Chapter Six~
Inside the How, we found many more creatures and beasts all working on weapons and shields and other equipment. It was amazing how little it had changed inside and I found myself leading the group by simply turning down the right corridors and them having to ketch up. Inside it was like a mini forge, with plenty of torch light and machines to get the job done right. As we came to a large circular room and they all looked around, Caspian said,
"It may not be what you are used to, but it is defensible." Susan had walked away from the group as well as Lucy and when I noticed this I heard Susan call out,
"Peter, you better come take a look at this." And so we all followed her to a corridor where pitcher drawings were on the walls. How I recognized them, they were the ones I had drawn to retell the story of the ones who came before me! Using a torch to show each drawing, it was Lucy who said,
"It's us."
"Yes," I said speaking up.
"I had them conditioned when the place was built." I said looking at one drawing in particular. It was that of a faun with a red scarf and umbrella under a lamp post.
"What is this place?" asked Lucy looking at me.
"I had this place built to house the Stone Table. Here," I said and so I took hold of one of the torches and went along the dark corridor towards where the Stone Table sat. A slight tingling sensation built up inside of me and I briefly wondered if Lucy felt it too, but lost that thought when I came to the right room. Placing the torch onto the flammable liquid, it illuminated the space and as Peter did the same the room began to grow bright with light and we could see what sat in the room. All along the walls were carvings of creatures and animals alike while great stone column held up the ceiling. In the center of the carvings, sitting along the wall, was a carving of Aslan himself and there too, the Stone Table. It was Lucy who walked forward first, transfixed on the Stone Table and when she finally came to it, placed her small hand on it and said,
"He must know what he's doing." though she sounded a bit unsure. Could it be her faith in the Lion was wavering?
"I think it's up to us now." Said a stern Peter and as Lucy looked back at the stone carving I felt the tingling sensation gone. He had left again. A meeting was called of all the important leaders of the Narnian's, and Peter gave a speech while Lucy and I sat on the Stone Table, for it seemed no one else dare go near it.
"Miraz's troops and war machines are on their way, that means, those same men aren't protecting the castle."
"What do you suppose we do your Majesty?" said Reepicheep questioningly as he sat next to a squirrel.
"We need—"
"We must—" came the voices of both Peter and Caspian and I had to roll my eyes as they both stared at each other in wonderment that the other spoke first. It was only with a shake of the head from Caspian did Peter speak again,
"Our only hope, is to strike them before they strike us."
"But that's crazy no one has ever taken that castle!" said Caspian in putting his 'foot' down. Peter just looked at him calmly and replied,
"There's always a first."
"We will have the element of surprise." Commented Trumpkin agreeing with Peter.
"But we have the advantage here!" said Caspian as if he wasn't being heard and in my opinion he wasn't.
"If we dig in we could hold them off indefinitely." I said having decided to defend him.
"Look, I've appreciate what you've done here, but this isn't a fortress, it's a tomb." Said Peter with a grim face looking past Caspian and to me.
"Yes and if we dig in they could starve us out of food." Spoke Edmund for the first time, making a valid point.
"If I get your troops in, can you handle the guards?" asked Peter to a centaur named Glennstorm. He looked serious for a moment, and I could tell he was thinking it through. What option did he have really?
"Or die trying, my liege." He said bowing his head at Peter. I could tell that hurt Caspian and I wanted to comfort him yet held back that feeling and pushed it back as far as I could.
"That's what I'm worried about." Came the ever quite Lucy. We all turned to look at her and Peter's face only held confusion, as if he truly didn't understand what the problem was. But how could he? He was used to being right.
"Sorry?" he asked looking dazed.
"Well, you're all acting as if there only two options." She said sounding older than her young self. As if she was in her thirty's and not a girl of ten or eleven.
"Dying here, or dying there." She continued.
"I'm not sure you've really been listening Lu." Said Peter about to turn away but it was Lucy next comment that kept him from doing so,
"No, you're not listening, or have you truly forgotten who defeated the White Witch?" he looked cross at that moment, like the time the vein in his forehead came out and it did again as he said,
"I think we waited for Aslan long enough." And he finally turned to go. As the troops prepared, I found Peter getting ready and said,
"Your wrong Peter." Looking up, when he saw me I guess he must have thought I was Lucy for he said,
"I thought you were-"
"I know, and still, your wrong." He stood then, a few inches taller than me and said,
"Oh, really? Why?"
"Because Aslan is here, he's just watching, watching everything we do. Every decision we make and he isn't happy."
"How can you tell?" he said pushing past me to walk away.
"Look, I know you think you're doing the right thing, and I know you want to protect your family, but this isn't the way to do it!" at the words family he turned on his heel and stormed over to me saying coldly,
"Don't you talk about my family!"
"I idolized you! Fabled High King Peter the Magnificent! I wanted to be just like you! Full of your knowledge and wisdom! I idolized all of you! The ones who came before me! The family I wished I could have had! But now I regret that decision! Regret the fact I wanted to be like you! Your nothing but a cowardly young boy!" I screamed turning round to leave but he did something I never would have guessed, he grabbed hold of me, turned me around, and kissed me. Stunned, I stood perfectly still as he kissed me and when he pulled away he was breathless. Bringing a shaking hand to my lips, feeling them tingle, I turned and ran back towards the Stone Table with my skirts flying behind me.
