Previously: We all turned around at Mrs. Beaver's words of joy. The snow hadn't melted away, but the trees were now covered in blossoms. There were pinks, reds, and oranges surrounding us, each beautifully gracing the trees. However, I wasn't focused on the trees. Instead, I was focused on the mark and it's various meanings.
How did I manage to get myself into this one?
-_*(Annabelle's P.O.V.)*_-
"Annabelle..." Peter muttered with a frown. "We really need to tell the others."
"No!" I nearly alerted the beavers and Susan with my yelling.
Peter, Lucy, and I walked five feet behind the others. With hushed voices and hand signals, we discussed the triskellion and its missing leg. It was extremely hard to concentrate as Lucy was balanced on my hip and Peter's fingers were tracing my mark delicately. Who knew that such strong hands could be so soft? I certainly didn't, but I found out when those callused fingers began to draw swirls on my wrist. There were goosebumps trailing up my arms and butterflies taking flight in my stomach thanks to the gesture.
"Peter," I said quietly. "We simply can't tell them, it would be too hard to explain!"
"But, we must!" Peter prodded again.
It was then that Lucy solved our argument with her amazing child logic.
"We could always just talk to Aslan about it!" She spoke in a hushed whisper. "I mean, he is the one who made the prophecy. At least he can tell us what it truly means."
Peter and I's jaws were unhinged as we stared at the little girl. Truthfully, neither of us had thought of speaking to Aslan about it. The fact that a child could think of it first was amazing, and slightly un-nerving. Who knew what else she has thought of? Oh wait...she is the one who correctly stated that I have a crush on Peter. Lovely, the girl is smarter than bloody Einstein.
"Well..." Peter still looked conflicted. "I suppose that will have to do."
Thank you, Lucy!
"Then it's agreed." I stated. "We will speak to Aslan on this matter before anyone else."
The arguement was over and done. Together in our tight knit group, we continued on our journey. The mystery behind the missing leg of the triskelion had been covered and tossed away for the time being. Hopefully, it wouldn't make an appearance until times were dire.
Ahead of us on the now grassy terrain was a ginormous camp that took over the entire plain. The red and yellow tents may have been quite small, but the amount of them accumulated into something extremely large. Extremely large, and extremely threatning. If I were ever assigned to march on this place, I would quickly abandon my spot in the military. There were various creatures everywhere, all huge and threatning. But, it wasn't them who made the place un-nerving. It was the subconsious knowledge that there was a mighty force by the name of Aslan who resided in one of the many tents.
A horn was blown above us by a centaur that I hadn't noticed earlier. The sound frightened me, causing me to shamefully brush hands with Peter. If it were him who had brushed my hand, I'm sure that I wouldn't have blushed so violently. But, it was I who "made-the-first-move-although-it-was-by-accident". A quick glance over to Peter revealed that the blonde boy was blushing furiously as well. How. Humiliating.
I was completely tooken by surprise when my own hand was captured by another. The grin that graced my lips couldn't have been goofier, and the blush powdering my cheeks couldn't have been brighter. That boy would be the end of me. Him and his soft hands, strong arms, and that beautifl smile he's giving me right now...
The temptation to ask Mrs. Beaver for a fan was over-whelming.
Instead of pulling my hand away, I smiled shyly at Peter before facing the front again.
Hand in hand, we walked forward and into the camp. On all sides we were surrounded by centaurs, fauns, falcons, eagles, dryads, nyphs, any creature you could possibly think of! The diversity of them was major, but they all held one thing in common; their wide eyes and slack jaws. My consious commanded that I hide my wrist from view. Would a panic start if they were to see it? Probably so.
The smile that I once had for Peter was now for the creatures around us. When they looked up at us from their work, the looks on their faces were amazing. They seemed surprised at first, but it slowly faded into a smile of gratitude. Their eyes alit when they saw us. The fire behind them was not of anger, but a driving hope. A hope that everyone should hold. Especially now. Now that their saviors, the Pevensies were here.
Well, three-fourths of them are here...
There was a huge group following behind us. I was so caught up in the smiling faces of the centaurs that I barely noticed them! In front were some brightly smiling fauns. My heart ached, I wonder how Mr. Tumnus is. Truthfully, he is probably already dead.
"Why are they all staring at us?" Susan muttered so our followers wouldn't hear us.
Lucy, for the second time today, opened her mouth to say something brilliant.
"Maybe," She smirked at her sister. "they think you look funny."
At first I laughed, but I was quickly dumb-struck. Throughout our entire time in Narnia, I marveled at how peculiar the creatures around me were. Not once had I thought about how they saw us. Beardless, tall, hind-leg walking creatures had just walked through their lands. How humorous. Now, I was laughing at my own thoughts instead of Lucy's.
"Oi, stop your fussing." Mr. Beaver cooed to his wife. "You look lovely."
The urge to let out an 'aww' was breaking me apart. Why, of all creatures, are beavers just the greatest couples ever?
We soon passed the crowds and arrived in the center of the camp. It seemed that the entire population of the camp had gathered around us. Silence. It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop a mile away. The silence was comforting and un-nerving. Every nice and bad feeling wrapped up into one big bundle. It was the kind of silence that made you think that something important was going to happen. But, we didn't think. We knew. We knew just by the looks that the creatures on the soft grassy plain gave us. Yes, something *very* important was about to happen.
Much to my dismay, Peter released my hand and stepped forward. Susan, Lucy, and I followed obediantly behind him as he stood before a rather menacing looking centaur.
The aforementioned centaur stood before a very large tent. He held himself high, leading me to believe that he was high in rank. The tent was the largest of them all and in the center of the camp, it held someone important. The centaur was definitely high in rank, that much was obvious. Despite this obvious knowledge, Peter unsheathed his sword and held it high before the threatning man.
"We're here to see Aslan." Peter stated with a loud and certain voice.
Whispers instantly began to sweep the crowd around us. Women nudging each other, men sizing Peter up. They looked on us with disbelieving eyes mostly. We were, after all, children. What could five teenagers do that an entire army couldn't? They were even looking at my sword with cocked eyebrows. Well, some of them were.
The centaur never replied to Peter, instead he merely looked to the tent.
The rattling of armor suddenly shook the air. Each and every person around us began to bow lowly. For a moment, I considered joining them. But, that would just look odd for a new-comer. Instead, I looked to the tent's flap. Waiting.
What happened next I could have never imagined. Not once in my life.
A large paw pushed aside the flap. We watched with bulging eyes as a lion, not a man, stepped through and out into the open. His mane was a lovely golden that shimmered in the light. Just as my eyes met those of the mighty lion's, a blanket of safety fell softly over my shoulders. The low flame of hope in my heart burst into a massive fire that spread quickly throughout my being. This lion was no simple animal, he was the beacon of hope for all creatures. Even for the rarity of humans.
Without any command, the Pevensies and I bowed lowly. Just as we kneeled, Peter spared me a glance. The look in his eyes...he felt exactly what I was feeling. Hope.
"Welcome, Peter," Aslans velvety voice swam smoothly through the air. "Son of Adam."
Peter slowly rose, but the rest of us knew to stay kneeled until we were called upon. Truthfully, I could kneel, curtsy, and bow, but it still wouldn't be enough to show the respect I felt for Aslan.
"Welcome, Annabelle, Susan, and Lucy," Aslan adressed us at once, as if reading my thoughts. "Daughters of Eve."
We each rose to our feet, quickly followed by the grinning beavers. Aslan looked fondly upon us. Though when his eyes fell upon me, they grew grim. Of course he knew, he was Aslan after all. But, now seeing that he was a kind and just creature, I wouldn't mind dying by his paw. For Aslan knows what is right. If I have done something so terrible that justice demands my death from him, then I truly deserve it.
"But, where is the fifth?" Aslan purred.
"That is why we've came, sir." Peter said politely, respect layering his voice. "We need your help."
The creatures of the camp rose from their bows with a look of curiosity on their faces. According to the legends that they've heard, there were only four saviors. Never a fifth. So, they had the right to be curious and disbelieving. Just as their expressions admitted to everyone.
"We ran into some trouble along the way." Susan spoke up.
"Our brother's been captured by the White Witch." Peter said quietly after a moment.
"Captured?" Though it was intended to sound shocked, it sounded more accusing. "How could this happen?"
"He...he betrayed them, your magesty." Mr. Beaver spoke for the grim Pevensies.
At the mention of betrayal, the crowd was roused. Unlike before, when they had been whispering about our competence, the creatures were now whispering about how poor Edmund had betrayed everyone. Even I was pleasantly shocked. Of course Edmund had willingly sought out the Witch's home, but did that mean he betrayed us. Not nessacarily. The Witch was a cruel enchantress. Who knew what kind of mind-controlling curse she could have cast upon him.
"Then he has betrayed us all!" The menacing centaur nearly shouted in anger.
Even I flinched away from the hate in his voice.
"Peace, Oreius." Aslan commanded. "I'm sure there's an explanation."
The moment of truth. Would Peter admit that he had been harsh to Edmund? Would Susan admit that she never openly showed affection to him? What about Lucy? I suppose the same could be said for her. But, what of me? Had I done anything to cause the boy to turn from us all and run into the arms of the Witch? I had punched him, but I did actually give him some comfort on our first night in Narnia. Who was to blame? And, who would admit it?
"It's my fault, really." Peter spoke raspily. "I was too hard on him."
The emotion within his voice was unbearable. The way his voice nearly broke with guilt, it was heart-breaking. To give him relief, I would willingly take that guilt as my own. But, sadly I can't do that. Instead, I will just have to be the best friend that I can be to him.
Friends don't hold hands, Annabelle! Ignoring my brain's screams, my fingers laced themselves with Peter's. How terribly informal. But, all care slipped from my mind as I ran my thumb comfortingly over his strong hand. Aslan, thankfully, didn't look offended. Instead, he looked upon us with a warm smile with understanding in his eyes. The woes of young love!
"We all were too hard on him." Susan commented.
Isn't that the truth. From the moment I met him, I knew he was the black sheep. Usually, it isn't even their faults. It's the demand of perfection that the rest of the family makes. It's pressuring and distracting. But, it's what families do.
"Sir, he's our brother." Lucy spoke with sorrow in her voice.
"I know, young one." Aslan acknowledged her. "But, that only makes the betrayal worse."
Were...were they not going to save Edmund?! Did Aslan think that he was a simple low life traitor? No, that isn't possible! It isn't right. Edmund was a kind, battered soul. Temptation seduced him and controlled him. It isn't his fault, it never was. I refuse to stand down-
"This may be harder than you think."
Oh...that's what he meant. Silly me, always jumping to conclusions.
The grass tickled my feet as Peter and I stood alone on a hill. After all of the commotion, Aslan requested that Peter and I go to a quiet place for a chat. A chat, that would clearly involve the mark. My chest was tightening painfully with anxiety. Thankfully, my blonde angel knew that. His arms were wound tightly around me. My back was to his chest, just swaying silently with the wind. It didn't feel weird or awkward, it felt right. As if we belonged in each other's arms.
The leather of his vest rubbed gently against my semi bare back. Thankfully, we had been given different sets of clothing. My once bright and annoying yellow dress was gone and replaced with a deep emerald shin-length dress that matched my eyes. MY hair was now braided with small flowers woven within them. Honestly, I loved this attire. I would willingly toss out my entire wardrobe just to have it refilled with these. The dress was so soft, it was heavenly.
We were staring out at the castle. The huge architectual master piece towered over the ocean, making it's grand presence known to all. It was small from here, but it couldn't be more beautiful. What made it better, I knew that Peter would one day rule there. As the beavers said, two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve would rule over Narnia after the Witch is defeated. What better place to rule than that beautiful castle.
"That is Cair Paravel." Aslan shocked us with his deep voice.
Peter and I sprung apart from each other. Our faces were red-tinted, especially mine. How many times would I blush for this boy? Honestly. Aslan gave us an amused smirk and chuckled.
"It is the castle of the four thrones." Aslan went on, thankfully not mentioning our position. "One of which you will sit, Peter, as High King."
My eyes were suddenly drawn to the grass under my bare feet. The soft leather shoes I had been givenlaid forgotten on the ground a few yards away. The conversation made me sick. Speaking so fondly of the others futures while my own was to be cut short. Tears welled in my eyes at the injustice. Of course, I would go down fighting for Narnia like I've stated many times before. But, like I said, it doesn't mean I like it.
"You doubt the prophecy?" Aslan asked Peter.
Glancing around, I noticed that Peter's beautiful eyes were focused on me.
"No..." Peter said, breaking my heart in two. Even he knew I was done for. "I just- I don't want to believe the prophecy regarding Annabelle."
Aslan's eyes turned on me with recognition. In his eyes were a deep regret, but it was nearly masked with years of experience and a hardened heart. It was clear that he had sent many to die in battle before, why would I be any different? Just a seemingly lost young girl who had stumbled into a wardrobe. Why send thousands into a losing war, when you can send a useless girl?
"Ah, the Chosen One." Aslan spoke calmly, taking graceful steps toward me.
"Chosen One?" I nearly snorted out of my bitterness. "Don't you mean 'Chosen To Die?'"
A great paw was laid upon my shoulder, the weight nearly causing me to fall. Looking up into the lion's eyes, I saw nothing but regret. Ever sorrow-filled emotion he held for me was being shown through a simple gesture. The urge to hug him grew suddenly.
"My dear, there is much you do not know of the prophecy." He spoke calmly. "All will be revealed, just away from curious eyes."
Hope soared within me like a falcon. Would I actually survive?! Goodness, I could hug Aslan right now! He had given me hope! Actual hope for myself! Perhaps, that is what I need. Hope. Something to help me through this terrible war.
"But, Aslan-" Peter attempted to cut in, obviously "the curious eyes" Aslan had mentioned.
"All in due time, Peter." He spoke with the slightest of smirks on his face. "But, now we must discuss your future as High King."
This subject immediately changed Peter's attitude. The young blonde began to protest, stating that he wasn't all that everyone expected. Silly Peter, in my eyes, you could be the ruler of the world. Strong, handsome, loyal, brave, just, kind, what else could you ask from a King?
"Peter Pevensie, formerly of Finchely." Aslan began, his smirk now magnified. "Beaver also mentioned that you planned on turning him into a hat."
That roused a chuckle from us all.
"Peter, there is a deep magic more powerful than us all that rules over Narnia." Aslan spoke wisely. "It defines right from wrong," His eyes flickered to me slightly. "And governs all our destinies, mine, Annabelle's...and yours."
"But I couldn't even protect my own family!" Peter said, defeated.
"You've brought them safely this far." Aslan said, only for Peter to argue back.
Peter looked out to the sky. "Not all of them..."
The weight of his words hit me heavily. My poor Peter...he can't take the guilt.
"Peter, I will do the best I can to help your brother." Aslan looked up at him with wise eyes, knowing eyes. "But, I need you to consider what I ask of you."
Taking the look that Aslan gave me as a silent instruction to leave, I quickly ran up to Peter and gave him a small hug. His arms wound around my waist. The emotions he felt poured into me through his amazing eyes. There wasn't a possible way to hug him tighter. Instead, I got daring.
"Good luck," I kissed his cheek quickly. Aslan had been looking out to the sea, so he didn't notice, though he probably already knew. "and listen well!"
With a rapidly racing heart and blushing cheeks, I ran and retrieved my shoes from the ground. The need to look back to them was great, but I resisted thankfully. On I ran. The camp couldn't have came into my view quicker. Unfortunately, Lucy and Susan were perched at the edge. Waiting for me, I can only imagine.
"Why is your face so red?" Susan automatically asked upon my arrival.
Lucy only smirked at me, as did Susan.
Someone definitely let the cat out of the bag. As if it hadn't been obvious before...
_-Hello there! Oh well, I'm sorry for not updating Monday. And I'm sorry for this really terrible and un-edited chapter. Hopefully the Peterbelle fluff made up for it? Hmm? No...okay. Anyway, this next part is really *IMPORTANT* I will not be updating on Mondays anymore, but on Tuesday. I have Academic team practice on Mondays afternoons, so I'm sorry! Anywho, I hope you enjoyed (though the awful quality of this chapter gives you a reason no to)! And I absolutely adore your reviews! Some of you got close to solving the Triskellion mystery! Anywho, I will see you Friday. Bye my lovelies!_-