The Guardian of Narnia

XI

The Pevensies, Elvira and the Dwarf, who was called Trumpkin, rowed down Glasswater. Elvira had transformed to her human form to help row the boat with Peter. Lucy looked up at the trees.

"They're so still," she said softly.

"They're trees. What do you expect?" Trumpkin said coldly.

"They used to dance," Lucy replied.

"It was not long after you left that the Telmarines invaded. Those that survived retreated to the woods. And the trees have retreated so deeply inside themselves that no one has heard from them since," Elvira said.

"I don't understand. How could Aslan have let this happen?" Lucy asked her.

"Aslan? I thought he abandoned us after you lot did," Trumpkin replied.

"We didn't mean to leave, you know," Peter said, next to Elvira.

"Doesn't make much difference now, does it?" Trumpkin said.

"Get us to the Narnians and it will," Peter said.

~

We finally reached the shore and Elvira jumped out, helping the others climb out of the boat. As Trumpkin tied the boat down, Elvira watched attentively and transformed quickly as Lucy wandered off and noticed a black bear.

"Hello there!" she called. The bear turned, having heard her, "It's alright, we're friends," she added. The bear stood and looked at Lucy. Elvira called to her, worried for her safety. This was a dumb animal.

"Do not move, Lucy!" she said. Suddenly the bear charged at the young queen. Elvira growled and barrelled into the bear. It was strong, but powerless against her fangs and claws. Lucy screamed and it put her off. She felt the bear's teeth sink into her right shoulder. She roared and bit into the bear's neck, blood filling her mouth. The muscles of the bear tensed, them relax. It was dead. Elvira turned to the others, spitting out the blood covering her tongue.

"Why wouldn't he stop?" Susan asked.

"I expect he was hungry," Elvira replied dryly. Lucy ran to her as the others followed. Her soft fingers went through the fur across Elvira's injured shoulder. She breathed in through her teeth.

"Sorry," she said.

"He was wild," Edmund said, looking at the dead bear.

"I don't think he could talk at all," Peter added.

"Get treated like a dumb animal long enough, that's what you become," Trumpkin said. He drew his knife.

"You may find Narnia a more savage place than you remember," he added as his short knife began to skin the bear.

~

The four Pevensies, Trumpkin and Elvira walked through the forest.

"I don't remember this way at all," Susan said.

"That's the problem with girls. You can't carry a map in your heads," Peter said, sending his two sisters a cheeky grin.

"That may be due to our heads containing something," Elvira replied, back in her human form, sending a smile in Peter's direction. He returned it and looked down, fiddling with the hilt of his sword in a nervous twinge.

"I wish he'd just listen to the DLF," Susan said.

"DLF?" Edmund asked.

"Dear Little Friend," Lucy responded.

"Oh, that's not patronizing, is it?" Trumpkin said. Elvira smiled and turned back. Peter stepped onto a rock passage and stopped.

"I'm not lost," he said quietly to himself.