lunam et stellas

chapter five

santa claus...

Mr.Beaver cleared his throat. "Now. Aslan's camp is near the Stone Table, just across the frozen river."

"River?"

Mrs.Beaver reassured Peter. "Oh, the river's been frozen for a hundred years."

He sighed. "It's so far."

"It's the world dear. Did you expect it to be small?"

Susan glared at her older brother. "Smaller."

Alex laughed at Peters annoyed face. "She's not wrong."

He rolled his eyes and shoved her to the side, walking past her grumbling. "Oh shut it you."

...

Susan was the furthest ahead, with Peter behind her, and Lucy and Alexandra in the back. Typically, Alex was a fast walker, but she liked keeping Lucy company. She was just a girl, and Alex didn't want her feeling too much pressure, even with knowing the stakes of their adventure. Mr.Beaver yelled back, humor etched in his voice.

"Come on, humans! While we're still young!"

Susan stopped, letting her siblings catch up to her. Peter huffed. "If he tells us to hurry one more time, I'm gonna turn him into a big fluffy hat."

Alex laughed. "Or gloves."

Mr.Beaver yelled back again. "Hurry up! Come on!"

Lucy sighed. "He is getting a little bit bossy."

"No!" Mrs.Beaver yelled. "Behind you! It's her!"

Alex's heart skipped a beat, and in a split second, they went from laughing to running. The bells jingled as she approached, and she tried to run fast. They reached the forest, and Beaver found a cove, motioning them towards it. "Inside! Dive, dive!"

They held their breaths, waiting for a sign that she had left. Footsteps came soon after, and Alex grabbed a hand, trying to calm herself down. The snow above them fell, and they all stilled. The shadow cast on the snow berm in front of them vanished, and Alex let go of a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Lucy whispered. "Maybe she's gone."

Peter sighed. "I suppose I'll go look." Alex shook her head. "Absolutely not."

Mr.Beaver nodded. "I'll go. You're worth nothing to Narnia dead."

"Well, neither are you, Beaver."

He smiled. "Thanks, sweetheart."

There was silence for a moment, and then a rustling. Mrs.Beaver whispered. "What's that? What's-"

Susan shushed her. Beaver put his head over the edge of the cove, and Lucy screamed. "Come out! Come out! I hope you've all been good 'cause there's someone here to see you!"

Alex stood up first, creeping out of the cave. She grinned. Was that- It couldn't be. She murmured. "Santa?"

He grinned back, his cheeks a rosy red. "Hello, Alexandra."

Lucy smiled and walked out of Peter's grasp. "Merry Christmas, sir."

"It certainly is Lucy, since you have arrived."

Susan sighed. "Look, I've put up with a lot of things since I've got here, but this..."

Peter nodded. "We thought you were the Witch."