. C H A P T E R // S E V E N .
The sun was already bright in the sky. I helped Peter put on his armor as he did for me. Now I was suiting up Epona.
"Epona."
"Yes, Talath?" She asked.
"You don't have to do this, you know." I said.
"I told you, I will stay at your side where ever it takes me." She stated strongly.
"Epona, I don't want you to-" before I could finish, she interrupted me.
"There's another reason too... If I didn't go, it would bring great dishonor to you, to me, and to the unicorn race, because there was one unicorn who didn't fight to avenge Aslan, the Great lion who sacrificed himself for us. I must go, Talath. For you. For me. For the Unicorns, but most of all... for Aslan." she said.
"Then you shall go... but promise me this." I said.
"What is it?" She inquiried.
"You will go on your own when I fight the witch." I said.
"I can't just stand there while you fight her!" her tone raise and she neighed slightly at the end.
"I don't want you getting hurt, and I know she wants a one on one fight just as much as I do." I said.
"Talath..."
"I want to do this for the same reason you want to fight in this war. I have to kill her for Narnia. For the Venomancers. And for Aslan."
"I understand..."
Peter, Oreius and I all rode in front of the Army. I looked up to the sky as Gryphis landed in front of us.
"Status Report, Gryphis." I asked.
"They come, your highnesses, with numbers and weapons far greater than our own." the gryphon said.
"Numbers do not win a battle." Oreius stated.
"No... but I bet they help." Peter said.
"With that attitude, you'd better surrender to Jadis now..." I snapped. I watched as the Minotaur General came into sight. He roared loudly and motioned for Jadis' army to advance. I growled lowly as she came into sight, riding in a chariot pulled by two Polar Bears. Anger and adrenaline boiled inside of me. Peter looked back at Edmund and then took a deep breath in. He unsheathed his sword. The horn sounded and all of the Narnians behind us let out a loud cheer as they also took out their weapons. I eyed the incoming army carefully as they approached, waiting for them to get close enough for the Gryphons to do their aerial attack. When they reached the spot, Peter gave the signal by waving his sword forward once. Gryphis flew from beside us into the air, leading the attack. Peter looked at Oreius.
"Are you with me?" He asked him.
"To the death." Oreius answered.
Peter looked at me. "And you?"
"Always." I replied. We looked at eachother for a moment and I nodded.
"FOR NARNIA! AND FOR ASLAN!!!!" we both yelled. Peter, Oreius and I rode off first, charging at the army. I unsheathed my sword, letting out a loud Venomancer battle cry that rang through the battlefield and even made some of the Minotaurs shudder. My heartbeat sped up as I neared the opposing army. I sliced off the head of the first opponent that ran in my way as Epona stabbed into another opponent with her horn. I summoned a sword and threw it as it reached my hands. As the minotaur it struck fell, the weapon disappeared.
I continued to fight the army with Epona. Not a single scratch had gotten on either of us, though there were a few close calls from the powerful minotaurs. I took a quick glance at Peter to see if he was okay, and then I eyed Jadis as she advanced towards the Narnian armies. She stared dead at me. I then looked up as I saw the Phoenix calling in the sky.
"Brace yourself." I said.
Epona laughed. "Don't warn me, little one." Epona neighed, going on her hind legs as I shot a powerful blast of fire to the Phoenix. It lit up as I did so, and created a wall of fire between Jadis' army and mine. Jadis easily expelled it. I wanted to fight her so badly right now, but I needed to think of the army.
"Peter!" I called. Peter looked at me as I pointed to Jadis' advance.
"Pull Back! To the rocks!" Peter yelled at the top of his lungs. Everyone ran back as the horn sounded once again. I saw the wall of arrows go into the air and then heard the neigh of another unicorn. I looked back and saw that Peter was on the ground. The unicorn he was riding, faithful Minras, had been shot.
"No.... Peter!" I yelled. I heard Oreius coming from behind me, as well as a Narnian Rhino.
"Let's go, Epona!" I yelled as I gave her reigns a tug.
"Right!" she answered. Epona and I charged towards Peter with Oreius and the Rhino.
"You save the King, we'll buy you some time." Oreius said.
"But, Oreius-" I began.
"It has been a pleasure knowing and serving you, Talath Engrin, but we must do this!" Oreius said strongly. I nodded, understanding how Oreius felt.
"The pleasure was all mine..." I said.
"Farewell!" Oreius said. I stopped next to Peter as Oreius and the Narnian beside him continued running. Peter yelled for them to stop, but they paid no attention. I painfully watched as the Rhino fell and then hopped off of Epona. I pushed Peter onto her.
"Talath! What are you doing?!" she yelled.
"We talked about this already, Epona." I said.
"Don't tell me you're going after her!"
"What do you think?"
"Talath!" Peter yelled.
"Take him, Epona." I said to her. She nodded slightly.
"Talath, I can't let you do this!" Peter began.
"I've discussed this with you too...." I said. I gave Peter a quick kiss on the lips and then summoned my sword once again, this time with another one in my left hand.
"If I die, then just know that I love you, Peter." I said. I hit Epona's side softly and she neighed, riding away from the army. I ignored Peter's calls for me and ran in the opposite direction. I saw Oreius swing at Jadis, she dodged it easily. Oreius turned around as the witch got ready to strike... He wasn't ready to block.
"OREIUS!!!!!" I screamed. I ran faster through the army, slaying demons as I went along... but it was too late... Jadis froze Oreius and tipped him over. He shattered into pieces. I growled and my entire body lit up in flames. She smiled at me, and then disappeared.
"YOU DAMN COWARD!COME HERE AND FIGHT ME LIKE A-" I stopped screaming and turned around after there was a huge explosion of magic. It was Jadis' staff. I headed for Edmund, once again failing to save another friend.
"Edmund!" Peter screamed.
"...Now you're going to pay!" I said darkly. I screamed in anger and blasted all of the people around me with fire as well as sending a blast to her. She dispelled it easily, but it distracted her from Peter who jumped down and swung at her. I summoned swords as I ran, throwing them at the foes in my path towards the witch. When I was near her, I jumped off of a minotaur's back as it fell and launched myself at her. I kicked Peter out of the way a little as I spun in mid-air so he wouldn't get hurt by my attack. She easily blocked it with both of her swords and chuckled. I backed away from her a little.
"What're you laughing at?!?" I yelled.
"If that's that best you've got, I'd like to see you try and kill me!" she replied. I growled and charged for her again, but before I could touch her, I heard... a lion's roar. Jadis, Peter and I looked up to see Aslan there. I uttered his name. As his roar came to a close, Narnians charged into battle from behind him. Jadis brought me back to reality with a strong hit, which I blocked with my sword, stumbing back a little.
"You're still in battle with me, fox. Don't think you can go anywhere." She said.
"I wasn't planning to!" I replied. I charged at Jadis again and engaged into combat with her. After a few seconds, Peter joined in.
"What're you doing?!" I asked.
"I told you, you can't do this alone!" Peter yelled.
"Watch me!" I said. I swung at her once and continued to go forward with my attacks, edging her away from Peter. My rage grew as I continued to fight and since Peter kept on trying to interfere, I put up a barrier of magic to separate him from the witch and I. The witch knocked me back, she cocked her broken staff back. I had no time to block... it was over, she won... I watched the remaining blade of Jadis' staff as it glowed. Surprisingly, she only slashed my arm with her sword. I rolled on the ground and got up. She simply laughed when I glared at her.
"Why didn't you kill me?!" I yelled.
"It'll be much more fun this way, I get to torture you more." She replied. I growled and threw a ball of fire at her. She blocked it with her sword and laughed.
I was on the ground again, the blood loss from my arm and many other wounds the witch had given me had caused you to become dizzy. My vision was beginning to become blurred. Jadis had her share of wounds and burns from me as well, but as the fight went on, and I grew weaker, so did my magic. This was my fight, and no one, not even the one you loved, would get in between it.
Jadis laughed. "So much for avenging the Venomancers..." she said. I closed my eyes, giving up, as Jadis raised her sword... but death didn't come. I sat up slowly to see that Peter had lunged at Jadis. Angered by this, Jadis struck him with full force and knocked him over, then stabbed him in his right shoulder.
"Peter!" I yelled. Then witch knocked his shield away and got ready to stab him. I got up and tried to summon flames, but I couldn't... I was too weak. I couldn't even remain standing after the attempt. I screamed his name again and as I struggled to get up and saw a flash of gold. Aslan pounced on Jadis. They stared at each other for a moment, and then he bit her neck, killing her. Peter and I got up, looking at Aslan to see what happened. He walked away from the witch and looked at both of us.
"It is finished..." He said. We both stood there in silence, with absolutely nothing to say. For a minute or two, it seemed as if the three of us were the only ones moving normally. Everyone else passing was moving at speeds so fast they were no more than blurs. I looked at Peter and fell over.
"Talath!" Peter yelled.
I opened my eyes and looked around at the room around me. It had been about a week since the war. Lucy healed me with the Firefly Juice, but I, as well as others, found it quite strange that the only wound that didn't heal from it was the first one that the Witch had given to me, the one on my arm. I got up and stretched, then recoiled in pain, clutching the scar. It still continued to hurt if I stretched or used it too much.
"It's the day!" I exclaimed. I rushed out of bed and got changed into the more formal and fancy dress I had. Then I ran out of the room and to the throne room. I was all the way in the back, but Carack looked at me weirdly.
"What's the face for?" I asked.
"What're you doing here?" Carack said, asking another question to my own.
"What do you mean 'What're you doing here?' I wouldn't miss this for anything!" I boasted.
"You're supposed to be with Tumnas, crowning them!" Carack said.
"I am?" I asked.
"Yes! Now hurry up and get to the lobby!" Carack answered. I changed into my fox form and ran to the lobby. There, the two beavers as well as Tumnas stood.
"What took ya so long?!" Mr. Beaver asked.
"I wasn't aware that I was crowning them!" I replied.
"You're crowning Peter to be exact." Mrs. Beaver clarified.
"Huh?" I said.
"He said to me 'Nothing personal, Tumnas, but I would really like if Talath crowned me.' I said it was fine and now here you are." Tumnas said.
"The good thing is that you're here!" Mr. Beaver said.
"Shh! It's starting." Tumnas announced as trumpets sounded. I looked at the two beavers and Tumnas weirdly as they smiled from ear to ear. Peter, Edmund, Susan, Lucy and Aslan walked down the throne room and dispersed to their own thrones, standing in front of them. Aslan stood in front of them.
"Beglistened to the East, I give you Queen Lucy, the Valiant." Aslan said. We walked down the aisle. Tumnas went first followed by the two Beavers holding the stunning crowns on pillows (two per pillow, one pillow per Beaver) and me last. I stayed in front of the steps as Beaver and Tumnas ascended them to Lucy. Tumnas picked up Lucy's crown. She bowed before he put it on. Then they smiled and Tumnas bowed a slightly.
"To the Great Western Waters, King Edmund." Aslan announced. Tumnas gently picked up Edmund's crown and placed it on his head as he bowed.
"The Just, from the Radiant Southern Sun, Queen Susan, the Gentle." Tumnas picked up Susan's crown and placed it on her head. Then he bowed to the three of them and walked next to me.
"And to the Clear Northern Sky, I give you King Peter, the Magnificent." Aslan said strongly.
I stepped up to Peter with Mrs. Beaver and gently picked up Peter's crown. He smiled to me as he knelt down and I placed his crown on top of his head. I curtsied to him and he bowed slightly when he got up. Then I walked to where Tumnas was before the humans sat down. Oddly, Mr. Beaver was not there.
"Once a King or Queen in Narnia, always a King or Queen. May your wisdom race us so the stars rain down from the heavens." Aslan said.
All of the Narnians in the room began to chant. "Long live King Peter! Long live King Edmund! Long live Queen Susan! Long live Queen Lucy!" The throne room filled up with cheers. After they faded, Peter looked at Aslan. He nodded and Peter stood up. I looked at him weird.
"Talath, if you would, please come up here." Aslan said. I walked up to the steps in front of Aslan and Peter.
"What seems to be the matter?" I asked.
"Nothing's wrong at all!" Lucy exclaimed. Susan and Edmund just sat there smiling.
"Then why am I up here...?" I asked. I looked at Aslan as he smiled and backed away a little. My gaze fell on Peter as he rose from his throne. He walked up to me gently took my hand.
"I was thinking about the best time to do this, and after endless nights of it, I came to the conclusion that now would be the best." He said.
"Do what...?" I asked. Mr. Beaver walked up to Peter with the pillow once again... but on top of it was a small velvet box. Peter took it and Beaver bowed before he walked away. Peter opened the box. I gasped a little, seeing the ring inside of it. Peter got down on one knee and took my hand once again.
"Talath, I was completely stunned by you from the minute I layed eyes on you." He stopped and smiled. "I think you knew that though by the way I was staring... but that's beside the point. I love you, Talath, and I'd give anything for you. That's why, I'm going to ask you... Will you marry me, Talath Engrin?" Peter said. I pounced on Peter and hugged him tightly.
"Yes! Yes, of course I will!" I said. Peter hugged me around the waist and stood up, lifting me up. He spun around once and kissed me passionately after. We both closed your eyes and heard the crowd cheer again. After we parted, he put the ring around my finger. I smiled at him and kissed him again as everyone continued to cheer…
Aslan left the same day that the humans were crowned and I got engaged to Peter. He didn't ask me to come with him. I was deeply saddened by this, but he did say goodbye to me. He said that I didn't need to come with him; Narnia needed Peter and Peter needed me. I got married to Peter a year after the engagement. Throughout that time and the time after that noticed that day by day I continued to get weaker and weaker. I found out why the wound on my arm that the witch gave me wouldn't heal. It was a spell that she cast, exchanging her soul for my suffering. She had summoned on me The Grey Death, a deadly disease that no longer existed in Narnia. There was no none cure. The only reason that it had disappeared in the past was because the last Narnian who had it died. No matter how strong one's spirit or body was, they eventually fell to it. At first, I ignored it, not wanting to worry anyone. The disease took its toll on me only three years after the battle and two years after being wed to my love, Peter. I fell with high fever when I was training with Edmund. I had held up quite longer than most, but like all in the past, gave into it. The disease weakened me greatly; I became bed ridden and my skin turned pail as snow. I had an extreme fever as well as a nasty bloody cough. It always felt as if I walking around naked in a blizzard no matter how many blankets I had on. About half a year after I became bed ridden, I stopped fighting the disease and closed my eyes... My eyes which would never open again.
