Whisked Away

4. The Trip to the Garden

Shifra's POV
I was awoken by a cold blade to my throat. I opened my eyes to see Jadis standing above me. She had a knife pressed into my throat threatening to draw blood. "Get up vermin," she ordered, although she kept herself quiet no wanted to wake up the children or Fledge. "Here is what's going to happen. You are going to fly me to that garden and then fly back as if nothing happened.

"Or what?" I asked coldly, also keeping my voice down for I knew that the children were to be woken up by Polly seeing the toffee tree.

"Or I kill you and those other three," she threatened. It will make all go right if you do. That was Aslan's voice.

Very well then, here goes nothing. "Fine," I muttered. Jadis got on my back and I flew her there in moments, but pretended to not be able to fly too close, for I knew how long it would take her to walk there and when she needed to get there.

As I was flying back I wondered if Jadis would have ever done such a thing in the original books, but as there was no way for me to know I lay back down and went to sleep.

As was meant to happen, we were all awoken by Polly crying out, "Wake up Digory, wake up Fledge, Shifra. It has turned into a toffee tree. And it's the loveliest morning." We all got up and ate. The children and I also had a bit of a wash in the river. Then we set out.

As Digory rightly said it was even nicer than it was yesterday for now we were not staring down the sun. When we finally came Fledge began to descend in wide circles, but I flew just high enough to see inside to see that the witch was still there. I then landed, much harder than I intended and gave a cry of pain. All three turned to me worriedly.

"Digory go," I told him, "I'll be fine, I just landed too hard." He nodded hesitantly and walked on to the gate. Polly then began to fuss over my ankle. She made me think of a mother, but after assuring her that I was alright and flying instead of walking, she finally calmed down.

We had been waiting for around twenty minuets when we saw Digory rushing out of the gate with the witch vaulting over the wall behind him. He was shouting for us to get going, but the witch was too close. Wheeling around he shouted at her, "Stay where you are or we'll all vanish. Don't come an inch nearer."

I tuned out everything as the witch tried to tempt Digory. I caught the tail end of her little speech as she said, "You really think he would ever let anyone else live forever besides himself?"

I suddenly interrupted, "I'm afraid you are quiet mistaken there." She looked at me with terrible fury.

"You claim to be able to live forever?" She asked. I simply shrugged, knowing it would be enough to get Digory to get away from her. Who knew if the events of the book would work out now. I had already put some doubt into his mind about her words. They continued the conversation and soon Digory had helped Polly up and gotten up himself and we were flying away, the witch's words dying behind her.

I was brought out of my thinking my Digory, "Can you really live forever?"

I debated on what to tell him, but decided on the truth. "No, as long Narnia lives so do I, but when a red sun hangs over this land and water floods the land then I shall die." Digory nodded. I knew what he was feeling. "Digory," he looked up at me at my speech, "Aslan cares for your mother, probably more even than you do. He will not let her die."

He seemed comforted by my words, but still scared. Speaking to the others as well as him now I said, "I'm going to fly ahead. I shall see you all presently." Not waiting for their reactions, I flew ahead, landing by Aslan in mere minutes (Fledge would be here in a half hour). Soon they came and the tree was planted and the king and queen crowned.

As Digory and Polly were about to go after being given the apple for Digory's mother, Digory rushed over to me and gave me one last hug. "I told you that all would be right," I whispered. He nodded and I was next hugged by Polly and soon they had all gone, Aslan with them for now. I was not sure if he would be coming back, but I felt I must speak with Helen and Frank.

I approached them and bowed down respectfully on one knee. "My king, my queen," I greeted.

Frank helped me back up and said, "Please that is not necessary, and just call me Frank."

"And me Helen," his wife interjected. I nodded respectfully.

Frank looked back as if he wanted to say something and at length asked, "If you would not mind too terribly, we would like for you to be apart of our council. If Aslan trusts you than we do and it was a good thing of you to do to go with the children."

"I would be honored." The next several years were the happiest of my life. I grew to be great friends with all of the creatures and Frank and Helen. I learned weapons and became one of the most skilled in the land. I was soon made a General and a highly respected lady of the king's court. I learned to use a sword, bow and arrow, throwing knives, a spear, anything and everything that was given to me. If I was told of a weapon, I learned how to use it. I also trained in hand to hand combat.

When I wasn't training or training others, I was reading. I loved to read and read every book that appeared in your library. I learned every language that was created, which wasn't many. I helped to raise Helen and Frank's children and their children after them until at long last I was the oldest creature, apart from the witch, in Narnia.

I was an advisor to every king and queen who sat on the throne from Frank and Helen until the last king and queen who sat on the throne before the attack. Then my happy life, which had lasted for over a thousand years, was forever changed.