The horn

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As me and Caspian made our way through the forest I groaned. Caspian turned to me. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"The plants are up to my waist." I complained.
Caspian suddenly stopped, causing me to look at him confused. He turned around. "I can hear you." He said.

"Who -" He pointed behind me, cutting my sentence off as I turned and spotted Nikabrik and the badger, who's name I learned to be Trufflehunter, appear from behind some trees.

"I just think we should wait for the Kings and Queens." Trufflehunter voiced. Caspian didn't answer, but continued walking, as I followed in his footsteps moments later.

"Fine! Go then! See if the others will be as understanding!" Trufflehunter said in a slightly mocking tone. Nikabrik ran to catch up.

"Maybe I'll go with you." He said. "I want to see you two explain things to the Minotaurs."

Caspian stopped and turned around. "Minotaurs?" He questioned. "They're real?"

"And very bad-tempered." Trufflehunter said.

"Huh." I voiced. "I know a dwarf or two like that." I said, looking pointedly at Nikabrik, who ignored my comment.

"Yeah, not to mention big." He said.

"Huge." Trufflehunter clarified, taking the lead. Caspian and you fell behind.

"What about centaurs? Do they still exist?" I asked.

"Well, the centaurs will probably fight on your side." Trufflehunter said.

"But there's no telling what the others will do." Trufflehunter continued. My face fell into a frown as my eyebrows knit together. Caspian stopped, as if thinking.

"What about Aslan?" Caspian inquired. This caused the two leading the expedition to stop and look at each other. They turned around.

"How do you know so much about us?" Nikabrik asked.

"Legends." I explained.

"Stories." Caspian clarified.

"Wait a minute. Your fathers told you stories about Narnia?" Trufflehunter asked, excitement and pride evident on his features. My eyes became downcast as I turned around and observed the forest. Caspian sent a sorrowful look my way before returning his focus on the conversation.

"No. My professor."

The two shared another look.

"Listen, I'm sorry. These are not the kind of questions you should be asking." Caspian said, moving forward.

Trufflehunter sniffed the air.

"What is it?" Nikabrik asked.

"Human."

"Them?" He asked. A twang was suddenly heard. We all turned around in time to see a man with an arrow in his chest fall to the forest floor. They looked at me, who quickly pulled out another arrow.

"There they are!" One of the guards shouted. It was then when I  realized just how many there were. My eyes widened in fear.

"Run!" Caspian instructed. We becane to run for our lives, quickly outdistancing the two Narnians. An arrow stuck to the tree just to the right of me as I let out a yelp. A yell was heard and I turned around. Trufflehunter was laying on the ground, an arrow in his back.

"Trufflehunter!" I yelled. Caspian started to run for him, but I held him back.

"Go!" I instructed. He looked at me with pause. "They want you, Caspian. Go!" I shouted. "but they'll imprisoned you'' He shouted back at me. "I'll find a way out" I reassured him.

He nodded at me, turning around and running. I ran back, dodging the arrows shouted at me. A horn was suddenly shoved in my face.

"Take it! It's more important than I am!" Trufflehunter insisted. I looked at the creature, to the guards, and back.

"Hold onto it." I instructed, scooping up the injured badger. Just as I was about to head the other way, one of the guards shouted in pain and fell. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion, and seeing rustling in the grass, turned around and ran as fast as I could while still trying to remain gentle. I caught up with Nikabrik and Caspian. I set Trufflehunter in the dwarf's arms.

"Get him out of here." I commanded. Nikabrik nodded, and ran off. I drew my sword.

"Caspian, you too."

"Not a chance." He said, drawing his sword. We both waited for the guards, but there was only one left, who was pointing his crossbow at the ground, and spinning around quickly in panic. He dropped it and drew a sword, beginning to hack away at the plants.

"Where are you!?" He shouted. He let out a yell as he collapsed. I shared a look with Caspian before the movement in the grass showed me someone, or something was coming. Before I knew it, Caspian was on his back, and a rather large mouse was sitting on top of him. He wore a gold ring around his left ear that held a red feather, and he held a small blade at my friend's throat.

"Choose your last words carefully, Telmarine." He instructed, panting. My mouth dropped open in surprise.

"You are a mouse." Caspian said. The mouse sighed. "I was hoping for something a little more original."

I aimed my sword at the creature.

"Pick up your sword." The mouse told Caspian, ignoring me.

"Uh, no thanks."

"Pick it up! I will not fight an unarmed man."

"Which is why I might live longer if I chose not to cross blades with you, noble mouse." Caspian reasoned. I smirked at his cleverness.

"I said I will not fight you. I didn't say I'd let you live" The mouse exclaimed, pointing his blade at him.

"Reepicheep!" A familiar voice scolded. I closed my eyes and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. "Stay your blade!"
I looked to Caspian, an expression of relief evident on my face.

"Trufflehunter?" The mouse, Reepicheep,exclaimed. "I trust you have a very good reason for this untimely interruption."

"He doesn't. Go ahead." Nikabrik spoke. My eyes shot up as I glared at him. Trufflehunter pointed at Caspian.

"He's the one who blew the horn." He explained out of breath. "And this is the princess of Archenland." He said, gesturing at me. I sent the hostile mouse a timid smile.

"What?" Reepicheep asked.

"Then let him bring it forward." An unfamiliar, but soothing voice spoke. I looked up and my mouth hung open as I observed the centaurs in front of me.

"This is the reason we have gathered." He spoke. I looked at Caspian in shock and excitement. "Follow us." The centaur spoke. Reepicheep climbed off Caspian, and I took my friend's hand and helped him to his feet. "You alright?" I ask. He sent me a look before picking up his sword, sheathing it and answering sarcastically. "Ah yes, I'm totally fine after being attacked by a mouse." The centaurs led me, Caspian, and our new friends to an open spot in the woods. By the time we got there, it was dark. There were many creatures waiting there. Centaurs, Minotaurs, Fauns, and creatures of the like. Caspian was led to the middle of the circle, while me, Reep, Nikabrik, and Trufflehunter sat on the side. The lead centaur broke the silence.

"Let's begin."

The queen to the just Edmund Pevensie storyWhere stories live. Discover now