Sorry for the long wait, here is your next chapter, and please review, your reviews are the only things that make me continue writing with the busy schedule that I have.
And again, I am not dropping this story until the Epilogue, and who knows maybe a sequel for Susan and Peter.
Anyway, good reading.
Chapter XXIX
Prince Amir of Calormene watched as his sister took care of him, three weeks passed from his rescuing, three weeks free from that place that he began to call hell. For such a young boy, he saw much more than anyone should, have been through so much that even fully grown men would have gone mad. But he didn't, he knew his sister was coming for him, and she did. He loved her deeply, she always bathed him, helped him eat, and gave him the maternal affection he needed, but she wasn't invincible and he knew it. For a child, he was too perspective for his own good, he didn't miss the sad look that crossed her face from now and then, or the pained and terrified expressions when she got sight of his scars, but she still stayed strong, trying her best to hide her raging emotions. Amir knew all of that.
The prince also took interest in observing the strangers that saved him, he liked them very much. They were kind; they took him in, let him live in that beautiful castle, and showered him with gifts, and tenderness. But alas, they weren't happy, far from it.
They always went in that dark room, which Queen Lucy occupied, or so he was told, only to come out even more depressed than before. The beautiful dark haired queen brushed her sister's hair, gave her food, and always talked to her but the latter was still not responding, the only sound that came from her lips was those awful screams, echoing his own when he had a nightmare most nights, but hers were deeper more pained, ones that brought tears to the older Queen's eyes.
Then there was the brown eyed king, king Caspian, who was the only one capable of calming the young lady. He never left her side, only for a minute to change, and then he was right back embracing Lucy.
High king Peter was another matter entirely, he spent much of his time busying himself in work, accepting any task brought to him, anything to make him forget the pain his little sister was going through, or the cause of her state. If he didn't he would have already gone mad, but little Amir still caught the tears in his eyes every time his sister screamed.
King Edmund was far less composed than his older brother, snapping at anyone who crossed him, spending most of his time trashing training dummies if he couldn't find an opponent, while Annabelle was far too stressed to do anything. She has been feeling on edge, as if something was going to happen, that this was far from over it.
Her fears were confirmed a week later, informing them that the long dreaded battle finally knocked on their door. Calormene was attacking full force, traveling through ships others crossing Archenland's and Narnia's borders, as Edmund one predicted.
The latter was fully aware that they had no chance, even with their impeccable strategy and Archenland's additional troops, while there was no news from Ettinsmoor.
"Are you insane?! We can't change battle plans at this time, not with the enemy just a couple of days away from us." Peter exclaimed at his brother, outraged by his suggestion, they were currently having a battle council, deciding on the final preparations only for Edmund to suggest changing everything.
"Listen to me Peter, we must conduct this battle in Archenland, we know the field, we'll have an advantage, and we cannot afford a siege, if Cair Paravel collapses then so does Narnia."
"They are already heading this way."
"More the reason for another battlefield, if their scouts report our position, it will rattle all their plans, while other Narnians attack their ships as soon as they pass Anvard."
"Why the sudden change?"
"We don't have Ettinsmoor's support, we do not stand a chance if it came to a straight assault, and we have to trap them, or at least win some time." Seeing his brother's resolve weaken, the just king continued "Lucy is powerless, she cannot fight, as well as many people in Cair Paravel, the least we can do is give them a safe haven, even for a few days. You have to trust me in this Peter. I will lead you to victory."
The High King contemplated his brother for awhile before nodding his consent. He then stepped aside giving the just king full reins of leading the Narnians in this bloody battle. The latter began giving orders to Glenstorm and Trumpkin, while his siblings watched him with awe, he truly was brilliant.
The next day, at the rise of dawn, Narnians bid farewell to their loved ones, knowing that they may or may not see them again. Susan, Peter, Edmund and Adam were meant to lead them while Layla stayed with her brother, knowing that she was far from prepared to fight a war. Caspian in his turn, stayed to watch over Lucy.
"Sir, we passed the glass water creek, I believe we would be reaching Narnia in two days." A Calormene soldier informed his commandant, the captain of the Calormene Navy.
"Indeed, our ships have made a good time, go back to your job boy." The admiral, a proud man named Altan, stood on the forecastle deck, looking out the horizon.
He knew without doubt, that once they reached the Cair, they would fight the first enforcement that Narnia sends until the Calormene Army arrives, winning time for the last strike, of course with more than ten ships, their numbers were high, and they were more than enough to crush the barbarians, or so he thought.
So lost in his mind was he that he didn't even notice the sea turning wilder, nor the creatures creeping under their boats, drawing them into a well defined trap. No the first thing he noticed was that the sun was suddenly shielded, except that the sky was cloudless. As he looked up, he was damn sure that the dark shadows flying above them weren't clouds, not even close. The whole ships froze, each stopping their tasks, gawking at the dark wave which was nearing them with every second. By God, they were griffins, in their claws big fat rocks, and as soon as they were within close range, they bombarded their ships, breaking the nests, while beautiful yet terrifying creatures surged from the clear blue water. Mermaids, people of the sea, half-human, half-fish, with a bewitching voice rumored to hypnotize young sailors, and then drowned them.
The Calormene Navy was soon no more; as their ships submerged underwater, either destroyed by the flying Narnians, or upturned by the swimming ones.
Plan A: destroy the Calormene Navy: Check.
King Edmund the just led his army past the Archenland borders, right to the mountainous environs, the road may be rocky but Mt. Pire and its surroundings would hide them from the Calormene troops who were only a day behind. The latter may have departed before them, but Narnia has the advantage of an easy travel, while her enemy had to cross the unpredictable desert. They set camp for the night, building a small fire in one of the case to hide their position and waited for their enemy to fall into the trap carefully laid by the just king. A mercenary came that morning informing them that the navy was out, which succeeded into bringing the Narnians' spirits, for they were but a small number compared to their adversary, and chancing of winning were far too small, so the news that almost a third have been vanquished gave them hope, and they had nothing but faith in their sovereigns.
High king Peter and his men awaited were already set in by the Archenland River, planning to meet the enemy right in front of the small forest while Susan's emplacement was east of Edmund. Prince Adam's forces were to be the last to intervene hidden in the forest surrounding the dancing lawn. Confusing right?
But let's look at the matter in a strategic way; Calormene could only reach Narnia by crossing Archenland. There were only two possible and fast ways, either bypass Anvard, which is impossible due to its military enforcement, or the small gap of flat surface between mount Pyre and its neighboring mountains. So Edmund assigned to each royal a battalion, and scattered them in places that would aid in cornering the enemy from all sides. As mentioned before, there was only a small gap which would only fit a number of soldiers at once, and that is where the first wave shall attack, Edmund from the west and Susan from the east. The remaining Calormene troops would then get hit by Glenstorm's men, right north of Susan. Then they would meet Peter by the forest and finally Adam who would be coming from north east. Or so was the plan, but it still had its flaws due to the lack of numbers, they only wished that it would buy them enough time until Ettinsmoor's arrival.
Back at Cair Paravel, King Caspian the seafarer watched Lucy trashing in her sleep. Oh how he wished for Aslan's presence, he wanted, no he needed to get his valiant queen back. He was so lost without her; it was as if she was completely gone. The woman he cared deeply for, the one, who was always so cheerful, so strong, was now nothing but an empty shell, and he could do nothing, he was powerless, so he prayed for Aslan to come and save her, show her what it was to be strong again, he needed it, more than anything, little did he know that Lucy's nightmare changed into her saving grace, and that Aslan graced her with his power.
The valiant queen's dream went from a darkened meadow where the horrifying past was playing out to nothing. Plain nothing, a void, all white, nothing but a warm presence whom Lucy knew too well, normally after seeing the Great Lion she would have run to hi and buried her face in his mane, but instead she lowered her eyes, her past guilt freezing her movements.
"Come to me child" he said in his booming yet most tender tone, and who was she to refuse Aslan's bid.
"Lucy, do not be ashamed of me, what is done is done, and you had no say in your past actions, free your heart from the guilt, the pain and most certainly the fear"
"How could I not fear my own self, when I responsible for so much misery?" she asked in a shaking whisper, finally looking into his deep golden eyes, where she found nothing but compassion.
"Is this the reason you're refusing to wake up?"
"I do not know how!"
"You have to find peace, deep in yourself, and for you to find it I shall give you my counsel, fear is human, self loathing is evil, I named you valiant, use it to vanquish your guilt, as your brother has done before you."
"How?" she asked confused, not understanding his riddles.
"fear is like a sword, if you give in to it, it shall slay you for you will not know how to man it, but if you train with it then use it to vanquish evil, then it shall be your most faithful companion, so instead of giving in into fear, use it and turn it to courage, you should wake dear child, for Narnia needs your aid as soon as possible, peace be with you."
And with that he was gone, and Lucy was left to dwell on what he told her, easier said than done.
The just king found himself sitting late at night by a fire in one the caverns, as he dreaded the incoming battle, while Annabelle watched him, a small frown smearing her pale face.
"Couldn't sleep?" she asked him as she sat beside him.
"No, not when our fate is undecided."
"Please, fate is always decided, you just don't know it yet."
"Well if you are right, then I hope it bids us good."
"I hope so too." She whispered resting her head o his shoulder while he wove his arm around her shoulders, both of them watching the cracking fire.
As the valiant queen opened her eyes, a few hours later, she felt as if she had a massive hangover, as if she drowned the whole reserve of ale in the kingdom, then she almost got a heart attack as she noticed that someone was kissing her forehead, way past her personal space, after he pulled back, he was the one who got a heart attack as he saw the irritated look on Lucy's face, the first emotion she showed in god knows how many months. He just looked at her, gaping like a statue.
"Haven't your parents taught you to not kiss people without their consent?" she asked, her eyebrow raise, at that the telmarine king finally snapped out of his state of shock and took her lips in such a passionate and lungful kiss that left her breathless.
"Guess not then." She muttered.
"H-how?" he finally managed to chock out, and at that she gave him the loving smile that he missed so much.
"Aslan, I know that you missed me Caspian, hell even I missed myself, but we have better things to do than getting all mushy fluffy lovely dovey, tell me everything that happened."
"Your caring astounds me Lucy." Caspian retorted, feeling hurt.
"Caspian, I love you, but I really need to know what the hell is going on."
"War." He answered grimly. She took a deep breath then nodded.
"Fill me in everything that I missed, but first I desperately need a bath." She said, disgusted at her sticky body.
"One is already prepared, Linda was going o bathe first thing you woke."
At that Lucy stood up to the washroom, only to be yanked back by her wrist, and a pair of soft lips crashing o her own. Guess that bath would have to wait after all.
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Next chapter will be up sooner ;) not much left.