p class="MsoNormal"The five ran across the hills towards the camp, Tora used her magic to make herself and Peter look more presentable, cleaning Peter's clothes and turning her blouse into a dress. Neither lost their weapons, Tora still armed to the teeth and Peter still carrying Rhindon on his sword belt, his shield on his back. Orion did the same for himself, Mia, and Coral. Peter grabbed Mia's hand as they neared the camp, not wanting to let her fall behind. Tora clicked her fingers and Dayston appeared in her hand./p
p class="MsoNormal"The group had barely made it when everyone gathered on either side of the path, the Pevensie children and the Guardian's stood together at the end of the side furthest from Aslan's tent. Orion and Tora on the other hand moved to stand on the elevated land near Aslan's tent both had their hands on the hilt of their swords, ready to draw them if needed. Bellator stood beside Orion and Jarred stood beside Tora, Novissime moved behind them, the dragon ready to defend her Mistress at a moment's notice./p
p class="MsoNormal""Behold!" Sounded a high-pitched voice which grabbed the attention of the eight, br /"Janis. Queen of Narnia! Empress of the Lone Islands." The Witch was carried in on a chair which was placed down at the end of the path closest to Aslan and the children. Aslan stood on the hill refusing to look towards his son or daughter, the pair also kept their eyes fixed on the Witch, not wanting to drop their focus and risk losing their /"You have a traitor in your midst, Aslan." The Witch started, Tora sneered at the Witch, Orion sent a glare to his sister, the pair would not get into this fight /"His offense was not against you." Aslan stated coldly, Peter grabbed Mia's hand for fear that she'd do something stupid. He'd found out that the Witch had killed Mia's mother and little sister. br /"Have you forgotten the laws upon which Narnia was built?" Jibed the Witch, it caused Coral to tense up, she moved to stand in front of Edmund, she'd seen Mia find her destiny and she knew in her bones that Edmund was /"Do not cite the deep magic to me Witch!" Aslan growled, "I was there when it was written." br /"Then you'll remember well that every traitor belongs to me. His blood is my property." She said back, Tora laughed,br /"And your life belongs to me." Everyone turned to face the young queen, the young Goddess, she moved from her brother's side,span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNovissime growled as she moved, to stand in front of her father facing the /"As you will remember, Witch, according to the deep magic, 'when a life is wrongly taken, the life of the taker belongs to the protector of the diseased'. In your quest for power, you murdered a family of which I was charged with the care of, a mother and child, in the First War. You unjustly took the life of someone who was not involved in the battle. Your life is mine." The Narnian's cheered while Aslan looked to the child who was standing as regal as possible beside him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Try and take him then!" Peter snapped, moving in front of Edmund and taking up the defensive stance that Tora had taught him, Mia and Coral did the same thing,br /"Do you really think that mere force alone will deny me my right… little king?" The Witch patronised before speaking louder,br /"Aslan knows that unless I have blood, as the law demands, all of Narnia will perish in fire and water." She pointed at Edmund, "That boy will die, on the stone table. As is tradition." She finished her speech by turning to Aslan,br /"Enough." He stated, "I'll speak with you alone." He said, addressing the Witch directly before heading into his tent./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once both Aslan and the Witch were in the tent, Tora walked over to her charges, she only considered two her friends. Once she'd reached them Edmund looked over to /"What happened to the family you were protecting?" He knew it was a very direct question but also knew that she would answer,br /"I hadn't long been queen when I had been assigned them, a family of Dark Elves who resided in the woods. The father betrayed them and joined the Witch, he was killed. The mother had two children, one was killed alongside her mother, the other escaped, Mia." Peter, Susan, and Edmund looked over to Mia with sadness while Lucy hugged her friend. Peter took Mia's hand comfortingly and she gave a gentle /"How old are you?" Lucy asked,br /"I'm getting close to 1000."br /"And Aslan is your father?" Susan asked,br /"Well, yeah." Orion answered for his sister./p
p class="MsoNormal"At that moment, the Witch and Aslan came out of the tent causing everyone to rise,br /"She has renounced her claim on the son of Adam's blood." He announced causing an eruption of cheering, Edmund was hugged by his siblings,br /"How do I know your promise will be kept?" The Witch demanded of Aslan who roared in response, with that the Witch left and Aslan retreated to his tent. The Narnian's began embracing Edmund./p
p class="MsoNormal"Tora and Orion slipped from the crowd and headed into Aslan's tent. They saw their father pacing gently until he saw them,br /"Tora, you shouldn't have spoken, child." Tora looked down at her feet,br /"I couldn't risk them. They're too important." Aslan walked before her,br /"In war, you need to lock away your feelings. They cloud your judgement, and I can't have your strategies clouded." Tora smiled slightly before letting her face drop back to sadness,br /"I just feel I keep failing them," Aslan met her eyes,br /"Your family or your charges?" Tora let out a shaky breath before regaining her posture, her brother speaking this time,br /"What did you offer in place of Edmund's life?" Aslan turned away,br /"Your mother would be proud of you. Both of you." br /"Father. What did you offer?" Orion asked with urgency. No response, "please, we can't lose the last of our family,"br /"You've gained a new family though." The pair looked at him in confusion, their eyebrows scrunched, and Tora's head tilted,br /"I've seen you with Lucy, Orion you already treat her as your queen, Edmund you treat like you treat each other, Peter and Susan, I'm not sure yet." Gemini smiled,br /"Lucy's definitely captured Orion's heart, though I fear we are underestimating Edmund, he is powerful, and cunning. He has potential." Aslan smiled at Tora,br /"You ought to go and sleep, I fear the war will be waged in the morrow." The twins nodded before leaving their father's tent and heading to Tora's./p
p class="MsoNormal"Stepping inside they was greeted by the four siblings and Mia and Coral. Tora rolled her eyes before heading over to the table in the centre of the tent, undoing the straps on her multiple weapon holders as she went. She dropped her weapons belt onto the large table, leaning Dayston up against a chair before turning to the siblings,br /"Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" Susan and Edmund chuckled nervously while Lucy and Peter just laughed,br /"Well we needed to talk to you." Lucy said,br /"Gathered. Hence why you're in here."br /"Oreius has given us some of the plan but said the rest you will inform us of." Peter explained causing Tora to share a look with Orion before turning to look at Peter exasperatedly,br /"I'm sure there is someone far more stupid who will be more inclined to consent to your request and tell you." Lucy tilted her head in confusion,br /"In simpler terms; no." Orion stated, shooting a glare to his sister. Peter shook his head with a smile,br /"Why not?" Edmund asked grumpily,br /"Because, Edmund, I have been training since dawn this morn, therefore tiredness has overcome me, and I must decline your request in order to rest in an effort to ready myself for war." They'd gotten used to her talking in such ways. They noticed that she was a girl who'd been brought up in a very strict way, appearing as an incredibly regal way. The seven all lowered their heads before leaving the tent./p
p class="MsoNormal"By the next morning Tora found herself pacing while eating an apple, Peter and Edmund were torn between amusement and fear, they'd just been told by the trees that Aslan was dead, and that Lucy and Susan were with his body. They'd also been told the war would be that day, Tora was already wearing her armour while everyone else did final preparations for the fight./p
p class="MsoNormal"Looking around, Orion saw the brothers practicing before turning to face Oreius, giving him a nod, he blew a large horn, grabbing everyone's attention as Tora stood before them. Orion moved to the side to let his sister take centre point,br /"Today will not be your day to die. I shall make sure of that! The daughters of Eve are at the Stone Table and will not be joining us in this war. As such, the son of Adam, Peter, has agreed to stand beside Oreius, Orion, and I, we shall lead you to war. All of you have earnt your place to fight for your freedom and no one shall take that away from you. Today when you fight, you will fight knowing that you are doing so not out of fear but out of bravery. Of courage! For the right of your family to live! For your future! For your world! For Narnia!" She called, the cheering that followed was deafening as Peter moved to stand beside Tora and Orion,br /"We need to move out. Now!" Everyone fell into place in the march to the Fields of Beruna./p
p class="MsoNormal"The army stood waiting for the Witch's to arrive, Peter was at the front between Oreius and Orion while Tora was in front of him, the Guardian's had settled themselves at the front of the ranks. Peter felt like he couldn't breathe as he sat waiting between them the two men who'd been soldiers their entire lives. Pretty soon, a gryphon landed beside Tora, she moved to be between Peter and Orion,br /"They come, your Highnesses, with numbers and weapons far greater than our own." The gryphon reported causing Oreius to scoff,br /"Numbers don't win a battle." He countered,br /"No. But I bet they help." Peter murmured, Tora gave a nervous laugh beside him. Her eyes were filled with fear, she was definitely worried that she'd be unable to protect her people, she glanced up at the sky and relaxed slightly as she saw Novissime guarding her from above. They watched as the first wave ran towards them, their gryphons flew above their heads dropping rocks on the enemy./p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you with me?" Peter looked between Tora, Orion, and Oreius,br /"To the death." Came Oreius' response,br /"For eternity." Orion reassured him,br /"Until you no longer need me." Tora met Peter's eyes as he held up his sword and led the troops into /"For Narnia!" He yelled, as did the troops as they ran head long into the war. The battle was underway, and Peter and Mia fought side by side, Peter trying his hardest to remember what he'd been taught. Tora took a split second to look at the scene around her, the centaurs were cutting down many of their opponents while the Witch sent forth her second wave./p
p class="MsoNormal"Tora used her sword to project her magic and made a bright silver star burst into the sky, the Narnian's knew that this meant bring the Witch's army to the archers, so they fell back, Orion smiled to his sister for a moment, they'd lost a few but the plan was working! The twins ran with them only turning their heads for a second, but it was long enough to see the unicorn Peter was riding get shot and him lay unmoving on the ground,br /"PETER!" Tora heard Mia scream, turning and running towards him, cutting down any enemy who came near her until she reached Peter. She wasn't the only one, seeing Peter vulnerable caused Oreius and a rhino to charge into the Witch's ranks buying Peter and Mia a chance to get to the archers and the rest of their army. Tora transformed herself into her godly form (an air elemental) and began fighting from above, using her staff and her control of all air creatures to attack the Witch's army. She made the trees into a blockade but that only lasted briefly until the Witch hit her with a spell and she fell to the ground in agony,br /"strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"TORA!/strong" Orion yelled, he felt her pain and ran back to her, guarding her unconscious body. Novissime landed on top of her mistress, keeping the unconscious form beneath her to better protect the Queen./p
p class="MsoNormal"The battle wore on, Mia fighting with all her strength even though her side was cut open, she moved her belt in order to stem the bleeding and so she could keep fighting. Peter looked around, knowing that the battle was lost,br /"Edmund!" He called, "Edmund! There's too many! Get the girls and get them home!" Mia looked only to see Beaver pulling Edmund and Coral away and Peter returning to the fight. She made her way to get to him, it took her a few minutes, but she made it./p
p class="MsoNormal"Just as she got to Peter, the Witch approached them, the pair were fighting back to back now, killing their enemy as best they could, they hadn't even noticed the Witch approaching them until they got a moment free and saw Edmund break the Witch's wand, only to be stabbed with the remaining part, Coral took up position defending him. Peter seemed to freeze, Mia ran towards the Witch, the pain in her side growing. As she fought the Witch, she grabbed both of Mia's hands and twisted them until she dropped the swords, she then grabbed the swords and pushed Mia to the ground, the Witch buried Mia's swords deep into the girl's shoulders and the ground below, leaving her pinned and writhing in agony in full view of a furious Peter./p
p class="MsoNormal"Next thing Mia knew was Peter pressing a hand against her chest, she saw Aslan killing the Witch, Mia began gasping as the pain became too much. He pulled the swords out of her shoulders making her scream slightly. br /"Peter, go…" Her voice was weak, he shook his head as her eyes closed,br /"No. Wake up. Mia open your eyes. Please. Don't do this. Come back. It's ok. It's over now. It's ok. Please wake up. Don't do this to me. Don't do this to me. Don't leave me. You saved me. Please don't leave me." Aslan approached slowly, as did Lucy and Susan. br /"Don't leave me, Mia. I refuse to believe our story's at an end." He whispered, br /"I'm dying… Pete… there is… no happy… ending to… this…" Her eyes closed as she gasped in pain, a small crowd was gathering, all bowing down in respect to Mia as she lay dying. Lucy came over and opened her healing cordial, she let a single drop fall into Mia's mouth, having already done so to Edmund she knew it was enough./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mia felt like she was lying on clouds, she felt her senses come back to her and realised she was being held by someone. Opening her eyes, she realised that she was lying in Peter's arms. Opening her eyes, she was suddenly very aware of the amount of people watching her. She made to stand but was caught by Peter, apparently, she didn't realise she was falling. Peter helped her stand before passing her back her swords which she quickly sheathed, wincing at the pain in her shoulders./p
p class="MsoNormal"Further off, Aslan moved to help Tora, her eyes so filled with pain, so much agony filled her as she held Orion's hand tightly. Coral moved over to her, she pressed some healing balm onto Tora's forehead and within seconds, Tora was moving to stand up./p
p class="MsoNormal"The army was heading back to the camp, all those who'd been turned to stone were saved by Aslan,br /and Lucy had saved those who were injured but breathing. Susan walked with some of the soldiers, Edmund was walking with Coral, they were laughing and joking, Lucy was at the front with Orion and Tora, interrogating them on Narnian history, while Peter walked beside Mia. Tora and Mia couldn't help but feel that they owed their lives to the Pevensie siblings, Mia felt like she had a family./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The castle of Cair Paravel was beautiful. Truly. It stood on its own hill from where it was clearly visible, at the base of the hill were beautiful sands, a clear ocean that spanned miles, the cry of seagulls a beautiful sound at the castle. Narnian's had been busy restoring it for the past month and finally it was ready./p
p class="MsoNormal"Five of the eight children stood in their rooms preparing for the coronation ceremony happening that afternoon. Tora stood in her rooms while a young faun, Sandi, fastened the beautiful sky-blue dress tightly to Tora. The dress truly was stunning, it was floor length and trailed a small way behind her, an opaque silver layer was over the top with a split own the centre to show the blue, the silver made the dress shimmer as it wasn't really visible on the blue but made it look magnificent. Sandi started on Tora's hair, styling it into multiple rope plats which she then tied into a beautiful bun at the centre of the back of her head. Her makeup was very simple with silver dusting on her eyes and pale pink on her lips./p
p class="MsoNormal"Aslan arrived at her chambers ready to escort his daughter and the Pevensie siblings to the coronation, Sandi fastened a silver cloak with golden embroidery roses around Tora's neck, it was longer than the dress and made the outfit look perfect. br /"Your mother would be proud of the woman you've become. I know that I am." Aslan told her, pride in his voice too. Tora walked beside him and they met the others at the entrance to the throne room. Tora stood between Susan and Aslan as she walked with them into the throne room. As they reached the thrones each of the five stood before a throne; Edmund on the far left (Coral was stood to the side of his throne), Peter next to him (Mia next to his throne), then Tora, then Susan, and lastly Lucy on the right (Orion stood to the right of her throne with a smile on his face)./p
p class="MsoNormal"Aslan stood before them, br /"To the glistening Eastern Sea. I give you Queen Lucy." Mr Tumnus and the Beavers approached the five carrying the crowns, a beautiful silver tiara was placed on Lucy's head,br /"To the great Western Wood. I give you King Edmund." A silver crown was placed on his head while he /"To the Radiant Southern Sun. I give you Queen Susan." A gold tiara was placed on her head and she looked towards the last two,br /"To the clear Northern Sky. I give you High King Peter." A golden crown was placed on his head and he turned to smile at Tora like the rest of his family,br /"And from the Deepest Ocean to the Highest Wind. I give you High Queen. Great One of the Old and New." The five sat down once Orion had placed the tiara on his sister's head, a beautiful circlet made by entwined silver and gold, roses and leaves of different gems threaded into the circlet, a ruby hanging down onto her forehead. Orion beamed proudly at his /"Once a King or Queen of Narnia. Always a King or queen of Narnia. May your wisdom grace us until the stars rain down from the Heavens. Long Live Queen Tora. Long Live King Peter. Long Live Queen Susan. Long Live King Edmund. Long Live Queen Lucy." Aslan called, the chant repeated by all those present./p
p class="MsoNormal"The group had barely made it when everyone gathered on either side of the path, the Pevensie children and the Guardian's stood together at the end of the side furthest from Aslan's tent. Orion and Tora on the other hand moved to stand on the elevated land near Aslan's tent both had their hands on the hilt of their swords, ready to draw them if needed. Bellator stood beside Orion and Jarred stood beside Tora, Novissime moved behind them, the dragon ready to defend her Mistress at a moment's notice./p
p class="MsoNormal""Behold!" Sounded a high-pitched voice which grabbed the attention of the eight, br /"Janis. Queen of Narnia! Empress of the Lone Islands." The Witch was carried in on a chair which was placed down at the end of the path closest to Aslan and the children. Aslan stood on the hill refusing to look towards his son or daughter, the pair also kept their eyes fixed on the Witch, not wanting to drop their focus and risk losing their /"You have a traitor in your midst, Aslan." The Witch started, Tora sneered at the Witch, Orion sent a glare to his sister, the pair would not get into this fight /"His offense was not against you." Aslan stated coldly, Peter grabbed Mia's hand for fear that she'd do something stupid. He'd found out that the Witch had killed Mia's mother and little sister. br /"Have you forgotten the laws upon which Narnia was built?" Jibed the Witch, it caused Coral to tense up, she moved to stand in front of Edmund, she'd seen Mia find her destiny and she knew in her bones that Edmund was /"Do not cite the deep magic to me Witch!" Aslan growled, "I was there when it was written." br /"Then you'll remember well that every traitor belongs to me. His blood is my property." She said back, Tora laughed,br /"And your life belongs to me." Everyone turned to face the young queen, the young Goddess, she moved from her brother's side,span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNovissime growled as she moved, to stand in front of her father facing the /"As you will remember, Witch, according to the deep magic, 'when a life is wrongly taken, the life of the taker belongs to the protector of the diseased'. In your quest for power, you murdered a family of which I was charged with the care of, a mother and child, in the First War. You unjustly took the life of someone who was not involved in the battle. Your life is mine." The Narnian's cheered while Aslan looked to the child who was standing as regal as possible beside him./p
p class="MsoNormal""Try and take him then!" Peter snapped, moving in front of Edmund and taking up the defensive stance that Tora had taught him, Mia and Coral did the same thing,br /"Do you really think that mere force alone will deny me my right… little king?" The Witch patronised before speaking louder,br /"Aslan knows that unless I have blood, as the law demands, all of Narnia will perish in fire and water." She pointed at Edmund, "That boy will die, on the stone table. As is tradition." She finished her speech by turning to Aslan,br /"Enough." He stated, "I'll speak with you alone." He said, addressing the Witch directly before heading into his tent./p
p class="MsoNormal"Once both Aslan and the Witch were in the tent, Tora walked over to her charges, she only considered two her friends. Once she'd reached them Edmund looked over to /"What happened to the family you were protecting?" He knew it was a very direct question but also knew that she would answer,br /"I hadn't long been queen when I had been assigned them, a family of Dark Elves who resided in the woods. The father betrayed them and joined the Witch, he was killed. The mother had two children, one was killed alongside her mother, the other escaped, Mia." Peter, Susan, and Edmund looked over to Mia with sadness while Lucy hugged her friend. Peter took Mia's hand comfortingly and she gave a gentle /"How old are you?" Lucy asked,br /"I'm getting close to 1000."br /"And Aslan is your father?" Susan asked,br /"Well, yeah." Orion answered for his sister./p
p class="MsoNormal"At that moment, the Witch and Aslan came out of the tent causing everyone to rise,br /"She has renounced her claim on the son of Adam's blood." He announced causing an eruption of cheering, Edmund was hugged by his siblings,br /"How do I know your promise will be kept?" The Witch demanded of Aslan who roared in response, with that the Witch left and Aslan retreated to his tent. The Narnian's began embracing Edmund./p
p class="MsoNormal"Tora and Orion slipped from the crowd and headed into Aslan's tent. They saw their father pacing gently until he saw them,br /"Tora, you shouldn't have spoken, child." Tora looked down at her feet,br /"I couldn't risk them. They're too important." Aslan walked before her,br /"In war, you need to lock away your feelings. They cloud your judgement, and I can't have your strategies clouded." Tora smiled slightly before letting her face drop back to sadness,br /"I just feel I keep failing them," Aslan met her eyes,br /"Your family or your charges?" Tora let out a shaky breath before regaining her posture, her brother speaking this time,br /"What did you offer in place of Edmund's life?" Aslan turned away,br /"Your mother would be proud of you. Both of you." br /"Father. What did you offer?" Orion asked with urgency. No response, "please, we can't lose the last of our family,"br /"You've gained a new family though." The pair looked at him in confusion, their eyebrows scrunched, and Tora's head tilted,br /"I've seen you with Lucy, Orion you already treat her as your queen, Edmund you treat like you treat each other, Peter and Susan, I'm not sure yet." Gemini smiled,br /"Lucy's definitely captured Orion's heart, though I fear we are underestimating Edmund, he is powerful, and cunning. He has potential." Aslan smiled at Tora,br /"You ought to go and sleep, I fear the war will be waged in the morrow." The twins nodded before leaving their father's tent and heading to Tora's./p
p class="MsoNormal"Stepping inside they was greeted by the four siblings and Mia and Coral. Tora rolled her eyes before heading over to the table in the centre of the tent, undoing the straps on her multiple weapon holders as she went. She dropped her weapons belt onto the large table, leaning Dayston up against a chair before turning to the siblings,br /"Haven't you ever heard of knocking?" Susan and Edmund chuckled nervously while Lucy and Peter just laughed,br /"Well we needed to talk to you." Lucy said,br /"Gathered. Hence why you're in here."br /"Oreius has given us some of the plan but said the rest you will inform us of." Peter explained causing Tora to share a look with Orion before turning to look at Peter exasperatedly,br /"I'm sure there is someone far more stupid who will be more inclined to consent to your request and tell you." Lucy tilted her head in confusion,br /"In simpler terms; no." Orion stated, shooting a glare to his sister. Peter shook his head with a smile,br /"Why not?" Edmund asked grumpily,br /"Because, Edmund, I have been training since dawn this morn, therefore tiredness has overcome me, and I must decline your request in order to rest in an effort to ready myself for war." They'd gotten used to her talking in such ways. They noticed that she was a girl who'd been brought up in a very strict way, appearing as an incredibly regal way. The seven all lowered their heads before leaving the tent./p
p class="MsoNormal"By the next morning Tora found herself pacing while eating an apple, Peter and Edmund were torn between amusement and fear, they'd just been told by the trees that Aslan was dead, and that Lucy and Susan were with his body. They'd also been told the war would be that day, Tora was already wearing her armour while everyone else did final preparations for the fight./p
p class="MsoNormal"Looking around, Orion saw the brothers practicing before turning to face Oreius, giving him a nod, he blew a large horn, grabbing everyone's attention as Tora stood before them. Orion moved to the side to let his sister take centre point,br /"Today will not be your day to die. I shall make sure of that! The daughters of Eve are at the Stone Table and will not be joining us in this war. As such, the son of Adam, Peter, has agreed to stand beside Oreius, Orion, and I, we shall lead you to war. All of you have earnt your place to fight for your freedom and no one shall take that away from you. Today when you fight, you will fight knowing that you are doing so not out of fear but out of bravery. Of courage! For the right of your family to live! For your future! For your world! For Narnia!" She called, the cheering that followed was deafening as Peter moved to stand beside Tora and Orion,br /"We need to move out. Now!" Everyone fell into place in the march to the Fields of Beruna./p
p class="MsoNormal"The army stood waiting for the Witch's to arrive, Peter was at the front between Oreius and Orion while Tora was in front of him, the Guardian's had settled themselves at the front of the ranks. Peter felt like he couldn't breathe as he sat waiting between them the two men who'd been soldiers their entire lives. Pretty soon, a gryphon landed beside Tora, she moved to be between Peter and Orion,br /"They come, your Highnesses, with numbers and weapons far greater than our own." The gryphon reported causing Oreius to scoff,br /"Numbers don't win a battle." He countered,br /"No. But I bet they help." Peter murmured, Tora gave a nervous laugh beside him. Her eyes were filled with fear, she was definitely worried that she'd be unable to protect her people, she glanced up at the sky and relaxed slightly as she saw Novissime guarding her from above. They watched as the first wave ran towards them, their gryphons flew above their heads dropping rocks on the enemy./p
p class="MsoNormal""Are you with me?" Peter looked between Tora, Orion, and Oreius,br /"To the death." Came Oreius' response,br /"For eternity." Orion reassured him,br /"Until you no longer need me." Tora met Peter's eyes as he held up his sword and led the troops into /"For Narnia!" He yelled, as did the troops as they ran head long into the war. The battle was underway, and Peter and Mia fought side by side, Peter trying his hardest to remember what he'd been taught. Tora took a split second to look at the scene around her, the centaurs were cutting down many of their opponents while the Witch sent forth her second wave./p
p class="MsoNormal"Tora used her sword to project her magic and made a bright silver star burst into the sky, the Narnian's knew that this meant bring the Witch's army to the archers, so they fell back, Orion smiled to his sister for a moment, they'd lost a few but the plan was working! The twins ran with them only turning their heads for a second, but it was long enough to see the unicorn Peter was riding get shot and him lay unmoving on the ground,br /"PETER!" Tora heard Mia scream, turning and running towards him, cutting down any enemy who came near her until she reached Peter. She wasn't the only one, seeing Peter vulnerable caused Oreius and a rhino to charge into the Witch's ranks buying Peter and Mia a chance to get to the archers and the rest of their army. Tora transformed herself into her godly form (an air elemental) and began fighting from above, using her staff and her control of all air creatures to attack the Witch's army. She made the trees into a blockade but that only lasted briefly until the Witch hit her with a spell and she fell to the ground in agony,br /"strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"TORA!/strong" Orion yelled, he felt her pain and ran back to her, guarding her unconscious body. Novissime landed on top of her mistress, keeping the unconscious form beneath her to better protect the Queen./p
p class="MsoNormal"The battle wore on, Mia fighting with all her strength even though her side was cut open, she moved her belt in order to stem the bleeding and so she could keep fighting. Peter looked around, knowing that the battle was lost,br /"Edmund!" He called, "Edmund! There's too many! Get the girls and get them home!" Mia looked only to see Beaver pulling Edmund and Coral away and Peter returning to the fight. She made her way to get to him, it took her a few minutes, but she made it./p
p class="MsoNormal"Just as she got to Peter, the Witch approached them, the pair were fighting back to back now, killing their enemy as best they could, they hadn't even noticed the Witch approaching them until they got a moment free and saw Edmund break the Witch's wand, only to be stabbed with the remaining part, Coral took up position defending him. Peter seemed to freeze, Mia ran towards the Witch, the pain in her side growing. As she fought the Witch, she grabbed both of Mia's hands and twisted them until she dropped the swords, she then grabbed the swords and pushed Mia to the ground, the Witch buried Mia's swords deep into the girl's shoulders and the ground below, leaving her pinned and writhing in agony in full view of a furious Peter./p
p class="MsoNormal"Next thing Mia knew was Peter pressing a hand against her chest, she saw Aslan killing the Witch, Mia began gasping as the pain became too much. He pulled the swords out of her shoulders making her scream slightly. br /"Peter, go…" Her voice was weak, he shook his head as her eyes closed,br /"No. Wake up. Mia open your eyes. Please. Don't do this. Come back. It's ok. It's over now. It's ok. Please wake up. Don't do this to me. Don't do this to me. Don't leave me. You saved me. Please don't leave me." Aslan approached slowly, as did Lucy and Susan. br /"Don't leave me, Mia. I refuse to believe our story's at an end." He whispered, br /"I'm dying… Pete… there is… no happy… ending to… this…" Her eyes closed as she gasped in pain, a small crowd was gathering, all bowing down in respect to Mia as she lay dying. Lucy came over and opened her healing cordial, she let a single drop fall into Mia's mouth, having already done so to Edmund she knew it was enough./p
p class="MsoNormal"Mia felt like she was lying on clouds, she felt her senses come back to her and realised she was being held by someone. Opening her eyes, she realised that she was lying in Peter's arms. Opening her eyes, she was suddenly very aware of the amount of people watching her. She made to stand but was caught by Peter, apparently, she didn't realise she was falling. Peter helped her stand before passing her back her swords which she quickly sheathed, wincing at the pain in her shoulders./p
p class="MsoNormal"Further off, Aslan moved to help Tora, her eyes so filled with pain, so much agony filled her as she held Orion's hand tightly. Coral moved over to her, she pressed some healing balm onto Tora's forehead and within seconds, Tora was moving to stand up./p
p class="MsoNormal"The army was heading back to the camp, all those who'd been turned to stone were saved by Aslan,br /and Lucy had saved those who were injured but breathing. Susan walked with some of the soldiers, Edmund was walking with Coral, they were laughing and joking, Lucy was at the front with Orion and Tora, interrogating them on Narnian history, while Peter walked beside Mia. Tora and Mia couldn't help but feel that they owed their lives to the Pevensie siblings, Mia felt like she had a family./p
p class="MsoNormal" /p
p class="MsoNormal"The castle of Cair Paravel was beautiful. Truly. It stood on its own hill from where it was clearly visible, at the base of the hill were beautiful sands, a clear ocean that spanned miles, the cry of seagulls a beautiful sound at the castle. Narnian's had been busy restoring it for the past month and finally it was ready./p
p class="MsoNormal"Five of the eight children stood in their rooms preparing for the coronation ceremony happening that afternoon. Tora stood in her rooms while a young faun, Sandi, fastened the beautiful sky-blue dress tightly to Tora. The dress truly was stunning, it was floor length and trailed a small way behind her, an opaque silver layer was over the top with a split own the centre to show the blue, the silver made the dress shimmer as it wasn't really visible on the blue but made it look magnificent. Sandi started on Tora's hair, styling it into multiple rope plats which she then tied into a beautiful bun at the centre of the back of her head. Her makeup was very simple with silver dusting on her eyes and pale pink on her lips./p
p class="MsoNormal"Aslan arrived at her chambers ready to escort his daughter and the Pevensie siblings to the coronation, Sandi fastened a silver cloak with golden embroidery roses around Tora's neck, it was longer than the dress and made the outfit look perfect. br /"Your mother would be proud of the woman you've become. I know that I am." Aslan told her, pride in his voice too. Tora walked beside him and they met the others at the entrance to the throne room. Tora stood between Susan and Aslan as she walked with them into the throne room. As they reached the thrones each of the five stood before a throne; Edmund on the far left (Coral was stood to the side of his throne), Peter next to him (Mia next to his throne), then Tora, then Susan, and lastly Lucy on the right (Orion stood to the right of her throne with a smile on his face)./p
p class="MsoNormal"Aslan stood before them, br /"To the glistening Eastern Sea. I give you Queen Lucy." Mr Tumnus and the Beavers approached the five carrying the crowns, a beautiful silver tiara was placed on Lucy's head,br /"To the great Western Wood. I give you King Edmund." A silver crown was placed on his head while he /"To the Radiant Southern Sun. I give you Queen Susan." A gold tiara was placed on her head and she looked towards the last two,br /"To the clear Northern Sky. I give you High King Peter." A golden crown was placed on his head and he turned to smile at Tora like the rest of his family,br /"And from the Deepest Ocean to the Highest Wind. I give you High Queen. Great One of the Old and New." The five sat down once Orion had placed the tiara on his sister's head, a beautiful circlet made by entwined silver and gold, roses and leaves of different gems threaded into the circlet, a ruby hanging down onto her forehead. Orion beamed proudly at his /"Once a King or Queen of Narnia. Always a King or queen of Narnia. May your wisdom grace us until the stars rain down from the Heavens. Long Live Queen Tora. Long Live King Peter. Long Live Queen Susan. Long Live King Edmund. Long Live Queen Lucy." Aslan called, the chant repeated by all those present./p