Chapter Nine: The Battle
I was pulled from my meditation, an hour before dawn by the leaves of one of the tree spirits entering Peter and Edmund's tent. I followed her in to find that Edmund had woken his brother up.
"Fear not my princes. I come with tidings of grave news…" the Dryad spoke calmly when Peter moved to grab his sword.
"What word do you bring, spirit of the tree?" I ask respectfully even as my heart tightened.
"The Princess Lucy and Susan asked me to inform you that Aslan is dead. The White Witch plans on attacking as dawn breaks."
"Impossible." Peter sat up in bed, his eyes wide.
"Thank you, my lady." I bowed respectfully. "Please, return to your tree."
Once she had left, I turned and walked out the tent. Peter and Edmund scrambled to follow me but they weren't confident enough to enter Aslan's tent in order to confirm weather Aslan had gone. Instead, they checked their sister's tent.
"It's true, he's gone." I informed Peter and Edmund who were stood nervously outside Aslan's tent once they had discovered both their sisters had gone.
"Then you'll have to lead us." Edmund turned to his brother seriously. "There's a whole army out there waiting to follow you."
"I can't." Peter shook his head.
"Aslan believed you could. And, so do I." Edmund said confidently.
"We must wake the camp. Peter, you and Edmund get with Oreius and plan the attack. He knows the strength of the Narnians." I ordered before moving over to the bell which would alert the Narnians to begin preparing for battle.
We were stationed at a clearing which was designated for the battle. They had figured out that if the White Witch wanted to bring her entire army onto them, then she would have to come through this clearing and valley. Edmund was up on the rocky hills with the archers and the secondary enforcements. The Narnians capable of flight were behind them, waiting for their signal to move in. The rest of the direct combat fighters were lined up with Peter and Oreius, prepared to meet the White Queen and her army head on.
Peter, on a unicorn, was decked out in full metal cased armour with a chainmail vest. He was nervous, I could feel it from him but he was ready to end this. On his left was Oreius, he had chosen a metal chest plate as his only armour and had two broad swords strapped to his back, ready to be drawn when the army arrived. I was on Peter's left, upon Helius who had agreed to bear me into battle.
Unlike Peter, I wasn't in full metal armour since it would hinder my movements too much. I had chosen leather-based protection, which would slow down any blade or arrow which attempted to penetrate my body but wasn't as protective as a metal suit which would stop most swords or arrows. However, this lack of protection was balanced out by the fact that I was faster than most opponents and so capable of dodging blows (the same reason the cheetahs and lioness weren't wearing armour). The leather vest I was wearing also had chainmail weaved into it in order to offer some more protection for my vital organs. The leather arm and leg guards didn't limit the movement of my joints and moved soundlessly with my body. My various daggers and throwing knives were secured across my person while the two Katanas were slung across my back. I had no head protection since I didn't like the way it restricted my vision.
The Gryphon who had taken to the sky to watch for the approaching army landed before them with a graceful flap of his wings.
"They come, your highness, in numbers and weapons far greater than our own." He reported solemnly.
"Numbers do not win a battle." Oreius responded sagely.
"No, but I bet they help." Peter answered, his voice slightly week. In theory he knew the Witches army would be bigger than their own, but to hear such from their scout had obviously shaken some of his confidence.
"Have faith my king, in yourself and your people. The Narnians are ready, and we will take back what was lost." I spoke with conviction just as the White Witch and her army became visible on the other side of the battle field.
The air sang with hope and light and conviction. They would not fail, not today. Today was the start of something new. The rein of the White Witch was coming to an end. And I could feel it, flowing through my veins and resonating with my magic.
The Narnians drew their weapons but did not charge as Peter signalled the Gryphon's and other flight capable Narnians to begin the first volley. The Witch and her army obviously weren't expecting to be attacked from the sky because many were crushed by rocks. As the Minotaur who seemed to be in charge of their orders rallied and ordered the archers to fire into the sky, the sole phoenix who had left her nest to help arrived in a flare of fire. She drew a battle line that served two purposes: it temporarily delayed the army and allowed the flyers to get another drop done without losing anyone, and served as the marker for their archers. Once the army crossed that line of fire, they were within shooting rang.
Peter used his sword to signal the arches as the flyers pulled back and out of range. After two volleys of arrows sent from the cliffs, Peter looked to Oreius.
"You with me?"
"To the death!" Oreius answered strongly, drawing his blades.
Peter turned to me. "You with me?"
"For as long as you need me," I answered.
"FOR NARNIA, AND FOR ASLAN!" Peter shouted and led the charge with Oreius and me at his side.
The first hour of battle bleared by. I had enhanced my muscles with magic to increase my already impressive speed, and give more power behind the blows of my sword when facing larger opponents. My muscles were still naturally week because I hadn't had time to grow them or recover, but my magic more than made up what my body didn't yet have. Helius had been turned to stone by the White Witch's magic fifteen minutes into the battle.
Eventually, the number's we were against got to the point that Peter gave the command I had been waiting for.
"Fall back! Draw them to the rocks!"
I smiled grimly and cut down my opponent, moving towards Peter who was hanging back while the Narnian's still alive from the first charge retreated to the rocks. I had nearly reached Peter's side when arrows rained down from above. In the chaos a bear nocked Peter from his unicorn. I didn't hesitate to throw two daggers into its heart as Oreius and the rhino who were at the back of the retreating Narnian's charged.
"Stop!" Peter shouted after them since the White Witch was leading her men. I hulled Peter too his feet as the Witch ducked Oreius' attack and turned him to stone.
The rest of the Narnians ran past Peter then to re-engage the army, the reinforcement's coming down from the rocks – including Edmund. Leaving Peter with his brother I charged the White Witch hoping to take up her attention and time so that the Narnina's could focus on the dark creatures.
I was ducking and weaving the Witch's staff and sword combo attacks, occasionally getting a cheap shot in with my sword but the Witch was strong and her defence sturdy. If I tried to get under her guard, she would use a blast of magic from her staff to force me back otherwise I would have been turned to stone.
Blocking a slash of her sword I registered Edmund jumping from the rocks and breaking the Witch's staff. Enraged she made to stab him with the remains. I threw the sword she was wielding off to the side and used my own sword to change the path of the staff. However, I hadn't been in time to completely stop Edmund from being stabbed. Instead of the fatal hit he would have received, Edmund was struck in the lower left stomach – away from most internal organs. Grabbing Edmund and pushing him to his horrified brother, I used the opportunity to disarm the Witch of her remaining staff and reengage her in battle.
"Edmund!" I registered Peter shouting behind me, but my focus remained on the Witch. I was growing tired, my body unused to the continued combat and use of magic to enhance my body on top of the wounds I had already suffered.
The Witch brought her sword down in a powerful two-handed swing which would have split me in two if I hadn't raised my Katana in a crossed formation to block her. However, we were now stuck in a stale mate as she tried to force her sword through and take my head, while I used the last of my strength to redirect the sword to the side. One of the Witch's men must have noticed the fight because a sudden piercing pain through my stomach forced me to throw my body into a left-hand roll while pushing my arms (and by consequence swords) right. This left me without my swords as the Witch recovered from suddenly losing her balance.
Before she could make to finish me off, Peter interfered and engaged her in combat. Taking the moment that I had been given, I looked around the area which was mostly full of dead bodies to find an archer who had taken me out of battle taking aim at Peter. Gritting my teeth in pain, I drew the last of my throwing knives and launched it at him. The black dwarf went down with a knife in his throat. Looking down I placed my hand around the exit wound in my stomach which showed an arrow tip. Leaving Peter to his fight, I painfully crawled my way back to Edmund who was laying on the ground gasping for breath about twenty meters from where Peter and the Witch were fighting.
When I finally reached him, I collapsed on my side, using one hand on the ground to stop myself from falling onto my stomach. Reaching a shaking, blood socked hand out I placed it over Edmund's wound and concentrated. It took far longer to pull on my magic since it was worryingly drained. Once I had grasped it, I let it flow out of me into Edmund's wound with only the thought of slowing the bleeding and encouraging heeling on my mind. If I didn't stop the blood he would bleed to death before they could get any help. I was better off since the arrow was plugging the wound.
I collapsed completely onto my side next too Edmund when my work was done, my vision going dark as I heard Aslan's roar. I smiled grimly as I allowed my eyes to close and focused on Edmund's breathing which had evened out while I was healing him. He was going to be fine, and so would Peter. The kings and queens of Narnia would be able to take their rightful place and help the Narnians back to their feet.
"Edmund!" I faintly heard Susan shout before there was the sound off a dead body hitting the floor and the three siblings ran to gather around their brother.
I felt as Edmund was raised off the ground slightly before Lucy gave him some of the healing water she carried. Seconds later he was sitting up looking around at his siblings.
"When are you ever going to do as you're told?" Peter asked before the sibling's laughed in relief.
"Harry!" Edmund shouted in horror, obviously spotting my prone body.
"Oh my god." Susan said before my body was raised off the ground. "He's still breathing."
"I don't know what will happen if I give him the cordial with the arrow…" Lucy chocked off.
I opened my eyes tiredly to find the Pensive siblings all crowded around me. I blinked slowly as I spotted Aslan joining the group.
"You will need to pull the arrow out." Aslan informed the group. "Or the wound will heal around the arrow."
I spotted a dagger lying within reach of my body and grabbed it with my hand. Using what was left of the strength I had, I broke the wood holding the arrow head with a gasp. "Pull out from behind." I told them, blinking the black spots out from my vision.
"Right." Peter said hesitantly.
Edmund, with the help of Susan, took my weight so that I was sat up. Peter shifted so he was behind me, placed a hand on my shoulder for leverage.
"One… two…" instead of saying three he pulled the arrow quickly from my body with a sickening squelch. I wasn't able to stop the cry of pain that was wrenched from my lips. Lucy acted quickly to give me two drops off her cordial instead of the one she had given me earlier. Edmund and Susan laid me on my back while I closed my eyes and felt the healing properties get to work as my magic once again assessed the properties. This time it seemed to take on far more of its effects then the basic healing of last time.
I lay there for a few seconds while the siblings watched worriedly before I felt comfortable and strong enough to open my eyes and breathe a little bit deeper.
"Lucy, you should go help the others." I told her gentle, not quite able to keep the strain completely from my voice since the arrow wound hadn't completely healed yet. "I'll be okay with some rest."
"Okay." She left with Susan once Aslan had nodded his great head at her.
"Well done, Blessed of Merlin." Aslan said gentle.
"It's good to see you, Aslan." I answered with a tired smiled. "You're timing was brilliant."
He chuckled softly at that. "Edmund, Peter, perhaps you can help Harry back to the camp?"
"We will," Edmund promised. "What about… about the people the Witch turned to stone?" he asked hesitantly.
"I will deal with that." In order to prove his point Aslan walked over to the closest Narnian that had been turned to stone and breathed on them which restored them.
Edited 11/04/2022