Hey guys! I apologize for falling off the face of the earth for a little while, but I'm in my senior year of college and doing honors in the major. Needless to say my life is swamped. No worries about the story though…it will be updated and WILL be finished. I feel like this Chapter is far from perfect, but I SO wanted to post something that I couldn't wait.
Chapter 18
A Light in the Darkness
The night was warmer than usual, the breeze carrying a soft smell of rain and the air thick with moisture. Dancing between the trees were the distant fires of the Telmarine camp; their orange, gold glow matching the color of the sky as it rippled with lightning. Anxious about the night to come, Susan tightened her reins and glanced quickly at Lucy. "Do not let go of me," she said softly. Lucy nodded in response, her wide eyes staring past Susan and out of the How.
The sound of Alvaro's hooves echoed down the corridor as Cara rounded the last bend and approached the two Queens at a slow canter. Although her head was held high and her shoulders squared, the look in her eyes was one of complete apprehension.
"We ready then?" Susan asked softly as Cara pulled Alvaro to a jumpy halt. Trying to keep herself from turning back and leaping into Peter's arms, Cara nodded quickly and absentmindedly licked her already moist lips.
"Peter will be alright," Susan continued, which caused Cara's eyes to meet hers directly. Truly it was a defining moment between the two young women, for Cara's eyes held such worry and want that it was impossible for Susan to deny the emotion that was felt between the High Queen and her brother. "You will see him again," the Gentle Queen added softly. Cara's eyes relaxed at Susan's words and with one last, silent nod, she kicked Alvaro forward and out into the night. Susan watched her go before looking worridly to Lucy.
"We can do this, Susan," the young Queen whispered. Casting her glance back onto the glowing form of Alvaro as he moved into the swaying trees, Susan released a heavy sigh and urged her steed out of the How.
Soon the three Queens were riding steadily through the night, their footfalls shadowed by the blowing wind and angry sky. Despite their thick covering, the group was only a few minutes from the How when Telmarine soldiers began to filter from the trees and bear down upon them.
"Only slow if you must," Cara yelled over the wind as she pulled Alvaro back and latched hold of the hilt of her sword.
"Cara!" Lucy yelled as the High Queen vanished between the trees. Focused on the task at hand, Susan's eyes remained forward as her legs squeezed tighter along the horse's sides and her free hand intertwined itself with Lucy's.
As soldiers upon horseback began to trail Susan and Lucy, Cara and Alvaro turned back towards the How and fell in line behind them. Not seeing the High Queen until it was too late, two Telmarines crumbled to the ground as Cara rode between them and threw both from their horses. Hearing the shrieks of pain, it was only moments before those following the two Queens caught sight of Cara and turned their swords towards her.
Stopping quickly, Alvaro moved away from the soldiers as they crashed together and forced another to fall to the ground. The man cried in pain when Alvaro's hooves pounded into his back and legs as Cara pushed Alvaro into a gallop and pulled a dagger from her belt. Letting the dagger fly, another soldier slumped forward, his steed weaving from Susan and Lucy's path.
The wind began to blow wet as a wall of rain poured from the sky and onto the dwindling group of riders. Ignoring the soaked hair that was now tickling her face, Cara moved close to the last Telmarine and attempted to pull him from his horse. Having already seen her tricks, the rider twisted from her grasp and swung his sword close to Cara's face. Reacting quickly, Cara ducked close to Alvaro's back and pulled another dagger from her belt.
Still moving at a gallop with the rain whipping in their faces and the trees hindering their path, Cara and the last Telmarine began to fight as Cara attempted to shove her dagger deep in his side. Trying to help his Queen, Alvaro shoved against the other horse forcing his shoulder into a large oak. The Telmarine yelped in pain as his knee rammed into the hard wood, his leg ripped backwards against the pressure.
Using the soldier's moment of weakness, Cara grabbed hold of his armor and pushed him from his horse. Gasping, Cara found herself shoved from Alvaro as another group of soldiers moved from the trees and rammed harshly into Alvaro's side. The horse stumbled along with his rider, both falling to the wet ground and sliding nearly two yards into a nearby tree.
Immediately regaining his footing, Alvaro clamored back to his feet while Cara rolled onto her back and wiped the mud from her face. Her lungs felt heavy as she sputtered under the rain and sucked in deep breaths of thick air. Alvaro nudged her harshly, his massive body moving anxiously beside her.
Cara pushed his muzzle from her face as she latched hold of a low hanging branch and pulled herself forward. Just managing to catch the gleam of a sword among the rain, Cara let out a shriek and fell back to the ground. The Telmarine cursed loudly as his sword stuck into the tree behind Cara and scrambled backwards as his feet slipped in the thick mud.
Using his misfortune to her advantage, Cara kicked the soldier's feet and forced him completely to the ground. Both fumbled quickly as their hands scrambled along the mud in search of any type of weapon. Finding a stick, the Telmarine whipped in close to Cara face, its branches and wet leaves immediately entangling themselves in her hair and scratching along her damp skin.
Releasing an angered huff, Cara clamored to her feet and kicked the soldier directly in the jaw. He fell backwards immediately, a small line of blood mixing with the water on his chin. Breathing heavily, Cara made her way to Alvaro and scrambled ungracefully onto his back. Anxious to rejoin the chase, Alvaro lunged forward and into a gallop, his feet still insecure on the soggy ground.
"Where is Cara?" Susan shouted to Lucy as her horse weaved between two tight trees, the branches smacking both Queens directly in the face. Lucy sputtered under the onslaught of water and rubbed her eyes.
"I don't know, but we are still be trailed," the young Queen responded as she glanced quickly over her shoulder and clutched tightly to Susan's wet gown. Thinking quickly, Susan reached for her bow and pulled their mount to a quick stop. Lucy's eyes widened as she watched her sister turn their horse and take aim at the approaching Telmarines.
"Cara said to keep moving," she shouted to Susan in a strained tone. Ignoring Lucy's voice, Susan let loose her arrow, the wind pushing it just inches from its mark. "Susan!" Lucy continued as the riders gained ground. Letting out an exasperated sigh, Susan pulled the horse back around and leapt into a gallop.
Nearly fifty yards behind the group, Cara moved her body closer to Alvaro's neck and squeezed her thighs tightly to his body. The wind gusted in uneven bouts forcing branches and rain to pelt Cara in the face and blur her sight. Squinting her eyes, Cara urged Alvaro even faster, his agile body weaving between trees and leaping over fallen logs.
Soon the five Telmarine soldiers trailing Susan and Lucy came into sight, their horses now only yards behind the two Queens. Cara watched in horror as Susan's horse stumbled over a deep ditch, the loss of speed forcing two Telmarines to collide with the sliding horse, all riders falling to the ground in a cluttered heap.
Susan struggled to find Lucy as she shoved the Telmarine on top of her hard in the stomach. "Lucy!" she yelled frantically, but her cries were only met by the groans of soldiers and the rapidly blowing wind. Attempting to yell again, Susan's voice became muffled as the hands of a Telmarine wrapped tightly around her slender neck and forced her back to the ground.
Cara reached the group quickly, Alvaro nearly tripping over the mess as he skidded to a halt. Although two soldiers were on the ground, the three still upon their steeds surrounded Cara instantly and pointed their swords towards her neck. Breathing heavily, Cara looked to the men around her with wide eyes. Nearly every angle of escape was blocked by a sword, leaving Cara the only choice of dipping under the blades and slipping heavily from Alvaro's back.
Hitting the ground with a hard thump, Cara rolled onto her side and collided with the struggling form of Susan, whose face was pale and dirtied as the soldier's hands continued to cling tightly to her neck. Reacting quickly, Cara flung her body on top of the Telmarine and forced Susan from his grasp. The gentle Queen sucked in a deep breath of moist air and attempted to relieve the pain from her strained lungs.
Beside her, Cara was now attempting to pull herself from the soldier's grasp, her legs kicked frantically as her hands moved around in the dirt. Finally connecting with a hard, round object, Cara's fingers restricted as her arms swung forward and whacked the man in the face. Crumbling instantly to the ground, the soldier pulled Cara's form forward and onto his chest. After releasing a gurgled shriek, Cara fumbled backwards and away from him, her eyes finally catching sight of the large gash created by her rock. She did not know if he was dead or simply knocked out, but as Susan climbed to her feet and turned rapidly in a circle, Cara quickly realized that Lucy was nowhere in sight.
"Where is she?" Cara yelled as she stepped away from Susan. "Where is the other soldier?" Fueled by the fear in Cara's voice, Susan's chest restricted as panic began to consume her.
"Lucy," she whispered as she fumbled forward and looked into the dark woods around her. Tears began to swell behind her eyes as Cara's voice rang through the air.
"There!" Cara shouted as she grabbed an abandoned sword from the ground and took hold of her long skirt. Barely visible through the darkness and rain was the struggling form of a Telmarine as his fingers reached for the small outline of Lucy. Also fighting to reach Narnia's youngest Queen were the three soldiers still upon horseback, but Alvaro maneuvered and thrust his body between and against the riders forcing them further back from the group and away from their prize.
Too occupied by Lucy, the soldier neither saw nor felt Cara as she moved behind him and shoved her sword deep into his stomach. Lucy screamed at the sight of blood, her hand moving to cover her face as her body slipped backwards. Susan grabbed Lucy instantly and wrapped her arms tightly around her torso, while Cara pushed the Telmarine from her sword and whistled to Alvaro.
The horse's ears perked at the sound, his body moving swiftly towards his Queen. Free from Alvaro's blockade, the remaining soldiers looked to each other before disappearing in the surrounding wood. Cara watched them flee, her fingers brushing the wet hair from her eyes.
"Will they return?" Susan asked softly as she pulled away from Lucy and followed Cara's line of sight.
"Yes," Cara responded and turned her eyes towards Susan and Lucy's horse, which stood beside a tree shaking slightly from the rain and wind. "Lucy, remount your horse. Susan, take one of the Telmarine's."
Nodding at Cara's order, Susan placed a hand on the small of Lucy's back and pushed her towards the horse. Cara followed suit, her arms struggling as she lifted Lucy from the ground and onto the horse's back. "We will follow behind you," Cara said softly as Lucy looked at the two Queens below her. "No matter what you hear or see, I want you to ride until you have nothing but silence surrounding you."
A small wave of fright washed over Lucy's features, but the Valiant Queen inside of her forced the fear from her face and nodded slowly to Cara. Rising to the tips of her toes, Susan reached forward and pulled Lucy's forehead towards her lips. "We will see you soon," she whispered as she pulled away.
"Go now," Cara said as she moved away from Lucy's mount and towards Alvaro. After casting one last look to Susan, Lucy tightened her fingers around the thin reins and kicked the horse forward. Susan watched as Lucy disappeared between the trees and sheets of rain, her dark hair sticking to her quivering lips.
"She will be alright, Susan," Cara said as she pulled herself onto Alvaro's back and attempted to situate her heavy, soaked gown. Rubbing the hair from her cheeks, Susan turned to Cara with a determined look and searched the ground for her fallen bow. After finding it shoved under the body of a Telmarine, she latched hold to one of their abandoned horses and climbed gracefully on top.
"How long before they return?" the Gentle Queen asked as she rode close to Cara.
"I don't know," came Cara's soft reply.
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"Peter," Edmund said gently as he came to stand beside his brother. Peter sighed heavily but did not avert his eyes from the rain that continued to fall or the dark forest that it shielded. "I'm worried about them too, you know," he continued after a moment of silence. When Peter still remained voiceless, Edmund let out a deep huff and ran his fingers through his ragged hair.
"Did you ever fall in love, Ed? You know, when we were here before," Peter asked suddenly. Edmund frowned at the random question and leaned his back against the stone wall behind him.
"You know I did," he responded quietly, his voice releasing a shaky laugh towards the end. "By Aslan she was beautiful," he continued as his eyes glazed over with memories.
"Why didn't I?" Peter asked as he finally tore his gaze away from the blurred forest and looked to his younger brother. Edmund eyed him softly, nothing about his face judgmental or criticizing.
"You were never looking for love," Edmund answered before looking to the ground and laughing. "I always was." Peter's grim face cracked a smile as an image of an adult Edmund entered his mind—tall and charming, a dashing young rogue with a mysterious presence and quiet personality.
As quickly as the smile appeared it vanished, and without another word Peter leaned his shoulder against the cold stone and returned his eyes to the forest. Releasing a small sigh, Edmund walked to Peter's side and placed a secure hand on his shoulder. "Dr. Cornelius is ready for you. We will be waiting by the Stone Table," he said softly before pulling his hand away and returning to the depths of the How.
Peter followed shortly after, the call of duty forcing him to end his distant thoughts and return to the here and now. Brushing away visions of Cara and the strange emotions brewing deep within, Peter squared his shoulders and tried recall the voice that he spoke with long ago.
When Peter entered the chamber of the Stone Table, Dr. Cornelius, Edmund and Caspian all stopped talking and looked towards him. It was obvious by their blank stares that Peter was the topic of conversation. After letting out a deep sigh and running his fingers through it unkempt hair, Peter turned to the group.
"Ready Dr.?" he asked. Nodding rapidly, Dr. Cornelius flattened the piece of parchment before him and placed his quill softly on the paper.
"Begin when you wish, your Majesty," he replied. After pursing his lips in thought, Peter made himself comfortable beside the Stone Table.
Peter, by the gift of Aslan…
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Although little time had past, it was barely raining by the time the soldiers returned. The night was quiet save for the soft drips of water as droplets fell from the canopy of the trees and onto the already moist ground. Cara and Susan sat steadily upon their steeds; each Queen posed and ready with their weapons grasped tightly at their sides.
Slowly the distant sound of breaking branches and thundering hooves echoed around the wood, the noise indicating that the Telmarine horde was only seconds away. Susan's eyes narrowed as the first soldier broke from the trees and came into sight. With perfect precision she lifted her bow and took aim. The arrow released as her lungs expelled the air within them, the horse under her shifting slightly from the noise.
The remaining soldiers paid little attention as one of their comrades fell heavily to the ground, their horses still carrying them forward with powerful strides. Feeling her confidence growing, Susan tightened her lips into a thin line and strung another arrow. After a moment of silence, the arrow left her grip and entered the neck of the leading Telmarine. Almost instantly she was taking aim once again.
Completely out of daggers, Cara waited for the soldiers to move close enough for the reach of her sword. Alvaro was fidgety under her, for he could feel the tension and anxiety building in Cara's body as her finger massaged the hilt of her sword and her heart pounded in her chest.
Susan killed two more Telmarines before looking to Cara and nodding her head. With a quick release of breath Cara shoved her sword into the air and kicked Alvaro into a gallop. The horse leapt forward in excitement, his front feet rising from the ground before pushing against the soggy mud. The soldiers crashed heavily into the two Queens, the sound of battle immediately ricocheting off of the trees around them.
It was not long before one of the former soldiers pushed past the horde and deeper into the woods, for he had quickly realized by the protective actions of the older girls that the child was of greatest concern.
"Cara!" Susan yelled over the sounds of battle. Finding a moment of freedom, Cara glanced quickly to Susan. The gentle Queen pulled a Telmarine from his horse before shifting her eyes towards Cara. "Find her." Cara's eyes moved from Susan and deep into the forest before falling back on the gentle Queen. "Go!" Susan shouted at Cara's lack of movement.
With one last glance, Cara pulled Alvaro away from the fight and urged him into the gallop. Her dress was heavy and clingy, the wet fabric cool against her heated skin. Trying to ignore the worry of leaving Susan, Cara forced her eyes to remain forward as Alvaro weaved between trees, the footing making it difficult for him to reach a full gallop.
After nearly twenty minutes of hard riding, the Telmarine and his steed became visible in the dim lighting and heavy brush. Cara's eyes widened as the outline of another figure began to develop in the distance. Lucy, she whispered, her legs pushing Alvaro even faster.
Worrying filled the High Queen as the soldier inched ever closer to Lucy, his sword drawn and ready. Cara's heart pounded as Lucy's steed stumbled slightly allowing the Telmarine to gain even more ground. As the chase continued and fear began to fill Cara's body, a blurred figure running parallel to the small group became visible through the trees. Slowly a steady glow began to fill the dark crevices of the wood.
Alvaro began to slow his speed; his ears perked towards the blurred figure as it surpassed the High Queen and inched closer to Lucy and the Telmarine. Cara fought to keep her steed moving; her lips allowing strings of panicked phrases to slip through as her legs kicked Alvaro's sides repeatedly. A scream ripped through the sky causing Cara's body to become rigid and still. Alvaro moved slightly under her; his eyes and ears staring forward.
Complete silence followed the scream. Cara's chest moved visibly above her beating heart, but the steed below her seemed untouched by the quiet. Suddenly—moving just as quickly as the scream—came the roar of a lion. The sound rippled over the ground in waves, its power washing over Cara. Although the sound's command was terrifying, the fear in Cara left her body and her heart calmed instantly. "Aslan", she whispered. "Aslan", she said again, this time with laughter and joy filling her voice. "Aslan!"
Alvaro immediately leapt into a canter, his head shaking with happiness. As the duo moved closer to the faint images of a lion and a little girl, the Telmarine horse galloped past and disappeared into the darkness behind them. His rider ran slowly behind, his face blank with fear. Cara laughed openly as she past the horseless rider; her eyes glancing over him quickly before moving to the still faint figure of Aslan, whose presence seemed massive in the dense wood.
With her eyes still focused on the image before her, Cara slid timidly off of Alvaro and leaned close to his side. "My daughter," came Aslan's deep voice. Cara's feet moved instantly, each step making the distance between her and the Great Lion diminish.
Without thought, Cara haphazardly fell to the ground and threw her face into Aslan's great mane. Her body pressed tighter to his as he wrapped his massive paw around her back. Soon Lucy's body crashed into him as well, causing Aslan to roll to the ground with a thunderous laugh. The Queens laughed in response, their fingers and faces gliding over his silky body.
Although it was nearly and hour before the sun would show her face, the forest around them glowed with a golden light. Both Cara and Lucy pulled back slowly, their eyes wide and brimming with renewed hope. "I knew it was you," Lucy whispered as he looked deeply into Aslan's eyes. "The whole time—I knew it." Cara glanced down at the little Queen's words, a wave of shame washing over her body. Why had they not believed her?
"But the others didn't believe me," Lucy continued, her eyes remaining glued to the Lion before her.
"But why would that stop you from coming to me?" Aslan responded in an even tone, his voice warm, yet questioning. Cara looked softly to the Queen beside her. Lucy returned the glance before casting her eyes back to Aslan.
"I'm sorry," she replied. "I was too scared to come alone." It was now Lucy's turn to cast her eyes downward. Cara carefully moved her fingers over the young Queen's, the warm feeling giving Lucy the courage to raise her chin once more.
"You will never be alone," Cara said softly.
"She is right Little One," Aslan added as he lowered his head closer to the two Queens. Cara met his gaze for the first time since their encounter, her shoulders feeling heavy under his stare, yet her body feeling cleansed by his presence. "My daughter," he repeated his earlier words. "You have accomplished your tasks well, and I see that time and distance separates you and your King no longer, but you are long from done. As we speak, the severity of the situation is weighing heavily upon Peter's shoulders. Return to him. Aid him in his task."
The High Queen nodded quickly, her body moving with purpose as she pushed herself from the ground and shook the leaves and drying mud from her dress. Never before had her soul so happily relinquished to a demand.
"Wait," Lucy said suddenly as her eyes darted from tree to tree. "Where is Susan?"
Cara's eyes grew wide in fright at the realization that the Gentle Queen was not among them. "The soldiers," Cara whispered as she hastened to Alvaro's side.
"That will not be necessary," Aslan said with slight laughter in his voice, which caused Cara to stop abruptly and look to him. With a frown she followed the line of his eyes until her gaze fell upon the ragged, yet stunning form of the Gentle Queen as she walked from the shadows of the forest and into the strange light that surrounded them. All was silent as Susan moved carefully towards them, her delicate feet barely making a sound as they touched the ground, and her slender fingers clutching tightly to her bow.
When she saw Aslan she stopped abruptly and lowered her eyes. A moment of awkward silence followed. "Susan," Aslan's deep voice said, but she still stood quietly in her spot. Although neither Lucy nor Cara would ever mention the moment, both were sure that tiny tears were spilling down the Queen's dirtied cheeks. "You have listened to your fears, child," Aslan continued softly. "Come, let me breath on you."
With timid steps Susan made her way carefully towards him. "Forget your fears," Aslan said as his breathe washed over her body. "Are you brave again?" he questioned.
"A little, Aslan," she responded.
"Now," continued Aslan, "The moon is setting. Look behind you: there is the dawn beginning. We have no time to lose. Alvaro," Aslan said suddenly causing the horse's ears to perk forward in anticipation. "Make haste back to the How with your rider. You are both needed elsewhere." Without hesitation Cara climbed onto Alvaro's back and turned from the small group. Alvaro immediately leapt into a gallop, both horse and rider leaving the light and disappearing into the darkness.
"Will Cara be safe?" Lucy asked worriedly as she climbed to her feet and looked into the forest with a furled brow. "There might still be soldiers." Aslan made his way to his feet as well before shaking the leaves from his great mane.
"We will make her safe," he replied, which caused Susan to glance at him with slight confusion. Lucy, reacting quite differently from her sister, smiled brightly and moved to his side.
"So you will help?" she asked
"Of course," he replied. "As will you both," he finished as his eyes moved from Lucy to Susan.
"Oh," Lucy said softly. "I wish I was braver."
"If you were any braver you would be a lioness," Aslan responded with a deep chuckle, the sound causing Lucy's frown to fade from her face. "Now," he continued, "I think your friends have slept long enough."
Susan and Lucy watched as Aslan took in a deep breathe of air and tilted his head up to the sky. Thunderous, deep sound filled the air as his lips curled back exposing his pointed teeth. The trees around them shook; their leaves and branches taking in the power of the noise.
Cara pulled Alvaro to a halt when the roar reached her. Both horse and rider looked to the trees that surrounded them. Although they were still stagnant in the ground, the forest seemed to reverberate with life. Cara watched as the ground below her began to move, the mud and leaves shifting as if the soil deep below was alive. With more power than the first, another roar shook the forest. It was louder and deeper than the one before—more angry, more demanding. Without warning the forest around them began to move. The branches swayed and the trunks shook. After hundreds of years of silence, the trees were dancing once again.
The High Queen allowed as gasp of wonder to pass her lips, for even during the times of her rule, never before had she witnessed such a wondrous sight. Another non-believing chuckle escaped her throat as the forest before her parted into a perfect path, the branches almost indicating for her to follow. With her eyes still watching the dancing forest around her, Cara urged Alvaro into a steady canter and safely made her way back to the How.
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Peter and Edmund sat alone in a distant chamber deep in the How. Clutched in Peter's hand was the letter that Dr. Cornelius had written hours earlier, the edges beginning to crinkle from Peter's continuous handling of it. Edmund let out a smile sigh as he watched Peter's eyes gaze over the words for what seemed like the hundredth time. "Truly, Pete, the letter could not be any more perfect. Stop agonizing over it and get some sleep," Edmund said as he rested his head against the cold stone wall and closed his droopy eyes. The Just King was beyond exhausted, but Peter's anxiety seemed so high that he felt horrible leaving him alone.
Edmund allowed a small smile of success to reach his lips as he heard Peter let out a loud sigh and sit heavily onto the ground. A few moments of silence fell over both Kings. Peter's rough hands massaged his pounding temples as Edmund's mind began to slip into a world of perfect quiet and sheer exhaustion.
"I think I'm going to clean my armor," Peter suddenly announced as he pushed himself from the dusty ground and made his way from the dimly lit chamber. Once again awoken from his almost-asleep daze, Edmund rubbed his eyes and growled deep in his chest.
"For the sake of all things Holy, Peter, go to bed!" he shouted at the High King's retreating back. Peter said nothing, opting instead to continue on his way in silence.
Edmund threw his hands up in exasperation. "Why do I have to be Edmund the Just," he mumbled incoherently as he pushed himself up from the ground. "I much rather be Edmund the…wicked. Yes. The wicked. That way I could simply pound him in the back of the head and solve this entire ordeal." Edmund continued his rant as his footsteps trailed Peter's, his glaring eyes remaining on the High King's golden head the entire time.