Don't sue me. I own nothing.
Tarvell's POV but it switches to RD's at the end.
Oh bother! This would all be so much easier if I didn't have to keep that bumbling idiot, Ramandu, happy. Unfortunately, he has a lot of pull with the stars and is well respected. Also, he is the only reason Amora hasn't already married the Telmarine. He is quite useful in turning the girl into my slave, but it gets so tiring channeling all my energies into governing his thoughts. I must constantly convince him that I am right. It doesn't take much, but it's enough to wear me down.
All in all, everything is coming together nicely. He started out distrustful of the Telmarine, now he dislikes him. When he comes home only to find me beaten, bruised and bound in his daughter's room, coupled with the fact that the room is an atrocious mess with blood covering the floor and much of the furniture, he will have no choice but to loathe the Telmarine. He will see things my way and wish to have the blood of Amora's Telmarine lover.
My word! What is taking the old fool so long? I am using my sorcery to sustain life after stabbing myself repeatedly. I had to use it to tie these ropes, cause myself to bruise, will Amora to go to Caspian's camp and will the fool to stay out long enough for me to beat his daughter senseless. Presently, he is still out speaking with the stars. He is enjoying his chat and it may be a while before I can convince him to come home. Blast! Caspian and Amrora are no one's fools. Surely they've fled by now and there's a good bit of distance between us. If only Ramandu was closer. Then I would have a stronger hold on his mind. But I am already so drained, I don't know how much longer I can keep all my spells going. At least I will do a fine job appearing as though I've had the life beaten out of me - Wait! Here he comes!
I hear him come through the front door and make my voice as weak as possible.
"Father!" I call. "Father! Help! Amora! Gone!"
"Tarvell?" I here him making haste to the bedroom. He opens the door and lets out a gasp. "What happened here? Where is Amora?" he yells. Ah yes. He is angry. He is usually so mild-mannered and now he is yelling. I can hear his thoughts in my head and am extremely pleased with myself. He is already suspecting the Telmarine. But I mustn't let my delight show through.
I muster up enough energy to help him believe the tale I've been conjuring up for the last few hours. "C - Caspian." I say with my head drooping to one side. "He must've come here when you had finished speaking with him," I gasp. "I was out at the beach... I guessed Amora didn't wish to be here with me... She seems to hate me so. And... And I came back... I hoped you would be here... But I... I heard her screaming... It was coming from her room... As you know... I wouldn't enter my Lady's bedroom... unless we were already wed... or she was in harm's way... I ran in... And there was that... wretched creature who calls himself a king... He was beating... and violating... my bride! He said... he will kill her if she marries me. He said... she belongs to him... and him alone " Oh yes. That was just what he needed to hear. Now he is thirsty for the blood of the Telmarine. "I was outraged... I... I couldn't think... I attacked him... I tried to get him away from her... It hadn't occurred to me that he'd be armed... He beat me, and stabbed me... but... I distracted him for a moment... While he was binding me... Amora found the strength to break through the window and run... He wasn't far behind her though... I fear for her life." I will him to think my thoughts. I need him to think these are his own ideas to keep down suspicion.
Ramandu unbinds me after a moment of stunned silence and complete rage. "I have a small flask. It contains the juice of the fire-flower. 'Tis down to the last drop, as it nearly was when I found it. I will give it to you and you will be healed. Then you will help me find the wretch. We will repay him for the cruelty he has shown to my daughter. He shall suffer and die at our hands and you shall marry my daughter and be her protector." He reaches in his pocket and gives me the very last drop from his flask and I am healed.
"Oh thank you, Father! I was terribly afraid you would reject me after all this happened!"
"Reject you? No. But we will make sure this doesn't happen again. We will hunt the Telmarine down like the wretched beast he is and he will be no more." Excellent, old fool. My thoughts exactly. "Have you any weapons?" asks Ramandu.
"No, Father. But I suspect we can acquire a few from Caspian's camp if we're careful.
"We shall go now, while it is the dead of night, and the Telmarines haven't their wits about them."
"Oh do let me handle it, Father. These men are dangerous - fierce in battle! I would hate to have them damage you. Besides, if only one of us goes then that man is less likely to be noticed. Please allow me to go ahead. You should wait a mile east of the camp. We will start our hunt there."
"You are wise. We will do as you have said."
I approach the camp. I must find out what these men know of Caspian's whereabouts. If I find him I am sure to find my bride. I see a man keeping watch just outside the camp.
"Who goes there?" he demands.
"Fear not, my good man. I am a friend." I come near to him. His hand is on the hilt of his sword but I will him not to use it.
I hear his thoughts. Oh! He's heard of me from... the king. They talked about me... just this morning. Neither the king, nor this man - Drinian - trusts me. Yes, Drinian, but do you know where the king is? What's this? I see a memory! It's Caspian speaking with this Drinian.
"Captain? Captain."
"Yes, Sire?"
"I need you to wake up and keep watch again. I am terribly sorry. I must leave -"
"Leave? Your Highness, what of all your responsibilities to your crew and your country?"
"I assure you it is for the best, my good man. I am on a mission, of sorts. Do pray to Aslan for my safety. I am afraid I can tell you no more. But I leave you in charge until I return. Do not look for me under any circumstance. If I am not back by winter's end, you are to assume that I have fallen and you are to leave this island without me. You must return to Narnia and have Trumpkin, Trufflehunter and Doctor Cornelius appoint a new king. Do you understand?"
"My king, you cannot expect to go on such a dangerous journey alone."
"I am touched by your willingness to serve, my friend. But I am afraid you cannot help me except by your prayers."
Blast! He has kept his location from his men. A wise king he is. This makes my job much harder than it has to be!
I can see this Drinian is very tired. I will him to fall asleep right where he stands. He falls to the ground. I will him and all the other men in the camp to stay asleep until I can retrieve two swords, two bows, two dozen arrows and two daggers. I meet the old fool a mile outside the camp and the hunting begins.
It is about 3:00 in the morning. I suspect Caspian hasn't actually slept in a long time. He has a tired look in his eye.
"Dear, do you need to rest?" I ask. "We've been hiking for hours now, and I don't believe you've slept any."
"I have slept. And even if I hadn't it wouldn't matter much. We need to hurry. I haven't any idea how close Tarvell is to us."
"How much have you slept in the past 24 hours?"
"That's completely irrelevant and I prefer not to think of it."
"Very well. I just worry about you. When will you rest?"
"Perhaps when we reach our destination. As it is, we must travel during the night when it's harder to be seen. During the day, you must rest and I will keep watch over you."
"Can't I relieve you and keep watch at some point during the day? I could wake you if I saw danger."
"No, thank you, love. If I sleep I will be very difficult to awaken. I will be fine. Don't worry. In times of war, sleep is considered a luxury. You need -" He stops speaking. I can tell by the look in his eye that something is wrong.
"What is it, Cas -" He clamps a hand over my mouth and positions me very closely in front of him. I can feel his heartbeat against my back, he whispers in my ear.
"Stay in front of me, dear. Don't speak. Someone's behind us." He keeps a firm but gentle grip on my arm.
I hear something like a whistling wind as if something is rushing through it. I don't have time to react before it is followed by another sound. Thwunk! Caspian's grip tightens for a moment and his pace quickens. Soon I here more sounds. The same kind of whistling as before but not always followed by the other sound. Caspian picks me up and runs. I want to ask him what's happening but he told me to be silent.
He carries me to a rock wall with a tiny opening in it. "Go," he whispers, while handing me the medical bag. I go in, but notice the small space will only fit one of us inside. I turn to Caspian.
"Where will you -" I gasp. For I now see what the whistles and thwunks were. Arrows. Caspian has one in his left arm and in his right side. He looked to be in a dreadful amount of pain.
"Stay here," he says. Before I can reply, he runs away. He is a good distance off when I see Tarvell and Father heading in his direction. Caspian is risking his life in order to lead them away from me.
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