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

Chapter 11

The wolves dragging me along manage to toss me across a patch of grass. I cough and gasp for breath as the wind is knocked out of me. Curling into a ball on my side, I pray I'm right about the whole sparing my life thing.

But if she does kill me, I can only hope it's quick.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't our little runaway." Jadis taunts.

I turn my face to look at her, squinting in the sunlight. I've been at her feet many times, but this time is different; this time, I'm truly terrified.

"On your knees, you ungrateful wench." She snarls.

I know better than to hesitate and, through the pain in my chest, force myself up onto my knees; I don't bow my head, though. I want her to know I'm not afraid, or at least think I'm not, no matter what the truth may be.

"Defying orders, leaving the castle, aiding fugitives, consorting with humans, resisting arrest, and the list of charges goes on." Jadis seethes. "What am I to make of this Cressida?"

I stay silent, staring at her, refusing to break eye contact.

"Well, do you deny it?"

"No, I do not deny it."

"Then you are a treasonous traitor, and the punishment for both is death." She raises an eyebrow, her voice even and controlled.

"I was your prisoner, not your subject; if you choose to kill me, then get it over with, but unjust blood will be on your hands."

"The Cressida, I know, would not so boldly ask for death."

"Then I suppose you don't know me very well, Witch." I snarl.

Her hand cracks sharply across my face. I falter but do not fall as burning pain blooms across my cheek. I can feel blood dripping from my lip.

Flicking the hair out of my eyes, I look back up at her.

"I will not tolerate insolence from my prisoners!" She thunders.

I've angered her more than ever before, and if I want the best shot at survival, I can't do it again.

The witch summons Ginarrbrik, and the dwarf binds my hands tightly in front of me. I manage to wipe the blood from my lip onto the shoulder of my dress.

The dress, given to me by the witch, is now soaked at the hem and torn in more than a few places. She grimaces but turns away from me.

Maugrim and the rest of the wolves saunter into the clearing, and my chest seizes as Fox is thrown before Jadis' feet.

"Ah. Nice of you to drop in; you were so helpful to my wolves last night. Perhaps you can help me now."

"Forgive me, Your Majesty." Fox pants.

"Oh, don't waste my time with flattery." Jadis rolls her eyes.

"Not to seem rude, but I wasn't actually talking to you." Fox turns towards Edmund and bows his head before turning back to Jadis.

He catches my eye and gives me the subtlest nod. I can see the fury in Jadis' eyes. She spins her wand before pointing it at Fox, giving Edmund a heavy look.

"Where are the humans headed?" She asks.

Fox says nothing, merely stares at her. He's good; he won't crack, even if he'll die for it. Jadis pulls back her arm for the kill when Edmund jumps in the way.

"Wait, no, don't!" He pleads. "The beaver said something about the stone table and...and that Aslan had an army there."

No, no, you fool.

Fox hangs his head, and Edmund steps aside; he's betrayed them again.

His actions were for all the right reasons, but he may have condemned us all.

"An army?" Jadis muses, "Thank you, Edmund, I'm glad that this creature got to see some honesty...before he dies!"

The Witch's wand connects with Fox's chest, and a strangled yelp is the last sound the spy makes before his body becomes stone.

"No!" Edmund yells.

I lurch forward but bite my lip. He's gone, one of the few creatures I trusted with my life, have trusted for years, and he's gone.

Because of her.

The sound of a slap pulls me from my thoughts. Edmund stumbles, but Jadis pulls him upright, gripping his chin.

"Think about whose side you're on, Edmund." She implores. "Mine or theirs."

She turns his face to Fox and makes him take in the sight. Jadis lets go of his chin and forces Edmund to turn towards the sleigh.

Edmund trudges towards it as Jadis turns back to me.

She grips one elbow and heaves me to my feet, pulling me close, "You think you've been my prisoner all these years, Cressida? I'll show you how I really treat my prisoners."

Jadis drags me towards the sleigh by my bound hands, forcing me into my usual seat. Edmund sits curled at our feet, and Jadis drapes her cloak around him as she situates herself.

"Really, Cressida, all that I did for you and this is how you thank me."

"You took me from my family, threatened me, and kept me locked away when you weren't displaying me to your court or pawning me off to your courtiers."

"Please, stop with the dramatics; they never hurt you. I never allowed it, but from now on, I just might."

"You wouldn't."

"The oldest human, whatever his name was, a handsome one for a human." she smiles darkly. "If you're anything like your mother, you've probably already let him have his way with you."

"Peter never touched me!" I shout.

Edmund looks up at me with nervousness and a hint of...jealousy, perhaps.

"A touchy subject, I see, interesting." Jadis chuckles.

I open my mouth to retaliate.

"Oh please, I've heard enough from you. Ginarrbrik, make for camp." She commands.

The sleigh lurches off, and my stomach aches with nerves as I feel Edmund's eyes boring into my skin.