Chapter Fourteen: Ace Up My Sleeve

POV: Flash

This was an impossible nightmare. My poor friend was about to destroy himself, and no amount of reasoning or argument would sway him. Oreius had been asked to perform the ceremony, and, after twice refusing, he finally agreed. Despite the short notice and consequent informality of the wedding, a large crowd had assembled in the garden to witness the rehearsal, many of Narnia's best and brightest sprinkled throughout. The Owl's Parliament, members of the various knighthood orders, even the Steward and his son and daughter had come to witness the marriage of Narnia's oldest bachelor.

Oreius leaned over to me.

"The wedding is due to begin as soon as the rehearsal has finished. I shall delay it as best I can. Find Einan; she may know how to break the enchantment."

I nodded and trotted away. As I moved towards the courtyard, I saw the Duke Ylis and his sister coming from the opposite direction, obviously bound to witness the coming nuptials. Both looked quite overjoyed at the prospect.

I smiled as the pair passed me.

"Your Grace; Lady Fey. I don't suppose either of you has seen Einan? T'would be a shame indeed for her to miss her father's wedding."

"Why, no, I don't believe I have," the Duke replied. "Have you my dear?"

"I'm afraid I have not," answered the sister. "Perhaps she is in the library?"

"Perhaps indeed, marm. I shall be certain to look there."

Lady Fey smiled broadly.

"Good luck in your search."

I bowed my head.

"Thank you lady."

They both smiled graciously as they continued on their way.

I never liked galloping inside the Cair, but this time I made an exception.

"Great Lion, show me where to go."

A soft roar filled my ears as I felt warm breath upon my face.

"Duke Ylis' chamber!"

I lost my footing more than once upon the slick marble floors, but I reached the Duke's room little worse for wear. One kick from my hind legs and down the door went. Glancing around for a place of concealment, I settled upon a large wardrobe along the east wall of the room.

"Einan? Einan! Are you in there?"

A muffled groan met my queries. My front hooves easily managed the lock on the doors, and open they swung.

"Good God have mercy."

The sight that met my eyes was an awful one. Einan had been stuffed into the wardrobe like a sack of potatoes, her knees jammed into her face, blood fairly pouring from a gash in her head. Her red locks were matted upon her face, her eyes closed, a low moan escaping her lips.

I shouted into the corridor.

"For the Lion's sake, get in here! Help!"

By His blessing, a fellow knight and good friend of mine, a dwarf called Rumpkin, happened to be passing the door.

"What's the matter Flash? What on earth are you doing in here?"

His eyes drifted to the wardrobe.

"Lion alive!"

Instantly he had a torn sheet tied tightly about her head. He gently eased her legs out of the wardrobe and pressed a glass of water to her lips. She drank gratefully.

"How did this happen? Who did this to you lass?"

She coughed softly as she replied.

"Duke Ylis. He's been giving father love potions in his tea. He knows that Da must marry no one but Queen Lucy – he means to kill him!"

I whinnied.

"Can you ride?"

In a moment Rumpkin had her on my back, she clinging to my mane for dear life as I raced for the garden.

POV: Einan

Never have moments passed more quickly or so slowly. Every second seem an age as Flash galloped desperately for the garden. Through the courtyard, 'round the roses and past a pear tree, and right down the aisle he flew.

"Stop!" I shouted.

"Einan, what on earth are you about? What mean you by interrupting my wedding?"

"I am saving your life! Your love for Laterose – it isn't real father. It's all been manufactured by an enchantment!"

I threw the envelope full of powder at his feet.

"Remember the grains in your tea? Here's what they really were. Duke Ylis and Lady Fey mean to kill you by making you break your promise to Queen Lucy!"

"What is this foolishness?The Duke is a diplomatic representative and a trusted friend. If he wished to kill me, why not just slit my throat?"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the palace guard surround the would-be murderers. That was one piece of the puzzle at least.

"Because he and his sister wished you to suffer. Poison or some other weapon would have been a relatively quick death, but if you break your oath to the Queen, then your immortality would be lost, and all the years you have lived and all the years you would have lived would come crashing down on you. You would shrivel to dust, living hundreds and thousands of years in a single second."

I turned to look at the Duke.

"Am I right?"

He nodded, clapping sarcastically as he did so.

"In every particular. How did you know about the immortality?"

"I read a lot. Father had mentioned the promise before; all I needed to know was the effect of its loss."

"Regardless of that I shall still marry Laterose."

All heads turned back to Da.

"What?" came the dryad's astonished cry. "Are you mad? You'll die?"

"Nonsense."

"But Da, your love isn't real."

Poppycock child. Do not presume to know my heart better than I do!"

I was furious. All that I had done, all I had risked, all I had born, and now I was to be thwarted by a love potion!

"Fine!" I screamed, reaching in my pocket, searching desperately for an outlet to vent my rage. My hand closed over the chain and rings in my pocket, and, without thinking, I flung them at Da.

"You shan't want these then!"

The rings hit him between the eyes. He looked dazed for a moment, bent down, and picked them up, tears welling in his eyes.

"Lucy."

I sighed in relief and glanced at those around me. Laterose looked hurt but steadfast. Oreius quickly stepped away from the couple, glad that his services were not required. Da wept and raised his face to me.

"Thank you."

Rising to his feet, he wrapped his arm around me and showered me in kisses. Then he noticed my head.

"Beloved Dearest, are you alright?"

I smiled.

"I will be."

"Now sister! NOW!" Ylis shrieked, taking advantage of his guards' distraction.

Before our eyes both he and Lady Fey melted away, their forms replaced by those of two hideous creatures. They had heads and beaks like a crow's, with the body of a man and the tale of a scorpion.

"Shape-shifters!" Da cried as he drew his sword.

POV: Martin

I glanced back at my brave daughter who had done so much for me.

"Flash, get her out of here!"

My friend nodded and galloped off, making for the courtyard. One of the shifters - I couldn't tell who was who now that they were in their proper form – flicked its tale in front of Flash. He reared quickly, and Einan fell onto her back. I ran quickly across the garden and stood over her.

"Come on then you fiend!"

The creature advanced towards me, and out flashed its tale again. I ducked to the side and swung my sword hard. The creature stepped back with a shriek, black blood spurting from the stub of its tale.

"You hurt my daughter once. You shan't do it again!"

The thing snarled and leaped forward, knocking me onto my back on top of Einan. I lifted my sword high as it came down. The momentum it built up forced the shifter downwards, impaling it on Star-night's blade. The cross-guard met its stomach, and it let out a low groan. I whispered in its ear.

"You're very fortunate pig. Could I have chosen, you'd have died a much more – interesting death."

The shifter moaned through gritted teeth, and then its head lolled onto my shoulder. With a grunt I forced my leg against its stomach and kicked it off of me. I rolled over to my right and examined my daughter. Despite her earlier injuries, she seemed alright, other than having the breath knocked out of her I picked her up and held her close. Looking 'round, I saw that the guards had dealt with the other shifter in a similar manner.

Einan looked up at me gratefully.

"Are you alright Da?"

I chuckled and wept at the same time.

"Me? Are you alright, my brave Dearest?"

She smiled weakly before fainting in my arms.