Once Upon Another Time
Edmund snatched a crossbow from a dead Telmarine's hand, taking potshots at the soldiers as they tried to scramble from the Narnian trap, racing around the edge of the collapsed tunnels, passing Caspian and Elednor.
Elednor saw Edmund pass, then locked onto the Telmarine horseman charging towards her. Dropping her bow, she drew Liliad and parried his blow, before slashing across his chest. She beheaded another on foot, before forcing her horse to slide to a halt before she fell into the tunnels. She looked up, panting from exertion, when her blood suddenly ran cold.
The Telmarine foot soldiers were advancing. They were too many, they would be overwhelmed.
A ballista landed too close to her, and her horse reared, making Elednor fall. Winded, she scrambled for Liliad and rose to her feet just into time to block a jab from a Telmarine, ducking under his guard and stabbing him in the stomach.
"Elednor!" she heard Edmund cry, turning to find him riding up to her, hand outstretched. She let him pull her up and behind him, clutching his waist with one hand and fighting with the other as Edmund continued to shoot with the crossbow.
"Back to the How!" Peter cried out, as Edmund, Elednor and Caspian met in the centre of battle. All three glanced at one another before galloping off, towards the How.
"Susan!" Edmund suddenly cried out, as a ballista hit the face of the How, causing one of the platforms to collapse from beneath the archers' feet. Susan fell, but Trumpkin caught her hand, swinging her onto a ledge, and to safety. The ballistas did their work, smashing into the How and caving in the entrance, blocking off their only route of escape. Caspian had already dismounted, and now Edmund and Elednor did so, rushing to Peter's side as they turned to face the enemy, Susan joining them.
The four Kings and Queens all looked to one another grimly. They couldn't win this, not with their forces divided, and the too large number of the Telmarines, and no escape.
But it was not about winning, but about holding them off until Lucy found Aslan.
Peter looked to his brother, who drew his sword, eyes dark and glinting with the light of battle, as he turned to face the enemy.
Together, now, they would make their last charge. Edmund's eyes turned to Elednor's, and he smiled ruefully.
"I love you," he breathed, as she smiled grimly.
"I know," she murmured, drawing Liliad and her knife, ready to die for Narnia.
As one, they began to sprint towards the enemy, in a charge unequalled by any army in all the histories of all the worlds.
From the corner of her eye, Elednor saw Edmund snatch up a second sword, as they reached the enemy, whirling them around in a deadly vortex of silver. She kicked one soldier, driving him back before slashing his throat.
She ducked beneath the spear of another, snapping it in half before spinning and catching him with her knife.
Another came at her, and she parried his blade, before catching it in a lock, yanking it from him and dodging around him to thrust her sword into his back.
And so they fought, cutting and slashing away at the Telmarines as they inexorably advanced, desperately dodging and parrying blows as they battled. Edmund did not know if it was minutes, days or hours, as he parried a Telmarine soldier's overhead blow before stabbing him with his other sword. Behind him, Susan held her own with her bow, while he fought with his two swords. Peter was somewhere close by, ruthlessly fighting on, while Elednor gracefully cut down any who came into her path.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted Reepicheep rush into the enemy lines as they advanced, numbly pausing to pant as they came closer, Glenstorm and a few Fauns bravely jumping over the Telmarine shield wall to fight.
Caspian went down, kicked over the edge of the tunnels by two Telmarines, and Edmund had to roll to avoid his head being slashed off. He twisted and came up on his feet, bringing his sword up to parry but the soldier he was fighting collapsed with a knife in his back. He glimpsed Elednor before getting to his feet and launching himself back into the fray, unable to think beyond the primal need to keep fighting, to keep surviving.
To live.
His heart pounded, his blood sang and he gasped for air, but he had never felt more alive.
Suddenly, a great groan seemed to come from the earth itself, as Edmund turned to see Trees of all types and sizes rush from the forest, wading through the soil itself, long, trailing roots mercilessly batting aside the Telmarines.
A cheer went up from the Narnians, as he ran to Peter's side, just helping Caspian from the tunnels, Elednor and Susan joining him.
"Lucy," Peter breathed, smiling, as they all looked at one another. She had found Aslan. They were saved.
The Trees made quick work of the trebuchets, and the remaining Telmarines turned tail and fled towards Beruna.
Exhausted but determined, the others followed Peter as he sprinted forward, shouting "For Aslan!"
Elednor fell in beside Edmund, as they chased the Telmarines through the woods, untiring and swift, as they sensed victory draw near.
They emerged from the woods to find the Telmarines hesitating on the shore and in the river, as they skidded to a halt, weapons raised and ready to push the Telmarines back.
Elednor's breath caught in her throat as she recognised a little figure step onto the bridge, her cloak flowing around her. Lucy.
"What is she doing?" Susan hissed in fear, as the little Queen drew her dagger, smiling challengingly at the Telmarines, as another figure emerged from the woods, golden and towering in the Narnian sunlight.
Aslan.
Elednor felt warmth steal over her, as she sighed in relief. Her faith did not waver even as the Telmarines gave a great cry and began to gallop over the bridge towards Lucy and Aslan.
The four Kings and Queens watched as Aslan stepped forward and roared, a great sound which echoed in the very mountains themselves, stopping the Telmarine army in its tracks on the bridge and in the river. All waited with bated breath as the river seemed to recede, then a great wave built and rushed towards the bridge, rearing up and forming into the shape of a bearded man with hair of white foam.
The river god.
Elednor smiled with joy, as the river god destroyed the bridge and the Telmarine army, feeling peace settle over her. Narnia was free, at last.
The remained Telmarines surrendered to the Narnians, dropping their weapons. Caspian and Peter set their troops to collect the weapons and guard the Telmarine soldiers, but not to harm them, as the four Kings and Queen crossed the river Rush, to meet Aslan.
They scrambled up the bank, feet slipping on the wet stones as their eyes met Aslan's, Lucy standing beside the Great Lion proudly.
All four sank to their knees, heads bowed in respect, as Aslan's golden gaze settled upon them.
"Raise Kings and Queens of Narnia," he commanded softly, Elednor, Edmund, Peter and Susan rising at the order, relaxing slightly but Caspian remained kneeling. "All of you," he prompted gently, as Caspian looked up, almost fearfully.
"I do not think I am ready," he admitted ruefully. Aslan shook his great mane.
"It is for that very reason, I know you are," he replied, before Caspian stood, tall and proud before the Lion. The Great Lion looked to Peter and Susan, both looking uncertain and sheepish as he approached them.
"Forgive me, Aslan," Peter breathed pleadingly. "I was a fool."
"My son, you have atoned and you have bled for Narnia. All is well," Aslan replied, extending his head and kissing Peter on the forehead gently. "My Daughter, listen not to fears. All will be well," he addressed Susan next, as she trembled but smiled happily.
At the last he turned to Elednor and Edmund, smiling gently at the couple, hand in hand beside Caspian. "Well done, my son and daughter," he breathed. "Your faith and your love have served Narnia well."
"Aslan!" Elednor breathed, letting go of Edmund's hand to bury her face in the golden mane, hugging him tightly before stepping back to stand beside her husband once more.
"You have proven your devotion across the ages and worlds. No more could you have done," Aslan told Edmund solemnly, who inclined his head with a sad smile. Elednor could guess their broken family was on his mind, playing on his conscience. She pressed his hand, exhaling shakily as his eyes met hers, and they softened.
They had won, they had saved Narnia and fulfilled their purpose. Elednor turned back to Aslan, but felt her heart sink when she glimpsed the sadness in his eyes as he looked at Edmund and her.
They had won but more pain was yet to come.