Lady Amber of Narnia: The Lost Tales, part 1.4
To Battle
"Prepare the counter! Keep those ships from reaching land!" Amber shouted. She had just watched in horror as a large catapult crashed into the ocean, mercifully missing the Cair. "And commence the evacuation. All who cannot or will not fight, make for Lantern Waste. All who will fight, to me! Defend your homes, defend you land! For Narnia!" She sat on Peter's horse. She wanted desperately to transform into her Tigress self, but she had to be able to give commands. The archers prepared to shoot, but Amber held up her hand.
"No! Save the archers. Prepare the harpoons, and the catapults! Get all the long-range weapons you can, sink those ships! Do not let them make landfall! We can still save this day!" But despite the best efforts of the Narnians, the Telmarines did indeed make it to land.
"Archers to the ready! Keep them back! Do not let them near this castle, and let none past your line! Take your aim! Fire!" Amber looked up as hundreds of flaming arrows were let loose. She was dismayed, however, when very few of them actually hit their marks. She stared as dozens of ships reached the shallows, and realized that there were many more behind them.
What did the Telmarines want? They stood in a perfect line, making no move to advance. Confused, Amber held up her hand once more, keeping her own troops still. An olive branch waved, and a voice shouted, "King Caspian of Telmar wishes to speak with the leader of the Narnians under a parley." Amber frowned and looked to Oerius.
"They've already attacked us; why do they want to speak now?"
"I do not know, Milady, but I advise that we hear him out. But I do not advise that you go alone." Amber nodded.
"I want you to come with me, as well as… the Giant Rumblebuffin." Oerius's generally stoic face changed instantly to surprise.
"Milady, as good as his intentions may be… do you really think that Rumblebufifn is the wisest choice in this matter?"
"The Telmarines do not know how foolish Giants are," Amber shrugged. "And he will not be speaking; just looking generally frightening. I want these men to know whom exactly they are dealing with." Oerius sighed; he had known the Tigress long enough to know that if she wanted something, and had good logic behind it, there was no point in arguing, so he sent for the Giant.
"Should I go as a Tigress, then change into a Girl?" Amber asked. "I know that can sometimes be intimidating…"
"Do you want it to be widely known that you are indeed a Tigress?" Oerius asked. Amber had always been reluctant before to reveal her true form to her enemies. The girl shrugged.
"Like I said, I want these men to know with whom they are dealing." She dismounted and transformed, feeling again the warmth that came from the necklace given to her by Father Christmas. She nodded to Oerius, who called, "The Lady Amber Tigress, Regentess of Narnia and the Lone Islands, will speak with King Caspian of Telmar under a temporary banner of peace."