The Fox & The Crow

Chapter Fifteen *not edited*

Edmund rips grass clumps from the ground. The sound it makes satisfies me and at the same time reminds me of the anxiety he must be feeling. Lucy, already failing at her attempt to comfort him, talks quietly of the wedding preparations. Her voice is soft as she tries to fake excitement. Edmund, completely uninterested, moves to stand and her jabbering soon fades. Edmund goes and leans against a rock, his hands resting against it, sometimes tapping out a rhythm.

¨That boy will die on the stone table.¨ I remember the Witch's words. How Edmund's breath hitched. How Peter stared helplessly down at his younger brother and Lucy drew out her small dagger, foolishly thinking she could save her brother. I don't judge her for it though. When something we love is threatened, we all step blindly in the way, not knowing the cost we might pay.

Twenty minutes passes slowly for us. I can only imagine how slowly it passes for him. I turn my gaze away from Edmund and back down to my hands which coil around my wet hair, absentmindedly. I'm ashamed.

We had all been lured in by Narnia's charms. The childish excitement we had all felt from this new distraction. Because that was what we saw it as, a distraction. But for these creatures, Narnia is their world. One that was stolen away from them, and they rely on foolish and selfish children, humans, to save them. It would be so much easier to say that we were led to this world by a calling, a destiny we could not escape. Instead, it was curiosity and desire. Something that unraveled all of us, confused us, or brought a euphoric sense of knowing.

I'm embarrassed to say that my unraveling was water.

It had consumed me. Everywhere. Surrounded me with their song and lulled me away with their chirping. I don't remember why I had gone down to the river, or when I had waded into it.

They had danced for me. Their arms swirled above their heads. Their hands closed around tiny lily petals that they had flung everywhere. Their limbs water. Water that cascaded down their bodies and consumed anything they touched.

Some had bobbed in and out of the river. All had become one with the water. Their energy had radiated from beneath the surface and for a moment it had seemed that the current stopped to stare at them.

Never-ending. That was what they were, the water nymphs. I had been fascinated by them, their song. It was all so addicting, so easy to become lost in the charms of this world. I could so effortlessly have stayed in that river. Drowned. It would have been too simple, just listening to the songs of the nymphs.

I hadn't known how, and I still don't know how, but Edmund found me and pulled me out of the water. I didn't want to leave, kicking him and screaming. I had left a bruise just underneath his jawline. It took a few moments for the effects of the water to wear off, and all the while I was struggling while he somehow kept hold of me, stopping me from drowning.

I look back at him, now grateful for his stubbornness which saved me.

I go to stand next to him. He barely glances at me, his tapping continues.

¨Thank you,¨ I say to him after a while. He looks up.

¨For what?¨

I look at him and see that he genuinely does not know why I am thanking him. It irritates me slightly, but I swallow it, knowing that it's only there because of my pride.

¨For...not letting me drown.¨

He stares at me a moment and I shift my feet uncomfortably. We stay silent for longer than I wish.

¨It's all fascinating.¨ I look up at him, but he stares straight ahead. ¨Dangerous, too. I guess we all need to learn the limits to it, don't we.¨

It's not a question, but still, I nod.

I don't feel that I need to say anything to break the silence, but I wouldn't have a need for it since the crowd of soldiers all stand. My attention turns to the tent in front of all of us, to the Witch emerging first and then to Aslan who appears behind her. She stares for a moment at Edmund before turning and approaching her henchmen. Aslan stands before all, patiently waiting for the nervous chattering to quiet down.

Edmund's fingers tremble slightly and I suddenly feeling pity for him. He sucks in a breath but says nothing.

All our eyes are on Aslan, patiently awaiting his announcement. All hoping for the same answer to our unspoken question.

Will he live?

¨She has renounced her claim on the Son of Adam's blood.¨

Edmund breathes out a sigh of relief and I step back as his siblings all swarm around him. Lucy laughs and Peter shakes his shoulder. I just stand watching the scene unfold before me, knowing that I have no part in it.

I turn to leave but feel the cold presence of someone standing feet away from me. Someone's eyes watching my movement. I look up from the ground to be met with the Witch's hard gaze.

She speaks so quietly, but I can understand every word she says. It should be drowned out by the crowds, the laughter, the physical distance between us, but I can hear her as if she were whispering the words into my ear.

¨Enjoy the wedding.¨

Without looking away, she sits and is carried out of the campsite.

I watch her leave. I can't imagine how foolish I look now; everyone around me, talking and laughing, completely sure of themselves. Meanwhile, I stand in the center of it all, not belonging to any part of it.