The High Queen Book One

Chapter 19 - The War Begins

Third-Person POV

From afar, Jadis and her army approach the Witch in the chariot, a polar bear pulling her across the battlefield. Tilly and Peter stood at the head of their army, watching with deep frowns adorned their faces as they watched the army near. Turning back once more, Tilly glances up at the cliff face staring at Edmund, who gazes down at her. He gave a small smile and nodded in return, silently telling her it'll be alright, but Edmund was hiding the fear in his heart. The fear his best friend in a battle, she, and none of them should be fighting at their age, no matter the reason.

"You alright, Edmund?" Mr Beaver asks the worried-looking boy who'd spaced out staring down at his brother and Tilly.

"Yeah, just a few things on my mind." The young boy shakes his head, running a hand down his face with a heavy sigh. Mr Beaver hops up on the rock next to the boy, patting him lightly on the shoulder and giving him a light smile.

"Your girl's gonna be just fine. She brave," the beaver reassures the smirking boy.

"Oh, I know she's brave." Ed laughs to himself lightly. "That's the part of her that scares me." He huffs before hearing the soaring of a Griffin overhead coming back from scouting Jadis's army.

Edmund and Mr Beaver watch as the great creature flies to the girl in question. He perches on a small rock beside Tilly and Peter as the two look down at the animal, waiting for his report.

"They come, Your Highnesses," he pants out of breath. "In numbers and weapons far greater than our own." Peter's frown deepens on his brow, while Tilly only nods as she somewhat expected that Jadis would have a larger army.

"Numbers do not win a battle." Oreius jumps in, his voice strong and commanding as his words ring true in the air, only for Peter to reply with a sassy remark.

"No. But I bet they help." He shakes his head glumly as he looks across the field at the deadly approaching army. Even from such a distance, it's easy to notice that both armies were growling at each other, preparing to fight to the death. Aslan's army watches in slight fear as Jadis's army comes into view, only now realising how many more warriors they have. As Otmin roared across the valley, throwing his axe over his head, his bellowing voice reaching back to Edmund on top of the cliff.

Nevertheless, they hold their ground, standing strong together as the terrifying army closes in. The giants, ogres, and minotaurs lead the ferocious army as Tilly and Peter raise their swords over their shoulders, signalling for their air forces to take flight. The griffins soar through the air as Aslan's army watches in amazement as they release the boulders in the talons, taking out many from the Witch's army until the general catches on and commands them to look to the sky. Soon enough, one by one, almost every last soaring animal comes crashing down or flies back to Tilly and Peter, knowing they've done all they can for now. The two watch as the first phase of the battle ends, signalling it is almost time for them to charge into battle, leading the awaiting army.

"Are you with me?" Peter asks, facing Oreius, but he glances at Tilly, who reaches over and places her hand on his shoulder as the worrier speaks.

"To the death." Before Peter turns back to Tilly, the two men nod and give her a slight nod, making her raise her sword above her head as she and Pete bellow out across the field.

"For Narnia and for Aslan!" They pull back on the reigns of their horse and unicorn; they rear back before the two charge forward, Oreius and the army right behind as they roar out a battle cry while speeding across the large field.

Edmund watches from above as their V-shaped army, Peter and Tilly, headfirst at the top barrel into the first line of Jadis's army. As if in slow motion, the two armies grow closer together as each approach with gaining speed. With each glop of the horse, Tilly's heartbeat grows faster, but it slows right before the army clash for a mere moment. Peter slides his face shield down; Tilly refuses to have one, saying she wants the last thing Jadis sees is her face. Right before they merge, everything feels silent. She could only hear her breath and the galops of Luna's hooves on the wet grass below. Still, before she could take another breath, the sound of crying jaguars fills the air along with the sound of clashing swords, grunting, yelling, screaming, and gasps of pain as swords impales creatures in either army. Tilly swings her swords on either side of her body, doing her best to protect Luna and her surrounding worries, but there is only so much one can do. Quickly Tilly's opponents either turn to stone and are shattered by the surrounding chaos or as sliced and fall to the blood-soaked ground only to be crushed to death. In the middle of fighting two ogres, she feels a surge of energy and power rush through her, as in the distance, a faint roar is heard. Stabbing the beast to be rid of him, she turns to see if anyone else heard the sound. Alas, in the mess, it seems like the squeak of a roar was either only heard by her or never happened. Before the young queen has a chance to call to Peter, she hears Jadis's reins whip down on the polar bears making her whip her head to face the evil Witch as she and her second wave near.