Fear
Freya slinked towards the stream, her slender feet barely making a sound upon the crisping leaves that lay before her. She stopped at the water's edge, staring intently at the gently ebbing water just inches from her feet. She could feel the soul of the stream flow through her like ice through her veins. The stream was terrified.
Freya was not a stranger to this feeling. She felt it every time her hand brushed a tree, every time her feet met the ground, every time her fingers stroked a flower. She'd lived long enough to remember Narnia in its former glory. But things were very different now. Narnia was terrified. Fear flowed through it, even the winds were afraid. Something had brought it to it's knees.
A twig broke behind her, and Freya turned to find a young man facing her. A soldier. A Telmarine. She was frozen with fear. Her mind urged her to run, but her feet would not obey. She felt a tear spill down her freckled cheek.
Caspian gazed at the tall, slender woman before him. He wouldn't have guessed that she was much older than he was, but her face held an old wisdom. It was only then he noticed how strikingly beautiful she was.
Long, chestnut hair fell in waves past her waist. Her lips, a delicate shade of pink, were parted in shock. But her eyes were what struck Caspian most. Her deep, green, flowing eyes, that ate away at his soul.
He noticed a tear spill down her cheek, and only then realised why. She was terrified of him. He could tell from the panic in her eyes, the way her slender legs trembled, and the quick rise and fall of her chest as she gasped for air.
"Wait…" said the man, his voice thick with a Telmarine accent. "I didn't mean to frighten you."
He knelt to the floor and dropped his sword, offering his hand in return. "My name," he said, his voice softer now, "is Prince Caspian."
Freya surprised herself when she managed to whisper a quite "Freya" in return.
"Freya…" Caspian smiled, warmth seeping into his eyes. "I don't suppose you're a Narnian?"
"You… you know about the Narnians?"
"Yes… I have met a few of them… Don't worry, my loyalties lie with them."
"But you're a Telmarine… And a Telmarine prince at that…" Freya's brow creased in confusion. "Why…"
"My uncle," Caspian began, his bright smile disappearing, "wants my throne. He tried to kill me. I had no choice but to leave… So now the Narnians have agreed to help me take back what is rightfully ours."
Freya pondered the situation, her eyes growing pensive.
"Can you take me to them? The other Narnians?"
"Yes," Caspian nodded. "This way."
Freya's cheeks began to flush as she realised at least a dozen pairs of eyes were watching her every step.
"No… It can't be…"
"Impossible…"
"How…"
Caspian stopped and turned around to face Freya.
"They seem almost as surprised to see you as I was…"
"Yes…" Freya cleared her throat. "My people…" she exhaled softly as a tear slid down her cheek.
Seeing her cry broke Caspian's heart.
"They… they're gone. I'm the only one left now…" He took a step closer, the grief so apparent on Freya's face he felt must now surely appear also on his own.
"What happened to them?"
"The Telmarines did."