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 10 – Battle of The Howe Pt2
Sepespian murdered Miraz, Caspian knew it. After Peter had bested him in battle, spared his life, and after Caspian spared Miraz's life, he was killed by one of his own men. The battle was soon underway, leaving little time to think, instincts taking over, making actions automatic. The first advancement of troops were defeated by the Narnian's surprise under and rear attack, using the area's ancient catacombs as a death trap. They had collapsed half of the battlefield, killing dozens of men and horses.
The second advance was tougher to defeat, and halfway through Peter called retreat. Caspian, surprised, looked to the High King, who was looking to Susan perched on one of the plateaus of the Howe. He saw the dark headed woman shake her head. Lucy still had not come yet, and the tide was quickly turning in favor of the Telmar army. Turning his horse Caspian raced back to the safety of the Howe, worried why Lucy had not shown up yet. She had been gone nearly four hours.
One of the stones from the Telmarine catapult hit the Howe directly above the main entrance, collapsing their only means of escape. Cries of 'Queen Susan' rose from the Narnians, seeing the rock below her feet crumble. Heart stopping Caspian watched as Trumpkin grabbed her hand. Keeping her from falling to her death. Grimly the dwarf swung his arm before letting go, dropping her onto a ledge below.
"There's nowhere to run now." Peter spoke intently as Caspian slid off the horse, joining him at the front of their party. Peter met Caspian's eyes as Edmund and Susan joined them, their faces set into grim lines. The prince nodded, fear creeping into his body.
"I would have been proud to give Lucy away to you." Peter told him. "You would have made her happy."
"I would have been proud to have her." Caspian replied, gripping his sword tight and fighting back tears, throat clogged. Peter nodded and took a deep breath.
"FOR ASLAN AND FOR NARNIA!"
Strength suffused Caspian at Peter's cry, spurring him into following the High King as he ran forward, sword at the ready. Blocking out everything else Caspian lost himself to fighting, intent on killing every Telmarine that got in his way, desperate to survive. Twice he took down a man that was intent on ambushing Trumpkin, covering for the dwarf just as he did for Caspian. More and more soldiers poured onto the field of battle, outnumbering the Narnians ten to one.
Caspian, at one point was fighting five men at the same time, praying to Aslan that he wouldn't be killed by one of them. They were pushing him back, making him stumble, eyes dead behind their masks. The ground gave way under foot, and he fell into the pit that he had helped create. Bodies cushioned his fall, their blood making him slip as he attempted to stand. In front of him, he saw Glozelle thrusting a spear into Gabriel's chest. Caspian's stomach turned as his mind traced back to how the faun would play his pipes at night to Lucy's delight. It was another friend that died to give him the throne, the pain adding to the pain that he was drawing on to fuel his anger at the Telmarine army.
"YOU!" Glozelle shouted as he turned to look for another victim, eyes coming to rest on the young man sprawled on the ground nearby. "I'm going to kill you for what you have done to Miraz and the Telmarines."
Caspian, not having his sword at hand and with no other weapons in reach, readied himself to the reality that he would never see Lucy again, never be the King he knew he could be, never have the family that he knew he could have with her. The general raised his spear and was about to strike when he gasped and blood began to bubble between his lips. He fell to the side and Caspian saw what appeared to be a tree root drawing out of his back, covered in blood.
He jumped when more tree roots broke through the ground around him, not knowing what to expect. All but one darted towards Telmarine soldiers, the single one wrapping itself gently around his waist and lifting him to his feet. Then it too, once releasing him, moved to join the other roots. Men fell, either tripped, knocked over or impaled by the thick roots.
"Caspian!" Edmunds voice shouted from above his head. He looked up and took the hand that the dark headed king offered him. "Are you all right?"
Caspian was pulled out of the hole, but paused in awe. All around him, the trees of the forest were fighting, wading through the ground. Roots and branches filled the air, making the Telmarine army scatter, running towards the river.
"It's Lucy." Peter laughed, making Caspian look around, but he couldn't see her. "She found Aslan."
"Where is she?" Caspian asked, concerned and confused.
"With Aslan, wherever He is." Susan shrugged, unconcerned. "Don't worry, there is no safer place than beside Him."
"We need to follow them." Edmund motioned to the retreating army. "It won't end until they are defeated or dead."
With a cry the Narnians followed, intent on having their country and lives back.
"Your role is still not done Lucy." Aslan spoke as He, Lucy and Destrider walked through the forest. "You need to fight as well."
"What?" Lucy was shocked. Aslan had always made it very clear that she was not to fight unless her life depended on it. She was called to be the faithful one, the one who found her refuge in Aslan.
"Times have changed." Aslan told her. "You are key to the outcome of the war."
"How is that?" Lucy was curious. What could she do in the face of an army? She would be outnumbered by over a thousand. And yet, if Aslan told her that she was to do something, she did it.
"By simply standing in your faith in me." He butted his head against her shoulder. "Tell me your thoughts on Caspian."
"I love him." Lucy then stumbled. "I – I mean …"
"Peace Lucy." Aslan smiled. "I've known before you would know. I want to know what you think of him."
Lucy was silent for several minutes, thinking on how she would reply. There was so much she wanted to say, to tell Him.
"I think he would be a great king." She started out slowly. "He had a good and kind heart, and while he hasn't had an easy childhood or any good examples, he loves easily and deeply. He is willing to give up his life for those he serves and loves."
Aslan remained silent as she continued to gather her thoughts, tail swinging lazily. What more could she say about him? She racked her brain, scrambling to gather her thoughts.
"He can be as stubborn as any dwarf, hardheaded beyond belief. He's not above listening to reason and changing his mind. He knows how to hold and protect, and then let go." She smiled and told Aslan. "If you give him a chance, he can be the man and King that I know he will be."
The Great Lion smiled and said,
"That's what I thought as well."
Time passed quickly and before Lucy realized it, they stood at the bridge leading over the River Rush at Beruna. The blue water was so calm and peaceful, a contrast to the rough hewn bridge that spanned it's beauty. Destrider stepped forward to get a drink when Aslan stopped him.
"We need to cross the bridge before you can get a drink hoof brother." Aslan led the way, the horse following without a qualm even though Lucy knew him to be thirsty. "On the other side, drink your fill and then find some shade to relax in, your part in this battle is over."
"Thank you." Destrider even sounded tired.
"What are we to do now?"
"You stand here and wait." Aslan faded into the trees. Fear rushed through her. "Do not fear, I am still here and won't leave you."
Moments later, hooves and shouting could be heard from the other side of the river. Telmarines burst forth, a man on a horse in the lead. Once he saw her, he pulled up on the reigns, halting the men behind him. Behind them the Narnians skidded onto the beach, her siblings, Trumpkin and Caspian in the lead. Lucy, feeling brave and knowing Aslan was only steps away, drew her sword, making sure the sun glinted off the steel, blinding the man. He blinked and scowled, turning to look back at his men. Aslan stepped up beside her and the man turned back. She saw him pale under his dark tan, afraid of the lion beside her.
"Charge!" The man acted on his stupidity, deciding to advance even though he didn't know what would happen.
Lucy nimbly swung her sword around, showing off the face that she knew how to handle the blade in her hand. She was ready to fight when Aslan roared, face contorting into something frightening. His roar was so powerful that the water in the river rippled.
Still twirling Aurora, Lucy waited to see what would happen next.
The Telmarines stopped in the beach, making Caspian and the others skid to a halt. He looked to the others, not sure what was happening. The rest of the Narnian arm fanned out behind them, creating a wall between the men and the forest. He turned his weapons in his hands, readjusting his grip on them.
"What's going on?" He asked no one in particular.
"I think it's Lucy." Peter replied, a lion's roar drowning out the last half of Lucy's name.
"Yep, Lucy found Aslan." Edmund said dryly, making Caspian laugh softly. The men in front of them began murmuring, shuffling about in confusion as a gurgling sound filled the air. "And I think Aslan is up to something."
From what Caspian could tell, the water in the river was being sucked away, moving upriver. He stood transfixed, never having seen anything like water running backwards. From the look on the faces of those around him, no one had ever seen the phenomenon before. The rushing roar become louder, drawing their attention upriver. A towering wall of water rolled down the riverbed, shaping itself into that of a bearded man.
"Poseidon?" Edmund asked, voice confused.
"Who?" Caspian asked.
"Ancient Greek god of the seas and by extension, rivers." Susan replied. "But it is only a myth from our world."
"I don't know Su, he looks pretty real to me." Peter added ruefully.
The river man reached down and ripped the bridge from it's moorings, trapping Sepespian and his horse. Caspian was amazed by the display of magic, having been deprived of experiencing it all his life. Opening it's mouth wide, the river man swallowed Sepespian whole, drowning both horse and man. Caspian shivered, never having seen something so inherently cruel before.
Telmarines were afraid of water, knowing that Aslan came from the east, and that he was the true ruler of Narnia. Despite over a millennia having passed since they had first heard the tales of Narnia, the original fear had not left the invaders. Tradition was a tough thing to change, and Caspian's people were a superstitions lot. The river man then collapsed, drowning any Telmarine still in the water and washing them down river and eventually dumping them into the ocean.
"That was different." Peter commented dryly.