The Telmarines began to retreat at the sight of the large trees; trees they had believed to be dead and anchored to the ground. The soldiers were terrified as the trees' roots wrapped around their torsos and crushed them, throwing them aside and reaching for the next. With their retreat, orders were being called to load the catapults, and once again boulders flew through the air, some coming across and tearing the bark from a tree. However, at the notice of the threat, one of the trees extended its roots, tearing through the ground and past the retreating soldiers until it reemerged at the base of the catapult and crushed it, moving sideways to destroy the others.
The Narnians cheered for their awoken brothers, crying out in praise that they had been saved. The end of the war seemed favorable.
With the direction of the war dramatically changed, Edmund and Mary were able to reunite with the others, each of them looking to the other in bemusement.
"It has to be Lucy," Peter stated.
"I know, but where is she? And where is Aslan?" Edmund looked back to where the trees had come from, but there was no sign of a lion or their sister.
"Well are we going to watch the Telmarines escape, or are we going to follow them and demand the terms of our agreement? Total surrender." Caspian smiled as he held up his sword, waiting for Peter to do the same. In their newfound understanding for the other, Peter nodded, looking around him in pride and yelling, "Charge!"
The Telmarines had retreated to the river in hopes of an advantage with the bridge they had built. However, as the Telmarine soldiers poured out of the woods and came to the bridge, Lord Sosespian stopped his horse before crossing, seeing a young girl standing on the other side. She smiled at him and drew a small dagger, but before he had the chance to laugh at her nonthreatening sight, a large lion came to stand beside her. The lion was abnormally large, which made him easily recognizable to Lord Sosespian. Anyone who knew anything about the Narnians and their history were guaranteed to recognize the legend of the lion that stood before them, and although his true existence had seemed dubious to the Telmarines, there was no doubt in what stood in front of them. Sosespian's horse paced forward then stumbled back, unsure which direction to go in order to escape danger. He held the reigns tightly and tried to still the horse, but it was only mimicking his own uneasiness as he looked in both directions, watching the Narnians pour in behind them and stop, noticing the young girl and the lion. They immediately became overjoyed at the sight of the lion, not only recognizing their rescue, but finally seeing what had held their blind faith for so long, and who some had lost faith in altogether. He was real.
Lord Sosespian became angry at the Narnians premature rejoicing. A young girl and a lion could not stop his army, so he called them forward to ride over the bridge. Horses and men piled onto their bridge while the others stormed into the rushing water of the river. However, when they had made it half way across, Aslan shifted his large paws and opened his mouth, roaring so loudly that his whiskers shook, and the water of the river began to ripple. The Telmarines stopped and watched the lion, noticing that the water continued to move even after his jaws shuts.
And with his roar the water seemed to awaken, and in the distance large waves crashed into each other and began to form what appeared to be a man with a long beard. The figure was coming to the bridge, so many of the soldiers began to jump into the water below, joining the others in their attempt to evacuate the stirring water. Sosespian began to ride forward, trying to make it to the other side before the water reached him, but his horse only took a few steps before the water disappeared under the bridge, coming up with it on his back and ripping it apart. Men continued to fall and jump from the disconnected part of the bridge, but Sosespian remained, his horse fighting to balance himself on the moving boards while the man shook his head and the river sprayed over them. He held on tightly to his horse, but as the bridge was tilted forward the horse began sliding closer to the face of the old man, and as Sosespian screamed and slashed his sword aimlessly at the water, the large head came down over him and he was immediately submerged, disappearing with the splintering wood that was washed down the river. And then there was silence.
The Telmarines, no longer having a purpose to fight, surrendered as they had agreed before. Many pulled themselves from the river, joining the others in lines as they laid down their weapons. Peter, Edmund, Caspian, Mary, and Susan all waded across the river and came to where Lucy and Aslan waited. Mary and Caspian looked upon the large creature with fear and respect, falling to their knees instantly, followed by the others. Edmund could see Mary shaking beside him, a mixture of the water, the adrenaline wearing off, and the presence of Aslan himself. She had been fascinated by the concept of him, and in a way she had fallen in love with how Lucy had described him. But with all that had happened, Mary now feared the beast more than anything, and as she had felt when looking into the eyes of the White Witch, she felt as though he knew everything about her. He knew what she had done.
"Rise, Kings and Queens of Narnia," he spoke sincerely, watching as Mary and Caspian remained on their knees as the others stood. "All of you." Edmund looked down at Mary and grabbed her arm lightly, pulling her to stand beside him. Caspian stood with her, although both continued to look down. "And why do you, children that were surrounded by hate and yet maintained a pure heart, seem so full of shame?" Caspian looked to Mary who hesitated, but finally looked up and into the eyes of the lion.
"If you can see my heart then you must know it is no longer pure. You wouldn't even need to look at my heart, for the truth is on my hands." Mary held up her hands where small traces of blood still remained around her fingernails and in the lines of her palms. "It's my father's blood. I betrayed my family, and now they are dead. I killed my father. I'm afraid my heart can no longer be pure. You must be mistaken."
"I am not mistaken, dear one. I mourn the turmoil you have been put through and the tragedy you have faced, but I can see that the blood that remains on your hands was spilled for love and not for hate. I can see your action was a very hesitant one, and in you I find no blame. Your heart is purer than before, and I am relieved it is so because a leader must have a pure heart."
"But I am no leader, sir."
"You most certainly are. You have a whole nation to rebuild, and the task ahead is not an easy one. You are going to need all the help you can get." Aslan smiled and looked to Caspian now.
"I do not think I am ready," he spoke quietly.
"It's for that very reason I know you are. You are both of Telmarine blood, and yet you have a love for the Narnians that has been dead for so long. I believe the two of you will have to share this attitude and revive this love on both sides if the Narnians and the Telmarines are to get along." Caspian nodded uncertainly and looked to Edmund who nodded as well. Aslan looked among the kings and queens and smiled once he looked at Edmund and Mary, but his smile saddened when the two glanced at each other. There was a reason the two had found each other, and it was evident in the way he could see the young boy's wounded happiness returning. He could also see all that Mary had been through, and he hurt at seeing how she hurt. He could see it would take her as long as it had taken Edmund to find forgiveness for herself, and even Edmund hadn't quite let go. The next few years would undoubtedly be her most difficult. He only hoped she could make it until the boy's return.
So I assume you know what is going to happen. It breaks my heart, but it must be so! The next chapter is the last! I can't believe it is coming to an end, but it will be tying the loose ends. There will be some conversations with Aslan, one between Mary and Edmund (of course), possibly Susan and Caspian, etc. And then you know what happens :_( However, because this is happening, it means I have decided there will be a sequel that follows The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. At this end of this story I will be posting a short sneak peek into the sequel and will probably share the title as well as when to start looking for it. I hope you guys continue to read!