CHAPTER 4
EDITED 1/20/22
The gentle breeze rustling through the trees and the birds chirping were what caused Mary to stir. She slowly awakened, but she kept her eyes closed. She felt like she was still half-asleep, especially since her surroundings were strangely peaceful as compared to back in the city of London. She was about to stretch like she always did whenever she woke up, but she stopped when she felt something — no, someone — next to her. Her eyes flew open and she found Edmund still fast asleep beside her, and she recalled that they had fallen asleep next to each other the night before. However, what was different was that she was now curled up next to him with his arm lazily around her, causing her to grow flustered.
Not wanting to wake him up, she got up as slowly as possible, her heart racing madly in her chest. In her attempt not to wake him, she didn't notice Susan and Peter huddled in the corner, pointing at Mary and Edmund and how they were practically cuddled next to each other that morning. It was only when Mary sat up that they hurriedly looked away and resorted to gossiping instead, but they stopped when Trumpkin snapped his fingers in front of their faces to finish discussing their plans for the day.
"Stop moving."
Mary's eyebrows rose up and she looked around her, her still-disoriented mind thinking that someone else was speaking to her. But Susan was already engrossed in a conversation with Peter and Trumpkin at the edge of the clearing about their schedule for the day, while Lucy was only waking up now as well, even yawning in the process.
"Five more minutes," Edmund continued to mumble, turning the other way. Mary chuckled at his sleepiness and got up, dusting herself off.
"That's why he's always late for school," Lucy said sleepily, walking towards Mary. "Good morning, Mary."
"Morning, Lucy."
"Did you have a good sleep?"
"Yes, actually. I was a bit cold at first, but it turned out fine."
Lucy eyed her older brother still sleeping on the ground and glanced back at Mary, noting that they were pretty close to one another when they were sleeping. She hid a knowing smile as Mary stretched her arms up and yawned, too.
"That's good." Then, she walked over to her brother and lightly kicked his leg. "Wake up, Edmund."
Edmund groaned and rolled onto his back, his eyes fluttering open.
"Shove off, Lucy."
The younger girl giggled, probably used to her brother's grumpiness in the morning. Mary sat on a nearby rock and braided her hair that had gotten badly tangled over the night. Edmund eventually got up and stretched his limbs, probably a bit uncomfortable from sleeping on the ground.
"Good morning," he greeted. Mary laughed because his words didn't match his face — he still looked grumpy.
"Doesn't seem like a really good morning for you, though."
He managed to crack a small smile and paused, watching Mary as she tied the ends of her hair before catching himself and rubbing his eyes.
"No, it still is."
Mary narrowed her eyes at that odd reply but chose to ignore it, thinking that he was probably still sleepy.
Mary, Edmund, and Lucy finished freshening up and got their things ready before making their way to the older ones of the group.
"What's the plan, Pete?" Edmund asked.
"Trumpkin got word of where the Telmarines are camped at," he replied. "We head there and observe. If there are only a few, we can take them down and question them, perhaps even hold them hostage. We need as much information as we can get to find out what their next step is."
Mary shared a look with Lucy and she knew they were thinking more or less the same thing.
"No offense, Peter," Mary began. She had formed solid friendships with all of the Pevensies, but she was the least closest to Peter, probably due to their difference in age. Still, she knew enough about him to be aware of how irritable he could get, which she noticed that had gotten worse in Narnia, especially whenever someone would question him. That was exactly why she was a bit hesitant to voice out anything. "Do — do you think that's really the best idea? If the Telmarines were able to invade Narnia in the first place, don't you think they'd always be large in the number of their forces? Maybe we should look for the others before doing anything else."
Peter stared at Mary as if she was crazy to go against him. Mary wasn't one to cower in situations like this, but she had to admit that Peter could be intimidating.
"We're following my plan, Mary," he told her with a tone of finality. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm the High King. You've been here for a day."
Trumpink let out a small "ouch," mirroring Mary's thoughts. She should've known he wouldn't take her opinions into account, but it still stung a little. Besides, he had a point — she hadn't been there for long, so perhaps it was best to follow someone with more experience.
"Peter, she was only trying to help," Edmund said slowly, but he was only adding to the fire. "No need to be so harsh. Besides, we really aren't sure what the Telmarines have got and are up to. Maybe we should lay low and —"
"And follow the instructions of someone who just got here? Just because you all think she's the one in the prophecy doesn't mean she can be of any help right now —"
"That's enough."
Peter raised his voice. "You're just siding with her because —"
"Stop it!" Lucy said, not wanting another fight to break out. "Let's just go. We'll follow you, okay, Peter? If it doesn't work out, we'll think of something else."
Peter's gaze lingered on his brother before turning his back on them and walking ahead. Susan and Edmund sent Mary sympathetic smiles, and Mary could only smile back awkwardly.
As the group went on their way again, Mary cursed herself for speaking out of turn. Peter was probably right: there was a slim chance that she wasn't even the girl in the prophecy and didn't have much of a role here. She tried not to let that affect her much, though. Just being in Narnia was amazing enough despite the current situation it was in, and she wouldn't want to let Peter get her down.
"I still think the prophecy is real, Mary."
Mary looked at Lucy in mild surprise, who she noticed hadn't walked ahead yet. Susan and Edmund were already speaking to one another, a few paces before them, but the youngest girl was kind enough to stay behind with Mary.
"Don't believe it too much, Lucy," Mary sighed. "I haven't done anything to save Narnia."
"If it's of any help," Trumpkin began gruffly. "I, too, believe that the prophecy is real."
Mary was taken aback by his words. Just yesterday, it seemed like he was against it and still held a grudge against the kings and queens of old.
"Really?"
The bearded man nodded. "The kings and queens have been gone for years, my lady. It is no coincidence that you're here with them now that they have returned."
Mary pursed her lips, not knowing exactly how to respond.
"And," continued Trumpkin. "Everything that prick has said so far hasn't turned out well."
Mary burst into a small laugh while Lucy gasped.
"Hey!" exclaimed Lucy. "He's still my brother."
"A nasty one, that is."
✧ ✧ ✧
Mary thought that the sight of more humans would put her at ease. After all, she was in a magical land that she held no knowledge of, so seeing more people should have let her feel less anxious.
But she was wrong. The group, consisting of Mary, Trumpkin, and the Pevensies, eventually found the Telmarines' location. It was a clearing at the end of the forest with carts and containers full of weapons scattered everywhere, ranging from swords and shields to catapults. To add to that, the Telmarines were also cutting down trees to give way for their machinery and to thin the forest. The final touch was the wooden bridge over the river that they were busy constructing under the harsh sun, which would connect the two lands.
"That's not good," Trumpkin murmured.
"Why are they building a bridge?" Mary asked.
"The Telmarines used to be afraid of these woods and never dared to cross the river, thinking it was dangerous here. But after Prince Caspian escaped into these parts and they found me... they know that Narnians are very much alive."
Mary gulped, and Trumpkin didn't need to explain it any further. There was no question that, now that the Telmarines knew that Narnians weren't extinct after all, they wanted to finish their mission of wiping them out and possibly murdering Caspian while they were at it.
They were preparing for war.
The six of them stayed in the thicket of trees and tried to move closer by hiding behind a large log to get a better look. It was obvious at this point that Peter's plan of ambushing them would not push through. They were heavily outnumbered with all the Telmarines there, either working on creating weapons or patrolling the grounds.
The neighing of horses nearby alarmed them. They ducked even lower behind the log, hoping they had gone unseen when the men on those horses passed by. They all let out breaths of relief when they heard the sound of hooves trotting further away, signaling that they were safe.
"Perhaps this wasn't the best way to come, after all," Susan said to Peter in a low voice. The blonde boy rolled his eyes but agreed, and with that, they retreated back into the woods.
"Let's just say I think he thinks you were right," Lucy whispered to Mary as they moved further away from the Telmarines' sight.
They stayed silent as they continued on their path away from the Telmarines' camp and into an enclosed area again to discuss their next move. Naturally, everyone waited for Peter to initiate the conversation. Catching them off guard, he turned around and asked Lucy, "So, where exactly did you see Aslan?"
"I wish you'd all stop trying to sound like grown-ups," Lucy started.
"I am a grown-up," Trumpkin muttered.
"I didn't think I saw him. I did see him. It was right over — ahh!" She had walked towards the left direction but upon stepping on the ground near the cliff, the soil beneath her crumbled and she fell through.
"Lucy!"
Everyone ran to her with their breaths held and hearts pounding, praying that she had not fallen off of the cliff. They were practically ready to jump after her just to make sure she was safe and unharmed. But when they found that she had ended up on another landing only a few feet below them, which was overlooking the rushing river, they relaxed.
"... here," Lucy finished, examining the ground she stood on. It turned out that it formed a path — rocky and uneven, but still manageable — that lead down to the river. "So, do we continue with your original plan, Peter?"
Peter rolled his eyes again but lent a hand to Lucy. He pulled her back up onto the even ground and pushed her behind him, away from the dangerous cliffside.
"Alright, alright, it wasn't the best idea," the eldest admitted.
"And?" Lucy's eyes traveled towards Mary and back at Peter, trying to get him to take the hint that he owed her an apology. With a sigh, he faced Mary.
"And I'm sorry, Mary. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you like that and listened."
Mary smiled triumphantly. Though she was the type to get easily provoked, it actually wasn't hard for her to forgive people, especially those who meant a lot to her — and so, Peter was forgiven almost immediately.
"So," Peter said next, placing his hands on his hips as he looked at each person in the group. "I suppose we'll be crossing the river, then."
Lucy gestured for him to go ahead. With a teasing grin, she told him, "Lead the way, then, High King Peter the Magnificent."
The rest of them giggled under their breaths at that, unable to suppress it as they trudged down the path leading to the shallow river so that they could cross the gorge. Then, after a long travel, Mary, Trumpkin, and the Pevensies were in for another night spent in the woods.