The High Queen Book One

Chapter 22 - Don't Look Back

Third-Person POV

Three Days Later

Tilly had been staying with the royal family of Calormen for the past few days, and even though the second she met the young Prince, she knew he wasn't and would never be the one for her, she couldn't deny that they were actually friendly people. The King and Queen were very different in temperament. Prince Caspian looks identical to his father, his dirty blonde hair cut short and his deep brown eyes similar to a certain King. Tilly had found that King Henry was more of a funny go-with-the-flow guy, while his wife, Queen Imogen, likes to keep to herself and work while still making time for her people. Tilly and the family of three sat at dinner, having one last meal before Tilly headed into town and then onto Narnia.

"I have to thank you for your hospitality. I'm sorry I couldn't agree to your proposal."

"Oh, my dear, don't worry at all. We were glad you even agreed to consider it." Tilly frowns, holding back to erg to roll her eyes at the King's words

"Well, I didn't have much of a choice. You threatened my Kingdom-"

"We did no such thing!" The queen sheiks, unsure what the High Queen is speaking of.

"Matilda, what in God's name are you talking about?" Caspian asks the now confused young Queen.

"The letter you sent said that if I didn't agree to come here, you would attack Narnia." The King bursts out laughing.

"That is preposterous. We would never do that. Yes, Calormen and Narnia have had issues in the past, and we certainly still do, but we know the power you and your Kingdom hold." King Henry says before his son jumps in.

"I didn't even need your hand in marriage." He sighs. "Truth be told, it was to appease the royal adviser and our people. I'm in love with a commoner, and we plan to get married in the next few years."

"Then who sent that letter? How did that get your seal?

"More importantly, why did they want you to come here?" Queen Imogen says, jumping out of her chair and calling the guards to the dining room. "You need to leave now!"

"But my warriors are staying at the inn in the village. All I brought here is Luna, my horse."

"Then the two of you must go, take the trail through the forest. Only experienced riders can find their way through." King Henry says as the four dashes through the castle. "We shall send word to your warriors to head back to Cair Paravel. You should beat them if you don't stop." Tilly nods to the man as she pulls herself onto Luna's back.

"Stay safe. And whatever you do, don't stop." Queen Imogen says, kissing the Queen's hand before she takes off into the night.

Luna's hooves scrape against the dirt of the forest, knocking rocks and tree stubs as they ride into the wind. From what Tilly could gather, based on the moon now high in the sky, they had been riding for at least two hours, which meant they only had an hour to go.

"I know it's hard, Luna, but we should almost be home, just a little longer, and we can rest, okay?" The Queen says, patting her horse, worried the fast-paced riding and the long distance will exhaust her.

"They told us not to stop, though." The horse panted. "If you are in danger, I won't rest until you are home, Tilly."

"Luna, listen to yourself. You can barely breathe." Tilly tries to reason with the out-of-breath horse. "Wouldn't it be wise to have a small break and recharge than try to push through and you pass out from exhaustion?"

"Well,"

"Plus, we're in Ed's Forest now. It's as safe as it's going to get." Tilly reasons as she pulls on the reins, making Luna come to a quick stop. Dismounting, she walks over to the stream running through the forest, tying Luna to a branch allowing her to drink. Tilly crouches down, filling her flask with water before washing her face in the cool stream water. Whipping her face dry, Tilly hears the sound of a twig snapping coming from behind her and a sense of multiple people's presents surrounding her. Slowly standing up, running her palms down her thighs, she walks over to Luna, untying her strap from the tree and whispering into the horse's ear. "We're surrounded. There's no hope for both of us to get out of here. I'm going to give you an opening. You must take it and go straight to Cair Paravel." As she speaks to the horse, she hears the sound of the people growing closer and slowly pulls off the saddle and bags from Luna, shedding some weight. "Get Peter and Edmund, and then lead them too here. Okay, go, Luna." She whispers before drawing her swords as the six thieves crawl out of the bushes. "Go!" She bellows as she swings down on two of the thieves, kicking another one back. As Luna's hooves dissipate into the air, the further away she gallops, the men begin to overpower Tilly, soon disarming her and then holding her a sword, forcing her hand to surrender.