➹₊•°༉彡˚✧
WE WERE TRUDGING THROUGH sand for quite a while now. The sun was blaring brightly up above, signifying how it was mid–noon. Our party which consisted of five, went down from Cair Paravel after changing clothes along with them taking their weapons. I, however, refused to hold anything as of the moment due to still holding a grudge about my missing items. Whoever took it is an absolute lunatic.
“You could have at least taken a dagger, Phel.” Susan declared from where she was walking, hands firmly gripped on her bow.
“I don't feel like stabbing someone using a small blade.” I shrugged nonchalantly, keeping the almost permanent frown on my face.
“Was there not anything else inside your gold chest?” She asked curiously, adjusting the straps of her white quiver.
“Nothing useful. Just a very small bag that was the size of my thumb,” Peter replied, having seen the object I was meant to give an animal. He then faced me in question, “What do you suppose would even fit in it?”
Kicking a pebble away from where I strode in, I briefly faced him with a little smirk. “My patience.”
He let out a chuckle before proceeding with walking in silence. We had just made it out of the array of trees, finally on a spacious field of sand.
“Everything's filled with water.” Lucy looked in a circular motion, seeing how we were surrounded by the ocean.
“Don't worry, Lu. I'm sure we'll be able to find a boat somewhere.” Peter reassured his sister. I perked up when a familiar tug captured my senses, shaking my head when it wasn't coming from the four of them. Closing my eyes, I then attempted to locate where it was coming from.
“Seems like you wouldn't need to.” A small smile plastered on my face, walking past the blockage of trees. The four siblings followed after my form, seeing what I was referring to.
Quickly knocking up an arrow, Susan skillfully shot a warning arrow to the two people who was about to drown a dwarf. “Drop him!”
I bit my lip from her wrong use of words, not sure of how they'd take it. The soldiers seemed to have thought the same thing, literally throwing the bounded Narnian into the water. One of them then raised a crossbow, aiming it at our forms. Susan released an arrow after that, hitting a soldier right at his chest where he was thrown off the boat. The other trailed after, not wanting to be left alone without a long distanced weapon.
Both Peter and Edmund swam away with separate tasks, one was rescuing the dwarf whereas the other led the vehicle to where we were on the shore. They gathered around us after they were finished, Lucy cutting the ties of the small man. He immediately took the cloth off of his mouth, spitting out water he drank while drowning.
“Drop him?!” Was his first words, myself looking away in amusement. He coughed out all of the water before throwing away his gag. “That's the best you can come up with?”
“A simple thank you would suffice.” Susan scoffed in disbelief.
“They were doing fine drowning me without your help.” The dwarf pointed to where he once was floating.
“Maybe we should've let them.” Peter sassed back, earning an approving nod from me.
“Can I do it?” They shut down my suggestion with frowns, myself clicking my tongue in disappointment.
“Why were they trying to kill you anyways?” Lucy asked carefully, voicing out all of our concerns.
He huffed while swishing his wet clothes, frowning grumpily which reminded me of a certain young boy I met on the train. “They're Telmarines, that's what they do.”
“Telmarines?” Edmund looked at me with furrowed brows, squinting at the harsh light of the sun. “In Narnia?”
“Where have you been for the last few hundred years?” He trailed off in silence, myself only realizing what he was saying. Did this mean we've been gone for centuries? I mean, that would explain how everything was overgrown with nature in Cair Paravel. Needless to say, why would my items even be stolen when it had the same worth as the siblings' own gifts.
“It's a bit of a long story.” Lucy laughed softly, sharing glances with all of us.
I then watched as the dwarf eyed Peter's sword when the oldest female passed it, recognition seemingly sparking at the depths of his irises. He let out a breath of incredulousness.
“Oh, you've got to be kidding me,” His gaze moved to each one of us, shaking his head. Taking a few steps backwards, he peered at our line up with a gape. “You're it? You're the Kings and Queens of Old?”
“Old?” I grimaced offendedly at Edmund, him wrapping an arm around my shoulder. Bemused at how that was the thing I was really worrying about.
“High King Peter,” The blonde raised his hand for a handshake. “The Magnificent.”
“You probably could've left off that last bit.” Susan tutted.
The dwarf then chuckled in agreement, nodding at what the female just said. “Probably.”
“You might be surprised.” Peter then unsheathed his sword, not amused with how he was getting embarrassed.
“Oh, you don't want to do that, boy.”
“Not me,” His eyes then travelled to me. “Her.”
Scowling at him with an unimpressed expression, he then realized his mistake and cleared his throat awkwardly. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the subtle compliment, but I really didn't want to spar without my own sword in hand.
“Him.” Peter pointed at his brother, Edmund having a small smile on his face. Finally getting to live up his title of being the best swordsman.
Upon receiving the sword of the High King, his faced morphed into something that I smirked at. It only widened when he dropped the sword due to its weight, myself knowing what he was doing. Like one of my tactics, it was to act weakly in order to have the element of surprise in attacking your enemy. He caught my eye from where I stood, understanding that I knew of his act.
Edmund however, bit his pretense, causing him to not see the next move of the dwarf. He quickly ducked after the first swish of the sword, faintly avoiding the unexpected offense. With his advantage of small height, the man smacked the forehead of the boy.
“Edmund!” Lucy gasped in worry.
“Aw, you all right?” The dwarf mocked, myself seeing how it clicked a slumbering part of Edmund. As the man swung the sword, he sidestepped then attacked the side of the Narnian. Going behind him, he smiled with a new flame, sword at the ready.
Advancing forward, the boy hopped to the left, jumping upwards when the dwarf swiped at his feet. After that, they clashed swords for two times. Edmund then rotated his blade in a circular motion, taking the man by surprise as he repeatedly swung his sword until he successfully disarmed the man with ease.
“That was so hot,” My compliment made the boy smirk at me from his epic position. Susan elbowed me at my side, prompting me roll to roll my eyes at her. “Am I not allowed to appreciate my husband?”
“Beards and bedsteads!” The dwarf exclaimed from where he sat in pure shock. His eyes were widened as if he now believed what he was seeing, adoring our presence with an open mouth. “Maybe that horn worked after all.”
“What horn?” Susan's eyebrows quirked together in question. We faced the dwarf in anticipation, wanting a proper explanation for what has been happening in this world.
But at the first step I took towards them, a bothering feeling swam to the surface of my senses. My eyes met Edmund's from a foot away, him mouthing a worried question. I nodded at him reassuringly, yet as I took another step, my knees buckled right below me. The noise from before returned once more, a loud high pitched noise hitting my ears with a stronger force. But this time, it was a different vision. A blurry picture of a castle rushed by my mind, showing only a staircase downwards then it all disappeared. My eyes let out an uncalled glow of blue as arms wrapped around me before I fell to the sand. With blurry vision, my mouth gaped at the pain I was experiencing, gasping for air like I was drowning. My hands were harshly gripping the shirt of the person steadying me, them whispering comforting words right at my ear. When I was finally brought back to reality, the clear image of Edmund's very concerned face greeted me.
“You're all right, you're fine. I got you.” He slowly released his strong wrap around me but still keeping a gentle hand on my waists. I sighed when the pain washed away, blinking away the glow in my eyes. Seeing that I was in no mood to speak, he just nodded at his siblings. They all gave me perturbed looks, hesitant in asking about what happened.
Quietly, we all mounted the boat of the Telmarines with Peter offering that he would be the one to paddle. I only sat silently beside Edmund, him not wanting to leave my side.
The surroundings was peaceful, slow waves crashed with the melody of tranquil that reached my ears. It was a calming view, the blue lake ever–flowing with the beauty of Narnia. In between where we were was two large mountains that were too disfigured to try and hike. Greenery was bright in the scenery, containing the elixir of serene songs. Overall, it was alluring, like a treasure that you'll see only when you discover it unplanned. Throughout the whole ride, the dwarf, which he introduced Trumpkin was his name, waited patiently for our inevitable inquiries.
“They're so still.” Lucy stated whilst glancing at the nature around us. She was sat by the front along with Trumpkin and Susan, her oldest brother right behind her.
“They're trees, what do you expect?” The dwarf spared her an exhausted glance, transferring his gaze around us.
“They used to dance.” She enlightened.
“It wasn't long after you left that the Telmarines invaded,” Trumpkin informed gloomily. “Those who survived retreated to the woods. And the trees,” He trailed off dramatically, all of us waiting in expectancy. “They retreated so deep into themselves that they haven't been heard from since.”
That would mean that Telmar has been ruling over the world for centuries. With the act they played years ago, it could define how people will believe not in the mythical creatures that once lived freely in this magical land. For if they were went into hiding, why would people even know of them. I'm pretty sure that some Telmarines will attempt in revolutionizing for their rights due to the creature's natural friendliness.
“I don't understand, how could Aslan have let this happen?” Lucy's posture dropped sadly.
“Aslan?” The Narnian's forehead crumpled, eyebrows quirked together. “I thought he abandoned us when you lot did.”
A teeming pause ensued with his words, all of us looking down in somber. It wasn't even our fault that we were spat out of the wardrobe, not one of us had the idea of ever leaving our people behind. Especially since it's what I had promised her.
“We didn't mean to leave, you know.” Peter, who was maneuvering our ride, spoke out what was inside our minds.
“Makes no difference now, does it?” I dropped my head to Edmund's body at the dwarf's declaration.
“Get us to the Narnians,” The oldest Pevensie's face blanked in determination. “And it will.”
We then continued on with no words spoken, all of us were still contemplating about the exchange. There was no way we could've known that it was our last day here, we only wanted to catch that Stag for the purpose of wishing goodwill for our land.
“You sure you're okay?” Edmund whispered in my ear, myself only nodding from my position of laying on his shoulder. He planted a tender kiss on my forehead, moving my head to his chest so that I could rest comfortably.
As we continued onward, Trumpkin had filled us up with what he heard while being captured. Telmar's antagonist of the year, Miraz, was the one who sent the soldiers towards the woods. Now the reason he stated was due to the nephew of the man, which was Caspian, has been abducted by Narnians. And that whilst a meeting occurred, they were labelled mere fairytales which strengthened my claim of most humans being stripped off the knowledge of our whole existence.
“So Caspian is supposedly the rightful heir?” Peter scoffed, still not getting over the idea of Narnians getting accused of such thing. The dwarf merely nodded his head, having no need to speak yet.
“Why would he have left if he were, then?” Susan pondered.
“That is what I didn't get to hear,” Trumpkin explained, looking up as if recalling what he could remember. “When I was brought there, people were celebrating for some reason.”
“Any ideas as to why?” The eldest stopped paddling for a second, resting his arms for a bit.
“It definitely wouldn't be the Prince's said seizement, I'm sure of that.” Edmund chuckled with a grimace.
“Something about Miraz having a son.” When the Narnian mentioned that, it was as if all of my grandmother's stories came flooding inside my mind. Well, would you look at that, coincidence playing games once more.
“Is the current King deceased?” Their gazes snapped to me as I finally spoke up, curious with where I was headed. If what I'm thinking of was correct, this would fall into the question of reigning. The familiarity of the situation just reminds me of my grandmother saving the Viscount from getting slaughtered for being the rightful successor.
Furrowing his brows at me, the man looks to be puzzling it all together. “He has been ever since.”
“It's fairly simple then,” I shrugged tiredly, pushing a strand of hair away from my face. “Nephew escapes the day uncle bears a son, uncle sends people to kill nephew. When nephew dies, uncle takes full control of the throne using his own heir. End of story.”
“Phel's right,” Susan agreed, myself muttering an as always. “The closest blood relative would be next in line which would be the newborn, especially if their monarchy requires a son as leader.”
“Does this mean Prince Caspian has the horn?” Lucy asked again, now knowing why and who blew the tune of assistance.
“You'd be surprised,” The man's lips split into a smirk as he had a repeat of Peter's earlier words. “That ain't the only item he possesses.”
“What do you mean?” Edmund spoke first, having the same hypothesis as I.
When the dwarf flickered his eyes to me with concealed wonderment, I perked in my seat. “The boy wears the Amity Ring.”
“Pardon?” That appeared to capture all of my attention, adjusting my posture on Edmund's side embrace. Running his hands upwards then down on my right arm, pulling my body closer to his.
“Last night I thought my eyes were merely deceiving me. But it really was true,” He shook his head in fascination, doing a small flail with his hands. “It was like seeing ancient magic appear right in front of my very eyes. This blue flaming fox was protecting him, glowing brightly with your sorcery.”
But I gave it to Prince Nicholas for safe keeps, surely this wasn't his descendants, right? No, it was far too impossible for it to happen. Albeit the bothering thoughts, I raised my head to meet the eyes of the dwarf.
“If we really are considered as fairytales, do some of the tales mention something about my gifts?”
“Sorry to say this but I only know the whereabouts of one— Well, two now if you include the ring,” He admitted honestly. At least he has knowledge of half of them. “The Bracelets of Devotion are securely guarded by the centaurs.”
Breathing a sigh of relief, I mentally let out a small smile. Oreius still held his undying loyalty even though it was shown in the bestowment of my gifts. I wanted to inquire on it but shut my mouth, sombering in the thought of his legacy. Sensing my hesitance to speak, Edmund quickly took my place. “Have you heard something about her lasso and sword?”
A grim expression overtook his features, myself not liking where this would go. When he did open his mouth to explain, my whole mood dropped to bits as disappointment filled my whole entirety. Why in Narnia would they even get the idea of stealing my items when they wouldn't work when they use it? Don't they have a brain? Or is it really there goal to steal ancient items. Let's just say these people will get what they deserve whenever I get to take back what's mine, there could be fire and stuff but we'll see.