*Chapter 3-Meant to Save Us*

Hi everybody! (hi doctor nick! xD) Yayyyyyy it's chapter 3! Not one, not two, but the number that comes next! Huzzah!!! xD

I'm so excited about this story, and so far I've gotten really good feedback. :D Just remember, if you want to make me a happy camper, REVIEW!

I've decided to start giving out prizes for people who review, so last chapters fabulous prize goes to..PRINCESS LUCY FOR HER REVIEW!!! *applause* Congratulations, and your fabulous prize is.. AN AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO OF MR TUMNUS WITH HIS SCARF OFF!! ;P heehee.

Anyways, if you want an autographed pic of Mr Tumnus, all you have to do it be nice and review! :D

I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia, but any of the strangers and plot twists running around you don't recognize are mine.

NOW ENJOY OR DIE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"What was going through your head?!"

Penelope shrank back from Nikabrik's angry shout. The Black Dwarf stood, slamming his fist down on the table, making her shrink further into the wall and wish she could turn into a bug and crawl away, unnoticed. Trufflehunter gave a weary sigh as some of the soup he had prepared for the human who wasn't Penelope spilt from his bowl and dabbed it up with his hanky.

"Do you mind?" he hissed. "He's sleeping."

Nikabrik snorted in disgust. "Look at yourself. You're treatin' it like it's a baby.." he grumbled. "Disserves to be killed, ran through with a sword right through it's black heart.."

"Nikabrik, he's just a boy!" Trufflehunter snapped, and Penelope could tell his patience was wearing thin.

"He's a Telmarine! Not some lost puppy! You said you'd get rid of him!" Nikabrik just couldn't let it rest. Penelope let out an exasperated sigh, bringing her hand through her long golden hair, then taking a seat on the floor. He clearly wasn't going to let this drop any time soon, meaning she might as well get comfortable.

"No, I said I'd 'take care' of him." Trufflehunter clarified as if he was talking to a young child. He half turned away from the two, stroking the ivory horn that sat on the table. "Trumpkin knew what he was doing.. it's not the boys fault.."

Just then, the guest of honor sprang forward from the doorway leading to the room Trufflehunter had put him in, lunging for the front door of the house. In a flash, Nikabrik was on his feet, sword in hand, in a defensive position between the boy and the door. The Telmarine was quick to act and grabbed a fire poker from the fireplace. Penelope stood and moved for her own sword, but Trufflehunter placed a paw on her leg, and when she looked down at him his expression was disapproving. Both their heads snapped forward as the heard sword clashing violently with poker.

"Nikabrik!" Trufflehunter shouted angrily, and Penelope glanced down to see the badger trembling in anger.

"I told you we should've killed him while we had the chance!" Nikabrik hissed, lunging at his opponent. The Telmarine's frantic gaze swept the badger.

"You know why we can't do that!" Trufflehunter said sharply back. Nikabrik shot him an angry look over his shoulder, clearly ticked at him for taking the Telmarine's side.

"If we're taking a vote, I'm with him," the Telmarine spoke for the first time, his voice heavily accented. As he spoke he nodded over to Trufflehunter, and momentarily locked eyes with Penelope. He did a double take, causing her to blush violently. She had no experience with other humans, much less men, and was discovering she was quite shy.

"We can't just let him go! He's seen us!" Nikabrik hissed, taking another stab at the Telmarine, who blocked the blow.

"Nikabrik, behave yourself! Or do I have to sit on your head again?" Trufflehunter snapped. Penelope giggled as the dwarf winced at the threat. "And YOU," the badger continued, turning to the Telmarine. "Look what you made me do!" he was stooped down, sopping up the spilt soup with his hanky. "I spent all morning on that soup.." he grumbled, waddling into the kitchen. Penelope looked to see the Telmarine gazing between the three of them with a bewildered expression.

"W-What are you?" he asked.

"You know, it'd funny. I'd think more people would know a badger when they saw one." came Trufflehunter's answer from the kitchen.

"No, I mean.. You're Narnians.. Aren't you supposed to be extinct?"

"Sorry to disappoint you," Nikabrik sneered, making his way back over to his seat at the table just as Trufflehunter reappeared and placed a new bowl of soup down, offering it to Caspian.

"There you go," he said gently. "Still hot." The Telmarine looked dazed from the quick turns the conversation had taken; from him being attacked to him being criticized to him being cared for. He was surprised he didn't have whiplash.

"Since when did we open a boarding house for Telmarine soldiers?" Nikabrik asked sharply.

"I am not a soldier," the man said, drawing himself to his full height. "I am Prince Caspian. The tenth."

Nikabrik, Penelope, and Trufflehunter all heard their gasps without realizing they were making them. "What're you doing here?" Nikabrik asked, his tone quite changed from when he had last spoken.

Caspian lowered his gaze. "Running away." he paused, then continued as he walked over the fireplace and put the poker back from where he'd got it. "My uncle has always wanted my throne. I suppose I have only lived this long because he did not have an heir of his own." he said, looking sadly into the fireplace.

"Oh, that changes things.." Penelope, who was yet to have spoken, murmured sympathetically. Caspian looked up at her, his eyes shining with the first stirrings of hope.

"Yeah," Nikabrik cut in. "It means we don't have to kill you ourselves."

"You're right," the prince said. He looked around until he found his things, which were hung on a coat rack by the door, and walked over to them and began to quickly put them on.

"Where are you going?" Trufflehunter sounded anxious.

"My uncle won't stop until I'm dead." Caspian replied.

"But.. you CANT leave! You're meant to save us!" the badger cried. The Princes head snapped around to see the three Narnians looking at him apprehensively. "Don't you know what this is?" continued Trufflehunter, holding up the horn.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There's the third chappie! :D Please review! Helpful criticism is welcome! Just don't be rude please!