Hey everyone! Thank you oh so much for the reviews. I had a great time writing this chapter, so hopefully you will enjoy reading it. Please review :)
Chapter 9
Visions from the Past
"You built this?" Peter asked incredulously as he and Cara walked through the tall grass that flourished within the small valley. Before them, the How stood like an ancient monument sheltered by the ever changing landscape. Small patches of stone were visible between gaps of trees and vines, and only one small hole in the very front indicated that there was an entrance. It was a place of hiding and a place of the past, both thriving with new life and encompassing the stories of the old.
"Well not personally," Cara responded with a laugh, "but I had it built."
"And we thank Aslan everyday that you did," Caspian added from a few paces in front of them.
Lucy walked beside him, with her hands full of wild flowers and her hair long and free behind her. Cara watched the young Queen as her eyes absorbed the beauty and happiness of the landscape, and as she did, she began to recall the days when she too was carefree and full of life.
Cara's first skirmishes with the Telmarines always ended in success, the small battles and night thievery, more like an adventure than a struggle for power and life. Once crowned, the restoration of the Stone Table and the stories of Narnia's past came first in the line of responsibilities. A fortress of marble and granite was erected around the table where Aslan was reborn, and paintings illustrating the stories of old covered the walls in vibrant color and life.
The How became a place of celebration and joy, but only a year after its completion, the ocean's waters became dark with Telmarine ships, and the place of worship turned into a place of hiding, for the Telmarines feared the monument, believing that the soul of the Great Lion dwelled within its walls.
As battles continued, and Cara was forced to leave behind her gowns and replace them with armor, those hiding within the How's walls dug tunnels and built rooms, making it one large, dark sanctuary for those that sill believed in the power of the Lion.
It is for this reason that the How brought a flood of emotions into Cara as she walked before it. Not long after the Telmarines attacked, the How lost its mystery that kept it safe and the place of worship turned into nothing more than a steadily filling tomb. The entrance to the How used to be open and wide and the roof bare of any trees or brush, but in a struggle to keep the last remaining refuge for those living beyond Cair Paravel hidden, the entrance was closed until it was nothing more than a small hole, and the landscape was encouraged to grow upon it.
The precautions kept the How alive, but as Cara walked into its dark interior, she could not help but feel that death still hung thick upon its walls.
"Are you alright?" Peter whispered into Cara's ear as they walked down the corridor that led to the heart of the How. His voice was warm and soothing, its power flowing like honey through Cara's veins.
She responded with a simple nod, her mind too intoxicated by the man beside her to speak. Peter watched Cara in silence, his mind memorizing the way her hair looked in the torch light and the way her gown clutched her petite curves. Caspian walked feet in front of them, his eyes occasionally glancing back and taking in the High Queen, each time causing the beast in Peter to raise its head.
Cara was unaffected and completely oblivious to the small battle going on around her. Peter walked so closely to her side, that her mind could think of nothing but the feel of his fingers as they slowly brushed hers and the way that hearing his voice managed to banish all evils from her mind.
As they continued down the corridor the air became thicker and cooler, for beyond the stones walls dirt and earth surrounded them. The sounds of blacksmiths working and creatures talking began to drift through the corridor, and with one last turn a gigantic room opened in front of them. Torches covered the walls and illuminated the chamber, the flickering light displaying hundreds of Narnians working to ensure their survival.
Many stopped when Caspian walked into the room tailed by Cara and the Pevensies, their eyes wide with amazement and hope at the site of their ancient monarchs. Peter stepped past Caspian and walked fully into the room, his jaw squared and his hand resting on the hilt of Rhindon. Soon Edmund and Susan followed with Lucy trailing close behind. They took their place beside Peter with pride, causing a silence to envelope the room that filled everyone's hearts with anticipation and squashed the fears that once ran rapid through the Narnian people.
Slowly the watching eyes left the Pevensies and landed on Cara and Caspian. The High Queen lifted her chin, while the young Prince cast his gaze down under the heavy stares. Peter offered Cara his hand, and pulled her slowly forward when her soft palm met his. Susan stepped aside slightly and allowed Cara to take her place beside Peter. With all of their sovereigns before them, the creatures of Narnia bowed their heads showing their respect.
"Narnians," Peter's voice rang out. "Long have the Telmarines believed that this land belonged to them. Let us come from the woods and hollows. Let us step forth from the holes and water. Let us show them whose land this truly is."
A great roar of voices and clapping erupted at Peter's words. Cara turned to Peter with a warm smile, her hand still clasped comfortably in his, and as she gazed at the High King, she felt for the first time that the Telmarines could be overcome.
"It may not be what you are used to," Caspain said to Peter once the applause died down and the Narnians returned to their work. "But it is defensible."
"For the time being," Cara said as she walked beside the Prince and the High King, her eyes taking in the way that the How had changed over the years, and the things that remained hauntingly the same. Lucy and Susan had wandered off, both exploring their new home, while Edmund walked amongst the Narnians shaking hands and offering his assistance.
"We have to make do with what we have," Caspian replied as he looked down at the petite Queen.
"It's only a matter of time before the Telmarines complete that bridge and locate this—this—hole in the ground. What will you do then, Prince? What will you do when the doors of the How are blocked by the rubble of catapults and the people of Narnia are pushed further under ground and further away from the light of day and the feeling of warmth?" Cara asked in a cold tone.
Caspian was unable to reply, and the weight of their situation finally seemed to sink into him and sit upon his heart. Cara's expression softened as she watched the Prince's expression go from hurt to sadness and fear.
"This place is not defensible, Caspian," she said softly. "I too made that mistake once, and it nearly cost me my life, as well as the lives of my people." His face still lost, Cara placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled softly. "You are not alone in this."
Her last words seemed to warm Caspian's core, for he returned her smile and placed the palm of his hand upon hers. Peter watched the too with disgust, the animal in him raising its head once again at the site of Caspian's hand upon Cara's.
"Yes, thank Aslan you are not alone" Peter said suddenly, his voice slightly bitter. Cara immediately pulled her hand from Caspian's shoulder and looked at Peter with confusion.
"Peter," Susan said as she appeared from the head of another corridor. The King took his eyes from Cara and looked to his sister. "You might want to see this."
"Cara," she added a moment later, "you as well."
Soon the four Pevensies, Cara, and Caspian stood in a darkened chamber whose walls were nothing but carved stone and dirt. Upon them, faint pictures shown when the flickering flames of the torch offered enough light. The four monarchs were displayed in an array of smudged colors, their entire tale covering the wall. Lucy's eyes caught site of an image of Mr. Tumnus standing beside the lamp post, and her heart swelled with sadness. With a shaky hand, she reached towards the wall and allowed her fingers to rub over the drawing.
"It's us," Susan said softly as she scanned the images with sadness in her eyes. Cara glanced over the images as well, taking in the Pevensies arrival into Narnia and the hunt of the White Stag when they left.
"Did you have these done?" Peter asked as his hand brushed against on image of Aslan.
"No," Cara replied softly. "I asked for carvings, and those surround the room which encompasses the Stone Table."
"There's more," Susan said as she took Cara's hand and led her around a corner. Caspian followed with a torch, and when the light illuminated the walls Cara let out a shaky breath. Before her were more images; images that displayed her story and her past.
"Dapplestone," she said softly as her finger traced the face of a centaur carrying a small bundle in his arms. The Pevensies gathered behind her as she looked over the images with sadness and growing excitement.
"This is the centaur that found me as a child," Cara explained before moving to the next depiction, "and this is Briartail, his wife. They were my family until Aslan came to me."
Next came an image of Telmarines being pushed from the wood, a young Cara leading the attack with the Great Lion at her side, and beside it was Cara's coronation with Dapplestone placing a crown upon her head and two horses beside her, one with the wings of an eagle and the other shielded in golden armor. Cara looked at the image with pain. "They were gifts," she said softly. "Gifts from the stars."
Lucy placed her small hand into Cara's and squeezed, her presence encouraging the Queen to continue. "Altair," she said as she pointed to the winged horse, "was the only horse to be born with the wings of an eagle. She was my watcher, her eyes seeing beyond the vast ocean and wood."
"What happened to her?" Susan asked in a whisper, for the tone of Cara's voice indicated that death came to the mare.
"Caspian the First harpooned her with an arrow of gold and ripped her wings from her sides. It was punishment for not succumbing to his demands," Cara explained, silent tears swelling in her chest. In the shadows, Caspian's eyes fell to the floor in shame and hate for his people.
"And what of the other," Peter asked and nodded towards the horse wearing the emblem of Aslan upon his chest.
"His name was Alvaro," Cara answered with a slightly happier tone. "He was my guardian, and the only horse I ever rode into battle. He was alive still when Aslan turned me to stone, for nothing made by mortals could pierce his armor."
"Perhaps he returned to the stars, awaiting the day when he can join you in battle once again," Lucy said with a small smile. Cara glanced down at the young Queen and squeezed her hand tightly.
"I hope you are right," she replied.
The remaining pictures depicted the building of the How and the coming of the Telmarine ships, which Cara had little need to explain. Ending the illustrations of the High Queen was an image of her body still and reaching towards something just out of her reach. Peter let out a small chuckle upon seeing it.
"You were reaching with the other hand," he commented when Cara came to look at the image as well.
"You recall which hand I was reaching with?" she asked.
"How could I not?" he responded. "I will never forget the way my left cheek felt when your cold, right palm touched it."
"And how did your cheek feel?" Cara questioned as she stepped closer to the High King, her hand reaching as it did the day he brought life back into her.
"Ablaze," he whispered as Cara's hand once again touched his cheek. His light eyes bore down into her dark ones, causing both of their hearts to race. Cara nearly trembled when Peter's palm rested on top of hers, pushing warmth further into both of their bodies.
"I'm awfully hungry," Lucy said. Her words completely breaking Cara and Peter's contact, for Cara dropped her hand from Peter's face and turned to the Queen.
"I could eat," she said, "as well as take a bath." Susan's eyes lit up at the idea of a bath.
"Truly, feeling clean would be splendid," the older Queen added.
"Follow me," Cara said with a smile and grabbed both Susan and Lucy's hands. Together, the three Queens disappeared down another passage and out of sight.
After a few minutes of walking down corridors, Cara came to a wall that was bare save for one torch. She looked to Lucy and winked before pulling the torch forward. Without warning the wall lurched back and exposed a passage way leading even further into the ground. Cara grabbed the torch before leading the two other Queens into it. Only a few steps down a chamber opened out in front of them. Using the torch, Cara lit a stream of liquid the surrounded the room, which the fire spread across until the entire room was burning with light.
"My private chambers," Cara explained. "We can heat water for a bath and possibly change. Although I doubt any of my dresses are still intact after all these years."
Excited about the possibility of feeling clean, Susan and Cara warmed a few large buckets of water over the fire while Lucy looked around the room. The chamber was built with marble and images of Aslan covered the walls.
"Where exactly is the Stone Table?" Lucy asked suddenly.
"Above us," Cara replied. "The walls that surround it are much higher up, for the Table is nearly at the top of the How."
"I would love to see it," Lucy replied as she came to stand next to Susan who was dipping her fingers into the water to check the temperature.
"Of course," Cara said with a smile as she lifted one of the buckets of water and carried it towards a large basin at the back of the room, "but let us bathe first."
After the basin was filled to the brim with warm water, the girls rid themselves of their dirty clothes and carefully stepped in. Susan gave a happy sigh as she sunk under the water, allowing her dark her to become soaked. Lucy laughed at her sister and did the same, small bubbles escaping her mouth as she sat happily at the bottom of the basin.
"I don't think a bath has ever felt so marvelous," Susan said softly to herself. "I do hope some of your dresses are still wearable, for I will hate myself if I have to put that horrid chainmail on once again."
"Truly," Cara replied before ducking under the water and running her fingers through her unruly tresses.
"Do you ever wonder why Aslan crowed you High Queen?" Lucy asked Cara once both had resurfaced.
"Lucy!" Susan reprimanded, for she thought the question rude.
"It's alright," Cara said with a small laugh. "Often," she replied to Lucy. "I asked Aslan once, but he answer only confused me more. That is until recently."
"Peter," Susan said softly. Cara looked to the Queen before offering a small nod.
The bath ended quickly, for the water did not stay warm long and their stomachs ached with hunger. Cara and Susan held their breath as Cara pulled open the door to her wardrobe, both hoping that new, clean dresses were in their future.
"By Aslan," Susan said as Cara gasped beside her. The wardrobe seemed untouched, just as the Pevensie's things were back at Cair Paravel. Giggling like little girls, Cara and Susan each grabbed a new gown and helped each other get dressed. Once sporting new apparel, Cara searched for something that was small enough to fit Lucy, and even though it was slightly too long, she found a dress of the darkest blue that fit the small Queen quite well.
An hour later, the three Queens sat with Edmund and Peter feeling refreshed in every way possible. Their stomachs were full with a rich beef stew and their bodies were completely clean. Susan and Lucy sent happy glances towards Cara and Peter, who were talking quietly amongst themselves, but Edmund seemed oblivious to the seemingly obvious attraction, for his mind was completely focused on his second bowl of soup.
"We are ready," Caspian said as he entered the small chamber. Peter pushed himself from the ground before helping Cara to her feet, while Edmund quickly slurped down the last of his soup.
After grabbing a torch, Caspian led the group to a tunnel hidden at the back of the room. The royals climbed for nearly ten minutes before another room opened out in front of them. Caspian touched his torch to the stream of liquid just as Cara had done, and soon the room glowed with bright light. The Pevensies looked around the room in wonder, for it was far larger and grander than any of the others they had seen in the How. Pillars of marble supported the walls which were covered in carvings of Aslan and his people. In the middle of the room sat the Stone Table, the largest carving of Aslan directly behind it.
Mesmerized by the image, Lucy walked slowly to the table and placed her small hand upon it. "He must know what he's doing," she said to Susan as she came to stand beside her.
Both Cara and Caspian watched as the Pevensies looked to the Lion before turning to each other. "I think it's up to us now," Peter replied.
Not moments later a small group of Narnians walked into the chamber, all bowing slightly to the monarchs before them.
"Peter," Caspian said as he walked up to the new arrivals. "This is Glenstorm, our general, and his two sons. The others I believe you have met."
Peter turned to the general and bowed his head. "We need to plan a raid," he began as he looked to each member of the group. Reepicheep stood with his troop of mice, while Trumpkin and two minotaurs watched silently from the back. "Our only hope in securing enough weapons is to slip into the Telmarine camp and steal theirs."
"They will surely see us," Trumpkin spoke out, for he truly did not wish to get captured once again.
"Not if we attack at night," Cara responded as she stepped forward. "Only a few—the most quiet few—will actually enter into the camp. The rest of you will wait in the woods as the swords and armor are carried out. No one will even know we were there."
"Who will lead us?" asked Glenstorm.
"I will," Peter, Cara, and Caspian all said at the same time.
"My Lord," Edmund said softly from beside Lucy, causing her to giggle.
"May I offer some advice?" he added in a louder voice.
Everyone looked over at the sound of Edmund's voice and watched as he walked into the center of the group. "Caspian knows this camp and these people, therefore he should lead this raid, but one more of us should go with him, just incase something happens."
"I will go," Cara said instantly, which caused Peter to glare down at her, for thoughts of her and Caspian quickly entered into his mind.
"No, I think I should be the one to go," he responded. "I am the High King and it is my duty to lead these people."
"And I am the High Queen," Cara answered back with defiance in her voice. "My duties are the same as yours."
"For Pete's sake," Edmund cut in. "I will go."
"NO!" both Peter and Cara shouted without looking at the King. Edmund shook his head and slinked off into the corner of the room where Susan was leaning against the wall.
"If I may your Majesty," Reepicheep said as he approached the two royals. "The High Queen knows the Telmarines nearly as well as Caspian. Would her company not be a greater advantage?"
Cara looked at Peter with a smirk before turning away and walking out of the room.
Please tell me what you think!