Author's Note:

"Finally!" you must be thinking. "Another chapter!"

I know, I know! It's been months! I blame it on school, but I also lost interest in the story. When I began writing this chapter a long time ago, I was feeling very unsatisfied with the plot. But I managed to read through the other ten chapters and come up with a game plan. I took a creative writing class as well, which was very educational and helpful. This one is on the short side, but bear with me! Things are starting to come together...

I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia or its characters. I only own my plot and OC's.

Chapter 11

"So." Edmund slapped a map of Narnia on the scarred, wooden table for Lucy and Octans to see. "Let's review what we know," he declared.

"Well, you did not exactly tell me everything about these people. Why don't we start from the beginning?" Lucy knitted her golden brows and narrowed her eyes to better scrutinize the map. Ever since Lucy found out the Cair was invaded and then since Edmund told her that she was somehow vital to this group's plans, Lucy had decided to dedicate herself to the mission.

Edmund coughed, somewhat intimidated by his little sister's tone, and leaned forward so he could dip his quill into a small ink bottle nearby.

He circled the castle. "In the middle of FirstThaw, Peter, Susan and I were approached by a messenger from the group during a court meeting. The werewolf said he represented something called the Tenebris Circuli. I recognized it as Latin right away. It means the Dark Circles."

"Latin?" Lucy interjected. The word rang a bell.

Edmund shook his head. "I have no idea where it came from either. I have no recollection of ever coming across such a language here in Narnia, let alone having learned it."

Running a hand through his golden tresses, he continued. "Anyways, he explained the group's allegiance to the White Witch and their purpose of overthrowing us and taking over to avenge her death. He kept saying that they were of 'pure blood'..." He trailed off, thinking while his eyes roamed the outlines of the Cair.

"Well, then? What next?" Lucy pressed, shifting her weight onto her knuckles as she leaned on the surface of the table.

"He offered us a choice. Surrender peacefully or drag Narnia into a bloody battle we 'could never win'. Peter, of course, became angry and cast him out. Since then, we have been receiving mysterious notes with riddles on them. We have been making preparations for months."

"Do you have one of the notes?" Lucy inquired.

Edmund held up a finger and reached into his pocket. Lucy beheld the item in his fingers. When he opened it, she saw crude writing scrawled in black that scarred the pure white of the paper. She plucked it from his hands and opened it like a box that held within its depths a dark secret.

It said something.

Circe awaits Nimue by the clear

Blood boils in the bubbling, silver pot

Our day will be the rising of our crown

"What?" Lucy had the paper practically touching her nose, as if having it closer could help her understand the words better.

"It is a riddle. Like I told you, they have been sending these to us for months. They all basically talked about their victory, until this one came along just yesterday. Argos found it outside my tent."

Lucy examined the parchment further. "It looks to me like a place and time..." she concluded. "Why would they try to tell us where they will be and when? Is it not safer to stay in hiding until the right moment?"

"They are a confident bunch. Foolish and vain in some eyes, but a warning to mine. They are ready for battle." Octans deduced after craning his neck and reading the note as well.

Edmund nodded in agreement.

"What about their leader?" the queen asked.

"It was not until later that we were confronted by him. He was not a werewolf, but a man. His name is Bojan. You may have recalled him as the Calormene that wanted to dance with you."

A light of realization flashed in her mind. "So that is why you were so against me being with him! Might I say you handled that quite gracefully," she commented, recalling how he whisked her away from the arms of that so called Bojan.

"Thanks," her brother replied. scratching behind his ear in slight embarrassment. He was noticed for many things. A swordsman, yes. A horseman, yes. A diplomat, yes. A general, yes. But not really recognized for gracefulness.

A thought came to Lucy. "So why on Earth did you let the leader of a terrorist group enter our home?" She placed her hands on her hips and scrutinized Edmund.

Said man let his hand drop as his focus returned. "He has ties to the Tisroc. He had us practically in a corner when he threatened all of our trade negotiations with many of our allies. Despite all of his power, he merely requested attendance to our ball, so we granted him that. We watched him all night and nothing occurred. He was just there to intimidate us."

"I see. But why is a man leading an army of werewolves? If they truly think that their own race is superior, why are they taking orders from a human?"

"That is what stumps me. I have been racking my brain for the answer to that very question, but I continue to draw blanks."

"So what do we do now?"

Edmund stood up, back as straight as the edge of a sword. His lips set in a firm line. Lucy knew this look. It was the look of determination. One that she had been seeing a lot of in Edmund.

He suddenly called for an assembly of the group. There were seventeen in all. Eight had died along the way.

Once they were all together, attentive, ready to hang on to every glorious word of their leader, the king began.

"It was a foolish idea to go on this trip in times of such turmoil. But I am glad that we are here." He turned to Octans, locking eyes with the large centaur. The Lieutenant tensed, ready for the newest orders from his commanding officer. "This shall no longer be the Exploration and Expansion Unit. At this moment, we are Narnia's last and only means of both defense and offense. We cannot go back. We cannot call for help. Our castle is occupied by the enemy."

His audience bristled at the news, but remained still when he resumed speaking.

At that moment, for a reason the young queen could not quite place, the Just locked eyes with the Valiant. "The only way to go is forward. We shall prepare to meet the enemy. We shall gain every last bit of intelligence on them and we shall vanquish this threat to Narnia, her honor, and her people."

Octans bowed, low and strong. "And we, your humble servants, will smite the enemy with your Justice." The stoic man paused, and looked up suddenly. His eyes bored into Lucy's very soul it seemed. "And we shall use Her Majesty's Valiance to brandish that Justice. With you both, we shall never fail. Narnia will rise again."

Lucy turned to see that the entire group began to bow deeply. So did Sender. But she was dumbstruck when she turned to see that Edmund was bowing as well. She turned this way and that, completely confused and surprised and joyful and regretful and filled with wonder all at the same time. She felt like she was going to burst.

"We are going to need you, Lucy," declared Edmund, head down, golden locks dangling towards the ground.

And that moment would engrave itself into her mind, etching cursive memories into her heart. These would stay with her forever. Beyond the castle, beyond the lantern, and beyond the wardrobe. When she would be a little girl again, she would remember this moment and think the fondest of it. For her heart soared with the Lion over the sky with pure happiness. For this was the Golden Age. She was young, beautiful and strong. She was no longer a child. This was her Golden Age.

The group cheered, and they began to pack up camp so they could head to Chippingford for the supplies that Susan and Peter sent. Hopefully they were not intercepted by the enemy, or random bandits. Meanwhile, though, Edmund and Lucy were trying with little results to decode the cryptic note.

They were both laying in the grass. Edmund handed the paper to his sister, who took it and held it in the white light of the sun. "So, it is a place and time. It is just- there are allusions and metaphors in here that I do not understand." he explained.

"That is why it is called a riddle. It isn't supposed to be clear to you," his little sister deadpanned.

"Shut up!" Edmund grumbled, earning him a snicker from his sibling. He dropped his hand from running it through his tresses and sighed. "We cannot go further until we figure this out."

The two siblings stared at that little piece of paper as if it were the sphinx. And it truly was, in a way. The stakes were high. They had to solve the riddle quickly or else they could not find the Tenebris Circuli. And if they didn't, Narnia would be doomed. The pressure was on, and the air was thick and heavy under the hot sun.

Finally, after a long while, they had enough.

"UGH!" Edmund gripped his forehead and flopped on the ground, back stretched on the hot ground. "This is impossible!"

Lucy had stopped trying up long ago, now ripping the grass from their roots and piling them into mini hay-stacks absently. She rested her head lazily into her hand, eyes roaming the intricate little world under the canopy of the emerald blades. A multitude of creatures scurried about, sequestered in the shade from the colossal place above. Her gaze followed a line of ants carrying crumbs and what-not into their little ant hole. She imagined that was the only thing they did in their lives. Wake up, go out, grab crumbs, come back, and do it all over again. Oh if it were as simple as that! She wished her own life was as easy and peaceful. She wished for a world without dangerous people to taint it.

"We should check on Araceli," Edmund suggested, observing the clouds rolling by, hands pillowing his head.

Lucy turned over onto her stomach and smirked at her brother. "What is it Ed? Can you not get enough of those gleaming, silver eyes," She was lacing her voice thick with emotion and love, "long, soft hair, curvy-"

Edmund had grabbed a pillow from a nearby chair and tossed it in her face, muffling her words. "Shut it, little monster," he grumbled.

"How rude!" she cried. But she agreed that it was time to make sure the woman's needs were well attended to, like the good hosts and rulers they were.

When they pushed their way through the tent, they came into an empty room. She wasn't there. This prompted the two monarchs to start a mad scramble to find her, asking everyone they met if they saw her. Lucy wrung her hands tightly when another fawn shook his head and apologized respectfully.

Then, Lucy spotted her. Edmund jogged over. "Have you found her-" and he saw her.

They locked eyes for a moment, and then she frowned. "I apologize for frightening you, Your Majesties. I wished only to take a walk." she murmured.

Edmund heaved a sigh, beginning to regain his breath. He straightened. "No need, My Lady. You are free to do as you please."

Lucy coughed, and the King and the star shifted their glances to the seventeen year old girl.

"Lu?" Edmund inquired.

She continued to cough. But Edmund could hear muffled words hidden within. *cough*"biased."*cough*

Edmund crossed his arms. "What do you mean, 'biased'?" He growled.

Lucy fluttered her lashes innocently, her chestnut orbs darting towards the sky. The little creature was feigning innocence. "Spit it out," he groaned.

Neither noticed the confusion that marred the star's beautiful face. She had no idea what was going on.

"As I recall..." The young queen drew out. "You never let me go out on walks. Ever," she said.

Edmund caught on to what she was saying. "Lucy, not another wor-"

"You're being biased because she's a pretty girl!" Lucy starting cackling at her older brother's mortification. It suddenly turned into anger and the younger sibling squeaked when he stormed after her. Said girl darted away, leaving their charge behind, alone again.

Little did she know, a pair of striking eyes were watching her from the shadows. Behind their bright color heavy shadows swam, waiting to bring Nimue to Circe.

End Note:

Guest: I know! Edmund definitely needed to be told that he was being a huge jerk! I was so happy writing that scene! We were all cheering her on!

Bookaholic2000: Yes, school can be annoying. I also love it and hate it at the same time. Oh, and I took forever to update! Yikes! I'm sorry! Since I've regained my inspiration for this story, I can continue on with it and maybe reach the end! haha!

Chef 101: Thank you so much!

Until next time!