I am not a child now.

I can take care of myself.

I mustn't let them down now-

Mustn't let them see me cry.

I'm fine.

'I'll Try', Jonatha Brooke

I slipped silently into the great hall, moving cautiously along the wall behind the rows of thrones. I knew where I was headed, I had adopted a small cavity in the wall as my hiding spot over the years.

The great hall was still empty but I only had moments before the lords would enter and the session would begin. I found my cave and slipped in, holding my breath to fit through the initial entrance. Flattening myself against the wall, I waited. I didn't need to do so long.

The doors swung open and assorted lords entered. None of them were talking, their faces were deadly serious. They all took their seats, as a bell rang outside. I recognised most of them, a few by name. Sopespian, Arran, Sirelle. No Miraz, as of yet. It was a matter of time, I knew what Miraz was like.

"I warned this council when it put its trust in Miraz…," Sopespian began accusingly, "there would be consequences."

"No, no," another member said swiftly. "We cannot accuse the Lord Protector without proof!"

"How long are we going to continue to hide behind that excuse?" another member asked. "Until every seat in this chamber is

empty?"

I smirked in agreement. The truth was, they were scared of Miraz and knew he was behind everything they suspected, yet they had no evidence against him.

The lord all fell silent as the doors slammed open. I peered around, it was Miraz, sure enough.

"Lords of the council, my apologies for being late," Miraz said, striding up to take his seat. "I was not aware we were in session."

Sure, I thought. Grand entrances are your speciality.

"No doubt you were otherwise occupied," Sopespian commented.

"My lord?" Miraz asked.

"Ever since the death of Caspian the ninth," Lord Mridian said, "you have behaved as if you were king. And now it seems behind these walls, even Prince Caspian has gone missing."

"My deepest condolences, Lord Miraz," Sopespian added. "Imagine

losing your nephew, the rightful heir to the throne, on the very night your wife has blessed you with a son."

I raised my eyebrows. The Narnians weren't the only ones with strong suspicions.

"Thank you, Lord Sopespian," Miraz replied and I glowerered. "Your compassion is a boon in such troubled times."

"I trust you can tell us how such a tragedy could have occurred," Sopespian asked.

"That is the most disturbing news of all," Miraz said and I frowned. "Our beloved Caspian was abducted… by Narnians!"

My eyes must have looked like saucers, they were so wide. I began chewing my lip to stop myself throwing my dagger then and there, he was such an easy and tempting target. We Narnians saved Caspian...

"You go too far, Miraz!" Sopespian called. "You expect us to stand by while you blame such a blatant crime on fairytales?"

Miraz made a brief handsignal to Glozelle who stood by the door. Glozelle opened it and I had to clap my hand to my mouth to stop myself calling out. Two soldiers brought in Trumpkin, the poor dwarf bound and gaffed. A gasp rippled around the Telmarine lords.

"We forget, my lords…," Miraz began, "Narnia was once a savage land. Fearsome creatures roamed free. Much of our forefather's

blood was shed to exterminate this vermin. … Or so we thought. But while we've been bickering amongst ourselves, they've been breeding, like cockroaches under a rock. Growing stronger. Watching us. Waiting to STRIKE!"

Miraz slapped Trumpkin's face and the gag fell away. I clenched my fists to stop myself from launching at the tyrant. Yes, vermin had existed in Narnia, you for one. Narnia had destroyed vermin in the past. And we would do it again, as I had vowed we would when the Telmarines first came to the country.

"And you wonder why we don't like you," Trumpkin ventured. Miraz ignored him.

"Well I intend to strike back," Miraz announced. "Even if I have to cut down the entire forest. I assure you. I will find Prince Caspian, and finish what our ancestors began."

He signalled to Glozelle who had the soldiers drag Trumpkin away. I swallowed in my hiding place, knowing I would have to wait for the room to empty before I could depart. And I had a lot to think about.

I made my way out the same way I had before, slipping out the back gate, through the streets to Alrohar. I left my hood down to avoid suspicion in the hours during the day, though I avoided the guards. I had caused the talk of a mysterious hooded stranger in the town for many years, I had no wish to allow the guard to take her just yet.

Alrohar galloped across the familiar plains and through the river. I let him take me onward, knowing I had until nightfall until the council. Hopefully, Trufflehunter had rounded enough up.

Suddenly I noticed a telltale mark upon the ground.

"Whoa, Alro," I called, reining Alrohar in. The stallion reared and span back around. I leaned over his shoulder to inspect the sign. A clear footprint in the sand, new and undisturbed. Human sized, booted.

"A Telmarine," I muttered. Were they searching for Caspian again? "Let's go, boy."

Alrohar understood and leapt forward. I directed him along the trail left behind, an arrow, a scrap of cloth, another footprint.

We were into the woods and they were ahead, their bows up, firing at something ahead of them I could not see. I prepared to pull my blades as we dodged the trees, but before I could do so, Alrohar skided to a halt.

"What's up boy," I asked, he'd never have stopped without good reason. Alro whinnied, nodding towards the Telmarines. I looked up to see what he had seen.

The Telmarines were under attack by something I could not see. They were slashing at their feet among the foliage, yet still they fell with screams.

A small lighted my features. "Reepicheep!"

It wasn't long before all the Telmarines had fallen prey to the oversized mouse and his forces. I could now see the Telmarines' target. Caspian was half sitting up, Reepicheep upon his chest. I nudged Alrohar forward at a walk. I was interested in what would happen.