My King // Peter Pevensie

THREE

After learning all we could of the Narnians that were still alive, Caspian and I set out to find them. Trufflehunter, the badger, tried to convince us otherwise. He believed that we should wait for the Kings and Queens to come and find us first, but I assured him that if they were worth waiting for, they would not have left.

Halfway through our journey, I heard the faintest of bickering behind us paired with little scurrying sounds in the tall grass.

Caspian looked at me rolling his eyes. "We can hear you." Trufflehunter and Nikabrik peeked out from a pair of trees.

"I just think we should wait for the Kings and Queens."

I sighed. "You should really stop having so much faith in them." Caspian and I turned to keep walking.

"Fine! Go then! See if the others will be as understanding."

"Maybe I'll come with you." Nikabrik said, trailing along. "I want to see you explain things to the minotaurs." Caspian and I widened our eyes, turning back to the two.

"Minotaurs?" he asked. "They're real?"

"And very bad tempered." Trufflehunter caught up.

"Not to mention big."

"Huge."

"What about centaurs?" I chimed in. "Do they still exist?"

"Well the centaurs will probably fight on your side. But there's no telling what the others will do."

"What about Aslan?" I looked at Caspian as he had stopped before asking.

The others turned to look at each other then back at Caspian. "How do you know so much about us?" Nikabrik asked.

"Stories." I answered.

"Wait a minute." Trufflehunter said. "Your father told you stories about Narnia?" he asked in awe.

"No, our professor." Caspian's eyes were fixed on the ground. "Listen, I'm sorry. These are not the kind of questions you should be asking." He took my hand and we moved on ahead of the Narnians.

"What is it?" Nikabrik's sudden anxiousness drew both my and my brother's attention.

Trufflehunter was sniffing the air. "Human."

"Them?"

"No." he turned to look behind us. "them."

Suddenly, a group of Talmeranian soldiers came bursting from the forest. "There they are!" one shouted.

"Run!"

My brother grabbed my hand and we bolted through the trees. I heard whistling past my ears as arrows flew. I dodged and ducked as we sprinted through the forest. Behind me, I heard a cry and turned to see Trufflehunter on the ground, an arrow stuck in his back. I sprinted towards him to pick him up, but he held up the horn.

"Here! Take it! It's more important than I am!" I snatched it and hurriedly wrapped it in my belt. Caspian ran to my side and picked Trufflehunter up. We ran as fast as we could, not looking back.

Caspian caught up to Nikabrik and handed Trufflehunter to him. "Get them out of here." he said. I grabbed his arm and gave him a hard stare.

"No, Cas. I'm staying."

"Mila-" I didn't give him time to say any more. I drew my sword and turned to the...

They were gone.

Only one remained, but he was not shooting at us. He had dropped his crossbow and was hacking at the grass with his sword. I cocked my head in confusion as he was knocked over by something. He screamed then ceased to make any more noise.

My eyes squinted to see a small something crawling through the grass. Surely this was not what killed those men. Suddenly, a small creature leaped from the ground, knocking my brother to the ground.

"Choose your last words carefully, Telmarine!" he was speaking.

My brother stuttered. "You are a mouse."

The thing sighed. "I was hoping for something a little more original. Pick up your sword."

"Uhh... no thanks."

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

"Which is why I might live longer if I choose not to cross blades with you, noble mouse." I held in a chuckle as I could hear the bit of sarcasm in his voice.

"I said I would not fight you. I didn't say I would let you live."

"Reepicheep!" Trufflehunter said. "Stay your blade."

"Trufflehunter?" Reepicheep said. "I trust you have a very good reason for this very untimely interruption."

"He doesn't. Go ahead." I glared at Nikabrik for that sarcastic comment.

Trufflehunter sighed. "He's the one who blew the horn."

"What?" the mouse lowered his very small blade.

"Then let him bring it forward." my mouth hung open as I witnessed several, large centaurs emerge out of the brush. "This is the reason we have gathered." the largest one said. I held up the ivory horn to them and the group nodded.