Hi guys!
I've written 12k words in 24 hours. I deserve a medal.
Anyways, here's the last part of chapter 15! Updates coming shortly but college's starting again so things might get busier. Like last chapter, I used elements from both the movie and the book. Hope you guys like it!
Longer A/N at the bottom so check that out too.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything but the storylines and characters of my own creation.
Cheers for reading!
Chapter 15. Part c."The Last Battle."
"I'm not going to stop the wheel. I'm going to break the wheel." - Daenerys Targaryen, Game of Thrones.
*Flashback*
The weeks after Tor's death had been ones filled with speculation. Ones in which darkness took hold of Anvard.
Tor had been Ersan's pride, the embodiment of the King's legacy. Tor had been Beth's best friend along with Prince Caspian. Tor had been the only person who could see behind Torin's sullen features.
With Tor's death, Beth realized that being a royal was a curse. While normal families got to mourn their loved ones in peace, with all the time in the world, her family spent those weeks after Tor's death deciding on who was to succeed Tor as the heir to the Archenlandian Throne.
The thing was that, while Torin was the next in line, Beth had gained an impressive amount of approval from both the court and the commoners. In their opinions, Beth was a born leader, a kind duchess, and a woman interested in her people. Torin, while as strategic and clever as Beth, hadn't really shown much of an interest in the people as Beth had, and that hadn't gone unnoticed by those around the siblings.
At last, both Torin and Beth were summoned to the Throne Room around the time in which it became a year since Beth made it to Archenland. Both siblings appeared at the same time, wearing black royal clothes, and stood before the throne of their father as they waited for him to declare the decision that would mark their respective futures.
Ersan hesitated but eventually, he announced his decision. It was the hardest thing he'd ever done but, above everything, he was King. As King, he had the obligation of thinking about his people before thinking about his kids.
As such, the best decision had been clear from the start.
And so, in a few weeks, Duchess Elizabeth would become Crown Princess Elizabeth of Archenland. Torin would remain her second-in-command, her general and her High Lord as soon as the Throne was hers.
Torin took a step backwards in shock, his skin paling considerably. He regarded his father with a hurt expression, and opened his mouth, his mind clearly struggling to formulate any response whatsoever.
Meanwhile, Beth glanced at Torin with apprehension before turning to King Ersan. "Father, I don't mean to go against you but Tor's body was never found. Maybe he's out there still, we need to coordinate another search party!"
"We've done everything to find Tor, dear," Ersan shook his head sadly. His heart still clenched with pain every time he thought about his beloved, gone son. "But the time has come for Archenland to think of a brighter future. We need to help our people recover from this tragedy, and it can only be done by promising a better future with you as their Queen."
"I cannot believe this," Torin scoffed with venom in his voice. He pointed an accusing finger at his father, taking advantage of the fact that the three of them were alone to be as blunt as he desired. "I have been preparing to help Tor do his job for years. I know more of what being King entails than Tor did! How can you crown Beth instead?"
"This is exactly why I couldn't consider you," Ersan admitted. He stood from his throne and climbed down the steps towards Beth and Torin. "My son, I'm proud of you and no one knows better than me of the effort you've taken to grow that clever mind of yours. Still, how you're speaking to me tells me you want to be King for the power instead of the people. A King who only looks after himself cannot be a good King."
"What is it with you and charming my family?" Torin snapped in Beth's direction, taking a threatening step in her direction when she merely turned to him with a bewildered expression. "Are you some kind of witch that came here and fooled my father and brother in order to obtain the throne?"
"Torin, that's enough," Ersan warned with a glare.
"Do you actually think I care about the throne?" Beth scoffed with disbelief. "Our brother is dead, Torin. Tor died to save you from those bloody wolves and all you can think about is that stupid chair!"
"When you've spent your whole life preparing for something only to see it snatched, then you tell me if you manage to move on so easily from it!" Torin screamed in return.
"I order the two of you to stop." Ersan intervened, looking at his children gravely. Once the two quietened down, their gazes on anything but the other, the King continued. "Now, I know this is a hard decision. I know this puts you both in places you didn't expect but, as leaders of this great nation, the three of us are bound to think of our people first. Am I being clear?"
"Yes, father."
"Yes, sir."
"Good," Ersan nodded. "Do you have any questions?"
"I have a condition," Beth replied instead. She straightened proudly. "If my people need me to become the heir to the throne, then I will, but I demand to choose when and who to marry."
"Women of the royal family have always married in order to make alliances," Torin intervened impatiently. "Are you willing to mess with our traditions as well?"
"It's funny how you're so eager to defend a tradition that doesn't force you to do anything against your will," Beth snapped before looking at Ersan once again. "That's my condition. It's yours to accept, or to look for another candidate to take the throne."
Ersan smiled slightly. "Spoken like a true diplomat, Beth. You'll do an amazing job."
Beth smiled as well but Torin shook his head almost with grief.
"I have never felt more betrayed," Torin admitted before bowing mockingly. "if you'll excuse me. Your Majesties."
Everything was a green and golden blur.
As Lucy rode on, her focus kept switching from confirming whether there was still a Telmarine after her and looking around her in the vain hope that she would finally catch sight of Aslan.
As she felt the Telmarine spurring his horse faster, Lucy did the same whilst mentally apologizing to Destrier for exhausting him so utterly.
In a way, her despair was intensified by the fact that, for the first time in a long time, she was entirely on her own. There was no Susan or Beth there to protect her. No Peter, Edmund or Caspian to take the burden off her shoulders. If she thought about it carefully, she wasn't on her own even when they fought against the White Witch - Susan had been with her the entire time.
Luckily, pressure didn't surrender her into defeat. Pressure cleared her head.
After all, all four Pevensie were legends. Why wouldn't she be able to survive that chase?
And, if Narnia was free again because of her contribution, then her death was a prize she was willing to pay. As long as the others survived, of course.
It was in that moment that she caught a golden blur from the corner of her mind.
Lucy turned her gaze in that direction with a gasp, narrowing her eyes in order to discern the nature of that blur.
And then, she recognized Him.
With a confident smile, she spurred Destrier on, joy filling her heart.
She'd found Aslan.
Sopespian arrived to his army with his mind stuck in blind ecstasy.
Once again, he had proven that it's only by extracting obstacle after obstacle that a person can achieve their heart's desire. He had struggled against men of simple minds who had been born with luckier stars than his. He had fought against worthy adversaries but that still never saw his true objective.
Miraz had been that. Sopespian had learned tremendously from the fallen King, but it had come the time to follow his strategy. Strategy is one of the Telmarines main traits and coincidentally, the thing Sopespian understood and trusted the most in the world.
It was because of strategy that Miraz was dead. It was because of strategy that, with Caspian and Miraz out of the equation, Sopespian was now second in line to the throne and Lord Protector until Miraz's son became of age. Because of strategy, his heart's desire was inches away from him.
The image had always been clear. Him, sitting on the Telmarine throne, his claim undisputed.
Today, he was a step closer.
With a triumphant smirk, Sopespian turned his horse back towards the How as he pointed his sword onwards. "To arms, Telmar! To arms!"
The army, his army now, unsheathed their weapons and roared. At once, by the back of the army, the catapults were loaded, and large rocks began to fly towards the Narnians.
Sopespian made his way through the paths between the different companies as he screamed. "Cavalry, charge!"
At once, the three companies of Telmarine riders advanced towards their How in a rapid, yet slow manner.
It didn't matter to Sopespian, though. He wanted the show to last for as long as possible.
The duel had been the prologue. Now, it was time for the real battle.
"Go!" Peter screamed at Caspian before running towards the edge of the stone ring, witnessing the advance of the Telmarine cavalry with his own eyes.
Caspian nodded and quickly got on his horse before him and Glenstorm rode away into the How. There was no time for doubts, questions, or comments. The time had come to use the plan they'd been working on for weeks. Half the army was waiting inside the How to follow Caspian's command, and the prince would make sure he was worthy of their allegiance.
While Peter ran forward, Edmund nodded in thanks as a horse was brought for him and Beth to use. Then, he turned towards the princess, and sighed as she noticed her pale expression. "Beth, are you sure you want to stay?"
"We made plans, Ed," Beth replied instantly, her features hardening with determination as she looked back at Edmund. "You aren't sending me away only because I'm scared."
Edmund chuckled at that. "It's funny but I think that's the first time you've admitted you're scared."
"Well, don't get used to it," Beth retorted. She then hesitated before reaching and pulling his face towards her. For a second, everything was peaceful as they rested their foreheads together. "We fight together, just like we've fought everything life has thrown at us. Promise me."
"I swear," Edmund muttered with quiet passion. "I'm staying with you, Princess Elizabeth."
"Kingston," Beth muttered. She smiled tearfully at Edmund, proud of having the courage to finally accept her full identity. "My full English name is Elizabeth Kingston."
Edmund smiled. "I love you, Elizabeth Kingston."
"I love you, Edmund Pevensie," Beth replied joyfully.
The pair gazed into each other's eyes for a moment before, simultaneously, they pulled away and, hand in hand, headed towards their High King. As their interaction had been rather short, Caspian's retreating form could be glimpsed entering the How while the ocean of Telmarine soldiers was still rather distant.
Beth stood by Peter's right, Edmund standing protectively beside her. After a moment in which they regarded the incoming army almost with awe, Edmund shot Peter a smirk. "Yet another battle together, brother."
"So it seems," Peter replied with a smile before nudging Beth. "Only, this time, we have better allies."
"You two are quite emotional when you want to, did you realize?" Beth asked rhetorically, smirking as she felt the brothers exasperation.
However, no matter how much they pretended otherwise, none of them could forget their circumstances so, eventually, they turned their focus to the Telmarines again. Side by side, they faced the enemy bravely.
The battle for Narnia's freedom had finally begun.
Caspian could feel his heart hammering in his chest as he rode inside the How. Though his mind was focused on the task before him - as it should be when under that amount of stress -, he could distantly feel the thousands of ways in which everything could go wrong shadowing over him, ready to strike as soon as he was distracted.
He shook his head and instead looked around him as he climbed down the path towards the lowest level of the How, where Blackthorn had taken Susan when he kidnapped her a few weeks before. Caspian could see curtains of dust falling down the stone walls and immediately knew they were already using the catapults.
Hopefully, the Telmarines didn't manage to destroy the How - the home to the Narnians' faith -, by the time the war was over.
With a deep breath, Caspian hardened his features as he faced the expecting army. The prince slowed his pace slightly as he unsheathed his sword. At once, the Narnians followed his lead.
When he ordered, his voice came out strong, one reminiscent of a true leader.
"Narnians, charge!"
With the Telmarine Prince leading the way, a sea of Narnian warriors rushed through the underground passage beneath the battlefield.
Caspian clenched his teeth with anxiety. In that moment, he could only pray to Aslan that the plan worked out flawlessly.
Peter and Edmund studied Beth closely as she once again shone with a golden light, her hair glimmering as if a thousand sun rays were reflecting on it being one of the characteristics of her True Nature. Her eyes were closed, her face tilted downwards. After a tensioned moment, she opened her eyes, her golden orbs shining like fire. "It's time, Pete. Start counting."
As Edmund rushed towards the horse waiting for him and Beth, the princess notched an arrow to her bow before looking up towards Susan. The Gentle Queen nodded in return before grabbing an arrow from her quiver. "Archers to the ready!"
At once, all archers followed her command adopting an offensive posture as they waited for further orders from the Archer Queen.
Below, Peter was counting, his voice low, his eyes set on the army before him. "One, two, three."
"I can hear Caspian. He's counting too. We're right on schedule," Beth commented before turning towards the army by the foot of the How. "Narnians! Get ready to attack!"
With a roar, the Narnian soldiers followed Aslan's Daughter' command, unsheathing their swords, knives and daggers or tightening their grips on their axes and spears.
"Seven, eight, nine," Peter finished counting as he unsheathed his sword. His determination was undeterred by the hundreds of riders dangerously edging to him or by the stones that were falling all around them.
His determination and strength had been claimed by his will of making sure the plan worked out perfectly.
"Get ready!" Peter screamed at his army.
"Take your aim!" Susan screamed as she stood in perfect position to shoot, leading by example and not fidgeting even when the stones thrown by the catapults began collapsing against the wall right above their terrace.
Inspired by their Queen's strength, the archers immediately followed her lead. That way, Narnia was already ready to strike from the sky when the right moment came.
Below the battlefield, Caspian had been counting just in case but he knew when it was time to continue onto the next step of the plan the moment he passed the first lit torch strapped to a stone pillar to his left.
With a yell, he alerted the others. "Now!"
The Narnians only had to hear for his command before performing their role. Simultaneously, centaurs, fauns, minotaurs and even a giant began smashing their weapons against the stone pillars that supported the entire structure, therefore weakening the grounds on which the Telmarines were quickly advancing through. Accompanying them, tigers, wildcats, dwarves and talking animals readied their weapons as the group ran together, resembling an even wave.
Neither looked back. Neither wanted to see the place they had been living in for months being destroyed by their own hands. The How had been the place in which the Narnians faith lived on, even during their darkest days when there was no hero who would take them to victory. Now that the Kings and Queens of Old had made it back to Narnia and that Caspian and Beth had been introduced as the ones meant to rule them back to prosperity, the How remained cherished in their hearts as a home they would never forget.
And, at last, the ground collapsed completely, exactly under the Telmarine cavalry, causing chaos amongst their numbers while the Narnians, now with the upper hand, readied themselves to attack. Suddenly, the Telmarines saw themselves in a deep pit, with countless wounded by the weight of the horses that had fallen with them or the sudden shock of the fall, while the Narnians watched on with their numbers intact.
"Beth, now," Edmund urged as soon as the Telmarines fell. While Peter admired the scene before him, Edmund climbed first onto the horse and clutched the reins as Beth settled behind him. She held onto her saddle with her thighs before aiming towards the army.
Below them, two dwarves lowered a makeshift platform at the end of the underground tunnel. Caspian threw the torch he had been carrying through the darkness to the side, and unsheathed his sword as he climbed the platform with his army. Another platform was set up a few meters to Caspian's left, from which a portion of his army exited. Together, both teams circled the Telmarine cavalry, and rode to attack them before they could get a respite.
However, that moment wasn't for Caspian and his underground army or for Edmund and Beth with their army.
It was for Susan and her archers.
The first blow on the Telmarines had to come from the sky.
"FIRE!" Susan screamed as loudly as she could.
And a waterfall of arrows poured from the sky and onto the fallen Telmarines.
"Charge!" Edmund screamed as he spurred his horse on. Immediately, Beth began firing arrow after arrow in the Telmarines' direction. Their army roared as they advanced towards the struggle as well.
From the edge of the ring, Peter smirked.
The plan had been completely successful.
"Attack!" Peter screamed as he too got into the fight.
From all sides, Telmar saw itself surrounded by Narnia.
Beruna was radiant.
Sun beat down on Adrien and Trufflehunter as they arrived at its shore, both centaur and badger panting from the recent exertion. They hesitated just before the water and glanced around, making sure there were no Telmarines in sight.
With a relieved sigh, they moved to their right as they confirmed they were on their own.
The bridge was to their right.
Distantly, they could hear the battle cries coming from the How. They knew what that meant and they could only hope Narnia was overpowering the enemy. Still, in that clearing, with the shimmering clear waves of the river and the eerie silence reminiscent of a vacant forest, the clutter from the struggle was distant, and easily forgotten when compared to the beauty of Beruna.
"Are you sure Aslan wanted you to come here?" Trufflehunter asked as Adrien began walking through the bridge, slightly limping as he carried Oreius' sword with him. Meanwhile, the badger stayed behind, nervously playing with his paws.
"He said I had to free a God," Adrien replied. His eyes were on the wood below him, as if he were choosing the right place in which to perform his task. "Do you know of any gods in need of freeing other than the River God?"
"I'm not a sceptic badger but Adrien, the River God is a myth," Trufflehunter retorted. "The River God hasn't been seen since the days of King Frank and Queen Helen, back when Narnia was created."
"The Kings and Queens of Old left Narnia for more than a millenia. Still, we never forgot about them and they ended up coming back," Adrien argued. He looked at Trufflehunter with a stubborn frown. "I know you trust Aslan, Trufflehunter, because it is the job of a badger to remember. Can you trust me as well?"
Trufflehunter sighed before joining Adrien on the bridge. "Did Aslan tell you how we are supposed to do this? The bridge has a stone structure. We will need a weapon stronger than this one."
Adrien looked around with a thoughtful frown before his eyes lighted up. He motioned Trufflehunter to follow him and, together, the pair walked the rest of the way through the bridge and into the river.
"You know," Adrien said as him and Trufflehunter stood on the river. The refreshing water coursing past them and soaking their limbs relieved them from the heat tremendously. "You didn't have to follow me."
"And have Beth kill me because I left you on your own?" Trufflehunter scoffed. "No way."
Adrien smiled before raising the sword by its hilt and over his head. He looked at Trufflehunter. "Together?"
Trufflehunter nodded. "Together."
At once, the two of them sunk Oreius' sword into the bottom of the river and backed away from it. The sword was left there, motionless, its silver glittering almost white under the sun.
And then, it started to glow with gold.
By the river, green, thick vines started climbing up the stone structure of the river, wrapping themselves around large pieces of rock and smashing them forcefully until at last, only a flimsy bridge was left.
There was no way the entire Telmarine army could go through it.
But the bridge didn't hold their attention for long. As the vines finished their job, the sparkling water around started twirling mysteriously, its waves becoming more and more agitated.
Almost as if whoever lived there was waking up, finally free.
Trufflehunter and Adrien looked at each other with an excited smile before hurriedly stepping out of the river.
The battlefield seemed to explode into carnage in a split moment.
The Telmarine soldiers hadn't recovered from the shock of falling onto a pit when the Narnians were on them. So, those who had survived the fall and the weight of their horses as they fell on them, had to struggle to their feet right away, for war waited for no man. They had just regained relative bearings of their surroundings when Narnian arrows fell from the sky, killing a great number of Telmarines.
The remaining had no option but to fight a hopeless battle, crawling their way out of the pit to face all sorts of creatures, most of them superior in strength. Unused to praying, they could only fall into a desperate attack, and watch their numbers decrease one by one.
There was one soldier who thought himself as more cunning. Tired of fighting, he scurried away from the heat of the battle and looked for a way out of the pit that would leave him near the forest, from which he could run into safety. Satisfied with the plan, the Telmarine soldier grunted as he climbed his way out of the pit, grunting as he pushed through the weight of his heavy armour every time he hoisted himself up, one of his hands useless as he was carrying his unsheathed sword.
Finally, he arrived at the top of the pit. Resting his elbows on the grass before him, the soldier regained his breath, panting as he felt the sun beating down on him, the effect of its heat even worse when taking his metal armour into account.
Just as he was about to move on, someone cleared his throat before him.
The Telmarine winced and looked up, expecting a big creature who would kill him instantly.
Instead, what he found was a mouse. A rather large one, maybe, and one who wore a gold circle with a red feather on his head and a steel cuirass as armour but still, a mouse.
"You...you are mouse," the soldier deadpanned, the shock and exhaustion clouding his head and preventing him from thinking straight.
The mouse sighed.
"You people have no imagination!" the mouse grunted before burying his sword through the soldier's throat.
Beth smirked at Reepicheep as she and Edmund rode past him. She understood better than no one what it was to be underestimated.
Still, it was no time to be distracted. As Edmund rode their horse, Beth kept pulling arrow after arrow from her quiver, shooting any Telmarines in the vicinity. As her gaze wildly covered the grounds to her left, extremely focused as she discerned friend from foe, she noticed a faun being cornered by a group of five Telmarines.
"Ed!" Beth screamed to make herself heard over the noise before pointing in the direction of the Narnian with her bow. "Over there!"
Edmund quickly veered their horse in that direction, and the two approached hastily. Before Edmund even stopped the horse, Beth jumped out of the saddle with grace, and merged herself into a fight with the Telmarines while Edmund tended to the injured faun.
From the point of view of an outsider, it might have been an impossible fight for Beth but the reader must remember that her True Nature not only provided her with supernatural strength but also that it unnerved the Telmarines as they were against all myths and legends.
Before too long, Beth knelt besides Edmund, her only injury being a shallow cut across her cheek. "How is he?"
"He will be fine. His thigh is quite bruised but it's nothing that can be healed with time," Edmund replied, frowning as his eyes fell on Beth. "Are you alright?"
"Of course I am," Beth scoffed. She then looked up, and noticed more Telmarines coming their way, clearly eager to kill the supernatural princess. "Take care of him, I'll be right back."
Peter watched as Beth ran into battle with apprehension. He didn't worry about Aslan's Daughter, but instead doubted that their odds were finally secure. By the distant edge of the battlefield, Peter could see the remaining regiments of the Telmarines advancing slowly on foot. With dread, he was reminded of the moment in which the White Witch advanced with the rest of her army back during the battle of Beruna; and realized they were about to be surrounded.
Peter raised his sword and looked in the direction of the How. At once, their gryffin squad flew above them holding large rocks to throw at the Telmarine army. Hopefully, that would break their formation and delay them but still, Peter knew better than to think their problem was solved.
Again, he studied his surroundings, noticing Beth fighting like a demon besides Edmund, who was attending to the faun and shooting approaching Telmarines with a crossbow whenever one tried to approach them and was too far from Beth. Caspian seemed to be everywhere as he fought from his horse, slashing with expert skill through every Telmarine he encountered.
Peter pursed his lips with dread. They were doing well enough at the moment but it wouldn't be too long before the enemy was reinforced and Narnia was surrounded by Telmar.
Holding onto his last glimmer of hope, Peter turned and locked eyes with Susan, who was watching the battle unfold from the How.
"Lucy?" Peter mouthed anxiously.
Susan widened her eyes and looked at the edge of the forest, studying it for a few moments before pursing her lips and shaking her head at Peter.
Peter wanted to sink onto the ground as he was overcome with defeat.
Unless Aslan joined them, their plan wasn't going to work.
There was only one thing left to do.
"Back to the How!" Peter screamed. "Retreat!"
Susan had the best seat in the house - so to speak.
The Archer Queen heard her brother's order as clear as if he had been standing right beside her.
She knew what that meant. Time to regroup. Time for the archers to go down towards the battlefield as soon as the enemy was too close to be shot as to not risk injuring one of their own instead.
Her eyes immediately flicked towards the small group that had remained towards the other extreme of the clearing, of which some were guarding the catapults, and some were charging them with stones.
She wanted to see their reaction. If there was any order made in response to the Narnians' retreat, she wanted to be aware of it.
With a quickened heartbeat, Susan was witness to how the Telmarines left by the edge of the forest rushed to the catapults and changed their aim.
She didn't have to wonder what had been their decision. She knew. And she was sure of her assumption because she would have done the exact same thing.
Susan watched the stones hitting the structure that was supporting their terrace with anguished before screaming. "BRACE YOURSELVES!"
The next moments, Susan would never forget them.
Everything seemed to stay still as her archers and herself froze, all of their gazes gazing carefully around them, dreadfully expecting any sign that their terrace was starting to give in.
Her eyes then drifted downwards and, ignoring the shiver that ran through her back as she took in the height in which she was, she looked for her family because if she was to die right there and then, the last she wanted to look at was them.
Thanks to her True Nature, Beth wasn't difficult to find at all. She and Edmund were busy going through the regrouped army, reforming their ranks as they went, the two of them never too far from each other.
Susan then looked directly below her, her eyes widening as she caught Peter and Caspian looking back at her with horrified stares. At that moment, she wanted nothing but to scream at them to leave her, to do anything but watch on as she fell to her death. She knew she wouldn't be heard through all the chaos, though, and there was nothing more despairing than that fact for, if she was to die, then she wanted to be heard.
However, she couldn't dwell on it for too long.
At that moment, a stone flew quite low past the retreating Narnians and collapsed against the entrance of the How. Like a chain, the structures surrounding that collision began to crumble as they became too unsteady.
Before Susan could form a plan, her own terrace began to fall down.
Susan quickly screamed for her archers to step back as much as they could, even pushing some of the stubborn who wouldn't put themselves into safety until the Queen was safe first. At last, all archers were safe but, just as Susan was about to follow them onto the steadier ground, the stone below her gave in, and she fell.
There was no time to scream, to regret or to think. There was only a moment in which the horrible impression of losing the ground beneath her feet washed over her. At last, she started to fall.
And a hand caught her outstretched one.
Susan threw Trumpkin a bewildered gaze, too shocked to be able to thank the dwarf. She took in his painful grunt as he lay against the stone, his face twisted into a grunt as he fought to keep the Gentle Queen safe. Susan knew he had bought them some time but, as honourable as Trumpkin was, he would never be able to hold her forever.
Steeling herself, Susan glanced downwards, trying to get a grasp on how hard would the fall be.
And, as if she had been blessed by Aslan, what she saw instead was the road to safety.
"Trumpkin!" Susan yelled. She tried to get as immobile as possible, afraid that too much dangling from her part would be detrimental to the ginger dwarf. "Let me go!"
Trmupkin frowned at her as if she had grown a third head.
Susan was relentless. "Now Trumpkin!"
With a groan, Trumpkin released Susan, who fell quickly. Her red skirts made a whooshing sound around her as she fell and she couldn't help but scream as the impression was too much. She started to worry that she had miscalculated the distance but then, her feet touched the ground and she fell with a thud onto the next terrace, this one connected to the ground. Susan quickly stood up, hurriedly checking the state of her limbs.
As she confirmed that she was in peak state, Susan smiled at Trumpkin before climbing down the rest of the way.
Peter watched the scene unfold with a relieved smile before turning towards the incoming army. By then, the ten regiments of soldiers on foot had made it past the pit and towards the Narnian army, surrounding it effectively. He exchanged a glance with Caspian as they stood side by side, assessing the discouraging situation.
It was funny, in a way, because as much as the odds seemed to be irremediably against them, Peter wasn't disheartened nor was willing to fall into despair. He had seen the Narnians surrounded ever since Sopespian sent the cavalry on them first and now that they were there, with the end staring right into their faces, Peter felt even cheerful because if he was to die then he wanted to die fighting for his beliefs.
Edmund, Beth and Susan rushed to the duo at the same time. Edmund reached Peter first, standing to his right as he threw the Telmarine crossbow he had been using aside and unsheathed his double swords. Susan stood between Peter and Caspian, offering Caspian a small smile before notching another arrow to her bow and gazing at the overpowering enemy. Beth stood besides Edmund and unsheathed her sword, having lost her knives in the fight.
The five of them looked at each other with unspoken love and respect. They were aware that the Narnians had formed behind them and that they were waiting for their leaders to attack but still, that family of monarchs needed each other to know that, in that moment when they were filthy dirty, covered in cuts and with tears in their clothes, they had never been more impressive.
The moment passed way too soon for their taste.
Looking forward, Peter charged on his own first, the others following him with screams and courageous roars. Even the archers, under Trumpkin's command, travelled down the balconies to join them in the battlefield.
And by the front of the line, Peter, Susan, Edmund, Caspian and Beth made contact with the enemy army, and made their way through as they slashed and cut with as much haste as possible.
Narnia and Telmar clashed once again.
For a final time.
Lucy didn't have to wait for long before Aslan intervened.
Just as the Telmarine chasing her readied his crossbow to shoot, Aslan jumped on the path before them, making Destrier lift its front legs with fright, horse and girl falling onto the ground.
Aslan however ignored them. He growled and leaped over them effortlessly, knocking the Telmarine off his horse as he leaped.
Lucy, having slowly regained her breath, raised her head carefully, pushing her long hair out of her face as she studied her surroundings.
As the lion had jumped, she was reminded of the bear she found a few months before - the one who almost killed her because she mistook it for a Talking Creature. While her faith was intact, she had learned better than to be naive so when she stood, she did so carefully and with her right hand resting on the sheath of her dagger.
Lucy stood while the lion was busy killing the Telmarine. She cocked her head thoughtfully, analyzing the creature before her closely.
As if noticing eyes on Him, the lion raised his head and looked at Lucy right in the eyes.
From then on, Lucy would say that was her favourite moment of her second time in Narnia. The moment in which she reunited with her dearest Aslan, the joy that moment caused her unparalleled and completely making up for every time she had to defend her faith.
"Aslan!" Lucy exclaimed gleefully. She smiled brightly, her eyes merry, and ran forward to crash Aslan into a tight hug, the two falling due to Lucy's enthusiasm. "I've missed you so much!"
Aslan chuckled before sitting up. Lucy sat before him and the two close friends regarded each other warmly. Around them, the forest somehow felt livilier, as if the asleep trees could feel the presence of the Great Lion and were rejoicing in response.
"And I've missed you, dead one." Aslan replied. Lucy felt giddy as she heard the Great Lion's rich, deep voice, its warmth never failing to lift her spirits. "However, I've always been with you."
Lucy giggled joyfully. "I knew it was you. The whole time I knew but the others...they wouldn't believe me. Ed and Beth did but," Lucy trailed off as Aslan stayed silent before shrugging sadly. "It took the others some time."
"Lucy," Aslan gently scolded her, "Why would that stop you from coming to me?"
Lucy knew the lack of faith of the others wasn't her fault but still, she felt compelled to hang her head in shame. After all, Aslan was right. She could have gone to Him anyways. She never thought of it because she didn't want to abandon the others but she wasn't really leaving them. She was saving them by getting help sooner.
Why didn't she follow her heart and went to find Aslan sooner? She couldn't fathom an actual reason.
"I'm sorry," Lucy finally offered. "I was too afraid to come on my own, I think...Aslan, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, dear one."
"Why haven't you shown yourself?" Lucy asked carefully, her gaze drifting nervously across the features of her dear friend. "I thought you'd come roaring to save us like last time. And Beth, she knows she's your daughter, why haven't you shown yourself to her, yet?"
"Things never happen the same way twice, Lucy," Aslan smiled with understanding when Lucy lowered her eyes with sadness. "And Beth...as you know, there's a time and place for everything. I couldn't reach out to my daughter until she was ready to hear me."
"I know she needs you, Aslan, even if she's too stubborn to admit it," Lucy continued, her innocent eyes widely open. When Aslan only nodded his head in silent thanks, Lucy smiled but quickly sobered as she found the courage to ask the next question, one that had been haunting her for too long. "If I had come here earlier...everyone who died, could I have stopped that?"
Lucy could have sworn Aslan's golden eyes widened. He leaned forward and replied in a soothing tone. "We can never know what could have happened, Lucy."
"I suppose we can't," Lucy agreed with a sigh. She thought of the day after the raid. Caspian had blamed Peter for attacking even when the surprise attack was no more. Peter had blamed Caspian for going after Miraz instead of following the plan. She knew Edmund, Beth and Susan reckoned Professor Cornelius could have waited until telling Caspian the truth about his father's death.
If anything, what Lucy could learn from that is that regret is a controversial emotion. Of course, regret leads us to be better but, looking back, thinking of what could have been done differently, that was just a waste of time. Things happened the way they were supposed to happen, and it was time for her to accept it.
Aslan snapped her out of her thoughts as he quipped in with a brighter tone. "What will happen, however, is an entirely different matter."
Lucy looked up with an excited gasp. "Are you going to help?"
"Of course," Aslan assured her. "As are you."
Lucy immediately sobered up. Distractedly biting her lips nervously, she managed to say. "I wish I was braver."
At that, Aslan actually laughed. "If you were any brave, you'd be a lioness."
Lucy opened her mouth to reply but Aslan stood, looking at the trees around them as he announced loudly. "Now, I reckon our friends have been sleeping for far too long, wouldn't you say?"
As Lucy laughed with delight, Aslan lifted his head and roared.
It was a strange thing, everything a person could perceive in one moment.
Caspian studied the battlefield as he ran, engaging into a fight with every enemy he encountered. His focus seemed to be mostly on his adversary but still, there was so much he could sense as he fought. The smell of blood, dirt and sweat around him. The chaotic noise as Narnians and Telmarines roared, yelled and clashed weapons together. He saw the silver sea of Telmarine soldiers formed into a shield wall as they slowly cornered the Narnians.
The Narnians around him fought expertly, out for blood and willing to sell their lives as expensive as possible but, Caspian was aware that desperation soaked through their minds and souls the more they fought without extra aid. As such, desperation often led to irrational, hurried decisions so it wasn't too long before some lone Narnians were throwing themselves onto the Telmarine's shield wall, drowning themselves in it to never return.
Caspian wished he could stop it. He wished he could conjure any help that would allow the Narnians to survive but he knew better. He knew it wasn't his job. All he could do was continue to fight and so he did, resembling a dark demon as he twirled gracefully, bringing down another Telmarine with every slash of his sword.
Suddenly, he was dangerously close to the pit. He glanced to his right as he fought three Telmarines at once just in time to watch Trumpkin being punched in the jaw. Caspian quickly blocked the blade of one of his opponents before slashing him and the other two across the stomach. Without allowing himself a moment of respite, he unsheathed his dagger and threw to the throat of the Telmarine fighting Trumpkin. Trumpkin nodded at Caspian before he was off to fight another opponent, his short sword swinging in his hand.
Caspian nodded in return but, within a moment, two other Telmarines were lunging for him.
Caspian blocked them and gritted his teeth as he pushed the two soldiers away. Then, he fell into a defensive stance, his feet dangerously close to the edge of the pit.
A few meters from the Telmarine Prince, Susan was one with her bow. Her blood red skirt was glaringly striking against the blur of green, golden, silver and brown that was the pit. That, and her famous beauty, one that only seemed heightened by her flushed cheeks, made Susan a target for all Telmarine soldiers who wanted to get the title of Queenslayer.
That made Susan quite busy as she kept twirling around, catching soldiers running towards her from all directions. Susan shortly gazed at Caspian but noticed a Telmarine running past the prince and towards her. She shot the soldier flawlessly before twirling gracefully, just in time to knock a second soldier out with her bow. She wanted to take a second to breathe without incoming threats but she caught a third Telmarine coming her way, who she shot an arrow through the heart without even blinking.
Susan straightened, wanted to stretch her pained, exhausted limbs but settled for taking a deep breath. Only a moment of peace was gathered to her before she heard heavy feets running towards her from behind. Susan turned and threw her knife at her enemy, stabbing it into his heart.
A fifth enemy was coming her way so she raised her hand to grab yet another arrow.
Her hand hesitated as it brushed the top of the empty quiver.
Susan's eyes widened and she gazed at her sword with dread but, as panic began to fill her heart, one too great to be controlled, a quiver filled with blue-feathered' arrows was shoved into her arms.
"You need them far more than I do!" Beth screamed, resembling a golden glow as she sped past the Archer Queen. Within a moment, Beth was gone, and Susan had been spared.
Susan shook her head before putting Beth's arrows in her quiver. In a swift moment, she grabbed one, notched it to her bow, and shot as the Telmarine who had been running towards her reached dangerously close.
Susan turned, intending to yell her thanks at Beth but instead, her eyes fell on Caspian who was struggling as he fought against two telmarines by the edge of the pit. Susan gasped and took a step towards the group but then, Caspian was knocked out, and he fell out of sight.
Meanwhile, Beth'd reached Edmund. She threw her sword at a Telmarine who was searching to kill the Just King from behind. Edmund turned around and faltered at the sight of the dead soldier he'd never seen coming before turning to Beth. "How many more times do you intend to save me?"
Beth quickly grabbed her sword, which had been left stuck to the abdomen of the fallen soldier, and twirled it as she faced an incoming enemy. "I don't know, love, how many times are you going to put yourself at risk?"
"You're not as funny as you think you are," Edmund retaliated, using his twin swords expertly as he faced three incoming Telmarines. When he finished them, he turned to his girlfriend with a smile. "I think we need to face them together. What do you say?"
With her True Nature activated, Beth was even more of a knockout as she smiled at Edmund. "Together."
The Just King and Aslan's daughter stood back to back but, before they could engage into a fight, Reepicheep ran past them and towards the incoming army.
"Move forward!" the brave mouse screamed, his high voice squeaking slightly, before squeezing under the shield wall and effectively disappearing into the enemy crowd.
Beth and Ed had no option but to watch the disaster unfold with an anxious glance before resuming the fight.
Peter was relatively out of danger as all nearby enemies were busy in other fights. He was studying the edge of the forest again, hoping to see Lucy and Aslan, when Susan was suddenly beside him.
"Pete!" Susan screamed breathlessly as she neared him. She shot another soldier before turning towards her brother again. "It's Caspian! He was knocked out and fell down to the pit! Let's go!"
"Coming!" Peter yelled, slashing his way to Susan.
Once they reached each other, Susan wiped a smudge of blood off her cheek before addressing Peter breathlessly. "We're surrounded, Pete. How can we win now?"
Peter looked around him, noticing again the sea of silver inching closer to the decreasing numbers of Narnians.
"Aslan will help," Peter finally declared forcefully. Believing so was the only option he had left. "We need to keep fighting until He comes."
Susan nodded and together, the High King and the Archer Queen fought their way towards the pit.
His mind was drowned in a blurry daze.
His eyes two slits, Caspian lay motionless for a second as he tried to distinguish any form or shape he could recognize from the earthy dust that seemed to fill his eyesight completely.
He was distantly aware of the situation in which he was in. He knew he was risking his life by laying there without any sort of defense whatsoever but by knowing that he couldn't exactly make his body move. His brain was slowly waking up, the alarm in his head growing the more alert he became. His nerves seemed to be pulsing with utter urgency, every single one of them commanding his body to move but still, his body didn't listen. Distantly, he could feel his constricted lungs slowly regaining his breath, his intake of oxygen almost too fast as his system desperately made up for the air he lost when he collapsed to the ground.
Then, he heard a yell.
And it was as if that sudden surge of adrenaline boosted his body into alertness in a way that his mind hadn't been able.
He lifted his head slightly for a second before he was scrambling away, his hands desperately searching for his sword as he noticed the incoming threat.
General Glozelle was running towards him with a pike, his eyes crazed as they lay on the prince that started all of this chaos.
That boy laying before him had been the one responsible for the end of the Telmarine Empire as they knew. The other Narnian leaders might have helped him but still, Caspian had been one who set that chain of events into motion.
Glozelle was determined to attack, to end that thread of tragedies but then, the most curious thought rushed into his mind.
Would it be so bad, if the true heir to the throne was King?
The worst thing was that Glozelle had no answer to that.
Slowly, almost without even meaning it, Glozelle lowered his weapon and stared at Caspian with complete and undiluted horror.
Caspian stared at Glozelle too, his eyes wide as they flicked from Glozelle to the pike he held in his hands.
It was one of those moments in which they seemed to hold their breaths in expectation, unconsciously waiting for the other to make a move in order to know what was going to happen next.
And then, a third party made the choice for them.
A tree root suddenly made its way through the ground, grabbing Glozelle and throwing him away from Caspian.
Caspian gasped with shock but then, a slow smile made its way through his lips.
They were saved.
"Alright?" Peter asked with a laugh as he helped Caspian out of the pit.
Caspian rolled his eyes at Peter before embracing Susan as she collapsed into him with a relieved sigh. Then, he turned his eyes upwards, his sight undeniably falling on the group of trees that were making their way through the battlefield, killing Telmarines as they advanced.
"Lucy," Peter explained as he saw the question in Caspian's eyes. "She made it."
"Hey, do not forget my father," Beth called with playful anger as she and Edmund reached them. She wiped the dirt out of her face before smiling with pride, content of accepting her heritage for the first time. "This was Aslan's doing."
The Narnian army watched in silent awe as the trees moved past the pit, using their roots to destroy the catapults and trebuchets. In what seemed like a moment, the Telmarines had gone from being at the edge of winning to desperately fighting for survival, no longer having any of the weapons that had been vital for their victory against former enemies.
The Narnians roared their approval and hit their weapons to the ground to make the most noise possible. Meanwhile, Beth glanced around her with satisfaction. There would be many times in which she was needed to help her people have faith but that day, her job was done.
Aslan was near, so it was time to go back to normal.
As the golden glow coming from Beth suddenly disappeared, Edmund turned towards her with a small smile. He knew that, even though Beth was able to use supernatural strength while her True Nature was activated, it wore her down even further once she went back to normal.
As Beth opened his eyes at him again and smiled, Edmund couldn't help but smile back. "Are you okay, love? You must be exhausted."
Beth looked at the trees, once again finally awake, before smiling at Edmund. "I'm too happy to be tired, I think."
Wordlessly, Edmund embraced her and kissed her temple. Then, the two turned towards Peter as the enemy army retreated from the clearing.
"For Aslan?" Beth asked softly.
Peter nodded before raising his sword above his head.
"For Aslan!" he screamed before running across the battlefield, chasing the Telmarines down.
With a mighty roar, his army followed.
Sopespian couldn't quite pinpoint what was different with the bridge.
Not that it mattered, of course. He would still cross but in the back of his mind that question seemed to be permanently buzzing, as if it was important for some reason.
Sopespian felt a glimmer of success as his horse reached the edge of the forest. The bridge of Beruna lay before him. If his army was able to cross it without being ambushed by the Narnians, then they would be able to regroup and turn the odds back in their favour.
His horse was the first one that touched the river. From the corner of his eye, he saw some of his men getting into the water on both sides, their desperation leading them to get in contact with elements Telmarines did not trust.
Sopespian wanted to scoff. There was no plausible justification to get in contact with water. Telmarines didn't like the sea but even rivers were to be avoided at all times. The bridge was built for a reason, after all.
Then, something strange happened. Something not even a man as seasoned as Sopespian could have expected.
A young girl stood by the other extreme of the bridge. Clad in an orange dress under a thick, green cloak and with her auburn hair flowing with the wind, the girl stood tall, facing the army bravely despite being on her own.
Sopespian forced his horse to stop and immediately heard his soldiers following his lead.
The girl smiled innocently at Sopespian before unsheathing a small dagger.
Sopespian frowned with confusion. He supposed this girl was with the Narnians - maybe she was the Queen of Old he had yet to meet but still, why would she stand before an entire army so unprotected was beyond him.
Then, he glanced backwards. The Narnian army had arrived at the edge of the forest as well. By the front line, the Narnian Royal Family were glaring murderously at Sopespian, their weapons ready in case they had to attack.
Suddenly, both armies grew completely silent, enveloped almost in a feeling of reverence as they stared past Sopespian with a mix of fear and admiration.
Dread stirring in his soul, Sopespian turned too.
And locked eyes with a majestic lion.
Sopespian was perplexed but didn't have to ask to know who was Him. He knew that could only be Aslan.
Leaning back on his saddle, Sopespian understood a crossroad lay before him.
He could either go back, and face an army with abominable creatures, moving trees and wild animals.
He could either go forward, and face Narnia's Great Lion and the Valiant Queen.
With a smirk, it dawned on him that the choice was quite easy. Great Lion or not, He was nothing against the power of the Telmarine army.
"Charge!" Sopespian roared before spurring his horse forward. Time seemed to slow down as he galloped through the bridge in the direction of the strange duo before him. He could hear the heavy hooves of his army as they followed his lead and again, he began to feel victorious. He even began imagining himself wearing the Telmarine crown.
But then, Aslan roared.
His heart faltering with shock, Sopespian once again stopped his advance abruptly. As if compelled, he then looked down, and frowned with trepidation as he noticed the sparkling water below him was swirling mysteriously, clearly conjured by a supernatural force.
Sopespian gripped his horse's reins with force as he realized what was different about the bridge.
The stone structure was gone.
They were about to fall into the water.
Sopespian held his breath, waiting with anxious expectation for the moment in which the bridge gave under the weight of the few Telmarines on it but, as most things in his recent history, it didn't happen as he expected it to.
Because, from their distant right, a powerful wave suddenly came their way, turning into an enormous, masculine, mature being formed purely with water as he reached the bridge.
Unbeknownst to Sopespian, the Narnians knelt respectfully at the sight of that majestic, remarkable creature. They were in the presence of the River God, last seen during the reign of King Frank, the first King of Narnia.
The River God regarded them all with regal gravity before he reached for the bridge. Since it was now weakened, he had no trouble lifting it from its place with violent force. Startled by the sudden movement, the Telmarines on the bridge fell one by one until at last, only Sopespian was remaining.
Sopespian snarled at the River God with a mixture of rage and frustration. He wasn't afraid of dying. Telmarines weren't afraid of something so inevitable as death.
What he hated was the idea that he had been so close. After all those years of strenuous effort in which he betrayed, killed and allied himself as he saw fit to obtain his goal, he had made infinite progress. And still, the throne was left just away from his reach.
Sopespian straightened his head. The only redeeming knowledge for his tragic demise was that he had outwitted the backstabbing rat Miraz.
He couldn't delay it any longer. Whoever was in charge of the way things happened had clearly decided Sopespian was done with a world.
Sopespian could feel the bridge tipping forward. With a wild scream, he swung his sword wildly as he neared the weird man made of water who had lifted him up.
Water enveloped him.
And then everything went black.
"It's over," Edmund finally managed to comment after a long silence in which the five royals stood side by side.
As if snapping out of the shock, his companions looked at him in a daze, almost struggling to believe that his words had any truth in it.
Around them, the scene could only be described as coordinated chaos.
From the water, Telmarines kept exiting with soaked armours and unsheathed weapons, their morions long gone. At the direction of the Narnians supervising their surrender, they would then leave their weapons on the floor before being taken into custody until their fates were decided by the Monarchs.
Susan and Caspian managed to smile at Edmund, the relief of having won beginning to lift their spirits. Peter and Beth nodded their acknowledgement but their gazes were on the Great Lion by the other side of the river.
When thinking of everything they had to deal with, Peter and Beth couldn't help but secretly wish to go back to the battle. War and fighting, at least those two things were easy and uncomplicated.
Susan, Edmund and Caspian understood their apprehension. After, Peter was the High King and the one who had been the angriest at Aslan when he and his siblings were sent back to Narnia. On the other hand, Beth was laying eyes on her real father for the very first time and, as questions continued to pile up in her mind, Beth began to feel an overpowering urge of throwing her weapons and fleeing back to Archenland.
"Let's go," Peter finally said and, without looking back, he began to cross the river. Susan and Edmund quickly caught up to him, each of them stepping into either side of the High King. Beth and Caspian were the last to follow, their advance quite hesitant.
Lucy smiled as the five royals knelt before Aslan. She wanted nothing but to run and hug them, ecstatic that they were all okay, and she even wanted to mock Peter for going against her when she clearly had been right all along. Still, she refrained from moving. Just like she had her moment with Aslan, this was theirs.
With Peter in the middle, Susan and Caspian to his right and Edmund and Beth to his left, the group hung their heads with respect, and waited for the Great Lion to address them.
"Rise, King and Queens of Narnia," Aslan called, his warm voice destroying all nerves and hesitation from Peter, Susan and Edmund, who rose to their feet with content smiles.
At either extreme, both Caspian and Beth remained motionless.
"All of you."
Caspian looked up to Aslan with great surprise.
As he knelt before Aslan, he could only think of how unworthy he felt of being in his presence. He had started this war to save Narnia and to regain his throne but in the end, he hadn't done much. The others had done the dirty work for him. Peter fought in the duel instead of him. Lucy had found Aslan. What had he done to call himself King?
"I do not think I am ready, My Liege," Caspian finally admitted.
"It is for that very reason that I know you are," Aslan replied kindly before turning his head towards His daughter, who was still refusing to meet His eyes. "Beth? What about you?"
Beth slowly met His eyes. It was the last thing she wanted to do but she looked at her father anyways in order to keep up her calm' cover-up.
The thing was, that she didn't even know how to face Aslan. Yes, he was her father and yes, she had faith in Him and she couldn't not feel love for him; after all, He was Aslan! Still, she couldn't stop thinking of how she knew literally nothing about her life. She didn't know who her mother was, or how did she reach her mother in England or why was she abandoned by her biological parents in the first place.
Everything she knew, she knew because of people who had read about her. Somehow, there was lore about her, but she had no idea of who she was.
And Aslan? Aslan had done nothing but stuck her in an abusive household for twelve years.
"I have no idea of who I am," Beth finally said, gritting her teeth as she fought against her anger. She couldn't show her anger, not in front of the others. She would rather leave the scene for when she and Aslan were on their own. "I cannot say I'll make a good leader when I don't know myself or my past."
"And you'll. You will learn everything about your family and your past, dear one." Aslan nodded his head with understanding before smiling proudly. "Still, there is no one more worthy of being called a Queen. Please, rise."
Beth rose, meeting the other's smiles with a roll of eyes.
"See?" Edmund asked lowly. "I told you you'll be Queen."
"I'll make my own choice when the time comes, thank you very much." Beth murmured in return.
Edmund opened his mouth to reply but then, music was heard from their left. The group turned to watch a solemn group of mice making their way towards Lucy, a fallen mouse being carried on a little stretcher.
Reepicheep.
Lucy gasped before quickly running towards the valiant mouse, taking her healing cordial out of its sheath as she walked.
Lucy made him drink a drop of the healing potion and, before any of them could blink an eye, Reepicheep was breathing deeply as he sat up, his eyes on Lucy as he looked at her with something close to unreserved admiration.
"Thank you so much, Your Majesty-," Reepicheep gushed, trailing off as he gazed behind Lucy, and noticed Aslan for the first time. The mouse quickly bounced to his feet and walked ceremoniously towards the Great Lion, leaning forward to bow once he was near enough. "Hail Aslan! It is my greatest honour to-."
Reepicheep cut himself off as he stumbled clumsily. He looked behind himself in shock, trying to see what could have possibly taken his balance. He hadn't stumbled since he was a baby!
And then, he noticed the culprit. His tail, his best tool, was gone.
With complete embarrassment, Reepicheep looked at Aslan as he stammered. "I am completely out of countenance. I must crave your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion."
When Aslan didn't reply, Reepicheep turned instead in the direction of Lucy, who watched him with a sympathetic smile. "Perhaps a drop more?"
Lucy smiled somewhat sadly. Behind her, her family exchanged secretly amused glances. "I don't think it does that."
Repicheep wasn't undeterred. "It wouldn't hurt to try."
Aslan intervened then. He chuckled warmly, instantly earning himself the attention of the group. His eyes, however, didn't flicker from the small mouse before Him. "It becomes you well, Small One."
Reepicheep shook his head. If he was to live the rest of his life without a tail, then his remaining option was clear. He unbuckled his sword and rested it flat on his stretched hands, offering it to Aslan with ceremony. "All the same, Great King, I regret that I must withdraw, for a tail is the honor and glory of a mouse."
"Perhaps you think too much of your honour, friend," Aslan spoke warmly as he secretly exchanged a knowing glance with Lucy.
"Well, it's not just the honour. It's also great for balance...and climbing...and grabbing things."
Reepicheep was now blatantly trying to convince the Great Lion to give him a tale. Behind Reepicheep and his companions, Edmund and Beth covered their smiles with their hands while Caspian, Peter and Susan looked on with understanding.
Aslan smiled and exchanged another glance with Lucy as Reepicheep's second-in-command, Peepiceek, approached the Great Lion as well.
"May it please your High Majesty, we will not bear the shame of wearing an honor denied to our chief," the mouse declared before he and the rest of the mice unsheathed their tiny blades. At once, they lifted them to their blades and waited for Reepicheep's command.
Reepicheep looked at his fellow mice with surprise before turning his gaze on the Great Lion, almost pouting pleadingly in his direction.
Aslan laughed. "Not for your honour, but for the love of your people."
Reepicheep's face was priceless as he grasped his new tail. "Oh, look! Thank you, thank you, my liege! I will treasure it always! From this day forward, it will serve as a great reminder of my huge humility."
Reepicheep bowed and, as they all laughed, Aslan bowed his head too and looked towards the river as he addressed Lucy."Now, where is this dear little friend you've told me so much about?"
The others followed His gaze to the shore, where Trumpkin was supervising the Telmarines' surrender. As if feeling the various eyes on him, the dwarf turned, straightening with surprise as he noticed the Lion staring at him with gravity.
Withholding himself from showing his fear to the royal group, Trumpkin took off his helmet before unsheathing his sword and kneeling, his long ginger hair falling around his face like a curtain.
Aslan regarded him wordlessly for a moment. Then, he roared, and Trumpkin couldn't stop himself from jumping in fright.
Again, the royal group laughed.
"Do you see Him now?" Lucy couldn't help but ask, enjoying immensely the lesson taught to her stubborn friend.
Trumpkin could only manage to shoot her a nervous smile.
As they all laughed again, a sudden movement by the corner of her eye made Beth turn towards the opposite edge of the forest. With an excited smile, she realized it was the group of children, elderly and injured that had fled from the How.
"Go," Edmund said as he too turned to the group. He smiled at Beth. "Find your brother."
Beth didn't have to be told twice. Without even looking at the others. she was off across the river with the intention of reuniting with Adrien.
"Adrien!"
Adrien didn't look up from the waves before him. "Over here, sister."
He heard the hurried steps first and suddenly, armoured arms were embracing him tightly as Beth gushed with anxious relief. "You can't do this to me again! I almost had a heart attack when I couldn't find you amongst the others!"
Adrien looked up and smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Beth. I promise I have a good excuse."
"We'll see about that," Beth said as she took her seat beside Edmund. The girl looked admittedly exhausted with her dirty green battle skirts, the cuts in her face and the dirt smudged in her entire body but her golden eyes were bright as she embraced Adrien again. She then noticed Oreius' sword laying beside him and frowned. "Why are you even here and why do you have that sword?"
Adrien turned towards the Narnian groups nearby, noticing with relief that none of them were too close. He wanted to talk to Beth in peace. "Aslan came to me in a dream again."
Beth impatiently pushed a loose strand of her dirty hair off her face before raising her eyebrows at Adrien. "Dude, you sleep too much."
Adrien sighed wearily, disappointed with himself for not having expected an answer like that one. "So not the point."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Beth laughed, raising her hands in surrender when Adrien shot her a playfully annoyed look. "What did he say to you?"
Adrien took a deep breath and turned back towards the river as he explained everything to Beth. He told her about the dream, Aslan, the sword, the bridge and the water.
When he was done, Beth was also looking at the river with an expression stricken with surprise. "So the bridge, the River God. That was your doing?"
Aslan nodded tiredly. He was starting to feel the effects of having run with a heavy sword under the relentless sun. "Aslan said Oreius' sword is deeply connected to Beruna, as it was here where he fought to regain Narnia's freedom from the White Witch."
"Huh." Beth nodded slowly before pursing her lips. Then, she smiled at Adrien with pride. "Well, I'm going to have a serious talk with Aslan about which tasks can be given to children and which can't but I'm glad you found out more about your family's heritage and I'm even more glad that you're okay."
Adrien leaned his head against his sister's shoulder and, for a few minutes both siblings stared at the clear water. They rejoiced in the feeling of victory that came with achieving peace but, secretly, the two felt slightly unnerved of having entered times of peace. Now that their lives no longer revolved around surviving, what were they supposed to do?
It was Adrien who finally voiced those thoughts. "It's weird because all this time, all I wanted was to be safe in Narnia. Now that I am, I'm not really sure what to do."
Beth nodded with understanding before nudging him slightly. "Well, now you need to rest because you ran for hours with what seems like the heaviest sword in the world but if you want to follow your family's path, then I can teach you everything I know."
Adrien took a deep breath before looking at his sister with wide eyes. "Would you support me if I chose differently?"
Beth's smile widened. "You know I would."
"I want to be free," Adrien admitted, his voice growing confident as his decision seemed better and better the more he thought about it. "I don't want any ties, even those coming from my own family. I want to make my own path in the world. If that leads me to become a warrior, then so be it, but I want it to be because I chose to be so."
Beth chuckled with pride and patted his shoulder warmly before commenting. "You know, this sword has a great connection with Beruna. Perhaps it should rather stay here. It's seen many battles, after all. Perhaps it's time it gets a rest."
Adrien smiled as he rose to his feet. "As always, you know exactly what to do."
And as Oreius' sword flowed down the river onto an unknown destiny, Beth and Adrien watched it depart them with a smile. Somehow, that ritual had been a sort of closure for the siblings and now, they were able to look at the future with more hopeful eyes.
A/N: First, adding Beth's last name was a spur of the moment' decision but as I was writing this, I realized I never even thought of a last name for her. However, it did sound realistic for Beth to be reluctant when sharing information about herself related to Jack, because of everything he did to her. I'm kind of happy with how that revelation happened, and I hope you guys are too.
Also, Adrien actually died in the ancient version of this chapter. I don't even remember what I was trying to pull with that arc but I was re-reading Prince Caspian the other day, and I was inspired to change Adrien's storyline into the one in this chapter. Hope you guys liked it!
Lastly, there will be a better reunion between Aslan and Beth next chapter. I was actually planning to add it in this one but I liked the idea of ending it with Adrien throwing Oreius' sword onto the river so there we go. Stay tuned for the reunion, for it will also reveal some interesting stuff.
Chapter 16 is coming soon! I need to change some storylines considering the major changes i've written so far but it'll be up soon! I'll announce updates on this on my profile.
