Thanks to Haylee, Dean's Leather Jacket, romantic.dreamer26, Aramoorn, Sky-Pirate325, and SPDVengence. I don't have to tell you how much you rock. :)
I apologize for the length, but this chapter was a struggle. I'm not good with battle scenes. But I forced myself to write because I didn't want to let you down! I hope it's not too disappointing. I tried to make it as interesting as I could. I was making myself crazy while I wrote this trying to make it good. Unfortunately, it's not my best, but hopefully you like it anyway. Well, let's keep on truckin'…
Chapter Eleven: And Then a Plank in Reason Broke
My first thought when Caspian handed me the reins was, "Why didn't I take those horseback riding lessons in New Mexico when I had the chance?" Seriously. I had no clue what I was doing, but seeing as His Majesty's arms were busy holding me in place and carrying a torch, I had to do my best. He was doing what he could to help me as we led a group of Narnians through the caverns below the field.
"One…two…keep the reins taught…four…" he murmured.
It was terrifying, trying to keep control of a stampeding beast when it was fully aware that you've never done it before and so responded with annoyed jerks at every inexperienced tug on the reins. It didn't help that my mind was having its own inner battle, trying to keep Lex from taking over. She was fighting hard to come out, drawn by the thought of the violence I was about to become a part of. I knew that if she broke free I would be helpless to stop whatever she decided to do. It seemed that she was becoming more and more of an alter ego and less and less of another side of my personality.
But there was another presence as well- one that I didn't recognize. A determination I knew was not mine spread from my chest until it reached the tips of my fingers and toes. The reins suddenly felt natural in my hands, my movements more sure. While I was wondering at this strange phenomenon, I became aware that there was an echo in my head as Caspian continued to count out loud. Actually, what he was saying out loud was the echo. Each number rang through my head a millisecond before he said it. With a jolt, I realized that the unfamiliar presence, the one lending me the skill I needed to guide the horse through the stone pillars, wasn't a part of me at all.
It was Caspian.
I am going to need so much therapy after this is over. Possibly medication as well. More like probably.
"Now!" Caspian shouted, pulling me back into reality where I was suddenly turning into Izzy: Warrior Princess. All at once, the Narnians started to knock down the stone pillars. Oh my God. We're going to be crushed. We're going to die.
But we didn't get crushed or die. As we charged through the falling stone, I dodged each rock like I'd been doing it all my life. Maybe this creepy soul-sharing stuff was good for something after all, besides freaking me out. At the end of the cavern, one of the Narnians triggered a patch of the ceiling to fall, forming a ramp. Caspian threw the torch aside as we ascended it and grabbed the reins from me to guide the horse in a wide arch, coming up behind the regiment that was currently attacking the soldiers that had been outside the How. Another group of Narnians came out of the ground on the other side, and as I looked around I realized what we'd just done.
A large piece of the field had caved in when there were no longer pillars to hold it up, and the Telmarines that had been riding across the land were struggling to get out of the hole it created. How clever.
When Caspian had taken the reins, his foreign presence immediately retreated. I wondered if he even knew what had just happened. I got nervous when he handed them to me again so he could draw his sword. As he wielded his blade, skillfully cutting down soldiers, I gripped the reins tightly and hoped for the best- which was actually what happened. I was surprised to find myself weaving through the Telmarines like a pro. Apparently I'd been able to hold on to a bit of the skill I had borrowed. Sweet!
We tore through the regiment and back to the base of the How with relative ease. There were a few mishaps that involved some very Lex-y kicks in the face to a few unfortunate soldiers, but we made it. I got down from the horse with all the grace of a baby rhino (my right foot got stuck in the stirrup and I fell flat on my back), and Caspian jumped down after me looking amused. Amused! In the middle of a battle! If I hadn't been distracted by the chaos around us I would've told him off, but the Telmarine regiments were suddenly falling in on us from all sides.
Peter whirled around and, looking up, said one word. "Lucy." Following his gaze, I saw that he was communicating with Susan, who glanced around and then shook her head. Peter turned back to survey our severely outnumbered troops, and made a quick decision. "Back to the How!" he yelled.
Caspian grabbed my arm and pulled me along as if I couldn't retreat on my own, which annoyed me. A lot. Planting my feet, I yanked my arm out of his grip and he paused to look back at me. "What are you doing?" he asked urgently.
"Quit dragging me!" I snapped. "It's obnoxious. I can run on my own!"
"All right! Whatever you want, but would you please-" As he was in the middle of motioning towards the How, the loud crashing sound of rock on rock preceded a tumble of stone chunks falling and blocking the doorway completely. I saw with horror that one unfortunate faun had been caught in the door at the wrong time. All of the retreating Narnians stopped in their tracks, astonished. A flurry of movement caught my eye, and I looked upwards where Susan was dangling from Trumpkin's hand. He swung her to the right and let go so she landed safely on a lower outcropping. I sighed with relief and turned to Peter who looked equally as glad of his sister's safety.
"Now what?" I yelled over the surrounding sounds.
"We've no choice," he replied. A determined look came over his face and for the first time he looked like a king. "We will fight." A shudder ran through my body, but not for the reason I expected.
I wasn't scared. I was excited.
I gritted my teeth, trying to keep control, but it seemed I had already lost it. The sword was in my hands and I didn't even remember unsheathing it. I felt Caspian's hand on my shoulder. "Stay close," he ordered. An unnatural anger ripped through me at his words. Did he think I couldn't take care of myself?
"Stop acting like I'm completely incompetent," I seethed. "It's really starting to bug me."
Caspian's brow furrowed in confusion and a bit of hurt. "I'm just trying to keep you safe," he said. Safe? HAH. Let's check out His Highness's track record: hit in the face with a tree and knocked off his horse, knocked out by a creature one third his size, overpowered in moments by a mouse, and seduced by an old lady caked in ice. Pathetic.
I considered telling him this, but I saw something shiny out of the corner of my eye. Turning faster than I knew I could, I parried the attack of the oncoming soldier and kicked him in the chest as hard as I could. Looking back at Caspian, whose expression was insultingly surprised, I sneered, "Keep yourselfsafe." He was still gaping at me when I turned around and knocked out the same insistent soldier with a sword hilt to the face. I glanced over my shoulder again with a smile that only pulled up one side of my lips. "Seriously, I've got it from here." I leaped over the fallen Telmarine and dove blade-first into the fray. A ravenous hunger gripped my heart. The violence around me fueled my desire. Knocking out one soldier wasn't enough to placate my need to fight, harm, perhaps even kill.
Izzy was gone. Lex was back full force and ecstatic to have the chance to take out her rage on someone with limited repercussions.
The sword was heavy in my hands, but I ignored the strain in my muscles. Driven by the explosion of anger in my stomach, I handled the blade more easily than I had the first time; swinging it through the air, bringing it down on the shoulders and blades of whatever soldier was unfortunate enough to cross my path. I spun, ducked, weaved, everything that ever made me mad swimming through my mind on repeat. Every unfairness, every pain, I poured into my sword.
Moving every other year so that I never have enough time to get used to one place. Slash.
Those damn doctors forcing poison down my throat. Slice.
Getting locked up in isolation every time I tried to run away. Crash.
Being deserted by my family. Kick.
Being deserted by my friends. Stab.
Being crazy. Smash.
Loving someone I have to leave. Punch.
I was so intent on my angry thoughts that I didn't even notice the tears pouring down my face. When a soldier took a swipe at my side with his blade, I swung the flat of my sword as hard as I could against the side of his head. Suddenly, I came to the end of the stream of Telmarines. There was no one left for me to fight, harm, punish. They were running away. Cowards, Lex seethed. Get back here. I want to see you bleed.
"No! Go away. I don't want to feel this," I whimpered.
If you didn't feel this you'd be dead.
"Leave me alone!" I yelled. The Narnians were running past me, pursuing the retreating Telmarines.
Face it. You need me.
"No!"
You love me.
"No! Go away!" I dropped my sword and clamped my hands over my ears.
You are me.
"No!" I screamed, dropping to my knees. "No!" I hugged my stomach and sobbed. "I'm not you. I'm not like you. I hate you!"
You are crazy.
"Don't call me crazy…" I whispered.
But you are.
"You aren't real!"
You're even talking to yourself.
"Stop!"
Crazy.
I moaned and doubled over at the pain in my stomach.
What was the word your little prince used? Oh, yes-
"No!"
Insane, right? He called you insane?
He didn't mean it, I argued silently.
He did.
I don't believe you.
You knew it all along. You're in denial sweetie.
No…
Shakespeare. Tch. You fell for that?
He cares about me!
Keep telling yourself that sweetheart.
He cares about me.
Just keep saying it. Won't make it true.
"He cares about me," I whispered. Then, a little louder, "He cares about me." Then I yelled it. "He does!" I waited for a response from my own personal inner demon, but got none. Breathing heavily, I looked around. The last of the Narnians were disappearing into the trees in their pursuit of the Telmarines. Wiping the tears from my face, I struggled to my feet and grabbed my sword. Lex wasn't going to control me anymore. I wouldn't let her. I ran after them, straining against my own limits, fighting past the pain that still plagued me. Focusing my mind on the sound of my feet pounding onto the ground, I tried to ignore the ache.
When I left the trees, I had to skid to a stop. All of the Narnians were gathered, watching something. I pushed my way to the front and gasped, sliding my hand under my chain mail to clutch the pain in my side. The Telmarine army was frozen at the start of a bridge built across a wide river. Lucy was standing on the other side, holding a small dagger and looking pretty pleased with herself. But that wasn't what shocked me. What shocked me was the figure beside her- a lion, taller than she on all fours. The biggest lion I'd ever seen. The Great Lion. "Aslan," I murmured.
There was a cry, and the Telmarines charged, some across the bridge, others through the water. I was almost doubled over, clutching my side, but I could still see Aslan take a deep breath and send forth a terrible roar that shook the very ground beneath my feet and stopped the soldiers in their tracks. Something was happening to the water. It was running in the wrong direction and becoming shallower. The soldiers noticed, looking around in confusion.
Now, I'd seen a lot of amazing things while in Narnia. I saw centaurs, giants, minotaurs, dwarves, talking animals, evil witches, and fauns. None of them could compare to what came sweeping around the river bend. A towering wall of water rushed towards the terrified Telmarines. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me at first- it looked like a face had appeared in the water. But when the wall stopped just in front of the bridge and seemed to take the form of a bearded man, I knew I wasn't hallucinating. The water giant crashed its hands down onto the bridge and ripped it out of its foundations. Telmarine soldiers leaped into the water below, trying to get away. One soldier was left on the bridge as it rose through the air to eye level with the giant. He stared in horror as it studied him, and then disappeared as it opened its gaping mouth and crashed down over him. The entire wall of water came down, sending horses and soldiers in every direction as it calmed to its normal flow.
One by one, the Telmarines started coming ashore, each one relinquishing his weapon as he did. The Narnians watched over them to be sure they didn't try anything. Caspian, Peter, Edmund, and Susan were wading through the river to the other side. I straightened up, still holding that obnoxious cramp in my right side, and started to follow. The water was pleasantly cool on my aching limbs. I moved slowly through it. At its deepest it was about chest high. When I made it to the opposite shore, the others had already fallen to their knees before Aslan. I stumbled to the end of the line next to Edmund and followed their lead.
The Great Lion surveyed us for a moment before speaking. "Rise, Kings and Queens of Narnia," he said in a kind baritone. Susan, Peter, and Edmund got to their feet. "All of you."
Caspian looked up, uncertain. "I do not think I am ready."
Aslan seemed to smile. "It is for that very reason that I know you are." Caspian stood. "Why have you not risen, dear one?" With a start, I realized he was talking to me.
"Me?" I asked dumbly. He nodded. "I'm no King or Queen of Narnia." My voice was strained. The cramp refused to go away!
"Did you not introduce yourself to Lord Miraz as Queen Isabella of the East?" Aslan asked. Oh my God. He knows!
"I'm sorry!" I cried, guilt rising up in my chest. "I knew it wasn't a good idea but they said it might help so I agreed to do it and I was supposed to just be a princess but then Edmund said-" I stopped babbling at the sound of a deep throaty chuckle. It was coming from Aslan. I meekly raised my eyes to meet his. He didn't look angry, but amused.
"I know, dear one," he said. "You were named queen by the word of King Edmund the Just, and so you shall remain."
"Me? A queen?" I sputtered. "I don't know-"
"Of course, there is one thing that must be done," Aslan continued. I blinked, a little frightened, knowing a punishment for my dishonesty must be coming. "You are not of the East, so henceforth you shall be Queen Isabella the Warmhearted."
I gaped at him, forgetting for a moment that the pain in my side was getting worse. "Are you sure you want me to be a queen because I don't know if I can-" Aslan interrupted me with a low growl, and although I could see in his eyes that he wasn't angry, I guess he was annoyed that I was questioning him. "Right! Of course. You know best. No more questioning the Great Lion." Lucy, who had been standing next to him the whole time, laughed. I struggled to my feet and smiled. "Thank you."
Aslan gave me a pleased nod. The sound of bagpipes drew everyone's attention to a procession of mice passing through us. They were carrying a stretcher of sorts, which they placed down carefully. I realized that Reepicheep was laying on it. Lucy rushed forward to administer a drop of the magic liquid from her vial. The little mouse breathed heavily, and then struggled to his feet, giving a start when he saw Aslan.
"All…hail…Aslan!" Reepicheep huffed, stumbling. I noticed that his tail was conspicuously missing. He didn't seem to have realized it yet. He looked over his shoulder, and in his attempt to see his tail turned all the way around, then did the same in the other direction. It was pretty cute, but I still felt bad for him. "I am confounded! I am completely out of countenance!" he said to Aslan. "I must beg your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion."
Aslan only chuckled. "It becomes you well, small one."
"All the same," Reepicheep replied, "if anything could be done. Perhaps…a drop more?" He turned to Lucy, who looked down at her vial.
"I don't think it does that," she said apologetically.
"We could have a go," he said hopefully, but Lucy shook her head. "Alas, I am afraid I must withdraw my sword, for a tail is the honor and glory of a mouse." Reepicheep held his sword in his paws.
"Perhaps you think too much of your honor," Aslan replied.
"Well it's not only that," Reepicheep explained. "It's also great for balance! And climbing…and grabbing things!"
The rest of the mice suddenly drew their swords and held them up to their tails. "If it pleases my Lord," said one of the mice, "we will not wear an honor denied to our chief."
Aslan laughed again. "Not for the sake of your honor, but for the love of your people," he said, and as he spoke a new tail grew from the stub of the old one.
"Oh, thank you my liege!" Reepicheep cried happily. "I shall wear it with pride!" He placed his sword in its little hole on his belt.
"You are welcome, small one. Now," Aslan said, "where is this Dear Little Friend I've heard so much about?" Trumpkin looked over at us from the edge of the river. They called him Dear Little Friend? How adorable! I blinked. It seemed like Narnia was having a negative affect on my vision. The dwarf looked blurrier than he should have with my slight nearsightedness. Cautiously, Trumpkin approached and then got down on one knee to bow. Aslan gave another mighty roar, though he was clearly not angry this time, but playful.
"Do you see him now?" Lucy giggled. I smiled, still blinking. It seemed that things were getting blurrier. In fact, I'm sure they were.
Everything was blurry, like I was holding wax paper over my eyes. I stifled a moan of pain. Maybe if I let go of my side it wouldn't hurt as much. I pulled my arm out of the chain mail and stared down at my hand. It was the wrong color. Where there should have been a peach smudge at the end of my arm there was a bright red smudge. My legs suddenly gave out, but Edmund caught me.
"Izzy, are you all right?" he asked as he lowered me to the ground. I tried to answer, but my mouth couldn't form the words. "Izzy? What's wrong? Izzy? Izzy! Lucy, hurry!" His voice got further and further away, and then there was nothing. Nothingness.
I know the Reepicheep tail scene is entirely skewed. I couldn't find a clip of it except in Spanish, so I did the best I could from memory and the book version. It sucks, though, because that scene is hilarious. Oh well.
And oh yeah, there's a good chance I'll be wrapping this up in the next chapter, but don't worry! I already have the first chapter written of the sequel. I just need to work a few bugs out of the idea. ;)
Love & Cookies,
Gina