The Wars We Wage

After posting a Prince Caspian fic, I felt compelled to write some more on the same theme - going to war. so I've written three more, revolving around the same time period, and will post chapters as I type them out from the pieces of tattered paper i'd like to call my story. Here is chapter one.

This is for all the brave soldiers out there. Please review!

Neo- Princess Rini

Chapter One - Just A Dream

Is it the fear of being captured that makes you run?

Is it the thought of being seen that prevents you from being caught?

Is it the thought of death, running cold in your blood, that keeps you unseen?

Is it the love of home and family that keeps you from dying?

Then, he woke up with a start, sweat pouring down his face, a cool winter night.

"You look terrible," she quipped as he settled into the polished wooden chair, so exquisitely carved with tender hands and love of the arts. Even the sunshine filtering in through the cheerily coloured glass panes did little to lift the gloomy mood that had enveloped the Hall that morn.

"I feel terrible." He cradled his head in his palms, elbows on the long table, a frown on his face, creases on his forehead that were unnecessary for his age.

"You were tossing all night. I didn't get any sleep."

"Sorry." His soft voice barely carried over to the other end of the table, which made her crane her neck towards him. She threw a bun at him playfully, hoping to cheer him up as quickly as possible; he caught it easily, and she whistled as the bun's smooth though short flight through the air ended with it being chewed in his mouth. "Don't play with your food," he chided. She rolled her eyes.

"So, what did you dream about?" She picked up a slice of toast, and began to butter it generously.

"What makes you think I dreamt of anything last night?"

"I have amazing powers of deduction. Plus the fact that I got up thrice to use the facilities helped too."

"Why do you drink so much water, then?" He looked repulsed at the very thought of getting up in the middle of a perfectly good night's sleep.

"The dryads said that I had to be on extra fluids. They're already mad that I won't stay in bed like I was ordered to, so they've put me on this stupid drink-tonnes-of-water-everyday thing. There's a price to pay if you want a kid. And I'm the one who's got to pay it."

"I think you look sweet."

"I think I look fat. At this rate, I'll have used up all the cloth in Narnia."

"I think you're exaggerating."

"I think you're avoiding the subject." She bit into an apple, having finished her toast. "So tell me all about it."

"There's nothing to tell. I had a fitful night, that's all." He was just about to put a mug of steaming tea to his lips when the large oak doors opened and a tiny creature scurried up to the table. It bowed thrice before speaking.

"Sire, Council had decided to commence at precisely noon today. The negotiations with the giants have been smooth, but some issues still require ironing out." He bowed once more, but this time to the other end of the table. "I regret my interruption deeply, your Highnesses."

"Enough with the formalities, Reep. Here, have a breadstick and some soup." She passed the mouse a cup of tomato soup and a few breadsticks. He leapt on the table and began to nibble at the food hungrily. "Thank you, your Grace."

"You're welcome. Your king here was just about to embark on a tale of epic proportions. Stick around, and we might be able to coax the entire story out."

"What your queen means to say," he interrupted, "is that we were merely discussing old legends and tales."

"So your dream is a tall tale, is it, my liege?" she challenged. The mouse turned to his rulers. "His Highness had a dream?" he chirped excitedly. "What was it about?"

"Relax, Reep, everyone has dreams. What it was about, he won't say." She leaned on the table. "I must say I'm intrigued. Must've have been something really, really bad if he isn't saying." She got up and sighed as she walked over to the mouse and the king. "You know," she breathed, "I had a dream too, once, a long time ago, to meet a handsome, dashing, tall and dark man with deep pools for eyes, who would sweep me away with a single gaze…"

"So what am I, then?" he demanded. The mouse laughed.

"See? He," she said, pointing a finger at him, "is such a baby."

"Getting back to the dream," the mouse said before an argument could ensue, "tell us about it, Sire."

"I don't wish to," he said firmly.

"Why?" she asked coyly.

"I just don't."

"Alright, be that way." She settled back into her chair. "Just don't toss around again tonight. A girl needs her beauty sleep." She went back to her tea and toast, both of which were stone cold by then.

But Caspian X was not hungry. All he could see outside the windows was the blood that stained the grassy hills and plains of his kingdom outside the castle walls. For he would have to tell her, sooner or later, of the wars of a king's life. All the same, he prayed for it all to be what it had been the night before – just a dream.

Please, please review!