Author's note: Please check out my profile, I post information on my stories there. If you want to know about my future plans for this story, you can find info there. If you have anything to say about what I have already written or am currently writing, I would love to hear it.

Thank you all for so many great reviews: Supergirrl101, PJO-Blue-cookies, josie. , songwriter16, EdmundPevensie for evermore, Zabuzasgirl and guests. I love hearing from all of you.

Superrgirl101: Thank you for liking my story and my character. It means a lot to me. I have no idea how you got through the first 2 chapters though. I have problems going back and rereading those. Hope you keep reading.

PJO-Blue-cookies: The Pevensies will be going through the wardrobe just as soon as I finish the Horse and His Boy plot arc and then write a few chapters to conclude the Golden Age. Rayna will be staying behind and (thanks to Aslan's obvious loophole) will be back to her immortal status. I have a lot planned for Rayna in the years after the Pevensies leave. I hope you will like reading it.

Songwriter16: I always try to keep the characters in mind when I write dialogue, so I'm really glad you like it as well as the rest of my story. Always happy to hear from you, please keep reading.

Guest: Rayna is not generally a very emotional person, and always tries to keep her emotions separate because she believes that it stops her from acting effectively and analytically. We will, however, get to see more emotion from her later in the story, as she is put in more trying situations. Hope that satisfies you. Always glad to hear from you.

EdmundPevensie for evermore: I definitely have a lot planned for Rayna after the Pevensies leave. She won't just be hanging out in the woods for 1300 years. There will be a lot going on for her both emotionally and in terms of plot, and I already have a lot of it mapped out. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them. If you want more information on the future of this fic, you can check out my profile, where I keep information on my plans for this story.

Zabuzasgirl: I really can't update any more immediately than this. I was just finishing up the chapter when I got your review. Thanks for reviewing!

I hope I can update soon. 10 reviews to post the next chapter.

Chapter 14: On the March

I suspect that, had Queen Lucy been anyone other than Lucy, raising an army would have taken far longer than it did and have involved long debates on risk and strategy and what we could afford to lose for Archenland. As it was, once she heard my story (or the parts I had decided to let her hear, as I had omitted much on Aslan, Shasta's true identity and our journey together) she immediately called for Oreius and our other generals to rally troops and weapons as soon as possible. Our generals, being military men, were of course far more skeptical on the matter. But they were also Narnian, and we had never been in the habit of begrudging aid to an ally in his time of need. While they had urged us to be cautious and not rush into battle, they did not flinch at the idea of a full-scale attack on the Calormene invaders.

And so, by the time the sun rose, there was a large party of various creatures, animals and humans (for quite a few had come to us from Archenland and the Lone Islands over the course of the Pevensies' reign) all arming themselves and ready to march the second the order was given. I was gathered in the council room of Cair Paravel with Lucy, Oreius and other commanders who would be accompanying us on this journey: a rather gruff dwarf named Thrackgech, who would be leading our infantry, a lioness, Rakitia, and a leopard, Rymios, who would lead the cats, and a giant presiding over the six we would be taking with us, Stonemarrow . We were pouring over a large map of Archenland, and strategizing. Or rather, the generals were. Lucy, though a good fighter had never been one for military strategy and I saw no reason to interrupt, as the plans seemed perfectly sound. Likely once Edmund arrived, he would immediately take charge of the battalion, and he was by far the best military mind in Narnia.

At this point, Edmund and the rest of the passengers of the Splendor Hyaline were the only thing missing in order to begin our march. The journey from Calormene took only three days, and the ship was therefore to be expected at any time. Though Thrackgech, who was rather a hothead, had urged us to move without delay, Lucy had adamantly refused to carry out this task without having first ensured her siblings' safe return. And, as she pointed out rather wisely, they could hardly march to Archenland without taking its Prince with them. And, as was expected, the horn announcing the sighting of the royal ship in the distance was heard just as the final preparations were completed.

Upon being greeted at the docks by Lucy and I, both armored and bearing our weapons, Edmund, Susan, Peridan and the rest immediately grew alarmed (though Corin was immediately eager at the prospect of a fight). Once the situation was explained to them, they immediately leapt into action. Edmund had the entirety of his party armed and mounted in minutes, and quickly joined the small army we had prepared, an excited Corin in tow.

Susan, however, had elected to stay behind. I did not blame her for that. After all, she was Rabadash's ultimate prize, and none of us wanted her any nearer to him than she had to be. What's more, we were taking no archers, as they would be rather useless in a surprise assault, and Susan had very little skill in open battle.

Soon after that, we were on our way.

While he could have gone to any of the generals accompanying us and started an elaborate discussion on battle strategy, King Edmund almost immediately found his way to my side. His mount did not come close to reaching the height of an armored Stormracer, on whose back I was riding, but that did not stop him from glaring directly at me.

"You kidnapped my horse," he accused.

"I assure you he was hardly unwilling to join me," I countered.

Edmund hardly seemed satisfied by that explanation.

"What were you doing anyway? And where is Philip now?"

"I was ensuring the safety of Corin's double. I could hardly let him go alone. You should count yourself lucky. After all, I would not have discovered Rabadash's plan otherwise, and he would not have made it across the desert to warn King Lune without my aid in crossing the desert."

"I'm never going to get any more than this out of you on the story, am I?"

"In time, I suspect you will learn more of it."

Edmund rolled his eyes, "And that will only happen at the time you find it most convenient, won't it?"

"Most likely," I deadpanned.

"And Philip?" Edmund prompted once more.

"I left him at the home of the hermit of the Southern March. He was too spent from the journey to go any further. I suspect he left as soon as he was able, however, and is making his way to us as we speak."

"He always was stubborn."

We both laughed, and I could almost feel Storm roll his eyes, though I could not have seen it as he was looking ahead to the land before us. Generally, he did not like travelling by land, as he felt it left him too vulnerable to enemies. However, in journeys like this, there was a need for him to stay with the party, and so he trod determinedly ahead, wishing all the while for the speed of flight.

"So, what plans have you all managed to scramble together without my brilliant military mind?" Edmund asked conversationally after a while.

I raised an eyebrow at his casual inquiry, "Shouldn't you be discussing tactics with your generals. I'm sure they'd have far more to say on the matter."

"Yes, well I'm sure you understand them just as well as they do, and you know that Thrackgech and Stonemarrow can't stand within speaking distance without arguing about something. If I find out that they've made a blunder of things then I'll do something about it, but these commanders are all competent enough to have something figured out."

I shook my head in disapproval at Edmund's attitude but indulged him anyway, "We're 300 in all: a company each of heavy cavalry and infantry, as well as two squads of cats and a squad of six giants. Rabadash has only 200 horsemen, so we have the advantage of numbers, and that's not even including the men of Anvard. Of course, Archenland is at peace and was expecting no attack, so it won't have many troops, but they'll still be a good hundred.

King Lune will have closed his gates as soon as he received Shasta's message, so Rabadash's plans for a surprise invasion will have been dashed by Lune's archers firing down from the battlements. From there we can only speculate at the position they will be in when we arrive. "

"They'll be looking for a way into the castle," Edmund speculated. "They won't have any catapults, so they'll have made themselves a battering ram and will be attempting to breach the main gates, while being picked off by Lune's archers from above."

"Oreius guessed the same. Rather foolish of the Calormenes, really. Rabadash's entire assault was based on surprise. With that gone, he's sure to lose," I added. "If he were a wiser man, he would have retreated as soon as his first assault failed."

"Of course, this is all assuming that your boy got through with the message in time to warn Lune," Edmund put in.

"He will have," I assured him.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Aslan."

My simple, one word answer made Edmund start, "Have you seen him?"

"A few times since we arrived in Tashbaan. He would not have offered me guidance unless he was sure we could succeed, nor would he have pushed us so far on the journey."

"What did he tell you, Rayna?" Edmund insisted.

I changed the subject ."You really should go talk to Oreius, Edmund. He was adamant that you be consulted on battle plans earlier."

Edmund gave a weary sigh, no doubt at my blatant avoidance of his questions, but urged his horse on. Storm turned his head to glance back at me.

"You two never fail to amuse me," he remarked.

It was true that Edmund and I had always had a strange sort of partnership. After all, he was one of the only ones who understood that pushing would do nothing if I was avoiding questions, and that I would only give out what information I desired. I, on the other hand, thought nothing of his quips and blatant statements (Edmund had learned only a little when it came to holding his tongue) and took them all with good humor. We knew how to work together well, and he was the ruler I went to when I wanted something strange done quickly and without question.

The younger king was a man who enjoyed the company of his soldiers far more than that of the court, and spent most of his time in the practice yard. He was a warrior man through and through, an equally good swordsman to his brother, and one of the best military strategists I had ever met. He was still as snarky as the boy he was when he came to Narnia, but now he knew how to use it in his favor both towards his men, easily rallying them to any cause, and against his enemies, becoming skilled at goading them into doing whatever he wanted. Peter, as High King, often led the army, but it was Edmund he relied upon in matters of war, and his brother always had his back, as I did in many other matters. It was one of the reasons that Edmund and I understood each other so well.

Peter, on the other hand was the diplomat of the two. He knew well the subtleties of the court and of alliances between countries, in no small part thanks to my teachings. He could smile and play the welcoming host, but was ruthless in negotiations, though he was skilled in compromise and knew how to persuade others that he was in the right. Peter carried with him an aura of leadership which was hard for anyone to ignore, and which made him respected all throughout this world.

I was pulled out of my reverie by Edmund's call for a halt and Corin's whoop of excitement. We had arrived at the mouth of the pass leading to Archenland, where the cottage of a family of dwarves stood. In front of that cottage was Cor (which explained Corin's joy. The twins seemed to have hit it off rather well during their brief meeting in Tashbaan). Corin scrambled off his pony and ran to greet the boy with excited chatter.

I hopped off of Storm's back and went to join Edmund and Lucy, who were making their way towards the two boys.

"Who is your Highness's friend?" Edmund asked Corin once he reached them.

"Isn't it obvious?" said Corin. "It's my double: the one you mistook me for at Tashbaan."

"The one our beloved Lady Rayna dragged halfway across the world," Edmund added, sending a sardonic glance my way.

"Isn't it marvelous?!" Lucy exclaimed, glancing between the two of them. "They really are doubles."

"As like as two twins," I commented, making the King and Queen of Narnia send strange looks my way. I did not make comments like that without cause. Edmund seemed to realize that and realization soon sparked in his eyes. I ignored his questioning look and instead addressed Cor, "Shouldn't you be at Anvard?"

"I met King Lune just as the hermit said," Cor explained, "and I gave him the warning, but I fell behind when we began riding and got lost in the fog and eventually found my way here." He hesitated, and then asked, "But I thought that you were back at the hermit's. How did you come all the way here without Philip?"

"With the help of an old friend." I gestured to Storm, whose massive white figure stood out from among the throng. Cor's eyes widened.

"Is that a dragon?" I smiled and turned away. I was sure Corin could explain Storm to his brother well enough without me.

The two royals joined me, for we would be engaged in battle almost as soon as we crossed the pass and there was much to prepare. No longer would we be a mismatched group of Narnians heading for Archenland. We would be an army.

"Rayna, go see to it that the men are formed into ranks and ready to do battle as soon as we reach Archenland," Edmund ordered, his battle commander's face firmly in place. "I need to speak with Oreius."

I nodded.

Edmund walked off, but not before pulling a rather sour old dwarf named Thornbut from the crowd.

"Watch over Prince Corin and make sure he doesn't get into any trouble. You'll stay with him when the battle begins and make sure he doesn't go anywhere near it."

"Of course, my lord."

After that, it was a while before anyone could see through the chaos that was 300 assorted creatures readying themselves for battle.

Author's Note: How was that? Please review, and I'll post the next chapter when I get 10 reviews. Also, I need a new quote for my summary. Any ideas for a good one?

Thanks, Hecate