༄ ⍴һ᥆ᥱᥒі᥊ ᥕᥲrrі᥆r sһ᥆r𝗍 s𝗍᥆rіᥱs ༄

Battle of Anvard

Again, credit to C.S. Lewis for most of the dialogue in this chapter. Also, in case anyone was questioning it: He actually uses both "Archenlander" and "Archenlandian" in his story, depending on the context. So I have been doing that here as well.

᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽

Summary: The Battle for Archenland begins as the Narnian and Calormene armies collide. A shocking discovery is made.

************************************

~Part Six of The Horse and His Boy~

The  camp was stirring before the sun was over the horizon. Knowing they had  quite a bit of ground to cover, breakfast was forgotten. They packed up  their supplies and the horses were loaded up. Then the Narnians  continued their march towards Anvard, Archenland's capital, before the  sun was much higher in the sky.

They  traveled until they reached the valley before the mountain pass.  Trumpets sounded often throughout the journey, announcing their arrival  to the Narnians. It was just after many had had breakfast that they  reached the small Dwarf cottage inhabited by Duffle and his two  brothers. They were the ones who told Chervy to bring the news of war to  Their Majesties.

This  was where the Just King gave the order to halt. Immediately, horses  were dismounted and knapsacks were opened. They had covered enough  ground that Edmund was satisfied with stopping to have a small meal  before continuing on their march.

As  conversations began between the Narnians and warriors, Ana noticed a  familiar face amongst the Dwarfs. A human who looked exactly like Corin  that she almost thought it was him—except his attire was very ragged and  dirty—until the Prince came running up to him. The Prince grabbed the  boy with both hands and spoke with great excitement. Curious, she slowly  approached and overheard their conversation.

"What?" Corin exclaimed. "You're  here?! So you made it through all right? I'm glad. Now we can have some  fun. And isn't it luck! We just got into the harbor at Cair Paravel  yesterday morning and the very first person who met us was Chervy the  Stag with this news of an attack on Anvard. Don't you think—" At this  moment, the royals had dismounted their horses and approached the two.  Ana felt inclined to move closer as well.
"Who is Your Highness' friend?" King Edmund asked, interrupting the young Prince.
"Don't you see, Sire?" Corin stated. "It's my double: the boy you mistook me for at Tashbaan."
"Why, so he is your double!" Queen Lucy exclaimed. "It's as if you are twins. This is a marvelous thing."
"Please,  your Majesty," the boy spoke for the first time, looking at the Just  King. "I wasn't a traitor, really I wasn't. I couldn't help overhearing  your plans. But I'd never dream of telling them to your enemies."
"I  know you are no traitor now, boy," Edmund said softly, placing one hand  on the boy's head. "But if you would like to not be mistaken for one,  next time try not to hear what's meant for others' ears. But all is  well."

In the next  moment, Ana and the others were swept into a crowd and engaged in  conversations with other Narnians. The boy—Shasta, as Ana later  learned—was quickly forgotten. People were coming and going and she lost  sight of the royals several times, much to her chagrin. But she always  managed to find them again and even when she lost sight of Corin, it was  always easy to find him again. He liked picking fights after all.

This is why when she heard Edmund's shout above the crowd Ana found herself sighing and rolling her eyes as she approached.

"By  the Lion's Mane, Corin!" the young King scolded. "This is too much!  Can't Your Highness do better? You are more trouble than our whole army  together! I'd happily have a regiment of hornets in my command than  you."