I am currently being held in the talons of a griffin. That's not something you can say everyday, even in Narnia. This was Edumnd's idea. That way we can sneak into the castle undetected. We were currently hovering waiting for Edmund's signal that it was safe to approach. There is a pit in my stomach that something will go wrong and that someone I love will get hurt but I have to push it aside.
Finally, Edmund signals with his stupid electric torch that he has been so attached to. Our griffins follow the signal and go to move us into position. As we fly by the tower Edmund was purchased on I can almost feel his eyes on me. I look in that direction and grab my locket, almost to signify that I love him and that I want him to stay safe. Caspian pulls his sword and slashes at a guard in a tall tower as he flies by. We soon swoop down into the castle.
As we are about to land Susan fires at an archer who was aimed at Edmund, and takes him down. Peter, Caspian, and I land and draw our weapons and help take down the other guards. As soon as that was taken care of, Peter pulls out a rope and ties it to a pillar. Once it's tied down Caspian grabs it and starts to purplle off the side of the castle. Peter follows next because Aslan forbid Caspian does something before him. I go next followed by Susan, and then Trumpkin.
"Professor?" I hear Caspian whisper below me as he knocks on the window. By the time I got down the rope the window was already open and everyone was inside. There were books and artifacts all over the room. There were even some Narnian artifacts. Caspian was looking at something on a desk. He lifts up a pair of specials. "I have to find him." Caspian says with desperation in his voice.
"You don't have time. You have to get to the gate house." Peter reminds him.
"You wouldn't even be here without him. And neither would I." Caspian reminds him forcefully. I let out a sigh.
"I'll go with Caspian to find the professor." I tell Peter who looks like he was about to protest.
"We can take care of Miraz." Susan offers.
"And we can still make it to the gatehouse in time." Caspian informs him. Peter nods at us with reluctant approval.
Caspian gestures for me to follow and we start to sneak and weave our way through the castle. After a lot of sneaking and dodging guards we made it to a set of stairs that seemed to never end. It was dark and cold and wet. We were definitely in the dungeons of the castle.
Once we finally reach the bottom we are met with cells and a singular guard standing at the bottom facing away from us. I sneak closer to him and wack him in the back of the head with the hilt of my swords, knocking the guard out. I grab the body and lower it to the ground so that it doesn't make too much noise. After that was done, I snagged the keys and tossed them to Caspian. He runs to unlock the door.
"Five more minutes?" He asks the older man as he shakes him awake. At the sound of his voice the professor shot up.
"What are you doing here?" He asks, concerned as he caresses the prince's face. "I didn't help you escape just so you could be captured again! You have to get out before Miraz learns you are here!" The professor warns trying to get the young prince to move.
"He'll learn soon enough. We are giving him your cell." Caspian tells him, a little too cocky for my liking.
"Caspian!" I warn. This causes both men to turn their attention to me.
"Queen Margret!" The professor yelps before dropping in a low bow. "It is an honor to meet you!"
"Thank you but we don't have time for this. We need to get moving." I tell them trying to expedite the process. Caspian turns to leave but the professor stops him.
"My prince, don't underestimate Miraz like your father did." The wise man warns. I feel my stomach drop as I watch the blood drain from Caspian's face. This can't be good.
"What are you talking about?" The prince asks in a shaking, angry voice.
"I'm sorry." The older man sighs. As soon as those words left his mouth, the prince made a b line for the stairs.
"Caspian!" I hiss, but he ignores me. "Can you find your way to the stables?" I ask the professor who nods in return. "Good. Here, take this and stay safe." I tell him as I pull out the extra dagger I was packing and hand it off to the bearded man. I then race up the stairs to try and stop the price from doing something stupid. I follow him all the way through a tall tower.
"Caspian, what exactly is the plan here?" I whisper to the prince as we stare at the guards at the door.
"You take the guard on the left while I take the one on the right. Then you stand watch while I go in." He instructs as if that's what I meant.
"Caspian…"
"Maggie you heard him." He pleads with me. The look of desperation in his eyes made me get in.
"Fine." I sigh giving in. He squeezes me in the arm as a way to say thank you. We then get to work implementing his plan.
I snuck up behind the guard on the left and hit him with the hilt of my sword. I then catch him and slowly lower the body to the floor. Caspian then runs into the bed chambers. I stand guard and keep the door open a jar so I can have an eye on Caspian the whole time. Through the door Caspian points his sword at his uncle's neck. Suddenly, I hear footsteps coming from right behind. I whip around and hold one of my swords to the person's neck.
"Maggie!" I hear Susan yelp. For the first time I noticed who my blade was pointed at.
"Peter." I sigh, lowering my sword. "Susan." I greet her.
"What are you doing here?" Peter hiss at me.
"Where is Caspian?" Susan asks, glancing around.
"Miraz killed Caspian's father." I infor my them.
"What?" Peter hisses.
"Guys!" Susan hiss as she pushes past us, weapon pointed at Caspian's Aunt who pulled a crossbow out of no wear.
"Put the sword down Caspian. I don't want to do this." His aunt warns.
"We don't want you to either." Susan snaps back. All of our weapons were armed and ready to attack at any miss step.
"This used to be a private room." Miraz quips, putting his hand on his hips.
"I wouldn't be so cocky for someone who is outnumbered four to two." I challenge.
"Caspian, what are you doing? You are supposed to be at the gate house." Peter hisses at the young prince.
"No!" Caspian shouts, prerage in his voice. "Tonight, for once, I want the truth! Did you kill my father?" He hissed at his uncle. The pure venom in his voice gave me goosebumps.
"Now we get to it." Miraz sneers.
"You told me your brother died in his sleep." His wife falters, lowering the crossbow slightly.
"That was more or less true." The evil man shrugs. Caspian advances making his uncle be pressed against the wall.
"Did you kill my father?" Caspian growls again, shoving his sword further into his neck.
"Caspian, this won't make things better." Susan tries to reason with the prince. He ignores her.
"We telmarines would have nothing if we had not taken it. Your father knew that." Miraz answers. This made my blood run cold.
"How could you?" His wife asks him, shocked.
"For the same reason you would pull that trigger." Miraz points to his wife. He starts to move forward making Caspian take a few steps back.
"Stay where you are!" Susan warns. She is ignored again.
"For our son!" Miraz continues. "You must choose. Do you want our child to be King or do you want him to be like Caspian?" He pauses making direct eye contact with Caspian. "Fatherless."
"No!" His wife screams as she releases the trigger sending an arrow into Caspian's arm. She immediately starts to weep and throws herself onto the bed. Susan shoots at Miraz but he escapes through a hidden door.
"Caspian!" I shout running to his side. I grab a hold of his shoulder and put one hand on the arrow lodged in his arm. "This is going to hurt alright. Three… two…" I rip the arrow out of his arm and he groans in pain. I rip a table cloth that was on the table and wrap it around the wound.
"Come on, let's go!" Peter yells at us as he rushes us out the door. We go running down the hall until we meet a cross road.
"This way!" Caspian users. Peter rolls his eyes but follows the prince's lead. We meet another cross road and Caspian runs down one way and Peter down the other.
"Peter!" Susan yells after her brother.
"Our army is just outside!" He yells back to us. I look at Susan and we roll our eyes but go running after him.
"Now, Ed! Signal the troupes!" Peter yells as he runs through the courtyard to open the gate on the other end.
"I'm a bit busy Pete!" Edmund yells in response. I glance up and see him fighting a guard. The guard had him pinned so Edmund headbutts him right in his metal helmet. This causes the guard to fall back. I see Edmund shake his head to clear the dizziness.
"Edmund! How many times have I told you not to headbut people without a helmet on!" I yell up to him as a guard comes running at me, swinging his sword. I quickly block and parry.
"I'll remember that next time, love!" Edmund yells back, sarcastically. Peter rushes to turn the machine that opens the gate but struggles to get it to move on his own. I sigh and rush to his aid.
"You're helping me?" He asks me, astonished and slightly out of breath.
"I once told you I would follow you into battle anytime, remember?" I remind him as I put all my weight into pushing the gear.
"Peter, it's too late! We have to call it off while we still can!" Susan tries to reason with her older brother.
"No. I can still do this! Help me!" Peter begs them.
Suddenly, Caspian and Susan join us in pushing the gear. I pause for a second.
"I or we, Peter?" I ask him. He gestured for me to continue to help them.
"Seriously Peter, exactly who are you doing this for?" Susan adds on. He ignored her and we kept turning the gear to lift the gate. We stopped when finally our army came flooding in.
"For Narnia!" Peter shouts as we charge at the soldiers that are running towards us. I pull out both of my swords and just start swinging at random enemies trying to stop them before they could get a scratch on me. Peter and I decided that the best tactic is to fight back to back that way nobody could sneak up behind us.
Suddenly, my locket starts to glow and Peter and I look at where it was pointed. We see Edmund slide down the side of the roof to knock an archer down that was aiming right at us. Edmund smirks down at us cockily, apparently oblivious to the other archers who are now aiming at him.
"Ed!" Peter and I yell at the same time. He sees the archers aiming for him and dives for the door. He slams it shut just in time. The locket's glow dies down and Peter and I share a confused look. However, the amount of blades coming at us put that silent thought on hold.
Peter wanders away from me at some point but I just keep fighting. However, a large crash drags my attention away. I see Trumpkin laying on the ground on his head. Just above him a telmarine soldier was trying to cut down the weight that held the gate open. It was going to land on top of the dwarf. I run over with a Minotaur and I pull the dwarf out of harm's way. The gate starts to fall and the Minotaur catches it before it can.
"Fall back!" I hear Peter shout from somewhere behind me. I turn to the centaur next to me.
"Get him out of here!" They nod and he scoops him up and heads towards the gate. I kept fighting and yelling at all of the Narnians to retreat but I kept fighting the Telmarines. In the distance I hear Susan shouting my name but I just keep fighting. I needed to get as many of my people out of here as I could. Behind me I hear hooves hitting the ground and suddenly I am getting pulled onto a horse against my will.
"Let go of me!" I command them but they hold me tighter and pull me further on the horse.
"Maggie, stop fighting, we need to go!" Peter hiss at me.
"No, I can't leave them!" I try to fight against him but he pins me between his chest and the neck of the horse. We get to the gate and the Minotaur lifts it higher so that we can get through. As soon as we pass under the beast gets shot in the neck with an arrow and clasps under the weight of the gate. This causes a good portion of our army to be stuck in the courtyard. "Noooooo!" I scream and fight against Peter harder. He restrains me but there are tears in his eyes as he looks at his trapped people.
"Peter, Maggie, the gate!" Caspian shouts out to us. We turn to look at them and Peter quickly menovers the horse so that it jumps the drawbridge.
We all start to head back to base and I feel tears start to build in my eyes. Ahead of me I see Caspian and Susan also trying to cope with the major loss we just suffered. At least they are safe. Then a very unsettling thought crosses my mind which causes me to sit up straighter. I glance around the sky frantically. Peter gave me a confused look then the same thought clicked in his head. Did Edmund make it out?
Just as the thought crosses my mind my locket glows again and we look up to see Edmund riding on the back of a Griffin. We hold eye contact for a minute before he flys ahead. I let out a sigh of relief and leaned back into Peter's chest. The light of the locket begins to fade and I hold onto it. So it glows whenever Edmund is in trouble? That's new.