The Star Cycle, Book 2: Shooting Stars Chapter 6: A Strategy Peter Would Be Proud Of, a chronicles of narnia fanfic

Chapter Six: A Strategy Peter Would Be Proud Of

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~ Narnia ~

The sunlight fell through the narrow barred window on the cell Susan, Lucy and the Stars were in. Lucy woke instantly, remembering everything that had happened. Both the Stars were watching them intently.

"What is it?" She whispered, noticing Susan was still sleeping. "Thank goodness," Lucy thought, Susan needed the rest, even if it was in these conditions.

"We were just remembering what sleep was like. You know, reminiscing." Gavan replied quietly.

"You don't sleep?" She asked, looking at them oddly. That was another strange thing about Stars she had to remember.

"Your Highness, when one chooses to spend their life lighting the night sky, don't you think it would be rather fruitless to need to sleep?" Zephyr questioned.

"I never thought about it that way." Lucy responded, thinking about it.

"Not many would think it at all. It is rather odd, to say the least. We do rest, but, only if we have tested our strength and magic to the limit. We've used a lot, but we're not there yet." Gavan said with a grin.

They all jumped, and Susan woke when the grinding of rusted hinges was heard. Pug and his cronies entered the cell with the she-wolf in it. Gavan and Zephyr exchanged looks, knowing that this might be the last they saw of each other. Their fate was once again in Aslan's control. Lucy reached for her sister's hand, and Susan smiled tightly at her before turning back to stare pensively at the door to their cell.

"Come 'ere beastie. Grab 'er men! 'Ey, who took this off? No matter, come on!" There was scuffling and snarling. Then nothing. Moments later a woman cried out. But before the four could give that much thought, Pug appeared in their doorway.

"Eh, time's up! It'll git better in the sun! Come on now, let's not git feisty on me." Pug said, tying Lucy's hands after she tried to run past him.

"Let go of me you monster!" Lucy cried out when he twisted her wrist. Pug ignored her as he shouted orders to his men.

"Grab the others. Dev, git those Stars in order, put those chains back around their necks, we can't 'ave 'em get all weird on us at biddin' time." Pug muttered, pushing Lucy and Susan out ahead of him. Lucy looked around in the corridor for the white she-wolf, but the only beings there were Hf and Gret, holding the ropes of a girl who looked no older than Lucy. The two ropes tied the girl's arms to her sides and she had on a dirty white dress that was torn up one side. Her black hair had obviously been up at one point, but was now falling down around her face in a curly mess. Iron hung off her like jewelry.

As Lucy, Susan and the Stars walked past, she stared at them wildly. Her green eyes pleading for help of any kind. Green eyes. Lucy turned her head to take another look at the girl, but they had turned a corner and she was now out of sight.

{XXXXXXXXX}

Edmund woke with a groan, remembering where they were when he saw the darkened corridor and burning torch. Adonijah came up to him and shook him.

"They're coming, I can hear them, get up, get ready, you don't want to be kicked by that great oaf." He whispered hurriedly. Edmund managed to get Eustace off the floor before Pug came in.

"Ah, well Adonijah, it seems as if the man who fought against slavery is becoming a slave." Pug sneered, shackling the man and pushing him out to the other Slavers waiting in the corridor. Edmund scowled when he hit his head on the barred door while he was being shoved out. Curse growing up, it made doors far too small. And with Eustace grumbling and shouting, causing Pug to gag him before they even made it halfway out, the journey to the surface was all the more agonizing.

Edmund winced against the bright sunlight as they were led to the auction grounds. If only he could see Susan and Lucy, to know that they were alright! It was driving him insane to not know what had happened to them.

"You'll sit 'ere until I come fer ya." Pug muttered, shoving the boys and Adonijah down against a wall. Edmund scowled as the locks clicked on the shackles, tying him to the wall. The Auctioneer, Donovan, who was enjoying this day immensely, shouted loudly about the slave he had on the stand. Moments later he cried "Sold!" energetically, as if he loved watching people suffer, and the sound of gold clinking into the coffers.

Edmund caught sight of Gret and Hf dragging on two long ropes, attached to something fighting against them aggressively, but the crowds soon blocked his view of the person or animal fighting so fiercely.

"Look here, a beautiful- well, isn't she a tigress? No delicate flower her! I bet that with time and enough of Captain Pug's un-magic-ing iron she could be easily controlled, eh men?" Donovan called into the crowd of men here to bid on slaves. The men laughed raucously at the auctioneer's statement. Edmund managed to get a glimpse of the girl on the platform, and when he did, he knew he needed to get a closer look if at all possible.

"Sold, to you sir!" Donovan pointed with his dagger to a Calormen in the crowd. The dark man came forward with several crescents. Edmund was glad that Merchant's Tongue was the language spoken by all these men, it made this less overwhelming. A few moments later he watched as Gavan was brought to the platform. He put up a good fight, but in the end, iron was his downfall. If Aslan couldn't save them, Edmund knew this was going to be his longest Narnia adventure yet.

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Lucy, from where she sat in the corner for sold slaves, marveled at how calm Susan looked standing on the platform. Her hair that had fallen out of its braid blew away from her face in the breeze. She kept her head up, and stared out at the sea of faces as if she didn't care that they would soon decide her fate. She was a wonderful queen, even when she wasn't acting the part.

Lucy also noticed that from an outsider's point of view, her sister was seen as exceptionally beautiful. She really was as bewitching as a siren. Lucy also though with a smile that the men would've just stared at her until the end of the day, if not for the auctioneer.

Suddenly a commotion from the far end stopped all talk of numbers. Everyone turned to see what was going on. Lucy tried to see over the heads of people, but every time she did, the servant of the man who had bought her pushed her back to the dirt floor.

{XXXXXXXXX}

At Bernstead the next morning after breakfast, Drinian once again sailed to the docks. "Everything has been done accordingly." The captain said with a nod when Bern and Caspian arrived to greet him.

"Good, now for the hardest part." Bern gave a brief rerun through the plan in case any parts of it had been forgotten. He asked Caspian to order every man into the boats.

"And above all, let everything be neat and trim, as if it were the morning of the first great battle between noble kings with the entire world looking on." This was done and they set out for Narrowhaven in three boats, Caspian with his men and Bern with several of his.

When they reached the jetty at Narrowhaven, Caspian and Drinian found a considerable crowd assembled to meet them.

"This was the last bit of the plan I told you I would attend to." Bern explained quickly. "They are all friends of mine, and good, honest people."

As soon as the Narnians stepped onto the shore the crowd broke out shouting as if it was the victory of some enormous battle. It reminded him of the war he'd fought with the Pevensies.

"Long live Narnia, Long live the King!"

Almost as soon as this shouting broke fourth, several bells in the city started pealing. This was again because of the messages Bern had sent by Wrenn the night before. Caspian nodded to the young man holding the flag and he unfurled it, the red lion on a gold background fluttering regally in the breeze.

At first, people only shouted who knew from Bern what was going on. But the festiveness was infective. The soldiers and the fact that a king had come to Narrowhaven after so long was something worth cheering for, a handsome king versus an old governor? It was easy to see the victor of that contest. People opened windows and cheered. Soon children ran down the streets, dogs barking at their heels, while the children shouted about a parade.

Young men and women laughed and shouted along with them. If one was planning on bluffing there way in, there was no better way to do it. It was a plan even Peter would've admired. By the time the castle gates were reached, it could have been said that almost the entire city was shouting 'long live the king'. The Governor, from where he was situated in his office, going over accounts and trade laws, even heard the cries.

"The King of Narnia has arrived to see his trusted and well-beloved servant, open the gates!" One of Caspian's soldiers shouted. It was a great while before any noise came from the grey walled castle, and soon a grinding of hinges could be heard. But instead of the large gates being opened, a small door creaked inward, and a man in old rusted armor and holding a bent pike came out.

"You can't see his Sufficiency, except between nine and ten p.m. second Saturdays of every month, and if you don't have an appointment, or it ain't the second Saturday you're outta luck mate." The man said, turning to go back. Rynelf slid his spear out, tripping the man.

"Watch your tongue, vermin; you speak to the King of Narnia!" He shouted angrily.

"Hey, what's all this here?" the gatekeeper cried from where he'd fallen on the ground, but he was ignored. Six men walked through the postern and after a while managed to throw open the gates. As they walked into the courtyard, several soldiers poured out of various rooms. These men were Governor's soldiers, and might have fought if they'd had someone to lead them. Caspian gave them no time to think about fighting anyone though.

"Where's your captain?" He called. A young man without any armor at all and long reddish brown hair, leaning against a wall, smiled in a lazy, carefree way. "I am, more or less, if you know what I mean."

"Well, it is our request that this visitation to these Islands should be one of peace and joy, otherwise I might see fit to question your appearance. As it is, you are pardoned. Command a cask of wine to be opened, that you and your men may drink to Narnia, but at noon tomorrow I wish to see you and your men in this yard looking more like men-at-arms and not like vagabonds. See to it on pain of our extreme displeasure."

The captain gaped, but Caspian's men quickly covered it by giving a rousing cheer. And the Governor's soldiers, who had understood about the wine even if they understood nothing else, joined in heartily. Caspian ordered most of his men to stay there and keep the peace, but he took Rynelf, Forenth, Timothy, and Evren, along with Bern and Drinian, into the hall.

At the far end sat the Governor of the Lone Islands, Gumpas, surrounded by his lawyers and secretaries. He was a tall, thin man, who once had thick red hair, but it was now mostly grey and balding at the temples. He glanced up at the seven strangers as they walked in, ignoring the servant griping at their sides. Gumpas returned to his papers and said automatically what he did in these occasions.

"No interviews without appointments except between nine and ten p.m. on second Saturdays. Greenely, send them out."

Caspian scowled and reached for his sword, but Bern stopped him, it would be of poor quality to murder the man, even if he was worthless in keeping around. The Lord nodded to Drinian and they walked past Caspian and each man grabbed two of the four corners of the table. Before anyone in the room could think fast enough, they had tossed the table against the wall, spilling a cascade of ink, quill pens, dossiers, sealing-wax and documents onto the floor. Then they grabbed Gumpas by an arm each and removed him gently, but firmly, from his chair to the ground in front of it and motioned for Caspian to move to the now vacant chair.

He did, removing Rhindon from its scabbard and laying the blade across his lap. Gumpas gaped at the glinting steel. He'd never seen anything so well made since the seven swords owned by those Telmarine men from Narnia twenty years ago.

"My Lord," Caspian bent his head to stare hard at the man on the floor, "You have not given us the welcome we expected. We are the King of Narnia."

"Nothing about it in the correspondence," muttered the Governor from where he was kneeling on the floor. "Nothing in the minutes. We have not been notified of such things, all irregular, happy to consider all applications-" Caspian interrupted him, he was tired of this, Susan and the others were far more important than anything else at the moment, but protocol must be followed first… Aslan curse it…

"We are here to inquire into your Sufficiency's conduct of your office. There are two points especially on which I require an explanation. First I find no record that the tribute due from these Islands to the crown of Narnia has been received for about a hundred and fifty years."

Here Gumpas spoke up and interrupted: "And that would be a question to raise at the Council next month, if anyone moves that a commission of inquiry be set up to report on the financial history of the Islands at the first meeting next year, why then, by all means…."

Caspian continued talking as if the man wasn't speaking. "I also find it very clearly written in the old laws that if the tribute is not delivered, the whole debt is to come from the Governor's private coffers."

At this Gumpas started to pay real attention, for the easiest way to get through to a man such as he is to talk of money, that they understand. "Oh, that is quite out of the question! It is an economic impossibility-er-you Majesty must be merely joking." Inside Gumpas was wondering if there was any way to get rid of this young man and his unwelcome friends.

Had he known that Caspian had only one ship and one ship's company with him, he would have spoken soft words for the moment, and hoped to have them killed during the night. But he had seen a ship of war sail down the straits early that morning and seen it signaling, as he supposed, to its consorts. He had not then known it was the King's ship for there was not wind enough to spread the flag and make the red lion visible, so he had waited further developments. Now he imagined there to be a whole fleet at Bernstead. It would never have occurred to Gumpas that anyone would walk into Narrowhaven to take the Islands with less than fifty men; it was certainly not at all the kind of thing he could imagine himself doing, and therefore, couldn't imagine anyone else trying.

"For the second matter of state," Caspian blew over Gumpas's blustering, "I want to know why you have allowed slavery to grow and flourish on these Islands! Lowering the standard for Narnian civility the world over! Do you wish to take the kingdom Aslan has made great with freedom and freemen and run her reputation into the ground by trading slaves in her name? We are seen as the standard for all other countries as the one Aslan created, while mere men built the other kingdoms. But you even have the audacity to declare the trade right and good in my name as well! What is your great need for slaves anyway? Explain, stop muttering, my lenience grows shorter by the moment." Caspian tilted Gumpas's head up, so their eyes met, with the tip of his blade.

The Governor gulped before replying; "For export your Majesty. Sell 'em to Calormen mostly; but with Captain Pug many other markets are now open. We are a great center of the trade." Gumpas spoke almost proudly, as if he hadn't heard anything Caspian had said beforehand.

"You say that like it's a good thing, something I should be proud of as your king. Well, I am here to tell you it's not. For what other purpose does this act serve other than to place money in the pockets of one such as your "Captain Pug"?"

"Well, pertaining to your Majesty's tender years, and the fact that you have not been king long, hardly make it possible that you should understand the economic problem involved. I have statistics, I have graphs, I have-" Gumpas was cut off by Caspian once again.

"Tender as my years may be," here Caspian smiled coldly, "I believe I understand this just as easily as your - Sufficiency. I have seen firsthand that this "profitable trade" brings nothing to these Islands that cannot be easily got elsewhere. But even if it did, I would have insisted it cease to be a manner of export."

"But that would be turning the clock back! Have you no idea of progress?" The Governor gasped.

"You know very well who I am, you also know that I am not Narnian, I am Telmarine. Yes I have seen slavery, and it once was very popular among my people. But if a man is free it is a thousand times more likely he will use every ounce of his energy to help you than if he was a slave. I have seen firsthand this "progress" and I have stopped it. It will be no different here." Caspian said, now waiting for the man to reply.

"Very well then, but I can take no responsibility for this, none whatever. No, it all falls on you, I can't have my reputation tarnished like this…" Gumpas muttered, looking bereft of the way this was heading, and what his mutterings meant for his position.

"Lord Bern, come here." Caspian commanded. Drinian moved the Governor out of the way as Bern knelt before Caspian. Drinian found the Islands' law and codebook for such things in the mess from the crushed desk. He handed it to Caspian, who turned to the page needed and had Bern swear to follow all rules and laws ruled upon by the king, as long as they were in the people's best interests.

"I have had enough of Governors, Bern I declare you Duke of the Lone Islands. And you are relieved of your office, as it seems to put a heavy burden on you, Gumpas. Now you and yours must be out of this residence by the following day, as it belongs to the Duke." Caspian declared with finality.

"Look here, we are all wise men of the law," Gumpas' lawyers spoke up, "But suppose you men stop playacting and we do a little business. The question before us really is-" he was cut off by Bern.

"The question is, whether you and the rest of the rabble will leave without a flogging or with one. You may choose which you prefer." Bern declared innocently.

The lawyers were quick to gather their things and flee the castle. Gumpas was not long in following them, as his residence was on the other side of Narrowhaven, and he could live there more comfortably than here. The seven men watched them go, but as soon as the doors were closed and the Narnians and Telmarines were alone, Drinian and Bern couldn't contain their laughter. The four soldiers gave triumphant shouts, because, they had just accomplished the impossible.

But Caspian's royal air of cool distance dissolved, he hurriedly sheathed Rhindon and started impatiently for the courtyard. Victory celebrations could wait, there were several people he had to find.

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When Forenth and Rynelf threw open the doors to the castle's stable to find mounts, the sight before their eyes was pitiful. Horses; mares, foals, and stallions alike, squealed joyfully to feel the warmth of the sun and the fresh breeze entering the stale building. Their coats were in outlandish condition, and their hooves were in great need of a farrier and new shoes. The stalls, all fifty of them, appeared to not have been tended to in quite some time.

Bern and Caspian soon had their men tying leads onto the beasts and leading them out to the courtyard. Many of the animals simply collapsed upon being led out to the sun, too weak to stand any longer. Bern ordered his men to get buckets and fill them with water to start washing the coats of the animals. As Caspian was leading out an older mare, he stopped, a black stallion stood in the farthest stall, his head over the door. His long black forelock was filled with dust and dirty straw, and the leather halter was falling to pieces on his face, but he stared patiently at the young king.

The old stallion reminded him of Destrier. He handed the mare's lead to one of his soldiers and walked back to the stallion. The horse didn't nudge him even when the lead in Caspian's hand was clearly visible. He waited until the king had tied the rope around his neck, as the halter was useless, to walk out of the stall even though the door was open, and he could've easily pushed past the king and run out.

And when Caspian led him out into the sun, the stallion merely lifted his head up to the breeze, before sighing softly, but nothing more, unlike several of the other horses who had tried to break loose. Brushing down the animal, Caspian came upon a strange brand on the horse's shoulder. The letters "A", "P" and "D" were interlaced in a swirly old-fashioned style.

"Bern!" Caspian called, seeing the man, who had been looking at the feet of one of the horses, having found a file in the stable, he was fixing the animal's hooves as best as possible.

"What is it my King?" The older man asked, coming up to him.

"This brand, I have never seen it before."

"This is unbelievable. I have only read of these horses." Bern whispered in amazement, looking the stallion over, checking his feet and looking in his mouth.

"What is it?" Caspian asked, as Bern stood looking at the huge stallion with a smile.

"This is a destrier stallion, of the stables of High King Peter and Queen Amalia! They bred the most magnificent horses of all time. No other war-horses will ever compare. You see, the "A" stands for "Amalia", "P" for the High King, and "D" for "Destrier" If you look closely, there is a swirled old-Narnian letter in the middle, standing for "of". The entire brand states "Destrier of Peter and Amalia"." Bern explained.

"But how could there still be horses like this? That was nearly fourteen hundred years ago." Caspian stated, looking bewildered.

"There are several rare strains supposedly existing. There is the tale of the last Narnian king sending a galleon to the Lone Islands filled with forty mares and seven stallions, to keep the breed alive. There is also the tale of a war-horse found on the Telmarine side by the king's son, and that he was a Narnian horse from King Peter and Queen Amalia's stables, but if either of those stories was true or not, no one could prove until now." Bern marveled.

"He's at least seventeen, if not more so, the age when he would've been retired as a training horse for younger stallions, or given to a high official in the Cavalry as a mark of their bravery. Though in Old Narnia, mares were used as well as stallions in battle." The Duke added.

"Were all their horses black?" Caspian asked curiously, thinking of his horse.

"No, black was one of five leading colors in the strain. Chestnut was the strongest, then black, grey, blonde, and bay. Most had no markings to speak of except for the odd white star or socks." Bern replied.

"I think I'll ride him, he doesn't seem to be in as bad condition as many of the others are." Caspian said, surveying the busy yard.

"I'm going to find a mount as well, but now I must also find if any more of these animals have this particular brand." Bern muttered in reply, hurrying off.

There proved to be eight Old Narnian horses present. Most were the older horses. Dark Sky, the name of the stallion Caspian had chosen to ride; they discovered the name on a rusty plate tacked next to his stall, was proved to be a dependable mount. But when Caspian spurred him to a walk at first, the beast jumped into a headlong battle sprint. The stallion pranced around the tight circle Caspian turned him to, trying to encourage the stallion to slow. The horse gave a squeal of indignation at being curbed, but slowed obediently back to a walk.

"Rather spirited, much like Narnia, don't you say? But also very obedient to their masters." Bern commented, riding next to the king.

"Yes, he is different." Caspian replied as the horse fell into a lilting gait. It was odd, as if the horse were marching.

"What is this? I've never ridden the like." Caspian said, slowing the stallion to a walk.

"It's a gait the Old Narnians called "Parade" he walks as if in a parade march. All that breed of horse has six gaits. Walk, parade, trot, canter, gallop, and battle sprint. It must have been magnificent, rows and rows of these animals walking down a town street. You'll have to get used to the gait, as it is far more common than a walk. When we find the king and queens, ask them, they will most likely know greater than I." Bern said, falling back as the stallion once again moved forward eagerly.

"Very well. I suppose I have much to learn." Caspian mused with a smile, patting the animal on the neck.

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The crowds parted, many of the men bowing nervously when they saw the gold banner. Some even pulled their neighbors down to their knees, afraid to risk the anger of a king. Several feet away the shouting of Donovan could be heard calling out numbers, but his voice stopped as he saw the commotion.

Susan tilted her head up to look over the crowds, her eyes lit when she was the figure riding through all the men. "Caspian!" She shouted. The joy carried through her voice was not lost on several other slaves next in line. Lucy perked up at her sister's cry.

{XXXXXXXXX}

Edmund and Adonijah struggled to see anything through the wall of bodies, but all they got for their troubles were muffled cries, and whispered voices. It was when he heard Susan's voice, and Edmund was certain it was her, cry out a name that meant rescue what he cheered up slightly.

"Caspian!"

Edmund turned to grin at Adonijah, and the old man looked back at him eagerly.

{XXXXXXXXX}

Caspian looked up from talking with several newly freed slaves when he heard her shout his name. Without giving it much thought, he spurred the stallion into a canter. The horse responded energetically. Caspian stopped at the front of the platform and looked up at Susan; the horse's back several feet higher than the boards of the stand.

"I still say you need that horn." He said with a grin.

"Stop, I admit I might need it, now, untie me." She replied, laughing. She couldn't believe he still remembered that. He unsheathed a dagger and sliced through the ropes.

"My Queen." He said, grinning as he stood on the horse's back and joined her on the platform. The stallion shifted below them, but stayed still otherwise.

"Oh, I had hoped you'd come for us." Susan said, throwing her arms around him as she spoke.

"I would never leave you. Ever." He replied after kissing her. She smiled through her tears. This was far better than going back to England.

{XXXXXXXXX}

"Here, let me help you." Drinian, walking behind the crowds so as not to be noticed for he was rather shy when it came to praise, nearly stumbled on Edmund, Eustace and Adonijah. The captain took a thin bit of metal and inserted it into the locks, forcing them open with a ticking sound.

"Thanks Drinian." Edmund replied, rubbing his wrists where the shackles had started to irritate his skin.

"And who is this man?" The captain asked, looking to a now standing Adonijah.

"Adonijah Odessimus. A former abolitionist of slavery, saved by you and King Caspian from almost becoming the very thing I had hoped to abolish." Adonijah said, shaking the captain's hand.

Edmund smiled and told Drinian that he was going to find Lucy and Susan. Walking to the path Caspian had cleared by cantering the stallion through the crowd; he looked up, and stopped dead in his tracks. He just had to be dreaming. This was an impossibility. He was going mad from being in that cell. It was just an uncanny likeness.

The young woman was standing still, as a soldier carefully cut the ropes bound tightly around her waist and arms. Her dress was torn, the hem was dirty as if she had walked through mud and there was dust and grim covering the entire outfit, making it an off-white color. Her long, curly black hair had been up in a once beautiful style, but several locks were now falling out of place, framing her face and trailing down her back.

She turned to walk in his direction, picking up the extra length of her skirt, her head down, watching where she walked, as she was barefoot. A Tarkaan moved past her, shoving her slightly to one side as he did, causing her to look up nervously. Their eyes met. She was still the same beautiful creature he remembered.

"Edmund!" She cried, running to him as she shouted his name. It was almost as if he'd just been away on a long trip and was back again, like it had been when he'd been king.

"Serene, I never thought I'd set eyes on you again." Edmund whispered when he had her in his arms.

"Aslan promised me." Serene replied softly.

"Forgive me for leaving you, I should have known, I should have listened to my conscience." He said before he kissed her, the love of a thousand years clearly displayed in that simple action.

"No, do not condemn yourself for something fate intended, no matter the years, my heart did not forget. I remembered, fondly." She whispered after they parted. He smiled at the phrase.

"Forever and into eternity." He replied.

"Yes." Serene said simply, looking up at him with love reflecting in her green eyes. The Just King and the only woman he could ever love stood together for some time, as everything else was forgotten and time seemed to fall away, making them once again a dark haired young man and raven haired girl with a love to last the test of the ages.

A/N:

Well? What do you think?! I can't decide if I like it or not. Firstly; this is chapter is titled "A Strategy Peter Would Be Proud Of" because in the last story, Edmund {in the Golden Age} told Serene that Peter could go into any city with ten untrained men and capture it, because he was that great.

This infiltration of the Islands is something Peter would've been proud of. Because it is something he would've done had he been there. A tribute to the High King if you will.

I believe I have taken a grand artistic license with Stars and their magical abilities. I'm pretty sure I've made these brothers mine, and their powers. I don't know if C.S. Lewis would have thought of anything like what I have. {which means no flames, criticism is fine, but...Just. No. Flames.}

"The Auctioneer, Donovan, who was enjoying this day immensely." I did that in honor of C.S. Lewis. In his books: "The maid, who was still having a truly wonderful day." {or something along those lines} I wanted to do that, because I love those lines in the books so much.

Small side note, {this is something I noticed in the book, if you want to check it out for yourself the pages are: 44 & 57} The price Bern paid for Caspian is the same number of years {pg. 44}that the Lone Islands have gone without paying tribute {pg. 57}.

Most of the scenes in the Governor's castle and a few others are from the book, the lines of Gumpas and pretty much everyone else are just like the book. Except for Caspian's. The character in the movie is portrayed much more stronger by the actor, so, I had to draw up some different lines for him.

Literally. I sat down staring at a blinking cursor every morning for two days, trying to think of something that would sound plausible for him to say. Almost all of his actions in the hall I had to create as well, {once again playing off his character portrayed in the films} I'm not sure I'm entirely pleased with my work...

The hidden meaning behind "your tender years":

Gumpas is saying basically; "You have ruled for a grand sum total of three years. You are nothing. I have been Governor for twenty+ years. I think I know more about matters of state than you. Get lost boy-playing-king." That is the Governor's true opinion of him.

{In the movie, Caspian's age is somewhere around early twenties I suppose, so I'll let the matter pass. I've made him about twenty-four} Which, is rather young if you think about it from a medieval POV. Not as much as seventeen though, But I digress.

I loved the show of utter defiance portrayed in tossing that table aside and having Caspian sit in the Governor's chair! I so wished they had used this in the movie, because it really makes you realize just how far Caspian has come from the second film, {fourth book, whichever you choose}

It gives me the picture of; "Ok, he's definitely a king now! if these men are willing enough to do this for him, without being asked, and with minimal protection if things go horrendously wrong."

It would've looked so awesome! Pity that. But you can't go berating the child for milk he's already spilled.

(Stop digressing WildHorses, they don't care! Alright, alright, don't get all temperamental!)

I just had to make Caspian bring that back up, because I know he would've. He would've never let her forget not taking that horn back.

I also like the idea of Lucy seeing how, to others, her sister really is some "great beauty" Because I don't think she would've really cared about being as beautiful as Susan. {That's so petty, and un-Lucy} She was beautiful in her own way;

"He was called King Peter the Magnificent. And Susan grew into a tall and gracious woman, with black hair almost to her feet and the kings of the countries beyond the sea began to send ambassadors asking for her hand in marriage. And she was called Queen Susan the Gentle. Edmund was a graver and quieter man than Peter, and great in council and judgment. He was called King Edmund the Just. But as for Lucy, she was always gay and golden haired, and all the princes in those parts desired her to be their Queen, her own people called her Queen Lucy the Valiant." ~ The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

All that is to say, Susan had men ask for her hand, and Lucy had men ask for her hand, each was beautiful, but in different ways. {by the way, this passage also encourages my idea that they were close to the ages I guessed.}

Gumpas gaps at Rhindon, because, as it said, he hasn't seen any swords made so well. Nothing compares to Narnian steel crafted by Narnian dwarves. Telmarine steel, crafted by men, doesn't look half so nice. {I think} Also, I give hint at what is about to occur with the seven swords.

Ok, about the horse thing. I'll admit it! I was bored, I needed a filler! {And perhaps my love of the animals had a teensy bit to do with it too?}

I just love the idea of there still being some around, and the fact that Caspian learns about the horses, and he knows that both tales are true, because he has Destrier. Not the breed, now it's actually his horse. I mean seriously, wouldn't it be so totally cool to see something from the past?

And Bern leaves much to be imagined; "It must have been magnificent, rows and rows of these animals walking down a town street."

I mean, that leaves the question in Caspian's mind {and ours} of what must if have looked/been like in Narnia's Golden Age, when Narnians and Narnia reigned supreme over everything?

When four nobles, who were as just as they were kind, ruled over whatever Aslan gave into their hands. Imagine, when Peter was High King, how fearsome it would have looked to Telmarines to watch this massive light cavalry in red and gold with Peter and Edmund at it's head, parade through their city streets when they went to see the Telmarine king!

Narnian armies seemingly stretching on forever, almost as great and glorious as Aslan and The Four itself! With these two Kings, one who never lost a single battle, a single war, and the other who was the wisest councilor and stratagem creator ever to grace a throne!

{Oh gosh, now I'm going on, must be what I dream about right? lol}

But I mean seriously, this has got to sound cool!

Also, horses of refined breeding are marked with some sort of brand stating this, so the stallion would most likely have been branded, even so many years later.

ILoveFanfiction:

I don't know what to say, except that if it were possible, I'd give you buckets and buckets of thanks! You are so sweet! I don't know if my writing is that good or anything, but I love hearing that my readers enjoyed this stuff!

Now, about your questions:

Peter's sword only glows blue in the movie, not the book. {So as to fit the movie plot better}

I was thinking about doing an entire chapter on Peter, no, it wouldn't be much to do with the younger two's adventure in Narnia, but his situation in the first story didn't have much to do with Prince Caspian, did it? {I can't remember! yikes, [gasps, shocked] must reread my own work!} It mostly stemmed from the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe though.

I'm glad you approved of Edmund writing several books in the Golden Age! {I wondered if you would catch that, by-the-way}

After this quintet is over, I will do a prequel on the Golden Age, so you can better understand the situation there.

Ah, hint, this story is about 'Change' the first one was about 'Faith and Hope'. Can you guess what the next one will be about? And, can you guess who and what will be changed before this tale comes to a close?

I hope you liked this chapter, ~ W.H.