I was going to hold off on this until I finished chapter 9, but I'm in a good mood and feeling generous. It's a very good day for writing today. SO, here's a little treat. Enjoy! Oh, and thanks to everyone who was reviewed/alerted/favorited! I greatly appreciate it! You guys rock!


The Naiad Trilogy

Part 1: The Naiad Within

Chapter 7

Ava sat on a set of stone stairs below her father and Caspian. The Kings and Queens were gathered in the room along with several Narnians: a Centaur, a mouse, a bear, a Dwarf, a Satyr, a Faun, and a badger. After the arrival of the Telmarine Army, the High King had called an emergency war meeting to discuss their plans.

"Peter," Lucy began in her most queenly voice. The eldest King looked to the youngest Queen. "We need Aslan to win this war."

"I concur. What are you thinking, Lu?"

"I must ride out to find Him, and you know I must be the one to do it. The rest of you must hold Miraz off, while I seek Aslan and His assistance."

"Trees and turnip-greens! That's your plan? Riding off into the woods after some illusive lion, alone?"

"She's right," Peter said simply. "He's our only hope."

"And I won't be going alone. Ava is coming with me," Lucy stated matter-of-factly.

Ava's eyes grew large with surprise, while every other eye turned to look at her. "Me?" thought Ava. "What good could I do?" Ava voiced none of her fears though, and instead she rose slowly and curtsied to the young Queen.

"If that is what you wish, Your Majesty," Ava said softly.

The High King looked a little skeptical as he began to question his sister. "Luce…"

"You know she would be of no use to you here, Peter," Lucy argued. "Her faith in Aslan is as strong as mine. Together we will find Him, and I won't leave her here."

"I will ride behind them with my bow. I will make sure they get through," Susan said, stepping forward. Peter slowly gave his nod of approval.

"We need to find away to hold off the Telmarines," Edmund stated.

"Challenge him," Caspian said as he entered the fray. "Miraz is a proud man, and he has made himself King. Challenge him to single combat; the winner receives total surrender."

"It is likely he won't accept," Peter stated.

"He will if you question his bravery and skill."

"I can handle that," Edmund said confidently, a scheming gleam in his eye.

"And even if he doesn't accept, it will buy us some time to think of another plan. Very well then. Dr. Cornelius, do you have paper and ink?" Peter asked.

"I certainly do," Dr. Cornelius said as he rose up, with a helping hand from Caspian. "A professor is never without them, Your Majesty." He opened his pouch, which Ava had returned to him, and brought forth a piece of folded parchment, a quill, and a small bottle of ink. He smoothed the parchment out over the piece of stone slab that sat in the middle of the room.

"Will you scribe while I dictate?"

"Of course," Cornelius said, already dipping his quill in the ink and preparing to write.

XOXOX

Once Peter and Cornelius were done writing the challenge, Edmund headed off with a Centaur and the Giant to deliver it. Meanwhile the others had a very quick meal before Ava, Lucy, and Susan began to get ready for their departure. Ava really didn't have much to prepare for other returning her hair to a braid, but Lucy donned a cloak and Susan put on some chain mail because she would be returning to battle if need be. When they were dressed, Caspian came and led them to a room where three horses had been readied.

"I'm not riding alone, am I? I—I've never ridden before," Ava questioned.

"The third horse is for me. Peter asked me to ride with Susan, to make sure you and Lucy get through safely," Caspian answered.

"Of course Peter did," Susan said with a roll of her eyes. "Though, I am more than capable of handling a few soldiers on my own."

"Oh don't grumble, Susan. It's not fitting for a Queen of Narnia," Lucy said moving forward towards the horses. "So which one will Ava and I be ridding?"

"You will be on my horse, Destrier. He has never misled me; you will be in good hands," Caspian replied. Ava stopped abruptly. She had not thought of her strange encounter with Destrier until that very moment when it all came rushing back to her.

"Ava? Are you alright?" Lucy asked, looking back at her friend.

"Yes, I'm fine, Your Majesty," Ava spoke softly as she forced herself to move again. Lucy looked as if she were about to say more when Destrier turned his head toward Ava and looked directly at her.

"It is good to see you well, Princess."

As she had that day in the castle stables, Ava jumped back and cried out in surprise. Lucy whipped her head around to stare at the black horse. Susan looked at it curiously. But none seemed more surprised than Caspian.

"You're a talking horse?" Lucy asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Destrier replied before looking at Caspian. "Forgive me for my deceitfulness, young King. Had I known of your love for Narnians I would have revealed myself to you sooner."

"That's—that's alright, Destrier." Caspian was still rather flabbergasted.

"Wait, so you all can hear him too?" Ava asked. Lucy nodded and smiled. "Then I am not dreaming?" Lucy shook her head no. Ava slowly began to approach the horse once more. "I thought I was delusional that day. I had not slept well, and I…"

"I did not mean to frighten you, Princess, but you spoke of Aslan and I did not want anyone to hear you speak His name. It would not have been safe for you if they had."

"Why do you call me 'Princess?'"

"It is what you are. I can feel it."

"You are mistaken. I am no Princess. I am a cleaning maiden, nothing more."

"Do we really have time for this?" Susan said; she had already mounted one of the other horses.

"Susan's right, but what do we do now? It would not be proper for Ava and I to ride a talking horse." Lucy said.

"Your Majesty, I do not mind," Destrier told her. "And besides, I am the fastest of the three. I will take good care of you. You must ride upon my back."

"Destrier is right," Caspian said. "Besides, how much safer could it be, than riding a talking horse?"

"I suppose it is an extreme emergency," Lucy conceded as she moved to the stirrups and heaved herself up. Ava watched in wonderment; she had no idea how to do that.

"Come, I will help you up," Caspian said as he walked over to Destrier's side; Ava followed. "Put your foot here, and grab the saddle here. Now, pull yourself up as I lift you, and swing your other leg over to the other side. Got it?"

"I think so," Ava said hesitantly.

"Alright, ready?" Caspian placed his hands on Ava's hips, and, after a slight pause, he counted to three and lifted her up onto Destrier. Ava was glad that Caspian was behind her, because then he couldn't see how much her cheeks flushed at his touch. Caspian quickly turned away and mounted the last horse. Just as they were about to ride off, Peter and Edmund entered the room.

"Miraz accepted the challenge. We duel at noon," Peter said solemnly before he and Edmund walked over for final farewells and good wishes.

"Be careful," Peter told Lucy. "Watch over them," he said to Caspian.

Caspian replied with a nod.

"Are you alright, Ava?" Edmund asked.

"I am fine. It's just… I've never been on a horse before, Sire."

"Ah, well riding really isn't all that bad. Just hang on with your knees, but don't squeeze too tight and you'll be fine." Edmund grinned. Ava was only able to offer a feeble smile in return before Lucy urged Destrier forward, and the three horses rode off.

XOXOX

Ava loved the way the wind whipped through her hair and tossed it about. She found a sort of contentment in the steady, rhythmic pounding of hooves on dirt. But the heavy up and down motion turned her stomach in knots. The three horses were in a full gallop through the forest now with Destrier in the lead and the two other horses trailing slightly behind on either side. Lucy held the reins lightly in her hands; she hardly had to steer Destrier at all. He moved easily over the landscape and around the trees. They weren't heading in any particular direction except away from the Telmarine camp. Destrier's fast gallop and sly maneuvering weren't enough though. They weren't out for too long before they heard angry shouting behind them. Ava looked over her shoulder.

"We've been spotted!" she called out.

A small group of Telmarine riders were following them through the woods. They were riding hard and they were armed with swords and crossbows. Ava looked to Caspian out of fear, but Caspian had turned his head to the side to glance at Susan. After a short nod, Caspian pulled on the reins and brought his horse to a stop. So did Susan.

"Lucy!" Susan called. Lucy gently brought Destrier to a brisk walk and then a stop, before looking back at Susan and Caspian. "This is where we leave you. Ride hard."

"May Aslan protect you," Lucy said in farewell.

"And you also," Susan replied.

Lucy kicked Destrier into motion again, while Susan and Caspian climbed down from their horses. Susan readied her bow while Caspian moved the horses aside. With aim beyond refute, Susan took out four of the riders before a fifth knocked her to the ground. Caspian quickly jumped into to action though, and together they finished the rest…or so they thought.

Neither Prince nor Queen saw the single rider who kept out of the fray and rode on, following the path of Queen Lucy and Ava.

XOXOX

Back at the How, the High King Peter and the newly fashioned king Miraz had entered into their duel. They circled each other in the midst of the ruins before the How. Both armies were present in the audience. The Telmarine army, clad in full armor, was lined up against the forest's edge. The Narnian archers stood on the ledges of the How, their bows at their side. Half of the Narnian army stood on the ground outside the How; the other half lay in wait hidden inside.

Both dueling men were growing weary of their dance. Miraz had entered in expecting an easy victory, but was surprised to find his opponent to be in excellent shape and well skilled with the sword. Peter had entered the duel knowing his youth would be his only advantage, but he also knew Miraz would not hesitate to be ruthless and dishonorable.

There was never a point in their duel when one was more likely to be the victor over the other. Instead the upper hand passed back and forth between the two. One minute it looked as if Peter would win, but Miraz would quickly over power him and take the advantage only to have Peter rebound and gain the advantage again.

The duel had been going on for quite some time before both competitors agreed on a three minute respite. As Peter walked over to Edmund and Dr. Cornelius, Caspian and Susan returned and dismounted the horses.

"Lucy?" Peter asked breathlessly.

"And Ava," Edmund added quickly.

"They made it through," Susan answered.

Peter nodded. "It's up to them and Aslan now."

XOXOX

Ava and Lucy raced through the forest on Destrier's back oblivious to the Telmarine that was following them. Destrier had not slowed his pace, nor did he appear to be winded; he galloped towards their destination with fierce determination. They knew not where they were going, only that they sought Aslan. The sun began its great decent in the sky as the day grew older. They knew that Peter's duel with Miraz had long since started. Who was to say that the duel had not already ended? Who's to say that Peter had not already fallen, or that the Telmarines had not gone back on their word? Lucy and Ava did not know how the Narnian's were faring at the How, but they did not lose faith in the Great Lion. They would not give up.

Quite suddenly, Ava heard a faint horse whinny and when she looked over her shoulder she gasped.

"Oh my!"

The Telmarine had caught up with them and was gaining on them. Ava whipped her head back around and held on tighter as Destrier quickened his pace. Off to their left, Lucy saw a blur of gold running towards them.

"Look!" Lucy pointed in the direction of the gold blur. It was steadily growing larger.

"What is…?" Before Ava could finish her question the blur had reached them. It stopped on a ledge before them and its figure became clear. It was a lion!

The lion let out a great roar before leaping over the girls' heads to the other ledge where it chased away the Telmarine rider. Destrier could not help himself and he became so frightened at the sight of the lion and at its mighty roar that he reared up on his hind legs. Lucy and Ava could not hang on as Destrier lifted his front legs and so they fell to the ground landing on a bed of leaves.

Lucy quickly gathered herself and raced up the short ledge the lion had landed on. If she looked hard enough she would have seen the Telmarine running away, but her focus was only on the lion. The Great Lion. He had returned at last.

"Aslan!" Lucy let out a cry of joy as she rushed forward to embrace her greatest friend. She threw her arms around Him with such enthusiasm that He rolled onto side and lifted his paw to wrap it around her. He gave a soft, hearty chuckle as Lucy buried her face in his rich golden mane.