-I do not own Narnia, or the characters. All credit goes to C.S. Lewis, Disney and Walden Media, because they came up with the scene, I simply elaborated. Response appreciated! Enjoy-

Beyond Ice

His footsteps echoed in the great cavern. Aside from a monotonous dripping from somewhere deep inside the catacombs, this was the only sound to offer solace and escape from the boisterous evening. His ears still rang with their screams, the terror on their faces oddly vivid, as if it was painted to his eyelids. He had let so many die, and with numbers so small, he could not afford this ravaging of life. Unsure and unconfident, he questioned his ability to be King… Perhaps Miraz should have won.

Caspian X, Telmarine and rightful heir to the throne of Narnia, entered the great chamber of what he could only describe as a tomb, and looked in awe at the elaboration that had gone into it. Unbeknownst to him, this cavern was once a part of Old Narnia, in the days when King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund and Queen Lucy reigned, and Narnia flourished much differently than it did now. Paintings on the wall, long faded, depicted happier times, and Caspian found himself longing to have belonged to prior Narnia, and to have never had the misfortune of being related to Miraz.

He absently ran a finger over the bumpy stone wall, tracing the blade of a painted sword. He studied the face of the painted warrior, realizing then that this must be Peter himself. He looked much the same as he did now, perhaps even a bit younger then. He still did not understand how three children could be kings and queens of old, but somehow he trusted them. Defeating the Telmarines and Miraz would not be easy, but if he only knew where to start…

He stared into a nearby torch, hoping the answer would emerge from the fire. The flames danced, his eyes becoming dreary.

"There is one thing you have not tried," said a voice suddenly. Caspian woke from his daze, turning with his hand on the hilt of his sword. In front of him stood a slouched figure wearing a worn woolen cape. He could not see a face beneath the ominous hood, but the voice was female.

"Who are you?" Caspian asked, rather defensively.

"Someone it would better you to know," replied the voice. "We can help you…"

Caspian then noticed Nikabrik standing next to the odd woman. He nodded once.

"Come, Sire," The woman said again, turning and walking into the centre of the great room. Another caped figure emerged then, only slightly larger than the woman, and his face could be seen. He looked to Caspian like a giant bear with unkempt fur, but upon a closer glance, seemed more like a boar.

"You know the power of the deep magic, Caspian," Nikabrik said to him. "I think it's time we used it… We haven't a hope otherwise."

Caspian looked confusedly to the three, wondering just what that meant. However, his predicament gnawed at him, forcing him to assume their suggestion was a good idea.

He nodded solemnly, imagining there was some great power to be bestowed on the Narnians that would help them defeat the Telmarines. Nikabrik might have told him this himself, but knew that Caspian would find out soon enough.

The woman began laughing lightly, almost inaudibly, and the boar began to recite something much like a poem, but quite dark. The "poem" turned out more like a chant as the woman joined. Her hood fell back as the chant intensified, revealing a most disturbing creature beneath. She was crooked, twisted, and had an expression of utter madness that made Caspian cringe. The boar rasped intensely and the hag drew a long staff from inside her cape. Nikabrik backed up slowly, dissolving into the shadows. Caspian was just about to move aside, when the chant ended uproariously and the hag screamed, slamming her staff into the hard stone ground. A blast so loud sounded, Caspian thought for sure it was thundering in the cavern. He closed his eyes instinctively as a large blast of white light shot from the staff of the hag.

An icy blast traveled right through Caspian, and he opened his eyes finally to see a wall of ice growing from the floor to the ceiling, white energy swirling around it. He watched in awe as the magic stopped then, utter silence lacing the walls of the cave. His breath could be seen now, the air frozen and the torches flickering. The hag and the boar disappeared then, bowing slowly to Caspian as they too receded into the shadows. He looked for Nikabrik, but found nothing but darkness surrounding him.

In front of him stood the high and magnificent wall of ice. He advanced towards it slowly, wondering what this was supposed to do for him. His hand reached out and stroked the glassy exterior, his fingertips freezing. It was then that he looked past the ice, and into the eyes of a woman. Caspian jumped back, almost tripping over his own feet. His gaze never left the frozen face. Her skin was paler than snow, her eyes however, quite dark. Her features were familiar, though he could not discern where he had seen them. Then suddenly, he remembered. His eyes moved from her to the staff upon the floor. He had seen this before. He had seen drawings and heard the stories. This was Jadis, the White Witch and former Queen of Narnia. Defeated by Aslan a millennium ago, she now stood frozen before him, her cold, yet alluring gaze locked on his eyes.

He stood fascinated, when suddenly she began to move. Her hair moved first, slowly beginning to sway in the ice, as if she were encased in water. Her hands moved then, slowly outward and through the ice, reaching for Caspian. Her lips curled and smiled, and the Witch came to life.

"Free me, and I can help you," her voice was soft, and so enticing Caspian forgot for a moment that the White Witch was evil. He didn't know if he should reply, but knew he would not be able to come up with words to reply with. Her outstretched hand beckoned him, but he resisted. Her fingers extended and he felt his own hands begin to sweat, despite the cold. "Only one drop of Man's blood, and I will be free. Free to help you… you are to be king," Her words whispered through him, echoing off the empty cavern walls and chilling his ears. He looked to her face again, that smile, those eyes, and felt his hand moving to his dagger.

"Just one drop…" She whispered. Caspian drew the dagger to his hand, the tip piercing his palm and drawing a small bead of blood. He hardly felt the pain, the warmth of his blood on his frozen hand calming the pain. Jadis watched, her deep eyes hungry. Her hand once again reached for him, and Caspian placed his palm into hers.

Yes, there shall be more.