"We need to Strike them before they strike us," Peter said. One of Miraz's scouts had been seen near the How. Peter and Caspian were arguing about battle statagies. Ashlana sat next to Lucy in Lion form. She'd fight. If Peter told her to she'd fight, even if she didn't agree.
"Impossible, no one's ever taken that castle!" Caspian argued.
"There's always a first time." Peter retorted.
Ashlana drowned the rest out. They'd go with Peter's plan, she knew. She only payed attention again when Lucy involved herself in the conversation.
"That's what I'm worried about."
"Excuse me?" Peter turned to his sister.
"You're acting like there's only two options. Dying here or dying there."
"I'm not quite sure you've really been listening, Lu." Peter began to turn away.
"No, YOU'RE not listening. Or have you forgotten who really defeated the White Witch, Peter?" Lucy snapped. Ashlana locked eyes with him, and she watched his composer build back up.
"We've waited for Aslan long enough." Peter turned and walked away, Lucy looked over at Ashlana, who sighed at her.
"Keep him safe?" She asked. She looked at Edmund and Susan too. "All of them?"
"Of course. It's in the job description," She stood and streached. "I promise to keep them alive."
"Thank you, Ash." The Lioness lowered her head, and went to wait for Peter's instructions.
Ashlana stood in the shadows, armor covering the top half of her cat-body. She wasnt going to wear it, but Edmund and Peter forced it onto her. She leaped over the castle wall. She looked to the sky, still able to see as if she were a Lioness. she watched Edmund and his griffin land on the castle, griffin taking out the gaurd, and Edmund signalling the others with his torch.
She stayed to the shadows, waiting for her signal from Edmund. She was to attack the gaurds outside Cornelius' room. Edmund looked at her and nodded. She jumped through a window oppisite Cornelius' room. The gaurds were dead before they hit the ground. Morphing human, she slipped into the door and opened the window for Caspian, Peter and Susan.
"He is not here," She stated.
Caspian picked up a pair of glasses. "I have to find him."
"No you need to open the gate."
"Peter why must you always argue?" Ashlana couldn't help it. "You wouldn't be here without this man, and neither would Caspian."
"You and I can handel Miraz," Susan told him.
"And I can still get the gate open on time," Caspian added. Peter sighed.
"Hurry."
It only seemed like seconds before Ashlana(once again a Lioness) was warningly growling at Prunaprismia, who has foolishly turned a crossbow on Peter, then Caspian, and Caspian was demanding truth of his lying uncle.
"You said your brother died in his sleep,"
"That was more or less true."
"How could you," Prunaprismia lowered the crossbow slightly.
"For the same reason you will pull that trigger! Our son!" Miraz stepped into the sword at his neck. Up went the crossbow, once again. Ashlana tensed. This was not good. "You don't want our son to end up like Caspian, do you? FATHERLESS!"
Prunanprismia screamed and pulled the trigger, hitting Caspian in the arm as Ashlana launched across the room for Miraz's throat. Another arrow was fired into her shoulder, and she roared in pain when Peter pulled it out. It only took a few seconds, but there was shouting about being attacked. They were in more danger with the element of supprise gone.
Peter, Susan, Caspian and Ashlana raced to the couryard, and began taking down as many soldiers as they could.
"Peter we have to retreat! Call it off while you still can!" Susan told him.
"No, I can still do this!" Peter argued, trying to get the gate open. "Help me!"
Susan and Caspian shared a look and went to help him, while Ashlana looked around for Edmund. He was desperatly trying to get his torch to work. Ashlana leapt up to him , turned towards where she knew Glenstorm and his troops would be, and roared, long and loud, with one meaning; Charge.
She heard Glenstorm take up the call, and turned to see Edmund, sliding down the roof, Knocking over an archer.
"ED!" Peter shouted at him. Edmund turned and saw the other archers pointing bows at him. He slid into a room and shut the door just before arrows impaled it.
"Peter!" Ashlana pounced on a soldier who was going to slash the young king. "Retreat! Please!" Peter Watched a minotaur crash to the ground after Miraz killed it, and then looked into Ashlana's concerned lion eyes.
"FALL BACK!" He shouted. "Get Ed, Ashlana. Glenstorm, get her out of here,"
Glenstorm Grabbed Susan and road out.
"Caspian?" Susan called back.
"I'll Find him. Go!" Peter Promised.
Ashlana could see Edmund from where she was on the ground, between the gaps of a spire. She jumped up at him when he looked down and saw her. He smiled at the soldiers cornering, and leaned backwards, landing on Ashlana's back. She kicked off the building, into the soldiers faces, and over the gate as Edmund held on tightly, watching all the dead or dying Narnians. She landed with a grunt, and ran next to Peter's horse as they road away.
Back at the How, Lucy noticed Ashlana ignoring both Peter and Caspian.
"What happened?" She asked her brother, when the Lion gave her a sad look.
"Ask him,"
"Peter!" Susan reprimanded. She looked at Ashlanna for help, but the Lion shook her head. Best to let them argue it out. If blades came out, she's inturrupt. Blades did come out, after Peter insulted Caspian and his father. Thankfully, she didn't need to stop them, because someone else did.
"Stop it!" Edmund shouted. A centaur handed him and injured Trumpkin. As Lucy ran forward to help, Ashlana rememberd vaguely seeing him crash into a soldier.
Lucy gave him some of her Cordial, as Caspian walked inside. He ran a hand gently over Ashlana's head. Nikabrik followed, glaring at her. She returned the glare full force.
She sat by Peter. He saw her, and saw the dissapointed face.
"What?" He snapped.
"It's not his fault. You remind me of each other."
"Don't compare me to him, Ashlana!"
"My humble opinion, Peter." She pressed her nose to the side of her face, before she tensed. Peter didn't like the feeling of her tensing like that, and Threw Edmund a worried glance.
"What, Ash?" She looked at the enterence to the How. "Ash?"
She growled, and sprinted to the How. She smelled that damn White Bitch...She meant Witch.
She heard Peter and Edmund sprinting behind her. Trumpkin not far behind. She even heard Little Lucy. She saw Caspian in a circle, his breath cold, and the witch in a wall of ice in front of him.
"STOP" Ashlana heard Peter shout, and she grabbed the ugly Hag-bird. She roared, and the witches eyes widened in fear, then became amused when she saw which Lion it was.
"Ashlana." Then she turned her attention back to Caspian with the order of "Kill the Lion."
A wolf launched itself at Ashlana, who clamped her teeth around the Hag's throat, silencing her forever. Edmund and Peter drew their swords, Edmund going for the Werewolf, which had grabbed Ashlana by her back, and flung her across the room. Ironically she landed on the stone table.
Edmund fought the Werewolf, Trumpkin fought Nikabrik, and Peter pushed Caspian away from the ice. Ashlana painfully stood, and roared once again, as the werewolf attempted to bite Edmund. Edmund wouldn't have it. He turned mid-air and slashed the wolfs face.
The witch smiled down at Peter.
"Peter Dear, I've missed you." She reached her hand out to him. "You can't do this alone. Just one drop," She coaxed.
Edmund snuck behind the ice. Ashlana tackled Peter out of the circle, massive paws sheltering him from the witches sight, and Edmund stabbed her through the ice.
Ashlana noted with satisfaction that probably hurt damn badly. Edmund glared at Peter.
"I know," He stated. "You had it sorted." He walked off.
'Poor Ed.' Ashlana, winced as she stood, and walked slowly to Lucy, who already had a very worried face on. 'Peter really should appreciate him more.' Peter and Caspian shared a look.
Susan walked off before Ashlana reached them. Ashlana collapsed into Lucy, who gave the lion her cordial.
"Are you alright?" Lucy asked, still worried.
"Yes, Lu. Thank you. It wasn't the first wolf bite." Ashlana nuzzled Lucy's cheek like she'd done with Peter earlier. "I must talk to Edmund."
"I'll handle Peter, then." Lucy said. Ashlana nodded and walked off in the direction that Edmund did.
She found him gazing up at the stars. She sighed and placed her giant head on his stomach.
"Hello, Ash," He sounded distant.
"Hello, Ed,." She paused. "She's dead. She can't get you anymore." He placed his hand on her head, curling his fingers in her fur. She shivered.
"Peter fell for her tricks."
"It just shows you were stronger then he was this time. And I protected him. Just like I'd protect any one of you."
"Thank you." He yawned.
"Sleep. I shall wake you when morning arrives." She sniffed the air. "Soldiers arrive tomorrow. You need rest." She adjusted her position so that Edmund would be more Comfortable. She rememberd how her father would do the same for her, When she was scared to go out to battle.
"Goodnight, Ash,"
"Goodnight, Edmund."