Chapter 6 - A Broken Prince

When he woke up, at first, Caspian thought he was back in his comfortable chambers. That all of it was a nasty and ugly nightmare and Cornelius was about to wake him for the next astrology lesson. He hoped and prayed. The smell of dirt and unfamiliar voices in the distance thwarted his hopes like a hammer.

"I say we get rid of him as long as he is still sleeping," sounded one of them in the distance.

"Now let's clear up a few things Nik," sounded the other, seemingly without any dark emotions or seemingly ill plans. "No one will be killed in my den, especially not in sleep. And further, have you forgotten it was this boy that sounded the horn?"

Caspian still lay in the small bed, careful not to make any sounds that would reveal he was conscious again. He suddenly remembered everything now. It was like a blast of memories. The night escape from his castle, the horse chase, the swordfight in the forest. His leg still hurt from the dwarf's hammer, just like his head when the big Taurus struck him with the blunt end of the axe."Why did it have to be real?"He carefully opened one eye.

He was inside a house, or maybe not exactly. The room didn't look like anything familiar from his world. What he thought was the roots of a large tree covered most of the ceiling. There was no plaster on the stones, only occasional mud supporting the walls. Inside, he noticed a lot of wooden furniture, chairs, tables and wardrobes. By the corner of his eye, he also noticed a large open room, which he presumed was the storage for food, as he saw a few apples and onions hanging from pouches inside. Even though they were surely underground, the room looked incredibly cozy and warm.

When he saw the owners of the two voices, things became even more confusing. The first belonged to an already known black-haired dwarf, now holding an axe, wearing some little armour, and making a mad face. The second voice though was the one that caught his attention."Is it even possible, or just another dream I am trapped in? A talking animal. Yes, it is a badger,"thought Caspian.

Meanwhile, they didn't see him looking and continued to quarrel. "A horn," laughed the dwarf sarcastically at the badger's reasoning. "He probably stole it, just like they stole our land, our homes, and now Trumpkin. Besides, we don't have any way of proving it's the real one."

"But that is untrue," corrected him the badger kindly. "In legends, when the magical horn is sounded, four kings and queens will finally wake up from their deep sleep and help free Narnia from the chains of its oppressors at last. Great Aslan himself created the horn. My grandpa used to tell me when I was a mere cub, and he described it exactly as this. I never forgot," he finished, sounding hopeful and nostalgic.

"Heh, the great Aslan," shrieked the dwarf overly pompously. "You always speak of him so kindly, and where is he, I ask? What has he ever done to help us, if he exists for that matter? He is waiting for what? For more of us to die and suffer? And it's not only me. Many in the forest think so."

"Because many don't remember. But we badgers have long memories. It's our merit after all," he added proudly.

"Is it? Then remember who our real enemy is!"

Suddenly, something crackled, and soon a third, much deeper voice joined the conversation. His sentences were simpler and direct, without adding any unnecessary words to embellish his speech.

"Trufflehunter. Nikabrik. Are you two arguing again? My head hurts already." He looked around the room and continued. "We cleared every sign of the battle outside. Two Telmarine bodies are buried under a large rock."

"Alright, Tori. The other soldiers will eventually come back here. In larger numbers too, most certainly. Let's make sure they won't find anything here. We can't face them even if we wanted to," the Badger breathed out tiredly.

Caspian again looked. This Tori was a big horned beast that had to tilt quite a lot to fit inside the badger's home. He had long brown and white fur and eyes black as night. There was a necklace made from numerous white and grey tokens. A Minotaur, he deduced instantly, although when he was a child and Cornelius told him about the stories in the evening, it never came to his mind that he would see a real one in his life. The impressive fur protected the being from the cold northern winds, Caspian remembered.

Other furred animals that joined them, although much smaller. A family of mice appeared near a root in the kitchen, maybe awakened by the commotion. "Can they also speak,"he wondered. Nothing would surprise him at this point.

The Minotaur grunted in agreement. "Aye, they will be here soon. Others are patrolling the forest boundaries. So far nothing, but we must be prepared to retreat deeper once we spot the soldiers. For how much longer will you be here?" He sounded alarmed, but Caspian didn't share his worries. "Let them come, let it be over with."

The badger sighed tiredly. "His wound is still not fully healed, even though I used the bandage with Batara mushroom and orange Marigold flower. It still needs more time. I also hoped to finish the chanterelle potato soup for you all. You always say it's your favorite when you visit us, Tori."

"Afraid there isn't much time for a meal. Sorry friend, I know it's hard to abandon your home, trust me. But we have to leave soon. You should pack all the things you need, I will help you carry them. Same goes for you Nik."

The dwarf called Nikabrik took the floor again. Caspian vividly remembered him from their fight in the woods before. Black beard and hair, very small but a strong fighter, dangerous with his hammer. When he was running away from his assassins, he stumbled upon him and his blond-haired friend by sheer accident. That is why he blew the horn Cornelius gave him as a gift, to signal and get help from the young brown-haired soldier who tried to help him once he found out he was a prince, not a common horse thief.

"Right, a soup," smiled the dwarf excessively. "Next, we are opening a hotel for the Telmarine army. Get over it my friend, they are all enemies and monsters. Hunted us like animals for three hundred years, and now, they have come to our forest. To our last possible refuge, to steal our homes and lives again. I sure won't let that happen!"

The Badger wasn't done arguing, placing his paws on his chest in a defensive gesture. "He killed the big soldier, their captain with his own hands, you saw it too Nik. He is not like the rest of them. They wanted to kill the poor lad, just like they want to kill us," the talking animal said without an ounce of selfishness.

"Why would he defend me,"thought Caspian. "I had led Miraze's cutthroats here. He will have to leave his den because of me. Because his hideout is now revealed to the wider world."Caution and fear left him sometime during his listening, and he decided to finally speak up. No other soul will be suffering due to his problems.

He was still in his black and white outdoor royal clothes, which he quickly grabbed when Cornelius woke him last night, warning him of the evil plan uncle had in store for him. Unsurprisingly, his sword and knife were gone, but he was a bit glad for that. He didn't want to see the weapon he used to kill someone. Maybe there was still his blood on it. He didn't want to see.

Caspian slowly got up from the bed, having to support himself on one of the wooden pillars. The badger evidently knew what he was doing with his herbs and mushrooms. His leg was much better. "I almost wish I hadn't done it. Kill the captain I mean," he uttered melancholically.

The dwarf and minotaur let out a surprised sound, only now noticing he was awake and probably listened to them the whole time. Caspian wouldn't give his hand into the fire for it, but he thought it was a careful, yet genuine smile he got from the Badger. "You are awake," he noted. "Feeling good?"

Caspian felt anything but that, well maybe physically. His mental state was a whole other matter he didn't yet fully grasp. He didn't want to lie, so he just said nothing, instead examining the dwarf and the big-horned creature more closely. The short bearded man gave him an ugly look as response. "Well look, he is so mysterious. My friend asked you a question, you should be grateful enough to answer. If it weren't for him, you would be resting under a cold stone with the other two of your kind, not in a warm bed. So, let's try another. Why do you wish you hadn't done it? The prick wanted to kill ya off?" The Dwarf grinned curiously waiting for his reaction.

Caspian wasn't in the mood to do anything, all the less to argue. He wasn't even sure why he said the things about the captain before, so he just tried to explain without being sure, maybe even to himself. "He... was a person. Yes, a horrible one, but also probably had a family. Yes, at least a family that maybe gave his miserable life some purpose." "Unlike mine. I have no family anymore. And purpose?"he wanted to laugh.

The dwarf too found it funny, albeit for a different reason, as he almost choked laughing. "We have an idealist here," he turned towards the Taurus. However, the creature didn't appear amused.

"Am I an idealist?" He still vividly recalled the blood of the man on his hands and his humanness slowly leaving his eyes like it happened seconds ago. He never thought how it would feel to actually take a life, even in self-defence. When he was a mere child playing with a sword, Caspian always thought it would be easy, like slaying a nettle with a stick or beheading a strawman. But after it happened, the time froze, and he just felt sick to his stomach. He couldn't even comprehend what that young guard who tried to save his life screamed at him. "The guard!"he suddenly remembered. "Oh,what happened to him?"He needed the answer right now. If not for him, he would be dead.

"You said you buried two people." The words flew out of his mouth hastily for the first time. "The other two assassins escaped. But where is the guard who stood against the soldiers? I owe him my life," he declared.

The Minotaur named Astorius tiredly exhaled, sounding like a hot steam released. "The one with the armour and brown hair? He tried to escape when I ran at him. A faun archer hit him with an arrow, and... he jumped into the river. We didn't look for his body." He looked a bit sad, but because of his different facial features, Caspian couldn't be sure.

Caspian looked like he was just struck by an arrow too, sitting back on the bed defeatedly, the last trace of hope leaving him. "Yet another life wasted for my own. It is becoming almost comical how it happens every time I meet someone. I never even learned his name.",he realized painfully.

The Badger noticed his sadness and approached him with a lowered head. "I am so sorry, young one. We thought you were attacking us. I will tell others to look for him, maybe he survived the fall," he said reassuringly.

The dwarf didn't share his kindness. "Why did they want ya dead anyway? Did you steal something? The horn perhaps?"

A spark of anger appeared in Caspian's eyes as he met the creature's distrustful gaze. "It is the other way around, my uncle stole something from me," he hissed.

He paused as the three Old Narnians patiently waited for what he had to say. "I… may as well reveal it all to them,"he decided. "My name is Prince Caspian, son of King Caspian the IX," he said without any pride or emotion, although inside he felt embarrassed. "I am a mere shell of a prince."

The dwarf's eyes widened as he hissed. The badger opened his mouth in surprise, showing his pointy teeth in the process. Astorius tried to hide his emotions more, but nevertheless, he found himself staring with curiosity at the boy before him. All were completely shocked. "I know, I don't look exactly kingly right now." "With my luck, probably never will," he added to himself.

The Taurus was the first to compose himself. "Caspians hunted my ancestors for sport after they had burst into Narnia with their armies behind them. I bet you still have their horns displayed as trophies inside your stone hall," he murmured angrily.

"Now let's not be so hasty Tori," interrupted Nikabrik. "A royal like this could be an incredible asset for our forming cause. A priceless bargain you see. Killing him would be a great waste." Caspian could already see the plans that were forming inside the little man's head.

"Nobody spoke about killing in this house, so far only you," growled Astorius angrily.

"Shush you two, and let him finish," commanded the Badger without even slightly raising his voice. It almost looked silly that this little animal had so much power over these warriors. No doubt, the two had great respect for him.

Caspian shut his chestnut eyes. It was so painful recollecting it all again. "I told you," he began slowly like it was obvious. "My uncle Miraz, the snake and self-proclaimed Lord Protector, wanted to kill me off, so he could be king. Of course, he hadn't done it himself, he is too pathetic for that. He hired the assassins to dispose of me in my sleep, but my friend managed to warn me, and I escaped on my horse to this wood."

"And because you did, my friend Trumpkin was abducted. Tell me, will they kill him quickly, or will they torture him until he forgets his name?" said Nikabrik with his eyes narrowed and fierier than the den's fireplace.

"I... cannot say for certain. My people think you are extinct. They would want to question him for sure, and as I know my uncle..." Caspian looked in the direction of a small window, not wanting to face the saddened face of the Badger. As a child, he loved the stories about Old Narnians, his nun and the Doctor often told him in secret. It was his escape from the harsh reality. Sometimes, when his uncle acted particularly harsh towards him, mostly when he did something out of his free will, he dreamt of escaping to the forest and living with the talking animals. Now, he was forced to experience their pain he himself unknowingly caused.

"Hmmm, thought so. And this Miraz prick wants you dead you said? Thus, you are no use as a bargaining chip either." The dwarf rubbed his eyes in disappointment that his plan, whatever it was, wouldn't work.

Caspian was tired of him and this whole situation. "Maybe, you would be doing me a favor by finishing me off," he murmured in a cold voice, and he meant it. "And to my uncle even more. He might even give you back your friend when you bring him my head quietly, without any other lord seeing. Although you would be a fool to count on that. Much more probably he will just finish you off too." He was looking intensely into a fire, but he found no light, warmth, or happiness in it. He could just as well be looking into the darkest cave in Narnia, it would make hardly any difference. There was nothing. He had eyes that wanted to be blind.

And he felt like becoming a bit deaf too, at least to his surroundings. The three started arguing again from the looks of things. He heard their voices, so distant and so quiet. But the voices in his head grew louder. His whole head hurt.

"Father, you died when I was a stupid toddler before I could even get a chance to know you. Mom, Mom, you followed him into nothingness not long after. How could she be proud of me today when I even forgot her voice, her songs, even her face."Someone inside wanted to start punching the nearby wall with full strength until his fists were red to vent the anger and pain, but he somehow couldn't bring himself to it.

"And you, Lord Arlian", he remembered. His grandfather from mother's side. He was able to comfort and maybe even repair the four-year-old called Caspian, now an orphan, at least to some extent. It was not only a mother that was lost forever that day after all, but also a daughter. The pain bonded them, for a while. "Too bad you are also gone forever. Vanishing during a hunt."

His mind traveled to such a recent loss he didn't even have the time to comprehend yet."Cornelius, my most loyal teacher replaced the empty space from losing a father. He was almost certainly killed when he went for food and supplies during his escape from the castle. He never got to me. I was about to prepare his horse too. The last person who treated me nicely not because I was a highborn, but because we truly knew each other. And he got killed while helping me and for what? For me to give up?"His heart was telling him to storm out of the den and fight. Avenge his mentor by killing that snake. But his mind and resolve appeared to be blocking it. Caspian couldn't.

Finally, his mind got to the young soldier who was following him to the forest and then risked his life to help him. The last one to awaken a fight in him. "Ohh, through my anger, I was so resolved to fight back. To push back against the evils of this world."The guard gave him strength, but he was gone like the rest. "Now, probably lying under some root. Everyone who helps me dies."He sensed that his fighting spirit, his will... no it didn't just break. It was more like it shattered completely.

"Everyone around always dies, because of me. And the only family I had left tried to murder me for what? For a chair? For a crown!?" The pain was too great to cry. Why was he torturing himself like that? Caspian didn't know the answer. Instead of sobbing, a laugh escaped his lips. It was so unnatural he first thought he was dreaming again. There was a weird but tangible comfort in all that hopelessness and despair. Both hands scrambled to hold the sheet on the bed. It looked like a drowning man holding for his life.

He couldn't remember when he last laughed so sincerely and fully. Maybe never. But this was not a true laughter. It was a slow and muted laugh, yet it still sounded hysterical, abnormal, like a king that has gone completely crazy. His lungs stung and then burned, but it was a welcomed relief from the pain that was occupying his whole body like a grey cloud.

Meanwhile, the arguing stopped. "He has gone completely nuts! Some demon took hold of him, just like with the rest of his people. Better do as he says and end his suffering here and now," proclaimed Nikabrik like it was a done deal. For his statement, the dwarf earned a new wave of laughter from the unbothered prince, now directed directly towards him. Nik swung his axe into his right hand with incredible ease, determination in his eyes as he headed to Caspian.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" thundered Astorius with so much force, the mouse family squeaked and rushed to the safety of their deep hole under the kitchen. The beast took Nikabrik so off guard with the outburst he froze on the spot, examining him from top to bottom, finally relenting and angrily throwing the axe on the ground.

"We Minotaurs know better than anyone what the Telmarines are capable of. But if you think I will allow you to kill an unarmed wounded prisoner, you are insane. I know Trumpkin is like your brother. Blame the soldiers, not him. Let's head outside to cool off and think of a plan for how to get him back.

The dwarf grumbled and gave Caspian one last look, but he didn't object anymore. If it was more from fear or respect, Caspian didn't know and didn't care. The laughter stopped.

Astorius just shook his head. "I don't blame him. Trumpkin was my friend too. But we never kill the unarmed. That's the code." He placed his giant hand on his chest, where the grey and white necklace hung, and without other words, he left the den.

Badger looked towards the entrance, brief sunshine from outside disappeared as the door closed. "Forgive my friend Nik, kindness was never his strongest strength." The Badger moved his head back to him. "Silly me, I am talking about his bad habits and I myself forgot to introduce. It's Trufflehunter." His voice was so polite, almost as if the Badger was worried that Caspian was offended.

Caspian couldn't hold the question any longer. "Why? Your friend was abducted because I chose your wood as an escape. You will be forced to leave your house. So why would you possibly be so kind?" His throat was sour due to all the laughing.

"What can I say, my mom raised me properly. What gives me the right to blame you? It wasn't your fault boy." His eyes faded, looking somewhere behind him for a while, perhaps some good family memories. The things Caspian would be willing to sacrifice to remember similar happy memories with his mom scared him.

"Well, that's the first reason anyway..."

"Tell me the second one then...Trufflehunter." The name was still difficult for him to comprehend.

"Truffle works just fine." The Badger scratched his white fur on the face with his paw. "I never met many of you humans, but I heard a lot of stories. Either they are scared of us or they want to immediately kill our proper Narnian folk. Sometimes simultaneously. But you lad, are very different." the animal smiled.

"Maybe I just don't have the sword. You saw me outside. I have the blood of that man on my hands." It was all so painful and confusing for him. He felt so much hate towards the assassin but also regret and disgust from what his hands did to him. It was a mix of emotions making no sense, like a painter's palette at the end of his work.

The Badger looked close into his eyes and after inspecting him, he shook his head. "Well no, I don't think so. You don't even seem that surprised that I can talk."

"Aye, you are right," Caspian told him gloomily. "My people hardly believe you exist anymore. Some even take you as a myth. It was my teacher, Cornelius, and my nurse before him, but Miraz sacked her after he found out. Cornelius told me the old stories of centaurs, talking animals, the sons of Adán and daughters of Eva* that became rulers, and even about the great lion." A small smile was able to escape from the black layer of his grief-poisoned mind when remembering them. The astronomy sessions on the south tower. He would just observe the stars and listen to these stories, occasionally asking something smart. "These days are far gone, and the memories will become stale and spent in time, just like memories of mother,"Caspian feared.

During the time inside his mind, Caspian didn't even register Trufflehunter's reaction to his statement. His even-tempered nature was suddenly replaced by a very energetic one. His eyes were shining in enthusiasm. "You... you not only know about us but also about our ancient legends? You even know about Aslan. Oh by my den, that is a most curious and splendid thing. And the horn! Oh blimey, could it be? If you know about the old legends, have the horn and say you are a royal. Maybe? Maybe you were sent here for a reason. Maybe Aslan wanted this to happen. Wanted you to find us…"

"Do you believe in these stories?" Caspian cut off the excited badger a bit, wanting to shorten the conversation. He wanted his fight to end, but if he could wish any last thing from God, Aslan, or which prick that never helped him was maybe up there, he wished not to die by the hand of another assassin of his uncle. They will be here sooner or later. Two of the previous ones escaped back, so there is a risk they know my location.

"Not every Narnian believes these days. You heard what Nik thinks of Aslan. I don't blame them, these were some long and hard years surviving in the wilderness. Not exactly a combination that breeds hope and faith. But I still firmly believe that the sun will shine on us someday and we will resurface once again from our grief and sorrow. I maybe don't know you, but one thing is clear. There is always hope, however distant it may feel. When everything is dark and seems lost and when life prepares challenges so that it feels like you can't get any further, just wait and make the painful steps into darkness. That's when the sunrise eventually hits. "The Badger placed his paw on Caspian's hand to comfort him. "I know it from my own experience," Truffle smiled, sorrow coming out, but not overpowering the Badger.

After a long pause of thinking and the dying fireplace being the only sound in the room, Caspian finally stated with watery eyes but a firmer voice. "It's... easier said than done. The loss is just too great."

Truffle immediately nodded his long head. "Yes, that's the most difficult part. I was saying the same thing when I lost my family. But I didn't let the loss consume me. When you allow this, it usually does way more harm than good."

Caspian looked into his wise eyes again. "I am so sorry. For forcing you to abandon your den. Again I am hurting someone, destroying a peaceful life." It was so hard for him to open. It was not common to share his emotions, but he felt they had to either come out or completely consume him from the inside. His left hand was shaking "That's the problem I believe. One could cope with their loss, maybe. But knowing that people that I invite close to me always end badly. It has to be a warning. That I am not good. That I am a danger to others," He sharply exhaled and hid his face in his hands.

The Badger looked at him with the utmost level of compassion. "Dens can be rebuilt, unlike lives. Besides, it's not your fault at all. We will have to move deeper into the forest, yes, but we will take you too. You will be safe with us and...

A disturbing noise stopped Truffle prematurely. It appeared to be distant screams. They both completely froze to listen carefully. Caspian again looked at Truffle with tense eyes like a vigilant animal.

Suddenly a light shined through as the door flew open. Astorius was lowering his head in order to see them and roared down at them. "They found us way quicker than we believed. They must have come around the first line of spies unnoticed, damn it. Don't just stand there and MOVE you two!" His large black head was gone again, as soon as it appeared.

Despite the fact that Caspian decided his fight was over, the adrenaline and his body inadvertently started punching at his inner door, ordering him to move out quickly. He helped the Badger without asking by picking up the bag of essential stuff that Truffle already packed up before in preparation. It was pretty light, and he placed it over his shoulder, even though its owner protested, wanting to hold it himself.

"Lad, over here," screamed Truffle from the storage room with urgency. "Take your sword, it can sadly come in handy." Caspian didn't have the time to think about it and just placed the weapon into his holster in a quick move well-known to him.

Very soon, they were out of the house and the sunshine was nearly blinding now, as he had spent a lot of time below, in the safety of the den.

Around it was chaos and the high green trees were like a crowd in the theatre. The panicked Old-Narnians of all kinds were running into the deeper woods, where the cover would make it difficult for the incoming soldiers to ride hunt them. There were not many of them, but that was the reason they were running away anyway.

Astorius was very close, screaming orders around. "RUUNN, RETREATT, Everyone to the deep woods NOW! Telmarines coming. They are almost here."

A fox stopped to catch a breath near the Badger, obviously already running a long time. They almost didn't understand him as he spoke so hastily and took deep breaths during it. "We were patrolling nearby. They came from the wrong direction. We spotted them too late. There are tens of them, RUN!" And with that, he was gone, his white tail soon disappeared in the bush, making the leaves rustle.

It was then that Caspian heard a far more sinister sound than rustling, that of multiple hooves. And to his panic, it grew louder. "They have a cavalry. No, No, NO."Rush of danger started pumping into his head like a warning sign. It was almost like an animal instinct."I will never be in a horse chase for my life ever again. If it comes to that I would rather turn around, face them, and die with my head up! I am never looking behind my shoulder, wondering which look will be my last." promised himself Caspian.

Truffle looked around, still in utter shock. "Tori, The horn. You have it?"

The Minotaur just turned his body quickly, showing him the ancient-looking horn hanging on his back. A bolt from a crossbow pierced the air and became stuck in the nearby tree. Caspian just stared at it for a second. "A bolt into the neck. That wouldn't be such a bad death."Not worthy of a prince but what should he care? His weak gaze went to the magnificent green top of the tree hit by the bolt. "No, I promised to myself. It will not be Miraz or his cutthroats. As long as there is a choice, I take the running the heck away option."

"I know a secret path, follow me!" uttered Truffle, with Nikabrik and Caspian closely behind. Astorius didn't had to be told twice, and he sprinted after them. Caspian didn't want to look behind, the first soldiers would probably already be visible coming to the clearing near the den. The same one where a fight took place yesterday morning. Where he killed a man. He still wasn't fully sprinting, making sure to put less weight on his leg that was still not fully healed, but so far he managed just alright.

Truffle was sprinting on all four, while Nikabrik for his height appeared to be an unusually good runner. This part of the forest was even harder to traverse, with the group having to climb huge hummocks and watch carefully not to fall into a hollow or over a fallen tree. Caspian was breathing heavily, glad that his mind was focused on something, freeing him from the dark thoughts at least for a moment. Even though the route was challenging, at least the soldiers on horses will hopefully find it nearly impossible to follow them.

For a long time, there was just the sound of the four of them breathing, leaves rustling and dead branches breaking. Unlike him, Astorius was frequently looking behind, checking for possible attackers that would dare to follow them. He had the most difficult time as he was the heaviest and biggest of them, and his large battle axe kept getting stuck in the dense bushes.

Time wasn't running the same as back in the badger's den. Surprisingly, it felt completely different than his night horse chase. At least he wasn't alone now, and the stakes weren't so high for him now. "There is far less fear when a person gives up,"thought the prince.

He didn't know for how long they ran, but eventually, they got to a large thicket of blueberries and other bushes. Nikabrik and Astorius decided to stop and with his large hand, the Minotaur gave Caspian and Truffle a signal to lie down in the bushes. Together with the dwarf, they were observing the surroundings.

The poor older Badger was gasping for air. Caspian was becoming angrier each second at the soldiers when he saw him like this and decided to tap Truffle on the back. "Hey, you alright? I know you will probably protest but me or Astorius can carry you if you are too tired."

Truffle just gave him a weak smile. "No worries lad. I will be alright. I should spend less time cooking and sleeping and more time exercising, hehe. How is the leg?"

Caspian surprised himself by making a grin. "I am doing great. You did wonders with the herbs."

That's when he noticed. "It is so quiet here." The silence was almost deafening. No birds, just a very subtle shivering of the wind. Something felt wrong. Their doubts were ended quickly. It was a sound that was very familiar to him, although he didn't see where the bolt got to. Caspian started frantically looking around, joining the others. Everything was green and stale, not a trace of any movement.

The rest of them were now lying too not that far away. "KRAK, it's an ambush," cursed Astorius. "Do you see them?"

"The fuc*ers must be hiding in the trees," joined him Nikabrik, both trying to find where it came from.

Caspian in that moment was absolutely sure his life was over. He started thinking that a blueberry bush wasn't such a bad spot to rest. "But no, they will take my body to my uncle. They won't even leave me this small comfort."

A second bolt flew over their heads. "It came from the right side," whispered Caspian. They were behind them. They must have placed the whole part of the forest under siege before attacking. He would lie if saying he wasn't afraid.

"Tori, let's stand against the filthy beasts together. I think my axe is thirsty," Nikabrik uttered in a determined bloodthirsty tone.

The Minotaur was silent for just a few seconds. Then he moved his head towards Caspian. He had a face that would give even a seasoned veteran nightmares. "Boy, grab Truffle on your bag and go! Nik, go with them and try to protect them. I will lure them away. NOW! With that, he jumped out of their hideout with an incredible speed like a wild animal, making horrendous sounds and war cries. Nobody had the time to react, let alone protest.

Three bolts instantly flew in Tori's direction. Caspian didn't have the time to notice if any of them hit their target. Tori however was long away in the bushes to their left.

"Captain! There they try to flee!" It was one of the soldiers who screamed but the prince didn't see him. There was a sound of numerous bushes rustling and footsteps not far away from them, all running after the large Minotaur. "What is this monstrosity?!" screamed another one.

Caspian didn't wait long. He grabbed Truffle and placed him on his shoulder, who was trying to persuade them to leave him there and save themselves. Caspian sprinted from the bushes to the other side, Nikabrik hopefully following them. There wasn't any time to look back and check.

His heart was pounding like crazy. He was trying to hop across ditches and moss, but with the additional weight on his shoulders, it was a difficult task. Sound of a bolt cut through the air behind him. Truffle on his back let out a deep painful shriek. That's when Caspian fell.


Hi readers. Finally back with a new chapter. Sorry for it being so depressive but that's my take on Caspian after what he had been through. Keep in mind, there is no drive for revenge yet as he didn't have barely any time to process these events, plus he still doesn't know Miraz killed his father.

I also finally introduced some of the OG Old-Narnians characters. Promise they will get more and more interesting as the story develops.

In the next chapter, we will see how the Pevensie gang and Flori will cooperate in order to survive in the Narnian wilderness.

Notes:

Sons of Adán and daughters of Eva– Adam and Eve are known in Telmarine languages this way.

Krak– A minotaur curse.

Character summary:

Prince Caspian-Son of King Caspian IX, Age 16, longer brown hair, chestnut eyes.

Trufflehunter –A talking badger, Age 61,

Nikabrik –A dwarf, Age 59, small, black beard.

Astorius –A minotaurus, Age 40, long brown and white fur, eyes black as night.