Chapter 2

Edmund pulled on his armour and glanced again at the letter he had been given. He raked his fingers down his fringe and turned to see Doctor Cornelius.

"How is my prince?" Edmund's tutor asked, handing Edmund his sword.

"Good." Edmund said shortly. He picked up the letter and turned to go. Doctor Cornelius gave Edmund a look and he sighed.

"Why doesn't father trust me to get the Pevensie girls? I'm better than Peter!" Edmund began and he lifted his hand to start to count his many qualities. Doctor Cornelius closed Edmund's hand and looked at the young Prince.

"Your father does not know what I have taught you. You can stare danger in the eye and not be scared, you can think rationally under pressure, you can face your fears, you understand that everyone is afraid. The King does not know why his son is so changed, but let me tell you, if I was king, I would be afraid of you."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lucy opened her eyes and for a moment she panicked as she saw the dry earth above her. She sat up wildly and saw Susan smiling, holding out a green dress and smiling. Lucy smiled.

"Where are we?" she asked

"Aslan's How" Susan replied and Lucy gasped.

"Are we really here? Oh! We're safe, Susan!"

"I know, Lucy!" Susan smiled, then she turned serious "but there are still people who want to use us for our powers. Aslan has gone to war against the false King and Queen who rule know and Trumpkin tells us that King Miraz wants to use us to say he is the real King."

"Oh that's horrible!" Lucy cried. Then her face brightened "When will I see Aslan?"

"Hush, Lucy. Get dressed and Trumpkin has prepared breakfast. Afterwards, Aslan wants to see us."

"Oh!" Lucy cried and she jumped up, her eyes bright and shining. Susan rolled her eyes, then walked out leaving Lucy some privacy. Lucy picked up the dress Susan had given her. Lucy's fingers ran over the soft green material. It had a green bodice, embroidered with orange flowers and a darker green skirt that was rimmed with orange. The sleeves were white and loose as they came out of the cap sleeves that were of the same material as the bodice. Lying a little way across a dark green cloak that was fastened by a pin in the shape of a lion's head. Seeing the pin Lucy giggled in excitement and got dressed quickly. She hurried out and Susan grabbed her hand.

"Hurry up Luce! There's no time for breakfast now, Aslan wants to talk to us now!"

"I don't mind! I'm not hungry anyway." Lucy smiled and Susan rolled her eyes before dragging Lucy away with her. Lucy gasped as she saw the golden lion, the lamplight catching his fur and turning him into a golden statue. Beside Aslan stood a handsome young man, his brown hair hanging loosely around his head, his deep brown eyes looking a little uncomfortable. Susan curtsied to the grand lion and Lucy hurriedly did the same. The lion laughed, shaking his glorious mane about him.

"Do not curtsy to me, young Pevensies. You are greatly honoured here!" Lucy giggled. The Lion smiled then turned and addressed the crowds that hung around the back of the large chamber.

"Narnians! These girls will be the ones that will save you! You will be free from imposters who try and call the Narnian crown their own! Only a son of Adam or a daughter of Eve may take the Narnian crown and call it rightfully theirs. What are the people who have the crown now? Telmarians and witches! Is this who we want Narnia ruled by?" Everyone in the cavern shouted

"No! No!" repeating themselves over and over.

"Of course not!" Aslan roared, and the cavern was silenced "I have here a son of Adam." and he pointed with a flick of his tale to the uncomfortable and handsome boy beside him. "His name is Prince Caspian, rightful heir of Narnia!" and the shouting, braying, barking and roaring started again and even Susan shouted in excitement. Lucy jumped up and down in excitement and she saw Caspian glance over to them and smile to himself when he saw Susan. Lucy raised her eyebrows, then giggled. Aslan silenced everyone with a roar, but Lucy noticed Caspian kept on looking at Susan.

"But to get the rightful King on the throne of Narnia, we must fight the imposters. We have tried to talk to them and they have refused to listen! We must ready our forces in preparation to back Prince Caspian!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Edmund sighed as he watched his fathers guard bickering around him, crashing through the undergrowth. He silently thanked Doctor Cornelius for teaching him how to ride a horse though woods silently. He smiled to himself as he remembered Cornelius forcing him to try again.

"When I become King, I will have people like Cornelius training my armies." Edmund muttered to himself, then turned back to his guard.

"Hurry up!" he shouted impatiently and spurred his horse into a gallop. Judging by the crashes, the guard did the same. He galloped out through the trees and pulled his horse into an immediate stop. He saw his father's guard eventually pull to a stop, most of them in front of him. He looked across the green field he now saw himself in and then looked up at the great mountain in front of him

"Aslan's How" Edmund breathed. He looked across at his men.

"Put the white flag up!" he cried, tying a small rectangle of cloth around his horses bridle, then took the brown horn in front of him and blew it. He saw the concealed centaurs on the mountain turn and rush back inside, giving Peter a clue of where the hidden doors where. Edmund smiled, then spurred on his horse. As he neared the opening of the cave, a young man and a lion came out of the cave's opening. Edmund leapt of his horse bearing the letter. He looked up, then turned back to the two figures.

"We come under the white flag. Tell your archers to put down their bows!" Edmund cried and the rows of archers stationed on the mountain, glanced at the lion then, still hesitating, put down their bows. The young man looked at the lion, then turned and faced Edmund.

"Why do you disturb the great Aslan and me, Prince Caspian, rightful King of Narnia?" he yelled. Edmund raised his eyebrows.

"Sorry, your meant to be the rightful King of Narnia? Wow, you would have thought they could've done better, you know." he shook his head, then blinked and drew out the letter.

"Sorry. I, Prince Edmund, son of King Miraz and Queen Jadis, ask the man Aslan puts forward as the King of Narnia, to single combat against King Miraz of Narnia, Emperor of the Lone Islands etc." Edmund finished and rolled up the letter. He looked up from the roll and looked deep into Caspian's eyes

"You don't have to accept, you know. Just surrender, and I'll put in a good word and you won't be killed. Probably exiled, but at least you will be given a new life where no one has known you. I, for one, don't want unnecessary blood spilled." Edmund said, trying to convince this scared youth. For a moment Caspian wavered then he roared

"I will never surrender! You want single combat? You will get single combat! Tell your father to beware!" and then he and Aslan turned back into Aslan's How. Edmund watched as ten minotaurs heaved a heavy stone across the opening. Suddenly, thousands of arrows came whistling around him. They all fell carefully just in front of them, but it made Aslan's point. Edmund turned his horse around and sped into a gallop. He reached the trees and leapt off his horse. One of his father's men grabbed Edmund's horses' reigns and sped off, leaving Edmund alone in the forest. Edmund turned and smiled, breathing the cold air. He liked this part. His mother had suggested Edmund go and help Peter take Susan and Lucy, even though Peter didn't like it. Edmund smiled, then crept towards the back of the mountain, keeping low into the undergrowth, checking branches and moving his feet slowly through the carpet of leaves. He reached the back of the mountain and looked out for his brother. He scanned around, then cursed softly under his breath. He heard a sound in the undergrowth and turned, eyes alert. He turned again and saw a young girl in a green dress. She was holding a knife, her grey eyes wide open and scared. Edmund recognised her at once. It was Lucy Pevensie.