A/N:It's aliiiivvveeee! That's right, this story's back, alive and kickin'! (Hopefully for awhile, hehe) Sorry, it's taken a bazillion years. All the feed back was much appreciated. I've got some great ideas (or I'm hoping they're great...) Hopefully, they'll get up here quickly. That's as long as I don't get too overwhelmed by endless college papers. Anywho. . . Hope this tides you people over for now. Lemme know if you're satisfied or anything you might like to see in future chapters. . . I'm open. Enjoy! Until next time. . . .
Elizabeth awoke the next morning expecting it all to have been a dream. She squinted in the sunlight as she stretched and rubbed her eyes.
"What time is it?" she groaned, fully intending to roll over and get back to sleep.
Unfortunately, her plan was thrown by an evident tap, tap, tap at the door.
"Miss Elizabeth?" said an airy voice.
Elizabeth sat up straight in bed. She looked about her. . . High ceilings, satiny sheets, fireplace. . . She ran to the window. . . Trees. . . Lots and lots of trees.
"No freaking way," she breathed.
She felt the skirts of the cottony nightgown she wore. It felt real. But in some dreams your mind makes you think you feel something. To be sure, she tried pinching herself- "Ouch!" - A bit harder than she had intended. However, there was no doubt now that this was no dream. She prepared for the anxiety attacks to begin all over again; but was surprised. She actually felt . . . Relieved.
"Odd," she thought aloud.
But then the voice sounded again.
"My Lady, is that you?"
The bedroom door opened and Alliyah's face peeked in.
"Oh, you're awake, Miss," she said. "You'd best hurry. The Council is about to begin."
"The Council!" gasped Elizabeth, slapping her forehead as her memory recurred.
"Oh, you needn't worry, M' Lady," said the ever patient Alliyah. "I've brought you something to wear."
Alliyah produced a light, green dress with a gold belt.
"I'm afraid you've slept right past breakfast. But I'll see to it that you have something to eat the second the Council is finished."
She placed the dress in Elizabeth's arms and continued to open up the curtains and pat the wrinkles out of the bed.
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile. Alliyah really was a natural at this job.
"Hurry, Miss!" she repeated as she walked past again to make her exit.
She shut the door behind her
Elizabeth jumped into immediate action. She threw on the dress and quickly combed her hair. Once dressed, she ran out of her room and flew down the hall in a very unladylike fashion. She commended herself for getting in all that practice being so consistently late for work.
Elizabeth skidded around a final corner and jogged up to the double doors. She threw one door open without a thought. She halted suddenly, the movement of the large door seeming to echo throughout the otherwise near silent room. That feeling began to come over her again that everyone was looking at her. Even the centaur whom was speaking paused his presentation to give a momentary glimpse toward the door. Elizabeth glanced about her, looking for a place to hide herself quickly. King Edmund pretended to cover his mouth for a cough to hide a smirk.
"Elizabeth!" a voice hissed.
Elizabeth spotted Queen Lucy gesturing to an empty chair beside her, obviously meant for Elizabeth. She hurried over as quickly and quietly as she could (though that seemed rather ineffective by now).
"I'm glad you were informed in time," said Lucy quietly. "I worried you would not hear that the Council was moved forward."
Elizabeth nodded simply, wondering just what Narnians' definition of "on time" was.
By now the centaur had begun speaking once more. He stood in the center of the room before the royal thrones. A griffin stood to his left, and a tiger and a black wolf near his right. King Peter and Queen Susan seemed grave as the centaur continued.
"What's going on?" Elizabeth whispered to Lucy.
"The war has begun," Lucy returned somewhat sorrowfully. "Arrodris sent an attack in the forest near the Dancing Lawn. They were unarmed and unprepared." She shook her head sadly. "General Orius was sent three days ago to ready all armies if the war could not be avoided. He brings Tabiér the griffin and Khälin and Rystofel of the Deep Forest. They've agreed to fight for us."
The Council went on deep into the day, for their were many matters yet to be discussed. Elizabeth was intrigued at first, but as time wore on, she had to shake herself awake ever so often and she became aware that the emptiness in her stomach grew more and more evident. She still had not eaten today. She recalled one of her first days of school last year when she had missed both breakfast and lunch. She wondered absently how long Royal Councils usually lasted.
Once basic battle plans had been laid, they had agreed that Orius would take the first troops that night to ready the others for any surprises Arrodris had thought up. The others would depart the next morning.
"Lastly," said King Peter, "I call for Garthaug to make for the Eastern lands to make certain those too small or too weak to fight are brought to safety in the Alcenion Guard. You may bring what troops necessary with you."
"Of course, your Majesty," the jaguar nodded his consent.
"Seidra, I request you run ahead of him to the farthest lands. Bring whomever can keep pace, and beware of the mountains."
A cheetah spoke his agreement as well.
Elizabeth's mind seemed to have drifted to another place, so much that she had not even noticed the wise wolf's thoughtful gaze fall on her once or twice during the time. She didn't fully understand most of what was said anyhow, and gave up paying attention. That is, until she caught the words:
"And what of the Princess, Lady Elizabeth? Will she be joining us on the battlegrounds?"
"What?" came Elizabeth instantaneously.
It was the old badger,Paradrin, who had brought it up.
"Lady Elizabeth," said King Peter, apologetic. "Forgive me, I'd nearly forgotten in all of it."
"Of course she'll be joining us," assured a small fox
Everyone seemed to take sudden interest.
'Princess? Battle ground?'
Elizabeth bit her tongue to stop herself from saying something stupid.
Perhaps the King had caught her startled expression, for his response was hesitant.
"I suppose that should be of her own choosing," he said.
Elizabeth felt like a deer in headlights. Everyone stared expectantly as she sat with her mouth open, trying to find her voice.
"I-I've never actually fought in any battles, to tell the truth," she managed meekly, suddenly feeling very small.
She was met with many startled expressions.
"Never fought in a battle, she says?" piped Brangol the dwarf. "Does not every ruler of Narnia take just as much part in battles as everyone else? What about the prophecy?"
"You forget, Brangol, that your own Kings and Queens knew perhaps far less of battle than even Lady Elizabeth may be able to speak of," said King Edmund suddenly. "As it was with many in the war against the White Witch and many battles before that."
The dwarf was silenced for the moment.
"The dwarf speaks the truth though," said the brown faun, though with a bit more tact than Brangol. "The prophecy does say that the fatal stroke to the evil that binds Narnia shall fall from the sword of-"
"We don't know for certain how the prophecy will take place," said King Peter a bit anxiously.
All this while he'd been seeming a bit uneasy (One might almost say embarrassed) so much so that he'd chewed his lip as each spoke.
"The Lady Elizabeth will choose her own path," he said decisively. "Her hand will not be forced one way or another."
After a silence, Brangol felt need to put in his sense again.
"Well, what'll it be then?"
King Peter turned to Elizabeth.
"You don't have to decide right away if don't wish it," he said rather apologetically.
After but a short thought, Elizabeth straightened seeming rather certain. She didn't know why, but at the moment she felt the need to prove herself. If for nothing else, so that Brangol might have to eat his words, so to speak.
"No, I have my answer," she said. "I will ride out along with everyone else, and fight alongside all other Narnians, no matter how it may end."
Afterward, she wasn't quite certain where such talk came from. She didn't usually say things like that. But she had only half a second to ponder it before a great cheer rose up among them. Apparently, she'd said something right.
King Peter, however, did not seem quite so jubilant, though he did try.
"Very well," he said. "There you have your answer." And after a pause: "We've done enough discussing of matters today. All there is to do now is take action and pray the Lion is with us all. I advise you all to gather your strength and be of good heart, for tomorrow we ride."
There was a murmuring of agreement (some more enthusiastic than others) thus concluding the council.
Elizabeth stopped herself from sighing with relief when everyone began ushering themselves toward the Dining Hall with a bit of buzzing and murmuring of the events before them. She had turned to join them, but somehow just wasn't quite fast enough.
"Lady Elizabeth, can you stay behind a moment?"
Elizabeth held back a groan and forced her legs to halt and turn about.
"Of course," she replied, now facing the Kings and Queen Susan.
"I feel we owe you our sincerest apologies and explanation," said King Peter.
"For what?" came Elizabeth, clearly perplexed.
"Well, my apologies mostly," the King explained as the lasts of the crowd exited the room, the doors being closed behind them.
"I hope certain comments during the Council did not alarm you too much."
Elizabeth decided it best not to respond, for she didn't wish to lie. It had, in fact, alarmed her quite a bit- freaked out even. She let Peter continue on.
"I had meant to explain everything to you more fully before ever the Council began. In times such as this, things seem to change rather quickly, and I had no right to lose track."
"Oh, that's alright," said Elizabeth kindly.
"No," said Peter. "I'd like to explain things to you that I should have explained right away. "
The King paced just a bit, his hands clasped behind his back.
"I suppose most of these lands are still foreign to you," he said at last. "But I suppose you realize that you, in fact, are of Narnian blood yourself?"
Elizabeth shook her head slowly. He had her undivided attention.
"Right," Peter sighed in response.
He seemed to be gathering himself for half a moment. Then he straightened and looked directly at Elizabeth.
"Your father, King Ilydon, and your mother, Queen Helya, were last to rule before the four of us. They, like ourselves, were appointed by Aslan himself"
He paused a moment to let the words sink in.
"It was prophesied that through them would come a long line of great rulers and many generations of peace. However, not much more than twenty years into their reign, the White Witch, Jadis, returned to our lands. She believed she was the only true Queen of Narnia.
"It had also been told in prophesy that their child would overcome a great evil that threatened our lands returning peace here once again. Then, everyone had assumed this could only mean overthrowing the White Witch. . . Including the White Witch herself."
Peter hesitated again. Tears formed and pooled in Elizabeth's eyes. She could hardly believe such words. Trembling, she sank into a near chair. Susan came and sat beside her, clasping her hand gently.
"Jadis killed the King and Queen," Peter continued softly. "She had meant to kill their only child as well. Even now no one knows just what stayed her hand (no one save Aslan). Instead she sent the child far away, to a place she thought far enough that the child could never return. But now a new evil threatens Narnia and Aslan has allowed you to returned."
His voice ceased just above a whisper. His eyes were full of sympathy. A tear spilled down Elizabeth's cheek and she quickly wiped it away. She remained silent, staring down at the carpet.
"I understand that this is a lot for you to grasp all at once," said Peter. "I am sorry you had to find everything out in this fashion. We are all more than obliged to answer any further questions you may have at any time."
Elizabeth nodded, but her expression did not altar nor did she raise her eyes.
"Can we get you anything, Lady Elizabeth?" said Susan tenderly.
Elizabeth shook her head.
"No, thank you," she nearly whispered. "Thank you for informing me," she said then, attempting to keep her barrings about her as she rose. "I think, maybe, I'll just go outside for some air."
"Yes, of course," said Peter.
"Shall I come with you?" said Susan, with some gentle insistence.
"No thank you," Elizabeth replied, mustering a small smile. "I'll join you all shortly."
Susan nodded, honoring her wishes.
"We'll leave you then," said Peter, then offering his arm to Susan. "Come, Susan. We're needed in the Banquet Hall."
Susan obeyed reluctantly.
When the silence returned, Elizabeth felt like she'd been kicked in the chest with the blow of realization. She put her face in her hands. What was she doing here, anyhow?
She made her way quickly outside to the gardens. She needed fresh air. She needed to think.