The birds chirped, the wind rustled the leaves and Imira sat on a soft orange cushion around the circular wooden table had been set up outside for breakfast. All sorts of delicious things were set up on that table, from fresh fruit to tasty marmalade, roasted vegetables and freshly baked bread.

She was eating alone, for her friends had risen earlier and eaten long ago, but she was still counting on one person showing up and joining her.

Halfway through her meal, he finally showed up. Looking as fresh as a lettuce and carefree as the wind, Imira saw him walking about, slightly disoriented.

"Morning," she greeted him with a flash of white teeth as he looked around as if he had lost something. When he noticed her, he gave her a nod and reciprocated the smile.

"You beat me," he observed, for Imira was usually the last person to awaken.

"Unusual, I know," she smiled, proud of herself, and picked up her cup.

"So, got any news?" she asked as he examined at what was for breakfast.

Henry yawned, sat down on one of the cushions, one leg extended, the other bent, and then replied. "I just got up, the only news I've got is that I miss my bed,"

Imira almost laughed.

"Well, I've got news," she said rather smugly.

Henry raised his brows at her. "Oh, really?" 

He ripped a loaf of bread in half, wondering what news she could possibly have. After all, he was always the one giving her news.

"Get this," she leaned forward unable to hold back her excitement, "apparently our next group of Ettins have heard of our victories,"

Of course they have, you let them escape, Henry thought, holding back the I-told-you-so he wanted to say. But if Imira was in a good mood, surely it wasn't bad news. He waited for her to finish before casting any judgement.

"and, according to the trees, there is talk about surrender,"

Henry was glad he'd held back his remark. "You're joking," he laughed, a handsome grin spreading across his cheeks.

Imira shook her head once, barely holding back her glee.

"It appears the ones we allowed to escape shared their ordeal and have them worried enough to consider leaving,"

"Why, this is great!" Henry laughed.

"It's just a rumour," she reminded him and herself, "but, odds are, we've already won," she laughed a bit in the end.

"Brilliant," Henry smiled spreading marmalade on his scone. "Brilliant," he pointed at her before taking a bite. "Hmm," he wiped a crumb from the corner of his mouth, "I say you should make the offer today. Seize the opportunity while they're still nervous. They're only a couple hours away, aren't they? I'll go with you, we'll have their surrender before sunset,"

"As much as I appreciate your enthusiasm, we can't just pack up and leave. It hasn't even been a day since our victory," she looked around at the camp. "We need to secure the area first. Bury the dead, clear the field, create a strong presence so they won't return,"

"From the sound of it, they don't plan to," Henry reminded her.

"Still, I'd like to be sure. It was our general neglect of these parts that encouraged them to invade in the first place,"

Henry nodded. Imira was right they couldn't simply move on to the next target. At least not so quickly.

"Still, it is excellent news," Henry said cheerfully. "One step closer to victory,"

"One step closer to peace," Imira said.

"I'll drink to that," he raised his drink to her and they clinked cups before continuing with the first meal of the day.  

"Alright how about this: leave with your lives or–"

"No!" everyone said in unison.

"Well, you didn't let me finish," Imira crossed her arms.

"You didn't have to," Henry said from his wooden stool.

"Ugh, what's wrong with that one?" Imira asked.

"Alcibe," Henry turned to the woman.

"Too threatening," Alcibe answered.

"But I didn't use the word die this once," Imira objected.

"You didn't have to, it was implied," Alcibe said.

Imira made a face.

"Just don't mention the word death," Eurybe offered.

"Or perish," said Scyleia.

"Or burn," added Orithia.

"Or destroy," added Altheia.

"Annihilate," Ortheia contributed.

"Nor imply you'll kill them and celebrate afterwards," Henry added, earning a giggle from one of the five women sitting around him.

"But that's precisely what's gonna happen if they do not leave," Imira said.

"They already know that," Henry stood up, "No need to rub it in their faces,"

"Well, you've just restricted half of my vocabulary," Imira sighed and sat down defeatedly.

"Want me to get you a dictionary?" Henry asked with a cheeky smile. Altheia stiffened a laugh as Imira glared at him in annoyment, but her eyes revealed she has amused nonetheless.

"I just don't understand what you all want me to say," she looked at the six of them.

"Just avoid using the word death and all its synonyms and focus of everything they have to gain," Henry said.

"Make the offer as appealing as possible," Alcibe added.

"Convince them without being too obvious it's in their best interest to retreat," Eurybe said.

Henry nodded approvingly.

"The Ettins are stupid so they won't overthink it," Altheia added.

"You just have to sell it properly and they'll buy it," Orithia finished.

Imira nodded, taking all their suggestions into account.

"Can't I just go with a straightforward leave or die?" she joked.

"No!" the six of them said all at once.

"Ah, very well," Imira agreed. "I'll do it your way," she turned to pour herself some water. "But if they don't take me seriously I'll hold you six personally responsible," she said with an obvious playfulness to her voice. 

During all the planning she, Peter and Edmund had done at Cair Paravel they had contemplated dozens of possible battle scenarios. Fighting in the hills, fighting in the plains; in the wood, in the riverbanks, in the marsh; during the day, during the night; at full force, at half strength... whatever the scenario was going to be, they intended to be prepared for it. The situation Imira now faced was one they had thought through thoroughly and so she knew just which plan to choose and just how she'd play it. 

For their latest battle, they had been unable to utilize the trees in their fight, but this once it would be different.

Last time they had fought on the hills, this once –should it turn into a fight– they would be battling close to the treeline.  

"They'll notice us moving during the day," Imira moved onto the battle plan shortly after they had figured out what she'd say to the Ettins, "but if we move at night they will not realize."

Sneakiness. Orithia nodded in approval.

"Odds are they'll surrender," Imira continued, "I'll stick to what we came up with and make the offer as appealing as possible," she looked momentarily at Henry. "However, should they choose to fight us, we won't have the advantage of holding the high ground," she explained, pointing to the map before her.

"Hmm," Henry leaned forward and examined the map. Imira was yet to position the troops so he tried to Imagine what she had come up with.

"We will, however, have the trees," she moved the tree markers into what would be the battlefield. "The first two times they were a fire hazard, and during our last fight the terrain simply did not allow it, but this once the trees are our greatest advantage. Them and the ballistae, once more," she moved the artillery markers to the centre of the map as well. "We need to get them into position here," Imira moved them to the edge of the wood, "and the ballistae here," she positioned them between the trees. "Cavalry here and here," she moved the cavalry markers –cavalry meaning the centaurs, of course, "to annoy them so we can separate and distract them. The infantry will be here and here, ready with the grappling hooks," she moved the markers into position, "the archers with the ballistae in the back," she continued, " and the long-range catapults all the way over here. Now, I say we keep them over here in the west with one unit of archers to protect them, but the other option is to have them behind the Narnian tree line and move them in tonight,"

"That'll probably work better," Eurybe said, examining the plan. Imira moved them behind the Narnian tree line.

"If they yield and leave, good. But should they choose to fight, this will be our best defence. Any questions?" 

The next morning it was rise and shine for everyone in the camp. Deciding they could not wait any longer in fear of the Ettins leaving to join the closest eastern clan and not wishing to waste the window of opportunity, Imira mobilized the army and set out eastward for the next encounter.

The previous afternoon, just before sunset, the first part of her plan had been set into motion. The trees and the war machines had sneaked into position successfully and waited alert all night. 

Now, as she arrived with the rest of the troops and positioned her army visible before the field, everyone waited anxiously for the emissaries she had sent out to return with word from the giants.

It felt like forever but at last, the emissaries returned. 

Eight of the morning and they had already secured a parlay. This was turning out to be a productive day.

"Remember your lines?" Henry asked Imira got on her steed to advance with the parlay group.

She nodded. How could she not? the six of them had drilled them into her brain with all their repetition during dinner and breakfast.

"Remember the plan?" she asked in return.

"As clearly as my name," Henry replied. How could he not? he was the one who had had to explain it to those under his command.

She nodded again, looked at the swaying trees in the back line, and rode forward on Dehlios to parlay once more.