Whisked Away

13. The Departure of the Kings and Queens of Old and an Attack

Shifra's POV
Our plan was now this: I was to remain in Calormen, but remain unseen to tell what was going on and intervening when necessary. The others would pretend to be throwing a party on the ship and would leave tonight. When the ship had left, I left for the tombs outside the city of Tashban. There I saw Shasta with a cat. The cat looked at me and I smiled, knowing who he was. When I saw that he was well tended to, I flew away.

Now the rest of this story was concluded by Shasta, or Cor as he soon learned he was, so I had little part in it. One thing I did do, was fight in the battle to protect King Lune's castle, but it was soon over and very few of our men were injured and even fewer killed. I watched that happy land as Cor and Aravis got married and had a good time living together. Their son, and my forth godson, was the most famous king of Archenland.

It was beginning to be a bit of a tradition for me to be the godmother of the Archenland Royal family's apart from the ones that married into it. We now had peace, for Peter returned from fighting the giants and a good decade passed before anything new happened. We all lived in peace these years and I had soon taught the four royals all that I knew about their particular weapon.

Edmund became the second best swordsman in all of the north, after myself of course, but no one held that against him. It was natural that a 1135 year old would be better than a 25 year old. Peter became quite good as well, but he could never beat Edmund. I had begun to train Lucy on how to use a sword for you never knew when you would need such a thing and she progressed beautifully as well.

Soon it came time for our Kings and Queens to leave and I knew this because I spotted the white stag on one of my routine flights. It was rumored that he would grant you wishes if you caught him. I told the kings and queens of this and they soon rode out, never to return. I was now left in charge of all Narnia, but I knew it would not last. I picked at my necklace often these days, for I was always anxious. While I knew I would live, what condition I lived in was not something I knew. My dreams were filled with sights of the Telmarines these days.

I was in the throne room handling some business when a loud crash rang through the castle. I and the advisors of the court I had with me rushed off to see what it was about. A large stone had broken through the ball room and crashed into the floor. We all fought as best we could, but I knew this takeover needed to happen. Soon I ordered everyone to retreat and we all rushed into the woods. Some of us hid in trees, some in caves, and still others ran away to Archenland.

The trees retreated into themselves and stood silent when they used to dance and sing and walk, but no longer. Many of the once Talking Beasts became dumb and witless. I myself was in the most danger, for the Telmarines knew about me. I was probably the most famous person in the north and they heard about me almost instantly. They heard tales of a warrior who had large wings and held the power of the sun and winds in her hands. I was their greatest fear, so when Caspian III came to power, he resolved to find me and kill me if it was the last thing he ever did.

That was the worst time for me. I could not leave the cave I had been put in, for the Narnians would not let me. Eventually I was forgotten about, by both the Telmarines and even by most of the Narnians. There was one who did look after me, however, Glenstar had a son named Glender, and all from his line never forgot me and always took care of me.

I lived with him and his family and as the years passed and Glender died and his son, Glenstorm took over for him. When Glenstorm was five years shy of 500 years old and I was 2,430 years old, I knew that the children would be coming soon. Caspian X had been born and was soon the leave the castle.

I had been trying to decide where it was best for me to be when Glenstorm came into my cave. "Glenstorm," I greeted, I had missed the old days and taught him the warriors greeting I had invented. We grasped each other's wrists and bowed our heads deeply to one another. When we had let go, I asked, "Any news?"

"Yes, General. A Telmarine was spotted near the wood. He is not Caspian X and we know not what to make of him." I nodded.

"I should check it out. If I am taken, do not come for me. It would not be hard to break out."

"Yes General," he replied. We did a warriors farewell which was the same as a greeting and I departed. Something told me to leave myself visible and so I did as I approached the Telmarine. He was tall and looked stern, but I did not have time to notice all of this, for a crash was heard and I fell to the ground.

When I came to, I was in a stone cell. Before me stood who I took to be Miraz. When he noticed my wakefulness, Miraz spoke in a harsh and fierce tone, "So Narnian who are you?" I was debating my options when another man came down. He whispered in Miraz' ear and he replied, loud enough for me to hear, "Just bring him down here. This is a lesson he needs to learn."

The man returned with a little boy who could not have been more than eleven. "Uncle what is it? Why have you brought me down here?" He had a sweet and small voice, but I was scared about what Miraz had planned. I now took the chance to stand on my feet, staggering only slightly. Caspian seemed shocked when he saw me and I watched as he eyed my wings with awe.

Miraz however had begun to speak. "Caspian," he started, "there is one thing I have not taught you. You have learned to ride, to use a sword, you have learned grammar and history, but you have not learned about the enemies of Narnia." Here he paused, looking at me with hatred. I simply stared back. Over two thousand years of living had trained me to not become angry, for it was just not worth it.

"Is she one of those enemies, Uncle?" Caspian asked, looking at me sadly, "She has very pretty wings." A small smile curled my lips as he spoke those words, but I soon pulled myself back together and held an expression of pleasant indifference.

"She," Miraz spat, "is more than just an enemy of Narnia. She would be its downfall." My jaw clenched with anger, but I closed my eyes and let it all ebb away.

"An enemy of Narnia, I am not," I replied in my strong, but smooth voice, "Narnia's downfall I am not. I am Narnia's guardian, Second in Command to the Great Lion Aslan, creator of this world. Do not ask how I know, I saw it with my own eyes." When Miraz nor Caspian replied, I continued, "I am Shifra, Lady of Cair Paravel, General of Narnia, and Second in Command to Aslan. Your ancestor Caspian III hunted me in vain all his life. If I could escape him, I can get out of here unharmed."

I saw Caspian's eyes open in wonder when I spoke of Narnia and who I was. He probably thought it odd that I was so old yet appeared and spoke like one no older than twenty. I still held my appearance from when I was seventeen. I was pulled from my thoughts as the guard who was in the cell with me, hit me across the face with the flat of a sword. The tip grazed my cheek and the rest stung.

"Take her weapons," Miraz ordered.

"She has none," the guard replied. I looked down in confusion and saw that all my visible weapons, my sword, bow, and one of my daggers all seemed to be gone. When they had left, I held my cheek in pain and when I pulled away I saw blood on my hands.

Caspian come back about an hour later and whispered, "I'm sorry General about your face. Here." He handed me a damp cloth as well as some food (I had been given none). I nodded in thanks and he walked off. Then I lay down to get some sleep. When I did so, I had a dream, I assumed from my necklace.

I was in the ruins of Cair Paravel and I saw the children speaking with Trumpkin over some freshly cooked pavanders. They were a beautiful, rainbow colored fish we had all eaten in the old days. When I tried to speak with them, they all ignored me. It was too soon anyways. It had only been 1,275 years. Five years still needed to be completed. While it had never shown me the future before, my necklace had shown me the past once or twice. I knew what this meant, I was not to go and meet them.

Then I felt a hot breath on my hand. I quickly turned around, but saw no Aslan as I had expected. Only words carved into the stone.

The Narnians need you,
come home to them

I read the words and as soon as I did I jolted awake. Time to plan my escape.