Chapter 10

The Battle Begins

Caspian wake up earlier then everyone else. He was about to stretch like he does every morning when he felt the weight on his chest is actually the woman he loves, Susan. He looked down to see that she had a smile on her face and knew that this was probably the first time in weeks that she has slept without nightmares. She felt good in his arms too. She fit perfectly in his arms and he knew then that he would give anything to wake up like this every morning for the rest of his life. Susan stirred and gradually opened her eyes to see Caspian gazing down at her.

"Good Morning, my Queen." Caspian smiled.

"Good Morning." She yawned and stretched. "We need to get up and start preparing for the battle. Lucy will be up any minute now."

"Yes we need to get dressed. You and Lucy need to get going and find Aslan."

They both sat up and Caspian got to his feet and helped Susan to her feet as well.

"I'll go get changed and you should too and get the boys up. Lucy and I will meet you in a bit at the horses to get Destrier ready to go."

"Okay I will see you in a bit."

Caspian turned to get ready but Susan stops him and he turns back to her and is surprised when she kisses him. It was not a passionate kiss or a gentle kiss. It was just enough for her to show him just how much she loves him without actually saying the words. They broke apart a little breathless and silently went their separate ways.

Susan got dressed in her battle dress with her armor. She put on her wrist band she used when using her bow and arrows. Lucy was up and also dressed. Susan made sure to check and make sure the boys were ready. The four siblings exchanged hugs and words of comfort that everything will be okay and they will all see tomorrow's sunrise and there will be peace in Narnia again. When Susan and Lucy met Caspian where Destrier was kept he already had the horse saddled and packed. He was also in his full armor and prepared for the battle they will fight very soon. Susan got on Destrier and Caspian lifted Lucy up and put her behind Susan. As he adjusted the saddle straps Caspian didn't know what to say since Lucy was there.

"Destrier is the best horse I have ever had. He will be strong and fast for you. You are in good hands."

"Or hooves!" Lucy laughed and caused both Caspian and Susan to smile too.

"Umm… Look… Maybe it's time you had this back." Caspian pulled Susan's horn out of his pocket. Destrier danced in place, anxious to get going. Susan tightened the reigns and tried to keep him steady.

"Why don't you hold on to it? You may need to call me again." She smirked at him and he smiled too, knowing that she was flirting with him. She kicked the horse into a gallop and they were gone.

Caspian watched as they disappeared in the catacombs of the How. Trumpkin walked up next to him with a sad look knowing that Lucy was going into the dark woods, where it was dangerous.

"They are almost ready to begin. You should go see the Kings."

"Yes I know. Are your archer's ready?"

"As ready as they can be, although we would be better if Queen Susan was with us."

"You will do just fine Trumpkin. Susan has faith that you will lead the archers well. Lets just hope they get help in time."

Caspian and Trumpkin continued walking down the catacombs to where King Peter was getting prepared for the fight against Miraz. Just as they got to the hall area where the 2 Narnia Kings are, a fawn came running in their direction.

"Prince Caspian!" Caspian stopped and addressed the young fawn.

"Yes?"

"I was watching the back tunnels and I saw Telmarines going in the direction that the Queens are supposed to be going. I'm afraid they are going after them. I would have stopped them but I was alone and there were too many of them. They were too fast for me."

"You stay here. We need the stronger warriors here for the battle. I'll go after them. Can you at least go and get my other horse please. I will inform the Kings quickly."

The fawn went to do as he was told as quickly as he could while Caspian rushed to the Kings.

"Peter, Edmund! Telmarines have been spotted in the direction that Susan and Lucy were going. I'm going to go after them and make sure they are safe."

"Go! Keep them safe!" Peter said immediately and Caspian was gone. He was at a dead run in his full battle armor and sword which weighed about 40 pounds. He jumped on the horse waiting for him and kicked the horse in the direction that Queen Susan and Lucy left. He made the horse run as fast as he could so he could catch up to the Queens that were already so far ahead.

Susan pushed the horse as fast as she could, hoping that they will get to Aslan as fast as they could. She knew that the possibilities of Telmarines coming after them as soon as they get into the open were going to be high so she needed to be on high alert. As soon as they got out of the catacombs they were spotted by Telmarines. Susan tried her hardest to out run them and it looked like they were going to. Suddenly the Telmarines caught up to them. Susan knew there was no way they would get to Aslan safely. She did know that Lucy needed to be safe at any cost. The only way to do that was to hold off the soldiers long enough to give Lucy a big enough distance to get to Aslan and Susan knew for sure that he would protect her sister. Once they go to a clearing and the soldiers were a ways behind them Susan stopped the horse and got off. She grabbed her bow and arrows off the back of the saddle.

"What are you doing?" Lucy questioned.

"I'm sorry Lu but it looks like you're going alone after all."

She gave Lucy the reigns and then slapped the rear end of the horse to make it go in the direction it needed to. She prepared her bow and looked back to see that Lucy was on her way and safe. After one last look Susan turned back and prepared herself to go against however many soldiers she needed to in order to protect her sister. The pounding of hoofs got louder as the soldiers got closer. The Gentle Queen pulled an arrow through her bow and got into the proper shooting stance. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself for what was about to happen. She was going to take down about 5 soldiers alone. The odds were against her and she may not come out of this fight alive. She only prayed that Lucy got to Aslan in time and Narnia was saved. She also prayed that Caspian would become the King she knew he could be. The soldiers came into view at the tree line. They did not slow down and they pulled their swords out to take down the Archer Queen. She shot off her first arrow and the man fell off the horse. She shot the next one dead on and he fell off his horse as well. They started coming too fast and one swiped at her head but she ducked in time. As she got up another horse came too close and pushed her down. The last soldier drew his sword and came towards her as she lay on the ground.

Out of nowhere Susan heard a loud battle cry that sounded familiar. Caspian cut the soldier threatening Susan down. Susan was in awe that he came and saved her in time. Caspian pulled his horse around and reached his hand down to Susan to help her up.

"Are you sure you don't need that horn, my love?" Caspian smiled.

Susan laughed and pulled herself up and onto the horse.

"I was doing fine if you didn't notice."

"Yeah so fine that you were just about to cut you down. Thank goodness your knight in shining armor came to your rescue." Caspian kicked his horse into a gallop back to the How.

"How's Peter?" Susan asked.

"I left before the fight but he seemed to be alright and prepared mentally."

"Good. I hope Miraz is not as good as you say."

"I never said he was good, just manipulative. He may have one of his second's on hand to kill Peter if the fight is looking like he is losing."

"That's not good. We better hurry and get there before it gets that bad."

"Yes ma'am!" He kicked the horse to go faster and Susan held onto Caspian tighter trying not to fall off. They rode as fast as possible back to the How. Caspian pulled up just before they broke the tree line. He turned half his body towards Susan as best he could.

"Before we go out there I wanted to tell you that no matter what happens that I love you."

"I love you too, Caspian."

"If we get out of this alive I want to marry you one day. Don't say anything now. When this battle is over we can talk again, okay?"

"Okay."

Caspian kissed her as passionately as he could. They broke apart and he turned back around and they galloped into the clearing. Susan could see Peter and Miraz at a standstill and they both didn't look good. Apparently they were taking a respite and Peter limped off towards Edmund. Caspian helped Susan down and she ran to her brothers.

"Lucy?" Peter asked with a worried look on his face.

"She got away alright, with some help." Susan nodded her head towards Caspian who had just ran up beside her.

"Thanks," Peter said a little winded still.

"Well you were busy," Caspian said.

"You better get up there," Peter nodded towards the archer's area on the ledge of the How.

Susan nodded and then wrapped her arms around her older brother. "Fight well." He winced because of his arm. "Sorry," she said. She gave one last look to Caspian and then ran off towards the entrance. Edmund saw the Narnians looking worried and told Peter to keep smiling. Peter lifted his sword and smiled to keep the Narnians believing that he was alright and going to win the battle. Edmund sat Peter down and Caspian helped pull off his shield. Peter knew that his left arm was dislocated because it has happened many times before during the Golden Ages.

"I think it's dislocated," Peter said to Edmund. Edmund put his right hand on Peter's shoulder blade and grabbed the arm just below the elbow. Peter tried talking to Edmund and he knew this was the best time to pop the arm back into the socket because it doesn't hurt as much when you are not expecting it. He did it fast without warning to Peter. Peter gasped in pain but then it slowly went away. Edmund patted his brother's back and said "I know," in response to what Peter was trying to tell him. Peter got back up and grabbed his sword from Caspian and his shield from Edmund. He didn't put his helmet back on because it was too hot. He prepared to go back in the ring to fight Miraz.

Both Kings circled each other preparing for battle.

"How is your sister King Peter? I hope I left a memorable experience with her last time we saw each other." Miraz smirked hoping to get a rise out of Peter.

"She's doing great actually but you are going to hell for what you have done and I will be happy to send you there." Peter was getting angrier remembering his little sister in pain by Miraz's hands.

"We'll see about that."

Peter attacked first. He struck out at Miraz and they were once again in the heat of a fight.

Finally Peter defeated Miraz but as he had the sword at Miraz's throat he knew that he shouldn't be the one to kill Miraz. That right belonged to Caspian to avenge the death of his father.

"You don't have the ability to take a life," Miraz said while kneeling on the ground.

"It's not mine to take," Peter sneered.

He then held the sword out to Caspian who was just behind him. Caspian understood what Peter offered and took the sword. He was still so angry at Miraz for killing his father but then he remembered what he had said to last night to Susan.

"I guess you do have the makings of a Telmarine King," Miraz lowered his head in defeat with a loud cry Caspian drove the sword into the ground.

"Not one like you. I may be giving you your life but I am going to give the Narnians back their kingdom." As soon as Caspian walked away one of the Lords with Miraz helped him up but he wasn't about to let Miraz live. He pulled out one of the Gentle Queen's arrows found after the battle at the castle and stabbed Miraz in the back with it. Miraz fell dead with an arrow in his back. The Lord yelled that the Narnians done it and claimed victory. As the Lord and the General also headed back to the army to lead them in battle the other soldier there planned to attack the Kings and Prince Caspian.

"Peter!" Caspian shouted in warning seeing the approach of the enemy soldier. Peter grabbed his sword and swiftly killed the soldier. Thus the battle began.