We raced deeper into the woods, hearts pounding. I passed the Prince and ducked under a low, thick branch—or a fallen tree. I didn't waste time checking for sure. Scenery flew by, but I could still tell the woods looked different from what I last remembered. They were darker and lacked the feel of magic they once had. The child in me would've been afraid to be alone in them, especially at night.

A sudden thud pulled me away from my thoughts and I risked a glance behind me. What I saw, caused me to pull my horse to a stop. The Telmarine Prince was being dragged by his horse. I guessed he must've been knocked off by the low-hanging branch. He was too busy watching behind him that he wasn't looking ahead. As a result, he hit the log and his foot caught in the stirrup as the horse kept running.

They both charged past me when he finally managed to untangle his foot. Without a rider, the horse just kept running, disappearing into the forest as I waited atop my horse. Prince Caspian was left in the middle of the forest floor, breathing heavily and wincing a bit in pain. His sword and few other items were scattered about in the direction the horse had run. I sighed and debated about continuing without him. But I remembered my promise and knew I couldn't.

A door creaked, and I turned quickly in the direction of the sound. Two Narnian Dwarfs—one red and one black—walked out of a large tree, swords drawn. There was a third Narnian in the doorway but I couldn't make out what kind it was from my view. The commotion must have drawn their attention.

"They've seen us!" the Black Dwarf stated.

The Red Dwarf headed towards the Prince and I jumped from my horse. Tapping its rear end, I sent it running into the woods. There was no way they were going to harm him, but I couldn't harm them either. They were likely just afraid of the Telmarines. As I approached, ready to work this out, the Dwarf suddenly stopped and looked at something on the ground. I would've followed his gaze to see what he was looking at but the Black Dwarf was glaring at me. The look in his eyes showed such hatred and I didn't like it.

With a loud cry, the Telmarines that were chasing us appeared. The first dwarf looked to the other, hardly passing me a glance, before speaking.
"Take care of him!" he said before running off to face the Telmarines alone. I did notice that he was only referring to the Prince, unlike the other Dwarf.

I changed directions to help the Dwarf when a Badger, the one that was standing in the doorway, halted me. Confused, I looked at him about to ask why, when the Black Dwarf shouted "no!" and I heard a horn blowing. I looked just in time to see him knock the Prince upside the head. The Prince passed out, horn falling from his hand. I sighed and sent a small glare at the Dwarf, who ignored me.

"Why did you do that?" I asked and I thought it came out more desperate than worried.
"He blew the horn!" was the Dwarf's reply.
"And now you're just going to leave him there?!" the Badger asked him.
"That was the plan," the Black Dwarf replied, gruffly.
"No! Help me get him inside," the Badger demanded.

While the two carried the Prince inside, I gathered up his fallen items. The Red Dwarf provided us with just enough to get him quickly out of sight, but it would do no good to leave a trail. When I saw the horn, I picked it up carefully but I didn't pay much attention to it. Then I quickly erased any signs of our footprints and I moved towards the tree. At the entrance, I risked a glance at our pursuers.

The Telmarines had been held off for a little while but now they had overtaken the Dwarf. He was no longer able to fight and the Telmarines surrounded him. They couldn't be held off any longer and would soon be on us. I either had to get inside or face them. Without thinking about it, I took a step forward, only to feel a paw on my arm pulling me inside. The door closed behind me and I whirled around, ready to argue with the Badger.

The Badger and the Dwarf both stared at me, but their expressions were completely different. It was very strange to see two completely different expressions. The Badger's face showed excitement, happiness, and even admiration. It also showed a little bit of concern and worry, both well hidden beneath his eyes. The Dwarf's face showed anger, hatred, and disappointment. He didn't look happy to see me at all whereas the Badger did.

Prince Caspian laid unconscious on the floor between them and a strange silence fell between us as everyone tried to figure out what to say. After my time in the dungeon, I had become quite shy again. I rarely initiated the conversation. Unable to keep watching them, I glanced around their house. It was small but it was homey and it reminded me of my home, long ago. Their house was the only thing that really felt like Narnia, the Old Narnia.

Before the silence could stretch much longer, the Badger spoke up, sensing the awkwardness. "Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Trufflehunter, the Badger. And this," he pointed to the Dwarf, "is Nikabrik."
"H-hello. My name is—" I began, only to be cut off.
"I know who you are. I recognized you as soon as I saw you. You're the Brave and Great Phoenix Warrior Archer. Narnia's Protector," Trufflehunter stated with admiration in his voice.
"Y-yes. But I haven't been called that in a long time," I admitted, feeling ashamed hearing those words come out of his mouth. I had failed Narnia.
"And I don't think you're deserving of that title now," Nikabrik stated rather harshly.
"Nikabrik!" Trufflehunter lectured. "She did more for us than you and I will ever know."
I looked at the ground. "No... He's right. I don't deserve that title. I failed Narnia, I failed all of you."

Just as I glanced up, the Badger's face fell. He didn't say anything though. Instead, he gestured for me to help him. So I stepped forward and helped Trufflehunter move the Telmarine Prince into one of the back bedrooms—his I assumed. He examined his head and then sent me a small smile.

"The boy will be fine. He might have a headache when he wakes up but he should be fine. No signs of a concussion. There's no telling when he'll wake up though," Trufflehunter informed me.
"Oh, thank you," I said.
"I don't expect he'll wake up until much later. Nikabrik did hit him rather hard and it looked like he had a nasty fall before. Why don't you get some rest?"
"No, thank you. I'm alright."
"You look awful. I know it's impolite to say such things to a lady but... Your skin is pale, there are dark circles under your eyes, and your clothes and hair are filthy—as if you haven't changed or washed in months. It also looks as if you haven't slept well in several weeks. I don't know what happened to you all those years ago, but you look like you could use a good rest and a comfortable place to sleep. Now come."
"Thank you, but I—" I tried to disagree but Trufflehunter wouldn't listen.
"I insist. Come. Rest for a few hours. You can use Trumpkin's room. It's the least I can do after everything you did to keep our kind alive. I'll wake you up should your companion awake before you do."

Trufflehunter showed me to another room then left me alone to rest. Nikabrik didn't seem happy about it but he didn't argue. He simply glared at me sternly until Trufflehunter shooed him away. Once he was gone, I removed my weapons and armor. It would be easier to sleep with them gone. Even then it took me a while to get to sleep. Too much was on my mind, especially what Nikabrik said about me not deserving my title. He was right, I didn't. Narnia had fallen to the Telmarines because of me.

~Prince Caspian~

I awoke sometime later, feeling a little refreshed. Trufflehunter was right. A good rest was much better than all those years on the hard, cold ground. The floor of the dungeon was actually more comfortable than the small, hard cot in my particular cell. It was more soothing to my wounds whenever I was returned injured. But that hadn't happened in years and both ended up being uncomfortable in the long run.

It was quiet. I carefully slipped back into my armor, wanting to be prepared to leave at any time. As I grabbed my quiver, I felt like everything had been a dream—that I was still dreaming. But I knew it wasn't true because this definitely wasn't the dungeon and I wouldn't dream of a place I had never been before. My hopes were confirmed by the sound of soft talking, tinkering, and the smell of something sweet. I couldn't tell what was being discussed so I decided to make an appearance.

"Ah, Ana! You're awake,"
Trufflehunter said, seeming to change the conversation as soon as he saw me.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Trufflehunter. Nikabrik," I said to the two. Even though Nikabrik didn't seem to like me, he had still given up his home. And besides, I was courteous to almost everyone.
"It was no trouble," Trufflehunter responded. Nikabrik didn't look up or say anything. "But I do suggest you get cleaned up sometime soon. You look like you haven't seen real sunlight in years. What happened to you? Records simply mention you being killed in action, in the battle where Cair Paravel fell."

As he spoke, I looked down at my dress. It was then that I realized what he was talking about. The Telmarine dungeon wasn't the cleanest place. Although I had been brought a change of clothes throughout the years, I was covered in dirt and who knew what else. My dress was tattered and torn in some places. If the chance arrived, I knew I would have to wash my face—if not bathe—as well as change my outfit. But it would have to do because it was all I had and it was unlikely any of the three occupants would have clothes that fit me.

I couldn't answer the Badger's question though. No one could know what had happened to me. They couldn't know what I had given up so that they could live. They didn't need to know. It was the one thing I hoped to bury and never worry about again. Yes, I had scars but my injuries were healed and no one would be none the wiser. At least my dress didn't give away the treatment I had endured during my times as a Telmarine prisoner.

Trufflehunter seemed to understand. Whether it was because I didn't respond or a look on my face, I didn't know. But for whatever reason, he refrained from any further questions he might've had and gestured for me to sit. I smiled and found an empty seat at the table. Nikabrik eyed me warily and I carefully set my bow aside. Trufflehunter passed me a bowl of soup and I was careful to avoid scarfing it down, although I was quite hungry.

"This bread is so stale!" Nikabrik said trying to break a piece of bread. I had ended up dipping it in the soup to make it easier to eat.
"I'll just give him some soup. He should be coming around soon," Trufflehunter stated and I thought he was referring to the Prince.
"Well, I don't think I hit him hard enough," the Dwarf grumbled.
"Nikabrik, he's just a boy!"
"He's a Telmarine, not some lost puppy! You said you were gonna get rid of him."
"No. I said I'd take care of him," Trufflehunter argued, emphasizing the word 'care'. "We can't kill him now. I just bandaged his head. It-it-it'd be like murdering a guest," Trufflehunter tried persuading him.
"Oh. And how do you think his friends are treating their guest?" Nikabrik countered.
"Trumpkin knew what he was doing. It's not the boy's fault."

I said nothing throughout the exchange and just stared at the bowl in front of me. What could I say? In a flash, the Prince came around the corner, startling Trufflehunter and making him drop the bowl of soup as he made for the door. Nikabrik had stood up and drawn his sword, causing the Prince to back up. He picked up a fire poker from near the fireplace. He used it to block a blow as Nikabrik swung at him. Trufflehunter shouted protests the entire time while trying to avoid being hit by either one of them.

"I told you we should've killed him while we had the chance!" Nikabirk said as held his sword, ready to strike again.
"You know why we can't!" Trufflehunter shouted.
"If we're taking a vote, I'm with him," the Prince said gesturing towards Trufflehunter.
"We can't let him go! He's seen us!" Nikabrik swung at him again, to which the Prince easily defended. However, it did force him to sit on the steps.
"Enough, Nikabrik! Or do I have to sit on your head again?" Trufflehunter said. Then he looked at Prince Caspian and said: "And you! Look what you made me do?!"

Nikabrik made a face at Trufflehunter's first comment but did stop swinging his sword. I watched the exchange carefully, wondering how or if I should jump in. But the Badger seemed to have mediated the fight without my help and I sat there awkwardly. Everyone watched a Trufflehunter picked up the spilled bowl of soup.

"I spent half the morning on that soup," Trufflehunter muttered quietly but I think everyone heard it.
"Wh-what are you?" the Prince stuttered out.
"Hmm... You know, it's funny that you would ask that. You'd think more people would know a badger when they saw one," Trufflehunter replied.
"No. No, I mean... you're Narnians, except for her," he pointed at me, "You're supposed to be extinct," he said.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Nikabrik huffed and sulked back to his spot at the table. He placed his sword on the table as I looked at the Prince.
"I'm sorry. My name is Ana and I am a Narnian," I told him and he looked at me in confusion, as I expected.
"Here you go. Still hot," Trufflehunter interrupted as he placed another bowl of soup on the table.
"Since when did we open a boarding house for Telmarine soldiers?" Nikabrik grumbled.
"I'm not a soldier. I am Prince Caspian, the Tenth," he stood up as he said this, giving him an air of authority.
"What are you doing here?" Nikabrik asked.
"Running away," he answered. Trufflehunter and Nikabrik shared a confused look before looking back at their guest. "My uncle has always wanted my throne. I suppose I've only lived this long because he did not have an heir of his own," he continued, sadly, and placed the fire poker back where it belonged.
"Oh...That changes things," Trufflehunter said, understandingly.
"Yeah," Nikabrik replied, sarcastically. "It means we don't have to kill ourselves."
"You're right," the Prince realized and moved towards the door again.
"Where are you going?" Trufflehunter asked, seeming a bit desperate.
"My uncle won't stop until I am dead," he replied, putting on his vest and grabbing his weapons.
"But... you can't leave," the Badger protested. "You're meant to save us!" The Prince looked back and we both stared at him in slight confusion. "Don't you know what this is?"

The Prince halted in his progress to see what he was talking about. Trufflehunter held the horn from earlier close to himself. He looked down on it once before looking back at the Prince. I recognized it immediately. Maybe one of the Narnians had heard my cry and removed it from the castle. But then, how did the Telmarines find it? More specifically, how did Professor Cornelius come to possess the horn of Queen Susan, the Gentle?