'Cause I stand for the power to change,

I live for the perfect day.

I love till it hurts like crazy,

I hope for a hero to save me.

I stand for the strange and lonely,

I believe there's a better place.

I don't know if the sky is heaven,

But I pray anyway.

'I Stand', Idina Menzel

"Where are we going?" Caspian asked me as we strode through the woods. Narnians were all behind us. "What is Aslan's How?"

"The How is one of the oldest locations we Narnians still have a hold of," I replied. "The How is the standing place of the Stone Table."

"The Stone Table?" Caspian murmured. "It's true."

I smiled curiously. "If you don't mind my asking, how do you know so much about us?"

"My tutor was a half dwarf, he told me the stories in secret," Caspian explained. "He found the horn as well."

"He must have cared for you," I replied softly. "If he was willing to lose his head telling such tales."

Caspian nodded. "I will get him back from Miraz." There was a pause as I let Caspian think.

"You said one of the locations," Caspian said after a while. "There are more?"

"Aslan's How and Dancing Lawn you know," I explained. "We also still have Lantern Waste and the Ford of Beruna, just. We recently reclaimed Cair Paravel's ruin."

"Arneia, we're in sight of the How!" I heard a voice call from up ahead. I gave Caspian a meaningful look and ran forwards. Marion, the female centaur, stood at the edge of the wood and I joined her. Ahead of us stretched the great plan. In the darkness it was difficult to see the How, but a great black dome blotted out part of the sky ahead.

"Alright," I called, turning to face the gathering Narnians. "Let's just get everybody into the How first. Then we can discuss what to do next."

It was strange to re-enter the dark tunnels that had been unused for so long. Once the lamps were lit, the stone caverns and earthy walls were illlumimated with flickering gold and I saw again the endless carvings upon the walls. Once I had set down my possessions, I took a flaming beacon and found the familiar downward leading tunnel. The light touched upon engravings upon the walls, the midday sun, the four thrones, the four monarchs, the lion.

"What is this?" a voice behind me asked. Caspian. I jumped slightly in surprise.

"This is the Tunnel," I replied softly, gently running my fingertips over the carved shapes. Caspian stared.

I beckoned. "Come on."

I took him down the passage, confident in leading the way. Caspian stayed close behind me. Suddenly, the space in front of me felt open. I moved left of the doorway and in the light of the beacon saw the wood trail. Someone had reset the lights before leaving. I smiled to myself in appreciation and bent down to light the pile of wood. I knew already that the dry stick trail ran all around the chamber, illuminating the entire room. The reaction took place quickly, flames flickering up in an instant. I looked around at Caspian to see his own reaction. His eyes were wide as he saw the great stone archway at the top of the room, with the great lion carved into the rock behind the arch. And between Caspian and I, and the arch, sat the stone table atill cracked in two.

"That's-" Caspian faltered.

"The stone table," I finished for him. "Here as it always has been. The sacrificial table others called it, as it was its most common use."

"There is something I do not understand," Caspian said after a while. I frowned in curiousity.

"Why do many of the Narnans still doubt you when there is so much proof," he asked. "You do not age, your name, your possessions, your skill, the table?"

"I often wonder the same thing," I replied with a sigh. It was true. "I think it's not me that they doubt though, it is them. Aslan and the kings and queens. They've been gone so long and so much has happened since that many Narnians believe they cannot exist. If they did, they would have helped us by now."

"What do you think?" Caspian asked.

I swallowed. "I think the kings and queens can only return when summoned, it is not their choice. They will appear when the time is right. And Aslan... I don't know..." I didn't. Everyone expected me to know, after all I claimed to be his daughter.

Caspian must have sensed my uncomfortability because he didn't press the matter to my relief.

Once we was sure that everybody was settled, Glenstorm called another short council in the main rocky chamber.

"Well what happens next?" Caspian ased us as we waited in silence for... for someone to speak, I supposed.

"You're the king, you tell us," Nikabrik muttered.

"I say we attack now, with the element of surprise," Reepicheep cried excitedly.

I smiled to myself at his enthusiasm. "No, not yet. We may have the surprise but we're not ready for war yet. Either way we will that advantage, as Caspian says, we are in numbers the Telmarines could never have foreseen. But there is no point in having such an advanage if we waste it on a full scale battle now."

"Her ladyship is right, our forces are not ready to undertake war," Glenstorm agreed. "We have nowhere near enough weaponry and more Narnians may yet arrive."

"Weaponry may not be a problem," Caspian ventured.

I looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"You know of the bridge Miraz is building?" Caspian asked.

"Of course," I nodded. The bridge building had made my own passage to and from the town more difficult, with more guards around.

"Bloody bridge," Nikabrik muttered.

"What of it?" Glenstorm overrode the dwarf.

"They have stored many weapons at the bridge in preparation for its completeion," Caspian explained. "We could attack as Reepicheep wishes, but not in entirity."

"A raid?" I breathed and Caspian nodded.

"Yes. Undercover of night, we can slip past the guards and take what weapons we need. They will not suspect such a thing."

"I like it," Reepicheep mused. "Quick, sharp, destructive."

"It could work," Glenstorm agreed. "When would we do it?"

"Tonight!" Reepicheep cried enthusiastically.

"Arneia?" Caspian asked me. I was thoughtful for a moment. Although I did not agree with Reepicheep's initial full attack plan tonight, a raid would work.

"I agree with Reepicheep," I replied. "I think it's a good plan and the sooner the better. We'd better get some troops ready now, its already nearly midnight."

Caspian grinned in breathless anticipation.

I was waiting with Caspian in the main chamber of the how with my arms folded, some Narnians already around me, carrying beacons. We were awaiting Reepicheep with a few more Narnians.

"Are you sure you want to come?" Caspian asked me suddenly and I frowned with a smile.

"Of course, why?"

"Well, are you sure you are up to it?"

My smile faded. "You doubt me."

"No, I believe you are who you say," Caspian said quickly. "I just, Telmarine women don't fight, I just cannot imagine a woman with a blade."

I continued to frown. True, his thoughts were only natural for a Telmarine, but I thought he believed in me and what I could do, as I had in him.

"What will it take for you to let me come?" I asked.

Caspian's eyes widened.

"I say a duel," Asterius said gruffly. I looked around at the minotaur in surprise, I'd forgotten the others around us.

"Asterius, I'm not-" I began, but Nikabrik interrupted me.

"Yeah, show the boy what a Narnian can do!"

"A Narnian can't, Arneia can," Trufflehunter corrected. "Putting her against Caspian may not be a great plan, Asterius."

"Are you saying she'll beat me?" Caspian asked heatedly, his naturally competitive temper rising.

"We know she'll beat you," Nikabrik shrugged.

"Very well," Caspian announced. I stared as he shrugged off his cloak and drew his blade. I sighed. If this was what it would take to prove myself to the new king, then fine. I wasn't worried for myself anyhow; I was worried for him.

"Do we really have time for this," Trufflehunter sighed.

"Don't worry, this won't take long," I replied as I swung off my own cloak while Caspian prepared himself, his blade back. I drew my two blades from the crossed holsters strapped to my back and slammed them together, before taking up my own stance. The Narnians around us formed a circle, all of them watching in anticipation.

I waited, as I always did, for my opponent to move first. I knew he'd break. And he did.

The Prince leapt forwards with a roar and swung his blade with force. I was surprised by the strength behind the attack, he was better than I had anticipated. I parried, span around him and restationed. Caspian turned in surprise, paused a moment, then attacked again. I parried again, attacked, parried. Then a flick, the same I had used against Jadis. Caspian's sword clattered to the floor, my own blade pressed lightly against his neck. He stared in shock as I drew away quickly, sheathing my blades.

"Do I have your majesty's permission to attend the raid," I asked patronisingly, curtseying deeply. Caspian picked up his own blade, touching his neck.

"How did you do that so quickly?" he gasped.

"A lot of practise, a good blade and some worthy opponents," I replied simply, swinging my cloak back around me. "Nothing more."

Caspian swallowed and stared around at the present Narnians. A few had smug looks across their faces, Nikabrik positively beaming in amusement. I'd never seen him with such an optimistic expression.

"Then, if we are ready," Caspian announced, his voice still shaking slightly, "we shall go!"

So there Caspian...