After the End (Narnia)

Chapter IXX - A Queen Returned

Jadis stood next to the thrones of the Great Hall with a wicked countenance. " Well then, where is he?"

The Narnians trembled before her. It had been so long since any of them had encountered evil, and the landscape of fear already prominent in the room hardly aided the situation. Peter took a deep breath, approaching the witch with newfound confidence. It was his time to speak for his people.

"Jadis the sorceress," he spat. "What do you want with my brother?"

The woman laughed at Peter. To her, he still looked like a petulant child futilely trying to resist her power. Children were so stupid. "I just want to talk to him, you little brat. We haven't caught up in a while. Now, tell me where he is, her voice rasped dangerously in the threat.

"He is unavailable at the moment," Peter snapped, his eyes hardening as he spoke. "So I will have to ask you to leave." He motioned the woman towards the large doors at the entrance to the Great Hall. Jadis refused to move.

"It's fine. I'll wait."

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The storm raged on outside the window as Harriet sat beside Edmund. She could sense something was amiss, but she could not figure out what was happening, no matter how much she tried. The only thing to do was to go downstairs to gain some clarity. "I'll be back soon," she whispered to Edmund. She went to leave the room, automatically stealthy in some strange instinct.

Edmund's eyes shot open, his mind clear of the fog instantly. "Harriet. Don't go. I know who's down there." Harriet hesitated, sitting on Edmund's bed.

"What do you mean? You're in no state to go down. I'm sure it's nothing. Just let me go," Harriet replied, irritated.

"You are not going down there. At least not without me," Edmund insisted in a raspy voice. "Now, wait outside. I need to get changed into something worthy of the occasion." Harriet waited outside the door with a strange curiosity. What in Narnia was going on downstairs, and why did he feel the need to protect her from it? It was probably just a gigantic magical cockroach.

Edmund was suddenly at her side, clasping a long silver sword. He handed her a sharp, thin dagger. "You may need this. Its operation is fairly straightforward." Edmund had gone from a sleepy invalid to a warrior in a matter of minutes. Harriet was downright amazed by the transformation.

Edmund had a mind full of strategies as he quietly made his way downstairs. His thoughts now spun like well-oiled gears, and he mentally mapped out every portion of the castle as he marched downstairs. Something instinctual was drawing him to the Great Hall. The feeling was associated with the colour green, a strange coldness and the sickly sweet smell of confectionery. He needed to get there, and fast.

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The Great Hall had lost its warmth in the hours since Jadis had arrived, icicles hanging off of the rafters like snowy daggers. The supply of blankets did not provide enough heat, and the Narnians had gravitated into groups to keep warm. Eustace held a crying Jill to his chest, trying desperately to soothe her. It's not my fault I'm so insensitive, Eustace thought crossly. It would have been remarkably useful if my parents would have taught me some social skills.

Jadis sat on Susan's throne in the room, watching the Narnians with the eyes of a hawk. Her wand, somehow restored to its former glory, twirled in her hand lazily, a single twig that had been proven to cause an inordinate amount of pain and suffering. Tumnus shuddered at the sight of it. The image of his friends and countrymen frozen into agony in her cold castle all those years ago still haunted his nightmares.

The White Witch was getting impatient. "Where is he? TELL ME!" she roared. Peter prepared for the inevitable. She was going to find out the truth eventually.

One, two pairs of feet at the door. "Here I am, Jadis." Edmund stood in the doorway, sword in hand. Mouths dropped around the room. The boy who had been seemingly comatose for the past few weeks looked stronger and healthier than them all. Most of all, he was confident. The time in his own head appeared to have changed him for the better.

Edmund wandered into the room with an unafraid smirk. "Oh, and by the way, I'm not going anywhere with you. I don't plan to have a civil conversation, either. Leave, now. Or suffer the wrath of a victorious army."

The White Witch laughed. "Ah, I thought Peter seemed childish. Your ferocity is even more laughable! To think you can bargain with someone like me?" She shook her head in pity. "I thought you knew me better than that, Eddie."

Edmund saw red. "This is your final warning. Leave, or we will use all of the power at our disposal to make you."

Jadis stood up and raised her hands, cackling madly. "You don't know a thing, any of you. This is just a taste of what is to come. I was sent to warn you all, and it seems I have completed my task. I am leaving, but I will return. And don't you worry, I'll bring your darkest nightmares with me." And with a slow smile, the witch disappeared into thin air, leaving only a singe on the wood of the platform.

The majority of the Narnians returned to their beds, shaking. The walk up the stairs seemed unbearable, as did the thought of yet another war. There were dark days ahead.

The Friends of Narnia were joined by Caspian, Tumnus, Reepicheep, Oreius and Glenstorm in the war room. Caspian quickly took charge of the situation. "It is evident from recent events that we are indeed dealing with dark magic once more in Aslan's Country. From Jadis' words, it is safe to assume that dark forces intend to wage war with the Narnian people once more. It is highly possible that Jadis has been cooperating with other dark magicians, some we have encountered before."

Peter sighed. "Men and women of True Narnia, we need to prepare for war."