"Aim higher, Lucy," Susan called from across the plain.
"If I aim any higher, I'll shoot a bird!" Lucy yelled, repositioning her arrow.
Susan laughed, leaning against the dummy the girls had made out of burlap and straw earlier that morning. Along with the Narnians, the girls were practicing battle techniques and learning how to shoot arrows with Susan's help.
Lucy was not much of an archer as she was at knife throwing but Peter wanted her to learn… or rather "relearn".
Lucy released the arrow and struck the side of the dummy.
Susan smiled, "told you to aim higher."
Lucy stuck her tongue out.
Susan laughed, "Eris, you try!"
Lily was standing a few yards away from the girls, watching them. She was dressed in her Telmarine uniform again. She could not practice fighting in a dress like Susan and Lucy. But she left off her armored vest, wearing only her white shirt, green pants and brown boots.
She was also watching the other Narnians, observing their movements and how they communicated with one another. Some could speak, others made noises. She still could not understand how they have gone unnoticed, or that Miraz could keep them at bay for so long. She was not the only one who was used to being controlled by fear…
Fauns made armor, Centaurs made weapons. They were the kindest creatures she had ever met…though she had not met many. She wondered how they could live together with humans if Caspian became king…
Then she remembered she had not seen Caspian or her brother that morning.
"Susan!" Lily shouted, running towards her beautiful friend. Susan fitted so well in this world among the Narnians, her eyes wise beyond her years.
Susan smiled at her, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight.
"Where are the others, Caspian, Peter and Leland?"
Susan's brows knitted, "I haven't seen them…they weren't at breakfast either."
"Ed said they were going to plan the raid," Lucy yelled, aiming another arrow.
Lily's heart thudded heavily in her chest, "raid?"
Lucy lowered the arrow, looking at her friend and sister with a confused expression, "i did not know what it meant…but I thought you would."
Lily looked at Susan, "the only raid I can think of is on the castle…"
Susan's expression darkened, "we better go find them. Whatever they're planning, they'll try to make us stay here."
Lily understood, her eyes brightening with urgency, "my brother will see to it that I am left behind."
"Convince them all to stay here," Eris said, worry coloring her face. "I escaped once and I am not going back."
Genia and Marsonia had the same expression, holding each other's hand.
Lily nodded, "I understand. But they're not going back without me."
And with that, Susan and Lily ran as fast as their legs could carry them across the grassy plain. They dashed through the How's main entrance, running through the smoke of the blacksmiths' fires. They went to the chamber of the Stone Table where they found their brothers, Caspian, Gabriel, the leader of the Centaurs Glenstorm and his sons, and Reepicheep standing around the broken stone table, maps on the floor and the floor plans of the castle Lily and Edmund had drawn. They were looking to Peter and Caspian who were standing in the middle of the gathering, their backs to the door.
"It's only a matter of time," Peter said. "Miraz's men and war machines are on their way." He paused, "That means those same men aren't protecting his castle."
"What do you propose we do, your majesty?" asked the leader of the centaurs.
Peter and Caspian spoke at the same time and looked at each other. Caspian looked away, embarrassed. Lily then understood that Peter felt it was his right as High King to be in charge…
Peter continued, "Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us."
"Crazy," Caspian said, "no one has taken that castle."
"There's always a first time," Peter challenged, his eyes locking with Caspian's.
"We have the element of surprise," Edmund chimed from his seat on the stone table. "If what Leland says is true then we stand a chance."
"And what would that be?" Lily asked from the doorway.
The men and Narnians looked up and Peter and Caspian turned around. They looked like children who had just been caught.
Leland, however, did not look up; he was hunched over the table, his eyes dark and focused on the castle maps.
Lily shook her head at him, "thought you could keep me in the dark again? Leave me behind?"
Leland sighed and stood tall, meeting Lily's eyes. "This will not be as easy as your rescue mission. Lives may be lost."
"Like yours," Lily said loudly, her voice shaking.
Leland's expression flashed with anger, "We have no choice. They're coming here."
"But we have the advantage here!" Caspian said firmly.
Lucy appeared in the doorway too, her eyes filled with curiosity. She had heard Lily's voice and wanted to know what had made her upset.
"If we dig in," Susan said, stepping up to Lily's side, "we could probably hold them off indefinitely."
"Look," said Peter, looking at Caspian. "I appreciate what you've done here, but this isn't a fortress. It's a tomb."
"Yes," Edmund agreed, standing. "And if they're smart, the Telmarines will just wait and starve us out."
"I think you know where I stand, sire," Reepicheep said as he crossed his small sword over his chest.
Caspian looked at his friend, crestfallen.
Peter turned to Glenstorm, "If I get your troops in, can you handle the guards?"
The centaur bowed his head, "or die trying, my liege."
"That's what I'm worried about," Lucy said, stepping into the room.
Everyone turned to look at her and Peter's expression was confused.
"Sorry?" the blonde king asked.
Lucy shrugged her shoulders, "you're all acting like there's only two options: dying here, or dying there."
"I'm not sure you've been listening, Lu."
"No, you're not listening!" she said impatiently.
Peter, taken aback, stared at his little sister.
Her eyes were pained, "or have you forgotten who really defeated the White witch, Peter?"
Everyone was silent, a chill flowing over them. All eyes fell on Peter.
Peter kept his eyes locked with Lucy's but there was something in his she could not read.
His voice was final, "I think we've waited for Aslan long enough."
Lucy, upset, left the chamber.
There was a long silence, no one knowing what to say. But Lily had too many questions and anger to stay silent.
"How long have you known?" she asked, looking at Leland.
He leaned on the broken table, "since Caspian left."
"And now we're going back."
Leland heaved a sigh, "we are. You are staying here."
Lily froze, staring at her brother.
Gabriel closed his eyes, sensing the eruption of emotion that would occur.
Lily looked to Caspian but he kept his gaze away from her.
"You agree with him?"
Caspian chose his words carefully, "you will be safer here. And Leland…believes you will be a distraction."
Lily's cheeks reddened but she tried to push past her embarrassment. "I will not be left behind!"
"It is not up for discussion!" Leland roared.
The Narnians watched nervously but they sensed the love that was beneath the yelling.
"Viria almost killed you; I can't be by your side to protect you!"
Lily, without thinking anymore, leaned over, drew the knife from her boot, reared her arm back, and whipped it forward. It soared from her hand and flew across the room in a straight line for the torch behind Leland's shoulder. It landed with a "thud" in the wood, the blade piercing it through.
Edmund laughed in disbelief and Susan stared at Lily, impressed and pleased. Caspian's lips slightly pulled into a smirk; he had taught her that trick.
But Leland was furious. His dark eyes bore into Lily's but she knew she had won.
"I won't need any protection."
"Don't fight it," Peter said to Leland, casting an exasperated look at Susan. "They always win."