All characters and character likenesses are copyright of C.S. Lewis and everyone affiliated with him and his estate. I only own parts of the plot and any miscellaneous characters I may introduce.
This is a heavily alternative universe based on the Chronicles of Narnia series, and I do not intend to offend any purists out there. Again, I own only parts of the plot.
'Return to Gold' – Chapter 1 - Into the Dark
His heart was pounding as his breath burned his lungs. His powerful horse galloped at full speed towards a dark rise in the night, moonlight casting a serene silver glow over the landscape. Bushes and sparse trees blew past as the horse and rider ran for their lives to escape the eight men that were following them. While the riders were to merely catch their quarry, their master was out for blood, and the young man knew that they would not stop until their master had the blood he was so hungry for.
Shaking his long hair out of his face the young man looked back, seeing the gap between him and his pursuers widen. They were shaking their fists and yelling, but all the young man heard was his name whisper on the breeze,
"Prince Caspian!"
Caspian did not give the men the satisfaction of slowing. Instead he dug his heels into Destrider's sides, spurring the stallion into plunging into the dark forest, seeking refuge from his Uncle's men. He was bent low over his horse's neck to avoid branches and streamline his profile. Behind him he heard the men chasing him as they bullied their way into the trees, being cursed at by their leader for letting him get further away.
"Deeper Destrider," Caspian urged his horse. "We must go further in if we are to get away."
Loosening his control on the reigns the young man let the horse have his head, trusting his mount to navigate the dark. He had always known that the purebred stallion could see better in the night that he could. Actually, his horse seemed to be much more intelligent than any of the horses in his uncle's stables.
"Don't let go, my King." A deep, bronzy voice rumbled from the horse, sounding only slightly winded. "I know where to go."
"Destrider?"
"I'm Narnian." The stallion replied. "But hold on, your questions will be answered later." Feathered hooves pounding the earth, the beast continued on.
All through the night the two were chased, never quite eluding the men. Caspian lost all sense of direction as Destrider ran, simply holding on and praying that they would get away with their lives. He could see glimpses of dawn through the trees as his horse began to tire. The sickening sound of a crossbow bolt hitting a branch near his head startled Caspian so much that he jerked on the reigns, causing Destrider to rear up and unseat him.
Barely catching his breath the young prince was up, sword in hand. The men charged into the small clearing, crossbows and swords pointed at him. Caspian knew that he was outnumbered and outmatched, all eight men being seasoned Telmarine warriors. Their leader was the army general, Glozelle, the second most feared man in the kingdom after Caspian's uncle, Miraz.
"Give up, my Prince." Glozelle spoke harshly. "There is no way you can defeat us. Come back peacefully and Miraz may spare your life."
"Never." Caspian spat at him, furious. He slipped his free hand into the pack at his side, fingers curling around the cool ivory of a horn. "The throne is rightfully mine, and I will not rest until I get it back."
"Why, you insolent-"
Caspian, in a swift move, pulled the horn from its hiding place and touched it to his lips. Shouts of 'No!' could barely be heard over the beautiful and haunting cry of the horn as it called for help. Caspian briefly saw his uncle's men preparing to fire at him when with a jolt of pain the world went black.