Chapter 36: Gentle and Just

"Windmane, have you seen Lucy?" Susan addressed the kentauride who had just appeared in a doorway nearest her.

Windmane shook her head, her wavy hair bouncing this way and that. She clasped her hands in front of herself and leaned forward in a bow. "I have not. I do believe that she is with the children as you have asked."

Susan nodded. "Alright, thank you. Have you decided if you're going to come with us this time? Or would you rather stay behind and look after Lightning Bolt? I'd understand whichever you choose."

A somber expression came to Windmane's face. Her lips pressed together and wrinkles came to the corners of her eyes on her horse-like face. Susan knew she was thinking about the attack at Miraz's castle where she lost Rainstone. He had been brave after being trapped on the other side of the gate, fighting to the death instead of letting himself get taken down easily. In the days that followed she had taken Lightning Bolt into her family as if he were their own. Not as a replacement for her lost son but so she had someone else that she could give love to since his parents also perished in the fight. It was the right thing to do.

"I…I need a little more time to think," Windmane replied. "But you will have your answer soon, Queen Susan."

"Okay. Try not to take too long, we leave within the hour."

"Yes, my queen." Windmane bowed again and walked off, the clip-clopping of her hooves echoed in the high-ceiled hallway.

Susan pressed a finger to her throbbing temple. When would the fighting cease? Even when she and her siblings ruled during their fifteen years there weren't many battles for them to contribute to. They all took down the remaining parts of the White Witch's army, Peter took care of the Ettinsmoor War, and the Archenland Conflict was primarily taken care of by Aravis and Shasta (Prince Cor). Otherwise the Golden Age of Narnia was just that: golden. There was peace and harmony in the land. She may have been a bit naïve to think that there wouldn't be any more conflicts in Narnia so long as others with rivaling views inhabited it but it was a hope that she continued to carry around. She wasn't sure how much she could have afterwards but it was a hope that she wouldn't let go of.

But if she were back in England…

She gave her head a firm shake, chopping off the end of that invading thought. There was nothing else for her to focus on now except for the inevitable: the fight, the returning small numbers, the worry, the sadness, the pain, the exhaustion, the fear, the worry, everything. Thinking about it was enough to give her a dreadful headache and make her hands shake from nerves.

But that wasn't new. It would become a sad day when she got used to fighting and having to take lives. It came with the territory of being a Queen and being in Narnia but that didn't mean that she had to like it.

Stopping a passerby to ask for an herbal tea, Susan retreated to her room to give herself some time to clear her mind before they were to head out. Somewhere down below she could hear the sounds of swords clashing together; Edmund was probably sparring with someone to make sure his performance was in top shape without getting too worn out. She would have done the same if she were trained in close-combat.

A sense of pride filled Susan from the tips of her toes to the top of her head as she thought about her younger brother. It was amazing how fast he had grown in the past few years. The biggest change came after they fell out of the wardrobe. Edmund was more reserved than usual, quieter, but he wasn't so angry anymore. She never figured out what it was that made him so mad before, if it was because they were shipped off to an unknown place, because their father had gone off to war, if it was because he felt so helpless. Those things made her angry but she at least tried to make the best of their satiation. Not that she blamed Edmund's bad attitude. Had their positions been reversed she felt she'd be the same way.

But now he was older, wiser, and less selfish. He looked out for everyone and, all around, if she didn't look at him all day she would have thought that this was a completely different Edmund. That he was replaced with a doppelganger of some sort. He had grown into a man before her eyes and she felt as if she blinked and missed it.

Lucy also changed, but in a subtle way. She still held onto her wild creativity and imagination but she was blossoming into a beautiful young woman. She was more outspoken with her beliefs and thoughts and stood her ground when she needed to and felt the timing was right. She knew when to hold her tongue and when to speak her mind and she gave a young, fresh sort of energy to the castle that Susan wished she could get away with. But she had to be the responsible one, the one to oversee visitations and parties and potential suitors and the upkeep of the castle. She liked her role but sometimes she wish she could be as strong as Lucy.

Peter, on the other hand, he was still as hard-headed, impulsive, and, at times, brash as he was before. But his heart, bless his heart, it was three times bigger. He loved Narnia, he loved his siblings, and he loved everyone around him. If it weren't for their respect and support he would be going around constantly worrying and seconding guessing himself and his choices but he was a born leader. He could take so much weight on his shoulders and still hold the world up as compared to others who would surely crumble under the pressure. He wore his heart on his sleeve and while it shot him in the foot in some instances it was also his strongest weapon.

Susan dropped onto her bed and folded her arms beneath her head, feeling the nice, cool silks beneath her hands. She closed her eyes and pictured a time where all she had to worry about was what necklace went with her dress for the day, which shoes she wanted to wear while riding, and which suit to don when she went swimming in the ocean. She used to be such a good swimmer. She was even known for it during her time in Narnia.

If she were to be strictly honest if she could rule Narnia and do away with the fighting and only have to worry about the appearances and the gowns and the balls and the peace she would jump on that chance. She would do away with the fighting and the wars altogether. Not that the perks were more important but because she just couldn't handle the stress and the fears.

She didn't want to worry anymore. Was that too much to ask?

Sitting up, Susan looked around the vast room. It used to be uncomfortable sleeping there. At night was when her memories from home would invade her mind and stop her from dreaming properly. After it while it got easier to forget but now it was always on the back of her mind. She missed her friends, she missed her mother and father, and part of her missed the normalcy. But Caspian wasn't there.

Something about the Telmarine had caught her eye right away, but she knew she couldn't act on it as there were more important things going on. She tried to hide her initial attraction but it was hard. The way he loved Narnia and cared about those that lived there despite being raised believing that some events were myths greatly impressed her. She had never felt the way she felt about him towards any male before. He had a way of grabbing her attention and holding it no matter what was going on; even if her skirts were aflame she wouldn't think of them twice.

But what would happen to them when they go back?

Susan swallowed the lump in her throat and moved over to her horn that was sitting on her dresser. She picked it up and ran her hand over the lion shaped end. The bumps, ridges, and grooves tickled her palm. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, pushing away everything else that didn't matter but the outcome of the war. They had to win and they would win.

There was no other option.

After changing into her chainmail and armor and with the weight of her quiver bouncing along on her back with each step she took, Susan made a beeline for the secret room that the children were being held with some of the women that were staying behind. If the castle were to come under attack she wanted to be sure that they would be protected no matter what. They did have archery skills on their side but having them in a separate room was an extra precaution.

"Look, it's the queen!"

"The queen is here. The queen is here."

Susan smiled at the sight of the children snapping to attention at her appearance and hastily bowed and curtsied in her presence. "Are you alright?" She addressed them. "Is anyone worried or scared or confused?" Susan looked around at the group. "Raise your hand if you're either of those."

After a moment their small arms popped into the air and they looked around at each other, as if to check that they weren't alone in their admission.

"That's what I thought." Susan sank to her knees and smiled. "It's alright if you're scared or confused or worried. I know that your fathers and some of your mothers are going to be leaving with us but the thing you need to know is that they're doing this for you. Please, if you take away anything from this, remember that. They would not be leaving if it weren't for good reasons and they are leaving to protect Narnia and to protect you children. We do not want any of you to get hurt. Do you understand?"

"We understand," they replied at different times. Some of their eyes were still wide with fear and unasked questions, questions she was thankful not to be asked. How was she to say to little children that their parents may not come home? She wouldn't even know how to start.

"Please do as the women say to you. If they want you to be quiet, stay quiet. If they want you to hide, hide." She reached out and ran her hand atop of a little girl's head, smoothing her hair down. "Everything will be fine, I promise. We'll make sure that Narnia returns to the way it was before and you can run around and play and enjoy yourselves very soon."

"Your Highness, I have decided that I would like to accompany you into battle," Windmane stated.

Susan got to her feet. "Windmane, you know that this isn't necessary."

"Your Highness, I stayed behind last time only to hear that one of my sons had passed," Windmane replied. "I do not want to wait again and live in fear that another one of my sons would not return or to hear if something happened to Glenstorm. I want to be there with them."

Smiling, Susan said, "I understand. You're welcome to join us."

"Thank you." Windmane walked over to the copper colored centaur that looked up at her with large, sad eyes. "Please do as the others tell you, Lightning Bolt."

"Okay," he mumbled in response.

She took his face in her hands and nuzzled her nose against his. She kissed the top of his head and followed Susan out of the room, the doors to the secret hideaway closing behind them as they left. As they stepped out of the room filled with paintings Susan spotted Edmund and flagged him over.

"Are you ready?" she asked him.

"As ready as I'll ever be, I suppose," Edmund replied. "And you?"

"The same. Windmane is coming with us."

Edmund's eyes shifted over to the kentauride. "Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes. I have never been surer of anything in my life."

Edmund accepted this and looked to Susan again. "We went over the strategy again. I figure once we get there we can go over it once more and then…kick things off, as it were."

"Alright, that sounds like a good plan." Susan paused and then added wistfully, "You've really grown up, Edmund.

"Yes, well, that tends to happen to people, Su," he replied, giving her a look. A look that she's seen one too many times. From that look alone she knew he was silently thanking her for her kind words even though, on the outside, he looked annoyed. He perfected it well over the years. His eyes widened when she approached him. "Su, no! No hugs! No hugs!" He protested, trying to get away from her as she pulled her little brother to herself. "Susan! I'm a king."

"Oh, hush!" Susan admonished, squeezing him tighter. "I'm your big sister; I'm allowed to hug you whenever I want."

"Not in front of other people!" Edmund grumbled, pushing her away. His hair was slightly tousled in his struggle and his cheeks were flushed a bright red. His eyes darted over to Windmane as she ran his hands over his hair and she smiled at him. He spluttered, "Yes, well…just be sure you're ready!" and then hurried off.

"Finally this nightmare can end," Edmund muttered under his breath. "One way or another." A chill rolled down his spine when he allowed his mind to dip into the dark thoughts that clung to him, the ones that screamed at him the chances that he may not make it back alive. But he's been in plenty of conflicts before and he came back from those, what would make these any different?

"Don't be so pessimistic," Susan scolded him. She deposited a saddle on the nearest horse's back. "You know what they say about the law of attraction."

"Yes, I know," Edmund replied. He allowed himself to grin as he added, "In that case does it mean that there will be a nice girl waiting for me when I get back?"

"Edmund!"

Snickering, he placed a saddle on Dava. He felt a light sting to his arm and saw a mischievous look in the horse's eye. He stuck his tongue out and fastened the saddle around the black horse's back, ingraining the exchange in his memory. It would be nice to have some lighthearted moments to focus on instead of letting his mind wander anywhere it wanted to.

"Hey, a guy can dream."

"You may as well stay in that dream because that's the only time it will ever happen," Crystal commented, reaching out to hit him on the arm. She, too, placed a saddle on Siber's back and made sure it was positioned right before strapping it down. She laughed like the others but her smile didn't reach her eyes.

Now that Edmund thought about it laughing in the wake of war felt odd, wrong even. But he had to do it. If he didn't laugh and find a way to have a good time now he thought he'd lose his mind. There was already too much pressure on him, anymore and he would crack beneath it.

What a Catch-22 that was.

"They're ready to leave on your orders," Elvrond stated, approaching them.

"Lead the way, Edmund," Crystal said. She patted Siber's side and waited for him to pull his wings in. They all watched, with mixed expressions of shock and discomfort, to see the bright white wings tuck back into his body. The wings slipped beneath the long white hair until the skin on either side of him was smooth, as if he had no wings at all. Grasping the reins she swung one leg over Siber's back and positioned herself.

He and Susan followed suit, lifting themselves up on their horses that stood still, waiting for the weight added onto their backs. Once situated on Dava's back Edmund took in a deep breath, sucking back until his chest swelled as much as his ribs would allow and the sound of his heartbeat began to echo in his ears. He then let it out slowly, pushing out all of the willy-nilly thoughts that bounced around in his mind and focused on the common goal.

He's dealt with conflicts before, what's another one?

"Are the women and children safe?" Edmund asked, turning to Susan.

She nodded. "They're hiding right now."

"And Lucy and James?"

"They're in the castle as well. Everyone is where they should be."

Edmund sucked in a breath and let it out again, gripping the reins tighter in his hands. There was no turning back now. "Okay. Let's move out," he said. He urged Dava forward and moved past the army that was waiting for him to lead the way. Gold and red flags blurred as Dava picked up speed and somewhere behind him a horn sounded which was quickly followed by a roar from the creatures

There was nothing else in the world that could get his blood pumping quite like the loud roar of his army and knowing that they were there to back him up through thick and thin.

Dava's hooves on the ground thudded like the steady beat of a drum, he could feel it in his bounces with each bounce on the horse's back. The scenery around him turned into one large blur, wind whistled in his ears and tugged on his clothes.

Riding was therapeutic to him, very calming. So calming in fact that by the time they made it to the campsite he almost forgot what they were riding towards and why they were there. He hadn't had such a nice, long ride in a long time. He made a mental note that when it was all over and done with he'd go on another one and take in the sights and sounds.

"Any news?" Edmund asked once his feet were on the ground. He adjusted the strap holding his sword on his hip.

"The area is secure, my liege," a faun reported. "The air feels thick. I think it's only a matter of time now."

"Right. The sooner we strike the better," Edmund said. "I don't know how much longer we can wait for Peter and the others."

"I don't think waiting would aid us in any way," Susan spoke up, appearing by his side. "Striking first and early is the only advantage we have."

Edmund nodded in agreement. It was then that he noticed he had everyone's eyes on him. He swallowed the lump in his throat and kept his voice strong. He had led them before, now was no different. "If we come out of the rocks and use them as a sort of shield in the beginning we should be able to hold them off until we get more help." He turned to the faun. "Go over the battle plan with the griffins and the eagles once more. They know their roles. Get half of the centaurs and dwarves to the How. We need their eyes on the sky." He turned to address his sister. "Su, if you could lead them once again we'll have the advantage of long range. Stay back as long as needed. I'll signal you when we need reinforcements."

"Got it," Susan said. He could almost see a fire burning in her eyes. Never before had he seen such a fierce look of determination in her eyes. It made a shiver roll down in his spine in the best sort of way.

"The rest of us will fight face-to-face," Edmund addressed the rest of the group. A few minotaurs breathed heavily through their noses and dragged their hooves against the ground. "Fight hard no matter what you're up against. Do not stop moving. Push through them if you need to. She most likely has her wand on her. If you get near her, stay away from it. It's sharp." He let a smile a bitter smile, "Trust me, I know."

Susan pressed her lips together and cast her eyes downwards. Edmund glanced at her. He knew joking about his past experience was probably in bad form but that was the only way he knew how to face moments such as this, by laughing and joking about it to make it less scary. Clearing his throat, he continued.

"It may still have the power to turn you to stone. Watch out for that. She is a skilled warrior." His eyes hardened. "She has killed Aslan once, tried to kill my family, almost killed me, and has haunted my dreams and made me question my own ties to Narnia more often than I can count. Do whatever you can to take her down if need be but do not kill her. Leave her to me. If anyone is going to end this, it will be me. Do you understand?" The roar of support that came from the army made him flinch but he soaked it all in.

A ripple of wind brushed his hair.

"That's not me," Crystal commented when she noticed Edmund looking at her. She held her hands up to prove her innocence. Like everyone else he looked around, watching the wind brush against the tops of the trees and cause a silence to fall over the group. Petals lifted up into the air and they watched as it took on the figure resembling a man.

"King Edmund, I bring news from His Royal Majesty, the High King," the Dryad spoke.

Edmund's eyebrows shot up. "Please, share."

"He wants to bring attention to the White Witch's mortality. As you recall the White Witch was brought back due to some sort of dark magic. Blood was used to complete the summoning and His Royal Majesty believes if you remove the connection between the two it will be what you need to turn events to your favor."

Edmund listened intently and rubbed his chin as the Dryad spoke. It made sense. A lot of sense. So much so he wondered why he hadn't figured that out before. He always thought that they would have to wait on Aslan to come and bail them out of trouble like last time. That's assuming Aslan would be around for them again. Not that he didn't believe the noble lion would be there for them but how long could they rely on him to clean up their messes without putting a hand in themselves? He didn't want Aslan to become a crutch but that was hard when he still found himself learning about the world despite being there for a good chunk of his life (or a compressed chunk of his life).

"Thank you for bringing this to our attention. Standby. We may need the aid of the trees once more and send messages with haste."

"Of course, Your Majesty." The figure of the man burst into a shower of petals and was carried away with the wind.

Then the air became still.

Edmund broke the silence. He couldn't stand how loud it was. "Keep on your toes. Susan, Crystal and I shall check on the healers and finalize our plans and then…" he sighed, his shoulders lifted and dropped, "and then we'll move out and move forward."

With a tilt of his head Edmund lead his sister and friend to the tent that was stationed nearby. He ducked beneath the flap and a centaur on the inside looked up from a leaf that he was crushing in a bowl with a pestle.

"Your Majesties," he greeted them. He bowed low to the ground; his braided copper colored hair fell over his shoulder.

"Cloudbirth," Susan greeted the centaur. "We have heard about your skills in the healing field. We are honored to have you overlook us and treat out ailments."

"It is my honor, Your Majesty," Cloudbirth replied. "I wish not to have to treat anyone but if the time comes you are in good hands. I am a master of antidotes and a scholar of topical application."

"If only Lu were here," Edmund said wistfully. "She would love to learn more about healers and their studies."

"Her Majesty would like to become a healer?" Cloudbirth asked, picking up the pestle and rubbed it against the powder in the bowl.

"Yes. After getting a gift from Father Christmas it is all she can talk about," Susan replied. "In fact she had started to take on a healing apprenticeship all those years ago when we, erm…." Her voice trailed off and a light flushed settled into the apples of her cheeks. She cleared her throat. "That is to say I'm sure she'd be overjoyed if given the chance to study beneath you one day."

"It would be the highest honor."

Edmund's eyes scanned the row of bowls lined up on the table, each with a paste of a different color and a different scent. His eyes narrowed and his hand went to the hilt of his sword. Something felt off. He felt as if he were being watched. Slowly withdrawing his sword he gripped the end with both his hands and approached a stack of barrels by the other side of the tent.

"Ed? What's wrong?" Crystal spoke up. Susan looked at her brother over her shoulder, her eyebrows dropping in concern.

Edmund held a finger to his mouth and continued his slow approach to the stack. Gripping the sword tighter he jammed the blade in the space between two barrels, earning a high-pitched shriek as a response. "Come out!" He ordered, withdrawing his wand. He spun it around small flourish (an unnecessary one, Susan thought) and replaced the blade in its sheath and crossed his arms. "Now," he added a bit more forcefully.

The girls exchanged a look of confusion. They both wondered if he had lost his mind only for the suspicion to fade away when, slowly, Lucy and James peeked out from behind the barrels. At the raise of Edmund's eyebrow they came out fully, looking as if they had been caught with their hands in a cookie jar.

"Lucy?" Susan gasped. "What are you doing here? I thought you were back at the castle! How long have you been here? And what happened to your dress?"

Lucy looked to James and then lifted her head, looking her older sister in the eye. "I came to fight," she replied. Her words carried a weight that left the others stunned for a moment. Edmund frowned, Susan shook her head, Cloudbirth's scrapping stopped, and Crystal started to bite on her thumbnail. "I didn't want to stay behind again. I couldn't stay behind again, Susan, I just couldn't. I want to be here with everyone else. So…James and I sneaked out with the Rayuvians." Lucy licked her lips and waited for Susan or Edmund to say something, send her back, anything, but they remained silent. Taking a chance, she continued, "I couldn't bear sitting back in my room and worrying about what would happen to you all. I can be of use. You know I can!"

"Lu, that's not the point!" Susan said, her voice stern. "We asked you to stay back for your own protection."

"I've fought before."

"We know that but you're not the same as you were before." Susan placed her hands on Lucy's shoulders and knelt to look her in the eye. "You're not as old as you once were. These people will not hesitate to kill you even if you are young."

"I know that, Susan!" Lucy snapped. "I know that! I've heard this talk before!" She brushed Susan's hands off of her and huffed in frustration. "This isn't new to me. I've fought before, remember? And Crystal taught me some new techniques"—the mentioned girl flinched beneath Susan's sharp gaze and turned as if she were suddenly interested in the wax candle that sat on a nearby table—"and I know some from our time before."

"You taught her?" Susan asked, turning on Crystal.

She removed her thumb from her mouth. "Well…only what I was being taught. I didn't think it would be all that different. I'm still learning myself, so…" Crystal shrugged and bit her lip. "This way she's protected, yeah? Like I'm supposed to do for you all."

"That's not the point," Susan said, her voice tight. "She's not supposed to be out here. She's supposed to be back at the castle and not out here running around with some idea that she can handle this. Thanks for putting it in her head."

"You're blaming me!?" Crystal's mouth fell open as she motioned to herself. Crossing her arms, Susan nodded. "Lucy would have thought of this on her own whether I had a hand in it or not. Which I did not."

"Oh, you're always putting ideas in Lucy's head," Susan said.

"Name one," Crystal challenged her.

"D'you remember that one summer at the park when you wanted to play some made up game about pirates? Poor Lucy wanted to play too. I told you she was too young but you let her play anyway. She fell off the top of the slide, or the 'mast', and had to get stitches!"

"I'm not the one who pushed her off," Crystal protested, shooting Edmund a particularly scathing look. His dark eyes widened to help project his innocence in the matter. So what if he didn't like Lucy at the time and was trying to find a way to take her back to the hospital so it could be the three of them again? He liked her now.

"That's not the point," Susan said, shaking her head. "You just don't think sometimes. Everything's all fun and games to you. This is serious."

"I understand that, Su."

"No, I don't think you do. This isn't some game we made up. This isn't make believe. This isn't some new adventure. You'd do well to get your head out of the clouds and take responsibility for once." Susan turned her eyes away from the stony expression that appeared on Crystal's face. She looked at Lucy and said, "You're not fighting. And that's that." Glancing at James she added, "I'll make arrangements for you both," and stalked out of the tent.

No one said anything for a few minutes until James spluttered, "I'm sorry. This was my idea. If I hadn't said anything…. If I hadn't brought it up..."

Edmund ran a hand though his hair. The last thing he needed before a conflict was to have another conflict to sort out. This one was too petty for his taste. "Hush," he ordered. James snapped his mouth shut. "It doesn't matter whose idea was whose and who said what and did what. You're here now and there is no time to send you both back. If being here is really what you want, it is what you'll get." James and Lucy exchanged a look. Edmund made sure he had their attention before continuing, "You both are to stay here. You'll help Cloudbirth with anything he needs and you two will do as he says. If—and only if—we need your aid on the battlefield I will come and get you personally. But that is the only chance, d'you understa—oof!"

Lucy had launched herself at Edmund before he could finish his sentence, wrapping her arms tight around his waist. Edmund looked up to the ceiling of the tent and lightly patted Lucy's back. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! You're my favorite brother!"

"Don't let Peter hear that," Edmund commented. Lucy nodded rapidly and smiled over at James who smiled back.

"You sure do live up to your namesake," James said quietly.

"Thank you. I appreciate that, I truly do." Edmund turned to Cloudbirth. "Please let me know if at any moment they do not take this seriously."

"I will," Cloudbirth replied.

"C'mon," Edmund said to Crystal, leading her out of the tent. He licked his lips and looked up at the sky to check the position of the sun. Once they were out of earshot he grabbed her arm to keep her from walking. "Listen, we're all stressed and under pressure. That does not excuse what Susan said but you can't worry about that now. I need you to focus and have my back, okay?"

The stony expression didn't leave her face and a muscle twitched in her jaw. "Don't worry, with Valkyrie and Moralltach your back will be protected. I won't let any of you or Aslan down."

Edmund blinked. "Valkyrie and Moralltach?"

"My swords," she explained, gesturing to the blades strapped to her back. She shrugged. "The names came to me, like someone whispering in my ear."

"Huh, let's hope they live up to their names."

The still silence made Edmund's beating heart sound like a giant playing a drum. The armor sitting atop of his body felt as if it was made of stone and he constantly adjusted his grip on his sword. Dava stomped on the ground. The last time they faced the White Witch Peter was in this position, now here Edmund sat waiting to fight for Narnia once more.

He looked over his shoulder to see Susan and the rest of the archers stationed where he planned. It still filled him with a sense of pride to see his own strategy plans come to life. He only hoped they would work out and they would come back with a smaller loss than ever before.

"Stay with me, please." Crystal spoke so suddenly and so quietly he thought he had made it up, that he was simply dreaming. But he wasn't. He did his best to turn his head beneath his helmet to look at Crystal. At one glance anyone would have thought she was calm but if they looked at her, really looked at her, they would see fear bubbling beneath the surface. Facing death was enough to make even the strongest men balk but that didn't mean it was any less uncomfortable to see his friend so…normal.

"Until the very end," Edmund replied.

Their enemy finally broke the horizon line in the distance. He strained to see if polar bears were pulling a cart forward like before. He wasn't sure how many the White Witch had on her side. A lot of her previous supporters had died off and those that were still alive were now on their side. Fighting the Telmarines had brought them together much more than he ever imagined. Trufflehunter wasn't kidding about a common enemy bringing anyone together. Having some minotaurs on his side made him feel safe.

Behind him a horn blew and the Narnians let out a rallying cry.

"Don't stop until you find them," Edmund told Crystal. "Fight off anyone in your way but don't stop. We need to get them as soon as possible if we're to have the upper hand. Don't hesitate to kill them because they won't hesitate to kill you."

"Got it," she replied.

Edmund lifted his sword straight in the air and then pointed it at their opponents. Large shadows flew past them. Griffins soared over head, aiming straight for the opposing army. They swooped down and picked up a few minotaurs that were on the front line, lifting them high into the air and then dropped them on the lines behind them.

That'd hurt, Edmund couldn't help but think with a little smile. Having someone of such a weight land on you would not be a way that he would want to go. If he had a choice he'd go in his sleep.

But now that decision was in the hands of their enemy.

Edmund lifted his sword into the sky again, gripping his legs tighter on Dava's side when she reared back and kicked her legs into the air.

"For Aslan!" His army yelled behind him.

The scream was deafening and the next thing he knew he was bouncing on Dava's back as they raced for their quickly approaching opponents.

He locked eyes with a Minotaur and was close enough to feel its breath on his face when he drew his sword and connected with the bull-man hybrid.

A/N: Please read and review!