The Chronicles Of Narnia : The High Queen

Chapter 9

"The girls? They went back to camp?", he questioned Aria.

The girl nodded her head.
"They went down after archery practice. It's amazing really. Susan never misses her mark", Aria stated in awe.

"I'm not sure if I should be proud of that or be worried". Peter sighed, shaking his head.

"Come on. Let's get back to camp. It's getting late", he urged the younger two.

"You boys go ahead. I'll meet you later".

Edmund crossed his arms, staring at the girl with worry.
"But we are surely not leaving you here alone".

"It's alright, really. You know I can take care of myself". Aria smiled, resting her hand on his shoulder.

"Besides, I simply need to shout for help and the whole camp would hear from where I am".

Peter sighed.
"Fine. But don't stay out late, will you?".

"Alright mom", Aria chuckled.
"Now get your arses moving. I've had enough of your faces for today".

The boys chuckled, waving their hands as they made their way down to camp.

Aria smiled, returning to her training once they were out of sight.

The girl trained with her bow and arrows in the dark, part of wanting to excel at hitting the target when she couldn't see it.

Her eyes narrowed, getting used to the darkness, trying to locate the targets around her.

She let an arrow fly, smiling when she heard a thud from when it met it's target.

She knocked a second arrow, breathing in and out slowly as she tried to focus on the next.

A sound, however, distracted her.
The girl froze in her position, listening intently as what appeared to be footsteps, grew closer to her.

Aria aimed her bow at the sound, her eyes squinting to find a target in the dark.
The bushes rustled and Aria backed away keeping her arrow aimed at it.

The girl inhaled a deep breath and blew out slowly - despite her racing heartbeat, she maintained a calm demeanour.

"Show yourself!", she exclaimed, her grip on the bow tightening.

The figure walked out of the bushes slowly.

Once it was visible under the moonlight, Aria instantly dropped her bow. Her mouth hung with lips slightly parted and her eyes were as wide as they could stretch.

"Aslan! I almost shot you! You shouldn't sneak up on someone like that!".

Aria held her palm to her chest, trying to calm herself down, while the fact that she would have almost shot Aslan left her terrified.

"You've trained well Aria. Narnia will soon witness the birth of its warrior".

"Well, you were almost not able to witness it", Aria mumbled, strapping her bow to her back.

Aslan chuckled in response.

The girl looked up at the lion as it approached her.
"Are you afraid, dear one?".

Aria smiled, looking Aslan in the eye. "Terrified".

"Narnia will always need your help".

"But, the prophecy relies on the Pevensies"

Aslan nodded.
"The prophecy does, but the fate of the kings and queens rely on you".

Aria stared at Aslan, pointing to herself in shock.
"Me? How can I help?".