The White Witch's Son | Casmund

6

Susan sat beside the river, her bare feet resting in the water as she took in the impossible world around her. In a matter of a day, Susan's life was turned upside down; her sister was being held hostage by an evil witch, and her brother was in talks about leading an army into battle. They'd been sent to the Countryside to get away from the bombings and fighting in London. Now they were marching head first into their own to save this impossible world that shouldn't even exist, all because a prophecy said so. This was ridiculous, a nightmare Susan felt she should be waking up from, yet she was kept tightly in its grasp with no hope of getting out.

Susan pushed herself to her feet. There was no point in wasting her time down by the river; she needed to know what mess Peter was getting himself into. Susan loves her brother; she really does, but it's times like this when he doesn't think and rushes headfirst into danger. They'd seen the Witch's son in action; she knew they had no chance against him; he'd always have an advantage over them, and did it matter how many Narians stood on their side, they were relying on two strangers to save them. They'd been in Narnia for less than twenty-four hours; there was no way they could learn to fight beings who had ruled for a century.

Susan grabbed her towel from the tree branch, finding the wolf's snarling mouth inches from her. She screamed, throwing the towel over the wolf's face. She snatched her horn from the floor and turned away, only to find another wolf slowly stalking towards her.

"Please don't run. We're tired," one wolf said. Susan knew if she tried to run, they'd be on her in seconds; she needed to buy her time until the others came for her.

"And we prefer to kill you quickly," the other wolf said. It lunged, and Susan jumped; she'd spent her early childhood climbing trees with Peter and later Lucy before the war started and her father was sent to fight. She pulled her body onto a thicker branch, put her horn in her mouth and blew. Hopefully, they'd realise she's in trouble and come quickly. One wolf growled as it circled the tree whilst the other tried jumping up, his claws missing the branch ever so slightly. Susan curled into herself, wishing to be anywhere by here, even back at home, as the bombs dropped would be better than here.

"Susan!" Susan watched as her brother charged across the river, his sword brandishing out before him. "Get back!"

The wolves stopped their attack on Susan and stalked over to Peter, encircling him.

"Come on. We've already been through this before. We both know you haven't got it in you," the wolf said. Susan shifted on the branch, trying to get a better look at her surroundings, trying to see if anyone was lying in wait but she couldn't see anyone. Where was the Witch's son? He was in charge of the wolves. Wouldn't he want to lead the attack on the prophesied kids, which was meant to bring his mother's destruction?

"Peter! Watch out!" Susan said as the one wolf pounced. Peter shifted just in time, blocking the attack with his sword. Damn it! Why didn't she bring her bow and arrows with her? She could've helped instead of being stuck in a tree waiting for Peter to save her. Why was she trusting that Aslan's camp wouldn't be attacked when they were here? The White Witch wanted them; of course, she'd do anything to get to them. James was missing, Lucy had been kidnapped, and the odds were already in the witch's favour. Aslan and a small group of soldiers charged across the river; the second wolf charged over, but Aslan pinned it easily with a swipe of his paw.

"No! Stay your weapons. This is Peter's battle," Aslan said. Susan looked at the lion in disbelief. Aslan wanted Peter to fight a murderous wolf who was capable of god knows what, while Peter, who had never fought with a Sword, was expected to fight and hopefully win. Aslan was getting Peter killed; he was letting them all die.

"You may think you're a king, but you are going to die... like a dog," Susan screamed as the wolf leapt at Peter, sending them both crashing to the ground.