The Guardian of Narnia

XII

The next morning, Elvira was awoken by someone walking in front of her. Lucy was walking away into the forest. Elvira gently wriggled out of Peter's embrace, accidentally waking him up. She placed a finger to her lips and stood up quietly. She followed her, with Peter on her (figurative) tail. Lucy was standing near a tree. A growl broke the silence. Elvira saw a minotaur and gulped.

"Aslan?" Lucy said, too loudly. Elvira snuck up behind her and put her hand over her mouth, dragging her back. She struggled until she noticed who it was. Peter signalled Lucy to be quiet, drew his sword, and slowly started walking towards the minotaur. Suddenly, a man, a Telmarine, came out of nowhere. Peter and the Telmarine began fighting. Elvira pulled Lucy out of the way as Peter swung, but missed, the sword sticking into the tree. The Telmarine kicked Peter and he fell. Elvira's brain suddenly clicked.

"Stop!" she yelled, her voice piercing both the Telmarine's and Peter's attention. The Telmarine picked up Rhindon, Peter's sword, and pointed it threateningly at the owner. Elvira stood in front of the blade. Peter took her hand in his, behind her.

"Prince Caspian," she said, trying to calm the two panting fighters.

"Yes. And who are you?" Caspian asked, his upper lip curled in hostility.

"Peter!" Susan called. She, Edmund and Trumpkin ran up. Caspian's eyes drifted to the sword's hilt and saw the lion head. He looked up at Peter.

"High King Peter?" he asked, to confirm his suspicions. He lowered the sword.

"I believe you called," Peter replied, pulling Elvira to his side, protectively.

"Well yes, but... I thought you'd be older," Caspian pointed out.

"Well, if you'd like, we can come back in a few years," Peter said sarcastically. Elvira smiled slightly from next to Peter.

"No! No, that's alright. You're just... You're not exactly what I expected," Caspian said.

"In retrospect, neither are you," Elvira pointed out. Caspian discreetly looked at Susan. Elvira looked at the minotaur that Lucy mistook for Aslan.

"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes," she murmured.

"We have anxiously awaited your return, my liege. Our hearts and swords are at your service," said a mouse to Peter. Reepicheep.

"Oh my gosh, he is so cute," Lucy whispered to Susan. Without warning, Reepicheep drew his sword.

"Who said that?!" he said.

"...Sorry," Lucy said louder.

"Oh, uh... your majesty," Reepicheep said awkwardly, sheathing his sword, "With the greatest respect... I do believe courageous, courteous, or chivalrous might more befit a knight of Narnia."

"Well, at least we know some of you can handle a blade," Peter said.

"Yes, indeed. And I have recently put it to good use acquiring weapons for your army, sire," Reepicheep said.

"Good. Because we are going to need every sword we can get," Elvira said.

"Well then, you'll probably be wanting yours back," Caspian said to Peter. He gave Peter his sword. He sheathed it and lead the others to Aslan's How.

~

We reached Aslan's How, Centaurs flanking the sides of the entrance, swords raised. Elvira led the Pevensies into the How, in her lion form, which had slightly shocked Caspian. A child centaur was holding his sword a little too low, causing Elvira to smile. The Pevensies, Caspian and Elvira entered the How to see Narnians making weapons.

"It may not be what you are used to, but it is defensible," Caspian said.

"Peter, you may want to see this," Susan called. The Pevensies, carrying torches, looked at the ancient engravings on the walls, which showed them as Kings and Queens. And Elvira as Guardian. She saw Caspian look at her. She returned his look.

"It's us," Susan observed.

"What is this place?" Lucy asked Caspian.

"You don't know?" Caspian replied. He picked up a torch and led them down a dark tunnel. Elvira gently padded next to him.

"You are Elvira? The Guardian of Narnia?" he asked her.

"Yes, Prince," she replied.

"I thought you were dead after the Battle with the White Witch," he said. She looked at him.

"How do you know of Narnia's history, Prince Caspian?" she asked him.

"Stories," he replied.

"From your father?" she asked. Caspian looked down. His father was a sore subject for him.

"My Professor," he said curtly.

"My apologies, Prince," Elvira said quietly, "I saw your father. He was a great and good man." Caspian walked ahead, without replying. He lit a fire that spread across the room, revealing carvings of Narnians and my brother... and the fractured Stone Table. Elvira walked up to her brother's carving.

"He must know what he's doing," Lucy said.  Peter was standing next to Elvira, his hand on her head.

"I believe it is up to us now," she said quietly. The children crowded around the carving and look at it. Elvira quietly prayed to him, asking for guidance and help.

~

In the Stone Table room, Peter and Elvira were discussing strategies with the Narnians. Elvira was in human form and Peter had her by his side.

"It's only a matter of time. Miraz' men and war machines are on their way. That means those same men aren't protecting his castle," Peter said.

"What do you propose we do, Sire?" Reepicheep asked.

"We-"

"Our-" Caspian and Peter both spoke simultaneously. Peter turned to look at Caspian, who conceded. Elvira shared a look with the mouse knight.

"Our only hope is to strike them before they strike us," Peter said.

"But that's crazy, no one has ever taken that castle," Caspian said.

"There's always a first time," Peter replied.

"We'll have the element of surprise," Elvira said.

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

"If we dig in, we could probably hold them off indefinitely," Susan pointed out.

"I, for one, feel safer underground," said a badger, named Trufflehunter.

"Listen, Caspian, I appreciate what you have done for us, but this is not a fortress, it is a tomb," Elvira said to Caspian gently.

"Yes, and if the Telmarines are smart, they'll just starve us out," Edmund said.

"We could collect nuts!" exclaimed a young squirrel.

"Oh yes, and throw them at the Telmarines! ...Shut up!" Reepicheep scolded the squirrel. He turned to Peter, "I think you know where I stand on this, Sire."

"If I can get your troops in, can you handle the guards?" Peter asked Glenstorm, the centaur.

"Or die trying, my liege," Glenstorm replied.

"That's what I'm worried about," Lucy said, having not said anything since the conversation started.

"Sorry?" Peter said.

"Well, you're all acting like there are only two options; Dying here, or dying there," Lucy said.

"I'm not sure you've really been listening, Lu," Peter said.

"No, you're not listening. Or have you forgotten who really defeated the White Witch, Peter?" Lucy argued. A couple of eyes turned to Elvira, including Peter's. She looked down to her fiddling hands.

"I believe we need to go with what we think. Aslan would want us not to rely on him coming," she said quietly. Peter wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and rubbed affectionately. She suddenly found it difficult to swallow and hid her face in Peter's chest.