A Prison of Ice and Fear || Peter Pevensie x OC || Narnia

Chapter 8

Fox did not stay with us long. After Mrs. Beaver cleaned the wounds as best she could, Fox insisted on leaving.

Aslan had asked him to gather more troops.

The Beavers were bursting with questions while the children again protested any involvement in a war.

I felt for them. They had been thrown into the middle of a fight they didn't fully understand and it seemed awfully unfair.

Once Fox departs we walk a ways in the dark before finding a good hiding spot to rest a while. Lucy falls asleep quickly, curled into the elder girl's side.

"Tell me," I ask quietly, "What is your name? You know mine, after all."

The elder girl eyes me suspiciously, "Susan Pevensie."

"Susan." The name was so unusual. "Where are you from, with such a strange name?"

"Well, you can't say your name is exactly ordinary." Susan snaps. "We're from Finchley, in England."

"Finchley," I repeat slowly. "Very far from here then, I suppose."

"Very, very far." She speaks softly.

She turns from me then, ending the conversation. I gaze sidelong at her. I can guess how she's feeling, perhaps as empty as I felt when I was brought to this land.

The snow beside me crunches as Peter sits, "So how about that introduction you promised?"

"Lady Cressida." I offer.

"Peter Pevensie." He replies, sticking out his hand.

I shake it tentatively, "How did you come to be here, King Peter?"

He cringes, "Please, you don't need to call me that, Lady Cressida; I'm no king."

"And I am no lady," I chuckle lowly, "Just Cressida."

"Right, Cressida, I mean, it's kind of a long story, but Lucy, my sister, found this place first at the back of a wardrobe. I mean, at first, we didn't believe her, but here we are."

"The back of a wardrobe?" I ask, "How extraordinary."

"What about you, how did you come to be the White Witch's prisoner?"

I bristle, sitting straighter, "My mother betrayed Jadis, and in retaliation, she took me prisoner."

"What did your mother do?" He asks.

"It does not matter now; that was nine years ago. I do not have hope of seeing my family again but I do have hope that the Narnians can be free."

"You believe in this...Aslan, king of the wood?"

"My handmaiden told me stories of Aslan, I believe in him, and I believe in you."

"Me?"

"And your brother and sisters. You were prophesied and I have to believe you can help us."

"And what if we disappoint you, what if we fail?"

"You could only disappoint us if you ran from this. I am willing to give my life for this, and I know you have only been here a short while, but you have to decide if you're prepared for that, too."

"We just want our brother back."

"I know," I offer softly, "but war may be the price you have to pay for him."

"The way you speak, you sound like royalty to me."

"I have been trained well, Jadis would show me off to her court as her prized pet. I had to be perfect." I sigh.

"It sounds as though you have as much reason as anyone to hate her."

"I will do anything I can to make sure winter ends. I had a choice today to stay by her side or run," I turn to Peter, "whether we win or lose, I'll never regret the choice I made."

Peter looks me up and down quickly before his eyes meet mine again. I turn away, looking straight out into the darkness of the night.