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✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩🔦Element of Surprise🔦✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

In the early hours before sunrise, Charlotte prepared her sword by her waist and her shield on her back. From the corner of her eye, Edmund waited for her by her chambers. She gazed at him dearly when she was done preparing her gear.

He was slumped against the rocky wall with his arms crossed, his solemn gaze glued to the hard floor. Her heart sank to see him so glum. It was all too surreal to realise that they had grown to care so much for each other over the past few weeks.

"Hey," she whispered gently, placing a hand on his shoulder.

His eyes met hers, glassy with tears, his expression grave and downhearted. She exhaled deeply, softly encouraging him.

"It will all be okay in the end," she assured him with a flicker of hope.

The sun greeted them from behind the trees, its vibrant colours painting the morning skies. They joined the rest, meeting Lucy outside the How, who watched the troops leave the fortress. Glenstorm shared some words with his wife at a corner, assuring her that he would look after their sons.

Lucy stared at Peter, her eyebrows pulled together and the corners of her lips sinking downwards. Peter fleetingly met her glare, still refusing to consider her opinion. To him, she would only understand the complexity of the situation if she was older.

"It'll be okay, Lu," Charlotte tried to soothe her, placing a hand on her shoulder, "have a little faith."

"Have a little faith?" Lucy repeated dryly, "I still have faith in Aslan. Do they?"

"Lucy," Edmund frowned disapprovingly at her tone of disrespect.

"He's never going to listen," Lucy said gloomily to Charlotte, turning to retreat to the How.

"Lucy," Charlotte called, only for Edmund to block her with his arm.

"Charlotte, we have a castle to get to," Peter reminded her, almost seeming emotionless, "we need to stay focused."

Charlotte glanced at Edmund with pleading eyes, "Ed..."

"She'll calm down," he said, prompting her to continue.

She huffed a defeated sigh before they both followed the trail into the woods.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

By nightfall, they camped outside the Telmarine castle. The sun had already bid them goodbye, and the moon had risen, accompanied by clouds and mists which shielded them in the forest.

To put Edmund's mind to rest, Peter decided to let Charlotte stick to Caspian breaking into the library while Glenstorm alone led the troops in on Edmund's cue. After all, Peter was willing to ensure everyone stayed on the mission with a clear mind.

"They should be in their chambers by now, deep in slumber," Caspian confirmed, observing the glowing orb in the sky.

"You know what to do," Peter gestured to Edmund and Charlotte, "good luck."

The two took off on the gryphon as instructed. Travelling in the thick mists camouflaged them in the sky. They relied on the creature's sharp vision to carry them through the misty fog, as their warm bodies embraced the icy atmosphere in the night, hindering their vision. The cool breeze brushed against their cheeks, earning a shiver from Charlotte.

They carefully manoeuvred past the guards and landed silently on a roof of the highest tower. They hid out of sight, eluding the guard that was stationed underneath them.

The gryphon fiercely grabbed the guard with its piercing claws. Charlotte bravely struck him before a cry for help could escape him, seizing his crossbow to her advantage. Edmund hopped to the floor, followed closely by Charlotte, scanning their surroundings cautiously.

"I still wish you could be stationed with me," he complained, "it's safer up here."

"I'll be fine," she assured him, climbing on the edge of the tower, anticipating the gryphon's catch.

"Wait." He tugged on her delicate arm.

Before Charlotte could register his intentions, he pulled her close to him and her cold cheek was met with his warm lips. His lips left her cheek as soon as they met, his soft kiss shooting tingles throughout her body.

"I-I'm sorry," he stammered, "I just had to get it out of me."

She was struck dumb, placing a hand over her cheek. A bashful grin flashed across her face, appearing even brighter than the radiance of the luminous orb planted in the sky above them.

"Should have saved it for later," she teased.

Edmund grinned, pleasantly surprised. After sharing a final look of affection, she leaped off the tower. The creature swiftly grabbed her, and they flew off into the mists. She released a few arrows with the crossbow to any guards underneath.

Edmund then flickered his torch repetitively. The following gryphons carried Peter, Susan, Caspian, and Trumpkin, trailing behind Charlotte.

Upon noticing the conspicuous flash on the tall tower, a guard raised his crossbow, taking aim. Susan quickly fired her arrow, right before Peter struck the other guard as they landed on ground. When they successfully got into the castle, Edmund looked on proudly, before backing away to rest.

So far, he was impressed by how well the plan was going. Charlotte, Caspian, Susan, Peter, and Trumpkin had entered the castle through the window by the library. Peter and Susan would assassinate Miraz. Reepicheep and the other mice would enter the castle from the drainage system and meet Trumpkin, Caspian, and Charlotte at the gatehouse. Finally, on Peter's cue, he would signal the Narnians to charge and take over the castle.

✩.･*:｡≻───── ⋆♡⋆ ─────.•*:｡✩

As soon as they entered the library, they observed its vacancy. Books were scattered all across the tables. Most of them were about Narnian history, and the Kings and Queens of Old.

Charlotte approached one with pages flipped to King Simon and Queen Audrey's reign in Narnia, which sat on the pile of books.

Susan and Caspian glanced at each other.

"They know more than we thought they did," Susan inferred, "they've been reading up on everything."

"Even the history of my parents," Charlotte informed, glancing to Peter for answers.

"If that's true," Caspian added in distress, "then they'd know about the prophecy."

"Let's just stick to the plan," Peter declared.

"But Peter," Susan whispered, "what about Charlotte?"

Peter insisted, "I don't want us to make any changes to this plan. We won't fail as long as we stick to it."

Then Caspian caught a glimpse of a familiar artefact among the books. He grabbed it gently, examining the small pair of reading glasses. He glanced up at them, with a hopeful expression on his face.

"The professor," he suggested, "I have to find him."

"You don't have time," Peter frowned, "you need to get the gate open."

"You wouldn't even be here without him," Caspian argued, "and neither would I."

"You and I can deal with Miraz," Susan reminded Peter, supportive of Caspian's suggestion.

"And I can still get to the gate in time," Caspian promised.

"I'll come with," Charlotte suggested, "once we find him, we can meet Trumpkin and Reepicheep at the gatehouse."

With Peter's approval, they bolted off. Trumpkin headed off solo to the gatehouse.

"Where do you suppose he is?" Charlotte prompted, matching Caspian's swift pace across the halls.

"Where they keep all traitors and rivals," Caspian deduced, "the dungeon."

Two guards stood on duty in the dark halls of the dungeon. Caspian pulled Charlotte back behind the wall to elude their view. Charlotte's gasp echoed through the halls, catching their attention. They stepped closer towards the sound, investigating its source.

Caspian raised a hand to Charlotte, mouthing for her to follow suit. Without warning, he dragged her into their view with a fierce glare.

"Prince Caspian," one of the guards whispered, drawing out his sword.

"Please, there's no need for that," Caspian chuckled, "I did you a favour. This is Princess Charlotte, she's helping the Narnians with the Kings and Queens of Old. You're welcome."

The two guards were stunned, visibly confused at the prince.

"But Lord Miraz has instructions to k-"

Charlotte swung out her sword, immediately slashing one's leg. Caspian immediately joined to protect her from the other guard's strike, slicing his abdomen. Charlotte ended her opponent with another strike.

Seizing the keys from one of the guards' pockets, she tossed them over to Caspian. He rushed towards the entrance into the dungeon, pulling open the heavy wooden door. The professor laid on his side behind the bars of a prison cell. Frantically unlocking the prison cell, he kneeled down, examining his professor for any injuries.

The professor glanced up at him, extremely shocked at his arrival.

"What are you doing here?" The professor groaned in disapproval as Caspian aided him onto his feet, "I didn't help you escape just so you could break back in."

"Professor, this is Princess Charlotte," Caspian introduced, ignoring his complaint, "Charlotte, this is my professor, Doctor Cornelius."

"I'm sorry that we have to meet under these circumstances, Professor."

"You have to get out before Miraz learns you're here," the professor warned him, holding his arms firmly.

"He's going to learn soon enough," Caspian revealed, declaring, "we're giving him your cell."

Charlotte and Caspian turned on their heels, heading for the exit. But the professor tugged on Caspian's shoulder, prompting them to turn around.

"Don't underestimate Miraz as your father did," he warned with a low whisper.

Caspian's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

The professor hung his head low. "I'm sorry."

Charlotte placed her hand over her mouth, her eyes turning glossy with tears.

"Caspian.." She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"No..." He shook his head, "He didn't. He..."

He pushed past them both, bolting for the exit.

"Caspian, wait!" Charlotte called, but he vanished out of sight, leaving a trail of dust.

Rage consumed his heart as he marched straight to Miraz's chambers, drawing out his sword instantly. He placed it directly on his uncle's neck, stirring him awake from his slumber. Miraz glanced at him, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

"Thank goodness you're safe," he greeted dryly.

"Get up!" Caspian whispered harshly.

Miraz's wife awoke, puzzled at the encounter. "Caspian?"

"Stay where you are," Caspian told her off, raising his sword defensively.

"What are you doing?" She questioned, completely clueless.

"I should think it's obvious, dear," Miraz dismissed her, his focus on Caspian, "you know, some families consider this to be inappropriate behaviour."

"That doesn't seem to have stopped you!" Caspian hissed, drawing the sword closer to Miraz.

"But you are not like me," Miraz challenged, "are you?"

Caspian was silent.

"It's sad," he continued, "the first time you've shown any backbone, and it's such a waste."

Before Caspian realised it, he glanced sideways at his aunt, who aimed a crossbow at him steadily.

"Put the sword down, Caspian," she ordered, "I don't want to do this."

"We don't want you to either!" Peter and Susan busted the door open, marching right in with Susan's bow and arrow closing in on the queen.

Miraz placed his hands on his hips, mildly annoyed. "This used to be a private room."

"What are you doing?" Peter questioned Caspian, "where's Charlotte? You're supposed to be in the gatehouse!"

"No!" Caspian raged, frustrated at his absent emotional closure. "Tonight, for once, I want the truth!"

He backed Miraz up against the wall, menacingly meeting his gaze. "Did you kill my father?"

Miraz was silent.

"Now we get to it," he alluded, shockingly pleased.

"You said your brother died in his sleep," his wife prompted, perplexed at what she was hearing.

"That was more or less true," Miraz confirmed.

Susan sighed, "Caspian, this won't make things any better."

"We Telmarines would have nothing had we not taken it, your father knew that as well as anyone," Miraz implied, referring to the throne.

"How could you?" His wife questioned in disbelief, lowering her crossbow.

"For the same reason you will pull that trigger," Miraz advised, showing no remorse, "for our son."

"Stop!" She cried out when Miraz took a few steps forward, causing Caspian to back away.

"Stay right there!" Susan demanded.

"You need to make a choice dear," Miraz taunted, "do you want our child to be king?"

"Or do you want him to be like Caspian here, fatherless!"

"No!" She cried out, releasing her arrow onto her own nephew's shoulder.

Caspian groaned, clutching his shoulder as he staggered backwards. Miraz swiftly dodged Susan's arrow, narrowly escaping through a secret passageway.

Caspian's aunt could only scream, only realising after a long time, that she had been tricked into this dilemma. Following her cries, the bells tolled, and the soldiers hollered orders to one another, much to Peter's dismay.

Just like that, they had lost their element of surprise.

*****A/N: Yay it's Monday!!! So glad I could release this chapter. My next surge in deadlines is approaching very soon, BUT fortunately I've refined the next few chapters to be published. And I assure you that more action is coming our way! 💪

Omg I feel so hyped about the flow of this book that I have to remind myself that the readers have yet to read the unpublished chapters. Anyway, I hope you genuinely enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoy writing it! I really appreciate you if you're still with me up to this point 🙏

Please vote and comment! It means a lot to me to know your thoughts as you journey through this story 🥰❤️