A Hostage Crisis

Disclaimer: I only own my OCs.

Chapter 1: That's Dame Hannah?

"Ah, look! The scouting party has returned! And it looks as if they brought a 'guest' with them." The gatekeeper chuckled evilly. Josiah looked up to see the approaching group. Their 'guest' was, as far as he could tell, a blond-haired teenager. She appeared to be unconscious. "Who do you think she is?" he asked.

"How should I know? She's probably someone important, if they went to all the trouble to drag her back here."

Josiah sighed and went to greet the arrivals. "Was your trip successful, brother?" he asked the leader as he dismounted.

"Quite so, Josiah. Have you noticed our prize?"

"As a matter of fact, I have. Who is she?"

"She is none other than the Dame Hannah who has caused us many problems."

"Her? She doesn't look like a knight, much less one who can cause us problems!"

"Oh, you would be surprised at how much of a fight she put up! She wounded three of our men before the rest of us managed to subdue her."

"Really?" Josiah studied the prone figure on the ground.

"Of course, you'll find that out firsthand."

He eyed his brother. "What do you mean 'I'll find that out firsthand'?"

"Why, I want you to guard her."

"What? Me? Why me?"

"Because you are my brother, and I trust you completely. And because you hate her as much as I do for killing our father."

"Very well."

"We shall keep her in one of the guest chambers. However, she must be bound at all times, and-"

"I know the drill." He leaned over and almost effortlessly picked the knight up and carried her into the castle. He entered a guest room and laid her down on the bed before binding her hand and foot. "Now all I can do is wait for her to awaken," Josiah said, sitting in a nearby chair.

He did not have to wait long. She drew his attention when she groaned. He watched her for a few seconds before she opened her eyes. "Wh-where am I?"

He helped her sit up before saying, "That's none of your business, Dame Hannah." He paused before adding, "You are Dame Hannah, aren't you?"

"And if I am?"

"Then my brother was right, and you are quite a prize."

She bristled at that statement. "I am no one's prize!"

"On the contrary, you are my brother's prize, and as such he will do with you as he wishes!"

"Then why are you here instead of him?"

That's a good question, he thought, but he said, "Captains are too busy to be bothered with guarding insolent captives!"

She smirked. "You think me insolent, do you?"

"I just said so, didn't I?"

"I suppose you did." She bit her lip before asking, "Do you know what your brother plans to do with me?"

"No, I do not." He didn't know why, but he felt drawn to this girl. She is the enemy! he reminded himself. Still, he couldn't stop himself from saying, "I will attempt to find out if you wish."

She smiled. "Thank you. I would really appreciate that."

He smiled back. "In the meantime, are you hungry?"

"A little," she admitted.

He stood. "I will send for something for you, then."

"Thank you." She watched him move toward the door before calling out, as if it was an afterthought, "Wait!"

He turned. "Yes?"

"What's your name? You know mine, but…"

"My name is Josiah."

"That's a nice name."

"Thank you." He left the room.

When he returned to the room, he was surprised to hear someone talking. Who is she talking to? he wondered. He opened the door. Hannah's voice grew louder. It sounded as if she was reciting something.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!' For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day; of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra; the young lion and the serpent you will trample down. 'Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him, and let him see My salvation.' "

"That was beautiful," he said when she was finished.

"Oh!" she gasped, her cheeks turning red. "Th-thank you."

"I didn't mean to startle you. I was rather curious as to who you were talking to. But I see now that you were merely reciting- what was that, anyway?"

"A passage I memorized a long time ago. Before I came to Narnia. I thought it would be quite comforting to remember for times like this."

"I imagine it would be." They fell into silence for a few minutes before she asked, "Why does your brother, and you, too, I assume, hate me so much?"

"Because…" He turned his head to hide his tears. "Because you killed our father." It's probably a good thing that she asked. It might help me to remember why I should hate her.

"Oh..." She looked genuinely sad. "I'm sorry. Truly I am. But if I did, I am certain it was in a battle. How can you know it was me?"

He sneered. "Believe me, we know."

"But how?"

"Because one of your arrows was sticking out of his back!"

She looked actually confused. "One of my- what?"

Josiah scoffed. "You heard me. You shot him in the back as he fled the battlefield."

"I-I-I-I don't-I've never shot anyone in the back!"

"Well, whether or not you remember it, you shot him as he was trying to retreat. That is the same as murder!"

"Murder? No, I- Wait. Was your father's name Lord Berion?"

"Yes. So you do remember."

"Yes. I mean, no. I mean, it wasn't like you said!"

"Then what did happen?" he asked mockingly.

"He was trying to kidnap Queen Lucy! I had no other choice. At least, none that would have Lucy safe." Her eyes begged him to believe her. For some strange reason, he wanted to, but still…

"How do I know that what you say is true?"

"How did you know what you said was true?"

"My brother told it to me."

"And so you believed him."

"Of course! He's my brother. Why wouldn't I believe him?"

"Do you still believe him?"

"I'm not sure. Why would he lie?"

She shrugged. "Would he want to admit that your father had tried to kidnap a nine-year-old girl, even if she was a queen?"

"Probably not… You know, you're wise for your age. How old are you, anyway?"

She smiled. "I'm fifteen."

"Fifteen? I would have thought at most eighteen!"

"Nope. Fifteen." Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, which made both of them jump. "That's probably your food." As he spoke, he went to open the door. He took the plate from the servant and closed the door again. He sat down, saying, "I'm sorry that I can't untie you so that you can eat, but, well…"

"Your brother won't let you?" she finished. "It's all right; I understand."

He smiled and began to feed her. It wasn't much, just some bread and cheese, but she was starving, and therefore it was some of the best food she had ever eaten. Once she was finished, he set the plate down. They were again startled by a knock. He shook his head as he went to answer it. A soldier saluted him. "What is it, Alexander?"

"Your brother has summoned you, my lord. I am to remain to guard Dame Hannah until your return."

He nodded. "Of course." He glanced back at Hannah, who appeared to have heard everything. "I will come back as soon as I can." He left the room and hastened to his brother's study. He hesitated, gathering his thoughts, before finally turning the knob and pushing the door open.

"Thank you, Alexander. You may go now," Josiah said upon reentering Hannah's room. Alexander bowed and exited. "How was your meeting with your brother?" Hannah asked.

He shrugged. "It was fine, as such meetings go. I asked him what his plans regarding you are."

She waited. He said nothing else, enjoying her growing frustration. Finally she said, "Well? What did he say?"

He smirked. "He said that he is going to hold you for ransom, seeing as how you are so close to the kings and queens."

"Oh."

"Something wrong?"

"I-I-Yes. Define 'hold me for ransom', please?"

"Um, keep you here until they fulfill certain demands, then return you once they have?"

"That's what I thought you meant."

"What's wrong?"

"What kind of demands?"

"Money, probably. Although, knowing my brother, he might try to get them to surrender Narnia for your safety."

"That's what I was afraid of," Hannah whispered, almost so softly he couldn't hear.

"You don't think they would?"

"No. I know they would! And that's what I'm scared about. They're such good friends that they'll do it, and then all of Narnia would suffer. I can't let that happen. Not because of me."

"Well, if they decide to do what my brother asks, you aren't in much of a position to do anything about it."

"No… but you are! Please, please, help me."

"Why should I? Even if you didn't murder him, you still killed my father! Why should I help you?" She opened her mouth to say something, but he cut her off. "Furthermore, you are asking me to help you save Narnia? I am a Telmarine! My people wish that your land did not exist. So, why should I help your land? Simply because you, a hostage, ask me to? I think not."

"Because the innocent will suffer! Old ones, women, children! You could easily turn your back on them? If you can, then you are not the kind of man I thought you were."

"Do not speak to me of innocent! You speak of demons, half human and half animal. They are not innocent."

"But what about Queen Lucy? King Edmund? Even Queen Susan? Susan is fourteen! Edmund is twelve, and Lucy is only ten! Please," she grew softer, "please. I beg you."

He turned, looked her in they eye, and said one clear word: "No." Then he turned on his heel and stalked out. As he closed the door behind him, he couldn't help but hear her whisper, "Aslan, please, help us."

A/N: I got bit by a plot bunny that would not go away. What do you think? Worth continuing? Does anyone know what it was that Hannah was quoting?