A/N - I feel really bad again but hopefully you're still sticking with me and my rubbish updating. Like always I have no time to myself but (and there are no promises here) Christmas is approaching and I actually have some time off at that point! Hopefully I won't leave you to wait that long but I should be able to do a few fast updates soon :) Again sorry and thanks for sticking with me.

Please review and tell me what you do and don't like etc. :)

I don't own anything other then the general storyline and my original characters (Although if someone will sell me Ben Barnes then I will gladly take him off your hands! I don't care who he is at the time, i'll have him :P)

This is a short chapter unfortunately but begins to bring out some of the details of the fighting which people asked for.

Due to the need to change the perspective of the story I had to change style briefly (this is why I don't generally write in the first person). I hope you will forgive the changes when they happen. The normal style will resume when we return to Ariadne's perspective.

Chapter 4 – The Mouse and The Small Council

"I swear, this girl hit the target 3 times, straight in the bulls-eye! I could hardly see the thing, it must have been no more then a blur to her, and then he blindfolded her. Well that was it, I thought I was a gonner for sure but no, she stood there and shot that last arrow straight into the middle of the target!" The mouse was nearly overcome as he retold the story of his release. He beamed from ear to mousey ear as he mimicked the action of an arrow being fired and made the sound effect of it hitting the target.

"Of course, old grumpy boots wasn't best pleased at having to let us four go but he did say something about the girl having 'the blood of the Marksman Queen' and that he wouldn't overly mind if rumours were spread. Now I don't know how true this is but I challenge you to think of a better explanation for that girl hitting the target blindfolded!"

A leopard stood and walked slowly into the centre of the circle, "Thank you Parareepit." She said in a dismissive tone, clearly indicating the mouse's time addressing the small council of Narnians was at its end. "So it seems that the Telmarines have themselves a weapon of sorts, leverage over King Caspian for he will surely not allow this girl to come to harm if their suspicions are correct. I think it is time we sent a delegation to our King and see where words will take us."

"You can't be serious!" shouted a dwarf from across the circle of creatures, "He's a Telmarine, King or not he can't be trusted! The only time there has been peace with Telmar is when the Kings and Queens of old have been here!"

"And if this girl is related to the Kings and Queens of old?" Chirped Paraeepit from the edge of the circle, "She could be what's needed to bring peace again."

A centaur lowered its head from gazing at the night sky and in an almost dreamy, prophetic voice said simply, "The time is ripe for a new chapter in Narnia's story. Swords and arrows will create one path, words another."

"We must try to find peace with King Caspian for the sake of Narnia. The Archer Girl has an important role to play I feel." Added the leopard. "Parareepit, you are to seek out King Caspian and bring him to hear our voices. Words will be exchanged before swords are crossed."

Parareepit nodded as the dwarf began protesting once again. The centaur silenced everyone once again as his voice flowed lyrically around the gathering. "I have watched the skies for many years, but never has the path been so cloaked in uncertainty as now. We should think of the Great Aslan and act in mind of his approval if we are to end this fighting."

"A son of Adam or a daughter of Eve must rule for there to be peace, that much is certain. May your journey be swift Parareepit." Added the leopard, bowing her head to the mouse as he sprang into motion leaving the small council in silence.

The dwarf grumbled quietly, "I for one will never trust a Telmarine."

"You forget yourself dwarf. Your kind have also wronged Narnia, you would do well to remember that." Hissed a faun, "Don't think we have forgotten, your people betrayed us to the White Witch which nearly killed Narnia."

"And the Telmarines didn't?" countered the Dwarf

"King Caspian ended that did he not?" answered the faun, drawing himself up to his full height, a full head and shoulders above his argumentative companion.

"Mejre, Gille, enough." Growled the leopard with a pointed look at first the faun and then the dwarf before turning in a slow circle in order to see all members of the group. "We will wait for Parareepit to speak with the King before coming to any conclusions." And with that she stalked away from the clearing and into the woods out of sight.