Enjoy and PLEASE leave a review! They help me with my writing!
Chapter 16
The Waking of the Queen
There was an image in Peter's mind that he could not erase. It was of Cara, her body stretched upon the ground and her eyes cast up at the endless sky. She was laughing, her slender lips curved in a wild smile and her arms grasped tightly around her body. It was the first time that Peter realized just how truly beautiful her laugh was. It was the first moment that Peter's heart no longer belonged to him. Then he had yet to realize it, but looking back now, it seemed blatantly obvious that his feelings for her went far beyond what they should.
And now she was gone.
Peter wanted to curse Caspian. Curse Aslan. Curse anyone but himself, but as he sat silently with a blade of grass pressed between his fingers and his eyes watching nothing, the weight of Cara's death began to fall heavily upon his shoulders. His chest restricted as he fought to contain the growing emotions that longed to spill out. The blade of grass was now nothing more than a ball of green goo, and his eyes were blurred by the tears that continued to swell. Not able to fight it any longer, the tears burst onto Peter's pale cheeks, and his body released the bubbling emotions with two small hiccups.
"Pete?" a voice said from behind him causing Peter to quickly rub the tears from his eyes and attempt to act as if nothing was wrong.
"Ye—yeah," he choked out as he turned his head to glance back. It was Edmund, his face sporting a look of concern and his hair rumbled from the wind. "I—um—I was just about to head back to the—the How," Peter continued as he tried to climb to his feet.
Edmund approached him quickly, his legs collapsing under him and his arms wrapping tightly around Peter's neck. Peter attempted to pull away from his brother's grasp, but Edmund refused to let go. Feeling the warmth of his brother around him, Peter ended his struggle and rested his head upon Edmund's shoulder. The tears began again, louder this time than they were before. Trying to control his own emotions, Edmund held Peter tighter and closed his eyes.
"I was so foolish," Peter whispered into Edmund's chest. "I could have saved her, Ed. I could have done something."
"You made the decision that you thought was right. There is nothing you could have done for her," Edmund replied, his voice cracking softly.
"It's not true," Peter answered with a sob. "I should have listened."
"Peter! Edmund!" Lucy's voice suddenly rang out. Edmund looked up to find his younger sister running frantically towards them. She stopped when she saw Peter's tear stained face pull away from Edmund's chest, her own tears beginning to fall again.
"It's Caspian," she finally continued. "He is about to do something horrible." Peter pushed away from Edmund and clamored to his feet, his hands wiping away the wetness on his face.
"Where is he?" he asked as he approached his sister, his hand finding the hilt of Rhindon.
"The Stone Table," she replied. "Hurry!" Both Kings immediately broke into a run and headed for the How. Panting heavily, Lucy followed as close to them as her small lungs would allow.
Peter entered the How at a full run; the growing panic in his chest taking the place of his sadness. A blue glow filtered into the halls surrounding the chamber of the Stone Table, and an icy chill wafted through the air. Peter could feel her presence long before he reached the room, his lungs growing stiff as they inhaled the cold of pure evil.
"Stop!" Peter yelled as he rounded the last corner and entered the vast room. The blue light was nearly blinding, but through squinted eyes Peter could make out the form of Jadis enclosed in ice, her hand and mind reaching out to the Prince before her.
Focused on reaching Caspian, Peter paid little attention to the hag that approached him until her feathered hands and sharp beak were gripping at his face. Peter cried out at the attack and swung Rhindon towards her. She blocked the blow quickly and kicked Peter with her scaled legs, her voice calling out in an eerie squawk.
Only feet from Peter, Edmund found himself fighting to avoid the bite of the werewolf that bore down upon him. The creature was quick, his strong legs kicking and slashing as his hands reached for Edmund's sword. Still trying to push the beast back, Edmund watched as Nikabrik grabbed Lucy and flung her to the ground. Attempting to reach his sister, Edmund pushed against the werewolf and forced him to topple over backwards, but his agility allowed him to climb back to his feet in mere seconds.
"Lucy!" Edmund tried to choke out, but the werewolf leapt forward and crushed him into the ground. Turning at the sound of her brother's voice, Lucy let out a small scream as her eyes caught sight of Nikabrik making his way towards her with a knife clutched in his fingers.
Without warning the black dwarf let out a stifled gasp and collapsed to the ground. Lucy looked up with wide eyes to find Trumpkin looking down at her. The two shared a quick nod before Lucy climbed to her feet and looked for something useful to do.
Edmund was breathing heavily in the corner, the dead carcass of the werewolf resting near him. Peter did not seem to be fairing as well, for he was on the ground with the hag on top of him, her beak snapping close to his face. Gathering all of his strength, Peter pulled his legs tight to his body and under the hag. She screamed as he launched her into the air, her body knocking into the stone wall and collapsing onto the ground. Moving quickly, Peter jumped to his feet and ran towards Caspian, who was now only a foot from the White Witch.
"Get away from him," Peter yelled as he knocked Caspian out of the way and to the ground. Jadis jumped back slightly, her white fingers disappearing behind her ice encasing once again.
"Peter, dear," she said in a silky voice. "I've missed you." Staring directly into the eyes of Jadis, Peter became mesmerized as her hand once again slipped through the ice and reached towards him. "Come," she whispered. "Just one drop of your blood will do. You know you can't do this alone."
Peter continued to stare, his sword slipping from his fingers and towards the ground. Controlled by something other than himself, Peter's mind began to believe the words that Jadis was saying. He couldn't do this alone. He did need help. Just one drop…
Jadis' eyes suddenly became wide, her fingers slipping back into the ice and her trance on Peter broken. Shaken by the change, Peter blinked his eyes and looked at the woman before him. Sticking directly through her stomach was a sword. The chamber echoed as the ice began to crack, thin splinters reaching outward until large gaps opened up. Then it burst. Chunks of ice spilled across the floor leaving the figure of Edmund standing alone, his sword sticking where Jadis' stomach once was.
Still dazed, Peter ignored the pieces of ice that covered his shoulders and hair, and looked at his brother with shocked eyes. Edmund slowly lowered his sword from the air and glanced around the chamber. Everyone that mattered seemed unscathed, but each sported a look of utter fatigue and desperation.
"Well done, Ed," Peter said softly as he placed his sword back into its sheath and kicked a piece of ice across the floor. Lucy walked hesitantly up to him, her eyes once again brimming with tears. Peter reached his hands out to her and allowed her small arms to wrap around his waist. With a heavy sigh he rested his chin upon her head and glanced to Caspian. The Prince seemed lost, his face burning with red embarrassment and guilt.
After a moment of silence, Peter kissed the top of Lucy's head and began to walk from the chamber. He stopped as he passed Caspian, his lips moving close to his ear. "We're even now," he whispered before moving beyond the Prince and out of sight.
Lucy went to follow him when Edmund's voice stopped her. "Lu," he called. "I think he needs to be alone."
BBBBBB
"General?"
"I need your help."
Glozelle did not need to say anymore, for the blanket in his hands gave a tremendous moan, and a pale, delicate hand slipped from beneath its covering. Catalina opened the door to her Queen's chambers and ushered Glozelle quickly inside. She was a handsome girl, with strong cheekbones and eyes flecked with yellow. Although she had waited upon Queen Prunaprismia for nearly ten years now, she was but twenty-five, and although she refused to admit it, her heart had always and would always belong to the man before her.
Using this knowledge, Glozelle had wrapped Cara up and brought her to the young woman instantly, for her love for him would bring Cara greater protection than anything else ever could.
"On the bed," Catalina said softly as she poured cool water into a bowl and grabbed a small rag. Doing as told, Glozelle hurried to the side of the intricate bed and placed Cara softly upon it. Cara rolled instantly, the blanket falling away and revealing her pale, sweaty face.
Catalina gasped and walked directly to Cara's side, her fingers grazing her forehead. "She is burning," she said softly and clasped Cara's hand tightly in hers. Glozelle nodded, his eyes looking rapidly around the room. "They are preparing for the King's coronation," she answered his silent question. "You need not to worry."
Glozelle nodded absentmindedly and returned his gaze to Cara. "I bandaged all of her wounds, but I fear the fever will overtake her," he explained, his hands fidgety before him.
"Who is she?" Catalina responded as she stroked the hair away from Cara's face. Glozelle frowned slightly at the question.
"For certain, I do not know," he replied. Catalina sent him an awkward glance before slowly pealing the tightly wrapped blanket from around Cara.
"Armor?" she whispered softly to herself as she caught sight of Cara's chainmail and leather corset. "Why is this chi—" her sentence was cut short as her eyes found the emblem embroidered across Cara's chest. "The Lion," she whispered and backed away quickly. "You bring a Narnian into my Queen's chambers?" she shouted as she pointed to Cara in fear.
Glozelle immediately wrapped his fingers tightly around her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Lina," he said as she attempted to pull away. "Lina, she is a young woman that will die if we do not help her."
"She is a barbarian who assaulted our home and affronted our King," she replied harshly and jerked away from his grasp.
"A barbarian, Lina?" Glozelle asked as he approached her again. "Your King wishes to slay her and send her body to the Narnians as a prelude to our arrival. The very same King who murdered his own brother and ordered the same fate for his son. Now tell me who is barbarian here?"
Catalina slapped Glozelle hard across the cheek, the sound echoing throughout the room. "Do not speak so ill of those above you," she whispered harshly as looked around the room as if someone was watching.
"I will kill her then," Glozelle said softly after a moment of silence, "and I will strap her body to a horse and send it into their camp, for that is the order of my King." With his hand rubbing against his burning cheek, Glozelle pushed passed Catalina and began to cover Cara's body with the blanket.
"Wait," her soft voice called. Smiling inwardly, Glozelle backed away from Cara and allowed Catalina to step beside him. Glozelle watched quietly as she dipped a rag into the bowl of water beside her bed and placed it across Cara's burning head. Cara began to move in response, each twitch causing a moan to escape her lips.
"So what is your plan?" Catalina asked as she began to pull Cara's dirtied clothes off of her body. Glozelle turned away quickly and looked out the window with false interest.
"I do not know," he responded softly. Lina stopped her work and let out a small huff.
"I would expect as much from you," she replied. "You were never one to plan ahead." Glozelle allowed a small laugh to escape his lips, causing Catalina to smile in response. Soon silence spread across the room, the young girl working quietly and Glozelle gazing ahead, his mind fumbling to formulate a plan.
"You need to make her well enough to travel tomorrow," he said suddenly. Catalina looked up from her work before returning her eyes to Cara and placing a new rag across her forehead.
"I can make no promises," she answered.
"I will send her body, just as the King has ordered," Glozelle thought aloud, his mind ignoring Lina's earlier comment. "Except she shall not be dead."
BBBBBB
Cara awoke to dancing light. It flickered across the ceiling above her and created shadows upon the walls. With a deep whimper, Cara stretched her aching body and blinked her heavy eyelids. A mound of blankets covered her body, and her hair was wet and plastered to her face and neck. Despite the situation, Cara could not help but chuckle at truly horrible she probably looked.
"A dying girl awakes in good humor? Never before have I experienced such a thing," a voice said from beside her. Cara turned her head towards the sound, her face contorting as she did so.
"Dying girl?" she replied with a small smile. "Surly you do not mean me?"
"Perhaps not now, but a day ago I would have bet my savings on it," came the reply. Cara looked away from the figure and sighed deeply, her eyes finally taking in her surroundings.
"Where am I? Where is the General?" she asked with a raspy voice.
"You are now in the slave quarters, and General Glozelle is attending to his King," the voice answered as the figure poured some water into a small cup and lifted it to Cara lips. "Drink."
Cara did as she was told, most of the water dripping down the corner of her mouth and onto her chin. She coughed slightly as the cup was taken from her and a clean cloth wiped the spilt water away. "To whom do I repay such kindness?" she asked once her sputtering had subsided. The figure smiled down upon her and pulled the hair away from her face.
"I am Catalina, but the true kindness comes from Glozelle."
"Then I owe you both a great deal of thanks," Cara replied. Catalina nodded her head slightly before setting the rag upon a small table and returning her eyes to Cara. After a moment of silence she asked the one question that was burning inside of her.
"Why you?" she asked softly. "Why would he save you?" Cara laughed at the question, her weak voice turning into a wince as her shoulder shouted in protest.
"No one else to save, I suppose," Cara replied. "No one else foolish enough to get left behind," she added in a softer tone. Catalina watched as Cara's eyes clouded over slightly and her brow furled in thought.
"You will b—" Catalina's sentence was cut short when Glozelle burst through the door breathing heavily. Both women looked to him when he entered, Cara smiling softly and Catalina sporting a frown.
Glozelle nodded to Catalina before making his way to Cara's side. "How are you?" he asked as he held her hand in his. Moving away from the bed, Catalina's frown deepened.
"I think I shall live," Cara replied, "but only because of you." Glozelle smiled in response and cast his eyes towards Catalina, who was now pretending to be busy.
"You are brilliant, Lina," he said to her back. Catalina flushed slightly and continued to fiddle with the few things before her. Cara smiled as she watched the young woman, the situation becoming painfully obvious.
"You leave tonight," Glozelle said as he turned back to Cara. "Miraz is now truly our King, and his troops are already heading towards the bridge at Beruna. Tonight he will ride as well, and his wish is for you to join him." Catalina turned around suddenly and looked to Glozelle with wide eyes.
"Surely he thinks her dead?" she said quickly. Glozelle sat heavily upon Cara's bed and rubbed his eyes rigorously.
"He knows she still lives, and instead of becoming angered he rejoiced in the idea of a new plan," he explained with a deep sigh.
"What is this plan?" Cara asked as she tried inch her body onto the wall behind her.
"A taunting, I suppose," he said to himself before turning to look fully at Cara. "He wishes to kill you before your people—before Caspian." Cara's shoulders slouched forward and her brow furrowed. This truly complicated things.
"What is your plan?" she asked finally. Glozelle smiled slightly and rose from the bed. Cara and Catalina watched as he pulled a metal poker from the fire place and examined it closely.
"Tonight I shall escort you to the King," he started softly. "Unexpectedly, you are far healthier than we anticipated, and after slaying the guards who accompany you and knocking out the General who found you, you will make your way to the stable, steal back your horse, and flee the castle."
"I have a very big night ahead of me it seems," Cara replied. Catalina stared openmouthed at Glozelle before stepping towards him and frowning.
"She is not healthy enough for all that," she said with an agitated voice. "She will be caught and so shall we."
"It is a risk, but not for us—for her," Glozelle responded as he looked to Cara. The High Queen looked down at her hands, her thoughts swaying to Peter. If her end was nearing, she wished for it to be beside him, not surrounded by strangers in a dark place. With renewed determination Cara returned her eyes to Glozelle.
"I shall return to my people and my King—and I shall be alive."
BBBBBB
Cara could see a small sliver of the sky from the cell that Glozelle and taken her to. The stars were bright, their light open and free from any covering. Staring up at the very same sky, across the Shuddering Wood and the River of Beruna, was Peter. Cara knew that Peter was looking upon the same sky as her, and even though she was sitting upon a cold, stone ground surrounded by darkness, she felt warmth wash over her that renewed a portion of her strength.
Taking her eyes away from one bright star, Cara watched quietly as two guards opened the door to her cell and pulled her from the ground. Glozelle soon followed, his eyes masked by a look of hate that he forced himself to wear. Everything seemed to be going as planned. The two guards had no idea that their General wore a mask of deceit, and that the weak girl before them new every step that they were about to take.
"Get up," Glozelle said harshly as he pulled Cara's arms away from the guards and forced her to her feet. She winced loudly, her acting nearly as good as his. "Narnian swine," he whispered as he pushed her from the cell and into the light of a distant torch. Both guards laughed at her disheveled figure, each making remarks about the beauty of their woman compared to her. Cara smiled to herself at the comments, for very soon both men would receive their comeuppance.
Glozelle kept a tight grip on Cara as he walked her down halls and further away from the tiny cell that she had occupied for the past few hours. Although her legs throbbed with each step and her shoulder was weak from ripped muscle, the thought of returning to the How gave Cara a bust of adrenaline that wrapped its way around her body and gave her the strength she would need to accomplish her escape.
"There is a small dagger only inches from your hand," Glozelle whispered into Cara's ear, his mouth barely showing any movement. "When we round this corner, pull it into your grasp and kill the guard behind you. I shall take the one that trails me." Cara did nothing to show her acknowledgement of his plan for fear that the two men behind them would take notice.
With a quickly beating heart, Cara counted the seconds until they reached the corner, her fingers itching to grab the dagger. "One," Glozelle said softly.
"Two," Cara counted in her head.
"Three!" they said in unison, Cara grabbed the dagger as Glozelle turned away from her quickly. Both guards were dead before any sound escaped their lips. Still throbbing with new strength, Cara reached forward and pulled the dagger from the guard's chest. Taking his sword from its sheath, Glozelle turned to Cara and offered it to her.
"Hit hard," he said as Cara's small hand wrapped its away around the hilt. "When I wake I will have to inform him of your escape. You only have as much time as your power allows." Cara nodded at his words and pushed the dagger into her belt.
"May Aslan be with you," she whispered to Glozelle before pulling her arm back and smacking the hilt across the bottom of Glozelle's neck. He crumbled to the ground instantly, a small line of blood reaching his shirt. Throwing his sword down beside him, Cara rushed from the hall and into a darkened corridor. Although Glozelle had informed her of the quickest way to the stables, trying to recall every turn was far more difficult than she had first anticipated.
After gathering her thoughts, Cara made her way down another corridor and out into the cool night air. She smiled softly as her eyes caught sight of the stars above her, but the moment was broken when group of men moved in the distance. Returning to the shadows, Cara attempted to avoid being seen as she worked her way closer to the stables.
She passed the men with little issue, for all were too busy arguing about the battle to notice a petite woman ease her way beside them. With ten minutes of running and hiding behind her, Cara found her way into the stable and to Alvaro. The horse nickered softly when his saw her, his muzzle nibbling along her neck. Finding her leg to weak to jump upon his back, Cara led the horse to a small block and proceeded to climb up his back.
"Hey!" a gruff voice shouted causing Cara to stop mid-climb and fumble back onto the block below her. "What do you think yo—" The man's question was cut short when an array of bells began to sound around the castle. Ignoring the pain in her leg, Cara pushed herself onto the back of Alvaro and ushered him into a gallop.
Seeming to enjoy the bit of adventure, Alvaro busted through the barn doors and out onto the stone road. His feet clanked along the ground as he galloped passed guards and towards the front of the castle. Cara prayed silently that the gate and bridge would still be down, but as the minutes swept by her heart began to race with fear.
Turning a corner quickly, Alvaro's feet slid on the smooth stone causing Cara to fall painfully onto her shoulder. Wincing, she pushed herself from his neck and attempted to regain balance, but the stumble allowed two Telmarine guards to reach her side. Moving quickly, Alvaro regained his foot and pushed passed the men, one of them slicing his shoulder with the tip of his sword. Cara grimaced as blood began to seep down Alvaro's leg.
As the duo weaved between shopping stands and late night stragglers, Telmarine soldiers began to filter into the streets. On foot the men were no challenge for the horse, but upon horse back they offered a threat. Now trialing her were six guards, their horse's hooves pounding into the ground as they followed them. Trying to climb farther ahead, Alvaro flattened his ears and pushed himself forward even harder. Soon the front courtyard opened up before them, Cara's eyes catching sight of the open gate and bridge. She could do this. She could make it.
Yards before they reached the gate a line of men formed before them. Each had his sword pointed directly as Alvaro's unguarded chest. The horse reared in protest, his hind legs nearly slipping again on the stone. Too close to give up, Cara pulled the small dagger from her belt and ran in through the neck of the closest Telmarine. As the man began to slump forward, she grabbed hold of his sword and pushed Alvaro back towards the gate.
The soldiers stood strong as Cara attempted to ram them, and falling into line behind her were the soldiers upon horse back. Alvaro wheeled around in a tight circle as Cara tried to find an opening for escape. As their circle of safety began to grow smaller, the gate began its slow crawl downward. It was nearly over. Cara's possibility of escape decreased with each turn of the gate control.
"Bring her to me!" a voice shouted from above her. Cara turned quickly to see the figure of Miraz appear upon the balcony overlooking the courtyard. Instantly the men collapsed into her, their swords nearly cutting Alvaro's flesh. Deciding that she would never be taken, Cara turned to Miraz.
"I am Cara Noor," she shouted, "true High Queen of Narnia by the appointment of Aslan. If I have the possibility of dying here—now—before all of you, than I shall take that offer, for I rather have my blood spilt upon this ground, where the blood of other Narnians rests, than be slain before my people like a Telmarine," she continued as Alvaro began to circle again. "You must kill me," Cara explained as she pointed the sword in her hand towards Miraz, "for I refuse to be a prisoner."
Without warning, Cara launched her sword into the chest of a random soldier, the quickness of her movement causing commotion to breakout between the Telmarines. Using the confusion, Cara kicked Alvaro forward and towards the gait. This time the horse ignored the swords that were pointed towards him, his shear mass pushing men and weapons to the ground.
"Get them! Kill them both!" Miraz yelled in the background, his voice quaking with anger.
Cara continued to kick and shove as Alvaro rammed his way closer to the gate. With one great lunge, Cara and Alvaro passed under the gate and over the bridge, the sounds of Alvaro's hooves becoming muffled as they reached dirt. Behind them Telmarine soldiers attempted to follow, but those on foot could not keep up, and those on horse could no longer squeeze passed.
Both Cara and Alvaro were covered in slashes from the swords, but neither seemed deterred by the stinging pain. They were free. Looking up into the vast sky, Cara flung her arms back and laughed.
Showing no hesitation, Alvaro crashed into the forest and disappeared amongst the thick trees. He weaved skillfully between the trunks and branches, his way illuminated by the power of the stars that glowed within him. Soon horse and rider became shrouded by the darkness, their image and footfalls covered by sheer distance. Dwindling behind them was the castle of Miraz, its King looking down from his balcony with disgust. Glozelle stood behind him with a blood covered welt rising from his neck.
Fueled by anger, Miraz seized the guard beside him and threw him from the balcony, his screams of fear mixing with the yell of hate that escaped Miraz's lips.
"I want her dead," he shouted as he turned to Glozelle and grabbed him tightly by the neck. "I want them all dead."
BBBBB
It was early in the morning by the time Cara and Alvaro reached the valley that stood at the head of the How. With all adrenaline gone from her body, every piece of Cara seemed to ache. Weak from fatigue, she ushered Alvaro out of the woods and into the swaying grass of the valley.
Edmund was the first to spot her, his eyes squinting into the dark and his heart racing with the possibility of an attack, but something did not feel right. There was something about the figure that was all too familiar.
"What is that?" Susan asked from beside him as she made to grab her bow.
"Wait," Edmund responded, his hand reaching to stop her. Both watched with bated breath as the figure grew closer and closer, each step revealing more detail. Suddenly Edmund's eyes became wide.
"Get Peter."
So here is the deal. You leave me a review, I not only update by Monday, BUT I finally add a little more fluff to the story, which I know you all loved because the reviews from the first kiss were great. That's my deal. Take it or leave. :)