The Queen's Tales

Chapter 15: Aslan's How

It didn't take long for the group to make it to the open field just before the How. It looked so different since the last time Chloe had been there. Where the Stone Table once sat, was now completely covered by a hilly mound of earth with a system of tunnels within.

A line of centaurs stood outside the opening, arching their swords much like they had at the coronation years ago. Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund walked underneath. Edmund had grabbed hold of Chloe's hand a little tighter when she was about to let go, to let the four of them walk in first, but he wanted her next to him.

Behind them Caspian had a somewhat sad look, watching Edmund hold Chloe by his side as they all walked inside. Chloe, however, had a small smile she shared with Lucy when the both of them saw the young centaur mixed in with the adults.

Inside the How was bigger than you would think. The foyer was a large open space lit by torches where dwarves, Minotaurs, fauns, and any able body was hard at work forging more weapons. Peter, Edmund and Chloe stopped walking to look around at all the creatures hard at work.

"It may not be what you are used to..." Caspian started.

Chloe gave a knowing nod, "But it's defensible," Caspian smiled, and looking between the two of them, Edmund felt a little twinge of jealousy.

"Peter," Susan called coming back from another room, "You may want to see this," she called. The four of them followed, and Chloe noticed the drawings on the walls that they were referring to. There was Susan and Lucy riding on Aslan, the four royals in front of their thrones, and Chloe standing with her staff alight, "It's us."

"What is this place?" Lucy asked Chloe.

It was Caspian who answered, "You don't know?" She shook her head. So, he grabbed a torch and walked further down the tunnel.

It only got darker as they continued, Chloe held her own flame in her hand as they entered the pitch black room. Walking down the step Chloe walked over to the pit on the side and deposited her flame, immediately the purple flame grew and traveled along the edge and around the room, illuminating the carvings on the wall and the cracked Stone Table in the middle. Directly behind it, between two pillars was a carving of the great lion.

Silence swept the room. At one point or another each and every one of them expected Aslan to show up and save the day. Show them how they were to beat Miraz. Finally, Peter turned his back to the lion, looking to his siblings, Chloe, and even Caspian, "It's up to us now. We need a war council meeting," he told Chloe.

She nodded, her face like stone as she turned and walked out, gathering the centaurs and all those who were to fight. Edmund was confused by her standoffish behavior, while Caspian understood and felt bad for her. Chloe returned promptly leading the troops, and Peter was quick to begin the meeting;

"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."

Reepicheep hopped up on a stone, "What do you propose we do, Your Majesty?"

"We need to get ready for it-" "To start planning for-" Peter and Caspian started at the same time.

An awkward silence swept the room as the two of them looked at each other. Chloe found her boots very interesting in that moment, she'd learned after the coronation to not step on Peter's toes. He was High King. He was above all of them, something Caspian only just seemed to notice. Caspian nodded, silently stepping back, next to Chloe. The two of them exchanged neutral nods, they both knew they weren't in charge anymore.

Peter continued, his authoritative voice returning, "Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us."

"But that is crazy. No one has ever taken that castle!" Caspian responded.