The Untold Tale
Chapter One
Every story needs a beginning
It was now several years after the children had come to Narnia. The Kings and Queens had grown into fine young men and women. And though Narnia seemed peaceful and quiet I ave found that is the time that you must be ready for things to happen.
The kings were lounging on their favorite terrace, which looked out to the eastern sea, when a jackdaw flew up in such a rush that he nearly ran into Edmund.
"Hello!" Edmund said, "What's this!"
As the bird hastily settled on the rail ,"What has you in such a hurry, little friend?", Peter asked.
The bird hastily shrieked a shrill ," Attacked!"
"What!", cried the High King, as he and Edmund leapt from their chairs.
"Wolves! Fauns! Dancing Lawn! Two dead! Several wounded! Wolves gone now!"
"This is an outrage!" Peter roared as he pounded his fist into his palm, "We shall not stand for this! We will ride at once! Ed, call…"
"Peter." Edmund said quietly.
"the troops!", Peter continued without hearing his brother, "We will stop these…"
"Peter!" Edmund repeated pointedly.
"These, these… what is it Ed?"
"We did this last time." Edmund said, a smile playing on his lips as his eyes drifted out to sea in memories of the past.
"Did what?" Peter asked.
The faraway look fade from his as Edmund drew himself up in oratorical style. "We immediately rode after the wolves, full tilt. We chased them all the way to the foot hills and then spent the next few days hopelessly wandering in circles trying to find them again," the laughter in his eyes showing in his voice.
Peter frowned at his brother for a second before he saw the humor of it. "Yes, that wasn't very 'Magnificent' was it?"
At this, they shared a knowing smile as only brothers can.
Peter then asked, "And now can you give me a 'Just' remedy to this 'Just' cause?"
"Well, actually, I do, brother. I think…here come with me." Edmund said as he turned and walked into the castle.
Peter followed his younger brother into a sunny room filled with books and parchments. Edmund took down a large map of Narnia from its hole, laid it out on the table and pointing to it started to outline his plan.
"This time instead of chasing the wolves all over the place I think we should make them come to us," he said.
"How?" asked Peter leaning over the map.
"By setting an ambush." Edmund said as he leaned over the map also, "We.."
At this point a voice behind them queried "What are you boys up to now?"
They whirled around to find Lucy standing in the door, her hands resting her hips and a mischievous smile lighting her fair face.
"Oh, nothing, nothing," Peter answered as he and Edmund stepped together to hide the map. But Lucy was not to be fooled, her brothers' faces told her far more than open books.
"Oh, don't give me that. You boys are planning something," she said as she stepped forward to see what they were hiding. The boys only started to grin at the faces their sister was making and stood closer together. Each time she moved to get as glance at what was on the table they jostled back and forth keeping between Lucy and the map. Finally, she let out a small cry of frustration and they moved apart.
"What do you need a map of Narnia for?" Lucy asked, puzzled.
At question their big brotherly smiles faded fromtheir faces.
"There was an attack, Lu," Peter answered gravely.
As he went on to tell of the jackdaw's message her normally merry visage changed to anger and concern. "What is your plan?" Lucy asked quietly.
"Actually I don't know yet, Ed was just explaining his to me. Why don't you continue?" Peter said turning to his brother.
"Right," Edmund said, nodding, "The wolves live here, the foothills on our side of the mountains between us and Archenland. To get to the Dancing Lawn they must travel north through these woods here. I think we should station troops on either side of the route between Dancing Lawn and the foothills, then some of the fauns will pretend to have another festivity. The wolves will not be able to resist such easy pickings and come down to attack again."
Here Peter interrupted him, "Won't the wolves be suspicious?"
"Ah," said Edmund warming up to his subject, "But see, you and some of the troops will ride out and chase them back to the foothills before this day is up. Once there you will make a good show at wandering about trying to find them. Then you will give up and come back. Meanwhile I will have the main troops moving into position."
"I see!" Lucy cried, "The wolves will think that the fauns feel safe because Peter chased of them off."
"Yes," Edmund said tapping his finger on the map, "Then, when the wolves are about to attack, Peter and his troops will fall upon them from the direction of Cair Paravel. The wolves will flee back to their hills just like last time. But what they will not know is that we have outwitted them one step further and have set a trap for them. We will have fallen in behind them. They will be completely surrounded and must surrender or be totally routed."
"As always Ed, your plan is splendid but, ah, don't you think there should be archers behind the ambush troops to make sure none of the wolves get through and to act as back up?" Lucy asked.
"A very good idea, Lu." Edmund said, "And I suppose you'll want to lead these archers."
The young king and his sister gazed gravely at each other for a few seconds but Lucy could not keep a straight face and laughed, "You know me far too well, Ed!"