After the End (Narnia)

Chapter XXII - Sirens and Summons

Sirens wailed in the background. "It will be okay," her mother chanted, holding Lucy close. Tears streamed down their faces as a shell flew past their little shelter. "Get down!" Peter screamed as the shrapnel hit the outside of the structure. They cowered in a heap together, trying to ignore the sound of destruction in the background. The small comforts they had brought into the shelter had barely helped. The books and toys had been forgotten in the terror of the situation. Edmund cried in the corner as the bombs flew overhead. The sound broke Lucy's heart.

Another siren. The all clear. Helen Pevensie let go of Lucy and unlocked the door with shaky hands. The cold metal of their shelter was a stark contrast to the outside world. Everything was burning. Pieces of scrap metal littered the streets as ash rained down from the sky. Cries rung out through Finchley, desperate people, dying people. The Pevensies stumbled out into their garden, Edmund clutching at their father's portrait as if it were a lifeline.

A woman emerged from the blackness, her eyes red from weeping and smoke. "My son!" she screamed desperately. "Have you seen my son?"

Lucy awoke with a start. Tears were flowing down her face. All was fine in the world, she assured herself. She was in True Narnia. The war was over. There were no bombs, the fire did not exist. She stepped out of bed, pulling on her dressing gown. This morning is remarkably cold, she thought as she walked down the hall.

Susan's room was silent as she slept. Lucy tiptoed over to the side of her bed, crawling under the covers. "Susan?" she said sleepily. "I had a nightmare." Susan rolled over, enveloping her younger sister in a hug.

Suddenly, the sound of a horn rung out throughout the castle. Susan leapt out of bed. "We need to get dressed and go to the Great Hall, quickly. Come on, Lucy."

"Wait, what's happening?" Lucy asked. Susan was already getting dressed, fetching her bow from beside the bed.

"That's our summons. The enemy have started making their way towards us," she explained. Lucy ran out of the room to dress and fetch her own healing cordial and dagger. She wanted to be part of the fight this time.

The Great Hall was a flurry of activity as sleepy Narnians handed weapons and armour to each other in a steady production line. Caspian oversaw the operation confidently, already dressed in his armour. He looks so handsome, Susan thought absently. No, Susan focus! She walked to retrieve a fresh supply of arrows and a small dagger. She walked to her archers with a wide smile. "Let's do this for Narnia!" she cried. "Are you ready?"

The last of the archers joined the core and Susan moved them outside and into formation. The sun was barely rising above the Western Woods, its golden rays promising only bloodshed and war. The enemy army could be seen at the edge of the woods. They have a cavalry, Susan thought. That hasn't happened before. From so far away she couldn't tell whether they were humans on horseback or centaurs, but they would be hard to shoot at either way. "Right, archers," she projected. "We seem to have a cavalry situation. We need to make sure we shoot ahead of the army's current position if we're shooting at moving targets. We will shoot at the same time to ensure we have as much impact as possible, so you only shoot on orders from me, unless in self-defence situation. Is that clear?" There was a chorus of agreement. "Okay, lets move to higher ground."

Caspian stood in front of the infantry as they prepared their armour. "Men and women of Narnia, we are working on a defensive strategy. We will hold our position about two kilometres away from the castle, beyond the gates. This gives us more time to fight the enemy before they reach the castle and the dwellings of those who live in the forest. Our opponents may be using dark magic, so it is important to disarm them of any wand-like objects immediately. Do you understand?" A cheer swelled up from the crowd, morphing into a rousing chant.

"I think they're ready, don't you?" Peter whispered to Caspian with a chuckle.

"We will advance to our position now. Forward, march!" Caspian commanded. The cavalry, having received their own pep talk, quickly followed. The steady tramp of feet echoed across the lawns, accompanied by the clinking of armour and the excited chatter of experienced fighters. Now was the time.

Edmund and Harriet watched the action from the first-aid procession that followed behind the rest of the troops. Edmund had been told he was not yet well enough to fight on horseback or on foot, having been delegated to the first-aid section of the army. Harriet had been nominated to go with him, her lesser fighting experience putting her in danger.

Edmund had been grumbling the entire trip to the position, adjusting his grip on his sword constantly. He wanted to fight. He was perfectly capable. It was just Peter's over-protective spirit that had prevented him. Edmund might have been a little weaker from his illness, but fighting on horseback was still a real possibility for him. If only Peter had believed in him a little more. At least Harriet was by his side. Her bright personality could make even a dingy medical tent into a wonderland, and she seemed to feel the same way about not being able to fight. I guess Mum was right, Edmund thought with a chuckle. Misery does love company.

The army had finally reached their position. "Stay strong men and women of Narnia!" Peter yelled. "This is for the country we love. For Narnia!" The enemy army approached. The Narnians prepared to hold their ground.