A/N: Hey guys! So I deleted this chapter and reposted because I didn't like the ending. So, you might want to re-read it…Thankies! ^^
Black And Blue
AllzStar
I could barely see a thing because the clouds were hanging low as we soared through the sky, but I wasn't sure if that helped the queasiness or not. I could handle a horse just fine, but this whole griffon thing had my stomach churning to oblivion.
Speaking of oblivion, it felt as if we were plunging into it because it was so dark, and very, very cold. We were flying through clouds to help conceal ourselves better, and even though the clouds hung like mist tonight we were still high enough up to make my tears turn to little crystals. I was crying because the wind was practically shredding my eyes to pieces.
"H-how long t-till we g-get there, Ed?" I asked Edmund.
"Not much longer I think," he yelled over the wind. "But you don't need to squeeze me so tight!"
"Oh! Sorry!" I called back, loosening my grip on his waist. I had had my arms wrapped tightly around him; it made me feel safer, as if I had a fraction more of a chance of not falling off. Not to mention his body warmth kept my heart from freezing solid.
I screamed as we suddenly began to drop. Even through the whistling winds I could hear Edmund laughing at me. "Calm down! We're here!"
Just as he said this the clouds evaporated at a dark, sinister looking castle stood before us, the only light coming from the full moon above and the little pinpricks that were the castle windows.
I turned to see Susan's and Caspian's griffons feint to the right, and Peter's and Trumpkin's to the left. As soon as Edmund gave them the signal with his torch, they would swoop in after us. Our griffon landed with a soft thud on the conical spire of a circular turret that had two balconies. Edmund and I slid off the beast and peered around the edge of the cone-shaped roof.
A guard was standing there, and he seemed disgruntled by the noise. He began to turn around, and Edmund and I instantly plastered ourselves against the metal-shingled spire, moving away from his line of view as he looked.
As soon as he turned around the griffon swopped down and yanked the guard from his feet, flew up a few yards, and then soared off through the clouds. At the same time Edmund and I dropped down onto the landing. I nearly winced as the shock sent tingles through my fingers and legs. I quickly barred the door as Ed peered over the edge of the balcony.
"What now?" I whispered.
"I give the others an all-clear with the torch," Edmund explained. "But you should crouch down. The guards might get suspicious if they see two people up here—especially a blonde girl."
I nodded solemnly, un-sheathed Gemma and sat down at his feet. Edmund and I were wearing similar costumes: I was wearing my dark blue dress but had had extra armour strapped on: mainly around my arms and neck. Edmund was wearing the same tunic he'd put on at Cair Paravel with added armour as well. My hair was pinned back and up in a pile of blonde curls at the back of my head.
"Seems clear," said Edmund softly. "I'm going to signal to Peter, now."
"Alright," I replied.
Edmund held his torch at arm's length, pointing it into the distance, and proceeded to switch it on and off, on and off, on and off. Soon after, I could just make out the outlines of four griffons swooping through the sky towards us. I didn't know which one was Peter's, but I really wished I did.
Edmund used the beam of the torch to direct the four griffons to their destinations. Meanwhile I was keeping watch to make sure nobody noticed. Unfortunately, someone had. A Telmarine guard had spotted the light and was now aiming his crossbow at Edmund.
"Edmund!" I shouted before I could help myself.
Suddenly the guard was struck from behind with an arrow and crumpled to the ground. The griffons swooped down upon the other guards on the parapet walk and dropped Peter, Susan, Caspian and Trumpkin. The four of them attacked the remaining guards with vigour, and then hurried into the castle, up a flight of stairs, across the curtain wall and to the main bailey. I watched as Caspian slung a rope over the edge, secured it, and then slid down with ease, followed by Peter, then by Susan. I made sure they had gotten safely into Caspian's Professor's study before directing my attention elsewhere.
"Hey, Jaxx," Edmund said quietly. He was leaning against the railing, swinging his torch around in his hands. "Can I talk to you about something?"
"Might as well," I grumbled. "It's not like we're doing anything up here anyway."
"Well, er, it's just that, lately, you and Peter seem to be having…trouble."
My brow furrowed slightly as I tried to figure out what he was getting at. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you've been…fighting lots, right?"
"No," I answered. "That was the first time, this morning."
"Oh." He looked very awkward all of a sudden. "I'm sorry, I was just wondering if everything was alright."
I smiled to show my appreciation, but I was really at a loss for words.
"You know," he continued. "If ever something happened…with you and Peter…I mean, only if, I really hope nothing does happen…I hope you know…I'll always be—there for you."
A lump rose in my throat but he continued before I could reply. "And Jaxx, I have to say what I've been meaning to for a long time, I mean if anything should happen tonight…I—"
Edmund suddenly gasped. He was fumbling with the torch, but it slipped from his hands. He tried desperately to snatch it back up, but it evaded him, and clattered to the second balcony below us. I peered over the edge to see a confused guard pick it up, examine it, and turn it on. A great beam of light shot upwards (much to the guard's amazement), which then proceeded to alert the other guards. Bells started ringing everywhere.
I shot Edmund a "what-the-hell-now?!" look before taking off through the door. We raced down the stairs to a little opening just above where the guard was standing. From there Edmund jumped down and landed on the guard. I leapt down after him and hurried to grab the torch but the guard promptly tripped me, causing me to fall headlong into the railing. I saw white for a few moments and there was a splitting pain everywhere in my body.
My vision started to come back just as I heard a voice somewhere below in the courtyard yelling, "Now, Ed! Now! Signal the troops!" and my heart raced when I realized it was Peter.
"I'm a bit busy, Pete!" Edmund shouted. I looked up to see him pinned against the railing by a guard, their swords clashing in front of Edmund's face. Edmund pushed the man away and swung his sword menacingly at him. I began to panic as the guard knocked Edmund's sword from his hands. Ed crouched down as the guard swung at the boy's head, and I knew he wouldn't last much longer.
Thinking quickly, I forced myself to my feet, grabbed Edmund's torch, and chucked it at the guard's head. He dropped to the ground with a thud and a little strangled cry.
Edmund muttered thanks before picking up the torch, tried to make it work.
Below, Peter was trying furiously to open the gate in the barbican. Caspian and Susan approached him.
"Peter! It's too late. We have to call it off while we can!" Susan yelled at her brother.
"No, I can still do this!" Peter called back, grunting with the effort to turn the wheel. "Help me!"
Susan and Caspian exchanged exasperated glances before running to help the boy.
Trumpkin, Reepicheep and his band of mice must have been doing their job in the lower bailey, because the drawbridge began to come down rather quickly. I was about to say something to Edmund when I heard Susan say, "Exactly who are you doing this for, Peter?"
I looked to see Peter looking at his sister helplessly as they continued to turn the wheel. He didn't answer.
Several guards were streaming from the castle now, all making a bee-line for the kids at the gate.
"Come on!" Edmund pleaded, hitting his torch against his hand to try and make it worse. After some time it finally snapped on. Edmund gasped, and then rushed to flick it on and off, signalling for the troops to charge.
I couldn't see the Narnians from hear, but I heard Glenstorm's battle cry of "CHARGE!" Meanwhile Peter, Susan and Caspian were just about finished opening the gate and the drawbridge was almost down. The guards were still coming. "We're under attack!" one man shouted.
"You think?" I muttered sarcastically under my breath.
Then I saw them. A long stream of Narnians charging across the fixed bridge towards to helpless guards. The drawbridge just reached the stone as they charge across, knocking the guards and the first flimsy iron gate aside. Peter and company opened the gate to its fullest just in time; the Narnians burst in with cries of all pitches, volumes and lengths.
Peter and Caspian drew their swords and Susan equipped her bow and mounted an arrow. I watched with pride as a battle cry ripped itself free from Peter's mouth. "FOR NARNIA!"
The three of them joined the throng of Narnians in the battle that proceeded. I tried desperately to keep my eye on Peter, but I soon lost sight of him. Dwarves, humans, mice, centaurs, leopards, Minotaurs and fauns were meshed together as one in an epic war. People were yelling in pain, anger, or exertion.
I had just spotted Peter again when Edmund suddenly grabbed my arm. "Come on!" he cried. "We've got to help them."
We swung ourselves over the railing of the balcony and dropped down onto the flat part of the roof of the wooden galleries. A long line of archers had just assembled on the galleries' balcony and were taking aim. One of them in particular, fortunately the closest one to us, was aiming directly at Susan, who was instructing the Narnian archers. Without a mere pause, Edmund leapt onto the shingles and slid all the way down the slope of the roof, kicking the Telmarine archer clear in the head. The man screamed as he was flung over the edge.
I gaped in amazement, but soon that expression turned to panic. The long line of archers were all looking at Edmund, and several of them were already taking aim. "ED!" I yelled.
The call sounded twice and I looked to see that Peter had taken in the same situation. We met each-other's eyes and I tried to smile, but I had my teeth barred so tight that I couldn't.
Edmund sprinted through the door to the lower bailey and fell down, kicking the door shut as crossbow arrows threatened to rain down upon him. They stuck fast into the door.
It took me a minute to realize I was now alone. Edmund was somewhere in the lower bailey and wouldn't be able to get back up to me. I didn't know what to do, but I had to do something. I couldn't just stand there watching my friends fight.
I looked around for a safe way down that wouldn't attract the attention of the Telmarine archers. I scanned the walls around the galleries, and finally my gaze fell on a dormer window halfway across the main building. A small balcony jutted out of it, and standing on it, just watching the battle, was Lord Miraz himself. I watched in horror as a Satyr leapt up and clung to the edge of the balcony, reaching for Miraz. Another man appeared on the balcony and quickly shot the Satyr with a crossbow. I gasped as Miraz mercilessly pushed the Satyr backwards; it crashed to the ground with a loud roar. Miraz seemed to give the second man an order, and pointed to the gate.
I ran along the roof and jumped down onto the top of the stables. The wooden structure, long abandoned, quivered and groaned underneath me. I quickly jumped off and landed in a pile of hay, coughing and sputtering as hay entered my mouth.
I had barely stood up and brushed myself off when guards were attacking me. Ducking, I drew Gemma and beat them off, slicing them wherever their armour failed to protect them or just plain kicking them in the face.
I sprinted across the courtyard, evading other guards' attacks, and made a beeline for the staircase that led to Miraz's domain.
Suddenly an arm was wrapped around my waist and yanked me backwards. I stumbled back into Caspian, who was fighting off a guard with one hand. "Peter," he said, gesturing with his head.
I looked and saw Peter making his way towards Miraz. Over a dozen guards were attacking him from behind and in front. There was no way he'd make it out of that clump alive.
I broke away from Caspian and hurried towards Peter, but something else caught my eye. High above me, in the tallest watch tower of the castle, stood Edmund. I could barely see form where I was that two guards had him pinned against the railing of the balcony, and he was clearly cornered. There was an easy way up to him: a metal ladder clung to the side of the building.
But then there was Peter, fighting for his life on a flight of stairs.
Edmund, about to fall off the tallest tower and die.
Peter, about to be stabbed and slashed to death.
I only had time to save one of them.
Something struck me hard on the side of my head. I was sent flying and skidded across the wet pavement. A duelling guard presently stepped on my stomach, winding me completely.
I lay there, gasping for air and bleeding. The only thing I could think about was Peter. I had to get to Peter!
"The gate is closing!" someone near me yelled.
Panic seized my mind. There were so many Narnians still stuck in here! Would we be able to get out in time?
"Fall back!" someone shouted. "Get out of here!"
"Susan!" another someone screamed.
I forced myself to sit up before I got squished. Narnians were scurrying towards the gate. A single Minotaur was holding it open. I saw Glenstorm pulling Susan up onto his back. She turned to yell at someone. "Caspian!"
"I'll find him!"
Peter.
Groaning in pain, I stood up, ignoring the violent wave of nausea. I was very worried about my head, which was not only bleeding severely, but was also very sensitive to memory loss. I really hoped I could keep it together, at least for long enough to find Peter and get out of there.
"Go! Get out! Get out now! Retreat!" I could hear Peter yelling, but I couldn't find him, everything was a blur…
Then I remembered that Edmund was in trouble…I looked up towards where I'd last seen him. There he was, still pressed against the railing. I couldn't help but scream as I saw him fall backwards off the balcony. Then I saw what the guards couldn't. Our griffon had come to his rescue, and at that moment Ed was soaring above the courtyard and away, probably searching for me.
"Lady Carmen!"
I turned around to see Caspian riding towards me on a large bay horse, pulling another along with him. A round old man with a long white beard rode up behind him on a third horse; I guessed him to be Caspian's professor.
Caspian looked at me, and then up. I followed his gaze and saw Miraz and the same man that had shot the satyr. The second man had his arm raised, as if about to signal. It was then that I saw the dozens of archers situated all around the castle, their crossbows raised and at the ready. But he never did signal to them.
A guard suddenly attacked me and I got back into fighting mode. I had to slash through several guards before I could get even a few feet closer to where Caspian was. Just as I was finishing off a very tall man, I saw Peter break through a crowd and leap onto a horse, the extra one that Caspian had brought. Caspian and the Professor bolted out the gate, but Peter was hesitating and looking all around him.
I would never forget the expression on his face when he saw me. He kicked the horse into a steady canter, heading for me. As he approached he stuck out his arm, and I realized with horror that he wanted me to jump onto a moving horse. He has got to be insane!
I had no time to pause, for Peter was nearly upon me. I quickly sheathed Gemma and braced myself.
Peter grasped my arm and pulled as I jumped. I landed on the horse's back hard, jolting every bone from the waist down, but at least I was still alive.
I just managed to get my arms around Peter when he wheeled the horse around and bolted for the gate.
Just before we got there, I heard a shout from above. "FIRE!"
Arrows rained down from every direction. Telmarines and Narnians alike shrieked as they were pelted. Peter and I were only a few yards from the gate….
A great jolt of pain suddenly ripped through my back and I cried out in pain.
"What happened?" Peter called over the noise around us.
"I've been shot!" I cried back, trying to hold back a scream of agony. I turned and saw the crest and fletching of a black arrow sticking straight out of my back in the middle of my right shoulder blade. I groaned.
Just as Peter and I passed through the gate I heard a loud grunt and an even louder clang. I turned to see that the Minotaur had collapsed, locking the rest of our army inside.
"Peter!" I screamed.
He yanked on the rains and the horse skidded to a stop. We turned.
About fifty Narnians of all kinds were at the gate, shouting and moaning and calling out to us. I had a gash in my head and an arrow in my back, but neither was greater than the pain I felt when I realized they were all going to die, and it was our fault. The plan had failed.
Tears were falling heavily down my face, and when I looked at Peter I could see water building up in his clear blue eyes.
"Run for your life!" a faun called. "Save yourselves!"
Peter and I turned to look at Susan and Glenstorm. Susan looked hopeless. Glenstorm slowly bowed his head. We looked back to see a centaur nodding, as if telling us to go. Several other Narnians agreed with him.
Peter and I turned back to Susan and Glenstorm, both of us crying, both of us heartbroken and guilty.
"Peter! The bridge!" a small voice cried.
I turned and saw Reepicheep leaping over the edge of the drawbridge, which was slowly pulling up. If Peter didn't jump the horse now, we'd be trapped as well.
I turned back once last time to see the Narnians going back to battle, to their deaths. More tears poured from my eyes.
Peter kicked the horse into a steady gallop. My heart skipped a few beats as we soared over the raising drawbridge in a single, graceful bound, and landed with a clatter on the other side.
"Leave us!" someone behind cried. "Go, brothers!"
"In the name of Aslan!" shouted another.
As Peter and I galloped across the fixed bridge, a shadow passed above us. I looked up to see Edmund abroad the griffon. The relief was evident on his face when he saw we were safe, and then he soared away, high above us.
But the rest of our hopes were dashed.
****
Aw so sad!!
OMG I found the PERFECT person to play Jaxx in my trailer (coming soon, btw).....Eliza Bennett! She's blonde, has dark eyes, british. Yay!! She was in Nanny McPhee and she's playing Meggie in Inkheart. Perfecto!!!
In reply to reviews:
Sakuraaangel1327: The only lines from any movie I have in my story are from Prince Caspian. And it's impossible for me to publish one chapter a day; I'm lucky I get one up every two days with my busy schedule! Aaaaand you're gonna have to read to find out what happens! I guess this chapter answers your questions about the Raid…
Erin: Actually, I was going to make my previews with the Sims 2. Oh, yes, I'm so cool. I just find it easier; I have no idea how to get clips from movies that are of decent quality on my computer, and I've been looking around and can't find an actress who suits Jaxx perfectly. Clemense Poesie has the right look but she's just not Jaxx if you know what I mean. I was thinking more along the lines of Taylor Momsen…or Emma Watson?
Texanna: She's not dead, that would screw up the story lol! Don't worry she'll be fine, all thanks to Lucy's Fire-Flower Cordial; yaaaaay!! And Edmund, well…yeah. That's pretty much what was going down.
Homely: Edmund and Jaxx? Hmm. Hadn't thought about it. Well I know for sure that Jaxx doesn't love him, at least the way she loves Peter; evidently, Edmund is more of a brother to her. On the other hand, Edmund kinda has feelings for her, but he knows that his brother and Jaxx are tight so…awe. :-(
Cammie: I actually don't know if they'll stick around to tell you the truth. To be honest, I kind of make up the story as I go!!
Bubbles: It actually was a satyr. It said in the credits, and I looked up pictures of satyrs and they looked like the thing in the movie. :-)
Loves,
AllzStar
