Here we are at Chapter Eleven!

I don't own Narnia, or the quote (It belongs to Sun –Tzu); just Joanna, her parents, Ludwik, Adrina, Alexandria, granddaughter and the grandmother.

Chapter Eleven: Prince Caspian

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Keep your Friends close, and your Enemies closer

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We only got to the half way point when we decided to stop for the night and start refreshed in the morning. As soon as we finished our simple dinner we all found places around the fire to drop off into dreamland. It wasn't long before the comfort of Edmund's arms and the flicker of flames sent me to sleep.

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Every Narnian that could be gathered was there. No one seemed to notice me as I weaved through the maze of creatures to see what they were yelling at. In the very middle was a man that was about Peter's age maybe a little older. He had tan skin, deep brown eyes and black hair.

"Kill Him!"

"Telmarine!"

"Liar!"

"Murderer!"

From what they were yelling I gathered this was Prince Caspian. He seemed nervous standing in the middle of a group of Narnians that wanted to kill him. "All this horn proves is they've stolen yet another thing from us!" I glanced down to Caspian's hand and saw that he was indeed holding Susan's horn.

"I didn't steal anything."

"Didn't steal anything? Shall we list the things the Telmarines have taken?" A Minotaur growled out. The Narnians cheered in approval before listing many things off.

"Our homes!"

"Our land!"

"Our freedom!"

"Our lives!"

"You stole Narnia!" This is what our people had turned into? Terrified creatures that would pin the blame on the only person that they know that is willing to help them. It disappointed me greatly. I wanted to yell at them, to tell them that they should listen, but I couldn't. I wasn't really there.

"You would hold me accountable for all the crimes of my people?" Caspian glanced around, trying to hold everyone's eye for a minute. He reminded me of Peter.

"Accountable…and punishable." It was a Black Dwarf who said this. He seemed like the one who got up on the wrong side of the bed every morning, nothing like Trumpkin. He was the bad sort of dwarf that gave me a bad feeling.

"Ha! That's rich coming from you, dwarf." The speaker was a mouse with a feather ring on his left ear and a sword at his side. "Or have you forgotten that it was your people who fought alongside the White Witch?" The brave mouse pointed his tiny sword at the dwarf who just flicked the blade away.

"And I'd gladly do it again, if it would rid us of these barbarians." He gestured towards Caspian with disgust. I couldn't actually believe he would want to bring her back. That would be pure suicide for Narnia.

"Then it's lucky that it is not in your power to bring her back. Or are you suggesting that we ask this boy to go against Aslan now?" The badger who was questioning the dwarf waddled closer. There were roars and shouts of outrage. "Some of you may have forgotten, but we badgers remember well that Narnia was never right except when a Son of Adam was King." I smiled, the badger was smart. Unfortunately the dwarf wasn't.

"He's a Telmarine! Why would we want him as our king?" I clenched my jaw closed and refrained myself from trying to hit the dwarf. The Narnians seemed to agree with him though, as they were shouting again.

"Because I can help you." He was interrupted by shouts of 'It's a trick!' and 'At least hear him out!' He clenched Susan's horn tighter and spoke again. "Beyond these woods, I'm a prince. The Telmarine throne is rightfully mine! Help me claim it, and I can bring peace between us." His accent tinted every word along with honesty. He wanted to help bring peace.

"It is true. The time is ripe. I watch the skies, for it is mine to watch as it is yours to remember, badger." The wise Centaur's voice was deep and calming. "Tarva, the lord of victory, and Alambil, the lady of peace, have come together in the high heavens." His gaze was trained upward and then it switched to Caspian. "And now here, a Son of Adam has come forth, to offer us back our freedom." The look between the Centaur and Caspian was broken by an energetic voice.

"Is this possible? Do you really think there could be peace? Do you? I mean really?" I giggled at the squirrel that was sitting on a branch. He had a certain quality about him that made you like him.

"Two days ago I didn't believe in the existence of talking animals, or dwarves, or centaurs. Yet here you are in strength and numbers that we Telmarines could never have imagined. Whether this horn is magic or not, it brought us together. And together, we have a chance to take back what is ours." His voice rang with truth. He would try everything in his power to give Narnia back to the Narnians.

"If you will lead us, then my sons and I…" The Centaur paused for a moment to pull out his sword, "… offer you our swords." His sons followed and soon the others pulled their weapons out as well.

"And we offer you our lives, unreservedly." The mouse with the feather said, bowing to Caspian. These were the Narnians I knew. I was proud to say that this Caspian would be Narnia's future king.

"Miraz's army will not be far behind us, sire."

"If we are to be ready for them, we need to hurry to find soldiers and weapons. I'm sure they will be here soon."

The scene faded from my mind and changed, but only for a split second.

I watched as Caspian carved something into the wagon and then he and the Narnians that helped him gather weapons retreated back into the woods. I spared a glance to where Caspian carved and I had to smile. The guy had guts.

You Were Right To Fear The Woods

X

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I crouched behind a pile of lumber, watching as Telmarines cut down trees and built a bridge over the river. I grasped Lucy's hand as we watched them cut down another tree. We dropped even lower to the ground when four men on horseback came prancing out, one of them probably being Miraz.

"Perhaps this wasn't the best way to come after all." We spied for a little bit longer and then the walk all the way back to where Lucy saw Aslan. Thankfully it was still early morning so it wasn't unbearably hot. No one talked and an awkward silence hung between us all.

"So where exactly do you think you saw Aslan?" Peter questioned when we arrived at the River Rush. My eyes rolled heavenward at Peter's lack of compassion. My hand twitched forward, ready to slap Peter upside the head, but Edmund grabbed my wrist and shook his head. I yanked my wrist out of his grasp, but kept it at my side.

"I wish you'd all stop trying to sound like grown-ups." My eyes widened in surprise. Lucy never snapped at us like that. "I don't think I saw him, I did see him."

"I am a grown-up." I glanced down at the dwarf, who was looking quite put out.

"It was right over..." She let out a blood curdling scream as the ground beneath her collapsed. I pushed past Trumpkin, trying to grab Lucy's hand before she fell.

"Lucy!" I landed on the ground and immediately got back up to peer over the ledge. There was Lucy, sitting on a narrow pathway; shaken, but alive.

"…here." I rubbed my face with my hands and sighed.

"I think it's her goal to give me a heart attack." We followed the path down and soon it became wide enough for two to walk side by side. I skirted around the others and fell into step beside Lucy. I slung my arm around her shoulders; it was easy seeing as she was only a couple inches shorter than me.

"I do hope that I am not a grown-up." Her smile lit up her face, making her blue eyes sparkle as she shook her head.

"No you're not a grown-up! You believe me!"

"Yes, now don't take that for granted."She nodded and wrapped her arms around my waist. I placed a kiss on the top of her head before dropping back to Edmund's side. I stepped off the path way and onto the slippery rocks at the bottom. "Be ready to catch me. I'm sure I'm going to fall." He chuckled and kept a hand on the small of my back. Not a moment later Lucy slipped and was about to fall back, but Trumpkin saved her. When night fell we found an open area to have a small dinner and rest for the night. I was lying on my stomach, using my arms as a pillow, facing the fire. Edmund was in the same position right behind me. "It's times like these that I miss Ludwik a lot."

"Why?"

"He was my pillow. To him that wasn't degrading. Besides, it was always fun when your pillow talked back." He laughed and he soon fell asleep. I soon followed, ready to be rid of the slight ache in my feet.

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I was standing on the edge of a beautiful meadow. Though I wasn't happy about the meadow, I was happy about who was standing in the middle of the meadow.

"Aslan!" I yelled as I ran up to him, though I did not hug him. In all my years in Narnia never once did I hug him. I smiled up to him and I ran my fingers through his mane. "I'm so happy to see you."

"As am I, dear one. It seems you have questions for me." Aslan always knew. I sat back on my heels, paying no heed to my dress as I stared into his eyes.

"I do. Why aren't you with us? Why did this happen to Narnia? Could I have changed this if I did stay in Narnia?"

"Dear one, things never happen the same way twice." I stared to speak again, but the look of slight reprimand stopped me. "Even if you were here, Narnia's destiny would not have changed. This was meant to happen." I looked down at my hands as I fiddled with a loose string on my dress.

"We will see you again, right?" He gave me a very human smile and nodded.

"Yes, My Child." His voice had always calmed me and made me feel like I could do anything. He was, for all intents and purposes, my father. "I sense you have one more question." I bit my lip and smiled.

"Could you, erase my memories of the future? At times they can be overwhelming and I feel like I might drown in them." His tail swished behind him as he gave me a reassuring smile.

"My dear, your memories make you who you are. Now, when the memories seem to overwhelm you is because you are losing that part of yourself. Without those memories you are not you." I managed a small smile when I realized the only times the memories seemed to overwhelm me is during a fight, because every time I threw a punch I knew I was losing myself. I stood and dusted the grass off my dress. I looked Aslan in the eye and I reach forward to hug him, but I stopped myself.

"I'm guessing that means no." He nodded, with a smile still on him face. "I should have realized it. Thank you for the answers Aslan. I needed them. I hope to see you soon." I ran my fingers through his mane one last time. It was soft and silky beneath my hands and it rumbled when he spoke.

"I will see you soon, dear one." With that he was gone and I was standing alone in the meadow. My hand poised in the air where his mane had been mere seconds before.

"Thank you for helping me remember who I am. I was lost in England." I dropped my hand to my side and turned on my heel. I heard a sharp crack and I spun around.

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My eyes snapped open when I heard a loud crack. Sometime during the night I shifted my position and was using Edmund's chest as a pillow. I didn't move much, just shifted my position so I could grab the hilt of one of my swords.

"Susan! Wake up!" Lucy was awake as well? You would think that Peter would have been the one to wake up, not Lucy.

"Huh? Certainly Lu. Whatever you like." I rolled my eyes at Susan's mumbling.

"Joanna!" I turned to face her and rubbed my eyes. I opened my mouth to speak, but a twig snapping cut me off. I stood up as quietly as I could and strapped on my swords. Lucy and I took off towards the snapping, determined to find the cause. Lucy stopped in front of one of the trees and gently touched the bark. "Wake up." I smiled and waited for her to turn back around.

"I'm sure once Aslan returns they'll wake up." We walked in silence, taking in the new surroundings. We rounded a corner on the path when we heard a soft growling.

"Aslan?" I was pulled down with a hand covering my mouth along with Lucy. I was about to scream, but then I caught sight of the person the hand belonged to. Peter. I rolled my eyes and gently slapped his shoulder. The source of the growling came into sight, a Minotaur. Peter put a finger to his lips, a signal to be quiet as he walked from behind the bush. My hand reached out to grab the fabric of his shirt, but I missed and it thudded to the ground. He pulled his sword and went to attack the Minotaur, but was cut off by…Caspian?

"Stay here." I pointed to the ground and gave Lucy a hard look. I unsheathed my swords and ran to help. Peter had just disarmed Caspian when I arrived and I was going to toss Caspian a blade, but Peter swung his sword around his head and I had to duck to avoid be decapitated. Rhindon was lodged in a tree and while Caspian tried to pull in out Peter reached for a rock. I pointed both my blades at Peter, with a deadly glare on my face.

"No, Stop!" Peter had this pissed off look on his face as his eyes met mine. Lucy's yell alerted the Narnians that were now surrounding us. Caspian pulled Rhindon out of the tree as Peter looked around.

"Aren't you glad you didn't kill him now?" Though the fight was over I kept my swords trained on Peter, just in case. Peter looked a bit frightened, as he was staring down my blades and his.

"Prince Caspian?"

"Yes. And who are you?" I shot my brother-in-law an 'I told you so' look and sheathed my swords.

"Peter!" The rest of our entourage came running in, weapons in hand. I stepped back to stand beside Edmund as Caspian looked down at the sword he was holding in his hand.

"High King Peter."

"I believe you called." Oh no, he has that air around him again. The cocky air.

"Well, yes, but… I thought you'd be older." I rolled my eyes at the words. What was with these people thinking we would be older?

""If you like, we could come back in a few years…" He left his sentence hanging as he glanced at us.

"No! No, that's alright. You're just… You're not exactly what I expected." His eyes flickered over us before landing on Susan. I tried to hide my grin; our little Caspian had a crush on the Gentle Queen. And from the looks of it, she's crushing back. Edmund glanced warily at the Minotaur as he spoke.

"Neither are you." In return he got a growl.

"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes." It was the badger from my dream. The smart one. Though he got points deducted for standing next to the dwarf who wanted to kill Caspian.

"We have anxiously awaited you're return, my liege." It was the mouse with the feather. "Our hearts and swords are at your service." I frowned at the mouse. Though noble and brave he might be, he seemed to change leaders.

"Oh, my gosh, he is so cute." Lucy whispered into Susan's ear, but not softly enough.

"Who said that?" The mouse, whose name I later learned at Reepicheep, pulled his sword.

"Sorry."

"Oh. Uh, Your Majesty, with the greatest respect, I do believe that courageous, courteous, or chivalrous might more befit a knight of Narnia." I had to admit he gained points back for that speech. Though not enough to redeem himself from switching leaders so fast.

"Well, at least we know some of you can handle a blade." I pinched the bridge of my nose; this was going to get worse before it got better. You mean the tension between the two Alpha males? Yes this testosterone party was going to drive me insane. I feel sorry for you. You are a part of me; you have to deal with it too. Damn it, you're right.

"Yes indeed. And I have recently put it to good use, securing weapons for your army, sire." I stepped away from Edmund with a smile and put a hand on Caspian's tense shoulder. His shoulder tensed even more when Reepicheep said that it was Peter's army.

"Good. Because we're going to need every sword we can get." Oh no, it's like an Edmund and Peter fight all over again.

"Well, then you'll probably be wanting yours back." Peter snatched his blade from Caspian's hand and turned away, rolling his eyes. I picked up the pace to follow Caspian.

"Caspian!" He stopped to look at me as I stuck out my hand. "I'm Joanna. You can call me Jo." He gave me a friendly smile and shook it. "You've got guts you know." He looked down at me, yes another person taller than me, with a confused expression. As we walked on I felt Edmund grab my hand. I gave Caspian a smirk and recited something I had once seen. "'You were right to fear the woods. X.'"

"How'd you..."

"I saw it in my dream. As well as the speech you gave the Narnians. I was behind you; I feel I can trust you." Being me, I ended that with a threat. "Don't screw it up, or I'll kill you."

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YAY! Caspian is officially in the picture now! Seems to me that there is a friendship blooming on the horizon for Joanna!

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