Chapter 18

Peter lifted his hand up against the sun, looking around the deserted Archenland streets.

"I think they've gone." said a voice next to him and he turned and looked at the stupid man beside him.

"Really? Now I didn't think that!" he snarled and the Tisroc's favourite general looked hurt. Peter turned his attention away and looked down the cobbled grey street.

"The people of Archenland must have allied themselves to that stupid boy." Peter muttered and he savagely kicked his horse forward.

"Calormen! Telmarines!" he yelled, commanding everyone's attention, "We came through Archenland to get the support of the king. But he has allied himself to the wrong man!" a heavy hissing and clanging of shields echoed through the streets. Peter smiled "But we are more than a match for them and their puny army. We must keep strong. For I will reward you when the crown of Narnia is once again placed on a true Telmarine. For Narnia is never herself unless a real king graces the throne at Cair Paravel. And I am the true King she yearns for!" he yelled, raising his fist defiantly. The crowd before him erupted into cheers, the sound deafening the portly Tisroc who covered his ears in decadent annoyance. Peter had to stop himself sneering at the man. He looked at the reason he had their support. Their army stretched out through the city, dwarfing the size that Peter's father's army had been. Soon he would have that army to himself. He looked over to the other person next to the Tisroc. A beautiful girl sat there, the empty city not phasing her empty mind. She was a placid, looks-obsessed girl, but she was considered the finest, most beautiful girl in all of Calormen. And her father was Tisroc. Peter knew that the Tisroc would have no more children. When he died, Faiza would get Calormen and as her husband, Peter would have control over the greatest army he had ever seen. The thought made him smile.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"My Lord! My Lord!" Ladine and Caspian looked up to see a talking eagle swoop down through the sky. He landed perfectly on Caspian's outstretched arm.

"King Lune and his small retinue have entered Narnia and are being directed here as we speak with all the speed the situation needs. Peter and his army have crossed through Anvard and are making their way through the mountain border. Their army is huge, sir! I have never seen anything like it!" the eagle said, and he swooped his wings in an effort to describe the enormousness of the Calormen army.

"Yes thank you, Havering." Caspian said he helped the eagle launch himself into the air. Havering turned, mid-flight.

"Huge!" he cried, before he turned to check on the Calormen army.

"Is our army huge, Ladine?" Caspian asked, his voice glum. The princess put her arms over his shoulders and kissed his cheek softly.

"It's bog enough. The Calormens will meet the full force and anger of Archenland and Narnia. And if anyone should be afraid, it should be them."

"Do you really think so?" he asked and Ladine nodded.

"Oh Ladine! I'm scared! What if I do something wrong? I'd let down you, Edmund!" he said and Ladine put his head in her arms.

"Hey, hey. Don't worry. You're the best general I've met, and I met Miraz!" she said and Caspian smiled as he knew that despite Miraz being evil, he was a tactical genius. Ladine took his face in her hands and pressed her cheek next to his. The tears of terror Caspian had cried dried themselves on Ladine's cheeks. She pulled back.

"You will be wonderful. I know you. So I know."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Edmund spurred on Philip, feeling the horse respond. He saw Lucy and Susan in the corners of his eye and he smiled he splashed Philip through the riverbank, obliterating any chance of being followed by anyone on the ground. He looked up occasionally, out of habit, searching for any eagles or other talking birds.

"Edmund! Look!" Lucy cried and Edmund pulled short and dismounted before walking over to where Lucy stood. He leaned closer and directed his sight down to where Lucy was pointing to. His eyes opened in shock as he saw the glittering mass of an army on the move. He whistled through his teeth.

"They must be huge if we can see them from here." he muttered and Lucy nodded, a little frightened. He pulled up and he was surprised he felt hardly any fear.

"We're going to beat them, Lucy." he said, and he said it as a fact, not in the way he had said before, this time he was not encouraging, he was stating something. He smiled then motioned with his head back to the horses.

"Come on Luce. We need to warn Caspian, though I suppose he's already been told." and he pointed to the sky. Lucy smiled.

"Probably, and I bet no detail was left out!" she said and Edmund laughed with her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lucy shook her hair free from tree, regretting suggesting taking the route through Owlwood. She turned to see Susan sitting normally, the trees gently sliding their fingers through her hair, brushing it smooth.

"Oh of course." Lucy snapped silently to herself and reached out her hand to wrench her hair free. Instead she felt her hair being returned to her and she turned to see a naiad gently return to her tree. Lucy smiled as she felt the trees soften their assault on her hair, combing out the tangles it had created. She turned westwards again, facing forward into the trees. She saw Edmund riding Philip softly through the trees and she smiled reminded of the first time she had met the king. Edmund turned and stopped, waiting for the girls. Lucy sped up and reached his side. He pointed through the trees.

"There. That's the battle field." and Lucy smiled as she saw Narnian warriors standing on the hill next to flame-throwers and war machines. Suddenly two dwarfs and a fawn melted out from the trees and held out swords.

"Don't even think abou-" the red dwarf began, before he peered closer at the boy he was holding a sword to.

"Oh I am so sorry, your majesty!" the dwarf cried, taking the sword away and bowing even lower. Edmund smiled.

"No, you were good. I was wondering if anyone would be on patrol." he said and the dwarf smiled.

"Thank you, your majesty." he said.

"Take me to Caspian." Edmund said and the dwarf gently led Edmund, Lucy and Susan through the trees towards the camp.