AN/ Okay, first off, I am so sorry for the long wait. And yes, I am still alive. I've been trying to finish this chapter and finally accomplished it. I have also started a new fanfic about the 100/Fear of the Walking Dead which I will be posting when I have finished it or when I reach 200k words. I'm currently at 130k so yeah, that will happen at some point. I am still interested in this story as evidenced by this chapter but updates will be slower than I would like and no doubt than what you would like. I'm sorry but that's how its going to be. I understand if you don't want to continue waiting for my updates but for those who do, thank you for sticking with me. :D
Hope everyone is still safe in the current state of the world and my thoughts and prayers go out to those fleeing Ukraine and other war-torn countries.
Enjoy this chapter, please x
Chapter Four
Pevensies' POV
"It's been a year. How long does he expect us to wait?" Peter complained as he slumped down on the bench at the train station. Rolling his neck, he inwardly sighed as he glared at the dirty floor in front of him. A year. His siblings and himself had departed Narnia a year ago only to be thrust back into their old life once more. Even worse, they were back to being children. Children! They had been in their thirties almost forties. He hated having to readjust to being treated like he knew nothing. He had been a king! Now though, they were back to being children in the middle of a war. And nobody cared what a child thought during a war.
"I think it's time to accept the fact that we live here. It's no use pretending any different." Susan's voice broke him out of his miserable thoughts. He had to roll his eyes however when her words became clear. Of course, his slightly younger sister wanted to be the 'mature' one. Doesn't she miss it!? Miss the freedom and luxury? Miss being the sole authority? 'Well,' he thought ruefully, 'that wasn't completely true.' If there had been one individual who could tell them what to do, it was Kali. The High Queen of Narnia. He wondered what happened to her; a thought that often struck him. 'Had she stayed? Or had Aslan sent her back after they had gone?' He had so many questions and a fair bit of guilt. They hadn't left any warning before they had gone through the wardrobe. What actually happened after they returned to the 'normal' world?
"Oh no. … Pretend like you're talking to me." Susan's panicked word got him to look at her again, only to see her deliberately not looking in front of her, near the platform edge. Peter wondered why but didn't voice it as Edmund spoke up,
"We are talking to you." His words were coated in sarcasm. Ah, that particular talent of his had travelled back with them, much to both his siblings and his teachers' dismay.
"Oh, shut up." Susan bit back, blushing bright red.
"I thought you wanted us to talk to you?" Edmund returned with a smirk. Susan opened her mouth to respond but was stopped.
"Ow!" They all turned their attention to their younger sibling as she jumped up, grabbing her back.
"Be quiet, Lucy." Susan turned her ire on her little sister, internally grateful to have the attention off of her.
"Something pinched me!" Lucy exclaimed, ignoring her sister's chastisement. She'd gotten use to Susan attempting to act like their mother over the year and refused to be treated like that by her sister. It wasn't Susan's job to tell her off just because she wanted to be seen as 'mature' by their teachers.
Peter frowned suddenly as his arm was yanked firmly,
"Hey! Stop pulling me!" He glared at his brother, the most likely culprit.
"I'm not touching you!" Edmund replied with an annoyed look, trust his brother to blame him.
"What is that?" Susan asked as a train suddenly rushed through the station. The wind picked up around them as they all got to their feet, looking around in worry. They could barely see in front of them as paper whipped around them at high speed.
"It feels like magic." Lucy stated, a grin slowly starting to appear on her face.
"Quick, every one hold hands!" Susan instructed, grabbing Lucy's and Peter's hands instantly.
"I'm not holding your hand!" Edmund refused, glaring at Peter. Why did it always have to be Peter? Not having it, Peter merely grabbed his brother's hand tightly and refused to let go as the bricks of the station began to pull away from each other even as the rest of the people, luggage and floor of the station vanished. They closed their eyes as a sudden bright light erupted around them.
When they opened them again, they were stunned to find them at an opening of a cave looking out onto a white, sandy beach. Staring around in amazement, they exchanged grins before Lucy gave her sister a daring look, a look that Susan returned before the girls raced off towards the sea. The boys gazed after them for a moment before, with a shove-courtesy of Peter, they ran after them. Laughs filled the air as they removed various parts of their uniform before rushing into the cool waters. Splashing and shoving, the Penvensies enjoyed themselves together for what seemed like the first time in an age. Slowly however, Edmund stopped playing as the ruins above their heads caught his attention.
"What?" Peter asked, frowning at the serious look on his little brother's face.
"Where do you think we are?"
"Well, where do you think?" He returned, a slightly mocking expression on his face. He thought it was obvious.
"Well, I don't remember any ruins in Narnia." At that they all looked up, finally seeing what had caught his attention. "Do you?"
No one answered him as they silently walked towards the ruins, their expressions solemn. Exploring the ruins, each Pevensie felt their brains race with questions. It was apparent that the ruins were not merely a few years old, but rather hundreds of years at least. Lucy stared out towards the water from the cliff side she was standing on. Something was niggling at her, as though she should recognise the ruins, but she couldn't imagine where. After all, Edmund had been right… there had never been ruins in Narnia.
"I wonder who lived here?" She asked. Susan frowned as picked up something glinting in the sun. Looking at it closely, her eyes widened in recognition.
"I think we did." She answered. Frowning, her sisters approached her.
"That's mine- from my chest set." Edmund claimed as he took the gold knight from his sister.
"Which chest set?" Peter asked, looking at the knight himself. Edmund rolled his eyes,
"Well, I didn't exactly have a solid gold chest set in Finchley, did I?" He asked sarcastically.
Lucy found herself gazing back at the ruins- that niggling feeling was getting stronger. What was she missing? Suddenly, her gaze got caught on five stone ruins, perfectly spaced out on the ground.
"It can't be." She whispered. Her siblings turned to face her,
"What-?" Peter started to ask, only to be stopped as Lucy grabbed his arm and started to run towards said ruins.
"Don't you see?" She asked, positioning Peter where his throne used to be.
"What?"
"Imagine walls… and columns there," she pointed in front of them as she moved Susan in position, then Edmund- leaving a space in between them for their missing ruler before she took her own space. "And a glass roof." She finished, standing still. She could remember it so clearly. And, judging from the gasps of recognition, so could her siblings.
"Cair Paravel."
"I don't understand. How can Cair Paravel be ruins?" Susan asked as they made their way to the secret entrance only the royals were aware of.
"Catapults." Edmund stated, looking at something on the ground. Everyone shot him a puzzled look.
"What?" Peter questioned as he studied the wall. The entrance was here somewhere.
"This didn't just happen. Cair Paravel was attacked." Edmund answered. A grim silence followed. How long after they let did it happen? Could they have stopped it if they had been there?
"Ed, over here." Peter stated as he got to a section of stone that he recognised. Ed rushed over and together, they began to push the wall to the side, revealing the hidden entrance. Brushing off his hands, Peter grabbed a long stick from the ground before ripping the bottom of his shirt off and wrapping it around one end.
"I don't suppose you have any matches in there, do you?" He asked his brother, gesturing towards Edmund's bag. Edmund smirked slightly as he opened his bag,
"No, but this might help." He pulled out his torch. Lucy and Susan giggled at the exasperated look Peter sent Edmund,
"You might've mentioned that before." He scolded before a smile broke its way on his face, showing there were no hard feelings. It only made the girls laugh louder. Shaking his head, he grabbed the torch from his brother and led the way inside.
They made their way within the hidden space before walking down the steps into the room where, if memory served them all, all their most important treasure and keepsakes would be stored.
"I can't believe it. It's all still here." Peter murmured, gazing around the circular room. Five large gold chests stood in five alcoves, each guarded by a statue of the kings and queens in their old form. Immediately, Lucy, Susan and Edmund rushed to their chests and opened them. Lucy pulled out a dress and held it up against her chest,
"I was so tall." She murmured, smiling at Susan who look up from her bow,
"Well, you were older then." She replied with a small grin.
"As opposed to hundreds of years later where you're younger." Edmund deadpanned, looking up with a smirk on his face. On his head was his old helmet, though it was far too big for him. The annoyance of being a child again.
Peter internally smiled at their banter even as he lifted an old gold plate covered in dust from the flood. Blowing gently, he revealed the carved imagine of Aslan and stared solemnly at it. Would Aslan be disappointed in them? For leaving? He didn't know, nor did he think he could handle it. With a sigh, he placed the plate down on a nearby table for slowly walking over to his own chest, valiantly ignoring the largest chest to his right. Pausing at his chest, his attention was drawn momentarily away from it.
"What is it?" Lucy asked Susan who looked troubled.
"My horn." She answered, "I must've left it on my saddle the day we went back." They all paused at that momentarily,
"Surely Kali would have sent someone to look for us after we didn't return? They must have found the horses." Edmund asked. They exchanged an awkward look before staring at the statue of their old friend; the one they left. Although they spoke often of Narnia after they had returned, none had brought up the fact that they had essentially abandoned their fellow ruler when they had left.
"Maybe Kali secured it elsewhere? I mean, it was a magical artefact." Lucy piped up. They considered it before conceding it was the most logical conclusion.
Peter opened his chest, doing anything to avoid thinking about Kali for the moment. Grabbing his sword, he unsheathed it. Staring at the inscription, he spoke,
"'When Aslan bears his teeth, winter meets its death.'"
"'And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.'" Finished Lucy. They all stared at her as her tone became sad, "Everyone we knew… Mr. Tumnus and the Beavers… they're all gone." Peter swallowed heavily before sheathing his sword once again.
"I think it's time we figured out what's going on." He stated, straightening his posture. 'And maybe see if Kali has return too.' He added in the privacy of his mind.
KALI POV
Staring down at the kneeling prince, she waited for a response. Inwardly, she was reining in her inner monster who simply wanted to kill him where he knelt. How dare this pathetic boy think that simply being a prince would stop her from destroying him, especially after his people destroyed her own.
"Well?" She stated coldly, one finger twitching slightly.
"I don't agree with what my people have done." Caspian rushed out with wide eyes, "I grew up with the stories of Narnia and its inhabitants, they spoke of peace and prosperity for years- something I desperately want for my people."
"And if it occurs on the backs and deaths of my people, then it's alright?" Kali asked darkly, her fingers gripping her armrests tightly.
"No!" Caspian yelped, shaking his head frantically as he saw how close to death he was becoming,
"I want to help restore Narnia to its former glory. I want to help you stop my uncle before he commits genocide against the rest of the Narnians." He swallowed, "Please. I'm not your enemy." Kali shot him such a withering look that he cringed and bowed his head, tears stinging in his eyes. The High Queen appeared completely unmoved by his arguments. He was going to die, he knew it.
Kali rolled her neck slightly as she glared down at the boy. So, what? He heard fairy tales about how beautiful and prosperous her kingdom had been and thought he could give it to his people who spat and killed the inhabitants who they stole their land from? And then, he had the audacity to claim he wasn't her enemy?
"Your words mean nothing, boy." She stated coldly, glaring darkly at the bowed head. "The only value you have is the information you hold about the weaknesses and strengths of your former castle and its army."
"I'll tell you everything you want to know!" Caspian interrupted eagerly, trying to prove his loyalty. Kali smiled darkly,
"Oh, I know you will." The iciness of her tone sent a shiver down his back.
"I'll tell you everything willingly." He amended quickly, fearful of the cruel glint in her eyes. Kali chuckled,
"Then perhaps you may live after all." She saw his shoulders slump slightly in relief, "For now, anyway." There, he stiffened again. Good. He should never forget that he only still lives due to her mercy. Aslan might have taught her the benefits of being merciful but her experience with humans have left her far too bitter to have much for any of them. The sheer amount of wars she had had to defend Narnia in due to the greed of human kingdoms had started her disdain for humanity. The Wizarding War had only cemented it.
"Tavros, take the boy back to his cell. Find out all information he has on his former kingdom." She commanded and the massive minotaur bowed his head in compliance, "If he fails to deliver," her eyes met Caspian's as he was dragged to his feet by the two fawns, "kill him."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Tavros growled before leading the way out of the hall.
Once he was gone, Kali stood up and sighed quietly. She hadn't really stopped to think about the situation she'd found herself in once more. Was she really contemplating murdering the boy? Yes, yes, she was. 'Aslan would be most displeased.' She thought silently. She continued to hold a great amount of respect and loyalty to the Great Lion, but she couldn't help the small amount of anger she had towards him. To think that Narnia had suffered so much and had been destroyed yet the Great Lion had remained absent. She didn't think she would ever quite forgive him for that.
"Your Majesty." She turned around. There, in the 'doorway' was a young centaur, still a child by her estimate. The poor boy was shaking as he bowed to her. Almost without her consent, she felt her features gentle.
"Yes?" Her voice was kind, much like it was when she addressed the child soldiers that survived the wizarding war.
"My papa thought you might want to look around." He replied nervously, his front left hoof stamping the foot several times. Kali chuckled quietly as she approached,
"And would you do me the honour of being my guide?" She asked softly, trying to put him at ease. She wasn't completely cruel. There were still innocents that she liked. Well, it was only children, really. And her people of old. The boy grinned, finally straightening up,
"I will, Your Majesty." He turned away and she began to follow, listening as he started to ramble about the people they passed or a particular drawing on the wall. It was nice, she admitted, like she was back in her kingdom. No war, no strain on her magic, just peace. She wanted that back.
It was hours later when Tavros returned to her side. Pausing in her pacing, she turned to face him.
"Well?" She demanded, raising an eyebrow. Tavros bowed,
"The human was willing and gave no trouble. He gave us details of the entrances of the castle, the routines and routes of the guard schedule as well as the numbers of soldiers and their positions." He answered with a low growl,
"And? Their numbers?"
"Within the castle, the tyrant keeps five hundred soldiers at all times. They prefer crossbows and spears as their primary weapons, yet each are equipped with swords as well. Outside the castle, they have a force numbering eight thousand." Kali frowned darkly at that. Eight thousand- that was eight times as many soldiers that she currently had available.
"Hidden passageways?" Tavros grunted,
"All the ones he knew about, he told. The human even drew us a map of the castle, highlighting everything needed to storm and capture it." Kali hummed lightly,
"He does appear to want to remain on my good side, doesn't he?" She asked rhetorically as she considered the information in front of her.
"The only smart decision he has made in his life, no doubt." Tavros responded lowly. Kali smirked lightly at the comment.
"What about other important players? I know his uncle is our main enemy but how many allies does he have?"
"From the human's thoughts… the entire noble court should be executed." Kali nodded at that, it wasn't surprising in the slightest.
"Civilian numbers?"
"Twenty thousand at least." Tavros answered with a snarl. He didn't much care if they were civilians or not. They all knew that they were living on stolen land and for that, they all deserved to die. Kali hummed, twenty thousand was a large number, true, but for that number to be civilians? She could butcher them in a single night, single-handedly. Inwardly, she frowned. She did not believe in needless deaths. Well, at least those that were avoidable. But still, the Telmarines knew that the land they lived on was stolen. They knew they were in the wrong yet chose to live there. With that argument, they did not deserve any leniency from her. Still, that was a thought for another time. The castle was her priority. Take out the king and the pawns followed quickly.
"How is our weapons situation?" She asked, clutching her hands tightly behind her back as she thought quickly. Taking the castle was doable as long as they had the appropriate weapons along with a proper plan. It would be easy if they sent in a small force first to lower the bridge 'does it have a bridge?' she thought idly before unconsciously shaking her head and getting back to the plan. Assassins could be used to kill the guards on watch. If they timed it right, they could have the invading king dead and the castle under their control without anyone being aware.
Tavros growled,
"Low, My Queen." He hated to disappoint his queen, but facts were facts. They had plenty of bows and arrows but only several dozen swords and spears- something he informed his queen. Kali nodded slowly,
"We need weapons if we are to attack them." She stated firmly. She could magic up the weapons, sure, but it would take a lot of out her to make them last long enough. Not exactly ideal for the strongest fighter in the Narnians forces. "Inform Caspian that I will see him. Tell him that I have a task for him that will decide once and for all whether he will live or die." Tavros bowed at the order,
"At once, My Queen." He responded before stalking out the room to get the prisoner once more. He had a feeling what the High Queen was up to and grinned at the upcoming task. Kali contemplated her decision to include Caspian in this task. Thus far, he had remained true to his word- about wanting to be allies- yet still, Kali remained wary.
Minutes later, Caspian was once again before her looking even more pale and exhausted.
"I have been told that you have been very cooperative." She stated emotionlessly as she stared down at him.
"I told you I would be, Your Majesty." He responded tiredly. Kali tilted her head slightly as she stared at him with narrowed eyes,
"I will give you one chance, Prince Caspian, to prove your worth and loyalty to me and mine. My warriors need weapons if we are to even have a chance of winning. You will take a group of soldiers and steal what we need from the enemy." She ordered crisply, her eyes promising pain should he fail. Caspian couldn't help his shoulders slumping in relief at the opportunity. It meant that Kali was coming around to his presence here and that was good for his continued existence.
"I will not disappoint you, Your Majesty."
"Good. Tavros will go with you. Hit a small armoury first; I want to remain undetected for a while longer." Her orders were logical. She had only been here for a single day. Hardly enough time to launch themselves into a war. Right now, she knew she was the only one who would survive should the Telmarines find them.
"Understood." Caspian bowed his head as he stood up. The High Queen was as intelligent as the stories said, in his opinion. Tavros also bowed low to his queen,
"We will leave at nightfall." Kali merely waved a hand to dismiss them, knowing that they would report back once they had returned. This was a trial run for Caspian, to see what he was capable of. Should he prevail, Kali would consider him for future runs out.
Penvensies POV
After retrieving their weapons and changing clothes, the Penvensies left their hidden quarters once more.
"We need to find a Narnian." Peter stated, leading them back towards the beach.
"I don't know about you, Peter, but I haven't exactly seen any sign that Narnians even survived." Edmund responded with a scoff.
"Surely, they can't have all died." Lucy argued, looking devastated at the prospect.
"I don't think so either." Susan agreed with her sister as she shielded her eyes against the glare of the sun as she stared at a small boat in the distance.
"What makes you think that?" Peter asked, his grip tightening on his sword's pommel.
"That." She pointed at the boat, and they all turned in that direction. Peter narrowed his eyes just as two human soldiers began to lift a dwarf.
"It's a dwarf." He breathed. Immediately, they were all running forwards. Susan drew and arrow and notched it on her bow.
"Drop him!" She ordered as she released the arrow. It thudded into the side of the boat, making the soldiers freeze. She reached for another arrow as the soldiers exchanged a look, before that was exactly what they did. They attempted to reach for their weapons, only for one to meet his death via her second arrow. Susan could see her brothers rushing into the water, attempting to get to the dwarf before he drowned. Drawing another arrow, she frowned as her second target jumped into the water himself, an effort to save his own life. Hurrying closer, Susan and Lucy rushed towards Peter who was dragging the dwarf out of the sea whilst Edmund secured the boat.
"Drop him!" The dwarf scoffed as soon as Lucy had cut his bonds off and he had removed the gag. "That's the best you could come up with!?" Susan frowned,
"A simple thank you would suffice." She replied tartly.
"They were doing a fine job drowning me without your help." The dwarf retorted, rubbing his sore wrists.
"Maybe we should have let them." Peter rebutted, glaring at the ungrateful Narnian in front of him, "It is customary, I think, to thank one who helps you in time of need." He continued, his tone curt, "And from where I stood, you needed it." The dwarf rolled his eyes,
"Ah, yes, but the way you go about giving help is just as important as giving it. Your actions would have led to my death even faster than the idiots who tried to kill me in the first place."
"Why were they trying to kill you anyway?" Lucy asked, breaking the tension that had been mounting between the dwarf and her siblings.
The dwarf turned towards the youngest, a scornful look on his face,
"They're Telmarines, that's what they do."
"Telmarines? In Narnia?" Edmund repeated, his tone one of worry and disbelief. The last they had witnessed was Kali beating back the invading force so badly that there had only been a handful of survivors. The dwarf's expression turned baffled,
"Where have you been for the last few hundred years?" He asked, "Telmarines invaded and occupied Narnia centuries ago."
"It's a bit of a long story." Lucy answered, a sheepish smile on her face as Susan handed her brother back his sword.
Catching the movement, the dwarf's eyes caught on the handle. Oh, no. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach as he recognised the gold carefully crafted lion's head.
"You're it?" He asked, his tone not happy in the slightest, "Oh, you've got to be kidding me." He gazed at them all. The four famous kings and queens of Narnia who had vanished without a trace. The High Queen, Kali, had been very vocal in her bitterness towards her fellow rulers… at least that was what the stories said. The lone queen had ruled for several more decades before she died but the Narnians were far more grateful and loyal to her than the ones who vanished. "You're the four vanished kings and queens of old?" His tone changed to show his disbelief. The eldest stepped forwards with a hand held out,
"High King Peter, the Magnificent." The dwarf simply stared, his expression showing his distaste quite clearly.
"You probably could have left off that last bit." Susan muttered, shooting her brother an exasperated look. The dwarf smirked and chuckled slightly,
"Probably." He repeated.
Peter stiffened slightly, the insult clearly heard.
"You might be surprised." He stated calmly before drawing his sword. The dwarf raised an eyebrow,
"Oh, you don't want to do that, Boy." He replied gruffly.
"Not me." Peter shook his head slightly before nodding at his brother, "Him." Offering his own sword to the Narnian, he watched as Edmund reluctantly drew his own weapon. The dwarf took the sword and allowed it to fall to the ground. Hearing the small chuckles of the children, he knew they'd fallen for his trick. Did they truly not remember how strong dwarves were? Seeing his opponent distracted, he attacked.
A few clashes and dodges later, he caught the young king in the face, making him stumble back.
"Edmund!" Lucy cried, watching on in worry.
"Aw, are you alright?" The dwarf mocked before pressing his attack. Again and again, their swords met but eventually, Edmund's height advantage showed itself and the dwarf found his sword knocked out of his hands. Falling to his knees, the dwarf gazed up at the siblings, "Beards and bedsteads! Maybe the horn worked after all." Susan narrowed her eyes,
"What horn?" She demanded, an inkling already apparent in her mind. They had all wondered where her horn was and it wasn't as if there were many magical horns in Narnia.
Getting back to his feet, the dwarf grunted.
"Your horn, I suppose." He muttered. "It was blown with the hope that it would summon hope in Narnia's greatest time of need. And now you lot are here." The Penvensies exchanges a look,
"And Kali?" Peter asked cautiously as he picked up his sword from the ground. None of them knew what happened to their other ruler after they had left. They didn't know if she stayed or was returned to her own time as well. The dwarf grunted again as he slowly made his way to the boat. They needed to get out of here before the Telmarines sent out guards to look for them.
"According to the records, High Queen Kali died years after you lot left." He stated gruffly, shooting a glare over his shoulder. "She died protecting Narnia from invasion." The Penvensies exchanged a horrified look. No. No, Kali could not be dead.
"We didn't mean to leave." Peter whispered, "It was never our intention." The dwarf shrugged,
"Doesn't matter what you meant, you did." He replied before getting into the boat. "Let's get moving. Telmarines will come to investigate soon."
No one spoke in response as they followed his instruction. None of them wanted to believe that they had inadvertently caused their friend's death with their absence. The girls got into the boat first, leaving the boys to push the boat back into deeper water before clambering in. There was silence for a long time as they rowed down Glasswater before Lucy spoke up,
"Sorry, but we didn't catch your name?" The dwarf looked at her,
"It was neither asked for nor offered." He replied stonily before his expression gentled slightly as her slight recoil. "But it is Trumpkin"
"Nice to meet you, Trumpkin." Lucy held out her hand. Trumpkin cautiously looked at it for a moment before taking it.
"You're a lot more polite than your brother." He replied, shaking the hand briefly before dropping it. Peter scowled but didn't say anything. His greeting hadn't been the best looking back. Lucy sighed, knowing their guide wouldn't say anything more. Not without prompting at least.
"The trees are so still." She observed, sadness in her tone as she gazed around the forest that surrounded them on both sides of the river. She remembered the days were they sang to each other and danced in greeting to those who passed. Trumpkin snorted,
"They're trees. What do you expect?" He asked, looking at Lucy with an expression of disbelief.
"They used to dance." Lucy responded softly, "They waved in greeting to those who passed them and even acted as messengers when they were asked." Trumpkin sighed as he gazed around at the still trees around him. He knew the stories, all survivors did.
"It wasn't long after you left that the Telmarines invaded." He began to explain, "High Queen Kali forced them back, annihilating their armies almost single-handedly. We had peace again for some years before another kingdom attempted to invade Narnia. Our lands were flourishing, we were a wealthy and prosperous kingdom and those around us grew jealous." The siblings listened intently, not liking where this was going. Trumpkin didn't look at them as he remembered the accounts. Oh their High Queen was an enemy none wanted and those kingdoms had paid a huge cost in their efforts to acquire what was not theirs. "High Queen Kali led the armies against the second invasion and once more fought them back. She did it again and again and again. For more than fifty years she fought and protected us before eventually, even she could do it no longer." His tone turned quiet in his grief.
"She was getting too old. Already she was in her nineties and despite her magic, the strain of constant fighting was too much for her body. She sacrificed herself. With her death, she created a ward around the lands of Narnia. None who dared attack was left alive after her death but even then, it was not to last." He paused, his hands clenched into fists. "Nearly six hundred years after her death, it finally fell and with it, Narnia was invaded. Oreius led us against the Telmarines, but we were not enough. Mere two years later, we were completely overrun, most were slaughtered, and those that survived retreated to the woods. The trees have retreated so deeply inside themselves that no one has heard from them since."
The Penvensies listened in horror. Their friend had sacrificed everything for Narnia. Had fought and died for them. And yet still, it had not been enough. Guilt sat heavily within each of them. Could they have done something? Had they stayed, could they have changed the outcome? From the sound of it, probably not. If even Kali had failed to save Narnia in the end, what hope would they have had?
"Did she speak of us?" Edmund whispered, he felt much like he did when he had betrayed his siblings to the White Witch. What must Kali have thought of them?
"Her rage was well known." Trumpkin answered quietly, "Oreius counselled her through the shift in power but even he couldn't stop the anger that High Queen Kali felt at your absence. Oh, not to start we." He glanced at them all before looking away, "Stories passed down told us how she sent out dozens of search parties to try to locate you but she failed. Your horses were found with no signs of struggle or fight. She came to the conclusion you had left voluntarily and that was when her anger raged."
"We didn't leave deliberately." Peter argued, uncomfortable with the guilt that was increasing the more Trumpkin spoke.
"I found the lamppost and then the door that we had first come through. By the time we returned to our own time, it was too late." Lucy spoke softly, guilt evident. It was her fault, she knew. If she hadn't been so stubborn, she wouldn't have insisted they entered the wardrobe once more.
"We all followed, Lu." Edmund comforted his sister, seeing her on the verge of tears. "None of us thought about what we were doing. None of us knew that we would never be able to return." Trumpkin grunted,
"You still left and High Queen Kali was alone. She went from ruling with four others to alone. She did it well." He stated, "According to the stories, anyway, but it was still a tough transition."
"Well, we're here now." Peter stated firmly, confidence in his tone, "We can help Narnia now. Now that Kali cannot." That reminded them that she was dead. That she had died believing that they had deliberately abandoned her.
"Can't she return?" Susan asked softly, speaking for the first time since they'd gotten on the boat. "We all did and at the age where we had first entered Narnia."
"There's a difference between being young and dead." Edmund stated bluntly.
"The boy's correct." Trumpkin responded with a nod towards the younger son of Adam. "Not even Aslan had the power to return those from the dead."
"How could Aslan let this happen?" Lucy spoke quietly, her eyes sad as she gazed around at the silent trees. "Surely, he would have helped and protected Narnia?" Trumpkin scoffed,
"Aslan? We thought he abandoned us after you left. He never returned." That caused the siblings to exchange an uneasy look. Aslan never came back? Why? Surely, seeing Narnia attacked he would have?
"Again, we didn't mean to leave." Peter stated firmly, annoyed how the dwarf was continuously ignoring that little detail.
"Doesn't make much difference now though, does it?" Trumpkin muttered. They were on the verge of extinction. Having the four kings and queens now wasn't going to change that. Peter grunted, shooting a dark look at the dwarf,
"Get us to the Narnians and we will." He promised.
Trumpkin said nothing in response as he allowed the boy to continue to row the boat. Did he take them to the stronghold? How would they idiots help them? Four more warriors weren't going to defeat the thousands of Telmarine soldiers. He wasn't even sure that the youngest, Lucy, knew how to fight. Well, he had time to figure it out. He had time to make sure they were trustworthy before making a decision. He just wasn't sure how receptive the rest of the Narnians would be if he did decide to take the four to them. Everyone knew how they had abandoned Narnia and left Kali alone. Most Narnians had more loyalty to the High Queen than any other royal. And that hadn't changed either.
They finally made it to the shore and climbed out of the boat. Trumpkin watched as the boys pulled the boat far enough onto the sand that the tide wouldn't carry it away.
"Hello there!" Lucy's voice brought all their attention towards the youngest as she slowly approached a big brown bear. "It's alright, we're friends!"
"Your Majesty, don't move!" Trumpkin ordered calmly as the bear stood up and took a step towards the young queen. Lucy slowly lost her smile as the bear groaned and began to charge. Stumbling back, she screamed.
"Susan, shoot it!" Edmund ordered, seeing his older sister frozen with the arrow pointing at the bear.
"Stay away from her!" Susan warned, not wanting to shoot the bear. It was a native of Narnia. But the bear didn't stop.
"Shoot it, Susan!" Edmund called again and an arrow flew through the air, piercing the bear. Susan startled, dropping her bow as she realised it wasn't hers. Turning around, they all watched Trumpkin lowering his own bow.
"Lucy!" Peter ignored them all as he rushed over to his little sister and helped her up. "Are you alright?" Lucy swallowed and nodded even as her brother tightly hugged her.
"Why didn't it stop?" Susan asked as she stared at the dead bear. Edmund had gone before her and hugged his sister as well, reassuring himself that she was alive and unhurt. Trumpkin sighed slightly as he approached the bear and removed the arrow.
"I suspect he was hungry." He answered, looking up at the pale queen.
"He was wild." Edmund muttered, staring at the bear with a sorrowful expression on his face.
"I don't think he could talk at all." Peter added, a similar expression on his face.
"Get treated like a dumb animal long enough and that's what you become." Trumpkin explained grimly and that was exactly what had happened to most of the animals of Narnia. Only those that travelled with other Narnians retained their intelligence. It was perhaps an even greater crime than the slaughter. To reduce sentient beings to mindless creatures was horrific. Trumpkin gazed at the bear again before turning to the human royalty. "You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember." He stated darkly before continuing to walk once more. The rest of the group exchanged a look of horror before following. Had this really been a consequence of them leaving? They perhaps, would never know.
