A/N: WOAH! I have not updated in foreverrrrrrr. I am so sorry. I hope you all forgive me, I've just been out of the loop for a while and my desktop crashed and my word, it took forever to get another computer. I thought I lost this story, then magically as if the leprachauns knew they helped me find my flash drive and waddya know...BAM Wilde Wars is saved on and it and I thanked the good lord that it was not lost. So I'm gonna post a butt-ton more just so you all can get caught up. Love you all. Happy Reading!
Chapter Four: By Happenstance
When sunrise overtook the skies the next day, it left Kristen and Caspian room to explore. They walked the long pillared caves of the How and inspected every small notch an crevasse, getting to know the feel of the place they were going to spend the majority of their time in. It gave them a chance to talk, and really get to know one another. Just the simple things, like favorite color, favorite types of food, and on more than one occasion Kirsten had to explain to him what fast food was in her world. Right now, they were sitting on the ground in the large ruins stone courtyard. Kristen was lying on her back staring at the clouds and Caspian beside her picking at a blade of grass in thought.
"Do you believe everything truly happens for a reason?" he asked and Kristen flit her eyes to him, gazing at the young Prince who's brooding was quite the quality. He thought a lot on things, and though he seemed like the rash type, he really was thoughtful and logical.
"Well, I used to not think that way. But now I do."
"What changed it for you?"
"Well...I came here. I wondered for the first few days that I ever entered into Narnia, what I had done to be sent here away from all that I knew. I was a stranger, with no home, no money, no means, and the Kings and Queens took me in and cared for me. I made friends for the first time in my life. And slowly, I learned how to stand up for myself, learn to open my heart to fall in love, fight for what I believed in...and all those thing I listed, in my world I would have never learned them. So yes, I believe everything now, happens for a reason because without these odd occurrences' and options we would never grow or learn anything in life."
"Even the death of my parents?"
"Yes, even that unfortunately. But, if it not for them, then you wouldn't be asking these questions. You wouldn't have run from your home, or met me, or the Narnian's. You would be stuck living and not knowing. And I know you're glad to know we exist, that it isn't just some offhand fairytale."
"And, what about you? Do you think you'll go home when this is over?"
"I don't know. I think, if I go back, I won't live very long." Kristen sat up slowly as she bit her lip in thought. "I left injured and near the brink of death. Who knows what will happen if I cross back into my age."
"I am glad you're here though. I don't have many to talk to my own age about these things. I usually just keep it bottled up inside."
"You don't have to. Not with me. I don't judge...at least not too harshly." she joked as she nudged his side and he smiled a bit and nodded.
"Good to know."
They were silent for the remainder of their relaxation and even until it was night and they traveled to Beruna. The only sounds came from the occasional snap of a twig under a hoof or foot, but all in all they moved like the darkness. They sank to their knees, overlooking some of the cut down trees that had been stacked near the river's edge.
"Shh... I can hear some of the soldiers walking around." Kristen whispered to the company.
"But, I hear nothing." Caspian said quietly.
"You don't have my ears." she mused and then looked back to Glenstorm. The centaur nodded and took some of his company as they spread out along the forest line and ducked down waiting for the opportune moment to strike.
Caspian and Kristen had been paired together naturally and they sat against a large tree side by side in silence. Caspian wanted to talk more with this interesting woman but, knew that it would be dangerous so he saved his thoughts and questions for another time.
When the moon rose at its peak, Kristen led Caspian out of their spot and swiftly made her way into the slumbering encampment. They met up with the others, carefully unloading cart after cart of weapons and sending them into the forest pair by pair till ten wagons were empty. Caspian took a dagger from his belt and flipped down the back of the wagon and began to quickly carve something into it. Kristen watched him carve a message, one intended for his Uncle.
"Nice, now come on. You're no good to us captured and dead." she whispered.
He nodded, sheathing his dagger and the two made their way back into the forest, the shroud of night protecting them.
They were all on a high of this small victory as they walked through the night in the direction of Aslan's How.
They walked well until first light and Kristen took the sack of armor Caspian was carrying to relieve him and give him some reprieve since he was slowing down some.
"Thank you." he said softly to her and she nodded. "You're a lot stronger than you look."
"Yes. Blame the Just King for that. He taught me everything I needed to know about combat. The result is more muscle than I really care for."
"Tell me, do you think they were called as well?"
"Yes, they shouldn't be too far actually. I found traces of them in the ruins of Cair Paravel. But, they will show up when the time is right."
"You're so much better at this than I am." he said finally and Kristen looked at him confused and he caught her expression and sighed. "I mean, with leading people. You know just what to say, and it's so inspiring."
"Well, I led armies, but in the end however it wasn't my ultimate decision. I was under the command of Kings and Queens. You're a Prince, you outrank me." she smiled and then reached over placing her hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll help you with whatever you need. You have a friend in me, Caspian."
"Thank you. That means a lot."
Then, a friendship was formed that would prove beneficial years down the road when they needed each other the most. They stopped for a small break, Kristen never stopping to sit and Caspian noticed how alert she was. Her eyes were always darting from tree to tree, and her posture was commanding and poised.
"We should get moving." she said as the morning light was coming up higher.
Caspian agreed as he relieved the rest of the weapons now to Glenstorm who took the lead ahead. Caspian and Kristen walked next to a few Minotaur's and were nearing close to the edge of the Dancing Lawns when Kristen tensed and stopped Caspian by grabbing onto his arm.
"Kristen?" he asked and she placed her finger to her lips hushing him. He watched her close her eyes, her body completely still and her eyes then darted over a hill as if awaiting something to cross over it.
Still silently she grabbed his hand and pulled him around a few bushes and trees and unsheathed her sword, so Caspian sensing danger from her unsheathed his as well. Someone was coming over the ridge now and he could hear them as well. He tensed his grip on his sword and poised himself to strike. And when he did he found himself locked in a battle with a young man around his age. He was good, his blade quick and sharp as it jabbed at him disarming him. The blonde boy swung again and this time he ducked, making it lodge itself in the tree behind him. Caspian kicked his opponent in the chest, forcing him back to the ground and turned trying to pull the sword out of the thick trunk.
Kristen didn't think as she sprang forward as the young man scrambled to get a large rock into his hands but the tip of her blade was already to his throat.
"No stop!" came a small cry and Kristen never took her eyes off of this newcomer. Those beautiful sky blue eyes, blonde hair and a handsome youthful face. Though he was much younger than she remembered she could never mistake that face anywhere.
"Peter?" she whispered and he looked up at her curiously and then he swallowed hard and his eyes widened.
"Kris?"
She removed her blade from him and sheathed it quickly before extending her hand to him and hauling him to his feet. Her heart accelerated being so close to him again. She felt this time as if she were dreaming that seeing Peter again wasn't real. But here he was, a bright eyed seventeen year old boy, just turning into a man. He was still handsome however young he was now.
"Peter!" came another cry and both turned to see Susan and Edmund running up the ridge and standing next to Lucy.
"Lucy!" Kristen all but shrieked as she ran for the young girl and dove down sweeping her into a bone crushing hug.
"Oh, I'm glad to see you too." Lucy said unsure and when Kristen pulled away, the young girl got a look at her. Lucy grinned and grabbed back onto Kristen hugging her with equal vigor. "Oh Kristen! You came back too!"
"You came back blonde?" Edmund enquired and Kristen let Lucy go and hugged him next, and then moved onto Susan. The girls shared a very long hug, as they giggled and Susan ran her fingers through Kristen's locks.
"It's very beautiful, it suits you well." Susan complimented.
Someone then cleared their throat and Kristen looked back to Peter and smiled as she walked back towards him.
"I see how it is. Everyone else gets a better warm welcome, and I get a sword to my neck."
"Oh Peter...I'm sorry." she stepped forward, intending to give him a hug, but he swept down and pulled her into a kiss. When they parted Kristen looked a little surprised but none the less, appreciative. "Hm."
"Uhm." Caspian said as he looked between the two and Kristen looked to him and then shook her head as if shaking away her present thoughts to get back to more pressing matters.
"Oh, sorry. This is Prince Caspian." Kristen gestured to him.
"And you're...High King Peter?" Caspian asked and Peter nodded.
"Yes, High King Peter, the Magnificent."
"Well yes, but I thought you'd be older."
"Well if you like...we can come back in a few years?" Peter said as he made to walk away but Caspian flinched forward holding his hand out.
"No, I'm sorry. It's just, you aren't quite what I was expecting."
"Neither are you." Edmund stated as he glanced up at a Minotaur. But Reepicheep had doubled back having heard the commotion and came to the scene.
"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes, your majesty." the small mouse said.
"Oh my gosh he is so cute." Lucy whispered to Susan and Reepicheep whirled about, drawing his sword and brandishing it as if to strike the next person he saw.
"Who said that!"
"I'm sorry." Lucy said cutely as she tucked her hands behind her back and gazed down at the mouse apologetically.
"It's quite alright your majesty." Reepicheep said as he felt guilty seeing the sad expression of the youngest Queen. "But, courageous or courteous might better befit, a knight of Narnia."
"Or, He Who Never Shuts Up." Kristen mumbled.
"I heard that." he said peering up at Kristen.
"I mean no harm by it, noble mouse." she cheeked and with a grin she looked back at Peter. "We've been gathering the Narnians and mobilizing to prep the army. We thought we'd get a head start, since we didn't know when you'd be showing up."
"Eagerly awaiting your arrival as well." Reepicheep added.
"Good, we're going to need everyone we can get."
"Well...you'll probably be wanting your sword back." Caspian said as he held the now dislodged sword out for Peter.
Peter and he shared a look, one that Kristen caught easily. Peter took the sword and sheathed it and with the shake of his head, like Caspian was a child, walked away.
Kristen stared at his back and then looked at Caspian. She walked over to his fallen sword and picked it up before graciously handing it to him. She pat his back and he nodded to her as he followed after Peter. Kristen walked over to Lucy and bent down picking her up easily and the young Queen laughed, happy to be reunited with her best friend.
"You're so small, Lu. I remember you were eighteen when we left."
"I was much younger when I went back. Imagine how I felt." she said wisely and Kristen nodded.
"I was nineteen again. It was strange. I felt weird in my own body."
"Me too." Susan agreed.
"I will third that." Edmund stated and Kristen grinned over at him. He looked the most different. She had remembered seeing him as a man, not a young boy of thirteen.
"Holy hell you are the most different Ed."
"Ugh, don't remind me." he grumbled.
This earned a hearty laugh from the people that had been a family for most of their young life and Caspian felt like he was intruding on the moment. But he looked at them, and found there was no purer happiness than when these people were together. Such a simple thing, and yet it meant the world to all of them that they were now with one another.
Caspian didn't miss Kristen's hand attached to Peter's or the way that they looked at one another. And he was reminded of his parents and longed for the affection these two shared, and so his chocolate eyes turned to Susan and he knew he had never met a lovelier creature.