Chapter the Second: Journey
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We camped not far from the Great River that first night. Tents were set up, dinner cooked, and sentries posted. When we first went on these missions Ed and I had volunteered to stand sentry duty with the rest of the soldiers. Celer, the Faun captain, pointed out that our hearing wasn't half as good as any of the native Narnians and we didn't have a fraction of their training. He didn't say it, but I know he also didn't want to run any risks with our lives. So we let them do their jobs and made it a point not to compound their duties by wandering off or doing anything too foolish to be corrected.
Both Edmund and I were tired out by the long ride and by the cold of early spring. He retired almost immediately after we ate and I stayed up long enough to help Oreius figure our route for the morning. I was too tired to have any useful input, but I listened and nodded, trusting in these warriors who had saved my life and helped keep my brother and sisters safe, before bidding them a good night and turning in.
"Peter?"
I woke up with a start, automatically reaching for my sword even as I registered that it was Edmund. He knew enough not to stand in range until I was awake, fortunately.
"What is it?" I asked, sitting up partially. "Everything alright?"
"I'm freezing," he said, a tremor in his voice and his teeth chattering despite the fur blanket wrapped around him. This wasn't an uncommon occurrence, and I responded as I'd been responding since he could walk.
"Come on, then," I said, shifting over on the wide hammock and lifting the blankets. He spread the fur atop my bedding and crawled into the warmth. Fully dressed as he was, he really was cold and I could feel him quaking as I draped the covers over us both. It was a little crowded but cozy, and I knew at least now he'd get some sleep. He was beastly on the mornings when he didn't get enough rest.
"How can you be so warm all the time?" he whispered. He faced me as he usually did and I wrapped my arms around him. He was a scrawny, slight thing. I had to get him to eat more.
"How come you're always cold?" I replied, teasing him. He was silent for too long. "Ed?"
His voice was still shaky, though not all from his chattering teeth. "I think...I think she did this to me. I never used to be cold like this, remember? Not since..."
I tightened my hold on him, wishing I could break her hold at the same time. "She's gone, Ed. And I'm here. I'll keep you warm. Warmer than she could ever make you cold."
I could hear the smile in his voice as he answered, "I know. Peter?"
"Mmm?"
"How...how do you face battle? I mean, how can you face it?"
This was unexpected and I opened my eyes in surprise. I had to think before answering. "I faced Maugrim twice. Both times he tried to convince me not to fight, that this wasn't our land and battle, and that I didn't have it in me to be king and to do what needed to be done. That second time, he tried to kill Su and Lucy...Aslan and I had just been talking about family and I realized I did have the strength to protect them."
"And Narnia?"
I shook my head. "I didn't think I could really do it until you said you believed in me."
"I always will."
"I know. And that's why I can face battle."
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I awoke the next morning to voices: Peter, Oreius, Sharet, Cyn, and Manon, the other Gryphon scout. I was still in Peter's hammock, cocooned in all the blankets. Peter, Aslan bless him, never made an issue of letting me sleep alongside him and never said a word to the girls. Now that I'm older I wouldn't have dreamed of it back home, but like all things in Narnia, even the cold seems more intense and deep and penetrating. My time with the White Witch seemed to have touched something inside me, a chill I couldn't quite shake off, so when I got cold it was all-consuming and painful. Luckily for me, my brother didn't mind sharing his bed, his blankets, or his warmth. That was something I always envied about Peter - he could do kind and gentle things without ever seeming girlish. It was one thing for Peter Pevensie of Finchley to share a bunk with his little brother, but something different entirely for High King Peter to made certain his fellow king didn't suffer unduly from the cold, and I was grateful for the distinction.
"Edmund! Are you awake yet?" called Peter from outside the tent. Had I just thought him kind?
"No!" I moaned back, pulling the blankets over my head. Sharet let out a purr that was the Cat equivalent of a laugh and both Gryphons let out breathless chuckles.
"I'll send Phillip in to get you up!" threatened my brother.
"I'm up!" I answered. Phillip had roused me exactly once before, and that by pulling the blankets off of me and tickling my ear with his nose. I had no desire to repeat the incident and so reluctantly I threw back the covers and grouped for my boots and cloak. I must have looked awful when I stepped out of the tent because a Satyr immediately fetched me some steaming tea and no one expected any pearls of wisdom out of me for some time. Even Peter looked a bit guilty about rousing me and asked someone to fetch us something hot to eat.
The day was similar to yesterday except that fewer Talking Animals and Magical Creatures turned out to greet us and the weather threatened to make our lives truly miserable. The Trees were thicker and mostly evergreens, who tended to be grumpier than deciduous Trees. With no distractions, we made good time, following a trail along the banks of the Great River. Neth, son of the River God Callum, greeted us when we paused to get water. Neither Peter nor I had ever met a River God, just countless Naiads, and I was impressed by his courtly manners. He didn't stay long and seemed to know our mission, but he did ask us to visit the river again when Narnia was secure.
"When our borders are safe and protected and the last of the White Witch's army are gone, my brother and I intend to tour our whole kingdom," Peter promised, standing on the riverbank beside me. "Our sisters the queens will be with us and we would be honored to entertain you, your noble father the River God, and his people."
Neth was pleased by this and so was I. With Jadis's army still lurking about we had yet to see all of Narnia, though Peter and I had seen far more than Lucy and Susan. We had still to visit Archenland to the south. King Lune's ambassadors were a very jolly lot that understood our need to eliminate any rebel factions wandering about the country before we went visiting the neighbors. Until then, a dialogue was started and we were on excellent terms with Lune and gifts had already been exchanged between us. But to see all of Narnia...the notion thrilled me.
"Going vacationing, are we?" I asked Peter as we returned to our mounts.
He smiled. "Sorry, Ed. I thought of it just then. What do you think?"
"I think it's a brilliant idea."
"Good. You can plan it out."
I swung myself up onto Phillip's back. "Do you actually think either of us will get a word in edgewise once Susan and Lucy hear about it? We'll be lucky if they let us pack our own clothes."
Peter laughed, climbing onto Flisk's bare back with a grace I could only envy. He nodded to Oreius and we set out again, leaving the river behind us as we cut to the west towards Aslan's How.
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We camped half a day's march from our destination after a long day of hard riding. Cyn, Manon, and Alarens, the Eagle, had reported back at different times with their findings. They had spotted several Fell Beasts in the mountains ahead of us: rogue Cats, a Werewolf, and a Minotaur were among the beasts seen flitting through the trees and surely they knew we were here. Two more Gryphons had joined our party from their nearby aerie and the Dogs were finally calmed down enough to be of use. Oreius set out extra guards and told us to sleep with our clothes on and our swords drawn, his standard orders for when things could get dodgy. We were going to leave the encampment here under guard and press on before sunrise again with enough supplies for a few days.
Edmund and I went to bed almost immediately after eating, too weary and numb to keep awake and not about to inflict ourselves on our subjects. I knew we needed to be rested for tomorrow. Our tent was dry and comfortable, though warm only in that there was no wind. Poor Ed never said a word and neither did I, I just lifted the covers and he crawled into my hammock with me. It had been so damp and blustery even I was chilled, so I knew he'd be freezing, especially after wearing armor all day. I was right. I covered his hands with my own, amazed that anyone could be so cold and still function. But he never complained, never asked to be excused from any of the training or work we did, and I found myself filled with pride that this was my brother. Sisters are wonderful and lovely things to have, but in that moment I was so grateful that Edmund was my brother, my friend, and my peer. I knew there wasn't anything I couldn't share with him and I could only hope he felt the same way about me.
He shifted closer, bumping my chin with his forehead.
"Sorry."
"You're getting tall," I whispered, shifting a bit to rest my chin on his head like I used to do when he was a baby. "You barely fit any more."
"I'm catching up to you," he murmured back, and yawned.
I couldn't help but yawn as well before I said, "I have a three-year head start."
He snorted a laugh and nestled closer, falling asleep almost immediately. I listened to the sound of his breathing a few minutes before following him.
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The next morning did not come easily for me. Even at the best of times, I didn't sleep well on these expeditions despite Peter's efforts. I had to force myself to be alert, but I had more trouble forcing myself to be pleasant. Peter rode beside me, occasionally talking with Sharet and Kast, a Panther under her command. He knew better than to try to engage me in conversation right now and so just let me be. Everyone followed Peter's example, knowing I'd come around sooner rather than later if left to myself. Besides, I had a lot to think about from our brief conversations the last two nights and I wanted time to ponder what Peter had said. This way I was guaranteed at least half an hour of being left alone with my thoughts.
"Good morn," I eventually said to him.
Peter grinned at me as if something was very amusing. "Just wake up, did we?"
I made a face at him and then ignored him as I leaned forward a bit. "Good morn, Phillip."
"King Edmund," said my steed. I suspect he thought I had fallen asleep as I rode.
"Have you had breakfast?" I asked.
"I have, Your Highness. Oats and spring grass. A capital start to the day."
"Lucky," I muttered, suddenly starving.
"Field rations for us, Ed," sympathized my brother.
I didn't complain. In Narnia the field rations taste better than the finest meal I've ever had back in England. Everything was better here: the clothes, the music, the people, the water, the air . . . me.
I drew a deep breath, sitting up straighter. I gave myself a little shake, then smiled at Peter. He was watching me out of the corner of his eye and he returned my smile.
"Good morn to you, little brother."
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One of the Gryphons was waiting for us when we reached the valley to Aslan's How, deep in conversation with several Squirrels. Squirrels are funny to talk to since their mouths run as fast as their thoughts and their thoughts seem to run in multiple directions at once. I had to give Manon credit because there were at least five of them chattering at him simultaneously. Edmund, Oreius and I approached him, leaving Flisk and Phillip to graze. The Squirrels chattered quietly amongst themselves, clearly excited by a royal visit to their valley and barely able to contain themselves. They darted about, ran up and down the trees, and teased each other by throwing twigs.
"Majesties, General," said Manon, bowing his head. Gryphons always sound breathless when not in flight. "The rebel band reported numbers at least twenty large Animals and Beasts. They've moved eastwards and were seen five miles southwest of the Stone Table."
The words sent a chill through me. I had never seen the Stone Table, but I had heard about it at length. It was there that Aslan had sacrificed himself to save Edmund.
Then I remembered that Edmund didn't know what had happened there. No one knew the whole truth except my sisters and me. I said nothing, but something in my expression betrayed me and Oreius gave me a penetrating look.
"Majesty?"
I tried keep my voice even. "We were heading towards the Stone Table, were we not?"
"Yes, Sire."
"Then lets get there. We can rest there, then press on."
"Peter?" Edmund asked in a low tone, leaning close.
"Later," I replied just as quietly.
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Something was bothering Peter, something he knows, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what it could be. I was fully resolved to hold him to that promise of later. In truth I probably would not have waited, but just then a dozen or more Squirrels came bounding through the trees towards us, all of them making a racket.
"What is it?" I asked as they assembled at our feet.
"A gift, good kings," said a gray Squirrel the size of spaniel. He held out a large walnut. "The finest from our stores."
"For us?" Peter smiled in delight and knelt down. He held out both hands for the walnut, saying, "Only if we won't deprive you, cousin."
Another Squirrel held up a nut to me and like my brother, I knelt down to their level to accept it. "We have an abundance," promised my Squirrel in a squeaky voice. "The summer past was a good year in every way."
"Thank you," I said. In moments our hands were filled to overflowing with walnuts. Before we could properly thank them the delirious Squirrels made their way back into the woods, producing enough noise for twice their number as they went. Manon shook his head, clearly glad he wasn't a king, and launched back into the air. We watched him fly off, then we both looked at the bounty in our hands. I looked at Peter, he looked at me, and we both said,
"Let's eat."
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Poor Oreius. The good general had dealt with many things and faced many foes in his life, but I don't think anything could prepare him for the rampaging appetite of a teenage boy, much less two boys. It's true that Centaurs can eat a great deal, but they're very large creatures – the only time I could look him directly in the eye was from Flisk's back. I know he was astonished by the amount of food Ed and I put away the first time we set out to quell the remnants of Jadis's troops. By comparison, our sisters ate like birds. Constant hunger was just a state of being for us. It took a lot of energy learning to be a warrior and a king. I think Oreius had figured that out, which was why he voiced no comment when Ed and I tucked in as if we hadn't eaten in a week.
Despite my anxiety about reaching the Stone Table, I had to laugh at Edmund as he improvised a nutcracker. The glove on our sword arm is armored while our shield arm is just leather. He held a nut in his left hand and smacked it with the back of his right, neatly breaking it. When I imitated him Oreius cast us both a look and walked off, trying to hide his amusement.
"It's later," said Edmund, cracking the last nut and sifting through the shells. We had made short work of the Squirrels' gift.
I dusted off my hands and stood. "Not yet."
He gave me a look that was entirely Edmund Randall Pevensie. Luckily I was fairly immune to his ire, having dealt with it all his life and most of my own. I held out my hand to help him up.
"I'll tell you," I promised. "We just need to be alone for me to say anything."
He glanced at the Trees, understanding, and his features softened. Gripping my arm, he let me haul him to his feet.
"Peter?" he asked as we made our way back to our mounts.
"Yes, Ed?"
He paused, looking up at me intensely, searching for something in my expression.
"I'm going to hate this, aren't I?"
I couldn't lie to him. "Maybe. Probably. But don't forget that it's over and that we – and Narnia – are better for it."
His eyes narrowed a bit, but he nodded and we turned back to the waiting soldiers.
"Let's go," he said to Oreius, nudging Phillip to set a brisk pace.
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I wanted to get this over with. Whatever Peter hah to say to me, I wanted it done. I turned things over in my mind, trying to draw connections between the Stone Table and Jadis's words and what little I knew of Aslan's death and rebirth. Cheroom was teaching me to attack such problems logically and I tried that process now. My conclusions were disturbing and, I hoped, wrong.
Were we better for it?
I glanced at my brother, tall and straight on Flisk's bare back. His armor shone even on this overcast day and I wondered if the light came from within him.
If Peter said we were the better for it, then we were. I clung to that thought for the rest of the morning.
