A Wardrobe to Another World

Chapter 12 - Presents

⟢Hazeline's POV⟣

"Come on humans. While we're still young." Mr Beaver shouts at us again. "If he tells us to hurry up one more time. I'm going to turn him into a big fluffy hat." Peter threatens jokingly, crouching down to let Lucy get on his back. "Please don't he's family." I shoot back, all of us getting a little snappy and tired at this point. "Hurry up! Come on!" Mr Beaver shouts again. "He is getting a little bossy." Lucy whispers, making us all laugh a bit. "No! Behind you! It's Her!" Mrs Beaver cries as we hear sleigh bells ringing. "Run! Run!" Mr Beaver shouts. Lucy drops from Peter's back. He grabs her hands and pulls her along with us, I notice Susan running ahead of us.

"Inside!" Mr Beaver shouts as we come over a ridge we run down the slope and dive into the cave. I feel Lu shaking beside me and hold her tightly, her burying her face in my shoulder. The bells come to a stop and a few seconds later a shadow falls over the ridge. We watch in fear as the shadow looks around before turning away. "Maybe she's gone." Lucy whispers. I sure hope so or else she would have heard that. "I suppose I'll go look." Peter states getting up. "No!" I whisper-shout as Susan and I both reach out an arm to stop him. "She's right. You're worth nothing to Narnia dead." Mr Beaver tells Peter as he starts climbing out of the cave. I sigh a little, that was not why. "Well neither are you Beaver." Mrs Beaver tells her husband. "They're cute together." A voice whispers in my ear. I turn my head to see Lu and smile slightly as she shakes with giggles. Before we fall silent holding our breath.

We all jump and Lu lets out a small scream as Mr Beaver's head appears from above. "Come out, come out! I hope you've all been good cos there's someone here to see ya." He almost shouts at us. We exchange glances before climbing out of the cave. I help all the others before climbing the slope myself. I hear Lu speak. "Merry Christmas, sir." "It certainly is Lucy. Since you have arrived." The speaker is revealed to be none other than Father Christmas as I join the others. I frown in confusion. There hasn't been a Christmas in a hundred years due to the witch's curse.

"Look I've put up with a lot since we got here, but this..." "We thought you were The Witch" Peter cuts Susan off before she can say anything that might offend Father Christmas. "Yes. I'm sorry about that. But in my defense I have been driving one of these longer than The Witch." Father Christmas informs us, patting his sleigh. "I thought there was no Christmas in Narnia." Susan states clearly confused. "No, not for a long time. But the hope that you have brought, your majesties. Is finally starting to weaken the witch's power." Father Christmas explains. "Still I dare say you could do with these." "Presents!" I smile at Lu's excitement wondering what he's going to give them.

"In this bottle, there is a cordial made of the juice of one of the fire-flowers that grow in the mountains of the sun. If you or any of your friends is hurt, one drop of this will restore them. And though I hope you never have to use it." Father Christmas tells Lucy crouching in front of her and handing her a bottle made out of diamond and a dagger with a lion's head at the hilt. "Thank you, sir. I think I could be brave enough." Lucy thanks him. "I'm sure you could but battles are ugly affairs." He assures before picking up a bow and quiver of arrows and turning to Susan. Lu stepped back to join her oldest brother who didn't look thrilled at her getting a dagger.

"Susan." Father Christmas calls her forward. "Trust in this bow and it will not easily miss." "What happened to battles are ugly affairs?" Susan asks. Father Christmas chuckles before picking up a horn and giving it to her. "Though you don't seem to have a problem making yourself heard. Blow on this and wherever you are, help will come." "Thanks." Susan thanked him quietly returning to her siblings.

"Peter. The time to use these may be near at hand." Father Christmas called Peter forward and gave him a sword and a shield. I smile slightly at seeing Aslan on them as Peter thanks him.

"Hazeline, this present is from your parents" I frown slightly, stepping forward to receive my gift. Father Christmas hands me a small blue velvet box. I open it quietly confused as to what it was. I gasp at the familarity of the ring in the box. It's a silver ring that splits into three with beads on the middle one band. My mother's ring I used to play with whenever I was scared or nervous. I look up with tears in my eyes. "Please thank them for me." I say, tears lining my eyes. I turn to walk back to the others, not expecting anything else. Father Christmas stops me and tells me I have more presents. I turn back to see him holding a sword, bow and quiver. "I know these were your favourite weapons." He says to me quietly. "And still are. Thank you so much, sir." I thank him. He turns to the Beavers and tells them of their gifts while I walk back to the others putting the ring on. "These are tools not toys, bear them well and wisely. Now I must be off. Winter is almost over. Things do pile up when you've been gone a hundred years. Long live Aslan." Father Christmas addresses us all. We all shout Merry Christmas after him as he rides away in his sleigh. "Told you he was real." Lucy states smugly, turning to her siblings. We all laugh slightly at Lucy being right, again. "He said winter was almost over. You know what that means." Peter starts thoughtfully. "No more ice." I state my eyes widening. "The river!" That is all we need to get running. we need to get across that river and if it melts there's nothing we can do. It would be like giving ourselves to The Witch as a present.

 - 1070 words