Author's Apology: Holy cow, I am so very, very, VERY sorry about how long it took for me to get this chapter out. For some reason, I was able to write the first six chapters of the sequel to this story, but I was completely stuck when it came to writing this chapter. There's absolutely no excuse other than my stupid writer's block which doesn't seem to care about anything but its own sick amusement. (And, apparently, when you say that you knock on wood for something, apparently you have to physically do the deed in order for it to work)

Anyhow, I finally finished this just a couple of minutes ago, and it's a little over eight pages long, which is pretty good considering that I was about to go ahead and post it five pages ago. Also, there's some more fun stuff: I have posted pictures of Aria's regular clothes, her camp gown, and her spiffy new battle armor (Please don't yell at me for it), and I have also posted a few pictures of a fun new character you're going to be meeting later on down the page. So, again, terribly sorry for the torturously long waiting period between chapters twelve and thirteen, and happy reading!

Nev

Chapter Thirteen: A Prelude To War

After the excitement had died down, the camp immediately went back to the preparations for the coming battle, almost as if the visit from the witch never took place. Aria, however, was more than a little concerned with Lucy's behavior after congratulating her brother. She had meant to speak to her as soon as the crowd around the siblings had diminished, but the little girl had slipped away during the commotion.

Fully intent on finding her, she turned from Edmund and ran straight into a hard chest.

"I think I finally see what you mean about being clumsy." Peter told her, smiling and catching her shoulders so she wouldn't stumble.

Aria was pleased to see that the smile reached his eyes now, and smiled back at him. "I told you so." she said. "But you wouldn't believe me."

Peter chuckled. "So," He said. "How did your sword practice go?"

"Fine." Aria said. "Oreius says that-" She stopped and frowned. "How did you know about that?"

His smile grew and now seemed somewhat smug. "I have three younger siblings." He said. "I have a sixth sense about when one of them is doing something they aren't supposed to."

Aria was still frowning. "I never told you that I wouldn't practice." She said. "I only said that I wouldn't leave the practice yard."

Peter nodded, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "Yes," He said. "Tricky. I'll have to watch out for that in the future, I guess."

Now Aria chuckled at him. "I guess so." She said, then she became serious, laying a hand on his arm. "Are you all right?" She asked him.

Peter now became serious as well, looking over her shoulder at his brother and sighing. "I think I will be once this whole mess is over with." He said, then shook his head. "That was awful."

Aria squeezed his arm. "I know." She said. "I could tell." Then she shuddered. "And what she said to you- That was just uncalled for."

Peter offered her a smile. "Thank you." He said, then he frowned. "When she said that, when I realized that I couldn't do anything -" He stopped and looked away from her. "I don't like feeling helpless." He said.

"No one does." Aria told him. Then she laid a hand on his cheek and turned him to face her again. "But you weren't." She said. "Not completely. We would have figured something out." Then she smiled. "And apparently we should trust in Aslan. He seems to have all of our best interests at heart. Don't worry." She said. "You aren't alone. And you're not helpless." Then she chuckled, adding, "And you aren't that little, either."

This made Peter chuckle as well before he smiled down at her again. "How do you always know what to say?" He asked.

Aria shrugged. "I don't know." She said. "Maybe it's years of having a hysterical and boy-crazy best friend."

Peter laughed again and hugged her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pressing his cheek to her hair. "Thank you." He said, and held her for a moment.

Aria stood there, wrapped in his arms, her own around his waist, and couldn't help but smile. She had always been a 'hugger' and she had many guy friends back at home whom she hugged all the time, but none of them had ever held her like this, and she had to admit that it felt nice - more than nice even. She also had to admit that Peter Pevensie smelled wonderful. Not like any of the guys back home. He wasn't wearing gobs of cologne or that disgusting Axe body spray or whatever, but he smelled like grass and even a bit like the almonds they had eaten at brunch.

After a moment, Peter stepped back and cleared his throat slightly, his hands still resting on her shoulders. "So," He said. "I expect you want to get back to practicing, right?"

"Of course she does." Came a voice from behind Aria, and she turned to see Oreius standing there, her sword in his hand. "But we have a few things to take care of before that, don't we, My Lady?" Aria nodded and then smiled back at Peter, who shook his head at her.

"Well apparently I can't stop you." He said. "Besides, Edmund and I should probably get back to it as well." He patted shoulder and nodded to Oreius as he went back to Edmund.

"Where to first Oreius?" Aria asked, taking her sword when he offered it to her.

"First to see about your armor, My Lady." He said, smiling at her. "And then a Horse, I think, and I know of just the right one."

-- -- -- -- --

After they had made a rather-longer-than-necessary stop at the armory tent, Oreius took Aria to the paddock where all of the horses were being kept. Well, all of the horses being Peter's and Edmund's absent mounts. And apparently one for her, although she couldn't see it.

Once Oreius had helped her from his back, insisting that she shouldn't tax her ankle any more than she had to, Aria stepped towards the paddock.

"Not out here, My Lady." Oreius said, stepping to a very large - larger even than Aslan's - tent and pulling aside the flap. Aria preceded him in, and saw makeshift stalls made out of rope and cloth lining the sides of the tent. Only one stall was occupied at the very back of the tent, and this, of course, was the stall Oreius began leading her to.

"Now," He said. "I must warn you about Lorin. He is not a normal Horse by any means. Lorin is a kelpie."

Aria stopped. "Wait." She said. "I read about Kelpies. Aren't they demons? And don't they just take the form of a horse when they want to drown people?"

Oreius watched her. "Kelpies are always horses." He told her. "They are never anything else, at least, not in Narnia. But you are right, they do usually drown those who they trick into mounting them."

"Hm." Aria said, still not taking another step forward. "And you want me to ride him why exactly?"

Oreius smiled down at her. "Lorin is not of the same mindset as his fellows." He explained. "He is the only one of his kind that I have come across who believes so, but he feels ashamed that his kind find pleasure in taking lives." Aria nodded, looking towards the horse as Oreius continued. "And I want you to ride him in battle because the same gift that gives his fellows the power to secure a rider to their back as it drowns them may also help you to remain in the saddle longer."

Aria nodded again and the two began to move towards the horse once more. Now Aria could see how truly magnificent he was. He was tall, easily seventeen hands, and as black as night with a long ebony mane and tail, and his coat was so shiny that it looked as if he was soaking wet.

Oreius stepped towards him. "Lorin," He said. "I would like for you to meet the Lady Aria Heart. I wish that you would allow her to ride you during the battle." Aria stepped forward, unsure how to handle being formally introduced to a demon horse who apparently could talk.

The horse, Lorin, moved his great black head to look at her with his matching eyes and immediately tossed his mane, giving off a whinny that sounded like an ecstatic sigh. "Oh Oreius," He said, and Aria had to remind herself that a talking horse was apparently normal here, and also to remind herself that she had already decided that this was not a dream, but Lorin was continuing. "You didn't tell me she would be so utterly beautiful." He said.

Aria blushed, and could not believe that a horse was gushing over her. "It's a pleasure to meet you." She said, nodding to him.

Lorin made the same sighing sound again. "Oh, she is lovely." He cried.

Oreius frowned slightly. "Lorin." He said, his voice having a slightly warning tone to it. "You are becoming hysterical."

Lorin snorted. "How can you not be, standing beside such a devastating beauty? And here I thought only unicorns were destined to know lovely maidens, but here I have the loveliest of them all!"

Oreius' brow furrowed and he placed his hand on Aria's arm, drawing her back a step. "Perhaps this was not such a good idea." He muttered.

Lorin heard him and his head drooped. "You're going to take her away from me now?" He asked. "I know why you would like to. I am, after all, supposed to want to kill her." He sighed again, this time sounding heartbroken. "But you don't understand, it would be a travesty to kill such a beauty as the Lady Aria, to extinguish such vibrancy would make Narnia a dim world indeed." He then raised his head to Aria, a warning look in his eyes. "That is not to say, my Heart, that you should trust any other of my kind. For they would relish taking you down to the depths of their homes to be with them forever."

Aria smiled slightly at the Kelpie. "I promise that I won't." She assured him. Then she turned to Oreius. "I'm sure that Lorin will be a wonderful solution."

Oreius harrumphed slightly, his eyes still slightly narrowed at the horse, but after a few moments he finally nodded. "But I warn you, Lorin." He said.

Lorin bobbed his head up and down. "Of course, Oreius." He said, and Aria could swear she saw him smile. "No funny business, I assure you." He then turned to Aria. "No, my dear Heart," He said. "Would you prefer a saddle or no?"

Aria bit her lip. "I'm afraid that I've never ridden a horse bareback before." She said. "But if you would be more comfortable-"

But Lorin shook his mane forcibly. "Oh, no, no, no." He said. "My greatest comfort comes from your comfort. A saddle it is! My dear Oreius, if you could but fetch one for us..." Oreius harrumphed again and unhooked the rope barrier enclosing Lorin in his stall before stalking off to do just that, muttering about how Horses should learn how to do things for themselves.

Lorin stepped forward slowly, giving Aria enough time to take a careful step backwards, minding her injured ankle, which was beginning to throb again. She tilted her head as she studied the Kelpie. "Now, let me see if I have this right." She said, and waited for Lorin to nod to her before continuing. "You're going to use your - magic - to make it impossible for me to be unhorsed in the battle?"

Lorin made a motion with his head that was not quite a nod. "That is the hope that Oreius and I have, my dear Heart." He said, and seemed to smile down at her.

Aria nodded, and automatically reached up to stroke his velvety neck. "Thank you, Lorin." She said. "That will certainly give me some peace of mind." Not to mention hopefully keeping Peter from worrying incessantly.

Then Oreius appeared again and dropped a saddle onto Lorin's back with a bit more force than was absolutely necessary. "Now," He said, his voice very firm indeed. "You will remember to be careful with her, won't you?"

Lorin adopted an affronted look after his initial flinch from the drop of the saddle. "I would sooner be turned to stone than to cause harm to such a beauteous creature as my Heart." He said, and Aria shook her head, unable to help the small smile that came to her lips as she began tightening the girth and securing the saddle to Lorin's back. Oreius harrumphed again as he slid the hackamore bridle onto Lorin's nose and over his ears. He said nothing, just shot Aria an exasperated look of caution and motioned for her to mount. She check the girth again, having learned from her past mistakes, then began to hike up her skirts.

Lorin nickered and tossed his head. "Oh no, My Heart!" He cried. "You mustn't put any weight on your ankle. Here," He then bent his legs, laying down so that she had only to swing her leg over the saddle.

"You really are beginning to make far too much of this." Aria pointed out as she did so.

The horse merely tossed his head again, slapping her leg gently with his ebony mane, and stood easily. "For you, my Heart, nothing is too much."

"Yes, yes." Oreius snapped, handing Aria the reigns and stalking forward. "Now, if you're quite finished proclaiming your adulation of the Lady Aria, perhaps you wouldn't mind if we got started with a few exercises in the paddock." He then exited the stable tent and slapped the flaps closed behind him.

"Touchy." Remarked Lorin as he began to step towards the exit as well.

Aria sighed slightly, then smiled down at Lorin. "You know," She started, as much as I'm flattered by everything that you've said, Lorin, perhaps, for Oreius' sake, you might tone it down a bit. For now." She added. "After all, it's already been a very long day, and his nerves but be nearly shot by now."

Lorin shook his mane again. "I really have no idea what you are saying, my Heart." He said. "But if you mean that I should keep more of my praise for you to myself in front of that grump, then I shall most readily oblige you."

Aria fought to refrain from chuckling as she nodded. "That is exactly what I meant." She said. "Thank you very much." The two then exited the tent to find Oreius already impatiently waiting for them inside the paddock.

When they reached him, he immediately began pacing in front of them. "First," He said. "I suggest that we test the strength of your magic." And at this his voice was somewhere between a mock and a lightly veiled sneer. 'Then we shall move on to the sword fighting. If that's all right with you, of course, My Lady." He added, smiling slightly at Aria.

Aria smiled back at him, beginning to think that this was going to be a very long afternoon. "I'm happy with anything you suggest." She said.

Oreius nodded and then turned back to Lorin. "All right, then." He began. "Let's started with rearing and go from there. Do you think you can handle that?" This time, Aria nearly rolled her eyes and wished in vain that it was time for dinner.

Lorin, however, did roll his eyes before, without warning, rearing up on his hind legs. Aria gasped in alarm and dropped the reigns, certain that she was about to be deposited heavily on the grass behind the horse, but, of course, that did not happen. She looked down at Oreius in bewilderment, knowing from having been in this same position before that she should not still be in the saddle. But, there she was, and the amazing this was that she didn't feel anything keeping her on Lorin's back. There was no sensation of her legs having been 'glued' to his sides, nothing like an invisible seat belt, nothing at all. "Well," She said, scratching her forehead as Lorin dropped onto all four legs once more. "That was certainly an experience."

Lorin snickered. "My dear Heart," He said. "That was nothing."

-- -- -- -- --

The sun had begun to disappear behind the trees before Oreius declared that Aria was ready for the upcoming battle. Actually, it was much more that he finally became tired of putting Lorin through his paces, and subsequently taking Aria right along with him. Finally, though, the day of training was over and a sweaty, tired, and very hungry Aria was finally allowed to slip off of Lorin's back.

"It was a pleasure meeting you today, my dear Heart." He said, as he made his way back towards the stable tent, where Peter and Edmund's horses had retired about and hour ago. "I pray that I shall see you again very, very soon." He then stopped and turned to her before kneeling on one of his forelegs in a deep bow, then turning and disappearing into the tent.

Aria sighed, smiling, then turned to Oreius who stood staring after the Kelpie and shaking his head. She placed a hand lightly on one of his crossed arms. "Don't worry." She said, smiling up at him. "I trust him. So should you." He sighed harshly before she added, "Besides, it was your idea."

Oreius merely harrumphed for what seemed like the thousandth time before giving her a hand up onto his back and making his way towards the center of camp once again.

Once there, he deposited her in front of her tent before bidding her a good night and moving off deeper into the camp. Aria shook her head, smiling softly after him, before turning and entering the tent slowly, wishing suddenly for a long, hot bath.

"Finally!" She heard a sweet voice greet her, and looked up to find the four Pevensie's waiting for her with trays of food. "We were beginning to worry that you would be gone forever!" Lucy added, smiling brilliantly up at Aria and patting a large cushion between she and Susan.

As Aria joined the four, placing her sword on the floor and stretching her injured foot onto a smaller cushion someone had provided, Susan placed a plate in front of her. "We made sure that everyone waited for you." She said, shooting an amused glance at Edmund, who had dug into his own food the minute Aria had limped into the tent.

Aria chuckled. "Thank you." She said, rubbing gingerly at her ankle and reaching for a piece of bread. "But ya'll didn't have to wait for me."

Susan merely shrugged and smiled softly at her while Lucy cried, "Of course we did! You still have to tell us more about Sorcha!"

Aria laughed, acknowledging that of course she did as Peter reasoned, "Let her have a bit to eat first, Lu. She hasn't had anything since breakfast."

"Didn't stay on that cushion very long, did you?" Edmund remarked, grinning at her from across the trays of food.

Aria shook her head. "Well," She said. "I could let ya'll have all the fun, now could I? Besides," She added, smiling impishly at him. "I could probably beat you any day, bad ankle or no bad ankle."

"Could not!" Edmund defended, tossing a grape at her and grinning all the wider.

The dinner went on this way, all five children joking with each other about this and that, and when the food on the trays was gone, Edmund and Aria fighting over the last piece of cheese covered bread (And Peter somehow winning), Aria acquiesced to Lucy's polite demands for more of her favorite novel for an hour before, after her tenth yawn, Peter declared that it was time for them all to get some much-needed rest. Then the brothers left them, Peter kissing each of his sisters and patting Aria's shoulder, and Edmund ruffling Lucy's hair and tugging none-too-gently on Aria's long braid.

Once the girls had settled down and Susan had put out the lights, it was not ten minutes before Aria was soundly asleep. So deeply, in fact, that she was not aware of Lucy's tossing and turning, nor did she hear the little girl calling out to her sister and the two leaving the tent, pausing only for the briefest of moments to acknowledge that she was nowhere near awake enough to come with them.

She was, however, nearly awakened when a dark figure shook her gently by the shoulder. "I won't miss the bus, I promise, just give me a few more minutes."

She heard the tiniest of chuckles before a voice that was most definitely not her mother's spoke, a hand shaking her shoulder once again. "Wake up, Aria, please. It's urgent."

Aria opened her eyes, sitting up and squinting at the figure in the darkness, quickly becoming awake at the severity of his tone. "Peter?" She asked, and made out a nod. "What's wrong?"

Peter took her by the shoulders gently, sitting closer to her on the bed. "We've just had a message from Susan and Lu." He said, his voice very grave. "They left awhile ago, with Aslan." He took a deep breath, his fingers tightening slightly. "Apparently, Aslan sacrificed himself in Edmund's place."

Aria blinked and shook her head slightly. "Wh-what?" She asked, the word coming out as a breath.

Peter swallowed. "Aslan - is dead." He said.

Aria looked away, her breaths coming in silent gasps as she tried to process what she was hearing. Aslan couldn't be dead. He was the only reason they were all here. He was the only one who knew what they were supposed to do. How were they supposed to fight a battle without him? How were they supposed to save Narnia without him? Then her eyes snapped to Peter, who was still watching her, and her fingers clutched at the sleeves of his tunic. "Susan and Lucy." She gasped. "Are they-"

Peter shook his head quickly. "They're fine." He assured her. "They weren't seen. After Aslan - after it happened, they sent word to us about what was going on, and about how the Witch was coming straight here from the Stone Table." His fingers squeezed her shoulders again. "That's why I needed you to get up." He said. "We need to make a plan quickly, and I'd like for you to be there."

Aria nodded. "Of course." She said. "Yes, of course, whatever you need, Peter."

Peter smiled at her, and although it was strained, she could tell that it was genuine. "Thank you." He said, hugging her to him again briefly before standing and helping her to her feet.