Chapter 9 Memories

Trumpkin was shocked that King Peter would let Lucy do this. It was crazy! To let a little girl go into the forest just find a Lion that they weren't sure would come out.

"That's the best you got, letting a little girl go into the deepest part of the forest to find a lion that we don't even know where he is or if he would come."

"She's not going alone," Susan spoke up and caused them all to look at her.

"Are you sure about this Susan?" Peter asked.

"Yes. You three need to be here for the battle. Lucy needs someone to protect her if necessary. I'll be fine and this way I know for sure that Lucy is safe."

"Okay. Prepare your archers to fight without you."

"Actually Trumpkin is going to take my lead and lead the archers in battle."

"I'll be honored to lead the archers your Majesty. Just be carefully out there." Trumpkin still had a worried look on his face.

"We'll be careful my DLF. Don't you worry." Lucy tried to comfort him with a hand on his shoulder.

"Well now we have to focus on what to do with Miraz and his army." Peter turned the attention back to the Telmarine army outside.

"If I may?" Caspian asked because he had an idea that may stall the army.

"Go ahead."

"Miraz may be a tyrant but he may have to uphold the traditions of his ancestors. An old tradition is a dual between Kings. A duel can spare us some time and we can make some stipulations to the challenge. We can make the reward for the winner that the enemy army makes a full and total surrender."

"That may work and Miraz may agree to that challenge if we offer him that. What will we fight to?" Peter asked.

"Well actually that's the tricky thing. It's usually till the death. However if we did win and Miraz dies then more than likely the army will still attack. The Lords supporting Miraz will want to take the throne away from me too. I know how Miraz fights and if I lose you can lead the army or fight Miraz next."

"No Caspian you said so yourself; a King must fight another King. I am the High King and should be the one to challenge Miraz. We need you to be safe because you are the future King and you need to be the one to take the throne from Miraz. You need to stay alive and unharmed." Peter argued.

"But I know Miraz and I know how he fights. He wants me anyways."

"Peter's right Caspian. Peter needs to fight Miraz. You need to lead the army if anything is to happen. You need to take the throne no matter what." Susan said and put her hand on his shoulder.

"But what if something happens to you, Peter? You are needed here with your family. I would never forgive myself if something happens to you."

"Nothing's going to happen because I am determined to win. Besides if anything did happen I know that you will look after them. But don't worry I'm going to win because I have something that Miraz doesn't, a loving family and the love of my people. Miraz only has the fear of his people and those that he thinks are loyal to him would turn on him as soon as they see that he's not going to win."

"I guess I can't talk you out of this. I only hope that you come out okay."

"Just give me a few tips on how to fight Miraz and I should be fine. Now we need to get Lucy and Susan ready to go. Edmund will take the challenge to Miraz and this war will start tomorrow. Lucy and Susan will leave at first light."

"They can take my horse, Destrier. He's the fastest and the strongest to hold two people at a time."

After that was all settled Edmund went to Miraz with the challenge which was accepted. They all sat down and planned out the strategy if Peter won and the Telmarines didn't hold to the agreement. Caspian would lead the part of the army that will take out the underground passages which would cause a hole when the Telmarines are charging and the first group of Telmarines would fall in the whole and Caspian would charge in from the back while the archers would rain down the first attack. Peter and Edmund would charge from the front and try to hold off the army as best as possible until Lucy could find Aslan and come to save them. Caspian sat down with Peter and gave him some tips on how to fight Miraz. Miraz was a trickster and would use anything to distract Peter. Caspian said that Miraz would even taunt Peter about Susan if it would get Peter to attack out of anger and not think properly. Peter understood exactly what Miraz would do and he spent the night clearing his head and getting past all the bad that Miraz done and concentrates on beating him for Narnia's sake and accepts the fact that this isn't supposed to be to avenge Susan and his family but to save Narnia. After he accepted that he relaxed a little and was able to get some sleep.

Susan on the other hand had a hard time getting any sleep. She left the place that her sleeping arrangements were and ventured out to the main area. She sat on the stone table and gazed at the carving of Aslan. She kept replaying her dream with Aslan in her mind trying to come to terms with what Miraz did to her. She was still scared of what may happen if she had to face Miraz again. She wanted Peter to kill him but she also knew that killing Miraz would not help or make what happened in the past go away. However she was still angry and wanted some kind of revenge. Still she had faith in Aslan and knew that he would be disappointed in her if she wanted someone dead out of anger. She was named the gentle Queen for a reason. She was supposed to be one of reason and sympathize for those that are bad and hope that they get a justly punishment in the court of law not out of anger or revenge. Susan was conflicted with what is right and what she wanted. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Caspian come up behind her.

"Can't sleep?" Caspian said startling Susan.

"Oh my… Caspian you scared me," Susan turned around.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

"That's okay. I was lost in my thoughts and didn't hear you."

"What are you thinking about?"

"The battle, Miraz, everything. I'm scared of what's going to happen tomorrow. I'm also scarred of my thoughts against Miraz. I have such anger towards him for what he did to me but I know that Aslan would not want me to act out in anger. I'm the Gentle Queen and should be reasonable and generous even to those who were not kind to me. Yet I still want Peter to kill Miraz tomorrow."

"You know it is okay to feel that way about him. I feel the same way. He killed my father and tried to kill me. Then he hurts you. Not only are you a Queen but the woman I love and he's trying to destroy us all. I want him to die too but then I think about what my father would do and I realize that my father would not want me to stoop to Miraz's level. My father would make Miraz face the courts and get a just punishment. I know it's hard to have these conflicting emotions but we have to hold our heads higher than Miraz's and hopefully Aslan will come and he will punish Miraz for all his evil doings."

"I guess you are right Caspian but if Miraz dies tomorrow I know deep in my heart that I would feel no remorse for him."

"Me too. A part of me would like for Miraz to die and I won't feel remorse. He's a cold-hearted murderer with absolutely no pride."

"So it's okay to feel anger towards him? I mean he did some unspeakable things to me. I can't stop having nightmares about him and what he did to me."

"Yeah it's okay to be angry but to hold in that anger would only let Miraz win. He plays with the emotions of his enemies. He wants them to break and not think with their heads and only with their hearts which can make his enemies make a mistake which would give him the chance to win. The good thing is we know his strategy and we can overcome it and beat him at his own game. We know to stay reasonable and not let our emotions take over in battle. They can give us enough inspiration to fight harder but if we stick to our plan then we might actually have a chance."

"Yes that is true but you are forgetting one thing that we have that Miraz and his army does not that will help us beat them."

"What's that my gentle Queen?"

"Faith in Aslan. We have faith and if we have that then no matter what we will win. Even when it seems like we will lose and there is no hope then we'll have faith and he will come and save us. He is always there when we need him the most."

"You still have so much faith in him after everything that has happened, why?"

"Because I know he wouldn't let anything happen that wasn't meant to be. It was a lesson I needed learn and surprisingly enough it was also a lesson for my brothers and you, Caspian. Aslan told me in my dream that we will need him more later and he could only save us once. I accepted the fact that what I went through was for a reason. I would rather Aslan save my whole family now from this army then to save me from Miraz because I knew that you guys would save me anyways. My faith in Aslan is what keeps me strong for my family."

"I admire your faith and hope that one day I will have that kind of faith and love."

"You will in time. It's hard to have faith in Aslan until you see him. He has a powerful presence. When you see him you will have unquestionable faith."

"I hope so."

"We should really get some rest. We have a battle to fight tomorrow."

"Do you want me to escort you back to your quarters?"

"No actually I was wondering if you would stay here. I feel safe with you and you would probably chase the nightmares away. Could you please just stay here and sleep next to me?"

"Are you sure about that? I don't want your brothers to catch us and get angry."

"It'll be okay. I'm always awake before them anyways. We'll both be us and ready before they roll out of their cots."

"Okay let me go get a blanket though." Caspian went back to his quarters and got his blanket for them to lie on. He came back and laid it on the ground and they both laid down. Caspian felt a bit awkward but Susan calmed him down by cuddling next to him making him put his arm around her and keeping her close. She laid her head on his chest and sighed in content at the sound of his heartbeat. She felt comfortable and safe in his arms. They both fell asleep with little worry even knowing that the next day they will all be fighting for their lives and country.