Chapter 4 – Ruined Thrones

I opened the door and Caspian stepped inside after me. Caleb jumped up from the tiny table.

"C-C-Caspian!" Caleb stuttered. "Heather, what! I thought-I thought he worked for the Witch!"

"He did…but not anymore!" I said firmly. "Caspian, this is my friend Caleb. Caleb this is Caspian, who is no longer a captain in the Witch's army."

"Um," Caleb hesitated. "Nice to meet you, I guess."

"Lauren! Trinian!" I called. "We have a guest for breakfast."

"Oh my," Lauren gasped when she entered the room. Kelly and Jake just quietly took their places at the table. While we ate Caspian explained his story again to the anxious listeners seated around him. When he finished Lauren looked at Trinian, who nodded.

"It's time. We leave after breakfast."

"Where are we going?" Jake asked.

"Please tell us?" Kelly begged. Lauren just shook her head and smiled.

"You'll see, you'll see."

"Cair Paravel?" Kelly stared in awe.

"Or what's left of it." Trinian remarked glumly.

"Come, to the treasure room." Lauren showed us the stairs. Blinking in the dim light the seven of us made our way slowly down the stairs and into the main chamber. The five of us who had never seen it before stared in awe. Standing behind four golden chests were statues of their owners. High King Peter, Queen Susan of the Horn, King Edmund and Queen Lucy's marble faces all looked majestically over the gleaming rubble scattered around the chamber. Lauren broke the awed silence.

"The Pevensies would want you to use them. Heather, you are the eldest of the four. Go to Queen Susan's trunk and take out her bow and quiver of arrows. Also take her horn, for the Telmarines returned it long ago.

Caleb, go to the High King's trunk and from it bring the sword Rhindon and also Peter's shield. You will need them in the battles to come." Lauren paused before continuing. "Kelly, look in Queen Lucy's trunk for her dagger and her vial containing the juice of the fire-flower.

Jake, Edmund had no gift from Father Christmas but in his trunk you will find a faithful sword.

Remember 'These are tools, not toys.' 'Bear them well sons of Adam, bear them well daughters of Eve.'" The four of us stared at what we held in our hands. We were holding the Narnians most precious memory of their beloved kings and queens. I studied the others' faces. Kelly's face was glowing, while Jake's face told me that he thought holding Edmund's sword was pretty cool. Caleb was just staring at the sword and shield in his hands. I was pretty shocked myself. Susan's quiver was engraved with beautiful curls and swirly designs. The bow and the horn were also engraved.

"The time to use them may be near at hand," Caspian said gravely. I hope I get a chance to practice first! I thought.

Kelly skipped ahead as we walked slowly down the path that would take us back to Lauren's cottage. Caleb was discussing things with Caspian while Jake and Trinian chattered loudly. I walked along in silence next to Lauren.

"Is something on your mind?" she asked.

"What about Aslan? I mean, will he come to help us?" I questioned.

"Oh I think he will, in his own time though. After all, 'he's not a tame lion.' Aslan comes and goes when he pleases. He'll come, but when you least expect it." Lauren replied.

"But we can count on him to help?"

"You-"

"Kelly! Look out!" Caspian yelled. Kelly turned, staring at him and then ducked as a huge black shape swooped over her head.

"What was that?" I asked as Caspian drew his sword and waited as the black thing circled around our heads.

"A mammoth bat!" Trinian replied. "Works for Her!" The bat shrieked overhead, high in the sky.

"Draw your weapons!" Caspian instructed. Caleb drew Peter's sword, while I took Susan's bow and fit an arrow on the string. Jake struggled with Edmund's sword which refused to slide out of the sheath.

"Jake, look out!" I screamed. I didn't know if I could shoot a bow but I had to try. I pulled the string back as far as I could, aiming for the flying bat. I let the arrow go. It flew past the unharmed creature. We watched with horrified faces as the ginormous bat grabbed Jake by the shoulders and carried him into the sky.

"Put me down!" Jake yelled, but there was nothing we could do.

"Do something!" Caleb shouted at Caspian. Caspian shook his head.

"There's nothing I can do now."

"JAKE!" Caleb screamed after the fast-disappearing enemy who clutched Jake.

We walked home in melancholy silence. Even Trinian was completely quiet for once. Finally Caleb spoke.

"What do we do?" he asked Caspian.

"I-"

"Pete!" I exclaimed.

"What?" Caleb said.

"Pete! He'd know what to do!" I assured.

"What are you talking about?" asked Kelly.

"Remember, I told you about Pete. He is-or was I should say, a soldier in Caspian's regiment. He's helped Narnians escape from Jadis's dungeons before. I think he can help us." I replied. "Caspian, do you know where Pete is right now?"

"I'm not sure but I think I can find out." He smiled.

"Then there is still hope for Jake?" Kelly asked.

"I think so." Lauren smiled.

Jadis paraded down the hall to the dungeons. She held her head high. Nothing could stop her. Not even that silly old lion who the Narnians called "the true king of Narnia, son of the Emperor over the sea." Jadis laughed. He wouldn't stop her. Now that she had one of the sons of Adam it didn't really matter if Caspian found the daughter of Eve or not. If one of the four was missing, the prophecy couldn't come true. Jadis threw open the door and stepped into the hall of dungeons. She walked slowly past each cell until she came to one with a small boy resting his head on his knees. He looked up a little fearfully as she stared at him with cold eyes.

"So you and your little family decided to try to challenge me." Jadis scoffed.

"They're not even my sisters," Jake mumbled under his breath. His little sister was safe at home, in America. Jadis had sharp ears. So they're not all related. The girls are not his sisters but what about the other boy?

"And the other boy? Is he your cousin or uncle? Someone older than you, someone who tells you what to do?" she mocked.

"He's my brother, leave me alone." Jake turned his back the Witch.

"Poor little boy, all alone. Would you like some company little one?"

Jake glared at her.

"Don't touch my friends." He said through clenched teeth.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Jadis gave him an ice cold smile, happy with the new information she had gained about the prophesied four.