This chapter ended up longer than I expected. Hope you enjoy reading!
Chapter 2
Only in moments the whole palace was pulled into disarray. First, different Narnians holding bows and arrows on their backs pushed past Primrose. Not giving her a glance as they almost pushed her over. An action which she soon became grateful for as a boulder slingshot by a trebuchet hit the palace roof. Sending debris and large pieces of the ceiling raining down on them.
She didn't have time to think of how she could have just ended up dead, due to Tyviel starting to drag her deeper into the building.
"Those clothes and meal will have to wait dearie!" The faun squeezed Rosie's hand to calm her, but the Narnian's agitation couldn't be hidden as the shaking of that hand gave it away.
Primrose was pushed into a large open hallway that stored most weapons. People rushed past her to dwarves and other smaller Narnians who were handing the weapons out as needed. Tyviel pulled both of Rosie's hands into hers, as she gave a sharp but kind look to the girl.
"I know you must be afraid, but I can not stay here." The faun looked over to the sounds of fighting coming from outside. "Stay strong, help those around you, and stay within the castle walls." The scared girl managed only a nod, as Tyviel let go. Grabbing a bow and arrows from a small weasel wearing a tattered looking cape. Then taking off towards the battlefield. Prim as surprised how agile and fast the old faun was.
"Stay strong, help those around you, stay within the castle walls… I can do that. I think?" The girl repeated as a mantra inside of her head. Finally moving out of the way of a minotaur who was trying to get past her.
"Hey strange girl!" A sharp voice called for her attention. "Don't just stand there! Give me a hand here why don't 'cha."
Prim's head whipped around to find the weasel, who previously handed Tyviel her weapons.
"Me?" She was more impressed that the animal was able to talk. This earning a rolling of eyes from the creature. "Yea' who else? The Telmars outside? C'mon then!" She was rushed over to the weapons.
"All I need 'ya to do is go between the storage and that weapon rack over there. Refill the swords, axes, and arrows as they go. Got it?" This weasel pointing at an ajar wooden door and the rack that was almost void of any weapons.
"Uh ye- yes. Got it" She nodded and began jogging to the storage. Leaving the weasel shaking his head at the unsure answer he got.
Primrose wasn't sure what to expect behind the door, but it wasn't this. Weapons of all sizes and shapes were in large unorganized piles all over the room. Some of them had even been thrust on the wooden wall. Making them very much stuck.
"All right I got this." She hyped herself up quietly. Moving to the closest pile and trying her hardest to not get nicked by the sharp edges. Grasping only the hilts.
While carrying as much as she physically could, Rosie moved out of the room and into chaos. Surviving only a bit into that hall, before many hands, large and small began taking the weapons right from her arms.
"Hey, wait I haven't gotten to the- "She looked down at her empty arms with a perplexed blink.
"HAH! You're gonna have to be quicker than that girly!" The weasel with an attitude remarked from his spot on the other side of the hallway. Prim frowned stubbornly as the comment made a group of dwarves' chuckle. Heading back into the storage room. This time determined to be quicker.
Sounds of the fighting had gotten closer, and boulder hits that shook the palace were more constant than before.
Primrose was running back and forth the hall. Tears prickled her eyes, which she tried her best to wipe away whenever she didn't have a pile of weapons in her arms. The pace at which Narnian soldiers were coming in, to collect weapons or arrows had lessened. So, the girl was no longer running the distance.
"Loglimb, go do the girls job. You, girly, c'mere!" Weasel commanded one of the dwarves. Who grumbled but nodded.
Rose handed the dwarf with a gloriously thick moustache the weapons she had at the moment and moved over to the speaking animal. Putting up a brave face and wiping her cheeks with her sleeve.
"Help me with this ye'?" He was attaching arrow heads to the tip of the arrows shaft. Rose sat down hesitantly on a stool next to the table. "My name is Mouriden, but you can just call me Mouri, like most do." The brown weasel said while focusing on wrapping the arrowhead on.
"Primrose." The human girl got out before choking up, which earned a quick glance from the weasel. Who was very adorable now that Prim got a closer look at him.
"You're the human they fished from the sea then?" Mouri slid some of the mostly attached arrowheads to her. Along with a roll of coarse yarn.
She just nodded and began wrapping as he had shown before. Sniffling a little, involuntarily. "I don't know why I'm here." This earned a hum from the creature, who was keeping a close eye on her hands, if she was doing a proper job.
"Don't 'cha worry your head over it right now. Focus on surviving. I'm sure Aslan has a plan for ye'."
"There it was again. That name. A name that filled her heart with such a warm hopeful feeling."
"Aslan?" She finally asked after a pause, and nearly pricked her finger on the arrow she was working on. Trying her best to ignore the sounds outside. Mouri almost dropped the arrowheads he was sharpening.
"You don't know 'bout Aslan? He's only the true King of Narnia. More powerful than any being here. At least he's supposed ta' be. The tales about him end after the Queens and Kings of old disappeared." A melancholic look visited his eyes. "If ya don't know 'bout Aslan you truly must not be from 'ere." Primrose had calmed down somewhat.
"No, I've never heard of him. Didn't know animals could talk either." She gave Mouri a small smile.
"Well, not all here can do that anymore. Many of them turned mindless afta' being treated as such for so long." Mouri said before his ears flickered to many different directions. Soon after a fox came running in to the hallway. "They need to get the injured in, but the path inside is blocked by rubble. Everyone capable, go assist!"
Most of the dwarves and larger animals dropped what they were doing and ran after the fox. Primrose moved on her seat, glancing back to Mouri. Who gave her a quick nod. This was all she needed before running after the group.
After turning a few corners. Following the sound of feet lead her to the pile up of debris. Briskly mimicking the others and proceeding to toss every stone she was capable of lifting out of a broken window. Quickly the path was clearing. Her heart was thumping loudly in her chest, as she moved and listened to sounds outside. Suddenly a bright flash of fire lit up the night, gathering everyone's attention. A dark knight with decorated armor strutted on a grey horse covered in blood moved through the fire. He raised his sword ready to strike down a brown centaur who was writhing in pain.
She was unable to rip her gaze away as the longsword plunged right into the creature's chest. He let out a final agonizing yell.
Her knees buckled, as the world around her got blurry. Prim's mind shifting into a restless sleep.
A breath. Warm and comforting. Stirred Primrose out of a nightmare. Her eyes flickered open. Sunlight was streaming in from the cracks on the ceiling. Her hand moving to her head to feel a small bump that was sore to touch. While blinking sleep-sand away she got up to look around. In this large room laid all different kinds of Narnians. Most covered in bandages, and others covered by a thin cloth from head to toe. A family of badgers were hunched over a wounded one. The largest out of the family stroking the injured one's fur. Prim's brows knitted together, as she cast her eyes down. She let out a small breath at the state of her clothing. Her socks had rolled down from just under her knee to below her calf. A couple holes having appeared on other parts of her clothes, which were dirty and dusty as can be.
"You're awake then." A warm approaching voice called out. Tyviel moved towards Primrose. A small limp to her step as she did so. The fur on her feet was tangled around a red bandaged spot.
"Tyviel..." Prim's eyes widened. "Are you alright?" She got up with a careful hesitation.
Tyviel chuckled. "Well, I've been better, though I'm much luckier than most." Her eyes glancing over to the bodies scattered around the hall. Prim shifted from one foot to the other uncomfortably. Her stomach suddenly grumbling loudly. Making the badgers look over to her. If they had eyebrows, they'd be raised. A heat rose on her cheeks out of embarrassment. The older faun just let out a small chuckle.
"Come now. Let's get you changed and fed. We have much to talk about." With that the girl followed after Tyviel. Wondering how she was able to keep her composure so well with all the death surrounding them.
A couple helpful squirrels had found a multitude of dresses and undergarments for Primrose to change into. Most of them felt to her, way too fancy for the situation they were in. So, she decided on a dark blue simple dress. It was slightly too big on her, so she gathered the extra fabric that dragged on the ground and pushed it under the brown bodice. Pulling her hair out from in front of her face and tying with a thread in a low ponytail. Leaving her normal shoes to dry she'd pick up a pair of sturdy sandals, before running after Tyviel who had joined many others at a table.
"The girly survived I see." A sharp comment boomed from a small weasel laying casually on the table. A slice of an apple in his paws which he was quickly chewing down.
"Uh, yeah survived for now." Prim answered unsurely. Mouri grinned, bearing his sharp little teeth.
"Come sit. There's some stew for yeh'"
She didn't have to be told twice. Having not eaten since getting here. The stew tasted divine, and it disappeared off her plate faster than fish swimming downstream. Letting out a satisfied breath Prim held out the plate and mumbled with her mouth half full.
"More." Tyviel raised a bushy brow and placed a hand on the plate. Lowering it down on the table.
"Maybe later dearie. We need to save our rations as far as they can carry us." An embarrassed blush appeared on Rose's cheeks as she moved her hands away from the plate and into her lap. A dwarf next to her, patted her on the shoulder before getting up. Tyviel nodded approvingly, not having intended on embarrassing the girl. Primrose emptied her cup of water and finally looked around the large room they were in. It was even more magnificent compared to the rooms she'd been to so far. On the end of the hall were four thrones, a bit dilapidated and worn, but still stunning.
Noticing what caught the girl's attention the faun let out a wistful sigh. "The thrones of King Edmund the Just, Queen Susan the gentle, King Peter the Magnificent and Queen Lucy the Valiant. The kings and queens of old." Tyviel pointed to each throne in turn. "This was their palace, and many rulers after them, but none quite like them." The table had gone quiet. Silent respect emanating from most of them.
"Those don't sound like any Narnian names I've heard so far." Prim commented quietly. The faun turning to her.
"An astute observation. That is because they, much like you. Were not of this world." Rose's brows shot up in surprise. Casting her eyes on the thrones once again.
"What happened to them?"
"Well, that… no one knows for sure. Some think they died, by an ambush while hunting, others believe that they returned into their own world." Tyviel crossed her arms and looked at the strange girl's reaction.
"The names, sound like ones from my world for sure." Primrose smiled briefly. "What made them so respected? It couldn't've just been that they were from a different world."
"Narnia has never been stronger than during the golden age. When children of Eve and Adam rested on the thrones…" The faun began. Telling the tale of a time long-gone.
"Aslan was never seen after they disappeared?"
"Yes. Unfortunately to me and many others, it seems like he has abandoned these lands. At least so I thought." Tyviel's gaze once again planting on Primrose. Who was leaning on the table with her head on her hands. She had been completely drawn in by the tale until now.
"Oh?" Prim blinked and straightened her posture. Wondering where this was going. The old faun got up and moved next to the girl. Tapping her shoulder as a signal to get up.
A satyr had delivered a walking stick to Tyviel as she was recanting the story. A cane that she now relied on keeping her up. Primrose matched the pace of the faun as they slowly moved through the halls.
Ending up at a courtyard, or what used to be a garden inside of the castle. On the very center of this garden was a large circular stone tile. On which were depicted a multitude of things. Primrose examined the stone tile and its figures carefully. Eventually noticing the foreign writing all around its edges. A fourth of the edge of this stone had cracked and worn off.
"Before he left these lands Aslan delivered a promise to all Narnians."
"Daughter of Eve, born as the first flowers of spring bloomed, will bring light to Narnia in its darkest times." Said Tyviel in a deliberating tone, while circling the stone.
"I believe you are that child." Prim's brows furrowed as she looked at the figures on the stone. A girl was holding her hand out towards a tree. On its other side was a figure of a lion, blowing air towards that tree. This girl unlike Primrose had long hair to her hips and a much thinner build. What made her furrow her brows even more, was that in the very middle of this stone was a woman holding a shining ball, while looking up at who knows what.
"It's not me…" The girl said with an almost disappointed tone. Making Tyviel raise her brows. "I' do not look like that, and I definitely wasn't born during spring." She sighed. "It was winter." This made even Tyviel furrow her brows. After a moment of silence, she cleared her throat.
"Whether it is true or not… You are here now. For you to find your way back home, you must survive this war first." Primrose looked up at Tyviel at these words.
It had been two days since that talk with Tyviel, and each night what seemed like endless Telmar troops invaded the castle. Getting closer with each battle. They had lost the lower town and many men with it.
Each night Primrose got pushed into a deep corner of the palace with people who either were too young or injured to fight. Never knowing if the Telmarines were able to push through Narnian defenses.
Sleep was out of the question. So those nights Prim, helped calm the young children down, or talked with Isolis an injured centaur. She had lost one of her arms in battle, which made her incapable of using the bow she was so efficient at. They got to talking as she had noticed how restless Primrose got during the first night and had gifted her a dagger to ease her nerves. Isolis soon figuring out that the girl had no idea how to use a blade except for carving wood or spreading butter.
So, during those two days, they'd spend their day in the grand hall. Where Isolis tried to teach Primrose the basics of using a blade. To varying success. It didn't take long for one of the dwarves who was a bit too eager to help, to nick a cut onto Prims dominant sword hand. Making her use her other one instead. Teaching the English girl to use her left hand like that, didn't prove too successful, so they'd go through strategies on what to do if the Telmarines truly did break through and stormed the palace.
Rose, in that span of few days, had gotten much more comfortable. Now speaking to most of the Narnians, not finding them to be odd at all. Though as the sun set, so did the fear in her heart. Still something about this place just made her feel stronger especially during the days.
Though she mostly avoided the garden like a plague, it was one of the only places she could go to safely and enjoy the sun, which seemed much brighter here.
Tyviel gave her odd glances, and mischievous smiles if they ever passed each other on one of the hallways. Mouri on the other hand had made a habit out of making fun of Prim's eating habits, even though she was much more controlled during her other meals compared to the first one. Mouri was also the one who handed back the messenger back she had with her as she arrived. Its contents had been dried out, though the damage to some more permanent than others.
"They're closing in. Shouldn't we try to move everyone out during the day? Get out while we can." Primrose suggested during a lunch on her third day in Cair Paravel.
"Hah, who knows how many Telmar soldiers are hiding in those woods huh?" Said Artalion in a belittling tone.
Prim frowned. He had been giving her attitude as long as she had been here. "I'm just saying, were trapped here like rats. Their troops aren't getting smaller or weaker, we on the othe- "
"We? There is no we. You haven't been on the battlefield like I have. You've barely held a sword in your hand and you're telling us to run like cowards?" He huffed, his tail whipping in agitation.
"Once we give in and let them have this land. What then? The last place us Narnians have left. Out there- "He pointed his hand towards the woods. "We have no shelter; we have no place to hide. Do you think they'll stop hunting us down after destroying Cair Paravel. No! They won't stop until we and Narnia are no more."
Primrose gulped nervously "You will have your lives… if they barge throu-" She said but was once again interrupted
"You do not understand. For you are not a Narnian. You're but a naïve child, who's head has been filled with prophecies and old tales." His voice boomed over everyone in the hall.
Rose stood up quickly which made the table clatter. "I might not be a Narnian, but I'm here in the same position as you all are." This earned a sneering laugh out of Artalion and he was about to say a comeback before another voice silenced them all.
"That is enough! We have enough issues without us bickering with each other. Artalion, you should take her opinion into consideration for…"
"If you say anything about the prophecy again Tyviel."
As the two began arguing, Primrose stood up while mumbling. "Lost my appetite."
She walked away, grabbing her bag and leaving the others behind, needing some fresh air from it all. As she walked through the halls, two small dwarf children, both with bright red heads of curly hair bumped into her while running. They kind of reminded Prim of Joyce and Russell. Giggling together about an inside joke that no one else would ever get to be a part of.
One of them stuck their tongue out at Rose and blew a raspberry. A move which she mimicked right back at them. A rascal-like smirk appearing on her features as the two young ones tried kicking a piece of rubble at her but fell down on their behinds in the attempt of doing so.
That smirk lasted on her lips, until she found her way outside of the palace walls, to a large balcony which looked over the shore and the sea. As much as she didn't enjoy getting wet, she always quite enjoyed watching water as the waves shifted from the horizon to the beach.
"Miss you dad… Hope you're not too worried about me. I'll make it home. I promise." Primrose cast her hopeful pledge to the air with a sigh. A small tree sprout that had made its home in one of the cracks in the palace stone wiggled slightly, and a fifth leaf joined the others to reach up to the sky. A happening that Prim was too distracted to notice as the last beams of sunlight sunk into the sea.
"This is it. Were going to die" Rose panicked in her thoughts as the castle shook and small pieces of rubble fell on their heads. Her foot tapped anxiously on the cold stone, while casting anxious looks at Isolis.
"Hold your dagger close to you." The centaur said softly, while gripping her own much larger blade. A tight grip that only got tighter as a yell echoed through the palace walls.
"THEY BROKE THROUGH THE DOORS! FALL BACK! FALL BA-!" Prim's hand shot out in front of her mouth to stifle a whimper. The dying croak of whoever yelled out the news, was enough to make her sick to her stomach.
Harsh metal steps clanked through the stone floors. "Take no prisoners, no matter how young." Came out the ruthless command that only grew closer to their hiding place.
Primrose grasped onto Isolis' arm and said in a hushed restless voice "We have to go now, or we'll die. Isolis?" Her tone turning to confusion as the centaur unsheathed her weapon and walked towards the door.
"You go. Take the others with you through the passage, I'll buy you some time." Before she had time to oppose, the brave centaur galloped to the halls and out of view.
"No, please come back." A big part of her mind was screaming for her to run away alone, so that she could survive. A gentler, more altruistic side of her was more dominant.
Getting up with a quick hop, she looked to the determined and scared faces around the room.
"Follow me, I know a way out of here." She moved over to a large banner of a golden lion and slid it aside to reveal a statue of a woman holding a decorative flask in one hand and in the other a dagger. Grasping tightly on the flask arm Primrose pulled down and the statue began to move. Revealing a dark pathway behind it. Rose turned to the Narnians who were now briskly standing up.
"Those who can't walk fast, grab a buddy to help you, keep an eye on each other. Now go!" She spoke in hushed tones, but loud enough for all of them to hear.
It didn't take long for a line to get moving to the passage. Prim listened nervously as the thumps and cries got ever closer to the door. Soon them being right on the doorstep.
Thunk, thunk! The bangs got louder as the soldiers tried to break down the door. Which they did. To their surprise, inside of this heavily guarded door was nothing.
"Hurry up everyone." She rushed for people to move. The narrow cold corridor walls served well for support as the floor was bumpy. Every other rock being a tripping hazard.
What was probably only a few minutes, felt like ages to Prim. Finally, a light on the end of the tunnel. The first ones in line, pushed the thick vines covering the exit away and kept them pulled back as everyone moved out.
A sense of relief washed over Rose as they were out of that claustrophobic tunnel. What waited for them though as an unpredictable wilderness.
"C'mon we have to keep moving." That small encouragement turned into a command. As one of the youngest fell down at the last steps, letting out a yell that echoed uncomfortably well, around them. A half blind darkhaired dwarf, let out a slew of curse words. Most of them unknown to Prim, but the tone of his voice told enough. He picked up the child, covering the sobbing with a hand.
They all knew what a noise that loud did, so the entire group began moving as fast as they could into the thick woods.
"If we keep running from them, we'll never stop." Said a satyr gruffly, trying his best to keep up with everyone. Prim tried her best to keep her cool, but as the sounds of soldiers moving through the woods got louder, she stopped.
Some of them turning back to look at her with wide eyes. It was as if time had slowed down as she watched the scared and confused expressions on the children's faces. Taking a breath in and out. She knew what she had to do.
A small smile spreading on her face as she began sprinting off. Away from the group and to the side of the Telmar soldiers.
"Go." Was all that left her lips as a final word to the fleeing Narnians.
She was close to the edge of the woods, but still within hearing distance of the soldiers. Her hand dug into her bag. Grasping the matchbox and firecrackers. Prim asked every deity possible for it to work.
The match lit up with no problem, and as the firecrackers were ripped from their package, she burned the wick. Tossing the fireworks into the air as one of them burst loudly. Making a 'POP!' sound which was then followed by many others.
Primrose waited with bated breath for the firecrackers to fizzle out. Once they did. It became crystal clear that her distraction was heard.
Yelling of men in noisy armor got closer and closer. Finally snapping out of her stupor, Prim began running like never before. Though the sounds of horses galloping after her got louder with every passing second. And as she reached a cliffside, she realized there was nowhere left to run.
She turned to look behind her and what waited for her, took her breath away.
The dark knight and his men now surrounded her in a half circle. More horrifying than that, was what he was riding. His hand was grasping tightly onto Artalion's hair as the other held a sword to his throat.
"The rest of them must be close by" Said one of the riders.
"Go find them." spoke the dark rider, his voice deep, raspy and void of any emotion except rage.
"Yes m'lord." Nodded one of the riders before heading back with a couple of others.
As these words were exchanged, so were looks between Primrose and Artalion. All the arrogance from today had washed off the centaur's expression. Only agony remaining. As a couple tears rolled down her cheek, she finally met the gaze of Caspian the first. If a look could, this look would have burned a hole in her very soul. Full of bloodthirst and ego.
The tall vengeful man kicked Artalion hard on his side, the sharp boot digging into skin.
This made the centaur flinch and take a step forward. Rose took a step back, only to be met with a large boulder, and beyond that a painful watery death.
The king was ready to strike down the girl, who now was grasping onto her dagger for dear life.
"You're not my king or my slaver. For Narnia!" Artalion growled out and whipped his head and arms back, bucking the king off his high horse.
As soon as he did so, the hand that was grasping onto the centaur's hair, pulled hard enough to pull him towards Artalion again. A mere flick from that sharp blade and then a moment of silence. A gargling noise came from the Narnians mouth as his throat was slashed open.
"NO! ARTALION!" Her eyes filled with tears, burring her vision. Seeing the hazy figure slump down and twitch, before falling completely still.
"Filthy animal." That cold heartless voice spat out. Soon making his way towards the weeping girl. His sword raised high in the air, ready to impale the girl on it.
Rage. It burned inside Primrose unparalleled to anything else she had ever experienced. She grasped onto her dagger tightly ready to strike the king down.
"Primrose." A deep whisper from inside her mind stopped her in her tracks. Tears still streaming down her face. Heat radiated from her as she suddenly felt something awaken. Something that had always been there. It was just behind a locked door. A door that someone just handed her a key to.
Caspian grunted as he flung the sword down at the girl, who looked up right at him, with burning eyes. Raising her hand up at him. For just a small moment. The fearless man felt fear, fear like he had not felt in years. In that moment a light, brighter than a star in the sky blinded him, and the tip of his sword hit the ground.
Primrose ran. Ran past the gasping soldiers covering their eyes. She ran into the woods that were now seeming more alive to her than before. Somehow calling her name.
The Telmar cavalry with the king began recovering from their temporary blindness. "Kill that girl!" He snarled a command after pulling his bloody sword off the ground.
Her pace had slowed as she got deeper into the forest. Abruptly feeling a sharp sting on her shoulder. Prim's hand reached over to the source of this hurt, which had was fairly deep cut. "Guess I didn't avoid that sword as well as I thought." Grimacing from seeing the blood, just as much as the pain, she'd shake her head and keep running.
Another set of footsteps aside from Prim's own had begun approaching her. The girl stopped breathing for a moment and hunched behind a large tree. Listening attentively as the steps circled around the tree. Her head whipped around, to face another Telmar soldier. This one holding onto a war axe, that was now swung down towards the girl's head. Instead of it making contact with her head, a tree branch had appeared from nowhere and gotten struck instead.
An equally perplexed look appeared on both of their faces. Prim was much quicker to catch on though, as she pressed her hand on the tree again. The struck branch croaked and twisted. Growing thick roots around the axe. Which prevented the flabbergasted soldier from pulling it out. As he began reaching for another weapon, yet another branch moved from behind the man, and whacked him harshly on his helmeted head.
A couple odd breaths came out from this man, before he passed out. As much as Prim wished that she could've stayed and given the man one last kick while he was down, the sounds of familiar voices turned her concentration elsewhere.
"You're alive!" Said one of the kids way too loudly before being hushed by a grownup. Primrose had run the rest of the way to all surviving Narnians.
"How did you get away?" A familiar voice asked. Tyviel seemed worse for wear but alive. A glad smile etching onto the girls face, as she had grown quite attached to the faun.
"I- I'm not certain… it just happened." Prim looked down at her hands, just as perplexed. This small peaceful moment was yet again interrupted by yells and torches shining from the woods.
"The demons are here! Get 'em!" Those words followed by a piercing war cry.
"You led them straight to us!" A voice from behind Prim called out desperately as the hysteria began to grow. Everyone was out of energy to run, but not to panic. A couple of the kids let out loud cries for their mother or father.
The panic almost taking over Rose as well, but she tuned all those voices out to hear one. The one inside of her head. There it was. That warm breath again. Fluttering her hair and whispering into her ear.
Taking a deep inhale, and closing her eyes, the girl placed her hands on her sides. Facing the army of men storming towards them.
Exhale, she knelt down. Her fingertips touching the cold damp ground. All she felt was energy, deep within the ground, in the air, and more ancient than any palace. She opened her eyes the golden glow piercing the darkness, as the ground beneath them began to tremble.
The trees began to shift and moan from the strain as they rapidly began closing in on the soldiers. Some roots flinging themselves out from the ground and around the enemies' ankles, pulling them under. More trees grew out of the ground, creating a cocoon between them and Telmarines. It soon grew thick enough that the Narnians couldn't hear those pained screams anymore.
Other than the blood rushing in her ears and her heavy breathing. It was completely silent.
"The prophecy was true." Those words made Prim turn around to a large group of people with all of their eyes on her. She shook her head in disbelief. Not quite accepting it herself.
"Maybe…" Sounds of relieved gasps and laughter were shared amongst the Narnians. Tyviel approached Primrose carefully. Giving her a small curtsy, which was repeated by those Narnians who could. This made the girl feel quite awkward. Unsure if she should curtsy back or just nod. Choosing the second option she asked quietly. "Did no one else survive?" To which the faun shook her head. A shaky breath was shared by both of them.
"We need to keep moving. Those trees won't last forever." Rose said after a short pause of grief. Nods were shared between people, as they began to chatter and walk.
Prim was about to move after them, but there it was again. That whispering. Beckoning her to something deeper in the woods. Away from her newfound friends.
Closer she got, louder the whispers became. And there it was the tree stump. Like before a flicker maybe as bright as a candle burned inside of it. A flicker that got brighter with every step she took until it whisked her away.
With a loud gasp Rose opened her eyes expecting to see, minotaurs, talking animals, fauns, and dwarves. But they were nowhere to be seen. She sat up from where she was laying. Quickly noticing that her garments had changed into the shorts, button up, sweater and jacket she had worn before. Long gone was the long-sleeved blue dress and uncomfortable shoes. What really sealed it in, was when she looked up to see Professor Kirke's house in the distance. Primrose was home.
Any questions about this fic, or criticisms (as long as its constructive) are appreciated.
