Note: Several people have noticed what they deem references to my story "Terror Gold". I'm not saying they're wrong. I'm not saying they're right either. But I will say that all my stories, unless noted otherwise, belong in different universes. Similarities do not necessarily mean mirrored action.

Chapter 5


Despite their good head-start and hard pace, two weeks into their flight, and nearing the mountains bordering Archenland, Edmund and Caspian realized that they were not so far ahead of their pursuers as they hoped. Several times they barely escaped detection. They had to veer west, away from the Pass of Anvard in hopes of losing the Telmarines. Even when crossing over the River Northarrow, Edmund only had a moment to softly seek the permission of the river-god, and mourn when the waters remained silent as death.

The two soon found themselves in another woods, thick with voiceless trees. They were forced to gallop as their pursuers caught their trail, dodging branches and rocks in desperate flight. In one moment, either unfortunate or fated, Caspian dared to look behind him to catch sight of the enemy, only to fall foul of some tree that perhaps had woken if only for a brief moment and objected to the presence of the young Telmarine.

Sensing more than seeing his friend's predicament, Edmund turned to find Caspian groggily struggling to sit up as not only a group of Telmarines soldiers, but also, impossibly, a Red Dwarf bore down on the helpless prince. Knowing, or hoping, that the Telmarines were the greater threat, Edmund unsheathed his borrowed sword and let lose a battle cry before engaging the horsemen. He vaguely noticed the Dwarf fighting alongside him when a sound he had not heard for ages rang out behind him, around him, through him. Gasping, Edmund dropped his sword and doubled over on Preton's back. His chest ached as it had over two months before; and this time, as the black spots formed over his sight again, he could not fight unconsciousness. He did not even feel the earth as he fell to the ground, nor hear Caspian's frightened shout.

~*~

The first thing Edmund noticed when he woke was that something smelled delicious. The second thing was that there was an annoying person shaking his shoulder. Blinking his eyes open, Edmund saw the concerned face of a badger. Still dizzy and not thinking straight, Edmund slurred out, "Cornhusker?"

The badger looked startled. "My name is Trufflehunter. Here, you look like you could use this."

Edmund blinked again, his memory returning. No, this badger was definitely not the court historian of Cair Paravel and he had not fallen asleep in the library again. He glanced at the cup Trufflehunter held out, and gratefully took it. The water was cold and sweet, and felt good on his parched tongue. Hearing a groan, Edmund turned his head to see Caspian waking up, his head bandaged.

"Great, now they're both awake. I told you, we should have killed them when they were still out of it." Edmund looked towards the gruff voice and was unsurprised to see a grumpy Black Dwarf glaring in his direction.

Trufflehunter frowned at the Dwarf. "And I told you that I would take care of them, not kill them. They're just boys, Nikabrik."

"They're Telmarines! You think their friends are treating Trumpkin like a king?"

As Trufflehunter defended who Edmund could only assume was the missing Red Dwarf, he caught the pointed look Caspian was giving him. Edmund shook his head, hoping Caspian would heed his advice and not make a break for the door as he was clearly planning. Luckily, though not happily, Caspian silently agreed not to escape and instead addressed the arguing pair. "You are Narnians," he said as both he and Edmund eased their way slowly into the main room.

Nikabrik rolled his eyes. "Well there's an obvious statement if there ever was one. Are all Telmarine soldiers so stupid?"

Caspian looked affronted, though Edmund wasn't sure if it was from being called a soldier or stupid. "I'm not a soldier. I am Prince Caspian." When neither Narnian looked very impressed, he weakly added, "…the tenth."

"And your friend there?"

Caspian glanced at Edmund a moment before straightening his back as best he could in the small cave. "Ed is aiding me in escaping my uncle, Lord Miraz. My aunt has given birth to an heir, and now my uncle wishes…wishes to kill me."

Trufflehunter gave Edmund a curious look before turning his attention to Caspian. "Well, that changes things."

Nikabrik snorted, a rough smile on his face. "Yes, it means we won't have to kill you ourselves. We can just leave you in the woods for the Telmarines to find."

Seeming to realize that his very presence was putting these Narnians – beings he had been desperate to meet as a child – in danger, Caspian moved for his armor that stood by the door, and motioned for Edmund to do the same. "You are right."

"Where are you going?" Trufflehunter asked, confused.

"My uncle will not stop looking for us until I am dead. We must leave."

"No." Three heads turned to stare at Edmund, who had not spoken before.

Caspian in particular looked confused. Though Edmund had taken the lead in the escape, due to him being a bit better at navigating through even a changed Narnia and at survival skills in general, he had always acted the peasant servant, despite their friendship. Now Edmund was defying what would seem to Caspian to be close to an order. "Ed?"

Edmund straightened and looked sternly at Trufflehunter and Nikabrik. "He is not Prince Caspian. He is, by straights, King Caspian the Tenth. Though he be a Telmarine in blood, he is Narnian in heart. You would to do well to aid him." Edmund turned his stare to Caspian. "Your Majesty, here now we find that those of Narnia still exist. As king you must to seek their good above your own."

Trufflehunter nodded. "He is right. You are meant to save us. Look!" Edmund held back a gasp as the Badger revealed a very familiar object. "Don't you know what this is?"

Caspian moved closer, taking the item gently from Trufflehunter's paws. It gleamed ivory in the firelight, the etchings clearly visible. As Caspian's eyes widened, Edmund realized that Doctor Cornelius must have described this in his lessons. "Queen Susan's horn."

The Badger nodded. "Though lost for ages, it has long been believed that, one day, the horn would be found. And when blown, that perhaps it will call the Kings and Queens of Old back to Narnia. We Narnians," he glanced at a bored-looking Nikabrik, "at least, some of us believe that whoever blows the horn will lead us in victory against the Telmarines, alongside the High King and his royal siblings."

Edmund watched as Caspian debated within himself. The easier course of action would be to continue on to Archenland, and live out his years in exile. But Edmund sensed the fire in Caspian that burned with a desire to see Old Narnia restored, to live among centaurs and dryads. To see Aslan. Caspian sucked in a breath as he made his decision. "We will need an army bigger than two humans, a Badger, and a Dwarf."

Edmund smiled.