Chapter Twenty-One: Possible Impossibilities

POV: Martin

I fell to my knees in tears as the snowflake melted away on my palm. There, in front of the whole camp, I wept unashamed. I wept for Narnia, for Rheneas, even for Rhiamon. I wept for those who followed me here and the suffering a winter's campaign would cause them.

I don't know how long I kneeled there on the ground which, even now, was sprinkling with white, but some time after my weeping ceased, Flash came up and nuzzled me gently.

"We'll find a way Martin. Would Aslan have sent you back only to let us all fail now?"

"Of course not."

"Then let's put our heads together and solve the problem."

The four of us –Flash, Noil, Ilar, and myself- met in my tent to discuss our next move. After an hour's discourse, it was determined to make for the coast and try to skirt the mountains. With a trail of wounded nearly as long as the main column, the march was not an easy one. The sun's rays seemed ghosts of their regular selves; dozens lost their footing in the deepening snow. We reached the coast after three such days, but it took a fourth to collect all the stragglers, and yet another day's rest before the wounded were fit to move South.

As we made our way along the sandy coastline, some of the Wiggles left the column and tossed their fishing lines into the water. Within fifteen minutes I ordered the column to halt. Flash whinnied in protest.

"Surely we aren't stopping, Martin?"

I shook my head sadly.

"There is no way they can keep moving. Half of them are wounded; we are nearly out of food. Their decision is the right one, and I shall not ask more of them. I have no right to."

My tent was pitched in a semi-central location on the sand, and a small tent city appeared up and down the beach. I spent an hour or so trying to aid the healers, and then took a walk which I hoped would clear my head.

"Aslan, how did it come to this?"

I knelt there in the sand for a very long time. At length, I heard the Lion's voice in the back of my mind.

"Look up, Beloved. Look up."

My head rose. There, to my delight, were ships; ships flying the flag of Archenland. I leapt up and ran as I have seldom run before.

A half hour later I was seated in King Aren's cabin. The King poured me a glass of wine and sat across from me, maps and charts spread over the table between us.

"My troops are just up the beach, and are in dire need of aid."

The King smiled.

"Already seen to, my dear Knight. I promise they shall be well looked after."

I inclined my head.

"I am most grateful, my lord. How in heaven's name did you come to be here?"

Aren sipped his wine gingerly.

"I told the Steward I would blockade Cair Paravel, did I not?"

"Yes, but how did you end up here?"

"A storm drove us here, and it has taken us several days to refit."

With hope in my heart, a new energy surged into my limbs. I half-rose from my seat in my excitement.

"When can you sail?"

King Aren smiled.

"Dawn."

The loading of our forces strong enough to fight did not take long. Ilar and Noil insisted upon leading what remained of their contingents, and Flash made himself as comfortable as a unicorn can aboard ship. We sailed in the bay below Cair Paravel about 2:00 A. M. the following morning, and landed the army on the North side of the Cair, while a landing party seized the docks and harbour complex.

Aren, Flash, Noil, Ilar and myself rode to Rheneas' headquarters an hour later, having established contact with his outposts just after landing. The reunion was a warm one. Rheneas rose and shook my hand as we entered the tent.

"Well done, Martin. Well done."

"Hardly my lord. Indeed, I would not be here at all were it not for King Aren."

The Steward greeted the King, and planned the day's battle, which was to commence at dawn. Preparations finished, Rheneas turned again to me.

"Where is Einan? I should dearly like to see her."

The Steward's face darkened.

"Einan has been kidnapped by Rhiamon."

My grip on Star-night tightened as I turned to leave the tent.

"The Witch," I said, "is mine."

POV: Rheneas

The battle plan, as devised, was a simple one. King Aren would personally command his own forces; Martin would look after the northern volunteers and some reinforcement of mine under Cadfael. These forces would strike the North wall of the Cair with ladders. The Archenlandish contingent that had seized the harbor would maintain its position there so as to divide Rhiamon's attention between two fronts. I was to seize the Main Gate; Flash would accompany my party. Once we had forced our way in we would occupy the Cair and clear it of the foe.

At dawn we moved forward, the sun glowing like a ruby on the Eastern horizon. Ladders were raised along the wall; the gates were battered down. Flash and myself were among the first through the gate.

"Look out!"

An enormous Minotaur, fully nine feet tall, swung a gigantic battle-axe at my head. He would have cloven my skull in two were it not for Flash. The noble unicorn thrust his horn between me and the axe as the blow fell. The monster bellowed and tugged its axe from Flash's horn, most of which snapped off as the axe pulled away. I flung myself forward and stabbed with all my strength. My sword went straight through the Minotaur's armour, through the body, and out the back.

As the corpse collapsed on the ground, I knelt beside Flash, who was lying on his knees in the gateway, oblivious to the chaos around him.

"Are you alright, Old Lad?"

The Unicorn grimaced.

"Fine, old fellow, apart from the excruciating pain."

I patted his neck gently.

"Get clear of the fighting. Off to the Healer's tent with you. In fact, I'm coming along."

Flash shook his head.

"I can make it. You just look after Lady Einan."

"I am knighting you for this."

I dashed on, but my friend's sarcastic voice followed me.

"You call that a reward?"

POV: Martin

"And that, Dearest, is the whole of the tale."

Einan shifted her head from Rheneas' shoulder and gave a tired smile followed by a half-yawn.

"Poor Flash! Will he be alright?"

"He will indeed, Dearest. In fact, as soon as the bandages comes off, I shall try a drop of Queen Lucy's Cordial on his horn."

My daughter yawned again. I chuckled softly.

"I think it's time you were off to bed."

Einan gave a full grin this time.

"Says the old man with black crescents under his eyes!"

As I chased her 'round the table in mock ire, the hall filled with raucous laughter.