Recalled Home: Chapter 10
Warning: mild violence, nothing big
Rating: k+
Disclaimer: I do not own this know this now! No money was made yadda yadda you get the picture!
Edmund woke before anyone except his commanders who had learned well the habits of their General, and washed his face before looking over the map one last time. He moved off after a few moments walking to the edge of camp where he drew his sword, reversed it and kneeled hands curled on the hilt. Whisper soft he called out,
"Aslan guide me today."
No reply came but Edmund rose with a renewed sense of wakefulness, ready for the battle. Aslan was always with them and he knew it. That in mind he returned to camp and took up his horn blowing three short blasts. Within moments, the camp was alive with the men getting ready and the commanders gathering supplies, the stable hands walking the horses and armorers suiting up the men.
King Edmund glanced around before visiting Philip offering him a cube of sugar which the horse accepted with a word of thanks.
"Today we make a stand Philip, our men are ready they have faced him before, we cannot lose." Edmund spoke more to himself than the horse.
"We will not lose Sire you planned all this and your commanders are well trained, we will win this battle and the others leading to the end of this campaign." Philip replied making Edmund grin.
Patting the horse once, he went off to be suited in armor and watched as the men got situated as well.
In camp Susan, Lucy, and Peter all had been ready and Peter and Susan both suited in armor. Lucy wore an outfit of tough braided leather as protection, but was to stay and help with the last line of defense and the healers there lay her skills. She watched her siblings ready and mounted praying to Aslan that they would return safely. When one more short blast followed by a longer one rang out she grinned and mounted spurring her horse forward to join with the column of soldiers, Edmund and the commanders at the lead. They trotted until they were clear of the woods then took off at a gallop, Galen would be moving towards the Dancing Lawn himself they had to get there first. Edmund knew they had plenty of time if they moved fast enough. With a motion the column of soldiers picked up speed.
Lucy, Peter, and Susan knew they were part of a regiment but still they were traveling fast and yet none of them complained, those who became thirsty dimply opened their waterskins and drank as they rode; not something that happened in the regular Narnian army.
"You don't think he drives them too hard do you?" Lucy worried. But both her siblings only looked at her waiting for her to answer her own question which she did moments later, "No they wouldn't be so loyal to him if they feared him or he pushed too hard, plus this is Edmund we're talking about."
"Still some of these ideas aren't bad and his tactics are clearly way ahead of anything we use in formal combat, we could certainly use him and his men." Peter mentioned.
"You wonder why you always win the battles he plans so effortlessly, I think you have your answer Peter." Susan laughed.
"I guess he was always good at planning things, from kitchen raids when we were younger to soldier games during the war he always beat me I never thought about it." The older boy mused.
"Yes well it looks like were well on our way to the Dancing Lawn what do you think about this?" Susan asked.
"I see no fault in this plan except that Galen might see through the ruse and either not come at all or have come late last night and be already dug in waiting for us." Peter replied.
They rode in silence a bit longer until at just before midday they crossed the river and entered the Dancing Lawn. Immediately Edmund sent out orders to dig in, they would not be caught unawares. Edmund himself remained mounted and with a nod Oreius took over the building of the camp as he whirled Philip around and took off across the edge of the battlefield rounding it off and circling before going down the middle.
Susan coming up beside Peter looked at their brother a question clear in her eyes to which Peter replied, "He's memorising the ground, every hill, every indent to use it to his advantage, another skill he is especially good at. it'll take at least an hour so we better get to readying the camp with the others."
She nodded and the three threw themselves into the work as Edmund remained out on the field watching as, through his eyes, the battle came to life. Philip beneath him said nothing he knew his King when he got like this, best to leave him be. However, the young king spoke up first, "Do think this is an awful risk Philip? The men would follow me to any end but am I only leading to their deaths?"
"Your men re devoted to you and you have saved their lives often in the past, they are devoted to you and you cannot fail them, not in their eyes." The horse replied.
"But to you am I leading them to death?" Edmund persisted.
"Sire I am not a clever horse when it comes to battle, your plans work out best for our men winning with little casualty if any. This first move is not to win but to cripple and force a final match to the place of our choosing. I would expect nothing less. Peter would be proud." The words struck just right and though he was still uneasy, he felt better. Nodding firmly he, nudged Philip forward again continuing his surveillance.
Returning to camp he dismounted nodding to Oreius as the centaur came up to give a report.
"Camp is set up just as you planned Sire."
"Did you find any weaknesses that needed to be changed?" Edmund asked plainly.
The centaur noted that the young king was his own worst critic and replied with pride, "Nothing Sire no one will get past the camp lines this battle is ours." Oreius grinned Edmund responding in kind.
"Very well than I expect Galen in the next few hours or so, after all our message assaulted his pride surely he would not refuse our hospitality."
The centaur General had to shake his head at King Edmund, clever for one so young. Almost unnervingly clever.
He had predicted correctly and Galen's troops were spotted just on the other side of the river leading to the Dancing Lawn.
"Archers ready for war!" Edmund shouted, atop Philip once more.
Susan gave her siblings a grin moving away. Peter caught her eye but said nothing.
Edmund motioned and the troops fell in quickly with the aplomb of long practice. He grinned, this should prove to be interesting. Oreius and Nichos stood right beside him.
"Nichos you will come on the left flank, Oreius the right I need you both but should we get separated don't try to find me we'll be fine. The men know what to do it's as always. Are you ready old friend?" Edmund asked the two. Oreius had accompanied him on many battles and campaigns, Nichos, his marshal on several more dangerous ones. This would determine everything.
"To the end as always M'Lord." Oreius replied.
"Whatever end King Edmund." Nichos replied in turn.
"With ready hearts." Edmund grinned whispering. Then with a loud shout drew his sword and shouted,
"NARNIA!"
All the army replied with a cry of their own, only the three Pevensies were left startled for a moment; their brother's voice rang clearly throughout the entire plain.
"Well we certainly have a few things to learn." Susan muttered from her place with the archers.
Galen entered the field to find Narnia's army already in place and her commanders waiting for him. He cursed a ruse! Moreover, he had fallen for it! There was nothing for it now he had to fight and win.
"Fall in there will be war today!" he ordered. Watching his troops ready themselves clumsily he sighed, they were not prepared for this, the young king of Narnia knew this had played on his weaknesses just as before. He couldn't lose now not this close to victory!
He dismounted not daring to cross the field to check the layout of the land. Surely, King Edmund had already done so. Growling he had no choice but called his armorer to him and suited up, readying for the battle that he knew already would not end well.
Edmund had the troops ready already split into battalions and regiments, they were ready. All that was left was to decide or wait and see who would make the first move. He had a fair guess he would end up making the first move and was unbothered by the idea they were ready for whatever Galen could scrap together.
Peter was with the Calvary while Lucy waited in the back on the side with the healers she hated to not be put out in the battle but knew that she wasn't ready. She'd never practiced enough though Edmund had taught her well; she had to admit she hadn't the heart for it. Instead she would tend to those who came back wounded and hurting. Susan was with the archers; one of the commanders. They waited ready until Edmund would give the signal there was war to win today.
Edmund surveyed those before him and those behind him waiting for battle. He could guess how this would end, it was all he could've dreamed for. This would be the beginning of the end for this campaign. He waited a moment longer watching Galen ready his troops as well and then suddenly without warning save a last minute cry they swarmed forward.
"Aslan!" Edmund shouted and too charged forward his troops right behind him, Nichos and Lotan on his left and right. They were ready and within short time, the two armies clashed with bone crushing force. Edmund atop Philip blew right through enemy lines crashing past them cutting and stabbing with Philip using his hooves to take down any that came after his king.
Coming out the other end of the melee Edmund only paused a moment to see if Philip was holding his own. With an affirmative answer the two plunged back into the mass of troops. They were untouchable Edmund blocking hits for Philip that the horse couldn't block himself and vice versa as the battle raged on. Stopping a moment Edmund looked around but couldn't spot Galen. He knew the enemy was out there all he had to do was find where. Suddenly he spotted him; far off fighting several Narnians. With a yell, Edmund bolted towards him dismounting to make it fair. He swung but Galen had seen him and blocked it halfway through. Coming forward Galen tried to gain the offensive to find Edmund there and attacking hard forcing him to defense.
Peter was locked in battle with a bear when he spotted his brother fighting Galen, and holding his own forcing Galen onto his rear foot. His musing was interrupted by the bear taking a harsh swipe at him, which he had to duck under to keep his head. They were holding their own this battle was Narnia's from the beginning and both sides knew it. Grinning Peter realized with pride that his brother had planned this all on his own. He watched as slowly Galen's forces were being pushed back closer to the archers and second battalion. The battle was ending, Edmund, he knew, wouldn't destroy the army this was just the first battle to prove who had the upper hand.
Edmund grinned as he pushed Galen fully back onto the rear foot cutting a tear through the thing baldric and cutting him across the chest. Then a familiar cry as the archers took their places. All Edmund had to do was raise his hand and they would be loosed, but that was not the purpose of this battle.
"Run Galen and meet me on the Field of Beruna in six days time." Edmund hissed to his enemy who stayed a moment longer before whistling for a mount and riding off, the army following behind him. Edmund sighed it was somewhat of anticlimactic ending to the battle but the purpose had not been to win only to weaken his enemy's resolve; the final battle would take place in six days' time. He would be ready, for anything.
TBC
Author's Notes:
Ack I've done it again and made you wait far too long and I do apologise. Life reared its head yet again and every day I had off from work I found myself pulled in five different directions at best. Well one or two more chappies then a epilogue and it'll be finished. Reviews, constructive criticism are greatly appreciated! Ja!