Back in the Wardrobe

Chapter 5: The Ruins

"Now the third squadron will be stationed here," Peter said, pointing toward an area marked on the map. 

"I'll be with the archers. Elizabeth will help lead. Her, of course, directing the crossbow. We will be stationed here," Susan put in her input. Of course, she would not rest until everyone of Caspian's murders were killed.

"And I'll be with Susan, but not fighting," Lucy sighed dramatically.

"Lucy, you are only trained in the dagger. And Nathan will be with you, since he can't handle a blade," Edmund smirked.

"That was not a fair fight! You are trained and I am not!" Nathan exclaimed.

"A real man can handle a blade," Edmund pushed.

Nathan growled.

"Edmund, Nathan, act like civilized people!" Peter snapped at the two younger men arguing.

They glared between each other, while Peters sighed.

"Honestly Edmund, you could behave," Lucy said, purposely leaving her boyfriend out of the scolding.

Edmund glared at his sister, then stormed out of the tent. Peter started after him.

"Peter, dear, you should let him cool off. He's upset with Nathan still," Elizabeth whispered into the kings ear.

Peter sank back down into his chair. He picked up his map and continued planning.

Meanwhile Edmund had gone down to the orchards. Lucy siding with Nathan irked him. He wished Lucy knew what was going on with Nathan.Nathan was cheating on her. It upset him.

"Stupid Nathan," he muttered. 

A twig snapped.

"Who's there?" the Just king asked, grabbing his sword.

"I'm..." he heard a male voice say.

"For the hundredth time! Aslan said no questions until we make it to the ruins!" A female voice snapped.

Edmund knew that voice from somewhere... Marilyn! The girl from the Professors house!

"Marilyn! Is that you?" Edmund called.

"Why King Edmund! You look so much different from when I last saw you. Last time you were wearing khakis," Marilyn said. 

"And who's that with you? He looks familiar," Edmund said.

"I'm Caspian! For Peter's sake I've been trying to tell you this the whole way here! Edmund my friend, thank you for saving me from this crazy girl!" the slave exclaimed.

Edmund studied the bruised man. "Why it is you! I thought you were dead!"

"Wait a minute! So I've been traveling with a supposed dead king these past three days?" Marilyn said.

"I tried to tell you how many times?" Caspian laughed. It felt so good to be able to laugh.

"Aslan said no time for questions till we got here, your majesty," Marilyn said.

"Call me Caspian," the beaten king said.

"Come on you too. I'll take you to Lucy to get you fixed up. Susan will be glad to see you. She was talking of murdering everyone who had been part of your... Caspian come back!" Edmund called. At the mention of Susan, Caspian had run into the camp. 

He grabbed Susan around the waist and kissed her. Susan slapped him! "Sir you have got some nerve! Pig!"

"That wasn't very nice, my queen," Caspian smiled.

Susan's face turned to joy. "Caspian!" she squealed. She threw her arms around him.

"Wait a minute! Lucy get your cordial!" Peter said.

Lucy ran to get her cordial.

"So its really you?" Peter asked.

"Yes, Peter its really me. Who else knows that you were in always staring at Deriphlia." Caspian teased.

Peter turned beet red while Susan burst out laughing. Elizabeth looked at her fiancee funny. "And who is that?" Elizabeth demanded.

"A dryad," Susan said.

Lucy rushed in." Here you go!" she said handing the cordial to Caspian. 

Caspian took a small drop of the cordial, and healed before their eyes.

"Thank you Lucy. Now, who are your friends?" Caspian asked, referring to Nathan and Elizabeth.

"I'm Elizabeth, of Archland. I was sent to the world of the Kings and Queens on Aslan's orders. I had to deliver a prophecy, but i also ended up engaged to Peter," Elizabeth gave him some background information as she introduced herself.

"Pleasure to meet you. Peter, i never thought You would be lucky enough to find some girl actually willing to marry you," Caspian teased.

Peter shook his head.

"I'm Reeden. Tis a pleasure to meet you my King," The faun bowed.

"Its a pleasure to meet you as well," Caspian said.

"This is my boyfriend Nathan," Lucy introduced her beau to Caspian. 

Caspian took one glance at the teen and disliked him immediately.

"Oh Caspian! How did you survive?" Susan asked her love, her arms still around him.

"I stayed in the castle to help the women and children get out. As the last few were escaping I became surrounded by these men. They said all these weird words i had never heard, and i was frozen in the spot I stood.They captured me and threw me into the slave trade. A girl came and bought me. I tried to tell her who I was, but she kept saying that I had to be quiet until we reached the ruins. She was working under Aslan's orders. Well we ran into Edmund who apparently knew the girl. Her name is Marilyn. Then I came up here when I heard you were all her as well." Caspian explained.

"So marilyn, the girl from the Professors, is in Narnia under Aslan's order?" Peter asked.

His question was answered by Edmund and Marilyn walking into the tent.

"Seems you found Susan," Edmund teased his best friend.

"Susan, I hate to pry you off of Caspian, but we should tell everyone he's back and it might seem weird if you are hanging on him," Lucy teased her sister. But she had a point. Everyone had to be told about the kings return.

"My Kings and Queens, after telling everyone of King Caspian's survival, I should probably tell you my story, as well as what Aslan has shared with me," Marilyn said.

"I will be quite interested to hear what you have to say," Peter said. "But first we should tell everyone of Caspian's return."

Marilyn nodded, waiting in the tent as the kings and queens went around the camp sharing the arrival of Caspian with Everyone.