serendipity - narnia [EDITING]

chapter 18

Chapter 18
Battle Plans and More Bickering

A group of Narnians stood in a circle around the Stone Table, Caspian and Peter at the center of the room. Lucy sat on the table itself; Edmund and Susan were sitting on the steps of broken stone columns on opposite sides of the room. Dahlia was leaning against Edmund's column, playing with her necklace while Peter addressed the crowd.

"It's only a matter of time. Miraz's men and war machines are on their way. That means those same men aren't protecting his castle." Dahlia knew immediately what he was thinking; a night raid that with their small numbers would likely go sideways very quickly. One look at Caspian's face and she knew he was just as worried.

"What do you propose we do, your majesty?" Reepicheep asked from his platform on a small rock.

"We need to get ready for it-"

"To start planning for it-"

Peter and Caspian both tried to talk at the same time. Dahlia and Susan locked eyes from across the room, both girls shaking their heads in annoyance. The battle for authority had begun, but to Caspian's credit he did let Peter speak first.

"Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us," the High King decided. Dahlia rolled her eyes even though she'd already known what he would say; for once she hated being right.

"But that's crazy, no one has ever taken that castle," Caspian retorted. Dahlia recalled a few of her visions in which small groups of Narnians attempted to break into the Telemarine castle, resulting only in the spilling of Narnian blood. Caspian was right, but, as always, Peter was stubborn.

"There's always a first time," Peter said sarcastically, gesturing around at the assembled Narnians.

"We'll have the element of surprise," Trumpkin said from beside Lucy. He was the dwarf who'd led the Pevensies to the Narnians when they arrived; Dahlia had made sure to thank him during the walk back to the How.

"But we have the advantage here," Caspian responded, growing visibly more aggravated by the moment. Behind him, Susan stood up and walked forward.

"If we dig in, we could probably hold them off indefinitely. Dahlia, do you think you could form a force field around the How for a while?" she asked the mage. Peter stared Dahlia down, obviously hoping she'd side with him. But she didn't.

"That could work. It would keep the Telemarines out until we knew for certain we were ready," the mage said, maintaining eye contact with Peter. She knew he wouldn't back down easily, though she did feel bad because he was clearly upset she and Susan weren't on his side.

"I, for one, feel safer underground," Trufflehunter offered. Peter ignored him, turning so he could look at both Caspian and Dahlia.

"Look, I appreciate what you've done here. But this isn't a fortress, it's a tomb." Dahlia lowered her head, refusing to look at him. Quite frankly she found herself agreeing with both sides, but staying in the How could avoid a possible massacre.

"Yes, and if they're smart the Telemarines will just wait and starve us out," Edmund said from beside Dahlia. He immediately looked up at the mage and mouthed a silent 'sorry'. Though he was on Peter's side of things, Edmund knew how concerned Dahlia was about saving as many lives as possible; during the Golden Age, he was usually the one to remind Dahlia before each battle that she couldn't save everyone.

"We could collect nuts!" a squirrel offered from beside Reepicheep.

"Yes! And throw them at the Telemarines!" the mouse responded with fake enthusiasm. "Shut up." Dahlia allowed herself a brief smile, which quickly vanished as Peter glanced at her and his siblings. Her heart sank, knowing he had made his decision. They were going into battle.

"If I can get your troops in, can you handle the guards?" Peter asked Glenstorm, the leader of the centaurs. Glenstorm looked over the king's shoulder at Caspian and Dahlia before responding.

"Or die trying, my liege," he replied with a bow of his head. Dahlia slid down the stone column and sat down next to Edmund, who wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Hundreds of Narnians were slaughtered because she wasn't able to help them, and now Peter's grand plan was going to get more of them killed. Lucy, who'd been silent the whole meeting, agreed with the mage.

"That's what I'm worried about," the young queen said quietly from her place on the Stone Table.

"Sorry?" Peter asked, confused. Lucy briefly locked eyes with Dahlia before refocusing on the Telemarine prince and the High King.

"You're all acting like there's only two options. Dying here, or dying there," she said. Dahlia was relieved Lucy agreed with her; the pair of them were often on the same page, it was usually just a matter of getting everyone else to hear them out.

"I'm not sure you've really been listening, Lu," Peter said. Dahlia scoffed at his slightly condescending tone, but knew Lucy could stand up for herself.

"No, you're not listening. Or have you forgotten who really defeated the White Witch, Peter?" Dahlia glanced at the carving of Aslan over Lucy's head, which Peter seemed to be trying very hard to ignore.

"I think we've waited for Aslan long enough," Peter said sternly, turning and walking out of the room without another word. The rest of the group silently watched him go; Dahlia felt herself fill with dread. She rested her head on Edmund's shoulder, and he looked down at her with concern.

"I'm starting to miss the coma."