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Chapter 24: Fear

Lucy

I woke up the next morning, my legs tangled with my love's. His breathing was still slowed and he had a peaceful look on his face. I smiled and snuggled my face deeper into his shoulder. I could feel his heart beat under my face and his breaths were blowing across my forehead. His warmth made my whole body tingle. As soon as my brain was starting to become less fuzzy, panic was building.

Why?

Why was I becoming so panicked?

Then, it hit me.

Three bats came to visit us yesterday. We agreed to have the final battle in two days. The battle that would determine the fate of Narnia.

That was already yesterday.

My heart started pounding and my breathing increased. That would mean tomorrow…

I sprang out of bed and rushed to the washroom at my realization. It felt like I was going to get sick. We weren't ready. I wasn't ready. No. No. No. No.

I slumped against the wall and closed my eyes, trying to calm myself.

It wasn't that bad. No. We would be able to do it. We had a very large and well trained army. We had many supporters. We've won multiple battles before. We would be able to do it this time. Surely we would…

Instantly, I remembered Bat Island. The four kings and queens weren't able to fight out of there. We weren't able to escape somewhere we weren't even held captive.

If we weren't able to do something so small scale compared to this upcoming battle, how would we be able to win?!

"Lucy?" I heard Edmund's voice to my left. I looked over to see him standing in the doorway, a worried look on his face. "My love, are you okay? Are you sick?" He walked into the washroom and kneeled down in front of me, pressing his hand to my forehead. "You aren't warm. Do you feel unwell?"

"No, I'm fine, Ed," I muttered, rubbing the sides of my face. "I just had a panic moment." As soon as I said that, I regretted it. I looked up to Edmund and I could tell he just remembered as well.

"Tomorrow…"

"Yes, I know."

"Already."

"Yes. But, Ed, it'll work out. Right?" He smiled weakly down at me.

"Of course it will. All you have to do is believe. If we don't even have confidence in ourselves, where does that leave us?"

"Well-"

"If we don't have confidence in ourselves, we've already lost," Edmund finished. He smiled down at me and pulled me into a strong hug. "Come. Let's get dressed. I'm sure we'll have a busy day." I nodded my head, but didn't pull away from him.

Who knows, I might not have moments like this again. Only Aslan knows what would happen on the battle field tomorrow.

It was a few hours after I woke up, yet we were full swing into battle preparations. Peter had made the decision that we wouldn't have much physical combat training today. We were less than twenty four hours away from the battle; he couldn't risk one of our few volunteers getting hurt.

Most of the volunteers went home. Others ended up staying back to help prepare. Some were preparing last minute weapons or armour, some were going over strategies for their weapon of choice, while others sat with us.

Peter, Susan, Edmund and I all sat in the grand hall. We held a large map of the field we were set to battle in, creating strategies.

The field was quite large, yet deadly on its own. The north side of the field was quite rocky. At the furthest point of the field, there was a ridge. There was a steep drop off to an abyss of who knows how deep. All I knew was that you couldn't see the bottom from the edge. Of course, this was our assigned side due to the fact it was the closest half to the palace. There was a good size cave on the other side of the abyss, but I didn't think it would be useful.

"Alright. The Tier Three archers will mark here." Peter pointed to the cave. The Tier Three archers weren't the best at close battle or were too young to be on the field. Edmund shrugged his shoulders.

"They aren't close to the battle. We don't know Tier Three's range. What if their shots don't reach our enemies? We always risk their shots hitting us by accident," Edmund pointed out. Peter nodded and studied the map a while longer.

"Forgive me, you majesties, but what if we put Tier One across the abyss?" Peter shook his head.

"No. We need them at the south edge along the woods. They're trained in close combat as well as firing distance. We shouldn't waste their combat skills."

"Alright, what if we put Harmony and her sister across the abyss?" Edmund suggested. "They're able to control the air. If we put them back there, we can have them focus on controlling the shots." Peter nodded his head, a small smile on his face.

"They'll have view of the whole field. Who knows, maybe they'll have an advantage back there. They might be able to use the wind to throw off the witch's attacks."

"Plus, they're both just children," Susan said. "It'll be good having them back there. They'll be as safe as possible and still be able to help."

"Perfect. It's settled then. Melody and Harmony will be with Tier Three archers across the abyss," Peter said. He marked their position down on the map.

"Then Tier Two archers along the north edge of the woods?" I said. Peter nodded his head and marked down the position.

"If we're actually using the cave, I feel we should bring in some healers," Susan suggested.

"I agree. Class One healers?" Edmund asked. Peter shook his head.

"No. Class One is too risky to have near the battle. They'll be in the castle, waiting for us to bring back injured," Peter explained.

"Class Two?" I suggested. "They either come from a background of battling or from high pressure situations. They're all great healers too."

"Perfect."

The decisions went on like this for a while, until we had all three tiers of archers, four army trained combat ranks and two civilian combat ranks arranged. Tier One archers were in the forest, along the division line. Tier Three archers were along the abyss in the forest. Rank Two Army Combat and Rank Two Civilian Combat were in the forest and along the lake. Rank One, Two and Four Army Combat were along the front lines of the field. Rank One Civilian Combat was on the field, but furthest away from the White Witch's side.

By this point, it was starting to get late into the day. It was almost time for dinner and Peter wanted us to get to sleep early. He wanted to be leaving the palace by five in the morning. Those that were watching us decide positions on the field had left for dinner or for the night. The palace felt empty; most volunteers had gone home to say goodbye to their families.

All there was left to decide was where we would go.

Peter and Edmund already agreed to go on the front lines, but a halt had developed when we started discussing where Susan and I would go.

"Peter, put me up with Tier One archers. At the very least, Tier Two," Susan pleaded.

"No," all three of us answered. Susan frowned and pointed at the map.

"Look how far back Tier Two is. I can manage myself."

"No. Susan, please don't be difficult," Peter pleaded.

"Wh-"

"Susan, I know you can handle it," Peter said, taking her hands, "but think of the baby. He or she can't fight. I don't even want you to be in Narnia during this battle, never mind on the front lines. Please. Don't do it for you. Remember, you have another life that depends on you."

Susan sat there, silently.

"I know. I don't want to be on the front lines. I want to protect the baby. But… But… I feel so useless! I'm the High Queen and I can't even fight for my country. I can't protect Narnia. What if… What if we lose? I wouldn't have been there to know I did everything I could to prevent that. I want to do everything I can to protect Narnia." At the point, tears were gathering in her eyes.

"There's too many what ifs, Sue. What if we win, but you're hurt? What if we lose and you're hurt? What if we win and everything's perfect? What if we lose and you're okay? I… I'm not sure. About anything." Peter took Susan's hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers.

"Our chances aren't great…" I muttered. The others looked at me and I blushed. "I'm not saying we shouldn't try. I'm just saying, our numbers are low. Our qualifications are low. We don't know the enemy."

"Lucy's right," Peter sighed, tiredly. Susan let out a small sob.

"Let me help."

"Babe, I don't think you should. If we have high chances of losing already, I don't want to lose everything," Peter muttered.

"What are you saying, Pete?" Susan asked.

"What if we send you somewhere?" Peter proposed. "You're carrying the first heir to the Narnian throne. What if… What if the rest of us don't survive this battle? You'll still be able to run Narnia. You'll be able to come back with the baby and run Narnia like it should be."

"It's a good plan if thinking of the future," Edmund agreed. Susan looked frightened.

"Run? Where? How?" Her lip quivered. "What would Aslan think? Would he be angry? It's so selfish…"

"Susan, it's not that selfish," I stated. "You'd be guaranteeing Narnia's future."

"Aslan…"

"He would agree, I'm sure. Why wouldn't he?" Edmund asked.

"But…"

"Susan, just think," Peter pleaded. She closed her eyes and nodded.

"Alright. I'll do it. But where do I go? What do I do?"

"I think only one of us should know your location," Peter said slowly. He turned to me. "Lucy, pick a location for Susan to go to tonight. As soon as possible, she'll leave." At this, Susan started sobbing. "It'll be alright, Sue."

As Peter and Susan started their goodbyes, I started thinking of locations.

Archenland.

That was close enough for Susan to go to tonight. We had a close relationship with our neighbor. I knew they would protect her.

"We'll send one of our Rank One Combat members with you," Edmund added to whatever Peter had said. He looked at me.

"Decided, Lu?" I nodded my head. "Alright. You'll leave in a half hour. Let's go collect your stuff."

A half hour later, we said our goodbyes to Susan, unsure if we would see her again. I could clearly see the pain in Peter as he said goodbye to his wife to be. Susan kept strong, but I could see pain in her too.

As she rode off into the darkness with a Narnian warrior, I felt as if something was missing. We never were separated before.

It felt different.

I didn't like different.

"You'll be alright?" I asked Peter. He nodded his head, but didn't remove his eyes from where Susan was last spotted.

"I'll be fine. You two, off to bed. I'll see in at four sharp in the great hall."

"Come, let's go, Lucy," Edmund said. He took my hand and we started walking off to bed.

"I love you," I called to Peter. He turned and smiled at me.

"I love you too. Both of you." Edmund and I smiled at him and I felt a thick blanket settle over us. Something I never felt before.

Immense fear.

Hey! I hope you liked the chapter. I know it's been forever since I last updated. Hopefully the next update will come soon! I already have most of it written. Only a handful of chapters left!

Thanks for waiting and reading! I don't deserve all of your love and support.

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