To the Cair

They walked back to the Grove cloaked in a heavy silence. As they entered the cluster of trees, Zia felt her spirit strengthen as it always did when she was close to her own tree. Her heart cheered a little but still remained encumbered with the horrors of what she had witnessed. A small gathering of Dryads surged towards them, demanding to know where they had been and why they hadn't returned at dawn. Zia just shook her head in answer to their probing questions.

"I wish to speak with the Empress," she said softly.

When they saw the sombre expression on the girl's face the Dryads instantly backed off. None had slept soundly that night. They had all sensed unfamiliar tremors in the air and disquiet in the forest creatures. The birds in particular could always tell when something was wrong. Their rustling and unsettled chirping had kept everyone in the Grove awake.

Zia found Nina perched in her tree, tenderly running her fingers along the branches and over the leaves. They seemed to shiver with pleasure under her touch. Before Zia could call, Nina's head turned to gaze down at her.

"There is something troubling you, my child." It wasn't a question.

"Yes, my Lady." She bowed hastily to the Empress, as was polite, before beginning her tale. "Last night I was in the forest, carrying out my duties, when a great commotion erupted at Dancing Lawn."

Nina was nodding. "Yes, I rather thought that awful noise couldn't have been thunder. Do continue."

"Well, I went to see what was going on and…" She paused to swallow the rising lump in her throat. "And I saw these… terrible creatures setting fire to the Lawn. They were laughing, like it pleased them to watch our cousins burn and… and die…"

Suddenly, Nina was beside her. She held Zia close as the girl tried to pull herself together. She could hear the spiteful cackles and angry hisses like a constant echo inside her head.

"If I may add, Your Grace," Breejit spoke up, "those creatures were unlike any other in this forest and unmistakeably evil. I cannot be sure but I have a horrible feeling that they may be the remains of the White Witch's army."

Nina stiffened and Zia turned to stare down at Breejit in alarm.

"You mean… she's back?" Zia whispered faintly.

Nina shook her head. "No, Aslan made sure that Jadis died once and for all. There is no way for her to return." Despite her firm words, Nina's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "But that doesn't mean that every last soldier in her army was also destroyed."

"Perhaps they seek revenge," Breejit suggested.

"It is almost certain that they wish to avenge their Queen's death," Nina affirmed. "They may target any of us but will definitely seek to kill the Kings and Queens."

Zia was sure she felt her heart falter in its beating. "What are we going to do?"

Nina looked thoughtful for a second and then her eyes began to glow with the makings of a strategy. She shifted so that she stood taller, stronger, prouder. Zia backed out of her arms. It still unnerved her when Nina took on the commanding expression of a royal. Her lovely face became that of a familiar stranger.

"First we must alert the rest of the clan. Hurry Zia, there's no time to dawdle."

Zia hastily followed Nina back to where the other Dryads were loitering, pretending to work or talk in little groups, waiting to see what all the fuss was about. They all stood to attention when they saw Nina. Some curtsied but she waved their formalities away.

"Sisters," she called into the silence. Her voice was not particularly loud but clear, calm and powerful. "The time is upon us - Narnia is once again in grave peril."

The younger Dryads' eyes widened in shock and some of the older ones shifted uncomfortably.

"We must carry out our duties as Guardians to protect our home and the people that rule over it. Zia has told me that an army of ghastly creatures has already destroyed our beloved Dancing Lawn."

More shocked faces and some mutters of disbelief from the Dryads.

"I believe they seek to destroy our young leaders. We must not hesitate to aid them, for they have been favoured by Aslan and have kept Narnia at peace for nine blissful years. There may be a battle, in which some of you may lose your lives." She looked round at each of her subjects in turn, noting the ones that didn't meet her eyes as well as those who stared determinedly back. "But it is our duty to protect that which we hold dear otherwise it may be lost forever. Be brave and be strong sisters. For Narnia!"

The sound of a hundred voices echoing the famous battle cry brought tears to Zia's eyes. She scrubbed them away, hoping no one had noticed. As though a switch had been flicked, the passive activities stopped and suddenly the Grove was a hive of preparation for a possible battle. Before Zia could go and join in the target practise, Nina gently took her aside.

"I'm going to trust you with something, Zia," the Empress said. "And I trust you because I know you won't fail me."

"Yes Empress, anything."

"I want you to journey to Cair Paravel and tell the Kings and Queens what you saw last night. Then I want you to come back and tell me what their actions will be." She glanced around at the flurry of beautiful women practising with their weapons, fashioning armour or sitting sulkily in the sidelines, unable to do anything but observe. "It seems that everyone is already getting excited but we have to know soon whether we really must prepare for battle."

Zia gulped but she wasn't going to allow herself to think about what a trip to Cair Paravel would mean. "Of course, Empress," she said. She straightened herself so that Nina wouldn't be able to guess what had just gone through her mind.

"Thank you. Take Breejit and look after each other. I expect you both to return safely in no more than two days."

Zia bowed. "I shall not fail you."

Nina smiled gently, looking more like the older sister Zia used to know than she had done in years. "I know you won't. Now hurry, and may Aslan watch over you."

Bowing one last time, Zia walked quickly to the place where she had last seen Breejit. She found him with the twins, Dahlia and Delilah. The trio had become almost inseparable over the past four years. The girls began to cry when Zia started to lead the Fox away. He quietened them with soft murmurs and affectionate licks until they seemed to understand that he had to leave but wouldn't be gone forever. He then trotted after Zia and they left the security of the Grove. The sensation in the air was melancholy, as though the forest were mourning the devastation of Dancing Lawn. Even the birds were silent and the trees stood uncharacteristically still.

Although she did not know the exact route to the castle, Zia had the path down to the beach memorised and knew from there she need only head north until she reached the back entrance to the castle that Edmund had inadvertently shown her. As she walked she concentrated on not allowing her mind to wander. Instead, she deliberately thought of nothing at all. Breejit kept glancing at her every so often but she ignored him and continued purposefully onward. This was nothing to do with her and the King - only with the safety of Narnia and its people.

Before they'd even reached the beach Zia abruptly turned to the left and led Breejit back away from the sand, which they could see glimmering through the trees. It was strange how a place that Zia used to love could hold so much bitterness for her now. She fingered the string of her bow to distract her brain from conjuring up images of a grinning King and a smug, giggling Nymph.

Their trek took most of the day. As the sun climbed higher, the temperature beneath the leafy canopy grew ever more stifling. It got to the point when they stopped to rest every half an hour. Sweat itched under Zia's clothes. Breejit's fur was dark and damp, his tongue hung out of his mouth. They stopped to drink at a stream that trickled down towards the sea. Zia gratefully collapsed, taking the bow and quiver from her back and setting them down beside her.

"We'll stay here until it gets cooler," she said to Breejit, who was splashing about in the stream to soothe his tired feet. "We shall both fry alive otherwise."

"Good idea. I should like to get some sleep," replied the Fox. "My poor paws are aching terribly."

So Breejit stretched out in the shade while Zia kept watch, leaning her back against the sturdiness of a thick tree trunk. The bubbling stream and warm air soon had her feeling drowsy. The ocean was not very far off; she could hear the rushing waves in the distance. She had to physically shake herself to keep from falling asleep, but she couldn't battle her carnal needs for long and soon her chin was on her chest and her eyes closed.

An unfamiliar sound broke through the haziness in her head, startling her awake. She reached instinctively for the bow at her side, feeling guilty that she'd allowed herself to fall asleep when they were out in the open and vulnerable to attack. To her relief, Breejit was still asleep beside her, snoring gently. She looked around for something that could have caused the sound but the only creature in sight was a little red squirrel. Its bushy tail twitched as its liquid black eyes locked with hers. They stared at each other, then a twig snapped and the squirrel darted out of sight.

Although she was still tired from walking, Zia got to her feet, bow in hand. She desperately hoped those terrible monsters hadn't found them. There was no way she could fight off an entire army. Another sound came, the unmistakeable sound of footsteps. Moving slowly, Zia reached for an arrow from the quiver and held the bow ready. She took two steps forward as whatever it was continued to come closer. It sounded like there were only two creatures, much to Zia's relief. She could easily handle two.

Suddenly, a shape appeared from behind a tree. Zia hoisted her bow and trained the arrow on the intruder but something about the newcomer made her pause. As she studied it, she realised that the top half of the creature was like a Man and the bottom half was a horse. It was a Centaur.

A breath she didn't know she'd been holding whooshed out of Zia's lungs. Once again, she lowered the weapon and tried to act as though she hadn't been about to launch an arrow at one of the noblest beasts in all of Narnia. The Centaur clopped towards her; the horse part of him was thickly muscled and his coat a rich chestnut colour that shimmered in the dappled light. His tail hung long and sleek and his hooves were a shiny, glossy black. At his waist, chestnut hair transformed into pale skin and prominent abdominal muscles - in fact, the whole of the Centaur's body was protected by impressive bands of muscle. Zia knew she'd have no chance should it choose to attack, but Centaurs were placid creatures outside of battle and were always on the side of good.

The Centaur stopped a few feet away from her. Horsey ears protruded from curly brown hair and dark eyes glittered curiously as he assessed her. Zia had never met a Centaur before. She hoped this one was friendly.

"What is your name, Daughter of Aslan?"

Zia started. She'd never been called a Daughter of Aslan before. She knew the Dryads had been created by the Great Lion but the title was new.

"Uh, Zia," she answered. "What's yours?"

The Centaur ignored her question. He nodded towards the sleeping Breejit, who remained blissfully unaware of what was going on. "And who is that?"

"He's my friend," she replied. She watched warily as the half-Man, half-horse took a few steps nearer. His eyes were rather large and a rich shade of brown. They didn't look hostile, but appearances were never wholly accurate.

"If you don't mind my asking," she said as the Centaur tilted his head, regarding the Fox. "What are you doing here?"

His bottomless eyes gazed into hers and she felt something stir in the pit of her stomach. "I am here for you," he said simply.

"Huh?"

"I heard whisperings of your coming and what happened at Dancing Lawn," he explained. "They said you were on your way to Cair Paravel. I came to offer you my assistance in getting there."

"Why?"

He sighed patiently. "Because our home is being invaded and I wish to put a stop to that as soon as possible. We can't very well get started while we are just standing here chatting, can we?"

"Oh, right." Zia's brain finally seemed to kick start. She moved over to Breejit and shook him awake. He mumbled and groaned at her sleepily. "Bree, wake up. Come on, Bree. There's a Centaur here. He's going to help us get to the castle."

Breejit cracked one eye open and gazed blearily up at her. "Zia, you're going to have to come up with a better story than that. Leave me alone for five more minutes…"

"No Bree, there really is a Centaur."

The Fox just grumbled again and turned over. Zia looked despairingly up at the Centaur. He smiled mischievously, reached down, and picked Breejit up with his large hands as if he weighed less than an acorn.

"Would a story be able to do this?" he asked, as Breejit made a choked rasping sound and flailed his legs uselessly in the air. Zia couldn't stop the bubble of laughter from bursting through her lips as the Centaur lowered Breejit gently to the ground. The Fox looked dazed and completely disbelieving, as though his brain couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened.

The Centaur lifted two fingers to his mouth and whistled one long, piercing note, and a few seconds later a horse came trotting towards them. Its neck was arched, strong and proud and its coat a dark, rich brown. It was easy to tell the horse was of fine breeding. It trotted up to the Centaur and stopped beside him, blowing softly on his hair.

"This is Seren," he said, patting the horse's neck. "She's not a Talking Horse, but is one of the best behaved ordinary ones perhaps in existence. She wandered here from Archenland and now lives with a herd of Talking Horses. She and I met three summers ago and I discovered that dumb horses are not so hard to get along with, after all." He chuckled. "She'll be more than happy to carry you to Cair Paravel."

After giving the horse a doubtful once over, Zia fought back her nerves and climbed onto Seren's back using a tree stump and the Centaur lifted Breejit up in front of her. The Fox's protests were minimal - he had realised that there was no point in resisting this creature's wishes. Zia secured his furry body with one arm and then looked around for some sort of hand or foot hold. There were none.

"How will I stay on?" she asked in alarm.

The Centaur raised an eyebrow. "Do you really think she would allow you to fall? If it makes you feel safer you can hold on to her mane. She won't mind."

Zia did so and Seren pawed at the ground, preparing for a good gallop.

As if to reassure Zia, who was not really looking forward to her first ride on a horse, the Centaur smiled softly up at her.

"My name is Davlon," he said.

Then they were running.