Chapter Seven: The White Witch's Plan
"I want you to make sure you send every man I give you into the fight" said Jadis to the goblin Hadelis, "How many men are you going to give me?" asked Hadelis still unsure of Jadis's plan, "Fifty Thousand, strike as you will, but leave none alive" said Jadis uninterested, "White Queen why do you leave us Fifty thousand out of the Hundred thousand at your command?" asked Hadelis, "Because Master Goblin, High King Peter has beaten me before in battle, and I am more than sure that King Caspian will follow his example, So, I have another plan" said Jadis, "What plan is that?" asked Hadelis, "You will strike with your men, lose or win, make's not difference to me" said Jadis, "I will not send my men to there death unless I am sure they will not have died in vain!" growled Hadelis, "Don't you dare doubt me Hadelis! If you are to loose you needn't fear, for we will strike Caspian again, and we will strike him when he is weakest, I just need more time to find what his weakness is!" yelled Jadis, "Care Witch! It was my master who bought you back! And it is his orders who I follow" growled Hadelis, Jadis pursed her lips and glared at Hadelis, "My men and I march to the circle, and we will bring you back a victory! You needn't worry" said Hadelis standing over the Witch and using his height to an advantage, then spinning on his heel Hadelis left the room.
Once Hadelis was out of the room Jadis screamed! She hated being governed by that filth! No matter, she thought, with any luck Caspian would rid her of him, and she would be free to continue with her plan.
Caspian walked around the camp checking on the weapons that were being made at the camp, finalizing plans for the battle, "We have word on the Witch's army" said Trumpkin walking towards Caspian with Adam, "Good!" said Caspian anxious to know anything he could about the Witch's army that had remained hidden so far, "There a force of fifty thousand" said Adam, "Is the Witch with them?" asked Caspian trying to keep the fear out of his voice that was clearly visible in his eyes, "She is yet to be spotted" said Trumpkin, Caspian exhaled, maybe the witch was not going to ride into battle, perhaps he would not have to face her. Caspian tasted the lie in his mouth; he knew this was not true, if he didn't face her today, he would face her tomorrow, or another day, it did not matter when, what mattered was if he was ready.
Was he ready? Was he ready to fight the women who had turned his blood to ice and almost bewitched him to betray everyone he loved? These were the very thoughts that ran through Caspian's mind as he prepared for war.
"Make sure that is up nice and secure!" called Susan as a long was raised into the air to sit amongst the tree tops, Susan looked over to Peter, he was talking to Glenstorm making plans, she smiled then climbed onto one of the tree plat forms.
Susan looked through the trees, she could hear bells, then hooves, she knew those sounds, "Peter!" she screamed, Peter ran over to her, then climbed the tree to be at her side, he looked out to the trees and could hear the bells and hooves from the sled, "How long until she gets here?" asked Peter panting "Ten, twelve minuet's tops!" said Susan staring at Peter with fear.
"Ready the men!" ordered Peter as he walked amongst the trees; the Centaurs that were close by formed a line.
"Archers ready!" called Susan from the trees, the dwarves and fauns that were able strung there bows, "Don't shoot until you can see a clear shot of the Witch" called Susan, "No body strike until she's in view" said Peter.
The bells grew louder. Peter's breathe deepened. The hooves grew faster as they approached. Susan's breath quickened.
The Sleigh broke through the trees and stopped in the clearing, and Susan's breathe caught, Peter went to move forward, "No! wait!" called Susan urgently looking down at Peter who looked up at her.
The Rider of the sleigh stepped out onto the ground, and instead of seeing a ghostly white women, they saw a jolly fat man dressed in a deep red.
Susan smiled and climbed down the tree, Peter smiled at her and ran forward to the sleigh.
"Susan, Peter! I've waited a long time to see you two again!" said the Jolly man, "Farther Christmas!" said Susan smiling and stepping forward, "But Sir, it isn't Christmas!" remarked Peter, "No! and I shall not be giving out presents… but tools" said Farther Christmas turning back to his sleigh, he produced a small red box that had a golden lion encrusted on the top, he presented it to Peter, "This is Compass of Truth, it will always show you the way to the place you are needed most" said Farther Christmas, "Thank you Sir" said Peter looking down at the compass, "And these Susan are for you" said Farther Christmas producing two medium sized swords from his slay, "These swords will protect you against any foe, I pray they serve you well" said Farther Christmas giving Susan the two white marble handled swords.
Susan looked at the swords, she had never used swords, they would be useful to her in the up coming battle, she just had to learn how to use them, "Thank you" whispered Susan to Farther Christmas, "Now I shall go and visit others who are in need" said Farther Christmas walking over to his slay and grabbing the reins, "Merry Christmas" said Farther Christmas whipping his reins, as he did the rein deer leapt into action and started to run through the forest.
Susan stared at her swords, "well you better get to work!" said Peter, "why?" asked Susan looking up from her new treasures, confused as to what Peter was talking about, "Well if you want to use those in the battle today you better get in some practice" said Peter grinning at his sister playfully, Susan smiled and exhaled a breath through her teeth shaking her head.
"Caspian! Caspian! You have to come and see this!" screamed Lucy excitedly running over to Caspian who was consulting with Adam, "Why what's wrong?" asked Caspian worrying, mistaking the look of excitement on Lucy's face for fear, "The most wonderful person is here! You must come and meet him! Come on!" said Lucy grabbing Caspian's hand and dragging his to the edge of the camp into the forest, Caspian laughed as Lucy pulled him into a clearing, Caspian raised his head to look around, in the clearing stood a sleigh, and a man dressed in a red suite, "Merry Christmas King Caspian" said the man, "Caspian! Its Farther Christmas!" said Lucy excitedly running over to the sleigh to pat a reindeer, Caspian looked over at Edmund who looked just as surprised as he was, "I have some things to give you" said Farther Christmas turning around to his sleigh and rummaging in his sack, Lucy stopped patting the reindeer and stood between Caspian and Edmund.
"This is The Eternal Light, it is a star from the heavens above, may it be a light to you when all others go out" said Farther Christmas handing Lucy a clear glass bottle that was oval shaped, Lucy examined the bottle, it has a gold lid that looked like the head of a lion, and the liquid inside looked like water, although it looked like the water was moving even though Lucy was holding the bottle perfectly still, "This Edmund is for you, The Stone Axe, may it protect you and the ones you love" said Farther Christmas handing Edmund a long double bladed axe, Edmund took the blade and stared at it with awe, "And you King Caspian take a most precise tool" said Farther Christmas turning back to his sleigh.
Edmund and Lucy stared at Caspian, Farther Christmas turned back to Caspian, he handed him a sword, it had a lion on the handle like Peter's except the lion was in a different position, "I pray this sword serves you well King Caspian" said Farther Christmas smiling at Caspian, he then turned back to his sleigh, "Merry Christmas" he said, "Merry Christmas" said Lucy, Edmund and Caspian, smacking the reins against the rein deer's humps, the sleigh took off through the forest.
Caspian stared at his sword, he had never had a sword that was especially made for him, "That axe looks heavy Edmund" said Lucy as she sat down on a log with Caspian holding her newest treasure, "I know! But its as light as a feather!" said Edmund swinging the axe down into the ground, "Caspian you've been awful quite ever since Farther Christmas came, are you all right?" asked Lucy, "Yes I'm fine" said Caspian tying the sword against his belt, "You sure?" asked Lucy "yes, don't worry Lucy" tapping Lucy on the shoulder, "Caspian!" Trumpkin yelled, Caspian shot up and ran over to where Trumpkin stood, Edmund ran with Caspian and Lucy jogged behind un able to keep up with the boys, "They've spotted the witches army, they'll be here in and hour" said Trumpkin, "Prepare the army and alert the Narnian camp" said Caspian walking away from Trumpkin and marching towards his tent to dress into his armor.
Susan swung the swords around her head, she was surprised at how light they were and how there movements flowed with her body, "Your getting really good at that" said Peter as he leaned against the tree, "Surprisingly I've only had them for three hours" said Susan spinning them in her hands, "What does your compass tell you?" as Susan "That Edmund and Lucy are helping Caspian as much as they can" said Peter snapping the red box shut, "Do you think the white Witch herself will ride into battle?" asked Susan putting the swords into the bag that was resting on a log, "I don't know" said Peter, "King Peter! An urgent message from Trumpkin" said Glenstorm running into the camp straight to Susan and Peter, "what is it?" asked Peter sitting up alert, "the Witch's army approaches, she'll be here in an hour" said Glenstorm, "ready the horses" said Peter, walking away, "Susan take control of the archers, make sure there ready" called Peter as he mounted Andrew, Susan nodded she swung the bag containing her swords over her back, she prayed that when the time came they would serve her well.
