After the End (Narnia)

Chapter XX - A Nation at War

Things had changed since Edmund had woken up. He had long since identified Harriet as the angel that had made his time 'asleep' brighter, and he had treated her appropriately. For once, he seemed to have someone who cared for him deeply. It was a nice feeling.

His burst of sudden energy and wellness upon waking up had gradually faded, making Edmund feel invalided once more. Thankfully, he had plenty of time to rest. His days were mostly spent walking in the garden with Harriet, occasionally reading in the library or exploring the so-called 'heritage wing' of the castle. They had recently found a shared passion for history, and they constantly quizzed each other on battles and the funniest names of nobles.

"I have one for you," said Edmund as they walked in the garden one sunny morning. "Who was the handsomest Narnian king?"

"Oh, it would have to be Caspian," Harriet joked. "I have a thing for those flowing locks of his."

"Not me?" Edmund pouted.

"Nope. Sorry!" Harriet teased.

"Well I guess I'll just have to convince you otherwise," said Edmund, pecking Harriet on the lips.

Jill and Eustace witnessed the whole scene from where they sat reading under a tree. "Eddie and Harriet are at the affectionate stage? Who would have known?" Eustace said sarcastically.

"We're probably just as bad, Eustace," Jill speculated.

"I didn't hear that," Eustace winked.

It was a strange effect, that of a war. Everyone seemed to be making up for lost time, knowing that every moment could be their last. The various war meetings and strategizing sessions intermingled with romantic wandering in the forest and gifts from 'secret admirers'. Cair Paravel filled with fear and romance, a strange compound fuelled by exhilaration. Almost every Narnian spent their days in the arms of a loved one. The mood surrounding the castle had changed, but whether it was for better or for worse was still up in the air.

--------

Shadows danced in the war room as Caspian, Peter and Glenstorm sat at the broad table that dominated the space. "I have called you here because a new development has been made in regards to the war," Caspian began. "Others will be arriving soon who also have war experience, namely in matters against dark magic. I'll explain the situation then. This issue needs to be addressed as soon and as expertly as possible - we need as much help as we can get."

"So, tell us," Peter said, leaning forward onto the table. "What is this new development?"

Caspian sighed, running his hands through his hair. "There has been sight of a camp being formed outside the castle gates, a few kilometres away, over the river. We have yet to catalogue the occupants, but Jadis is definitely among them. It can be assumed that the camp is full of sympathisers. Naturally, a camp being made shows signs of an attack that is near. We need to formulate both a defensive and offensive strategy to protect Cair Paravel, to ensure we are ready at any moment's notice. From now on, all Narnians must be armed at all times."

--------

The armoury was a flurry of activity, the production line of restoration extending out of the large space. Here, all hands were at work, sharpening, polishing and restoring every sword, axe and bow in the Narnian supply. A makeshift shooting range had been constructed on the lawn, with a group of Narnians to check the quality of the bows and arrow-shooters. The smell of metal and sweat permeated the air, the fear and excitement of war brought to the forefront of every citizen's mind.

Edmund sat in a corner, sharpening his sword lovingly. This sword had been his favourite since his adventures on the Dawn Treader, and even though it had never been as impressive as Peter's, he had always been proud of it. It had served him through thick and thin, and he was looking forward to fighting with it by his side yet again.

Reepicheep was in his element, having taken control of the weapons operation. He had never craved violence, but the control of an army was something he excelled at. The control of his blade as it whipped through the air, the sound of battle cries, the sweet taste of victory and the fight for a noble cause never failed to fill him with a surge of adrenaline. They would be ready, he would be ready, when they attacked.

Susan stood with the weapon testers on the lawn, holding her bow and arrow with practised ease. She had been rather out of practise when she arrived in True Narnia, but within weeks muscle memory had kicked in and she had been shooting targets as well as she used to. Now she had regained her place as the head of the Narnian archery core, where she truly felt at home. Susan had been spending the past few days running a harsh training regime for the archers in the castle, working alongside Reepicheep as he trained the swordsmen and Oreius as he trained the cavalry. She felt busier, but more satisfied than ever.

Edmund continued to observe from the outskirts of the operation, wishing that he could be involved in something more than spectating. He wished that his leg weren't as weak as they currently were from weeks in bed, that his eyes weren't weary after the shortest time, that his arms were strong enough to shoot a target, to fight for the land he loved. All he needed was time. After all, when they faced the White Witch, he wanted to defeat her. Once, and for all.

[Author's Notes]

Hey Readers!

First of all, Happy Easter Sunday. He is risen! Hope everyone is having a good break.

So unlike the last edition of the book, chapter twenty is not the final chapter (yay!). The new edition has thirty full-length chapters, so more is still to come. As you might have guessed, the plot development is quite different, but I personally think it's way better.

I'm going to a writer's camp next week, so I hope it will help me bring more quality content to all you amazing humans. This, as long as Camp NaNoWriMo (with a different WIP) will probably take up a significant part of my time, but I should be able to upload as usual next Sunday.

Have a great week!

Sincerely.

The Author