~By the Lion's Mane: The Call~

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Caspian led us into a cavernous room and lit oil in a trough that ran all the way around the space. We watched in awe as the room was lit, bathing everything in a warm golden glow.

Before us stood the ruins of the Stone Table, where Aslan had died to save Edmund. Surrounding it were ornate sculptures and golden reliefs on the walls of fauns and Animals and Aslan. Lucy went forward and ran her hands along the cool stone of the ancient cracked table. I hung back in silence with Edmund.

"He must know what he's doing," Lucy said, turning to the rest of us. We all looked at the image of Aslan standing behind the table.

Peter spoke firmly, setting his jaw. "I think it's up to us now."

I just stared at him, wondering how he could lose his faith so quickly. Surely he realized that Aslan had brought us back to Narnia?

I glanced around at everyone else's faces. Caspian's was blank, Susan's wore a look of pity for Lucy, Lucy looked sad and angry, and Edmund was frowning a bit. But no one voiced any disagreement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We slept in makeshift bedrooms, which were really just small sections of one large room, divided by blankets. We slept on piles of blankets and straw, the girls on one side, the boys on the other. It was better than what I had had in a year, but I needed to be alone with Edmund. I was determined to tell him I loved him, but it seemed like we were never alone. He was always with Peter and Caspian, planning or overseeing preparations.

We gathered around the Table for a meeting a few days after our arrival at the How. One of the fauns posted as a sentry had spotted a spy on horseback at the edge of the woods.

 "It's only a matter of time," Peter said. "Miraz's men and war machines are on their way." Here he paused, looking around at all of us. "That means those same men aren't protecting his castle."

Reepicheep, the Mouse, spoke up. "What do you propose we do, Your Majesty?" he asked eagerly. Caspian and Peter spoke at the same time. They looked at each other. After a moment, Caspian nodded shortly and looked away.

"Our only hope," Peter continued, "Is to strike them before they strike us."

"But that is crazy," Caspian answered. "No one has ever taken that castle."

Peter shrugged. "There's always a first time."

Trumpkin agreed. "We have the element of surprise."

"But we have the advantage here," Caspian argued.

Susan stepped up behind him. "If we dig in, we could probably hold them off indefinitely," she said with a glance towards the prince. I raised my eyebrow. Peter stared at her.

"I, for one, feel safer underground," said Trufflehunter the Badger.

Peter shook his head, turning back to Caspian. "Look. I appreciate what you've done here, but this isn't a fortress. It's a tomb."

Edmund jumped in from where he sat on a stone block next to me. "If they're smart, the Telmarines can just wait and starve us out." I nodded my agreement.

Pattertwig, a rather brainless Squirrel, chirped up. "We can store nuts!" he suggested zealously.

"Yes! We can throw them at the Telmarines!" Reepicheep said with mock enthusiasm. "Shut up," he finished. The Squirrel flinched.

"I think you know where I stand, sire," the Mouse said to Peter.

Peter turned to the Centaur general, Glenstorm. "If I get your troops in, do you think you can handle the guards?"