Never Say Goodbye

A Beacon of Light

Never Say Goodbye

Chapter 13: A Beacon of Light

Aaralynn

             Our taste of victory was fleeting. One Telmarine, the one with the crossbow, turned and made for his horse, while another stepped forward to gather Miraz. For the shortest second all was well, and then it wasn't. Miraz stumbled from the Telmarine's arms with an arrow in his back. The red fletching indicated it was one of Susan's arrows, but the Narnians knew Susan was with her sister.

"Treachery! Treachery!" the Telmarine shouted. "They murdered our king!"

Several things then happened at once. The Telmarine on the horse and the one shouting rushed back to the Telmarine line to spur their army on. Meanwhile, the two Telmarines who remained at the stone patch rushed, with weapons drawn, towards Peter and Edmund. The two Kings did not hesitate; they met the Telmarines in battle and quickly dealt with them. Caspian mounted a horse and rode back to the Narnian frontline where he spoke words designed to encourage and strengthen their resolve. His words were taken to heart and the Narnians cheered.

Then, like a roaring thunder, the Telmarine Cavalry surged forward. With a signal from the High King, Caspian rode into the how, and a moment later there was the soft rumble of galloping hooves beneath our feet. There was the sound of a horn blown and the counting began.

One

Two

I counted quietly to myself, and then louder I said, "Archers prepare!"

Four

Five

Our arrows were nocked and bows drawn.

Six

Seven

Ever closer the Telmarines came.

Eight

Nine

"Take your aim!"

Ten

Suddenly the ground opened up before the cavalry. Horse and rider alike fell into the pit that now stood between the two armies. They crawled and scrambled their way out as best they could.

"NOW!"

With a twang, a multitude of Narnian crafted arrows were released. They sailed through the air and into the pit. Arrow after arrow we let fly, and Telmarine after Telmarine fell victim to our assault. Then our army rushed in, from both sides, and the risk of hitting one of our own became too great. Whatever Telmarine that remained standing though, was quickly taken down.

Even this success could not last, as the rest of the Telmarine army began marching.

The Telmarines were no beginners in warfare. In a manner very much like what Edmund and Peter would have, and had, done in years past the outer sides of the army began closing in around the Narnians. I knew there would be no chance of escaping if the Narnians became blocked in. I looked briefly to Trumpkin on my left. Few words were needed to convey our next attack; the Dwarf already knew what must happen.

"Archers!" I commanded. "To the sides!"

At once our Narnian archers split down the middle with one half aiming towards the right and the other half aiming towards the left. With another command we began firing once more at the oncoming army. When they positioned their shields to block our arrows, we aimed higher to let our arrows fly over their blockade.