Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I own nothing in Narnia. I can only add and give my own ideas.
I sat in front of Ed and Peter as they pulled the oars with a steady pace. Lucy had thoughtfully saved the boat the Telmarines had brought Trumpkin and me in while Peter and Ed dived in after us. Now with me at the helm, Peter and Ed were rowing down the stream inland as far as we could go. Lucy and Susan sat behind the boys with Trumpkin in the bow. Lucy looked up at the trees high above us.
"They're so still."
Trumpkin almost laughed. "They're trees. What do you expect?"
"They used to dance." Lucy said sadly.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to keep a tear from rolling down my cheek at the thought of the dryads. I had tried to keep them awake, oh how hard I had tried. But it was no use.
Trumpkin sighed. "It wasn't long after you left that the Telmarines invaded. Those that survived retreated to the woods. And the trees… they retreated so deeply inside themselves that no one has heard from them since."
"It wasn't easy without the dryads to keep smiles on our faces, but others have helped with that, namely, a brave mouse named Reepicheep. You'll meet him later. But whatever you do, DON'T CALL HIM CUTE!" I begged them.
Ed gave me a slightly silly look.
Lucy still stared up at the trees. "I don't understand. How could Aslan have let this happen?"
Trumpkin snorted. "Aslan? I thought he abandoned us after you lot did."
"Trumpkin!" I was nearly livid. "Don't you have any memory at all? Don't you remember when I was being branded, the lion's head that came from the flames to scare the guards and give me comfort? Don't you see the kings and queens of the golden age sitting right next to you? Don't you see me? I've been here in Narnia for THIRTEEN HUNDRED YEARS! How do you think that's possible? I still look like I'm sixteen! The same as I did thirteen hundred years ago! Now if it's possible Aslan didn't have some major part in that, tell me."
The dwarf made no comment.
Peter sighed. "We didn't mean to leave, you know."
I put my hand on his arm. "I know. Aslan must have decided your time was up. But you're back now."
"Doesn't make much difference now, does it?" Trumpkin asked.
Peter clenched his jaw. "Get us to the Narnians and it will."
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We finally reached the shore and Peter, Susan, Ed and I pulled the boat up the rocky beach while Trumpkin stamped the anchor firmly into the ground. Lucy wandered off and the next thing I knew, she was saying hello to a bear.
I looked up and saw what kind of bear it was. Now in the Narnia they were used to, all the animals talked… but this Narnia was different. The bear stood up on its hind legs and looked at her.
"Don't move Lucy!" I yelled and started running toward her. Lucy looked back at me quizzically and didn't notice that the bear started to run toward her.
Susan had an arrow on her string in the blink of an eye. "Stay away from her!"
Lucy saw that the bear was charging and ran, but she looked back, tripped on her skirt and fell. She turned over as the bear lunged over her. Susan still held the arrow on her bow.
Ed stared yelling as he ran toward the bear with Peter. "Susan, shoot!"
Suddenly an arrow and a knife hit the bear at the same time. It fell and Lucy looked over to see me standing with my hands at my side and Trumpkin with a bow in his hand. She looked back and saw that it was my knife in the bear and Trumpkin's arrow. Susan still had the arrow on her bow. Peter and Ed arrived and pulled Lucy up beside them.
Susan looked confused. "Why wouldn't he stop?"
"I expect he was hungry." Trumpkin said as he went to retrieve his arrow.
Ed looked amazed. "He was wild."
Peter pointed his sword at the bear's head. "I don't think he could talk at all."
I reached for my dagger. "Get treated like a dumb animal long enough and that's what you become." I yanked the dagger out, dripping with blood, and wiped it on the bear before sheathing it. Lucy shuttered as Trumpkin cut out his arrow.
"You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember."
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Justin and Caspian were walking through the forest. Suddenly Caspian threw his arm in front of Justin to stop him.
"I hear something."
Justin only smiled. "What, the two pair of feet that have been following us for the last twenty minutes? It's Nikabrick and Trufflehunter."
Caspian turned to see the two stalkers trying to hide behind trees. When they realized they had been spotted, they came out. The noble badger shook his head.
"I just think we should wait for the kings and queens."
Justin kept walking. "We know where to find them."
Trufflehunter ignored him. "Fine, go then! See if the others will be as understanding. Justin may have their trust, but for all they know, he's just an ordinary human. Why should they listen to him?"
Nikabrick ran to try to catch up with Justin and Caspian. "Maybe I'll come with you. I want to see you explain things to the minotaurs."
Caspian stopped, but Justin kept walking. "Minotaurs…" the prince looked confused. "They're real?"
The noble badger smiled. "And very bad tempered."
"Not to mention big." Justin said from over his shoulder.
"Huge!" said Nikabrick.
Caspian pulled Justin to a stop, but my beloved kept an eye out for trouble instead of turning around to face the prince.
"What about centaurs? Do they still exist?" The prince asked.
Justin sighed. "They'll probably fight on your side, but there's no telling what the others will do, that's why I'm going with you. I have some explaining to do myself." He, the badger and the dwarf started walking again. Caspian's next question stopped them dead in their tracts.
"What about Aslan?"
Nikabrick gave him a sly look. "How do you know so much about us?"
Caspian shrugged. "Stories."
Trufflehunter tugged at his sleeve. "Wait a minute… your father told you stories about Narnia?"
Justin saw the look on Caspian's face and butted in. "No, his professor. Do not speak so lightly of the dead, my friends."
Suddenly, Justin threw himself on Caspian and they went down in the deep ferns that grew through the forest. "Telmarines, Caspian."
It was true. About a dozen soldiers with crossbows pointed at them were coming over the rise. Justin whispered in Caspian's ear. "Keep low and follow me."
The four of them took off away from the guards. Justin dodged to the side and drew his duel swords in one sweep, running backwards through the forest. An arrow zipped by and struck Trufflehunter in the shoulder. Caspian turned and ran back for him. Nikabrick followed. Justin stood over the faithful badger, knocking aside all bolts that came close with his swords. Caspian knelt beside the wounded creature as he held out the horn to Caspian.
"Take it; it's more important than I am."
Caspian stuffed the horn in his satchel and handed Trufflehunter to Nikabrick. "Get him out of here."
Nikabrick nodded and started off as Justin yelled after him. "Take him to the dancing lawn!"
Caspian stood and drew his sword. Justin threw him a sidelong glance. "Run, you're Narnia's last chance. I'll stay and cover your escape."
Caspian shook his head. "Ah, you forget the stories; I've heard that if you die, the world will end. I stay."
Justin rolled his eyes, knowing the truth of the statement. He winced as a bolt took him in the left shoulder. He dropped his sword and tucked his left hand into the back of his belt to keep it safe. The soldiers came nearer. Suddenly, a soldier screamed and fell. Two more went down. Soon there was only one left. Caspian watched in horror as the ferns moved as if they were alive around the remaining soldier.
The Telmarine dropped his crossbow, drew his sword and started slashing at the ferns. Suddenly, the soldier screamed and fell backwards. Caspian watched with growing horror as the thing in the ferns moved like lighting toward him. Without warning, something flipped out and knocked him onto his back. A mouse of all things landed on his chest, drew its sword with its tail and in a trice, the point of the small sword was at Caspian's throat.
Justin sheathed his sword and smiled as the mouse addressed Caspian. "Chose your last words carefully, Telmarine!"
Caspian just stared at him. "You are a mouse."
The mouse was nearly black with a golden circlet on his head that held a bright red feather. He sighed in frustration. "I was hopping for something a little more original." He glanced at Justin. "You could have killed him off a long time ago, you know. Saved me the trouble… maybe? Ah well." He turned back to Caspian as Justin just smiled. "Come on, pick up your sword."
Caspian glanced at his sword and then at Justin, and finally back at the mouse. "Uh, no thanks."
The mouse huffed. "Pick it up! I will not fight an unarmed man."
Justin chuckled. Caspian was starting to look very nervous. "Which is why I might live longer if I choose not to cross blades with you, noble mouse."
The mouse was getting annoyed. "I said I wouldn't fight you. I didn't say I'd let you live!"
Justin thought it had gone far enough. "Alright Reepicheep, put up the blade."
Reep looked up at Justin. "My friend, I trust you have a very good reason for this untimely interruption!"
Nikabrick and Trufflehunter hadn't gone far and when they saw what was happening, they returned. The dwarf held his friend up and shook his head. "He doesn't. Go ahead."
Trufflehunter sighed. "Reepicheep, he's the one that blew the horn!"
The mouse was taken aback. "What?!"
"Then let him bring it forward." Justin smiled as Glenstorm and his three sons came over the hill. "This is the reason we have gathered."