"Sight Unseen"
Ch. 3
(Narnia, Aslan's Camp)
Audrey woke with a great start, clutching her chest. She looked around her tent. The 16 year old girl was breathing heavily and her red hair stuck to the back of her neck from the sweat. Audrey got up and splashed cool water on her face. When she went to dry her face, she could her Daja's song.
She stepped outside her tent. It was almost dawn. It was still plenty dark out, but there was a little light before the sun would rise to begin the day. Audrey saw Edmund and Oreius waiting outside of Aslan's tent. She made her way over. Peter emerged from the tent when she approached them.
"He's gone, isn't he?" Audrey asked.
Peter nodded.
"You have foreseen this?" Oreius asked, accusingly.
"No," she answered sharply. Audrey sighed and then said more gently, "I felt it," She placed a hand on her chest once more.
Peter leaned forward on the table that was in front of Aslan's tent.
"Then you'll have to lead us," Edmund said to Peter.
Peter looked up at Edmund sharply. Before he could say anything, Edmund told him,
"Peter, there's an army out there and it's waiting to follow you."
"I can't," Peter told him feebly.
"Aslan believed you could," he said to his brother. There was a pause. Peter looked back down at the table, glancing at the battle plan. "And so do I."
"The Witch's army is nearing, sire. What are your orders?" Oreius asked Peter.
Audrey could see that Peter's mind was racing. In the background, Daja's phoenix song could still be heard. Peter looked over to Audrey.
"We're with you no matter what," she told him.
Peter took another glance at the map, looked at Oreius and ordered, "Prepare the men."
Oreius bowed and left. Audrey bowed slightly and made her way to her tent. Peter looked back at his brother. Edmund nudged him to follow. By the time he reached her tent, Audrey had lit a small fire for her breakfast. He could see the smoke coming out of the chimney that was attached on top of the tent. Peter heard her crying softly and was a little reluctant to disturb her.
Audrey had lit a fire for breakfast. She normally ate with the other in the camp. But, this morning she wanted to eat alone. Daja was now sitting on her perch that was by Audrey's bed.
Aslan was gone.
She put some water on the fire to boil for her tea.
How could I not see that coming, Audrey thought.
The tears came softly down her cheeks. As she wiped them away she heard a pair of feet rustle in the grass outside of her tent.
"You can come in, you know. I won't bite," she called.
Peter stepped in. Audrey bowed deeply at his appearance. He went over to her and placed a hand on her cheek. Peter wiped away another tear with his thumb. She stood up straight and cleared her throat.
"What can I do for you, Your Majesty?" Audrey asked.
"I came to see how you were doing," Peter said.
"How I was doing, Sire?" she asked. Audrey couldn't help but blush. "A mere servant to whoever is King or Queen of Narnia?"
The water over the fire was now boiling rapidly. She took the water off of the fire now and set it aside. Audrey, then, began making herself busy, keeping her back to him. Her cheeks were still pink and she did not want him to see.
Peter sat himself at a small table near the fire.
"You are more than a servant," Peter told her.
She laughed bitterly.
"I was created by Aslan to do one thing: Warn the present King or Queen of any danger that I foresee," Audrey said. "I am immortal. So that I may serve Narnia for as long as it exists."
She placed a place of toast and eggs on the table, along with two cups for tea. When she sat down Audrey told him, "Aslan gave me the power of fire only after Jadis arrived."
They had spent the rest of the meal discussing the upcoming battle.
"I am afraid to tell you that I am no use with a sword," Audrey told him.
"You can contribute in other ways," Peter said, finishing his tea. "Your power of fire could come in handy."
Audrey got up and went to the opening. She pulled open the flaps and tied them back. The Seer, then, went over to the stove, opened her hand wide and then closed it into a fist. The fire in the stove extinguished. Now only the source of light came from the opening of the tent.
"I hope so," she told him.
To be continued . . .