chapter 15

                                    

                                          
Chapter 15
Sword Fights & Family Reunions
The night raid of the Telemarine camp went well, if not a bit dramatic. They left behind three bodies and a warning scratched into a wagon - You were right to fear the woods. Telemarines were the superstitious sort. After a night's rest in the silent stone of the How, a small group of eager Narnians asked permission to scout the forest for their royals. Caspian assented. He and Dahlia led them out. 
Dahlia was taking a moment's pause in the branches of a maple tree. She toyed with the edge of Maeve's veil, which she now had around her waist like a sash. The metallic clang of a duel broke her focus. Stories of elegance and grace be damned, she almost tumbled from the tree. Her own sword thumped against her back as she sought out the noise. The excited squeak of a child escaped her when she found it.
Peter faced Caspian in a clearing. The prince struggled to dislodge Peter's sword from a tree while the high king raised a rock to strike him. A poor first impression, to be sure, but it didn't matter. Their search had ended. Dahlia hit the ground between them. Her landing shook the forest floor and Peter's rock dropped. 
The high king froze, hand still raised with nothing in it. He, too, looked only a few years older than when they first met. Peter studied Dahlia's face from beneath his flop of dusty blonde hair. Bespeckled sunlight danced across her cheeks as a diamond tear rolled down to her chin. She may have been asleep for all of it, but 1300 years was a long time not to see her family.
Peter grabbed her. They clung to each other as if inches of distance were miles. As they rocked in their embrace, Caspian freed Peter's sword. He frowned at them, confused. Surely this boy in a simple brown tunic was not a king. The three children trampling through the brush to join them could not have been the other guardians.
But they were, and they pulled Dahlia from Peter's arms for themselves. Lucy hung from Dahlia's waist and Susan hugged her from behind with her head on her shoulder. Edmund bounced on his heels until they stepped aside. He tackled the mage, almost knocking her to the ground. "You're alive," he sniffled into her hair. "We thought you were dead. Everyone else is dead."
"Oh, I couldn't die yet." Dahlia leaned back to see him. "I never got a proper goodbye." The just king laughed through a sob. He released her but stayed close to her side. The Narnian search party circled the clearing. A wave of Dahlia's hand had them sheathing their weapons and taking a knee. Caspian stayed standing. He still held Peter's sword. "They won't be of any use if you kill them before they can help."
The prince blinked. He studied the blade he held. His dark eyes squinted when they reached the lion head hilt. He looked back at his former opponent. "High King Peter?"
Peter folded his arms. "I believe you called."
"Well, yes, but..." Caspian swept his eyes across the guardians. "You're not what I expected." His gaze lingered on Dahlia, whose arm rested on Edmund's shoulder.
Edmund glanced up at a looming minotaur. "Neither are you." 
"A common enemy unites even the oldest of foes." Trufflehunter–a kindly badger–smiled from atop a rock. "And Lady Dahlia convinced those of us," he eyed Nikabrik, the distrustful old dwarf, "who had our doubts about Prince Caspian. Our unity is thanks to her."
Reepicheep stepped forward. He bowed deeply at Peter's feet. "We have anxiously awaited your return, my liege. Our hearts and swords are at your service." 
"Oh my gosh," Lucy whispered to her sister, "he is so cute." She was not quiet enough.
Reepicheep drew his sword. "Who said that?" He whirled about, his–admittedly cute–face enraged. Dahlia smothered a laugh in her elbow while Lucy apologized. "Oh, uh...Your Majesty," Reepicheep stuttered, lowering his weapon. "With the greatest respect, I do believe 'courageous', 'courteous', or 'chivalrous' might more befit a knight of Narnia." 
"At least we know some of you can handle a blade." Caspian frowned at Peter's thinly veiled jab. It would be the first of many. "We'll need every sword we can get."
"Well then, you'll probably be wanting yours back," Caspian replied less than kindly. He held out the blade. Peter flipped and sheathed the sword. He spun on his heel to leave the woods despite not knowing where they were going. Caspian joined him at the front of the troupe of Narnians to lead them to the How. 
Lucy and Edmund fell in step with the red-headed dwarf who had guided them here - Trumpkin, as he would be introduced later. This left Dahlia with Susan at the back. The queen linked their arms together. They walked at a steady pace without the urgency of the bickering royals at the head of the group. "They're going to be a nightmare," Dahlia lamented, "I know it."
Susan only laughed. "Well, that's why we're here."