Midnight duties(open)

[anakin]

Marcus Aurelius Thorn marched to the High Tower. It was midnight. The Captain of the Guard found himself once again making his way towards the High Tower in order to stand guard. Marcus sighed. He began to step away, but turned back, not daring to disobey his orders.

He did not trust himself to turn completely round. Looking back over his shoulder, Marcus wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his sword. His eyes drove through the guard in front of him, who made to step forward with an outstretched arm before he saw the Captain's hand on his weapon. Marcus' stomach spasmed as he watched the guard's features visibly shatter. "I would kill you, if it came to it. You know this... " he said and nodded. His eyes remained distant. It was understood. The guard let his arm fall and turned to his duties.

As Marcus pulled out his pipe, the sound of retreating footsteps rustled behind him. He closed his eyes, slouching against the stone and packing the pipe weed slowly into the hollow wooden bowl. His thumb remained over the brittle leaves; he made no move to light them. He looked around.

The distant sound of a fluting melody came to his ears. He smiled. Marcus put his pipe away, unsmoked. He couldn't rest. The army would not return until it was time to depart, of this at least, he was almost certain. He dismissed an uncomfortable tightness in his chest, by humming.

Few words were spoken in the morning before between the Kings and Queens of Narnia and him and none were passed between the Marcus and the few members of the Army still living there. Then, he heard a noise. He grapsed the hilt of his sword pulling it out. "Who goes there?" he demanded.

[Susan Pevensie]

It seemed that Susan was making a habit of these nighttime wanderings. No one could complain, of course; she was a Queen. And yet she still felt like she ought to be sneaking about, not allowing herself to be seen. It was, perhaps, a rebellious streak. Peter was constricting them all, and this was her way of telling him to mind his own business. She wasn't angry with her older brother, but this was as close as she'd come in years. It was about time for her to give him the what-for.

Not now. She'd been considering going out for a midnight ride to ease her sleeplessness, but that would probably send Glenstorm into a fit. None of these army types could ever believe that a land could be free of dangers. Susan wished that they'd all just relax a bit and stop worrying about protecting the royalty. The four Pevensies were incredibly lucky, and the only time any of them had come anywhere close to dying was Edmund, in their battle against the White Witch. As Susan stepped out into the tower, she felt a pang of nostalgia. Narnia had been so much simpler then. Now, with the Elves, Telmarines, and other creatures, it was very... difficult to deal with. But it was all for the best.

The fresh air cleared her mind. It was very nice outside tonight, and being up here was the next best thing if she couldn't go out for a ride. She didn't want to cause the guards any worry. Perhaps she'd take her horse out tomorrow. Speaking of the guards...

She knew that voice. That was the captain of the guard, the youngest general in all of Narnia. "You're much too suspicious, Marcus," Susan said, moving over to the edge of the tower and leaning on the ramparts. He really ought to realise that people still moved about the castle through the night. Particularly the owls.

[anakin]

To be one of the High Tower Guard was to be of rank, one of the elite, in the military structure of Narnia and especially Cair Paravel. That much Michael figured out within his first two days in service, After all, the Guard was under the direct command of the Kings and Queens of Narnia and ,should they be unable to command it, under his.

"You're much too suspicious, Marcus"

He knew that voice. He could identify it anywhere. It was Queen Susan the Gentle, one of the Queens of Narnia. And had he just spoken to her like that? Marcus Aurelius Thorn gasped as he rushed to bow to the Queen. "My Queen. I am deeply sorry, your Highness. I had no idea it was you" he said as he bowed. He quickly retrieved his sword. "My Queen, if you do not mind me asking, what are you doing out here alone? King Peter has ordered us not to allow anyone to come to the High Tower at night"

News were spreading all across Narnia for a new evil emerging. A new, sleepless malice. Marcus Aurelius Thorn had heard the rumours. Most of the people were afraid. But not him. No, Marcus Aurelius Thorn had faced fear way too many times to be afraid. He had recognized fear on the countless faces of his fellow soldiers, seconds before they were killed. He had seen fear on the faces of his enemies as they were slaughtered one by one by his hand. No, Marcus Aurelius Thorn wasn't afraid. He wasn't going to be afraid. "Milady, you shouldn't be out here...Have you not heard the rumours?" he asked, as he turned his attention back to Queen Susan. He had to protect her. That was his place. In front of her and the other Kings and Queens, protecting her from every kind of danger. He had taken oaths. And he wasn't going to betray them.

[Susan Pevensie]

Allowing a smile to touch her lips, Susan turned to face the young general. "Really, do you think that Peter's orders would apply to his siblings?" she asked, her tone light. She was becoming quite frustrated with her older brother's restrictions, and very much determined to show him that he would not stop her. If she must, she could always leave for Miraz's castle; she was sure to be welcome there. "I just came for a bit of air. The castle can get quite stuffy at times." Especially with the added headache of the preparations for the spring celebrations in Beruna. How they'd manage to be ready in time, she did not know.

Susan turned back around to look out to sea, the light wind at this height tugging at her long hair. Yes, the rumours were plentiful, but she did not think much of them. It was simply a fear that the current peace would be disturbed, which it would not. Not if Susan had any say in it. Anyone who disturbed her peace was likely to get an arrow in the throat... if she was in a good mood.

"Yes, the rumours are a bit disturbing, but I doubt anyone could attack me up here," she pointed out, glancing down the outside of the tower. It was so very high; thankfully she had no fear of heights, nor of falling. Once again, she lifted her head to look out to sea. She understood the desire Caspian felt, that desire to go out there and leave behind the problems of the land. If only Aslan had allowed her to go with Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace...

ooc; sorry for the wait. I've been very sick recently.

[anakin]

He spoke no words to startle her, as if he were no different than the slowly waving reeds that grew at the edge of the River or a field of tall grasses, caught in the passage of time. He did, however, lift up his hand with his palm faced toward her in a gesture of peace as he smiled at her. "Forgive me, my Queen" he said with respect, "But I'm following High King Peter's orders. Orders that include all Narnians." he said and grinned. "But, I suppose I can make an exception" he added and winked at her. Then, she spoke of the castle. Marcus nodded. "I agree, your Highness. The castle can be quite depressing. Especially at night" he said and nodded in agreement, turning his attention to the horizon.

How much he wanted to go to war again, he didn't know himself. He wanted to feel the enemy in front of him. He wanted to shout orders again, to protect his soldiers, to face his enemies and death again. He didn'tcare whether he died or lived to tell the tale. As long as it was an honourable death, he would be glad to have died.

"It wouldn't surprise me to have enemies right outside of the castle right now, my Queen. You see, Everything's fair in love and war. A single mistake...Just a single mistake and everything's lost" he said as his eyes were gleaming. He loved war and he loved strategies. He was a good general, though some believed that he faced problems of war mongering.

ooc:crappy, i know...sorry, but i'm soooo sick

[Susan Pevensie]

A light laugh escaped her, though it was quickly blown away by the rising wind. She knew very well that most everyone in this castle would follow Peter's orders as if they were law, but really, what could they do to stop her or her other siblings? The guards were sworn to protect the four Pevensies; they couldn't exactly go dragging her off, could they? There was nothing that any of them could do, especially since Susan had so many friends amongst them.

Her smile faded at his words of enemies and war. The peace was ending. Everyone knew it, even she, who did not want to believe the rumours. Perhaps it was time that she accepted that the danger was real. People had been disappearing, and more recently, been found killed. There was no way that she could deny the truthfulness of such reports, nor the realisation that the peace was over. It was, perhaps, time to make sure she had not lost any of her archer's skills. Also, she probably ought to make time to go down to the tailor; if it was all true - which she now knew it must be - then it was time to make sure that her old armour, from years ago, fit properly. Just in case.

She sighed, and said quietly, "Peace never lasts, does it?" Her smile was sad as she turned her back to the sea. Staring out at the horizon, wishing to be out there, would not help such a situation. "But all will not be lost," she added, replying to his last comment. "If I were to die, my sister could continue on in my place." That was a benefit to have so many Kings and Queens in Narnia. A sad benefit, perhaps, but a benefit none the less. And Lucy would do a fine job, of that she was sure. Her sister was shaping up to becoming a great Queen.

ooc; It's all right. Everyone seems to be getting sick now.