Shribblegulp, the half marsh-wiggle, half salamander guard, was leaning on his spear and nodding out of politeness. He had thought that the long awaited meeting between himself and his penpal would be exciting or at least a break from the monotony of guarding the prisoners. That's why when he had received the note that his correspondent of over a year had arrived as part of the security detail to the delegates from The Domain, the lizard man had immediately invited him to have a tour of the dungeons during Shribblegulp's shift.
This was a decision the Narnian was now regretting.
'Take me wife ...' The Two of Hearts was saying. 'Somebody please take er!' the Two chuckled at his own well worn joke. 'Well when I said I was orf to exhotic lands on a werry important mission, me old lady ... er indoors, well she weren't avin none of it! 'More like skiving an gettin drunk,' she says. Well I cn tell ya, h'affronted I was! Thas the only bloomin word for it. Now look ere Joanie I says ... thas me wife's name, Joan. Well anyway I put me foot down and said that I was the man of the ouse and she needed to start showin me some respect an ... ere, look sharp mate, h'officer on deck!'
With much relief Shribblegulp stood to attention as the furry bulk of The Bulgy Bear hoved into view. He was accompanied by a smaller bear and two attractive ladies in full Victorian regalia, with their hair pinned up.
Bulgy returned Shribblegulp's salute. 'At ease Corporal. I am giving a tour to Ambassador Boo and these two ladies who have arrived with the delegation.'
The Two of Hearts peered closely at the redhead and the blonde, scarcely aware that a grey tabby had just silently padded past him. 'H'afternoon Miss. Miss. Beggin yer pardon but I Is h'also ere wiv the delegation.' The short ex Heart guardsman pulled himself up to his full five feet two inches and puffed his chest out proudly. 'Ow comes I ain't seen ya's before? I thort I knew h'all the members of the ...'
The Two stopped short and turned pale. Shribblegulp frowned, wondering what had concerned his 'friend' so much. All he could see was that somebody else had stepped into the light - some kind of rabbit man.
'IT'S IM!! The bleedin Are!!'
'Air? What are you talking about?'
The Two was fumbling for his sidearm. 'Me bloomin assailant. The h'international terrorist di'habolical mastermind, Domain's most wanted is all!! Alt in the name of The Tortoise. You is h'under arrest mush!!!'
While the Two was still trying to loose his sidearm, The Hare shook his head sadly. 'We don't have time for this.'
He punched the Two in the face and was already moving by the time the ex card guardsman had fallen unconscious to the ground. Simultaneously Bulgy had bear hugged Shribblegulp and was crying out. 'Quickly Hare, find your friend. Boo, take the ladies to Ketterley's quarters. We'll meet you there.'
'Not flamin likely!' declared Goldie and ran after the Hare. Following a moment's hesitation, Jessica turned and allowed the smaller bear to take her hand as they hurried back along the corridor.
Up ahead The Hare burst into the long vaulted room and saw Griffin waiting up ahead. 'Quickly Hare!' called the cat from the mortal realm. 'He's in this one.'
The Hare tugged at the grate, which was ingeniously designed to be opened from above but impossible for the prisoners below to push upwards. 'Come on biscuit-face, time to go.'
The Gingerbread Man stared upwards. 'You took your time lop ears.'
Moments later, The Hare had dipped his lanky body half way into the hole and grabbed The psychotic shortbread's hand and with Goldie clamping onto his feet, he pulled the Gingerbread Man free.
Wasting no more time, the ex prisoner and Goldie started to run back to where Bulgy was painlessly rendering Shribblegulp unconscious and the Hare was just about to follow when Griffin cried out. 'Wait!'
'What? We have to go.'
'Please Mr Hare. We have to free someone else from the Domain ... an ... old friend of mine. He's right here.'
The Hare was about to say no, but something in the plaintive look in the cat's eyes gave him pause. He nodded and pulled open the grating. This time the prisoner below was twice the Gingerbread Man's height so it was easier to pull him out.
George stood and dusted off his increasingly shabby but once well tailored suit. 'Thank you Griffin. Mr Hare. Allow me to introduce myself sir. I am ...'
The Hare cut him off swiftly. 'No time, we have to go NOW!'
George nodded and the trio set off at a run. Bulgy had already left the stricken bodies of the unconscious Two and the lizard guard. They raced past and up the corridor, past the still form of Reepicheep, who had astonishingly begun to come to barely a minute before - fortunately the passing Bulgy had noticed and returned him back to the arms of Morpheus with another swift kick to the mouse's hard head.
Bulgy was waiting for them at the end of the main corridor. 'Who is ... no, never mind. Follow me, walk quickly but don't appear rushed. Boo and Miss Bunny should be almost up to the Professor's quarters now. Stick to the shadows.' He glanced out of a nearby window. 'It's almost sunset ... that should help if we're spotted at a distance.' He eyed the shabby outfit of George and then turned to the Gingerbread Man, 'You stay close to me and let my body cover you from unseen eyes. Hare, take Miss Loch's arm and look nonchalant. Oh and for Aslan's sake button up your jacket and cover that ridiculous top ... I told you it was a mistake to change out of formal wear.'
The Hare complied. 'You're obviously not a fan of metal!'
Bulgy frowned. 'I like a good sword the same as anyone. What has that got to ... never mind, just move. I know Reepicheep and two hard body and head blows aren't going to keep him down for long!'
*
Several minutes later, the mouse champion of Narnia came to with a start. 'Wh ... damn you rabbit!!' He leapt to his feet and stopping only to secure his hat and sword, began running down the corridor.
*
The Glass Cat nodded at Jessica. 'Soon we shall all be together again, then together we shall depart. It shall be out of this world eh Professor?'
Andrew Ketterley groaned. 'Oh no, you said you'd leave me alone.'
Bungle grinned in a most cat-like fashion. 'I said, he said, she said. Why quibble? And never assume, for assumption leads to disappointment, eh Chesh?'
The Cheshire Cat nodded and returned the grin.
*
Reepicheep reached the grand hall. It looked as if the evening feasting had begun. He was just about to enter when a bird that had been hovering above him, swooped and knocked him off his feet.
The Narnian champion recovered swiftly and whirled ready to face whatever foe had ... then the Nightingale smashed into his face and left him stunned. It took her a moment to recover herself but then she began to sing.
*
Up above Loki's agent received the sonic message, translated to his phone. It was at that moment that The Hare and the others arrived and they were all reunited.
*
Hearing footsteps approaching, the Nightingale took wing. She had vanished, heading back to her cage, mission completed, when Mr Toad, Bruin and Ariel rounded the corner. The former gasped and ran over to the stricken mouse.
'I say! Poor little chap's injured himself. Wonder what happened!'
Reepicheep groaned and starred up into Mr Toad's amphibian features. 'C cursed r rabbit!' he muttered and passed out again.