Chapter Two: Crusade
Three days had past since the Azedian Tanith warned of the invasion of Archenland. High king Peter and his siblings were mustering their forces preparing for the worst when a messenger from Archenland arrived at the court of Cair Paravel.
"Your majesties, I bring terrible news from King Lune of Archenland." The prince gravely stated.
"What is it?" Peter asked. He prayed that there was no invasion.
The prince looked at him with a face of defeat. "Two days ago, a great Calormean fleet landed at Anvard. They have the city surrounded and I do not know how long my father can hold out against them."
There were murmurs from the lords of Narnia. The hall grows silent as a cold breeze slip into the great hall. "We will send our forces to assist our people." Peter responded.
"How is the situation throughout Archenland?" General Oreius
Prince Corin slowly placed his hands on the statue of Aslan and forced himself to speak. "We have lost more than a third of our land the enemy. While we battled against the Calormean armada at Anvard, a great army led by Prince Rabadash had taken us by surprise and enslaved most of southern Archenland."
"Then we must move our forces immediately" Peter stated. He then gave the centaur general orders for the creation of the Grand Narnian Army. He then turned to Cabot. "Have every able Narnian prepare himself for battle for we ride to Archenland tomorrow."
"Prince Corin, you may rest for I will need you to explain our tactical situation with more detail tomorrow." Peter said.
Prince Corin nodded and left with the servants.
Peter looked to his younger sister Susan. "Su, I need you to stay behind for this."
"What?" she exclaimed. "Why, you are allowing Lucy to go with you and she is only nine!"
"Well, she is different." He replied without looking her eyes.
"How is she any different?" Susan screamed at him. Peter knew Susan hated to be treated differently.
A sharp pain ripped through him. How could she possibly understand the dangers involved? She was not there at the Battle when the White witch threw her army against them. Allowing her to go would be a terrible mistake. He could never forgive himself if anything would happen to her. "Lucy is only going with me as far as the port of Abydin in Archenland. She will be placed under the care of the King of Galma should we fail to stop the army of the Calormeans."
"Su, I would never be able to forgive myself if you were hurt because of my actions." He told her.
She looked at him as drops of tears flowed from her beautiful smooth face on the floors.
Peter knew every well that this could be the last time they will ever see each other again. With that in mind, he walked towards her and kissed his sister on the forehead. Then, he left her and went into his own bedchambers. Alone.
He took out his sword and looked at it for a few moments. "So, it is before the walls of Anvard that the fate of our time shall be decided."
The next day Peter ordered his forces to cross the Narnian-Archenland border. The plan was to have Edmund led the majority of his army to Anvard while Peter personally led a Corp of centaurs to assist the Archenlanders in the South against Prince Rabadash.
"Peter, you will be outnumbered 30 to 1!" Peter shouted at his brother. "You can't win against him with those odds."
"I know" Peter replied. Peter put his hands on Edmund's shoulder. "I just have to hold them at bay until your forces can defeat the invaders at Anvard. We will then attack the Calormeans together when the Anvard is safe."
"Becareful Peter." The younger king stated before moving his forces east to Anvard while Peter continued south towards the Archenland-Calormean border.
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Prince Rabadash was very happy. He had taken all of southern Archenland within a matter of days and he knew that Anvard would soon fall to the advancing fleet of Admiral Kane. He dreamed himself as the supreme ruler of a Calorme, Archenland, and Narnia. He thought about the ultimate power he would hold and the glory of taking out his enemies. Yes, he would jail Peter and Edmund and take Susan as his bride. Lucy, he will have very special use for her. His thoughts were interrupted when one of his thralls rushed into his tent.
"My prince, your visitors are here."
Rabadash's eyes were wide open with horror. His face became a twisted and vivid mask. His breathing slowed as drops of sweat slid down his brown face as he immediately stood attentively and looked into the dark abyss beyond the edge of his tent.
A few moments later, a tall figure wearing a dark ragged purplish robe stained a strong smell of decay nauseated the prince's nose as he entered into his tent. He wore a small black crystal around his neck and a red ring on his finger. The light from Prince Rabadash's lamp was extinguished as the figure moved closer and closer to him. The atmosphere became dark as a chilling wind overturned his chess pieces on the war table. Then, everything became silent. Dead silent.
"Is everything ready?" the figure asked.
"Everything is in place. We will destroy the kingdom of Narnia and Archenland" The prince responded hiding his fears.
"Excellent, I want her in our hands by tomorrow." The figure responded. He then picked up a drawing of Peter and it caught on fire. The purplish flame engulfed the painting until only ashes remained. "That is what becomes of all those that dares to challenge our power."
"What about the Azedians?" Prince Rabadash coaxed. "They will know about our plans."
"They do know of our designs, but they are powerless to intervene for the rules forbid them to do so." The figure said in a cold voice.
"What about him?" the prince asked. "He is not like the others."
His face turned to Rabadash and a cold laugher came from him. "I will personally deal with the fool Tanith should he decide to meddle in our affairs. I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to eliminate him forever."
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On the high walls of Azedía, capital of the South Azedia, Tanith looked into the great stone of vision. It showed him the past, the present, and the future. Everything that had happen, is happening, and will happen. He didn't like what he saw.
Several millennia ago, the original Azedians or Ancients evolved into high beings and left their Earth leaving Tanith's people to rule all of Azedia. But without the wisdom and guidance of the Ancients ones, Azedia soon fell into chaos and destruction. Lords and barons rose up in scores and attempted to seize power. During this time, Alec of the North established the realm of Northern Azedia and attempted to conquer the South. As he approached the southern border, the elders of Azedia, used the power of the Azedian crystals to raise the great mountain ranges of Dar that would separate the North and the South until the reckoning day.
The three great artifacts of the original Azedians were separated forever. Two remained in the city of Azedia while the third was kept at the Done, the last fortress of Northern Azedia.
Yet, there was some hope: a fool's hope. A prophecy that an outsider from far away will make a great sacrifice and that the two great Azedian realms will unite in the time of great peril and the people of Azedia will defeat the enemy.
That future is almost gone now. The seeing stone was the greatest artifact of the three, but even it only showed fragments of the picture. Tanith became frustrated. He could not see the outcome of this conflict.
"Maybe the reason he could not see it was because it is ever changing," he thought to himself.
Even without the seeing stone, he knew the future would be grim. Most likely, Anvard will be lost, Edmund will be slain, Peter will be captured and all of Narnia and Archenland will perish. Once they conquered the realms of the southeast, they will turn their power against Azedia. They will not stop until entire world is under their dominion.
Yet, it does not have to be that way. Everything could be all changed. But can it? The rules forbid it. The future must take place the way it was meant to be. He cursed at the rulings set down by the first Azedian High Council for it had forbidden them to change the course of history.
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Peter watched as his sister as she slept peacefully around the bright campfire near the Lake Polly within southeastern woods. Everything was unusually peaceful. The serenity only seems to be interrupted by the occasionally gush of wind. "I hope we can stopped Rabadash before he takes over everything." He thought as he looked into lake.
The reflection of the stars… There were so many of them. The stars were a symbol of the fates. The centaurs used them as a prediction for the future. Peter could not shake the feeling of discourage rush over him as he remembered General Oreius's final words before his departure.
This is the beginning of the end for the world for it is written among the stars.
"I will defy them until the very end" Peter thought. "The enemy will never breach the gates of Anvard or set foot on Narnia.
He closed his eyes as he slipped into a dream. It was so peaceful. He dreamt of a place without conflicts and war where there was a mutual understanding among the powers.
"My lord, there is someone here to see you"
The voice took Peter from his dream.
"Vhat?' he slurred as shook his head back and forth trying desperately to throw off the growing weariness.
"He is here now my lord although I doubt you were expecting to see him." The centaur joked.
Peter smiled. It was rare that a centaur would joke. We better find out who the mystery person is.
The centaur led a boy about Peter's age. He wore a brown robe with a long hood over his head. His features reflect a melancholy individual. He advanced towards Peter and removed his hood. Peter could not believe his eyes.
There was a deep shock followed by a silence: Rabadash.
Peter looked with a face of disgust. "What is the meaning of this?"
"I come not as an enemy, but as a friend" the prince replied.
Peter thought to himself. This has to be a bad joke.
He began. "There is a crusade against Narnia and Archenland; this much you know, but it's that I fear."