Hi readers!
The final chapter is here! I sure hope you've all enjoyed reading this story as much as I've enjoyed writing it! Thanks for your reviews and your support, I really appreciated it! Now, one last time: I do not own Narnia or any Narnia's just a few Oc's and this story idea! :)

Maugrim's Rancor: Chapter 8
The Attack pt2

The moment Rancor had hit the floor, after tackling the King Peter from his horse, he'd gotten hastily back to his four feet and growled threateningly deep in his throat, the sound resonating through his sharp, white teeth.

Every fiber in Rancor's body was ready to kill, except for the startling fact that King Peter Wolfspane wasn't at all what he had expected. Somehow, Rancor had pictured the king to be older, more intimidating, less... innocent. But the young Peter didn't lunge, didn't attack, only circled with the black wolf, waiting for the canine to strike first.

"You killed my father, nothing short of your death will make recompense from what you stole from me," Rancor barked lowly.
"I fought only in defense! Captain Maugrim attacked my sisters, just as you have now! I moved to protect them and he determined to kill me," Peter returned as calmly as he could, but his eyes were still narrowed.

"You could have spared him!" Rancor snapped, suddenly lunging.

Peter jumped to the side just in time to avoid being completely smashed into with Rancor's large paws. Rancor in turn landed on all fours and spun to advance again and snap his jaws, making loud and intimidating clacks with his teeth.

"I never meant to kill him! I held the sword before me for protection and he jumped into it!" Peter explained hastily, "Why you're letting your father's death run your life I don't know, but you don't have to let it. I didn't kill your father out of hatred, I killed him on accident as I already said, out of defense! Captain Maugrim was evil! He fought for the White Witch and his mind was warped on what real freedom was! Had he been wiser, and fought for the right side, his death would have never happened!" Peter shouted.

Rancor growled louder. For the first time ever, real anger began to rage inside the black wolf's heart. But this new anger wasn't towards King Peter. It was towards the true words that flowed from his majesty's mouth.

If what the King said was true, then Rancor's whole life, his identity, all these years of training for revenge, was completely meaningless! He was meaningless! It was too much, and Rancor couldn't repress the shutter of fear that had begun to take over his body.

"That's not true!" Rancor protested weakly, but the doubt was settling in, and taking over.
"It is!" Peter responded strongly, "Please, I don't want to kill you! Cease your quest for my life and I will not harm you," Peter promised.
"I have nothing left in this life if all I've been raised to do is based upon a lie! I will fight, and die!" Rancor growled determinedly. With every last shard of resolve left in him, Rancor lunged one more time.

Peter gasped, taking up his sword and positioning it in the exact position he once had long ago, where Maugrim had fallen into the sharp blade's point and died. Peter's last thoughts of the battle were... "Like father like son". He closed his eyes, wincing and preparing for his opponent's life ending impact. But then...
"Rancor no!"

Before Rancor knew what was happening he felt a body crashing into him from the side, throwing the direction of his leap completely off. Rancor closed his eyes as he felt his body slam into the ground and roll. Finally, his body skid to a stop.

What had happened? Rancor shook his head confusedly and opened his eyes. That was when he saw her. Rawla! She had tumbled with him several paces along the brick road before the momentum of the tumble had sent her hurtling towards the mote cliff!

Rancor rose to his feet, but he was not in time to prevent the street dog from falling off the cliff and into the water below. The black wolf raced forward, concern and dread making his heart beat wildly as he slid to a stop at the cliff's edge, looking down. Rawla was in the water below, panting and doing her best to swim.

"Rawla!" Rancor called in worry. He watched on, wondering how he could possibly get her out of there when suddenly, the brown of Rawla's coat literally began to wash away! Rancor's eyes widened.

What...?

Rawla dog paddled, bobbing under the water once or twice, coming back up to shake her head off, revealing fur free of brown dirt and grime and leaving her a perfect, gleaming white. She...she was the white wolf? She... but... how? By this point, Peter had rushed to the side of the mote himself looking down.

"Arla! Just hang on! I'll get you out!" Peter called. Arla? Rancor's brain tried its best to process what was going on. That was when Edmund trotted up on horse back, re-sheathing his sword.

"The other wolves ran away, Susan and Lucy are safe," he informed briefly before asking,"Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine, Arla fell in," Peter said, moving hastily to the side of the mote where a crank was. "Help me," Peter insisted to Edmund. Edmund came over and began working the wooden crank system with his brother and soon, a net began arising from the bottom of the mote, and with it, Rawla-Arla as well.

Rancor watched and waited until Rawla was close enough to jump out and when she did, Rancor was right there to help her up. She was completely white now, her coat, everything about her was beautiful and clean. But Rancor wasn't sure what to feel right now...

"Rawla...? What... who are you?" Rancor asked in confusion and timidity.
"Rancor, my real name is Arla," she began right away, not wasting a minute to explain, "I am head of the Star Pack. We protect the boarders of Narnia, but I was called upon by King Peter when he wanted another wolf to investigate some rumors regarding a strange figure many were calling Maugrim's ghost. Well... I disguised myself to learn what I could, and found you..." she said.

Rancor felt his stomach go cold. He always had thought she was pretty large for a simple street dog...

"I see..." Rancor looked away, not able to help the feeling of betrayal rising inside of him.

"King Peter was concerned that you were out to kill him, it was my job to see if you really would... After meeting you, I could instantly tell there was some good in you, and that with a little bit friendship... you could be transformed," Arla added softly, giving Rancor the most gentle and affectionate gaze. Rancor wasn't sure how to respond. But then, Arla moved closer and rubbed her head against the fur of his neck softly.

"I knew you were conflicted... I never thought you would go as far as to throw your life away," she admitted sadly. That was the moment Rancor realized what Arla had really done.
"You saved my life..." he said in shock.

"Of course I did. I care about you," she confessed. Rancor was speechless.

He was overwhelmed with different feelings, different emotions... Where as before he'd been completely thrown into despair, he now found his heart and sole rising in hope.

"I don't care who you were raised to be, all I care about is who you choose to be. So choose to be good... choose to let your grudge against the King and his family go..." Arla pleaded.

...

Peter and Edmund stood by quietly, listening to the interaction carefully while Captain Orius finally rejoined them. The centaur had a spear in his hand and he was glaring intensely towards the black wolf who had instigated this whole plot.

The Queens, Susan and Lucy, had insisted once the two female wolves had been run off, that they wanted to get out of the carriage and check on Peter and Edmund themselves. Now, as they crossed the lawn, the two brothers turned to embrace them, thankful the girls were home and safe, even after everything.

...

Rancor quietly regarded the family as they reunited and felt a deep sense of remorse set in.

Swallowing, Rancor stood up and walked over to stand before the Kings and Queens.

"Your majesties. All my life I've been taught to hate and resent your rulership. I was told my father was wrongly murdered and that it was my duty to exact revenge on his life by claiming King Peter's," he began, "But if it is even possible to believe such a thing, I've realized that I was wrong to ever believe my mother, and though I deserve all the punishment in the world for plotting to put you and your siblings in danger, I ask for your forgiveness," he said shakily.

There had perhaps never been anything so hard, yet so easy to do in his entirely life. It was hard, because he was letting go of who he thought he was, and was struggling to prepare the embrace of a different future. However, it was easy because the weight of carrying his mother's expectations were now lifted off his shoulders. Whether or not Peter forgave him, Rancor made a decision then and there to be a better wolf.

He glanced back over at Arla who was smiling proudly at him. Yes, he'd be a better wolf for her.

Peter and Edmund glanced to one another while the Susan and Lucy clung close, looking the black wolf over carefully. Peter sighed, taking a breath. In the next moment, he lifted his hand and removed the helmet from off his head. Rancor's eyes widened. The helmet hadn't covered all of Peter's face, but now that Rancor could see the young king's entire forehead, cheeks and hair, he recognized him! Peter smiled lightly.

"It will take a while for me to fully trust you, but I will forgive you," the eldest King said.
"You... You're the orphan..." Rancor stuttered.
"Arla convinced me to meet you in person, so I disguised myself and came," Peter informed. Rancor remembered the meeting vividly. The King had even fed him when he was hungry... Rancor swallowed and looked down.
"Thank you," the black wolf uttered, bowing down with his front paws...

...

Three days later: Cair Paravel Throne Room...

It was a bright and beautiful morning.

The wind blew softly through the palace throne room, rustling Rancor's fur. He and Arla stood before the four thrones, each King and Queen seated regally in their seats. Rancor took a deep breath.

"Today you leave back to Narnia's boarders to continue your work with the Star Pack in protecting this magnificent country," King Peter spoke, "I trust your journey shall be safe and your work continually noble," he said, nodding his head to Arla. She bowed her head in return.

"As for you Rancor, I commend you for your change of heart, for having the bravery to search out the truth, and to live accordingly. In honor of this accomplishment, I have decided you worthy of being given a new name. As pack mate to Arla and appointed boarder protector of Narnia amidst the Star Pack, I dub you no longer Rancor, but instead... Courage," King Peter declared.

The black wolf felt a smile tug at the corners of his mouth. This new name... he liked it. Arla smiled over at him. No doubt she liked it too...

Gratitude swelled within Courage's heart and he humbly bowed his head before his Kings and Queens.

"Thank you... my King..."

The End

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-Stokin D Embers