Once a King or Queen of Narnia

Chapter 8

We walked together, Aslan and I. Mostly in silence but every now and then one of us would start a short conversation. I kept my hand in his mane and I could tell it gave him comfort.

We returned to the camp to just make sure everything was still and calm and that all was in order. When Aslan was pleased with what we found he headed back into the woods leading to the Stone Table behind the tent where my siblings were sleeping.

We kept our heads down as we took step after step over the many leaves and twigs that were scattered across the ground. A couple of minutes into our walk, I was certain I heard some twigs snapping and the sound of leaves crackling under feet that weren't ours but I just brushed it off as it quickly disappeared.

Several seconds later I heard it again as well as the sound of fast moving feet. Out of the corner of my I spotted two figures darting from tree to tree and trying to remain hidden from sight. I gave a small laugh but I quickly cut it short. I shared a small sad look with Aslan as we came to stop. He had heard them too.

"Shouldn't you both be in bed?" question Aslan without turning around. I slowly turned to face them as the two of them came out of their hiding spot, which was behind a tree. "We couldn't sleep and we were worried about Dawnie," explained Lucy as they approached us.

"Please, Aslan," said Susan, "couldn't we come with you?" Aslan nodded slightly and replied, "your sister has been a gracious companion and I wouldn't mind some more."

Lucy walked in front of me, holding onto Aslan's mane and running her other hand through it as we walked. Susan walked on the other side of the mighty lion doing the same as us.

The walk wasn't very long but when Aslan finally ordered for us to leave it felt so much shorter. I could feel something bad was about to happen. My magical instincts were at all new highs. The Deep Magic was trying to warn me of something yet I couldn't figure out what. "It is time," exclaimed Aslan.

"From here, I must go on alone."

Susan stepped forward in protest, I tried to stop her but to no avail, "But Aslan..." Aslan turned to her, "you must trust me. For this must be done." He then looked to each of us in turn.

"Thank you, Susan. Thank you, Lucy. Thank you, Dawn." I closed my eyes and let a tear fall but I quickly whipped it away. Aslan stepped towards me and rubbed his head against my cheek and whispered in my ear for only me to hear, "be strong, little lioness." I gave a sharp nod as Aslan stepped back to look at the three of us. "And Farewell."

Aslan continued on alone but as soon as he was a bit ahead of us. Susan placed her hand on Lucy's shoulder and then headed off into the trees and making her way around Aslan so we could follow him. Lucy and I watched after Aslan for a moment before following after our older sister. We kept low and silent.

Susan ducked down in front of a gap in between two rocks. Lucy and I crouched on either side of her and we could be both clearly see what was going on in the clearing. There was a huge crowd of Narnians that were following Jadis. Many carried lit torches and were cheering and taunting as Aslan walked up the steps.

There were horns being blown and they made loud ringing sounds that rang out hauntingly around us. They caused a shiver to travel down my spine. I bit down on my lip as hard as I could. We watched as cruel and menacing creatures growled and taunted Aslan right to his face, this angered me greatly.

Jadis appeared at the top right at the Stone Table. My mouth fell open at what was in her hand. A large, black knife. Susan gripped my hand in a death grip but I barely noticed. Aslan stopped in his tracks as Jadis showed her face.