Narnia:

When Children Cry

Part III

SUMMARY: ...If you've read this far into the story, I think you've gotten the general gist of it by now.

DISCLAIMER: Take a wild guess. And the answer is... NO! Don't own it!

I've shortened the battle scenes for you guys who hate these boring parts, which is really sad. I love battle scenes. LucyTumnus good stuff in later chappies. ... Is it just me, or are my chapters getting shorter? Ack! They are! Don't hate me! (Or do you like shorter chapters?)

If you review, I will absolutely love you! I don't expect you to, cause I haven't updated in nearly a week (or more). But you will get my eternal gratitude!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The Battle of Beruna

'Men! Brandish arms!" cried Peter, and all about the battlefield was the sight and sound of warriors readying their weapons. Tumnus unsheathed Lavin, his sword and held it in his right hand.

'Draw your sword, Lucy,' whispered he. 'Take your sword and never, never let go.'

With shaking hands, she did so. 'Tumnus,' she gasped, 'I – don't know if I – I can't... I don't think I'm brave enough.'

'You have courage enough for this,' he whispered. 'I know. I've seen it.'

For a reason unknown to her, she wanted to pull off the gauntlet on her hand and hold her hand to Tumnus' cheek, feel his bare skin with her own. 'Tumnus, if we die –'

'We march forth!' shouted Peter from the front line. 'If we go to our deaths, it is for Narnia!' He kicked the flanks of the white mare, leading the army in a gallop to their yet unknown fates.

This is the most fearful part of any battle – when the front line meets the enemy, but those in back are made watch. Tumnus could see from a distance the clashing of bodies, spears meeting flesh. The enemy worked its way toward the heart of the Narnian army.

'Lucy,' whispered Tumnus, 'we won't be able to fight like this. Our army is already at a disadvantage, and it's only the beginning of the battle. We'll most certainly die, but I want you to promise me that whatever happens, you'll defend yourself.'

'Tumnus, what do you mean?'

'You must defend yourself when I'm gone. It will be easier if... yes, it must come to this.'

'What? Tumnus, you're scaring me.' Her stallion rode faster, drinking in the air as he galloped full speed.

'I must do this, Lucy,' said Tumnus, and leapt down from the horse.

'Tumnus!' screamed Lucy. 'Tumnus, don't leave me!'

'I'm sorry, Lucy,' he whispered, knowing she couldn't hear. 'I must.' If he'd stayed on the horse, it would be too easy for an enemy to slay them both. The only thing to do was leave them each to fight alone. At once, Tumnus felt an empty, aching feeling to know that might be the last time they'd see one another.

He raised Lavin, racing forth to the enemy lines. It wasn't long before an enemy came upon him: a minotaur, thick and menacing with a bloodied mace in his hand. Tumnus cried out as the mace was swung at him, and ducked low, then kicked the minotaur from behind. He drove Lavin into its chest, wincing as the beast let out a roar.

I've killed it, thought he. Killed. I, a murderer. It was strange to think that the one previous battle he'd fought in a decade ago, he'd never thought of it that way.

Seemingly out of nowhere, a heavy hand aimed a hawk's beak at him. Tumnus swerved out of its way, but the blade pierced his brassard and trailed behind a crimson path of blood on his arm. Tumnus yelled out in pain, attacking the hand to grab the hawk's beak. He snatched the weapon and flung it out to the body before him. It lodged in the creature's chest, and the body fell to the ground.

We're losing, thought Tumnus. The thought came to him again and again as he formed a single unbeatable force with his sword. Oh, Tumnus was injured greatly, but not once did they falter. He wouldn't lose Narnia to this foe, this enemy that was yet unnamed. The opponent that had emerged ominously from the West. They would not take Narnia.

Another minotaur issued from the sea of fighting bodies, clutching a bludgeon. It swung the spiked sphere toward him, but Tumnus thrust out Lavin and embedded the red blade into the minotaur's stomach. The beast let out a shrieking moan that made Tumnus wince. As he withdrew the blade, the minotaur swung out the bludgeon once more and, with its dying breath, clubbed Tumnus in the head.

Tumnus screamed in pain, shooting up a hand to clutch the wound, but not before the minotaur fell forward, bringing Tumnus down with him.

Everything went black.