Our Long Awaited Return Book #8

Chapter 20 I can't and I won't

Verity's pov
When we reach the how Peter comes out immediately to see what Miraz's answer is.
He sees my distressed face, "What happened?"
I ran into his arms and burst into tears. My brother holds me tight.
"Lord Raven tied her to a chair and was about to kill her had we not come," Edmund explains.
"I suppose you've heard of him?" Andrew inquires.
"Yes," Peter replies, he leads me inside the how a strong arm around me.
"And Miraz has accepted the challenge," Edmund tells him.
"What's wrong?" Susan asks as Lucy, Ruth, and her come toward us.
Caspian and Leona follow behind them.
"Miraz has accepted," Edmund explains.
"No, what's happened to Verity, she looks like she's got in a fight. Those bruises on her face are awful." Ruth says.
"Lord Raven just made me sit in a chair, he was rough with it," I reply, trying to hide my scare.
"Oh, it was worse than that," Andrew shakes his head, "If we hadn't come at that time, he'd have killed her."
"Lord Raven?" Caspian inquires, "Stay away from him, ever since the death of his father, he's been blaming it on his younger cousin, Thornea. Everyone calls him crazy, because every girl he sees with blonde hair and brown eyes, he's convinced it's Thornea."
"So there's tons of girls like me in danger, even Ruth." I say."But why is he after me?"
"You are the closest one, who looks like her," Leona answers.
"He's not done with me yet," I tell him, "He threatened that he'd have vengeance tomorrow."
What Peter said next was unexpected, "I think Verity should go with Lucy, instead."
Susan nods in agreement.
"No," I protest, "You need me in the battle. I've got it all figured out."
"Peter, let her, if she is careful..." Andrew put in, he lay a hand on my shoulder.
"No," Susan puts her foot down, "You're only 14 years old, Verity; we can't lose you."
"Neither can we, Peter," I put in, "Look, only Miraz's marshalls have a chance of killing me. I'm sure he won't choose Lord Raven, who probably won't be able to see me up front with the other of Peter's marshalls."
"Do we have another choice?" Asks Ruth, hoping there is an answer.
"She's right; she has to take that risk," Peter nods, "Without her strategy last time, we could have lost more men."
"It wasn't just my strategy," I reply, "It was all of us."
"Peter," Susan grabs his arm, "Andrew," she then grabs his arm and drags them away, "I need to talk to you."
Lucy runs over to me, "Wish you'd just listen to Susan."
I put an arm around her."But I need to help the others; they need me; with ideas I use from our world, I can compose a good strategy that will help us win."
"But suppose you die?" Ruth asks, she steps over to squeeze my hand.
"Then I'll go to heaven; just trust Aslan, you two; that's one lesson you taught me," I explain, softly ruffling her hair.
I wipe a few tears away, "We'll all have to die someday."
Edmund puts his arm around me and another around Ruth, "But you're young, Verity, don't think of dying now."
When Susan, Peter, and Andrew return. I wait for their answer.
"Be careful, Verity," was Peter's only answer.
"You, too, you know," I reply.
I step over to squeeze my elder brother's hand gently, "Thanks." He answers."Now go, you have the battle to plan, and I have a duel to prepare for."
I grin at him as I go to the room of the Stone Table with Caspian, Edmund, Andrew, and Ruth following.

Leona's pov
I listen in as my brother and four of the Pevensies plan the battle.
"So I got a good look at the catapults," Verity explains; she unrolls a large piece of paper, revealing a picture of a catapult."They aren't as strong as they look."
She pauses and looks at each of them.
"Don't look at me, you said I was terrible at this," Ruth replies.
"That was when I was a brat; I think you are really good," Verity tells her, and she squeezes her hand.
"That's the first time you've complimented any of us," Edmund teases.
"Oh, really," she replies annoyed.
"She has," Andrew answers, "Many times."
"So what do we do?" I ask, but forget that I'm not involved in the meeting, but to my surprise, Verity doesn't seem angry at me.
"Remember what we did with the griffins at our first battle, Drew, Ed, Ruth?" She asks her siblings
"We used griffins and made them fly with rocks, which they threw down at the witch's army," Ruth grins.
"We can use the same method for the catapults," Andrew states, "However that barely gives us an advantage."
"We could find out a way to slow them down," Caspian suggests."There's a series of columns that hold up the ground underneath the how, that hold up the ground; if we could do it fast enough and break the columns while the Telmarines are charging, the ground will cave in underneath them."
"Brilliant, you and Glenstorm can be in charge of that, Peter, if he makes it," Verity swallows hard, "And if I do, too, Andrew and Edmund can lead the battle up front. Ruth, you'll be with the archers with Leona and Trumpkin."
"Alright," Ruth answers cheerfully.
"And you will make it," Andrew squeezes her hand, "Don't you worry."
I get tired and decide to leave for my sleeping quarters. I read more of Verity's book, and by now, I'm in a book called Romans. It's not a story, but it feels like it's a story.
"Ah! You're reading my book," Verity smiles, as she enters a few hours later.
"It's really interesting," I smile back, "What's Aslan like?"
"He's well, a lion, but he's a good one." She answers, "That's what Mr. Beaver told me the first time I asked. Lucy asked if he was safe.'Safe, who said anything about safe!' Mr. Beaver said.'Of course, he's not safe, but he's good.' That's all that matters, he's good."
"Do you think he'll help us?" I ask her.
"He's helped us before," she nods her head, "I was foolish to turn my back on him earlier."
I am comforted by my friend's words. I had often wondered about Aslan, I was scared of him because he was a lion, but now I want so badly to meet him.