༄ ⍴һ᥆ᥱᥒі᥊ ᥕᥲrrі᥆r sһ᥆r𝗍 s𝗍᥆rіᥱs ༄

The Horse and His Boy

Thanks to EttaEx for suggesting that I write a story about what Ana was doing during The Horse and His Boy a while ago. I started it about that time, but life got hectic.

Since the Pevensies have very little role in HHB I decided to do a mini-series here instead of a new book. So there'll be multiple parts to this story as well. If it ends up having too many parts, then perhaps I'll start a book for it Enjoy!

᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽᯽

Summary: The High King prepares for battle with the Ettins while the Just King makes plans to depart for Tashbaan.

************************************

~Part One of The Horse and His Boy~

"I want to come with you," Ana pleaded with the High King.

He was traveling North, to Ettinsmoor, to take care of the giants. Ever since the Pevensies had taken the throne, the Ettins had been testing the borders. Efforts had been made to make peace with them but they had been unsuccessful. After they began raiding areas in the northern part of the country, Peter had declared war on Ettinsmoor.

"I have Orieus and several hundred of our best warriors," Peter told her. "I need you to stay here, and look after my brother and sisters."
"But they're Giants! My duty is to protect the Crown. You're part of that! And you know I'm just as skilled of a warrior as any in your company!" Ana countered. She knew the real reason he was insistent on her staying behind.
"But you can better protect the Crown by staying here."
"No one has ever tried to attack Cair Paravel. It's the safest place they could be. You're the one heading into danger!"

Peter barely held in a sigh. He didn't know how to tell Ana the truth. She was right on several points. He was heading into battle and leaving one of his best warriors behind. She was also a good companion to have. Ana was always ready to listen if he needed someone to talk to. But she never hovered or pushed him to speak when he wasn't ready. Deep down he knew he should bring her along.

The problem was he didn't want her there. He wanted her in the castle, safe. Battles were ugly affairs and she seemed to young, too innocent to be involved. He knew she wasn't, but neither could help how she appeared to others. Even sweet Lucy was older than her now. But he was a coward and couldn't admit such a thing to Ana. It would only cease to make her more upset.

Resigned, Peter stood straighter and pulled his shoulders back to look more regal. Using his most authoritative voice, he decided to command Ana to stay behind. She very rarely, if ever, disobeyed a direct order.

"You are to remain here! In Narnia!" he commanded. "That's an order!"

Several expressions crossed Ana's face in that brief moment. At first, she had been pleading with him, but the change in his voice shocked her. Then she was angry before becoming resigned and wiping all emotion from her face. Her eyes betrayed her though. She was hurt by the order.

"As you wish..." her voice was soft yet there was an edge of bitterness to it. "...Your Majesty." She bowed low and then turned away, preparing to leave.
Peter reached out to halt her. "Ana..."
"My lord?" she asked, turning just enough to watch him out of the corner of her eye.
His hand fell to his side. "I just wanted to say... I um...er..."

He didn't know what he wanted to say. To apologize? To promise to be careful? He felt he needed to say something but all words had left him. This was no longer a conversation between friends—no, he corrected himself—family. Ana rarely used titles outside of a formal occasion. It was one of her tells that something was wrong. He didn't know how to react now that she was using them here. But he supposed it was his fault. When he pulled rank and acted like her superior, Ana became nothing more than his subject. A loyal but almost submissive one at that.