their way back to the How, they basked in a mourning and grieving silence. The Narnians emerged from the How, their expectant faces greeted instantly with the solemn ones, and morphing from a triumphant achievement to an unsatisfied depression.

Seeing the falling faces of their families made Catherine feel upset all over again, sighing and dropping her eyes in an attempt to distract herself. Beside her, Edmund frowned and watched her in a slight concern. Upon the Griffin's arrival, Caspian spun around and ran towards her, shaking her shoulders in urgency.

'Cath?' He asked, his voice sighing in relief as he saw her. 'God, Cath, are you alright? Are you hurt?'

Catherine pulled him into a tight embrace, one she wished to not ever let go of. She sniffled into his shoulder, the pain of what she had just seen flooding back to her. Caspian closed his eyes, the realization of the result of the battle hitting him like a large, crazy wave. When he let go, he sent Edmund an appreciative look, in which Edmund gave a soft nod in understanding.

Lucy ran up with a painful expression, the hope draining from her face as her chin began to wobble. 'What happened?'

Peter scowled characteristically and felt his heart tighten in his chest. 'Ask him.'

Caspian knitted his eyebrows, spinning around from his sister towards the boy who's comment had been directly pointed towards him. Anger arose in his chest and his eyes began to flare. Susan winced, knowing that her brother was beginning to stir another argument.

'Peter.' She scolded.

'Me?' Caspian said, ignoring Susan's large sighs and Catherine's pleads as she prayed they wouldn't have another fight. Not here.

Peter spun around, his eyes flaring as his anger began to take over. Caspian snarled and Catherine could see the frustration pinching his face and the anger lining his shoulders.

'You could've called it off.' Caspian told him with an exasperated, dry laugh. 'There was still time!'

'There wasn't, thanks to you!' Peter yelled back. 'If you had just kept to the plan, those soldiers might still be alive right now!'

Catherine flinched. That wasn't fair.

'And if you'd stayed here like I suggested, they definitely would be!'

Peter seethed, his own rage rising. He narrowed his eyes, dangerously, trying to cool his anger. 'You called us, remember?'

Caspian gave him a cold smile. 'My first mistake.'

'No,' Peter says, stepping forwards. 'Your first mistake was thinking you could lead these people.'

The High King shook his head as if he was trying to shake off the anger that fell onto his shoulders. He turned and walked towards Lucy, scoffing as he dismissed the Prince. Caspian seethed, his eyes flashing from his usual soft nature to darkening, cold stone. Catherine knew that she made a stark contrast with her brother, Caspian of sharp anger, of fun and broodiness, and an untouchable disaster that he led in his wake.

'HEY!'

Catherine heard him growl and paled, considerably. She sighed, knowing that it wasn't going to end well. Peter faced him.

'I am not the one who abandoned Narnia.' Caspian said through gritted teeth. Behind her, she felt Edmund tense slightly and felt her heart tighten in guilt.

'Cas-' She mumbled, quietly. He didn't hear her.

'You invaded Narnia.' Peter replied. 'You have no more right to lead it than Miraz does!'

Caspian shoved past him towards the How, scoffing loudly. Peter felt his breathing rise, his face reddening. How dare he walk away!

'You, him, your father! Narnia's better off without the lot of you!'

Catherine winced, taking a step backwards. She flinched as if Peter had hit her physically, another blow to remind her of what she was. A Telmarine. It was all she would ever be.

From the day she was born, Catherine was already cursed.

Caspian screamed, his face morphing from a heartbroken rage and instantly drew his sword. He spun around, pointing it towards Peter, who's reflexes instantly reacted and pointed his own sword to his throat. Edmund shouted out, panic igniting in his face as he flicked his eyes between his brother and the girl in front of him, who seemed to be struggling to resist the urge to cry.

'Stop it!' He yelled, making the scene in front of him freeze as he walked past Catherine towards Glenstorm, who carried Trumpkin in his arms, limp and bruises from the battle he had just faced. Edmund sighs and helps him to the ground, gently, making Lucy gasp and rush between the boys, tearing them apart as they lowered their weapons, another reminder of what war had done to the people they grew to appreciate and love.

Lucy crouched by the dwarves side, taking out her potion bottle and popping out the cork with a soft pop. Carefully, she added a small drop to his lips.

Before they could see the result, Catherine sighed and pursed her lips, regaining her posture as she walked over to Caspian. She touched his arm, urging him to follow her back into the how.

'Come on, Cas.' She muttered, softly, taking note at his expression. He opened his mouth slightly, his eyes trained on Trumpkin who was beginning to wake up. 'Come on.'

He hung his head, ashamed as she took his hand into hers, leading him into the temple as if he was a broken child that Catherine was constantly trying to prevent resurfacing.

...

used their preparation for the next war as a distraction from the outcome of the last one. They had gotten back to work, quickly and effortlessly, moulding iron into weapons and armour, catapults and cannons.

Catherine was sitting on a soft crate in the middle of the main area, smiling softly as she patches up a small centaur's arm, who whimpered slightly as she wrapped around a bandage. She lifted a hand to ruffle his hair in reassurance, grinning at him.

'All done.' She announced and he nodded her thanks, giggling before running off to her father.

She sighed and turned to her side, organizing her bandages, stiches and plasters. She felt a shadow loom over her, a person smiling down at her with a soft gaze that scanned over her.

'I heard you were the one fixing things.'

Catherine chuckled lightly and shook her head, gesturing for him to sit next to her. Edmund smiled and extended his palm, a light cut running from his ring finger to his thumb. She got herself some gauze and dabbed it with care. Even though the cut wasn't that deep, she didn't want to cause him any pain.

As she cared for him, Edmund found himself looking back over her again, only this time she sensed the attention and her eyes landed on him. He didn't look away.

Both of her eyes were slightly different. Slightly, but something he could easily notice.

They were crystal clear, ocean blue orbs that seem to move like a wave each time she blinked, and he suddenly felt as if he were rocking – stuck on a small boat in the sea. On closer inspection, he saw that they were littered with grey patterns, like her face was lightened by small freckles that trickled over her nose. Edmund found it fascinating.

Edmund finally had begun to see her for who she was; a lioness, a majesty created from all the best parts of the worlds, the wonders of nature and Narnia itself, the parts that he had always craved when he was away from it, back home in Finchley. His eyes diverted towards her hair, soft brown created from the smoothest ocean's waves and he reached out to touch it with his free hand, surprised when his fingers came away dry. She blushed, furiously and he found himself grinning in triumph.

'I'm sorry about my brother.'

Catherine chuckled and looked down at his hand, dabbing it once more. 'And I am sorry about mine.'

Edmund didn't respond, the mere sound of her voice sending goose bumps to ripple against his body. He was afraid, that by their proximity and her close touch, that she might be able to feel them. He wasn't sure if he wanted her to know if they were there, or not.

'Caspian can be a little... dramatic at times.' Catherine continued. 'He just wants to be what's the best for everyone, always trying to be a hero. But I trust his intentions.'

Edmund nodded, pausing for a minute before making his decision. 'And therefore, so shall I.'

Catherine grinned and wrapped a bandage around his hand, finishing it off. 'So, where are you from, King Edmund?'

Edmund puffed out his chest, full of pride, and straightened himself up. 'I'm from Finchley.'

'Is that your kingdom?' Catherine said, her eyes swelling in excitement.

Edmund chuckled, shaking his head to remove his thoughts and grinned down at his hand.

'I suppose you can say that.' He said, not daring to tell her the truth. He didn't want to be the cause that removed that pretty smile from her face. 'Its not as wonderful as it is here. You're lucky. You don't have any work, or school.'

Catherine nodded. 'We have school here. We have our Professor.'

Edmund raised an eyebrow. 'With other children?'

'It's just me and Caspian.' She said, frowning. 'I love him, but I wish I could go to school with some other children. It sounds delightful.'

Edmund whistled, teasingly and shook his head. 'It's no Narnia, that's for sure. There's fights and homework-'

'Fights?' Catherine said, looking up concerned. 'Is everybody alright?'

'Don't worry, Princess. I win them all.' He smiled before lowering his voice as if he was about to tell her a secret. 'I am the best swordsman in Narnia, after all.'

At this Catherine grinned and nodded.

'Well,' She said, grinning teasingly. 'I suppose we'll ignore the fact that I almost kicked your arse when we first met.'

Edmund smirked and leaned in towards her. 'Almost.'

She chuckled and he grinned at himself before noticing her expression beginning to change. She snapped her head around, furrowing her eyebrows in a deep confusion. Edmund frowned as she stood up.

'Catherine?'

She turned around, fear contorting her now pale features. Something roared in her stomach. She swallowed and the muscles in her jaw clenched.

'It's Caspian.'

I love Cath's sister instincts, like they're such goals. It's cute af.