The New Warrior (Book 1)

chapter 33 Nothing short of a warrior

The harsh sound of the horses hoofs slapping against the grass and dirt covered trail filled my ears as we made our way away from the Howe. The warm wind rushed through my hair, causing a piece of my fiery locks to slip out, making me wonder why I even bothered to braid it.

I heard other horses galloping along with men's voices near by. Looking over my shoulder at the rapidly approaching group, I called to Lucy to turn around. "They've seen us!" She yelled to Susan who had taken the lead.

Susan turned her horse and pulled the reigns, slowing the animal to a stop. She swung her leg over and jumped down smiling lightly at Lucy. "Looks like you two will be going alone after all."

"Be careful." I called as Susan who nodded to me and pulled her bow out of the holder on her back and slid an arrow in, slapping the back of Lucy's horse.

We took off, glancing back at Susan occasionally before we could no longer see her.

"I hope she's okay." I sighed as we slowed the horses to a trot a little while later.

"She will be." Lucy smiled and glanced back once more. "Uh-oh! Seems we have company." 

I looked back to see what she was looking at and gasped. There was a horse charging toward us with a single archer on its back. The man balanced carefully and held up his bow and arrow. 

"Go!" Lucy called and we took off again, much faster than before. I glanced back periodically and when i looked to Lucy she was staring into the woods. I tried my best to see what she was looking at, but sadly, I could not. Lucy emitted a shriek as i was looking back, and I turned just in time to see an enormous lion roaring. My horse emitted its own cry of terror and flung on my back beside Lucy. 

She asked if i was alright and I nodded numbly, watching as the lion leaped over us and landed on the Telemarine that had been chasing us. The mans cries grew fainter and we slowly crept over to the clear patch of grass. 

The lion stood, raising its head slowly in our direction. A single ray of sun cascaded around the animal, giving it somewhat of a halo effect. Lucy laughed and ran towards the animal, throwing her arms around it and tackling to the ground.

"Aslan." She smiled, leaning back and gazing fondly at the laughing lion. "I knew it was you. The whole time, I knew it." They both glanced back at me as i slowly sat down beside Lucy and gazed up at the creature. 

"Magdalen Toiner. What a pleasure to finally meet you." It spoke with such confidence and dignity that i nearly cowered away. 

"Ive heard so much about you."

Aslan smiled at me and looked back to Lucy as she began to speak. " No one else believed me. Well, except for Maggie."

"And why would that stop you from coming to me?" He asked.

"I'm sorry. I was too scared to come alone." She leaned on me. "Why didn't you show your self? Why didn't you come roaring in and save us, like last time?"

He smiled at her slowly. "Things never happen the same way twice, young one."

I glanced down at the grass and then looked back up." If we'd have come earlier, would all those warriors have died? Could we have stopped that?"

Lucy rubbed my arm and nodded. "We can never know what would've happened, but will happen, is another matter entirely." We both smiled.

"You'll help?" Lucy asked eagerly. 

"Of course. As will both of you."

"Oh." Lucy and I said at the same time. I nodded for Lucy to speak first. "I wish i was braver, is all." She frowned.

Aslan chuckled deeply. "If you were any braver you would be a lioness. Now you. What makes you think you wont be of any use?" He turned to me.

"Well, I've been here the whole time and I haven't done one single thing to help anyone. All i've done is worry people with my strange dreams and get in the way."

He frowned. "Your dreams are given to you with purpose. They tell of what you are capable of."

"In the dreams i'm aiming an arrow into a building across from the one im in. So, what? My potential is killing people."

"Sometimes, dreams can be riddles. It is up to you, and only you, to figure them out, but believe me when i say you are nothing short of a warrior. Do not ever think different. If i had any doubts, i wouldve made it so you never came here." 

I smiled lightly at him. "When will i know?" 

"When you know." He replied calmly. glancing between both of us. "Now, I think your friends have slept long enough, don't you." He rose quickly and let his head roll back, letting out an ear splitting roar.

Before my eyes, all the trees for as far as i could see, began to twist and bend, almost as if they were stretching. "Shall we be on our way?" We looked at each other briefly before climbing onto his back and taking off.