To Be Brave (Chronicles of Narnia fanfiction)

Choices and Consequences

Edmund trudged through the thick snow. The night air around him was crisp and still. He shivered, wrapping his arms around his chest to provide warmth. The fact that the coat Peter gave him was for girls didn't matter now. However, the thought of warm Turkish Delight encouraged him to move forward. The thought of being a King encouraged him to move forward. Eventually he could make a fur coat out of those Beavers if he wanted to...

He shivered as he reached the other side of the dam. His hands were numb, and the fact that it started to snow again didn't help him either. Snowflakes swirled around him like ice-white dust. He hugged himself to keep warm. Edmund was hesitant about hiking through those large hills. He looked over at the Beavers' dam, which was getting smaller and smaller as he headed down the steep slope.

By the time Edmund crossed the frozen lake, his clothes were soaked with melted snowflakes. He stumbled and slipped many times. He couldn't see much in this snowy darkness. Bare tree branches tickled and pricked him. The snow whipped around him, biting his skin. It caused his fingers to turn red and scratchy. Worst of all, it was the eerie quietness that scared him the most. This was the only time he truly felt alone.

However, that was until the clouds rolled away and the snowfall was replaced by frigid wind. The land was bathed in moonlight. The pathway wasn't as steep, making it easier for him to walk. Edmund picked up his speed, becoming more eager each minute. When he panted, his breath was short and heavy.

Edmund hurried up the low hill, and paused when he saw that his hands were covered with the glow of the moon. This caused him to look up, and he smiled to himself when he did.

Situated between two mountain peaks was a glittering icy castle. There were many towers, both long and short, that looked like sharp needles. Without hesitating, he began to approach the castle. His dreams of becoming King was about to become a reality. It was only a matter of time-

His thoughts were interrupted by something that sounded like a sharp howl. Once the noise became clearer, he swore he heard his name.

"Edmund!"

He panicked. He turned his head around and saw a shadowy figure. The crunching sound of snow grew louder and louder. Slowly, the figure revealed itself as a girl with dark brown wavy hair and a big nose that was too noticeable to not recognize.

Edmund began to run. He ignored the trips and falls and kept on going. It seemed like he was going to make it, until he felt two arms grab onto him and tackle him to the ground.

"What are you doing?!" he cried, struggling to rip off the girl's strong grip. "Get off of me!"

"I think you're the one who should answer the question," she retorted, forcing him to the ground once more.

"Trying to get away from you?" Edmund said, matter of factly.

"Do you know what's going to happen once you'll step inside that castle?" she asked.

"I'll become a King," he answered, glaring her in the eye. "And the first thing that I'll do is make sure that no one tries to tackle me!"

Hannah stopped fighting him. She slowly let go of him and stood up, trying to take all this in. She couldn't believe how gullible this boy was. He was simply going to believe that the White Witch was going to make him a King? That she was going to share some of her power with a whiny, twelve year old brat? Her brown eyes scanned him. His clothes were wet and damp likes hers, and she saw that his hand was lightly fidgeting in the cold.

Edmund was already on his knees, looking at the girl with furrowed eyebrows. He studied her and the way she breathed heavily. There were some marks on her shirt and her knees were red. She looked as if she was pleading him, begging him with her eyes. "But why are you doing this?" Hannah questioned. "Don't you see that she's manipulating you? She's not going to make you a King!"

"How do you know that?" he spat. "You don't know anything!"

"I heard everything," she said, her tone now much softer. "Just listen to me and let me help you!"

Hannah let out her hand. Edmund looked up at her. Her quick breaths let out smoky puffs of air. He glanced at the icy castle and shook his head.

"I don't need your help," he said, bitterly. "Go away!"

He pushed Hannah aside and started making his way past large chucks of ice. She watched as he was consumed by the shadows, heading closer and closer to the slippery staircase. Hannah glanced at the frozen lake behind her. There was no point in turning back now. She knew what it was like to have to face things alone, and she didn't want Edmund to feel the same.

A couple of miles away, Peter, Susan, Lucy, and the Beavers watched the two from the top of a frozen wasteland. Time seemed to stand still as they watched the two figures. Hannah and Edmund were only a few feet away from the icy castle that was glowing with an eerie blue light.

"Edmund! Hannah!" Lucy yelled, the fear visible in her eyes.

"Shh! They'll hear ya!" Mr. Beaver said, cautiously.

Peter started to run after them, but he was pulled back Beaver.

"NO!" he cried.

"Get off me!" Peter said, struggling to part from his grip.

"You're playing into her hands!" Mr. Beaver explained.

"We can't just let them go!" Susan protested.

"He's our brother and she's our friend!" Lucy added.

"He's the bait, and the girl fell for the trap!" Mr. Beaver said. "She wants all five of you!"

"But Hannah isn't part of the prophecy and she got to go!" Lucy pointed out.

"She'd kill any daughter of Eve that stepped into her domain!" the Beaver argued. "Neither she or you are worth to Narnia if you're dead!"

The word dead caused an aroma of fear amongst the siblings. There was a silence amongst them until Peter stepped up and asked. "Why?"

"To stop the prophecy from coming true!" Mr. Beaver answered. "To kill ya!"

Peter stepped up. "Why does she want all of us?"

A quiet grinding sound reached their ears. They watched as two figures slipped through the tall, glass doors. Their eyes were shaking with fear. There was a moment of silence until Susan turned to her brother with an urgent expression.

"This is all your fault!" she accused, glaring at her older brother.

"My fault?" Peter repeated.

"None of this would've happened if you would've just listened to me in the first place!" Susan shouted.

"Oh, so you knew this would happen?" Peter asked, in a sarcastic tone.

"I didn't know what would happen, which is why we should've left while we still could!" she snapped at him.

"Stop it!" Lucy suddenly cried. Her brother and sister stopped their argument and turned to her, blinking in surprise, as if they never expected such a raised voice from the girl. "This isn't going to help Edmund or Hannah."

"She's right," the Beaver said, in a mellow voice. "Only Aslan could help them now."

Peter gulped. "Then take us too him."

There was nothing else they could really do. At this moment, both Edmund and Hannah were in the hands of the White Witch.

A/N: I hope this chapter wasn't too short. I wanted to update and this was the result. I revised and did everything I could to make it a decent chapter. By the way, I also want to ask if you guys could send in some questions for any of the main cast of characters you've seen in this fanfic so far. This is for an audiobook when I'll be casting voice actors. Please keep commenting, reading, and voting on the chapters. It means a lot to me!