Chapter 11: After Him

Edmund.

So that was his name.

As Lucy took the time to describe her brother – apparently he was older than her but younger than Peter and Susan and had enough dry wit for fifty people twice his size – I, in turn, discovered something about her. Her heart was tremendous, even for someone so young. She had already forgiven Edmund for what had transpired. Now, she only wished to see him again. This put my worries at ease, if only a little bit.

If his own flesh and blood could forgive him so quickly, why should the rest of the camp have any trouble?

For roughly an hour Lucy and I sat, swapping stories of our families and adventures. I spoke of Rhydian's strength and of Geraint's quiet resolve, of the wolf in the camp and of the day that everything suddenly grew warmer, and Lucy intently listened, enjoying every second of it.

I purposely darted around the subject of our parentage. If Lucy and the others found out who Rhydian, Geraint, and I really were, I didn't like to imagine how they would react. I'd just made friends out of them. I didn't want to lose them. So I kept my mouth shut, wishing I didn't have to resolve to such deliberate concealment.

Rhydian and Geraint – ever efficient in the art of war and rescue – had come back through our section of camp, on their way to meet Oreius about tracking down the enemy camp.

"If you want anyone here going in to get Edmund," I said, a proud smile splitting my face as Lucy stood and neared the riverbank just as they left. "It's them. They're very good at what they do. They'll have him back safely soon enough."

Lucy smiled, nodding. Though I could tell she did not doubt my words, she was still worried, and rightly so. I tried to put myself in her position. If Rhydian or Geraint had been captured by the Witch, I would be terrified, too, for good reason. Aslan only knew what she could have done to either one of them. I blew out a quick sigh, shuddering as if to shake out the thoughts of icy torture that marched through my head.

Susan thoughtfully gazed out at the water in front of her, Lucy standing just behind her. She watched her sister for a moment, the starts of a smile brightening her face.

"You look like Mum," she said.

Susan turned, smiling a bit ruefully. "Mum hasn't had a dress like this since before the war."

My eyes bugged. They were fighting a war at home, too?

Lucy's face lit up. "We should bring her one back," she declared. "A whole trunk full!"

Susan's face darkened. "If we ever get back."

From where I was sitting, I saw Lucy's shoulders slump. She hung her head a little.

Susan sighed. "I'm sorry I'm like that," she said, pursing her lips together in a sad, apologetic smile as she turned to face her sister. "We used to have fun together, didn't we?"

"Yes," Lucy reminisced. "Before you got boring!"

I chuckled to myself as Lucy's laughter pealed across the river bank.

Susan eyed her mischievously. "Oh, really?"

The smile on Susan's face widened, and she stooped down towards the water, smacking her hand through it and giving Lucy a good splash. Lucy screamed from surprise, quickly retaliating a chortling Susan with her own, much bigger barrage of water. Susan recoiled, and Lucy laughed triumphantly. I took a few steps forward as I watched them, and all three of us giggled uncontrollably as Susan and Lucy waded through the water and up the bank. Susan reached for a towel, a smile still tugging at the corners of her mouth. I looked on, laughing to myself as she pulled it down.

She suddenly jumped and screamed, backing up with wide eyes. Something growled. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I shot to my feet.

I'd know that noise anywhere.

"Please don't try to run," Maugrim snarled, slinking out into view with the rest of the Secret Police at his back. "We're tired, and we'd prefer to kill you quickly."

His amber eyes bored into his prey, and the momentarily rolled towards me. I froze.

Susan glanced at her quiver, which I now noticed had a beautiful ivory horn slung around a post next to it, and hit Maugrim across the face as hard as she could with the towel in her hand. One moment she and Lucy were scrambling up the bank towards the tent; the next, Susan wrapped her fingers around the horn's base and gave it a few desperate, trumpeting blows through.

"Susan!" Lucy called, ducking around one of the Wolves and hastily climbing a tree.

Her blue eyes darting back and forth between the Wolves and the tree that Lucy was sitting in, Susan bolted past the Wolves and grabbed onto one of the branches, swinging herself up next to her sister. With muted horror I looked on as they surrounded the base of the tree, growling and snapping at the two girls' dangling feet.

Maurgrim sharply turned and faced me, baring his teeth and snarling.

"Oh, my," he growled, angry laughter shaking his voice. "Your mother is not going to be pleased when she hears about this."

My heart fell to my toes, and I glanced towards the tree where Susan and Lucy were. They were far too preoccupied to have heard him.

"What, Renn?" Maugrim taunted. "Still too weak to defend yourself? It's been three years, girl. If you're not able to fight by now, you're just dead weight."

My face burned.

"Come on, princess. Make your move before I make mine."

Fine, then.

I turned around and ran, pelting into the camp as absolutely fast as my legs would carry me. My eyes caught Rhydian stepping out of a tent, stopping to talk with Darien as Flynn and Geraint came up behind him. I sped towards them.

"Rhydian!" I breathlessly shouted.

I must have looked as terrified as I felt, because before I was even half way to him, he was running to meet me.

"What is it?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

I looked over his shoulder just in time to see Peter tearing across the camp, rounding a corner and drawing his sword.

"Renn?" Geraint tried. "Come on, what's wrong?"

"I..." I breathed. "Susan... Lucy... tree... Wolves... Maugrim—"

"Maugrim?" Rhydian shouted. "Where?"

I pointed with a shaking hand in the direction of the tree. Several other soldiers, including Oreius, had already brandished weapons and were running towards the fight.

Without another word, Rhydian drew his sword and pelted after Oreius. Geraint followed suit, ripping and arrow from his quiver and deftly fitting it into his bow as he swung himself up into the saddle. Darien charged forwards, kicking up a little bit of dirt as he galloped towards the fight.

Flynn drew his dagger and held out the hilt to me. I eyed it hesitantly.

"Well don't just stand there," he said, pushing the weapon into my hand. "They'll need all the help they can get!"

With that he shot off in the direction that I had indicated, and I ran after him. I thought I would find a full-out skirmish. That wasn't what I got.

Aslan, who held one of the Wolves under his paw, stood by Oreius's side, and Rhydian by him. The Centaur held his sword out in front of the ranks in restraint. I froze.

Why was he holding them back? Maugrim and his horde were hopelessly outnumbered. Why didn't he let them charge in and end it?

Peter stood between Maugrim and the tree, pointing his sword directly at the Wolf as he stalked back and forth in front of him. His eyes were wide; his hands were shaking. It was clear he was petrified, but nonetheless he stalwartly stood his ground.

Maugrim sneered. "You may think you're a King," he growled. His haunches tightened and his weight shifted to his back legs. "But you're going to die. Like a dog!"

He sprung into the air, bringing his full weight crashing down on top of Peter. His teeth snapped at the young man's neck, and they tumbled to the ground in a heap.

"Peter!" Susan and Lucy cried in unison, jumping down from their perch and falling to their knees beside their brother. Peter stirred; Maugrim lie perfectly still.

I took a hesitant step forwards, gaping. Was Maugrim dead?

Susan rolled the Wolf's limp body to the side, tears filling her eyes as her brother shakily sat up. My mouth fell open.

Maugrim was dead. Peter had done it.

I smiled ironically. Mother wasn't going to be pleased when she heard about this.

Peter glanced between his sisters, and they nearly knocked him down, throwing their arms around him. Peter, dumbstruck at what he had just done, stared at the ground in front of him, gaping as he returned his sisters' embrace.

With a muted growl, Aslan lifted his paw and freed the Wolf he was holding, sending it yelping away into the woods.

"After him," the Lion ordered, looking to Oreius and Rhydian. "He will lead you to Edmund."

Geraint shifted in the saddle, freeing his foot from the stirrup and offering a hand to Rhydian, who in turn swung up behind him. Oreius nodded, and the party charged into the woods. I chased after them for a little bit, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on my heart as I watched them disappear. My pounding heart climbed up my throat.

If they couldn't bring Edmund back – if they failed their most important mission – then what would we do?