Chapter 10
Justin and I stared at each other. I saw love in his eyes. Was it true? I broke the gaze and looked around at the others. Peter smiled and laughed, and soon Susan, Lucy and Edmund were laughing as well. We all laughed. The six of us were together again! And there was Aslan. How could things get better?
I looked at Lucy. She was still carrying her brother's gifts.
"Um, Lucy," I said. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Lucy looked down and saw the sword. She smiled and took the sword and broach in hand. The young girl turned to Ed and bowed.
"For you, my brother, from Father Christmas. May they serve you well."
"Well said." Aslan purred.
A few minutes later, I was able to get up and walk. The scars were still there, but there was no pain. Susan and Lucy led me to their tent, where I would be staying. Susan smiled when I saw the green and silver Narnian dress on my bed. The sisters left while I put it on. It fit perfectly. I twirled around for a few moments before strapping my weapons back on, including Justin's. I wanted to give them to him in my own way. When I left the tent, Susan and Lucy were gone, probably back to breakfast, so I went to find Justin.
I found him on the edge of the camp, sitting with his back to a tree.
"Hey." He said as I walked up. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks." I said and smiled. "How's life?"
"Not bad… now. Want to go for a walk?"
I smiled. "Sure."
As we walked, Justin sighed. "It was a day just like this when we were whisked away to Narnia. Do you remember, Mariel?"
To my dismay, I was having a hard time remembering anything. I could only remember things from when I had been in Narnia. "No, not really. I don't remember much about the world we came. Justin, what's happening? I'm scared. I can't remember anything about my life before Narnia!"
"That's happening to me too." Justin said quietly. "I can still remember that we used to know about Narnia, but now, everything is a blur. What happens next?"
"I don't know." I answered. "I do still remember bits of our conversation the day we came though."
Justin shifted nervously, so I changed the subject. "Wow, I cant see any sign that you were ever tortured. Lucy's cordial must have healed it completely."
Justin shifted again and shook his head. "Not true, Mariel. It did leave its mark. Aslan said it will be there the rest of my life."
"It can't be that bad, can it?" I asked. The only time I had ever seen it was when his back and chest were covered in blood, so I couldn't really see how bad it really was. And even that was in a dream.
Justin turned away for a moment, then he slowly pulled his tunic off. When he turned back to me, I gasped. It was much worse than I had thought it was. He must have been lashed ten or twelve times on the back, but even though he had only been hit twice on the chest, it was worse. Much worse. The two lashes had ripped much deeper than the ones on his back. Even though they were healed now, they still looked like they hurt terribly.
Justin bowed his head. "I didn't want you to see this, but I know that you already saw the really bad part."
I nodded. I couldn't imagine how he could have endured that. Then I saw his hand. A long white scare ran from the knuckles to his elbow. I took his right hand.
"How could that not hurt?" I asked.
"I don't know." Justin answered softly. "I can still remember what it felt like though."
I nodded. "I can still feel the wolves biting me."
Justin laid a hand on my shoulder. "I wish it had been me instead of you."
I shook my head. "No, you've gone through enough already. I don't need to add my pain to yours. By the way, you were not forgotten by Father Christmas." He looked at me, slightly puzzled, so I unstrapped the swords and knelt before him. "I have no doubt that Aslan will knight you for your service to him, but you'll need a sword to be knighted. And so, here are two." I presented the swords to him.
Justin took them reverently, strapped them to his waist and drew them. I watched from bended knee as he twirled them. There was no joy on his face, only pride to own such weapons. Justin sheathed them and looked down at me. He shook his head and raised me to my feet.
"You need bow to no one." He said. He took my right hand in his and to my surprise, he kissed it. His kindness was not lost on account of his scared body. His tunic still lay on the ground where he had thrown it in anger. But now, the scars seemed to make him even more worthy of being the guardian of the Pevensies. He had earned his stripes, literally. I smiled, and he smiled back. Suddenly, he pulled me to him and he hugged me.
"I missed you so much." He said.
"No more than I missed you." I answered. "I don't think that anyone could miss someone more than I missed you. Thank you for coming for me. I would have died if not for you."
"You were worth every second of the search. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, even if it took me one hundred years." Justin replied, and still he hugged me. "Mariel, do you like me?"
I pulled away. "What do you mean? Of course I like you. You are my best friend, and now, my hero."
Justin looked happy about that, but I knew he could be a lot happier.
"What's wrong?" I asked. "Did I say the wrong thing?"
"No." He said quietly. "It's fine. We'd better be heading back. They'll wonder where we are." Justin picked up his tunic and shrugged back into it before turning slowly and walking back to camp.
I walked with him but his mood never improved. Finally, I could bear it no longer.
"Justin, what is it?" I asked, concerned. "I've never seen you like this. Suddenly you're paying me complements and saying things that don't make since. And why were you sad when I said you were my hero and best friend?"
Justin turned to look at me. I was surprised at how sad he looked. As he gazed at me, a tear rolled down his cheek. I reached up to brush it away, but Justin must have realized that he was crying because he turned and darted off into the forest. I started after him for a few steps, but then I stopped. What had I done? What ever it was, it must have been my fault. I had never seen him like that before, I had never seen him cry.
I fell to my knees and wept. I was alone in the woods and my best friend had run from me for reasons unknown to me. What was I to do? I couldn't go back to camp and tell the Pevensies what had happened. It would probably get out and I would have to explain it to everyone, and I didn't even know what was going on. All I knew was that Justin wasn't talking to me.
As I knelt in the forest and sobbed, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned quickly, expecting an enemy, but to my surprise, Peter stood there. I turned away, not wanting him to see my tears, but it was too late. Peter was kneeling by my side in an instant. I turned my face away, but Peter gently turned it back to face him.
"What's wrong, Mariel?" he asked.
"I don't know." I said through my tears. "I don't understand what's going on."
"Then why are you crying?" He asked.
"Because Justin is acting like I hurt him terribly, and I don't know what I did and he won't tell me." I answered, trying to get the tears under control.
Peter's look told me that he was totally confused.
"You know that Justin rescued me right? Well we went for a walk together. I thanked him for rescuing me and told him how much I had missed him, he is my best friend after all. But when he asked me if I liked him, I told him that, yes I liked him, he was my best friend, and he was my hero. But he wasn't happy with that, in fact, he looked like I have stabbed him in the back! When I asked him what was wrong, he ran off into the woods. What did I do wrong, Peter? What could I have done that hurt him so badly?"
Peter thought about this for a while. "I have no idea, Mariel. It doesn't make any since to me, but if you would like, I'll try to find him and figure out what's wrong."
I nodded gratefully. "Thank you, but please don't tell the others. I'd rather not have to answer a bunch of questions that I don't know the answer to."
He nodded, helped me up, then took off in the direction that Justin had gone.
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Justin sat on a fallen tree crying when Peter found him. Peter walked quietly up and laid his hand on Justin's shoulder. Justin twisted around like lighting. When he saw it was Peter, he relaxed.
"Do you need something?" Justin asked as casually as possible.
Peter shook his head in wonder. "I just came from talking to a sobbing Mariel, that's all."
Justin got up in alarm. "Did something happen? What's wrong?"
"You are the problem! What's going on? Mariel's under the impression that she did something to make you terribly mad at her, and now you aren't talking to her. She wants to know what's going on, but you won't tell her."
"That's what she said?" Justin asked.
"That's what she said." Answered Peter.
Justin sank back down onto the tree and hung his head in his hands. Peter sat down beside him.
"So are you going to tell me what's going on?" He asked. "What's wrong?"
Justin shook his head. "You wouldn't understand."
"Well maybe I would. Now try me!" Peter was getting exasperated.
Justin jumped up and faced Peter. "Fine! I love her! Does that explain everything?"
Peter blinked in amazement. "Oh. I guess it does."
"How am I supposed to tell her that? It's not like I've ever done it before!" Justin asked.
Peter shook his head. "I don't know. It seems to me like you had a perfect moment and you just missed it."
"But I don't know if she loves me." Justin argued. "I don't want to make a fool out of myself. She's always said that I'm her best friend, and that's how she treats me. She's never expressed anything more than friendship."
"But if you never tell her, then you'll never know." Peter said. "I think you should ask Aslan how to tell her. But till then, please don't get her crying on my shoulder again! It's hard enough to deal with you, much less a sobbing young lady."
Justin nodded. "I suppose I should apologize."
Peter nodded. "Good thought. Let's go back and I'll help you find her."
"Thank you, Peter, but no. I need to do this alone." Justin said and headed back toward camp.
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I was on my hammock, still crying a little, but better than before. Susan and Lucy were somewhere off with Ed, so I had the whole tent to myself. I was trying to gather my thoughts when I heard a knock on the tent door.
"Come in." I said and wiped my face clean. To my surprise, Justin walked in. He walked over and sat next to me.
"I'm sorry." He said. "I suppose I wasn't making much since."
"I forgive you, but what did I do? Did I say something wrong?" I asked.
"No, it wasn't you. But let's not talk about it; I need to talk to Aslan first."
"Oh." I said.
"Are you hungry?" Justin asked.
"Actually, yes."
"Then let's join the others for a late breakfast/ lunch." Justin smiled and offered me his arm. I smiled and took it.
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We all sat around a short, round table and the three of us who hadn't eaten in a while, (Me Justin and Ed) had the meal. Lucy looked at us and laughed.
"Narnia's not going to run out of toast, guys."
Peter nodded. "I'm sure they'll pack some up for the journey back."
Susan looked at him puzzled. "We're going back?"
"You three are. I can't tell Justin and Mariel what to do. I promised Mum I'd keep you three safe. But that doesn't mean I can't stay and help."
Lucy objected. "But, they need us… all six of us."
Peter shook his head. "Lucy, it's too dangerous. You almost drowned, Edmund, Justin and Mariel were almost killed!"
"Which is why we have to stay." Ed said out of the blue. "I've seen what the White Witch can do… and I've helped her do it." Justin shifted uncomfortably. "And we can't leave these people behind to suffer for it!"
Justin and I nodded, then Susan and I got up at the same time.
"Where are you going?" Justin asked.
Susan and I picked up our bows and arrows. "To get in some practice." I smiled and the girls and I headed for the archery ranges. Justin smiled at Peter and Ed.
"Should we humor them?" He asked.
"Sure, why not." Peter laughed.
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Susan, Lucy and I stood at the line for the targets. Susan drew her bow back first. She carefully aimed and then fired. She wasn't far off the center of the target, but then, that was very good for the first time she'd ever fired a bow. Next it was Lucy's turn. She giggled uncontrollably as she aimed her knife at the target. To her delight, it hit dead center. Then they both turned to me. I carefully strung my long bow, placed an arrow on the string and aimed. But then a thought hit me and I slackened the string. Susan and Lucy looked at me, slightly confused.
"Where would you like me to hit?" I asked. "If the target is a clock, what time would you like me to hit and in which circle?" The sisters looked at each other. Susan shrugged but Lucy's face brightened.
"Eight o'clock, circle right outside the middle. Near the outside edge."
I nodded and drew my bow back to its full length. I aimed carefully down the shaft for a split second before I fired. Susan's jaw dropped which sharply contrasted with Lucy's squeals of delight. It was truly a comical sight. I had hit dead center on the point that Lucy had wanted.
Suddenly, we heard the gallop of horses behind us. I turned and fit an arrow to the string out of instinct, but it was not necessary. Peter and Ed rode ahead of Justin on and threw a few blocks, parries and thrusts from their horses. Ed rode a brown stallion while Peter rode bareback on a white unicorn named Flisk. Justin took his time, letting the others warm up a little. We had both practiced swordsmanship and archery back home, wherever that was, and he didn't want to spoil their fun.
Peter shouted directions to Ed as he brought his sword down on top of his brother's head.
"Come on! En guard! Keep your sword up like Oreius showed us! Now block!"
Justin decided that it was time to make his entrance. He let the reigns of his jet black horse fall and kicked the stallion into a run. He kept his seat with his knees as he whipped out his two swords. Peter and Ed turned to face him. Justin passed right between the two, and as he did, he blocked both of their swings at once. He turned and faced the brothers again, but this time, when Peter struck, he disarmed my friend and Justin let out a yell before he fell off his horse.
I ran for him, calling Lucy to come with me as I ran. When I reached him, Justin was writhing on the ground. Peter and Ed were kneeling next to him, trying to calm him down. I dropped my bow and knelt beside him. I held his shoulders down as Peter began feeling for any broken bones.
"What's wrong Justin?" I asked. "What happened?"
He continued to writhe, but Peter soon found the problem because he followed the blood. He carefully rolled up Marin's sleeves and I gasped in terror. The jagged cut from his knuckles to his elbow was wide open and pouring blood. The other hand was nearly cut off, a gift from Ginarrbrick I was sure. Lucy arrived and poured a drop of the cordial into Justin's mouth. He stopped writhing, but as soon as the pain was gone and the cuts and breaks were healed, he fainted from loss of blood. I set his head on my lap as I looked at Ed.
"I knew about his right arm, but what happened to his left?"
"I don't know, Mariel. I wasn't near him for much of my stay with the Witch. But I did hear a lot of screaming and painful yells from the direction they took him. When he returned, he always look worse than the time before. "
"This isn't my fault is it?" Asked Peter. "I mean, I'm the one who disarmed him. But I didn't think I touched him."
"I don't think so, Peter." Ed said. "This has to be some trick of the Witch."
I nodded. "I think he also went through a lot more than he dared tell us. Even you, Ed, and you were there."
Peter sighed. "We'd better get him back to Aslan. Who knows what else he didn't tell us." Peter said as he helped me lift Justin back on his stallion, Thunder. I grabbed my bow and climbed up behind him since I had also taken riding lessons back home. Susan rode with Peter and Lucy climbed on with Ed. But just as we were ready to go, Mr. Beaver came running up, which made Edmund's horse rear.
"Whoa horsey!" Ed called.
The horse settled back on the ground then turned to look at Ed.
"My name is Philip."
"Oh, sorry." Edmund said before Mr. Beaver delivered his message.
"You six better come quick! The Witch has demanded a meeting with Aslan. She's on her way there!"
I looked at Peter and the others. "We'd better get moving if we are to get Justin help before she arrives."
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When we arrived back at the tents, Justin was still unconscious. We galloped to Aslan and the four siblings leapt off their steeds while I awaited help for Justin. Aslan jumped down the rock formation he was sitting on and ran to us.
"What happened?" He asked.
"We're not sure." I answered. "He, Peter and Ed were practicing their swordsmanship and suddenly Justin yelled and fell off Thunder. When we reached him, the wound in his arm was open and bleeding and his left wrist was nearly cut off. I think he'd been hiding that from us. I noticed that when he got back, he always wore a leather bracelet over that spot."
Peter carried Justin inside Aslan's tent while Ed sent the horses back to the stables. When everyone was inside, Aslan breathed on Justin to revive him. He woke trembling. Aslan touched his forehead with His tongue and my friend relaxed.
"Justin," The Lion said softly. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure." Justin said shakily.
"Where else were you tortured?" Aslan asked.
"I'm not sure of that either." Justin answered unhappily. "Most of it happened when I was out cold." He looked at Susan, Lucy and I and then at the tent flap. Aslan took the hint.
"Ladies, would you please leave us? I will call you back in when you are needed."
Susan and Lucy nodded and stepped outside, but I remained. "Please Justin, let me stay." I asked.
"Mariel, please, I don't want you to see this." Justin said and turned his head away.
"Very well, I'll be right outside if you need me." I said, sniffed and walked out. I glanced back as I left and I saw Justin shrugging out of his tunic, just before the tent flap cut me off from my best friend.
I was true to my word. I sat right out side the tent, waiting for my name to be called. I could only guess what Justin was telling them but I had a feeling what ever it was, it was really bad.