Chapter 2 – The Queen
"Captain!" a soldier saluted as we reined in our horses at a small campsite.
"All is well here, I trust, Pete?"
"Yes sir."
"Captain?" I asked Caspian puzzled.
"Captain of Her Majesty's army." He bowed.
"Her Majesty's army? Caspian, what are you talking about? Aren't you king?"
"King!" He scoffed. "Hardly. She's the Queen."
"Who's She?" Every time he said she like that, I felt a shiver go down my spine. Surely he didn't mean Lilliandil the star, which he met and married after his voyage on the Dawn Treader.
"Pete, will you take our guest to her quarters."
The soldier bowed. "Follow me please." After we were out of earshot of Caspian, Pete asked, "You're not from around here are you?"
"No, I'm not."
"What's your name," he inquired.
"Heather, like the flower." I said smiling.
"There is lots of heather growing across Ettinsmoor."
"Are you named Pete or Peter, after the High King?"
"Shhh." Pete hushed me.
"Why?"
"It is forbidden to mention the Kings and Queens of Old," he warned.
"Who made it forbidden to say the names of the Kings and Queens?" I asked.
"She did."
"Who is this "she" everyone keeps talking about?" I demanded.
"The Queen." Again he gave me a simple answer.
"Who is the Queen?" Now I was very puzzled. Pete's face turned very pale and he managed to whisper, "Jadis."
I looked at him stunned. "How?" I gasped. Pete looked over both shoulders and kept his voice low.
"Caspian joined Her side to defeat the Telmarines but now that their gone She has taken control and uses Caspian as her puppet."
"No! What about Aslan?"
"No one has seen Aslan since the Pevensies left over 1,312 years ago." Pete said sadly. "Everyone's given up hope."
"Wait…" My voice trailed off. "If Caspian works for the Witch, then I'm-"
"Not safe here," warned Pete. "I know. I have to help you get out of here."
"But why would you help me? I'm a stranger." I asked perplexed.
The snow crunched ominously.
"W-what was that?" Jake said slowly. There was no answer. The snow crunched again making Caleb, Kelly and Jake jump. Then it was quiet.
"Do you think it's gone?" Kelly asked.
"Um yah. It's gone." Caleb was trying to sound unconcerned. The three continued to walk in silence.
"Look! There's some smoke up ahead!" Jake exclaimed.
"Shhh. We don't know if they're friends!" warned Caleb.
"Oh, right." Jake admitted sheepishly. The three peered cautiously into the small wooded clearing. Wisps of smoke were curling out of the chimney on the small hut.
"Hullo! What have we here?" A small squirrel gazed at them curiously.
"I think we are in Narnia," Kelly whispered to Jake.
"Of course you're in Narnia!" The squirrel exclaimed. "Where else would you be? Well I suppose you could be in Archenland or Telmar or Calormen or in the Lone Islands-"
"By the Lion's Mane Trinian!" a gentle voice called. "Who is it?"
"Well, I forgot to ask their names." The squirrel bowed and Kelly giggled. "Pardon me, but what are your names?" Caleb looked at Kelly and Jake before answering.
"I'm Caleb, this is my brother Jake and Kelly."
"Oh," Trinian said. "Kelly is your brother too?" Jake covered his mouth with his hand to stifle his laughter.
"No, she's just our friend." A beaver came towards them.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Lauren and this is Trinian. Won't you come inside?" Lauren noticed the unsure looks exchanged between the three. "It's all right. You'll be safe here. I can tell by your faces that you've been sent by Aslan."
Jadis paced the floor nervously. "Caspian should have been here hours ago!" She exclaimed. Someone knocked on the door. "Come in!" Jadis called gruffly. A man dressed like a messenger walked in slowly.
"Your majesty." He bowed. "I bring a message from Captain Caspian."
"Finally," breathed Jadis.
"He says to that he found a girl and is bringing her to your palace tomorrow. The girl's name is Heather and she seemed tired so he took her to his camp first. Caspian will bring his prisoner to you first thing tomorrow morning."
So I was right in sending Caspian to the Great Waterfall. Jadis thought. But where are the other three? She had seen four fall through the door but Caspian had only found one. Where were the others hiding? Jadis was determined to find the others.
I moved the tent flap aside and stepped out to breathe in the fresh Narnian early morning air.
"Psst!" I looked around surprised.
"Who's there?" I asked.
"It's just me; Pete."
"Oh, you scared me." I admitted.
"Sorry. I think I know how you can escape," Pete said. I was still wasn't sure if I could trust him but he did seem to want to help.
"Okay, what's your plan?"
