Author's Note: This chapter was a pain to write! I knew what I wanted to happen, but the thoughts were not coming very smoothly! I'm pretty happy with the way it has turned out though...and I think you'll like it, faithful readers! Don't forget to read and review! I thrive on them! Hopefully, the next chapter will not be as long in coming!
Chapter Thirteen: Making Plans
The palace at Anvard…that evening…
King Cor, eldest son of King Lune of Archenland, moved through the hallways of his home at a brisk, yet unhurried pace. It was almost time for dinner to begin and his twin brother and his wife were waiting for him. He wasn't late, but the meeting with Lord Sar had lasted a little bit longer than he had anticipated, mainly due to the nobleman's extreme case of stubbornness.
Cor shook his head as he walked, thinking about that meeting. He had been meeting with all of the Lords in the Court as a courtesy, to let them know that he might soon be calling on the young men in their districts to go north on a campaign to help free Narnia from the Telmarines. Many of the Lords were not happy because it was nearly harvest time, and if the men were gone too long, the crop yields would be poor because there wouldn't be enough strong workers to pull all of the crops in before winter.
Cor was not keen on sending the men at this time of the year either, for the same reason, but now seemed to be the perfect time to lead them in a strike against the Telmarines. There was some type of internal turmoil (what exactly, he wasn't sure – Aislynn was supposed to find that out and report back to him in the next day or two), and if the turmoil was severe enough, the army would be slow to respond and he would be able to get his men up to the Narnian's stronghold at the How before they realized that allies had come up from the South. He only needed word from Aislynn on the situation before he could commit to a plan, since he wouldn't risk his men's lives unnecessarily.
The Lords were objecting to this plan to help the Narnians, not because they didn't want to help, but because of the timing. However, Cor was determined to send his men now. He still felt guilty about not having been able to send the army to aid Narnia when the Telmarines first invaded, but at the time he and his father had been forced to look to their own borders as Calormen made another of their periodic attempts to take over Archenland. Narnia had understood, and after the Calormen raiders were quelled, there hadn't been a good opportunity to risk taking his army up against the much larger Telmarine force.
He still wasn't keen on the numbers of his men versus the number of Telmarines, but with the Narnians beginning to rally against their oppressors (and the internal turmoil of which Cor had only heard rumors) the time was showing all the signs of being ripe to counter-invade and restore balance.
Cor had almost reached the corridor that would lead to the dining hall when a servant came hurrying up to him. "Your Majesty!"
Cor stopped and waited while the servant caught up and caught his breath from running through the halls trying to find him. After a moment, the man straightened up and bowed quickly. "A messenger from Narnia has just arrived, Sire. He claims to bear a message from Lady Aislynn."
"Bring him to the war room, and then fetch my brother and ask him to join us," Cor said instantly. After you've done that, tell my lady wife to start dinner without us and tell her we'll join her as soon as possible."
"Yes, Sire," the servant replied, before hurrying off. Cor sighed, but knew that this business with Narnia had to come first. He turned sharply on his heel and headed back down the corridor towards the war room.
The war room was a bit of a misnomer. It was more of a planning room than anything. Carved into the massive table in the center of the room was a highly detailed map of the three kingdoms of Narnia, Archenland, and Calormen. Generations of Archenland rulers had used this map to plan campaigns and battles, the level of detail making it easy to pick routes for marching and supply lines, ideal battle ground, and – if necessary – routes for retreat.
Cor moved to the side of the table that held the Narnian portion of the map and studied it. Bringing his troops up to join the Narnians at the How would be perhaps a four to five day walk, based simply on the size of the force he wanted to bring. It wouldn't take as long if they could be sure they wouldn't hit any pockets of Telmarine patrols, but it would take longer and be riskier if they were fighting as they went. That was why he was relying on Aislynn to give him intelligence about the Telmarine movements.
He was already starting to plan out several routes when his brother entered with the messenger, a large amber and gold gryphon, while a servant waited at the door. Cor was fairly certain that he had never met this particular Narnian, and he made it a point to meet with all the gryphons that came to fetch supplies for the Narnian resistance.
Corin moved to stand at his twin's side as the gryphon bowed before offering a tightly rolled scroll to him. "Your Majesty. This message comes from Lady Aislynn. She wished me to wait and see if you needed me to carry a reply to her."
Cor accepted the offered scroll from the gryphon. "Thank you, good sir, for your promptness in bringing this message to me. I do not know if I will need to send a reply, but if you would be so kind as to wait while I read this missive and consider the news you bring, I will be able to let you know soon."
The gryphon nodded, and Cor turned to the servant. "See to it that food and water are made ready for him, along with a place to rest while I make my decision." The servant bowed and Cor turned back to the gryphon. "If you go with him, my good sir, he will see to it that your needs are taken care of until I have need of your services."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," the gryphon replied, bowing again before turning and following the servant out of the room. The servant pulled the door closed after them, leaving Cor and his brother alone in the war room.
Corin turned to his twin and regarded him. "Should I get Kris? She will want to know that word has come from her daughter."
Cor shook his head. "Not yet. Let me read the missive first to make sure that there is no bad news. You know that Kris will not be able to take a shock well if we're not ready to support her."
Corin nodded and watched as his brother pulled out a short knife and carefully lifted the wax seal. To Cor's surprise, he found a smaller sealed scroll wrapped up inside the larger one. He frowned, wondering why Aislynn would have felt the need to send two missives, before setting the second one aside and turning his attention to the first, reading it aloud so his brother would be equally informed.
"To His Majesty, King Cor of Archenland at Anvard, from Lady Aislynn of Anvard:
"Greetings!
"My dearest cousin, may Aslan's blessings continue to be on you, Aravis, and Corin. I know it has not been that long since last I saw you, but it is my hope that your fortunes have not changed.
"I have made contact with the Narnian resistance and delivered your message to them. They welcome your support and seem to believe that with your support they will drive the Telmarines back out of Narnia.
"I have also made contact with Prince Caspian and confirmed the truth of the rumors that we have heard. Caspian has been under the care of his uncle Miraz and his aunt Prunaprismia ever since the death of his father, Caspian the ninth, until the time when Prince Caspian came of age and could claim the throne. Some nights ago, Lady Prunaprismia gave birth to a son, and with an heir of his own, Miraz decided that Prince Caspian was no longer needed. He sent a detachment of guards to Caspian's chamber within an hour of the birth to execute Caspian."
Cor paused as he read that passage and looked at his twin, who looked equally shocked and appalled at the traitorous behavior. Cor cleared his throat after a moment and turned his attention back to the letter.
"With the help of his tutor, Caspian escaped just before the guards arrived and fled into the woods, where he encountered the Narnians. They were suspicious of him at first, but he has pledged that he will give back what was stolen from them, if they help him reclaim his throne. He is young in my opinion, with a distinct lack of training in government and the nuances of ruling, but sincere in what he has promised. I believe that he can be trusted to do as he has claimed, and he welcomes our assistance and a chance to ally with Archenland."
The following paragraph was a rough outline of the Telmarine patrol movements around the How, apparently gathered from the gryphons and the other talking animals that could slip through the forest unrecognized. Thus far, it seemed that the How had remained undiscovered, although Cor wasn't sure how they had managed that bit of luck. Cor skimmed over that, before he continued reading:
"However, there has been other surprising news, dear cousin. As I was preparing to send this missive to you, one of the Badgers, named Trufflehunter, came to me and introduced me to four young children. The eldest appears sixteen, the youngest nine or ten. They are not Telmarine children, and they claim to be the Kings and Queens of Narnia."
Cor blinked and reread the last sentence. "The Kings and Queens?" he echoed, staring in shock at the letter before raising his eyes to meet the startled gaze of his twin. He stared at Corin for a moment before he spoke. "Could it be? Could the Kings and Queens have finally returned after all this time?"
Corin wordlessly shook his head. He seemed incapable of speech, so great was his shock.
Cor turned his attention back to the letter and began reading it again.
"…they claim to be the Kings and Queens of Narnia. The eldest boy is Peter, and the other three are Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Trufflehunter assures me that they are the Kings and Queens, and that they were summoned by the magic of Queen Susan's horn. I do not know all of the details of their plans yet, but they asked me to send this letter in the hopes that your plans will help them make their own. By King Peter's request, I have enclosed a letter from him for you, dearest cousin.
"I await further instructions from you, my King. In the meantime, I will use my skills to aid the Narnians in any way that I can.
Aslan's grace be with you, cousin."
Cor placed the letter from Aislynn on the table before reaching for the second sealed scroll. He used his knife to lift the wax seal, unrolling it while his brother looked over his shoulder.
Graceful, flowing script scrawled across the page. Although it looked as though the letter had been written quickly, it was still neat and easy to read. Corin looked at the writing before nodding at Cor. "It has been some time since I saw King Peter's writing, but I am certain that this is it."
Cor looked thoughtfully at his brother. Corin had had a great deal more exposure to the Narnian Kings and Queens than his older brother, because when Cor was an infant, he had been abducted and raised in Calormen, only being found and returning to Archenland when he was twelve, and he had only been back in Archenland for a year before the Kings and Queens vanished.
Taking a deep breath, Cor turned his attention to reading the letter.
"To His Majesty, King Cor of Archenland at Anvard from High King Peter of Narnia at Aslan's How:
"Greetings and Aslan's blessings upon you my friend. I am pleased to hear from Lady Aislynn that things are going well for you.
"My siblings and I have much to make up for, after our long absence from Narnia, and it is because of that and because of our responsibility as Narnia's monarchs that I plead with you for your assistance and give thanks for the assistance that you have already provided over the years. I have no doubt that it is because of the aid that you have provided that the Narnians have flourished as well as they have.
"We have reached Aslan's How and have discovered some of what has been occurring during our unintentional absence. It is my hope that you will be able to send additional troops to support us because it appears that the Narnians are badly outnumbered by the Telmarines. Please send word on what, if any, support you can send as soon as possible so we can begin planning the campaign.
"On a personal note, my friend, I have an important request to ask of you. When my siblings and I departed Narnia, Krisalyn, my beloved wife, was left behind. I have been most concerned about her and about the child she was carrying. When I was told that she may have fled Cair Paravel just before it fell, I felt some relief that she was safe, but no one that I have spoken to seems to know what has happened to her. It was my hope that you have some news of Krisalyn and my child. I beg you, as a friend, if you know anything of her whereabouts, that you send word to me as soon as possible. It would ease my mind greatly to know that she is safe and well, for I intend to go to her as soon as this campaign has ended.
"I hope to hear word from you soon, my friend, and in the meantime, may Aslan's grace and blessings be upon you and yours."
Cor lowered the letter and looked at his brother. Corin looked back at him steadily, wondering what thoughts were racing through his twin's mind. He couldn't make the decision, and not for the first time, he was glad that he was not King. He had never been happy about being the Crown Prince, and when Cor had been found, not only had he regained a brother, but he had gone from first in succession to second, simply because he was the younger of the two of them by five minutes.
Cor laid the letter from King Peter on the table and turned his attention to the map. "We need to begin making plans, since I have every intention of sending troops to reinforce the Narnian position."
He began studying the area of the map that represented the border between Narnia and Archenland. There were very few places where it was safe to cross the border between the two countries because of the mountain range that formed the border. He was reluctant to send his troops up through the main pass for several reasons. The main pass was heavily guarded by Telmarine soldiers, which was why he had sent Aislynn into Narnia alone, because a young woman could get through where a man could not. An armed force would be slow coming through the pass and they would be easily seen by the guards at the border. There would be plenty of time for the Telmarines to send a messenger to alert the Telmarine leaders.
Less of a concern, although it could become a concern if things changed dramatically between now and when they left Anvard, was the fact that to get to the main pass from Anvard would add another two days marching time to their journey, and then another two days back around. Anvard lay at almost a straight shot to Aslan's How, if it wasn't for the mountains that formed the border.
He sighed. This is going to take a great deal of coordination. Cor looked at his brother. "Are you ready to get to the planning, brother-mine?"
Corin looked towards the door with mock-longing on his face. "Dinner is probably half-over…it would be rude to show up so late."
"You and your stomach!" Cor exclaimed, mockingly. "I'll send to have food brought in."
Corin sighed dramatically, before turning his attention to the area of the map that his brother was studying. "I take it you don't want to send them up the main pass, but what about this…?"
Aslan's How…same time…
Peter settled back against a section of rock in the Stone Table wall, gazing at the relief of Aslan as his siblings, Aislynn, and Caspian got settled as well. This had the potential to be quite a long discussion, and there was no point in making themselves miserable while they discussed the situation.
Peter wondered who had carved the relief of Aslan. It was a magnificent representation, and Peter was almost willing to swear that – with the firelight flickering off of it – the carving was actually looking at him and that it was Aslan's kind, wise eyes staring down at him.
"Peter?"
Peter blinked and turned his attention back to the others. Edmund had caught his attention again, gently, and Peter fought back the urge to blush and apologize in embarrassment. He wasn't sure where his mind was lately, and it was starting to annoy him. He could see the odd look that Edmund was shooting him as well, and he knew his brother was wondering what was going on with him too. Peter was usually very attentive to his surroundings, but lately he almost felt as if he was going through the motions like a sleepwalker.
Peter cleared his throat and turned his attention to Caspian and Aislynn. "Caspian, I would like to know anything you can tell us about the situation with the Telmarines. What the size of their army is, when we might expect them to show up here, and what the political situation that brought you here is."
Caspian frowned, but not as if he was displeased. He seemed to be thinking about how to respond to the request. After a moment he looked up and met Peter's eyes. "The first question is probably the easiest one to answer. At the castle – Cair Paravel, I believe you call it?" he directed the question to the four children, who all nodded. He continued with a nod. "At Cair Paravel, my uncle has about two thousand troops, between the ones that live in the castle barracks and the ones that live in the village below the castle with families. Right now, my uncle doesn't fully control the entire army. That privilege is given only to the King."
Peter was happy to hear that number. While two thousand was a lot of troops, and the Narnians gathered here were still outnumbered, if that was all that was brought against them, they had a good chance of being able to hold out, and an even better one if Cor was able to get his troops into place soon enough.
"What about their expected arrival time?" Edmund asked smoothly as Caspian finished.
Caspian shrugged. "That I do not know, but I would expect it to be soon. The army will move quickly when it comes, but since my uncle is not yet King, he cannot command the entire garrison to march without the approval of the entire Council, and I am fairly certain he won't get that without irrefutable proof that I committed treason against my people."
"Evidence could be manufactured," Susan pointed out softly. Caspian turned to her and smiled warmly, earning a small smile back from the oldest Queen.
"That is very true, Your Majesty, but from what I was told by my tutor, the Council does not like my uncle. They were loyal to my father, and the only reason my uncle is in a position of authority, no matter how limited, is because he is my father's brother. As long as I live, though, he cannot legitimately claim the throne unless I abdicate or the Council declares me a traitor."
Peter looked thoughtful at Caspian's last words. "Then your death is what he is after, which means we need to do what we can to protect you."
Caspian looked indignant. "I can take care of myself in a fight, King Peter! I do not need a nursemaid."
Peter frowned deeply at him. "I never said anything about nursemaiding you, Caspian. But to stop your uncle, we have to keep you alive. I am not doubting your fighting prowess, although I would like to test your skills for my own peace of mind, but you are important to Narnia."
Aislynn reached over and laid a hand on Caspian's arm. "Listen to him, Caspian," she urged him softly. "You are the one who rallied the Narnians. There's no point in throwing your life away because you're too stubborn to listen to reason. That would not serve any purpose."
Caspian turned to look at Aislynn and after a long moment, turned back to Peter and nodded. "Very well, Your Majesty. I apologize for my outburst."
Peter waved off the apology. "I took no offense, Caspian. Now, can you tell us what the political situation is like at the moment? If things are as bad as you've indicated, now would be a good time to take the fight to the Telmarines, once we know all the resources we have available."
Caspian sighed and nodded. "It was my grandfather, Caspian the Eighth, who was in power in Telmar at the time everything started. This was about forty years ago. A series of droughts and poor harvests over a ten-period finally convinced him that Telmar was a dying land, and that his people would all die if they stayed and continued to farm the increasingly poor land. So he packed everyone up and they set out to the East."
"Why east?" Lucy asked, interrupting Caspian. Why not north, south, or west?"
Caspian looked at the youngest Queen. "They couldn't go south because of Calormen, and so much of the land is barren, it wouldn't have been much better than Telmar. To the west, as far as they had ever scouted, the land was equally barren, and to the north, it was too cold for too much of the year to hope for a reliable harvest. There were rumors that the lands to the east were fruitful and beautiful, as well as unclaimed by anyone. It was a long trek, across strange and inhospitable lands, before they finally made it into Narnia. My grandfather was killed just before they first entered Narnia, and the throne passed to my father, who was the heir because he was older." Now Caspian had the grace to look sheepish. "It was my father who conquered Narnia, and for that," he met each of the Pevensies' eyes in turn, "I am deeply sorry."
The Pevensies all looked at each other before Peter nodded. "Your apology is accepted, Caspian. But please, continue."
Caspian took a deep breath, before continuing. "From what I was taught, when my people crossed the border into Narnia and first encountered the Narnians, they believed the Narnians were wild beasts and that Narnia was everything that they had heard rumored - a wild, savage land. They began moving in, not realizing that there was a governing body, and when the Narnians attacked at the invasion, my father ordered the army to fight back."
He paused and seemed to be gathering his thoughts. "That is the version that I was taught, at any rate, although it would not surprise me if my uncle ordered that I be taught that version in order to cover up the fact that my people attacked the Narnians first."
Peter sighed. "We may never know who started the fighting. Each side will have their own version about what happened." The others all nodded in agreement.
"My father continued to drive across Narnia, until a massive Narnian force tried to bar their way. It was a fierce battle, but my people won and forced the Narnians into a retreat. When they reached Cair Paravel, my father placed it under siege and they held out for quite some time – six months, I believe? – before my father's army finally took the castle."
"Were there ever any attempts at negotiation?" Peter asked. "Did your father ever discuss anything with Queen Krisalyn?" His attention was on Caspian, so he didn't notice – nor did Edmund and Susan – when Aislynn looked sharply at the High King and an odd expression crossed her features. Lucy, however, was watching Aislynn more closely than Caspian, and she caught the fleeting expression. She chose not to say anything to Peter however.
Caspian looked at Peter blankly. "Queen Krisalyn?" he echoed. "I have never heard that name mentioned before. I was taught that the last surviving Narnians from the great battle were the ones who sheltered in the castle. No monarch ever came to lay claim to the land, from my understanding." He now looked puzzled as he gazed at the Pevensies. "My tutor told me that in Narnia there were two Kings and two Queens…but were there three Queens?"
Peter nodded. "Queen Krisalyn is my wife. When my siblings and I left Narnia, she was not with us, having remained at Cair Paravel, so she was left behind."
"Well, from everything I was taught, no ruler ever came to meet with my father," Caspian said after a moment. "My father claimed the throne of Narnia, and he ruled for seven years after the battle. I was born during his seventh year of rule. When I was only a few months old, my father died in his sleep one night. My care was passed to my uncle, Miraz and his wife Prunaprismia. Miraz has acted as regent for the throne my whole life." Caspian fell silent for a moment, before he spoke again. "I have always known that he wanted my throne. I suppose the only reason I have lived as long as I have is because he did not have an heir of his own. But a few nights ago, my aunt gave birth to a son. Within moments of the birth, my uncle ordered his general to have me killed in my bed."
The Pevensies exchanged looks at that story. Caspian fell silent again, and Lucy stood and walked over to him, resting her small hand on his shoulder and smiling at him. "Please, finish your story, Caspian."
Caspian looked up at the youngest Queen and returned her smile. "There's not that much more to tell. My professor woke me up and helped me escape the castle. I fled into the woods as he advised, but I was knocked off my horse by a low-hanging branch. That was when I met Nikabrik and Trufflehunter. Nikabrik knocked me unconscious, and when I woke up I was inside Trufflehunter's house. They led me to the other Narnians."
Susan fingered the horn hanging at her side. She had picked up a leather strap and strung it on the horn so she could wear it from her belt. "How did you gain possession of my horn?"
Caspian shrugged. "My professor handed it to me just before he sent me out of the castle on my horse. He told me that it had taken him many years to track it down, and that I should only use it at my greatest need. When I was lying on the ground outside Trufflehunter's house and Nikabrik was coming after me and the soldiers right behind me, I used it. I felt that my life was in peril and I had no other choice. I don't know where my professor got it."
Peter frowned, an old memory surfacing. "Our gifts…they might still be at Cair Paravel."
Edmund and his sisters looked over at him, as did Aislynn and Caspian. "What do you mean, Peter?"
"Gifts?" Aislynn and Caspian spoke at the same time as Edmund.
Peter gestured to Susan's horn. "Our first days in Narnia, we received gifts from Father Christmas," he explained. "I received my sword, Rhindon, and my shield. Susan received her bow and arrows and her horn. Lucy received a dagger and a cordial that could heal any wound."
Caspian interrupted before Peter could continue. "What about King Edmund? What did you receive?" he asked the younger King.
"I didn't receive anything," Edmund said calmly, although a flash of old regret crossed his face. "I wasn't with the others at the time that they met Father Christmas." He turned to his brother. "What do you mean about the gifts being at Cair Paravel, Pete?"
"The first day we were back in Eng – Spare Oom," Peter corrected himself, not wanting to explain to Aislynn and Caspian about England. Narnia's history had recorded that the four of them had been the rulers of a kingdom called Spare Oom, and by the time they realized the mistake, it hadn't been worth the effort to correct the history books. "When I fell asleep…I had a dream about Narnia. Oreius and the royal guard had been sent to find us when we never came back from the hunt, but all they found were our horses and gear, including our gifts. Susan's horn was hanging from her saddle, but the rest of the gifts, and Edmund's weapons, were all lying in a neat pile by a thicket, being guarded by Phillip. Oreius had the gifts brought back to Cair Paravel, back to Krisalyn. It is possible that she had them locked in the treasure room, and Caspian's professor somehow discovered the entrance to the treasure room, and that's where he found Susan's horn. The rest of our gifts may still be there."
Everyone looked slightly more cheered at that. But Susan, logical as always, pointed out a small detail. "If Krisalyn had possession of our gifts, why wouldn't she have taken them with her when she fled Cair Paravel?"
"Maybe she didn't get a chance to retrieve them?" Lucy wondered.
"We won't know until we get a chance to talk to her," Peter replied. "But it's the only way I could see Caspian's tutor getting hold of Susan's horn. If he recognized it when he found it, he would probably recognize the rest of the gifts too."
Caspian looked at Peter steadily. "That is my story, King Peter. Does it help you?"
Peter nodded. "Actually, yes, Caspian. It tells us something about how Narnia came to be in this predicament, and it also tells me that there is some internal turmoil, not only between you and your uncle, but between Miraz and the Council. You mentioned that Miraz doesn't command the full army?"
Caspian nodded. "After my people settled here, the army was divided up and Lords were appointed over the different regions. Each Lord of the Council controls a small part of the army from their own holdings. Only the King can command the full army to come together. That prevents one of the Lords from thinking he can use the troops to overthrow the others. My uncle is the Lord Protector, not the King, so he cannot command the full army. To use the full army, he must get the entire Council to agree on his plan, and right now, they never would."
"That's somewhat of a relief," Edmund noted, glancing at his siblings, who nodded in agreement.
"Is there anything else that you can think to tell us, Caspian?" Susan asked quietly. While Edmund and Peter were the true tacticians of the four of them, Lucy and Susan knew a lot about it too, from sitting in on the meetings to plan campaigns – Susan, because she often had charge of the archers' contingent, and Lucy because she would ride with the army to wait with the healers and the support staff. They had picked up no little bit of information from listening to their brothers.
Caspian looked at the Gentle Queen before shaking his head no. "Nothing else. I can't predict what Miraz will do, but I wouldn't completely discount the possibility that he will find a way to gain control of the entire army."
"So it's something we need to be aware of and anticipate a plan for, but not likely?" Peter said briskly. When Caspian nodded, Peter turned to Aislynn. "Lady Aislynn, did King Cor tell you anything about what to expect from Archenland in terms of support?"
Aislynn looked thoughtful. "Cor – I mean, King Cor – didn't tell me much, Your Majesty, other than he was definitely planning on bringing a large part of the army, if not the whole army, up to help the Narnians. Corin –" she sighed in frustration, "excuse me, Prince Corin is also likely to come with, and he'll likely bring a small detachment along to scout the route out for the rest of the army so King Cor can get his troops up here in secret."
Peter eyed her speculatively. "You are not used to using the royal titles, are you, Lady Aislynn?" He had noticed her slips before correcting herself, and watching as she flushed, he knew his guess was correct.
"No, Your Majesty, I'm not. I grew up in Anvard, in the Palace. My mother was a dear friend of Their Royal Highnesses during my childhood, before Prince Cor was crowned King, and I often played with them when they were not studying, and my mother arranged for me to take classes with them and Lady Aravis," Aislynn admitted. "They are close friends, and they gave me permission years ago to call them by their names unless we were in Court and it was a formal situation."
Peter nodded. "Don't feel that you have to force yourself to use their titles, then, Aislynn. If you are more comfortable simply calling them by name, we understand. In fact," he looked at his siblings, who all nodded, "unless we are in front of the Narnians as a whole, I believe that both of you may refrain from using our titles as well."
Caspian and Aislynn nodded in thanks, before Aislynn continued. "I sent Cor what information I have been able to gather about the patrols south of the How, with the help of the gryphons and the talking birds, and I hope that the messenger I sent will return sometime tomorrow with plans of what Cor and Corin hope to do to assist us."
She paused for a moment before continuing. "Knowing them the way I do, however, I think that they are most likely to have already begun rallying the army and were just waiting for the information I sent. I wouldn't be surprised if Corin shows up within two or three days, depending on the size of the group he has with him, the speed they move at, and the route they take, with Cor and the army another two days or so behind them."
Peter looked thoughtful. "So at most, we might only have to hold the Telmarines off for a week or so. That's not impossible. Supplies are high right now, and if the Telmarines arrive before Cor gets the rest of the army up here, that might work in our favor because we could catch them in a pincer maneuver, provided we can alert him as to what is going on."
The others nodded. Peter looked at the rest of the group. "I don't believe that there is much more that we can do today. Until we know for sure what Cor and Corin intend to do, I believe that we've made the best plans that we can. We've got supplies, and thanks to Caspian's raid, we've got enough weapons now for the entire army. The archers are still working on making more arrows, but they should have plenty by the time we need them." He rose to his feet and the others followed a half-second later. "For now, I declare this council adjourned."
The palace at Anvard…
The door to the war room was pushed open, but Cor and Corin, deep into their strategy session, didn't even look up, even when a familiar, lightly accented voice spoke. "So here's where the two of you got off to. The entire Court was in a stir, wondering what would cause both the King and the Prince to skip dinner."
"If we want to aid Narnia, we need to make sure that we have our plans firmly in place before we drag the army up there," Cor replied absently to his wife, not looking up from where he was tracing the mountain range that separated Narnia from Archenland. It was still proving to be the most difficult part of the march, simply because of how few safe passages there were through the mountains, especially with a force the size Cor intended to bring.
"I appreciate the effort, cousin, but you do still have a duty to your people," a new, feminine voice replied. "Your army trusts you, and they will follow you wherever you lead them."
"They trust me because we always have a solid plan in place," Cor retorted. "We may not always be able to stick to the plan, but it is always in place before we depart, and you know that all too well, Kris." Now he did look up, although he kept his finger on the map at the place he had been scrutinizing.
He always felt a sense of sorrow when he looked at his older cousin these days. Time and the trials of her life had not been easy on her, despite what most people would assume when they looked at the proud, graceful woman, who, even on her worst days, was still dignified and elegant. Her every movement, gesture, or glance told an onlooker that this was a Queen of great power. A Queen in exile, to be sure, but a Queen nonetheless.
The years had taken their toll on Krisalyn. Her once jet-black hair was now streaked through with silver, giving it a muted, faded appearance that somehow lent her an air of respectability without taking away any of her beauty or her dignity. The spark of life in her violet eyes had also faded and it gave her a distant, subdued expression, although she could still summon authority in her gaze and her eyes still flashed with fire when she was provoked past reason.
Though she was only fifty-six years of age, and could carry that age well, there was a weariness and a sense of…Cor inwardly sighed. He didn't know how to describe Krisalyn. By all rights, she should still be at the peak of her life, but too much sorrow and grief weighed down on her, and though she bore under the burden well, it was beginning to overcome her, and it was for that reason that he privately wanted to weep whenever he set eyes on her these days.
Although Aravis had been no stranger to the life of a noble when she first arrived in Archenland twenty-six years ago, she hadn't truly been prepared for the responsibilities and duties of a Queen when she had married Cor twelve years later. Krisalyn had already been at Anvard for nearly a decade at that point, and the Narnian Queen had been ever so gracious about helping Aravis adjust to the changed responsibility of going from a noblewoman and friend of Cor and Corin to a wonderful Queen of Archenland.
Cor's gaze drifted to that of his wife. He and Aravis had seriously begun considering starting a family of their own recently, and Krisalyn had been wonderful about giving them advice, based on her own experience, although their situation was a bit different than Krisalyn's. For one, unless they had an extraordinary string of ill-fortune, they would not be raising their family alone, as Krisalyn had been forced to do. Even if, through some misfortune, Cor was slain in battle, Corin would still be there, and Krisalyn, and Adelie, Cor's mother. After King Lune's death, she had chosen to abdicate from the throne in favor of her son and go into retirement in Anvard, rather than rule alone. She would gladly help to raise her grandchildren, if it came to that.
"Has word come from Aislynn?" Krisalyn asked, stepping further into the room as Aravis came over to stand next to her husband. "That is the only thing I can think of that would cause this frenzy of planning."
Cor looked around the room. Indeed, in the last few hours, a frenzy had broken out. Papers were scattered all across the sections of the table they were not using, dishes and cups stood on a nearby side-board, waiting to be removed by a servant, and both Cor and Corin had removed their outer tunics and vests and tossed them over various chairs.
Before he could answer, Krisalyn spotted the two letters sitting where he had left them on the table. She recognized her daughter's handwriting on one and picked it up before Cor had a chance to stop her. The older woman's eyes skimmed the letter, a frown crossing her face at different points. Cor braced himself for what he had no doubt was coming.
He knew as soon as she reached the point in the letter. Krisalyn froze, and her face, already pale and weary, went as white as a sheet. Her eyes tracked back over the letter, rereading the words her daughter had written again and again. Slowly, she lowered the letter, not even bothering to finish it, and laid it back on the table next to the rolled up scroll that held King Peter's letter.
Cor was already moving, and as Krisalyn fell backwards, he caught her and lowered her into a near-by chair as Aravis poured a goblet of water from the pitcher standing on the side-board. Corin moved over and took one of his handkerchiefs, dipping it into the water that Aravis brought over and gently sponging Krisalyn's face and the back of her neck as Aravis urged her to drink and Cor held her hand reassuringly.
Several sips of water later, and Krisalyn's eyes met Cor's. "Is it true?" she whispered hoarsely. "Is it true?" Before she could say anything else, a coughing fit seized her and all three royals did their best to support her. Unfortunately, at this point all they could do was wait for the fit to subside. It was an old routine, and one they were all familiar with, to their sorrow.
As the fit subsided, some minutes later, Krisalyn leaned back in the chair, wheezing slightly as she tried to catch her breath. Her eyes, however, remained locked on Cor, waiting for his answer.
"We don't know for sure, Kris," Cor said softly. "Corin thought he recognized Peter's handwriting, but the description sent by Aislynn doesn't make sense. For now, we're not assuming anything, because Aislynn wouldn't necessarily know what to look for. Corin is going to lead an advance force up to the How, leaving tomorrow. He should arrive some days ahead of me and the rest of the army, and he'll discover the truth behind it."
Krisalyn closed her eyes for a long moment, taking several deep breaths to calm her breathing, before she opened them and locked gazes with Cor again. Her voice was resolved and steady, and the fire that had been missing for so long was back. "I'm going with you."
Cor and Corin both immediately protested.
"Kris, that's crazy! We're going to a battle, not a state visit –"
"You're not well enough for the trip, Kris, and it won't be good for you to get your hopes up – "
Aravis simply sat back and watched, not commenting. Cor watched his wife and realized they had already lost this argument. There was no swaying Krisalyn when her mind was made up, and he could see in the firmness of her gaze that she was not going to back down.
His protests fizzled out, and he looked at her helplessly before looking at his brother. Corin seemed to have come to the same understanding and returned his look. There was no point in arguing.
"Where is Peter's letter?" Krisalyn asked as soon as she saw they had given up on convincing her to stay.
Cor sighed and reached over and picked up the letter. He held it lightly in his hand for a moment, before placing it in her outstretched one. This could be the proof he needed, he thought. After all, surely Krisalyn would recognize her own husband's handwriting.
Krisalyn unrolled the scroll and her eyes fastened on the neat scrawl inside. "This is his writing," she said after a long moment. "I'm sure of it." She began reading the letter, her eyes skimming back and forth across the parchment.
Cor watched her closely. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Narnia's four monarchs and the abandonment by King Peter of his wife and unborn child was a touchy one with Krisalyn. On the one hand, the abandonment and being forced to raise their daughter alone had been viciously painful for her. Cor had thought that he had understood what she was going through, although he had wondered why she had never remarried. She was, under Narnia's laws, within her rights to do, although she had never even considered it.
On the other hand, she was still deeply faithful to her husband and to the vows that she had made before Aslan and all of Narnia. When he had, cautiously, asked her why she still clung to her belief that Peter was still alive one night, she had simply looked at him with those dark, pain-filled eyes and told him that Peter had sworn to her that he would never abandon her, and that he would always come back for her. Peter had never broken a promise to her, and she could not imagine that the most solemn vow he had made would be the first one that he would choose to break, so she would wait, and hope, and trust that Aslan knew what was happening.
That had been a few years after she had fled to Anvard for refuge from the Telmarines, and the ensuing two decades had changed many things. Although still kind and sweet to Cor and his family, and loving to her daughter (who looked a great deal like Peter, if you knew what to look for), the topic had become a bitter one for her. With each year that passed, the burden of false hope had pressed down on her more and more, and she seemed to age before her time.
Cor's thoughts were pulled back to his cousin as a mild oath escaped her lips. "How dare he," she whispered harshly. "How dare…'My beloved wife, Krisalyn, was left behind. I have been most concerned about her and the child that she was carrying…'" she quoted. "It has been twenty-five damned years and that's all he can say?"
Cor and Corin exchanged glances before looking at Aravis, who subtly shook her head. Aravis and Krisalyn could almost always be found together these days, and the Queen of Archenland often had a better reading on her fellow Queen than Cor and his brother. That subtle headshake had been a warning not to say anything. Cor could read his wife very well, and Corin could read him, so it worked out quite well.
"Kris," Aravis said softly, resting her hand on the older woman's arm. "It was a formal letter from one King to another. If Peter did write it, I'm sure that he wasn't about to pour his heart out on paper, just in case the letter was intercepted. You know the formalities between rulers better than I do. Don't let your emotions get in the way."
Krisalyn turned cold, angry eyes on Aravis, but the younger Queen simply stared her down and finally Krisalyn subsided. The fire and the rage went out of her and she suddenly seemed smaller and wearier than Cor had seen her in a very long time. "It's been so long…" she whispered.
"I know, Kris, I know. But all he's asked is for Cor to send word that you're well and to tell him where you are so he can come and find you after this situation is resolved," Aravis told her, having read the letter over Krisalyn's shoulder. "He very well may want to simply wait and speak to you in person. All he's asking for is information."
Krisalyn met Cor's eyes. "I am going with you, Cor. I need to see Peter, I need to know that it is him."
Cor sighed and knelt in front of her. "Kris, it's not necessary for you to come. Corin and I can send word back to you if it really is Peter, and then you can come up once the battle is over and it is safe to travel. You shouldn't be at the How now. If we lose the battle, at least one of Narnia's monarchs will still be alive."
Krisalyn's face hardened again, but this time in reluctance and guilt. "I am not Narnia's Queen any longer, Cor. I haven't been for a long time. I abandoned my people instead of staying to fight. I could have snuck back over Narnia's borders at any time in the past twenty-five years, but I haven't. I've used excuse after excuse as a reason why I haven't done more for my people. I have been in hiding. Aslan named me Steadfast, but my faith has been sorely lacking." She looked at the younger man. "Now is the time for me to go back and rectify my mistakes, help my people, and then surrender a throne that I do not deserve."
The other royals looked at each other for a long moment as silence fell in the room at Krisalyn's pronouncement. Cor was astonished at the amount of guilt that Krisalyn was carrying. It wasn't logical. He knew very well that she had been in Anvard for a good reason, and despite what she might think, she had done a great deal for Narnia in the last twenty-five years. She may not have been actively ruling her people, but she'd never stopped looking for a way to help them.
"I think you're underestimating everything that you have done, Kris," he finally said when the silence began to grow uncomfortable. "There was only so much you could have done under the circumstances…but now is not the time to quibble about it," he said hastily when it looked like she would protest. "I still don't like the idea of you coming along, but as Narnia's Queen, you do have the right…so I won't say anything against it." He turned back to the map table. "Corin and the scouts will leave in the morning. We'll give them a two-day lead before we follow."
"Where are we going to cross over?" Krisalyn asked, rising to her feet slowly, before walking over to study the map table.
Cor sighed. "As much as I hate to admit it, we may have to cross at the main pass. I don't think there is any other way through that will hold up to the use that it will take over the next few days."
Krisalyn studied the map before placing a finger on a point just north of Anvard. "What about right here?" she asked. "This is how I got out of Narnia, and I know that it is a secluded, yet sturdy pass. I didn't even know it was here, but some of the fauns that were with me did and they showed it to me."
Corin and Cor looked at each other before looking at the map. "There's not a pass there," Corin said.
"Oh, yes there is," Krisalyn said stubbornly. She traced the route with her finger. "If we cross the border here – and I doubt the Telmarines are aware it exists – it's a straight shot north to the How."
Cor and Corin looked at each other again. Corin shrugged. "I could take the scouts up that way and check the pass out. If it doesn't work for the army, I'll send a messenger back and you can head for the main pass."
Cor considered their options for a moment. If the Telmarines didn't know the pass was there, they wouldn't be guarding it. He could get his army through and up to the How swiftly and secretly. If it didn't work out, well, there was still the main pass, and at the very least, Corin could get through the smaller pass, double back to the main pass and be able to stop the guards at the border from getting a messenger out, which would still keep their arrival secret.
"All right, Kris, we'll try it," Cor agreed finally. "The worst that can happen is the pass won't work out and we'll have to go back around to the main pass." He looked back at the map of Narnia. The How was defensible, but it was possible that they might have to turn this into a full invasion and take the fight all the way to Cair Paravel. At the very least, they had a working plan, and it was one that allowed for changes, which was the best kind of plan to have. General Oreius had once told Cor, not long after he had returned to Archenland and while he was visiting Cair Paravel before the rulers disappeared, that "plans never survived the first engagement with an enemy, so be prepared to change them if necessary". It was a piece of advice that Cor always kept in mind, and not just for war planning.
He took a deep breath. They had their plans, they might have unexpected allies, and they had the kind of political turmoil among the enemy that could turn an uncertain outcome into a victory. With Aslan's blessings, everything would go according to plan, Narnia would be freed, and peace could be restored.
"On the morrow, we move to liberate Narnia," he said softly.