Born For Better (A Peter Pevensie/ Narnia Fanfic)

Chapter 10- Grave News and A Broken Stone Table

Peter's POV

I woke up with a start, drawing my sword towards the sound at the entrance to my tent. Blinking the sleep fromy my eyes, I saw flower petals drifting along the wind. Next to me, Edmund sat up in his own hammock, watching in confusion as the petals moved into the form of a woman. She holds a hand up.

"Be still, my Princes. I bring grave news from your sisters." The Dryad said. I lowered my sword, dread rising up inside me.

"What is it?" I force out. A look of sorrow passed across the Dryad's petal face.

"Aslan, true king of Narnia was been slain by the white witch. And your friend, Seer of Narnia has been killed."

"Annabelle?" I asked, my voice breaking. The Dryad nodded.

"I am sorry." She murmured, before the wind blew through the tent and took the Dryad away. I tried to keep my breathing steady as my mind went wild with thoughts. Tears welled up in my eyes.

Aslan was supposed to defeat the white witch. Not the other way around. What was I meant to do without his wisdom and guidance.

And Annabelle...

"Peter." Edmund's voice cut through my thoughts and I looked to him to see tears streaming down his face. I brought a hand to my on cheek, finding that I too was crying.

"Come on. This has to be some cruel joke played by the white witch." I growled, sheathing my sword and her up from my bed. Edmund and I dressed quickly before walking out of the tent.

The sun was just peaking over the horizon as few Narnians milled around the quiet camp. I spotted Orieus immediately, looking over a map that was laid out on a table.

"Orieus!" I called to the centaur, running up to him, Edmund close behind.

Orieus' eyes widened as I retold him what the Dryad had said to me. He instructed me to check Aslan's tent immediately while he prepared to sound the alarm.

I walked out of Aslan's tent, defeated. Edmund and Orieus looked at me expectantly.

"She's right. He's gone." I murmured, walking down to the table they were hovered over, taking a look at the battle plans.

"Then you'll have to lead us." Edmund said. "Peter, there's an army out there and it's ready to follow you." I look over to my brother, forcing the tears in my eyes to not fall.

"I can't." I whispered.

"Aslan believed you could. And so do I." Edmund declared.

"Do you think, Anna knew this was going to happen? Why didn't she warn us?" I asked, feeling a tear slip out on it's own accord and fall down my cheek.

"Perhaps she thought she had more time." Edmund suggested with a heavy sigh. I nodded and turned to Orieus. 

"The Witch's army is nearing, sire. What are your orders?" He asked. I took a deep breath and pointed down to the map.

"Okay, this is what I had in mind..."

****

I sat upon a white unicorn, surveying the large expanse of grass. In only minutes, this would become a battle field. I looked to Orieus who stood battle ready next to me. Behind us was Aslan's army. Edmund stood with the archers, fully clothed in Narnian armor. Archers stood at the ready. A gryphon landed next to me, gasping for breath. 

"They come, your highness, in numbers and weapons far greater then our own." He informed. 

"Numbers do not win a battle." Orieus said. 

"No.. but I bet they help." I looked out as a Minotaur appeared, brandishing a large axe. He let out a loud roar. The witch's army appeared behind him. I heard the army behind me shuffle anxiously as the opposing side obviously outnumbered us. The witch appeared, riding upon a silver chariot, being led by two polar bear. She was dressed in light armor, but the only thing I could focus on was the lion's mane around her neck. I clenched my fists. 

The army came to a stop, with Jadis at the front. I turned back to see Edmund. He nodded to me. I drew my sword, raising it into the air. The Narnians unsheathed their weapons and let out deafening battle cries. The witch's army roared as one and charged forward. I swung my sword down and the gryphons attacked from above. They dropped boulders onto the opposing army, who began shooting arrows into the sky. 

"Are you with me?" I asked Orieus. The centaur nodded.

"To the death." I took a deep breath and raised my sword.

"For Narnia! And for Aslan!"

Susan's POV

I woke up in the early hours of the next morning, my back sore from the Stone Table and my face wet from the tears. Lucy stirred next to me, her head buried in Aslan's shaved mane.

"We should go." I said to her. She nodded sadly, bring her arms around herself.

"I'm so cold." She whispered. We stood up and I wrapped my cloak around her shoulders, holding her tightly against me. We began walking down the steps. As we reached the bottom, the ground began to shake. Lucy collapsed next to me as a loud crack echoed into the sky.

I bent to help Lucy stand as the earthquake stopped, but her she stared back up the stairs, her eyes wide.

"Susan!" She exclaimed, pointing. I turned to see the Stone Table lay in two broken peices, split right down the middle. And Aslan was gone.

"What have they done?" I spat, walking back up the stairs with Lucy. Then movement from the arch way caught my attention. I tensed, ready for battle when Aslan appeared, stepping into the sunlight, his mane fully grown and light in his eyes. A shiver went down my spine.

"Aslan!" Lucy and I shouted. We ran around the stone table, tackling him into a hug. The lion let out a deep, throaty laugh.

"We saw the Witch, the knife." I stuttered out. Aslan led us around the Stone Table.

"If the Witch knew the true meaning of sacrifice, she might have interpreted the Deep Magic a little differently. For she would know that if a willing victim who had committed no treachery died in a traitors stead, the Stone Table would crack and death itself would begin to unwind." He explained. He then stopped walking and hung his head.

"Now tell me, where is Annabelle?" Lucy looked at me.

"She is dead." I said, my voice cracking. Aslan shook his head.

"Not as of yet. Do not grieve, my children, for she still holds on to one last strand of life. But she does not have much time."

"We sent the word that you both were dead. Peter and Edmund would have gone to war." Lucy drew her knife.

"We have to help them." She said. Aslan chuckled.

"We will, but not alone. Now, climb on my back." Lucy and I did as we were told. "We have a long ways to go and little time to get there. And you might want to cover your ears."

I barely had time to cup my hands over my ears as Aslan let out an earthshaking roar.