CHAPTER THREE| swords, a wand & a ring
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'Two can play the game.'
The young Pevensie king observed his surroundings. Rich greens of grass, trees and bushes grew on every part of the land. The grass was up to his waist as he walked, obviously, it hasn't been trimmed at any sort.
There was barely any path to follow, but Edmund found his way through.
Silver gleamed from his shoulders, as he was dressed in battle gear, carrying a scroll of parchment, looking as striking as ever. Beside him was a man, taller than Edmund with the body of a horse. His hooves shuffled through the grass as he walked. He looked brave and ruthless, which could shut anyone up, as all Narnians knew no one ever laughed at a centaur. A colossal, enormous figure strode alongside the centaur. The giant was about ten times taller than Edmund, adding a strong, powerful, impressive look to the trio.
The Telmarines, all dressed up in armor as well, stared in awe at the new comers. Not all of them stared, most had the sense to mind their own business, but the others dropped everything and watched the Narnians arrive, in curiosity.
Tents were set up everywhere at a good distance from each other, fabricated by patterns in a variety of colors. It was like a circus, where tents sat everywhere on a large field. In the center, a huge pavilion stood, with a large group gathered inside. He recognized Miraz's face among the group, sitting in the middle, like a king.
"You two," Edmund directed," stay here, alright?" He motioned Glenstorm, the centaur and the giant, Wimbleweather to sit outside of the pavilion.
"Aye," Wimbleweather agreed, "I mean…certainly sire."
"Yes, your majesty," answered Glenstorm.
Edmund nodded, walking towards the pavilion. He realized that the Telmarines were expecting him, so he walked in carrying the scroll.
The men stared at Edmund, who stood in the center, right in front of Miraz. King Miraz wore a prying look on his face, watching Edmund intently.
"What are you here for," demanded the Telmarine king.
"I'm here to send a challenge," Edmund replied.
"Ah, let us hear what you have to say."
The Pevensie boy uncoiled the document, reading it word by word to King Miraz.
After he finished the introduction, he began, "-for to prevent the effusion of blood, and for the avoiding all other inconveniences likely to grow from the wars now levied in our realm of Narnia, your Lordship twice guilty of treachery both in withholding the dominion of Narnia from the said Caspian and in the most abhominable, bloody, and unnatural murder of your kindly lord and brother King Caspian Ninth of that name. Wherefore we most heartily provoke, challenge, and defy your Lordship to the said combat and monomachy, to whom we have given full power of determining with your Lordship all the conditions of the said battle. Given at our lodging in Aslan's How this XII day of the month Greenroof in the first year of Caspian Tenth of Narnia. The fight shall be til' the death, the reward will be total surrender."
Edmund began scrolling up the parchment as he finished. A rustling noise sounded from the bushes which shifted Edmund's attention away from Miraz. Luckily, Miraz hasn't noticed but just huskily said, "Tell me Prince Edmund—"
"King Edmund," the young Pevensie corrected his attention still in the bushes. Something shook from the bushes, and a small furry creature, with a coat of gray skin, beady black eyes and elfish doglike ears shook its way out, and locked eyes with Edmund for a moment.
"Pardon me?"
Edmund tore his gaze away from the pup, giving Miraz his full attention once again. "It's King Edmund, actually. Just king though. Peter's the high king," the words flew out like poison from his mouth. "I know it's confusing," he added.
The Telmarines exchanged puzzled glances, as the whole room was plagued in an awkward silence. "Why," Miraz hesitated, picking out the right words, "would we risk such a proposal when our armies would wipe you out like nothing."
Edmund turned his head to look for the pup again, as he spoke, "Haven't you already underestimated our numbers?" Finally he spotted the wolf, laying near the bushes waiting for him. "I mean—only a week ago, Narnians were extinct."
Miraz sat processing every word Edmund spoke, "And so we be at it again."
"Well, then you should have little to fear," the Pevensie king pestered.
Laughter erupted into the room by Miraz, "This is not a personal bravery."
"So, you're bravely refusing to fight a swordsman half your age?"
The Telmarine king's amused expression changed to a serious one, "I didn't say that."
Suddenly, the men beside Miraz began to persuade him to refuse, but they all knew well that Miraz wouldn't. Edmund stood, watching the men discuss their decisions, when finally Miraz pointed his sword at Edmund. "You. You should hope your brother's sword is sharper than his pen."
A smirk played at the ends of Edmund's mouth, as he flung out.
"Glenstorm! Wimbleweather!" Exclaimed the Pevensie king. The giant and the centaur rose to their feet upon hearing their names by the unforgettable voice of their majesty.
"Yes, King Edmund?" The centaur spoke first.
"You and Wimbleweather go back to Aslan's How and tell them the Telmarines have accepted."
"What about you?" Wimbleweather inquired.
"Me? Oh, I have something to deal with." The king retorted, "Now go! Don't leave the Narnians waiting."
"Of course," Wimbleweather obeyed, walking along the centaur carrying the parchment.
Edmund scurried towards the bushes, where the young wolf lay. It was still there, sleeping but then woken up by Edmund's presence.
"Follow me!" It yipped, excitedly. Edmund followed, asking questions along the way.
"You're the White Witch's…er friend, right?" He could recognize any crew of the Witch's since her loyalty were mostly to wolves, and dwarfs or their loyalty was to her.
"Yep!" the pup barked happily, "Well, she's not exactly a friend but more of a mother."
The Pevensie boy choked on his own spit, "What?"
"You're my friend! Aren't you?"
"Of course. So where are you taking me?" Though there was no need for a reply, as the place was right in front of them. The remains of Cair Paravel.
"Why are we here?" Edmund interrogated.
"New visitor," the wolf chirped.
"What?" Edmund's question never got answered as they walked into the main hall.
"Alue! Alue! Alu-ee. Al-uue! Alue. Alue. Alu-eee, "the little wolf sang repeatedly, which made Edmund realize that Alue was the pup's name.
"Is the White Witch here?" Edmund interrupted the song.
"Nope!" Alue bounced.
When they reached the fifth room, the pup stopped, and Edmund stopped as well. "Is our guest in here," Edmund queried, staring at the bedroom.
"Yup," Alue woofed, jumping energetically.
"Shh, someone is sleeping in here," he murmured, as he stepped into the room.
"Aw," Alue sadly settled down, crestfallen plastered on its face.
Hermione was awoken by the sound of barking, recoiled back away from the noise, hitting her head against the wall. A metal cup fell onto the floor, creating a puddle of water—no—tea.
How unintelligent, she thought to herself about slamming her head against the wall. She failed to realize someone else was in the room with her that caused the cup to fall.
It was then, the clanging noise of someone scrambling that she realized someone was in the room. "Who's there," she demanded, in a strong voice. "Reveal yourself."
"No need to," it was a boy's voice, with a British accent equivalent to hers. "I'm right here, not hiding, not invisible—unless you're blind."
Hermione placed her hands beside her on the bed, pushing herself up to see the person who spoke. It was indeed a boy, about her age with pale milky olive skin, dark hair that looked almost black and dark shadowy eyes which stared back at her, studying her like she was studying him. He was dressed up in armor which suited him very well, holding a metal mug in his hands.
"What's your name?" The boy asked, staring at the girl with wavy brown hair, and soft caramel colored orbs. He took a sip from his cup.
"Poppy Chamberlain," answered Hermione, "Now answer my question. Who are you and where am I?"
He ignored her question, and spat, "What a shame. I reckon you know it's bad to lie, Miss Granger."
"Who are you? And where am I," she demanded, once again.
"You're in Narnia, of course. Where else? By any chance, would you like to tell me how you got here?"
"I don't have to answer you," Hermione retorted fiercely.
"You're right, you don't have to," the boy agreed, drawing out a stick. Hermione stared, and then searched for her wand making sure it wasn't hers he got, but unfortunately the stick in his hands was hers.
"I guess this belongs to you, Granger but I'll only give it to you if you answer my questions."
She didn't say anything and just watched him ask her.
"What is this?" He asked, gesturing toward the stick.
"I'll only answer if you tell me who you are, first."
"Fair enough," the boy stated, "I'm Edmund Pevensie, and unlike you I'm not a liar."
She rolled her eyes, and simply answered, "That stick you're holding is a wand."
"A wand?" Edmund stared at it in curiosity, "so what are you then that have to carry a wand."
Hermione shrugged, "Why don't you guess?"
Edmund shoved it aside, "How about this..? Is this yours as well?" He showed her a ring; a bright, gleaming yellow ring, which was pretty but wasn't hers.
"No, that doesn't belong to me."
"Alright Miss Granger, how did you get here..? Would you mind telling me?"
"It started off with me taking a trip to Hagrid's—"
"Who?" Edmund interrupted, then he realized how rude that was, "I'm sorry."
Hermione ignored him and continued, "Though, Hagrid was busy...So I turned to leave but came across these paw prints. I followed them. Normally I wouldn't do something like this, but I was curious and wanted to hide away from my friends so I wouldn't have to help them with their homework, you know? Well, when I followed the tracks, it lead me to the Forbidden Forest, and I guess I came in too deep in the forest, then suddenly these wolves appeared and started talking to me, which was strange because wolves can't talk, and then I suppose I fainted."
"Forbidden Forest? Hagrid..?" Edmund hesitated, and then said, "May I ask what did the wolves say to you?"
"They told me, 'the White Witch will deal with me soon for trespassing' and that I was in Narnia's forest, the White Witch's forest," she trembled in fear, reliving the moment.
Edmund rushed beside her, wrapping his arms around her, to help her. He didn't want the girl to cry, but everything she said was just as he suspected it would be, though he didn't really understand how she got into Narnia.
"Edmund," Hermione choked out. Edmund released his grasp from her, and looked at her, "Yes?"
"Do you happen to know a place, called London? It's in this country named England," the girl clarified.
A small chuckle emitted from Edmund's lips, "Of course, I know where London is, and what England is."
Hermione suppressed a smile, the first smile she gave since she got here, "Well, I best be going. My friends might miss me, and believe that I was kidnapped."
"Technically, you were kidnapped," said the young Pevensie boy.
"Not in a dangerous way though, I mean I'm alright now...Oh, I'll need my belongings back, by the way."
"Right," Edmund said searching for her stuff. "Here. There's your wand, and wallet," he added, handing it to Hermione.
"Thanks," she smiled, and then out of distrust, Granger girl pointed her wand at the Pevensie boy. Edmund, feeling a contradictory rising, turned to face her, jabbing his sword at her threateningly, the sharp blade only a few inches away from her face. Both weapons advanced against each other's throats. Hermione flicked her wand steadily and carefully, and apparated out of Narnia, leaving Edmund alone with his sword pointing at the air where Hermione once stood.
The strange brunette reminded him of Susan, both of them very much alike, pretty, intelligent and logical.
Alue rushed back into the room, and barked enthusiastically, "The White Witch is coming!"
Shock punched Edmund in the face, dropping his sword, as he sighed worriedly, his stomach churning uneasily, plopping himself onto the warm comfy bed. He heard the Witch's footsteps grow near, and Edmund knew then, that he had to get away and return to Aslan's How.
Author's Note:
Excited? Alue seems really cute to me. asdkfjksdfj. But the little wolf isn't the only thing that's cute; Edmund and Hermione are quite adorable as well! & The white witch coming…? Oh crap! Haha, hope you enjoyed it! Super long and super sweet I suppose, so reviews would greatly be appreciated! Confused about anything? Review and ask and I'll answer.
I dunno what to call this chapter, so I guess the one I put would be fine...