We finally found a place to rest for the night and I was so exhausted that the second my head hit the grass I fell into a deep slumber.
That night I didn't dream, not at all. It was just dark and peaceful. That is, until I feel somebody shaking me awake roughly and whisper shouting my name in a worried voice.
I open my eyes slightly, just enough to see that it's Peter. I raise my hand and pat him on the shoulder, "later Pete," I groan tiredly, my eyes closing once more.
"It's Lucy, she's not here!"
At that, I am able to pull myself out of my slumber immediately and jump to a stand with a worried expression. "What do you mean she's not here? Where could she be?!?"
"Just follow me, I think I saw some footprints over there." He stated, leading the way past the trees.
As we rush through the woods I finally spot something. I look closer and see that it's Lucy's head some distance away. "There Pete!" I whisper shout.
We are approaching her until we are practical right behind her. That is, until we hear a growl and look up to see a Minotaur in our direct line of vision. At this, Lucy shouts "Aslan!" The second the voice comes out of her mouth, Peter sneaks up and puts a hand around her to cover it.
He then slowly drags her back and she turns to see who it is, and glaces at me who was only several steps behind him. They look over and Lucy can now see that the source of the growl was not from Aslan, but a Minotaur.
We signal for Lu to be quiet as Peter steps back out slowly, drawing his sword. I stay with Lu as he approaches the Creature.
Out of absolutely nowhere, another boy comes out and tries to attack Peter. I grab ahold of Lucy as they begin fighting, giving me a heart attack.
We watch as Peter swings, misses, and then sticks his sword into the tree. The other boy kicks Peter causing him to fall. Luckily Peter recovers, and he's now coming at Caspian with a rock. I see the other boy struggling to pull Peter's sword from the tree and I can't help it as I panic and shout "No!"
At that they stop and the other boy is looking around for the source of the voice. Lu and I stand up from our crouched position, revealing ourselves. It's then that I look around and see that we are surrounded by dozens of Narnians. I watch as Peter looks around too with a confused expression on his face.
The other boy then points Rhindon at Peter and breathes heavily. During that interaction I am finally able to get a better look at the other boy. He's got long, shoulder length, dark brown hair and chocolatey dark brown eyes.
It is while I am observing him that I feel a sharp prick right where my necklace is resting on my chest, Ow!" I jump, startling Lucy.
"Are you alright?" She asks worriedly.
"Yeah...fine." I tell her, while examining my necklace, noticing that it is no longer a gold color but a deep red.
My thoughts being all over the place, I am soon interrupted when what Peter says brings me back to reality.
"Prince Caspian?" He asks, not quite sure of himself. I feel my eyes go wide in surprise and see that Lucy is equally as shocked as I.
"Yes. And who are you?" The boy responds, his Telemarine accent incredibly thick.
"Peter!"
I turn to see Susan, Edmund, and Trumpkin run up.
At the name, Caspian looks at the hilt of Pete's sword in his hand and sees the lion head. He looks up at Peter, just as shocked as we were moments ago.
"High King Peter?"
"I believe you called." Pete spoke matter of factly.
"Well yes, but... I thought you‟d be older." He replied, voice betraying him as bewilderment was evident on his face.
"Well, if you‟d like, we can come back in a few years."
"No! No, that‟s alright. You‟re just... You‟re not exactly what I expected." Caspian spoke, turning to look at all of us and stopping at Susan.
"Ouch!" I yelp again but not loud enough for anyone to hear except for Lucy who is still standing beside me. She looks over at me worriedly before Ed speaks.
"Neither are you!"
"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes." Speaks one of the Narnian's who use to stand by the White Witch.
"We have anxiously awaited your return, my liege. Our hearts and swords are at your service." I looked down, seeing that the voice had come from a small mouse standing before us.
Lucy turned to Susan "Oh my gosh, he is so cute."It was that comment that resulted in the mouse then drawing his sword in defense.
"Who said that?!"
"...Sorry." Spoke Lucy guiltily.
"Oh, uh... your majesty. With the greatest respect...I do believe courageous, courteous, or chivalrous might more befit a knight of Narnia."
"Well, at least we know some of you can handle a blade." Pete retorted.
"Yes, indeed. And I have recently put it to good use acquiring weapons for your army, sire."
"Good. Because we‟re going to need every sword we can get." I can already feel the competitive tension between Peter and Caspian.
"Well then, you‟ll probably be wanting yours back." Spoke Caspian. I couldn't hide my smile at that comment seeing as that reminder must have wounded Pete's pride just a bit. He needed it though, he's taken it to a whole new level lately.
Caspian gives Peter back his sword. He just sheathes it, and walks away. I follow letting out a small chuckle which Caspian hears resulting in him meeting me with a small smile.
The Narnians, led by Peter and Caspian, walk through the forest. I follow them as well but decide to stay further back closer to Ed. I don't particularly want to be around two egocentric boys both wanting to lead so close to each other. Living with one was enough.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
We come across a beautiful grassland and in the distance I can see a tall mountain that looks almost cave like, covered by trees and moss.
As we approach it I can see Centaurs stand on either side of the entrance raising their swords.
I see Caspian stop in order to let us by first and I follow my siblings under all the raised swords and inside. Lucy smiles at a child centaur who is holding his sword too low and I wave at him and his father who fixes it for him.
Upon entering I see Narnians all around making weapons.
"It may not be what you are used to, but it is defensible." Caspian defends.
"Peter, you may want to see this." Susan calls from some distance ahead.
We follow her and grab torches in order to see.
She leads us towards some walls deeper in the cave and we all stop to look at the carvings on
the walls, which show all of us as the kings and queens."It‟s us."
"What is this place?" Lucy asks turning to Caspian, the rest of us following suit.
"You don‟t know?" He say it as though it is the most obvious thing in the world.
He then picks up a torch and leads us down a dark tunnel. At the end, I watch as he lights a fire and it spreads around the room, revealing even more carvings of Narnians and even some of Aslan... and then we see the cracked Stone Table.
Lucy looks at the carving of Aslan and slowly walks forward before turning back to us.
"He must know what he‟s doing."
"I think it‟s up to us now." Pete counters, having lost faith in Aslan since we've been here and seen the things we have.
^^^^^^^^^^^^
In the Stone Table room, Peter is talking to the Narnians.
"It‟s only a matter of time. Miraz' men and war machines are on their way. That means those same men aren‟t protecting his castle."
"What do you propose we do, Sire?" Asks the little mouse from earlier who I learned was named Reepicheep.
At the name sire, both Caspian and Peter speak at once resulting in Pete turning around to glare before finishing and Caspian just concedes.
"Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us." He tells us
"But that‟s crazy, no one has ever taken that castle." Caspian fiercely tries to reason.
"There‟s always a first time."
"We‟ll have the element of surprise." Trumpkin says, defending Peter.
"But we have the advantage here." Caspian argues back once more.
"If we dig in, we could probably hold them off indefinitely." Susan says, agreeing with Caspian. 'Of course she is'
"I, for one, feel safer underground."spoke Truffle hunter.
Finally speaking up I say, "I have to say I agree with Peter. I mean think about it, half their men will be headed here and those at the castle will be asleep by the time we get there. It makes more sense to take our men there and we will at least have the upper hand if nothing else."
Everyone went quiet, taking in my words, and Peter gave me a nod before going on and facing Caspian.
"I appreciate what you‟ve done, but this isn‟t a fortress, it‟s a tomb."
"Yes, and if the Telmarines are smart, they‟ll just starve us out." Ed stated, also now backing us up.
"We could collect nuts!" Spoke Patterwig, the squirrel next to Reepicheep.
"Oh yes, and throw them at the Telmarines! ... Shut up!" Reep mocked. He then turned to Peter. "I think you know where I stand on this, Sire."
Taking this in, Peter faced Glenstorm, the lease f the centaurs.
"If I can get your troops in, can you handle the guards?"
"Or die trying, my liege." He pledged.
"That‟s what I‟m worried about." Spoke Lu from behind us, sitting on the cracked Stone Table. Catching everyone by surprise we all turned to hear her out.
"Sorry?"
"Well, you‟re all acting like there are only two options: Dying here, or dying there."
"I‟m not sure you‟ve really been listening, Lu."
"No, you‟re not listening. Or have you forgotten who really defeated the White Witch, Peter?"
I have always admired Lucy for her faith and trust in Aslan but right now I don't think we have the time to sit around and wait. I'm about to speak up when Peter does it for me.
"I think we‟ve waited for Aslan long enough."