Chapter Sixteen~

It's at dawn that Jessie wakes to hear a soft sound, a growl that she recognizes instantly in her heart—Aslan! Sitting upright, she turns to see Lucy already standing and walking towards the sound so quickly goes to follow her hushing out,

"Lu!" so that the younger girl turns and waves a hand indicting Jessie to follow which she does without hesitation. As they wander through the forest they see a dryad made up of blush pink colored petals float on by them laughing so that as she waves the trees part for the two allowing them to see,

"Aslan!" they cry seeing the magnificent Lion standing atop a small hill and running at top speed the two collide into his body as He laughs happily.

"We've missed you oh so much!" Jessie says so that Lucy adds,

"You've grown!"

"Every year that you two grow, so shall I." the Lion replies so that the two lean back ask Lucy asks Him,

"Where've you been? Why haven't you come to help us?" seeing the pain in His eyes, Jessie senses a deeper more painful explanation though the Lion only says,

"Things never happen the same way twice Dear Ones." then suddenly for some reason both Lucy and Jessie snap open their eyes and turning to look at one another discover—they had only been dreaming. As Lucy tries to wake Susan, Jessie stands and adjusts her sword around her hip before finding Lucy running off again. Quickly Jessie follows her to find Lucy touching a tree whispering sadly,

"Wake up." before they both hear a growl and Lucy, thinking it's Aslan calls out His name only they both look to see a Minotaur walking with an axe. Hiding behind a small hill, it's Jessie who pops out to surprise it only someone blocks her path! With sword drawn, she begins fighting the person blow for blow able to easily handle her own since during the Golden Age she had gone off full charge into battle alongside the other Kings and Queens. Whoever this was didn't seem to know that as they fumbled to try and stay grounded while Jessie soon quickly backed up the person towards a tree. Fighting with a graceful deadly elegance that she was known for back then, Jessie somehow got her sword stuck in the tree so that she tripped and fell only to see a flash of golden hair. Someone jumped in her way to protect her and instantly she saw it was—Peter! As the second person began fighting Peter someone else shouted,

"NO!" as the two stop fighting while Narnians, dozens of them in armor and with weapons come out of hiding so that Lucy appears while another voice cries,

"PETER!" while Susan, Edmund and Trumpkin appear all ready for battle. At that moment the person who had been fighting both Jessie and Peter, Prince Caspian who stops as he wonders,

"High King Peter?"

"I believed you called." Peter says out of breath before he turns towards Jessie to help her stand, holding out a hand for her which she takes instantly and once standing the persons eyes grow wide—he had been fighting Queen Jessica of the Golden Age!

"Well, yes—but I thought you'd be older."

"Well, if you'd like we can come back in a few years." Peter says haughtily still holding onto Jessie but quickly Prince Caspian says,

"No! No that's alright, it's just—you're not exactly what I was expecting." and here he focuses his attention on Jessie before bowing his head saying,

"Forgive me Queen Jessica." causing her to smile and reply,

"You didn't know, and please it's just Jessie." making a relieved smile appear on his face as he hands Jessie back her sword. As she sheaths it Edmund cries from his spot next to Susan,

"You aren't what we were expecting either so I guess we're fair!"

"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes." a badger suddenly says so that a mouse with a red feather around his ear jumps towards Peter saying bravely,

"We have anxiously awaited your return my liege. Our hearts and swords are at your serves." then Lucy whispers to Susan,

"Oh my gosh he is so cute!" causing the mouse to cry drawing his sword,

"Who said that?!" making Lucy whisper softly,

"Sorry." as the mouse speaks Prince Caspian watches the exchange between Peter and Jessie, how Peter asks if she's alright while Peter sends deadly glares over towards him. If looks could kill Prince Caspian would be dead a million times over!

"Well, at least we know some of you can handle a sword." Peter suddenly says to the mouse so that the mouse replies,

"Yes indeed. And I have recently put it to good use acquiring weapons for your army sire." Peter bows his head to thank the mouse as he replies,

"Good, because we're going to need every sword we can get." it is then that a centaur steps forth saying his name is Glennstorm and that they have acquired a hideaway for them to use as a base of operations. Peter tells them, not Prince Caspian, to lead the way so that they all fall into a line; with Peter, Jessie and Prince Caspian walking alongside Glennstorm while Susan, Edmund and Lucy walk behind with Trumpkin and another dwarf.

"Tell me, how do you know of the Narnians?" Jessie asks Prince Caspian so that he says smiling,

"My nurse used to tell me stories when I was younger, before she was dismissed. Also my tutor would tell me of the Golden Age, if not for him I'd still be trapped by my Uncle Miraz."

"And how long have the Telmarines been destroying Narnia?" Peter asked harshly so that Jessie sent him a glare as Prince Caspian said honestly,

"Since my first namesake, Caspian the First or more commonly known as Caspian the Conqueror."

"Or the Destroyer is more like it." Peter snarls so that Jessie slaps him in the shoulder before they break through the forest tree line and find themselves staring at a massive mountain before them. In the center of the large flatland are ruins of something, pillars or some sort, and as they continue walking centaurs line up on either side of the entrance before pulling out swords to welcome the Kings and Queens of the Golden Age. Seeing this, the Pevensies and Jessie go first as Prince Caspian hangs back to allow them to enter first. Once inside they all find Narnians making or fixing weapons as Prince Caspian tells them,

"It may not be what you are used to, but it is defendable." as Jessie looks around seeing the hope in the Narnians eyes she remembers when they had first come to Narnia and seen the same exact thing.

"Peter, you may want to see this." she hears Susan call so that they follow her carrying torches to see carvings on the stone walls—of them.

"It's us." Susan says aloud in wonder so that Lucy asks Prince Caspian,

"What is this place?" causing him to say,

"You don't know?" when they remain silent he picks up a torch and leads them into a large room pitch black so that when he touches the torch to the flammable liquid it spreads around the walls—to reveal a carving of Aslan in the very center along with the cracked Stone Table. Seeing this, both Jessie and Lucy walk forward and it's Jessie who touches the Stone Table to feel a small spark as Lucy says,

"He must know what He's doing." only Jessie also hears Peter in his Kingly voice say,

"I think it's up to us know." causing her to turn around and look at him with forlorn eyes that he ignores as they all gather Narnians into the room to talk strategy.

"It's only a matter of time, Miraz and his war machines are on their way. That means those same men aren't protecting the castle." Peter says so that the mouse Reepicheep asks what they should do, causing both Peter and Prince Caspian to answer. When Prince Caspian allows Peter to speak he says,

"Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us."

"But that's crazy, no one has ever taken the castle!" Prince Caspian cries so that Peter tells him,

"There's always a first time."