Hello again everybody!
As I said, it's going by the rules of sporadic posting, but I'm glad to be putting this out here now.
My usual hug of thanks to: princess emma of narnia, Beatnikfreak, Maddie Rose, dbd823, Noel Ardnek, lyokodreamer and LadyofLaughingEyes. Many many thanks :) your reviews are always appreciated!
This chapter is really setting things up that will come, so despite all the dialogue and banter some good character and relationship development is going on, which of course is very important nonetheless! Also, there's a very specific sequence in the middle that should shake things up considerably, and hopefully will make you anticipate even further what events may or may not come to pass.
Without further ado: onto Chapter 10: Too Late
Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Narnia franchise, or anything by C.S. Lewis. :(
Chapter 10: Too Late
Trisana wouldn't – couldn't take her eyes off him. She knew the risks of holding him here, in her own tent, but she needed to make sure nothing happened to him. The rest of her mother's advisors had protested to no end, until Kaspar had insisted that he would stay in the tent with her, just to keep her safe.
She had scoffed at that. Her – Trisana – the queen who had defeated the Narnian army and captured their High King, needing protection? Even though she had no problem with Kaspar's company, she was still angry that they thought she couldn't handle the prisoner on her own.
She was dimly aware of Kaspar's sleeping form on the floor of her tent. He'll be useful protection now, she thought scathingly, if the false King were to try and escape.
Outside, the growing sounds of hustle and bustle told her that morning had come, but she hadn't slept all night, and neither had her prisoner. Slowly, she got up, and nudged her brother awake with her foot. Two taps had him scrambling to his feet.
"You treat him like dirt." called a voice. She spun around in anger and stalked up to the speaker.
"You don't know how I treat him, usurper." she hissed.
The false King moved his face closer to hers. "I think I've seen enough to know."
She could feel his breath on her skin, their eyes locked on one another, hard and uncompromising. Eyes she had seen before somewhere else. She swallowed nervously as a wave of confusion hit her, as it had done so frequently since she had first laid eyes on Narnia's beloved king.
Quickly, she pulled away and looked up at her brother, who was staring at them both with an odd expression on her face.
"What?" she snapped.
Kaspar shook his head in reply.
"Your Majesty?" called a voice from outside. Trisana strode out of the tent, her brother following close behind. General Dakos bowed low as she approached, as did several other subjects.
"Yes, General?" she asked.
"We were wondering if you made any progress in interrogating the prisoner, your majesty? Will it be necessary to try and move onto the next stage of our plans?"
She surveyed him carefully.
"No, Dakos." she began, "I am sure that we will break him in the next few days."
The minotaur bowed in submission, but she could hear his low grunt of displeasure. Trisana quickly made up her mind.
"Five days." she called out, so everyone could hear. "Five days, or we'll move further south. With this false King blessed by the demon Aslan in our clutches, no one in Narnia will be able to stop us."
He was running, faster and faster, Kaspar had to get there – he had to help her. It had been almost a year – was he too late?
Now... he was standing in the courtyard, his clothes damp, as water – melting water – dripped slowly all around him. With purpose he strode towards the doors, and pushed them open. There was no-one there, and he walked quickly, being careful not to slip on the wet floors.
Down a flight of stairs, and another. These were the deepest recesses of the castle, places which few knew existed and even fewer went. The iron door was heavy, and in his tired state he struggled to push it open, but eventually it budged far enough for him to slip inside.
It was shaped like a great font, made out of the blackest marble, smooth and shiny. The water hadn't reached it yet, and it stood unadulterated in the middle of the room.
Kaspar walked tentatively towards it. He stretched out a hand over the centre, palm facing down, and muttered an incantation. All of a sudden, a blue light lit up, filling it with an eerie, mystical glare. He placed a hand inside his tunic and drew out a pouch. Slowly, carefully, he took out the contents and placed them on his hand one by one.
A lock of golden hair and a shard of glass.
He dropped each item in, and they hung, suspended in the light. It was time.
His hands shook as he spread them out. In theory, it should work. Mother had taught him how, told him to do it if all else was lost. She had been so loyal... she would help.
He began, his voice growing in confidence as he chanted, and the blue light began to spin, faster and faster as it rose up from the font, taking the contents with it, until all of a sudden it swelled and exploded in a shock of light...
There was screaming from all around as terrified voices sped past him. He sprinted to the throne room, not as fast as he once was. She wasn't there. He turned and came face to face with a faun, one whom he called his friend.
"She's dying, Kaspar." the faun said, eyes heavy.
Kaspar began shaking his head frantically in denial.
"No..." he began, voice choking. "She can't..."
"What are your orders, my lord? They're very close now. What would you have me do?"
Kaspar turned, eyes glistening. "Where is Corin? They – they said that they would come to our aid. Where are they?"
"All passage from the border was shut off! They've been trying, but the can't come through. Not unless there's a miracle." the faun replied, openly crying.
Kaspar walked forward and put his shaking hands on his friend's shoulders.
"Get everyone out of here. I'm sorry. Sorry for any wrongs I might have done to you, to any of you. I – "
The faun shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for, my friend. Now come, let us go."
"No." Kaspar replied. "I fear – I fear everything has been lost. Like you said, we need a miracle."
"Then," the faun said more forcefully, "you must come."
The man shook his head, and thought of someone, someone that in Kaspar's mind was not familiar to him yet.
"We will not be parted any longer." he said, slowly, "We never should have been parted to begin with."
His friend stepped back, sorrow in his eyes. "So be it. We will meet again in Aslan's country, my king, my friend." he said, voice full of sadness. They parted with a grasp of solidarity.
Now... he was alone, all alone, as the sound of crashing, screaming, burning, resonated all around him.
He walked forward to the one throne that his gaze had often lingered on and drew his knife. Outside the hall, a voice yelled a battle cry. Kaspar shut his eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek.
Mikah, loyal, loyal Mikah. Making a stand until the end. Images flashed through his head. Tris, my dear Tris – how could this happen to you? I wasn't there when you needed me... I – this is all my fault...
A smiling face with golden hair appeared in his mind. He clenched his fists in anger. You should have been here, he thought. You ran from us in your grief, you left us alone. His shoulders shook as his body racked with sobs, mind filled with hopelessness at the injustice of it all.
Then, a final image ran through his head. An image, a face, that took away all his fear, all his hate, all his uncertainty. Now he was unafraid, and with a steady hand he plunged the knife into his heart.
His eyes snapped open as he screamed.
"Stop pacing, Edmund, please." asked Lucy quietly."You're setting my nerves on edge."
He spun around and glanced at the tall boy standing next to his sister. He raised his eyebrows.
"He's setting my nerves on edge." he muttered in reply, "I don't – does he have to be here?"
"I trust him, Ed." his little sister replied calmly, "He's on our side."
The Just King strode to the window and put his hands on the window sill in frustration. He could feel both pairs of eyes on his back and he frowned uncomfortably. Lucy had told him the stories, she had run to him in despair to tell them how untrustworthy these brothers were, but now, to have one of them stand by her side, in her confidence... He didn't know what to think. A bitter comment shot through his head. You were a traitor once, the snide voice snapped, yet people now would follow you to the death. Don't judge, Just King. Edmund nodded absent-mindedly. It was time to take a leap of faith.
He turned and looked Mikah firmly in the eyes. Though the boy was taller than him, he swallowed nervously under the glare of the Narnian King. Suddenly Mikah fell to his knees. He was breathing heavily as he addressed the young king.
"Your majesty," he began, "I... I understand how the actions of my brothers and sister have hurt you and your family, but I promise you, I swear to you my loyalty. I want to atone for the actions of my mother. I want to help your sister recover, and to have your brother released. If I go against my oath, punish me as you see fit by your laws."
Inside, Edmund softened, surprised, but he tried not to show it as he spoke.
"Mikah. Rise."
The boy got to his feet nervously. The Just King put a hand on his shoulder.
"Thank you." he paused. "I understand how much you must have been through. We're all very grateful." Edmund could feel the tension slowly evaporate in the room as Mikah breathed a sigh of relief, and the two boys shared a silent moment of understanding.
"Well," said Lucy quickly, "we have to work out how to get Peter back. We need him, he needs to know about Lucian once and for all."
Edmund shook his head. "No, Lucy, he gave himself up to save all of us. If we take him by force... I'm worried what she – Trisana will do in retribution."
"Your Highness, if I may?" asked Mikah tentatively. The king nodded.
"Tris will use violence – she will try to hurt all of us whatever course of action we take. Perhaps... perhaps it's better if we rescue him before it's too late."
Edmund frowned. "Too late for what?"
The other boy shook his head. "Please understand, she and Kaspar – they share a bond that neither I or Lucian have with either of them, or with each other. Of all of us, he is and always has been utterly in her confidence. So... I don't know what it is she has planned, but there are things Kaspar can do – things he was taught to do, which could doom us all. Enchantments, spells. We can't stop them."
"Spells can be broken..." Edmund began tentatively.
"I think these are different spells than you're thinking of, Ed." the Valiant Queen said quietly.
The Just King felt trapped, torn in two. He straightened up resolutely, ignoring the sick feeling in his gut.
"How's the search going?" he asked. Lucy instantly sat down in despair.
"Nothing." she muttered, "Absolutely nothing."
Edmund watched interestedly as Mikah walked over and put a hand comfortingly on Lucy's shoulder. He turned to the king.
"We've tried everything, your majesty – "
Edmund waved his hand. "Please, call me Edmund, Mikah."
The other boy nodded slightly nervously. "We've tried everything... Edmund. As far as I know, Lucian is the only person who knows where the antidote is. It isn't coming as a surprise that there doesn't seem to be many books in this library about any dark enchantments."
The Just King closed his eyes in exasperation. This family that she had so twistedly put together was now tearing his own family apart. All in a moment, he knew what to do. If Peter wasn't here to sort it out, he would.
Full of purpose, he strode towards the door, and turned back to Mikah and his youngest sister.
"I'll see you a bit, Lucy. I've got something to sort out."
He shut the door behind him as he strode down a corridor, towards a flight of stairs. Breathing calmly, he drew his sword in anticipation.
Lucian would be giving him some answers.
A more muted chapter this time round, but hopefully this has wetted your appetite for more - Will Kaspar's dreams come to pass? Will they manage to rescue Peter before it becomes too late? Has the bond between Mikah and the youngest Pevensies really changed for the better? Is the antidote to the powder going to ever be found? And what - what will go down between Edmund and Mikah?
Many, all my thanks for the reviews all of you give - so please, please review! They are always appreciated :) Much love xxx
