𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇
⸻ Cordelia Winterbourne's ordinary life with her mother was shattered by the onset of war, prompting Cordelia's mother to make a gut-wrenching decision by sending her daughter away for a while to keep her safe.
However, fate had a di...
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Santa Claus chuckled joyfully upon seeing us. Lucy took the initiative to speak first.
"Merry Christmas, sir," she greeted warmly, stepping closer to the man before us.
"It certainly is, Lucy, now that you're here," Santa replied with a twinkle in his eye.
"Look, I've endured a lot since arriving here, but this..." Susan began, casting a glance at Peter, who interjected abruptly.
"We thought you were the Witch," Peter confessed.
"Yes, yes, I apologize about that. But in my defense, I've been driving one of these longer than the Witch," Santa explained, gesturing towards his sleigh and reindeer behind him.
Pursing my lips, I spoke up, "I thought there was no Christmas in Narnia."
"No. Not for a long time," he replied as he removed his gloves. "But the hope that you have brought, Your Majesties, is finally beginning to weaken the Witch's power."
"Still, I dare say you could do with these," he added before turning around, retrieving his sack, and placing it in front of us.
"Presents!" the youngest Pevensie exclaimed in excitement.
Santa reached into his sack, presenting something to Lucy. "The juice of the fire-flower," he explained. "One drop will cure any injury."
The girl tentatively accepted the bottle from his hands, examining it closely.
"And though I hope you never have to use it," he continued, handing her a dagger.
Grateful, she thanked him but appeared a bit hesitant. "But I think I could be brave enough."
"I'm sure you could, but battles are ugly affairs," Santa reassured, prompting a smile from the little girl.
Lucy returned to her place beside us as Santa retrieved a bow and some arrows from his sack. He called for Susan, prompting her to step forward.
"Trust in this bow, and it will not easily miss," Santa stated, handing it to her, and she accepted it gracefully.
"But what happened to 'battles are ugly affairs'?" she inquired, recalling Santa's earlier words to Lucy. Her question elicited a chuckle from Santa.
"Though you don't seem to have a problem making yourself heard, blow on this, and whatever you are, help will come," Santa explained, this time offering her a horn.
Susan expressed her gratitude for the earlier gifts and walked back to her spot. Santa then called for Peter and handed him a sword and a shield adorned with a lion design from his sack.
"The time to use these may be near at hand," Santa remarked, passing them to the blonde Pevensie.
Peter examined the items before unsheathing the sword, gazing at it in wonder. He smiled, expressing his gratitude to the man before him, completely captivated by the beautiful sword.
Peter stepped back to his previous spot. Santa glanced in my direction.
"Cordelia," he called which caused me to step forward like the others did earlier.
While the Pevensies' gifts emerged from Santa's sack, mine appeared differently. Santa reached into his coat pocket, retrieving a necklace with a snowflake pendant.
"It may seem simple, but this necklace can help you toward your future," he elucidated, offering it to me, and I accepted it gently.
"How so, sir?" I inquired, examining the intricately designed necklace.
"You have a power that the Witches desire. Once that power is activated, it'll be hard for you to control it. So, wear this necklace every time. It'll help you focus and center your powers, promoting better control and restraint when using them," I listened intently as he explained.
What could possibly be that power?
I wanted to ask him, but I assumed he'd just dismiss it like the others did. Trusting the fox's words, I instead thanked him and returned to my previous spot, placing the necklace around my neck.
"These are tools, not toys. Bear them well and wisely," Santa said before continuing, "Now, I must be off. Winter is almost over, and things do pile up when you've been doing this for hundreds of years."
Santa retrieved his sack from the snow-covered ground, placing it back on his sleigh before turning to glance at us once more.
"Long live Aslan," he exclaimed while getting on his sleigh. "And Merry Christmas!"
With that, he departed as we waved him goodbye.
Lucy turned to her brother with a smirk, "Told you he was real."
"He said winter was almost over," the blond Pevensie whispered, "You know what that means."
"No more ice," I finished, a hint of concern on my face as we contemplated crossing the river.
As we finally reached the river's edge, we stood watching as the ice slowly melted away into the water.
"We need to cross, now!" Peter urged.
"Don't beavers make dams?" I inquired, glancing at the beavers.
"I'm not that fast, dear," he replied.
"Come on!" Peter said urgently, pulling his little sister and me along with him. However, Susan halted us for a moment
"Wait! Can we think about this for a minute?" she voiced, her expression worried.
"We don't have a minute," Peter argued.
"I'm just trying to be realistic," she defended, but Peter wasn't swayed.
"No, you're trying to be smart," he retorted sharply. "As usual."
He swiftly turned away and started walking down near the river, this time with only his sister.
"Come on, Su, we have to hurry," I urged as she hesitantly gazed at the melting river.
Simultaneously, we glanced into the distance upon hearing a howl from the wolves.
With that, she promptly shifted from her position and started following Peter, and I followed suit.
