The High Queen Book One

Chapter 10 - Santa

Third-Person POV

Tilly, the Pevensie's and the Beaver began their journey at dawn, which meant they had already been walking for a few hours and still had so far to go. Stopping at the cliff's edge, the group looks out into the distance. Atop one of the faraway mountains is where Aslan's camp lies.

"Now, Aslan's camp is near the Stone Table." Mr Beaver tells the children as they look at the forest from above. "Just across the frozen river."

"River?" Tilly questions, worrying that the river isn't solid enough to walk on.

"Oh, the river has been frozen solid for a hundred years." Mrs Beaver answer as they look at the river they have to cross.

"It's so far," Peter says as he thinks about how far they still have to go.

"It's the world, dear. Did you expect it to be smaller?" Mrs Beaver says with a smile to the children.

"Smaller," Susan mutters as she looks at the others before continuing their walk. Tilly waits at the top for a moment, grabbing hold of her necklace and thinking about Edmund and what he must be going through.

Back at the Queen's castle, Edmund and Ginarrbrik push open the doors as the dwarf yanks the boy forwards. He glances at a new stone creature and soon realises it is Mr Tumnus.

"When you're ready, Son of Adam?" Jadis says in a kind tone, but Edmund knows she is mocking him. Ed goes closer to the sledge, quickly looking back at the frozen faun, a look of terror forever on his face. Edmund sits at the Witch's feet, glaring at the women as they glide along the icy snow. Edmund knows they are heading to find his family, and as much as he wants to see them, he really hopes they don't find them so quickly.

The Beavers went in the lead of the group, even though they have shorter legs, and therefore it should take them an ample amount of time and more effort. The pair are going a lot better than the humans. Peter and Tilly are behind the Beavers holding one of Lucy's hands each and swinging her along to keep the younger one occupied, while Susan walks at the back, taking her time, not really wanting to walk any faster. The walk feels longer than it should, not because it is many kilometres, but because it is one flat plain of white, with nothing interesting to look at while they trek across the frozen water.

"Come on, humans! While we're still young." Mr Beaver calls back to the kids, making Tilly and Peter roll their eyes.

"If he tells us to hurry one more time, I'm going to turn him into a big, fluffy hat," Peter says half-jokingly, making Tilly laugh.

"Hurry up! Come on!" Mr Beaver says soon after, his voice more panicked as he and his wife starts to run.

"He is getting a little bossy," Lucy says, hoping on Peter's back. None of the children picks up on his terror, but Tilly can hear something behind them and turns, seeing a sledge speeding towards them.

"No! Behind you!" Mrs Beaver shrieks, "It's her!" Peter quickly places Lucy down as Susan sprints ahead with the two Beavers. Tilly says behind Peter and Lucy, in case one of them slips, she can help them.

"Run!" Tilly shouts as the group pushes as hard as possible, soon coming to the lake's edge. They can still hear the bells of the reindeer and their hooves smashing against the cold ice as they find a hiding spot. Cramming into the tiny cave opening, they hold their breaths as they see the reflection of the figure's shadow on the snow in front of them. After a few minutes, it's dead silent in the wood. Tilly and Peter share a look, nodding and starting to sit up to have a look if the Witch is still there.

"We'll go look," Tilly says, moving Lucy off her leg into Susan's arms as Peter takes her hand so she can help him up; Mr Beaver pushes the two back down.