Disclaimer: We do not own Power Rangers or The Chronicles of Narnia.
Written in collaboration with mae-E.
Chapter 4 – A Ball and Battles
After the Tenga scouting party the sense of urgency within the castle rose. Goldar had not shown up and that worried Tommy and Kim for Goldar was not known to sit on the sidelines and when he did, there was usually some big nefarious plan that didn't bode well for the Rangers. Caspian and the Pevensies weren't as worried about the lack of appearance from those Narnians that Goldar had allied himself with, they were used to action happening out of sight, their fighting style far different from the Rangers. So, in preparation for whatever attack was to come, they trained. Tommy continued to teach basic martial arts, making the soldiers much more agile, while he and Kim were taught to improve their archery and sword fighting, even venturing into the others territory at the Pevensies' encouragement; it could never hurt to be able to fight with more then one weapon. While their lessons on the training field were pretty gruelling, their lessons off the field weren't much better, at least as far as Tommy was concerned. With the ball Caspian had planned drawing nearer, etiquette was a topic Susan continuously hounded them on, along with dancing. Kim was relatively excited about the latter lessons, she had loved to dance back in Angel Grove, though it still paled in comparison to gymnastics, while Tommy had avoided it at all costs, save for the odd slow song at a school dance where he got to hold Kim close and merely sway on the spot. These Narnian dances they were learning were far from that, however, having a likeness to medieval line dances and reels; evidently Lucy's comment of the point of balls being to dance in your love's arms were based upon the Narnians' definition, such as when the dance occasionally brought the partners together, or so they thought.
"A waltz?" Kim and Tommy asked when Susan informed them of today's dance lesson, one that greatly differed from every other one they'd been taught so far.
"Yes, it's an old Narnian dance." She replied.
"What Su means," Peter cut in, the High King having been roped into today's dance lesson by his sister. "Is that it's thirteen hundred years old in Narnia, because we brought the dance over from Earth." He and Susan demonstrated the steps their mother had taught them years ago, Helen Pevensie determined that all her children would know how to dance, though admittedly Lucy and Edmund had escaped most of the lessons, not being of an age for school functions where dancing may be required like he and Susan were. They spent a couple hours at it, Tommy and Kim proving fast studies when they were actually able to hold each other close, before Susan declared they'd done enough for one day, much to Peter's relief. Afterwards they returned to training, though Susan ensured occasional dance lessons to keep them up to scratch before the ball.
The days wore on and the month leading up to the ball passed faster then anyone expected, though it was far from an idle month. Training continued, being at the forefront of everyone's mind for they knew eventually they would go to war, but for Kimberly the month was passed in large part by trying to help Susan and Caspian. The tension she'd noticed between them when she first arrived had only intensified, though Caspian's behaviour with the other Pevensies was nothing but happy and easy. Tommy tried to curb his girlfriend's meddling, telling her to let them work it out themselves but there was nothing that could reign Kim in and so Tommy found himself seeking out Caspian for a talk, wondering how Kim got him to do things like this, though truthfully knowing the answer for he could rarely deny her anything. His search led him to one of the conference rooms off the throne room, having it on good authority from three different servants that they had seen him heading that way, and the raised voices he heard upon his approach made him stop short.
"Absolutely not!" Came a cry from a voice Tommy recognized to be Caspian's.
"Your Majesty, all your council is suggesting is that you find yourself a bride and sire an heir." This voice was unknown to Tommy and was quite placating and weary, obviously this argument was not a new one. "You are now over two years into Your Majesty's reign and not one single lady has seemed to catch your eye."
"Your people crave the security of an heir and yet not only has one not been produced, but there is not even an indication of it occurring anytime soon." Came another voice, also placating and weary.
"When I decide to marry it shall be my decision and not one of this council."
"Your Majesty, please see reason-"
"And who do you propose I marry, Lord Rian? As you have said there is not exactly a lady lined up to fill the spot as my wife."
"I am certain we could arrange for many eligible young ladies to attend the ball in a few weeks that Your Majesty could choose from."
"I will not marry some girl I do not know."
"But Your Majesty must also consider your people. As you have said time and time again, you are a servant to your people, be they Narnian or Telmarine, and if it is within their best interests for you to marry and produce an heir, is it not then, by your own definition, your duty to do so?"
"I am certain the Gentle Queen would agree with us. She knows the duty of a monarch." Silence followed that statement and Tommy cringed from outside the door, knowing of Caspian's feelings and also knowing that bringing up Susan was the wrong thing to say.
"I will discuss this no longer." Caspian said after a moment. "Now if there is nothing else, my lords, I have other duties to attend to." The door opened too quickly for Caspian to have waited for a response though chairs could be heard scraping against the stone floor and the lords rushed to rise when their king did. Caspian practically ran out of that room but came to a stop when he saw Tommy, the younger man motioning for the King to follow him. Tommy led Caspian outside to one of the castles many balconies and stood aside, merely waiting for the other man to say something.
"I assume you heard all that." Caspian muttered after a moment, to which Tommy nodded.
"You do not need to be ashamed of your feelings." He replied.
"I am not ashamed!" Caspian returned with heated certainty before cooling down. "It is merely that we cannot be together. She is from another world and Aslan has already decreed that she shall have to return to her home…and I shall never see her again."
"You don't know that."
"But Aslan-"
"Aslan isn't all knowing. He may practically be a god, and is certainly viewed as one in this world, but he doesn't know everything, and he can't control everything. Believe me, I've met enough people who have tried to know that. We make our own destinies, and there isn't a power in the world that can stop us if our hearts are strong enough."
"You are quite philosophical for one so young." Caspian said after a moment.
"You're only four years older then me." Tommy shot back with a small smile. "But no matter my age, it comes with the territory of being who I am."
"A Power Ranger you mean."
"Well certainly that." Tommy agreed. "But I've-me and Kim rather, have been through more then that. I wasn't always the good guy. I got my start as a Ranger by being one of those people who wanted to take over the world and control everything. It wasn't pretty, let me tell you, and Kim stuck by me through it all, though I still don't know why." He chuckled as Kim's voice flitted across his consciousness reminding him that he certainly did know why, that she would always stick by the man she loved. "Anyways, my fate seemed to have been written for me, but I changed it, with Kim's help." He amended. "I didn't want the destiny that was laid out for me so I did something about it. It's not going to be easy." He turned to face Caspian, looking the older, though slightly shorter, man in the eyes. "It's going to be tough and if there aren't at least a dozen times you think it's too hard and you should give up then your aren't working hard enough. But you can do it, I know you can, both you and Susan. If you truly love her, tell her and never let her go. There is nothing worse in life then being separated from your mate." Caspian wasn't sure what to make of Tommy's words. The younger man spoke as if he and Kimberly were connected somehow, as if she was his other half, but while Caspian didn't know exactly what to think he was certain of one thing: there was real pain and fear in Tommy's voice when he spoke of being separated from Kimberly and it mirrored his own feelings at the thought of being separated from Susan.
Not too far away, Susan and Kim were having a similar conversation, though Kim was much more adept than Tommy at getting people to open up and had Susan telling her everything with little trouble.
"I love him." The Gentle Queen said, silent tears streaming down her face as she wound down her story. "I'm the sensible one and I'm admitting that when I both haven't known him that long, and will no doubt have to leave him soon. I let my heart get involved."
"Hearts do what they want." Kim said softly. "Sometimes it doesn't matter how sensible you are, no matter how much you fight it, when you meet your other half your heart instantly belongs to them, no action from you required."
"But we can't be together. He is here in Narnia and I will return to England. Why would my heart give itself to him when it knows we can never be together?"
"There's always a way, Susan." Kim assured her. "If you don't give up and fight for the one you love, nothing and no one can keep you apart."
"But Aslan-" Susan began, unknowingly giving the exact same excuse Caspian had and hardening Kimberly's heart towards The Great Lion, for it was obvious that both Susan and Caspian believed him to be the main reason they would be separated.
"Doesn't know everything." She interrupted, a touch of ice entering her voice. "We'll figure something out Susan, I promise you."
'And I promise myself that if he even tries to separate the two of them, a certain lion and I are going to have words.'
oo00oo00oo
Finally the night of the ball arrived and even the boys had to admit they were excited, at least to a certain degree. The girls all met in Susan's chambers to dress and admire the finished works of art the seamstresses had wrought. Lucy's was done in a silver, or very light blue, it was hard to tell, and flowed to the floor in waves as the fabric of the skirt came together nicely. Although it still looked beautiful on her, there wasn't much more style to it and came all the way up to the base of her neck, both facts that Lucy lamented but were necessary as she was viewed as a child and as such the intricate designs she was used to as an adult were not appropriate. While Lucy was limited in her design choice, Susan was not and her dress certainly reflected that. She wore a dress in crimson and gold, much as she had to Caspian's coronation, but in a style much closer to the dress from her own coronation, with long flowing sleeves, a tight fitting bodice and low neckline. Kim's dress was relatively similar in style to Susan's, though not in colour. Her dress was a pale pink, in keeping with her Ranger colour as requested, and had accents of white where the pink material was slashed to allow the other colour through. In an idea thought of just to drive Tommy crazy, green gems had been sewn into the neckline and Lucy and Susan rightly said that Tommy was going to be very appreciative, though they spoke of the dress as a whole, the fact that Kim wore both her mate's Ranger colours lost on them. The four boys waited for the girls in the antechamber off the side of the great hall, two of their mouths dropping open at the sight of the three women. Kim did a little twirl to enhance the effect, while Susan pretended not to see Caspian's appreciative stare, though she could hardly be unaware of it as Edmund reached up to close the Telmarine King's mouth.
"You look beautiful." Tommy whispered as he swept Kim into his arms and immediately brought his lips to hers.
"Hey, hey!" Peter called loudly when it did not remain a quick, chaste kiss. "None of that now." The two lovebirds obediently pulled apart, though quite dejectedly and looking far from chastised. Knowing from their lessons on Narnian culture that proper etiquette had to be observed in a formal setting like a ball, Tommy and Kim entered the room, going relatively unobserved by the guests already within, before the trumpets blared, signalling the entrance of the Kings and Queens. The congregation looked towards the doors as they opened and bowed deeply as the royals entered, Susan and Peter, as the High King and Queen, leading the way followed by Caspian and then Lucy and Edmund. The significance of the order was not lost on anyone, though many of the Telmarines present were not entirely happy with it. They knew the history, that upon their coronation Peter and Susan had been crowned the High King and Queen, above all Kings and Queens in Narnia should they be past, present or future, save Aslan who was the True King of Narnia, and so with that logic they should lead the way. However, clearly placing them above their Telmarine King still did not sit well with many of them; their only consolation being that Caspian entered before the other Narnian King and Queen, giving them hope that these Narnian royals were not here to take over from Caspian and it was merely due to a title that their King did not enter first. When the applause died down from the royal entrance the five officially opened the ball and moved about to mingle with their guests. They saw very little of their new friends during the hours of the ball, in part due to the Kings and Queens' duty of greeting all their guests, but in large part due to the fact that Tommy and Kim spent most of their time either in each others' arms on the dance floor, or in each others' arms in the gardens. The two were so lost in teach other that they barely noticed when they forgot the steps to the dances Susan had taught them and crashed into other couples, nor did they have the cognitive abilities to sense when danger approached.
"My King!" A guard yelled as he ran into the hall, bringing an immediate halt to any merriment.
"What is it?" Caspian asked, though the Pevensies were right there next to him.
"Raiders, my King. They attack the town and have almost broken through our gates!" Although they'd been oblivious to all but themselves for most of the night, Tommy and Kim could not miss this interaction, nor could they miss it when their radar went off instantly. They'd barely had time to put themselves in the line of fire before a blast of familiar energy rocked the room.
"Goldar." Tommy snarled as he and Kim jumped back up, ready for the coming fight.
"Hello Rangers." He said in his usual cackle.
"Get everyone out of here." Kim told Caspian and the Pevensies. "We'll handle him…or rather them." She amended for a group of Tengas had just shown up.
"We'll go head off the raiders. No doubt they're a part of this, it's too much of a coincidence." Edmund added as they began herding their guests out.
"Alright Goldilocks, what do you want?" Tommy demanded, getting Goldar's attention off of the people leaving the room.
"Your destruction of course." Came the expected reply.
"So nothing new, and something we all know isn't going to happen." Kim summarized. "Makes this easy at least." The standard taunting did nothing to eliminate the Rangers' fears; something was off with Goldar, they'd known it when he hadn't joined the Tengas in the months of attacks they'd launched, but it was even more apparent with him standing before them now. He looked different somehow, radiated more power then he ever had, and bits of his armour had a reflective sheen to it, as if it was wet or frozen. The foes circled each other for a while, wondering who would make the first move, for not even the Tengas had done anything yet, when finally the golden monkey's impatience got the better of him and he ordered the attack to begin. Tommy and Kim held their own for awhile but as usual the odds were not in their favour, and unlike when Goldar overwhelmed them in Angel Grove, the other Rangers would not be coming to their aid.
"Ninja Ranger Power!" Tommy called as he and Kim took it up a notch, knowing the extra power was needed. With the Crane and Falcon at the helm, no mere Tenga had a chance of winning and they knew it, which is probably what saw to their quick retreat when the second of their number fell; Goldar was obviously not willing to lose all his Tengas when Rita and Zedd weren't around to summon more for him. However, while his foot soldiers retreated, the henchman did not and actually appeared quite thrilled at the prospect of fighting them himself, something that usually did not bode well for the Rangers.
"What's he up to?" Tommy muttered, both he and Kim on edge and on full alert. The answer came in the form of a weapon neither Ranger had ever seen before but that glowed brightly and sent a blast of energy towards them, knocking them backwards as Goldar cackled gleefully, happy with his new toy.
"I think that answers your question." Kim muttered back as she and Tommy helped each other up. "Question now is: what is it?"
"I dunno, but I think we need to Ranger up." Tommy added to which Kim was in complete agreement.
"It's Morphin' Time!"
"White Ranger Power!"
"Pink Ranger Power!" If the two Rangers thought things would turn in their favour now that they were fully morphed they were sorely mistaken and by the time the Pevensies and Caspian returned they'd been beaten down enough times to force them to de-morph and for Goldar to disappear, taking a leaf out of Rita and Zedd's book by not finishing them off now, but wanting to play with them first.
"Are you alright?" Peter asked as he and the others rushed over to help their friends, their weapons, which they'd fetched before heading to the gates, brandished in front of them.
"Yeah, yeah we're fine." Kim got out, grimacing as the movement of standing up hurt the cut on her side.
"I don't think I can morph again though. Not for awhile at least." Tommy said, not faring that much better than Kim and earning an expletive from his girlfriend as she realized that neither could she and so they were essentially sitting ducks should Goldar return, especially against his new found power
"At least he's gone." Tommy reasoned. "Though why they're never smart enough to destroy us when they have the chance I'll never know." Kim raised her eyebrow at him as she looked at him like he'd grown an extra head.
"Are you seriously complaining about that?" She asked. "We would be dead, Tommy, if they were smart. Be thankful for their stupidity." Unable to disagree with her, Tommy merely nodded.
"The raiders?" He then directed to their friends.
"Fled as soon as we got there." Susan admitted. "Thankfully they didn't make it through the gates, but the city beyond has some damage to it."
"But there were no major injuries at least." Lucy added, her Cordial not even having been needed.
"But if no one was hurt and not much damage was caused, what did they want?" Kim asked.
"Probably to show us they are ready for war." Said Edmund. "Show us a bit of what we're up against."
"Makes sense given the ass kicking Goldar just gave us." Tommy grumbled. "He's never been this powerful before."
"I don't think the power is coming from him, Tommy, but his new weapon."
"Weapon?" Asked Caspian. "What kind of weapon?"
"A staff, or spear or something, I don't really know what it was but it had a lot of power."
"Well, his power or not it's in his hands so we need to be careful." Said Tommy.
"We'll have to be on guard from now on." Peter said, the High King coming through. "Increase training and double the guard around the city. We can't risk another surprise attack like this and have to be prepared for when they return."
oo00oo00oo
The return didn't come for over a month. Whoever the mastermind behind this was, for no matter how much more power he had had, Tommy and Kim were certain Goldar's mental capabilities were not that high, they certainly knew what they were doing by allowing the Narnians to stew and fret over when the attack was to come. As Peter had decreed, training had increased to the point that by the time the month had passed every soldier could more then hold their own while many had grown quite proficient, Tommy and Kim included. Kim's archery was nearing Susan's level, though Kim doubted she'd ever actually be her equal, for the High Queen's years of practice and keen eye rarely ever saw her miss, even on a bow other then the one Father Christmas had given her. Tommy's sword fighting, however, now certainly rivalled the Kings, the outcomes of their sparring matched no longer being predictable. He had improved so much in fact that he was being taught two new skills. Peter and Caspian worked together to teach him to fight with the sword in his left hand, given him an edge above most others, while Edmund taught him to fight with two swords, the Just King's skill in dual sword fighting being so great it even survived thirteen-hundred years.
"No, you want to block like this, then parry right." Edmund instructed, demonstrating the proper way. Tommy copied him and the lesson continued, being watched by many, including Kim who was taking a break from her healer training under Lucy's tutelage. Being able to help people when they were most in need was something the big hearted Kimberly wanted to do and was something she shared with the Valiant Queen. When the lesson was over, Kim approached Tommy with a towel and glass of water, congratulating him on his improvement, for he had indeed improved. Tommy gratefully accepted the water and towel and smiled down at his mate as a longing filled him once again at the sight of her. With all the training and planning going on the time the two had had to spend together was limited and both of them were feeling the strain of being separated more often then they were used to. It wasn't too bad, yet at least, for though not quite together they were close, knew the other was safe, and saw each other in the evenings and mornings before training began once again, but it wasn't the same and they were both feeling weakened by it. With those thoughts in mind, the two took a look around and saw that everyone was distracted and not paying any attention to them. Like Tommy, Peter, Caspian and Edmund were catching their breath as Lucy and Susan fawned over them while the other soldiers had either left after the match ended or were practicing the moves on their own. Deciding to take the opportunity presented to them, Tommy and Kim clasped hands and snuck away into the trees surrounding the training field. When they were far enough away they fell into each others' arms and allowed the Falcon and Crane free reign, both mates taking comfort from each other. For awhile they just held each other but eventually Tommy leaned down for a kiss and it didn't take long for Kim to deepen it.
"God I've missed you, Handsome." She murmured when they broke apart to breathe, but Tommy immediately moved from her lips to her neck, eliciting small sounds of pleasure from his mate.
"So much." He agreed as he laid her down on the soft grass. They kissed for awhile, allowing their hands to wander, but it was when Tommy began sliding Kim's skirts up her leg that a jolt shot through them, and not one they would want to feel at a time like this. Their eyes snapping open, the two looked to each other, fear entering their eyes.
"Goldar." They gasped together before jumping up and running at full speed back to the training ground. Their instincts certainly weren't wrong, for the sight that greeted them was one of a battle like they'd never seen before. Instead of six Rangers fighting a group of Putties or Tengas, hundreds of soldiers, all four Pevensies and Caspian included, were fighting a large group of attackers, many of whom Tommy and Kim did not recognize though they assumed them to be the dark creatures they'd been told about, while a few others were the Tengas they were used to, but still more looked human, though their faces were covered by the visors of the helmets they wore. Without wasting any more time, the two Rangers jumped into action and joined the battle, using their usual fighting style to get them to their weapons where they began putting their new skills to the test.
"Yes, destroy them all!" Kim heard Goldar yell from where he stood off to the side, his new weapon nowhere in sight. At his words she felt a rage build up inside her and she hacked through countless enemies until she reached the golden monkey and engaged him in battle.
"You know you're really starting to get on my nerves." She growled, her sword meeting his, this being his usual weapon.
"Too bad there's nothing you can do about it, Pink Ranger." He growled back. This merely angered Kim more and her fighting became more fierce as the Crane fed off her partner's emotions. While Kim was holding her own against Goldar, though she knew it was largely because he had yet to pull out his new weapon, Tommy was in the midst of fighting a group of some disgusting creatures with a beak like mouth. While strong, they weren't too smart, being very reminiscent of Tengas, and so they were not that difficult to beat, allowing him to look about the battlefield for other dangers, namely trying to prevent any attacks that his friends and allies didn't see coming. It didn't take him long to find one and what he saw filled him with a cold fear. Little Lucy, who was using their enemies' underestimation of her due to her childlike stature to her advantage, was fighting another group of dark creatures when two of the human or humanoid enemies turned their sights on her. Knowing she'd never see them in time, Tommy sent one of the bird like creatures flying and ran towards her as fast as his legs could carry him.
"Lucy look out!" He roared as he ran, trying to warn her of the danger. She heard his warning and turned around to face the new threat, but with enemies now both at her back and front she was surrounded, leaving her little room to fight. Seeing this, Tommy pushed himself faster and jumped at the group surrounding Lucy as they prepared to hit her from both sides. He was able to knock the group of dark creatures down and swing Lucy around away from the other two but it was too late to stop the blow meant for the Queen and so he took it for her. Kim felt it the instant the sword pierced Tommy's flesh, not having felt his immediate danger both due to her own battle with Goldar and due to the fact that all this had happened within seconds. However, unaware until it was too late or not, the Falcon's cry of pain decided the battle. Kim whipped around as her mate fell and felt the ancient power of her Sacred Animal well up inside her.
"Tommy!" She screamed as that power burst forth. Nothing could match the power of the Ninjetti, nor of mates when one was in danger, but combining the two saw an immediate end to the battle. The power that surged from Kim disintegrated the nearest enemies before making its way to the rest of them. However, before too many of Goldar's minions could be destroyed, he disappeared, taking those remaining with him, for he knew well the power of the Ninjetti and knew that in this raw state he did not stand a chance against it. The power continued to flow from Kim as she ran towards her mate, the force of it knocking the Pevensies, Caspian and the soldiers back, though they otherwise remained unharmed. When the light that came with such a power surge dissipated, it was to reveal Kim who cradled Tommy's head in her lap, watching desperately as the ground got more and more soaked with his blood.
"Lucy!" Peter cried seeing how pale his friend was. It only took a second for Lucy to understand and she jumped up and took out her Cordial and gave one drop of it to Tommy. Almost instantly he visibly improved though he was still quite pale, the amount of blood he had lost was far from little.
"Bring some water and a cloth!" Susan called to the first soldier she saw and the man scurried to obey her orders. It didn't take long, thankfully, as a table with medical supplies had been set up in the training field to counter any accidents. When the bowl of water arrived, Lucy placed another drop of her Cordial in it and wet the cloth before pressing it to Tommy's wound, the magic of the Cordial working to close it instantly, though Tommy's condition did not improve much.
"I don't know why he's not better." Lucy admitted. "One drop of my Cordial should have been enough. I've seen men survive more than this because of it, but…it's as if the Cordial's magic isn't working."
"Magic…" Kim murmured. "It won't work fully on him, on either of us." She said, never taking her eyes off of her mate. "The Power flows in our veins and it must be counteracting whatever magic is in your Cordial."
"Then how do we help him?!" Caspian demanded angrily, though it was directed at no one in particular.
"If only Aslan were here." Lucy murmured, but Kim shook her head.
"I don't need him to save my mate." She countered.
"But what can you do?" Edmund asked.
"He is my other half, we share one mind, one heart and one soul. We are the Crane and Falcon, blessed by The Great Power, and nothing is going to take my mate from me!" The cry of a bird was heard at her words and the Crane burst forth as Kim found herself in her Ninjetti robes. Closing her eyes, Kim concentrated on The Great Power, summoning all of it and willing it to save her mate. She began to glow a bright pink and slowly Tommy joined her, his white light growing in brightness until his eyes snapped open and the Falcon surged out of him, joining the Crane in flight. It was a show of power and love, for no one had any doubt that it was Kim's love that made the power so strong, that none in Narnia had ever seen before. The Pevensies and Caspian had heard tales of such power from their two friends, told on many nights over the past months as they sat around talking, those tales being of their adventures as Power Rangers, but none of them could had truly imagined what it was like until now. Eventually, the Crane and Falcon returned to their partners and the light surrounding the two died down, leaving behind two Ninjetti Warriors, both of whom look hale and healthy.
"Tommy!" Lucy cried after a moment as she flung herself at him, Tommy catching her with an ease he'd learned, like the three Kings had, over the past months. "Thank goodness you're all right!"
"I'm fine, Lucy, I'm fine. You're ok right?" He asked, not having seen the end of the battle, though he knew the moment he woke that it was over. The young Queen nodded and released Tommy, making way for the others to express their relief. Once assured that their friend was indeed alright, the other three Pevensies stood back and allowed the Kings and Queen forward.
"Thomas Oliver." Peter said in his best kingly voice, which earned an eye roll from Lucy, as he spoke for him and his siblings. "You have done us a great service this day. Not only have you saved our beloved sister, but one of Narnia's Queens as well. Our realm is forever indebted to you, and you have but to name your reward and it shall be granted to you."
"Uh, that's ok, really." Tommy said, a blush forming on his face, though he tried to hide his embarrassment. "Power Ranger and all, it's kind of my job."
"Brave, noble, and humble." Susan said with a small smile. "Such fine qualities for a Knight of Narnia, do you not think so brothers?"
"Yes his humbleness does him credit." Edmund said, unable to keep a smirk off his face and both Tommy and Kim knew that while they were adhering to how their stations demanded they respond to Tommy's actions, they were having fun playing it up and teasing their friend.
"Nevertheless, his heroism shall not go unrewarded." Peter added. "But I do not think our enemies' blood should be a part of such an honour." He looked at Rhindon which indeed was covered in blood, before looking to his clothes and those of the others which were splattered with blood as well. "Come on, let's go get cleaned up." He said, the High King retreating. The sudden change brought laughter from his family as they made to follow him towards the castle, stopping only to congratulate the soldiers on a job well done, their training evidently having paid off for none were dead and Lucy's Cordial, which worked this time, was only needed for a few men. Tommy and Kim shared a look, their relief at the other being alright evident, before they too followed their friends. They hadn't gotten far, however, when Kim's hand went limp in Tommy's and the Crane collapsed into her mate's arms.
"Kimberly!"