Time Of Our Lives [The Chronicles of Narnia] {1}

Practicing and The Witch's Visit

The next morning, I walked out the tent that I share with Susan and Lucy. I spotted Peter walking out of his tent so I walked over to him. "Hey, morning," I said to my twin with a smile. He smiled back, "Morning."

Then, we spotted Oreius, he stooped as he looked at us and then he looked up at the hill. We followed his stare and saw Aslan, and he was talking with Edmund. Then, I saw Susan and Lucy walking over and they looked at where we were staring. "Edmund!" Lucy shouted.

She was about to ran to Edmund until Peter quickly stopped her. Aslan and Edmund looked at us before looking back at each other. Aslan nodded to Edmund and they both walked down the hill, toward us.

"What's done is done," Aslan stated sternly. "There is no need to speak to Edmund of what is past." With that Aslan shared a look with Edmund and then turned and strode away, leaving us together.

Edmund nervously met Peter's eyes but looked away sharply and back to the ground. He glanced up at me for a moment before saying quietly, "Hello."

Lucy and I shared a smile before leaping at Edmund and wrapping him to a tight hug. Edmund hugged us back. Susan walked over and placed her hand on his arm. When Lucy and I broke away from him, she hugged him as well. When Susan took a step back, she asked, "How are you feeling?"

Edmund put his hands back in his pockets, "I'm a little tired," He replied. "Get some rest," Peter said as he gestured with his head in the direction of his tent. Edmund's smile disappeared and he walked past towards the tent.

I gave Peter a look. "And Edmund . . ." Peter called back. Edmund turned to face him. A smile grow across Peter's face as he said, "Try not to wander off again." Edmund gave a smirk before heading off to the tent.

Edmund was awake soon and a table was set up outside in the sun for us to sit and have some food. Edmund seemed absolutely starving as he eat down slice after slice of toast, Lucy, who sat my side of me, was looking at him also in amusement.

"Narnia isn't going to run out of toast, Ed," Lucy said and Edmund smiled. "I'm sure they'll pack some up for the journey back," Peter spoke suddenly, coming over.

"Were going home?" Susan asked. "You are," Peter said and he sat down on my other side. "I promised Mum I'd keep you four safe. But that doesn't mean I can't stay and help."

"But, they need us . . . All five of us," Lucy said. "Lucy, it's too dangerous. You almost drowned, Edmund was almost killed!" Peter said. "Which is why we have to stay," Edmund spoke and we looked at him. "I've seen what the White Witch can do, and I've helped her do it. We can't leave these people behind to suffer for it."

Susan and I shared a look and nodded at each other, having the same idea. "I suppose that's it then," Susan said and she got up and so did I. "Where are you two going?" Peter asked us. Susan picked up her bow and quiver as I picked up my sword, "Going to get some practice."

I looked down at Lucy. "Coming, Lu?" I asked with a smile. She smiled and jumped to her feet and quickly grabbed her dagger and cordial before we headed off to the archery range.

We quickly settled into the course. Susan went first and shakily notched and aimed and arrow. She let it go and it flew through the air in a flash and imbedded itself in the second ring. It was pretty good for her first try.

"Nice," I said and she looked at me, smiling. She hold her bow out to me, "Want to try?" She asked. I smirked and took the bow and pulled an arrow from her quiver.

I was a bit more confident in the bow and hold it strong but not to tight. The arrow cut through the air like a knife and buried itself into the middle of the bullseye. I sent Susan a grin and a wink as her jaw dropped and Lucy laughed.

I laughed but I was cut by Lucy launching her knife forward and it split my arrow down the middle. My jaw dropped and Susan and I looked down at our little sister and she smiled and just shrugged.

We heard the sound of horses galloping towards us so we spun around and spotted Peter and Edmund practicing sword-fighting, riding on two large horses.

"Come on, Ed! Keep your sword up like Oreius showed us!" Peter said. We watched them in amusement as Edmund yelled, "En guard!" And then Peter said, "Now block!"

But our fun was cut by Mr. Beaver running up to them. The boys turned their horses around and Edmund's reared up onto his legs. "Whoa horsey!" Edmund called out as the horse's forelegs returned to the ground. "My name is Philip."

I giggled. "Oh, sorry," Edmund said to the horse, shocked. Mr. Beaver pulled back their attentions to him, "The Witch has demanded a meeting with Aslan. She's on her way here!"

We quickly ran to the tents site. When we got there, we could see a large crowd of Narnians standing around. Everyone looked to the main path through the camp as a dwarf ran past. "Jadis, Queen of Narnia!" There were yells of protest from the Narnians. "Empress or the Lone Islands!" The dwarf continued.

We came to a stop together as we watched the Witch be carried forward on a large chair. I stood between Peter and Susan. I noticed Aslan's eyes narrow at the Witch. The four Cyclops carrying her chair, gently set it down. She stood up and never let her gaze leave Aslan.

She slowly approached Aslan and turned her head as she walked to look at Edmund, who stood at Peter's other side. She stopped only a couple of feet from Aslan. "You have a traitor in your midst, Aslan," She said.

Whispering spread throughout the crowd of Narnians. "His offence was not against you," Aslan said. "Have you forgotten the laws upon which Narnia was built?" The Witch said. Aslan roared in anger and growled at her, "Do not cite the Deep Magic to me, Witch! I was there when it was written."

"Then you'll remember well that every traitor belongs to me. His blood is my property," She said. Peter pulled his sword from it's sheath, "Try and take him then!"

"Do you think that a mere force can deny me my right, little king?" She asked Peter. I took a hold of my twin's hand, pulling him slightly back. "Aslan knows that unless I have blood as the law demands, all of Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water."

She turned to us pointed directly at Edmund. "That boy will die on the Stone Table as is tradition," The Witch said and she dropped her hand down to her side and turned back to face Aslan, "You dare not refuse me."

"Enough," Aslan stated, firmly. "I shall talk with you alone." He turned and walked slowly into the large tent behind. The Witch glanced over at Edmund for a moment before following Aslan into the tent and then there was silence. No one left or even moved for a few minutes.

Finally people grew tired of standing and waiting but they didn't leave, they simply settled down on the ground to wait instead. We did so as well, sitting together silently with Mr. and Ms. Beaver. Edmund was nervously pulling at the grass and I sighed nervously.

Finally, the Witch came out and we looked at her. She looked at Edmund as she walked back to her chair and Aslan came out of the tent. We all looked at him, waiting.

Aslan's eyes were sad. The look in his eyes practically broke my heart. He then turned to address everyone, "She has renounced her claim on the son of Adam's blood." Everyone cheered and I pulled Edmund to a tightly hug. We were all laughing, clapping and talking cheerfully.

The Witch's voice broke through our celebrations, "How do I know your promise will be kept?" I frowned as I turned my gaze to Aslan. What did she meant?

Aslan gave a loud roar, which scared her literally into her seat. While everyone else laughed, my face stayed the same. What did he promised? The Cyclops that had carried the Witch, the chair lifted it back up into the air and carried her out again.

Everyone continued to celebrate but I didn't. I continued to watch Aslan, who had his head down. I felt someone grabbing my hand and I looked down to see Lucy, giving me a concerned look.

I shook my head and turned my gaze back to Aslan. He met our stares for only a moment before turning his back and walking back to his tent. What's going on?