Knights Never Cry

Views: 85
Favorited: 1

Published: Feb 06, 2008
Revised: May 14, 2008
Words: 6,253
Genre: Family
Type: Story

5 ratings

By dearheart

from Chronicles of Narnia, The, and C. S. Lewis

Tags: narnia, reepicheep, young, lost, adventure, thunderstorm

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Knights Never Cry

"It'll take more than a mere thunderstorm to stop Reepicheep the Fearless!"

7-year-old Reepicheep set out to find an adventure...but what he found instead was a thunderstorm. Scared, far from home and lost in the fury of the storm, he took shelter in a tree...and found some unexpected help... (Pre "Prince Caspian") This story was put on the "Featured" page! Wow! :-)

Submitter Notes: Was Reepicheep always as brave and fearless as he was in the Chronicles? Did he ever know what it was like to be terrified? Alone? Helpless? And what was he like as a youngster? What kind of predicaments did his poor mom have to deal with when he got TOO fearless? So I wrote this story, in hopes that those questions would be answered and I could perhaps catch a glimpse into Reepicheep's past.

Mortal Combat

Chapter 1: Mortal Combat

"En Guarde!"

"Take that, you villain..."

Reenameek smiled as the clamor of mortal combat reached her ears. She swept the last of the dust out her burrow, then went to deal with her two boys. Skittering back through the dim tunnel and into the den, she soon caught sight of the bright, cheery fireplace and the dancing shadows of two brave knights. The clack of wooden swords grew fiercer.

"Surrender, poltroon, or I'll run you through!"

"Never! I'll -- ow! Hey, that wasn't fair!"

"It was too, you coward…"

"--Was not, you big bully! I'll tell mother that you…"

"Now, now, boys," laughed Reenameek. "I think it's high time you ended this duel and called it a draw. You both should be in bed."

"But Mama," the smaller mouse squeaked in protest, his tiny whiskers quivering, "Reepicheep wasn't being fair! He got me before I had a chance to get up again!" His mother put on the gravest face she could muster and clucked her tongue.

"Dear me, Peepicheek; is that so?" He nodded fervently. Reenameek turned to her eldest son. "Reepicheep, it this true?"

"Yes, Mama," he said sheepishly, "but I still won, didn't I?"

"You might think you did," said his mother gravely, "but if you did so by dishonorable means, you haven't really won at all. And attacking your brother without giving him a proper chance to defend himself was indeed a most dishonorable thing to do. Remember, you are slightly older and bigger than he is." Reepicheep thought about this for a long moment, then turned to his brother and swept a chivalrous bow.

"I apologize for my…dishonorable behavior," he piped grandly. "I do hope I didn't hurt you badly." Peepicheek returned the gesture, trying hard not to grin.

"I accept your apology."

"And now, off to bed," said Reenameek, pushing her sons ahead of her into their bedroom. "It is growing quite late, and you both need your sleep." The two of them crawled obediently into their bed of grass and fur and nestled into the soft material as their mother tucked a warm blanket over each. She laid a gentle paw on both their foreheads and softly spoke their goodnight blessing:

May the Lion bless you and keep you in His mighty paws

May His love shine ever upon you

May He guard your minds from evil dreams

And fill your hearts with peace

This night and always

She kissed them both and whispered, "Good night," and left them to dream of slaying dragons and saving damsels in distress…