Beyond the Horn

CHAPTER 16 PART 1: ANNALIESE

"They've seen us!" Lucy gasped, her small hands gripping Annaliese's waist as Destrier fled through the woods. Annaliese held the reins tightly, but loose enough that the ebony horse was given his head. Caspian had allowed them to ride his beloved horse because of his unusual speed and lithe step.

Apparently he wasn't quite fast enough though, because a group of Telmarine soldiers had spotted them and were gaining on them, fast.

What were they going to do? Annaliese's head spun as she tried to think of something. She had her bow and arrows, but she shuddered to think of killing anyone else.

There were at least ten Telmarines riding hard after them, the sunlight glinting off their shiny armor and hurting Annaliese's eyes.

"Aslan, help us," she prayed, glancing back at them and then turning her focus to guiding Destrier through the forest.

A war cry suddenly rang out, but it was not the Telmarines'. Rather, it was a familiar dark-haired young prince who charged into their midst on the back of a chestnut horse, and in several smooth sweeps of his sword slew all of them.

"Caspian," Annaliese breathed, and she slowed Destrier to look back at the prince.

He jerked his horse to a stop, and the creature pranced in place, sidestepping slightly, tossing his great head, but Annaliese hardly noticed the horse. Caspian's dark eyes locked with her light ones, and the way he looked at her sent shivers up her spine.

Caspian gave her a sharp nod, and Annaliese returned it. Seizing the reins, she gave Destrier a quick kick and they were off once more, deeper and farther into the forest.

Annaliese looked back once, and saw Caspian still watching her. He had followed her and Lucy, to protect them. She would have to thank him later, when everything was all over.

If it would ever be over...

Lucy's arms were wrapped around her waist, and they tightened suddenly. "Another one! Annaliese, look out!"

Annaliese whipped her head around and just barely avoided a Telmarine soldier's sword as he swung it toward her head. She yanked Destrier to the left and urged him on faster. "Come on, come on, come on—,"

Out of nowhere came an earth shattering roar that echoed through the forest, bouncing from the sky and the ground all at once. It filled Annaliese up to her very core, even as it frightened Destrier and she and Lucy tumbled to the ground.

They both sat up and stared with wide, excited eyes at the beautiful golden lion standing before them. He looked at them with kind, caring eyes for a moment before he pounced upon the Telmarine with bared teeth and sharp claws. The girls couldn't see what he did then, for he took the Telmarine down a small hill, out of sight.

Annaliese scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding wildly. It was Aslan. It was him! At long last, she could finally speak with him.

Lucy was obviously of the same mindset, for both girls joined hands and stumbled down after Aslan.

He stood waiting for them, gazing at them with such gentleness, love, and wisdom that He literally took Annaliese's breath away.

"Aslan," Lucy whispered, and began to laugh with complete joy. She ran forward and tackled Aslan, wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzling her face in his mane. A deep laugh rumbled out of the lion, and Annaliese couldn't contain her smile as she watched them.

"I knew it was you! The whole time, I knew it! Well, I and Annaliese and Kara, that is," Lucy was saying.

"But the others didn't believe us," Annaliese added. She folded her hands behind her back and couldn't seem to meet Aslan's gaze.