Authors Note
I do not own any of the characters created by C. S. Lewis or those in the movie. Any others you see are my own creations, however.
A BIG thank you to elecktrum for the great reviews. They really help inspire me to keep the story coming.
On that topic, please, those of you who read this story let me know what you think. It's discouraging to see more hits everyday but with no reviews. I really want to know what you think, whether you love it, hate it, or anything else you wish to say.
Love is a Battleground
Chapter Two
Minutes later four soldiers arrived to give their assistance and with Lareyna's help carefully moved the General's body onto a large litter. After giving them instructions on where to take him, Lareyna raced ahead, reaching the army's camp in record time. By now most of those seriously injured had been brought back and had been or were being taken care of by the other healers inside numerous tents set up for that purpose. It was towards one of these tents that she now headed, sweeping aside the opening to step inside. Giving a quick glance around the small area, her eyes flickered with relief at the sight of a lone female faun who sat busily sorting through a pile of herbs.
"Oh Nyra, thank goodness, I was afraid you would not have made it back yet," Lareyna exclaimed, with relief in her voice. The faun looked up at being addressed, a smile coming to her lips at the sight of her friend, but quickly fading as she saw the strained look upon the female centaur's face.
"General Oreius has been badly wounded and I am in need of your assistance and knowledge of herbs if he is to live," Lareyna quickly explained and Nyra, after hearing the urgency in her fellow healer's softly spoken words, began gathering all she would need.
"Does King Peter know of the General's condition?" Nyra questioned, her green eyes giving a quick glance towards Lareyna, who had begun gathering other supplies they would need. Both Peter and Edmund had remained at the sight of battle to help with the wounded, while Susan and Lucy had come back to help out at the camp.
A look almost of shame passed over Lareyna's face as she shook her head slowly. "I'm afraid I did not even think to have someone inform him about General Oreius." All knew how close the High King was to his General, trusting him with any problem that might arise. She had been so intent on getting back to the camp any other thought had been put from her mind.
"He is probably worried about his absence on the battlefield by now," she murmured quietly. Oreius was never far from his King, ready to protect any of the royal family at the slightest sign of danger.
Seeing her friend's countenance fall even more, Nyra quickly reached over to touch her arm reassuringly. "I am sure King Peter will understand that getting help was the most important thing. We can send someone to inform him of the General as soon as they bring him back to the camp."
Giving a grateful glance towards the faun, both Lareyna and Nyra quickly finished gathering the needed items and headed for a somewhat larger tent, this one furnished with beds for those more seriously injured. At the time being it was empty, the rest of the healer's tents being sufficient for all the others who had been wounded.
Only moments after getting everything ready, the tent flaps were pulled aside as those bearing Oreius's body entered the enclosure. After pointing them towards one of the larger beds, Lareyna and Nyra helped the soldiers ease the General's body carefully onto it's surface. Thanking the men as they left, Lareyna requested for King Peter to be told of Oreius as soon as possible, her heart warmed by the worry each soldier had on his face for their General.
Standing by Oreius's bedside, Nyra's head shook slowly back and forth, her reaction much the same as Lareyna's had first been upon seeing the gravity of the wound. "It is amazing that he still lives," the faun remarked quietly, glancing towards Lareyna who had come to stand beside her.
"That was my thought as well when I found him," Lareyna agreed soberly, her features now holding the look of calm assurance she carried when tending the injured. Putting her feelings for him momentarily to the back of her mind, she concentrated solely upon treating him for she knew it would take all her skill and Nyra's to save him.
As the faun began mixing together different combinations of herbs, Lareyna began removing his armor, starting with his helmet and finishing with the two chestplates, being extremely careful not to cause further damage to the wound. Slicing the blood stained tunic from his torso, Lareyna glimpsed for the first time, exactly where the spear had entered his body. Posistioned at somewhat of an angle, it had gone in directly above where man became beast, the spear shaft itself not jutting out overly far, the splintered end reaching less than a foot in length.
Though it might not seem difficult, removing a spear was actually much harder than a regular blade, the pointed tips often holding curved projections that stuck out to cause maximum damage when pulled back out by the one wielding it. Unable to know whether this spear had been formed in that way or not, Lareyna would have to take tremendous care and work with meticulous precision while removing the weapon.
Giving a glance and a nod towards Nyra, Lareyna steadied herself before grasping the shaft tightly as she began pulling ever so slowly, warm blood covering her fingers as more of the shaft became exposed. Sweat beading her forehead, she continued in the same rhythm of pulling slowly and pausing, pulling slowly and pausing, until, after what seemed like ages, the sharp edged blade slid cleanly out.
Now opened, blood began to flow freely from the wound and Lareyna quickly pressed a thick cloth overtop, pushing firmly to stay the rate at which it came pouring out. As soon as it had slowed sufficiently enough to bind the wound, Nyra stepped in, her extensive knowledge of herb-lore crucial to his recovery. Retrieving a bowl of water, she crushed two different herbs into the liquid before dipping a clean cloth in the mixture and then placing it over the wound. That particular blend of herbs would aide in fighting against infection and therefore speed his recovery. Wrapping a bandage around his middle to hold the cloth in place, Lareyna finished by tying a small knot at his side before stepping back, relief and trepidation showing equally in her eyes.
They had done all they could. Whether he lived or died would not be decided by them, but by the one who had control over all life and death, the great lion, Aslan.
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Author's Note
Here it is folks, chapter two. Sorry for it's shortness. Please let me know what you think of the story so far and if there's anything I can do to make it better. Reviews are love.