𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡'𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐜𝐞 ✓

4| 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐬

"This is your room," a centaur named Oreius said, "well tent." 

"Yes, thank you, Oreius," I said as I bowed my head a little. I looked from the tent to Oreius. "See, the thing is we kind of fled from the White Witch's Castle. Because our Auntie Jadis was rude and she wouldn't stop torturing us. So we don't have clothes. Nor, do we have any weapons  except my dagger or well, sword, since it can turn into a sword when I flip it,  and my bow and arrow and Daphne's sword or dagger, whichever term you prefer." 

Oreius nodded, "So in total, you are asking . . .?" 

"We don't have any clothes except the ones we're wearing and our traveling clothes." 

"I'm sure the great Aslan will figure something out for you," Oreius said as he bowed. Then he added a little awkwardly, "I knew your parents. They were the most ferocious and kind people I knew." 

I looked at Oreius. "They were nice, weren't they? Auntie Jadis kept telling us that Father was cowardly and Mother was nothing but a brat." 

Oreius suddenly looked shocked and angry. "She what? Oh, we're murdering that woman if she talks rudely about your parents!" 

"Sir," Daphne said, "with all due respect, I think you should bother about what kind of enchantments are around Auntie Witch's castle." Yes, Daphne is always like this. 

"We'll go in now," I added hurriedly as Oreius opened his mouth to speak. I grabbed Daphne's hand before she did any more damage and dragged her inside. 

"You can't keep your mouth shut, can you?" I snapped. 

"Of course, I can, but I choose not to," Daphne said, crossing her arms. 

"You are so frustrating." 

"It's not like you aren't."  

I groaned and plopped on my bed. I could hear Daphne mutter a swear word and then go on her bed too. I sat up, a great idea in my head. 

"Hey, Daph, I've got a great idea!" 

"Oh dear God, not again." 

Okay, I may not be the best at ideas. But I had some great ideas before — like the time I used Auntie Witch's wand to get Sybill's books down. 

"It's a good idea, I promise!" I said. 

"Right. What is this one like? The time you used Auntie Witch's wand to get Sybill's books down? You know what happened after right? You broke all the bindings of the books and ripped the pages apart," Daphne said. 

"You know what, I think I'll be out by the sea," I snapped. 

"Yeah, better be." 

I seriously hate my younger sister. I got up, glaring at her, and headed out the door. There were a group of people peering to look at some people. 

"Daphne, come quickly! Everyone is assembled again! Let me make that more clear, some people have assembled! Even, Aslan!" I hissed through the tent. 

Daphne came running out to see. There were two beavers - a male and a female? - and three children - one boy and two girls. From where we stood, we could hear them talking. 

"Go on," whispered Mr Beaver.

"No," whispered the boy, "you first."

"No, Sons of Adam before animals," whispered Mr Beaver backagain.

"Susan," whispered the boy, "What about you? Ladies first."

"No, you're the eldest, Peter" whispered the girl called Susan. And of course the longer they went on doing this the more awkward they were going to feel. Then at last Peter realised that it was up to him.

 He drew his sword and raised it to the salute and hastily saying to the others "Come on. Pull yourselves together," he advanced to the Lion and said:

 "We have come — Aslan."

"Welcome, Peter, Son of Adam," said Aslan. "Welcome, Susan and Lucy, Daughters of Eve. Welcome He-Beaver and She-Beaver." 

"The Daughters of Eve and the Sons of Adam?" Daphne whispered to me. "So Auntie Witch's dwarves were correct about the Daughters of Eve and the Sons of Adam coming to Narnia." 

"But where is the fourth?" asked Aslan.

 "He has tried to betray them and joined the White Witch, O Aslan,"said Mr Beaver. 

And then something made Peter say,"That was partly my fault, Aslan. I was angry with him and I think that helped him to go wrong."

And Aslan said nothing either to excuse Peter or to blame him but merely stood looking at him with his great unchanging eyes. And it seemed to all of them that there was nothing to be said.

 "Please — Aslan," said Lucy, "can anything be done to save Edmund?"

 "All shall be done," said Aslan. "But it may be harder than you think."

 And then he was silent again for some time. The Lion shook his mane and clapped his paws together  and said, 

"Meanwhile, let the feast be prepared. Ladies, take these Daughters of Eve to the pavilion and minister to them." 

When the girls - Suan and Lucy as Aslan called them - had gone Aslan laid his paw — and though it was velveted it was very heavy as it looked — on Peter's shoulder and said, "Come,Son of Adam, and I will show you a far-off sight of the castle where you are to be King." 

And Peter with his sword still drawn in his hand went with the Lionto the eastern edge of the hilltop. 

"Sir! Aslan, sir!" I called as I pushed Daphne back into the tent. I ran up to meet Aslan and the Son of Adam, Peter. Aslan turned to look at me. 

"Yes, Eleanor?" he asked. 

"Sir, please, would you mind telling me where Sybill and Arion have gone? Sir, they're my only family left as my Auntie - the White Witch - took my parents!" I gasped. 

Peter's sword drew out even more, "Your auntie is the White Witch?"

"But her heart is just like her parents's, Peter," Aslan said. Aslan turned to me, "I can't tell you where your sister and brother have gone but you may join us." 

I glared as Peter held his hand out to help me up. "I don't need your help!" I snapped at him. "I'm Eleanor Evans after all!" 

 There a beautiful sight met our eyes. The sun was setting behind our backs. That meant that the whole country below them lay in the evening light — forest and hills and valleys and, winding away like a silver snake, the lower part of the great river. And beyond all this, miles away, was the sea, and beyond the sea the sky, full of clouds which were just turning rose color with the reflection of the sunset. But just where the land of Narnia met the sea — in fact, at the mouth of the great river — there was something on a little hill, shining. 

"That, O Man," said Aslan, "is Cair Paravel of the four thrones, inone of which you must sit as King. I show it to you because you are the first-born and you will be High King over all the rest."

 And once more Peter said nothing.