Holly woke the next morning to Lucy shaking her excitedly.

"Holly, get up! Edmund's here! He's okay!"

"WHAT?"

Holly jumped out of her bed and scrambled to get dressed. Less than a minute later, she and Lucy rushed outside. They ran to where Susan and Peter stood.

Aslan and Edmund stood up on the hill, deep in conversation. Holly knew better than to interrupt.

After what seemed like forever, Edmund and Aslan walked towards them.

"What's done is done," Aslan said firmly. "There is no need to speak to Edmund about what is past."

The lion left the five children alone.

Edmund stared at the ground sheepishly.

"Hello," he said softly.

Lucy grinned and ran to hug her brother. Edmund smiled in relief and returned the hug.

As soon as Lucy let go, Susan hugged her younger brother tightly.

Holly smiled at him, but Edmund's smile vanished, and it was replaced by guilt.

"Holly, I really am so sorry –"

"Don't," Holly cut him off. "I'm just glad you're safe."

Edmund smiled.

"Are you all right?" Susan asked him.

"I'm a little tired."

"You should get some sleep," Peter said, speaking for the first time.

Edmund's guilty expression returned at his brother's tone, and he slowly made his way to the tents.

"And Edmund?" Peter called, causing Edmund to turn around. Peter grinned. "Try not to wander off."

Edmund smirked.


Edmund slept all day and night, and Holly wondered if he would be awake by breakfast the next morning.

He did make it to breakfast, dressed in Narnian clothes and looking better than he had the day before. He sat down between Lucy and Holly and immediately began shoveling down food.

Lucy laughed as she watched him. "Narnia's not going to run out of toast, Ed."

Edmund smiled at his little sister as he continued to eat.

"I'm sure they'll pack some for the journey back," Peter commented, causing the other four to freeze and look at him curiously.

"We're going home?" Susan asked, sounding almost disappointed.

"You are," Peter replied. "I promised mum I'd keep you three safe, but it doesn't mean I can't stay behind and help."

"But they need us!" Lucy argued. "All five of us!"

"Lucy, it's too dangerous!" Peter insisted. "You and Holly almost drowned. Edmund was almost killed!"

"Which is why we have to stay," Edmund said quietly. "I've seen what the White Witch can do, and I helped her do it. And we can't leave these people behind to suffer for it."

Lucy reached out to grab her brother's hand, and Holly smiled at the conviction in his tone.

"Well, I suppose that's it, then," Susan said, getting up.

"Where are you going?" Peter asked.

Susan grinned and grabbed her bow and arrows. "To get in some practice."

Holly smiled and jumped up, grabbing her bow and arrows as well. She followed Susan to the archery field, eager to finally use her bow.

"Have you ever used a bow and arrow before?" Susan asked.

"No," Holly admitted. "You?"

"No."

The girls smiled nervously as they reached the field. There was a target across the clearing.

Susan shot first, and she hit the second ring.

"Nice," Holly commented.

Lucy ran up to the two girls with her dagger. She grinned and threw it.

The dagger hit the bullseye. Susan and Holly looked at Lucy in shock, and the younger girl grinned.

"Your turn, Holly!" Lucy chirped.

Holly drew an arrow and notched it. She took aim and shot.

The arrow soared past the target, not even getting close.

The three girls burst out laughing.

"So I might need to work on my aim," Holly giggled.

"Remember what Father Christmas told you, Holly!" Lucy insisted. "You have to believe in the bow!"

Holly was skeptical. She glanced at Susan, who shrugged.

"Now try it again, and believe that you'll hit the bullseye," Lucy demanded.

Holly sighed and took her aim. She tried to imagine the arrow hitting its mark.

This time, the arrow stuck in the outer ring.

"Well, it's a start," Susan said kindly.

"You didn't believe enough!" Lucy accused jokingly, and the girls laughed.

"Let's keep trying," Holly said determinedly.

She was going to hit the bullseye before the day ended.

Susan, Lucy, and Holly stayed on the archery field all day. Lucy proved to be a natural and one of the centaurs suggested she practice with moving targets.

Watching a soldier run around the field, in full body armor, holding a target while a ten-year-old girl threw knives at him was quite funny, and it gathered a small crowd.

Susan and Holly took turns shooting, and both improved a lot during the day. By the end, both were able to hit the target consistently, and both had gotten at least one bullseye.

Around lunchtime, a dryad ran on the field, looking worried.

"Your Highnesses!" she called. "Come quickly! The Witch has demanded a meeting with Aslan! She's almost here!"

The three girls looked at each other in alarm and ran towards Aslan's tent with their weapons in hand. They stood in the front of the crowd that stood around nervously.

Edmund and Peter ran to stand next to them moments later, having just come from the other training field.

"She's here," Lucy said, pointing.

Ginabrik walked in front of the Witch, who was carried by four ogres.

"Queen of Narnia! Empress of the Lone Islands!"

Ginabrik continued announcing the Witch's titles, but he couldn't be heard over the booing of the Narnians.

The ogres sat her down, and the Witch walked towards Aslan calmly.

She sent a smirk at Edmund before looking back to the lion.

"You have a traitor in your midst, Aslan," she announced.

"His offense was not against you," Aslan replied calmly.

"Have you forgotten the laws upon which Narnia was built?" the Witch asked.

"Do not recite the deep magic to me, Witch!" Aslan snarled. "I was there when it was written."

"Then you'll remember well that every traitor belongs to me," the Witch sneered. "His blood is my property."

Everyone reacted immediately. Holly, who stood closest to Edmund, grabbed his hand firmly and refused to let go, with her other hand holding her bow tightly. Peter drew his sword and stepped in front of his little brother.

"Try and take him, then!" Peter growled.

"Do you really think mere force will deny me my right, Little King?" the Witch laughed. "Aslan knows that unless I have blood as the law demands, all of Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water. That boy." She pointed to Edmund with her wand. "Will die. As is tradition. You dare not refuse me."

"You're bluffing," Holly snarled.

"Am I?" the Witch taunted.

"Enough!" Aslan commanded, looking at the Witch. "I will talk with you alone."

The pair disappeared into Aslan's tent. Holly stared after them, wondering what sort of plan Aslan had. She knew one thing – Edmund wasn't leaving her sight until that awful woman left.

"Holly?"

"What?" Holly snapped, turning to face Edmund.

He smiled faintly, and Holly saw the fear on his face. "I can't feel my hand."

Holly sighed. "Sorry," she muttered, letting go.

Edmund smiled and gently took her hand again. "I didn't say I wanted you to let go."

After a while, everyone sat down in the grass. Edmund was pulling at the grass nervously. Holly was lying beside him, staring up at the clouds. Everyone at the camp was tense, and Orieus kept glaring at the Witch's party. His hand was resting on his sword, and Holly was sure that the ogres and the dwarf were one wrong move away from losing their heads.

Finally, after nearly an hour, Aslan and the Witch came out of the tent.

Everyone jumped to their feet and waited for one of the two to say something. Holly was holding her breath. Edmund grabbed her hand again, and Holly knew he was terrified.

"She has renounced her claim on the Son of Adam's blood."

The Narnians cheered and Holly turned to grin at Edmund. The look of relief on his face was amazing.

Edmund's hand was ripped from Holly's as Lucy launched herself into her brother's arms. Edmund laughed and picked her up off the ground from hugging her so tightly.

"How do I know your promise will be kept?" the Witch asked before she left.

In reply, Aslan let out a terrifying roar.

The Narnians cheered even louder as the Witch and her party fled the camp.


I'm so sorry I didn't update last week! School has started back, and it's been hectic as I play two varsity sports. I hope this chapter made up for the long wait since Edmund is home safe :)