in the dark, firing curses and insults towards the pair that stood in the middle of the large circle that the creatures had created. Caspian and Catherine stood side-by-side, uneasily looking out upon the Narnian's that scowled towards them, snapping their teeth and spitting out offences with a fiery passion saved only for the cruellest Telmarines. Catherine felt her heart slam to the bottom of her chest.

Thief. Liar. Kill them. Telmarines. Liar.

Each of the words hit her individually as if they were from a dear, personal friend. They were words that Catherine had spent her entire life trying to run from, to convince herself and the people around her that she was not. Because Catherine was not a liar, and she was not a thief. But as the Narnian's continued to scorn her and her blood, she couldn't help but shrink back at the realization that she, in fact, was a Telmarine. And her people had taken away the Narnian's lives, their family, and their whole way of living. She felt awful.

She was a thief. And she was a liar. And she had done this to them.

As the Narnian's continued to swear profusely at her, each scream and yell shattering her heart a little, she tried to ignore them the best she could, blanking out from their shouts just like she had done with Caspian's cries, after their parents were killed at sea. She couldn't find the energy to do it, properly, her mind continuing to tick, tick, tick-

She felt Caspian gently link his hands with hers, an attempt to distract her. He had gently touched her hand, allowing her to subtly wrap her entire palm around his pinky finger – the small contact reminder her that she was not alone and that he was there to help her. That she didn't need to use the dagger, because Caspian was here. It was alright, it was alright. Caspian is here.

'All this horn proves is that they've stolen yet another thing from us!' Nikabrik called out, making Catherine's face fall.

Nikabrik was right, there was no other reasonable explanation why the Professor had the Narnian's magic horn without having stolen it from them. Although it was incredibly uncharacteristic of him, Catherine believed he had good intentions and opened her mouth to defend her friend, before Caspian spoke up instead, his jaw clicking into place.

'We didn't steal anything!' He said, and Catherine felt his anger flow through her, connected from their enjoined fingers. She pleaded for him to calm down, knowing he had a habit of making things worse, and hoped that he would manage to hear her thoughts and her secret message could be transmitted.

Another spur of insults was thrown at them.

Thief. Liar. Kill them. Telmarines. Liar.

'Didn't steal anything?' A Narnian called out, making the siblings pivot around to face him. 'Shall we list the things the Telmarines have taken from us?'

Catherine closed her eyes in pain. She really didn't want to hear it, she knew it all already.

'Our home!'

'Our land!'

'Our freedom!'

'Our villages!'

'Our lives!'

The latter created a loud and violent cheer and chant from the crowds that surrounded them and Catherine's heart pounded unnaturally in her chest, her ribs feeling as though they were going to shatter and break from the heavy vibrations. Caspian grasped onto her, tighter, but it did little to relive the tension and anxiety that roared in her stomach.

They were right, of course. The Telmarines had taken everything from the Narnians, and then continued their rampage on any of the ones left, forcing them to hide for centuries while the Telmarines sat, protected by their weapons and armoured stone walls, toasting over a cooked-Minotaur's head that they ate for dinner and made sure not to look it in the eyes. Catherine shut her eyes, tighter once more, and attempted to throw the memories and words she was being forced to say by her uncle, from her mind.

After being locked in the castle for years, Catherine never had any friends besides Caspian, but he was her brother so she supposed he didn't really count. But at that time, it wasn't like they needed anybody else. The only war that the siblings fought was the snowball fights they continued during the winter, and who could eat the most gingerbread from the kitchens before getting caught. They would grin at each other, impish smiles and peel open presents that they were gifted from the servants, something to keep them occupied and reserved from whatever was raging on outside. They had been blissfully unaware of the eviction of talking badgers and fawns from their homes, the castle walls barricading them from a life they never knew had been in the first place.

Now, it was evidently clear who was right and who was wrong. And while Catherine didn't have any friends at the Telmarine castle, besides a cook called Narncha, who was quickly fired after the realization that she had been speaking to Catherine after dinner, she wasn't in the Telmarine castle, anymore. Catherine was in Narnia. The real Narnia, not the one she saw from the inside of her abysmally large, cold room, attempting to ignore whatever her uncle was yelling at her.

For the first time, Catherine believed that she was making friends.

And now, these friends were shouting in her face and calling her all of the things that she desperately didn't want to hear, because she had spent years trying to convince herself that they was everything that she was not.

'You stole Narnia!'

It didn't make any sense. Why would Catherine want to steal something so beautiful when she could share it with the people that lived there? She didn't want to take anything from them. They had all been so kind to her. Even Nikabrik had sent her a reassuring, grateful smile when she rescued Trufflehunter from the Telmarines.

'You would hold ourselves accountable for all the crimes of our people?' Catherine said, her mouth moving involuntary, her voice soft and gentle, her eyes glittering in betrayal and disbelief.

Nikabrik didn't falter. 'Accountable and punishable.'

He began to walk forwards, coming closer towards them and Caspian paled, considerably, unravelling his hand from Catherine's to grab it, fully, pulling her behind him in an attempt to protect her from whatever the dwarf was planning.

'Ha! That is rich coming from you, dwarf.' Reepicheep spoke up, jumping down from his position and pointing his small sword towards Nikabrik. 'Or have you forgotten when it was your people who fought alongside the White Witch?'

Nikabrik growled, snarling like a dog. 'And I'd gladly do it again, if it'd get rid of these barbarians!'

Catherine stepped forwards, her heartbroken expression morphing into one of an offended rage, Caspian instantly spinning to pull her back, preventing her from lunging at the cruel dwarf.

'I am not a barbarian!'

'Then it's lucky that it is not in your power to bring the White Witch back, Nikabrik.' Trufflehunter said, calmly. 'Or are you suggesting that we ask these children to go against Aslan now?'

At the new revelation, the Narnians let out a large roar and shout in protest, raising their weapons and hands in retaliation.

'Some of you may have forgotten,' Truflfehunter continued, facing the circle. 'But we badgers remember well. Narnia was never right except when a Son of Adam was King and a Daughter of Eve was Queen.'

'They are Telmarines!' Nikabrik seethed, finding the idea prosterous. 'Why would we want them as our rulers?'

'Because we can help you.' Caspian spoke up, much to their surprise. The Narnians turned to him, their eyes smouldering with a burning resentment. Caspian winced slightly under their gaze but didn't falter. 'Beyond these woods, we're royalty. The Telmarine throne is rightfully mine! Help me claim it, and we can bring peace between us.'

'It is true. The time is ripe.' The main Centaur announces, stepping forwards wisely. Glenstorm nodded, respectfully towards Catherine, seeming to notice her anxious thoughts that tumbled over each other inside her mind. She nodded back. 'I watch the skies, for it is mine to watch, as if is yours to remember, Badger. Tarva, the lord of victory, and Alambil, the lady of peace, have come together in the high heavens.'

The Narnians listened, silence emerging them as they hung onto Glenstorm's wise words. He had a way to mesmerize a previous rowdy crowd, to transform them into obedient ducks rather than the creatures they were. Even Caspian found himself in a captivated trance.

'And now here,' Glenstorm said, turning towards the siblings. 'Son of Adam, Daughter of Eve... have come forth, to offer us back our freedom.'

A squirrel scrambled forwards, breaking the trance as he faced Catherine and Caspian with a bright, hopeful expression. 'Is this possible? Do you really think there could be peace? Do you? I mean- I mean, really?'

Caspian swallowed, unsure how to answer the question, uncertain if he could offer them the help they needed. Beside him, Catherine felt hope glow in her heart and she stood forwards, grinning brightly.

'Two days ago, we didn't believe in the existence of talking animals. Or dwarves. Or Centaurs. Yet, here you are, in strengths and numbers that we Telmarines could never have imagined.' She announced, holding up the horn with an adamant grip. 'Whether this horn is magic or not, it has brought us together. And together, we have a chance to take back what is ours. We have to take it, we have no choice. The Telmarines are coming, they want us and they want to abolish the Narnian name. The Telmarine people believe you are myths, fairy-tales told to children to make them sleep at night. We must show them that you are real, and that you are not the enemy.'

Glenstorm stepped forwards. 'If you lead us, then my sons and I... we offer you our swords.'

He drew his sword with an exuberant flick of his wrist and held it towards them. Around Glenstorm, the Centaurs begin to do the same, following his lead innocently and nodding respectfully towards their new leaders. Catherine's eyes glitter and she absentmindedly leans back to grasp onto Caspian's arm in awe, gasping lightly as they both share the same amazed, awe-struck expression.

'And we offer you our lives, unreservedly.' Reepicheep adds, curtseying by Catherine's feet with a small smile.

'Thank you, mouse.' She says, gently, making sure to subtly apologise for her wrong identification earlier with a wink. Reepicheep accepts this, flusteredly blushing and dropping his sword. Catherine giggles at his actions and turns back to Trufflehunter.

'Miraz's army will not be far behind us, sire.' He says.

'If we are to be ready for them, we must hurry to find soldiers and weapons.' Caspian instructs. 'I am sure they will be here soon.'

Catherine sighs, deeply. The Narnians had no choice but to go into war to preserve everything they loved. They were going to fight against an army who was ruled by a general who didn't care who lived or died, regardless which side he was on. And in the end, the majority would. They were all innocent children, being dragged into a war they were forced to fight.

But they had no choice, they were to fight and they were to die.

She only hoped that it would be for a bright cause.

Aww, poor baby Cath. She just wants to make friends. :(

Is this alright so far? I have been writing this while I'm doing other things like watching TV or something, so my focus isn't all there. Please let me know if I've got any mistakes or needs improved!! Thanks.