Never Say Goodbye

Come Back to Me

Never Say Goodbye

Chapter 8: Come Back to Me

Aaralynn  

             We returned to the How with more time to explore. There was a series of tunnels throughout the structure and Glenstorm led us through many of them. One of the rooms he took us to contained the old Stone Table. That was just another reminder of how different things were. The Stone Table used to be above ground in our day. Whether the table had sunk below ground or if the Narnians simply built the hill up around it, I couldn't tell.

After a thorough exploration, I convinced Lucy and Susan to join me in a trip down to the nearby stream to freshen up; though really, it took little convincing on Susan's part. Glenstorm's mate, Windmane, Peepiceek, and Pattertwig came down with us to keep watch. After washing, I changed into the dress that Lucy and Edmund had brought for me. It felt so great to be back in a proper dress again. Then we returned to the How in time for another war council.

The atmosphere of this council was just as tense as the last one I attended but for different reasons. Caspian and Peter were at odds, and they did little to hide the fact. Fortunately the council wasn't open to everyone so not everyone saw. There were only a few representatives from each Narnian Beast. The council was held in the room with the Stone Table under Peter's order; though, I don't know why. I could sense that both Edmund and Lucy were slightly uncomfortable to be having such a meeting around such a sacred monument, but Peter didn't seem to notice, or care.

The boys argued over whether or not we should lead a raid against the Telmarine castle. Peter thought it was a good idea because so many Telmarines were currently making their way towards the How at that very moment, and thus, they wouldn't be at the castle to guard it. Caspian disagreed. He knew the castle was a stronghold, that no one had ever taken it before, and that the soldiers who remained at the castle still outnumbered the Narnians. The raid had been Peter's idea, and he was refusing to listen to Caspian's advice. Peter and Caspian were in the center of the room while the rest of us surrounded them. I stood near Lucy, a little ways away from Edmund who sat on some stone steps on Lucy's other side.

"This is isn't a fortress," Peter argued. "It's a tomb." I shifted uncomfortably at his tone and his choice of words.

"If we dig in, we could probably hold them off," Susan suggested.

"Probably?" Peter questioned warily.

"Or they could wait and starve us out," Edmund countered.

"We could collect nuts!" Pattertwig chimed in. I couldn't help smiling just a little.

"That's very kind of you, my friend, but I'm afraid most of us will need more than nuts to sustain us," I said softly to the Squirrel. He nodded his head solemnly in understanding.

"We need to strike them before they strike us," Peter said, turning my attention back to the debate.

"I still think we have the advantage here. You don't know Miraz like I do," Caspian argued back. Then he did something I did not expect. He turned to me and brought me into the discussion. "Aaralynn, help me out here. What do you think we should do?"

I was stunned and afraid. I didn't know what to say, much less what to do.

"I...I'm not really sure, Caspian. I'm not a strategist."

"You helped me with the river raid," Caspian pointed out.

"Yes, because we needed supplies. It was your idea though; I merely supported it and helped where I could. I didn't plan." Caspian looked defeated at my words, and Peter looked triumphant. I wasn't finished however.