Chapter Eight
Susan and Lucy began training with me the next day. They had met Father Christmas on the way to camp, and he had given them beautiful gifts. Susan had received the most beautiful bow and quiver I had ever seen, and it almost always hit true. She also received a magic horn. Whenever you blew it, help would come. To Lucy, he had given a cordial of some kind of healing medicine and a small dagger with a jeweled hilt. They told me that he had given their brother a sword and shield of the best quality.
We practiced their archery skills together, and I helped train them. We had a lot of fun, and it didn't even seem like we were preparing for a battle. We rode around the camp, me mounted on Andy, Susan on a pretty bay mare, and Lucy on a little grey pony. They grew to be skilled riders as well.
I met their brother soon after their arrival. Moonwise the centaur had assigned me to practice sword fighting with him. I met him on the training grounds at dawn. He was still wiping the sleep from his eyes and yawned every few minutes. I giggled at his bleary face before bowing and addressing him, "Your majesty." "Are you the one"-yawn-"who is going to teach me?" He asked with an amused smile. I rose and nodded. "Yes, sir, I'm Rose." He laughed. "A girl is going to teach me how to handle a sword?" I frowned. I hoped he wasn't going to be the type that automatically assumes that men are always better than women at everything and that a woman's place is at home. I wasn't going to warm up to him quickly if he was. "Yes, and not to be rude, but what is wrong with being taught by a girl? Are you afraid to be beaten?" I asked with a mocking smile. He stopped laughing and looked at me. "Sorry. That was rather rude of me. My sisters would have said the same thing." Smiling again, he extended his hand. "I'm Peter Pevensie. Nice to meet you, Rose." I raised one eyebrow as I took his hand and shook it. His hand felt smooth and soft, while mine were rough and calloused from work and training. It made me blush. Turning away I unsheathed my sword and said, "All right then. Um, let's just begin with the basics." For the next two hours I taught him how to handle his sword and the very basics of fencing. At the end of our session he was sweating and tired. "Phew. My arms really ache now. Don't yours?" I grinned and shook my head. "Nope, not at all. But don't worry, soon you'll get used to it and build up the muscles you use the most for fighting. See?" I showed him my arm. He frowned and turned away, grumbling a bit. I gave another crooked grin. I guess he didn't like being shown up by a girl. Not many did.
The next day we did the same routines. Peter improved a lot over the first hour. "Why don't we take a break now, since you're doing better?" He nodded and flopped onto the grass. I did the same. "So, are you from Narnia?" He asked. I shook my head. "No, I'm from your world, I think. England. How about you?" I asked. "I'm from Finchley. But we had to evacuate the city because of all the bombings. My brother and sisters and I got here by walking through a wardrobe. Hard to believe, isn't it?" I gave a small laugh and said, "Not that hard to believe. I don't have a clue how I got here. I was upset and ran into the woods. When I looked up, I was here. I was really confused. But luckily…a faun found me." I looked away, gazing across the camp when I thought about Rooner. I brushed away a stray tear. No, I'm not going to cry here in front of Peter. Looking back to him, I changed the subject. "So, um…you mentioned your brother. He isn't here, is he?" Peter's expression changed and he answered angrily, "No, the fool ran off in the middle of the night. It seems he had been in Narnia before and had met the White Witch. He didn't know who she was at the time, and she tricked him into bringing us back. He tried to bring us to her, so she could kill us! I guess he didn't know, but he should have after what Mr. and Mrs. Beaver told us." His expression softened and he looked off over the camp. "I just hope he's all right. I'm supposed to look after them all…" I looked at him and said softly, "I'm sure he'll be okay. If the Witch wants you, maybe she'll…keep him so he can tell her where you are." He sighed. "Maybe so. But if not-" Suddenly we heard the distant sound of a horn. I leaped to my feet. "That's Susan's horn!" I gave a sharp whistle, and a few seconds later I saw Anduril's snowy white figure galloping up to meet us. I swung onto his broad back and reached a hand down to Peter. "Come on!" He took my hand and I yanked him up behind me. I squeezed Andy's flanks with my legs and he shot off at a gallop in the direction of the horn. I was vaguely aware of Peter clinging to me by wrapping his arms around me. I forgot he can't ride a horse, I thought to myself.
We came to a creek and found Lucy and Susan a few feet up in a tree. Below them were three Wolves that were circling the tree. One was snapping at their dangling feet while the other two stalked back forth, taunting them. At about the same time we reached them, a centaur, two fauns, and several Talking Animals also arrived. Aslan soon appeared as well. The centaur drew his swords and was about to start slashing at the Wolves when Aslan said in a commanding voice, "Stop! This is Peter's fight." I realized that Peter was no longer behind me but now on the ground, swords raised and pointed at the largest Wolf. When it began taunting him, I recognized it as Maulgrim, the head of the Secret Police. The same Police that had taken and killed Rooner. I bristled and also drew my sword, ready to back Peter up. The wolves continued to circle him, and I could see him hesitating. He wasn't going to do it, I realized with a sinking feeling. He didn't have the guts.
But suddenly Maulgrim snarled and leaped at Peter, knocking him down. The girls screamed, and I leaped forward. But then we realized that the wolf wasn't moving. Peter pushed himself out from under its lifeless body, his sword bloody. The other two wolves yelped and sprinted away. Aslan shouted, "After them! They'll lead you to Edmund!" I swung back up onto Anduril, and he immediately took off in hot pursuit of the others.
We raced after the wolves through the woods. I had to keep dodging branches flying past, but a few hit me, scratching my face and catching in my hair. We followed the wolves deep into the depths of the forest, where little sunlight penetrated and the entire forest seemed smoky and grim.
Just like Aslan predicted, they led us straight to the enemy camp. We could hear the hammers of Black Dwarves in the forges, as they made weapons. Smoke wafted through the trees. The other Narnians fought off a few sentries, and I looked for a boy. Then one faun shouted, "There!" He pointed to a gnarled old tree. Edmund was bound and gagged. Andy lunged forward, and upon reaching him I sliced the ropes, knocked a Dwarf away from us, and yanked him up behind me. "Hold on!" I yelled, and we wheeled around and raced back the way we came after the others. Edmund clung to me tightly, ducking low to avoid stray branches and twigs.