"give me your love to use"

-

FOURTEEN.

CADY RETURNS TO THE HOW IN A RAGE OF FURY. "Caspian!" She shouts, sweeping through the chamber like the rush of a wave crashing down.

Edmund's steps behind her quicken. "Cady, let's think this through before you strangle your brother." Even his voice of reason is a blur as she hunts for her brother amongst the Narnians.

"Cady? What–"

She doesn't let him finish his sentence, dragging him by his arm to a nearby corridor when the commotion draws the Narnians' curious eyes towards them.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Cady asks. She tries to keep a brave face, to be angry at her brother for keeping a secret from her, to scowl and attack, but her face scrunches up in an attempt to hold back tears.

Caspian falls silent, and she pushes him gently, unable to muster up the strength. She is tearing up now, tears swelling up in her eyes. Then Caspian speaks up, "Cads, I'm sorry."

"For what? Not telling me how Miraz murdered our father in his sleep?"

Caspian sighs, hands tangling in his hair, a habit that only shows when he is nervous. "I should have told you when we returned from Telmar Castle, but then you and Peter fought and we found out you're Narnian, and you got hurt because of me and I couldn't bring myself to–"

"Stop rambling!" She hisses, teeth bared as she blinks through angry tears. "Did you know how I found out?" Her voice is a dangerous snarl, and she doesn't wait for him to reply. "I had to find out from Miraz! Not from my own brother who knew but the tyrant king who committed the sin. He humiliated me, brother, in front of those horrid lords and generals and Edmund!"

Caspian steps closer, pulling her into a warm hug. "I'm sorry."

Cady finds herself breaking in his embrace, unable to form words as she cries into her brother's chest with wretched sobs and that have her legs giving way. If it weren't for Caspian holding her, she would've fallen to the ground.

"It's not your fault, Cads, don't do this to yourself. You adored him so much since you were a kid, I couldn't bring myself to tell you."

Cady can't focus properly. "How could he!"

"Cady, Cadence!" He shakes her. "It's all in the past now. You need to focus, the duel is tomorrow and I need you to survive the coming war."

Summoning her strength, Cady manages a nod.

"Miraz may keep his promise but there's no telling what the Telmar Lords will do," Caspian says.

"We Telmarines would have nothing had we not taken it," Cady replies, nails digging into the skin of her palms. "We're taking it all back. For Narnia."

x

THE NEXT MORNING COULDN'T COME QUICKLY ENOUGH. And before she knows it, Cady is strapping on her armour over her green dress: a leather corset-like vest and a chainmail tunic with silver guards. Her pair of swords hang around her hips alongside Edmund's dagger.

"You look good wearing my flag," Edmund compliments, his eyes flitting to the red armband with the Narnian symbol etched in gold she dons around her upper arm.

Cady laughs quietly at his words, giving him a playful nudge as they leave the armoury. "What else was I supposed to wear?"

They approach Peter together, the High King fidgeting with his armour and grasping his sword tight. He's uncharacteristically nervous. "Peter," Cady calls, slowing to a stop before him. "Are you ready?"

He cracks a reassuring smile. "As I could ever be."

Following the Pevensie Kings, Cady makes her way out of the How and towards the duelling arena. As they emerge from the entrance, the Narnians cheer loudly in support.

She glares across the duelling area, eyes meeting Miraz's angrily before turning to Peter, pulling him into a quick hug. "Please be careful," she pleads. "I refuse to lose anyone else."

"As you wish, Cady." Peter dips his head, a reassuring smile on his face. "Don't worry, I'll be alright."

The High King unsheathes his sword, turning towards the Narnians behind them briefly with a warm smile before turning back to Miraz and stepping into the duel.

Cady pulls her posture straight as she stands with Edmund, one hand holding her dagger in a deathly tight grip and the other reaching for Edmund's hand. When she takes his, he inhales sharply and looks over to her with a gentle smile, yet his eyes are stern with determination.

"There is still time to surrender," Miraz says.

"Well, feel free," Peter replies.

"How many more must die for the throne?" Miraz asks.

"Just one." Cady can hear Peter's response just as he pulls down his helmet, shielding his face.

He shouts as he leaps from a rock, his sword clashing against her uncle's shield.

The crowd behind them cheer as metal collides with metal, both their stances unyielding in the duel.

Peter hits Miraz in the back, and Miraz retaliates by knocking Peter's helmet off, and then his coif. But Peter swings low, and cuts his opponent's leg easily, drawing blood.

Cady bites back a flinch when Miraz trips Peter. The High King falls, and Miraz steps on his shield without mercy. The action twists Peter's arm in the wrong angle, and he lets out a painful yell before he rolls out of the way just in time to dodge Miraz's swings.

Then he stops and Miraz trips over him. Both of them recover quickly, getting up with heavy breaths and the resolve to not be beaten by the other.

For a moment, Peter becomes distracted by someone's approach, looking over Miraz's shoulder. From behind, Cady spots Caspian riding back to the How with Susan sitting behind him. Taking his opportunity at the moment of distraction, Miraz asks, "Does his highness need a respite?"

"Five minutes?"

"Three!"

Peter turns back to Cady and Edmund, and finally drops his facade. He limps back painfully, grimacing at his dislocated arm and one hand gripping his sword tight like it is his lifeline. Cady hurries forward, wrapping an arm around him to help take part of his weight. Edmund rushes forward to pick his abandoned helmet up from the ground.

Behind them, the Narnians shuffle and whisper nervously.

"Lucy?" Peter's voice is laced with worry.

"She got through," Susan replies before moving in Caspian's direction. "With a little help."

"Thanks," Peter says to Caspian.

"Well, you were busy." Caspian nods, acknowledging the duel.

The High King turns to Susan. "You better get up there, just in case. I don't expect the Telmarines will keep their word."

Susan pulls Peter in for a quick hug and he grunts in response.

"Sorry," Susan apologises.

"It's alright," Peter mumbles.

"Be careful."

Edmund's eyes dart from the How to Peter, then says, "Keep smiling."

The High King turns to the Narnians with a toothy grin, raising his sword to summon a loud cheer as Susan dashes into the How. The way he forces a smile so easily sends a tremble down Cady's spine. Here she is, her first time on the battlefield, an amateur in the midst of legends, and the Pevensies are here, lifting the troops' spirits as easy as breathing.

Cady guides Peter to sit and Caspian helps him take off his shield. Peter lets out a cry in pain, teeth clenching as he cradles his injured arm. Cady grabs his arm gently, examining the wound.

"I think it's dislocated," Peter groans, looking at her.

She presses a hand to his shoulder, feeling for his joint. The High King suppresses a grunt, his breath quickening.

"Peter, you're not going to like this," Cady tells him. His shoulder juts out of place uncomfortably and hangs low on his side.

"Ed–" She nods towards Peter. "Talk to him?"

Edmund catches on quickly, and he crouches down on the other side to look at Peter, who asks, "What do you think happens back home if you die here?"

Edmund doesn't respond, but his jaw clenches at his question.

Peter turns to look at him, eyes softening. "You know you've always been there, and I never really–"

Cady braces one hand on his shoulder and the other grabs his arm. Then, she steadily pulls at his arm until it pops back into its socket with ease. Peter lets out a tired groan. "All done, your Majesty," she says.

"Save it for later," Edmund replies, standing up and giving Peter his sword. He doesn't say it, but Cady can tell from the way he holds Peter's sword tightly that Edmund is afraid, now more than ever.

When Cady offers him his helmet, Peter simply shakes his head and turns to step towards Miraz.

Peter attacks quickly, but Miraz parries to match his speed. Her uncle pushes his shield on Peter, causing him to fall backwards. The fight escalates quickly, and when Peter knocks Miraz's sword out of his hand, Cady bites her tongue to suppress a gasp.

Miraz keeps his shield up, the metal his only weapon (and defence) against Peter's aggressive attacks. When her uncle tries to slam his shield into Peter, the High King catches it and twists it behind Miraz. With a grunt, Miraz elbows Peter in the face and then pushes him into a pillar.

Miraz picks up his sword from the ground and swings recklessly, but Peter blocks his attacks with his vambraces. Then, Peter twists to the side and punches Miraz's wounded leg, making him yell and collapse, dropping his sword and holding his hands up in surrender. "Respite, respite!" Cady hears her uncle hiss out the words through pain.

"Now's not the time for chivalry, Peter!" Edmund shouts beside her when Peter hesitates on delivering the final blow, merely watching Miraz cowarding on his knees.

"Show no mercy!" Someone shouts from the crowd behind.

Peter pauses, and lowers his sword. Then, he turns away from Miraz and walks back.

Cady looks past his shoulder to find Miraz, who has managed to get back up and is beginning to swing a sword at Peter's defenceless back. "Look out!" She yells, pointing back at the fighting area.

Peter dodges just in time, grabbing the sword, twisting it around, and stabbing Miraz beneath the arm. Her uncle gasps and falls to his knees. Peter, now holding Miraz' sword, hesitates again.

"What's the matter, boy?" Miraz asks when Peter pauses a little too long. "Too cowardly to take a life?"

"It's not mine to take," Peter spits.

Peter turns to look at Caspian. Her brother steps forward, his eyes boring into Miraz's angrily. He takes the sword when Peter passes, and slowly raises it in front of Miraz, aiming at his chest.

"Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe you do have the makings of a Telmarine king after all," Miraz utters, a shadow of a smile flitting over his features. And he bows his head, prepared for the final blow.

Caspian raises his sword, screams and stabs down.

Cady, unable to watch, flinches back and looks away. But at the last moment, she turns back in time to see the sword stabbing into the ground. "Not one like you," her brother replies, frustration piercing his voice. He takes a step away. "Keep your life, I'm doing this for Cady, and I'm giving the Narnians back their kingdom."

When Caspian turns back to them, the Narnians cheer loudly. Cady grins from ear to ear, and rushes forward to crush Caspian into a hug. Until she hears a gasp from the fighting area. Immediately turning, Cady breaks away from Caspian to see Miraz fall over, Susan's arrow sticking from his back.

"Uncle!" She cries, surging forward to his body.

But Edmund grabs Cady's arm and tugs her back, spinning her into his arms. "Don't," he says softly, patting her back to comfort her as she hides her face into his chest.

"Treachery! They shot him!" Lord Sopespian shouts accusingly, picking up Miraz's sword. "They murdered our king!"