Just Magnificent

5) ASLANS HOW

CHAPTER 5: ASLANS HOW

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It seemed to be getting sunnier and brighter the more they walked. Edmund didn't really start many conversations with the narnians so he just stayed to himself. Near the end of the long walk he looked to Peter.

"Do you think we can trust him?" Edmund asked Peter, glancing over at Caspian and then at his brother.
"Maybe. If the narnians trust him, then so do we" Peter said confidently.
Edmund immediately felt more at ease. If his brother was confident about it then he knew he could trust Caspian.
"It won't be easy.....going up against Telmarines..." Edmund reminded Peter.
"Well then...we'll just have to stay optimistic" Peter said nudging Edmund teasingly as they carried on walking, Peter keeping a smile on his face.
"It's good to see you smile" Edmund said sincerely as they got to the end of the path.
"Well...there's every reason to" Peter said, eyeing something in the distance. Edmund followed his brothers gaze and saw a large how made of stone, centaurs lining the entrance.
"This must be it" Peter said walking forward, and as usual, everyone followed.

The entrance to the How towered over all of the creatures surrounding it. The narnians buzzing with excitement that their king and queen had returned and could help them.
Peter looked at all of the centaurs lined up and smiled, feeling like a King again. He missed the feeling of having someone to help. He stood next to Lucy who seemed to be just as happy to see all of the narnians. Edmund walked into the How next to Susan, feeling a sense of adventure again. As they entered the How, they observed all of the narnians working on weapons and shields and they noticed how the stone walls caved in perfectly.
"It may not be what you're used to but, it is defensible" Caspian said and Peter slowly nodded, looking at the crumbling stone.

"Peter..."
The High King turned around and saw his sister near a tunnel of a sort, looking concerned.
"You May want to see this" Susan said and Peter, Edmund and Caspian all picked up a lighted stick and followed Susan and Lucy into the tunnel.
Peter walked in with his brothers and saw many drawings lining the walls, carved into stone. He saw all four of them, being coronated at cair paravel, and one with Susan and Lucy travelling with Aslan. It almost brought tears to his eyes.
"It's us..." Lucy whispered as she looked over to memories.
"What is this place?" She asked, looking over at Caspian who just furrowed his eyebrows.
"You don't know?" He asked, gaining no responses from them. He walked past them, leading the way down a dark, long hallway. Clearly intending to show them where they were. Edmund looked at the path ahead as Peter walked behind Caspian.

He led them all to a dark, hollow room that had stone walls lining it. Caspian lit one of the torches, which made a swift line of fire, lighting up the entire tomb. The light revealed a stone carving of Aslan on the far wall. Lucy stared at it in amazement as Susan and Edmund exchanged a glance.
Lucy slotted the broken stone table and walked over to it in shock, as familiar memories came back to her. She looked back at her sister.
"He must know what he's doing" she said, echoing Susan's words from the last time they were there. Susan smiled sadly, looking at the table in sorrow.
"I think it's up to us now" Peter said, his voice shaking a little as he looked up at the familiar stone lion.

Edmund had been wandering around, looking at weapons before he saw one of the trusted fauns, run in and talk to one of the Minotaurs.
It seemed urgent so he went over."What's going on?" He asked.
"We don't want to worry you your majesty but....I just spotted a Telmarine watching from the trees...they know we're here" the faun said with concern but bravery.
"Thank you for being so observant...I'll tell High King Peter straight away" Edmund said, trying to calm down the now quite frantic Narnians.
He ran back through the main room, where Lucy was sat on the stone table as Susan and Peter were deep in discussion.
"Pete..." Edmund said as he ran through.
Peter turned to look at his brother and could tell that it wasn't good news."One of the fauns out on watch saw....a Telmarine...." Edmund said "they know we're here which means..."
"They'll be planning an attack" Peter said, finishing the dreadful thought. He bit his lip and took and breath, needing a quick solution.
"Gather some narnians..." peter said to trufflehunter who nodded and scurried off.
"We need a meeting" he said in frustration and pure worry. But he was the high king and he wouldn't let any of his worry stand in the way of what mattered —— the narnians safety.
"It's only a matter of time" Peter said as Edmund sat down on the stone platform behind his brother.
"Miraz's men and war machines are on their way. Which means those same men aren't protecting his castle" Peter said, planning out the logistics.

"What Do you suppose we do your majesty?" Reepicheep asked.
"Start...."
"Start running for the..."
Caspian and Peter both spoke at the same time before casting a frustrated glance at eachother. Peter gave a sigh of grief.
"Our only hope...is to strike them before they strike up" he said matter of fact-ly.
Caspian looked at him in question.
"But that's crazy...no ones ever taken that castle" Caspian said.
"There's always a first time" Peter said challengingly, making Caspian even more doubtful.
"We'll have the element of surprise" Trumpkin spoke up, clearly thinking Peter's idea was more practical.
"But we have the advantage here" Caspian argued back and Susan stepped up behind him."If we dig in we could probably hold them off indefinitely" Susan said reasonably, making eye contact with her brother. Choosing to believe that Caspian was correct.
"I for one feel safer underground" Trufflehunter added.
"Look....I appreciate what you've done here" Peter said looking at the narnians sincerely before glancing at Caspian.
"But this isn't a fortress...it's a tomb"
"Yes..." Edmund said, agreeing with Peter "and if they're smart the telmarines will just wait and starve us out"
"We could collect nuts" a hyper squirrel said from a small corner.
"Yes...and throw them at the telmarines" Reepicheep said sarcastically "shut up!" He added, all sarcasm melting away."I think you know were I stand sire" reep said turning to peter.
Peter sighed and looked over at the centaurs and walking over to their leader.
"If we get your troops in...can you handle the guards?" peter asked, hoping that the answer would be good.
"Or die trying, my liege" the Centaur said, his loyalty showing through.
"That's what I'm worried about" Lucy said, finally speaking up.
"I'm sorry?" Peter asked, turning to look at his sister, confused.
"well you're all acting like there's only two options....dying here...or dying there..." Lucy said.

Edmund thought it sounded quite logical considering Lucy was the youngest.
"I'm not sure you've really been listening Lu" Peter said.
"No you're not listening" Lucy retorted with calm frustration.
"Or have you forgotten who really defeated the white witch peter?" Lucy asked, looking at her brother sorrowfully.
Peter raised his eyebrows.
"I think we've waited for Aslan long enough" he said sternly before walking away, needing to prepare for a raid on Miraz's castle.
Lucy sighed, knowing she'd have to stay behind. She laid her head down on the stone table and sighed to herself