Chapter 10: The search for a princess

"Kidnapped? What do you mean kidnapped?" Susan exclaimed, dropping her fork with a loud clank.

"She's missing. Gone. Vanished. I've searched the castle for her and all I can find is this." He held up the silver fabric in his hands.

"Aurora's train. Peter, where did you find that?"

"On the back stone stair case leading from the garden to the beach."

"But why would the kidnappers leave it?" Edmund said from his seat, looking from his sister to his brother. "I mean, wouldn't they want to cover their tracks?"

"I don't know, Ed. Maybe they thought we didn't use it much or they're just lousy kidnappers." His expression changed from a boy to a king in one breath. "But that doesn't matter right now. Aurora's gone and we have to go after her."

"Where are you going to look, Peter?" Susan asked. "She could be anywhere."

"I don't know, Susan, I'll track them down and search every land. But I'm not coming back to this castle without her." His voice was stern and no one even dared to question him. "I have to leave now so I can catch up with them. Lune?" he said as he turned to the prince.

"Do you want to go with me?"

Lune nodded, rising from the table in one move.

"Let's go."

"Okay Susan, go to the kitchens and get enough supplies for a few days. Also get plenty of water- we don't know how often we'll be able to stop at a spring." She nodded and rushed out the side door that led to the kitchens. "Lucy, go to my study and get my map- the large one with all the lands on it." She rushed out the main entrance, almost sliding on the wooden floors from her speed. "Edmund, go ready our horses while we pack."

"Am I not going with you?"

"No, I want you to lead the army after us. They will need more time to prepare."

Edmund face dropped in fear. He had never led the army by himself- ever. Peter placed his large hand on his brother's back, trying to reassure him.

"Don't worry Ed. You'll have Orieus with you and we'll leave you many markers so that you can easily follow our path. But right now we have to hurry. We don't want them getting too far ahead."

Whether it was light or dark outside when she woke up, Aurora never knew. A heavy black bandage was wrapped tightly around her head, concealing all light from her eyes. She tried to scream, but the clothed stuffed in her mouth muffled her cries. The cloth had soaked up all the saliva, leaving her mouth dry and with a lingering, salty taste. Her hands and feet were bound together with rope that cut into her skin as she tried to squirm, at the same time dispensing warm blood over her ankles and wrists. She was sitting on something hard, like wood that was vibrating softly with motion. The vibrations were the only things that assured her that she was still alive. They went on for hours or days- Aurora knew no distinction in time. She thought about how she got there. She had run away out the back after Peter kissed...

The images formed clearly in her mind, but she shoved them back. She didn't want to think about that now.

The vibrations suddenly stopped. Aurora tipped over onto her side and rolled slightly forward. The restrictions had kept her from stopping herself. She could hear through the floor that someone was coming. She was pushed upright and her back slammed against another hard object. Rough hands removed the cloth from her mouth, scratching her skin in the process. She could smell the sweat and dirt on his skin, another indication that she was alive. Something was shoved in her mouth. Her taste buds recognized the object as a slice of browning apple. Eager for food, she quickly chewed it and swallowed, hoping another piece would follow. Two more did and she chewed them as quickly as she did the first. But, one piece slipped down the wrong way and she began to choke. She gasped for breathe a number of times until, but the air was not filling her lungs.

"Oh, is the princess choking?" She felt something metal touch her bottom lip. A warm liquid poured into her mouth and her taste buds realized that it was water. It wet her mouth and throat and quenched her thirst.

"Yes, yes," said a low male voice. "Good, isn't it? It will keep you alive...for now."

The goblet left her mouth but her body was screaming for more.

"Why are you doing this?" her shaky voice was barely audible.

"I cannot tell you." He slipped the cloth back into her mouth, "But Master and Mistress will tell you in time, little princess, in time. Now," he said more to himself than to Aurora, "Master said to bring something from the princess like last time. What to bring, what to bring…aha!"

Aurora felt her dress being ripped, exposing her shins.

"I first took her comb and now take her hem. Yes, that will lead him. That will lead him…" The voice grew softer and softer until it died all together.

She was all alone and the vibration of movement began again.

Her mind was swimming with questions.

Who are master and mistress? What did they want with her? And who were they trying to lead? Her father? Lune? Peter?

She sighed.

Peter. Peter, who had someone. Peter, who she had stupidly fallen for.

Will he come for me?

In her heart, she hoped he would. She hoped that he would come, fight her captors and win, and together they would ride off back to Cair Paravel on his horse. But her too perfect thoughts were interrupted with thoughts of Cerdiwen. He would rescue her, then run straight back into her arms.

How could I be so stupid to think that he might have fallen in love with me?

And with her last thought, she fell into silent sobs.

Peter threw his leg over the horse and settled his body in the leather saddle.

"How will we know in what direction to follow you, Sire?" Orieus asked.

"I'll send the hawk with a letter." He patted the large metal cage that sat behind him on the horse. "Call the army and have them ready so that they can leave in a moment's notice. Archemis?"

A large griffin swooped down on them and landed on a branch of a nearby tree.

"You called for me, Sire?"

"Archemis, fly north towards the land of the giants. Search all over for King Brim of Archenland, and when you find him, tell him what has happened and send him towards Edmund and the army."

The griffin bowed and with a flap of his large wings, he took off into the sky.

"I will see you all soon, I promise." The young king told his siblings. Lucy leaned forwards and huge his leg tightly. He patted her back to comfort her.

"Edmund, be careful. I'll try to send as many details as I can about our enemy. Susan, Lucy… watch Cair Paravel."

"Can't we come too Peter?" Susan asked, pulling her sister of Peter's leg.

"I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I lost you too. You'll be safe here with Tumnus."

"Then take this." Lucy produced a small bottle of bright red liquid from her pocket. "It might come in handy."

Peter tucked it away safely in his own pocket.

"Thanks, Lucy. Are you ready to go, Lune?"

Lune nodded and urged his horse forward.

"I love you all and I will see you soon."

After a few more hours, they stopped again. The same man as before gave her water, fed her another apple with his dirty hands, and took another one of her possessions- this time her left slipper. Aurora didn't ask questions as she had before. She knew there was no point to her inquiry. He wouldn't answer and, even if he did, Aurora was too afraid to know the answers. As soon as he left, the vibrations began once more and she slowly drifted back to sleep.

"Princess--- Princess." The soft voice coaxed her out of sleep. Aurora opened her eyes against the cloth.

"Get her." The voice that was once as gentle as snow was harsh as two sets of hands grabbed her arms and pulled her out of her wooden holding place.

Her feet dragged across the ground. The stones they were traveling over were coarse. Her right slipper had fallen off, causing her two bare feet to be scratched all over. The two hands pulled her up with so much force that she was sure they would leave massive bruises on her arms. They dragged her for a long time. They made so many rights and lefts that Aurora wasn't sure which way they were going now. Her largest toe on her right foot hit a large jagged rock which ripped half of her nail off. She wanted to scream in pain. Soon, they stopped. She heard a creaking noise and felt the pressure lighten up on her wrist. She was thrown forward but caught herself moments before hitting the ground with her newly freed hands. Her gag was ripped from her mouth and her blindfold from her eyes.

"Enjoy your new quarters, Princess." The voice sneered and she finally looked upon the face of her captor.

He was a dwarf with a long trailing beard and equally long hair tucked under a small cap. His face was scrunched up like he had tasted something bad and his appearance made him look like he hadn't bathed in months. He was flanked on either side by two cyclops who stood almost three times as tall as their leader.

"Why?" Aurora asked not caring what answers it may bring.

The dwarf smiled cruelly.

"All in due time."