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✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩🤺The Duel🤺✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

Peter gazed at the walls, meeting his reflection in the drawing of himself carved on it. Was he truly the man for the duel? Edmund's safety was his upmost priority, but he was hesitant if the monster of a human could be defeated. Edmund's growing presence beside him distracted him.

"How are you feeling?" Edmund asked, shifting his attention from the wall to Peter.

"Nervous," Peter replied, "but as ready as I'd ever be."

Edmund sent him a gratified look. "She's counting on you, Pete. We all are."

"I'll do you all proud, uh, hopefully."

"I'll go fetch your sword."

Peter nodded, and proceeded to meet Reepicheep who prepared his battle armour. Along the way, a voice among the crowd of Narnians preparing for battle echoed across the halls.

"Peter!"

"Caspian," he greeted politely, maintaining his walking speed as Caspian caught up to him.

"Perhaps I should be the one to duel him," Caspian suggested.

"What are you talking about? We don't have time for any changes, I've got to get my armour."

"This is not what I meant, this is my fight," Caspian opposed.

"I think we've already tried that," he paused in his tracks to face the prince momentarily.

"Look," he began, "if there's ever going to be peace with the Telmarines, you have to be the one who brings it."

"How can I if you won't let me?" Caspian insisted. "He is my uncle, Peter."

"Not like this," Peter shook his head, "if I don't make it, Narnia's future is in your hands."

They both stood, facing each other.

"Then what about your own future?" Caspian's eyes filled with concern.

"I was thinking about a career in medicine," Peter shared, turning around. "But if this is what Aslan asks of me, then I'm sure he would have a better plan for me."

His eyes landed on his armour that laid out neatly across the earthly table, which Reepicheep had prepared for him. Trumpkin brought him his helmet.

Peter met Caspian's eyes as he sought all his last words in his mind.

"You know, I take back the things I said about you," he apologised, "Narnia would be in good hands with you."

Caspian was silent. Up to that moment, they have never been on the same side. For once, he found himself a family in Peter.

"Peter," Edmund approached the two in the room, with Peter's sword in his hands, "it's time."

"Are you ready?" Caspian prompted.

"I'm ready."

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

Edmund accompanied Peter out of the How, and was greeted by the sunshine almost blinding him. Miraz sat in anticipation as they marched on. Edmund held a stern glare at the Telmarine, with his lips slightly parted, as he spotted Charlotte in front of the men. He swallowed his fears and placed his trust in Peter.

Charlotte, all bound by ropes brushing against her skin, fixed her gaze on the two brothers marching towards the duelling arena. Her heart pounded like a sledgehammer and sweat formed on her forehead in anticipation of the duel.

Edmund handed Peter his sword, and then placed its casing neatly by the pillar. The Narnians erupted in cheer as Peter drew his sword and marched right into the battlefield without an ounce of fear.

"If it should appear to be going poorly," Miraz spoke lowly with a tinge of austerity.

"Understood, your Majesty," General Glozelle replied.

"I hope you won't be too disappointed when I survive," Miraz mocked Sopespian, who merely stared back at him indignantly.

Tension flared and everyone stared at the two opponents. They narrowed their eyes at each other, hoping to intimidate the other.

"There's still time to surrender," Miraz advised, his virile voice slightly muffled by the helmet over his face.

"Well feel free," Peter replied confidently, unshaken by his threats.

"How many more people have to die for the throne?" He taunted, shaking his head at the boy's pertinacious nature.

"Just one," Peter answered boldly before he pushed his helmet down and charged forward.

Both of them roared as they struck each other, yet successfully blocking the blades with their shields.

The Narnian crowd erupted in cheers for their High King. They took turns striking and blocking each other. The Narnians provided applause, seeming appeased every time Peter was able to overpower Miraz. His skills certainly took Miraz by surprise as he struggled to keep up with Peter's attacks.

Peter seized the opportunity to slice Miraz in the back, causing a howl of agony to escape him. A smile crept upon Edmund's face as he looked proudly at Peter.

However, Peter's success was short-lived when he dodged Miraz's strike for the last time immediately before receiving a blow to the face by his shield. Peter's helmet flew, causing him to let out a grunt, and his face was left bare and exposed to the threat before him.

Peter successfully dodged another strike to his neck, barely escaping the blade. Kneeling on the ground instantly, he sliced Miraz's knee. The man bellowed and stumbled backwards, grasping his bleeding knee. He looked to his men wide-eyed, but General Glozelle only tilted his head with an unimpressed look.

"Come on, Peter!" Charlotte urged, much to Miraz's vexation.

Determined to win the battle, he fought on, trying to wear Peter down. As soon as Peter dropped to the ground, Miraz seized the opportunity to step on his shield. Peter's cries dragged on as his arm twisted.

In sheer desperation, Peter rolled over incessantly to escape his attacks, only to outsmart Miraz by tripping him in the process. Peter immediately rose, and his attention shifted to a returning horse carrying Caspian and Susan. The sharp agony in his arm was unbearable to brush aside.

"Does his Highness need a respite?" Miraz taunted, getting up from the ground.

"Five minutes?"

"Three!"

Edmund rushed to his brother's side as they approached Susan and Caspian.

"Lucy?" Peter prompted in worry.

"The Telmarines attacked us, but she got through," Susan replied, gesturing towards Caspian, "with a little help."

"Thanks," he sighed in relief.

"Well, you were busy," Caspian said in understanding.

"You better get up there," Peter suggested to his sister, gesturing to the army of archers stationed at the top of the How, "just in case. I don't expect the Telmarines will keep their word."

Susan embraced him in a hug, only to hear him groaning in discomfort.

"Sorry."

"It's all right."

"Be careful," she warned him, uncertain of his victory.

Edmund surveyed the crowd's spirit fleetingly. "Keep smiling."

Peter heeded his advice, raising his sword enthusiastically with a wide grin to please the crowd. Relieved that their king appeared fine, the crowd cheered for him.

"How does he look to you?" Miraz whispered to Sopespian.

"Young."

"But his Majesty's doing extremely well," General Glozelle added, fixing a bandage over Miraz's wound, "for his age."

"I hope you're prepared," Miraz taunted the girl, "once this is over, I'll have you executed."

"I hope you're prepared," Charlotte's rebutted, unfazed, "once this is over, you will pay for the Narnians' suffering."

Peter let out cries, looking to Edmund for assistance.

"I think it's dislocated," he winced in pain.

Edmund inspected his arm with worry written all over his face.

"What do you think happens back home if you die here?"

They both glanced at each other. Edmund was speechless. He could not bear the thought of losing the one who always looked out for him and cared for him despite their differences.

"You know you've always been there," Peter began, "and I never really- AH!"

Edmund swiftly pushed his arm back into position without warning. He refused to believe Peter would die. He had confidence in him, and he would stand by his judgment that Peter could win.

"Save it for later," he insisted, leaving Peter's side.

The two opponents exchanged looks before the duel resumed. Only this time, Miraz started off stronger than before, aggressively throwing strikes at him far more mercilessly. Stunned by his aggression, Peter stumbled backwards, using his shield to block the repetitive strikes.

Miraz roared ferociously as he spared no mercy in hitting Peter's shield. He seized every opportunity to catch Peter off guard, even using his shield to punch Peter. Peter fell to the ground but used his legs to trip the man once more.

Edmund's breathing quickened as his jaw dropped. "Remember your training, Peter!"

Edmund's words struck memories in Peter's mind.

"You've grown stronger," Peter praised Edmund as they towered over the sea from the balconies of Cair Paravel.

They had been ruling Narnia for a year, and it was at this point where Peter lost to Edmund in training for the first time. Little did Peter know that Edmund would rise far above him in their mastery, destined to beat him at every duel for the next fourteen years.

"You've," Edmund paused with a snicker, "remained strong."

"How did you defeat me?" Peter questioned, perplexed by the outcome.

"You're too focused on your weapons, Peter," Edmund chuckled, "perhaps it would be good to focus on theirs. You can knock theirs out of their hands and it would give you the upper hand. Remember when I destroyed the White Witch's wand?"

Peter noticed Miraz throwing another swing. This time, he got close to him, seizing his hand and grabbing hold of his sword. Immediately dropping the sword to the ground, he struck at Miraz incessantly but Miraz was successful in separating Peter's hand from his sword when Peter missed his armour. The man kept attacking Peter with his shield mercilessly.

"And you can turn their weapons against them," Edmund suggested, "I used your shield against you and you couldn't do anything about it. You were stuck."

With Edmund's advice from their past reign replaying in his mind, Peter grabbed hold of the shield, turning it over to Miraz's back. However, Miraz punched him back using his elbow, causing Peter to stumble backwards once more.

Miraz swiftly picked the sword off the ground, determined to end the boy once and for all. Peter barely escaped his blade, rolling to the side. Finally, he punched his wound, causing the man to roar.

"Respite!" He demanded.

Peter paused, allowing him some time to breathe as he fell to the ground.

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

"Show no mercy!" The Narnians encouraged.

Peter sighed, and turned his back to have a respite. Seeing an opportunity before him, Miraz reached for the sword, alarming Charlotte.

"Peter!" She cried out.

"Look out!" Edmund yelled.

Miraz struck at him, but Peter dodged and grabbed hold of the sword. With the sword now in his possession, he pierced it right through Miraz's lower abdomen.

Miraz fell to his knees, looking up at Peter. The crowd fell silent, watching them intently. Peter glared at him, but made no move.

"What's the matter, boy?" Miraz challenged. "Too cowardly to take a life?"

Peter held his glare silently, before lowering his sword.

"It's not mine to take," he answered and held the sword out towards Caspian.

Caspian trudged forward hesitantly, grabbing the sword. They remained still in silence, as Caspian aimed the sword at Miraz.

"Perhaps I was wrong," Miraz grinned gleefully, "Maybe you do have the makings of a Telmarine king after all. You've made me proud, my boy."

Caspian had his gaze fixed on the murderer he refused to be associated with. Then, he screamed in rage.

Miraz hung his head low, welcoming his death. Only, he felt the sword hit the ground before him, and looked up again at his nephew.

"Not one like you," Caspian corrected him, his eyes brimming with tears. "Keep your life, but I am giving the Narnians back their kingdom."

Caspian glanced at the rest of the Telmarines. "This duel is now over. Release the princess and surrender at once."

General Glozelle cut off the ropes as instructed, and Charlotte rushed over to Caspian in an embrace.

"This belongs to you, Charlotte," he gripped the ancient sword, holding it out to her.

All Charlotte could utter was words of gratitude in repetition. She glanced at her friends, and immediately rushed into her closest friend's arms.

"Charlotte," Edmund stroked her hair, "you're alright. We've got you."

"Charlotte," Peter smiled.

"You did it, Peter." She mirrored his smile.

"He missed you," Peter joked, ruffling Edmund's hair, "I had to get you back."

"I believe this is your property," Edmund handed her a precious piece of jewellery.

"Oh thank goodness," she praised, slipping her bracelet onto her wrist.

General Glozelle shared a suspicious look with Sopespian. Seeing that he complied with Caspian's instructions, something seemed off. Charlotte was almost certain they were planning to eliminate Peter, or Edmund.

Sopespian ambled towards Miraz's side with a calm demeanour, aiding him on his feet.

"I'll deal with you when this is over," Miraz warned.

"It is over," Sopespian replied, before Miraz's soul abruptly left his body.

*****A/N: YES LET'S GO!!! SO HYPED FOR THE FINAL BATTLE UGH. Honestly, I'm conflicted between publishing other projects related to the Wizarding World universe (Harry Potter fanfics basically) or finishing this first, but we'll see how things play out. For now, I'll try to finish this as quickly as possible.

Anyway, feedback is always welcomed! For a first book, this planning process was spoon-fed tbh, considering it already follows an existing plot. But I'd really like to know how my original plans are received by the readers. Feel free to vote and comment! ❤️