Chapter Seventeen~
As Trumpkin agrees that they'd have the element of surprise, Prince Caspian insist that they have the advantage here instead. Its then that Susan suggest digging in and holding them off. That's when Peter says to Prince Caspian,
"Look, I appreciate what you've done, but this isn't a fortress, it's a tomb." so that Edmund adds,
"Yes and if the Telmarines are smart they'll just starve us out." so that Reepicheep says to Peter,
"I think you know where I stand sire." only it's then that Jessie speaks up having heard enough and tells them,
"If Caspian thinks the castle is too risky to take then why aren't you listening to him Peter? After all, he knows the place, he's lived in it hasn't he? Wouldn't it make sense to listen to someone who's been inside it?" Peter stares at her as if she's gone mad, daring to challenge him since during the Golden Age she hardly ever did yet Jessie stands firm on this crossing her arms as Peter tells her,
"We don't have time to argue about this Jessie." feeling her anger rise at his statement, Jessie tells him,
"You're being a fool then Peter." yet he ignores her as he asks Glennstorm,
"If I can get your troops in, can you handle the guards?" the centaur looks to Jessie, Queen Jessica the Bravehearted and despite seeing her pleading face for him to deny Peter tells him,
"Or die trying my liege." so that finally a silent Lucy speaks up saying,
"That's what I'm worried about." causing Peter to turn around and ask her,
"Sorry?"
"Well, you're all acting as like there are only two options: dying here, or dying there." this makes Peter walk on over towards her, sitting on the broken Stone Table and tell her,
"I'm not sure you've really been listening Lu."
"No, you're not listening. Or have you forgotten who really defended the White Witch?" at this Peter bristled and told her,
"I think we've waited for Aslan long enough." at that Jessie had heard enough and stormed out of the room in a fury so that both Prince Caspian and Peter watched her leave before exchanging looks. Jessie stormed through the How feeling tears of defeat in her eyes, wondering if her sacrifice during the Golden Age meant nothing now. Finding a corner to sit in, she slumped down and began to cry whimpering out,
"Oh Aslan, why did you leave me?" hearing footsteps and thinking it was Peter she snapped,
"Peter go away!" before looking up to see it wasn't Peter, but Prince Caspian. Surprised, she whipped away her tears as he moved to sit next to her but not too close. For a moment they both were silent until he spoke up saying,
"I know about your sacrifice, how you died to save the High King." turning with a questioning look, Prince Caspian explained,
"My tutor told me, he had this book of all the Old Tales from the Golden Age. I used to idol the Kings and Queens of Old especially High King Peter—I looked up to him thinking I wanted to be as great as him. But here and now, I don't want anything to do with him." hearing this Jessie instantly came to Peter's defense saying,
"He's different here yes, but that's because what we used to know—it's all gone. How would you feel if everything you once loved and treasured in your heart vanished and was replaced by some strange horrid place?" Prince Caspian stayed silent before seeing Jessie playing with the necklace Peter had given her. Eyes growing wide, he said in shock,
"Aslan's Heart!"
"Excuse me?" Jessie asked so that Prince Caspian turned to her and pointing to her necklace explained,
"The necklace you're wearing, my tutor told me long ago that that very necklace was called Aslan's Heart. He said something about a prophecy with it—what was it—oh! 'Bravehearted Queen who brought back Spring, the one who sat beside the High King, be called to aid by Aslan's might, at last she will see the Light, by Aslan's grace and by His will, the Golden Age Prophecy she shall fulfill'." feeling her brow knit together, Jessie was about to ask him more about this when they both heard footsteps and turned to see of all people Peter come to find Jessie. Seeing them sitting together side by side Peter's face turned red before his lips became a tight line and he stormed off. Standing quickly, Jessie went off to find him and explain only Prince Caspian took her hand and said,
"I won't let anything happen to you tonight." hearing his words, knowing the meaning behind them and knowing that Peter was furious at her since she already knew his feelings for her—Jessie smiled weakly before letting go of his hand to find Peter. She never did however because Susan found her first saying they had to prepare for the night raid on Miraz Castle. So Jessie got into battle armor getting a tight hug from Lucy, who had to stay behind despite her wanting to go with them. Once ready four griffins carry Peter, Jessie, Susan and Prince Caspian through the night following the one carrying Edmund towards Miraz Castle and once the signal is seen they swoop down dropping Peter, Jessie, Susan and Caspian onto the ramparts. As Susan shoots with her bow and arrow a soldier who was aiming a crossbow at Edmund, both Peter and Prince Caspian kill two soldiers with their swords as Jessie lands and searches for any more on that part of the rampart. While the other Narnians do their part to enter the castle; Peter, Jessie, Susan and Prince Caspian one by one climb down a wall by a rope and it's Prince Caspian who knocks on a window softly calling,
"Professor?" before opening said window and stepping inside along with the others following behind him. When they find the room completely empty and Prince Caspian finds a pair of glasses on a table he says,
"I have to find him."
"You don't have time you have to get to the gatehouse!" Peter whispers harshly only Prince Caspian snaps back,
"You wouldn't even be here without him. And neither would I." so that it's Jessie who says to Peter,
"We can still take care of Miraz, it's three against one." while Susan agrees Prince Caspian adds,
"And I can still get to the gatehouse in time." before rushing off leaving a steaming Peter who with Jessie and Susan run off to find Miraz. It isn't until much later that they find Miraz being held a sword point by Prince Caspian and Miraz's wife with a crossbow aimed at Prince Caspian. As she says,
"Put down the sword Caspian, I don't want to do this." the three charge in with Susan saying,
"We don't want you to either!" with an arrow knotted aimed at her while Jessie and Peter have their swords aimed at Miraz. Peter snaps at Prince Caspian hotly,
"Caspian what are you doing?! You're supposed to be at the gatehouse!"
"No! Tonight for once I want the truth!" he says before turning to his uncle and asking him while putting pressure to his sword at his neck,
"Did you kill my father?" as Miraz's wife wonders that her husband told her Prince Caspian's father had 'died in his sleep' Miraz says that that was 'more or less true'. This causes Prince Caspian to back his uncle up towards the window and ask him again if he killed his father.
"Caspian, this won't make things any better." Jessie tells him so that Miraz says evenly,
"We Telmarines would have nothing had we not taken it. Your father knew that as well as anyone." as Miraz's wife asks how could he murder his own brother Miraz shouts,
"For the same reason you would pull that trigger!" as Miraz starts walking towards Caspian Jessie walks forward with sword pointed at him saying,
"Stop right there!" so that he eyes her necklace before talking while pushing Caspian back until Jessie, still holding her ground swings at Miraz to make him stay back only his wife fires an arrow causing Prince Caspian to duck as Miraz escapes through a secret door! As his wife cries the four run out of the room and through the halls but Peter goes a different way crying,
"Our army is just outside!" so that they have to run after him through the courtyard as they hear bells signaling that the Telmarines know that they are here! As they kill soldiers in their path, Peter shouts to Edmund to signal the troops only Edmund is fighting a soldier of his own! So Peter starts to open the gate only Jessie tells him,
"Peter it's too late! We have to call it off while we still can!"