Chapter 11

Trial and Training

Hey! I won't be able to update as much with school and sports (as you might have noticed) but I will try to update every weekend. So be sure to check back towards the end of the weekend for the latest chapter. By the way, reviews are great. It really makes my day when I get to go home and there is a new review! So please review whether it is compliments or pointers! Now Enjoy!

P.S. I have a new Harry Potter fanfic called Marilyn's Secret coming out soon so check it out!

"Rise and shine sleepy head!" Lucy shouted as she came dancing into my room. I could tell it was early, and I was still groggy from last night. "Feeling better? Peter told me you were awake!"

"I wasn't until now," I mumbled under my breath, but Lucy's joy was infectious, despite the earliness of the day. Soon I was dressed in a light blue training gown Lucy retrieved from a trunk I had not noticed earlier. Lucy insisted on brushing out my long hair and finally I relented, allowing her to comb through my unruly hair. I lost myself in memories of the previous night, touching my bruised and swollen lips and smiling to myself. Peter's idea had reawakened me. Even though I couldn't sing while I was in the camp, I still could sing, so long as it wasn't the song and that no one could hear my voice.

I was still running my thumb nail over my lips when Susan came in. She took one look at my expression and her expression changed. Susan saw my swollen lips and my dreamy look and she knew. He face was suddenly stern and she gazed around my room, looking for who knew what. I awakened from my revelries at this and straightened, meeting her gaze with my own guilty look.

"Peter said you were awake. So how long have you been better?" Susan inquired. I dared not lie.

"Lucy came in and woke me up this morning," I replied. My attempt to avoid her question failed.

"This morning was the first time you were better?"

"Well, no," I began. Peter just then came into my tent, leaving me with no choice but to tell the truth. "I woke up late last night. Peter was there, weren't you Peter?" Susan's gaze turned on him, leaving me free to think for a moment. Luckily, Peter saved us.

"She did. She was so tired though that she fell right back asleep after I got her another blanket," Peter answered, though he avoided my eyes the entire time. I looked at Susan and measured her reaction. She seemed to believe it and she turned back to me.

"You had better get ready. Training begins in half an hour," Susan said. She still looked suspicious, but her earlier intent on discovering the truth had faded.

"Training?" I asked Peter and Lucy.

"Yes, you are learning archery," Peter answered. I was thrilled to begin my training. Hopefully next time I would be able to defend myself, instead of being a damsel in distress again.

"With Susan!" Lucy added with her usual excitement before she left the tent, leaving Peter and I alone.

Peter slowly approached me, causing me to remember the previous night all over again. He was now right next to me; his eyes were gazing down at me. He caressed my cheek, and then slid his fingers down to my lips. His eyes were intent. I entwined my arms around his neck, pulling us closer so that our noses were almost touching. Finally our lips met. His lips once again surprised me, for they were quite soft. Our kiss was slow and tender, but it was also careful. I stood on my tiptoes to deepen the kiss and our rhythm began to speed up. My hands found their way into Peter's golden locks and his arms were around my waist, pulling my hips closer to him. Peter suddenly stopped, leaving me panting for breath. He let go of my waist and took a step back.

Whereas I had been weightless not a moment ago, I now felt horrible. Was this what it felt like not to be wanted? My high was gone, leaving me angry and depressed.

"Would you like a tour of the camp?" Peter asked. I ignored him and stalked out of my tent. How could everything go from perfect to horrible? I had no idea where our training would be so I decided to walk around until I found it. Before I could take more than three steps away from the tent, Peter caught my arm gently.

"What's wrong Annalise?" I turned my head away from him, refusing to meet his eyes. How could I tell him what I needed to say? How could I find the right words to say? Finally I knew I had to tell him. We needed honesty right now, and my cowardice was not going to ruin our relationship.

"Don't you want me?"

"Of course I do!" Peter answered. "Don't you think we are moving a bit fast though?"

I had not thought about that before. Of course we had only met a few weeks ago, but what I felt for Peter was not something I could just hold back. I looked down and bit my lip. So Peter didn't want me. I felt as if someone was ripping out my heart, causing it to ache.

"Annalise, I do want you. We just need to slow it down a bit."

"Just tell me where the training is." I told him through my teeth. I knew I shouldn't be bothered, especially when I saw the sincere look on Peter's face, but I couldn't ignore the way my heart felt. Peter led me silently to through the camp to a tent. I looked at him questioningly, but proceeded inside after he motioned me to go in. The flap of the ten closed behind me, finally allowing me to be away from Peter. The walk had been a constant reminder of the way he felt about me. I was not wanted.

I sighed and looked around the tent. There, lying on the floor and flicking his tail side to side, was the panther I had saved from the White Witch's castle. His yellow eyes were staring up at me wordlessly and clenched in his mouth was my bow and quiver. I had almost forgotten how beautiful they both were with their nymph designs. I bent down and carefully retrieved my bow and quiver from the panther's mouth. The bow fit perfectly in my hands; it was the perfect weight.

"Oh thank you!" I exclaimed as I hugged the panther. He let out a chuckle, and I laughed with him, for it seemed strange a great cat like himself would chuckle.

"You are very welcome. So you remember me?"

"Oh yes! Thank you. I was told you refused to give up the gifts to anyone but myself."

"I even refused Peter," the panther began, causing me to laugh once again at the thought of the panther standing up to Peter and his temper. Peter certainly had a temper. He was quick to anger and slow to forgive. I looked down and saw something crusty on Royal's side. I reached down to tenderly touch it and Royal let out a low growl.

"You're hurt!" I said as I searched the tent for a bandage. I found a sheet and ripped it and carefully washed the cut off with water. Beneath Royal's thick black fur was a long cut which looked as if it was beginning to get an infection. The cut was an angry red and hot to the touch. After cleaning it, I carefully bandaged it, despite Royal's complaints.

"There." I said as I tucked the end of the bandage in. "How did you get that?" I wondered aloud.

"I was whipped by the White Witch. She wanted to know why Narnians were gathering, but I refused to tell her." I was awed by Royal's bravery. He was yet another Narnian who was willing to risk his life. I remembered the people from England, how honorable some were. The day England joined the war, half the boys in my grade dropped out to enlist. I wished I could be as brave as they were. I mean sure, I had run away to rescue Edmund, but had I really been running away to save Edmund, or running away from something else. The truth was I had been afraid I would get left behind. The Pevensies were all here because Narnia needed them. The prophecy was what tied them to this land, to the people, to Aslan. It was solid and unbreakable. For me, it was different. Although Aslan's words had reassured me, I still wasn't certain of my destiny. The path for Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy may not be a straight path, but they still knew where they were going. I was left alone, wandering through the dark, trying to find my way. There was no light to shine the way for me, no one to guide me. I was on my own.

"Annalise?" A voice called faintly through my thoughts. Royal was gazing at me with his golden yellow eyes. "Your training will begin shortly."

"Oh goodbye! I will be back to change your bandage tomorrow!" I replied as I scrambled to my feet. Royal grimaced at that, making me laugh once again. I dashed out of the tent and toward the edge of the camp. The bright sun blinded me briefly. I waited for my vision to return, and when it did there standing before me was a centaur. His bare chest was extremely muscled, including a full six pack. The rest of his body was a chestnut color that glinted in the sun. He was very handsome, with a strong jaw and a straight nose. He had brown, honest eyes. His lips were curved up into a dashing smile, giving him the appearance of someone who had just heard a good joke. His brown hair was slightly curly and fell just above his eyes. He held himself very straight, he was perfectly poised. I did not even notice Susan until she cleared her throat from beside him.

"This is Alstrom, he will be our trainer," Susan explained as she began to bat her long eyelashes at Alstrom.

"Come, let us begin our training," Alstrom began to lead us toward the edge of the wood. I still had my bow in my hands and my quiver around my shoulder. Alstrom picked up his bow and aimed took aim. I turned my head in the direction of his arrow and watched as Alstrom released the arrow. The arrow soared though the air and struck the center of the red target painted on the trunk of a tree. I was extremely excited to learn so I hurriedly pulled an arrow out of my quiver. I pulled the string of my bow taut and took aim at the target. I released the box and it shot through the air. The arrow was three feet to the left landed a few feet short of the tree. My lack of skill disheartened me a bit, but Alstrom strode over to me.

"Here let me give you a hand," Alstrom said. He showed me the proper form. Elbow up, arm back. I could feel the muscles in my arm straining against the pull of the arrow. I focused solely on the red circle on the tree. I blocked out all sounds and sights. I released my arrow and once again it cut through the air. This time it landed on the tree, but at the base of the tree. It still wasn't close enough to the target for my liking. I stepped back and allowed Susan a turn. She pulled put an arrow and readied herself. She took aim, and then released her arrow. It landed in the target, although not quite in the center. She had almost gotten it on the first try.

"If she can do it, you can." I told myself. I set myself p and took aim. This time my arrow landed in the target, as close to the center as Susan's had. Susan gave me a look but retrieved her arrow. I retrieved mine then stepped out of the line of fire so that she could shoot. She pulled the arrow back then released it. It shot through the air at an amazing speed before coming to rest just below the center. I took her place and aimed. My arrow hit just above hers. Both our arrows were now a hair above the target. I retrieved my arrow then waited for Susan to go.

"No you go ahead," Susan replied. I took aim once more and sent my arrow flying through the air. It landed with a thump right on the bull's eye. I turned to Alstrom looking triumphant. Suddenly, another thump sounded and I turned around. There, splitting my arrow in two was Susan's red arrow. My blue arrow now lay in pieces on in the dirt. I whipped around to Susan and glare at her.

"I see you two are fast learners. Now would be the time to teach you what to do in a situation where you are confronted face to face, with only your bow to defend yourself. Your bow is not just a tool to guide the arrow, it is a weapon." Alstrom demonstrated a few moves then left us to try it out.

"On my mark, one, two," Susan and I both readied our bows and waited for the last number. "three!"

We began to circle each other slowly, eyeing every move and attempting to counter it. Finally, it became too much and I pounced. I lifted my bow up above my head and brought it down like a tomahawk. Susan blocked it with her own bow, causing a loud thud to sound out into the morning. She swung her bow at my feet in an attempt to trip me. I narrowly escaped by jumping back away from her. The sweat was starting to bead on my forehead as I swiped at her again. Once again, Susan blocked it. She was nearing me to attack again when I held up my hand.

"Truce?" I gasped in between breaths. Our faces both glittered with sweat and my hair was beginning to dampen at the roots. Susan nodded and we shook hands.

"Bravo," Alstrom said in his deep voice, "you two are perfect partners. But now I must be going to train some young centaurs. Farewell until tomorrow." Alstrom walked off, leaving Susan and I alone.

"Sorry," I began.

"Me too," Susan replied. "I just get so competitive."

"I do too," I confessed. "Next time we will have friendly competition. We have to stick together here." Susan nodded her head in agreement and we both lay back against the soft grass and gazed up at the brilliant blue sky. It was nice to know we were friends again.

"About my brother," Susan began.

"Look Susan, I don't want to-" Susan shook her head to cut me off.

"I would rather pretend you two were just friends."

"Alright, but Peter and I aren't even talking, so I don't think you will have anything to worry about," Susan nodded and we went back to gazing up at the sky. That's the good thing about Susan. She doesn't feel like it is necessary to fill every silence with words. Silences that would normally seem awkward are less awkward because she doesn't waste time searching her mind for a conversation starter. So we both lay back in grass, both engrossed in our own thoughts.

Eventually we got up, afraid to be burned by the sun that was now at its height in the sky. We headed toward the center of camp where we knew lunch would soon be ready. We reached camp and were getting some water when suddenly there was a great commotion. Narnians were scrambling toward something in the center of the camp. There, standing above all the creatures in our camp was the White witch, cloaked in her usual furs despite the hot weather. Clutched in her long, pale fingers was her wand, poised to attack. I wanted to run, but my legs wouldn't let me. Susan's hand found mine and we cowered against the side of the tent. A loud roar from Aslan sounded, bringing a slight relief from the fear.

"Make way for the Queen of Narnia!" A beastly little voice yelled. I recognized the voice immediately as the dwarf that served the White witch. I shuddered at the memory but despite my fear, I moved toward the front of the crowd. Aslan was sitting in front of the tent, patiently waiting. Beside him were a few Generals along with Peter and Edmund. The White witch was being carried by some disgusting looking creatures that looked like a sort of ogre. The had brownish skin with beady black eyes. I could smell their horrible stench as they walked past me. When they reached Aslan, they stopped and lowered the White witch down. The bright sunshine that had made the day so hot and sweaty suddenly didn't seem so hot at all. Goosebumps stood on the back of my neck as I rubbed my arms to try to stay warm.

"You have a traitor there Aslan," the White witch with a glance at Edmund. Edmund suddenly looked like he was ready to bolt, but he composed himself and ignored the Witch. I tried to do the same. I was with Aslan, this was my refuge. I continued to take strength in Aslan's steady, honest face. The White witch spotted me in the crowd. "Two traitors."

"His offense was not against you. And she came to give her life for his, only to be tricked by you," Aslan said with a faint growl.

"Have you forgotten the Deep Magic? What is engraved on the Stone Table itself? You know well that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have the right to a kill. His blood is my property!" the White witch yelled as she pointed her wand to Edmund. A low murmur erupted in the crowd. Faces turned toward Edmund, whose face was white as snow. I knew how he felt. Luckily I was left out of the conversation between the White witch and Aslan; out of sight, out of mind.

"Come and try to take him then!" shouted a bull from the crowd.

"Foolish creature!" The Witch said with a sneer. "Do you really think your master can rob me of what is rightfully mine by force alone? He knows the Deep Magic better than that. He knows that unless I have blood as the Law requires all Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water."

"I cannot deny that," Aslan replied solemnly.

I saw Susan whisper in Aslan's ear. Somehow she had made her way through the crowd to her family, where she should be.

"I will speak to the White Witch alone," Aslan commanded. We all stepped away toward our jobs and the Witch and Aslan talked in hushed voices. Peter, Susan, and Lucy were all huddled around Edmund who was watching Aslan and the Witch with a pained expression on his face. Peter looked like he was trying to stay brave, but creases of worry were etched into his forehead. Susan was fretting over Edmund, and Lucy was crying and blowing her nose into a handkerchief. Finally, the Lion and the Witch stepped apart.

"We have settled the matter." Aslan called out.

"How do I know you will keep your promise?" the Witch asked, the evil smirk slightly fading from her face. Aslan let out a deafening roar and her smirk was completely gone. She raced off with her followers in tail. I rushed over to Edmund and hugged him tightly.

"I was so worried!" I exclaimed; ignoring Peter. Susan was attempting to comfort Lucy to no avail. The color was slowly coming back into Edmund's face, which greatly relieved me. I released him but held on to his arms. The worry was gone and Edmund seemed to be much more at ease.

Chapter 12 is already finished… but I would like 15 reviews before I will post it. Thanks! Don't forget to review!