Chapter Three: Sacred
It had been two days now on foot that Kristen had traveled and not seen any other creature besides herself. She had followed the river till she was where she thought the River Rush was, but only found it to be a giant gorge with a small stream running through it. She looked down at it, realizing that she might have been mistaken in her time away. Only hundreds of years could make a gorge that large. This only increased her sadness as she headed eastwards towards the Dancing Lawns. It was a place where the trees had been most alive and well during her time here in Narnia.
If anything she could find better food and hopefully she would happen upon the Narnian's. If there were any Narnian's left to find that it. Kristen stopped for a break, her trail running alongside the gorge. She lent against a tree and pulled an apple from her bag as she began to eat it, savoring the last bits of food she had on her. After finishing her snack she looked at the core and then took her foot digging it into the earth creating a sizable hole before dropping the apple core into it. Burying it again she took some of her water from her water bladder and poured a few mouthfuls onto the spot she had buried her apple.
"Maybe you'll grow to be a apple tree one day. Maybe one day you'll be the apple tree that talks."
She sighed taking a gulp of water and looked up only to choke slightly on her refreshment as her eyes must have mistaken her.
She swore she saw a lion walking on the other side of the gorge. And the only lion she knew to walk plainly as such was Aslan.
"Aslan!" she tried calling out but the lion dissipated as she blinked. She must have been so hopeful for a sign that her mind had been playing tricks on her. She continued on, trudging along hoping and praying that she would run into someone soon. She didn't know how soon however that would be.
Kristen made it to the Dancing Lawns in a few short hours and stopped to rest in a clearing. She began to take her shoes off to give them some relief when she heard the shouts of humans in the distance. Her head whipped to the side as she hastily put her shoe back on and ran towards the commotion.
In the process of running she had strung her bow and knocked an arrow and was holding it up ready to shoot down anyone that came at her. There were at least ten soldiers, armored fully, searching for something or more pointedly someone. Kristen spotted a man, in the company of a dwarf and a badger. And in that badgers hands was Susan's Horn.
Kristen didn't think as she shot her arrow and it went flying past the handsome man and into the eye socket of the nearest soldier, striking him dead. Crossbows were aimed but Kristen knocked her bow faster than arrows were being shot at her and soon only two remained. But they dropped quickly and Kristen watched the last one hacking away at the ground below him before he too fell. Darting out of the brush came a mouse, brandishing a sword. He wore a red feather on a shiny golden loop that seemed to stay around his right ear.
"Say your last words carefully, Telmarine!" he said as he knocked the young man to the ground and pointed his sword at him. He shifted on the man's chest, bearing down on him for being such a small animal.
"You are a mouse." he said.
"Yes, how original. Now pick up your sword, I will not fight an unarmed man."
"Reepicheep! Stay your blade!" the badger called.
"Trufflehunter! I trust you have an explanation for this untimely interruption."
"He doesn't. Go ahead." the dwarf grumbled as he looked at Caspian.
"He, blew the horn!"
"Then I believe that horn belongs to me." Kristen said as she stepped forward. All eyes turned to her and the mouse removed himself from the man he had pinned and gazed up at Kristen for a moment. Though her face was obscured by her traveling cloak his small black eyes widened and he then dropped into a bow.
"Milady." he said in awe and Kristen held her hand up not wanting him to bow. "I am Reepicheep, a noble soldier of Narnia. I am graced to be in your presence."
"Who are you?" the dwarf asked and Kristen pulled back her hood to reveal her face.
"I'm a damn good shot, for saving your ass. That's what." she retorted. Caspian got to his feet quickly as he gazed upon this woman. He had seen pictures of her in his professors old books but, the descriptions always pictured her as a pale woman with dark reddish brown hair. This woman was lean and olive complected with beautiful long golden hair.
"A-are you, Lady Kristen?" he asked and Kristen looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Yes, I am."
"But you...you're young?"
"Am I supposed to be old?"
"Well, yes."
"What's going on here? I only came back a few days ago to find Cair in ruins. I would like some explination...Telmarines?"
"Milady it has been thirteen-hundred years since the day Cair fell." Reepicheep said sadly. "Since Narnia has been under the rule of the Telmarines."
"And this here is their estranged Prince." Nikabrik pointed at Caspian.
"Prince?" Kristen's gaze was back at Caspian. "A name then...your majesty?"
"Caspian, the Tenth."
"Kristen de Wilde. You may call me Kristen, no lady...obviously. I take it you blew the horn."
"I did."
"Then let him bring it forth." a commanding and deep voice said and all turned to see a large centaur standing atop a ridge. Behind him were others and soon satyrs, minotaurs, nymphs, fauns, dwarfs...they all started to emerge.
"Narnians." Kristen smiled looking about.
The centaur hopped down from the ledge gracefully for his large form and walked slowly up to Kristen. He looked upon her and then bowed.
"Lady Kristen, your return has been written in the stars. We are honored you are here with us. I am Glenstorm, leader of my herd and an authority to the remaining Narnian's in this wood. Come with us, we will provide you with safety."
"I thank you." Kristen nodded and she looked over to see Trufflehunter being helped up by the dwarf.
She bowed her head respectfully to Glenstorm and then walked passed Caspian and bent down picking the badger up easily as she settled him against her shoulder. Kristen shoved the horn into Caspian's hand as she carried the injured badger that had an arrow pointing out of his leg.
"You will need to be strong, Prince, and explain yourself to these people. Their ears will not listen at first but keep talking and they will...and please talk with your heart." she said.
The words weren't from herself but rather words that were from a place deep inside of her. A place that she shared close with Aslan.
They traveled inward of the Dancing Lawns to a large tree covered clearing. It looked up kept, as if it were a sacred place of meetings. The Narnian's gathered and Nikabrik shoved Caspian into the center and the Prince looked around at all of them unsure.
Kristen paid no mind as she settled Trufflehunter down next to her and took a salve out of her bag. She had made it along her journey from herbs she had dug up and crushed together. Taking a strip of cloth from her quiver that she used to wrap her arrows she tore a piece off and wrapped it around the base of the arrow that stuck from the badgers leg.
"It'll hurt, noble badger."
"I am ready." he said his little eyes wincing as Kristen snapped the end off and then pulled it out. He let out a small cry and she smiled at his bravery. Taking the cloth she dampened it with water and began to clean it out and apply salve it it. "It already feels better. Thank you milady, you are most kind."
"I am always there for a badger in need." she said and looked back to Caspian who was now defending his honor and title.
"Outside these woods I'm a Prince!" he said strongly. "The Telmarine throne is rightfully mine, help me take it back, and I can bring peace between us."
"Why would we want you as our King!" Nikabrik pointed at him.
Caspian looked lost and Kristen looked at him, sensing his urgency as well as his good intentions. He was barely a man, and thrust from his world into one he thought was a fairy tale. And now, it was hard when she could see the doubt he felt in his self as he wore it on his sleeve. He held the horn in his hand looking at it and Kristen rose from her spot. She unclasped her cloak and settled it over Trufflehunter who held it against him and nodded to her.
"Narnians." Kristen's voice said as she stepped up next to Caspian. There were murmurs and whispers around her as they talked amongst themselves staring at the beauty that was she. "We are all tired. We are all lost. But we cannot lose faith that things will be better. I never thought I'd see Narnia again, and here I am, and here all of you are. The time is now to choose the fate of our worlds together. We can stand by and bicker with one another, or we can band together and fight. I was never one to lead, but I will stand by this young man and what he believes in. He is putting his faith in you, and we must do our part not to let him down. It was Aslan's will that brought us all together. Never forget the deep magic that runs in our veins that created us and has kept us all going. Including myself."
"You will stand by this...murderer?" Nikabrik spat and Kristen rounded on him her sea colored eyes blazing.
"Murder? The only murder I see is this Prince's chances. Now silence your tongue dwarf, or I'll do it for you. You're not helping, you're starting more trouble than I care to admit."
"Yes, enough Nikabrik." Trufflehunter said sternly. "You forget who you are speaking to. This is the great Kristen de Wilde. General of the Narnian armies, the White Lady of Cair! Such disrespect."
"She left us as well."
"And for that I am sorry. I didn't intend to leave...but by Aslan's will I was sent back to my world. Trust me...if it was up to me I would have stayed and fought. But his plan has me here and now, so let us utilize these moments and not waste them."
"Yes the time is ripe. My sons and I offer you our swords." Glenstorm said as he held his sword up and Kristen unsheathed hers as she held hers up.
"As do I."
"And we shall as well." the fauns agreed. And one by one the Narnian's offered their allegiance to Caspian.
"Then we will need enough weapons for an army. We have little time." Caspian said.
"I saw a station at Beruna. I got around them okay by following the gorge but they have enough armor and weapons for a few regiments of soldiers. We can hit them there in the dead of night and spare lives along the way."
"Where will we take these weapons?" Caspian asked and Glenstorm was the one who answered.
"A sacred place. One that has been a place of gathering for many hundreds of years. Aslan's How. And within it, the Stone Table."
"Thee Stone Table?" Kristen asked and he nodded. "Well let's get going shall we? We have work to do."
Caspian and Kristen were led through the night along long weaving paths through the forest. The myriad of Narnian's escorted them, and the both of them walking along in a sort of silence. They walked through the forest side by side, and Caspian stole glances at her from time to time. Here she was, the legend in the flesh and so many questions ran through his mind.
"Need to ask me something, your majesty?" she smirked as her eyes flit to him in an instant and he felt embarrassed as he looked away.
"No. Well...yes."
"What is it?"
"I just, wanted to ask where you went? When you left that is?"
"Home. To my parents in my world, and my life there. It is an ordinary and very plain life."
"You...don't like it there?"
"No not really. I love my parents, and would feel happier if they could see Narnia with me, but, I'm here by myself and they can't come along. I grew up here once, and I was okay. As much as my parents mean to me, I didn't need them to grow up and be happy. I had Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund for that. What about you...parents?"
"Both dead. My mother died of an illness when I was six, and my father in his sleep when I was thirteen."
"Oh, forgive me...I didn't–,"
"Know. Yes, it's alright. It doesn't pain me to talk about them anymore."
"Still, that's tragic. So was it just your parents or do you have any relatives?"
"My uncle." Caspian said his voice thickening and his eyes darkening. Kristen was surprised to see that he wore his emotions so easily and that they were so readable. "He produced an heir by my Aunt, and he has been setting out to kill me to take over the throne. I suspect the same had gone for my father..."
"He sounds like a really messed up person." Kristen scoffed and he nodded.
"You have no idea."
"Well, then, I guess we just can't lose." she grinned at him but then it faltered as she stopped looking straight ahead of her in almost awe. Through the darkness of the night, a plane sat before them. Long grass sashayed in the breeze and in the distance a large stone structure sat awaiting them. Kristen took a step forward and Caspian followed her as they made way to the How.
Upon reaching it they were greeted by even more Narnian's that had been sent message to meet. They all bowed upon seeing Kristen and looked upon Caspian with doubt. They doubted this new reign and this new idea that they could somehow make a stand with a Telmarine leading them.
"This place." Kristen said in awe as she looked about. "It's wonderful."
"You've seen nothing yet, milady." Trufflehunter said as he motioned her along to follow. Kristen looked back at Caspian and nodded her head for him to come along and he once again followed her and Trufflehunter down a long narrow passageway. It was hardly lit, so Kristen stopped in the dark.
"Hold on a second." Kristen said softly. "It might take me a moment, I haven't used in a long time."
"Used what?" Caspian whispered and suddenly he flinched backwards as the spark of a fire erupted. But what really made him stare in awe was that it was not lit by a torch, but it merely sat in the palm of Kristen's hand and crackled merrily. "How are you doing that?"
"Magic." she said simply and with a knowing grin. She walked forward, extending her hand out as it illuminated the passageway but stopped again as she looked up at the walls.
"These, are depictions of the Kings and Queens of old and parts of the story that were deemed important. It was during a time of great distressed and written words wouldn't have meant much." Trufflehunter said gazing up at Kristen. "But we badgers remember well, the stories of old."
"They look so young." Kristen commented as she gazed upon the Pevensie's before the four throne's of Cair Paravel. "Lucy especially...she's so small."
"That is because it was when the prophecy was fulfilled. It was six years to the day that you, Lady Kristen came to Narnia." Trufflehunter continued as he walked over to another portion of the wall and gestured his paw up at it. "And here you are."
Kristen gazed upon herself carved and painted into the wall. She was sitting comfortably astride Adarang, her horse that she missed so much. It had been a gift from Eomer and Eowyn and one that she treasured. She remembered going on long rides with that steed and it had proven to be quite the war horse in the Battle of Archenland. Herself however in this painting was depicted as this fiery brunet and here she was standing with golden locks. She reached out and gently ran her fingers over the painting and bent forward a bit looking into her eyes. The other carvings didn't have eyes...but hers did. And upon further inspection she saw aquamarine precious stones set into them. Someone most certainly went to great lengths to remember what color her eyes were.
"I remember those days." Kristen whispered. "I would go riding in the forest with Adarang. We would just ride for hours, not a problem in the world because the world was safe. I never imagined I'd have to fight for it again."
"There is more to see. Come along" Trufflehunter urged as he led them further into the tunnel and soon they were stepping into a pitch black, large space. "There is a trough to your right, milady, it will light and you will get to see the magnificence for yourself."
Kristen nodded but them took a deep breath in.
"Or I can light it from here." and she crushed the flame out in her hand and suddenly the whole room lit up as the trough circling the room came aflame. The large cylinder room shone bright, illuminating larger carved reliefs. One in particular caught Kristen's eye and she stepped down onto the floor and gazed up at it from over the Stone Table. "I know this place."
"You do milady?" Trufflehunter asked as he gazed up at her confused expression.
"I saw it a dream. I was standing here...with a man."
"Prince Caspian milady?"
"No, it was the man who saved my life. But he isn't here. But this place...it's very...sacred. I feel it."
"Your majesties." a voice said behind them and both Caspian and Kristen turned to be met by a faun. He was a grey faun and from the looks of it seen a lot of trifles and war. "My name is Lorn and Glenstorm has asked me to inform you that a small regiment of soldiers are prepped to make way to Beruna, but asks if we could push it to tomorrow night."
"Whatever Lord Glenstorm wishes I'm sure would be in the best interest for the both of us. We most certainly agree." Kristen said and bowed her head and Lorn nodded as he bowed again and turned and walked out. "Guess we're just going to have to enjoy the luxury of exploring this place a bit hm." she walked towards the exit and suddenly the room ceased to light, the flames flickering to a slow dull ember.