Hearts Connected As One

Chapter 9 - The Gorge To The Narnians:

As we walked down towards the ford we were greeted with Telmarines, building a bridge. The Telmarines never came to this part of the land, they were always too scared of what they would find.

There were hundreds of men cutting down trees to build a bridge large enough for multiple army regiments. It was sad to watch. I knew the Dryads (or Tree People) used to dance and thrive in these trees back when the Kings and Queens of old ruled. Now they were being slaughtered.

We hid behind a stack of horizontal logs and ducked down when men on horseback arrived. I held my breath, terrified I would be caught by the Telmarines again, the experience hadn't exactly been a good one...

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the fear showed as Trumpkin and Edmund both asked if I was ok.

"Perhaps this wasn't the best way to come after all," Susan whispered, and Peter looked angry at the Telemarines, his hand tightly wrapped around the hilt of his sword. He then got up and made his way back to the forest. We followed quickly and I made sure Lucy wasn't seen by anyone, since she had a small habit of wandering off.

"So, where exactly do you think you saw Aslan?" Peter asked Lucy expectantly as we arrived back at the gorge. Lucy glared back with a tinge of annoyance. Peter was being extremely nonchalant like he didn't want to admit Lucy was possibly right about seeing the lion.

"I wish you'd all stop trying to sound like grown-ups." Lucy started, looking around all of us. "I don't think I saw him, I did see him," she concluded, stepping away from her brother. Trumpkin looked slightly offended, all I could do was bite my lip and wait for his reaction.

"I am a grown-up." Trumpkin muttered arrogantly as he fumbled with his beard. Edmund was trying not to laugh.

"More wagging, less barking!" I teased Trumpkin, treating him as though he were a dog. In return, I earned a sarcastic woof and a look of distaste. Susan cracked a smile and Edmund couldn't hold back his laugh.

"Why do all our conversations sound and end like this?" Trumpkin inquired and I just raised my eyebrows.

"You think that is a conversation?" I replied as I moved towards the youngest Queen. Lucy giggled at my comment before turning back to the place she had originally spotted Aslan.

"It was right over - " Lucy started before the ground collapsed underneath her. She let out a high pitched scream and I went to grab her arm to catch her. I wasn't quick enough, the ground seemed to open up and she disappeared. I almost fell down the gorge after her, but Trumpkin and Edmund grabbed me and pulled me back.

"Lucy!" Susan yelled as we rushed over, only to see her sitting safely a few feet below. She was nowhere near the edge of the tributary another few feet below.

"- Here." Lucy finished her sentence, smiling as she looked down. We followed her gaze and saw a steep narrow path heading down the gorge between the rocks.

We all began helping each other down the gap Lucy fell down. Peter went first, followed by Trumpkin, Susan, Edmund and finally myself. As I was lowering myself down I began to slip and gasped, but someone gently grabbed my waist to prevent me from falling.

"It's alright, Gwen, I've got you..." Edmund said reassuringly. I gently let go of the cliff and put my hands on his shoulders as he helped me down. When I was safely on the ground we just stood looking at each other, until I realised the others had gone ahead. I smiled, Edmund was very handsome and I can tell he and his sibling will be amazing allies to have and we will hopefully become good friends.

"Thank you, we should probably catch up..." I said with an irrepressible blush rising to my cheeks. He agreed with the same goofy smile as myself. So we set off.