Guardian of Narnia

Chapter 19

"Alex!" The elf looked up to see Trufflehunter running towards her. He came to a stop and took several deep breaths before speaking again. "They're back."

Alex nodded and looked down at the sleeping queen, shaking her arm gently.

"Lucy," she said.

The girl stirred and stretched a little.

"Hm?" she asked, still half asleep.

"They're back," Alex told her.

Lucy nodded and quickly rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The two girls stood up and followed after the talking badger. When they got outside, they saw the Narians walking back to the How.

But something seemed different this time. Alex's eyes widened slightly when she realized what had happened.

The mission was a failure. Their numbers had decreased significantly and everyone wore looks of grief on their faces.

"What happened?" Lucy asked sadly.

"Ask him," Peter replied, motioning with his head to Caspian.

"Peter," Susan said.

"Me?" Caspian questioned. "You could have called it off. There was still time."

"No, there wasn't, thanks to you," Peter said, stopping to look at the Telmarine prince. "If you had kept to the plan, those soldiers might be alive right now."

"And you'd just stay here, like I suggested, they definitely would be."

Alex stared at the boys in shock.

What had happened?

"You called us, remember?" Peter said.

"My first mistake."

"No. Your first mistake was thinking you could lead these people."

Peter started walking away.

"Hey!" Caspian shouted, making him stop. "I am not the one who abandoned Narnia."

"You invaded Narnia. You have no more right to lead it than Miraz." Caspian pushed past him, heading for the How. "You, him, your father!" Caspian froze. "Narnia's better off without the lot of you."

Caspian grabbed his sword and pulled it out of its sheath with a yell. Peter pulled his sword out as well.

"Stop it!" Edmund shouted.

Glenstorm came forward, holding Trumpkin in his arms. Edmund and Susan helped to gently set the dwarf on the ground.

"Trumpkin," Alex muttered.

She and Lucy hurried towards them, followed by Trufflehunter. Lucy grabbed her cordial and knelt beside the red dwarf. Alex glanced over her shoulder when she noticed Caspian walk into the How, Nikabrik following after him.

Windmane caught Alex's eye as she looked at her husband, who grabbed his shoulder. Glenstorm held his wife's gaze for a brief moment before looking down at the ground, making the female centaur begin to cry softly. Alex looked back to look for their sons. She only counted two. Rainstone was missing. Alex looked at Ironhoof and Suncloud, the other sons. Ironhoof shook his head while Suncloud put an arm around his father's shoulders.

Looking back at Lucy, who poured a drop of her medicine into Trumpkin's mouth. After a moment, he inhaled sharply and opened his eyes to look at Lucy.

"What are you all standing around for?" he asked. Alex smiled. "The Telmarines will be here soon enough."

"At least we know he's alright," Alex commented, causing a few Narnians to chuckle.