The Fifth Pevensie

Chapter 9

As we continue to run I can't help but notice the change in the air around us, now it's much darker and there's a slight mist surrounding us. Soon I notice tents in the distance, pointing them out to Oreius he sounds a horn and we begin to charge towards them faster than ever. Once we reach them camp I jump off Oreius's back and pull out my bow, focusing I begin to fire at the creatures around me, my eyes scanning for Edmund. I soon focus on a boy tied to a tree, running over I pull out my sword and cut him free, Edmund looks up at me and I pull him into a tight hug which he accepts gratefully.

"Oreius I have him!" I yell as I pull Edmund behind me.

"Climb on! We'll retreat for now!" He yells back at me.

Helping Edmund onto Oreius's hot back I climb on behind him and we break into a run with our other soldiers following close behind, once far enough away we slow down to a walk. Edmund looks at me in awe and then hides his face, noticing something more is bothering him I rest a hand on his shoulder.

"Ed?" I ask him softly. "Don't worry now, you're safe."

I notice his shoulders tremble as he leans back into me, allowing me to hug him again tightly.

"I've seen her do horrible things, I've even helped her....All this is my fault." He says softly.

"Oreius, Edmund and I are going to walk for a little." I explain climbing off.

"Very well your highness, I'll stay close just to keep an eye on you both." Oreius says passing me a sack filled with cool water.

Passing the sack to Edmund I let him drink his fill and then take a swig my self, I then turn to Edmund.

"Edmund, none of this is your fault. We were supposed to come here to Narnia, it's something that I realised that night with the beavers. If we hadn't had come here then the white witch would have taken over, Narnia would still be in the dead of winter for who knows how many more hundreds of years. We came here along with Aslan to change this world, to help these people escape her grasps. She might have controlled them for hundreds of years, but she has never once controlled us." I say and then turn to the others who are walking along laughing. "We've helped these people to become free."

Edmund looks at me stunned.

"When did you change?" He asks me.

"I think when I was pulled from the river." I say and begin to explain everything to him.

Soon we begin to get close to Aslan's camp, the soft sunlight warming me back up from the cold of the witches camp. Edmund looks around stunned as people look at him, most of the looks aren't kind ones which saddens me. But from the things that Edmund has done I can understand where they are coming from, giving Edmund's shoulder a squeeze I look over to Oreius.

"What happens now?'' I ask him.

"Aslan will want to speak with him, if you'd like your highness I will take him over." Oreius says to me and then turns to Edmund. "This way your majesty."

Edmund looks at me and then follows Oreius, a female centaur walks over to me and shows me somewhere I can get new arrows made. Peter, Susan and Lucy come over to me clearly eager for news, but I shake them off.

"He's fine, he's with Aslan right now." I say tiredly and make my way back up to the ledge.

Slipping my shoes off I let my feet rest on the grass, tucking my knees to my chest I look out at the castle one again. I watch as Edmund reunites with the others and feel my shoulders get lighter, everyone is back together again. As I continue to watch the waves crash against the walls of the castle I feel someone close to me, looking to my side I see Aslan sitting down on the grass next to me.

"Admiring the view?'' He asks me.

"Yes, whenever I look at that castle my mind feels at ease." I explain to him.

"That is Castle Cair Paravel." Aslan explains. "Home of the five thrones, where you and your siblings will reign as kings and queens."

"Do you think that I'm ready for that?'' I ask him.

"I think you are more than ready, you're a very caring soul Elizabeth. Not only did you save the life of your sister Lucy, but you went without question to rescue your brother Edmund." He says, his calm voice causing tears to appear in my eyes.

"That's what a big sister does, takes care of her siblings." I say wiping my tears.

"Have courage dear one." Aslan says as I turn to look at him. "Dear Elizabeth." He says standing up. "I thank you, for all that you have done, and all that you will do." He says and then walks off leaving me alone with my thoughts.

After about an hour Lucy comes running over to me, eager to practice with me and Susan. Smiling I run down and retrieve my bow and quiver full of new arrows and then follow them both to the training grounds, we make our way to the targets and I show Susan how to string her bow. She then pulls back and lets the arrow fly, it doesn't quite hit the target. Lucy then pulls out her dagger and sends it flying at the target, hitting it dead centre. I string my bow and look at a far target, focusing and trusting my bow I shoot and hit the target I was aiming for.

"Show off." Susan says looking at me.

I smile and then hear a neigh of horses, Peter and Edmund come galloping onto the training field. Peter on the back of a beautiful white unicorn and Edmund on the back of a chestnut coloured horse I remember being named Philip. Both of them sparring with each other on horseback, part of me wants to learn how to ride a horse. I've ridden on the back of Oreius but I think it would be a lot more fun to learn to ride my own horse, while I was thinking however Mr Beaver appears looking very distressed.

"What's wrong Mr Beaver?" I asked putting my bow on my back.

"The white witch! She's here!" He cried pointing towards the camp.

Swinging my bow over my back I look towards Peter and Edmund, who both dismount their horses and follow me back to the camp. Lucy holds my hand tightly as we watch the white witch make her way into the camp, she wraps her arms around my waist as the white witch glances over at us. I put a hard expression on my face as I glare at her, she tried to kill my siblings and I more than once. I can normally put a smile on my face despite most things, but she doesn't even deserve that.

"Jadice!" The dwarf yelled. "The Queen of Narnia! Empress of the Lone islands!"

The White Witch rode on a cold throne carried by four Cyclopes, each of them martching to the beat of an unheard drum. Aslan stood at his tent holding his mighty head high and looking down at the white witch, as the white witch got closer the cyclopes lowered the throne to allow her to stand.

"You have a traitor in your midst Aslan." She said glancing over at Edmund.

"His offence was not against you." Aslan said calmly.

"Have you forgotten the laws upon which Narnia was built?" She questioned.

"Do not cite the deep magic to me witch." Aslan snarled. "I was there when it was written."

"Then you'll remember well, that every traitor belong to me." She said holding her head high. "His blood is my property."

"Try and take him then." I said pushing Edmund behind me and pulling my sword from it's sheath and pointing it at her.

The Queen looked at me and scoffed.

"Do you really think that mere force will deny me my right?" She asked me. "Little Queen. Aslan knows that unless I have blood as the law demands, all of Narnia will be overturned and Perish in Fire and Water." Then pointing at Edmund she said. "That boy, must die. On the stone table. As it tradition."

"You can't have him!" I cried as Peter pulled me back.

The queen ignored me and turned back to Aslan. "You dare deny me my right?" She taunted.

"Enough." Aslan spoke boldly. "I shall talk with you alone."