The White Witch's Son | Casmund

5

Edmund charged through the trees after the wolves, his heart pounding in his chest as they got further away from their targets. Doubt filled his mind. Letting them live and giving them the chance to reach Aslan was stupid of him. His mother would surely know of his betraying actions; she always knew when someone did something wrong against her, and now, he... no, he didn't betray her; the sound could've been the rustling of the wind or the gurgling noises of the creature dying, he didn't really know if it was them. Ultimately, it didn't matter if they escaped to Aslan; they wouldn't live to see tomorrow when he found them; he didn't owe them any favours; he wouldn't let them live when he found them. It's his mission, his birthright, to protect and serve his mother, to ensure her reign continues despite the threat of the prophecy coming true or Aslan's return; he won't fail her now.

Edmund called the wolves to him as he pushed his horse onwards. The frozen river wasn't far from here, and Aslan's camp lay beyond that. If the Son of Adam and Daughter of Eve wanted to reach Aslan, they'd head that way.

"What is the plan, Your Majesty," Maugrim said as he and his wolves surrounded Edmund. Edmund looked down at the Captain of the Secret Police, his mother's loyalist officer.

"Mardu, return to the Queen, inform her of the Son of Adam and Daughter of Eve we are in pursuit of. The rest of us will head towards the frozen river; Aslan's camp is beyond that; if we want to cut them off, we need to be lying in wait to ambush them," Edmund said. Mardu took off, disappearing into the trees towards the castle as the other wolves moved forward. What slight advantage he may or may not have given them was up; the White Prince was coming for them now. 

Lucy's body ached as she lay on the icy floor, the cold seeping into her bones. She didn't know how long she'd been trapped here, hours, days, even months. Every second that passed felt slow and agonisingly long. After the prince left, some guards dragged Mr Tumnus out. Lucy wanted to fight, to save her friend who committed treason to protect her, but her chained legs only reached so far, and the guard hit her back when she got too close to them. Mr Tumnus hadn't returned, and she was worried about what the White Witch wanted with him and what she'd do to him. Oh, Mr Tumnus didn't deserve any of this; if only he'd handed her over when they first met, he would've been saved from all this.

The door swung up, and in stepped the White Witch. Lucy didn't sit up, glaring at the woman who walked towards her.

"That is no way to treat the Queen of Narnia," the White Witch said as two guards followed her inside, each grabbing Lucy's arms and dragging her up.

"Where's Mr Tumnus?" Lucy said.

"He's seen the light and has learnt the consequences of his betrayal. He's joined the other traitors... guarding my castle," the White Witch said. Lucy stared at her. Was Mr Tumnus still alive?

"I want to see him," Lucy demanded, and the witch laughed.

"All in good time, but I've received news from my dear son. A Son of Adam and Daughter of Eve have entered Narnia. Now tell me how two humans may have found their way into my kingdom." Lucy looked at the White Witch; horror and terror filled her body, and thought that Peter and Susan had found themselves in Narnia. The last time she'd disappeared, no time had passed, and yet, now they seemed to have followed her through the magic wardrobe and ended up here. Did they come looking for her, not knowing the danger they were putting themselves into by doing so?

"Ah, you do know them. Family are they," the White Witch grinned.

"You stay away from them!" Lucy shouted. Lucy's cheek stung from where the witch's hand struck her.

"My son is chasing them down; once he's close enough, he'll kill them. Maybe we'll let you watch as they slowly die," the Witch said, "Ready my sleigh. We wouldn't want our Daughter of Eve to miss her reunion with her family."