Author's Note: So... Here's chapter nine. This isn't much of an author's note, but it's there anyways, because If I don't write something in bold up here it's going to annoy the crap out of me... XD
Well, I did think of something as I was reading over the chapter again... This story seems to be moving a lot quicker than my last one. I only hope it will be as good as my last story.. What do you guys think so far? I just want to make sure that I'm living up to my own writing... if that makes any sense at all... Anyways... On to the story! :D
Song for this chapter: Overrated by Three Days Grace
The five teenagers and their dwarf companion hid behind a stack of logs. They watched on in horror and awe as the Telmarine soldiers were hard at work building a bridge across the river of Beruna. They flattened themselves against the timber as three men on horses rode by swiftly. They were so close that any one of the hidden Narnians could have reached out and touched the horses. Not one of them even dared to breath until the danger had passed.
"Guess the swimming option's out." Whispered Ari sarcastically. Everyone nodded in agreement, except for Peter. He gritted his teeth and quietly crept off into the woods. The other five quickly followed. They hurried through the woods until they were at a safe distance away from all of the Telmarine soldiers. Then they walked back towards the gorge where Lucy had seen Aslan.
"Where do you think you saw Aslan?" Peter asked his youngest sister after they were back on the cliff side.
"I wish you'd all stop acting like grown-ups." Lucy said snappily. "I don't think I saw Aslan. I did see him."
"I am a grown-up." Trumpkin muttered. Edmund tried to cover up a grin, but in the end he let out a small snicker. Ari elbowed him in the ribs, even though she herself was grinning.
"It was right over..." Lucy said, walking to the edge of the cliff. The gave a loud shriek as the ground beneath her feet crumbled. Everyone rushed forward and looked over the side of the cliff. Lucy was sitting safely just a few feet below. "Here."
Everyone looked down. They saw a steep and narrow path leading slantwise down into the gorge between the rocks. The each carefully slipped down the few feet and began to walk down the pathway. Lucy slipped on one of the rocks at the bottom as she crossed the river. Trumpkin steadied her. She looked up at the trees as she walked on.
Later on that night the six of them sat around a fire after eating a dinner of fish. It wasn't much, but it was still food. They talked for a few minutes, then each decided it was better to go to sleep so they could rise early in the morning.
Peter, Lucy, Susan, and Trumpkin laid on a cloak each. Edmund and Ari lay side by side on one cloak. They had loaned one to Trumpkin since he didn't have one of his own. The night air was warm, so they didn't really need to have one to cover up with. Peter was hard asleep, as well as Trumpkin. From her side, she could hear Edmund lightly snoring in her ear. She snuggled up close to him and willed herself to fall asleep. Nearby, Lucy was having trouble sleeping. She stared up at the Narnian night sky, watching with her hands behind her head.
"Lucy, are you awake?" Susan whispered, not wanting to wake everyone up.
"Hmm." Lucy hummed in response.
"Why do you think I couldn't see Aslan?" Susan asked quietly. Lucy sat up and looked at her sister with a skeptical expression.
"You believed me?" Lucy asked.
"Well...We got across the gorge safely." Susan said, not sure if she really believed Lucy or not.
"I don't know..." Lucy said. "Maybe you didn't really want to."
"You always knew we were coming back here, didn't you, Lu?" Susan asked.
"I never gave up hope that we would return."
Susan sighed. "I just now got used to living in England again."
"You are happy to be back here though, aren't you?" Lucy asked, giving her sister an odd look.
"While it lasts." Susan said. She rolled over and was silent after that. It wasn't long after till Lucy fell asleep.
At dawn, a growl woke her from her sleep. She sat up and looked around at her sleeping family and new friend. She then proceeded to get up and walked away from the campsite. She pushed branches out of the way as she made her way through the forest. A dryad pushed by her, laughing. The trees in front of her moved to the side to make a path for her to walk.
"Lucy..." A voice softly floated through the air. Lucy's head whipped around and there he was. The lion stood on top of a hill, looking down at her. Lucy grinned and ran joyfully to Aslan.
"I've missed you so much!" She said as she flung her arms around his mane. "You've grown!" She exclaimed.
"Every year you grow, so shall I." Aslan chuckled.
"Where have you been?" Lucy said, her tone slightly accusing. "Why haven't you come to help us?"
"Things never happen the same way twice, dear one."
A twig snapped and Lucy's eyes flew open. It was only a dream. She looked over to Susan, who was sleeping.
"Susan! Get up!" She whispered harshly, desperately trying not to wake any of the others.
"Certainly, Lu." Susan mumbled as she rolled over. "Whatever you like." Susan snored lightly, signaling that she was still asleep. Lucy frowned. She finally made up her mind and got up and walked into the woods away from the campsite. She walked through the dormant trees and laid a hand on the trunk of one of them.
"Wake up." She said sadly to it. She sighed and kept walking. Before long, she heard a low growl.
"Aslan?" She asked, more to herself than anyone else. She was so caught up in finding the source of the growl that she didn't hear the light footsteps coming up behind her. A hand clapped down over her mouth and when she tried to squeal, no sound came out. The person pulled her behind a rock and she turned around to see who it was.
Author's Note: This chapter is shorter than most of my chapters, but since it's like... 3 AM I think I have an excuse. I want to end it here instead of somewhere else along the line... Caspian comes in in the next chapter! :D So, you finally get to see Peter's first impression on Caspian... And Susan's first impression on Caspian. XD I know some of you might not like it, but I do think the pairing of Susan and Caspian is cute. So, yes... I am a Susepian shipper. Go ahead... Tell me how much you don't like them together... She's better than the star that we never even know her name.. THAT'S how unimportant the star girl is... SUSAN is much better. XD
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