The Guardian of Narnia

XVI

"To arms, Telmar! To arms!" called a Commander. The Telmarines raised their weapons and cheer.

"Cavalry... charge!" the Commander yelled. The Telmarines charged. Elvira transformed into her lioness form, slightly startling a few of the soldiers who noticed. She looked at Caspian, who nodded and rode back into the How on horseback where hundreds of Narnians were waiting inside.

"One, two, three..." Peter began to count. Elvira joined in.

"Four, five, six..." she continued.

"Seven, eight, nine... Get ready!" Peter yelled. Vibrations shot through the ground as the Narnians below began smashing the stone pillars below. The ground collapsed and most of the Telmarine horses fell into the pit. On Susan's command, arrows fell into the pit as well, hitting Telmarines. At the end of the pit, a platform was lowered and Caspian led the Narnians out into the sun, and circled around to the Telmarine cavalry. As the battle continued, Peter looked at Elvira.

"Lucy..." he said. She shook her head.

"Fall back! Back to the How!" Peter yelled. The Narnians began retreating towards Aslan's How. The Telmarine trebuchets launched rocks at the How. Debris from the How fell down and blocked the entrance and fell around the archers. Susan fell from one level to another, but stood up unharmed. Edmund drew his sword. Peter, Edmund and Elvira exchanged glances. Then, announced by the lioness' roar, they all charged, led by Peter.

A few Telmarines ganged up on Caspian, and he fell into the pit.

"Peter!" Elvira yelled. He turned and saw Caspian in the pit. As he ran over, Elvira barrelled into a soldier that was following Peter. The Telmarines continued launching rocks, and one of them knocked over a tree. Another tree stuck a root into the ground. It came up further down, taking out a trebuchet.

"For Aslan!" Peter yelled and led the charging Narnians. The Telmarines reached the bridge and begin crossing. Halfway down, the leader brought the army to a halt. Lucy stood on the other side, apparently alone. She drew her dagger and smiled. If Elvira was human, she would have started crying as her brother joined her. She ran over to him and stood next to him.

"Charge!" yelled the leader of the Telmarines. They began charging towards us. The two lions roared and they completely stopped. The water beneath the bridge started behaving strangely. Then it shot up and formed the rivergod. The rivergod lifted up the bridge and soldiers fell off. The leader stood alone on the bridge in the rivergod's hands. He swung his sword wildly as the water came crashing down on him. The Telmarines climbed out of the water, handing their swords to the Narnians. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Caspian knelt before the two lions.

"Rise, kings and queens of Narnia," Aslan said. Peter, Susan and Edmund rose.

"All of you," Elvira added, smiling down at Caspian. He looked up at her.

"I do not think I am ready," he said.

"It's for that very reason we know that you are," Aslan said. Elvira looked up at the sound of music. Several mice walked up, carrying Reepicheep on a little stretcher. Lucy gave Reepicheep a drop from her cordial. He breathed and sat up.

"Oh, thank you, Your Majesty..." Reepicheep said to Lucy. He saw Aslan.

"Oh, hail Aslan! It is a great honor to be-" Reepicheep began and whilst speaking, tried to bow, but stumbled forward. He looked behind to see his tail missing.

"I am completely out of countenance. I must crave your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion. Perhaps a drop more?" Reepicheep asked Lucy.

"I don't think it does that," Lucy said, reluctance in her voice.

"You can have a go," Reepicheep said. Elvira chuckled slightly.

"It becomes you well, Small One," she said.

"All the same, great Guardian, I regret that I must withdraw. For a tail is the honor and glory of a mouse," Reepicheep said.

"Perhaps you think too much of your honour, friend," Elvira replied.

"Well, it's not just the honor. It's also great for balance... and climbing... and grabbing things," Reepicheep wagered. Elvira looked at her brother, who smiled. The other mice drew their swords and held them to their tails.

"May it please your high Majesty, we will not bear the shame of wearing an honor denied to our chief," said a mouse. Aslan laughed.

"Not for your honor, but for the love of your people..." Aslan said. Reepicheep's tail grew back. He looked around, moving quickly, in his delight.

"Oh, look! Thank you, thank you, my liege! I will treasure it always! From this day forward, it will serve as a great reminder of my huge humility," Reepicheep said. Both Aslan and Elvira laughed.

"Now, where is this dear little friend you've told me so much about?" Aslan asked Lucy. Trumpkin looked over nervously. He slowly walked over and bowed before Aslan. He roared and Trumpkin shuddered.

"Do you see him now?" Lucy asked. Everyone laughed at the dwarf, who tried to hide his smile.