A little look into Ana's time in the Telmarine dungeons. I tried to keep it vague, but there are references and allusions to abuse/torture. You have been warned.

Apologies for another POV change, but this was how it worked out best. It was too long to combine with the others and I prefer to avoid 3 POV changes within one chapter.

𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍𑁍

~3rd Person Point of View~

Ana awoke to unfamiliar surroundings and a pounding in her head. She recalled the battle and her subsequent capture easily enough that she didn't panic. Allowing the rest of her senses to catch up, she tried to figure out exactly where she was. She felt the cold hard ground underneath her and cold metal on her wrists—shackles she realized when the chains clinked after moving them.

She heard sounds somewhere nearby, yet distant. They weren't right beside her but they were close enough that she didn't need to rely on Phoenix to hear them. They were quite loud. Clanging, shouting. It was as if they were building something. But Ana didn't want to risk opening her eyes just yet, fearing a concussion.

Trying to figure out if anyone was waiting on her to wake up, Ana kept her eyes closed. She could hear the sound of labored breathing nearby as if someone was injured. There were no footsteps to accompany it though, so she assumed the person was sleeping. But otherwise, figured she was relatively alone. At least no one was waiting for her to wake up.

Slowly opening her eyes, Ana's suspicions were confirmed. She was in a cell of a not-so-complete dungeon. Her wrists were chained to some kind of bolt attached to the floor, ensuring she couldn't move far. There wasn't even enough length on the chain for her to reach the edges of the cell. It appeared she was in a corner cell, the furthest from the entrance to the dungeons. But there was a small, barred window that allowed her to see outside and provided her with some light. However, the chain didn't allow her to get close enough so she had to stand on her tiptoes to see what was going on.

Unfortunately, the action reminded her of being shot in the leg and she groaned at the action. Still, she pushed through the pain to find out what was going on.

She was right. The Telmarines were building something. It appeared to be a castle and they had started with the dungeons. Ana suspected they were building the secret passageways and catacombs below them just as much as they were building above. She saw some of the larger and stronger Narnians helping with the construction and Ana frowned. They wouldn't help them willingly so something must've been done to force them to work. She could only imagine what it was that caused them not to fight back.

A door opened and Ana strained towards the sound. Several footsteps followed the noise and she half expected someone to approach her cell. But they didn't even make it halfway down the hall—and therefore too far for her to see them—before coming to a stop. She heard the distinct sound of a key in a lock and the clang as a cell door opened.

"Move beast!" someone shouted. Her eyes widened marginally as she heard hooves clopping on the stone floor.
'A faun perhaps?' she thought.
There was a sound of something hitting flesh and the creature groaned. "Move!" the same voice ordered.

Ana struggled to see what was going on, but the chains made it impossible. If the door had been located elsewhere—facing the entrance rather than the empty cell across the way—then she might've had better luck. All she was able to make out was that several Telmarines had dragged one of the Narnians from the cells. It could've been a faun, satyr, or even a minotaur—though the last was the least likely—judging by the sounds it made. The cells were almost too small to fit a centaur and she only heard one set of hooves instead of two. The creature had pleaded and whimpered the whole time so Ana knew this wasn't the first time they had been dragged from them.

It would, however, be his last. He never returned and Ana didn't know if he had been killed or put to work.

This action was repeated over several hours and into the next day. Several injured Narnians were dragged from the cells, many never returning. Some did, only worse for wear, and she could only imagine what had happened to them. Ana was left alone for several days, but then the guards finally came for her. And that was when Ana learned the disturbing news.

Her chains were undone from the floor, but not her wrists. She was manhandled and roughly brought out into the hall. Several of the imprisoned Narnians looked up as she was pulled past their cells. Ana didn't miss the gasps they made, surprised to see her there. She didn't look at them, wanting to be brave, but felt anger radiating off some of the Narnians. Whether that was at her or the Telmarines, Ana didn't know. She wouldn't blame them if they were mad at her.

She was dragged upstairs and pulled past a set of doors that led into the open. The dungeons weren't connected to any part of the castle yet, but they were heavily guarded. Ana noted that over twenty men stood around the place. She blinked at the bright light and looked around, trying to see if she could figure out what was happening. That's when she saw two Narnians—a dwarf and a satyr—in what she assumed was the courtyard.

The Dwarf breathed heavily and was being dragged towards the door she had just been brought from. He was bleeding from injuries inflicted and the satyr watched, horror-stricken. Then the Telmarines around him told him to get to work or the same would happen to him. Ana realized those returned to the cells were being tortured and used as an example to the Narnians. If they worked and cooperated, no harm would come to their friends. If they didn't, the others were punished. But she suspected the workers also suffered injuries if they were to be kept in line.

The satyr's eyes found hers and his horror only grew. Perhaps he thought she would be used as an example as well. Ana didn't know what they wanted and didn't know how to reassure the creature. All she could do was send him a sad smile before he was pushed away. One of the guards escorting her did the same, except she wasn't able to compensate with an untreated injury. She fell, hard, and the Telmarines laughed before pulling her roughly to her feet.

As she was guided Aslan knew where she could feel the magic in the land slowly fading away like it was being locked up. Some of this she knew was because of the Dryads being killed to build the Telmarines' new home and some of it was because of all the lives lost trying to defend Narnia. It was a sad thing for Ana to feel, and she felt a part of her go with it. A part of her disappeared when she saw her homeland being destroyed.

Though she didn't struggle, the Telmarines were cruel and would hit her if she moved too slowly. Given her untreated injury, it was more often than she liked. They had been ordered to spare her, and Ana didn't understand why. There were a lot of things she didn't understand. Why hadn't they pursued the Narnians through the woods? Where was she going? What did they want with her? Why was it taking so long to get there?

But sparing her did not mean that they felt obligated to treat her like a human being. She did have magic after all, and they knew it. It was why they kept her in chains. Phoenix could escape them, but the cell was a different story. It was why she hadn't bothered to try earlier. But if she escaped now, where would she go? Could she escape and leave the trapped Narnians to die? And Ana realized she couldn't. She couldn't leave them to suffer while she ran free. It wasn't fair and she deserved whatever happened to her. She had failed them, failed the Narnians.

As she was dragged to another unconnected part, Ana wondered if they would just end it. There was no reason for them to keep her alive. She wouldn't betray her people, even unto death. And she wasn't immortal so she would die eventually anyway. Why prolong the inevitable? Her mind started to wander into dark thoughts and she shook them off, focusing instead on Aslan. It would be the only way to get her through what was to come.

She was brought before what she assumed was the newly formed council o lords and the man who ordered her life to be spared. He was in the center of the room, clearly the leader and their new King. She remembered overhearing the ceremony from her cell. It was clear they wanted something from her since she was brought here rather than put to work.

And as they discussed what exactly they should do with her, Ana didn't say a single word. Some thought they should just kill her, screaming that she was a monster. There was no need for them to keep her alive and doing so would only result in trouble for them. However, others disagreed with that last statement—Ana could tell they all despised her. The Narnians followed her command, so that could prove useful. Ana was horrified to think that they might use her against the Narnians as they had the others. She couldn't bear to be the reason they became slaves.

In the end, it was agreed to keep her alive. She could provide information about where the remaining Narnians had fled to. And in the meantime, she could be used as bait for anyone who tried to rescue her. She was their leader after all so it was reasonable to think they would come for her. Therefore, Ana was ordered back to her cell and the guards obliged, after a few more hits and some knocks around the head of course.

There Ana was forced to stay until they wanted her. Their main objective was to get information from her, but she knew they would not succeed. Their hopes of finishing off the Narnians would fail as well. They would not come for her. Even before her capture, she had made sure no rescue would ever happen. They had known it was likely someone would be captured and orders had been given to stay away. Their only chance of staying alive was to remain in hiding and hope that someday they would be free again.

Ana also knew she wouldn't tell the Telmarines where the Narnians hid in the forest. She had no idea where they were. But even if she did, she wouldn't have told them. It was the one thing she could do to keep them safe. She made the decision to not tell them anything they wanted to know, no matter what they asked. Whether it was about their past or if they wanted more information on the Narnians. She knew that the Narnian numbers had greatly diminished since the invasion and no more lives needed to be lost.

Her injury was treated at some point. The man who did so wasn't a physician but had obviously been ordered to keep her alive. It had become inflamed and infected but the man treating her wasn't gentle. He caused her more pain treating it than the injury itself. But she did little more than groan to show her discomfort. She wanted everyone to know that she wouldn't be easy to break so she refused to show weakness.

After more days of waiting and the cells becoming increasingly empty, she was summoned. She was brought before the council again and asked various questions. How many Narnians were left, where they could be found, how could they defeat them. Other things like that. Anything that would help them destroy her people. But Ana refused to speak and they warned her that there were ways to get her to talk. She wasn't scared and tried to ignore their threats.

After questioning her some more, she was dragged away. This time she wasn't returned to her cell and instead brought into a room with no windows and only the door they brought her in. It would've been dark in the room had there not been a fire burning. Ana was pulled past a table with various tools and weapons. Her imagination ran wild with the things they were used for. None of them were good and she realized most of them would likely be used on her.

They didn't bother securing her chains anywhere. There was only one exit and nowhere for her to go. One man asked a question and when she didn't respond, the strongest of the men struck her across the face. It was hard enough to send her sprawling to the cold stone, lip bleeding. Another question was asked and she received another hit when she didn't answer. This cycle repeated, each blow getting more violent and painful. They beat, hit, and kicked, trying to get information. It was painful, but Ana never let it show. She wouldn't cave to the pain.

When they realized such methods wouldn't get her to talk, she was dragged back to her cell. Her chains were secured and they left with a promise of worse treatment should she continue to not talk. Ana was bruised but it was nothing she couldn't handle. It was painful to move, but thus far she didn't think they had broken anything.

However, she had seen the tools and knew things would get worse. They had only used two on her that day, but they had promised to use all of them if she didn't give them what they wanted. It only strengthened her resolve to not speak. She had to be strong and couldn't let the Telmarines think she was weak. She wouldn't cave. If she cried, they would know they could break her. She knew they would try again, but she promised herself she wouldn't cry.

Sometime after the guards left, Ana heard a faint noise and shifted from her position on the floor, looking towards the door. She didn't see anyone but she knew there was someone there; she could feel their presence. At the time, Ana blamed the pain for making her mind sluggish so that she didn't recognize it right away. But later she would admit it was because she forgot what His presence felt like.

"Aslan?" she whispered into the darkness, eyes fixed beyond the bars.
"Yes, dear one," he replied and soon she saw Him emerge from the shadows.
And suddenly she was overwhelmed with anger and grief. "What happened? Why did you leave me alone? I was forced to lead an army and had no idea how to do it. The Narnians trusted me to save them and I failed! Where did you go? I called upon you and you didn't come. I wasn't a good enough leader! I needed your help and you..." she trailed off, unable to say it. But the Lion knew. He always did.
"I have not abandoned you, Ana." His voice was stern and Ana felt ashamed. "I heard your cries and I helped you. Narnia survived as long as it did because I did not abandon them, just as I haven't abandoned you."
"I know," Ana sighed. "I'm sorry... I've just felt so alone. I've lost everything."
"You did your best and that's all anyone can ask," Aslan told her. Both knew he was talking about more than the fall of the Kingdom.

There were many things she wanted to ask Him. But there was only one that really mattered. "Are here to stay, Aslan?"
"No, dear one."
"But why?"
"I shall return one day to set my people free."
"When?"
"Soon. Stay strong, young warrior. Keep your faith and trust in me. You will see me again."
"Am I meant to stay here? Alone?"
"I shall be watching you always. You're never alone."

She felt a change in the air and suddenly He was gone. The room grew silent and it felt colder without Aslan's presence. Ana's faith had been a bit shaky after all that had happened, but she felt comforted by His words at the time. However, she would later forget what He said.

Aslan never broke a promise. He promised 'soon' and Ana held on to the belief that she wouldn't remain a prisoner for long. But she was gravely mistaken. She remained imprisoned and suffered at the hands of Telmarines. Her faith in Aslan began to fade away. As it faded, she fell into darkness and her torment got worse. And the one person they thought would never fall, fell.

Aslan paid her another visit later, but by then she didn't want to speak with Him. However, she was reminded that all times were called soon. And slowly, slowly, Ana's faith was restored.

~Ana's Point of View~

The first thing I noticed was that the spinning had finally stopped. The second was the sound of water and rocky terrain. Both were different from where I recalled falling asleep. Then I quickly became aware of the presence of several others. All were familiar to me, but I was having a hard time figuring out why. My mind was sluggish.

"Wake up!" a voice pleaded and there was a familiarity to it.

Wanting to obey, I opened my eyes only to quickly close them again. It was too bright and I saw a shadow move above me. I opened my eyes, slower this time, and allowed myself to adjust to the brightness. One of the figures was standing over me, four were to my right and the fifth—Aslan, I realized—was to my left.

Lucy sighed in relief and, after helping me to my feet, hugged me. I smiled and then turned to my right. I already knew who it was but I had to assure them I was alright. Peter was composed, but I could read the worry in his eyes. Susan and Edmund's worry was barely hidden but it faded quickly when they saw I was fine. Caspian didn't bother to hide his concern and it didn't fade when I looked at them. I knew I had to lighten the mood.

"My apologies," I said, holding back a smile. "I didn't realize my ill-time nap would scare everyone."
"What?" Lucy stuttered out while the others' faces morphed into shock. I heard Aslan chuckling softly.
"I'm sorry," I said, sobering. "You were all so serious and I couldn't help myself. I didn't mean to scare everyone. But in my defense, my concussion decided to make itself known at the worst possible time. I'm alright now though. Truly."

They seemed to understand as their faces softened. Then, I turned toward the one person I wanted—no, needed—to see. Aslan was sitting still, tailing flicking on occasion, and golden eyes burning into my soul. They held no sorrow or condemnation for what had happened years ago. Only love. I smiled and bowed. He had returned and His people were free, just as He had promised. I felt a wave of guilt for ever doubting it. But the love in His eyes told me everything was forgiven. And I knew, from the depths of my heat, that everything would be better now that Aslan, Narnia's King, was once again walking among us.