CHAPTER SIX
vol i — family feud

THE TRIP TO Aslan's How was long and tiresome, Alexandra's butt starting to hurt due to the constant riding they were doing. The path was twisty and constantly narrowing, causing constant backups to happen, having to wait in a line for the person in front to move on until the path spread out again. Alex continued to look around at their surroundings, enjoying the morning sun that would sneak in through the branches, coating her face with warmth. She enjoyed the way it found its way through the openings in the trees, holes that had been poked through the leaves, creating a scenery that would never be able to be duplicated.

The sun continued to bear down heavier as the sun grew higher in the sky, creating a red tint on her skin. Alex could feel the hot spots on her face from the sun, knowing that they would turn her skin darker than it already was, giving her the golden tint she only acquired from the warmer months of the year. The sun only grew stronger when they reached a clearing, a tall mounting sitting in the middle — their destination. The wildflowers that coated the field, their bright colors mixing in with the dull green and beige of the wild grass that grew high without anyone to keep it tame. They moved with the wind, dancing with the petals that flew by them, inviting the butterflies and bees to come and visit them.

Alex made a mental note to remember to pick some of the wildflowers to entangle them into her hair, give her a sense of comfort despite being on the brink of war. She noticed a line of Centaurs in either side of the pathway into the How, swords raised as the two Telmarines walked through. Alexandra noticed a small one falter at the sight of Lucy, leaning over to whisper to Caspian, "The baby almost just dropped his sword because he was enthralled with Lucy. The cutest thing ever."

"It may not be what you are used to, but it is defendable," Caspian said, showing the Pevensie's the How, having gotten the basics of it from Glenstorm in a side meeting.

"Peter, you may want to see this," Susan said. She and Lucy had come from one of the hallways, having left the group to go exploring. The rest of them followed, carrying torches, admiring the carvings that were on the walls, showing the siblings as Kings and Queens. "It's us."

"What is this place?"
"You don't know?"

Caspian and Alex shared a glance, having heard the stories from their professor, confused as to how the Kings and Queens of Narnia have never heard about the How. The two led them down one of the hallways, the flickering source of the torch being their only light, the end of the hallway bringing them to an open room. Fire spread around the outside of the room, separated by stone, an orange hue being cast over the room. The infamous cracked stone table from the battle of the white witch sits in the middle, surrounded by carvings of Narnian's from over the years, a large carving of Aslan standing in the middle.

"He must know what he's doing."
"I think it's up to us now."

( ...🌼... )

CASPIAN AND ALEXANDRA had left the siblings alone to work out the tension that was filling the room, tension about whether Aslan knew what he was doing or not. Lucy was a firm believer in the lion, trusting her gut and faith in him that he would be able to show when they needed him the most, bring them to victory like he did last time. The other knew that he wasn't so reliable, having started to grow up, lose faith in everything their childish antics had believed in, throwing their childhood away for something that would better their future. Alexandra didn't know where she stood on the whole believing in the magical lion that had saved the Narnians countless times.

Caspian had intertwined their pinkies, wanting to keep the girl close in their new environment, knowing that either one of them could be dead in a moments time. They allow themselves to be enclosed in the silence that greeted them as they walked through the dimly lit hallway, the torches flickering as they walked past. The sound of weapons and gear being made echoed off the walls, invading Alex's ears, bringing her to the dooming reality that would become their future. There was no way that she was going to let the boy beside her die, as she would sacrifice herself before anything happened to him.

They sat down in one of the alcoves, Caspian's arm around her shoulder as her head rested on his chest. She grabs his hand that was resting in his lap, playing with the ring that held his family crest. "What's wrong, love?" he asked, looking down at the girl that was curled up against him.

"How do you know something is wrong?"
"You okay with my rings when you get anxious."
"Oh."
"Tell me."
"I'm worried."
"About what?"

Alex let out a sigh, angling her head to her a better look at the boy. "This whole thing. I don't want to lose you, but I know you belong on that throne. I just can't let you go through with this if it means that I am the only one to come out alive. I'm not letting that happen."

Caspian let out a small sigh, knowing that there was nothing that he could do about it, already stuck in the plan, the plan that involved Alex making it out safe. He didn't know if it would work with him getting out alive, but as long as she did, he would be happy with whatever fate had in store for him. He was unable to voice his concerns about everything, not wanting to cause her anymore worry than she was already experiencing. Caspian settled on pulling her closer, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head, leaning his head on top of her own.

Their silence didn't last long, Peter storming into the area they were in, his siblings following shortly behind him. He stood in front of the teens that were entangled, placing his hands on his hips as he stared down Caspian. "We need a battle plan."

peter is gonna be a smug bastard next chapter