Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia in anyway. And I am very sorry I own Arianna. Thanks to Isinha and brezzybrez for reviewing. Also thanks to RainbowWerewolf, my beta.
Surprised as she was that getting to the dining room faster than she thought she would, Ivie forgot that she would be dining with someone other than just the kings and queens. The dining room was huge. Stained glass windows shinned down at them, depicting a war between what looked enormous cat and a white woman. Placed around the room where tables of different sizes, each one set for a different occasion. In the middle was a long table, set with silverware and plates for tonight's dinner. Already sat at the table was Arianna, looking at her reflection in the back of a spoon. She smiled as they walked up to the table and Ivie couldn't help but be reminded of a leech. Don't think such mean thoughts, she scolded herself. You need to show respect even if she doesn't deserve it. Smiling slightly, Ivie sat beside Susan while food was placed before them. It was a huge feast, even though there were only six people there.
"How do you like the castle?" Peter asked.
"It's one of the most beautiful places I have ever been in. I am amazed that you are even letting me stay here," Ivie admitted, gaining a grin from Lucy. "So what do you like to do for fun, Lucy?"
"Ooh, I like to dance with the dryads, and the fawns. Tomorrow you have to meet Mr. Tumnus! And we will have to take you to the tailor's after you try on your dresses later. Susan is always trying to make me go shopping in the market with her, but now you can!" Lucy's eyes glowed as she planned out the next few days.
"Oi! What about my birthday?" Edmund demanded.
"What about it?" Ivie asked innocently. Edmund stuck his tongue out at her. She retaliated by flicking a spoon full of potatoes at him. Except she missed: she hit Peter instead. As he pulled the potato gunk out of his hair, Ivie thought he did not look happy. Picking up a plate of cranberry sauce, he hurled it at Ivie. The sauce hit both Susan and Ivie and soon everyone was throwing food at one another except Arianna. She left the room, screaming about her hair.
"Potatoes incoming!"
"Ahh!"
"Peas! I spot peas!"
"Shut up, Lu!"
"Locate more ammo, Ed!"
"I slipped on a pickle!"
Hiding behind an overturned table, Ivie was beside Edmund and Peter when she realized she was on the wrong side of the battle. Trying to slip away as quietly as possible, she scooted towards the end of the table. Spotting a dessert cart loaded with pies, Ivie ran towards the cart at full sprint.
"Enemy spotted!" Cried Edmund as Peter threw a loaf of bread at her. Picking up a pie, she heaved it at Edmund. As it landed on the floor between them, Ivie saw that the Lucy and Susan had stopped throwing food. Looking towards the door, she saw there was a centaur walking towards the distruction in the middle of the room. As everyone stood up to reveal him or herself, including Ivie, she wondered who was this centaur who could silence even the Kings and Queens.
"Excuse me, my Kings and Queens. I did not mean to interfere with your festivities with your guest," the centaur said, bowing to the Pevensies, "but I bring distressful news. In the woods where you found this girl today, the White Witch's allies are forming together. One of our spies said that they intend to attack at dawn."
The room was deathly silent. Noise erupted as Peter and Edmund jumped over the table to confirm what the centaur had said. Motioning for Ivie to join them, Lucy and Susan left through a side door leading to a corridor.
"What's going on?" Ivie asked as she caught up with the queens.
"Didn't you just hear Oreius's report?" Susan snapped. "We are about to be attacked by enemy troops. How did they get so close to Cair Paravel? I thought Oreius would have scouts about."
"He did," Lucy reminded her, struggling to keep up with her sisters stride. "The only reason we had a warning was because of Oreius." Stopping in front of two large doors, Susan opened them to reveal the biggest library Ivie had ever seen. It was huge with books on every subject, from Battle Tactics and How to Use Them to Minotaurs: Man's Quick Death. Placed around the room, were armchairs, tables and ladders. Looking to the second story Ivie saw a huge table, where Edmund, Peter and Oreius were already standing. Not even bothering to ask how they got there first, the girls stumbled up the steps to the table. On the table was a map of the land, little red and black flags placed in an area by the castle.
"We found Ivie here," Edmund said, pointing to a place between Cair Paravel and a forest called Owlwood. "If we can draw them out into this field in the middle of Owlwood with our archers in the trees encircling it, then we might have a better chance of taking them out than if somewhere else."
"Well done, Ed," Peter said, clapping his brother on the back. Drawing himself up to his full height, Peter looked into the faces of his family and friends. "I have decided that we should attack tonight."
A/N: Yet the end of another chapter. Sorry this one was so short but I wanted to get to the preparations of the battle more quickly. So review, my pretties and give me marshmallows to put in my hot chocolate.
