Stargazer the White had accompanied the army to raid the Northern giants. As a skilled archer, she could assist in the battle if necessary but her presence was primarily to serve as a healer. She was a middle-aged centaur with a white horse body and a human face that was stern but beautiful. Her blond hair was braided around her head. Stargazer the White was considered the greatest healer of her generation of centaurs. She considered her skills paltry compared to her legendary grandmother Stargazer the Grey.
It was her grandmother's skills that had kept many Narnians alive during the brutal reign of the White Witch. Stargazer the Grey had created herbal potions that kept many Narnians alive and healthy through years of winter and limited green food. Stargazer the White could easily recall her childhood and the young years of her adulthood when fresh green grass was only a fairytale and both her horse and human stomachs were always aching with hunger. Both of her parents died while working with the underground that smuggled food and plotted opposition to the White Witch and then she was raised by her grandmother. When her beloved Ravenstorm proposed marriage, she refused twice. Why marry and raise foals to have the White Witch kill them or turn them to stone? Her wise grandmother had scolded her not to give up hope in the prophecies. She married, had three foals, and struggled to keep her family healthy during the brutal never ending winter. Then it happened. A rumor flew that a Daughter of Eve had been seen in the woods near the Lantern. Another rumor was heard that Tumnus the faun was arrested for fraternizing with a Human. On her deathbed, Stargazer the Grey prophesized that the winter would soon end, that the thrones of Cair Paravel would be filled by Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve and that Aslan would appear at the Stone Table. And then, a rumor appeared that Aslan had been seen.
Her father-in-law, Greystorm, gathered up the family and announced they would secretly travel to the Stone Table. It was a difficult journey but the prophecy was true. Aslan was at the Stone Table and He was real, a real beast, more powerful than she could have imagined. Then spring appeared. Green grass and trees and flowers and warm breezes – this was spring! Oh the delight of grazing on fresh green grass. And then they appeared, three children. They were tired from traveling in the winter and avoiding the Witch's wolves. One child was missing – he was with the Witch and needed to be rescued. Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve – legends – were now real. The next few days were a blur, a great battle, Aslan's sacrifice, the death of the Witch and the coronation of the four children. And then, there were years of blessed peace in Narnia. Fourteen years later, it was being openly talked about as the Golden Age of Narnia. Much of this was because of the man lying on the bed before her. Peter the High King was legendary at the age of twenty seven. He had never lost a battle, rarely lost a tournament. He was brave and noble, a perfect knight, a brilliant strategist. Men, talking beasts and creatures, gladly followed Peter the Magnificent into battle. Technically, he hadn't lost this battle with the giants. The giants had been driven back but at a horrible cost.
Stargazer could still remember that horrible moment of the last attack. They had struck camp just two hours earlier and were on the way back to Narnia following the signing of the peace agreement. The raids had, as planned, taken only three weeks. The giants had sued for peace and agreed to all of the High King's demands. The battle plans had worked well and they had suffered only two deaths and minor injuries. The mood of the army was good as they marched towards home. They were in the last narrow valley before the mountains ended and could smell the Narnian marshlands. The High King and Prince Galen rode at the front of the army talking to each other about the successful raid. Suddenly large boulders were hurled from both sides at the front of the party. Both the High King's and Prince Galen's horses had been knocked to the ground with their riders. Stargazer had instantly known the injuries would be severe since both stallions landed partially on top of their riders. Prince Gearalt had led the charge to the right towards the giants to stop the attack while Ravenstorm led a charge to the left. Stargazer remembered marveling how organized the army was even with such a surprise. Within moments, the boulders stopped being tossed as the giants engaged in fights with the army. She rushed to the High King's side. She needed fire, water, a tent to be set up. Luckily the giants were defeated quickly so she could get assistance. Three giants were killed and two fled. The fight though short was brutal. There were several dead and others injured. She stabilized both the High King and Prince Galen and ordered Eol the Eagle to fly to Cair Paravel to have the Queen Lucy and her cordial ride to the makeshift camp. Skygazer, her brother, trotted towards her with a man in his arms. Young Prince Gearalt, a favorite companion of King Edmund and Queen Lucy and Prince Galen's younger brother.
"I could not save him, my sister" mourned Skygazer.
Stargazer had blinked back her own tears and said "We have many injured to tend to my brother. We will mourn the dead later."
It had been three hours since the attack. Stargazer felt the tent curtains open but did not turn. She knew it was her husband Ravenstorm. When he reached her side, she turned to look at him. He was still dirty from the battle with a bloody rag tied to his head.
"How does the king?" Ravenstorm asked.
Stargazer shook her head and said "The internal injuries are bad. I fear his kidneys are damaged plus the broken ribs and broken arm. He needs fluids but I am fearful to give him water with the internal injuries. How soon do you think Queen Lucy and her cordial can get here?"
Ravenstorm replied "I am sure Eol the Eagle is flying to Cair Paravel as fast as he possible can. If they ride hard, they should be here by tomorrow night. Can you keep him alive until then?"
Stargazer shivered and said "I will do all I can. I think so. Not much longer. I am trying to think of other remedies. When my brother Skygazer is done tending the other wounded, send him to me. Perhaps if we review our grandmother's teachings together, another remedy will come to my mind."
Ravenstorm nodded and then looked at the other bed and said "What of Prince Galen?" Stargazer turned to look at the Lone Island Prince who was the knight closest to the High King.
Stargazer replied "His back is broken. He has a fever. Queen Lucy's cordial is his only hope of a cure but he is not in immediate danger of dying. I have given him a sleeping potion. I will need to keep him asleep – he would not be able to tolerate the pain if he was awake."
Ravenstorm asked "Did you tell him about Prince Gearalt?" Stargazer shook her head.
Ravenstorm sighed and said "This victory is at high cost. When my friend awakes and is cured by Queen Lucy, he will then have to face the pain of the death of his brother."
There was a commotion outside the tent and a dwarf stuck his head in the tent. "Commander Ravenstorm, we need your counsel. We think the two giants may be returning."
Stargazer grabbed her husband's arm and said "You must drive them off, my love. We cannot move the High King. It would kill him to be moved."
Ravenstorm nodded and trotted out of the tent. Stargazer bit her lip. She had confidence in her husband but with both the High King and Prince Galen injured, her husband was now in total command of the army. The men, creatures and talking beasts knew that Ravenstorm was a trusted commander of the sovereigns but morale was low after both the High King and Prince Galen had been injured.