Our Long Awaited Return Book #8

Chapter 22 The Duel Between My Brother and the Tyrant Miraz

Verity's POV

They lunged at each other, their swords clashing against their shields.

Edmund wore an excited look on his face, but I remained solemn, while Andrew stayed neutral. Miraz knocked Peter's helmet off his face, and I cringed, but my brother continued. He swung his sword at the tyrant's leg, who grunted in pain. Miraz got the first blow.

Miraz fought back, knocked Peter down, and stepped on his shield, twisting his arm. Peter cried out in agony. I grabbed Ed's hand, holding on to it tightly. He squeezed it gently. Bugly Bear sucked his paws and shrieked in dismay.

My brother struggled to get up, so he rolled on the ground while fighting Miraz, finally knocking him down and giving him a chance to get to his feet. At that moment, I saw Caspian and Susan ride toward us. I was surprised because I thought Susan and Lucy were supposed to go alone.

"Wait, where's Lucy?" I asked Andrew.

"She'll be alright, Key," Andrew assured me, placing a steady arm around my shoulders.

"Does His Highness need respite?" mocked Miraz.

"Five minutes," begged Peter.

"Three," he answered quickly.

Miraz went back to his men, while Edmund went for Peter, picked up his helmet, and helped him back. He cringed in pain.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yes," Peter nodded as he turned to Susan, who stood beside me. "Lucy?"

"She got through, with a little help," Susan replied, eyeing Caspian.

"Thanks," Peter said gratefully.

"Well, you were busy," Caspian explained.

"Caspian!" cried Leona, as she came down from her place among the archers.

She ran to hug him, and he hugged her back.

"Better get out there, just in case," Peter told Susan. "I don't expect the Telmarines to keep their word, and Ruth can't do it alone."

He looked over at Miraz.

"I don't think they're even thinking of surrender," I commented drily.

Susan walked over to Peter and pulled him into a hug. He groaned in pain.

"Sorry," she said.

"It's alright," he replied.

Andrew, Edmund, and I looked back at the crowd of restless Narnians.

"Keep smiling," Ed told Peter.

Our brother raised his sword and grinned. A cheer ran through the crowd.

"We should take a look at that arm," Andrew told his twin.

Peter sat down on a chair and groaned when Andrew removed his armpiece for his armor.

"I think it's dislocated," he said.

Edmund rushed to his side, trying to relocate his arm, and I laid a hand on my elder brother's   shoulder.

"What do you think happens back at home if you die here?" he asked the three of us.

"Please, don't think about it, Pete," I said to him.

"You'll be fine," Andrew assured him.

He looked straight into each of our eyes. "You know you three have always been there, and I never really..."

At that moment, Edmund readjusted his arm, sending him into a few more groans.

"Save it for later," Edmund said.

"If there is a later," I scanned the large Telmarine army, searching for Lord Raven, but I couldn't see him.

Andrew helped Peter up, and Edmund handed him his sword and helmet; he shook his head at the helmet, as Miraz didn't have one either.

The two kings continued the fight, and for a few moments, nothing happened except swords scraping against shields.

But then Miraz got Peter down, and with a desperate attempt, my brother got the tyrant down. As the two kings rose to their feet, Peter managed to get rid of Miraz's sword. Thus, the king only had his shield to protect himself.

Peter slashed but missed the king, unfortunately. But Miraz fought back, making Peter drop his weapons. He hit my brother with his shield, grinning, thinking it was just a game. I grasped Andrew's arm.

Peter grabbed hold of Miraz's shield and turned around, twisting it as he did. Miraz yelled and hit Peter in the face with his arm. Sending Peter against a stone, the tyrant picked up his sword and slashed it at Peter, but missed my intelligent brother.

Peter went and hit Miraz's injury, who yelled in agony, "Respite!"

Peter stood and waited for Miraz; I knew he was probably thinking of giving Miraz what he wanted.

"Now's not the time for chivalry, Peter," shouted Edmund.

Peter headed back, but then Miraz got up and swung his sword at him.

I covered my eyes. "Peter!" I cried.

As Edmund and Andrew yelled in unison, "Lookout!"

Peter turned around, grabbed Miraz's sword, and stabbed him in the leg. The painful look on Miraz's face—Peter had won! Miraz knelt, while Peter held his sword, ready to finish him off.

"Come on, Pete, finish him off!" I said to my brother.

Miraz looked straight at him, "What's the matter, boy, too cowardly to take a life?"

"It's not mine to take," Peter replied. He looked over at Caspian and handed the sword to him.

Caspian took it, and Peter stepped back; I patted my brother's arm. I thought what he did was more noble than winning a hundred victories.

Leona watched from the ledge with Susan, Ruth, Beth, and the other archers. Her brother stepped forward to Miraz.

"Perhaps I was wrong," she could hear her uncle say. "Maybe you do have the makings of a Telmarine king."

Her brother threw his sword back into the ground, yelling. "Not like you," Caspian answered angrily. "Keep your life, but I am giving the Narnians back their freedom."

A cheer ran out from the Narnians, and Leona smiled down at her brother.

She watched as Lord Sospesian walked over to Miraz and helped him up. She couldn't hear what he was saying, but a few minutes later, her uncle gripped his side and fell to the ground. A red arrow was lodged in his chest.

Leona looked at Susan; those were her arrows.

"Susan, that's your arrow!" exclaimed Ruth.

"I didn't do it," Susan said, shocked at the scene before her.

"Then where did he get it?" inquired Beth, confused.

"Treachery!" shouted Lord Sospesian. "They shot him, they murdered our king!"

He ran to his troops as they got ready. Leona should have known the Telmarines would find an excuse to fight, even if they had to kill their king.