Thank you all so much for your reviews! I hope you all like this chapter!
Reviews:
Guest - Thank you! I know, I'm sorry. This chapter is a bit longer, and I promise you that the next chapter will be even longer because that's when all the fighting in the castle raid happens, which means a lot of descriptions :)
meangirl8 - Here you go :)
X Blue Eyed Demon X - Thank you!
Guest - Here you go :)
Guest - Thank you! I'm glad :)
Guest - Aw, thank you so much!
Guest - Here you go :)
Guest - Here you go :)
Guest - Here you go :) P.S. I'm pretty sure the last three reviews were left by the same person but, seeing as you're Guest, I wouldn't know for sure, so I just replied to all of them :D
*Annabelle's P.O.V.*
The light of Edmund's torch shone through the dark sky as he signaled for me, Susan, Caspian, Trumpkin and Peter to start making our way towards the castle. We were carried by gryphons , who were holding our torsos with their front claws, and our legs with their hind claws. Edmund's signal also let our army, which was waiting at the edge of the woods, to start walking towards the castle. While all this happened, Reepicheep and his mice snuck into the castle through the canals.
As we flew in the night air, we say Edmund safe on the tower. Caspian, Peter, and I shared a look before the gryphon that was carrying Caspian swooped down. The gryphon that was carrying me followed not a second later, and Peter, Susan, and Trumpkin all followed. We saw a guard on duty walking across the higher level of the castle grounds, and Caspian quickly and quietly unsheathed his sword. The gryphon then let go of his legs and torso, and held only Caspian's left hand with one of its claws as he quickly striked the guard with his sword, causing him to fall off the edge. As soon as Caspian did that, the gryphon re-positioned itself so that it was holding Caspian safely once again.
As we flew around the castle, Edmund gave another signal with his torch. This time, one of the guards saw him, and raised his crossbow, ready to shoot. Thankfully I was in the right place at the right time and quickly loaded my bow before releasing the arrow, which killed the guard quickly and silently. Just as he fell, another guard that was walking next to him froze in his tracks for a split second before turning around as he heard the flapping of the wings of the gryphon that carried Peter. It dropped him off safely, and my brother quickly killed the guard as Susan and I landed next to him with our bows loaded and raised. Trumpkin and Caspian landed safely right behind us.
We then worked on securing the rope on one of the stone walls so that we could climb down to Caspian's Professor's study. Peter held the rope tightly as Caspian made his way down first. I quickly followed, sliding down the rope until Caspian's hands grabbed my waist and gently set me on the ground. While Peter started to make his way down, Caspian knocked on the window of Professor Cornelius's study.
"Professor?" He called quietly, but there was no answer. I saw the worry on Caspian's face as he grabbed his dagger and fumbled with the lock for a second before getting the window open. Peter, who just landed next to me, shared a look with me and Caspian before the Telmarine jumped off the window sill and held out his hand for me. I grabbed it, ignoring the slight tingling feeling, and jumped down before giving him a smile of thanks. He smiled a small smile at me as well before walking further into the study. I followed him, and looked around the room that held almost as many books as the library in Cair Paravel did. Caspian's hand shook slightly as he picked up a pair of spectacles, just as Susan and Trumpkin walked in. "I have to find him." He said, looking at all of us seriously.
"You don't have time. You have to get the gate open." Peter commanded in a hushed tone, causing Caspian to narrow his eyes at him.
"You wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him." He argued, before looking at me. "And neither would I." I gave him a sympathetic look as Peter, Susan, and Trumpkin looked at me for my opinion. Even though Peter and I weren't on best terms at the moment, he seemed to still trust me. At least a little.
I thought the situation over quickly. Professor Cornelius seems to be the one who found my locket, which brought us back to Narnia; back home. He helped Caspian escape, and taught him about the Narnian tales and how to do the right thing. The Professor has done so much for all of us, not wanting any credit. He deserved to be saved.
"We can deal with Miraz." I told Peter, glancing at Susan in the process.
"And I can still get to the gate in time." Caspian agreed, giving me a small thankful look. Caspian waited for a second if there were any other objections to his plan, but since there were none, he gave us all a quick look before running out of the study. Trumpkin followed, wanting to get to his position with Reepicheep, from where they would lower the bridge.
*5 minutes later*
Peter, Susan, and I reached the doors of the royal chambers. We shared a look before Peter grabbed the knob and Susan and I raised or loaded bows at the ready. Peter then threw the doors opened and we barged in, only to see no one and practically nothing except for a crib in front of us. We shared a glance before walking over to the crib, only to see a beautiful baby boy inside. I couldn't help but smile a little, lowering my bow as Susan did the same with hers.
"Where did that come from?" Peter asked, confused and slightly dumbfounded. A small smirk made its way onto my lips.
"Mum never had that talk with you." I realized, and Peter glared at me slightly before waking out of the royal chambers, which actually turned out to be the nursery. I looked back at Susan with a little smirk making her chuckle quietly, before running after Peter with her close on my heels.
*10 minutes later*
"Wait." I said in a hushed tone, placing my ear to the doors of Miraz's chambers.
"What?" Peter asked, annoyed. I glared at him, before trying to hear what was going on inside. I then hear a sound of a strained string being pulled slowly, which made me realize that someone loaded a crossbow, so I quickly loaded my bow, ready to face anything. Susan, seeing my actions and trusting me, quickly did the same.
"Put the sword down, Caspian." A female voice warned with slight tremble. "I don't want to do this." I twas then that my eyes flashed gold and a powerful gust of air threw the doors open.
"We don't want you to either." I said, aiming at the only woman in the room, who was in her nightgown on the bed which she obviously shared with Miraz. this must be his wife, Lady Prunaprismia. I then looked over to my right, only to see Caspian standing with his sword at Miraz's throat. Prunaprismia struggled to decide whether to point the crossbow at me, Susan, who also had her aim on her, or Caspian, before eventually aiming at the Prince. We all had serious and urgent looks on our faces, except for Miraz who simply sighed and placed his hands on his hips.
"This used to be a private room." He said to me, Susan, and Peter in annoyance, scanning his eyes over us. They then quickly snapped to me, and a smirk grew on his face as he probably realized who we were, looking at our weapons. "Ah..." He mused, his smirk growing. "High Queen Annabelle, the Majestic." My eyes snapped to him, wondering how he knew my name, since I could have as well been Susan to someone who doesn't know the Narnian history very well. "Oh, I have heard a lot about you. I have to say that you are far more beautiful in person than on pictures in books." My eyes narrowed at him in a deadly glare, while Peter started to shake with rage. Susan also glared at Miraz, and Caspian took a threatening step towards him, causing him to back up a step or two so that Caspian's sword wouldn't pierce his throat.
"What are you doing?" Peter demanded, bringing his gaze onto Caspian, trying to control himself. "You were supposed to be in the gatehouse!"
"No!" Caspian snapped suddenly, shaking with rage. "Tonight, for once, I want the truth!" He demanded, before taking another threatening step and holding his sword tighter, causing Miraz to back up. "Did you kill my father?" Caspian growled, and my eyes widened. Oh my...
"Now we get to it." Miraz simply said.
"You said your brother died in his sleep." Prunaprismia said, oblivious to how much of a tyrant her husband is.
"That was more or less true." Miraz replied, not even looking at her.
"Caspian, this won't make things any better." I spoke up, sensing the thick tension in the room. Caspian turned his head to look at me for a second, but did not move, before turning back to Miraz.
"We, Telmarines, would have nothing had we not taken it." Miraz informed his nephew coldly. "Your father knew that as well as anyone."
"How could you?" Prunaprismia asked quietly in disbelief, lowering the crossbow as she stared at him.
"For the same reason you will pull that trigger." Miraz replied, pointing at the crossbow. "For our son." He hissed, before taking a step forward, causing Caspian's blade to to puncture a small wound on his neck, blood trickling down slowly.
"Stop!" Prunaprismia warned with a tremble in her voice, raising and pointing her crossbow at Caspian one more time.
"Stay right there!" I instructed, aiming at Miraz this time, as Susan still had her arrow pointed at Prunaprismia. Caspian took a few steps back, not wanting to kill Miraz, but he just continued to walk forward.
"You need to make a choice, dear." Miraz said, looking at his wife, before looking back at Caspian and taking a few more steps forward, as Caspian continued to back up. "Do you want our son to be king? Or do you want him to be like Caspian here?... Fatherless?!"
"No!" Prunaprismia yelled as she pulled the trigger.
"Caspian!" Peter yelled, just as the arrow that she released hit Caspian in his left arm, causing him to drop his sword as he fell back onto a chair. I quickly released my arrow, as did Susan, trying to get Miraz, but he ducked just in time before leaving into another room and locking the door. Peter ran in that direction, trying to get the door open, whilst Prunaprismia fell onto the bed with a wail. I quickly ran towards Caspian, while Susan ran over to Peter. Caspian was clutching his arm with his right hand in pain, so I put my hand on top of his and gently pried his fingers off the wound. It wasn't too bad. Painful, but not deep. I put my hand about an inch away from the wound, and felt my eyes flash gold. A white light illuminated from my hand and quickly healed the wound, leaving only blood on Caspian's arm. His eyes wandered to the spot where the arrow hit him, and widened when he saw the wound healed. He then looked up at me, with an almost amazed look in his eyes. "Come on! We have to go!" Peter yelled over Prunaprismia's sobs, and ran out of the room, quickly followed by Susan. I helped Caspian up on his feet quickly before turning around to leave.
"Annabelle!" He caught my hand, making me turn around. This was the first time he called me by my name instead of 'Your Majesty', 'Your Highness', or 'My Lady'. "Thank you." I nodded giving him a small smile, before pulling him out the door.
