Restricted

~. ~ Chapter Eight ~. ~

Edmund and Aliyah followed behind the minotaur quietly as he led the two of them into the stone table chamber that was crowded with Narnians and Aliyah recognized the four people in the middle of the room, looking stressed out. Everyone turned their attention and look at the two as they entered.

"What's the matter?" Edmund asked Peter after looking at his younger sister's troubled face.

"A scout has been discovered." Susan told them, "He was sent by Miraz."

"They must have followed us here through the forest." Aliyah stated.

"It's only a matter of time Miraz's men and war machines are on their way. That means those same men aren't protecting his castle." said Peter as he addressed everyone.

"What do you propose we do, your majesty?" The mouse who Aliyah saw back in the forest asked Peter. She later learned that his name is Reepicheep.

"We need to get ready for –"

"To start planning for –"

New versus the Old. The entire chamber fell silent as the two monarchs spoke at the same time, interrupting each other's speeches. Everyone could feel the tension increasing between the two and watched to see who would finally give in.

And expected, Caspian did.

"Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us." Peter continued to reveal his plan.

"That's crazy. No one has ever taken that castle." Caspian objected.

"There's always a first time." Peter told him.

"We'll have the element of surprise." Trumpkin added on, supporting the High King.

"But we have the advantage here!" Caspian argued.

"If we dig in, we could probably hold them off indefinitely." Susan gave her point of view and Aliyah agreed with them. The idea of attacking a castle does not seemed to be a full proof plan after all but Peter's expression clearly indicated that he is opposed to their comments.

"I, for one, feel safer underground." A badger voiced out as he bowed to his King.

"I value your humble opinion, Trufflehunter but I truly believe that making the first move will give us a significant advantage in proving to them that Narnians are far more powerful and courageous than they realize." Peter explained and he faced Caspian afterwards, continuing, "Look, Caspian. I appreciate what you've done here but this isn't a fortress. It's a tomb."

"Yes. And if they're smart, the Telmarines will just wait and starve us out." Edmund said logically as he and Aliyah sat side by side against one of the pillars in the chamber. Aliyah gave him a disapproving look but he continued quietly, "Believe or not. We will still be going ahead with Peter's plan. The decision has already been made before he starts this council."

"How can you be so sure?" Aliyah asked back.

"He's my brother. We ruled together for fifteen years. I would have known his next move by now." said Edmund.

"We could collect nuts!" A squirrel suggested.

"Yes! And throw them at the Telmarines! Shut up!" Reepicheep said sarcastically. He then turned to Peter with his small head bowed and continued, "I think you know where I stand, sire."

With a determined expression on his face, Peter approached a centaur by the name of Glenstorm. "If I get your troops in, can you handle the guards?"

"Or die trying, my liege." He answered respectfully. He was willing to serve his King in life or death.

"That's what I'm worried about." said Lucy, who was keeping quiet all these while and observing them on the cracked stone table.

"Sorry?" Peter was growing impatient as he anticipated what his sister would say.

"Well, you're all acting like there's only two options. Dying here or dying there." Lucy stated.

"I'm not sure you've been listening, Lu." said Peter.

"No, you're not listening." Lucy lectured her brother. "Or have you forgotten who really defeated the White Witch, Peter?"

The room fell silent again upon hearing Lucy's statement.

"I think we've waited for Aslan long enough." Peter simply told her, disappointing her sister and completely taking the matter into his own hands, putting aside his faith for the Great Lion. He turned to Aliyah and continued, "I need you to stay here with Lucy while we head to Miraz's castle tonight."

"I'm coming with all of you." Aliyah replied. Her expression indicates that she will not accept no as an answer, even if it comes from the High King of Narnia.

"It's dangerous out there, Aliyah." Susan agreed with her brother as she tried to persuade her best friend. She would not take the risk of her endangering her life.

"I do not come to Narnia just to be hidden away when in the first place I am part of the prophecy." Aliyah stood up from the steps that she was sitting and walked to the middle of the chamber as she faced Peter with a pleading look on her face. "Let me help."

"It is not as easy as you think, Aliyah. You will get to witness a lot of deaths or even endanger your life while doing so." Peter explained, his tone was surprisingly soft and caring towards her.

"Well, there's always a first time." Aliyah responded. She meant no offence but she had to get her message clear and firm to him.

Lucy turned to Edmund for his reaction prior to Aliyah's determination to join the night raid, hoping that he could stop her, but instead she found her brother wearing a proud expression on his face. It was at this point of time, she finally realized that they should not prevent her from fulfilling her destiny, regardless of the outcome.

"And you could get killed even if it is your first time." Susan reminded her of the harsh reality. She was starting to lose her calm and gentle demeanor after seeing how stubborn her best friend can be. "Just because you can use a bow and arrow doesn't mean you are able to fight! We can't risk looking after someone who is inexperienced like you out there."

Aliyah's heart sank when she heard what Susan had said. She assumed Susan would be the person who understands her the best out of everyone. She agrees she is being logical but too logical at times that it hurts the others indirectly. She felt a sense of purpose in her life for the first time when she arrived in Narnia, and she believed she would be unjudged here, unlike in England. Susan's response, on the other hand, completely crushed her morale, and she stood there motionless and speechless, staring back at the Narnians.

Perhaps, Susan is right. Who is she to lead the Narnians to victory and help Caspian reclaim back his rightful throne? Who will believe a prophecy of a hopeless girl who is unable to protect her love ones? Perhaps she does not even belong here.

"Susan!" Peter stopped her quickly after seeing the defeated look on Aliyah's face.

"If you are worried about taking care of her or you fear for her own safety, I will gladly take her under my wing." Edmund spoke up from behind, his face displeased with Susan's unsupportive remarks.

"Are you sure of that?" Peter asked. He felt sorry for Aliyah as well, but he had to decide accordingly based on his priorities.

"Unless you don't trust my skills too." Edmund countered back, looking at both Peter and Susan.

Both older siblings exchanged glances before turning to face Aliyah. Susan moved closer to her, but she backed away. She forced a smile at her, then at the rest of them, to reassure them that she was fine but Edmund knew clearly that she was feeling dejected despite her best efforts to hide it.

"I think we should start discussing on the plans, shall we? Before it gets too late."

Caspian suggested as a means of diffusing the intense atmosphere surrounding them, while Aliyah nodded her head sincerely towards him and he replied similarly. As she returned to her seat beside Edmund, Peter took over command and discussed the battle strategies for the battle raid taking place that night.

….

Aliyah found herself back at the stream where she and Edmund went riding earlier on in the day while the rest of the Narnians prepare themselves for the battle that night. She strolled along the steam bank alone, taking a short break from the hectic environment of Aslan's How. She remembered Susan's words to her and could not help but feel demoralized by them.

She looked up at the tall trees above her, the orange sun light shining through the gaps and glittering the stream. Although Aliyah was determined to prove how strong and brave she is to the rest, she could not help but feel nervous about carrying out their mission since it was her first time. She does not even know whether she will be able to see the next daylight.

Aliyah squat down and stared at her reflection in the clear stream water as anxiety crept in and took over her calm exterior. It was the same feeling she had when she realized her mother was dead right in front of her, as well as the feeling she had when she spent countless nights at the Spenvesons with bruises all over her body and her ego crushed by insults from everyone who was ignorant about her plight.

It was the same damn feeling that she kept her heart closed to nearly everyone so that no one can witness this side of her.

"You doubt yourself." A deep voice said out of nowhere.

"Who's that?" she asked as she could not figure out anyone in the vicinity. She clung to her bow, nocked an arrow firmly on it, and warily surveyed her surroundings. She was aware that there could be spies or scouts nearby sent by their enemy, which is why she brought her weapons along with her.

"You knew who I am, but you chose not to believe it yourself because of your doubt." The voice replied.

"Show yourself." She challenged.

"I did. All you have to do is look closely."

Aliyah began to scan her surroundings once more and discovered that everything was still the same as before. Unknowingly, she returned her gaze to the water and screamed before collapsing onto the ground upon seeing what's in it. The reflection from the river shows a lion standing beside her.

She gasped and quickly turned to her side, but there was nothing there, so she returned her gaze to the reflection in shock.

"As- Aslan?" she wondered.

"Yes, my child." His soothing voice responded, working its magic in relieving Aliyah of her anxiety.

"I… I don't understand." She said, staring at his reflection, "Why can't I see you?"

"Everything has its own timing. It is not the right time now for me to appear." The majestic lion explained. His eyes filled with adoration as he returned her gaze; his gaze, as if reminiscing of a father's love for his daughter.

"Lucy misses you." She told Him. "Edmund as well."

"And I too, misses them a lot." Aslan replied and Aliyah sensed a hint of sadness in his tone.

"The night raid." Aliyah began as she sat down with her legs crossed. Those who were not aware might think she was insane for speaking to the river, but for Aliyah, it was an incredible moment when she finally got to meet the Great Lion who both her friends looked up to so much. "Were we right to invade the castle?"

"Sometimes you'll never know it is right or wrong until you have to do it my child." said Aslan. "The most important thing to remember is to never lose faith in yourself. This is the reason why you are brought to Narnia in the very first place."

"Then what is the point of my presence here?" Aliyah felt a sense of relief after waiting for so long as she finally got to ask the question to someone who can answer it. "It impossible for me to aid Caspian to reclaim back his crown. I cannot fight like Peter, Susan, Edmund or even Lucy. I am a nobody. Back in England and now here. I am…. a burden."

"Then why do you offer to help when you were told to stay here with Lucy?" Aslan reminded her.

"You knew?" Aliyah responded in surprise as she finally understood that there is nothing that is not known to the Great Lion.

Aslan let out soft laugh as he looked at the dear girl beside him as He told her, "You doubt your worth too much. Do not regard those who perceived lies about you. Your mother's death does not make you a bad person Aliyah. You simply need the right guidance to become the person you were born to be."

"And who is that person?" Aliyah asked, her curiosity grew more as she is determined to find this special person that He mentioned.

"All you have to do is look closely." A smile spread across Aslan's face as He repeated what he had said previously.

Aliyah nodded her head as she continued sadly, "Will you come and help us? At the night raid. I fear that many of us will not make it back safely."

"The same thing will never happen twice, dear one. It is time for Peter and Susan to re-gain that faith they once had." Aslan smiled and shook his head as He replied her.

Aliyah's heart sank as she realized what He meant. Both of them had lost faith in the Great Lion and were taking matters into their own hands, forgetting that it was to Him that they owed their loyalty and faith.

"Will I ever see you again?" She inquired after realizing that the sun had set and Aslan's reflection was becoming increasingly blurry, indicating that it was time for her to depart.

"Yes, dear one. We will meet again." Aslan reassured her as he shakes his mane bidding her goodbye.

Aliyah stared at the reflection with her hand raised, waving goodbye to Him until his reflection slowly fade away, leaving behind her staring at her own reflection. She sat there in silence for a few minutes as she reminded herself of the brief conversation with Him. She had never felt so at ease before, which was ironic given that she had just spoken to another talking animal, a Lion in fact.

It should not make any sense, but it does.

Aliyah then stood up and walked back to Aslan's How, where she met Edmund at the back of the mound, near the stables. He stood there looking worried as Aliyah noticed he was wearing leather armor and holding another one in his hands which she assumed it was for her.

"Where have you been?" He asked as he saw Aliyah approaching him. He let out a sigh of relief as he finally found her after searching for her high and low after his pre-battle briefing with the rest of the Narnians, conducted by Peter and Caspian.

"I went out for a breather. I need to calm my nerve before my first fight." Aliyah replied as she turned her head towards the forest outside.

"You went out alone?" Edmund asked, his face turned from worried to being shock.

"I'm trying to be independent." She said and Edmund nodded his head in acknowledgement. He kept his comments to himself because he understands she is trying to adjust to her new identity in this new world, as much as he does not agree with her venturing alone. Rather than preventing her from fulfilling her destiny, he would rather support her and protect her when necessary.

He handed her the armor as he helped her to put on, fastening it on her back while she secured the waist strap from the front. "I know you are trying to help as much as you can." He began, "But there are things that may happen unexpectedly which will endanger your life. I won't stop you from coming with us but you'll have to promise me that you'll stick with me no matter what happens."

Aliyah turned around to see Edmund staring back at her. Their bodies were only inches apart, and she could feel her heartbeat quicken as she realized how close they were but Edmund seemed to be unbothered by it.

"I promise." She said.

He came forward as he placed both of his hands on her shoulders and lowered his head to her eye level. "All you have to do is trust me. I won't let any harm get to you."

"Who knows I'll be the one saving your ass." Aliyah joked.

"Well, we'll see." Edmund raised his eyebrows and grinned as he pinched her nose gently before walking back towards the front of the mound where their armies were gathered and getting to move out.

Aliyah stood there, contentedly smiling, admiring the back view of him as his silhouette shrank as he walked deeper into the How. Her train thoughts were broken when she heard his voice boomed from the front.

"What happened to sticking with me no matter what happen?"

Restricted