Author's Note: Two chapters in a day! It must be the end of the world. Okay, not really. I originally wrote this as one chapter but decided to break it into two when it started to push the six thousand word mark. Happy reading!
Disclaimer: You know the drill. Narnia does not belong to me.
Chapter the Eleventh: We Shall Do Valiantly
"Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies."-Psalm 108:13
12 Quickening 2075, Anvard, Archenland.
The half moon rose some time later, its silver-white light illuminating just enough of the land for the archers to see, but eerie shadows appeared to flicker beneath the trees. Archers patrolled the parapets and the occasional owl hoot floated from the trees, but otherwise all was quiet. Inside the castle many slept, but beneath it one did not. In the dungeon Despiado's men slept, but Despiado himself stood deep in thought just behind the bars of the cell. A guard stood at the end of the corridor at the base of the stairway. At Despiado's subtle command, one of the Telmarines began to moan.
"Guard, one of my men has taken ill!"
The guard hurried over to the cell. "What is wrong with him?"
"I do not know," Despiado replied. The guard stood a moment, then began to open the door and gave instructions for Despiado and the other Telmarine to help the ill Telmarine to the healers. Despiado stepped out of the cell and moved around the guard. The other Telmarine moaned again, and the guard looked away from Despiado for a moment. As soon as he did, Despiado twisted a curious ring-a band of silver, gold, and bronze braided together with a Telmarine coat of arms-around his finger and brought his hand to the guard's neck in one swift motion, pricking the poor guard with the tiny needle concealed within the coat of arms. Almost immediately the guard crumpled to the ground without a sound. Despiado took the guard's sword and keys and then he and his men unlocked the door to the stairway and ascended to the first floor of the castle. The guard at the top of the stairs challenged the three, but the quick sword fight that ensued left the grey stone floor stained with Archen blood. Despiado's men took the guard's weapons and followed their commander down the corridor.
Despiado moved almost silently towards the throne room, which was mostly deserted except for several soldiers. Despiado and his two men hid behind the great staircase for a moment before sneaking up on the foursome. One of the soldiers whipped around, sensing someone, and called out a warning to his companions. The Archen soldiers drew their swords quickly, but one of them was not quick enough. Despiado ran him through before he could fully draw his sword, then turned to another without the slightest pause. The other three Archenlanders engaged the Telmarines in full force and stood their ground. Finally, one of the Telmarines joined the Archen soldier on the floor, and the second was not too far behind him.
The Archen soldiers turned to their comrade, who was not dead as they had feared, although he was gravely injured.
"Someone fetch a medic!" the light haired soldier shouted as he cradled his wounded friend. "You'll be alright, Donovan, just stay with me."
Ayden came running down the stairs a few moments after a soldier left to bring a medic. "What happened here?" he exclaimed, hurrying to the young injured soldier's side.
"The Telmarine prisoners escaped and attacked us, your highness," the light haired soldier replied. Ayden looked at the Telmarines laying lifeless on the ground.
"Well done, you have stopped them and whatever nefarious plan they had entertained," Ayden replied.
"Nay, my lord," Donovan gasped, clutching at Ayden's sleeve. Ayden knelt beside him and grasped the injured soldier's hand, waiting patiently for him to continue.
"There is another one, your highness," Donovan strained. "The one that wounded me slipped away in the fight. You must stop him," he continued, coughing.
"Peace, good sir," Ayden replied. "We will find him. Rest now, my friend."
Despiado did indeed slip away and leave his men to their deaths. The Telmarine commander snuck out of the keep and stealthily moved towards the guardhouse turret near the gate. He slipped inside the turret stairwell and ascended to the parapet. A soldier patrolled the parapet, but Despiado snuck behind and pricked the soldier with the ring. The soldier fell to the ground without a cry, enabling Despiado to take his torch after he tossed the now-dead Archen soldier off the parapet. Hiding in the shadow of the northeast turret, Despiado used the torch as a beacon, periodically blocking the torch's light behind the wall.
"There's the signal. Telmarines to arms!" A Telmarine commander in the encampment outside Anvard shouted, and the soldiers jumped to follow his commands.
Despiado put down the torch and remained hidden beside the guardhouse turret.
Meanwhile, Ayden called out the alarm and began a search for Despiado. Lyra stood on the east parapet above the gate, looking at the twinkling stars. Her musings were rudely disturbed as she felt a bolt speed past her ear. Quick as a wink she took her bow off her back and fitted an arrow to the string.
"The Telmarines are attacking! Soldiers of Archenland to your posts!" She shouted.
Despiado heard her call to arms, and he hid behind the door of the guardhouse as the soldiers that had been inside hurried to the parapet. As soon as the last one exited Despiado slipped inside the guardhouse before the door closed. Inside this particular turret was the mechanism by which the gate could be opened. Despiado smiled and began to put the mechanisms of the gate to work.
Outside on the east parapet, Lyra and the archers with her heard the gate begin to open.
"The gate is opening!" an archer cried in alarm, and Lyra hurried to the guardhouse, her arrow at the ready. Despiado, however, heard a hand on the door handle and promptly stood against the wall beside the door. As Lyra entered the turret, Despiado kicked her arm, causing the arrow to fly awry and the bow to drop out of her hands. Despiado quickly seized Lyra's arm, but she kicked him hard enough to make him stagger back a step and wrenched her arm out of his grasp. Despiado struck again but she blocked the blow and delivered one of her own. The Telmarine quickly retaliated, striking a blow and dazing her momentarily, which enabled him to hold her at sword point.
"I told you your pretty cheek would be bloodied if Archenland insisted on fighting, my lady."
Meanwhile, the soldiers in the courtyard started in surprise as the gate opened. Ayden and Galen, who had come outside at the alarm of attack, saw the gate opening as well.
"Get those gates closed!" Ayden yelled. Telmarine soldiers began to charge, and the Archenlanders met them at the gate.
"Why aren't those gates closing?" Ayden shouted as he slashed at one Telmarine and kicked at another. Galen was similarly occupied, but made for the parapet as soon as he could. The archers shot at the Telmarines as they approached the gate. Galen ascended to the northeast parapet and entered the guardhouse through the other door.
"Ah, we meet again, my young friend!" Despiado greeted as he entered. Despiado held Lyra in front of him, the edge of a dagger pressing close to her neck.
Galen drew his sword as soon as he saw what was happening, but Despiado cautioned him against any rash actions. "Close the door behind you and lay your sword on the ground if you wish the lady to continue living."
"Don't listen to him Galen! Close the gate. I would rather die than let Anvard fall to these barbarians," Lyra declared, her eyes flashing with anger, not fear.
"Brave words, my lady," Despiado laughed, "but he would not wish these flagstones to be reddened with your blood."
"I wonder that a poltroon* such as yourself ever attained the rank of commander," Galen remarked as slowly put down the new sword that he held down on the floor and took a slow step to the right. "Only a coward uses a lady to shield himself when a good duel is at hand."
"Honor," Despiado scoffed. "A thing for weaklings. Narnia's honor did not save her. Archenland's honor will not save her either. Whatever means accomplish my goals-that is virtue."
Galen slowly paced. "Honor and virtue are my least worries when you are concerned, sir."
Despiado merely smiled a cunning, snake-like smile. At that moment the door to the turret burst open noisily as Ayden and two other knights entered through the south door.
"It seems that your neck is in greater peril every moment, my lady," Despiado remarked, looking pointedly at the newcomers.
Ayden motioned for the knights to leave.
"Ayden, close the gate!" Lyra urged. "Worry not for me. My fate is of no consequence so long as you kill this weasel and keep Anvard safe."
"Anvard is already lost, my valiant lady," Despiado taunted.
A moment later, however, the gate mechanisms sprang to life and the gate began to close. This unexpected occurrence distracted Despiado for a moment, a moment that Lyra exploited. She put one hand to the wrist that held the dagger while sharply elbowing Despiado with the other arm. The Telmarine doubled over for a moment, and Lyra pulled the dagger away from her neck and twisted his arm back. A second later, though, Despiado wrenched his arm from her grasp and kicked Lyra to the turret wall. The second Lyra was free Galen dove for his sword and Ayden raised his. Despiado still held his sword, and the three met blades. The Telmarine swung for Galen but Galen blocked the strike. Ayden struck for the Telmarine, but was blocked swiftly. Despite the numerical imbalance, Despiado was ample match for Galen and Ayden. The three fought furiously for a minute or two.
By the wall, Lyra sat up, a little dazed, then realized that Despiado's dagger lay next to her on the stones. Galen and Ayden continued to fight with the Telmarine, but Despiado kicked Ayden viciously a moment later and the Archenlander fell against the wall. Galen continued to fight Despiado and a rapid pace. Steel flashed and clashed every which way until Despiado stiffened. Lyra had thrown the Telmarine's dagger, and it lodged in his back. Despiado continued to fight, but Galen took advantage of the weakness to strike the Telmarine a mortal blow. Ayden ran him through for good measure, and Despiado finally crumpled to the stone floor.
"Archenland will bow to Telmar, I promise you," Despiado panted, then laid still.
"Finally that horrid man is gone," Lyra exclaimed, causing Galen and Ayden to smile.
"What happened with the gate?" Galen inquired.
"They must have triggered the other mechanism in the southeast guardhouse," Ayden replied with a smile.
The threesome exited the turret. A battle was still at hand, after all. Lyra retrieved her bow and turned the archers attention to the Telmarines still amassed at Anvard's gates. Galen and Ayden rejoined the battle in the courtyard, but only a few Telmarines had gotten through and they were quickly dealt with.
The Telmarines outside the gates, however, decided to continue their siege that night, and once again the battering ram struck hard upon Anvard's gate. Through the night the defenders of Anvard did not sleep, and the whizz of arrows and bolts filled the air constantly. Long into the night, as the moon glistened behind the two peaks of Mt. Pire, the battering ram had been long abandoned amongst the bodies of its unfortunate bearers. These Telmarines, however, did not cease their attack. From every side came siege ladders and soldiers to scale them.
"We need more arrows here!"
"There are none left!"
"Fight hand to hand if you have to, then!"
Near the northwest turret another ladder popped up against the wall. Galen and an Archen soldier pushed the ladder away, and it toppled down, only to be pushed back against the wall a moment later. Nearby a Telmarine hopped onto the parapet, and an archer dealt him a hard blow with his now arrow-less bow. Three more Telmarines reached the parapet here, and shouts and clashes of steel called out the presence of others elsewhere around the castle walls. Galen had long ago tossed away his bow and drawn his lion-pommeled sword. He swung at a Telmarine that was trying to mount the parapet from a ladder, and the soldier fell to the ground far below. Another jumped up behind him, and an archen soldier's swift slash put an end to him. Throughout the castle Anvard's defenders held their ground, but the Telmarines numbered too many. Far too many.
Galen found the need to draw his grandfather's sword as well, and as steel flashed in the moonlight from every which way, a shout rang out from the east parapet. Galen glanced over and saw a flood of Telmarines surging over the wall with no Archenlanders defending the spot. Ayden ran towards the mass, sword at the ready, leading twenty Archen soldiers. Archen soldiers in the courtyard hurried to the stairways. More Telmarines attacked the spot where Galen guarded the wall, and as these began to surge over the wall, the swords began to flash so rapidly that Galen could not pause for the barest breath lest he let down his guard.
"They're breaching the courtyard! Secure the Keep!" Ayden's shout rang out across Anvard, and the castle's defenders fell back from the parapet to surround the Keep.
Galen struck at another Telmarine before backing down the stairs and joining the Archenlanders amassed in the courtyard. The Narnian found himself standing beside Ayden and Lyra, both of whom, like him, had lost their share of blood.
"Is this to be our end, then, sister?" Ayden pondered.
"If it is then let us meet it well, brother. I will yield no further."
"Warriors of Archenland, stand firm," Ayden raised his voice. "We shall fall back no more."
Assenting shouts filled the air, and the Telmarines reached the courtyard. Around the keep a hundred and twenty Archenlanders stood their ground, swords poised for attack. From all sides their enemy surged down from the parapet.
"Aslan," Galen thought, "if ever I needed Thee, 'tis now. If it be Thy will, bring us victory this day and let not another foot of ground fall to those who have destroyed so much. If not, let me do valiantly until Thou seest fit to bring me home."
As the Telmarines closed around them Ayden raised his sword and shouted, "For Archenland and Aslan! Liberty or Death!"
Six score voices joined with Ayden's as the Archenlanders (and Narnian) charged towards the Telmarines and joined in fierce battle. Galen swung the sword in his right hand towards the nearest Telmarine then swung his grandfather's sword in a backslash at another. The sound of steel on steel filled the air along with the cries of the wounded and dying. Beside Galen, Lyra swung her blade in harmony to her brother's, which caused Galen to remember a lesson he had learned long ago from his old mentor, a tradition that not even the Telmarines could cause to be forgotten.
"Fight as brothers," he muttered to himself, recalling the Centaur's words with a smile. Galen raised his voice and shouted, "Backs together! Fight as brothers!"
The Archen warriors paused a moment, then understood his meaning. Lyra and Ayden turned in one swift motion to protect each other, and Lyra beckoned for Galen to join them. All around the courtyard of Anvard, twosomes, threesomes, and foursomes of Archenlanders took up the formation of Narnia's antiquity, each protecting the other and becoming far stronger in the process. The Telmarines continued their attack, but each band that held its ground remained intact. In this way the defenders of Anvard fought until dawn creeped upon them, the star-strewn sky lightening little by little. Telmarines still pressed thickly upon them, but not as many as before. As the sun finally rose and the sky turned blue, a horn sounded outside Anvard's gates.
"Open the gates!" Ayden shouted, recognizing the horn, and an Archen soldier swiftly made for the parapet. A few Telmarines chased him, but the Archenlander was swift and reached the guardhouse before they could catch him. The strong gates creaked and began to open, and as they did many people bearing Archenland's standard surged into the courtyard. Anvard's parapets were once again manned by Archenland's archers, and a multitude of mounted knights attacked the rear flank of the Telmarine onslaught. A half hour later every Telmarine within Anvard's gates was either dead or dying, and a great shout went out from the weary, mud-spattered defenders. King Lorn and Queen Laila dismounted their chargers and approached the keep.
"Mother, father, 'tis good to see you," Lyra smiled.
"It is good to see you, as well. For some reason I felt as though we should return overnight, and we saw your signal as soon as we reached the other side of the mountains," Lorn replied.
"Our signal?" Ayden puzzled.
"There," the queen pointed. "Is it not of your design?"
The three other Archenlanders and Galen turned to where the queen pointed, and saw that a blue light glowed from a window in the northeast keep turret. Many other people saw the light as well now, and murmuring filled the courtyard.
"Nay, mother, we did not set that beacon," Ayden answered.
"Sir Galen, is that not your room?" Lyra asked.
"Indeed."
They made their way inside the keep and up to Galen's room. Upon entering, the light began to dissipate. Galen took a few steps forward, and as the light ceased he realized that the source was the Stone Knife.
"Thanks be to Aslan for this victory," Galen smiled. "T'was of His design, and no other."
*I watched the Voyage of the Dawn Treader the other week, and I was very disappointed that Reepicheep never said his favorite word. I couldn't resist using it here.
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