Peter's POV
We all were walking along, trying to figure out a plan when we spot two men about to throw someone in the water.
Susan drew her bow while both Ed and I drew our swords.
"Drop him!" Susan shouts over to the men. The two men throw the man into the water and try to grab their weapons. Susan shoots one of them while the other jumps out of the boat and swims away.
I dive into the water after the man and grab him, pulling him onto the shore. Ed pulls the boat in while Lucy grabs her dagger and cuts the dwarf's bonds.
"'Drop him?!' That's the best you could come up with?!" He shouts at us after removing his gag.
"A simple thank you would suffice." Susan tells him with a tone.
"They were doing just fine drowning me without your help." He spits back at her.
"Maybe we should have let them!" I shout at him. He was being completely ungrateful and it was getting on my nerves.
"Why were they trying to kill you anyway?" Lucy asks him.
"They're Telmarines. That's what they do." He says.
"Telmarines? In Narnia?" Ed inquires, confusion present in his voice.
"Where have you been for the last hundred years?" He mocks us.
"It's a bit of a long story..." Lucy trails off.
The dwarfs eyes scan us and realization dawns on him.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me. You're it? You're the Kings and Queens of Old? Well, most of them." Trumpkin asks, noting that one of the High Queens was missing.
"High King Peter... The Magnificent." I state, holding out my hand to shake.
He looks at me and his face contorts to something I can't read. But it isn't good.
"You probably could have left that out that last bit." Susan says.
The dwarf responds chuckling, "Probably."
"You might be surprised." I challenge, drawing my sword.
"Oh, you don't want to do that, boy." The dwarf warned.
"Not me, him." I say, looking to Ed after. I offer the small man my sword and he took it, dropping it a second after.
Ed took position and allowed his opponent to swing first, the small man strikes first, knocking Ed's sword to the side and then swings at him. Ed ducks to avoid his sword but then gets an elbow to the face. Ed backs off to regain his ground. They both circle around and continue fighting. The dwarf slashes at Ed's feet, but he jumps with both feet off the ground so that the sword goes under him. A few seconds later, Ed spins the Dwarf's sword so that it flies out of his grip. The small man stares, and falls down in the sand.
"Beards and bedsteads! Maybe that horn worked after all." He said in awe.
"What horn?" Susan asks, wondering if it was her horn that was missing from her chest.
-----
They were all in the boat they took from the Telmarine soldiers, I was rowing while the others were sitting in silence. I learned that the dwarfs name was Trumpkin, he talked about a man named Caspian and how he blew Susan's horn.
However, all of our attentions were caught when the trees started to suddenly shake and the wind blew hard.
Trumpkin stared up in awe.
"What?" Lucy spoke up, looking at Trumpkin.
"It wasn't long after you left that the Telmarines invaded. Those that survived retreated to the woods with Prince William. And the trees have retreated so deeply inside themselves that no one has heard from them since... until now. That's the first time the trees have moved since we had to go into hiding..." Trumpkin trailed off.
Peter's eyes could only think of one thing, he looked to his family to see if they were thinking the same thing.
"Annie." Susan whispered.
"She's here." Peter said with a relieved breathe.
"The Great Warrior is here?" Trumpkin asks. We all nod in conformation, smiles on our faces.
"But I do have to point out that the trees shook violently..." Ed spoke up.
"I think she found Cair Paravel..." I tell them, knowing that that would be something that would hurt her.
"You mentioned my son, Prince William, is he okay?" I asked, changing the subject to something that meant just as much to me.
"I believe so, Aslan blessed him with age, I've heard he's remained young for a hundred years. He was only a toddler when they attacked and he was rescued by someone named 'Eliza.'" He explains.
"Is she still--" I start but he shakes his head no.
"She died of old age, it has been a hundred years..." He says.
I was glad my son was believed to be alive and strong but I couldn't help but feel grief for Eliza, she was such a wonderful woman.
-----
Annabelle's POV
I looked down the staircase that was in front of me, it's vines and dust had been disturbed so it was safe to assume that my family went in there so I knew I had to follow. It was kinda dark which made me wished I had my sword as a natural light.
I made it down the stairs and stepped into the open. Statues of familiar faces surrounded the room. I smiled at how beautiful the statues were, but smiled more when I saw how my statue and Peter's were next to each other, it warmed my heart. I noticed the chests in front of the statues and saw how all but mine had all been messed with, the hand prints in the dust giving it away.
I went up to my chest and opened it. I saw a bunch of items neatly laid out but my eyes went straight to my sword. I grabbed it and unsheathed it, the blade engulfing in fire. My smile spread even more, this many sound weird but I felt weird without my sword, it was apart of me.
I looked through the chest more and pulled out a small blanket. Immediately, I bring the cloth to my chest and hold onto it. The gold embroidered "WCP" shining in the corner. I gently fold my son's baby blanket and place the it in a leather backpack.
I grabbed a dress from Lucy's chest since I knew I wasn't going to fit in my old ones and changed into it. I also put some apples and some first aid items in my backpack. I went back up the stairs and looked around once more.
It was only then that I noticed something, the ruins were overgrown and messy... it wasn't fresh or new... that attack must've happened a long time ago... how long have we been gone?
I shook off the thought and decided that it would be smart to head East to Beruna. I took off, hoping that I was going the right way.
-----
I walked for some time until I heard some commotion nearby. I grabbed my sword but didn't unsheathe it just yet. I continued walking, looking for the sound when suddenly I spot something from the corner of my eye.
It was a fox. It's eyes quickly found mine and they didn't leave. I offered it a warm smile.
"Hello there, what are you doing out here all alone?" I ask the fox. However, it didn't reply. In fact, it only inched closer.
A horrible feeling settled in my stomach and I knew something wasn't right. I looked closer at the fox's eyes and I saw that they weren't soft or gentle. They were hungry and hard.
The fox was wild, it couldn't talk. I knew that I would have to defend myself from it, but I was going to try and leave so that I wouldn't have to hurt it. I started to walk away slowly but it took off and charged at me. I unsheathed my sword and in one quick dodge and swipe, the fox was dead on the ground...
It was right then and there that I knew Narnia wasn't the same as before... I think back to the ruins and how I found that it must have been a while since the attack. I look around and see how much the land has changed. I see how tall the trees have grown.
It's probably been around a few hundred years...
My heart shatters at the realization. Is Will even alive, were there any Narnian's left?
-----
I continued to walk until nightfall, I was about to climb up a tree to take refuge for the night when I heard distant voices. The trees bend to my will as I climb through them to get closer, I look down and see a group of Narnians and what looked like a human. There are still Narnians!
"All this horn proves is that they've stolen yet another thing from us!" A dwarf shouts.
Wait, horn? I quickly looked to see my sister-in-law's horn in a badger's hand. Someone must've blown it, that's probably how my family and I got here.
"I didn't steal anything!" The man defends himself. I quickly looked at his body language and saw that he was no threat, he was telling the truth.
"Didn't steal anything? Shall we list the things the Telmarines have taken?" A minotaur spits. People start shouting out things that have happened to them.
Telmarines? They must've been the people that attacked Cair Paravel!
"You would hold me accountable for all the crimes of my people?" The man asks. I could tell he wasn't like the soldiers I saw in the tree's memories, he was different.
"Accountable and punishable!" The dwarf exclaimed.
"That's words from you, dwarf. Or have you forgotten that it was your people who fought alongside the White Witch?" A mouse retorts to the dwarf.
Hearing her name again made me shiver, I hated that Snow Cone with a passion and I still count her death as one of my greatest accomplishments.
"And I'd gladly do it again if it would rid us of these barbarians!" The dwarf shouted, I was about to go down there and smack some sense into his brain when the badger holding the horn spoke up.
"Then we are lucky it is not in your power to bring her back after The Great Warrior vanquished her. Or do you want us to ask this boy to go against Aslan?" The badger shoots back. It made me happy that they still believed in Aslan. "Some of you may have forgotten, but we badgers remember well, that Narnia was never right except when a son of Adam and Daughter of Eve were rulers." He continued.
"He's a Telmarine! Why would we want him as our king?" The dwarf complains.
"Because I can help you." The man speaks up, gaining everyone's attention. "Beyond these woods, I am a prince. The Telmarine throne is rightfully mine. Help me claim it, and I can bring peace between us." The man spoke with truth, he wanted to help these people and I could see it.
"It is true. The time is ripe. I watch the skies, for it is mine to watch as it is yours to remember, badger. Tarva, the Lord of Victory, and Alambil, the Lady of Peace have met, and here a son of Adam has come forth to offer us back our freedom. And if you have noticed, the trees have started to come alive again, meaning the Daughter of the Trees and Great Warrior will be with us soon." The centaur speaks up.
I decided that this was the best time to make myself known. The trees started to shake and the wind started to blow as I jumped from my spot and landed on the ground, right in between the man and the Narnians. My hand and knee were on the ground in a dramatic pose, because who doesn't enjoy showing off?
"Try right now." I said to the centaur. I stood proud and tall before them, their eyes wide, some of them whispering to each other.
"Who are you?" The dwarf speaks up.
"I, by the gift of Aslan, am High Queen Annabelle, Wife of High King Peter the Magnificent, The Daughter of the Trees, and the Great Warrior." I spoke.
"It can't be..." I hear from behind me. I turn around and look to the Telmarine man.
I unsheathed my sword slowly, the fire spreading to it, and held it up towards his chest, the same place where I stuck the Witch to kill her.
I heard people gasp at the sight. When they saw the sword, they knew I was the High Queen from their stories as I was the only one who could wield Nightshade.
"Your Majesty..." I hear the centaur whisper out. I turn back around to the Narnians to see them slowly bowing down to me out of respect, I look back to the man who I held my sword up to.
"How can I trust you to look after my people?" I spoke. My tone full of power and pride.
"Two days ago, I didn't believe in the existence of talking animals, or dwarfs, or centaurs. Yet, here you are...in strength in numbers we Telmarines could never have imagined. This horn has proved it's magic since you're here but it also has brought us together. And together, we have a chance to take back what is ours." He tells me.
I lower my sword from his, believing his words. I put my sword back in it's sheathe and stand down.
"What's your name?" I ask him.
"Prince Caspian, your Ladyship." He responds, bowing to me.
"If you and her Majesty will lead us, then my sons and I offer you our swords." The centaurs says. Both the Telmarine and I bow out of respect.
"And we offer you our lives unreservedly." The mouse says and bows to us.
"Miraz' army will not be far behind, Your Majesties." The badger tells us.
"If we are to be ready for them, we must hurry. I am sure they will be here soon." The Telmarine says.
"We need to find soldiers and weapons." I tell them and they nod.
"Where is your husband and family, my Queen?" The centaur asks.
"I wish I knew, dear friend." I tell him honestly. "But I know they're here in Narnia somewhere..." I say, thinking about my family.
"Is something the matter, my Queen?" He asks me.
"I saw how overgrown the ruins were, so I figured it has been around a few hundred years since you all had to go into hiding." I say. He nods his head in conformation, telling me I'm right. "My son... is he..." I trail off, afraid to finish the sentence.
"He's back at the How, Your Majesty, Aslan gave him the gift of youth so that you may be with him again... he has proven himself to be a strong young man, he's definitely your son." He tells me.
My eyes go wide and I immediately start to tear up in relief.
"Take me to him." I beg.
"We will in the morning, Great Warrior. For now, we must rest and while the boy leads a group to go get more weapons. And if you're up to it, I have a few questions." The centaur tells me and I nod.