Chapter 7

Lucy limped her way back over to Edmund, dragging the water behind her.

"The animals are worried. I don't know why." Edmund told her, looking annoyed. Lucy rolled her eyes.

"look at you! Annoyed because you don't know one little thing!" she looked at the boy. "I'm sure it's nothing. Probably just a bear."

"The bears don't come down from the mountain until the winter." Edmund murmured. He straightened up and smiled at Lucy.

"Come one. Load up Philip. We need to get all this back to the cave!" he said and Lucy tipped the water from the pail into a bottle, corked it then tied the pail onto the back of Philip. She held out her hands to Edmund and Edmund grabbed her waist and put her onto the horse. Lucy giggled. Edmund grabbed the reins, smiling at her, then led Philip back to the cave. After he got there, he unpacked everything, then walked into the cave, leaving Lucy still on Philip.

"Edmund!" she called, and Edmund innocently stuck his head round the cave entrance.

"Get me down!" she said and Edmund shook his head, laughing. Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Edmund, you are such a little child!" she said, then pointed her finger warningly at him "Get me down now!" Edmund shook his head again. Lucy raised her eyebrows, then put on her puppy-dog face.

"No! Not the puppy eyes!" Edmund cried, and he ran forward and lifted her to the ground. She laughed, then playfully slapped him.

"Don't you dare do that again!" she said and the pair laughed. Suddenly, a horn blew and their laughing stopped, abruptly.

"What was that?" Lucy said.

"Telmarine horn." Edmund said. He grabbed hold of Lucy's shoulders.

"I Have to go. So do you." he pointed one way. "That is the way to Archenland." he pointed another way "That is the way to Miraz's palace." he then pointed in the opposite direction. "That is the way to Aslan's How. You have to choose Luce. I have to go to my father." he said, and leapt on top of Philip.

"Please come with me." he asked. Lucy bit her lip, then shook her head.

"I have to go to Aslan. He will help me free Susan. Then I'll decide again." she said. Edmund nodded, sadly then turned Philip away fro Lucy.

"Edmund?" she called and he looked back.

"Were you just looking after me for my powers?" she asked, in a small voice.

"Of course. Why else would I want to stay with the most beautiful girl in the world?" and then he was gone. Lucy stood there a moment and smiled.

"He called me beautiful." she murmured. "He called me beautiful." she said, a little louder. Then she laughed, her happiness overwhelming her. "He called me beautiful!" she yelled.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jadis sighed as she watched her husband prepare for single combat against Caspian. She stepped over and tightened the buckle on his armour.

"There." she said and Miraz turned to her.

"Where is that Edmund?" he hissed. Jadis shook her head, anger forming in her ice silver eyes like icicles rimming water.

"I don't know." then she turned back to her husband and smiled haughtily. "But I don't care. If he has left us, then he is a traitor. And I am never kind to traitors." she said. Miraz smiled back.

"I remember now why I took you to be my queen." he said and stroked her hair. Jadis smiled, all her hatred melting away as she looked at him. The pair heard a door slam, and they pulled apart, Miraz busying himself with his armour.

"I shall go check on Susan." Jadis said.

"Remember: be nice!"

"I know!" she said, then turned and left. Miraz smiled at her retreating back then turned and looked down his gleaming, silver sword. That foolish young "prince" would have no chance. He wondered for a moment where Edmund was. He hoped he had just ran away, learnt one of his many secrets. But what if he had gone to Aslan's How? He would ruin all Miraz's plans. Miraz wiped his hand over his eyes. Thinking about the foolish boy wouldn't stop all that Edmund had done. Miraz looked out of the window and saw Aslan's troops and his own troops marking up a square for the fight. He couldn't see Aslan or Caspian. Not for the first time, Miraz wondered if Aslan existed at all. Probably just a myth to scare them. An army with the King of the Beasts, with control over all animals, trees and water. Miraz giggled. Why, he sounded like some soldiers fantasy. Miraz looked away. He rung a little bell beside him and a servant ran forwards.

"Yes, your majesty?"

"Bring Peter to me." Miraz said, admiring his gleaming sword. He heard the servant run away to find Miraz's son. Miraz waited, then turned as he heard the door open. Peter came in.

"Father. You called?" Peter said, a smug smile on his face.

"Yes. I want you to make sure that you have Susan ready to show to Aslan's followers once I have killed that stupid Caspian. Then, we will go and find the other girl."

"Yes father." Peter said. Miraz watched his favourite son.

"When I die, I will be proud to hand over the crown to such a brave warrior. You are truly after my own heart Peter."

"I try as hard as I can to be like you, father" Peter said, sincerely. Miraz smiled proudly at his son.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Caspian paced back and forth.

"We know they have Susan. They probably have Lucy too. What if I lose, Aslan?" he asked, and he wished that he knew that he wouldn't have to destroy so many lives in his process to rid Narnia of the Telmarines. He felt the great lion behind him

"You will win. Never fear." the lion said. Caspian smiled wanly and didn't tell Aslan what was really worrying him. Suddenly a fawn ran in. He stood there for a moment, saying nothing just his excitement showing on his face. Suddenly, behind him appeared the wolves and birds and dwarfs. And in the middle of those stood Lucy.

"Lucy!" Caspian cried and he ran forward. Aslan bounded forward and Lucy hugged the lions face.

"Oh Aslan!" she cried. Caspian looked at the girl, she was limping a little, but she seemed happy, her dress was new and her hair had been done in Archenland style.

"Where have you been Lucy?" Caspian asked, slightly suspicious.

"With someone I trust" she said. And then she turned and smiled around

"Oh it is good to be home!"