Author's Note: Thank you, K.F. Liset for your reviews on both my stories! Your encouragement is greatly appreciated! And I thank you for saying my writing is better than the billion-dollar disaster as I have learned much about writing from watching criticisms of that show. I must confess I don't have any chapters from the perspective of one of the Pevensies, but I might do something like that for my "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" story unless my readers want another OC.
Chapter Nine
Rebecca silently fumed beside Peter, aching to get a word in edgewise. Everything Peter said to Caspian was either at cutting him to shreds or to make him feel like an incompetent leader. Caspian kept on glancing over at her and Rebecca wished she knew what to say. "So, you're saying you have no direct plans of what to do now that you're assembling an army?" asked Peter very pointedly, and once again, Caspian looked at her.
"Peter," she jumped in finally, "he only escaped four nights ago. We haven't made plans of where to go next." She came up beside Caspian. "We have been mainly concerned about gathering the Old Narnians and making sure Miraz doesn't find out about our rebellion."
Peter looked at Caspian and ignored her. "How many in the army?" he asked. Caspian listed off the many recruits who had joined them ever since the meeting at Dancing Lawn the night before last. Peter still shook his head and Caspian agreed.
"I do not see how we would come out victorious if we met in pitched battle," said Caspian. Peter nodded in agreement.
"Perhaps," said Rebecca, "we could do something like guerrilla warfare."
"I'll need to assess the army before making any sorts of decisions," said Peter. "Where is it that the army is hold up?"
Caspian pointed ahead. "Just beyond these trees," he said, "in a place called Aslan's How."
Rebecca took the lead and walked in front of the two young men so they could talk more. She wished things had not gone so badly at the initial meeting, but hopefully Peter would realize things were different from last time. She looked back and her eyes collided with his. He looked slightly anxious but hid it behind a mask of confidence. She wished she knew what had happened back at the gorge, when her vision placed her beside Aslan. Lucy seemed to be the only one who could see him, so why couldn't the others? Why couldn't Peter?
They stepped out from among the trees and onto the field. Rebecca heard a gasp from Lucy behind them and agreed. Indeed, the How was a truly magnificent sight. Peter and Caspian came up on either side of her, and Peter gently lifted her left hand from her sword hilt and clasped it with his own. Her heart fluttered and she looked over at him with a smile. He smiled back at her but grew serious when he focused on the How ahead of them. She could see the wheels turning in his mind and how he was wondering what a handful of Old Narnians could do against an army of grownup Telmarines.
Centaurs came pouring out of the entrance as the group of humans and Old Narnians approached. They passed the ruins and stood still before the earthen ramp. All the centaurs stopped on the sides of the ramp, evenly spaced but stared straight ahead. Upon an unseen signal, all the centaurs drew their swords and held them straight up into the sky before holding them out at an angle to create an archway down the ramp.
Rebecca smiled proudly and was so lost in thought that she did not notice the moment when Peter let go of her hand and walked forward with his siblings. Rebecca's smile turned into a look of shock and she looked over at Caspian. He looked down at the broken pavement beneath his feet and Rebecca could see the look of inadequacy on his face. She touched his arm, drawing his eyes away from the awkward sight in front of them. "They're finally meeting the Kings and Queens from the old stories," she whispered. "The Old Narnians are still behind you because you are the rightful King."
"But if I fail them?" he asked. "If I do not compare to High King Peter of Old."
"You won't fail," said Joy, looking up at him with fire in her eyes. She moved closer on Capsian's right side. "Now that the Kings and Queens are here, we can fight and kick your Uncle out of Narnia!" She started after the Pevensies and Rebecca gestured for Caspian to walk forward.
"After you, Your Majesty," she said, and Caspian walked forward. The centaurs all smiled at them as they descended into the How, and Rebecca looked back to see Glenstorm dismiss them to their duties. He, his sons, and Thatches began to hand out the weapons with Alard as the group disappeared from view.
Inside the How, Caspian took the lead and introduced the Pevensies to the three Hardbiters who were acting as sentries just inside the How's entrance. Then, they made their way into the large central room. The heat from the forge and bonfires hit Rebecca in the face, and the warmth made her feel cozy and tired all at once. She walked up to Peter and Caspian who were talking near some dwarfs working on some swords. "I know it is not what you are used to," said Caspian "but it is defensible." Peter looked around the room and Rebecca nodded approvingly at Caspian. She had a feeling she was being disloyal to Peter, but Aslan had placed her with Caspian to help him take his throne and she would stick with what Aslan wanted her to do.
"What's all that in there?" asked Peter, pointing to an empty space on either side of the ramp.
"It's hollowed out space," said Caspian "it extends past the ruins above and is held up by earthen pillars. The centaurs, minotaurs and larger Old Narnians are using it as their sleeping quarters."
"Maybe we can use it," said Peter thoughtfully, and Rebecca wondered what he could be planning already for the Old Narnians.
"Peter!" called Susan, her voice echoing throughout the large space. Caspian snapped to attention and Peter searched the dais before spotting her near the tunnel to the sacred chamber. "You may want to see this," she said, and the group of three made their way to where Susan stood. Peter took a torch off the wall and Edmund followed suit.
"What is it?" asked the elder brother. Rebecca grabbed his arm and pulled him into the corridor. Susan pointed at a wall and Peter slowly held out the torch.
Four figures stood proudly in an ancient drawing, dressed in very familiar clothes.
"It's us," said Susan, and the Pevensies began looking around the hallway for their likenesses. More drawings jumped out at them, and Rebecca smiled when she saw the drawing of her and Joy.
"What is this place?" asked Lucy, looking curiously at Caspian. He only smiled and took a torch off the wall.
"Follow me." He walked forward and the others quickly followed. Rebecca brought up the rear but stopped when she noticed Lucy staring at a drawing of Mr. Tumnus. She gently wrapped an arm around the younger girl's shoulders.
"He's well remembered," said Rebecca, and Lucy nodded but the sadness lingered in her eyes. She solemnly walked forward, and Rebecca followed down the dark corridor. She knew what lay ahead but wanted to gauge the reactions of the Pevensies.
Caspian lit the wick with his torch and the flames jumped up. Rebecca stood on Peter's left, close to the torch he was holding and Joy stood on Edmund's right, standing on the edges of the group. Rebecca looked at Peter's face and was startled by the determination in his eyes. He was willing to do anything to save his beloved Kingdom, and Rebecca wondered just how far he would go. If he wasn't holding the torch, she wished he would hold her hand again and they would work as a team to save Narnia like last time.
Lucy slowly walked forward, away from the group and towards the Stone Table. Rebecca smiled as the youngest Queen reached out and tenderly touched the ancient stone. She turned around and looked at the others. "He must know what he's doing," she said, and Rebecca nodded.
"I think its up to us now," said Peter, looking around at the others. They all looked back at the carving of Aslan but Rebecca turned around and looked at Caspian. He was looking at Peter with awe and reverence, and Rebecca thought that look was for Aslan alone. She looked back at Peter.
"Its up to us and him," she said softly, and nodded to the carving of Aslan. Peter looked at her and then turned to Caspian.
"We need to talk about the army," he said, and walked down the corridor with Caspian at his side. Susan spun around and followed them, looking somewhat eager to leave the chamber. Edmund and Joy left as well and Rebecca made a move to follow them when she saw Lucy still standing by the Stone Table.
"Lucy?" she called, but the girl made no response. She walked up beside her and gently nudged her shoulder. "Let's go," she said.
Lucy looked up at her. "You're worried about Peter," she said, and Rebecca nodded.
"I am," she said. "What was he like on the journey here?"
"He refused to listen to Trumpkin after we made our way up to Glasswater," said Lucy. "While it did end up being the right way after all, Peter doesn't seem to understand why we are here."
Rebecca sighed. "I got that impression myself," she said, and looked back towards the corridor. "I think he's forgetting about Aslan."
Lucy nodded and turned away from the carving on the wall. "Should we go join them?" she asked, and Rebecca quickly agreed.
As they headed for the corridor, Rebecca told her about the visions and how she had seen them cross the gorge. Lucy was amazed but believed the whole story without question and Rebecca wished Joy had reacted the same way when she told her.
They found the others in a side room off the main chamber, gathered around a large stone which served as a table to hold whatever paper was on top. Rebecca quickly thought they looked like torn pages from a schoolbook. Edmund took another page from the bag hanging from his shoulder and handed it to Peter as Lucy and Rebecca joined them.
"Could you make a map of your Uncle's castle and the surrounding area? And what troops would be stationed where?" asked Peter, and Caspian quickly completed the task, including the bridge and camp by the Fords of Beruna.
"This camp is holding many of the soldiers and workmen," said Caspian. "If my Uncle wanted to attack us, he could quickly call them up to do the job."
Peter shook his head. "No," he said, "he wants that bridge built so he can get his army across the river." His gaze lingered on the castle. "Telmarines seem to be very superstitious."
"Its all the Old Stories that have been passed down," said Caspian. "We are taught to fear the Protectors, the waters and the woods. The stories of the Kings and Queens and Old Narnia are dismissed as old wives' tales." He stood a little taller. "I have no reason to follow the Telmarines' example anymore." Rebecca smiled at him but looked down when Peter looked her way. After a moment's staring, he looked back down at the map and numbers Caspian had scribbled down.
"I cannot see a way to defeat him in pitched battle," he said, and Caspian's shoulders sank. "Our numbers are too few and many of the creatures are too small to take down a full-grown Telmarine."
"Reepicheep managed to take down several Telmarines all by himself," said Rebecca. "He's quite the swordsman, as you said so yourself." She smiled down at the mouse who now stood by her feet.
Peter nodded absentmindedly. "Hm, stealth fighters might be an easier way," he said.
Joy nodded and stepped closer. "We launched a raid on the Telmarine work camp at the bridge last night," she said proudly. "We were very successful."
"And Telmarines make poor watchmen," said Alard, coming up beside Caspian. "It would be easy to complete other raids and stealth attacks."
"Shouldn't we stay here and wait for Aslan?" asked Caspian and silence fell over the group. Lucy and Rebecca looked at each other before nodding in agreement.
Peter shook his head. "We can't wait," he said, "Miraz will make a move once he finds out where we are, so we need to make plans now for the inevitable attack."
"But wait!," said Rebecca as she moved around Edmund and placed her hand on top of Peter's right hand. "Aslan called us here. Shouldn't we wait for him?" Peter sighed and grabbed her hand.
"Take a break, everyone," he said, "we'll be right back." The group stepped away from the rock and into the corridor of drawings. Once they were out of sight of the others, Peter let go of her hand and spun around to face her. "What are you doing?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" countered Rebecca.
"I thought," he jerked his head in the direction of the others "you would be on my side instead of his." Rebecca lifted her chin and crossed her arms.
"While I am married to you," she said, "Aslan has placed me here to help Narnia's new King rise to power. And the Old Narnians have swore allegiance to him. No matter what Reepicheep said about it being your army," she jerked her head to where Caspian had stood moments earlier, "it is his by right as he is the rightful ruler of Narnia."
"I know that," said Peter "but I am here to help take back Narnia from these Telmarines. That is my first concern."
"And to do that," she said, "you'll have to establish one as King and bestow upon him the Knighthood of the Order of the Lion." She grabbed arms to get his attention away from the racket coming from the busy main hall. "Peter, do what's right," she pleaded. "I know you want to. You love this country possibly more than I do! But please," her voice cracked with emotion "remember Aslan and what High King Peter of Old would do."
Peter pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Tears welled up in Rebecca's eyes and she clung to him just as tightly. "I am so glad you're alright," he said. "I was so worried when you did not appear on the beach."
Rebecca sighed happily, suddenly too warm and secure to argue any longer. "No," she said with a smile. "Instead, I ended up among Old Narnians who did not even know of my existence." She looked up at him. "Are you ready to work with Caspian?"
"I don't know if I can trust him," he said, releasing her from his hold and grabbing both her hands with his and holding them out between them. "But you trust him, don't you?"
Rebecca nodded, feeling slightly dizzy from the vulnerable moment playing out between them. How she had missed moments like this! "I trust him, and I know Aslan wants him to be the leader of this country," she said, and smiled up at him. Peter hesitated, but finally nodded his head and smiled back. Rebecca sighed, feeling like she had reached a breakthrough with him. "Come on, let's go back to the others." The two headed down the hallway and back into the front room.
For the rest of the afternoon, they worked with the dwarves who were working on creating the armour for as many Old Narnians as possible. As well, the Telmarine weapons were enforced with new metalwork. The humans then went out to the field on the other side of the How and began practicing with their weapons. Joy and Susan took to the archery range with the dwarves while Rebecca, Peter, Edmund, and Caspian practiced their swordplay. At one point, Susan gave Caspian an archery lesson at urging of Rebecca who saw the looks going back and forth between them.
After a supper provided by the centaurs, the Old Narnians and the humans tried to get some sleep. The girls were bundled up in one of the dead-end tunnels near the centre of the How with blankets provided by the Hardbiters and Camillo. Rebecca fell fast asleep, certain that by tomorrow things would be different in a better way for all of them.
Joy managed to sleep for a couple hours before waking up stiff and sore. She remembered the nights of sleeping in the woods while scouting the borders of the surrounding countries and slowly sat up. A torch was lit just beyond the entrance to the chamber which cast the room in shadows, and Joy quickly stumbled towards it after grabbing her bow and quiver. She didn't want to stay in this dark chamber anymore. She walked down the tunnels and out into the front room.
The Hardbiters stood on either side of the entrance, two of them were nodding off. The one who was still awake quickly snapped to attention and shook the others awake. Joy sleepily nodded to them and then headed for the earthen stairs on the closest wall. She climbed up the steps two at a time and walked out onto the ledge where Girbius the faun stood watch. He jumped when he saw her, but Joy shook her head. "Its alright," she said in a low voice "go in and get some sleep."
"Thank you," said the faun, and he eagerly went inside.
Joy sat down on one of the mound's ridges and scanned the tree line. She could see dawn would be coming soon and decided to sit up and wait for it. "Nothing," she said with a sigh. She shoved the arrow back into her quiver and leaned back against the rocky mound.
"What are you doing?"
Joy jumped to her feet at the loud voice and reached for her arrow before realizing it was Edmund coming out onto the ledge from inside the How.
"Ed!" she whisper-exclaimed. "What are you doing out here at this time of night?"
"Because you made about as much noise as a Bulgy Bear when you walked through the front room," said Edmund and he sat down beside her. He stifled a yawn with his sleeve before saying "You woke me up."
"Sorry," said Joy sheepishly, her eyes dropping to her shoes. "I guess I wasn't thinking."
Edmund shrugged. "I thought that was normal for you," he said, and Joy shoved him off the seat while his face broke out in a wide, teasing grin.
"I'm glad you think that's funny," she said and looked out at the trees again. Edmund picked himself up and sat beside her again.
"Why can't you sleep?" he asked, and Joy sighed.
"I don't know," she groaned. "A lot on my mind, I guess. Like why this time is so different from our last visit to Narnia?" She sighed defeatedly and turned to him. "Rebecca claims she saw visions of your family." Edmund looked at her, seemingly confused. "Yes, she said she saw all of you coming here with Trumpkin. And she says Aslan gave them to her. But I can't understand it! It makes no sense because Aslan didn't do anything like that last time."
"Well," said Edmund "Aslan wasn't visible to anyone but Lucy back at the gorge. Maybe he's doing things differently to test us."
"But why test us?" asked Joy.
"Maybe so we can learn to trust him," said Edmund.
Joy looked at him. "So, you believe Rebecca?" she asked, and Edmund shrugged.
"The last time I didn't believe Lucy, I ended up looking pretty stupid," he said. "I believed her at the gorge, and I think we should believe Rebecca too." He looked at her and Joy felt her face heat up, so she looked away. She stood up and walked a few feet away.
"Do you see anything?" she asked.
"No," said Edmund, and Joy heard a crunch behind her. She looked and saw Edmund eating an apple. He quickly made a face and looked around as if he was going to spit out the bite of apple.
"Don't," she said. "We have to forage for everything here so don't waste it."
Edmund held out the apple to her. "Want it?" he asked, his mouth full.
Joy's stomach grumbled and she took the apple from him. She took a bite and revelled the sweet burst of flavour. She then looked down at him who swallowed hard and winced as if the apple was the grossest thing he'd ever eaten in his life.
"What's the matter with you?" she asked.
Edmund took a skin of wine from over his shoulder and drank some before answering. "I don't think I will ever want to eat an apple again," he said.
"Why?" asked Joy as she sat down next to him again.
"All we ate the first day at Cair Paravel was apples," said Edmund. "Do you remember the apple trees we planted before the Calormens came for Susan's hand in marriage?"
Joy nodded, remembering well the flight from Tashbaan and then the battle at Anvard only a short time later as a result of the Calormen prince's visit. "I couldn't forget it if I tried," she confessed, remembering how handsome her friend had looked leading the charge with Lord Peridan down the mountain towards Anvard. But that was something she would never admit out loud to anyone.
"Well, we took some with us on the journey," explained Edmund. "That is pretty much all we ate for most of the journey here and I think its safe to say the others all feel the same way about apples now."
Joy laughed. "I guess after all that time, you must be sick of these," she said, and took another bite. "This is good. Though that feast I ate while in Miraz' dungeon was amazing." She sighed, thinking longingly of the banquets they used to host in Cair Paravel.
"I guess that's the only good thing he's ever done," mumbled Edmund and Joy laughed again, jostling his shoulder as she weaved back and forth. It felt so good, so normal to be joking with her friend again, that she wished she could freeze time in this moment to enjoy it forever.
Then, a prickling feeling crept up her neck, the kind of feeling one gets when they're being watched, and Joy stood up, wiping all joviality from her face.
"Ed," she said. "Check the tree line."
Edmund stood, the joking immediately gone from his face too. Joy checked the trees far to her right before Edmund touched her shoulder.
"Joy," he said, and nodded his head to the trees straight to the left of them. She looked and saw a Telmarine scout on horseback, watching them. Realizing he'd been discovered, he jabbed his heels into his horse's sides and took off into the woods.
Joy whipped out an arrow but the scout disappeared into the woods. "Hey!" she shouted.
"Never mind him," said Edmund, running towards the entrance. "We need to tell the others!" Joy stashed the arrow in her quiver and ran after him. They ran into the How and down the earthen steps. A couple of the Seven Brothers sat up beneath their blankets and asked what was happening. When Edmund mentioned a Telmarine scout the whole of that front room leaped into action and pandemonium. Creatures that had been sound asleep were suddenly awake and grasping their weapons. Peter and Caspian appeared a second later, putting on their sword belts and looking very groggy.
"What is it?" asked Peter. Caspian yawned and repeated the question.
"A Telmarine scout," said Edmund and he gestured to Joy. "Joy and I spotted him in the woods. He was in the area to the left of the How nearly hidden by the trees."
Peter looked at Girbius who trotted up to the group and then at the others. "Is there any point in pursuing him?" asked Peter.
"No," said Joy, shaking her head. "He's long gone by now."
Peter looked at Caspian then and nodded. "Alright, the time for waiting is over," he said. He faced Caspian, a silent challenge rolling off his shoulders. "Call for a council of war. We will meet in the Sacred Chamber in an hour." He walked off as Rebecca, Susan and Lucy then appeared in the entrance to the maze of tunnels.
"What happened?" asked Rebecca, fixing her hair into a loose braid as she walked towards Peter.
"A Telmarine scout," said Peter, before his face softened. "Time's up." He walked off towards the side room where they discussed plans earlier. Rebecca looked at Joy and ran over to her.
"Are you alright?" she asked. "Where did you go?"
"I couldn't sleep," said Joy, and she shrugged. "I just wanted to go outside and get some fresh air, so I took over as the lookout." Rebecca nodded, visibly relieved, before Joy explained, "Caspian has called for council of war in an hour, so we'll have to get ready."
Rebecca slipped an arm around Joy's shoulders and squeezed. "Alright," she said, and they headed for their chamber to prepare.