Longest chapter yet. Maybe after reading this you'll understand why I had to split it into two parts. Maybe.

One Fine Day

Chapter 9

Prison Break: Part Two

Lucy and I quickly caught up with the others in the hall. I pushed my way to the front so that I was walking next to Aaralynn. She smiled in my direction, and for a moment I caught a glimpse of the girl I married. But then, a lone guard rounded the corner, and Aaralynn stopped suddenly. The guard stared for a moment in shock; I'm sure he wasn't expecting to see a cell of prisoners on the loose. When his shock faded, he withdrew his long sword and swung it in a circle around him. It was clear to see that the corridor was too narrow to attempt a run around while he was armed, but there was no way I was going to stand and wait for him to throw Aaralynn back in a cell.

It's true, I had no weapon on me, but I stepped forward all the same.

"Wait!" Aaralynn reached out and touched her hand to my arm. "Lucy, do you still have that dagger I gave you?"

"Yes, here it is." I presume Lucy handed the dagger over; I was too busy keeping an eye on the guard to see.

"It's you itn' it? You're her?" the guard drawled in a strange accent.

"So you've heard of me then?" Aaralynn asked. Was that cockiness I heard in her voice? First a smirk, then a laugh at danger, and now cockiness? Was this really Aaralynn?

"What are you doing, Aaralynn?" I whispered under my breath.

"Relax, Edmund," she replied in a whisper of her own.

"How'd you get in here?" the guard continued.

"It was really quite easy. You might be surprised," Aaralynn replied, taking a step forward.

"There's a reward ou' for yer."

"So I've read." Aaralynn took another small step forward.

"The Gov'nor wants you alive, but he'll still pay nicely if yer dead."

"Hmm, well I am afraid I have some rather unfortunate news for you, my friend."

"Yeah? An' what will that be?"

"You won't be collecting any reward tonight."

Suddenly Aaralynn broke into a run heading straight for the armed guard. I called out to her but she didn't stop. I tried to follow, but Lucy's hands quickly replaced Aaralynn's. The guard prepared his sword to strike. Then, at the last possible moment, Aaralynn dropped to her knees and threw her weight back; she slid between the guard's legs just as his sword swiped at the air her body had vacated. Aaralynn then swung her own arms across and over her head slicing at the tender flesh just behind the guard's knees. He howled in pain as he dropped to the ground. On the follow through of her swing, Aaralynn released one of her daggers cutting the rope of a sandbag hanging from the rafters. She leapt to her feet, caught the sandbag as it fell, and used her momentum to swing the sandbag around knocking the guard in the head. While the guard lay unconscious, Aaralynn pried his sword from his hands.

"Edmund!" she called before tossing the sword my way. I quickly blinked out of my stupor and caught the sword before it clattered to the ground. "The armory is this way," she said before turning down the corridor.

We hurried after her. I caught up with her easily, but I was at a loss of how to describe what I was thinking. Lucy, on the other hand, seemed to have no trouble at all.

"That was amazing, Aaralynn," she praised.

Aaralynn shrugged one shoulder. "It wasn't that great. I've seen Edmund do much better." I would have found it endearing to hear she still admired my fighting, if I weren't so surprised by hers.

"Don't discredit yourself, Your Majesty. That was a great show of nimbleness," Reepicheep praised as he darted between our legs.

"Thanks, Reep." Here Aaralynn's appreciation was genuine, and that's when I recalled Lucy mentioning that Reepicheep had been one of her instructors at the Cair. "And might I say, I am glad to see you untethered. I offered to help you know."

"And whoever heard of a mouse who couldn't chew through a bit of rope?" Reepicheep quipped, and Aaralynn laughed.

Aaralynn slowed her pace as we neared a corner, and we followed suit. While we held back, she walked along the wall and squatted near the corner. She breathed lightly on one of her daggers and wiped it off on her pants to clean it. Then, slowly, she maneuvered the blade beyond the wall. She was trying to use the light and catch a reflection off the blade to determine the number of guards. I couldn't help but feel a rush of pride come over me at seeing her use her wits; I also found it bit alluring.

Aaralynn slowly stood and made her way back to where we were standing.

"There are two guards just outside the armory. Edmund and I can easily take care of them. We'll keep watch while you gather your weapons. Then we must quickly make our way to the Governor's' mansion."

"Aaralynn, I really don't think…" I stopped short in my protest of her fighting when she suddenly glared at me. I could tell there would be no talking her out of it. I sighed. "Fine, we'll do it your way, just know that I don't like this."

"Duly noted, now, are you ready to fight? I'll take the far one."

Once again, Aaralynn did not offer me a chance to respond before she rounded the corner. I was a step behind her. We made it a few feet down the hall before the two guards even noticed us. There was no taunting this time. The guards merely drew their swords and blocked the hall as they waited for us to come to them. In the back of my mind I thought it odd that once more a guard was confronted with an escaped prisoner and he didn't bother to sound an alarm.

I tried to keep my eye on Aaralynn as I fought. Though I was unable to see much, I saw her swiftness and agility on display once more. She used her smaller stature to her advantage and ducked under the arm of the first guard to gain access to the second. The first guard moved to attack her from behind before I caught his attention and drew him away.

Between strikes and swings I glanced back at Aaralynn. She was keeping her own well, and I must admit I was impressed by some her moves. Eventually Aaralynn managed to get close enough to grab hold of the guard's sword arm. I had to attend to my own fight, so I didn't witness how she did it, but she freed the guard of his sword and used it against him to knock him out. I incapacitated my own guard a second later. When I turned my attention back to Aaralynn, it was to find her watching me and the look in her eyes was one I knew well.

Some things never change, I thought. And some things do.

Aaralynn shook her head slightly as though to rid her mind of distracting thoughts and moved towards the armory door. She began fiddling with the handle, but of course it was locked. Just as I was wondering if she had also become a skilled lock-pick, I looked down at the guard by my feet.

"You know, I heard a key sometimes helps," I said.

Aaralynn looked at me with a strange grin before I lifted the keys from the guard's belt. She gave a half laugh and stepped back.

"Be my guest," she said, ushering me towards the door. The others joined us just as I swung it open.

"Ladies first," I motioned for her to lead the way.

"Oh, mine's not in there," she replied. "This one will do for now." She gave the sword she had lifted from her guard a spin to prove her point.

I found myself again questioning the identity of my supposed wife that stood before me.

I followed the rest of the men into the armory and found the sword Caspian had lent me with ease. Once we were all armed again, we returned to the hall where Aaralynn was waiting with Eustace; though, it appeared that Eustace had only just walked up.

"Go on and get your sword too. I'm sure there's room in there," Aaralynn said to him.

"I haven't got a sword," Eustace said. "I'm a pacifist."

"You're a what?"

"It means he doesn't believe in fighting," I clarified. "At least, not in the physical sense."

"So you've no weapon at all?" she asked and Eustace shook his head no. "Then you probably 'ought to stay here. We'll fetch you once this is settled, you shouldn't even have to lock the door."

"You're mad if you think I'm going back there. For one, you'll probably take your time before coming back for me. For another it's the most unhygienic place I've seen. No proper bed, no proper toilet. And besides, I still need to find the Consul. "

"Well I can't have the men be distracted by thoughts of having to defend your sorry bum as well as their own. Here, take this." Aaralynn held out one of her daggers.

"I told you, I'm a pacifist."

"Look, you either take this or you go back to the cell. Which do you prefer?" Reluctantly, Eustace took the dagger. "Welcome to the King's Army."

Aaralynn came back towards the front and we once more began making our way out.

"You do realize that you just gave a potentially fatal weapon to probably the most uncoordinated person in any world?" I said.

"I hardly think he has the strength to make that dagger a fatal weapon. Its blade is as dull as a rock. He'd have to hit someone pretty hard in just the right spot," she replied.

"Are you sure about this plan of yours, Aaralynn? I mean, don't you think it just a bit odd that we've only come across three guards and none of them have bothered to raise an alarm?"

"No, I don't, not for these islands at least. It's true, their watch and training would never surpass your standards at the Cair, but here… I specifically chose this watch to come for you; I knew there would be hardly anyone here. What's more, when met with an escaped prisoner the guards are instructed to show no mercy and give no quarter. The few that have tried to escape have met with death, so now none bother to try. Except for me of course. I once escaped by simply walking out; I was met with no opposition. Come to think of it, I did find that time a bit strange."

"Just how many times have you been in here?"

Aaralynn smiled. "You probably don't want to know the answer to that."

We made it to the front doors without any further opposition, as Aaralynn has described it.

"The Governor's mansion is just up the high street. I don't expect anyone to be out yet, but be on guard all the same," Aaralynn said before stepping out into the early morning.

We marched up the high street with ease. The first rays of sun were just beginning to peak over the horizon, and all was silent. The Governor's mansion was easy to spot. It was a large estate surrounded by a tall brick wall and with a single gate.

"The gate. It's likely to be locked," I whispered.

"Oh, without question."

"Then…let me guess, you have a key don't you?"

"Something like that." She grinned.

Suddenly a man stepped out from behind the wall and stood behind the gate. His arms were folded across his chest. His face was shrouded in shadow, but one glance at his stance and build was all I needed to know that he was a very capable fighter. He would be a challenge for me, let alone Aaralynn.

"You're late," he said.

What?

"You try breaking fourteen men and a Mouse out of prison. It isn't as easy as it sounds," Aaralynn retorted playfully.

"Hmph. Maybe next time."

"Who are you?" I asked, but my question was answered before I'd finished asking it.

"Kohl!"

"Captain! It's good to see you. I kept my promise; the girl is safe."

"Girl? Aw Kohl, and here I thought you thought more highly of me," Aaralynn said with mock hurt.

"The highest, Your Majesty." Kohl opened the gate and we filed in. Then, as with Aaralynn earlier in the cell, all signs of jest disappeared. "Gumpas is in the rotunda with Pug. He arrived just before you."

"And your men?"

"They'll be ready."

"Then let's move on. I'm tired of pretending to be a boy."

Aaralynn began marching towards the front door of the mansion once more. All was quiet until we neared the door. There were two guards standing watch out front.

"You have two options," Aaralynn began. "Step aside, or fall aside."

One guard laughed. "Like we're gonna let you pass so easily." He drew his sword, but before any of us could move to fight him, he was knocked unconscious by the other guard.

"This way, mum," the second guard said as he held the door for Aaralynn.

Inside the mansion, things were a bit more like what I would expect. When the soldiers on duty saw us, they at once drew their swords and began fighting. Everyone had at least one man to fight. I was slightly surprised though, to find that a good many soldiers were fighting for us, and with their added numbers the fight was soon over. Aaralynn did not hesitate, but moved on to the rotunda.

Kicking the door open, we walked into a large open room that spanned two floors. There was a long table in the center of the room occupied by only a few men. At the head of the table, in a large, elaborate chair, sat what could only be Governor Gumpas. I recognized the man sitting on his right as leader of the Keepers that had arrested us; he was Pug.

There were a few guards standing around the room and when we entered they rushed to fight us. We outnumbered them however, and Aaralynn, Caspian, and myself easily moved past them to Gumpas and Pug. Pug was manhandled by two of the guards, and Aaralynn caught hold of Gumpas before he could escape. She pushed him back into his chair and held him in place by keeping her sword at his neck.

"What is the meaning of all this? No appointments 'cept on the second the Saturday," Gumpas grumbled.

"Unhand me you fools!" Pug barked. "Your life is forfeit! Do you hear? All of you! Forfeit!"

"Governor Gumpas," Aaralynn began in a mighty voice that carried throughout the room. Gumpas and Pug at once stopped their struggling and held their tongues. "You are hereby charged with the following crimes…"

Aaralynn then proceeded to list a whole slew of crimes, among which were unlawful imprisonment, slave trading, and conspiracy to commit high treason. The last crime really caught his attention.

"Treason! What does a beggar girl know of treason? What right have you to accuse me of treason?"

"I have every right, Sir."

"Beggars have no rights."

"Then it is good that I am no beggar. I am Aaralynn, wife and Queen of King Edmund the Just, Duchess of Lantern Waste, Countess of the Western March, and Dame of the Lion's Order." Aaralynn removed her sword from its threatening position and stepped back. "What have you to say?"

Gumpas had nothing to say; he was speechless. Aaralynn stepped back even more as she called Caspian and me forward.

"Kings Edmund and Caspian, you have heard the charges brought against Gumpas. There is proof, apart from your own experience, and Kohl will testify to what he has witnessed."

Aaralynn stepped back even further in a clear sign of turning the floor over to us. Caspian and I exchanged looks. I gave a slight nod of my head to indicate that he take the lead. He was, after all, the reigning king; he needed to establish a lasting command.

Caspian started by asking the same question Aaralynn asked. Gumpas, at once realizing he was in grave trouble, began spouting off excuses and laying as much blame on Pug as he could. Caspian remained firm, reminding Gumpas that he was Governor and did he really expect us to believe that Gumpas couldn't control one man enough to protect his domain?

Pug was not one to sit idly by. He began firing back and before long there was an argument between the two. Caspian was quick to put an end to it, however, before it got out of hand. He silenced them with one command. Then he looked at me.

"I think we've heard enough. Would you agree?"

"I would," I replied.

"Are we in accordance as to what should be done here as well?"

"We are."

"Very well, then. Gumpas, by the authority given me by the Great Lion, you are hereby relieved of all duties and titles and the honors that come with effective immediately. You and yours have until noon today to vacate these premises. But oh! We need someone to rule in your stead. Where is the Lord Bern?"

"I am here, Your Majesty," Bern said stepping forward.

Caspian directed Bern to kneel at his feet, and there Bern took the pledge of a Narnian ruler. Bern was not made the next Governor of the Islands, though. He was made a Duke.

"As for you, Pug," Caspian continued. "For your crimes, your life is forfeit. Escort him to his new abode; I am sure you recall the way."

When all was said and done, the room erupted with cheers of "long live King Caspian!" I looked around the room for my own reason of cheer.

"Ed? Is something wrong?" Caspian asked.

"Yes," I replied. "Where is Aaralynn?"

Oh! Please don't hate me.