"Please note, I do not like this idea." Ashlana stated. Miraz's army had shown it's self. There were many more then Peter had anticipated.
"I second that! Sending a little girl into the forest, alone to search for an imaginary lion?"
"HEY! I am sitting RIGHT HERE!" Ashlana snorted.
"She won't be alone," Susan stated.
"But we need time to get Susan and Lucy through."
"If I may," Caspian said. Peter nodded his consent. "There are certain traditions the people expect a Telmarine King to uphold. There is one in particular that may buy us some time."
And so, here was Edmund, flanked by a centaur, a Giant, and Ashlana in human form, just finishing reading Peter's challenge.
"Tell me, Prince Edmund,"
"King." Edmund stated, rolling up the paper.
"Excuse me?"
"It's 'King' Edmund actually. Just king though. Peter's the High King," There was an awkward pause. "I know, It's confusing."
"Oh, Ed," Ashlana sighed, quietly. One of Miraz's men heard it and pointed his sword at her. Edmund stiffened.
"Speak only when spoken to, little girl." He snarled. Miraz rose his eyebrow, wanting to see how this would unfold. He hoped the girl would attack. Then they could actually kill the "King" In front of them.
She simply shrugged and took the blade of the sword, and bent it upwards. The men stared in awe.
"Time to go, My King," She said. "Lord Miraz accepts the duel does he not? I mean Kinda cowardly to not accept a duel with a swordsman half his age,"
"I am no Coward!" Miraz snarled.
"My point" Ashlana said, ringing her arm through Edmunds to pull his hand away from his sword.
"You" Miraz pointed his sword at Edmund, coaxing a growl from Ashlana's throat. 'Oh hell no' She wanted to advance on Miraz but that would give them cause to attack and possibly kill Edmund. "Let's hope you brother's sword is as sharp as his pen." Ashlana and Edmund walked back to the centaur and the Giant, who were on the outskirts of the camp.
"I don't like him," Ashlana stated quietly. "He's an ass-hole. I hope Peter wins."
Edmund laughed. "He will, Don't worry."
"I am." She sighed. They walked into the How, and she silently walked up to Peter, helping him pull on his armor. She already had her's on, as did Edmund. Edmund stayed at the door, giving a little privacy, and watching for any sign of Miraz not keeping his end of the deal.
"This is a bad idea," She sighed. "A very, very bad idea." She pulled the chain-mail tunic over his head, and put the hood up.
"I know," Peter avoided her gaze. "You can't help me. No assistance. That's why you don't like it."
She said nothing, she just pulled the red tunic on over the chain-mail, and tapped the yello lion on his chest,having done the same to Edmund before they left for the camp. Peter got her meaning. 'Good Luck'
She handed him his sword, then helmate, and walked behind him as he and Edmund walked out of the How.
She hugged him, before he turned to fight Miraz. She couldn't resist it.
Peter was loosing. It was bad. He'd managed to cut Miraz's leg, but Miraz dislocated Peter's shoulder. Halfway through, they saw Caspian and Susan riding back from the forest.
"Does his Highness need a respite?"
"Five minuets?" Peter looked hopeful.
"Three!" Miraz snapped.
"Lucy?" He asked, once he got back. Susan walked up to him.
"She got through," Susan nodded.
"Ash, go protect her."
"Peter and Edmund Pevensie, I'm warning you right now, either of you die, I'm bringing you both back and killing you myself. Caspian, same for you!" She snapped, morphing to a lion and racing off. Miraz and his army didn't notice her, so no gaurds came after her.
She caught up to Lucy just as her father spooked the horse she was on. Lucy fell off the horse, landing on Ashlana's back gently.
"Hey, Lu," She laughed. She watched her father jump a Telmarine, though not killing him. She walked up to him and nuzzled him, stepping back to allow Lucy to speak to him.
"Aslan!" Lucy hugged him tightly, burrying her face in his mane. "I knew it was you! Why haven't you come roaring in to save the day, like last time?"
"Things never happen the same way twice, Dear One." Aslan said gently.
Lucy Paused. "If I had come earlier. Would everyone who died- Could I have stopped that?"
"We will never know what could have happened, Lucy. But what will happen, is another matter entirely."
"Then you'll help?" Lucy's face lit up.
"Of course," Aslan nodded his great head. "As will you."
"Oh, Well I wish I was braver," Lucy admitted.
"Lu, If you were any braver, you'd be a lioness!" Ashlana smiled.
"Now, I think your friends have slept long enough, don't you?" And with that, Aslan and Ashlana released powerful roars to the trees, which shook awake, from their seemingly eternal slumber.
"Hop on Lu, To Beruna we go." Ashlana crouched low, allowing Lucy to once again climb on her back. When the child was settled safely, she raced forward towards the bridge at Beruna. When they finally got there, Lucy got off, and stood there looking at the army in front of her.
The Telmarine at the head of the army looked at Lucy like she was crazy when she pulled out her dagger. He looked back at Peter, and the Narnians, behind them. Looking back at Lucy, he saw the two lions had joined her on each side, Aslan sitting, and Ashlana laying with her head on her paws. Both looked generally unconcerned with the army in front of them.
"CHARGE!" The Telmarine shouted, pointing forward. The Narnians didn't follow, having caught sight of Aslan. Speaking of whom, roared once again. Ashlana gave a very catlike grin as the army stopped. She noted with glee that the head of the army was the Soldier whose sword she'd bent.
The water in the river was being pulled upstream, confusing the Telmarines. Then they heard the rushing of water, and turned to see a massive wave speeding at them. Many men scrambled for land, several jumped off the bridge. 'Yes,' Ashlana thought, 'Jump into the river when the river is coming to kill you. Very, uh, smart.' She rolled her eyes.
The river man came out from the wave, picking up the bridge and looking at the last man standing on it. The guy that Ashlana really didn't like. Then it opened its mouth and the water crashed into the Telmarine. He was gone. As the Pevinsies and Caspian waded over from the other side, Ashlana morphed back to human.
Once on shore, the four bowed to the two Majestic Lions(Even if one of them wasn't currently a lion).
"Arise, Kings and Queens of Narnia." Aslan commanded. All but Caspian rose.
"You too, Caspian," Ashlana sighed. He rose his head.
"I do not think I am ready," He admitted.
"It is for that reason..." Aslan began.
"That we know you are" Ashlana finished. Caspian stood.
The sound of Bagpipes reached their ears, and Reepicheep was brought up on a stretcher. Lucy quickly gave him her Cordial.
"Oh, thank you You Majesty!" Reepicheep stood, caught sight of Aslan and Bowed, or, well, tried too. He lost balance, noticed his tail missing, and began panicing. He tried getting Lucy to give him more cordial, but was denyed. His mice threatened to cut their own tails off and Aslan looked at Ashlana, amused. She shrugged, then gestured to the sacrifice those mice would give for Reepicheep."
"Not for the sake of your dignity, but for the love of your people" And with that, Reepicheep's tail magically appeared, Good as new. Ashlanna giggled.
"Now, Where is this Dear Little Friend you've told me about." Amused, everyone turned to Trumpkin. The Dwarf looked bashful as he knelt in front of Aslan. Aslan roared at him, scaring him half to death."
"Do you see him now?" Lucy teased.
The Kings and Queens of old Rode through the city, led by the newly appointed King Caspian X. Even Ashlana had a silver crown perched on her head, looking almost as if it would fall, but it never did. Ashlana was told to have the people gather on a hill. She knew the Pevensies would be leaving soon.
"Narnia belongs to the Narnians, just as it does to man. Any Telmarines who want to stay and live in peace are welcome to, but for any of you who wish, Aslan will return you to the home of your forefathers."
"It's been generations since we left Telmar." came a voice from the crowd.
Ashlana Shook her head. "We do not mean Telmar."
"Your ancestors were sea-faring brigands, pirates run aground on an island. There, they found a cave, a rare chasm that brought them here from their world-the same world as our kings and queens." Aslan continued for his daughter."It is to that island I can return you. It is a good place for any who wish to make a new start."
"I'll go," A voice rose up. It was Miraz's former general. Caspian nodded in respect, and the general returned the nod.
"So will we," Prunaprismia stated, walking up with the general, and another part of Miraz's council.
"Because you have spoken first, your future in that world shall be good." Aslan blew on them, and then turned and faced two trees, which parted, revealing the portal. All of them walked towards it, and then vanished.
This almost started a riot, but people settled when Reepicheep said he'd take 11 of his men through. Aslan simply looked at Peter.
"We'll go," He said. It hurt him to say it, knowing he won't be coming back. Won't see Aslan or Ashlana ever again.
"We will?" Edmund asked. He feared if they left again, when they came back, it would start all over, fighting a war with invaders.
"Come on. Our time's up." Peter replied, walked over to where Caspian stood. "After all, we're not really needed here anymore." With that said, he took his sword, and handed it over to Caspian the Tenth.
Caspian took the sword, and looked at Peter with new forund respect. "I will look after it until you return."
"I'm afraid that's just it." Susan threw in. "We're not coming back."
"We're not?" Lucy sounded so horrified, Ashlana had to go hug her.
"You two are," Peter said. "At least, I think he means you two." He looked over at Aslan.
"But why?" Lucy gripped Ashlana's arm. "Did they do some thing wrong?"
"Oh no, Lucy, no!" Ashlana shook her head, painfully aware of the tears building up in her eyes.
"Quite the opposite dear one," Aslan added. "Your brother and sister have learned all they can from this world. Now it's time for them to live in their own."
Ashlana seperated from Lucy for a few moments, Going to Peter and hugging him tightly, ingraining his scent into her brain, before doing the same with Susan.
"It's alright, Lu. Not how I'd Imagined, but it's alright. You'll see one day." Lucy hoped not. After saying their good-byes, and a hug and a kiss on the cheek each from Ashlana, they stood watching Susan's good-bye to Caspian. She turned to leave, but she ran back at the last second and kissed him right on the mouth.
"I'm sure I'll understand when I'm older." Lucy said.
"I'm older and I don't want to understand," Edmund was grossed out. 'Way to form a very long distance relationship, Su!'
Then, all the Pevensies stepped out of Narnia, and back into their own world. The train they'd been waiting for before they were called. A boy with glasses called to Susan.
"Are you coming, Phyllis?" The Pevensie children snapped out of their trance, and filed onto the train.
"Do you think we'll get back?" Edmund asked, rummaging through his bag. His siblings looked at him strangely. "I left my new torch in Narnia!"
They laughed at him, ready to be heading home.