Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia. Any other ideas as to how I'm supposed to do this? :D
Chapter 10: So you're bravely refusing?
Peter explained to all of us how Lucy had to go and find Aslan, and how it was our only hope.
"Kytes and kettledrums. That's your big plan. To send a little girl, into the darkest part of the forest, alone." Trumpkin said angrily.
"It's our only chance" Peter tried to explain. I walked over to Trumpkin and put my hand on his shoulder.
"She won't be alone. Su and I are going with her. " I said. Edmund nodded.
"Kayley can communicate with the Dryads. I've seen it. She's going with Lucy." Edmund said. Trumpkin walked towards Lucy and I started walking back to Edmund but he grabbed my arm softly.
"Haven't enough of us died already?" Trumpkin said sadly to Lucy and I.
"Nikabrik was my friend too. But he lost hope. Trufflehunter said. "Queen Lucy and Princess Kayley haven't." he said. "And neither have I." Reepi Cheep stepped forward.
"For Aslan." He said raising his sword. A bear repeated him. Trumpkin took a deep breath.
"Then I'm going with you." he said. Lucy smiled and I gave him a very spontaneous hug, which seemed to catch everyone off guard, most of all Trumpkin himself.
"No, your needed here." I said.
"We have to hold them off until the girls get back." Peter said looking all around.
"If I may." Caspian said speaking up. "Miraz may be a tyrant, and a murderer, but as king, he is subject to the traditions, and expectations of his people. There is one in particular that may buy us some time. And the next thing I knew, Edmund and I were walking into Miraz's tent. Oh boy, this should be fun, I thought. They let us in. Miraz looked at Edmund, then at me and he stopped dead in his tracks.
"Impossible." He muttered. Everyone turned to look at him. "Impossible!" he shouted slamming his fist on the table. "You are supposed to be dead! You disappeared!"
"So sorry to disappoint you." I said sarcastically. Miraz glared at me. Sometimes I have to think the people of Narnia don't understand sarcasm all too well. Edmund cleared his throat. All eyes turned to him. I laughed slightly. He unrolled the parchment.
"I Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election and by conquest, High king of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, and emperor of the Lone Islands, in order to prevent the abominable infusion of blood, to here by challenge King Miraz, to single combat upon the field of battle. The fight shall be to the death. The reward shall be total surrender." Edmund read then rolled up the parchment again.
"Tell me Prince Edmund…" Miraz started.
"King" Edmund corrected.
"Pardon me?" Miraz said irritated.
"It's King Edmund actually." Edmund explained. "Just high king though. Peter's the High King." He looked around at all their blank faces. "I know, it's confusing." He said taking my hand in his. Miraz raised his eyebrow at this, yet continued.
"Why, would you risk such a proposal, when our armies, could wipe you out by night fall." He said.
"Haven't you already underestimated out numbers? I mean, only a week ago, Narnian's were extinct." He said looking around.
"And so you will be again."Miraz said nastily.
"Well then you should have little to fear." Ed insisted. Miraz laughed.
"This is not a question on bravery." He said. I smirked.
"So your bravely refusing to fight a swords man half your age?" I asked him.
"I didn't say I refused." Miraz said.I looked at Edmund who looked like he was trying very hard not to laugh.
"You shall have our support your majesty," one of the lords spoke up, "whatever your decision."
"Sire, our military advantage alone provides the perfect excuse to avoid…" but then he became quieter as Miraz stood up angrily.
"I am not avoiding anything!" He said glaring at the lord.
"I was merely pointing out that my lord is well within his rights to refuse." The Lord said trying to avoid Miraz's rage.
"His majesty would never refuse." The man in behind us said. I had a feeling he was the military captain. "He relishes the chance to show the people, the courage of their new King." Miraz paused for a moment, regarding his general.
"You." he said pointing his sword at Edmund. "You had better hope your brother's sword is sharper than his pen." Miraz said. I felt Ed stiffen slightly so I leaned closer to him. He looked down at me and smiled.
"Of course." Ed said and nodded curtly before turning to leave pulling me with him.
"And Kayley, my niece, do think about what you are doing. You are a Telmarine Princess; you should not be on the side of these, Narnian's. Come, join us. Be a true Telmarine, something you have not yet gotten to see since you uh…disappeared… all those years ago." Miraz said with a smirk. how much I wanted to slap that smirk off Miraz's face right now… I stepped forward, my hand slipping from Edmunds grip.
"I will never, fight on your side. I am not like you. And never, ever will I be. You are a monster and a murderer. You killed your own brother!" I said glaring at him, but then it hit me. "Disappeared…" I muttered, then looking up at Miraz. "You make it happen. You made sure I was dead, or so you thought then tried to kill everyone else!" I shouted lunging forward towards him but Ed's arms caught me around my waist and held me back, struggling. Miraz chuckled.
"Smart girl, even Caspian never figured that out." He said, smirking. I felt my face getting hot and my eyes starting to water. I stopped struggling against Ed and let him pull me out of the tent and away from the camp ground. Once we were far enough, he stopped. I sat down on the ground and he came down next to me.
"Kayley?" he asked, but I just looked at him until I actually started crying. I looked away from him, hiding my head in my knees. I felt him move and suddenly his arms were around me and I was leaning on his chest. He played with my hair slightly. "It's alright. I know it's hard, and I know it just makes you want to run back there, and I know you want to make him pay. But that's not the way to do it. I promise." He said. "Everything will work out." He murmured into my hair. I looked at him after a while of being completely silent.
"How do you know." I asked looking up into his eyes.
"You just have to believe that Aslan really is here. Somehow, Aslan has a way of making things right. Even if we don't always know what he's doing." Ed said. I nodded, still not seeing exactly what he meant by that. "You ready to go back to the How?" he asked gently. I nodded.
"In a minute. I want to try something first." I said getting up and moving closer to the tree. I put my hand on it and closed my eyes. "Please wake up." I whispered. I kept my eyes closed but then the wind started swirling around me. I opened them slowly. In front of me stood a Dryad. I smiled and waved at her. She laughed and waved then walked around her tree.
"Thank you." she said. I smiled.
"I'm glad to see you." I said. She smiled then went back into her tree which started dancing slightly then stopped. I looked back at Edmund who was grinning at me.
"Incredible." He said. I smiled at kissed his cheek.
"Come on. Let's go." I said.