Here's a long chapter with 4170 words.

On her way back to Restriel, where she had tied her to a tree, Cerlesta heard her name being called again.

“Here, I’m coming!" She shouted back, mounting her horse. Once she reached to the guard who shouted her name, she dismounted.

“Oh you’re here, your highness! King Miraz would have had my head cut off if I hadn’t found you now.” The man breathed in relief.

“Oh I’m sorry I scared you, I was enjoying the woods.” She apologized.

“Enjoying the woods?!” exclaimed that man in shock.

“Don’t worry, I just took a view from out, didn’t enter.” She said, “Did my uncle called for me?”

“Not yet, I just wanted to check on you, he left me in charge of you here.” He said.

“Oh that’s so kind of him. So being in charge of me here, would you mind escorting me to him? I didn’t see the bridge and the breath taking view of the ford and surroundings.” She asked him as she mounted her horse again.

“With pleasure, your highness. By the way, you don’t have to ask, just say it.” He said.

She laughed slightly, “That’s not my kind, um..What’s your name? I don’t remember seeing you before.” She asked him.

“I’m Rhince, my lady. And I believe, maybe you have been so busy to notice me or other non-popular guards.” Rhince said sarcastically.

“So busy to notice.” She repeated his words sarcastically and laughed. He joined the laughter,

“But, his highness Caspian your brother wasn’t that busy at all to notice us. He knows me. We’ve trained together; and I’ve seen you too, several times practicing your archery skills nearby where we trained. The Prince would never stop adoring you until captain demands to focus on what he’s doing.” Cerlesta chuckled slightly, her grin melted into a frown as she thought about Caspian, she inhaled deeply.

Rhince noticed her frown and apologized, “I’m sorry I brought up your brother’s matter. I didn’t mean to upset you, you know?”

“No, you haven’t upset me at all. I just…miss him so much, terribly.” She sighed painly.

“I curse those bloody Narnians,” he grinded his teeth, “If I ever get a chance to see one, I’ll kill it.”

Cerlesta bit her bottom lips, “But how can we be sure that Narnians did this?”

“How can we be sure? Your highness, aren’t those proofs enough for you? And you better not ask this to your uncle, princess. Try not to doubt whatever he says.” His voice turned into a whisper as they reached the worksite.

Cerlesta dismounted and walked to her uncle.

Seeing her, he exclaimed,” Ha, Cerlesta! You made it finally here! Come, see our bridge!”

She smiled in response and took the whole view in. She enjoyed the nature around her, the view was breathtaking. She hardly paid attention to the bridge. Soon they galloped back to the castle before it was too dark. All the time, Cerlesta wondered about those five Narnians she met, especially about the four humans

‘I bet they are related, maybe siblings from their looks. Who knows? But they aren’t any ordinary ones.’ She thought.

                           .....

Before it’s too late, they reached back at home, which brought Cerlesta back to all the stresses. Suddenly she remembered her professor, ‘I need to find him! And tell him everything.’ She thought. Knowing already that her uncle won’t allow that visiting even if she beg him, Cerlesta waited untill it’s midnight. She saved a part of her dinner for the professor, afraid that he may haven’t had anything.

Grabbing her cloak and dagger, Cerlesta walked out of her and Caspian’s suit and made her way silently through the hallway. She put the cloak’s cap over her head and tied the food parcel to her belt. She took her lamp with her to light the path. She passed some soldiers, carefully not being noticed and finally reached down in the dungeons.

She soon found the professor’s cell and unlocked the iron door quietly as she can. The professor was laying down on the cold floor. His hands were in chains. He startled as he heard the *cling-clang* sound at the door and turned his head towards it.

“Don’t be afraid, it’s just me Cerlesta.” She said as she entered the cell.

“Cerlesta! What are you doing in here?” exclaimed Professor Cornelius in whisper.

“I wanted to see you.” She said.

“But you’ll be punished if your uncle finds out you meeting me! You have to go back, now. Whatever the reason that you’re here, it’s not important than your safety and well-being.” He said as she helped him sit up.

“I don’t care what’ll become of me and the reason I’m here can’t wait at all!” She said.

“But I do, I care for you.” Professor said softly.

Cerlesta smiled, “I know you do that’s why I love you more than my aunt and uncle. Moreover, that’s the main reason I’m here, to care for you. Did they give you food?” She asked gently.

“Yes, some bread and water in the evening.” He said tiredly.

Cerlesta teared up, “I expected that’s why I brought you something to eat, here.” She said and gave the parcel to the professor.

He stared into the parcel, she caught him staring and said, “Please, help yourself and have it.”

She said and opened the food pack for him, “Gosh, I forgot to keep a plate, a spoon, a knife, a fork, a-” Cerlesta was cut off by the professor’s,

“Cerlesta dear, you’re caring so much for me, I never thought I would be having food this night but you bought it for me. I don’t know how much I owe you. This is more than enough.”

“Think nothing of it, I can’t sleep without making sure you had your food and… this floor is pretty rough and cold, how can you lay on it? Don’t worry, I can bring you a thick blanket-” she said was cut off again.

“It’s all fine, Cerlesta. I’m totally fine. Don’t worry about me.” He said.

“I can’t think of sleeping on a floor like this, then how can you? You’re an old man!” she exclaimed in whisper.

“Your care and love are enough for me. Besides, if your uncle finds out…” he trailed off with a heavy sigh.

“I don’t care about that anymore, why he has to throw you here and abandon me from coming to you! I’ll care about all whom I want to care, I’ve lost Caspian, now here, all I have is you and you’re in a situation like this and do you expect me to abandon you here for my own safety?” she asked, her voiced blurred as sobs slowly attacked her.

“No! I know you would never do that though, I just said because your brother entrusts me to keep you safe.” He said, hardly.

Cerlesta sighed and nodded. Cornelius wondered that she did not actually got the real point of what he meant for ‘your brother entrusts me’. Of course, she did not. She knows that her brother always has looked out for the professor to keep her and thought the same here.

“You said you have something to say to me, right?” asked the professor changing the matter.

“Oh yes!” she exclaimed a bit
cheerfully as she remembered it, “You would have never expected this thing happening! I met some Narnians in Beruna today when I went there with uncle. I was all alone when I met them. There were five of them. A dwarf and four humans; two boys and two girls.” Cerlesta explained.

Professor listened to her with widened eyes and utter shock, “Are you telling me you really did?” he asked in awe.

“Yes!” she exclaimed.

“Goodness gracious me!” he muttered.

“What?” she asked, not understanding what he said.

“The four humans…there weren’t any humans in Narnia known as Narnians other than the Kings and Queens of old. The others were before the long winter and they were all murdered by the white witch and in the battle against her.” He said slowly, nodding to himself.

Cerlesta gasped slightly, her eyes widened, “Did you….are you saying….uh, but it can’t be, can it?” she stammered, her heart raced.

“Of course it can, though I’m not sure.” He said.

“Oh no, don’t tell me I met my heroes! I might pass out! Could that really be them? They did look extraordinary and nobler like no one I have ever met before.” She said.

“You said ‘it can be’ but how? You sounded like you are sure. They never died in Narnia after all.” She stated.

Professor took a deep breath, “Cery, I have a lot of things to tell you. But first, tell me what your uncle told you about Caspian’s departure.” He said.

She peered at him, “You know about what exactly happened to my brother?” she questioned him.

He looked towards her, “Yes,” he replied “But I want to know what you’ve been told about Caspian; and me here in cell.”

Cerlesta swallowed the hardness she felt and said, “Well, uncle told me that Caspian was kidnapped by Narnians. He said there are proofs; one about the torn curtain of Cas’s bed and another one is…they found a Narnian creature, a dwarf while they searched for Caspian in the woods. Nevertheless, the Narnians whom I met sweared that they have not done anything like that. Moreover, about you, uncle said you have something to do with Caspian’s missing. He said that he found something that belongs to the Narnians, from your room. Is this true? Are any of these?”

“Your uncle may not be a nice king as your father was; but he’s good in pretending and makes everyone believe something he make up to cover the truth and his cruelty.” Said the Professor.

Cerlesta’s eyes widened, “What are you talking about?” she asked.

“I’m so sorry, but they aren’t true. He just made it up because he wants to cover the real reason why Caspian is missing from these walls.” Said the Professor.

“The real reason? Professor, what are you talking about? I don’t get it!” exclaimed Cerlesta in a whisper, loosing her patience.

“Listen,” started Cornelius leaning a bit closer to Cerlesta “Caspian is missing not because he was abducted, he ran away-”

Cerlesta cut him off and whispered in utter shock, “Ran away? But why?”

“If he hadn’t, when you woke in the morning, you would have found your beloved one and only brother dead! By the arrows of Telmarine soldiers, Glozelle and his men, by your uncle’s orders!” he said in his hardening voice.

“I-I don’t understand! Wh-Why would uncle order such a thing?” she stammered at words, tears began picking her eyes.

“You don’t understand, do you?” Professor asked, Cerlesta shook her head.

“Um, I see. Well, your newborn cousin’s arrival is the one and only thing that caused all these problems. You see Cerlesta, now that your uncle has an heir of his own, he don’t need Caspian anymore. Since your brother is the rightful heir to the throne after your father (while your uncle is no one but a usurper ), the only way to avoid him was to murder him in his sleep and hide the truth.” Explained the professor.

Cerlesta gasped and covered her mouth, hoping to control the sobs that start to attack her. But that didn’t succeed. All these truth shocked her and she doubted herself as she’s just dreaming.

“Don’t cry my dear,” said professor as he drew her into his embrace “don’t cry, as much as I know you’re broken, you don’t have to cry now. Your brother is safe now because he ran away or else…. (here he sighs) you know what I’m talking about.”

“But how do you know about this? Wait, why are you thrown in here? What did you do?” asked Cerlesta.

“Me? Oh I’m here because I helped Caspian to-” Professor’s words were cut-off by Cerlesta,

“YOU HELPED CASPIAN? AND THAT’S WHY MY UNCLE THREW YOU HERE?” Cerlesta exclaimed in shock. Professor’s hand reached to cover her mouth.

“Shhhh!” he hissed “Don’t you know we both will get in to a big trouble if someone hear us?” he scolded slightly.

“Oh I’m sorry,” she apologized “But how can he be such a rude? Such a dis-”

Professor c ut-off her words. She had never used to say any kind of bad words or bad things about her uncle. She even had a small fight (with words of course) with Caspian, when he said something like making fun of their uncle. However, their fights never lasted any longer soon. And once they were friends, it has always been like, there hadn’t been any fight at all.

“He has always been like that,” he said, “You just never knew the real him.”

“How much do you know about Caspian’s escape? Please do tell me everything! Where did he go? Will he be alright? Did he leave any massage for me?” she asked.

“First, I know everything about Caspian’s escape because I’m the one who woke him up from bed. I overheard your uncle’s plan and went to wakeup Caspian. I told him that your aunt has given birth to a son. I then got inside his wardrobe and opened the secret passageway, but he said he have to get you too. Suddenly we heard footsteps on the other side of his door, he soon got inside and closed the door and watched what would have happened to him if he were there on his bed. Glozelle and his some men entered with crossbows and shot them at his bed where they thought he’s asleep.”

He inhaled deeply and continued, “But I didn’t allow Caspian to watch any further, it wasn’t safe at all, I grabbed him with me out of the wardrobe to downstairs. He said again that he wants to call you but there was no way he could go around to get you. I stopped him, afraid that he might be caught. He didn’t give up until I said ‘She’ll never see you again, neither will you, if you get caught by those men while you go around the corridors to save her. Now the important thing is your life, you’re the one who’s in danger, not she.’ He thought for a moment and gave in. He took something from his pocket and reached out his hand towards me and said to give it to you and say his wishes and said, ‘Tell her that I promise to back, somehow’”

Professor stopped and took a deep breath. Cerlesta’s eyes overflowed with tears, Professor continued,

“I said to him, ‘keep it, it’s better if you give her yourself’. I wasn’t sure about telling you the truth until now you told about the four humans you met in-” Cerlesta cut off his words.

“Professor!” she cried in frustration, “How could you think like that about me?! Have I ever failed you?”

“No! It’s not that dear,-” he began but was cut off again.

“What is it then?” she asked, frustrated. She couldn’t believe her professor wasn’t trusting her. In addition, her anger seemed to grow. It echoed in her interrupting question. Cornelius noticed this and scolded himself for telling it to her. He then tried to choose his words carefully.

“It’s just..” he searched for words and excuses but since he had already spit up what mustn’t had, he has no other way than explaining the reason ‘why’.

“It’s just.. you’ve always trusted your uncle and..and I thought you might not believe me and-” poor professor was now in Cerlesta’s wrath.

She cut him off again. “And support my uncle against you and my brother, isn’t it?
(“No Cery!” he said)
Oh professor, you don’t know me yet, do you?
(“Yes I do, now listen-”)
Why? You still don’t know how much I love you and my Caspian; that’s why you doubted me! You don’t know and you can’t know how broken and lonely I’m over his departure. If you had told me about this before I wouldn’t have been broken this much! You know that Cas’s my life and I’m nothing without him, then what made you to think like that?” She cried.

‘Caspian’s right, it’s too dangerous to talk with her when she’s angry and frustrated. Especially when you’re the reason she is mad. Only Caspian knows how to calm her down (because he had faced this too many times).’, Thought Professor.

“I’m so very sorry, Cerlesta. I’ve come to think about that now, I’m very sorry; I shouldn’t have done that. When I said that to Caspian, He too said that you’ll believe, but….” He trailed off and shut his eyes.

“Cas said like that?” she asked wiping her tears away, her rage was eased now at hearing her brother’s words, “Although I know that he never doubt me, I’m glad to hear that. And it’s alright Professor, I accept your apology; now tell me all what Cas said, please continue on.”

“Well, He then said your uncle will pay if he ever dares to lay a hand on you to harm. Then I instructed him to take to the woods –”

“The woods? But how? How did he go?” Cerlesta asked remembering seeing Cas’s horse Destrier in the stable. She wondered ‘How’ because Caspian only takes Dest whenever and wherever he goes.

“I already saddled Destri –” He began but Cerlesta interrupted,

“Wait, what? Cas went on Dest? B-But I saw him in the stable today!” she exclaimed in horror whisper.

“Today? Then I’m sure, they might have got Destrier and Caspian might have run away.” Said the Professor.

Cerlesta gasped, “Are you sure he is alright?” He nodded.

“How?” she asked, her voice cracked with tension and sob. Cornelius took a deep breath and said,

“I instructed to take woods because I thought (as it already is and as I’ve always known) they won’t follow him to there because all Telmarines fears those places. But those guards feared your uncle more about their own lives than the woods and might have chased Caspian into the woods. Before he took off, I gave him something that took me very long to find, the priceless thing which I treasured more than my life, The Horn of Queen Susan.”

“Queen Susan’s horn?! Professor, you’ve got to be kidding me!” she said in disbelief.

“Not at all, I warned Caspian to use it only at his greatest need. He must have had been in some danger; he winded the horn.” Professor said.

“But how do you know that? Was the horn’s blast that powerful?” she asked.

“That’s a good question but I don’t know about that. How I came to know about it is, I found your uncle in my room searching for something. He found some of books of Narnian old tales including a Narnian arrow. He then asked me about Queen Susan’s horn and I had to tell to him about it. Also asked what does Caspian knows about all these.” He explained.

“And you told him?” Cerlesta asked.

“No! Do you think I’ll do such a thing? I simply answered, ‘You forbade me from mentioning the old tales’. ‘And so I did.’ He said and sent me to here.” He said.

“What’s all the things about Queen Susan’s horn you said about to uncle? How could winding that horn at greatest need helps Caspian?” she asked.

“Queens Susan’s horn is meant to be magical. The one who wind the horn will get help.” He said.

“What kind of help?” she asked.

“Narnian’s believed it could summon their Kings and Queen of old and Aslan too. You said you saw four humans in Beruna, Two boys and Two girls with a dwarf. And they said they are Narnians, didn’t they?” he asked her.

“Yes, but they are only children! The eldest was a boy seemed to be sort of Cas’s age and the youngest was a girl seemed to be younger than me.! They can’t be them! Wouldn’t they be old ones?” She exclaimed.

“What about the middle ones?” Professor asked.

“The second eldest was a girl seemed to be only slightly younger than the first one and the third one was a boy seemed to be around my age.” She said.

“The Kings and Queens were in that same order!” he exclaimed, “Did you ask their names?”

Cerlesta bit her bottom lip, “No, I-I was going to ask but I had to head back soon that I heard someone calling me. I should have asked that, you’re right they really are in the order of the Kings and Queens. Could that be really them? They were all dressed up in a strange style rather old fashion and all four were so cute, noble and extraordinary too. Both boys each had swords and shields, elder girl had a bow and a quiver full of red feathered arrows and –” Cerlesta’s words were cut off by the Professor’s,

“Wait! Second eldest girl had red feathered bow and arrows?!” asked the Professor in shock.

                          .....

Their conversation went on with it and ended up believing the horn has worked, the Kings and Queens of old have arrived and the humans whom Cery met must be them. They both stayed late, talking and talking about this matter until Cerlesta let out a long yet silent yawn.

“That your highness is a sign you’re tired. Now go back up to your room, it’s too late by now.” Said the Professor letting one of his own out.

“You too Professor,” she chuckled “I’ll see you tomorrow, good night.” She planted a kiss on his cheek and got up.

She felt a great hope again, after all these conversations. Who else won’t be? Especially When all the news and truths you had, comes together as a proof of the existence of a fairytale and the way magic (which was thought as just a legend) worked!

“Good night, sleep well, Caspian is safe. Now be careful while you go back and pretend you haven’t visited me here and don’t know the actual truth, got it?” he asked, she nodded.

Cerlesta packed the parcel packet up in which only remained chicken bones.

“I’ll ask aunt to tell my uncle to bring you enough fine food and a blanket warm enough. I won’t tell of my visit, I’ve got a plan. I’ll try to come tomorrow night too –”

“You mustn’t, it’s too dangerous! You’ve got now all you wanted to know, haven’t you?” he asked.

She nodded, “Yes, but I’ll pay you a short visit, to make sure you’re okay. No matter what.” She said.

He sighed in defeat, “Fine,” She giggled.

                           .....

The next day, she settled everything for the old professor after pleading to her uncle about it with her aunt’s support.He accepted but yet insisted her from visiting him.

That afternoon, after having lunch, Cerlesta took a walk to the garden. She couldn’t stop smiling about those 4 humans she met.

‘Oh I can’t believe I met with them!’ she thought. Her heart raced as she flashed backed through her memories.
Those thoughts relieved her of her missing of Caspian.

‘Oh! That dark haired boy will be the Just King Edmund! Oh, only if I had got enough time to spend with them. He was so cute! Why, the cutest boy I’ve ever seen!’ she thought.

‘But not as cute as your brother Cery,’ she corrected herself. Even if he had been the cutest than her brother, she would never say, ‘he’s cute than Cas.’ Because she loved her brother very much and never liked lowering him in comparison with others.

“Your Royal Highness!” someone calling her name out loud pulled her from her own world of thoughts.

She spun around and saw Rhince walking towards her.

She smiled, “Hey Rhince! Surprise to see you here! When did you come back from Beruna?” she asked.

“Just some moments ago, Princess. His majesty King Miraz asks for your presence in his suit; he sent me to escort you to him.” He said.

“Anything wrong? I mean, any news about my brother?” she asked.

“I’m afraid so,” he said “It’s better if you hear it directly from him and please don’t tell I gave you a clue hint.” He begged.

She chuckled, “Don’t worry, I won’t.” She replied as she took his offered arm graciously.

I'm so sorry this chapter too longer than I expected. Any ways, it's the longer chapter yet. I hope you all like it. Thanks for your support guys, it means a lot to me and help me to continue on with this story.

By the way my sister @daughter_of_aslan has published Book 1 of our own 'Another Chronicles of Narnia' series. Please give hers a try, The story's name is 'Magic In The Cave'.

My work in this series will be on Book 3 called 'A Great Destiny'.

Stay tuned and stay safe!

- A True Narnian