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Chapter 3 is finally edited!

Disclaimer: I only own Beth's storyline. The rest belongs to it's respective owners.

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Chapter 3: "What the horn has called."

Clothes were another thing she had missed about Narnia.

Susan smiled at herself, rejoicing in wearing a Narnian dress again. Everything about them - the bright, intense colours, the material- they all made her feel comfortable and at home.

The weight of her quiver against her back was familiar, almost soothing and in a way, she felt particularly thankful for it. As concern for the fate of her country during the time they're away continued to strike her, it was reassuring to have something with her that reminded her of simpler, happier times.

Susan missed her horn, of course, but she knew it could have only fallen in good hands so she wasn't too worried. Besides, deep down she felt she would see it again.

She glanced around the empty treasure chamber, secretly thankful for her siblings' decision to go outside to study the landscape and formulate a plan as it gave her some alone time with her thoughts.

Slowly, almost with reverence, she stared at her statue, slightly unnerved by how different she was from her adult-self after only one year away.

Being back in Narnia had made her forget all about her pain but, as joy settled in her heart, so did guilt and anxiety.

Anxiety because last time they left, they did so without warning, without being able to say goodbye. She knew they'd just got there, of course, but she still felt a sense of adrenaline, knowing they could be sent back at any moment.

Back in England, the pain she felt had left her unable to breathe, unable to think without remembering her life in Narnia. As queen, she had been admired, respected and loved and as a warrior, she had led regiments, who were ready to follow her anywhere.

Susan had settled happily in Narnia.

All of her memories of England had been erased from her mind for years when, in what seemed like one split second, her siblings and herself had fallen through the wardrobe yet again and into their old home. She had lived longer in Narnia than she had in Finchley so...yes, she couldn't adjust.

The only thing that had kept her from actively trying to block her Narnian life out of her mind, despite of the torturing grief she felt in a permanent basis, was that those memories were all she had left from her home.

She felt guilty for not having enough faith to believe they'd go back. She felt guilty for breaking down so easily.

Susan shook her head. Her fears were proven to be unreal and that's what mattered.

With a fond smile, Susan grazed her closed chest lovingly.

Then, she climbed up the stairs to join her siblings.

She never looked back. She didn't have to.

She was at home.

It was good to be back.


"You received this letter two days ago!?"

King Ersan sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He feared this would happen. "Beth..."

"Do not Beth me," Beth growled moodily. She stood up and rested her hands on the desk before her. "How am I only now hearing about this? Why haven't you been readying the men?"

"Beth," King Ersan repeated with a grave tone. He finally turned around to shot a severe look at the Crown Princess. "We cannot help."

Beth, who was already in the midst of making a mental list of the things she needed to pack, paled at his words. "Father, this is Caspian we're talking about. If he's calling us, we're going!"

"Dear, as much as I appreciate Caspian, he has no army, no friends and no powerful allies. I cannot risk the fate of an entire country for a boy I'm merely fond of," Ersan retorted, his voice soft yet unwavering.

Beth was aghast.

"He has me," Beth replied coldly. She glared at her adoptive father with burning rage. "And by your hand, I'm the Crown Princess of Archenland. I can't stay put and watch how my best friend's killed."

"You would risk the safety of your country and our relationship with Narnia in order to support a hopeless prince," Torin mused with boredom as he leaned back on his seat and rested his feet on his father's desk. He smirked at his father. "And I'm the one unfit to rule."

Ersan frowned at his son with exasperation. "Torin, that's enough. Leave us, please."

Torin rolled his eyes but rose from his seat anyways.

As the prince closed the door behind him, King Ersan turned towards his heir with an understanding grimace.

"I truly wish there was something I could do, Beth." King Ersan rounded his desk to stand before his huffing daughter. "When you become queen you'll understand. We must make difficult choices, even leave our friends behind, if that means we're ensuring the security and prosperity of Archenland."

After a moment of clear internal conflict, Beth curtseyed rigidly. "I understand, father. Excuse me."

With that, she exited the study as well, archery training completely forgotten.

There was much to be done.


As Susan reached her siblings, the conversation between the other three died down as they studied one another.

It was as if seeing the others once again in Narnian clothes had been the factor that had finally settled their new situation down in their minds. They were back.

So, even though they were concerned about their people's fate, they were decidedly cheerful.

As they'd put on those clothes, it was as if the Magnificent and Just kings, and the Gentle and Valiant queens had resurface within them, so they almost looked wiser and older than their years.

Peter wore a brown v-neck leather vest over a loose sky-blue shirt, brown pants and black boots. The sun reflected on his legendary sword, Rhindon, making it glimmer from its place by his waist and he had strapped his shield onto his back.

His brother also had a sword tied to his side and a shield strapped to his back. A bag also hung across him, where he'd carefully placed his journal. Edmund was wearing a blue shirt over a white undershirt, brown pants and dark brown boots.

Lucy's dress was beautiful, cheerful and bright, almost as if it reflected it's owner. It's long sleeves and skirts were orange and it's upper part was grey with golden embroideries. Lucy's cordial was safely kept in her little bag and her old dagger was at her side.

Susan had chosen a purple dress with flowing skirts, perhaps not the best choice for a walk amongst the Narnian forest but her favourite one during her first years in Narnia and the one she couldn't let go of one she found it. Her trusted bow and quiver with red arrows were hung at her back.

"Aren't we a dashing group," Edmund finally quipped.

"I'm impressed of you, guys. Last time we were here I had to personally approve your outfits before you left your sleeping quarters," Susan teased with a chuckle as she shook her head, remembering every time Peter had dressed in what could only be described as an outfit made by a colourblind' person.

Peter, who understood the source of her sister's amusement, rolled his eyes. "Can we rest the topic already? We need to figure out our next move, anyways."

The girls smiled mischievously but Edmund, who had been studying the river south of them, which separated the ruins of Cair Paravel from the rest of the continent hushed them."What's that?"

The other three looked in the direction he pointed. A small wooden boat advanced slowly north towards Beruna. Two soldiers occupied it, one rowing while the other clutched a crossbow rather nervously.

Something squirmed at the feet of the latter man, seemingly tied up. The royals tried to recognise what it could be, but none of them were successful.

They also failed to recognise the armour those soldiers wore, which could only mean trouble. If they couldn't recognise it, then it wasn't Narnian.

If it wasn't Narnian, then there were foreigners roaming freely along their country.

Without looking at each other, both brothers plus Lucy unsheathed their blades while Susan notched an arrow to their bow.

They began to advance carefully in order for Susan to get better aim when the two soldiers suddenly stopped advancing.

Not without some struggle, they managed to lift the squirming package above their heads.

A dwarf.

Susan aimed and shot threateningly at the boat.

"Drop him!" Susan shouted, secretly wanting to roll her eyes at herself.

It's not like they weren't going to do that anyways, now were they?

She could see the dwarf managing to frown angrily at her choice of words when, as expected, the two men threw him into the water and hastened to pick up their crossbows.

Susan barely noticed Peter and Edmund running towards the water. She quickly shot a second arrow, managing to hit a soldier, the other immediately saving himself by jumping ship and swimming towards the forest by the other side of the river.

Susan tried to shoot him as well but decided it was too risky. She couldn't lose any more arrows, anyways.

Peter and Edmund were already on their way back towards the shore, Peter carrying the dwarf while Edmund dragged the boat behind him.

Lucy snapped into action, running to meet her oldest brother and quickly cutting off the dwarf's bindings.

Susan followed her slowly, carrying Rhindon on one hand and her bow on the other. She smiled at herself as she reached the group, satisfied by their team effort.

The dwarf coughed and gasped for breath as he was freed but after a few moments, he slowly stood up and glared at the Gentle Queen.

It seemed as if he didn't share her feeling.

"Drop him? Drop him! That's the best you could come up with?" The dwarf growled angrily at Susan.

"A simple thank you would suffice," Susan snapped back, too proud to admit she also felt slightly ashamed by her choice of words.

"Those Telmarines were drowning me just fine without your help!" The dwarf hissed back, throwing the pieces of rope to the sand with a growl.

"So, are you saying you didn't want to be saved?" Peter intervened, glaring at the dwarf coldly. They'd just gotten back and he wouldn't allow anyone to mess with their happiness.

"Why were they trying to kill you?" Lucy asked with concern at the idea of something like this happening without consequences. Back when they ruled, this would have been inconceivable.

"They're Telmarines, I don't think they needed a reason," The dwarf spat bitterly, though softening his tone slightly.

Despite his anger and shock, he didn't want to raise his voice at the kind young girl.

"Telmarines? In Narnia?" Edmund asked in disbelief.

The dwarf rolled his eyes. "Where have you been for the last hundreds of years?"

The Pevensie couldn't help but smile at that.

If only he knew.

"It's a bit of a long story," Lucy finally replied, swallowing down a chuckle as Susan handed Rhindon to its owner.

The dwarf frowned at the sword before looking up at them with strange shock. "So, it's really you?. The Kings and Queens of Old?"

The Pevensie refrained from exchanging looks of confusion. Kings and Queens of Old? How long had it been since they left?

"I'm King Peter, the Magnificent," Peter finally replied. He stepped forward and offered his hand for the dwarf to shake.

"You could have skipped the last part," Susan smirked. Beside her Lucy rolled her eyes and Edmund looked away as he stiffed a laugh.

"Probably," The dwarf agreed as he snorted in amusement.

Peter unsheathed his sword in response. "You'd be surprised."

The dwarf raised his eyebrows in interest at the challenge. "Believe me, you don't want to do that, boy."

"Not me," Peter grinned before glancing behind him at his brother, "Him."

Edmund smirked slightly before he also unsheathed his blade and moved forward. Peter gave Rhindon to the dwarf and retreated to stand with the girls.

The Narnian seemed to struggle even with lifting the sword but, as soon as Edmund turned his head to cover a smile, he lunged towards the Just King, dropping all pretence.

If it was anyone else, that move might have served its purposes but by the time they had left Narnia, Edmund had become one of the best swordsman in the world.

Edmund blocked the sword as it aimed for his head before jumping immediately, for the dwarf had quickly aimed at his feet.

As the boy tried to dodge for a third time, the dwarf elbowed him in the head before swinging Rhindon at Edmund's legs. Edmund, having quickly recovered, backed himself away and hit the dwarf's butt with his sword flat side as the latter stumbled forward.

Having enough, Edmund used the momentum to aim repeatedly at dwarf's head and legs, too fast for his opponent to keep up.

"I taught him that," Peter whispered proudly from the sidelines.

"You're fooling no one. That moves is from Archenland and he taught it to you," Lucy whispered her reply, both queens laughing while Peter blushed furiously.

At last, Edmund unarmed his opponent, immediately placing his sword a few inches from the dwarf's throat.

The dwarf inadvertently sunk to the ground, his eyes never leaving the panting Just King.

"Maybe the horn worked after all," Trumpkin finally breathed, slowly gazing at the four monarchs.

Susan perked up at that.

"What horn?"


He didn't want to face the light.

He knew he had to though, to understand better his current position so slowly, he dared to flutter his eyes open, trying to ignore the constant pang in his head so he could think quickly.

He felt dizzy, as if he hadn't eaten for too long. He slowly stretched his limbs, taking it a success that while they hurt they didn't seem broken.

Closing his eyes again, Caspian tried to remember what had happened the night before. He fought through the haziness and fussiness in order to remain focused, knowing it would all go away if he just thought.

The prince groaned lightly. All of his being seemed to be pain, fever and exhaustion. However long he might have slept didn't matter, for weariness seemed to expand to every inch of his being with every breath he took.

Caspian knew he could do nothing but wait until he remembered so he lay as still as he could, listening carefully for any approaching threats.

And, as the pain receded, everything came back slowly, and then all at once.

His cousin.

The guards.

Riding through the forest.

Narnians.

The horn.

Pain.

Caspian opened his eyes, grateful that the light didn't hurt so much anymore.

He almost wished he had never woken up. Life seemed too difficult for him to be anything but stressed at the immense possibilities laying before him.

Recalling the dagger that gave him a concussion, he tentatively felt his forehead. It was wrapped in some sort of clean cloth.

Caspian sat up slowly as, for the first time, he noticed the leather cot underneath him. He looked around, noticing that he was in a simple but cosy stone room, rustically decorated.

He tried to listen even harder for his unlikely hosts. He didn't dare to hope anymore after his whole reality basically exploded the night before, but perhaps he was in a better situation than the one he'd imagined.

Carefully and refraining himself from making any noise, he slowly climbed down the stairs, quickly pressing himself against the wall as he reached the bottom.

He was not alone.

"You said you were going to kill him!" Spat a rough, yet high-toned' voice.

Caspian winced. If he had to guess, that voice belonged to the creature who had knocked him unconscious the night before.

See? This is why he had no more hope.

"Kill him? I said I would take care of him!" Replied another voice, a much warmer one this time.

Caspian perked up. He didn't see that coming.

"He's a Telmarine, not a lost puppy!" Spoke the first voice.

Caspian dared a look, immediately noting that the first voice belonged to a small, bearded, bitter creature who sat by a small wooden table.

The prince finally remembered its name. It was a dwarf.

He was amongst Narnians.

Caspian, leaned his head against the wall, mentally stating his current situation.

He was weaponless and on a strange house with the company of the creatures that rendered him unconscious the night before. They were both little, judging by the height of the rooms, but if he took into account his previous experiences, his chances weren't great.

However, he was bandaged and, presumably the one that took care of him, refused to kill him.

There was one factor who could be paramount in deciding Caspian's fate.

Who was actually the leader of the two strangers?

"Besides I can't kill him now, I bandaged his head! It would be like killing a guest!" The unknown creature was exclaiming in the other room.

Caspian took a deep breath. He had to take the risk.

Silently taking the first pointy thing he could reach without taking his eyes from the dwarf, he dashed towards the door on the other side of the room, pushing the dwarf away in the process.

The dwarf glared at his friend while he unsheathed his dagger. "See? I told you we should have killed him when we got the chance!"

"Calm down; or do you want me to sit on your head again?" The other creature snapped at the dwarf. The black-and-white talking animal with paws glared at the prince reproachfully. "And you, look what you did! I've been cooking this all morning. Fortunately, I have some left..."

"What are you?" Caspian couldn't help but ask. He was almost sure his old nanny mentioned its name when he was a kid but it didn't come to mind no matter how hard he tried.

"What am I? Well that's funny. I guess you don't recognize a badger when you see one," The creature trailed off with exasperation as he went to other room.

Caspian was astonished.

He had always hoped to encounter the Old Narnians, ever since he first heard of their stories when he was a little kid. He had learned about the talking creatures, the dwarves, the fauns and all the others. He also learned about the Kings and Queens of Old and how they had disappeared one day while searching for a White Stag.

As he grew up, he was taught that they were nothing but childish stories and that if he thought of them, he would never be a good king so he tried to forget all about them.

He never could, so he settled for thinking about them secretly, never sharing his fantasies with anybody else.

Now, his life was in mortal danger, his throne stolen by his evil uncle and the life of his people was at the mercy of a tyrant.

It was sort of poetic, really, that he only met the subject of his childhood fantasies after his former life exploded completely.

"You're Narnians. You're supposed to be extinct," Caspian finally blurted in disbelief. He couldn't understand how the telmarines knew nothing of this.

The dwarf narrowed his eyes murderously. "Well, sorry for disappointing you."

"Here, it's hot," The badger nodded at the prince as he placed a bowl with soup on the table.

The dwarf raised his arms in complaint, groaning exasperatedly. "Really? Are you actually feeding him? Now you're gonna have a tavern for the Telmarine soldiers here?"

Caspian frowned at that. He had always wanted to be a soldier but now, knowing that at least part of them were mindless creatures who followed their lord's command blindlessly, even if it meant treason, he didn't even want to be mistaken as such.

So, he stood up in all his royal' gracefulness, trying to ignore the fact that he was wearing his pajamas and that his head was bandaged. "I'm not a soldier. I'm Prince Caspian X."

Both Narnians exchanged a look of bewilderment before the badger addressed the prince, "Really? Then, what are you doing here?"

Caspian was suddenly overwhelmed with the fact of how little he had planned for the future.

He was alive for the time being, yes, but there was numerous guards tracking him down in the woods.

His head had been taken care of but he had no chance of regaining his throne without an army.

He had discovered the existence of the Old Narnians but none of them would believe he was anything but their enemy.

"I'm...running away," Caspian finally spoke brokenly.

The badger looked almost hopeful.

"Why did you runaway?" The badger asked.

Caspian sighed. If he had no allies, maybe he could start by assuring himself shelter and in order for him to succeed, he needed this two narnians to trust him.

As much as he didn't want to talk about it, that meant he had to tell his story.

He took his time and he struggled at some parts but eventually, he told them everything. By the end, not even the dwarf could pretend to be uninterested.

After a long silence, the badger pointed at himself. "I'm Trufflehunter and this one's Nikabrik. We live here with another dwarf, Trumpkin, who was taken capture by the same soldiers who were following you. I took care of your concussion while you slept."

"And I was the one to give you the concussion in the first place," Nikabrik smirked, proud of himself.

Caspian ignored him. He remembered what he had been doing when everything went dark. "The horn I had. Where is it?"

The badger glanced sadly at him before raising from his chair and taking the horn from a drawer.

He wordlessly took him back to the table and rested it carefully before him. Nikabrik and Trufflehunter glanced respectfully at the object before the latter looked up at the confused prince.

"Tell me, what do you know about Queen Susan's horn?"

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