Hey guys, this is MisticLight! I'm glad you all like our story, as is my fantastic co-writer. Thanks again for all the reviews. We now have 58 right now. Super exciting!
Anyway, enjoy the chapter. Review if you love us, no pressure or anything ;)
~MisticLight
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"Annette, stop squirming." Margaret irritably cried. This was probably the sixth time she had to pull the wet cloth away from Annette's face. Cleaning this wound is harder than I thought. She grumbled to herself as she assessed the outcome of Annette's cut. There was a clump of dried blood where she had gotten injured, as well as a few streaks from where it ran down her face. And I thought getting the pieces of dried blood matted into her hair was hard enough.
"I can't help it," Annette whined, slumping a little on the rock she was sitting upon. "It stings!" Not really listening to her, Margaret lifted her hand to bring the fabric back to Annette's forehead. Annette winced once the cold cloth contacted her wound. Her hands clenched and she pulled her head back, only making Margaret more frustrated. She lowered her eyes and spoke in a soft voice "Sorry."
Margaret closed her eyes to take a deep breath. "That's alright." She said smiling, but without opening her eyes. Annette began twisting her hair; she knew Margaret had little patience for stuff like this. Margaret sighed before finally opening her blue eyes "Really, it's fine. Just don't flinch this time, alright?"
Annette nodded, quickly closing her eyes so she wouldn't know when the cloth came. Her body twitched once the coolness of the rag touched her gash. She clasped her dress, afraid she'd move her head if she didn't and so unleash Margaret's wrath.
"What happened to her?" The frail, concerned voice of Lucy suddenly echoed off the walls. Annette peeked open an eye while Margaret turned around to look at the small girl. They both smiled at Lucy as she entered the room. Susan emerged through the door shortly after, her eyes falling once she saw Margaret drop a bloody cloth into a water basin.
"Well…" Margaret tilted her head, trying to remember if she saw what happened during the raid. Her memory instantly jumped to the moment when Annette slayed the Telmarine soldier. She shivered as she gazed down at her friend's hands, curious as to how they weren't still shaking after just killing someone. "I don't exactly know what happened."
Annette traced Margaret's gaze to her own hands. Nervously, she drew them to her heart and rested her chin upon them. Everyone was looking at her, waiting for an explain, but Annette just sat there. She didn't want to go back to last night. She didn't want to remember the death of her friends or her first kill. But most of all, she didn't want to look at those Telmarine's eyes; the eyes which faded from life to death in mere seconds. So Annette kept her mouth shut and stared at a little bug crawling along the floor.
"She was saving me." Susan muttered, drawing Lucy and Margaret's attention. Annette didn't move and continued to stare at the bug making its way across the room. "Well, the wound happened after, but…." Susan closed her eyes and sighed as she put the story together in her head. "I wasn't paying attention when the Telmarine charged at me. Annette was though. And she killed him, but became paralyzed afterwards. That's when another one came up and knocked her across the head." She looked to the stone wall next to her. "I… I was too shocked to do anything."
"Really?" Lucy looked back at Annette, who slowly nodded in response. A smile soon spread across the little girl's face. She crossed the room, almost squishing Annette's little bug friend. Annette reached out to grab it, but thought better of it. She would rather not look foolish today. "I guess that makes you a hero then!"
"I suppose…" Annette muttered before Lucy's toothy grin brought a smile to her face. She needed a smile. Happiness is the only way to get through the darkness. "But everyone was a hero that day." She looked over at Margaret, who seemed to be deep in thought. Annette knew she was doubting herself. "Everyone."
Upon hear Annette's last words, Margaret looked up from the floor. Perhaps Annette's right… I just wish I could think of an incident where I acted heroic. Not wanting Annette to suspect her thoughts, Margaret softly smiled. "Especially those who cannot be with us now." Annette sadly nodded before hugging her knees to her chest.
Lucy hopped onto the rock, her feet a little too short to touch the floor. She reached into a small leather pouch and pulled out a cordial. Her thumb traced across its smooth, glassy surface. Margaret eyed the liquid inside of the glass container, wondering what magic juice tasted like.
"Do you think if I had gone they would still be here?" Lucy murmured
Susan walked over to the her sister and placed a supportive hand on her shoulder. "Lu, it was too dangerous." Lucy sighed. She knew her sister was right, but she hated how she couldn't help those poor souls back at the castle.
"Thank you, Annette." Susan finally said to Annette with a smile.
"You would've done the same for me." She smiled back.
"But that's just it." Susan's face twisted with guilt. "When you saw that Telmarine coming towards me, you took charge and saved me. Once the roles were reversed… I didn't do anything. It's my fault you have that wound on your head. I'm sorry I've caused you this pain."
Annette eyed Susan's expression. She couldn't help but pity all the fault she carried. "Susan, please don't blame yourself!" Annette tucked her chin between knees. "We were both pretty stunned after I killed that Telmarine. By the end of the day, we both needed help."
"Everyone needed help." Margaret added. She glanced over at Lucy, the small girl's expression becoming more and more restless as the conversation continued. When Lucy noticed Margaret staring at her, she quickly beamed at Margaret who couldn't help but smile back in return. This small girl knew how to brighten anyone's day, even in the darkest of times.
"Luckily Caspian was able to step in when I couldn't." Susan lightly remarked.
Annette's green eyes immediately shot over to Margaret, who giggled at their pleading expression. She knew Annette had been anxiously waiting for the wound to be cleansed so she could go speak with Caspian. Annette always tended to worry over friends who were upset.
With a roll of her eyes, Margaret nodded for Annette to go ahead.
A smile crossed Annette's face as she unfolded her legs and hopped off the rock. "Excuse me." She nodded at all three girls before scampering out of the room.
"I wonder where she's gone off to." Lucy pondered aloud.
"I don't know." Margaret shrugged with a smile. She reached down to pick a stray bug off the floor. Turning her back to the sisters, Margaret gently allowed the bug crawl off her fingers and onto the safety of the wall.
~.~.~.~.
Annette let her fingers drag across the stone walls as she made her way to the center of the How. She was hoping to find Caspian easier that way since he tended to pass time in the same places. I hope he's holding up alright… Annette thought as her eyebrows furrowed. Peter had hit him pretty hard when his father was brought up.
Besides her thoughts, the only sound Annette could hear heard were her own footsteps. The shadows from the torches seemed to dance to their beat upon the walls. They continued still even when the rhythm was interrupted by the sound of more footsteps. Annette slowed her pace and straightened her back.
"Edmund!" She smiled when she saw her friend round the corner. However, her face quickly darkened when the next person came into view. "Peter." She curtly nodded.
"Annette." He returned.
Choosing to be oblivious to the interaction between Annette and his brother, Edmund peeked behind her, frowning when he noticed someone wasn't there. "Where's Margaret?"
"She's just down the hall." Annette pointed her thumb over her shoulder. "She's only just dismissed me after cleaning my wound." She continued, motioning towards her gash. Edmund nodded and started off down the hall, leaving Annette alone with Peter. She lifted her head higher to seem more important. "Do you know where Caspian is?"
"I think I saw him just outside the Stone Table room. You know, where those cave paintings are." Peter said with his spirits still visibly low.
Annette nodded her thanks and started to head towards the cave drawings. However, she was only able to take a few steps before remorse rushed over her. She sighed as she thought of something nice to say to Peter. It was a bit difficult since she was still irritated with him, but pity was more powering than anger at the moment.
"Peter," She spun on her heels to face the High King. "It may not seem like it at times, but I really do trust you." She was going to leave Peter with that when she realized he probably hadn't laughed since the battle; or even smiled, for that matter. "Well, you know, when you actually agree with me."
"Oh really?" He snorted as a smile made its way onto his face. "Well, I guess you're alright… you know, when you're not getting on my nerves." Annette, recognizing her words, smiled back at Peter. She rolled her eyes for effect, but failed to contain her giggles.
They exchanged smiles before Peter nodded his thanks and took off after Edmund. Annette, smiling to herself, walked off in the opposite direction. She still had one more person to cheer up.
~.~.~.~.
With her hands hugging her chest, Annette cautiously sauntered over to Caspian. She smirked as she leaned against the wall beside him, waiting for any form of conversation. Caspian didn't even turn his head to acknowledge her. The smile left her face.
Annette slowly rubbed her arms and studied Caspian. His face held no emotion as it gazed upon the drawings of the Pevensies. Her eyes then fell to the still messy scrape on his left arm. She knew the only reason Caspian even had that cut in the first place was because she hadn't been fast enough.
She cautiously moved her hands closer to his ripped sleeve, wanting to see how bad it was. How bad she had messed up. Caspian didn't flinch away, even when the cloth brushed against his wound in a flicker of pain.
Annette's shoulder's fell when she saw it. "I know you're upset, but you should at least get this cleaned up." She mumbled, causing Caspian to briefly remove his eyes from the drawings and onto her. Think of something important to say. She demanded herself, not knowing how long his attention would last. "To prevent infections and such…" Annette shut her eyes. Infections? Brilliant thinking there…
Caspian moved his arm away from her, causing a frown to find its way onto Annette's face. She took a few steps back and her arms clasped onto one other again. Caspian returned to staring at the paintings. "What do you think?"
Annette tilted her head, her eyebrows wrinkling with confusion. "Of infections? Well, they're not very pleasant and-"
"No!" Caspian looked back at her. "Of them." He focused on the picture of the Pevensies again.
"Oh." Annette's cheeks burned with embarrassment. Of course it's not infections. "I like them. They know what they're doing… for the most part." She walked next to Caspian and gazed up at the time period known as the Golden Age. "What about you?"
He sighed. "At first I accepted their leadership, but now I do not know."
Silence was the only response she could give him. She reached a hand up to brush across Susan's chair. Even though the Raid hadn't been their best idea, Annette knew there was something more to them. They had yet to prove themselves.
Caspian watched Annette's hand motions. In a way, it was peaceful. His thoughts remained otherwise though. Peter caused all this hurt to befall the camp. He was to blame for the dent in their army. Because of Peter, Caspian was losing the land his father had worked so hard to keep. He may not remember much of his father, but he knew enough to realize his father would not be proud.
"Are you so glad of that magic horn now, boy?" A menacing voice echoed off the walls, making Annette jump. She poked her eyes around Caspian to see who this haunting voice belonged to, not too thrilled when she saw Nikabrik standing at the corner. She hadn't exactly been too fond of the dwarf. "Your kings and queens have failed us. Can't exactly say your other two friends helped much either." Annette narrowed her eyes, threatening Nikabrik to continue. "Your army's half dead. And those that aren't will be soon enough."
Caspian glimpsed back at Annette. He knew she wasn't approving of the Dwarf. "What do you want? Congratulations?"
Nikabrik's eyes flashed over Annette before returning to Caspian. "You want your uncle's blood. So do we." Annette looked from Caspian to Nikabrik, not liking how Caspian seemed intrigued by this. "You want his throne? We can get it for you."
"Who is this 'we' you're referring to?" Annette asked through narrowed eyes. Nikabrik smirked, but made no other response. Instead, he walked passed them and into the Stone Table room. Caspian followed the Dwarf, but Annette reached out and dragged him back. "Caspian, this doesn't feel right. We don't even know what he's up to."
"And we won't know unless we follow him." He whispered before starting off after Nikabrik again. Annette, tightly grasping his left arm, allowed herself to be pulled along through the twists of the tunnel.
Her heart pounding loudly in her ears the farther they walked. If she hadn't left her sword in the armory, Annette would have her weapon drawn by now. At least Caspian had his. She pressed herself closer to him when they entered the room.
"You tried one ancient power. It failed." Nikabrik spat once they reached the far side. "But there is a power greater still. One that kept even Aslan at bay for near a hundred years."
A low growling suddenly reverberated across the room. Annette's eyes widened. "Caspian… what was that?" Her fingertips dug into his arm. Nikabrik snickered and nodded towards the opened room.
Her eyes darted around, searching for the source of the frightening noise. She couldn't find anything, and this made her stomach flip. Caspian drew sword, but even that couldn't calm her. She knew there was danger out there, she just didn't know where. Once Caspian ran down the steps, Annette was taken with him.
"Who's there?" He called into the empty room while Annette remained frozen behind him.
"I am hunger." A voice rasped as a large figure emerged from the shadows. "I am thirst." A snout jutted out from underneath a black cloak. Annette felt her breathing start to slow down. She wanted to block out his ghostly voice, but was too frightened to move. "I can fast a hundred years… and not die." The figure crept closer towards them, so Caspian acted as a shield. He pushed Annette further behind him to stand between the approaching threat and her. But then a second figure emerged. "I can lie a hundred nights on the ice… and not freeze." The new creature used swaying movements as it walked, making Annette slightly more alarmed by it. "I can drink a river of blood… and not burst." Caspian started backing up; unsure of which creature held the most threat. He looked back at Nikabrik for reassurance, but the Dwarf only nodded. This didn't make Caspian feel any less anxious. "Show me… your enemies!"
The figure uncloaked itself, revealing a snarling Werewolf. Annette whimpered and twitched away from it while Caspian readjusted himself so he would be prepared if any of the two figures tried to attack. He pointed his sword more towards the Werewolf, although Annette wished he would point it at the second creature instead.
"What you hate, so will we." The second figure hissed as it took its hood off, proving to be a Hag of some sort. "No one hates better than us."
Caspian skeptically eyed the creatures, lowering his sword in the process. Annette gave his hand a distressing squeeze. "Caspian, what are you doing?" She harshly whispered, anger starting to replace her fears. "Keep your guard up! There's something wrong here, can't you feel it?" He turned his head towards her while a watchful eye on the Hag. Taking a deep breath, Annette boldly walked around to face Caspian. She flinched when the Werewolf growled at her.
"Nikabrik said this was an ancient power that kept Aslan away for a hundred years. Surely you see that they cannot be trusted!" She continued before eyeing the Dwarf. Her voice lowered when she next spoke. "Not even Nikabrik… we are being betrayed." Caspian forcefully pushed Annette behind him once more. She clutched back onto his arm, this time in desperation rather than fear. "Caspian, please… don't give up on Aslan." Her voice was despairing. Caspian was the one who first mentioned Aslan to her. He couldn't possibly go against him.
Completely ignoring her pleas, Caspian spoke directly to the Hag. "And you can… guarantee Miraz's death?"
"Caspian!" Annette spat, fuming with anger, and giving him a small shove.
"And more." The Hag bowed before Caspian. The Prince sheathed his sword entirely, to which the Hag heaved for breath while the werewolf pleasingly snarled.
Annette's hands clenched into tight fists. "They are only tempting you, Caspian. So quit acting like an idiot and take your sword out! " She hissed before turning to face the smiling Nikabrik. He nodded at her then signaled the Hag.
"Let the circle be drawn." The Hag cried to the Werewolf.
Caspian stepped forward, but Annette rapidly snatched him back. She whispered low so only he would hear. "I'm getting Peter." No emotion played in her voice. She knew Peter was somewhat of a threat to him, and so hoped just Peter's name would make Caspian realize these three creatures were not on his side.
When Caspian gruffly pulled his arm out of her grasp to stand between the Hag and Werewolf, Annette knew all hope was lost. There was nothing she could do to make him listen. Tired of Caspian being foolish and scared out of her mind, Annette made her leave.
She snuck back up the stairs, carefully making her way to the exit. Nikabrik couldn't care less about her sudden absence, he already had his prey. Still, Annette didn't want to take any chances. She sprinted from pillar to pillar, watching between each stone as the Werewolf drew a circle around Caspian. The foreign chanting of the Hag in pounded in her head, making her sprint even faster. She needed to leave this room, needed to find help, and she had to do it now.
When Annette finally reached the stairs, she raced up as fast as her legs could carry her. Her feet were unable to keep up with her clouded mind and soon found herself falling upon the stairs. She desperately looked to the top before allowing herself one last peek behind her. There she witnessed the Hag slam a glass staff into the ground. Rather than breaking, this staff produced ice. The ice crawled up the sides of two tall boulders, forming an ice wall within the gap.
Annette followed the ice until it reached the top. Then she lowered her eyes to the wall itself, taken aback when she noticed a woman floating inside. Her eyes widened. Not good!
"P-Peter…" She cried as she scrambled the rest of the way up the stairs, still stunned by the ice woman. "Peter! Edmund! Margaret! … Someone! … Help!"
Annette may not know much about magic, but she understood enough to know that nothing ever good happens when dark magic is involved.