Still own nothing

Chapter 4

Caspian ran his hand roughly across his face, trying to rid himself of his weariness. His hands rough from years of sword play didn't even register the slight scrape of his morning stubble.

He had been woken that morning by the soft murmuring of voices and he had opened his eyes and sat up stiffly, concentrating hard on the voices as he tried to hear just what they were saying, and who they were.

It didn't take him long to identify the tones of the King and Queens – no queen – of old.

"Edmund, did you see her, she talks to you more than us," that was Queen Susan's voice, she sounded irritated.

But who were they talking about?

"No. She was upset after the meeting but I just thought she would go of somewhere to cool down. She's never stayed away the whole night before," that was Edmund.

Where they talking about Queen Lucy?

"Has anyone seen her, she could not have gotten far without someone seeing her surely…" Queen Susan sounded like she needed convincing of her own words.

"Susan, this is Lucy, she could sneak out of a den of Jadis' guard without being noticed if she wanted to," Edmund snapped.

Jadis? The White Witch?

Caspian's confusion grew. One thing was certain though. Queen Lucy had gone missing.

"She will just be in a mood about last night that is all. She'll come back," that was Susan again. Caspian was quickly deciding that despite the initial attraction he had felt to Queen Susan she wasn't a very nice person. Wasn't she worried for her sister at all? All he could detect in her tone was irritation and a dash of annoyance.

Caspian desperately wished he could see what was happening but he did not want to risk being noticed and he needed to know just who he was dealing with where the Kings and Queens of old were concerned.

"Susan, Lucy does not go into moods," Edmund snapped.

"Pfft," that definitely sounded like a female scoff to Caspian's ears.

"She is a child," Queen Susan concluded, as though that little statement explained everything.

"Now that is where you are wrong Susan!" King Edmund growled and Caspian wished all over again that he could see the royals.

"She was correct last night. Peter –" there was a slight pause and Caspian could imagine the younger brother pointing angrily at the High King "-was in the wrong to treat her like a child. She fought beside us in battle when you stayed far away from the blades of the battlefield Susan. She fought to be near the men when they needed her for healing and yet you both treat her as though she cannot make a decision. And I am ashamed of myself that I let you!"

There was silence, quickly followed by the sound of clinking metal.

"Where are you going Ed? We strike the castle tonight," Peter yelled at his brother and the voices moved further away. Caspian quickly leapt to his feet and followed the siblings.

He ducked into the shadow of one of the flickering torches just as Edmund swung on Peter who had just grabbed his brother by the shoulder.

They faced each other and for the first time Caspian could see the rage on Edmund's white face. The sort of rage that turned you pale and made a layer of sweat cover your face. Edmund was furious.

"We need you here," Peter shouted at his brother.

"I am going to search for Lucy. Do not worry brother, I will be back for the execution of you 'great' plan," Edmund spat before shrugging from his brothers grip and stalking into the early morning sun, sword clasped tightly in his hand.

Caspian leaned back against the wall and sighed before quickly making up his mind. He would assist Edmund in the search for the little queen.


With Lucy…

Lucy tossed and turned restlessly. They had travelled all the night and next day after they had left and now they were taking a well-earned rest. The next day they would reach Cair Paraval. The place that had been her home hundreds of years ago. Her thoughts darkened at the memory of the ruins of their palace - the jewel of Narnia - where banquets and feast had been held to celebrate conquest and victories, to entertain visiting nobles and to seal peace treaties. All gone…attacked and torn from the cliff by the forceful blast of canons. The castle walls left to tumble into the sea…

It had torn her apart to see its condition. To see what had happened to it during their absence and it was all her fault.

She opened her eyes and refolded her cloak beneath her head when her eyes suddenly caught a flash of something behind a bush. She glanced about quickly. The D.L.F was asleep and Rainstone was facing the opposite direction on watch.

She slowly stood and quietly went in the direction of the moving shadow - the sun coming up lazily into the sky and shedding an eerie glow onto her surroundings. She knew it was pointless to try and out manoeuvre a centaur, her years of trying to out sneak – her heart clenched before she could stop the thought – Oreius.

She heard something move and heard heavy breathing somewhere in front of her. The dim light left her nearly blind in the dense woodland but her mind yelled at her that she knew who was nearby. She always knew…and always would.

"Aslan," she whispered hoarsely, he voice breaking.

She blinked, trying to clear the gathering darkness from her eyes and continued forward and when she opened her eyes she smiled widely to see the great Lion before her. His golden mane letting of its own light and making the small glade glow.

She threw herself at him without question just like she had before. Burying her face into his warm, thick mane and digging her fingers into his coat daring him to leave her, daring anyone to separate them.

"You have not changed at all my little lioness," he told her, his gravelly voice sounding right through her chest, amusement and tenderness lacing every word.

"You dare all to remain true to what you believe is right," he told her as she backed away from him ever so slightly.

"I didn't know what else to do," she cried softly, tears slowly trailing a oath from her eyes to her shin to fall unseen to the ground.

"The path the others have chosen will lead to nothing but death for our people. I had to do something to stop it," she explained, desperate for someone else to see her point of view. See the pain that she felt deep inside at the thought of seeing the bodies of loyal Narnians strewn across a battle field. She could not let that happen. She would die first.

"You have no need to justify yourself to be, dear one," Aslan's gravelly voice soothed her like no warm glass of milk back home could do.

"Ever since you first arrived here you have always felt a deep connection to this land and its people. Deeper than any of your siblings…"

Lucy could not hold herself back any longer and threw herself back at the lion, wrapping her arms around his neck in a grip that would have throttled any human. She buried her face in his mane, the smell of the sun, grass and Narnian spices filled her nose, as the tears fell once more from her eyes in a flood she couldn't stop even if she tried.

She should have known that only Aslan would truly believe in her. That only Aslan could restore her confidence in herself. She had been so frightened. Deep down in the depths of her soul she had been sick with fear. Sick at the thought of the consequences of what she was going to do…whatever she was going to do.

"I don't know what to do Aslan," she sobbed into the thick, soft hair of his mane. "I tried to make Peter see, I tried, I really did. But he won't…they won't listen. None of them will. And my people will die because of their folly," she cried, not even noticing her possessiveness of the creatures of Narnia. The images of battles fought long ago flashed through her mind, blood and death. For people did die in the wars fought during their so call 'Golden Age'. Her cordial could heal many injuries but it could not reverse death.

Aslan began to purr, the sound traveling deep inside her. Loosening her tense muscles and calming her sobs to slight whimpers as she once again regained control of herself.

"Do not worry Dear One, not all things rest on your shoulders. I have always watched over you. I shall not stop now,"

Those last words proved to be the healing balm that she needed as the last of her tears fell from her eyes and tries upon her cheeks. Her lips stretched into a slow, unsure smile, as she slowly pulled away from his warm body and stepped back.

"You will help us?" she whispered, looking into his smiling eyes as his great head bobbed up and down in a nod.

"Of course," his voice came to her as though he was far away and the light began to grow dim as his breath caresses her face.

"When the time is right…" his voice drifted to her before everything went dark.

Lucy opened her eyes slowly, more than aware of the smile that danced on her lips. But she couldn't help it.

She stretched happily as the Narnian sun warmed her skin.

Aslan was with her.

Sorry it has taken me so long to update this story. I hope you like this chapter. Sorry there isn't much action in it. Trying to get back into the swing of things.

Let me know what you think

Take care

:)