A Wardrobe to Another World

Chapter 17 - Sing

⟢Hazel's POV⟣

Leading the others through camp to the campfires so memories threaten to swamp me. Just over there was where Theo sprained his ankle the first time running over uneven ground. And that tent is where I learnt to sew. And there is the clearing I won my first duel. "Are you looking forward to this?" A voice snaps me out of my memories. I take a moment to place it before turning to Susan. "Relatively. We could all use a distraction." I replied. We both smile sadly understanding what I was referring to. The familiar smell of a campfire hits my senses and a genuine smile spreads across my features.

A couple minutes later and we emerge in the campfire clearing as we affectionately named it as kids, Theo and I. My smile widens as the others leave to go meet the Narnians. "Welcome home, Shadowstorm." Aslan's voice and presence make me turn. "You look beautiful, your mother loved wearing red too. I believe she was in red the first time your parents met." I smiled. "Thank you. She's wearing a red dress in the photo by my bed too." "I do believe she once told me she loved it so much because it was a subtle way she could defy her mother by wearing the colour we would often wear." I laugh at this before confusion takes over. "Wait, defy her mother? Why would she need to do that? I thought she was from England like papa." "You have a lot to be told. Your parents requested that should they pass we weren't to tell you till you were 14. However we obviously haven't seen you since you were seven so we haven't been able to tell you." A soft 'what?' falls from my lips as I frown in confusion. "Your mother is the daughter of the White Witch." Aslan states watching for my reaction. I look at him for a bit before I burst out laughing. "You're joking. Who would like the witch that much?" I laugh before I see Aslan's expression. "You're not joking?" I ask, shaken. He just shakes his head. I start backing away, shaking my head. Someone grabs me from behind. I jump and kick their knees before running away from everyone.

I break through the foliage into the small clearing we were in earlier today within minutes of my escape. I walk to a tree and slide to the ground pulling my knees to my chest, still shaking slightly. I mutter under my breath as I try to process what I've been told.

❀ ❀ ❀

⟢Peter's POV⟣

I was talking to Aurelius when I noticed Hazel run from the campfires leaving someone on the ground. I quickly excuse myself and chase her. Clearly she wasn't thinking straight as it was very easy to follow her and some bushes were a little broken.

I can see her figure in the distance and run a little faster. Coming into the clearing I wonder where she's gone. I feel a sudden weight on my back and fall forward, freezing upon feeling a cold metal blade on the back of my neck. There's an awkward bit of time before the weight is removed from me and I roll over to see Hazel looking down at me sheepishly. "Sorry. You gave me a fright." She mumbles, extending her hand to help me up. I grab it and pull her over me onto the ground by my head. "You're so petty." She complains. I laugh and within a minute she too lets out a melodic laugh. We lay there laughing for a bit before getting up and sitting by a tree just like we did in the Beaver's Dam, my arm around her. She rests her head on my shoulder. "I'm sorry if I scared you earlier. '' She apologizes again. "It's fine I should have warned you before coming into the clearing." She nods slightly. I want to ask her why she left but don't want to intrude either. The silence steadily gets more awkward.

"Cut the horseshit, Peter." Hazel states randomly. I look at her in confusion and shock. Why did she use such a rude word? She tilts her head to look at me. "Come on. Don't be surprised. I meant what I said that night. I'm full of surprises. And we both know why you followed me out here. Just get to it." I sigh. "Why'd you leave so quickly?" "Promise not to hate me. I didn't know." That wasn't what I was expecting at all. "I promise.'' I said uncertainty. "Say it like you mean it or I won't tell you." She threatens though looking in her eyes I can tell she's messing with me. "Alright, I promise I won't hate you." Her gaze drops from mine and she fidgets slightly with the ring on her finger. "You don't have to tell me." I tell her. "I should though. I don't think I can face this alone." I hesitantly reach out and hold her hands, effectively stilling them. They are cold against mine but sweating a little leading me to believe her hesitance and anxiousness is due to nerves more than anything. Her gaze moves from our hands to the trees as she takes a deep breath. "There's no gentle way to say this is there?" I'm guessing it's a rhetorical question as she doesn't wait for an answer. "The White Witch is my grandmother by blood. Nothing else." She starts rambling, but I stop hearing. The one who cursed and invaded Narnia, the one who has imprisoned my brother and so many others is somehow related to this amazingly kind girl. I realize she is looking apprehensively at me. "That doesn't matter. Who your grandmother is doesn't change who you are." "Really? You're not mad?" She questions hopefully. "I am mad but not at you. I'm mad at The Witch." She smiles a little before whispering. "Me too. We should go back before people freak out again." We get to our feet and head back to the fires.

Coming into the clearing Lucy runs up to Hazel and jumps into her arms. After she lifted Susan on her own a week ago I'm not surprised that she barely flinches and just hugs her back. Susan comes up to us too. "Everything alright?" Susan asks, grabbing my attention. "Should be." I reply, watching Hazel and Lu closely. "I mean with you. You don't have to watch us constantly, we can protect ourselves, especially Hazel." "I'm fine. And I have a right to worry about you, you're my siblings and I want Hazel to get back to the Professor safely." "It's our responsibility to look after ourselves. And I didn't say you can't worry. I worry about you all the time." "Stop worrying about me, I'm fine. Ed isn't, worry about him!" I haven't realised that I've raised my voice. "Is he really not okay?" Lu asks. I turn to her and see that Hazel has left. "We'll know by morning." I whisper. I grab her hand and we walk over to the campfire.

❀ ❀ ❀

⟢Hazel's POV⟣

"Hey, Hazel." A voice interrupts my thoughts as I stare into the fire. "Hi, Art. Do you need something?" I question turning to my old friend. "You can still sing right?" "Yes." I answer in confusion. "Wonderful! Aslan wants us to sing the old tale." "Us?!" I'm shocked. The old tale is normally only performed by the most senior members of the army. Whether it be as a story or a song was up to them. Art nods her head excitedly. "Ok? When?" I can feel the nerves fluttering in my stomach already. "Now!" She grabs my arm and we climb up onto the log beside Aslan. Silence falls rather quickly. I glance at Art who nods at me before starting the song. ( - Hazel sings the lead and Art backing vocals and guitar)

Art and I finish singing and everyone bursts into applause. My eyes search out the other humans and I smile softly at the shock on their faces. We jump down from the log and make our way to the logs we had been sitting on. It took me about ten minutes to get back to the others because everyone was wanting to talk. "You can sing?!" I crack up laughing at the greeting I get from the Pevensies. "I don't know if I should be insulted by the amount of shock in your voice or?" The laughter that followed carried well into the night.

 - 1423 words