back, again | prince capian

fourteen

"Edmund!" I shouted as I spotted him grappling with a soldier in a frenzied hand-to-hand struggle. My heart raced as I pointed toward Caspian, desperate for him to see where help was needed. Caspian caught my direction and sprinted towards Edmund.

As he dropped me off a short distance away, I could see the worry etched across his features. "Be safe, Elatoria," he said, his deep brown eyes filled with concern. I responded with a bright, assuring smile, trying to mask my own anxiety.

"I will. Be safe as well, Caspian," I replied, fully aware that we were all at risk. The tension hung in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst. Without another moment's hesitation, I took off towards Edmund, my pulse pounding in my ears.

As I dashed toward him, I noticed his sword lying just a few feet away. Time seemed to slow as I reached down, snatching it from the ground with fierce determination. Just as I did, a Telmarine soldier charged at me, weapon raised, but I was ready.

With swift precision, I wielded the sword in my left hand, my movement fluid and instinctual as I struck the soldier's midsection with a quick slice. He crumpled to the ground, and adrenaline surged through me.

"Edmund!" I shouted again, tossing his sword into the air just as he instinctively raised his hands to catch it. He pivoted, the blade flashing in the sunlight like a beacon, and with a fierce roar, he dispatched his opponent with a deadly flourish. The horrifying scream echoed across the battlefield, a sound that reminded me of how grim the stakes were.

Scanning the battleground, I suddenly spotted Susan clinging to Trumpkin at the edge of a steep drop, teetering in danger of falling. "Susan!" I cried out, my heart racing as I began to backtrack, determination fueling my steps. But before I could reach her, my eyes caught a glimpse of Caspian, his horse beneath him after having fallen.

"Caspian!" I shouted, panic driving my voice as I pointed towards Susan. "Help her!"

Caspian had been poised to join the fray, but my urgent call captured his attention. He locked eyes with me, urgency igniting within him. He nodded, spinning swiftly on his heel and racing toward Susan.

But I couldn't afford to stand still. My gaze darted around the battlefield, assessing the chaos. I noticed Peter at the far end, back-to-back with a fellow soldier, the two of them outnumbered. Without thinking, I surged forward, adrenaline overriding any sense of fear.

"Peter!" I yelled, rushing to his side just as another soldier lunged toward us. "Stay close!"

I felt the heat of the battle around us, shouts and clashes filling the air. The thrill of combat invigorated me, and as we fought back—to back—I felt that we were invincible together.

"Lucy might have already talked to him; don't worry!" I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "Lucy knows what she's doing!"

We exchanged glances, a moment of unspoken understanding passing between us as we fought in synchronized rhythm. But I didn't linger; I had to find Edmund again.

As I spun to look for Edmund, my heart stopped when I saw him facing off against two soldiers, his back pressed against a crumbling wall, outnumbered and on the brink of defeat. My stomach twisted in fear, and I sprinted toward him.

But just as I closed the gap, I felt the earth beneath my feet tremble. My eyes widened as I caught sight of Caspian in the distance, desperately trying to scramble to his feet, his horse having fallen beside him.

"MOVE!" I shouted over my shoulder to Peter as I charged toward Caspian. The momentary distraction of my shout gave me the courage I needed. I dove into the fray, grappling with fervor as I barreled toward Caspian.