Chapter 9

Back over at the camp of Aslan, Mara was firing her bow in to targets, waiting nervously for them to return. Lucy came out after her wanting to learn how to use her dagger. Mara glad of the distraction, turned and showed her how to hold it then throw it. Lucy looked at Mara's face and quietly asked, "Are you worried about someone who went out there?"

"I'm only worried about Sarah. She is the first friend I have had in a long time." Mara smiled and pulled her bow back and sent an arrow flying, straight to the middle of the target.

"She will come back. May I try?" Lucy asked pointing at the bow.

Mara handed her the bow and said, "Sure. But try not to hit your arm with the string, it stings." And Lucy strung an arrow and sent it flying to just outside the bull's eye.

"Very well done, Lucy." Mara praised. Lucy smiled then tried again this time getting just inside the bull's eye. Mara laughed then said, "We need to get you a bow. You seem to be able to do anything you can put your mind to."

Lucy beamed then said, "Thank you, Mara. Can I try using a sword?"

Mara looked around her and saw two blades just sitting beside a rock. Mara moved over to them and picked them up. Handed them to Lucy and said, "Try and swing the blades, slowly though. Don't want Aslan's Queen to be harmed."

Lucy smiled and started swinging the blades then twirling them, until Mara pulled her own blades out and slowly attacked her. Lucy smiled and blocked each one, making Mara move faster until they were attacking and defending full out. When they finally stopped, all around them were soldiers with mouths hung wide open. Mara looked closer at the swords and saw an inscription on the hilt; it said 'This is the blade of the Watcher'. Mara smiled then looked at the sheave and saw a name on the tip, 'Lucy' and just beneath it 'Aslan's Queen'. Looking at the blade she saw the name which was put on there. It read 'Hope' for the hope they will bring with Lucy's coming.

Mara looked around and noticed it was dark so sent everyone away to do what they had to, while taking Lucy to their tent to sleep. Once there Susan started in asking where they were and trying to take the swords away from Lucy. Mara muttered something grabbed the swords and put them with Lucy's other weapons.

Susan looked at Mara and asked, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Giving Lucy what belongs to her. The swords have her name on them. Along with another name, a watchers name. Along the blade they say, 'Estel' meaning hope." Mara then went to her bed and lay down going to sleep.

Susan turned to Lucy and noticed she too was fast asleep. What felt like five minutes later, to Susan, while she was trying to get to sleep Sarah crept in and lay on her bed going straight to sleep.

Meanwhile over with Edmund and Sarah, Sarah had tied Edmunds hands around her waist so he wouldn't fall off. Edmund seeing Sarah truly for the first time was enjoying himself being tied to her. Alongside them came Oreius, walking contentedly.

"Thank you for getting me out of there. And I'm sorry for what I nearly did to my family." Edmund said quietly in her ear. Sarah patted his hand but stayed quiet. "You're an elf if I'm not mistaken."

Sarah finally said to him, "Yes, I'm an elf, but I'm only half elf. Mara is full elf, and wants to teach all of you about it. I would to but I'm not nearly as knowledgeable."

"Do you speak in other languages like I've heard about?" Edmund asked.

Sarah laughed and said, "Yes. I can also sing. Would you like to hear?"

"Yes please." Edmund answered eagerly.

Tell me why, I don't understand.
Tell me why, or show me your hand.
Tell me why because I can't see my way through
What now...should I...do

The battle is not ours
We look to God above
For he will guide us safely through
And guard us with his love
I will not be afraid
I will not run and hide
For there is nothing I can't face
When God is at my side
No, there is nothing I can't face
When God is at my side
The battle is not ours
We look to God above
For he will guide us safely through
And guard us with his love

When Sarah looked back she saw that Edmund was sound asleep. Oreius just smiled then asked, "What made you go against her?"

"Several things. First, she killed the King and Queen and their children. Second, she called all the creatures to her, foul and otherwise. Third, I always got a bad feeling about her. And fourth, she turned my family against me." Sarah answered, looking ahead the whole time.

"And the young king here, what's he to you?" He asked.

Sarah touched the arms around her waist and thoughtfully replied, "He is the youngest king and he will be the wisest when Aslan has spoken to him. Plus he is quite handsome."

"That's all I wanted to know." Then Oreius made to leave when Sarah grabbed his arm.

"What is your interest in the oldest Queen? You know she is destined for another from Archenland." Sarah muttered.

Oreius looked at Sarah then away, "I know this, but I can't help it. She is very beautiful."

Sarah then said quietly, "She is not for anyone but the man from Archenland." Then she looked at Oreius and said, "Face the facts. No one will ever truly possess her; she is not the marrying type. Even the man from Archenland will never truly possess her."

"I understand." Oreius answered.

Sarah reached out for his hand and quietly said, "You will find someone for you one day. Keep looking, serve Susan but don't hope for that which will not come."

"Thank you." Then Oreius walked forward.

Then he turned and asked, "If she is meant for the man from Archenland, then how can she not be the marrying type?"

"He will ask, but she will never answer. She'd be having too much fun playing other men's hearts. She will never know the true meaning of love." Sarah quietly said, looking off into the distance.

Oreius looked behind Sarah and noticed Edmund awake and listening to every word she said. "How do you know all this?" He asked.

"I was told what would happen and what shouldn't. I'm not allowed to play with what should happen, but I am allowed to play with what shouldn't. Edmund was captured, as he should have been. You're falling for Susan as you shouldn't. And Lucy is never to fall in love with anyone here, in this time." Sarah answered, touching Edmund's hands.

Edmund moved his hands, catching one of hers in his. Sarah looked down and smiled then said, "Peace be on you Edmund."

Edmund squeezed her hand and asked, "What did you say?"

"I said, peace be on you Edmund, in elvish." Sarah replied then kicked Lothlorie into a canter. "We are almost there."

They turned around some trees and saw the camp in front of them. Sarah looking up saw that the sky was getting brighter. She got off her horse helped Edmund down then took him to Aslan, where they both went onto a high rock and started talking. Sarah took Lothlorie to the Queens tent and put her beside Astra and Imladra, took all her tack off and walked inside.

Once inside she looked at the others and saw them all sleeping. Except Susan, she was still trying to sleep. Sarah went over to her bed lay down was soon sound asleep. Having been worn out by all the riding and walking.