The first thing the group decided was what they'd do tomorrow. Trufflehunter, Trumpkin, and Nikabrik would take Caspian around the woods to meet as many Narnians as possible and to invite them to a council of war on the Dancing Lawn. Edward would head off on his own towards Lantern Waste. "I have some friends there from before I joined the army," he'd explained to a curious Caspian. "They'll help us, if I can get ahold of them."

So, the next morning, Edward had hopped onto his horse and taken off for the west while the three Narnians dragged the prince off to visit their friends. The first place Edward stopped was the banks of a beautiful lake. Quickly dismounting, he went over to the side of the lake, knelt, and ran his hands through it. Then he stuck his face in the water and whistled a sequence of five notes into the lake. Finished, he jerked his head out of the water and looked around. With a splash, a large green Frog popped up on the bank. It looked around for a moment until it saw the blond. "Edward, as I live and swim!" the creature hopped over to the man and grabbed his hand between his front flippers. "I thought you joined that silly Telmarine army."

Edward shifted to sit cross-legged and grinned at the large frog. "No, I was infiltrating their ranks, keeping an eye on them. I even managed to steal their prince away under their noses. How've you been, Swapper?"

Swapper bobbed his head. "Things have been alright here. Swisheen still doesn't like me, though."

Edward wanted to roll his eyes, he really did. "Swapper, Swisheen is a trout. I don't think you would make a good couple. Anything else?"

The little frog ran his front foot over his face, and then shook his head. "Not really. You know I'm not a gossip. Why?"

Grimacing slightly, the blond rose to his feet. "I have a lot of people to see today. We're having a war counsel to talk about how to handle the situation with the prince and the Telmarines. It's on the big dancing lawn this evening. Will you come?"

Swapper bobbed his head enthusiastically. "I'll hop all day if I have to. It was good to see you again, friend." Edward threw his amphibious friend a smile and headed back into the woods. He spent a good hour sneaking through the woods around the main Telmarine cities, an unfortunate necessity to get to Lantern Waste. One of his oldest friends lived very close to the famous light fixture, and he would want to know about the war council, even if he chose not to attend. Besides, Edward had promised he would see him again.

When he finally reached the large stone hill, Edward dismounted and strode up to the door set in the side of the hill. "Zachary," he said loudly as he knocked, "are you there?" He stood there in front of the door until he heard the sound of hoof on stone and the door was cracked open to reveal two brown eyes.

Those same eyes crinkled up in a smile and the door was flung wide as a stout fawn woman threw her arms around the blond and did her very best to break his ribs in a tight hug. "Edward, it's been too long! How are you? Where've you been? We missed you!" She pulled back just her head and saw his open, gasping mouth. "Oh dear," she tittered, quickly letting go.

Gingerly, Edward straightened up and, when he felt no protestations from his ribs, smiled. "It's good to see you, Eleanor. Is anyone else home?"

"Just me at the moment, dear," the kindly fawn laughed. "The kids should be home soon, if you'd like to stay, but I don't know when Zachary will be back."

Edward cringed. "I'll have to catch up with him some other time, then. I'm kinda busy today. I quit the Telmarine army a couple days ago and stole the prince on my way out. Now Narnia's fighting back and I'm traveling around to see if any of my old friends will come to the war council tonight at the Dancing Lawn to help plan our strategy." He scrubbed a hand over his eyes. "I was hoping Zachary would come, since he's one of the only people who has records of the last great war, the one against the White Witch." Eleanor sagged a little but still smiled at him. "I also just wanted to see all of you again."

After hearing that, she perked up again. "Thank you for coming to see us, Edward. I'll pass the message along. Even if Zachary doesn't go, some of the younger Tumnus fawns will be there if I have anything to say about it." She smoothed down her graying hair and Edward almost chuckled at the look in her eyes. If she was blonde and younger, he'd be watching out for wrenches.

He gave her a last hug and hopped back on his horse. "I hope to see some of you there," he yelled as he rode off. He gritted his teeth as he thought about the last person he had to talk to. Fa Mung might be welcomed by Caspian's forces, or he might not. The only reason Edward knew the recluse was because his odd friend had once tried to eat him, and he didn't think the recluse had many other friends. How would he act in such a big group of individuals? Still, the firepower Fa Mung would bring to their force couldn't be passed up. Not if they wanted a decent shot at the rebellion actually working.

Edward rode on through the forest, past the lake where the Beavers had lived for generations before the Telmaries decided to break their dam, and towards the two large hills in the distance. When he was close enough the see the ruins in the small valley between the hills, he veered off and headed towards the right one. A huge oak tree rose from the bottom of the hill, spreading its branches wide and strong. Edward dismounted when he reached the base and tied his horse's reins to a nearby tree. He didn't want to poor beast abandoning him when it saw Fa Mung. Removing his cloak and boots, he threw them in the saddlebags and started to climb the massive tree. He was about halfway up when a low voice rumbled, "Who invades my home?"

The blond scoffed loudly. "Invade? You told me I was always welcome."

A pause, and then "I don't recall ever saying that."

"You implied it," Edward shot back.

Another, longer pause. "I believe I said something along the lines of 'will you cease transforming the branches if I let you stay?' And that was only once."

Ed shrugged. "Details."

Finally, the long, sinuous tail uncoiled and Fa Mung glided down to land on the much, much thicker branch across from where Edward sat. "Enough mindless talk. What news do you bring?"

The former Fullmetal Alchemist grinned. "How would you like to send the Telmarines running?"