Chapter 8

Caspian looked at the carvings of the Pevensie's and the two elves at Aslan's Howe. Nickabrick walked up behind him and had a look also.

Nickabrick turned to Caspian and asked, "Are you so glad of that magic horn now, boy? The kings and queens have failed us. Your army is half dead. And those that aren't will be soon enough."

Caspian looked down at him and said, "What do you want? Congratulations? The only one who was wrong was Susan and she has been dealt with."

Nickabrick decided to tempt death and said, "You want your uncle's blood. So do we. You want his throne. We can get it for you."

Nickabrick walked away. Caspian hesitated and then followed. They entered the Stone Table room. And Nickabrick said, "You tried one ancient power. It failed. But there is power greater still. One that kept even Aslan at bay for near a hundred years."

Caspian gasped and started to back away wanting to get out then they heard something. Caspian drew his sword, and stepped forward. A cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows and started slowly walking towards Caspian.

Caspian looked closely at it and asked, "Who's there?"

The thing that Caspian now knew was a Werewolf said, "I am hunger, I am thirst. I can fast a hundred years and not die. I can lie a hundred nights on the ice and not freeze. I can drink a river of blood and not burst. Show…me…your enemies!" Then werewolf threw off his hood.

Then a hag approached.

Caspian, using heavy sarcasm asked, "And you can guarantee Miraz' death? I don't think so."

The Hag moved around and said, "And more."

Caspian kept his sword out, and then looked back at Nickabrick. The dwarf only nodded.

The Hag then turned to the werewolf and said, "Let the circle be drawn."

The hag began saying strange words while the werewolf drew a circle on the ground around Caspian. The hag pulled out the White Witch's wand, and stuck it into the ground. Ice grew up, covering the image of Aslan. Within the ice wall, the White Witch appeared.

Caspian's eyes widened and he said while trying to back up, "Wait… this isn't what I wanted!"

The White Witch didn't even move just said, "One drop of Adam's blood and you free me. Then I am yours, my king."

Caspian having heard the stories of her from Lucy said, "No!"

The werewolf grabbed Caspian's hand, and the hag cut it. The White Witch stuck her hand out of the ice and she smiled. Caspian looked at the Witch… and then seemed to stop resisting.

Peter ran in with Lucy, Edmund, Sarah, and Mara he drew his sword and cried, "Stop!"

Sarah, Edmund, Mara, and Trumpkin ran into the room and drew their swords. The werewolf crawled over the Stone Table and attacked Edmund and Sarah. Nickabrick and Trumpkin clashed and the hag knocked Mara's sword out of her hand. Edmund swung at the werewolf and hit him the werewolf howled. Nickabrick stood over Trumpkin, but Lucy came up and put her dagger to Nickabrick's throat. Nickabrick tried to twist Lucy's arm around and threw her to the floor. Peter kicked the hag into a pillar and she fell. Edmund ran away, turned back, and hit the werewolf. Nickabrick looked at Lucy and hesitated having known her for most of his life, and then Trumpkin stabbed him in the back. The Witch kept reaching towards Caspian.

White Witch became impatient saying, "Come on…"

Peter pushed Caspian away and pointed his sword at the Witch. Peter said to her, "Get away from him!"

The White Witch fell back a little then moved forward again saying, "Peter dear… I have missed you. Come, just one drop." The Witch reached towards Peter. The she said, "You know you can't do this alone."

Peter hesitated, and then lowered his sword a little. Then the Witch groaned, and the ice wall shattered. Edmund stood behind with his sword still drawn.

Edmund knowing Peter was just trying to protect everyone said jokingly, "I know. You had it sorted." Edmund then walked away. Peter and Caspian looked at the carving of Aslan then they looked back and saw Susan. She shook her head and walked out.

Caspian was suddenly bowled over by a running red blur and Peter also got the same thing, but he managed to stay standing. Edmund came and stood beside them with Sarah on his arm.

Lucy looked up at Mara and asked, "Is there anywhere in here we can go that is private?"

Mara smiled and said, "Yeah, there is a stair that goes up onto a third floor. It is hard to find, when I asked whether there was a third floor no one knew it even existed. Come on I will show you." Then they all got up and followed. Mara continued talking saying, "I always went up and put furs down and blankets. I also put them up around the walls."

When they got to the second level, Mara led them to a hidden stair well and led them up. When they got to the top they saw that there was a fur right in front of them. Mara reached forward and moved it aside. Inside was a small cave with four caves branching off to the sides. Lucy went and pulled one of the furs aside and looked in the room. Inside those were beds made of fur piled high, Lucy turned and smiled.

She asked in a sweet tone, "Does any of the sound come through in here or down there?"

Mara looked confused then said, "No, we checked that. I screamed at the top of my lungs and the centaurs on the other levels couldn't hear. I even got four fauns up here and screamed in one of the rooms, no sound came through."

Then Lucy turned to Caspian and said, "You just might get your wish."

Peter turned pale and said, "I didn't want to know that, Lucy. I'm gonna be scared for life."

Caspian turned to him and said, "Well you did the same thing, Peter. You just can't stand your baby sister doing it."

Edmund sighed and looked at Sarah and said, "And you said it would be peaceful around here."

Mara hearing all the teasing just pulled Peter into one of the rooms and closed the fur in all their faces. Edmund also got pulled into another room and the fur closed. Caspian turned to Lucy then walked back into a room and disappeared. Lucy smiled then walked in after him.

Five hours later Peter sat in front of the cracked Stone Table and looked at the carving of Aslan. Lucy walked up and sat beside him.

Peter didn't even turn away he just said, "You're lucky, you know."

Lucy asked in a puzzled voice, "What do you mean?"

Peter still wouldn't turn just said, "To have seen Him. I wish He'd just give me some kind of proof."

Lucy put her hand on his shoulder and said, "Maybe we're the ones who need to prove ourselves to Him. And I haven't seen Him for years, only in dreams."

Edmund ran up and panted out, "Pete, you'd better come quickly."

They went outside, and see the Telmarine army approaching. Miraz, in full armour, rode to the front.