I hope you all like this chapter!
Reviews:
Guest - Yeah, sorry about that. They should be getting longer as we get further into the story. And thank you!
whatnameshallitake - I guess you'll just have to wait and see ;) All I can tell you is that Susan is also my favorite, always has been, so you can definitely hope for the best :)
clair cartlie - Not to be rude or anything, but... you do realize they're siblings... right?
Annabelle's P.O.V.*
My eyes snapped open when I heard a tree branch snap. I quickly sat up and looked around, but no one was near and everyone else was asleep peacefully. I was about to lay back down and ignore the sound as just my imagination, when I heard it again, louder this time. I glanced at the others before getting up and swinging my quiver over my shoulders and taking out my bow. I then slowly made my way deeper into the woods.
"Annabelle..." I heard a voice call, and my eyes widened when I recognized it. I walked a little further in, when suddenly I heard a rustle to my left. I saw a tree next to me, and felt its aura change to a magical one, so I gently placed my hand on its bark and pushed some magic through that contact. My eyes widened when the petals suddenly flew away to the side in a gentle swirl, before forming into a dryad, who waved at me happily. I smiled. "Annabelle..." I looked around, wanting to find the voice, and the dryad pointed to my right. I followed her gaze, and saw the tress that were there part to form a path for me. "Annabelle..." I smiled and walked in between the trees, hearing the voice grow louder. "Annabelle..." I jumped over some rocks, and then pushed away a branch that was in my face, before looking for the source of the voice.
"Aslan." I smiled hugely and ran up to the Great Lion, wrapping my arms around his neck and snuggling my face into his mane while he chuckled. "I've missed you." I said quietly, and then pulled away. He looked at me with a soft smile and kind eyes. "Aslan, why aren't you helping us like last time?"
"This time, it is out of my hands." He replied gently. "It is now up to you to restore the peace to this land." I sighed but smiled a small smile. "Do you remember when I told you that one day you will learn of the true purpose for your powers?" I nodded. "This day is coming near. Be brave, my dear. For it is up to you whether we will achieve victory, or disappointment and grief."
My eyes fluttered open, and I sat up, looking around. Aslan visited me in my dream. I sighed and brushed a piece of hair from my face, before standing up and brushing myself off. My eyes widened when I noticed two people missing..
"Susan." I gently shook her, but she just mumbled something and rolled onto her other side. If it were different circumstances, I would have chuckled and rolled my eyes, but this time was serious. "Peter and Lucy are missing, get up." That definitely woke her up. She quickly got up and looked around, and her eyes widened when she saw the two empty spots where our older brother and younger sister were supposed to be sleeping. She then quickly shook Trumpkin awake, whilst I shook Edmund.
"Five more minutes, Anna." He pleaded groggily, as it was me who usually woke him up to school.
"Peter and Lucy are missing, Ed. Get up." I ordered, and just like Susan, he got up fast. He then quickly unsheathed his sword, when suddenly I heard something. "Wait." They all looked at me confused, but obeyed anyway.
"Do you hear something?" Edmund asked, and I nodded.
"Sounds like a sword fight." I commented, and then quickly grabbed my quiver, but didn't swing it over my shoulder. Susan was already holding her quiver and horn, and Trumpkin was holding his knife with his quiver slung over his shoulder. "Come on." I then ran further into the woods, following the sound.
"Prince Caspian?" I heard Peter's voice, and that's when I knew for sure that I was going in the right direction.
"Yes." Someone replied with a strong Mediterranean accent. "And who are you?" It was then that I found the path that led to the clearing where I heard them from.
"Peter!" I shouted, running toward him, but stopped in my tracks once I saw Narnians surrounding us. Susan, Edmund, and Trumpkin all followed me, and also stopped to stand around me as I walked to stand next to Lucy, who thankfully was alright. She was standing off to the side, watching the whole scene unfold before her eyes. In the middle stood Peter with another man around his age. This man had dark brown, almost black hair that were slightly longer than Peter's or Edmund's, and dark brown, almost black eyes. He was obviously a Telmarine, seeing as his skin was also slightly tanner than ours. He was holding Peter's sword, which was pointed at Peter's neck, and had some blood in the corner of his mouth as if someone hit him. Seems he and Peter got into a fight before we came.
*Third Person's P.O.V.*
Prince Caspian looked at the newcomers for a second, before looking back at the blonde haired man he fought. 'Peter'. That name sounded familiar. As if from a story. He then looked down at the sword he was holding as realization dawned on him, and saw the golden lion hilt and the golden engravings. He then looked back up, eyes wide.
"High King Peter."
"I believe you called." The High King replied, and Caspian barely nodded.
"Yes, but..." He trailed off for a second, glancing at the others before looking back at Peter. "I thought you'd be older." At this Peter's face hardened. He was so tired of being treated like a kid back in England, and he was definitely not going to be treated like this in here! While he was annoyed, Annabelle and Edmund shared a smirk.
"Well, if you'd like we could come back in a few years." Peter said, trying to hide his annoyance, already turning around to leave.
"No!" Caspian was quick to react. "No, stay. You're just... You're not exactly what I expected." he made amends, trailing his eyes over the group one more time. Once he did that, his eyes quickly snapped back to Annabelle, and lingered on her, taking in the High Queen's beauty. She noticed him staring and smiled a faint smile, shifting a little on her feet and looking to the side. Susan noticed that and nudged Lucy, who smiled. Annabelle has always had many, many admirers, but this is the first time she might actually like one back. Edmund and Peter also noticed this, and were not happy at all.
While all that happened, the Narnians' eyes were wide, looking at the Destined Beauty in disbelief. She's real. And she's right here, right before their eyes. They have all grown up listening to the stories of how she sacrifices herself for Narnia and for her loved ones, and how she defeated the White Witch and became the Once and Future Queen. And now here she is. Right in front of them.
Caspian also couldn't believe it. He grew up with his Professor telling him about the Golden Age and the Kings and Queens of Old, and now he was seeing them for himself. He always strived to be as great of a king as High King Peter and King Edmund were told to be. He always heard that High Queen Annabelle was the most beautiful woman who has ever lived in Narnia, and now he got to see her for himself. And he agreed. He could almost see the beautiful magical aura around her that seemed to be pushing life into everything around her. Caspian could tell that she was special, even more special than he used to think when he heard stories about her. She was truly as majestic as the legends told.
*Annabelle's P.O.V.*
"Neither are you." Edmund said through clenched teeth, making me and the girls look at him in confusion. He never acted like that. Not for the past 16 years.
"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes." A Badger spoke wisely, making me smile.
"We have anxiously awaited your return, Your Majesties." A mouse suddenly jumped forward, making me and Susan stop ourselves from jumping backwards. "Our hearts and swords are at your service." He said, bowing to me and Peter, making me smile despite my fear.
"Oh my gosh, he is so cute." Lucy said quietly to me and Susan, making us smile.
"Who said that?!" The mouse jumped, unsheathing his sword and looking around, making me giggle quietly. Caspian must have heard me since he looked over at me with a small smile, making me blush slightly. Susan must have noticed, unfortunately, and elbowed me in the ribs teasingly.
"Sorry." Lucy apologized to the mouse, and he looked at her, embarrassed that he reacted like that in front of a Queen.
"O-Oh, Your Majesty." He bowed. "With great respect. But I do think that 'courageous', 'courteous', or 'chivalrous', might more befit a Knight of Narnia." He said, swinging and sheathing his sword professionally, making us all smile.
"Well, it seems that at least some of you can handle a blade." Peter commented.
"Yes, indeed." The mouse smiled proudly, since he was complimented by the High King himself. I glanced at Caspian, and saw glancing at the ground before looking at Peter in slight annoyance, which made me share a confused glance with Susan. "And I have recently put it to good use, securing weapons for your army, Sire." That made my brows furrow in confusion, as well as Susan's, once again. Peter's army? Last time I checked, it was Caspian's army, and we were here only to help. Now began to worry that things might be even harder than Aslan told me they would be, because Peter's pride and arrogance are his fatal characteristics.
"Good." Peter said with a smile, before looking back at Caspian with a cold expression. "Because we're going to need every sword we can get."
Well, then." Caspian retorted. "You'll probably be wanting yours back." He said, offering Peter his sword by the hilt back, making me smirk. Maybe he will be one of the very few people other than family who will be able to stand Peter with dignity. Peter just took his sword back and sheathed it, before turning around with a slight eye roll and leading the way to who knows where. Edmund quickly followed, and the Narnians followed reluctantly after glancing at me a couple of times. I then looked at Susan and Lucy.
"Why don't we introduce ourselves, girls?" I offered, and they nodded in agreement quickly, probably wanting to ease the tension as much as I did. We then walked over to Caspian. "Prince Caspian, right?" I asked with a smile, causing him to turn around. It was then that I got a good look of him, and I have to admit that he is very handsome. By the look on Susan's face I could tell she was thinking the same.
"Yes." he nodded, and smiled, bowing to me and grabbing my hand, kissing it gently. My breath hitched in my throat slightly, but thankfully no one noticed, and I smiled as well. "It's an honor, My Queen." He said, and I nodded with a small smile, before reminding myself that my sisters were standing next to me, so I took my hand out of his grasp after smiling one more time.
"Please, it's Annabelle." I said, and he nodded with a small smile, before turning to look at my older sister.
"My Lady." He said, grabbing her hand and kissing it as well.
"It's Susan, please." She replied with a small smile, and he nodded, turning to Lucy.
"Lucy." She smiled, and he smiled back, also kissing her hand. Even though she is only 11 years old, she is still a Queen of Narnia. It felt nice. Going back to being respected women instead of silly school girls.
"It's a pleasure." He greeted, before his eyes found mine one more time.
