Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the reviews and ideas. I will def take into account what all of you have to say while I'm writing this. Anywho, here is the next chapter. Enjoy and please leave a review! They make me write faster (promise) :D
Chapter 7
Of Slippery Slopes and Men
As the hours passed and the Bridge of Beruna loomed ever closer, the woods became dense with brambles and the birds hardly made a sound. Lucy's tears were silent now, as was the rest of her. She mainly looked to the ground and avoided speaking to anyone except for Edmund, who walked beside her and offered his assistance when the trail became difficult. Susan continued to mumble about being lost, even though hardly anyone paid any attention, and Trumpkin glanced around at the trees with caution, for he knew that they were steadily heading into Telmarine territory. Cara and Peter were still in the lead, both covered in sweat and briars from clearing the path for everyone else.
Despite the situation, both high standing royals talked and laughed as if touched by something that no one else in the group could understand. All earlier arguments were long forgotten as Peter not only cleared the path of briars, but also Cara's hair, which was quickly becoming as tangled with them as the average briar bush.
"Oh do stand still for a moment," said Peter as his hands worked themselves around a rather difficult briar that had happily lodged itself in the middle of Cara's head.
"Peter, the briars can wait," replied Cara with a chuckle as Peter nearly tripped trying to untangle the mess.
"As you wish, but by the time we leave these woods your hair will be nothing more than one giant briar patch," Peter answered as he let his hands fall back to his sides. Deciding that Peter was probably correct, Cara pulled the remaining briars from her hair and quickly braided it back, hoping that containing the wild strands would prevent another briar assault.
"How is it possible that your sister's hair has not one single briar in it?" Cara asked after glancing back at Susan, who seemed quite flushed and tired of walking, but still looked pristine with no briars and little sweat.
"I suppose she is better at this than you are," answered Peter with a smirk.
"You are probably right," commented Cara. "I was raised by centaurs if you remember."
"You are not allowed to use that excuse. Centaurs are very noble creatures and should not be held responsible for your lacking," Peter responded with a chuckle before attempting to jump out of the way when Cara's hand came flying towards his shoulder. He was unlucky in his attempt though, for Cara's fist made steady contact with his shoulder. Peter laughed at how pitiful an attempt the punch was.
"You're one to laugh, noble King. The only thing magnificent about you in your name," Cara shot back with a smirk.
Behind the arguing pair, the rest of the group—save for Susan because she was busy dreaming of being elsewhere—was listening intently to the lively banter. Though Lucy and Edmund tried not to show it, both were smiling inwardly at the happiness that Peter radiated. Although much of it could be related to their reentrance to Narnia, it was quite obvious that the High Queen had some part in their brother's recent joy. Trumpkin, on the other hand, found the dispute to be rather gag worthy, and spent much of his time rolling his eyes.
"I can prove to you my magnificence if you would like," Peter said after sporting a look of shock at Cara's words.
"And how would you go about proving this magnificence you speak of?" asked Cara with a challenging tone.
"I can challenge you to a duel," responded Peter, which caused Cara to laugh.
"And how would a duel with me prove anything, my Lord? I'm positive you would easily beat me."
"I think beating you would be half of the excitement," explained Peter, for he had a vision in his head of Cara pushed against a tree with her hair blowing free and her breathing uneven. What happened next in his mind caused a smirk to show on his face; a smirk so blatant that Cara could not help but notice its appearance.
"Why are you suddenly spor—" Cara's question was cut off by a sound that echoed off the trees and shook the ground beneath them. It was steady and continuous; each beat louder and deeper into the ground. The group stopped and glanced around, all wearing looks of confusion.
"What in Aslan's name…" Susan said softly as the sound continued to reverberate through the air.
"I think I might know what it is. Let's get a wee bit closer," Trumpkin said as he moved passed Cara and Peter and disappeared into the brush. Peter grabbed Cara's hand and pulled her along as he followed behind the dwarf. Soon the others fell into line and the group slowly made their way closer to the Beruna River and closer to the source of the banging.
The trees became sparser the further they went, and voices of men yelling and talking mixed in with the sound of construction and the rhythmic banging that continued to shake the ground below them. Without warning they broke through the trees and entered the rocky banks of the Beruna. Men were scattered along the desolate shore, scrambling about like ants in an upturned bed.
Edmund crawled further onto the bank and crouched behind a group of logs surrounded by low hanging branches. Only yards away a cluster of men were cutting trees and stripping them of their bark. Soon everyone joined him.
"There's your source of the banging," said Trumpkin as he pointed out a large machine driving gigantic posts into the ground. "They're making a bridge large enough for artillery."
"They're preparing for war," commented Cara.
"Perhaps this wasn't the best way to come," Susan whispered to Peter, for it seemed that they had no hope of crossing without being seen.
"Maybe we should leave, Peter," Edmund added only moments as he watched a group of men walking towards their place of hiding. With a nod, Peter turned from the log and started for the woods. Just as the others rose to follow him, an arrow whizzed passed Lucy's head and struck the tree beside her. Her eyes grew wide in shock and a small scream escaped her month. More arrows ensued, accompanied by the sounds of men yelling.
"Stay low to the ground," shouted Edmund, "and move as quickly as possible."
"Peter, grab your sister and Edmund and get out of here. Trumpkin. Susan. Your bows, now!" Cara yelled as she grabbed a few of her daggers.
Too worried about the well-being of his family to argue, Peter grabbed Lucy by the arm and pulled her up the hill with Edmund trailing not far behind trying to keep any arrows from piercing his sister. The remaining three stumbled and crawled up the hill as they attempted to dissuade the Telmarine soldiers from pursuing them. Trumpkin let the first arrow fly, killing a soldier instantly. The death brought more yells but fewer pursuers. Seeing that fighting back was working, both Cara and Susan let their weapons go, each killing one of their own.
"Come on!" Peter yelled from above them. Although most of the men refused to enter the woods in pursuit, those with bows were relentless. Arrows continued to fly past them as they struggled up the slippery hill.
"Aim higher!" a gruff voiced man ordered from just outside of the wood. Cara glanced up to see Peter and Edmund trying to avoid arrows while still protecting Lucy.
"They're trying to trap us," Casa said to Susan and Trumpkin as a horde of men broke through the trees below them.
Seeing the men quickly approaching, Peter turned to Edmund and ordered him to get Lucy as far away as possible. With a swift nod Edmund grabbed his sister's hand and disappeared deeper into the woods.
Although Susan, Cara, and Trumpkin were able to kill nearly three soldiers a piece, they still continued to come in droves, seemingly undeterred by the death of their comrades. After using her last dagger on a soldier attacking Susan, Cara grabbed her sword and plunged it into the stomach of a Telmarine just as he was about to strike her. His dead weight lurched forward causing Cara to fall onto her back and slide downward a few feet. The weight pushed her deeper into the ground; the soldier's armor digging into her chest and pelvis. Cara's breath began to come in bursts, her lungs struggling to fill under the pressure.
Susan stood only feet away, but the distance seemed like miles to Cara. Around her, both the gentle Queen and Trumpkin continued to fight completely unaware of her situation. Cara struggled to find something—anything—to get the attention of someone. Her hand moved over the rough ground beneath her searching with growing anxiety. Finally her palm felt the jagged edges of a rock, and with her remaining power she grabbed it and lobbed it at Susan.
The Queen came to Cara instantly, and with great effort on both their parts, Cara was able to breathe again. She gasped and sputtered as she climbed to her feet. Once steady, Cara grabbed her blade from the stomach of the dead soldier and followed Susan further away from the oncoming soldiers.
"Trumpkin get up here!" Peter yelled as he ran down the slope towards Susan and Cara. The dwarf was yards below them, killing soldiers as if he was twice their size.
"Get into deeper woods and find cover," Peter ordered the two Queens.
"But Pet—!" Cara started, but was cut off by the look in Peter's eyes. His order was final, and not even Cara could disobey. With one last look, the two parted.
Susan and Cara found Edmund and huddled underneath the shady branches of an ancient oak. Lucy ran out when she saw Susan and wrapped her arms tightly around her torso.
"Thank Aslan you are alright," she said, "but where is Peter? And Trumpkin?"
"Not far behind us," Cara answered, silently praying that she was right. Thick, uncomfortable silence filled the air as they waited for Peter and Trumpkin. Edmund paced with his hand clutched firmly on the hilt of his sword, while Susan and Lucy hugged each other tightly and stared in the direction of the hill. Cara's lungs felt tight once again, and her heart beat frantically in her chest.
Suddenly the sound of crunching leaves met their ears. Everyone stood up straighter and watched the trees ahead of them, hoping that Peter and Trumpkin were the cause of the noise and not the soldiers.
Their prayers were answered when Trumpkin and Peter ran through the trees, both panting heavily and covered in grime. The D.L.F. seemed completely unharmed, but Peter's shoulder was covered in a deep red.
"Are you wounded?" Susan asked as she approached her brother. Lucy followed her with worried eyes and her hand clasping her cordial.
"No," he said between deep breathes. "It's someone else's. Come on; we need to keep moving."
When Peter went to walk off his eyes met Cara's, and she instantly knew he was lying, but in silence he pleaded with her to keep his secret. As before, Cara obeyed.
Tired and deflated, Peter led the group back to the gorge. Although he walked with a tightened jaw and a steady step, it was easy to tell that the world seemed to be weighing down upon him. The gorge was an utter failure. Beruna was an utter failure. Morning came and went and took with it the hopes of reaching Caspian by breakfast.
Peter watched as the sun reached its peek in the sky and rolled down the other side of the world, his mind filling with thoughts of better days. Days when being High King seemed easy. Days when decisions came naturally and always worked. Days when he did not feel the need to prove himself.
Lost in his thoughts, Peter did not notice as he walked through the brambles once again, or as he slowly approached the edge of the Rush River, its high walls stretching out before him.
"The only way to cross is to fall," said Trumpkin as the group lined up beside the gorge and stared down at the trickling waters below. "Who's first?"
Finally shaken from his thoughts, Peter ignored the D.L.F.'s remark and turned to Lucy. "So… where exactly did you think you saw Aslan?"
"I wish you all would stop trying to sound like grownups," she responded as she walked closer to the gorge. "I didn't think I saw him; I did see him."
"I am a grownup," Trumpkin said under his breath; his words only loud enough for Edmund to hear.
Everyone watched as Lucy walked dangerously close to the gorge's rock face, her eyes busy scanning the opposite bank. "It was right over—"
Without warning the flimsy bank cracked and Lucy's mouth emitted a high pitched scream. Susan called for her sister and ran to the side of the gorge, but it was too late, for the ground gave way and Lucy tumbled down with it. As quickly as the excitement came, it left, and as the dust cleared all fears were squashed, for Lucy sat unharmed only a few feet below the rest of them.
"...here," Lucy finished her previous statement as she glanced around. Only feet to her left a small path twisted its way down the side of the cliff. Whether or not the young Queen had seen Aslan was no longer important. A way across was found, and Caspian was now only hours away.
Cara looked to Peter and smiled. Everyone smiled. Hope and energy returned to the group with vigor, and with joy-filled laughs, everyone climbed down the small hole that Lucy created and started down the winding path.
With Lucy leading the way, the company managed to help each other to the bottom in only half an hour's time. Once their toes were able to touch the Rush River, they dipped their hands into the cool water and drank. After quenching their thirst, they washed their faces and cooled their arms, before falling back into line behind Lucy and slowly staggering across the slippery rocks that lined the river's floor.
Lucy nearly fell as they crossed the trickling river, but the helpful hand of the D.L.F. steadied her feet, and with a quick smile the two friends continued on their way. Cara kept a steady eye on Peter's shoulder as they continued to travel forward. The bleeding seemed to have stopped, but infection was possible with Peter's dirty clothes and the incessant heat. Cara hoped that they would be able to reach Caspian—not King Caspian, mind you—by nightfall, but as the sun continued her journey downward, it seemed that another campsite was in the near future.
Although the walk down the gorge was short and full of smiles, the walk up was quite the opposite. Bushes, trees, and brambles covered the path in numerous places, making the walk far more treacherous and inconveniently longer. Peter, who quickly took over the job of leading the way, managed to bump his shoulder on the branch of a tree while helping Susan cross a small gap in the path. His wound immediately started bleeding again, and despite his best efforts to cover it up, both Cara and Susan noticed only moments after it happened. Neither said anything, but both shared a glance that indicated that Peter's secret was common knowledge between them.
After nearly an hour of upward struggle, the gorge finally lay behind them. Hungry and tired, everyone agreed to walk only slightly further inland before finding a cozy spot to set up camp. The thought of eating and sleeping brought about a small amount of joy into the group, and Trumpkin immediately began discussing the way he planned to cook the bear meat they had stashed away in their pockets.
The mention of bear meat caused everyone to quicken their pace and search the area for a perfect place to rest. Not ten minutes into their walk, everyone settled on a small patch of earth surrounded by fallen logs and moss. Peter and Edmund instantly emptied out their pockets and passed the meat off to the dwarf. Once their pockets were good and empty, the boys walked off in search of dry wood, while the girls found comfortable spots to rest their tired legs.
Not long after the Kings left, they returned with arms full of dry wood. Soon a steady fire was blazing with meat and apples roasting happily upon it. Everyone sat around the fire staring at the meat as it sizzled and popped. Once Trumpkin deemed it ready, greedy hands grabbed for the juiciest pieces of meat. Although it was far from a home-cooked meal, the meat was tender and filled with the flavor of roasted apple; a combination that everyone agreed was quite good.
After nearly twenty minutes of silent eating, stomachs were full and eye lids were heavy. Edmund and Trumpkin instantly found a comfortable position and closed their eyes, for the day was nearly gone and the sounds of night were fast approaching. Lucy rolled on her back and stared wide eyed at the stars, the constellations bright against the dark sky.
Susan looked to Cara, both agreeing silently that one of them needed to tend to Peter's shoulder. With a nod, Cara indicated that she would handle the wound. Susan gave her a smile of thanks before rolling onto her side and falling into a dreamless sleep.
As quietly as she could, Cara made her way to Peter and took a seat beside him. The High King smiled affectionately at her before returning his eyes to the glowing flames before him.
"Let me look at your shoulder," Cara said softly, her eyes not leaving his face. Peter sighed and absentmindedly ran his and over his wound.
"It's fine, really. No one needs to look at it," he responded.
"I'm not asking you, Peter," said Cara, her eyes still focused. Uncomfortable under her stare, Peter pulled his gaze away from the fire and looked intently back at her. It was obvious from the look on Cara's face that she truly was not asking, so with another loud, obnoxious sigh, Peter turned his body and offered her his shoulder.
Cara carefully rolled up the sleeve of Peter's tunic and looked thoroughly at the wound. Truly it was not bad, but it did need to be cleaned and bandaged to thwart infection.
"You should probably be wearing your armor," Cara commented softy as she ripped the cleanest part of her dress and attempted to clean the dried blood away from Peter's arm.
"It's just so bloody hot," Peter replied; his voice slightly strained by the pain Cara was inadvertently inflicting upon him.
"Carrying it is nearly as hot, Peter, and if you had it on this wouldn't have happened," she replied.
"I didn't expect we would be attacked," he explained, before tightening his jaw and looking up to the sky. Cara's fingers worked skillfully around the wound, trying to rid it of dirt and grime. Although she tried to be careful, her fingers would occasionally slip or be too harsh, causing a sharp pain to travel through Peter's arm.
"My lord, woman," Peter said as he pulled his shoulder from Cara's grasp. "I believe I've had enough probing for tonight." Cara responded by pulling his shoulder back and sending Peter a harsh look. With another wince, Peter gave in and returned his eyes to the stars.
"I made so many mistakes today," he muttered to himself, his mind still recalling the failures they endured. Cara looked sadly up at him, carefully taking in the curve of his jaw and the sadness in his expression.
"We all make mistakes, Peter," Cara responded. Feeling her eyes upon him, Peter glanced down and smiled softly.
"I suppose that's true. You did tell me not to go to the gorge, and that is precisely where we were able to cross," he said will a mischievous look.
"You are such a prat," Cara said with a chuckle. "I was the one that voted we should look around, though," she added moments later.
"Your only saving argument," mumbled Peter causing Cara to laugh once again.
Unbeknownst to the quietly talking King and Queen, a third party still lay awake. Lucy's eyes continued to gaze up at the stars as she listened to her brother and Cara talk deep into the night. Peter's voice held a warmth that she had never heard in it before. Just once she chanced a quick look, but the two were so engrossed with each other that Lucy could have watched them all night without notice.
As Cara and Peter curled up beside each other and fell in a deep sleep, Lucy turned her gaze away from them and looked to the trees. Faces emerged and disappeared as she watched them, the leaves creating eyes and mouths as they danced in the cool night air. From a distance a breeze approached, and carried upon it was the deep rumbling of a lion's roar.