Hey!
I know... I'm earlier that I planned, but there are some changes time-wise I may be going through, so while you can expect the usual multi-update week, I may not be posting on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so keep your eyes peeled every day!
Many thanks to: dbd823, Beatnikfreak, Noel Ardnek, Maddie Rose, Lyokodreamer, Princess in Converse and LadyofLaughingEyes for your reviews - they are always so appreciated :)
I'm sorry about the cliffhanger everyone, it was already so long to write but I'm glad you still enjoyed the previous chapter all the same. Onto Chapter 9: Horror. We're back to the three part chapter format, and while I'm aware this isn't quite as long as some of the previous chapters, this one sets up the scene more for the next coming chapters, I hope you won't be too disappointed, I had a bit of a brain mush with a bit of the descriptions. Do say if you feel I haven't done anything justice :S
Well, now for the next chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Narnia franchise, or anything by C.S. Lewis. :(
Chapter 9: Horror
I promised mother I'd take care of all of you. Peter's words rang in Edmund's ears.
Sod it, Peter, the Just King thought as he led the archers out of the cover of the trees and into the main battle. Images of the Battle of Beruna flashed before his eyes as the battlefield came into view. He swallowed thickly. Part of him had hoped that his estimates on the numbers of the enemy were wrong, but it seemed that had all been in vain. Both sides were evenly matched, and it looked like many more would have to die before anyone could gain the upper hand.
Edmund clambered up onto a rock and searched frantically for his brother.
"Up there!" he heard a roar, "Aim for one of the Kings!" He barely had time to flatten himself to the ground before a hail of arrows came his way. Slowly, he crawled back down and drew his swords.
He heard the sound of hooves and a voice called, "Your Majesty!" Edmund turned. It was Philip. He swung himself onto his loyal steed and rode into the fight.
Methodical strokes, Edmund, his mind told him, caught up in the haze of blood and death. The young king tried to steel his emotions as cries of pain and despair tore the air. A hag launched herself in his face and instinctively he cut her down, blood flying through the air. He fought back a natural impulse to be sick and rode on forward, taking out opponents with each stroke.
Unexpectedly, the image of his mother, of his life back in England flashed through his mind. What would his friends, his family, think if they could see him now? Would they consider him a murderer, or a hero? A sense of guilt washed over him, mingling with the sense of duty and justice in his heart. It created a bitter aftertaste in his mouth.
War brings out the worst in us all, he thought, slashing at a werewolf.
Philip reared suddenly, and Edmund found himself face to face with a familiar rider.
It was different this time. He wasn't anyone's prisoner, and both boys raised their swords against another, neither one moving to strike. Two brothers, each loyal to a well-loved sibling.
Edmund lowered his swords first. "You let me escape." he said.
Kaspar stared back, eyes devoid of emotion, save what Edmund thought was a hint of pity. "Her orders." he replied. "She said you would lead your brother back to us."
The Just King's eyes widened. How could he have been so stupid? In horror he rode past the other boy, more desperate than ever to find Peter, to find his brother. Something felt wrong, so wrong, and the troops of the enemy were chanting ever louder.
War.
War.
War.
Then he spotted it. Troops of both sides had begun to stop fighting, each moving towards a crowd that had begun to gather. Blind with panic, Edmund rode forward, soldiers from both sides letting him pass.
He gasped.
"Peter!" he cried. "NO!"
Peter closed his eyes upon hearing his brother's voice. Oh Ed, he thought, can't you do as you're told? You shouldn't see me like this...
For what seemed like an age they had fought, each equal in combat, each fighting with such fluidity that it was no surprise that soldiers from both sides had stopped, transfixed, watching their two leaders battle to the death.
The High King himself was beginning to feel worn out, despite the adrenaline pumping in his veins, and he knew the girl could feel it too. In a desperate move, he ran at her and mercilessly pinned her to the ground. She screamed in fury and made a strange motion with her hand as she twisted out of his grip and flipped him over, pressing her sword to his neck as he pressed his to hers.
Peter widened his eyes in horror at the scene unfolding all around him.
Everywhere he could see, his troops were now being held hostage, with centaurs and satyrs forced on their knees, Great Cats being knocked unconscious, a dozen arrows aimed at Edmund. While the Narnian soldiers had let their guard down watching the fight, the girl's troops had always been on edge, waiting for the moment when she could signal that they could take advantage of the situation. How could he have been so careless?
"I had to pick my moment very carefully," the girl said, eyes hard and unforgiving, "but I believe now is the moment you beg me for mercy."
Peter said nothing.
"How alike family can be." she continued. "He wouldn't speak either, when I held him prisoner." She motioned in Edmund's direction. "But if you don't say anything, we can start the slaughter now, and your brother can go first."
The High King closed his eyes in despair. Help me, Aslan, he thought. "Fine." he began, still out of breath. "Fine. What is it you want? For the life of my people..."
She raised her eyebrows. "How noble." She turned and glanced at her triumphant looking army.
"It's you I want, High King Peter." she whispered into is ear, in a voice that sent shivers down his spine. "I believe we have things to discuss."
Lucy had spent every single day in the library, to the point where she and Mikah had constructed a makeshift sleeping area in the large room to aid them in continuing their research better.
"I'm sure he was inspired by something, anything," Mikah began, flicking through the pages of another book, "he can't have thought of it all by himself."
"Mikah..." Lucy said slowly, thinking of something, "Mikah, won't he be suspicious that you're here? Won't he be trying to find out what we're doing?"
The boy shrugged. "I'm sure he probably knows what we're doing."
The Valiant Queen clapped her hands over her mouth, horrified. "Then how can we stop the effects of the poison if he knows our every move? Mikah! We need to figure out a way to cure her without him knowing!"
Her friend took his nose of the book and looked at her, sighing. "Lucian just... somehow, he just knows things. Even your deepest darkest secret you don't tell a soul – somehow, he just knows. We could never have kept what we were doing a secret from him, even if we searched in the dead of night and tied him up while he slept. He'd still know."
Lucy straightened up, renewed with purpose. "Then, we've just got to hope that we find out this antidote before he cripples Susan for good."
Mikah nodded in agreement, when suddenly his shoulders slumped and he turned away from her, walking over to the window.
"Lucy," he said, voice muffled, "I'm sorry I brought this on you. I'm sorry I brought this on all of you. I never knew... I didn't know any more than what I always meant to believe. I..."
His shoulder's began to shake, and little Queen moved forward to take the older boy's hand.
"Oh Mikah," she said soothingly. "I don't blame you at all. You gave up your family to help me, to help us. That must have been so hard... Besides, we'll put everything wrong to rights together, you'll see."
"Sometimes," the boy continued, "I feel like such a traitor. How can I cope with all this guilt? Guilt for what I did to you, guilt for what I'm doing to Tris..."
"Maybe I should have you speak to Edmund." she joked, but the words hung limply in the air, and a grim silence hung between them.
"Come on..." She pulled her friend back to the pile of books. Since they had begun their research to find anything to do with Lucian's poisonous powder and a possible antidote, the only person she found who was more determined to cure Susan than herself was Mikah, and many a night she had been awoken with the sounds of rustling paper as the older boy had extracted several more books from the shelves and was fervently flipping through them, consumed with dedication.
Together they both sat down and continued reading, both tied together by a bond of loyalty and gratefulness.
In a high tower of Cair Paravel, a quiet voice began weaving an incantation.
Slowly a deadly blue light formed that enveloped a small batch of powder lying innocently on the table, unaware of the wicked intentions planned for it. Careful hands scooped every single grain into a small glass tube and stopped it firmly.
"Your turn, Queen Lucy."
I thought it would be great to end on Mikah and Lucy again. I do admit, I love them together :) So... What's going to happen to Peter? How will Edmund stop what Trisana has planned? Will Lucy and Mikah ever find a cure, and what will they do when they find out what's happened to Peter? And what, just what will Lucian do next? Answers and more coming, so stick around.
As always, the lonely little review button just loves it when you notice it. So please make it (and me) smile and review. Much love xxx