Too Many Sunsets (Prince Caspian)

Prologue

The Telmarine attack was vicious and merciless.

There was a knowledge that the Telmarine people had suffered greatly due to domestic political disputes and famine.  It was possible that the Telmarines thought themselves superior to the Narnians due to their militaristic approach. 

After the fall of Beaversdam, Cair Paravel was warned of the Telmarine invasion but there was nothing that could prepare them for the devastation that was to come. In the 1300 years since their Kings and Queens left, Red struggled to keep the Narnians standing tall. True, she kept morales high, but nothing was the same after Peter and his siblings left. Many of the Narnians returned to their homes, the Beaver's, Mr Tumnus. Others grouped and found residence in the nearby forests. Red Feather was not a Queen, she was a warrior, and she would openly say that she knew where her talents lie. It certainly was not in ruling. 

Once word had reached the capital of the Telmarine advance, Red admittedly panicked. She stuck by her closest advisors and sought the best defence. Unfortunately, the invasion came upon them quicker than was expected. They had no chance to reinforce with the Narnians that hid in the forest. 

The Telmarine numbers were far greater than their own, just like the Witch's own, but the weapons greatly outmatched them even more. Catapults brought the castle to its knees within only a few hours. With every hit, the castle shook. Even with the Narnian's bravery, they could not stop the oncoming storm. 

"Stay to your positions!" Red cried over the catapults. 

Fauns and Centaurs ran to their battle stations. Red looked down at the sea of Telmarine soldiers. One of the Centaur generals had seen the fear in her eyes. 

"My lady". Red had frozen looking at the soldiers and the tall catapults. "Red Feather! We must leave. The battle is lost".

"I can't! I have to protect the castle. I have to protect it for our Kings and Queens".

"We cannot stay here" Red and the general cowered as a catapult hit just above them and the Great Hall ceiling shook violently. In one last attempt to break Red out of her frenzy, he shouted, "They're not coming back. He's not coming back".

Red looked at her general. "You don't really believe that do you?"

"I think we must look at our options. We need to survive".

Red looked back at the four thrones that sat proudly on the marble steps. From above them, another catapult shook the castle and the chandelier came crashing down. Red and the general dove out of the way and watched the glass smash.

"If the Kings and Queens return, you must be there for them. You have to go".

"No! I can't leave everyone here".

"This is how it must be. I will lead the Narnians out of the castle through the tunnels and make for the River Rush. You can meet us there", the general stopped abruptly as though he didn't truly believe his own words. 

"What if I charge down there I can hold them off", Red stated determinedly. She had already watched the Gryphons futile attempt to delay the invasion but that wouldn't stop her from trying to do anything within her power to save the Narnians.

"There are just too many. It would be suicide." The general begged her with his eyes. "Please. Go now while you can. Narnia will be restored just as it was before".

Red was still hesitant. She watched the Narnians run about the castle in fear. Slowly she nodded. "For Narnia".

Red Feather saluted her general and flew out of the Great Hall for what would be the final time. A tear wet her feathers as she dodged through the catapults. A large boulder whizzed by her twisting her wing around, turning her to face the dying castle. Red watched the boulder as it made a direct hit on the Great Hall. They never made it out of the castle.  

There was no grand battle charge. No regrouping. The battle was over before it began. 

The Telmarines brutally killed off almost all of the Narnians. The few that survived ran into hiding. 

Red Feather would never forgive herself for deserting the Narnians. Now, she would live with the shame, guilt and unending pain. A suitable punishment for her cowardice.