Well the Pevensies have finally met up. But for all you non-Brits this chapter refers to a famous incident in British history - the battle of Hastings. Here is a quick overview for you people who don't know what happened in it. You probably don't have to read this to understand it, but I added it to the story so that it would make the characters seem more real and relate to their time in England.
Anyway, the Battle of Hastings was the last successful invasion of England. The battle was fought between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II. Harold was killed in battle.
William relied on basic tactics with archers in the front rank weakening the enemy with arrows, followed by infantry which would engage in close combat, culminating in a cavalry charge that would break through the English forces. However, his tactics did not work as well as planned. William's army attacked the English as soon as they were ready and formed up. Norman archers shot several volleys but many of the arrows hit the shield wall and had very little effect. Believing the English to have been softened up, William ordered his infantry to attack. As the Normans charged up the hill, the English threw down whatever they could find: stones, javelines, and maces. The barrage inflicted heavy casualties among the Norman ranks, causing the lines to break up.
The infantry charge reached the English lines, where ferocious hand-to-hand fighting took place. William had expected the English to falter, but the arrow barrage had little effect and nearly all the English troops still stood, their shield wall intact. As a result William ordered his cavalry to charge far sooner than planned. Faced with a wall of axes, spears and swords, many of the horses shied away despite their careful breeding and training. After an hour of fighting, the division on William's left faltered and broke completely, fleeing down the hill. Suffering heavy casualties and realising they would be quickly outflanked, William retreated. Unable to resist the temptation, many of the English broke ranks, including hundreds of fyrdmen and Harold's brothers.
William and a group of his knights successfully counter-attacked the pursuing English, who were no longer protected by the shield wall, and cut down large numbers. Many did not recognise the Norman counter-attack until it was too late, but some managed to scramble back up the hill to safety. The battle then turned to William's advantage, since the English had lost much of the protection provided by the shield wall. Without the cohesion of a disciplined, strong formation, the individual English were easy targets. William launched his army at the strong English position again and many of the English housecarls were killed. William and his army won becuase they had retreated and then counter-attacked.
Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 28 – Battle Plans
The Seven of them stood around a map of the battle field. Eril was hunched over it marking the position of the enemy as the other six stood around and looked at the map. Lune stood by Peter's side admiring the monarchs with his dog-eyes, never in his wildest dreams had he imagined ever meeting them. Acontia stood beside Edmund, her face composed but her eyes gleaming with excitement. Lucy stood smiling with glee at meeting all her siblings again; red tear streaks were still visible on Susan's pale face.
"Sorugyn knows that the Kings and Queens of old have returned and he knows that Peter has raised an army from the north, his spies have carefully watched your army's arrival." Eril said his voice grave, "Our spies tell us that they only know of the army of Cair Paravel and the army from the north. The other battalions are unknown. That is our sole advantage."
"The enemy hold the high ground; they have set their camp at the top of the cliff. Not only does this give them an advantage as our archers will be near useless, but their numbers our greater than ours." Lune said looking around at each monarch in turn.
"Our chances of winning this battle are slim; we have the low ground and even with our hidden battalion our army is still less in numbers than theirs." Eril added his voice sad.
"We need a plan." Said Peter, stating what everybody was thinking.
"We have the Kings and Queens of old, surely that must count for something?" Lune said, and the others looked at him and smiled at his naivety. Lune seeing that this comment was pointless turned his eyes downwards and remained silent.
"Aslan can help us, he always has." Lucy said, "He has always saved Narnia, we have simply been his tools."
"Aslan cannot help you." Acontia said, speaking for the first time. This was the first time that everybody except Edmund had ever heard her pure voice ring clear in the air, and they were all taken aback by the beauty of it. "Aslan is in a very deep sleep."
"Then we must wake him." Lune said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Aslan cannot simply be woken," Acontia stated, "He can only be woken if either Sorugyn or the being that put him in this sleep were killed."
"Who was the one who 'put Aslan to sleep' as you said?" Lune asked.
"That is beside the point." Edmund said, glancing at Acontia, he did not want the others to even get the notion of sacrificing her life. Sometimes he thought, secrets must be kept, "We must kill Sorugyn. He is the core of all this evil."
"That is easier said than done." Acontia whispered, yet all heard her.
"Can we not set a trap for Sorugyn," said Peter, "We managed to lure Miraz into one with Caspian, and surely we could do something similar with Sorugyn."
"Sorugyn is not tied by any bounds of loyalty or pride as Miraz was, and he is uncannily good with a blade, not to mention he posses magical powers." Acontia said her eyes still not daring to meet with anyone else's.
"Is there no way we can lure him?" Peter said, trying to lock his eyes with Acontia. He remembered painfully how, before she could speak, he had forced her to kiss him, he reconciled at the thought. She was beautiful, although Peter did not know that even among the stars she was considered one of the fairest, he knew that she was fairer than mortal tongue could tell. Yet she was nothing compared to Ama. If Acontia was the moon then Ama was the sun to him. He could see how one could desire Acontia, with her beauty and sophistication, but know he saw there was no way he could love anybody, not even someone as fair as Acontia, his heart was Ama's, it belonged to the shape-shifter he know believed dead. Peter looked away for a moment and tried to recollect himself.
"Are you alright Peter?" Susan asked, sensing his pain.
Peter nodded, not trusting his voice.
Suddenly Edmund spoke as if in a dream, "Do you remember the battle of 1066?"
"We weren't in Narnia in 1066, Edmund," Lucy said, confused, "We left in 1015."
"No, no I mean 1066, England." Edmund said, looking around at his siblings.
"The Battle of Hastings?" Susan asked in confusion.
"Edmund this is all very well, but what does this have to do with anything?" Peter asked annoyed that they were getting nowhere with their plans.
"William had the low ground yet he still won." Edmund continued his eyes suddenly becoming bright with energy, "William tricked Harold by retreating. He climbed up the hill, and when the Harold thought he was winning William retreated and Harold and his army chased him down the hill. William then turned around and Harold's army was stuck and could not turn and run back up the hill. Can we not do the same?"
Eril, Lune and Acontia looked at the Pevensies in confusion.
"We will attack." Lucy said.
"Then be attacked." Edmund continued, glad someone was picking up.
"Withstand their attack." Said Peter.
"Then pretend to withdraw." Edmund said, a smile erupting onto is face, "The enemy thinking that we have surrendered, will chase us down the hill. Then we can turn around and they will be trapped, not being able to climb back up."
"While the main battle is going on," Eril interrupted, "We can keep our troops in the forest so that when the enemy is lured down the hill they will be truly trapped as the part of our army that was hidden will now be at the top of the cliff."
"Our battalions," Peter said addressing Eril, "are the largest therefore we should group them together to make our army look mildly impressive to Sorugyn."
"You are all forgetting about Aslan though." Lucy said, "I have a feeling that we will need his help before the end. I will go to him and try my best to wake him."
"Aslan lies on an island at the very end of the eastern ocean, it is a long way away." Acontia said looking at Lucy.
"And the road there is dangerous, your highness." Eril said.
"I will accompany her." Lune said unexpectedly and all eyes turned to him, "If the battle continues into the night and the full moon rises, my troops would not recognise and think me the enemy, they would no doubt kill me without second thought. I would be more use to Queen Lucy."
All was agreed and all seven of them went off, sure that battle would be won by them.
I know that chapter wasn't too long, and I hope it didn't confuse you too much, but feel free to review.
