War of Hearts

Chapter Nine

Disclaimer: I own nothing affiliated with the Chronicles of Narnia franchise.

The Fords of Beruna – the place where the Great River of Narnia was met by the River Rush, the two bodies of water merging to create the swirling, fast running channel between Miraz's armies and the surviving Narnians. Telmarine workers labored on in their task of constructing a bridge across the Fords that would be wide enough for the Telmarine army to cross and lay waste to their enemies, the Narnians. The stench of sweat and men festered beneath the sweltering sun, sawdust flying up in clouds with each pass of the saw. Hammers, axes and the shouts of men shattered any hope of serenity and silence on the river bank.

"Well done, lads."

"Move it faster, mate."

"Too slow!"

The sun rose in the sky, and just as it reached its position directly overhead, the final wooden beam was tied and hammered into place, completing the bridge. The only deterrent that the Narnian force had possessed was no longer an obstacle.

~

In the heart of Miraz's castle, the council chamber and throne room was cloaked in silence. The sunlight filtered through the iron barred windows, mixing with the light emitted from the torches littered along the stone walls. The room was massive and rectangular in shape, although the far corners were tapered into diagonals, creating a trapezoidal shape. The far wall, as well as the diagonal walls, were covered in floor to ceiling windows, the glass panes overlaid with steel mesh. Wrought iron chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the candles that lined the metal at full blaze. The floor dipped in the center, two steps leading down to the main floor of the chamber, 8 high-backed chairs lining either side.

The chairs were very much a representation of everything that was Telmarine. Their structure was of dark wood, the high backs towering easily 3 feet above the head of the average man. The metal spikes that rose from the rounded top of the seats, as well as the inlaid metalwork designs on the sides and backs of the chairs characterized the Telmarines. Almost everything that was Telmarine was dark black or grey leather and metal, always dark and always foreboding.

In the center of the far side of the room there was a great throne preceded by a set of inclining stone steps. It was larger than the others in the room, great metal spires rising on either side, stopping about 15 feet in the air and joined together by ornate metal work in the shape of the coat of arms of the Telmarine Empire: an 8 pointed star of golden, brassy metal.

Many of the chairs each had a Telmarine lord poised in front of it, straight backed and solemn – although since the death of King Caspian IX, many of the seats in the council chamber had been mysteriously vacated. Standing to the side of the throne, General Glozelle stood with his hands clasped in front of him. Glozelle was a battle hardened man, and although he appeared to be in his late 30s or early 40s, he was in fact only 34. His tall stature and solid frame gave the man a factor of intimidation; his scruffy goatee and matching dark, curly hair paired with his dark eyes and thick eyebrows making the man a notable presence in the chamber. Age lines were already apparent on the man's face, and if the light reflected off his hair at certain angles, you could see the grey hairs that were already beginning to appear – clear indicators of the stress and responsibilities of being the general of the Telmarine army and a confidant of Miraz.

The thick wooden door opposite the throne swung open as Miraz strode in, a thick fur coat draped over his shoulders and trailing on the floor behind him. Miraz was a cruel looking man, his dark eyes filled with greed and ambition, the occasional flicker of jealousy visible. His black hair was cropped close to his head, and his matching beard tapered to a point, the end of his beard passing the end of his chin by an inch or two. With no hesitation, the tanned man strode toward the throne on the opposite side of the room, never once breaking his stride. This was the moment he had been waiting for. As he moved toward the awaiting throne, Telmarine lords began to declare their support against the brutal Narnian force that had attempted to invade the castle just the night before.