Song Per Chapter: "Raid on the Castle" by Harry Gregson-Williams (The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Part Two: Chapter Nine: Raid on the Castle
"I want everyone in their places. Not a single life is to be spared, but leave Caspian for me." Miraz shouted at his army lines in the courtyard of the castle. With a salute they all dispersed to their places, weapons at the ready. Miraz walked away to meet his wife in their bedroom.
"Prunaprismia," he called and she came closer, their son in her arms, "Go with these guards and stay hidden. I don't want any rogue to harm you."
"You promise you will do the same," she said, cooing to the baby at the same time.
"We outnumber them and we are prepared far beyond what they know. It is an easy win."
"Watch out for our nephew. He has been corrupted into believing what he is doing is right. The Narnians have corrupted him and you have to save him from that."
"I will do my best my love, now go." He off-loaded her and their son of to two guards standing nearby. Miraz had no intention of saving Caspian; he was in the self preservation game. Sopespian and Glozelle walked up behind Miraz, concerned.
"I need you to take the mirror down into the dungeons. If they are coming from the sky, they are likely to land on our towers. I don't want to lose such a valuable possession to those beasts.
Miraz accompanied the two to the tower room where the mirror was sitting.
"Miraz." A voice echoed from under the mirror's cover. All three Lords looked up in worry. Miraz pulled back the cloth to reveal the witch, and all three men jumped back in shock. Normally her hair was a snowy blonde that sat loosely on her shoulders, her eyes a piercing blue and she wore a simple white dress. Standing before the mirror was a very different sight. Instead the girl's eyes were completely black. The veins on her face where enhanced and darkened, jutting from their place. Her hair was sticking up at the ends, almost like she had been electrocuted. Her white dress was strangely dirtied.
"I have one more prophecy for you tonight," she said eerily. Miraz stepped forward once more.
"Speak," he said. She nodded obligingly.
"Tonight all manner of hell will break loose. One of you standing before me will die for a noble cause, but die none the less, of their own stupid ambition. For I warned you, Miraz, not to toy with me. I warned you not to unleash my wrath. So from inside this mirror I will destroy everything the Telemarines have ever worked for. While you fight your enemies, I will watch. At every corner I will thwart your plans until I receive what I want." She chuckled crazily at the end, the laughter echoing throughout the castle, "For I am Jadis. The rightful Queen and ruler of Narnia. You will all bow down to me in the end!"
"Cover it!" Miraz shouted and there was silence once more. The Lords stood still for a moment, trying to understand what she had said.
"Jadis." Glozelle whispered in fear, "As in the Witch in the Narnian legends?
"You do not actually believe her." Miraz snapped, shutting him down. Glozelle only glared, "She is using scare tactics to undermine us. We can not let her do it. We are Telemarines, and we do not go down without a fight."
"Let's put it in the dungeons," Sopespian proposed as he brushed away a shiver down his spine, so the men did, the whole time the prophesied fate of one of them on their minds.
xxxx
"It will be alright, Peter. Lucy's safe back at the How," Susan said as the Griffins flew them through the air.
"I know. Just what she said before keeps playing over and over," Peter told Susan. She nodded, a frown on her face and said nothing more as the castle came into view. It was large and dark. It seemed oddly empty, barely any guards in sight. Most of the troops must have been busy building the bridge which was perfect for their plans. They could seize it easily.
The griffin holding Edmund started to fly lower, to drop Edmund on the top of a tower as the plan commanded. It did so carefully, out of sight of one guard who patrolling the roof. Almost as if he had heard something he looked up to find nothing. Edmund, with his sword unsheathed, neared him from behind. Ready to strike, he raised his sword as his opportunity was taken from him. Without warning the guard gasped for air as lightning bolt hit him square in the chest. But the lightning bolt didn't come from the sky... it came from the ground below.
The others in the air were watching the whole thing from a distance and jumped out of their skin at the sight. Something was not right.
Edmund froze on the spot with fear as the man slumped to the ground. After a moment of disbelief he regained his composure as his hands reached into his pocket for his electric torch, signaling the others. Peter, Susan, and Caspian, carried by griffins, flew in and landed atop another tower. Spotting another guard, Caspian and his griffin flew in low to strike as again there was a lightning bolt. The soldier dropped dead on his own accord. The three older ones met and continued on, climbing down a wall to Professor Cornelius's study.
With a knock Caspian whispered, "Professor." There was no response. Quietly, he pushed the window open and climbed inside, Peter and Susan trailing behind. The room was empty. Doctor Cornelius was nowhere in sight. Walking around Caspian trod on something that cracked under his feet. Kneeling down he picked it up in his hands, a pair of cracked glasses that could only have belonged to one person.
"I have to find him." Caspian got to his feet.
"You don't have time. You have to get to the gatehouse." Peter shook his head.
"You wouldn't even be here without him. And neither would I." Caspian clenched the glasses tightly by his side, his jaw had tightened. "Besides, the dungeons are just below the courtyard which sits next to the gatehouse. It would be manageable."
"We can take care of Miraz." Susan gave her brother a pleading glance. Caspian was right for once.
"Thank you," Caspian said and ran off. Within no time, and no guards spared, he had reached Cornelius's cell and found his old professor lying chained to the floor. Unlocking it with the keys he had taken from a dead guard, he crept inside and began to free him.
"Five more minutes?" He laughed softly remembering when their situation had been reversed.
"What are you doing here? I didn't help you escape just so you could get captured again. You have to get out before Miraz learns you're here." Cornelius grasped Caspian's shoulders and tried to fling him away.
"He'll learn soon enough. We are giving him your cell." Caspian leapt back to Cornelius's side, throwing the keys away.
"Don't underestimate Miraz as your father did." Cornelius grabbed his shoulders again, a frightening truth coming to light.
"What are you talking about?" Caspian tried to understand what Cornelius had told him.
"I'm so sorry." Cornelius shook his head. Caspian was filled with an indescribable anger when suddenly as he went to race off. The dungeon doors slammed shut, and there stood the devil himself.
"I'm not." Miraz picked up the keys and playfully teased them in front of the two.
"You bastard!" Caspian threw himself against the bars. Miraz drew his sword and pushed it towards Caspian's prince let go of the bars and backed away.
"It's true then. You killed my father." Caspian spat, tears beginning to fill up his eyes.
"We Telmarines would have nothing, had we not taken it. Your father knew that as well as anyone."
"So you murdered him in cold blood for his throne and then you try to have me murdered to finish the job off!" Caspian screamed at the top of his lungs.
"I did what any ambitious man would do in my place. I was meant to rule... and after tonight I will have my wishes come true."
"Not likely." Caspian jumped back on the bars to face his Uncle. With a quick swipe Miraz sliced Caspian's cheek with the tip of his sword.
"Did you think I wouldn't know about your little army? I've known for weeks. So while you cry like a child down here, my entire militia lies hidden in the shadows waiting to kill every one of them. You can thank you witch friend for that." Miraz walked away as both prisoners sunk back with exasperated faces. New guards took the place of the dead, much more alert than their fallen friends.
"Oh, and Caspian, once this is over I'm sure the kingdom will rejoice at watching the execution of their Prince that betrayed them. I can promise I'll make it nice and slow for you."
xxxx
Up top, Edmund had been standing at his post, waiting to signal the rest of the army with the torch in his hand. The wind had begun to pick up, making the air cooler.
"Edmund," whispered a voice through the air. He turned in fear to find a lone figure standing there. Draped in white and hair just the same, stood a face he had been longing to see for some time.
"Thea." His voice cracked with surprise. "But...but...what about the mirror?"
"I am still there. It is merely an apparition before you," she coaxed him forward.
"How?" he neared the girl, bubbling with happiness.
"Do not worry your head with hows and whys." She laughed softly, "I am here because something dreadful is about to happen and it's all my fault."
"What is?"
"If I am freed from the mirror I fear the worst, that the White Witch will be brought back alongside me." She turned away from Edmund, secretly smiling. The boy moved closer in anticipation of her words, "Miraz has been threatening me with such a fate if I do not do as he says. The mirror is a portal through time and I could see the future through it, he forced me..."
"Whatever it is, we'll fix it," he interrupted.
Thea shouted over the top of him, "Edmund, I told him you were coming tonight! His army is all here hiding in the shadows. If you do not turn away now they will all be slaughtered."
"What?" Edmund stumbled backwards.
"They know you're coming, Edmund!" she shouted, "I've been doing all I can to stop them, but I need more power."
"What are you talking about?" Edmund was panicking, looking to see if his brother and sister had emerged yet.
"The lightning bolts! I need to take their lives to be stronger. If you can draw attention to yourself, call the guards to the roof, I will stop them. I can turn them into power, use their lives to keep you safe."
"You will kill them?" Edmund was slowly understanding Thea' plan, growing concerned.
"They are Telemarines. They deserve to die for what they have done to the rightful owners of his land."
"Maybe in battle, but not like that." Edmund shook his head. This was not the Thea he had once knew; he could see it in her eyes. There was something twisted and wrong about her. The girl that they had met the first time in Narnia struggled to hurt a fly let alone talk about meaninglessly slaughtering people for power. Last time he checked, she couldn't do magic, either.
"Who are you?" He turned to face her squarely. She chuckled and started to walk around the tower while Edmund stood his ground.
"I'm Thea, of course." Her voice sounded harsher, not like hers at all. When she emerged from walking around the tower, it was clear that whoever was standing before him was not Thea Fletcher at all. Her eyes were maniacally evil and blackened to their core. Her clothes were tattered and dirty. Everything from her actions to the way she talked was wrong.
"No, you are not." Edmund held his sword forward, he was not afraid to attack.
"Perhaps, but she's still here. Somewhere."The enigma chuckled, pacing back and forth near Edmund, "She's just been heavily suppressed by dark magic. She won't be around for much longer if I keep this up. You have to save her can't let her die again."
"You're lying." the sword in his hand beginning to waver.
"Am I?" She stopped. "Fine. Then go save your friends and family. There'll be time for this squabble later on." The evil Thea stepped to the side to let Edmund pass. He stared at her intensely, a fire burning inside his soul. Whatever had taken hold of her would not be there for long if he had any say in the matter.
"She is my friend and once I'm sure my family is safe, I'll be back for her." Edmund lowered his sword slightly. The enigma smiled once more, and he could have sworn that the smile indeed belonged to the real Thea. In an array of light and smoke, she was gone and he knew this night had only just begun to take its course. The raid on the castle was far from over.
xxxx
"Where is Caspian?" Peter said fiddling with his belt, as Susan and himself met up with Reepicheep and his mouse army, Asterius the Minotaur and Nikabrik in the Gatehouse.
"He was supposed to be here by now." Susan looked around, hoping he'd come running in at any moment.
"Sssh..." Reepicheep whispered, "Someone's coming."
Indeed, the mouse was right as someone approached. Everyone inside drew their swords, ready to attack as the doors to the gatehouse burst open and a panting Edmund appeared.
"Ed?! What are you doing down here?" Peter exclaimed, "You're supposed to be—"
"They know we're here!" Edmund shouted, "We need to get out now."
"Did Caspian alert—" Peter went to start again, Edmund cut him off quickly.
"They knew that we were coming. Miraz has his entire army waiting for us. It's Thea. he was forced to tell him, she's alive just like Trumpkin said. They're going to slaughter us if you don't call it off."
"Fate is not on our side tonight sire." Reepicheep sheathed his sword. Peter's throat had gone dry. Just as he had paused to call his next move there was a terrible scream from above them. Up on the courtyard they could hear screaming and smashing.
"Unlock the gate. Now!" Peter yelled just as loud. "We need to get out and fast."
Asterius held his axe high in the air and brought it down swiftly on chains that held the gate in place. A sigh of relief could be heard from above.
"What about Caspian?" Susan pulled at her brother's arm.
"He is on his own. I have a duty to protect our people. He knew the risks. That is, if Miraz hasn't already killed him."
"Don't speak like that." She stared at him with disbelief.
"We were set up. We don't have time to worry about stragglers, not when hundreds of lives are on the line." Peter grasped Susan's hands. "If he's alright he'll make it out with us. That's the best I can offer."
Running, they reached the courtyard to find a battle already in progression. Their army had come through when Asterius broke the gate. Closely behind them was part of Miraz's army that had cornered them in from behind. They barely stood a chance, especially when there was no straight exit. But they could not lose hope! Into battle they ran, swords, axes and bows at the ready. Edmund trailed Peter as they pushed into the crowd to aid their friends.
"What the hell did you mean, 'Thea told them'?" Peter shouted at his brother as they fought of ten soldiers as once. "It's not like she could see the future."
"Actually." Edmund ducked as Peter swung his sword into an oncoming foe, "She can."
"How?" Peter's sword sliced cleanly.
"The mirror is magical. She didn't say much about it—" Edmund copied his brother's move.
"Wait, so you talked to her? Where is she?"
"That's the thing." The two began to run forward into the heat of the battle, "I'm not sure. She somehow appeared to me on the top of the tower."
"She's out?"
"No, it was like a spirit. More like a ghost. She's still inside the mirror but she can make her form appear. She was the strike of lightning we saw."
"Watch out!" Peter screamed as an awe wielding Telmarine swung at Edmund. Peter tried to pull him back but the axe only just collided with Edmund's arm. The wound was deep.
"Ahh..." Edmund clutched his arm tightly as Peter took out his brother's attacker.
"FALL BACK!" Peter screamed, trying to get his brother out of the middle of battle as his arm sprung blood.
"There's nowhere to fall back, sire!" Reepicheep appeared at their side.
"Get Edmund out of here then."
"I don't think that's going to make a difference." Reepicheep grimly looked to sky. His fear was suddenly realised in the eyes of the few Narnians left. Up in the rim of the courtyard sat hundreds of Telmarines armed with loaded crossbows. Miraz stood proudly above them.
"STOP!" Miraz shouted out over the clashing of weapons. The Narnians froze as their enemies stood back.
"This ends tonight. You Narnian scum can not win, it is futile to try. So let us make it easier on you." He raised his hand. The assassins let their arrows loose as a blinding white light struck the bloodied courtyard. When the light cleared there stood a white figure, one that had come to Edmund earlier on in the night. Surrounding the Narnians was a bubble of sorts, a barrier that covered them like glass. The arrows were stuck in it and slowly disintegrating.
"No!" Miraz could have jumped from the balcony with anger.
"Did I not warn you, Miraz." The haunting voice taunted as she raised her hands and bolts of lightning escaped from them striking the whole front row of Telmarines soldiers.
"Thea, stop!" Edmund left his brother's side and ran to pull the girl back, falling through her ghostly apparition.
"Edmund." She got to her knees inspecting his arm gently, "I can heal that for you."
"No. No magic." He got to his feet shaking her away. She looked confused; she was doing this to save them like she had promised.
"Can't you see I've done this for all of you!" She screamed over the top of him. Susan had reached Peter's side and their army was nervously standing by.
"No matter." A darkness began to consume her eyes, "Miraz, you will not harm my friends any more. This shield will protect them. Until you give up this offense against the rightful owners of this land, I will destroy everyone and everything in my way to achieve their freedom."
"Then you will forever wait inside that dome of yours. Telmarines never give in!"
"Thea, stop this, whatever you're doing. There's another way." Edmund padded forward, she stared him down with beady black eyes.
"ANYONE AND ANYTHING!" She declared and shot her hand out in Edmund's direction. He put his hands up in surrender momentarily and held his breath. She wouldn't kill him, surely she wasn't that far gone?
"Please," Edmund whispered trying to plead to what was left of the real Thea. Without blinking, she lowered her hand and stared back up to Miraz.
"You have the rest of the night to make your decision," she said and disappeared in light, just as she had appeared.
xxxx
"Miraz needs you on the courtyard," said a deep voice as a set of feet made their way down the stairs. The two men on guard looked at each other, unsure.
"Would you disobey a direct order from your superior?" He said, walking into the light. Lord Sopespian. The men shook their head and ran off upstairs, eager to avoid the wrath of Miraz himself.
"I thought that it would be you to come down here." Another voice echoed down the end of the corridor. Caspian and the Professor sat quietly, watching the whole thing take its course. Only Cornelius had the slightest inkling, and it did not bode well with him.
"Tonight is the night that I free you, mistress." Sopespian pulled away a cover to a very large mirror, revealing a smiling girl.
Authors Note: Ahhhhh! Yay no more book and movie plot! I feel like I can finally go free reign now and not have to worry immensely about sticking to certain plots so not to offend people. It's a drastic change for this story, but I think (I hope) it'll be a good one. So cheers to that. Onto my reviews:
Arrowhead1996: OMG IT'S YOU! Yes it has been a while but thanks a million-gizillion for returning! Super glad that you are enjoying this sequel and again, I hope you like this chapter too. Tell me what you think!
LovingBOBThePacific: :3
Jesus' girl 4ever: Just for you ;) Also your username is uber-cute
So just to answer your questions, yes there will be romance very soon, so don't lose your marbles over it! We have three contestants and all have just as good a chance as the other to get the girl. Kind of... I've actually already chosen so it's not really equal. Sue me. I'll see how quickly I can update again, I've got trial exams in the next two weeks that I need to study for. If you haven't already please check out some of my other stories to tire you over until then!