Battle at Anvard
"Rabadash is attacking Anvard?" Edmund repeated.
All of the Narnians aboard the Splendor Hyaline had been lulled into a false sense of security, as if their escape from Tashbaan meant that they would have no more problems from down south. Apparently, they had been wrong.
"Yes, your Majesty," Chervy the Stag nodded gravely. "I received word directly from a boy that crossed the border from Archenland to warn us. Queen Lucy has been gathering troops ever since she found out, and we are amassing quite an army."
"From a boy? That's quite odd," Edmund said thoughtfully. "Well, I thank you, Chervy. Tell my sister Queen Lucy, that we've arrived and are ready and willing to fight, and will be up to the palace as soon as possible."
"To hear is to obey, your Majesty," the Stag bowed, then ran up in the direction of the castle.
Edmund turned to the crowd that had now gathered on the ship. "Friends, we have not been away from Calormen for a week and yet we have trouble from them again." He relayed the news about Rabadash's attack. "Not only is there the obvious danger to our friends in Archenland, a threat has arisen to the safety to all Narnians. If Prince Rabadash conquers Archenland, he will be in the doorway of attacking Narnia. Therefore, all the fighting men and beasts among you gather your weapons and we shall go to aid our neighbors. We will ride for Anvard at first light tomorrow!"
Cheering erupted on deck. Edmund dismissed them, and the crowd dispersed. Edmund walked over to Saedra where she was standing holding Talia's hand. "I fear your return to Archenland has been delayed once again, Sae."
"Whatever do you mean?" Saedra asked, surprised. "Surely you didn't think I would wait up in Narnia while you go down and fight!"
"That was exactly what was in my mind," Edmund replied, putting his hand on her arm. "I don't want you to expose yourself to unnecessary danger, Saedra."
"Nonsense! I cannot allow you to go down and fight for my country while I stay up here," she said emphatically, shaking her head.
"Saedra, please-" Edmund started, but seeing Susan walk over, he decided another approach. "Susan, talk sense to Sae. She thinks she's going down to fight in battle."
Susan raised her eyebrows. "You said yourself that Saedra was as good as any man in battle. Besides, Lucy is no doubt going to fight herself. What's your objection?"
Edmund looked up at the sky in annoyance and said, "You're not helping at all. Saedra-"
"Edmund, listen to me," Saedra said firmly. "You need all the help you can get since most of the fighters in Narnia are up with Peter fighting the Giants. Even more importantly, I believe that I care what happens to Archenland even more than you do since it is, after all, my home. It would be cowardly to stay up here while letting the Narnians risk their lives for my country."
"But what will we do with Talia during the battle?" he asked, gesturing at Talia. "And Prince Corin?"
"Lucy could watch Talia back with the archers," Susan volunteered. "She wouldn't mind at all."
"And we could find someone to watch over Prince Corin and make sure he stays out of battle," Saedra added.
Edmund sighed, unable to stand up to Saedra and Susan at the same time. "It'll take a sturdy person to accomplish that, if I know the Prince at all. All right, Saedra, you win. Let us go up and get our things ready."
The rest of the day was spent getting ready for battle, while Chervy and a few others went around the immediate mainland and gathered up fighters. The host they found was considerable, so that when they left Cair Paravel the next day there was a great mass going with them, even more than they had hoped for. Apparently the news of Rabadash's actions toward the beloved Queen Susan fired them up enough to volunteer for battle.
Peridan led on horse carrying the banner of Narnia, followed by Edmund, Saedra (with Talia riding behind her on the same horse-the poor thing was holding onto the Duchess for dear life, having never ridden before), and Lucy, all on horses. Corin kept up on a pony, and behind him were centaurs, Dogs, Giants, Bears, Dwarves, and large Cats of all kinds. All were suited up for battle with mail-shirts and helmets, with weapons hanging from their belts.
They rode southwest at a fast clip for a few hours and were nearing the pass into Archenland when Edmund called out, "Now, friends! Time for a halt and a morsel!" They happened to stop near some Animals, Dwarves, and a human boy that had gathered to watch the procession.
Saedra dismounted along with the others and helped Talia down gingerly. Talia was already sore, even though the Talking Horse they were riding (Lynn was her name) had been considerate and had walked as smoothly as possible. Saedra pulled down their food sack and handed a roll and water-skin to Talia, and then took some for herself.
Suddenly Corin, who had just gotten off of his horse, ran up to the boy that was watching their procession with awe. "What! You here!"
He continued rattling on, and Edmund and Saedra exchanged glances and walked up to the boys. Lucy followed them when she saw that their interest was caught in something.
"Who is your Highness's friend?" Edmund asked.
"Don't you see, Sire?" Corin said. "It's my double: the boy you mistook me for at Tashbaan."
The boys were indeed very similar, except for the fact that Corin was clothed in royal clothes, more healthy-looking and was missing a tooth. The boy had the same gaunt look about him as Talia-the look of a slave.
"Why, so he is your double!" exclaimed Lucy, then looked at Saedra with wide eyes. "As like as two twins. This is a marvelous thing."
"Please, your Majesty," said the boy to Edmund, "I was no traitor, really I wasn't. And I couldn't help hearing your plans. But I'd never have dreamed of telling them to your enemies."
"I know that you are no traitor, boy," Edmund said, laying his hand on his head. "But if you would not be taken for one, another time try not to hear what is meant for other's ears. But all's well."
Saedra went back a little ways to where Talia was standing and eating, trying to think of what nagging in her mind the boy had prompted. "How are you getting along, Talia?"
"Fine, my Lady," she said, curtsying while she ate.
"Child, will you never stop calling me that?"
Talia looked up at her shyly. "It isn't my place."
"Well, I am making it your place. And I will be offended from this moment forward if you don't call me Saedra," she said decisively, but smiled. After a pause, she asked, "Have you given any thought to what you will do now that you're free?"
"No, my-I mean, Saedra. I don't really know what to do now."
"I ask because I have been thinking...Talia, how would you like to come and live with me? I live on the Winding Arrow River right next to the sea in an old castle, and I think you might like it there."
The little girl's face lit up. "Really? Might I be your servant there?"
Saedra laughed out loud. "No, dear, I was even thinking of adopting you as my daughter!" Then she suddenly looked unsure of herself. "That is, if you want me to. I know I'm young to be your mother, but I think we'd get along nicely."
Talia's mouth was hanging open. "Me? Your daughter! I couldn't imagine...I mean, it's so strange...you are too kind!"
Saedra mistook Talia's reaction and said, "Well, it was just a thought. It's fine if you don't want to, really. You don't owe it to me or anything."
"No, no! I want to, yes, I do very much. It's just that you are too kind...it's really too much! First you save me from Prince Rabadash (and that's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me, you know) and now your daughter..." Talia looked ready to explode with happiness, so she just rushed over and threw her arms around Saedra's waist.
Shocked that Talia had said so much at one time and not used to being hugged by children, Saedra was unsure of what to do. She decided that patting the girl's back would be appropriate and proceeded to do so when Lucy came over.
"Thornbut the Dwarf is unable to fight. He turned his ankle," Lucy announced in an exasperated voice.
Talia kept holding onto Saedra, but moved so that her face was visible. She looked up at Lucy happily, yet shyly.
"What happened to him?" Saedra asked. "Wasn't he the one that Ed was going to assign to watch Prince Corin and make sure that he was staying out of battle?"
"Yes, he was. Apparently he and the Prince got into a little argument and Thornbut stepped on a rock." She looked back to where Corin and the other boy were talking and said, "But that isn't what I came over to talk about. When you met that boy that looks so much like Corin, you had a strange look on your face. I mean, we all did, because it is very odd, but you looked like you were remembering something."
"I was," Saedra replied. "There was something that nagged me about the boy and Corin. They're obviously alike as twins, and something stuck a cord in my memory...something from my youth. I remember hearing murmurings about a battle when I was perhaps ten years old that had to do with King Lune's newborn son-or sons?-or something! I'm not sure, but I do believe that boy may be his brother! I know I sound crazy."
"Indeed! I had never heard of that, but it sounds like it was before we became rulers of Narnia," Lucy said, glancing back at the boys. "They look to be getting along fine. Prince Corin seems to be encouraging him to come along, so I had better check with Ed and see when we'll keep moving."
Lucy went back to the front where Peridan and Edmund were talking, and a few minutes later Edmund announced that they would keep moving. They kept going until Saedra knew that they were near Anvard. The sound of pounding steadily grew louder, indicating that Rabadash was still trying to break down Anvard's gate, even though the Narnians were days behind them. Edmund ordered a halt, and the soldiers suited up in their armor. Lucy took Talia to watch over her, and Saedra looked back down the lines again to make sure that Corin was still with them and out of trouble. From what she could see he looked fine, so she went back up to the front.
After a lot of rearranging the ranks and strategizing (wherein Edmund ordered that Saedra be at least in the third line from the front, and no farther up), they went on their way again and crossed the ridge that lay between them and Anvard.
As they climbed the hill, Saedra had a sudden thought. "Ed? Say we meet someone that we partied with in Tashbaan in battle…what then?"
He turned around with a wry look on his face, "Comment on what a great time you had dancing with them and then chop their heads off."
"Edmund!" Lucy exclaimed but laughed along with Peridan who was within hearing distance.
Saedra, however, didn't laugh, for suddenly she had a terrible thought: What if Cradish or Abrastan are fighting? She didn't know the customs or if they would be considered too old to fight. They have to be too old, she decided, and tried to push those thoughts out of her mind.
Her guess that they were too old was correct, because when they topped the ridge they could see the whole Calormene host below them. The horsemen that were standing around waiting for the battering ram to break down the gate were in their prime of life, so Saedra decided that there was no way Cradish or Abrastan would be among them. The thought cheered her a little.
When the Calormenes saw the Narnians, they swiftly mounted their horses and wheeled around to meet them. Edmund lifted his sword and jerked it forward, and Saedra kicked her horse to keep up with the rest of the army that was speeding up to meet the Calormenes. Thirty gut-wrenching seconds passed as the armies ran at each other, weapons raised and shields aloft, and yelling their battle cry.
The first time Saedra clashed swords with a Tarkaan, she was nearly knocked off her horse from the weight of it, and it took her a second to recover. But she learned her lesson from that blow, and knew better than to fight using strength, because most females are not as strong as men. Her advantage was her quickness and wrist movements, and from that moment on she used it to her advantage.
Many a Tarkaan showed surprise in the middle of a fight with her when he realized that he was fighting a woman; then he would grit his teeth, determined to take her down. But the opposite happened every time: whenever the man went into a frenzy, determined to unseat this woman who mocked him by even having skill, he would get careless with his imprecise hacking. Saedra would take advantage of that and stab them in an unprotected spot.
During all of this, she was unaware of what was going on around her. She did not even know that the battle was over until the last Tarkaan she was fighting dropped his sword and lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender with a look of loathing. When that happened, she looked around and realized that the battle was over, the field littered with dead Calormenes and some Narnian bodies. The Narnian survivors far outnumbered the Calormene survivors.
Just then the gates opened, and King Lune came out and greeted Edmund. Saedra went over to Lune and curtsied, though it was a ridiculous curtsey indeed. Curtsies are meant to be feminine and genteel, but covered in blood-soaked armor and carrying a sword was hardly considered lady-like, so the whole sight was absurd.
"Duchess!" Lune exclaimed. "What in the name of—"
He never got to finish what he was saying, because a sound of laughter had been growing around them and was now too loud to ignore. Lune turned around and they saw what the laughter had been about: Rabadash was hanging from a post in the wall from his armor and was unable to get down. He looked incredibly silly, for his armor was hiked up to his mouth.
"Let me down, Edmund!" howled the Prince. "Let me down and fight me like a king and a man; or if you are too great a coward to do that, kill me at once!"
"Certainly," Edmund started eagerly, but Lune intervened and pointed out that there was no honor in killing Rabadash while he was in this state. He then ordered Rabadash taken away so that they could decide what to do with him later. Rabadash made a spectacle of himself as he was dragged out, even resorting to crying, and Saedra marveled how Susan could have ever found it in her heart to fancy the man.
"So now, my Lady," Lune said, turning back to Saedra with a happy look on his face. "Where is that son of mine?"
"Here I am, Father!" Corin said, running up while holding the other boy's hand.
Saedra was instantly embarrassed, because despite Edmund's orders, by the looks of him the boy had clearly been in battle.
I should have known better, she chided herself. She had hoped that Corin learned his lesson on obedience in Tashbaan, but that was evidently not the case.
"I see your Highness went to battle despite our warnings," she said disapprovingly.
"Aye, here thou art at last," Lune said gruffly, though there was a twinkle in his eye. "And hast been in battle, clean contrary to your obedience. A boy to break a father's heart! At thy age a rod to your breech were fitter than a sword in thy fist, ha!"
"Chide him no more, Sire, if you please," said Lord Darrin, a man ten years Saedra's senior whom she knew to be sensible and kind (at one point they had tried courting, but there had been no exceptional chemistry between them and now they were simply friends). "His Highness would not be your son if he did not inherit your conditions. It would grieve your Majesty more if he had to be reproved for the opposite fault."
"Well, well," grumbled the King, even though it was obvious he was still pleased. "We'll pass over it this time. And now..." The King went over and embraced the other boy, the one who was Corin's double.
For Saedra's memory had been correct, if not precise. There had been a battle in the past where the boy, Corin's twin (Cor was his name), was kidnapped. He ended up being raised in Tashbaan as little more than a slave and eventually ran away to the North.
Cor looked bewildered at all of the cheering that sprung up around him, and it wasn't until sometime later that he completely understood what all the fuss was about.
Lucy came up to Saedra with Talia in tow as the Narnians filed into the castle through the doors. "You survived, Saedra!"
Saedra laughed. "Don't sound so surprised! Ed made sure that I wouldn't see the worst of it."
"Still, I saw you down there among them. The fighting was brutal! How many did you kill?"
Saedra looked sheepish, proud of what she had done but too shy to brag. "Honestly, I lost count after seven, but it can't be much more than that."
"I would congratulate you with a hug, but I don't think I want to get blood all over me," Lucy laughed, and Talia tittered at her side. "Shall we go in and celebrate? There's bound to be a good feast tonight!"
"Yes, let's," Saedra said, then smiled down at Talia and took her other hand. The three of them went into the castle to much-deserved rest.
After taking long, warm baths and dressing themselves in clean clothes that the servants provided, Saedra, Lucy, and Talia went down to dinner that evening. And what dinner it was! All of the Archenlanders and Narnians were in high spirits after the utter defeat and humiliation of Prince Rabadash and were in the mood for a celebration. The party was held in the great hall, and it was a merry party.
Saedra spent most of her time talking with Lune, Edmund, Lucy, Darrin, and Peridan, and they had a good time catching each other up on what had been going on in the past few months. Edmund and Saedra told the others about their visit to Calormen, and the Archenlanders told Saedra all the latest gossip from the court that she had missed. She had not been this happy in a long time, and it felt wonderful to be in Archenland in a castle that felt like a second home to her.
Corin, meanwhile, was having the time of his life. Not only did he learn that he would not have to be king anymore since Cor was minutes older than him, but he had a new audience: Cor and Talia. Cor loved hearing about what it had been like growing up in Archenland, and Talia just sat there giggling at Corin's jokes and antics.
The party ended when the people were too fatigued to sit up, and Lucy, Saedra, and Talia went up to bed in the chambers provided for them.
The next day was even more interesting, for while Saedra and Talia were talking and enjoying the sunshine on the balcony in their room, Lucy came in with another girl.
The girl was perhaps thirteen years old and obviously Calormene, wearing the remnants of a finely-made Tarkaan's outfit. She was pretty and had long, curly black hair. She had the look of someone who had been brought up very well, because even though she looked timid in her new surroundings, she held her head high.
"Saedra, Talia," Lucy said pleasantly, "This is Aravis. She came up with Prince Cor and two Talking Horses all the way up from Tashbaan!"
Saedra smiled and went over to greet Aravis. "A pleasure to meet you! What has brought you up to Narnia?"
Aravis smiled back and rolled her eyes. "An arranged marriage has brought me up here. I don't know if you know anything about the Grand Vizier of Calormen, but I was his betrothed."
Understanding filled Saedra's face. "I do know him. So you are the one he was betrothed to! I thought your name sounded familiar...what a small world it is!"
"Then you know why I ran away," Aravis replied. "Any self-respecting female would never marry that groveling man."
Saedra chuckled. "Unless you have a deep respect for the poets."
Aravis appreciated the joke and grinned, and so did Talia behind Saedra.
"Aravis, let me introduce Talia to you," Saedra said, motioning for Talia to join them. "Talia has recently escaped from Tashbaan herself."
"Oh, really!" Aravis said to Talia. "You look young to be getting married, so what was your reason?"
"She worked in the palace," Saedra said gravely, knowing Aravis would know what that implied.
Over the next hour, the two women and two girls got acquainted after Aravis cleaned herself up. Aravis told them about her adventure coming north and Saedra told Aravis about her visit in Tashbaan. Talia had become a little more talkative under Saedra's watch and would occasionally contribute to the conversation. Time flew by until a servant came in and said, "Queen Lucy, Duchess Saedra, King Lune requests your presence downstairs. Lunch is being served."
The four of them went downstairs to a cold lunch on the veranda with a great view of the southern mountains. The men were already down there, but Lune had reserved a seat on each side of him for Saedra and Lucy, but Saedra said to Aravis, "How about you sit with the King while I sit with Talia on the other side?" and Aravis liked that idea very much.
The lunch was pleasant until the talk turned to Rabadash and what to do with him. The men bantered back and forth about what to do, and many options were thrown around. In the end, they decided that they would give the Prince a second chance and Lune called for him to be brought before them.
When Rabadash was brought out in chains, Saedra thought to herself, I don't think I've ever seen him look worse! He looked like he had spent the night in a dungeon instead of the comfortable accommodations that she knew had been provided for him. He was sulking and looked like he had been up pacing all night.
When Lune stated the conditions by which he would be set free, Rabadash snarled, "Curse you for a barbarian dog! Do you think I will even hear your conditions? Faugh! Take off these vile bonds, give me a sword, and let any of you who dares then debate with me!"
Just then he spotted Saedra with Talia behind her, watching her former captor with wide eyes. "Thief! Vagabond! That Northern bitch has stolen my slave girl!"
The men sprung to their feet in anger, and Corin hopped up and down, yelling, "Father! Can I box him? Please!"
Lune calmed the men and hollered at Corin to be seated before attempting to present Rabadash with the conditions again. Rabadash started yelling again, saying something about a bolt from Tash falling from above (to which Corin had a smart remark, "Does it ever get caught on a hook halfway?" and Talia giggled incessantly despite being scared of Rabadash).
He was rambling on when suddenly Saedra saw something behind him. She stood up along with the others to see what or who it was. When she could get a clear line of vision, she saw that it was a lion. The Lion: Aslan.
Saedra had never seen Aslan before, and she had half-believed him a fairy tale, but there was no doubt about his existence now as he walked between their table and Rabadash.
"Rabadash," said he, "take heed. Your doom is very near, but you may be able to avoid it."
The Prince was not listening, however. Instead, he was making ridiculous faces that may have scared young slaves like Talia back in Tashbaan, but were utterly laughable in another country. When no one responded to his faces, he shrieked, "Demon! Demon! Demon! I know you! Learn who I am, horrible phantasm. I am descended from Tash, the Inexorable, the Irresistible-"
"Have a care, Rabadash," Aslan said softly. "The doom is nearer: it is at the door; it has opened the latch." Rabadash continued screaming, and Aslan continued, "The hour has struck!"
At that moment, Rabadash's ears began to lengthen. And not only did his ears grow, but his face lengthened and turned into that of a donkey. The rest of his body followed, until there was nothing to indicate that he had ever been anything other than a donkey. Rabadash's cries turned into brays, and the laughter from the tables was uncontrollable.
The observers suppressed themselves only to hear Aslan say, "Now hear me, Rabadash. Justice shall be mixed with mercy. You will not always be an Ass."
At that, Rabadash twitched his ears and the onlookers burst into laughter once more. And no one laughed harder than little Talia.