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N E R I S S A
Tensions flew high as we gathered in the Stone Table room once again. The details had been ironed out and the plan was set. Thankfully, both Peter and Caspian had managed to come to some sort of compromise.
As always, I helped Peter strap into his gear and in return, he helps me with mine. Somehow, this had become something of a pre-battle ritual for both of us.
Peter brushes a stray strand of hair from my face as I finished up with the straps before resting his hand on my cheek.
"Be careful out there." He says, leaning forward to plant a kiss on my forehead.
"You know I will." I offer him a reassuring smile, "Promise me you will, too?"
He clasps my hand, bringing it up to his lips and pressing a kiss to my palm.
"I promise."
I turn to Caspian as he approaches, pulling him into a hug.
"Watch each other's back, alright?"
"Yeah, yeah." Caspian rolls his eyes, "You've only reminded us a couple hundred times."
He grimaces as I smack him in the chest, rubbing at the area, prompting a laugh from Peter.
"Well, won't you look at that," I teased, "My two favourite boys are finally warming up to each other."
"What about me?" Edmund demands from behind me, clutching his chest feigned offence.
I chuckle, shaking my head. "You know I love you too, Ed."
Before Edmund could answer, Glenstorm joins us, armed and ready.
"The troops are ready to go, sire." He informs, "Just say the word."
Peter nods, "Let's move out, then."
*
I stand by Glenstorm in the dead of the night, looking out at the overview of the castle from our vantage point as we await Edmund's signal.
His drop-off was a success, followed by Peter's, Susan's, and Caspian's. Now, all there was to do was wait.
My nerves sung with pre-battle jitters. It's been a while since I've carried out a raid like this one.
Anytime now. I take a deep breath in and out, tightening my fist around my bow that I already had at the ready.
It killed me to not know exactly what was going on inside, but patience was the virtue. I knew that by now.
I was counting down the minutes. If we didn't receive our signal another two minutes, I'd have to make the weighted decision- risk our troop's lives and forge on ahead or to retreat and leave whatever troops we had that was already inside to their own defences.
The thought of leaving Peter, Caspian, Edmund, and Susan behind made my stomach clench.
I pushed away the gnawing worry and focused on the looming castle up ahead.
Thirty seconds.
"Come on, Ed," I mutter under my breath.
I could feel our troops growing restless behind me as the seconds tick by.
Time's up.
"What's taking him so long?" I grumble to myself as I met Glenstorm's questioning gaze, "Let's give them another minute." I order.
Glenstorm looks dubious but nods anyway, his weapon drawn at the ready.
Another minute ticks by, and still- nothing.
"Almighty Warrior, perhaps we should retreat-"
"No, it's too late to back out now," I cut Glenstorm off, my tone leaving no room for arguments, "We wait for the signal."
Finally, a light flickers from atop the roof across from us just as the bell tower sounds. The light stays on, shining in different directions, unlike any sequence we'd agreed on.
Glenstorm and Nikabrik turn to me at the same time with questioning eyes. I clench my jaw cursing inwardly as I answer, "We wait, just like I've said."
Our troops were losing patience, I could feel it.
"What the hell, Ed?" I tut as the light abruptly.
It takes a second before Edmund finally gets it right, but soon the light flickers on and off- now, that was our signal.
I shoot Glenstorm a sharp nod before the centaur pulls me onto his back.
"Charge!" He yells as takes off galloping, our troops trailing closely behind us.
The Minotaurs take the lead, smashing the gates with their horns and clearing the way for us.
"For Narnia!" I hear Peter yell as we pass the main gate.
I let loose a few arrows, causing fire to burst from them and drawing a barrier of fire between us and some of the guards before pushing myself off Glenstorm's back, swinging myself at the oncoming Guards, taking two of them down.
Switching my bow out in favour of my blade, I swing it in an upward arch, slicing through the sea of soldiers before they even get the chance to land their attacks.
Bodies fall to the ground, one after another, but still, their armies kept on coming.
Looking up, I spot Miraz staring down from his balcony, jumping back as the satyr- Tyrus- leaps up towards it and manages to hang onto the side with Peter scaling the side of the building behind him.
My heart drops as Glozelle appears just in time to shoot Tyrus in the shoulder with his crossbow.
The Satyr howls in pain but continues to hang on with all his might, only to have Miraz step forward and shove him off.
I gasp as I watch his body fall to the ground with a loud thud. My eyes connect with Peter's, whose eyes reflected the same worry I felt.
"Get the gate closed!" I faintly hear Miraz's order.
Everything happens so quickly, and the next thing I know, the chain attached to the weight that held the gate open was broken, and the weight tumbled to the ground, barely missing some of our troops fighting below is.
Luckily, Asterius the Minotaur catches the gate before it falls shut and traps us all in.
"Peter!" I yelled, rushing over to him, "We don't have much time!"
He nods before turning his attention to our troops, "Fall back!" He orders, "Retreat!"
Most of our troops heed his orders, taking off towards the gate, but some stay behind, fixated on fighting till their last breath, only hesitantly leaving when Peter pushes them towards the gate.
"Go, now!" I assist Peter in directing as much of our people towards the exit as I can while holding off the enemy when a firm hand wraps around my arm.
I would've attacked if I didn't already know who the familiar grasp belonged to.
"You, too," Peter says, his tone makes it clear that this is an order. "Now, Nerissa."
"Not without you!" I protest, fighting against his firm grip as he guides me to the gate.
He ignores me, his jaw set in determination as he stops Glenstorm's son, Ironhoof as he passes.
"Get her out of here." He orders, lifting me onto the Centaur's back.
"Peter, no! I'm not leaving!"
"Look at me," He's panting hard but his gaze softens as he guides my eyes to meet his, "I won't be able to focus unless I know you're safe. I'll be right behind you. I promise."
"Peter-"
"Please?" He cuts me off, pleading me with his eyes.
My heart is heavy as I finally nodded, knowing we didn't have enough time for me to hesitate any longer.
"I'll help make sure the troops get back safely."
The relief on Peter's face is instant. Seemingly satiated with my answer, he nods.
"Go." He says to Ironhoof who helps me onto his back and makes for the door.
I look back just before we pass the gates, just in time to catch sight of Trumpkin struggling to stand up, with a Telmarine soldier advancing on him with his sword raised over his head.
"Turn back!" I yell.
"But the King's orders-"
"It doesn't matter. Turn back!"
Ironhoof reroutes, turning back and heading straight for Trumpkin this time. Nocking an arrow into my bow, I send it soaring through the sky and into the soldier's chest.
I hop off Ironhoof's back, rushing to Trumpkin's side just as his legs buckle.
"Trumpkin!" I shake him slightly as I pull him onto my lap.
He remains unresponsive, lifting him into Ironhoof's arms.
"Get on, Milady." Ironhoof says, "We have to go, now."
He says, nodding towards Asterius, who I've just now noticed is struggling to keep himself upright with an arrow sticking out of his side.
I make quick work of pulling myself onto Ironhoof's back, grabbing onto his shoulders just as he surges forward.
We're almost at the gate when a force knocks me off balance and I fall to the ground.
A burning pain radiates through my shoulder, so intense that I cry out in pain.
"Get out of here!" I yell just as Ironhoof starts to turn back around to get me, "Just go!"
Ironhoof seems torn but a sense of understanding seems to pass between us as our gaze met. They weren't going to make it out if they came back.
He straightens his back, bowing slightly before galloping off.
I watch his silhouette grow smaller as he makes it through the gate and to safety.
My mind was starting to grow hazy and everything starts to seem like a blur, but I faintly remember seeing Peter, Caspian, and Cornelius passing the gates just before Asterius's body gives in and eventually collapses, effectively shutting the rest of us in.
A sinister laugh pulls my attention from the gate and it takes a significant effort just to tear my gaze away and focus on the familiar figure looming over me.
"Soespian. What did you do?" I manage to get the words out even though my tongue feels heavy.
Soespian laughs, pressing the heel of his shoes against the wound on my shoulder.
I lie limply on the ground, feeling suddenly drained of energy and shouting out in agony.
"See, I did a little research on my own in Cornelius's study the other day." He says, balling up a chunk of my hair and forcing me to look up at him, "Did you know iron was poisonous to phoenixes?"
Dread pools in my stomach as he loads another arrow into his crossbow, it's tip glinting with a metal that was undoubtedly iron.
He aims and pulls the trigger. The arrow embeds itself in my gut. Indescribable pain shoots through my body and this time, my screams of pain sounded distant to even my own ears. I'm not even sure if I when I finally stopped screaming.