arm around her shoulders making the girl abruptly shake it off. "I should've listened to you Liza, I'm sorry-" the older boy began before getting cut off by Eliza scoffing.

"I told you the stupid plan wouldn't work. I told you." Eliza said, her voice rising as she spoke "Now half my men are dead, and we are hopelessly outnumbered."

A flash of anger went through Peter. He didn't want to fail. He didn't want to leave those Narnians behind or his sister. "Your men?!" He hissed.

Eliza gritted her teeth, "Yes, 'my men'." She continued, "You clearly can't lead them, so why should they be yours." Another spark of anger lit in Peters eyes.

"I didn't want to leave those Narnians. I told everyone to retreat!" He argued loudly, making the girl shake her head.

"And I told you not to go through with the plan- yet here we are." Eliza yelled, her lip quivering.

"I'm the High King, I'm in charge here." Peter shouted defensively, standing up abruptly, making Eliza follow in pursuit.

"Do you not understand the what has happened? Are you really that deluded?" Eliza replied spitefully, "Those men died for NOTHING. I was left there, I ALMOST DIED! All because your pride went to your head."

Eliza paused and wiped the tears from her face, "I watched you ride away. It broke my heart but I knew if I were with those warriors then I'd be fine. Why couldn't you have just left me there?! Then I wouldn't be here arguing or feeling the g-guilt I feel." The girl had now broken into sobs, her hard headed self- shaking in fear.

Peter softened up and didn't hesitate to throw his arms around his sister as she cried into his chest. The boy rubbed her back slowly, as a tear slipped from his eye. She felt guilty-So did he.

"Sh-sh, you're okay." Peter whispered, as she cried, he leaned his head on top of hers, closing his eyes as he squeezed her close. No matter how irritated he was with his siblings he'd always be there for them. Whether it was small argument or a battle of arms, He'd be there.

No. Matter. What.

☆

I think that I should get an award for almost killing all of my characters in every book I've written.

Anyway- yeah, I love you all So goddamn much. For those of you who were concerned for me the day before and yesterday (with the whole hate account), I'm fine. I didn't feel necessarily 'threatened', the stuff the account said just made me appreciate the amount of people that actually give a fuck about me.

So thank you!

Please comment and vote, ngl it gives me the motivation to write!!

See you all soon!