A/N: I have decided to post this chapter a little early, to try and draw new people in. Also, I am further ahead in writing this than anticipated so I felt it would be a good idea to continue.
The journey through the western wood to the Allies Enclave was almost silent. The Satyr, nor the Centaur spoke, they did not even give Elena their names, but she did not allow that to bother her for she had been in similar situations in the past.
The woods of the west were always a comfort to the young woman, but now being back in the country she had once lived she was surprised to find the comfort was still there. The sun filtered through the trees at varying points, bringing out the colour of the soil and allowing flowers of bold and bright colours to spring forth.
Elena had nearly forgotten the beauty, which could only be found in her homeland. So frequently, she passed through Narnian lands, only to stay long enough to do business and then leave. Too often, she found herself mourning the loss of her mother whenever she found herself back here.
"Not long now," the centaur stated to Elena, looking behind him.
She nodded and they continued onwards. Elena could not help but notice, the pair wore leather armour suggesting they were on patrol as she expected but also they were heavily armed, for the centaur appeared to carry at least two swords and the Satyr had his sword and a sizable axe on his back.
The weapons did not bother the young nomad, as she had been in battle and brawls since teenagehood. It would be a lie to say that she carried no weapons herself, as within her backpack held her most beloved heirloom – a sword, and strapped to her thighs were a pair of knives that had been gifted to her after working a job in Archenland. Elena was also proficient with a bow, but would never confess to such a thing. She never liked to use archery in combat, as she felt it was a tool best suited for hunting and in battle, she preferred to be on the front lines.
Upon reaching the clearing that was Allies Enclave, Elena could see many a Narnian looking upon her, for it was likely that they had never seen a human before, as they were now a few in Narnia. She looked around, seeing badgers, squirrels, satyrs, fauns and even dryads, but as she smiled at them and glanced at the red tents that made their encampment, she could not help but notice a distinct lack of minotaurs and dwarfs.
She turned her head away, not wishing to disturb the Narnians any more than she had and continued to follow the centaur and Satyr until they reached another red tent, except this one, was embellished with gold indicating the presence of someone of high status.
"Wait here," the satyr said and entered the tent.
Elena gulped and smiled awkwardly at the centaurs. She loved centaurs ever since she was a child, but she still found them rather intimidating given their height, and this centaur seemed especially large as he not only was great in height but also had the build of a warrior. Elena began to question the sanity of her plan, as she came to realise that if she was not believed regarding the information she had gathered then she would likely end up in prison, or worse.
She shuddered.
"Is there something that troubles you my Lady?" the centaur asked.
"I am just nervous," she said with a faint smile. "I have not spoken to a high ranking member of Narnian society in many years. I do not want to give the wrong impression."
The centaur smiled kindly down on her. "There is no reason to fear. Captain Aithusa is very open-minded, she will hear you out – whatever you wish to inform her. But know this; she is also good at telling if a person is telling the truth, so should you have lied to us she will be able to learn as such very quickly."
"I understand," Elena responded, at which point the satyr returned and gestured to her.
"The Captain will see you now."
Elena nodded and walked into the tent.
The inside of the tent was as impressive as the outside. Within was a pair of hammocks, in the middle a fine table with gold inlay forming the shape of lions. As Elena glanced around the room she realised there were lions everywhere, the table, the chairs even the carpet.
Behind the very table, before she was a female faun, her blonde hair was tied behind her head, her blue eye looking down at a map of Narnia. She wore leather armour, much like her soldiers outside. However the strangest of her features was her legs, as normal for a faun they were goat legs, but rather than the dark fur that was the norm for Narnian fauns, she had yellowish brown fur much like the kind that was often found on Satyrs.
"Oh," she spoke as if startled, but Elena knew that this was a front. Likely an attempt to shaken her and ensure the hunter would speak truthfully. "Greetings, I am Captain Aithusa."
She stood straight and smiled.
"Elena Hajjar," Elena responded pleasantly, shifting slightly to make herself more comfortable.
"Where are my manners?" Aithusa declared. "Please sit, and just put your satchel over there. You don't want to have the weight of that on your back as we talk do you?"
Elena nodded pulling off the backpack and placing it with care in the corner; she then walked over and sat at one of the chairs facing the Captain.
Aithusa looked briefly at the bag, noticing something gleaming gold from within it, but paid it no mind and sat opposite the human.
"I believe, you requested to see me on a matter of great import? A matter that needs passing onto the court in Cair?"
"Yes," Elena took care in how she spoke. "I am unsure if you are aware, but there have been rumours of a dark force rising in the North."
"I am aware," Aithusa admitted. "Hence our presence here."
The hunter nodded. "I was up north, just west of the Giant's lands and near the Great River where I spotted something peculiar, a tree that had been felled."
"That is not that unusual,"
"I thought that too, but upon closer inspection, I saw that whilst the tree appeared to have been plagued with some form of disease, but also showed signs of burning at the point of breakage."
"That is… peculiar."
"Yes, indeed and it also appeared that burning had not been of natural causes."
Aithusa frowned. "I do not see how this matter is of import, or relevant to the matter of the rumours."
"I'm getting to that," Elena stated. "I have lived in the Western Wilds for over a decade; I have been to Archenland, the Giant's lands and Calormene. In that time, I have never heard any stories such as the ones I have been hearing of this land. Nor do I believe that Calormene is this 'dark force' rising in the North. I am no friend to the Calormenes, but I would be a fool to believe that they would have passed through the Western Wilds or the Eastern Ocean unchecked. For I have allies in both regions and none of them have spoken of any unusual activity."
"I see. So who do you suppose is rising in the North?"
She paused. "I do not know, but I can tell you this. This being must have some influence, it has not escaped my notice that you are down in numbers. There are no dwarfs, nor minotaurs in your contingent? I ask myself why this may be, could it be mere coincidence or something more. I fear it is more, I fear that Narnia is losing its population to whoever is in the North."
Aithusa bit her lip at this, and Elena knew from this that the Captain knew more but could not disclose it.
"This brings me back to the tree which I found at the border. It was a lone tree and had a mystical feeling about it. I dismissed this feeling at first as I believed the tree to have been a dryad but as I inspected it, I could see that this was no Dryad. It bothered me greatly until I remembered the stories I have been told since I was but a child, the story of a tree in the North of Narnia planted by two human children in order to protect Narnia from evil."
"You believe that this tree was the Tree of Protection," Aithusa's eyes were blown wide, as she knew that such an accusation could not be dismissed readily. All in Narnia knew the old stories of Lord Digory and Lady Polly, they knew that Aslan was also involved and that the tree would not have have been planted on the orders of Aslan without purpose.
"I do." She confessed. "It would explain the stories of the darkness rising. It may be that the tree's death has opened Narnia to a threat previously unable to reach us. Now is the perfect time for them to attack, there is no one on the throne of Narnia, and no heir to take the throne. The Regent is stuck in a situation that politically seems unsolvable. It may be that this dark force started this problem in the first place, or may seek to use that very weakness to their advantage. Either way, they must be stopped, before whatever evil schemes they have come into play, we cannot allow Narnia to fall."
Aithusa nodded. "I agree, I hear truth in your words. When Flaurus spoke of you I did not expect this," she gestured to her. "I expected to hear a Calormene full of lies, but as I gaze upon you I see a Calormene Woman but in your heart you are Narnian. You care not for trickery and deceit, you care with all your heart for your country, and on that account, I will send word to Cair immediately. This matter must be investigated, if there is a new unknown force rising and plotting against us we must learn of it and prepare an offensive."
Elena sighed in relief. "Thank you, Captain. You have no idea how much it has pained me this past day knowing of this, but being unable to do anything of it."
Aithusa smiled sympathetically and stood. "You are serving your country as you can, I understand that." She paused. "I am sure you are tired, if you wish you may stay the night, you will have a chance to clean yourself, have a hot meal and hopefully sleep on something other than the ground."
"That won't…" Elena then saw in Aithusa's eyes that she would not take no for an answer. "It would make a nice change. I thank you."
"Now if you'll excuse me, I must send word to Cair."
Elena stiffened just as Aithusa was about to leave. "Wait!"
Aithusa spun around, her hand on the hilt of her blade.
Elena stood and scrambled to face her. "I apologise, in my haste to tell you of the threat I did not tell you of the most important matter."
"Which is?"
"The tree, the tree I found in the North had been burnt."
"You have stated this already, Lady Hajjar."
"I know, but I did not say in what manner the burning had happened. I believe it may explain whom this new enemy is."
"Very well, tell me."
"I have been from the North of this world to the South and the West. Throughout my travels, I have only seen this kind of burning through a single ability, one that is a forbidden practice."
Elena took a deep breath then, looked Aithusa in the eye and spoke her deepest fear.
"It was magic."
A/N: The next chapter will be posted next Tuesday! Thank you for reading, and if you liked please leave kudos and reviews.