The Army
"Semper Paratus" (Always Ready) ~ the Motto of the US Coast Guard
~o*o~
They were woken early the next morning, too early. At least in Edmund's eyes. The boys were crammed into leather jerkins and the girls were poured into dark green wool dresses. After cloaks were draped over them, their handlers saw fit to let them loose on the world.
"I think there's something up their sleeves," Edmund said as they were hustled into a private breakfast room.
"Quite," Lucy said as they sat down. "I think they tied my laces too tight."
"It was that peahen," Susan said. "She's not qualified to tie laces."
"Susan!" Peter exclaimed, "That's strange coming from you."
"So what did you do yesterday?" Lucy asked, but she never found out, for at that moment the door burst open and Martin cantered in. He stopped in mid-stride and tried to bow, but he nearly collided with a maid. He grabbed her, set her on her feet, right side up fortunately, then he turned to them and opened his mouth.
"Not yet, Martin," Susan said smoothly. "Wait 'till we finish, then we'll come."
Martin paused, staring at them and remained silent with increasing nervousness until Lucy had slowly spooned the last bit of porridge into her mouth.
"C-" Martin began. Susan waved her hand at him.
"Does anyone want any more?" she asked.
They all looked at each other, Peter was quite ready to follow Martin, but Edmund had a devious smile.
"I think I'd like a little more," he said calmly.
There was a choking sound from Martin's direction, a muffled giggle from Lucy and a hooded smile from Edmund.
When Edmund had finally finished Martin took a deep breath, looked quickly at Susan, then began.
"Your majesties," he began. "I request your presence at the council room."
They stood up and, much to Martin's relief, followed him. The door of the council chamber opened as they neared it and Flavis ushered them in.
"So you're finally here!" He said. "For a little while I thought you'd gotten lost."
Martin gave him a dark look and went down the stairs. The chamber was filled with creatures again, Equus, Lord Paladin, Lord Peridan, Lords Ron and Ronin, Lord Twang, the black leopard, the Phoenix, and a bulldog, a unicorn, a gryphon, an eagle and a large raven on the table.
"Come," Flavis said, leading them down the stairs and seating them at the center of the table. "Now Martin?"
Martin came before them, "Majesties," He said. "I have taken the liberty of gathering together the most trustworthy Narnians here at Cair Anvard. We have much to discuss. We must gather an army and we wish to know your plan on proceeding. General Winston?"
The bulldog, with surprising agility jumped onto the table.
"We already have a small army at our disposal, but I would suggest that we send out messengers and notices asking Narnians to enlist."
"Yes." Peter said.
"May I speak?" Lord Paladin asked. Flavis nodded.
"I have a castle, Cair Dirque, not ten miles from here, I offer it as a training ground for the army."
"Thank you," Peter said.
"Your majesties," Equus spoke for the first time, "do you have some plan, yourselves?"
"I have been thinking about it." Peter said slowly. "Yes, we do need an army. We need to train it and arm it and be ready to leave at a moment's notice. I think we should somehow work in Narnia too, let the Narnian people know what we are doing, so when we invade they will rise up as well."
"Is there an underground in Narnia?" Edmund asked suddenly. "Yes, of course there is one, tell me about Narnia. The people, how many do you think there are there?"
"I think Lord Darcy can tell us best," Flavis said.
The black leopard leapt up on the table and sank down next to Lord Winston.
"I am acquainted with the Narnian underground. It is far from large, limited nearly only to the Dwarfs. From the meager amount of money Narnians here in Archenland have been able to raise, we have been able to drop food and supplies every month. General Gallagher and Lord Farsight …" he looked towards the Gryphon and the eagle, "have organized that with the help of Sallowpad…" he twitched his tail at the Raven, "The leader of the underground is a black Dwarf named Brant. He is chief smith at the Great River smithy…"
"The smithy is working?" Peter interrupted. "They make weapons?"
"Yes," Darcy said, "Narnia is not lacking in gold, silver and iron ore."
"Are there many smithies in Narnia?"
"Six or seven, and there are also tanneries, run by the red Dwarfs and carpentry shops run by the beavers."
"Good," Peter said, "Continue."
"Brant is chief smith at the Great River smithy, he is an extremely influential person of the underground; they all listen to him."
"How would it be if we made contact with the underground," Peter said. "And tell the smiths to arm every Narnian that can carry an arm and have them ready to rise up when we come."
"Majesty," Darcy said. "I will do that."
"Good," Edmund said. "How soon can you tell him?"
"Within the week." Darcy said.
"Sooner the better," Edmund said. "I wish I could go."
"Certainly not." Susan said.
"Another thing," Edmund said. "We need spies, someone to tell us how strong the witch is. Where's Shard? He should be here."
"Sire," Martin said. "I hardly know if we should trust him, but if you wish he will be summoned."
Peter nodded, "I trust him."
Martin galloped to the door and called down the hallway, a moment later he returned.
"He will come."
"Sirs," Susan said slightly nervously, "I know this has nothing to do with what you are talking about…"
Flavis looked at her encouragingly.
"I think we should have medics."
They looked at her oddly.
"Healers. You can't go to war without. In our world we have ambulances; I think we should have wagons that are fitted out with a medical staff."
Martin for once looked thoughtful.
"So," Susan said, "When you send out notices asking for people to enlist; then ask for doctors too."
Then a scratching came at the door and Flavis let Shard in.
"Your majesties?"
"Shard," Edmund said. "We've been discussing Narnia and the Narnian underground. I think we need spies on the witch and somebody in her confidence would be best, do you know of anyone?"
Shard sank down on the floor, glowing white; his blue eyes boring into them.
"There is a young wolf in the secret police." He looked away, "he is loyal and would be of great help. It would be a dangerous job, but I think he would do it."
"Who is he?" Edmund asked.
"His name his Loki, he is my nephew, Maugrim's son."
"I didn't know you had a nephew," Susan said gently.
"We'll have to figure some way of making contact with him." Edmund said.
"I'll go." Shard said. "I know Narnia better than most and I will not be caught."
"It will be dangerous," Edmund said. "You are a traitor to them."
"Do not speak to me of danger," Shard said, "I will go."
"Very well," Edmund said.
"And we will immediately act upon your majesties' other orders." Martin said.
And so the war council was created.
~o*o~
Later that morning the four children found themselves in the courtyard. King Lune, Queen Deidre and King Lune's two younger brothers, Dar and Darrin were waiting for them.
"We decided that the best place to start with your education would be riding." King Lune said.
"And there certainly is no time like the present to start," Deidre added.
King Lune called for the very best horses to be brought out. They came, large, small, black, and brown until the king had chosen the four best.
Lucy was given the smallest of the four horses. She was a beautiful rose gray mare named Rhoslyn.
Susan was given a mahogany bay mare that was as elegant as Susan herself. The horse was named Mia.
Edmund's horse was blue roan, as dark as charcoal. His name was Umbra.
Peter's horse was palomino, as golden as gold ore and he had a flowing white mane and tail. His name was Ambyr.
They mounted and the rest of the morning was riding. It was something they had never experienced before. The strength, the feeling of power a horse gives you. The friendship, the speed and the skill of riding. Watching their horses, learning their horses.
A good horse, once you have his trust and respect, gives you the feeling that he will never desert you, do anything for you, die for you, and these were such horses. At first riding was difficult and they certainly didn't learn all these things over one morning, but it was a good start. Over the months, they learned to move with their horse, think with their horse, be part of their horse. They learned to guide their horses without even thinking about it, they learned how to ask for the tiniest things, hardest things, and get it perfectly. They learned to stay on while their horses jumped like a ray of quick silver, they learned to calm their horses and sit the first flying gallops.
And they learned from the horses, they learned patience, confidence, pain, fear, command… Perhaps they learned more from the horses then they learned from anyone else, but they never knew.
~o*o~
That night was the third feast of Christmas. Deidre tried her best to teach them to dance, but it was mostly in vain for the boys, they were scared of any girls except their sisters.
There was another marvelous feast, then a choir stood and sang, their voices rising to heaven.
A/N: I just realized that this is the wrong season to be posting this…we should be doing this at Christmas. It was written this last Christmas and the Christmas before…(:
~Rose