Chapter Seven

The Lonan Princes

"I see fear in you. You do not trust me," Mephistopheles said coldly.

Susan was terrified. How could she have made such a mistake? She knew now she was in great danger, but like the diplomatic queen that she once was, she was quick to arrange her face and to calm herself as she sent prayers to Aslan for guidance.

"No… I was just startled. Forgive me. Your highness, I did not expect such… such an honor!" she added with an expert bat of an eyelash. All those years of evading suitors while she was queen of Narnia came coming back at her, though she hoped fervently that whatever magic the Charn Prince possessed, it did not include reading minds.

"You fear me because of my sister. You spoke the word Jadis in your head. I can read that much in you for I can read your desires as plain as day. I do not know what you have experienced with her, but I assure you, I am not like that. It was Jadis and my other evil sister Lilith who banished me here with my faithful followers. They had us imprisoned in a cave in our own world, not knowing it was a gateway to another world. We have become prisoners here to this day." He gave her a kind look. "But do not fret, I offer you no harm."

Susan didn't say anything. Even his tale could not assure her of his intentions, especially now she knew he could read what she thought.

Mephistopheles continued to eye her with doubt. "But the idea of becoming my wife appeals to you? You have enjoyed my company and my kingdom, no doubt?"

Susan found herself considering his words. And though she knew he had a dark background, she admitted she did like the presence of his company. It gave her a sort of power over all others—somehow men saw her as unattainable, while women envied her. And then there were his gifts and the riches, so many riches he had shown her.

She closed her eyes and she could just imagine it all. "And I promise you more than that," he whispered into her ear. "Not just this world, but in others. You and I together, we will build other worlds like Lonan. Imagine it, you will be more than a queen, you will be a goddess—revered, loved, worshipped by all."

Her mind reeled with the images. But at the same time she recalled a voice in her head: Remember what is good… remember who you are… remember and be faithful. Narnia! She must remember what she came here for, what Aslan bid her to do. To regain her place in Narnia.

"Narnia," he echoed. "You desire a world called Narnia. It is your kingdom, isn't it? The kingdom you have lost but you wish to rule again. Then you shall have it. I will take Narnia from this Aslan you speak of in your head. He was the one who cast you out, did he not?"

He brought out a box she didn't notice was there before. He opened it out and held before her an exquisite necklace of emeralds.

"A gift, for my bride," he said, holding up the necklace. "Wear it for me and Narnia and all other worlds will be as good as yours."

"It's beautiful," she said admiringly, but she thought of what putting on that necklace meant. She must think, she must think, but he was there reading her mind the whole time. She forced herself to empty her mind so he wouldn't read her doubt.

"Remember what is good… remember who you are…" she recalled. No, this can't be right. Then she remembered the rings she kept in a handkerchief in the bodice of her gown and it dawned on her why he wanted to marry her. He couldn't get to other worlds, he said so himself. He wants me to help him get into other worlds using the rings so he could conquer them, just as his sister conquered Narnia.

Susan detected something in Mephistopheles' face. It was a sinister smile that played at the corners of his mouth.

He knows! He knows about the rings now! I can't let him have them. O Aslan, help me!

There was a sudden neighing sound and a grey mare galloped in front of them with the stable boy astride her. He seemed to have momentarily lost control of the horse, but managed to reign her in a few feet away from Susan and the Prince.

"A thousand pardons your highness," said the stable boy. "She went lose all of a sudden."

But Susan was struck with a sudden inspiration. She grabbed the horse's reigns, jumped up into the horse in front of the stable boy, and galloped away from the Charn Prince. She sprinted out pass the gardens and away from the Palace.

"My lady, where are we going?" asked the stable boy when he recovered from his shock.

"I have to go away from here." She urged the horse to go faster. "Away from him."

"Do you know where you're going?" he asked.

"Er… no," she replied with a sinking feeling. They had reached the main road and Susan let the horse follow its path.

"May I suggest my lady, that if you are trying to escape the King that we turn into the woods? The road is a little obvious. And the King's men are after us." He said it in such a dead pan way that it almost made her laugh. But the sound of hoofs at their heels prevented her.

"They're gaining!" she gasped, her heart hammering in her chest. She was so nervous that her hands shook and were having difficulty urging the horse on.

The stable boy's hands grasped her arms and gently took the reigns for her. "Let me do it." He expertly led the horse to the side towards the woods and they galloped away into the darkness. The wood was thick and in the dark they couldn't see the wild branches and thistles that came their way and cut into the skin of their faces and bare arms. Susan ignored the pain, thinking only of escaping. On and on they rode with Mephistopheles' horses chasing. But the stable boy drove them on through a confusing maze of thick bushes and large trees with such speed and skill that they soon put a great distance between them. After what seemed like hours, the sound of following hoofs died away yet the stable boy did not even let the horse slow to a trot. They were still in a thick area of the wood but Susan managed to breathe easier.

"Are you alright, my lady?" asked the boy.

Susan didn't know what to answer him. Where was she to go now? Mephistopheles would not rest until he had the rings.

"He's a beast," declared the boy. "He has enslaved the people of Lonan for many years. The majority of the four tribes are now under his command. They say he has a power, a set of jewels that when touched by someone will enslave that person to him forever. Only Mephis' death can set all those he possessed free."

Susan realized in horror that those jewels could be the emeralds he had offered to put on her.

"But there is hope," continued the boy. "There is a small band of free peoples of Lonan led by an alliance of four young rulers, one of each of the different tribes. They gather in the depths of these woods. They will offer you sanctuary, lady if you ask of them."

"Thank you," Susan said though her voice was shaky and barely audible. "I am sorry, I have brought you so much trouble. I ask only you point me in the direction of their camp and I shall walk there myself. You may return, if you wish, to your employ or to whatever path you want to go, but I beg you not to betray me."

"I have no wish to return," said he. "I shall be joining the free peoples of Lonan to aid in their fight; for they have been preparing for war to take back what is theirs from the Charn."

"Then will you take me with you?" she asked.

"Of course," he replied pleasantly.

They rode on in companionable silence for a long time in the same fast pace as if they were fleeing an army. Susan had begged the boy to slow down but he argued that haste was needed if she wished to be away from Mephistopheles. They allowed themselves to rest only once to take a drink of water from a stream lighted by moonlight.

Just as the first rays of dawn appeared, they arrived at a clearing well hidden by trees. A camp had been set up here busy with preparations for a battle. The forge was burning and men were making an assortment of weapons and armor. Four young men, all close to Susan's age greeted them. They were attired as humble as the stable boy's but were armed with swords, bows and axes. Their features were like the servants in Mephistopheles' palace, though they had slight differences in skin color and hair. One had pale skin and red hair carrying an axe over his hulking broad shoulders. The second had very dark skin and equally dark curly hair. He carried a bow and arrows. He appeared to have a wizened face that made him look more mature than the others. The third appeared youngest and smallest of them all with his dark brown hair that fell past the level of his shoulders, to cover a bit of his pleasantly bronzed-skinned face. He carried a thinner blade. The last sported the beginnings of a dark beard that matched the shade of his wavy locks. His sword was large and curved like the weapons of Calormene soldiers and he also had a bow and arrows larger than the one carried by the second prince. There was no look of submission or reverence in their eyes. They were their own men and Susan could tell they were brilliant and brave rulers, ready to fight for their land and their people if need be. Susan remembered Peter and puzzled if one of these men could be him.

"Our spy returns!" cried the redheaded man with the axe. "What news Saxum? And who is she?"

The stable boy reigned in the horse and quickly got off. "Your highnesses, gather your men immediately! Mephis is out of his palace and is on his way here. He can't be more than half a mile away. This is your chance to ambush him!"

Susan was startled at his words. She wasn't the only one. The four men, whom she assumed were the four princes from the four tribes of Lonan looked equally confused.

"I have delivered the Charn Prince to you," explained the false stable boy she now knew as Saxum. He turned to her and bid her to get off the horse. His touch was gentle but forceful that Susan obeyed. She found herself facing the four princes. "Here is his reluctant bride-to-be. He is after her so he will no doubt follow her into these woods. When he does, we can ensnare and kill him."

Susan stared at him in astonishment. "You deliberately took me here so you can lure Mephistopheles!" she cried in indignation.

But the princes were shouting out hurrahs and ordering their men to gather a small band for the ambush. Then they turned to Saxum and gave him warm pats on the shoulder. "Well, done," said the man with the moustache. "Didn't I tell you, Tofus that he would be a fine man for this mission?"

"Yes, yes," agreed Tofus who was darkest man of all. "The rogue had managed to kidnap a prize of a lifetime. And what a prize she is!" he added while eyeing Susan carefully.

But Saxum shook his head. "It wasn't much work. "It was rather convenient for me when she jumped into my horse last night. She was a willing captive, if not an unwitting one."

Susan flushed in anger at this remark. She wanted to hurt him for his insult, but she was currently without a weapon while surrounded by four armed and obviously well-trained warriors. She contented herself with glaring at all of them, the hardest she reserved for her treacherous savior. "And what shall you do to me now that I've served your purpose!" she shouted at him, her temper flaring. "Will you be killing me as well, you brute!"

"Peace!" cried the youngest looking price. "We do not kill or harm anyone indiscriminately. Our enemy is the Charn alone. You shall be free to go when it is safe but for now you are under our protection and here you shall stay."

"As your prisoner then?" she cried.

"As a guest, lady," replied the kinder prince. He introduced himself as Nauta and the other two princes as Silvestris and Specus.

But Susan's anger hadn't abated. "A guest or a hostage to lure your enemy to a trap!" she spat.

The four princes didn't reply and Nauta at least had the grace to look ashamed.

"Why? Do you care for the Charn Prince?" It was Saxum who asked. His next question was a challenge: "Would you want to go back to him then?"

Susan heaved a defeated sigh and shook her head. "No… I don't care for him. I didn't know who he really was. He wanted me as his slave like all the rest of the Lonan peoples. I want his reign to end…" Then she remembered who she was talking to and appropriately changed her tone. "And what do you care about that?"

Saxum grinned cheekily at her. "I just wanted to make sure I don't have to tie you up. I can't have you running and betraying all of us to save your lover."

"He's not my lover!" Susan yelled.

"You could have fooled me. You seem to be hanging around his arm all week! And that little rendezvous in his garden last night—"

"Saxum, enough!" It was Nauta who spoke and Susan was grateful to him. "That is her affair. Lady, I offer you my word of honor, no one shall harm you here. You may stay."

"Well wait a minute!" interrupted Silverstris. "Saxum does have a point. How do we know she won't betray us? And besides, I think she ought to earn her keep here." He stared harshly at Susan. "This is a base, not a refugee camp. There's no free lodging here."

"Send me off to fight against him then," said Susan. Somehow she needed to prove to them she was on their side.

But the princes looked doubtfully at her. Tofus shook his head. "You're not going anywhere near him, not until he's dead. You'll be staying here in camp." He nodded to Saxum. "Keep her out of trouble and send her to work somewhere. We will need extra hands before we storm the Charn's palace after we kill Mephis." He glanced again at her ball gown decorated with an elaborate assortment of jeweled beads and fine threads. "She looks fragile," he said addressing Saxum as if Susan wasn't there. "Will she be handy in the kitchen, at least? I won't trust her with the nurses, in case she gets squeamish with the blood."

Susan scowled at his impertinence. These men may be on the right side of things but they do need to be put in their place. "Why not assign me as an archer then? Set me up with your other men when you take the Palace?" she challenged.

The four princes laughed. Saxum didn't join them, though he was trying hard to contain his grin. Susan's blood boiled. If Peter was any one of them, even the kindly Nauta, she was going to give him a good whacking in the head for laughing at her. She eyed Silvestris' bow and grabbed it before he could recover from his laugher.

"Give me an arrow!" she demanded.

The men were still laughing, but Silvestris handed her one, looking extremely amused.

"Give me a target."

"Alright, there," said the Tofus, pointing to a tree five feet away. "Hit any part, even the root will do and I'll put you on reserve."

Susan almost growled at him.

"Your highness, I think you underestimate her," said Saxum. He called to a boy some distance away who was carrying a basket of fruit. He ordered him to toss one in the air.

Susan didn't need to be told. She fitted her arrow into the bow and released it just as the boy hurled a small plum into the air.

The boy looked shocked as something whizzed past his head. He picking something up and held it so the princes could see. It was the plum with an arrow piercing its core. The men's laughter died.

"That far…" gasped Specus. "And with a moving target…"

Silvestris quickly snatched the bow from Susan's hands and stared at her with something like fear. He ordered Saxum to take her away. Susan reluctantly let herself be led, though she was extremely pleased to have the four princes rattled.

"How did you know I would hit it?" she asked Saxum.

"You jumped like a warrior into a horse last night and managed to steal the reigns from me. I don't need to be a mind reader to know you have more mettle than you look," replied Saxum.

He led her to a fire with a pot was boiling and sending off wonderful smells of hot food. Saxum passed her a bowl and Susan realized how hungry she was. When she had her fill, Saxum called to her again:

"Go on into one of the tents. One of the women there will get you medicine to heal your cuts. You can ask for better clothes too so people could stop putting you down." His tone was mocking but Susan couldn't help but smile after him. He didn't seem so bad.

A/N: I was touched. I got so many reviews I was inspired to do more than a quick edit on the next chapter. I had added so many details that I actually made an extra chapter, which is my reward for all those who "gushed" with reviews every chapter.

I thought Susan deserved a bit more show of girl power. I know in the books, she was always described as "gentle" and hated the idea of killing. But she was Queen of Narnia and a pretty good shot with a bow (evidence is in Prince Caspian where she perfectly shot at a distant apple, which was described by Trumpkin as "more like a cherry"). You don't get that good unless you've had a bit of experience on field yourself.