Hello everyone, and welcome back! If you've just discovered this story I suggest you go back and read Choices, Change and Challenges and then Dreams, Desires and Destiny first, otherwise you won't have a clue what's going on! I've had a lot of fun writing the last two stories and it was the same with this one, but it was a lot more challenging than it's predecessors, particularly with Peter. I hope my story can do the original and the movie justice, particularly the acting. I think William Moseley did a great job with Peter in Prince Caspian by making him less whiny than he could have been, something I have tried to maintain here. Just to forewarn you all that I will be adding deleted scenes from the movie into this fic, so if you start reading about something that you're pretty sure wasn't in the movie then that's probably why, but I'll try and tell you before hand in my author's notes. Also, I will most likely be posting one chapter per week for this story, probably Saturday or Sunday nights. But I'll shut up now and let you get on with reading. Here's chapter one of Pride, Pain and Perseverance which I hope you all enjoy. And feel free to leave a review; I love feedback!

It was the 31st of August, and the Pevensies and I were now at the train station to make our way to our respective schools for the year. By some miracle, Professor Kirke had managed to obtain a place for me at St Finbar's academy, the same school Susan and Lucy attended. I think it was probably down to the fact that he personally knew the headmaster, though that didn't exempt me from the gruelling entrance exam I had to pass, but I had done so nonetheless. The Pevensies had kept their promise and asked if I would be allowed to stay with them over the summer, and it seems Mr and Mrs Pevensie had little problem with it, seemingly eager to meet the girl their children had told them so much about in their letters. Or so I was told.

We had enjoyed the experience though. After having lived together for, technically, fifteen years, it had been very strange not seeing each other everyday. But now, it would revert back to some form of normality, because of course we would all be together at our boarding schools and able to see each other during our free time. It even turned out that Peter and I could have some classes together, as he had explained some of the senior classes were mixed with pupils for each school.

It was around nine o'clock when we arrived at the station, but our train wasn't due to leave for another half an hour, so we had plenty of time to spare. Of course, only I knew how much time we really had. Susan and Lucy had gone outside to one of the newsstands and Edmund had gone to see one of his friends from another school, leaving Peter and I alone on the platform. Anticipating the trouble to come, I wasn't letting him out of my sight.

The station was pulsating with throngs of students, some destined for Hendon House and St Finbar's, others to schools even further off than ours. It wasn't long before we were approached by a small group of boys around our age, and I immediately knew what they were up to.

"Well, if it isn't our favourite Pevensie?" the tallest boy, who I assumed was the leader, sneered.

"What do you want, Roger?" Peter asked tersely, tensing slightly as one boy came particularly close to me.

"Can't we say hello?" Roger asked innocently before glancing at me and grinning, "And it would be rude of you not to introduce your friend. Unless she's a sister you've been hiding?" he asked, looking me up and down.

I gave him the coldest look I could muster, before Peter answered, "This is Anna, my girlfriend."

Roger raised an eyebrow, looking momentarily surprised, before another leering grin broke out on his face.

"Look lads, Pevensies got himself a bird!" he taunted, earning a few snickers from his cronies. I glared at him. There was something about this boy that reminded me of Danny Bradley, and I was beginning to become increasingly angry. I could tell Peter was about to punch Roger from the way his grip on my hand tightened slightly and the hard set to his jaw line that always gave him away.

"But what she's doing with him is beyond me," he added tauntingly, though I still remained silent.

"Why don't you start the year right, love, and get yourself a real man?" Roger said lecherously to me, extending his hand towards me slightly.

I gave him a withering look. "Thanks, but I think I know one when I see one," I finally replied coolly.

The boys behind Roger howled with laughter, and Roger himself began to grow red. He obviously wasn't used to being so clearly rejected, especially in front of his friends.

"Actually, you can keep her, Pevensie," he sneered, trying to recover from his humiliation. "I wouldn't want to be going around with a Fenian, or if she's not that then she's probably some Gypsy scum!"

My eyes widened in anger and disbelief at his words. Obviously my accent had given away my nationality, but not even I was prepared for that level of insult. But it didn't bother me too much compared to what I knew Peter would do to him.

He began to take a menacing step towards Roger, before I pulled on his hand and shot him a warning look as he glanced back at me. I could tell he was furious, and almost begging me with the look in his eyes to let him punch the boy, but I knew he couldn't start a fight over me. Roger, however, didn't fail to pick up on our silent exchange and he smiled widely at Peter.

"Oh no, did ickle Peter's nasty Fenian girlfriend not let him hurt Roger?" he said mockingly. "Come on mate, even my mum has more back bone than you," he added, before walking past Peter and deliberately bumping into him.

"And now you have to apologise for bumping into me," he said menacingly.

Peter gave him an incredulous look. "You walked into me, Roger. Now clear off and take your brain dead morons with you," Peter replied angrily.

"Not until you apologise," Roger said defiantly.

I knew exactly what the bastard was doing; he was trying to control Peter and make him look weak and submissive, but I also knew Peter could sense this too and he wasn't having any of it. He turned to me with a desperate expression, and I knew exactly what he was asking me.

"Does it look like I'm stopping you?" I pointed out.

I could have sworn I saw Peter smile, before he turned around and swiftly connected his fist with Rogers face. I was half pushed out of the way by Peter, and half shoved over by the boys who punched on him. I could only watch as a large group of excited school children began to circle the scene, Peter trying to fight all three of the boys at once. It wasn't long before Edmund joined the fray, and seemingly just in time, because once Roger had recovered from the initial shock of being hit, he had began to stalk towards me. I knew I was trapped, and tried desperately to disappear into the crowd of people, but Edmund jumped on him and pushed him back before he could reach me.

However, when the other boys had dragged Peter dangerously close to the tracks and kicked him, I was sorely tempted to join the fight myself. But the shrill, piercing blast of the soldiers whistle caused everyone to quickly scatter, but I simply stood quietly against the wall and watched as one soldier grabbed Peter and pushed him towards me.

"Act your age!"

I could tell that his comment had seriously upset Peter, not just by his expression but also from his behaviour the past few weeks. Of us all, he had found the sudden change in position and age the hardest to adjust to, but after having been in command for so long I suppose it was really only to be expected.

Susan and Lucy quickly rejoined Peter, Edmund and I, and we all sat on one of the benches on the platform.

"You're welcome," Edmund said sarcastically as he set his luggage down and sat next to Peter.

"I had it sorted," Peter said defensively, rising and walking to the edge of the platform.

"What was it this time?" Susan asked wearily. It turned out this wasn't the first time there had been an altercation between Peter and Roger's gang.

"He bumped me," he replied.

"So you hit him?" Lucy asked incredulously.

"No. Before that he insulted Anna, but she wouldn't let me do anything about it. After he bumped me they tried to make me apologise, that's when I hit him," Peter clarified.

"Really, is it that hard to just walk away?" Susan admonished.

"I shouldn't have to!" Peter exclaimed. "I mean don't you ever get tired of being treated like a kid?"

"Um, we are kids," Edmund pointed out.

"Well I wasn't always," Peter replied heatedly. We all exchanged silent looks at his words.

"It's been a year," he continued, his voice giving away his frustration. "How long does he expect us to wait?"

Not as long as you think.

"I think it's time to accept the fact that we live here," Susan said firmly. "It's no use pretending any different."

"Speak for yourself," I muttered, not even bothering to look up at the glare I knew Susan was sending in my direction. But she was soon distracted regardless.

"Oh no," she moaned. "Pretend you're talking to me." Her siblings looked at her in confusion, while I simply smirked.

"We are talking to you," Edmund pointed out. Susan looked like she very much disagreed with her brother, but before she could reply Lucy had leapt from her seat with a startled cry.

"Be quiet, Lu," Susan scolded her in a hushed voice.

"Something pinched me!" she cried, looking very taken aback.

"Hey stop pulling!" Peter suddenly exclaimed, standing next to Lucy and glaring at Edmund.

"I'm not touching you!" he said defensively.

"Would all of you just-" Susan began, before she, Edmund and I felt the same tugging sensation and immediately rose from our seats. "What is that?!" she exclaimed in shock.

"It feels like magic!" Lucy said excitedly, giving me a wide smile which I returned.

"Quick, everybody hold hands," Susan instructed, everyone complying except for Edmund, who was less than pleased at having to hold Peter's hand.

"I'm not holding your hand!" he exclaimed.

"Just-!" Peter said with exasperation, grabbing his brother's hand regardless.

I quickly linked my own with Peter and Susan's hands, and I wasn't able to suppress the small grin that was now slowly spreading across my face.

Get ready Narnia, because we're coming back.

We watched as the train station disintegrated around us and the train flew past, slightly obscuring our view. But once it had disappeared, we could now clearly see the beach that I knew stood at the bottom of Cair Paravel, or rather what was left of it. But I wouldn't concentrate on that for the moment.

Slowly, we all stepped on to the beach and drank in the sight of the place we all loved so much. Turning to us, Lucy grinned broadly before running in the direction of the water. We all glanced at each other before joining her, kicking off our socks and shoes and abandoning our itchy school blazers as we went with cries of delight and laughter. A water fight soon broke out, and I quickly returned Peter's attacks on me with a playful smile. At one point, he gently caught my left hand and pulled me closer, removing the chain from around his neck as he did so. I immediately realised what he was doing, and also removed my own chain, quickly placing our rings on one anothers fingers. The familiar feeling of the cool metal bands was a huge comfort, and it was a relief to see them back where they belonged. I smiled widely up at Peter who returned it with one of his own. Our little moment was interrupted though by Lucy throwing a handful of water over us.

"Lu!" I exclaimed.

"It was too good an opportunity to waste," she replied with a devilish grin,."I think Edmund would agree with me, right Ed?" she asked, but her brother's attention was not focused on the conversation.

"Ed? Ed!" Lucy called, trying to attract his attention.

"What is it?" Peter added, noticing how Edmund was seemingly staring into space.

"Where do you suppose we are?" he finally asked.

"Well where do you think?" Peter replied in a tone that implied the answer should be obvious.

"Well, I don't remember any ruins in Narnia," Edmund pointed out.

We all stopped then and followed his gaze up to the top of the cliff, and sure enough the crumbled remains of Cair Paravel were clearly visible.

And so it begins.

For those of you who would not be familiar with the slang used, Roger calling Anna a 'bird' is a less respectful and generally offensive term for a woman, usually implying she is easy or promiscuous, that is still used today. A 'Fenian' is a derogatory and sectarian term mainly used in association with Irish Catholics that would be involved with the still existing and prominent anti-partition terrorist group the Irish Republican Army (more commonly known as the IRA) and is also still used today.