ANNABELL


"COMMANDER!" a voice echoed through the throne room where I was leaned over a map over the tablet that had been placed off to the side of my throne.

I looked over my shoulder to see Reepicheep moving towards me until he stood on his back legs in front of me. "Yes, Reepicheep?" I asked him, turning around to face him with my arms crossed over my chest.

"The horn was blown, Commander," his words caused me to freeze.

"Who blew it?" I asked him, trying to keep my face emotionless.

"I do not know, Commander," he answered, his eyes not meeting mine.

"Find them. And bring them to me," I ordered before turning back to the map.

"Yes Commander," was he all said before the sounds of his paws echoed through the now silent room.

Once I could no longer hear his paws, I collapsed into the chair beside me, resting my elbow on the armrest so I could rest my cheek on my palm. "They have finally returned," I whispered to myself felling my heart now beating in my stomach.

It took a few moments to regain myself again but once I did, I stood up from the chair and walked out of the room to oversee the weapons being made.


I didn't have to wait long for Reepicheep to find the one who blew the horn as I had received word only two days later that they had found the person. Darkness had fallen over the land as I was led to an open area where my people were circling around a Telmarine. My brows frowned in confusion as he looked slightly familiar to me, but I couldn't place him. "All this horn proves is that they've stolen yet another thing from us!" Nikabrik yelled out which caused me to roll my eyes.

"I didn't steal anything," the Telmarine spoke, his accent standing out.

"Didn't steal anything? Shall we list the things the Telmarines have taken?" A minotaur that I wasn't sure of his name harshly asked the others surrounding him.

"Our homes!" Windmade, a female centaur cried before a male faun followed; "Our freedom!"

"Our lives!" another voice cried out with the others crying out with them.

"You would hold me accountable for all the crimes of my people?" the Telmarine asked making Nikabrik respond; "Accountable...and punishable!"

"That's words from you, dwarf. Or have you forgotten that it was your people who fought alongside the White Witch?" Reepicheep snarled towards Nikabrik which caused my eyes to roll.

Even after thirteen hundred years, my people still hadn't forgotten about the White Witch and those that followed her.

"And I'd gladly do it again if it would rid us of these barbarians!" Nikabrik snarled back which made Trufflehunter speak up; "Then we are lucky it is not in your power to bring her back. Or do you want us to ask this boy to go against Aslan?"

His words caused more shouting to come from my people while I remained silent, waiting for the right moment to show myself.

"Some of you may have forgotten, but we badgers remember well, that Narnia was never right except when a son of Adam was king," Trufflehunter said and I agreed with him.

Even when I was Queen, Narnia still fell into a Dark Age because our allies only viewed me as a woman and not a ruler.

"He's a Telmarine! Why would we want him as our king?" Nikabrik snarled, pointing harshly at the Telmarine.

"Because I can help you. Beyond these woods, I am a prince. The Telmarine throne is rightfully mine. Help me claim it, and I can bring peace between us," the Telmarine spoke, making me realise who he was.

"It is true. The time is ripe. I watch the skies, for it is mine to watch as it is yours to remember, badger. Tarva, the Lord of Victory, and Alambil, the Lady of Peace have met, and here a son of Adam has come forth to offer us back our freedom," Glenstorm spoke, his voice laced with wisdom and knowledge.

"Is it possible? Do you really think there could be peace? Do you? I mean, really?" Pattertwig shuttered out as he moved closer to the Telmarine Prince.

"Two days ago, I didn't believe in the existence of talking animals, or dwarfs, or centaurs. Yet, here you are... in strength in numbers we Telmarines could never have imagined. Whether this horn is magic or not, it brought us together. And together, we have a chance to take back what is ours," the Prince spoke, holding up the horn that I hadn't realised he was holding.

His words gave me a chance to step forward causing my people to grow silence. They bowed as I walked past them as towards the Telmarine Prince who stared at me with frowning brows. I stood in front of him, dressed in a distressed long fur-lined coat that opened up at the top of my legs which were covered by tight black pants that were tucked into knee-high black boots. A large strap ran across my chest and was connected to a piece of armour on my left shoulder which had an aged red cloak attached to it. A large leather belt that covered me from my waist to my hips had three large buckles on the front. My two swords were strapped to my back while my dagger to strapped to my right tight. A fingerless black glove was on my right hand. A gold metal gear was placed between my brows with black painted from temple to temple across my eyes with three lines of paint running down from my temple to my cheek, going shorter as they went closer to the centre of my face. My hair was braided down in many braids to keep it from falling into my face.

"You have grown since I last saw you, Caspian," I spoke caused his eyes to widen in shock.

"I'm Commander Annabell. But I'm known by many other names such as Queen Annabell. The Hope Queen. La reina immortal," I explained to him, my arms crossing over my chest.

"How do you know who I am?" he asked, clutching tightly to the horn in his hand.

"Your father and I were making up a peace treaty before he died. He introduced me to you when you were only young," I informed him, a small smile on my face from remembering my old friend.

I turned away from Caspian to address my people; "I made a promise to you that we will reclaim back our home. Now that promise can be fulfilled."

I turned back to Caspian before asking; "Will you help me lead my people to reclaim our home?"

He nodded before I moved to stand beside him. "If you both will lead us, then my sons and I offer you both our swords," Glenstorm spoke, raising his sword toward us.

I looked around at my people to see them all following his lead as they all now raised their weapons towards us. "And we offer you our lives... unreservedly," Reepicheep spoke before bowing towards us.

"Miraz' army will not be far behind," Trufflehunter spoke as he stepped towards us.

"If we are to be ready for them, we must hurry to find soldiers and weapons," Caspian responded which I answered; "I know where we can find some."

He looked over at me and nodded. "I am sure they will be here soon," he said to me before allowing me to lead him to the How.

Now my people and I had a chance to reclaim our home. I knew I couldn't do it alone as for the last three hundred years, I had been leading my people alone with no success of reclaiming Narnia back for ourselves.