Chasms and Chinks

Meetings

"I wonder where Peter and the others are," Edmund wondered out loud as he and Legolas looked out over the plain. They'd decided to stretch their legs for a while, after all that sitting and listening to Caspian and Aragorn. "They should be here by now. Could something have happened to them?

"I've a mind to find them," Legolas said. "They cannot be too far from here."

"But didn't Alambil tell us that we're needed here?"

"Yes. Yes, she did."

"Does that mean we should just wait?"

Giving him a smile, Legolas ran his hand over the Narnian bow that Aragorn had given him. "You are not one of patience, are you?"

"No—I mean I am, but with Lucy, Susan and Peter out there, who knows what could happen? You saw the ambush party that'd been sent us. It's been a full day or so. What if they'd been caught?" Edmund paled, then turned away, squinting into the horizon, blue turning to gold and amber in shade.

"Then I believe we must trust Alambil... and Aslan."

"Yes." A grin crept up Edmund's lips. "So you believe in Aslan, then?"

Legolas didn't answer.

Later that day Legolas and Edmund amused themselves with meeting most of Caspian's soldiers and get to meet them. As Aragorn had quipped earlier, "When you head off to the war you have to know who are on your side, after all."

"Let me introduce you," Caspian said. "This is Glenstorm, one of our highly respected men. He was the one who had the idea to take on the idea of a war."

Not used to people being taller than him, Legolas found it queer to be looking up at a centaur twice his height—it made him feel, well, small. In keeping with his dignity, he gave him a nod of greeting, but couldn't help staring at Glenstorm's equine half. He also couldn't help the questions running in his mind.

Does he have children? A separate stomach he has to feed? How long does he live?

"Three sons. I do not know exactly how long we centaurs may live, but our lifespans are longer than that of men. And yes, I have a second stomach."

Legolas paled. Did he ask that out loud?

"Never mind that Legolas," Edmund said, grinning. "We also had a lot of questions when we first ruled Narnia. You should've heard Lu."

"This is Pattertwig, our, uhm.." Caspian seemed to struggle finding words to describe the squirrel, but he needn't have. Pattertwig dealt with it excellently on his own.

"Who's this? A new kind of man? Friends from Archenland? You with your white skin—have you news of King Nain? Shall he assist us? Or must I go to see him and speak with him of the battle arrangements? Or—"

It was a good five minutes before Edmund or Caspian was able to get a word in.

"No, thank you, Pattertwig, we have it sorted," Edmund said. "Typical squirrel behavior."

"He's reliable, so don't you go on hating on him like that," a surly voice said. "Tch."

"This is Nikabrik, a Black Dwarf."

Eyeing Legolas and Edmund up and down, Nikabrik huffed. "As always, choose the taller ones. Like we Dwarves can't take care of ourselves." Huffing he went off on his way.

"So, how'd you get here in the first place if you were in the palace?" Edmund asked.

"Miraz had a son."

"That's not good then."

"An utter understatement, I believe," someone said. "It is a catastrophe, I must believe."

Legolas wondered where the voice was coming from, then heard the voice clear its throat from somewhere under him. Blinking, he looked down at a mouse with dark fur and a ring around his ear and a sword strapped to his waist. He blanched.

"You're a—"

Caspian shook his head, eyes trained on the newcomer.

"A great warrior," Legolas said, catching the hint. "It is an honor to meet you, noble... soldier."

At this the mouse seemed to be surprised. "Hah! That's a first. It is an honor to be the acquaintance of such a chivalrous new soldier in our ranks. You hail from Archenland, no doubt?"

"No."

"Nay! Do not tell me you are one of the Telmarines?"

"I am a Mirkwood elf."

"An elf?" The mouse shrugged. "I have heard of elves being present in the creation of Narnia, but I did not expect them to exist up until now. Pray tell, are there any others of your kind?"

"This is Legolas," Edmund said. "And Legolas, this is Reepicheep."

"A pleasure."

"The pleasure is mine. And who are you?" Reepicheep looked to Edmund.

"Edmund."

"King Edmund? Your Majesty."

After making a few more rounds and meeting so many people (not necessarily men) Edmund and Legolas were pretty ready for another batch of story telling.

Or not.

TBC...