The Guardian of Narnia

VI

Elvira awoke a few hours later and went to have something to eat. She saw the four siblings eating. Well, the younger three were. Peter was watching them from his position nearby. She walked over to the three sitting down and sat down next to Lucy. She smiled at Elvira. Edmund was eating toast by the basketful.

"Narnia is not going to run out of toast, Edmund," Elvira joked, giving him a toothy grin. He grinned back at her.

"You better pack some for the journey back," Peter said. Elvira turned to him.

"So we're going home?" Susan asked him.

"You are. I promised I'd keep you three safe but there's no reason I can't stay and help," he said. Elvira stood up.

"We need you... All four of you," she said.

"Vira, it's too dangerous. Lucy almost drowned, Edmund was almost killed!" Peter argued.

"Which is why we have to stay," Edmund said. Everyone turned to him.

"I've seen what the White Witch can do and I've helped her do it, and we can't leave these people behind to suffer for it," he said. Lucy gently took his hand.

"Well I guess that's it then," Susan said and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Peter and Elvira asked in unison. Susan picked up her bow and quiver. Elvira smiled.

"To get in some practice," she said. Lucy followed her to the targets. Elvira turned to the boys.

"Your sisters are smart," she said.

"And?" Edmund said. She picked up his sword in her teeth and threw it to him.

"Get in some practice!" she said and purred in laughter. She called to Oreius and asked him to train the young Kings. She then went into Aslan's tent.

"Jadis will come for Edmund," she said.

"I know," he replied. He was looking at a map. Elvira looked at it as well.

"Try and take the high ground for the archers," she muttered.

"And the gryphons," Aslan added.

"The cavalry there."

"High King can go here."

"You will go..." Elvira trailed away. She turned to her older brother.

"Why, Aslan? Why not me?" she asked. Aslan sighed.

"The deep magic..." he said. She opened her jaws to contradict, but suddenly, a voice called from outside.

"Your majesties!" It was Beaver. She went outside to him.

"Yes, Beaver?" she asked.

"The White Witch's dwarf is here," he said. Elvira turned to see a small dwarf with a long hat.

"I remember him. I tied him to a pole in place of the young King," she muttered to Aslan, who smiled at her, slightly sighing. She grinned cheekily and turned to the dwarf.

"What do you want, Son of Earth?" she said.

"The Queen of Narnia requests a meeting with you both!" he said. Elvira stiffened. She looked to Beaver and quietly said,

"Alert the Kings and Queens." he nodded and bounded off.

"We accept her offer," Aslan said. The dwarf nodded and bowed, slightly mockingly. Elvira held in her shrewd remark but spat on the floor he had formerly been standing.

"Vira," Aslan said. She looked at her brother. A crowd was beginning to gather. The four kings and queens appeared. She nodded to them. She looked ahead to see the dwarf proclaiming fake titles of the hideous fiend following him on a wooden throne being held up by four ogres. The dwarf began calling out titles that the Witch claimed to own, whilst Narnians catcalled and heckled. Elvira nudged Aslan slightly. His tail entwined with mine. The Witch stood up from her throne and walked forward a little towards Aslan and Elvira. She looked at Edmund.

"You have a traitor in your midst, Aslan," she said. Some muttering began.

"His offence was not against you," he said.

"Have you two forgotten the laws on which Narnia was built?" she said spitefully.

"Do not cite the Deep Magic to us, Witch!" Elvira growled, "We were there when it was written." The Witch flinched a little but covered it well.

"Then you will remember well that every traitor belongs to me. His blood is my property," she said. Peter drew his sword.

"Try and take it then," he said. She looked to the young king disrespectfully.

"Do you really think mere force will deny me my right? Little King," she said. Elvira clenched her jaws.

"Aslan and Elvira know that unless I have blood as the law demands, all of Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water." The Witch turned to Edmund and pointed to him.
"That boy will die on the Stone Table. As is tradition. You dare not refuse me."

"Enough. We shall talk with you alone," Aslan said and walked into the camp. Elvira followed him. The Witch looked to her.

"Elvira, you look tense," she said.

"Cut the innocence, Witch. Edmund is not going to die," she said.

"Vira," Aslan murmured. Elvira fell back. The witch chuckled.

"Yes, listen to your brother, Elvira. Those large jaws of yours will get you into trouble someday," she said. Elvira's claws dug into the cool earth.

"Edmund will not be killed," Aslan said calmly.

"Then say goodbye to Narnia," she said.

"No," Aslan said, "I will die in his stead," he said. Elvira did nothing. It was too late. The Witch was speechless. For a few moments.

"I accept. Midnight, at the Stone Table," she said.

"I will be there," he said. She stood up to leave the tent. Elvira hung her head. Aslan walked out. Elvira followed. Everyone, noticing the two siblings, stood up. The Witch, after giving Edmund a terrifying glare, stood in front of her throne to leave.

"She renounces her claim on the Son of Adam's blood," Aslan announced. The Narnians cheered. If only they knew.

"How will I know your promise will be kept?" the Witch replied. Aslan and Elvira roared in unison. The White Witch fell into her seat and the Narnians laughed and cheered again. The White Witch left. Peter ran up to Elvira.

"Vira! This is-"

"Leave me be, sir," she said shortly. She ran off into the woods, leaving a confused Peter and a distraught Aslan at the camp.