Too Many Sunsets (Prince Caspian)

The Telmarine Prince

Under the Telmarine rule, Narnia had become almost unrecognisable. The capital was the was now in what was Beaversdam. One dark night in the castle, Lord Miraz's wife was in labour. Her pained screams echoed through the cold halls. Her servants hurried around her as they attend to her. One rushes in with fresh cloths while another wipes her head. The Midwife presents the woman with a beautiful baby boy. 

General Glozelle approaches Lord Miraz who looks out at the shadowed castle, "Lord Miraz? You have a son.

Miraz sighs with relief, "The Heavens have blessed us".

The general shifts nervously behind the Lord.

"You know your orders".

Glozelle is hesitant to move. 

"General Glozelle?" Miraz turns his head slightly waiting for his general to obey.

With a curt bow, the general obeys, "yes, My Lord".

A cloaked figure with a white beard shuffles around the castle halls carefully. He turned the corner, opened a latch and entered a bed chamber. A young man sleeps in a canopied bed. The bearded man walks up to the bed and wakes the sleeping man. The man wakes up startled but his scream was muffled by the bearded man who clamped his hand on his mouth. He recognises the old man's kind face and drowsily pushes his hand away.

"Five more minutes".

"You won't be watching the stars tonight, my Prince. Come, we must hurry".

The old man pulls the Prince out of bed.

"Professor, what's going on?"

"Your aunt has given birth. To a son".

The professor steps into the wardrobe which leads to a secret passageway. The Prince climbs in after him. He draws the doors together and peers through the gap. Telmarine soldiers creep quietly into the bed-chamber. Glozelle and eight soldiers circle around the bed aiming their crossbows directly at it. Glozelle nods for them to fire. The Prince watches shocked and starts to fear for his life. Once they reloaded, the men fired again which ripped open the curtains to reveal an empty bed. 

The professor and the Prince sprint down the spiral staircase. In the armoury, the Prince readies himself with armour and weapons. The professor wraps his cloak around him. On a black steed, the professor takes this final opportunity to guide the young Prince.

"You must make for the woods. They won't follow you there". The professor presents the Prince with a cloth-wrapped object. "It has taken me many years to find this"

The Prince is hesitant to take it but places it at his side. 

"Do not use it except at your greatest need".

"Will I ever see you again?"

 "I dearly hope so, my Prince. There is so much more I meant to tell you. Everything you know is about to change".

In the distance, they heard a soldier give the order to close the drawbridge. The Prince's horse grows restless. 

"Go now", the professor urges him.

The Prince and his horse charge through the stables and out into the courtyard. They are blocked by two soldiers. The Prince continues at the same speed and seizes one of the lances that the soldier was holding and throws it into a fire creating sparks to rise up instantly. He races down the long stone bridge away from the castle. He is stopped in his tracks when fireworks explode over the castle to announce the new baby boy. 

A son! A son!

Lady Prunaprismia has this night

given Lord Miraz a son!

Mounted soldiers appear through an archway chasing the Prince. They continue to follow him through the plains of Narnia. The Prince reaches the edge of thick woods and races inside. Glozelle follows without a thought but his soldiers halt. Turning to face his men he looked at them with intense eyes. 

"Which of you superstitious old women want to spend the night in a cell?" He eyes the woods cautiously but continues to pursue the Prince. His soldiers follow suit.

The Prince tears through the woods and makes it out to an open ridge. He continues to gallop to the Great River and pushes forward without hesitation. The current is strong but the Prince successfully rides to the other side. Meanwhile, his pursuers enter the river, some are knocked into the water and taken by the current. The Prince continues through the forest, jumping over fallen trees and ducking low branches. He glances over his shoulder and is painfully knocked to the floor by a low leaning log. His foot is caught, twisted in the stirrup and keeps him attached to his horse. The horse continues to drag the Prince for the next few metres. He manages to yank himself free and watches as his horse gallops into the forest. He lies still on the damp floor for a few moments, catching his breath. He slowly sits up and winces. 

Two bearded dwarves appear from inside a large twisted oak tree. 

"He's seen us".

The Prince glances at his sword behind him. One of the dwarves held up his sword in a defensive stance and starts to charge at the Prince. He halts when he sees that from the folded cloth was a horn, Queen Susan's horn. The Prince notices the horn as well. 

The soldiers appear in the distance. The dwarf eyes his companion.

"Take care of him". The dwarf runs towards the soldiers. 

Before the second dwarf reaches the Prince, he blows on the horn. 

The dwarf knocks out the Prince.