Despite the bought of play fighting at lunch, the sober mood quickly returned as they drew closer to the river and soldier territory again. The quickest way into the forest where they would be meeting the elders unfortunately led close to Telmarine lands. If they wanted to take another route then it would take them a day longer. Ahren knew this and he stayed quiet as the grave as they continued to make their way through the undergrowth. His eyes keeping track of the prince at his side as Willowbranch led the way with the siblings. 

Caspian had never really had much experience in the woods. No Telmarine had other than the hunters and soldiers sent to persecute the Narnians. So it was not surprising that the prince was as graceful as a fawn on the forest floor despite his best efforts. He lagged behind and stumbled slightly every now and then at the uneven terrain. More than once Ahren had managed to grab him and haul the taller boy upright before he could go toppling, much to Caspian's embarrassment. But to his credit, Caspian had always been a fast learner and his feet were growing more sure on the branch strewn ground the more they walked. 

It had been going well so far. Their journey into the depths of the forest to seek the elders and leaders of the Narnian clans. But Ahren always seemed to have bad luck whenever he was struck by something good. He and Caspian had reunited, which was the best thing to have happened to him in years. It was the thing he had stayed up countless nights daydreaming about. Reuniting with his prince and best friend. It was only balance that the luck would not last. 

They were discovered by soldiers while surrounded by ferns waist height. The bracken slowed them down and the plants muffled the sounds of their footsteps. So they did not hear the soldiers advancing behind them until Bree turned and caught sight of twenty of them a few hundred yards away arming their crossbows. Ahren watched the Satyr's eyes widen and turned to catch sight of the black armour behind them. "Run!" Bree shouted. 

Instantly he and Summer were bounding ahead, ducking behind trees as the bolts started flying. Willowbranch glanced around, torn between running and staying to shield her younger companions. "Go!" Ahren waved at her as he grabbed Caspian by the arm. The prince and him running together. "Get help Willa!" There were too many soldiers for them and the centaur was the largest target. She was more likely to get hit than any of them. 

"Look after him!" She called back, though it was unclear wether she was talking to Caspian or Ahren. Both boys nodded, hands gripping each other as the curly haired boy led the way through the ferns. Willowbranch spared one more glance. 

"Get going!" Summer snapped. The blonder fawn had her bow out and had taken shelter behind a tree. She notched an arrow and drew it back. Her aim hit true and a soldier fell. Willowbranch took off in a gallop. Her strong legs carrying her far out of the range of the bolts within seconds then she was out of sight between the trees. 

Ahren watched her go, his gaze only jerking away when Caspian pulled him out of the way of a crossbow bolt that thudded into a tree on his left. "Thanks", he panted. 

Summer notched another arrow and aimed. Ahead, Bree had dropped into a crouch and was hidden amongst the ferns. "You can't outrun them like this", she stated as Ahren and Caspian both ducked behind a tree to her right. The trunk was not very wide, just wide enough to shield one of them. Ahren pinned the prince to the bark, body pressing close as he drew his bow from his back and grabbed for an arrow. They were so close that he could feel Caspian's breath stirring his hair. He fired and another soldier went down. Sixteen more to go. 

More bolts flew and there was a cry of pain. "Bree!" Summer's cry broke the air. Ahren turned. Bree was sat against a tree not far away. He was pale, the soft of a bolt sticking out of his hip. Summer ran to him, ducking behind trees and narrowly missing bolts as she tried to get to her brother. Ahren wanted to run to him as well but Caspian was in front of him and he needed to protect the prince. 

It seemed that Caspian did not care about being protected though. He broke out of Ahren's hold and ran towards the fallen satyr. "Caspian!" Ahren shouted, going to follow him but being forced to duck back as a bolt impaled the wood. He strung up his bow and shot again. Another soldier falling. Fifteen. 

Caspian had falled to his knees at Bree's side. His hands quickly ripping the bottom of his shirt into makeshift bandages as Summer put pressure on the wound.  Ahren was glad that the three of them were mostly hidden by the ferns for the moment but the soldiers were advancing and they couldn't stay here. 

"How is he?" He called as he strung another arrow. He missed, a curse dropping from his tongue as he tried again. 

"We need to move him". Summer's voice was cracked with worry. 

Ahren gritted his teeth and pulled another arrow out. He leaned around the trunk and took aim. A bolt came flying. He barely had time to cry out as it hit his bow, the wood splintering and cracking at the impact, shattering in his hands. He fell back in surprise. His body enveloped by the ferns below. His head hitting something hard as the light above him glittered dizzyingly. His vision loosing focus as the world began to swim.  Unconsciousness looming over him. He thought he heard his name but then the world faded to black and he became unaware of his surroundings.

"Ahren!" Caspian screamed. The prince had not seen what happened. Only heard the other boy cry out and turned just in time to see him fall. He didn't know what to do. Bree was down and Summer was busy trying to ease the wound. Ahren was down too and he had no idea what injury had befallen the boy. Was he dead? The glimpses of his body between the ferns was too still. Scarily so. 

Caspian felt for the horn at his waist. He knew that they needed help. Willowbranch had gone to get assistance but there was no telling when she would return. The soldiers were getting closer and he did not know what to do. His hands found the horn and tore it from his belt, fingers scrabbling at the decorating carvings. Queen Susan's horn, said to bring aid to whoever used it. They needed aid. He put it to his lips and blew. The long clear note it made echoed through the trees and vibrated the leaves. Something seemed to change in the air and Summer looked up with wide eyes. Even the soldiers had hesitated for a moment at the sound. 

"What did you do?" She accused. "Do you not know what that does? Put it away!" 

"He blew the horn", Bree wheezed. Brow sweaty but eyes still coherent. "The kings and queens of old will return". 

Caspian had no idea what they were talking about. His attention was on Ahren. The sound of the horn had made the soldiers hesitate, which brought him a few seconds to run in a crouch through the ferns towards the fallen body. "Ahren", he gasped as he leaned over the boy. "Ahren". 

There was blood on Ahren's brow, red against his tanned skin, but his chest was moving. His bow lying at his side, splintered and broken with a crossbow bolt fracturing through the wood. Brown eyes blinked dazedly at Caspian and the prince sagged slightly in relief. Ahren had just been knocked unconscious. He was alive. 

"Caspian", the word was slurred. "You grew up so handsome. My head hurts". The compliment made Caspian's face feel warm. But concern was still his main emotion. Ahren was obviously concussed and the soldiers were still advancing on them. They needed help.

unedited 

missed these boys.