A/N: Hey guys, it took a little while to write the chapter, but I am posting it. The reason is that it is for one of my childhood friends. She passed away on Sunday, from an illness that they could not recognise as a pre-existing one. She was in a lot of pain, so writing this made me feel a little better. I know she is not in any pain, and it is kind of directed at the pain I am feeling, but am numb to.
Know that I do not intend to make sad stories at any point. I also have no intention to address anything like this at any point. Truth be told, I never thought this would need to be addressed. I am only 17, and she was just two days younger than me. She didn't even make it to 18, and that is quite sad. We all expected that she would not live up to 21, and she wasn't even close to that.
Know that I am doing okay. I know she is not in pain, and she will look over me, and make sure I am happy. I am happy I can spend more time with her, through her being a spirit.
Know that I wanted to make stories that make people feel happy, and ones that we're entertaining with a healthy amount of drama, but this death needed to be addressed. I can feel her childhood spirit in this chapter, and I hope you find this positive. I will not let this drag down the rest of the series, and I hope you will be kind during my time of grief. I hope you are all doing good, hope you all stay safe, and I hope you enjoy the chapter.
The boy ended up leaving, but we followed after him. I put my coronation crown on my head, and put my hood over it. It is still in fairly good condition. It was starting to rust, but it was still good quality.
I knew I needed him safe, he had so much potential, we needed him, I needed him.
We kept a distance from the boy, in the hopes that we would keep him safe. That's true for Trufflehunter and me, though, not Nickabrick.
We were walking for a fair few hours, before what we thought would happen, happened.
"I can hear you."
I looked at him, and walked up. "You should wait for The kings and queens. They were always there, they should be coming back." I was, honestly, hoping they would come. Truth be told, none were there when Narnia needed them. They were not there when I needed them. I was hoping they would come, but I knew it was incredibly unlikely.
"See if the other's will listen to what you have to say!"
Caspian turned to us, with horror in his eyes. "Others?"
"Maybe I'll come with you. I want to see how you explain things to the minotaurs." I heard Nickabrick say, and that scared me. He could be seriously hurt if he says the wrong thing.
"Nickabrick. You are being incredibly inappropriate!" I walked up to him, and slapped him on the back of his head, again.
"Minotaurs, they are real?" Caspian almost shouted.
I walked back up to him, grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
"Know minotaurs have a temper."
"Yeah, not to mention big," Nickabrick smirked.
"Huge." WHAT ARE YOU DOING TRUFFLEHUNTER, I thought you were on my side!
"What about centaurs, do they still exist?" Caspian asked as I pulled him along.
"They are likely to stand by your side. They are incredibly loyal to whom they deem worthy." I said as I pulled him along side me. "There is no way to tell how the others will behave, but we know that the centaurs will fight for you. They will lay their lives down if push comes to shove. They see it as an honour."
"Then, how about Aslan?" I let go of his hand, as I felt guilt rush through me.
I could feel tears forming in my eyes, 'Aslan, I want your help! So much.'
"How do you know so much about us?" Trufflehunter asked, while looking at Caspian oddly.
"Stories, " that was all Caspian replied with. It got the job done.
"Wait a minute. Your father told you stories of Narnia?" Trufflehunter asked. I knew the answer to the question.
"No, my professor, he..." Caspian began to answer, but didn't finish the sentence. "Listen, I'm sorry. These are not the kinds of questions you should be asking." Caspian then held my hand, and I felt an electric pulse go through me.
Before we could do anything, I heard soldiers. I turned in the direction, and heard Trufflehunter sniffing the air.
"Humans." Trufflehunter said, vague much?
"Him?" Nickabrick didn't say I was human, because we decided if something happened, I would hide who I am, until an appropriate time.
"No, them!" I saw them coming to us!
"There they are!"
"RUN!!" I shouted, I'm sure the whole forest heard me. I think the Narnians were are still aware, as well as the trees heard my scream of terror.
We were running, it was tiring. I was running as fast as I could. It was so hard. I'm not used to this.
They were firing arrows through crossbows, and I caught many of them, in my bare hands alone.
As we were running, Trufflehunter tripped, with an arrow through his leg. I was about to go get him, as Caspian went to get him. I was frustrated, I ran to him, and pulled out my sword.
"Take it, GO. It means more than me." Trufflehunter passes Caspian my locket, who places it in his pocket.
I get a hold of Trufflehunter, as we run away.
I look back, to see the soldiers, looking at the ground. I smiled, I knew just who this was.
After they were all taken down, I pass Trufflehunter to Nickabrick. I look at the ground, and found Caspian on it.
"Choose your last words carefully Talmorine." he can be so noble. I look at Caspian expecting some heroic last words.
"You... are... a mouse." Really Caspian, that is all you are going to say to him. Possibly your last words, and you point out the obvious point of him being a mouse.
"I was expecting something little more original." Reepicheep said, in a disappointed voice. "Pick up your sword."
"No thanks." big mistake Caspian.
"Pick it up. I am will not fight an unarmed man." Reepicheep said, as if it was obvious.
"Which is why I might live longer if I choose not to cross blades with you noble mouse." Interesting Caspian, very noble of you.
"I said I would not fight you, I didn't say I'd let you live!" Reepicheep, you are really scaring the boy.
"That is enough Reepicheep, you are scaring him." I called to him, as I was walking up to them.
"I trust you have a good reason for this untimely interruption." I was about to say that I did.
"No she doesn't, go ahead." I smacked Nickabrick on the back of his head again, and looked at them.
I breathed, "He is the one who set off the locket."
I got up to them, and pulled out the locket. I could see recognition in his eyes. "I am terribly sorry."
"Let him bring it forward, for that is why we are here." I smiled, I have not seen Glenstorm in years.
I pulled Caspian up to his feet, and we all walked to the Howl.
When we walked to a clearing, we were told that there was going to be a meeting. I was going to be on trial alongside Caspian. They don't know who I am just yet.
I looked at Caspian, this will be hard on him.
"Do not worry." I looked at him, though my hood. "I will be by your side, making sure it goes smoothly."
After we entered, we went to the middle of the Narnians. And we received their judgment.
I stood silent, as did Caspian.
"Kill them."
"Talmorines."
"Liars!"
"Murdurers!"
These were some of the insults that were thrown at us. My people were saying these awful words, and they didn't know who they were speaking of.
"All this locket proves, is that they have stolen yet another thing from us." Nickabrick shouted back.
"I didn't steal anything from you." I heard Caspian say, trying to reason with my people.
"Didn't steal anything. Shall we list all the things the Talmorines have stolen from us?" Nickabrick was really going at Caspian. This was horrid. I was reliving my worst nightmares.
"Our homes!" A minotaur called out, and more people followed suit.
"Our land!" A lady centaur could be heard over everyone else.
"Our freedom!" A small faun could be heard. They reminded me of Tumnus.
"Our lives! You stole Narnia!" The crowd yells all at once.
"You would hold me accountable for the crimes of my people?" Caspian questioned. It was a good point. He didn't steal anything, his ancestors and people have, but not him.
"Accountable and punishable!" Nickabrick shouted, and my people agreed with him.
"That is rich coming from you dwarf. Or have you forgotten that it was your people who fought alongside the White Witch?" Reepicheep asked. Another good point.
"And I'd gladly do it again, if it would rid of these barbarians!"
I snarled at him, walked up to him, "Let us be glad you have no power to do so. Or would you suggest we go against the teachings of Aslan?!"
I looked at my people. "What's more, would you wish to go against the High Queen, Ariel?" Trufflehunter was speaking now, "Some of you may have forgotten, but badgers remember well, and Narnia was never right until the Sons of Adem and Daughters of Eve were alongside the High Queen."
"No one knows where the High Queen is. For all we know, she is long dead." a faun said, as the others agree. "How can we go against her, if we don't know what she wanted?"
"They are Talmorines, why would we want them to rule?" A Narnian asked, and the others agreed.
"Because he has the power go help us." I stated calmly.
"It must be a trick. Why should we listen to either of you?" that same Narnian asked, and I had enough.
"Because I order you to listen!" I shouted, losing my temper. I pulled my hood off, and in the process, my cloak came off completely. I wore a purple silk dress, with silver accents. My hair trailing behind me, longer than it has ever been. My crown worn with age, and honour.
"High Queen Ariel?"
Everyone started to bow, once they saw me.
"The Angel."
"You are the high queen?" Caspian asked, shock evident on his face.
I nodded at him. "Narnians, you remember when I defeated the White Witch, it was not without help from the sons of Adem and the daughters of Eve.
"When the White Witch struck me down, I saw death, when I sacrificed myself for King Edmund, I saw death. They talked to me. They were not going to take me, because I had more I needed to do. That involves this boy right here."
I pointed at Caspian, who had confusion on his face.
"I have known since before my sacrifices that I was destined to be with him, and that there was more I was supposed to do. You all know I saw the pain you all endured when I was not here. The hundred years were condensed in a dream. I saw your pain. I also saw, this boy. At first, I didn't understand. I saw a boy, I didn't know who he was, but I knew one thing, I was going to meet him at some point.
"Death told me, I needed to find him, and bond with him. I doubt he remembers, but I met him not long after his father died. I comforted him. I told him a part of my story. I remember that day well. I saw him talking with his professor. I was fascinated by the stories he was told, of us.
"I knew not who he was, I knew who he would end up becoming. If my dreams are correct, I can see a crown, sitting proudly on his head. If I am correct to believe this, he may be the one, to claim my heart, if my near-death experiences is true.
"He is the best chance we have at getting our home back. Are we willing to give up this chance, purely because we are afraid of the outcome it may have. Change is good but can be bad. If I am honest, I think this is the best change we can get."
I walked back to him, and held his hand in mine. He breathed, before he continued to speak. "Beyond these woods, I am a prince. The Talmorine throne is rightfully mine. Help me claim it, and I will bring peace between us."
"It is true, the time is right. I watch the skies, for it is my yo watch, as it is yours to remember, badger, High Queen. Teava, the Lord of victory and Alambil, the Lady of peace have come together in the high heavens. And now, here is a son of Adem, and our high queen, who have come forth, to offer us back our freedom."
"Is this possible? Do you really think there could be peace? Do you? I mean, really?" a squeal asked, as everyone there, looked at us.
"Two days ago, I didn't believe in the existence of talking animals...or dwarves... or centaurs. Yet here you are in strength and numbers that we Telmarines could never have imagined. Whether this horn is magic or not, it brought us together. And together, we have a chance to take back what is ours." Caspian spoke with such certainty. It was inspirational.
I held onto his hand, and smiled at him.
"If you will lead us, then my sons and I... offer you our swords." Glenwood held his sword out, as his children, and the other Narnians followed suit.
"I will show you my heart, and my wisdom, in this battle. They may both turn the tides of this entire war." I spoke, with such love in my voice, I knew he would notice it.
"And we offer you our lives, unreservedly." Reepachipe held his sword, his followers came to show their loyalty.
"Miraz's army will not be far behind us, sire." a Narnian stated, making me worry a little.
I turned to face Caspian, "Ask for my assistance when you need it, and I will tell you tales of my downfalls with your people. It will help you make the best possible plan." I held my sword out, for him to hold with me.
When he touched it, I felt electricity run through me. It was exhilarating. "If we are to be ready for them, we need to hurry to find soldiers and weapons. I'm sure they will be here soon."
"We shall stand by your side, and follow your orders. You have what it takes to be a great king, I can see it." I smiled as I spoke. I was speaking nothing but the truth. I can not lie about something like this.