Author's note: Last weekend was crazy. I had sooooo much work to do because classes are ending soon, so I guess it's just as well that I didn't get as many reviews as I asked for last week. Summer break is almost here, so from now on I've got much less work to do and I can focus more on updating.

On top of that, this chapter was strangely hard to write. I've been anticipating writing this scene for a while now but I ended up having problems with it. While writing the battle scene from LWW, I could watch the movie and get a really good idea of who was where doing what as well as what was going on globally. It's so much harder to deal with when all you have is writing. Still, I can only hope I did it justice. What do you think?

The battle for Archenland has finally arrived. The beginning of this chapter is annoyingly slow buildup, but it needed to be there. There's also a lot less interaction between characters and a lot more actual actions taking place, understandable for a battle scene.

Thanks as usual to all of those that reviewed: MCH, Always and a day Love, songwriter16, PJO-Blue-cookies, Random Reader and guests. My personal responses were getting kind of long, so I've put them at the end of the chapter. Please check it out if you left comments in your review. I hope to hear from all of you again.

I am still looking for a new quote from this fanfic that I can put in the summary. Any ideas?

8 reviews until I publish the next chapter.

Chapter 15: Battle for Anvard

"By the Lion's Mane, Corin this is too much!" Edmund's outraged shout rang through the chaos of the army. Almost instantly, a crowd gathered to see what all the fuss was about. "When will you learn to behave? You're more of a danger than the entire army put together. I'd rather lead a regiment of hornets than you!"

I sighed moved towards the huddle, which instantly parted to let me through.

"What's he done this time?" I asked, not speaking to anyone in particular.

It was Lucy who answered, "Corin didn't appreciate being babysat. He and Thornbut came to blows, which wouldn't have been a big deal since they're pretty evenly matched in wresting, but Thornbut tripped over a stone and sprained his ankle badly."

Sure enough, the dwarf in question was sitting on the ground, letting out a string of very creative curses. A couple of fawns were standing around him, having just finished helping him out of his armor. A little way away, Edmund stood over an abashed looking Corin, looking furious.

"I wish I had my cordial with me," Lucy continued regretfully. "I could have this mended in an instant, but Peter and Susan both agree that I shouldn't carry it so commonly to the wars. They agree it should be saved for emergencies."

"They just worry that one day you will need it desperately and by that time you'll have used it all up treating sprains and bruises," I said. "Thornbut won't be able to fight in the battle, but it's hardly anything serious and we'll likely see far worse today."

"Couldn't you heal it with magic?" Lucy asked.

"You know I only save it for emergencies."

Sure enough, though there were several witches whose talent was in healing, mine was not. Healing, for me, required a complicated piece of invocative magic, so I generally only attempted it when the only other option was death. I had no intentions of performing that sort of magic without having slept in over two days when I was just about to charge into battle. Even someone like me, whose capacity for exhaustion was far higher than most other creatures, such an attempt would lead to my collapsing.

"Sorry," Lucy apologized. "I had to ask. Well, there's nothing that can be done now. Thornbut will have to stay behind at the dwarves' cottage," Lucy decided. I nodded. The youngest queen always did make the best of things.

"Edmund!" I called. He looked up from his heated argument with Corin.

"What now?" he snapped.

"There's no need to shout," I scolded as he came over. "We need to leave as soon as possible, so try to control your temper."

"That boy is far too reckless," Edmund fumed. "He's insisting on joining the fight."

"Boys will be boys," I teased.

"Oh shut up. Now come on, we're just ready about ready to leave."

I let Edmund lead me away, glancing back to see Corin pulling his twin aside, talking frantically. I rolled my eyes. There was never any stopping Corin. I felt slightly sorry for the boy he would probably drag into much trouble in the future. For now, I'd just have to keep an eye on them during the battle, Cor especially as he was not trained for fighting.

We were just about fully prepared for the coming attack, and Edmund's order to "mount up" didn't take long to arrive. As we were all settled, however, we were once again interrupted, this time by the rather predictable arrival of Phillip. It was only after Edmund had reunited with his horse and had gotten him saddled and ready for the campaign (sending a few glares my way) that we finally rode out once more, this time as a battalion on the march instead of a band of friends.

We rode west, with the mountains on our left, banners fluttering in the wind, armor and swords glinting in the sun. Peridan, Oreius and Edmund kept busy with talk of battle and strategy, and Lucy spoke with Storm, who quite liked the younger queen. He always said that she reminded him of me when I was younger, less concerned with politics and plotting, and far more fun than I was now (I rather resented him for that). I was perfectly content to sit back and observe the scenery and the goings on of those around me, notably the two princes who were hanging back, Cor looking extremely uncomfortable on his horse.

As we rode, the path became narrower and began to wind more, following the side of the mountain. The drop on our right hand side became steeper. Soon, we were going single file along the rocky path, with only a steep drop on our left. Then, the path went left and south away from the cliff and rose up and became surrounded by trees so that we could see nothing. Now and then, we could see huge peak of Stormness Head and its eagles. They sensed the coming battle and had come to circle the mountain, preparing to feed once the fighting was done.

When we had crossed the neck of the pass and come a good deal lower we reached more open ground, from which we could see all of Archenland spread out before us, all the way to the desert beyond. We had, however, no time to admire the view. The sun was beginning to descend in the sky, though it was still high and bright. It did, however, remind us all that time was pressing and that we needed to move as fast as possible if we did not wish to find Anvard under Calormene control when we arrived.

We stopped once again for a few minutes, as the army finished last checks before the charge. Everywhere people were tightening girths, putting on helmets, drawing cloaks and throwing cloaks to the ground. The giants took the huge spiked boots they had been carrying on their backs and laced them tightly up to their knees. They slung their clubs over their backs and then got back into formation. And then there was the blast of war trumpets we were on the move again.

There was hardly any talking now. We were all very solemn and very wary. It was the dreadful moment of anticipation which comes before any battle. Then we began to hear noises far ahead: the shouts of men and the steady thud-thud thud of a battering ram. Edmund and Oreius had been right in their predictions. Foolish, really. If he was smarter (or more patient) he would have made ladders.

We topped a low ridge and we could see Anvard. It was a small, many-towered castle nestled among the hills and valleys of Archenland. Its gate was towards us, but shut and with the portcullis down. On the castle walls I could see the defenders of Anvard like little white dots, raining arrows down on the Calormene. At the base of the walls, about 50 Calormenes were dismounted, swinging a great tree trunk at the gate. A few had fallen, but they had their shields above their heads to protect themselves from the Archenlanders. The rest of the men were on foot ready to assault the gate. Among them I saw a few of Rabadash's most trusted Tarkhaans: Corradin, Azrooh, lamash, Ilgamuth and Anradin.

Rabadash's men were wonderfully trained, there was no doubt about it. In an instant, as they spotted our party careening down the hill, they moved towards their horses. However, our army was just as good. The cats leapt into action, separating themselves from the main party and circling round to cut the dismounted men off from their horses and attacking the poor beasts. Those that did not immediately bolt were downed in an instant. But the Calormenes were reforming. A line of about one hundred cavalry had managed to reform, and those whose horses were downed were still just as willing to fight.

They charged.

We were ready to meet them. As one, the Narnian force fell into a gallop, and the two lines were getting closer and closer. I was at the front, alongside Edmund, whose face was set in a grim line, ready for the fight. However, I did not meet the armies head on with the rest of the force. Instead, Storm lifted himself into the air in a smooth movement of his wings and then we were soaring above the battlefield.

This was a tactic that Edmund, Peter and I had often used when I was involved in any sort of battle. From above the field, I could see the battle unfolding. My task was to observe, report any developments to the commanders, and lend assistance to whichever section of the men was most in need of it. And a powerful sorceress on a dragon was definitely a great aid to an army in need. If we were lucky, though, my help would not be needed today.

And so I watched the proceedings as the two armies met to the deafening sounds of clashing swords, horses' hooves and battle cries. On the right flank, the giants were smashing their way through the Calormenes, while the cats continued to go at the riderless horses. The main bulk of the Narnian cavalry was pounding ceaselessly at the Calormene, who were fighting back with equal fervor. The center of the battle was a desperate tangle of swords and bodies and horses in a writhing mass.

There was a crash as one of the giants fell, an arrow through its eye. The other five, however, only seemed to become enraged and double their effort. I saw no need to deprive them of their vengeance.

Seeing as there was no pressing need for my assistance just yet, I quickly cast about looking for the two young princes. I spotted them easily, two children in a sea of experienced warriors. Corin was fighting splendidly, using all the experience he had gained in his years of training. He fought like a man, downing a Calormene as I watched. Clearly, he would be able to handle himself. Cor, however, was not faring so well. He had had no training in swordplay, and did not even know how to properly ride a horse (something I would definitely need to talk to Bree about when next I saw him). He had his entire right side exposed making no use of his shield, and was waving his sword about like a lunatic, nearly killing his own pony.

As I watched, a Calormene rider swung at him as he rode by, knocking the blade out of his hand instantly. A few more seconds later, a spear came at him. Instantly, I sent a wind current his way, pushing his body out of the way of the sword, causing him to fall off his horse. I wheeled Stormracer around, landing him by the boy's fallen form just as I summoned a rock to crush the attacker's head. Cor was winded, but uninjured. He looked up at me, his face slightly bloody from a cut on his forehead, likely attained from the fall.

"Stay down!" I instructed before I was off again.

The Calormenes' horses were all gone by now, either dead or fled, and the cats had launched themselves at the battering ram, which had up to now still been pounding away at the gates. On foot, and unable to reach their swords in time, the ram-men were downed. That task done, the cats wheeled back to the main battle and began to tear at the left flank of Rabadash's army.

Hemmed in on three sides, the Calormene forces were beginning to fail. But rabaashhad made yet another big mistake. Had he not charged the Narnian troops, he could have kept his rear protected. As it was, he had exposed it to attack from the men of Anvard. And now, those men were using that advantage. Anvard's great gates were opening, and its troops began to spill out. They were only about 50 of them, but that was more than enough to press at the backs of the Calormenes, surrounding them completely while continuing to rain arrows down upon them.

Once more, I swung down from my vantage point, this time approaching Edmund, driving my sword into a Calormene as I landed. The Just King had just been lopping off some Tarkhaan's head.

"The Archenlanders have organized a sortie," I informed him as we fought side by side.

"I see that. Tell me how the battle is unfolding," Edmund responded.

I guessed that he knew what was happening perfectly well, but wanted confirmation instead of relying on his limited view of the battlefield.

"The Calormene are all but defeated. They've been pushed back nearly to Anvard's gate, and are surrounded on all sides, fighting back to back," I confirmed for his benefit.

"What of Rabadash?"

"I saw him near the gate just moments ago, still fighting with all his might."

"Then perhaps it's high time he met me."

"I'll leave you to it then."

Edmund rode off, but Storm and I didn't bother flying up again. We knew where things stood in the battle, and we could fight perfectly well from the ground. My double-bladed sword became a blur of shining metal and blood red, and around me flew the elements I unleashed on the surrounding forces. Beneath me, the dragon was snapping his jaws at any enemy within reach, swinging his tail at those that tried to attack him from behind.

And then, I began to see that around me the fighting had stopped. There were no longer Calormenes attacking around us, and the only remnants of the battle seemed to be in the few duels still taking place at the base of the castle walls. Soon enough, that stopped as well.

The Calormenes were utterly defeated.

Guest: I really love les miserables and that is one of my favorite quotes from it. When I asked for a quote though, I meant one from the fic that I could use for the summary, so it doesn't really work for what I had in mind. I might find a way to use it later in the story, just because that's a great song and I think it might really fit for the Prince Caspian bits (as in freeing themselves from the Telmarines). Thanks!

MCH: I agree that the reminder of the betrothal is sort of sad considering that the Golden Age is coming to a close. I am dreading having to write them leaving. As you said, on to chapter 14. I really do see Edmund and Rayna acting like siblings, and I really love writing them together. Rayna's relationship to him is very different to Peter's because although she loves Peter, Edmund is better when it comes to underhanded plotting (I will refer y ou to the brilliant Miraz/Edmund scene that I really can't wait to write). This, as I see it, comes from his natural snarky personality mixed with the influence of seeing Rayna's constant plots. They've spent 14 years helping each other, and as you said, he definitely has her back. Rayna, however, is always slightly too focused on Narnia as a whole and looks at it as him helping Narnia and not herself, but she definitely shares a close relationship with him and trusts him completely. I really appreciate all your comments and hope to hear more from you soon.

Guest: I'm glad to hear that you appreciate the story. Thanks for your comment, it's really helpful because I worry a lot about making sure she doesn't slip into Mary Sue territory. She has her qualities, her faults, her own strengths and weaknesses and I try to make sure that they balance out and that I never take cheap shortcuts with the character (which is the main reason that I spend a lot of time limiting her magic). Also, can I just say that I love your rating system? I really love knowing exactly what people think of my story and a perfect rating just makes me really happy. Keep reading.

Songwriter16: I definitely love Edmund and Rayna's relationship, because he's just a great character and she's able to let loose a little around him. I just love writing their banter, and I will definitely keep exploring their relationship. You also just made me realize that it's been about 10 chapters since I've written about Peter. I try to make their romance realistic, and I definitely want Rayna to have her own character and storyling and not be dependent on some guy, but I really am starting to miss him. Still, it won't be long until we see him (and then he just leaves again anyway).

PJO-Blue-cookies: As always, I'm interested to hear your question. Rayna will be going back to her non-aging teenage state wen the Pevensies leave. For justification on this, I will refer you to her conversation with Aslan in part 1, chapter 18 Coronation (see, I've been planning ahead for this). Hope to hear more from you after this chapter.

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