Chapter 5

“Where have you been?!” The Queen yelled as I got back to camp.

“I’m sorry, your majesty. I went the longer way back because I was afraid that the centaurs were going to follow me back here,” I lied trying to get on her good side.

“Well they followed Adeda and now Edmund is gone,” she spat.

“I tried to tell him to go the other way but he didn’t listen,” I lied again.

“Well good for you for thinking smart but I think now we have to pay Aslan a visit,” she answered.

The Queen dismissed me and I went for a walk around camp watching all the creatures get ready for the war. I sat outside my tent watching all the commotion and thinking about how Edmund had said that I was on the wrong side or how I lied to Peter. If I thought I was on the right side why didn’t I defend myself or killed him right then and there. I sighed going into my tent to take a nap on my hammock.

When I slept I dreamed of a beautiful meadow. I was lying in the middle of the meadow surrounded by wild flowers. I laughed as I rolled around in the grass when I heard a noise.

“Eleanor.”

I sat up looking around there wasn’t anything in the meadow for miles. But in the far of distance I could see a huge willow tree.

“Eleanor, come to me.”

The wildflowers and grass swayed in the breeze so I followed in the direction of the willow tree. It seemed so far away but in no time I was at the foot of it. There was movement from the other side and Aslan walked around the base and faced me.

“Eleanor, come to me,” he said.

I walked forward and faced him.

“Tell me child, why do you doubt yourself?” He asked.

“Because Edmund says that I’m on the wrong side and I’m also doubtful of myself because I’m starting to believe him,” I answered sitting in front of him.

Aslan sat beside me, “Then come to me child, I’ll help you through your sorrows.”

“Eleanor. Eleanor. Eleanor!”

I jumped up grabbing my dagger from my bag to find Ginarrbrik beside my bed, “What do you want?” I asked lowering my weapon.

“The Queen has called a meeting,” he grunted leaving my tent.

I sighed grabbing my bag and throwing it over my shoulder. Everyone was gathered in the middle of the camp around the Queen’s tent. I went and stood beside the tent listening in on what was going on.

“Aslan has took something that belongs to us, he is asking for war,” she said as all the creatures yelled, cawed and whatever they did, “Today we will pay Aslan a visit at his camp to take back what is ours!”

I got bored with the roaring and battle plans so I left to go on my rounds. No one saw me leave so I headed for Aslan’s camp to see if I could get a glimpse of the other teenagers. It was a long walk but soon I found the girls in a field practicing. The older girl was using a bow and arrow and shot close to the bulls eye and the younger girl took out her dagger throwing it right in the middle. I laughed, “Nice throw.” The girls jumped turning around and I waved, “Hi.”

“Hello,” the older girl said.

“Who are you?” The younger girl asked.

“I’m uh…I’m Ellie,” I answered.

“I’m Susan and this is Lucy,” the older girl gestured.

“Nice to meet you. Lucy do you think you could show me how to do that?” I asked.

“Of course!” Lucy smiled brightly. She ran to the target pulling out her dagger and running back to me, “You mainly have to throw it hard and fast.”

“Okay,” I said taking out my dagger and getting into stance.

“And just throw,” Lucy said throwing her dagger onto the bulls eye again.

I threw my dagger and it landed on the target just below the middle.

“Not bad,” Susan commented.

“Thanks,” I smiled. It was nice to have girls to talk to instead of dwarves and wolves. We practiced for a bit longer when I heard yelling. I turned and saw Peter and Edmund fighting with swords on horses. If Edmund saw me he would recognize me. “Oh no,” I said and Lucy heard me.

“It’s alright, it’s just our brothers,” Lucy said.

“I have to go,” I said taking my dagger off the target and running.

“Ellie!” Lucy yelled.

I ran across the field heading for the forest.

“Come back!”

I looked back to see Peter on his horse riding after me, I wasn’t going to be able to out run him but I had to try. Peter was close behind by the time I got to the forest. The trees thickened and I started tripping over my feet. When suddenly the forest floor fell beneath me and I screamed grabbing ahold of the roots from the ground. It was one of our traps, “Help!” I cried looking below me to the bottomless pit.

“It’s alright,” Peter said as he lied down on the ground above me.

My feet dangled below me and my arms started to ache.

“Grab my hand,” he yelled as my hands started to slip.

I reached out but missed grabbing ahold of the side, “I can’t.”

“Trust me,” he said reaching out farther.

I tried reaching and missed then tried again and got it this time. I let go of the roots putting my other hand on top of his.

“Hold on,” Peter grunted before pulling me out of the hole.

I landed beside him and he put a hand around my shoulders.

“Are you alright?” He asked.

I nodded, shaken up and whipped the tears from my eyes.

“When you said we would meet again soon I didn’t think you would mean this way,” Peter laughed.

I laughed too, “Sorry.”

“Ellie? That’s your name?” He asked standing up.

I nodded as he held out his hand to help me up, “It’s short for Eleanor.”

“That’s a beautiful name,” Peter smiled.

“Thanks,” I smiled and I realized how close we were. He had beautiful blue eyes that were mesmerizing. I took a step back looking away for a second, “Um, I have to get going.”

“Where to?” He asked, “I can take you. You don’t have to walk.”

“It’s okay. But I do have to get going,” I said taking more steps backward forgetting about the trap. My feet stumbled but Peter grabbed my waist pulling me towards him, “Um thanks.”

“Just be careful,” he smiled.

I went around the trap looking back at Peter and smiling before going on my way. Once I was out of sight I took a deep breath but not in time to be grabbed.