Narnia: A Queen's Hope

Meeting Caspain, Narnians Emerge

Leandre was half awake when she heard the birds chirping and small patched of sunlight hitting her face. She widely stretched her arms out, being mindful of Lucy sleeping right beside her only there was no Lucy, her arms merely hit the ground and that's what snapped her awake as she wildly looked around for Lucy or any signs of struggle to find none.

Where was Lucy?

She quietly made her way to Peter when she saw the others were still fast asleep and lightly shook him awake "Peter can you hear me?" Her only response was a low groan from the boy. She shook him harder which forced Peter to open one eye and looked up at the blurry image of Leandre's panicked face.

"Whats wrong?" He asked with a slight yawn "I can't find Lucy" Leandre said silently "She probably wandered off to do her business" Peter added when he felt the effects of sleep pull him down "That's the thing, I can't smell her anywhere near" Leandre said and that prompted Peter awake as he slowly sat up and grabbed his sword.

The two of them silently walked away from camp "Can you track her?" Peter asked. Leandre sniffed the air and waited before Lucy's scent caught her nose, along with another one that sent alarm bells ringing in her head.

"Follow me!" Leandre said as she dashed through the woods with Peter right behind her. It didn't take long for them to spot Lucy walking casually up and unaware of the minotaur walking right in front of her. Without warning, Peter sprinted pass Leandre and grabbed Lucy back as soon as she called out Alsan's name.

Lucy gasped as Peter covered her mouth. Leandre knelt right beside them and motioned Lucy to be quiet when there came a growl right above them: A Minotaur. Peter nodded to Leandre and motioned Lucy to stay back as he slowly sneaked up behind the Minotaur with his sword raised when there was a yell right beside Peter that he barely managed to deflect the sword from slicing him through.

Leandre covered Lucy's mouth as she gasped and watched Peter and the mysterious figure fight. Lucy tensed up from Leandre when Peter was kicked by the mysterious figure and fell only to get back up with a huge rock in his hand and was about to clobber it to the mysterious figure when Lucy got out of Leandre's hold and yelled out.

"STOP!" 

Lucy cried out as she revealed herself with Leandre coming up right behind her with a protective look on her face. The two men froze and it was then all of the Narnians revealed themselves with weapons raised. Peter watched them all come out in awe and was reminded the time when he was first introduced to them.

His gaze turned to the mysterious man who held his sword and pointed it at him. He quickly got a good look at him and with Trumpkin's description asked hesitantly "Prince Caspian?" He saw the man's eyes widen slightly in surprise before they settled to natural indifference "Yes, and who are you?" Caspian asked with narrowed eyes.

The sound of running footsteps made Leandre sharply turn around to see Susan, Edmund and Trumpkin running towards them. Apparently, Edmund woke up as soon as Leandre and Peter went after Lucy and woke the others up to follow them.

"Peter!" Susan cried out as she emerged, followed by Edmund and Trumpkin who looked at the Narnians surrounding them with awe and shock. The name made all the Narnians freeze and for Caspian to look closely at the sword he was holding to see the inscriptions of the stories the Professor always told him about.

"High King Peter..." Caspian said with shock "I believe you called" Peter said with a neutral gaze "Well yes, but...I thought you'd be older" Caspian noted, taking the youthful look of the High King and not the old and wise one he'd seen in books.

"Well time works differently from where we came from" Leandre stated "Well if you'd like , we can come back in a few years" Peter said as he made a move to walk out only for Caspian to call out "No! No, that's alright. You're just...You're not exactly what I expected" Caspian said as he looked at the Kings and Queens of Old with awe before his gaze settled on Susan, who looked away.

"Neither are you" Edmund said as he glanced at a Minotaur who growled lowly "A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes" Trufflehunter said wisely. A brown mouse, no bigger than a human palm, ran right up to Peter "We have anxiously awaited your return, my liege" The mouse began as Peter smiled.

"Our hearts and swords are at your service" The mouse finished with a bow "Oh my gosh he is so cute" Lucy commented in a hushed whisper to Susan which was unfortunately heard by the mouse himself as he drew his sword and angrily shouted "Who said that?!" Feeling sheepish, Lucy looked down at the mouse with an apologetic look on her face.

"Sorry..." She said softly. Feeling himself flush slightly at the Queen's words, he spoke up, stuttering at first "Oh uh...your majesty. With the greatest respect, I do believe courageous, courteous or chivalrous may befit a knight of Narnia" The mouse said as he sheathed his sword "Well, at least we know some of you can handle a blade" Peter commented lightly.

"Yes indeed. And I have recently put it to good use securing weapons for your army sire" The mouse said dutifully "Good, because we're going to need every sword we can get" Peter said seriously as he stared at Caspian straight in the eye "Well then, you'd probably be wanting yours back" Caspian said as he handed Peter back his sword.

Leandre noticed a few Narnians staring at her in confusion. Probably wondering who she is and why she was with the group "Peter, would they mind if I show them?" Leandre asked, gaining the attention of Peter and Caspian as well as a few other Narnians.

"I believe they might be" Lucy said with a slight smirk as Leandre closed her eyes and concentrated before she grunted when she felt the beginning of her bones snapping and breaking. They all watched in awe as the once young human woman disappeared and in her stead was a lioness that radiated power and strength.

She let out a small roar that shook the trees before they stayed still "Forgive me, it appears my mate is the only one who can wake them up" Leandre said with a nervous smile as she gestured to the trees.

Lucy squealed as she ran straight to Leandre before climbing in her back. Peter shook his head as he addressed the stunned crowd of Narnians to move forward.