(Disclaimer: I do not own Narnia, Prince Caspian, or any of its characters or the script quoted here.)
Chapter 10: Hope
"It's pretty amazing, isn't it? Just think—if it wasn't for that fire, we'd never see this beautiful place." Geeniveek surveyed the warm, level field that now surrounded the old Burrow. The trees that were once here had been destroyed by the fire that Reepicheep commanded Sarclaw to set. In the place of brambles and old oaks, there were now a few neat rows of hedge and several acres of smooth, short turf dotted with lavender-blue wildflowers. It had been two years since the cave-in at the Burrow, and now the Twelve Mice were moving back in.
Reepicheep walked with his childhood companion through the short grass. The sun beat down on them with golden intensity; there was not a hint of cloud in the deep blue sky.
"Yes," Reepicheep agreed with Geeniveek, "this is stunning." Absentmindedly, he fingered the red feather on his head and touched the cold iron hilt of his classy rapier. He never wanted to be caught unawares anywhere, not even here in this seemingly gorgeous proximity.
"I hold countless, wonderful memories of this place," Geeniveek sighed blissfully. She chuckled, adding, "I seem to recall beating you up a lot."
Reepicheep's furry face still looked noticeably grave. "We are not children any more, Geen. We are not the same Mice that played outside the burrow ten years ago. It is at this point in time when we must move on and focus on our futures; for myself, that means redoubling my invective efforts against the Telmarines."
"I grow weary of all this future talk," Geeniveek grumbled. "Don't you sometimes wish that time would freeze to a standstill, and we could just go on having adventures forever? Of course, forging ahead is an adventure in itself, but it's easy to get carried away. At times I fear I'm wasting my life on my way to becoming something—and by the time I get there, maybe I won't even like it."
Reepicheep considered that a trivial point, because he had come to believe that little moments in the present didn't compare with the military perfection that he hoped to reach. All Reepicheep said out loud was, "I think we need to keep doing what we're doing."
"You mean like making daydreams into realities?" said the other. "This past year I have become a real warrior, like I always dreamed! You have started your own Resistance Force, a handful of reliable, honest Mice who combat cleverly instead of recklessly. In one year you have preformed as many successful raids as my father did in that twice that time."
"Your father was a good Mouse, but his fighting style was obsolete. That is why I knew from the start that I would have to personally retrain each of the Mice."
Geeniveek shook her head, half annoyed at her friend's constant rigor. "Typical Reepicheep: always knowing what to expect."
"I do not always know what to anticipate," argued the head Mouse, "but I welcome every contention. Challenges are the very highlights of our lives."
"In that case," said Geeniveek, "here comes a challenge now."
Peepiceek came running on all fours to the companions. He had an unusually serious expression on his rodent face. "Sir, we have just received important information from the Squirrels. There is a small band of Telmarines moving through the Shuddering Woods. The Squirrels claim that there were between eight and ten men, moving in this direction rapidly. They were last seen near the den of Trufflehunter the Badger." Peepiceek jumped onto two feet and saluted with his forepaw.
"At ease," said Reepicheep, scratching his chin in thought. "I dearly hope those Humans have not destroyed Trufflehunter; if that is the case, he will be avenged. Geeniveek, round up the other warriors and tell them to assemble in arms. Peepiceek, scout ahead and see what else you can learn about the oncoming threat. We shall meet back here in half an hour."
"Affirmative," said both Mice, running off.
While he waited for them to return, Reepicheep paced back and forth anxiously. The last he time he had dealt with Humans in the woods in broad daylight was the day his mother died. Back then the Mice had fought poorly, hacking recklessly while trying to climb up the legs of Humans. They aimed for the enemy's face, but were shaken off before they got there. Thus many were sent flying until they slammed into the ground or some other obstruction. Some Mice would die from this common fate; others would lose their weapons and become defenseless.
Things were better since Reepicheep took over. Now the basic procedure for fighting Humans was to attack their legs. This eliminated the danger of falls and poor balance; and when the Mice did need to balance they learned to use their tails to help them. When the Human fell, the Mice would attack his throat. Most importantly, swords were redesigned from slashing sabers to stabbing rapiers. A Mouse's sword now worked more like a needle to drive through flesh, instead of making crude, useless slashes on the outside. Any Mouse with a sword and a good head was now more than able to kill a Human.
"It will be alright," Reepicheep told himself. "As long as we fight the right way, and preserve our honor, everything shall work out."
Shortly after this, Peepiceek, Geeniveek, and the warriors assembled before Reepicheep. "The first report given by the Squirrels was exaggerated," stated Peepiceek. "Leave it to the Squirrels to overdo it. Anyway, there are exactly six Telmarines, not ten, moving this way. They can reach the Burrow in fifteen minutes, give or take."
"What must be done?" asked Geeniveek grimly.
Reepicheep was only silent for a second before answering, "We cannot leave the Burrow unguarded. That mistake previously cost us many lives. Geeniveek and Peepiceek, defend the Burrow with your lives. I shall go ahead into the forest and see if I am able to impede the Humans ere they reach this place."
"Sir…isn't that a little too…dangerous?" asked Peepiceek unsurely.
"If you're alone, it is a great risk to your safety," Geeniveek agreed more assertively.
"To my safety, but not to my honor," Reepicheep countered.
Geeniveek narrowed her eyes. "Pride, or whatever pretense keeps you feeling secure, is not as important as your life. By leaving us you desert your people."
"I do not desert the; I leave them with two Mice who could easily lead them in battle." Reepicheep spoke stiffly; Geeniveek had hit him where it hurt. Craving danger was a natural part of his personality, but stronger than that tendency was the desperate desire to earn reassurance. At that moment Reepicheep was not focused on true adventure—he was focused on perfectionism. He wanted to prove to himself that he could do what Rhevercheek had never done.
"I am going to avenge my mother," said Reepicheep coldly. He dashed away into the woods.
The cool, shady earth felt wonderful under his paws, providing relief from stress. The treetops of the Shuddering Woods were thick and green with summer foliage. Soon the soil and rotting leaves gave way to ground covered in tall ferns. Reepicheep could hear Human voices now. There were clicks of crossbows; perhaps the Humans were hunting.
"This is it," thought Reepicheep; "a chance to prove that I'm just as strong as those Humans."
He then rushed through the ferns, invisible under the cover of their green fronds, heading toward the first hunter. One stab through the leg was all it took for the man to fall down, and Reepicheep was at his throat in a split second. Without a moment's hesitation he had killed the next one, and after dodging the moving feet, killed two more. Now the men were shouting and panicking. They could not even aim at Reepicheep because he was moving so quickly, and they seemed preoccupied with their prey besides.
Two soldiers now remained; one tried to run away. Reepicheep sprinted and caught up, killing the soldier in a matter of seconds. His fighting style was eerie and swift. Keeping his breath regular, the Mouse doubled around to face the sixth soldier.
This man had already dropped his crossbow in a panic. He drew his sword and chopped at the ground wherever he saw the ferns rustling. Reepicheep rolled over onto one side to dodge a lethal swipe, and then jumped to his paws again to dodge another. "Where are you?" screamed the Telmarine, chopping until the fronds were flying.
Reepicheep breathlessly evaded the attacks until he finally saw and opportunity to jump between the Human's feet. He drove his sword deep into the man's ankle, making him scream in pain. The man fell over, and his loud curses were cut short by Reepicheep's rapier.
Reepicheep paused—there was another sound in the forest. There must be another Telmarine after all! Quickly, the Mouse ducked under cover and raced toward the seventh enemy. Instead of attacking the feet, Reepicheep decided to charge head-on and let the solider see his attacker before died. Reepicheep wasn't sure what made him want to see the shock on the Human's face—was it pride?
Springing out of the brambles, Reepicheep rammed into the Telmarine. Both combatants fell to the forest floor, with Reepicheep on top. He drew his sword with his versatile tail, caught it with his right hand, and shouted, "Choose your last words carefully, Telmarine!"
This Telmarine was younger than the others—perhaps seventeen or eighteen, with broad shoulders and a beardless face. He looked utterly stunned. "You are a Mouse!"
Idiot, thought Reepicheep. But he said out loud, "I was hoping for something a little more original." The rodent's sharp eye noticed that the Telmarine's sword was on the ground beside him. It must have slipped out of the boy's hand even before Reepicheep jumped at him. "Well, pick up your sword," Reepicheep sighed, half-annoyed. "I will not fight an unarmed man."
"Which is why I might live longer if I choose not to cross swords with you, noble Mouse," panted the boy. There was just the slightest hint of irony in his voice and face.
"I said I wouldn't fight you," Reepicheep snapped, "I didn't say I'd let you live!" He held his rapier near the boy's throat, tempted to finish him now.
Just then a familiar voice called out, "Reepicheep! Stay your blade!"
"Trufflehunter?" exclaimed Reepicheep, looking over at the friendly Badger. So that was who the Telmarines were hunting. Nikkabrikk, the black dwarf, was standing next to the Badger. Both Trufflehunter and the Dwarf lived in Reepicheep's area and often brought him news of other freedom fighters.
"I trust you have a very good reason for this untimely interruption," Reepicheep said, shifting his gaze from the Badger back to the Telmarine boy.
"He doesn't," said Nikkabrikk dryly. "Go ahead."
Trufflehunter, however, did have a very good reason not to kill the boy. "He is the one who blew the Horn!"
Reepicheep froze in place. Last night, he had woken at daybreak to hear a strange, magical noise. He could not identify it the, but when Trufflehunter said Horn, things made sense. It must have been the legendary horn of Queen Susan, which Reepicheep had read about in his childhood.
"That Horn is capable of summoning mighty aid," Reepicheep realized. If a Telmarine had winded the Horn, it must mean that he was for the Old Narnians. And if this Telmarine had any standing with his people, then he would be able to help the Narnians a great deal. This could be the catalyst that caused all the Old Narnians to rise up! Not to mention the help summoned by the Horn, if it came. Reepicheep's head swam with the possibilities.
'I can't believe it,' he thought. 'We could actually take back Narnia! We could take down Miraz! If only there was a Telmarine powerful enough to make real changed in the Telmarine government…!'
"Who are you?" Reepicheep asked the young Telmarine.
"I am Prince Caspian," said the boy unsurely.
"A prince!" Reepicheep cried. "Then—then—we might have a valid chance for Revolution!" He stared at Caspian in amazement.
Caspian looked simple, distressed, and desperate right now—hardly a princely young man. But as Reepicheep looked closer, he noticed a kingly and adventurous gleam hiding deep within the boy's dark eyes. For the first time in several years, Reepicheep began to hope. He had hope for himself, his country, and his people.
Hope was finally returning to Narnia.