Note: Here is chapter 9! Thank you Soloyoyo for reviewing!
Curse of Beaver's Dam Chapter 9 - Grief
The Narnian palace guards rushed to the suite the Telmarine ambassadors had been given. The captain knocked on the door several times with no reply. After this, he motioned to his soldiers.
"We're going to break it down," he told them gravely. They looked at him, trusting their captain. "One," the captain said, preparing to barrel into the door. "Two," the troops prepared. "Three!" He yelled, and they all rammed into the door at full speed. The hinges broke, and the door flew inward.
The captain stepped into the room, followed by the rest of the guard. They looked around uncertainly. No Telmarines were to be seen. The captain ran to the window, and saw two figures on horseback, making all speed out of the courtyard.
"Archers!" he yelled, directing them to the window.
The two men fumbled with their bows, stringing their arrows, and letting them fly. Unfortunately, the two Telmarine's were out of range, and the arrows fell several feet short. The captain sighed.
"Nice try lads. We must tell the king."
Lucy straightened when she heard a grating sound from the cell door. She shook Corin, who was sleeping a few feet away from her.
"Wh- what?" the boy said sleepily, rubbing his eyes with his fist. Lucy tilted her head towards the door, motioning with her hand.
The prince immediately silenced, and the two waited pensively. After a moment, someone, or rather, something entered. It did not walk on two legs as a human, but rather on four. Instead of the coloring and clothing you would see on people, he was a grayish sort of color, like he was wearing a big fur coat. Then, Lucy realized what it was, and clapped a hand over her mouth, so she would not scream. It was a wolf.
Peter was angry. He was angry at Lucy and Corin for going missing, angry at the Telmarines for what they had done, angry at Edmund for not bringing the idea of the trap to him, and angry at himself for not watching out for his sister as he should have. The boy sat in the library, hands clasped together, thinking. What could he do? The two Telmarines were gone. Surely they would move Lucy and Corin if they had them.
"We must move now if we hope to overtake them," Riswood spoke wisely. Peter nodded, getting out of his seat. "Rally the army Riswood. I believe a battle is coming up."
As the two left the room, Susan met them in the hallway. She looked at her brother fearfully. "What is it? Is there war? What shall we do?"
Peter patted his sister's arm in an assuring way. Not only did he have to make himself stay focused, but Susan he also had to comfort. "Now, now, don't worry your head about it, Su. We'll take care of it alright?" Susan nodded with uncertainty. As she began to walk away, Peter stopped her. "Oh and Su? Keep planning the ball. Be sure to make Lucy and Corin's favorites."
Susan nodded, turning away, a tear in her eye. Inwardly, she struggled. What had become of her sister and Corin?
The troops were rallying, wearing their armor, their weapons ready. They stood in straight lines, ready to march into battle. Peter and Edmund rode their horses to the front of their ranks. It was time for Peter to give a battle speech. It was something he often did, to raise the moral of the soldiers.
"Today," he began, riding his horse back and forth as he talked, his voice booming out. "Today we fight for many things. Treachery and secrecy has been put into practice by a country we trusted and were at peace with. This is the first time this has been said, but two days ago Queen Lucy and Prince Corin were abducted by the treasonous people we now speak of." Murmurs ran through the crowd at this revelation, and many found themselves wondering what would come next.
"These people, who we greeted as friends, are the Telmarines. Indeed they are wild people as the book says; to so break an agreement of peace. But now, we go to war. We go to fight for our freedom, yes. Freedom is what Narnia has not had for very long since the hundred year winter. But we also fight for our Valiant Queen! What say you?" Roars of agreement, loyalty, and love surged through the crowd, and Peter knew they were ready.
"Let us march!" he shouted, and so, the journey began, Edmund leading the way.
Corin's eyes grew wide as eyes can at the sight of the creature. He did not yell, however, because he deemed that not brave. Lucy clutched his arm. For some reason which she had never told him, Corin got the impression that she was terribly frightened of wolves. The animal circled them, baring its teeth, but never attacking.
"What do you want?" Corin said in a tone which he thought sounded very brave, though in reality his voice wavered with fear.
The wolf stopped, looking at him, he spoke. "I was in the troop of Maugrim, whom this girl's brother slew in cold blood." Lucy frowned, knowing this was not true. "I would love to take my revenge out right now, but unfortunately, my employers have forbidden it. But now, I will take you two miserable humans away. Follow me." They didn't move so the wolf growled. "Follow me!" he snarled again, menace in his tone.
Corin and Lucy awkwardly stood, having a hard time with their hands bound. Once they were up, however, they were able to follow the animal much more easily. They walked up another hallway, and found themselves out in the open light. Bindarine stood, waiting for them. When they were near him, he took their arms.
"You may go Griswin," he told the wolf, looking at him warily. The animal slinked away, and Bindarine turned to the two royals. "My king wishes to meet you," he said simply.
He escorted them to where several tents spread out, leading them to the biggest one. He opened the flap and pushed them in. He did not follow. The king of Telmar sat in a high backed chair, finishing his supper. He turned to look upon Lucy and Corin, and she shuddered at his gaze. His eyes were piercing and malicious.
"Hello, my little friends," he said mockingly. He motioned to the floor. "Please, take a seat." Corin was going to say something, but Lucy silenced his with a look. She gracefully lowered herself to the ground, while Corin plopped down beside her. The king continued with whatever twisted thing he wanted to say.
"Now, it has been my dream for several years to take over these little countries of Archenland and Narnia, but I wasn't sure of the best route to take. So I sent ambassadors to both countries to find their weaknesses."
"What does this have to do with us?" Corin said angrily. The man gazed at him with those terrible eyes.
"Quite a lot, I can tell you now. You see, we discovered that family was a big part of these weak little countries." Corin's face reddened. "Prince Corin, your father cares a lot for you, does he not?" The boy didn't answer, but stared angrily at the man.
"And you, Queen Lucy, you are quite special to your siblings." Lucy looked the man in the eye.
"Yes, what of it?" King Trevelle smiled a sickening kind of smile. "Well, what is the best thing to put a nation off balance?" Lucy watched him, fear inside her. "What?" she asked. He turned his eyes, sickening smile upon her. "Grief."