Hope

Chapter 9

The next day in Narnia, the troop continued on their journey to Caspian's camp. Henry's back was sore from sleeping on the ground. They ate more fruit for breakfast and prepared to leave. Lucy told Pippi that she dreamed Narnia was like before, the first time. The trees movies and Aslan was there. Pippi told her "It's the same Narnia. Still full of magic and beauty."

"We should reach Caspian's camp by dawn." Trumpkin said.

"I wonder what Caspian will be like," Lucy said.

"How does this help us find Hope?" Henry whispered to Pippi.

"Trust me, they're our best chance at saving Hope." Pippi said.

The Pevensies, Pippi, Henry, and Trumpkin walked across the shallow part of the Great River to reach those destination quicker. They stepped on the rocks at the bottom of the river to make their way across. The river was about 20 feet wide and the water raised up to their knees as they reached the center of it. Peter led the way, followed by Susan, Edmund, Pippi, Henry, Lucy, and then Trumpkin. Everyone was about two feet apart from each other. The river become swifter as the last three reached the center. Lucy almost fell over at one point but Henry caught her arm and pulled her back up.

After they all made it across the river, they rested on land.

They climbed up a steep mountain along the river.

50 feet up, was a flat surface with sharp cliff next to the river. The troop reached to the top and continued walking. Pippi and the Pevensies were talking about life in their times to distract them from all the exercise.

"So people can have jobs recording themselves?" Peter asked.

"Like not even act. Just being themselves." Lucy clarified.

"Yes," Pippi said. "Called YouTubers. But you have to have a certain number of followers to get paid. Like a million."

"Woah. Not many people have this job then." Peter said.

"You'd be surprised how many teenagers spend their time on the internet all day." Pippi said.

"Are there a lot of big people in your time?" Lucy asked.

"Oh yeah. But that's also to do with all the processed food and how eating healthy is more expensive than eating unhealthy." Pippi said.

Lucy turned her head.

"Yeah. That's why celebrities are in shape. They have money," Henry added.

"Aslan," Lucy said.

"What?" Peter said.

Lucy turned to everyone. "It's Aslan! Just there," she pointed to the flat area across the river and 50 feet up. "Can't you see he's right-" she turned back and there was no sign of a lion, "-there."

"It was probably the glare of the sun," Trumpkin said.

"I'm not crazy," Lucy said. "He was there and he wanted up to follow him."

Peter looked at Lucy sympathetically, "There are a number of lions out here. It could have been-"

"I think I know Aslan when I see him," Lucy said coldly.

"I know where Caspian's camp is. I know how to get there and this," Trumpkin pointed away from where Lucy saw Aslan, "is they way."

"You were also captured when you got to the ruins," Lucy shot back. "From that direction is where Miraz and his soldiers are."

"Which we can avoid," Trumpkin said.

"It's not a discussion," Peter said. "We're following Trumpkin."

"Last time I didn't believe Lucy," Edmund said, "I ended up in some trouble." Lucy smiled back at her brother.

Peter sighed and folded his arms. "Anyone else want to go Lucy's way?"

Pippi went over to Lucy and Edmund.

"And what's your reason for believing Lucy?" Peter asked.

Pippi knew Lucy was right but she needed to convince the others. Pippi took a few moments to think of a god response. "When you truly love someone, you don't need proof. You can feel it."

Peter, Susan, Trumpkin, and Henry looked at her. Lucy and Edmund smiled.

"Do you know said that? Your great grandparents." Pippi told them.

There was a minute of silence before Trumpkin walked down his path. Peter followed him. Susan looked down and followed. "We can't split up," Pippi forced herself to say. Pippi followed, then Henry, then Edmund and Lucy.

10 minutes after Henry left the mansion in Storybrooke, Roland came downstairs and asked his parents where Henry was.

"He's out with Pippi," Regina told him.

"Oh. I wanted to play Mario Kart." Roland said.

Regina looked at the clock. "He'll be back in about 20 minutes."

Robin took her hand, "and he'll have quite a story to tell."

Roland smiled.

The troop continued their travel through Narnia. Lucy was still upset they didn't listen to her. The sour expression on her face said it all.

Pippi pulled her aside and said, "I know you're mad-"

"They treat me like a child." She said.

"Better than being forced into adulthood as a child. You are 11 years old. Be grateful for what you can do and not what you can't." Pippi said.

Lucy looked at Pippi, listening to her words but walked ahead.

Edmund walked slower to align with Pippi in the back. "Lucy's been through a lot since her first visit to Narnia. When we returned to the Professor's mansion after living in Narnia, Lucy was constantly trying to get back. She-" Edmund stopped when he saw a Telmarine to his left.

Pippi turned to her right an saw two more Telmarines. In front of them, the rest of the troop drew their weapons. Henry held one of the twin swords. Pippi clutched her arrows.

A Telmarine shot his crossbow first, then both sides started attacking. Susan's second arrow hit a Telmarine in the leg. He fell to the ground.

One Telmarine grabbed Lucy, and Pippi and Peter called out to her, but she bit him. Then Pippi threw an arrow at him.

The last Telmarine was taken down by Peter with his sword.

A few moments later, ten more Telmarines showed up. "We can't take all of them." Edmund said.

"Run!" Trumpkin decided.

The troop started running while blocking the Telmarine's arrows. Their attackers started chasing after them.

Pippi slowed down when she heard the sound of something falling. She turned back and saw a Telmarine fall over. "Hey!" Pippi called to the troop.

Edmund was the first at her side. He saw another Telmarine fall onto to ground.

The troop saw the rest of the Telmarines fall and heard something small tear through the grass. The creature came into their view, revealing itself as a rat!

"A mouse?" Henry said.

"This mouse just saved your lives," the mouse said. He was about 9 inches tall and stood on his back legs. He wore a small belt, which held his sword.

"This is Reepicheap." Trumpkin introduced them to the mouse.

"He's so cute," Lucy whispered to Susan.

"Who said that!?" Reepicheap drew his tiny sword.

Lucy looked guilty. "Sorry."

Reepicheap looked up at her. "Oh. That's alright."

The troop walked a bit farther and rested at an abandoned camp site in the afternoon and found lunch. Lucy ran into one of the tents and walked back out. "This is Aslan's camp." Lucy looked around the camp. Peter and Susan tried to tell her that Aslan isn't there but then Lucy shot back, "What do you know? We wouldn't have had to deal with Telmarines if you had gone the way I told you to."

Pippi and Henry looked around the camp. Henry looked fascinated by everything and Pippi looked at everything she missed out on during her first visit.
Trumpkin, Peter, and Susan caught fish in a net and picked pears from the trees nearby.

Meanwhile, Edmund calmed down Lucy or tried to. Lucy finally stopped walking away and sat down crossing her arms.

Pippi sat in one for the tents admiring the scenery. The tents were flame proof and all the furniture looked new. She sat in a fancy carved chair and continued to look at the interior of the tent.

"We lived here for weeks at a time," Edmund entered the tent. "When we prepared for the war against the White Witch and whenever we were hunting treats to the land."

"How's Lucy?" Pippi asked.

Edmund sat on a trunk and sighed. "She's not the same. Even being back here hasn't completely brought her back."

"Exactly what happened when you all got back to your world?" Pippi asked.

Edmund shook his head and fought back tears. "She really loved this place."

Pippi placed her hand on his. "You don't have to tell me if you're not ready. I know what it's like to fight for someone who's dealing with a lot." She referred to Jill.

Edmund looked up at Pippi and leaned forward. Before Pippi could react, Henry lifted up the curtain of the tent. He saw Edmund lean back and Pippi look surprised.

Henry looked down and said, "Lunch is ready."

After their lunch, the troop went on with their journey, reaching a tall hill with stone stairs and an archway. The made it to their destination: Aslan's how.

The injured Telmarines who attacked the troop were quickly limping to Miraz's castle. Miraz saw them from up on his balcony and looked angry. Down in the meeting hall, Miraz met with the limping Telmarines and closed the door. The sun was setting.

"What happened?" Miraz demanded.

"We encountered a group of highly skilled fighters." One Telmarine said.

"They were heavily armed and quick," another said.

"Who were they? Barbarians?" Miraz asked.

"They were human," one answered.

Miraz face flushed. "Human?"

"Not all of them," the first Telmarine said. "There were 6 humans. The rest were barbarians."

Miraz stepped back in shock.

"Your majesty?" The first one said.

"What is it? Who are they?" The second one asked.

"They are a threat to our very way of life. They are our enemies and they will not play fairly." Miraz said. "We have to take action. Julius," he addressed the first Telmarine, "come with me."

Julius followed Miraz up the steps of the castle. The castle darkened as the night fell.
"These humans, where there two girls and two boys?" Miraz asked.

"Three of each," Julius said. "

"Did they look familiar?"

"I've never seen them before."

"Did you hear any names?"

Julius reflected. "One was called Lucy. She bit Edgar and he may need stitching."

Miraz and Julius reached the top of the steps and turned a corner. "They're back..."

Julius looked puzzled.

"We have to protect her. We have to protect my daughter. My Rose."

Miraz went into a room where a girl was playing with little wooden dolls in a handmade dollhouse. She had long dark hair and brown eyes. She was 4 years old. The girl turned and smiled at Miraz, and he smiled back. "Good night, Rose."

He closed the door and 'Rose' turned away and dropped her smile. She put her dolls down and went to her wardrobe. She took out a large book and turned to the page with an illustration of the Pevensies and Pippi. "You're here. You're coming to rescue me."