Darkness fell. Some of the Narnians lit small fires, and the Dwarfs and Fauns cooked supper. Elena brought out her small bag of mussels, and would have eaten them alone, but the Fauns were friendly, and offered to share their stew if she'd contribute her shellfish. Elena was happy to do so, and ate better than she had since Papa left.

When the moon was overhead, Glenstorm sounded a horn, and the company moved out. Elena walked with Stormfir and the other Talking Horses, who had a great deal of questions about life in the palace stables, how to ride into battle, what a bit was, and so forth. They didn't like most of Elena's answers, particularly about the bit.

"I hope I never have to wear such a thing!" said Isofir, a tall tawny stallion.

"They do sound uncomfortable, now that I think about it," said Elena. "But think how useful it might be in battle, when one might not be able to hear one's rider give directions."

"Harrumph," said Isofir. "Perhaps you have a point."

As they moved farther into the woods, the night grew even darker. The moon went behind clouds, and Elena could hardly see the path in front of her. Some of the dwarfs had lit torches, but none of them were near the Horses.

When Elena tripped and fell for the third time, Stormfir said, "Oh, just get on already. Humans are so blind and clumsy."

"But Caspian said—"

"I'm inviting you to ride me so you don't fall in the dark and break yourself. It's different than slavery," Stormfir said.

Elena accepted his offer gratefully, and dozed in the saddle for most of the night.

As the eastern sky turned pink with the advent of the sun, they broke out of the woods into broad grassland. A large hill blotted out part of the horizon.

"That's Aslan's How," Isofir explained to Stormfir and Elena. "The Stone Table is in its central chamber. Legend has it that Aslan Himself died on that table, but rose again with the sun."

"Sorry, but who's Aslan?" said Elena. "I know I've heard the name from old stories, but I don't really know anything about him."

"He's King of Narnia over all the kings," said Isofir, "even High King Peter. He created Narnia, and he watches over us."

Another horse snorted. "He hasn't done such a good job of that lately, has he?"

"Now, now," said Isofir. "I'm sure Aslan knows what he's doing."

Privately, Elena agreed with the other horse—if Aslan were Narnia's protector, how had the Telmarines gotten in?—but she said nothing. She was a guest here, and must be polite.

Glenstorm rode ahead with a few of his sons to scout the How for Telmarines. The other Narnians settled at the edge of the forest for a cold breakfast.

Caspian found Elena and Stormfir. "I came to see how you are doing. If all goes well at the How, Glenstorm wants to raid a Telmarine watch tonight. I thought you might come with us, to ensure we get all the proper gear for the horses."

Elena bowed her head. "Of course, Your Majesty. And we must see about getting you proper armor."

"You do not think my nightshirt is suitable battle attire?" Caspian raised an eyebrow.

It took Elena a moment to realize he was joking. Imagine, she thought, a King joking with me! "Only if the battle is at night, Your Majesty," she said solemnly.

Caspian laughed, and the horses nickered, though Elena wasn't sure they understood what a nightshirt was. Did Stormfir? How much did he know about human clothes? She made a mental note to ask him later.

Glenstorm returned a few hours later to report that all was clear. The How was unoccupied, and there were no Telmarines in the immediate area.

"Excellent," said Caspian. "Let us move out immediately."

By noon, they were inside the How itself. Elena was baffled by the numerous twisting passageways and small chambers. She felt sure she'd get lost often. Which was the Stone Table chamber? She wanted to see it, and to hear the story in full from one of the Narnians.

But there was no time for exploring. Since she had apposable thumbs, Elena was put to work assembling forges for the dwarfs. She hauled wood and laid stones for hearths. The dwarfs had some material with them, and set to work as soon as the fires were lit.

"First thing's armor," said Nikabrik. "We can't have these ninnies running into battle naked as the day they were born."

"We don't know the King's size," said a dwarf.

"We can get armor for humans when we raid Telmarine camps," Elena said.

The dwarfs glared at her.

"Do you think any Telmarine junk is better than dwarfish mail, girl?" said Nikabrik.

"No! I'm sorry, I didn't mean—maybe as an example to work off? Have you made armor for humans before?"

"No," said another dwarf gruffly. "We have not. Bring us a Telmarine's armor, and we'll make it ten times better for our King and for you, girl."

"Oh, no," said Elena hastily, "you don't have to. I'm all right."

"You're a Narnian now, and you'll be clad like a Narnian or not at all," said the dwarf.

Elena decided not to argue.

At nightfall, the dwarfs and fauns served supper, and Caspian assigned several parties to foraging for the following day. Another, smaller party would raid the Telmarine camp that night. Elena and Stormfir were among those assigned to raid, along with a number of centaurs and minotaurs. Elena saddled Stormfir. When Caspian protested, she said firmly, "If things go sour out there, Your Majesty, you get on Stormfir and he'll get you out."

"But—"

"You're too important," Stormfir said. "We need to be sure you're safe."

"What about Elena?"

"I'm not important. And I can always tell them I was kidnapped."

They set out shortly after. Elena and Stormfir walked at the rear of the party. Elena carried her loaded crossbow, and another dozen bolts on her back. Stormfir carried empty saddlebags, to be filled with bridles.

When they were within earshot of the camp, Caspian signaled for a halt, and snuck ahead with Glenstorm and Reepicheep. After a few minutes of silence, the clash of metal became audible. The other Narnians sprang eagerly into the fight. Elena shot two Telmarines before it was over.

They freed the horses, and loaded themselves with as much weaponry and foodstuffs as they could carry. Each of the centaurs squirmed in a saddle. Elena carried six quivers of crossbow bolts and three bridles slung around her shoulders. Stormfir was wearing two extra saddles.

Caspian emerged from a Telmarine tent in full captain's gear.

"Give that to the dwarfs when we get back," Elena said. "They want to make it 'ten times better' for you."

Caspian looked surprised. "This is the finest armor in the Telmarine army!"

"Yes, but apparently dwarfish stuff is better," Elena said. "They said to me, 'you're a Narnian and you'll be clad like one.'"

Caspian laughed. "I like the sound of that."

They returned to the How before dawn. The dwarfs were already awake and stoking their forge fires. They tutted over the quality of the Telmarine weapons and promised to make them better. Nikabrik wrinkled his nose when he saw Caspian's armor.

"Take that junk off at once, Your Majesty," he said. "We'll melt it down and purify it. Like as not these Telmarines don't know how to smelt proper."

"Probably not," Caspian agreed. "Will you do Elena's, too?"

"We're outfitting the whole army," said Nikabrik. "Do you mean for the girl to be a part of your army? Can she fight?"

"I can learn," said Elena fiercely.

"Quite right," said Caspian. "See that it's done, please."

When the left the dwarfs, Caspian said, "You were very helpful tonight. Thank you."

"Any time, Your Majesty." Elena stifled a yawn, but Caspian saw it.

"Go get some rest," he said. "The dwarfs will work for several hours before there is anything usable. Then, we shall begin."

"Begin what, Your Majesty?" said Elena stupidly.

Caspian's face was grim. "Preparing for war."

A/N: *Mushu voice* I LIIIIIIVE! I haven't forgotten about this story (or any of my stories), but I have been extremely busy with Life™. I can't guarantee regular updates, but I'm still alive and still writing. Narnia is never far from my thoughts.