School boy | Prince Caspian

11

"Come on! We've got to help them!" Edmund yelled as he collided with Otto on the tower stairs.

"Where do you think I'm going!" Otto shot back as they both burst out onto the battlements. They broke into a sprint on the stone walkway, both of them constantly turning to steal glances at the battle bellow. The clanging of steal and the cries of pain as the two forces fought. The narnians striking with a rage filled ferocity that had the telmarines reeling. But the soldiers were quickly gathering their forces.

"Look!" Otto gasped to Edmund as the rounded a corner. He pointed down at the battlements overlooking the courtyard. Archers were assembling, cross bows pointed down at the chaos below. Edmund stopped running and peered over the wall. He and Otto were only one level above the archers. A small tiled roof separating them.

Otto's eyes widened as Edmund began to quietly climb into the roof. "Are you stupid?" He whispered.

"Stop whining and come on!" Edmund retorted. Otto inwardly groaned at the idea but followed Edmund's lead. He hoisted himself up and crawled out onto the roof. Together, the boys slid down and collided with two archers, knocking them over the wall and into the courtyard below. Edmund grinned as they screamed.

"Shit Ed!" Otto cried as the dozen or so more archers turned to look at them. They raised their cross bows and Otto shoved Edmund into a run. The door to the stairway was open and both boys fell through it in a tangle of limbs just as arrows wizzed over their heads. Otto kicked the door closed and several thunks sounded as the arrows buried themselves in the wood. Edmund groaned. Otto's elbow was digging into his stomach and blood was dripping on his head from the cut on otto's cheek.

"Get off me", he grumbled.

"The next time you have any stupid ideas", Otto panted as he pushed himself to his feet. He held out a hand and pulled Edmund up after him. The other boy handing him his spear. "I'm not following you".

"Some loyal knight your are", Edmund grunted, breathing heavily. Adrenaline still coursing through both their veins at their near misses.

"Shut the fuck up", Otto smacked Edmund on the face with a bloody hand. The light impact leaving a red handprint painted over his forehead. "Head back up to the towers, we need you signalling. I'll go down and help them". Edmund looked like he was going to argue again but one look at Otto's face had him shutting up.

"Fine", he grumbled as he began climbing the stairs. "Try not to die Birch. Caspian and my brother will have a fit".

"Fuck you Pevensie", Otto called after him. The blood on his face and the panic of the situation falling to hide the embarrassment on his face. Edmund's laugh echoed back to him as the boy disappeared out of sight.

"You fucking owe me Peter", Otto mumbled to himself as he wiped more blood from his face. The cut stung like hell and he had a feeling that it would leave a scar. There was no time to mope about it. Otto sighed as he began jumping down the stairs.

Fuck Pevensies and their stupid quests.
Fuck adventure books.
Fuck fairytales, the real thing was certainly less glamorous.
Fuck his father.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Otto mentally chanted as he stumbled into the courtyard. The scene was chaos. Bodies covered the cobbles, both narnian and human alike. The narnians were quickly being out numbered. The sheer amount of soldiers seemingly never ending. Otto took a deep breath and threw himself into the fray. He struck out with his spear, catching a soldier in the leg then spinning the point round to spear him in the back. The satyr who the soldier had been fighting nodded at him in thanks.

"Fall back!" Peter ordered. His voice echoing over the courtyard. Otto strained to see him but he couldn't make him out within the chaos. "Fall back". The chains to the gate had been cut. One of the Minotaurs has caught the gate and was holding it up, but he could not hold it forever. Otto slew another soldier as a centaur galloped past, Susan on his back. Her quiver was empty and her dress tattered and bloodstained. She met his eyes, face pale and fear on her features, and Otto nodded at her. He watched the centur ducked under the gate and disappeared out into the city. Susan looking back at the fight.

"Retreat!" He ordered the narnians fighting near him. He twirled the spear in his hands, knocking two soldiers back. The leopard and the dwarf they had been fighting looked at him in surprise. "Go now!" He shouted. They nodded and ran for the gate.

Up above, a griffin glided past. Edmund tucked safely in its claws. Otto felt a bit of relief at the sight. He forced himself to keep moving, keep driving the soldiers back. He retreated back to the gate as dozens of narnian's fled past him. The clopping of hovers sounded as three horses galloped past. Peter, Caspian and a white haired man all riding out under the gate and over the drawbridge.

"Otto!" Caspian's voice called in alarm as he passed. His face filled with shock, not expecting Otto to be there. His horse continued onwards and Otto watched as he made it to safety.

"Otto! Come on!" Peter called.  Him too calling desperately from the other end of the drawbridge. He waved at Otto, calling for him to run.

Otto would have moved, should have moved. If he didn't see the crossbow bolt come streaming out of the darkness, he probably would have fled. Instead, he grabbed up a discarded shield off of the floor and jumped in front of the Minotaur holding the gate up. The arrow which would have it the Minotaur buried itself into the wood of the shield with a heavy thunk. The force os it making Otto stagger back.

"You should go", the Minotaur grunted, face creased with the strain of holding the heavy gate aloft. Otto looked back at where Peter and Caspian were waiting. Their horses paused on the bridge. Both their faces full of terror and pain as they watched the arrows come raining down. Otto turned his gaze back to the castle. Narnians were being shot down as they fled for the gates. Their screams and yells being abruptly cut off. Otto dropped his spear and picked up another shield. He held them both before him, planting his feet resolutely in front of the Minotaur. His small human frame couldn't hope to protect the larger creature behind him, but he was still going to try.

"I'm not going anywhere", Otto muttered back.

The Minotaur chuckled slightly hysterically, deep voice hoarse with exhaustion. "There's only one way this is going to end. You're a honourable knight. A worthy human to fight with".

"Aye", Otto replied, grunting as he blocked another crossbow bolt aimed for the Minotaur. The arrowhead bit into the shield and Otto cried out as the force hit his arm. "Same to you".

"Come on!" He shouted at the last stragglers. There were about ten narnians still fighting. "Retreat!" A centaur collapsed as a bolt struck it in the leg. It fell and was immediately cut down by soldiers. Otto winced at the bloody sight.

"I can't hold it up much longer", the Minotaur wheezed. Otto turned just in time to see a arrow whizz last his shields and bury itself into the minotaur's shoulder. The Minotaur let out a bellow of pain and dropped to its knees. The weight of the gate slowly crushing him.

"Otto!" Caspian's voice was still calling. Otto could hear Susan and Peter too. All three of their voices pleading. "Otto! Come on! Run Otto!"

Otto gritted his teeth and dropped to pick up his spear. Just as he began running for the gate, another arrow shot past. The Minotaur screamed as it pierced his leg and let go. "No!" Otto shrieked as the gate fell and crushed the Minotaur beneath it. His feet skidded on the wet cobbles and he collided harshly with the gate. He could see the horror on Caspian's, Peter 's and Susan's faces and his fingers curled around the metal lattice barring him from safety. Around him, the remaining narnians gathered. Their hands also curling around the metal.

"Otto! No!" Peter was screaming now, eyes wide as he stared at his friend. Otto turned his gaze to Susan, who had fallen silent. Caspian was staring at him with a broken look.

"Get out of here!" He screamed. "Go!"

The trapped narnians were also screaming. "Save yourselves!" The drawbridge was lifting. The soldiers trapping them like goldfish in a barrel.

The survivors were forced to watch as the Otto smiled. He raised his hand to his brow and gave Peter, his one friend. His best friend. A British army salute. With that parting gesture, he took up his spear and shield and turned to face the enemy. The last thing Caspian saw before the drawbridge lifted fully, was Otto and the remaining narnians charging in one last stand.

Then the drawbridge fell into place with a thud and the gates were blocked.

The castle was silent.

Unedited