Under cover of night, the Narnians began executing Peter's plan. Edmund flew in with a griffon, then used his torch light to signal the others. Peter, Kari, and a few others flew in with the other griffins while Glenstorm and their troops made their way towards the drawbridge and Reepicheep and his mice made for the gateroom. They came in quickly and quietly, making their way to their positions- in and out of the castle. They took out any guards that crossed their paths. But things didn't continue as well as they had hoped and quickly got out of hand.
Kari was with the minotaur and a few others in the courtyard dealing with the guards, but when Peter, Caspian, and Susan came running into the courtyard, she knew something was wrong. She and the others scrambled to get the gate open to let in their troops and at first, things seemed to be going in their favor.
But before long, Miraz and his archers lined the walls and started firing upon the Narnians. Both Telmarine and Narnians alike began falling amidst the battle. Peter had spotted Miraz on the balcony and made his way towards him.
"Peter! wait!" Kari called out, but her attention was drawn back to the gate as Miraz's men knocked loose the counterweight. "Peter, we have to retreat!"
Peter knew she was right and sounded the retreat. One of the minotaurs ran forward and held the gate open while his comrades ran passed to escape, but his strength was fading quickly. Caspian came out of the stables, an empty saddle ready for Peter as he and the professor waited for him.
Kari poured her energy into the minotaur at the gate, hoping to give him what strength she could. "Hurry! Get passed the gate!" She called, helping as many of the wounded as she could along the way."Hurry, to the gate!" She ran with the others, hoping they'd make it in time. "Go, go, go!" As she reached the gate with the others, she looked back and saw so many Narnians that were trapped, dying, or already dead.
"No!" Kari called, as arrows struck the minotaur.
"Go..." the minotaur said, looking at her in solace.
Kari felt tears in her eyes, the waves of pain, grief, anger, sadness, anguish, and so much more crashing into her. "Thank you..."
The minotaur nodded weakly, the final arrow striking him and taking away his last bit of strength. He collapsed and took his last breath as the gate slammed down on him, leaving only enough room for creatures the size of Reepicheep to escape through.
"Milady!"
Kari felt her heart breaking at the sight of so many of her people trapped. "I can't leave you..."
One of the centaurs- one of Glenstorm's son- looked from his father to her. "We knew this could happen, milday. We have accepted our fate. You must go, Queen Kari. We will take down as many enemies as we can whilst we still draw breath."
Kari nodded, bowing her head before she turned and ran to where Peter was. She hurried into the saddle behind him and Peter urged his horse forward, leaping across the drawbridge while they still could. When they reached the other side, Kari looked back at the others as the tears slipped down her cheeks.
"I'm so sorry..."
The return journey to Aslan's How was one made in silence as the Narnians mourned their losses. Once they reached the tomb, they could see the faces of anguish and grief the Narnians who had remained behind held as they realized who was not returning amongst them.
Kari looked up as Lucy came running outside.
"What happened?" Lucy asked, looking at Peter.
Peter glared at Caspian. "Ask him."
Susan looked at her brother. "Peter."
Caspian stopped in his tracks. "Me? You could have called it off, there was still time."
"No, there wasn't, thanks to you." Peter retorted.
"Peter, now isn't the time." Kari said, looking to him.
Peter ignored her and continued berating Caspian. "If you kept to the plan, those soldiers might be alive right now."
"And if you'd stayed here like I suggested, they definitely would be!" Caspian retorted.
"You called us, remember?"
"My first mistake."
"No, your first mistake was thinking you could lead these people."
Peter turned to walk away, but Caspian stopped him.
"I am not the one who abandoned Narnia."
"You invaded Narnia. You have no more right to lead it than Miraz does." Peter retorted, pointing a finger at Caspian.
"That's enough, both of you!" Kari said, looking between her husband and her brother. "Now is not the time for arguing!"
Caspian shoved passed Peter, ignoring his sister's words and ignoring the High King until Peter added more salt to the wounds, "You, him, your father... Narnia's better off without the lot of you!"
Caspian and Peter drew their swords, pointing them at each other- ready to fight- but stopped and turned as Edmund shouted at them to stop.
"Trumpkin!" Kari hurried to the dwarf's side as Edmund and Glenstorm lay him on the stone pathway. She looked to Lucy as she ran forward, her vial of fire flower juice in hand. She looked to her brother as he turned away and stormed off into the tomb, Nikabrik right behind him. Her gaze shifted to Peter as Lucy gave Trumpkin a drop of the juice.
Trumpkin stirred, then opened his eyes. He could see that they were all relieved he was alright, but even still he began lecturing them about standing around.
"The Telmarines will be here soon enough." he said, then as Lucy stood, he added, "Thank you, my dear little friend," which brought a smile to Lucy's lips.
Kari helped Trumpkin to his feet, then followed the others inside. As she passed by Peter, though, she ignored him when he tried to call out to her and tried to block out the crashing waves of energy she had been fighting back against since the castle.