Chapter Nine
The air rushed from my lungs as I was submerged in the icy water, and I choked, fighting to hold onto my sword. Just as I thought I wouldn't be able to hold my breath any more, I surfaced. Coughing and spluttering, I yanked my sword from the ice and threw it onto the snowy bank, before clambering out of the river. I coughed, taking a moment on my hands and knees, before sheathing my sword and standing.
"Peter!" I called, though my voice was hoarse. "Susan! Lucy!" I began to walk downstream. "Beavers!"
"Evelyn!" I turned, and saw the Pevensies and the Beavers approaching me from behind. "Evelyn!" Lucy waved, and I laughed.
"Where's your coat?" I asked, and Lucy shrugged.
"In the river," she said, and Peter chuckled.
"I don't think you'll be needing those coats anymore," said Mrs. Beaver, and gestured to the woods before us. I gasped. Little pink buds were growing on the trees, peaking through the snow. We began to walk, and I stared at the colorful flora that was appearing on the plants.
"I've never seen Narnia in spring," I sighed. "It's lovely." The longer we walked, the more the snow melted, and the Pevensies soon abandoned their coats on bare tree branches, while I pushed my cloak over my shoulders. It was my only one, after all. As I rolled up my sleeves, Lucy suddenly spoke up.
"What happened?" I started, looking down at her.
"What?" I asked.
"Your arm," she said softly, nodding to my right forearm.
"Lucy!" chided Susan. I followed the youngest girl's gaze to the white puckered scars on my sword arm, from the wolf.
"Oh," I said. "The wolf, the one that was talking on the ice…he bit me, two years ago."
"What?" Lucy breathed, her eyes wide, and I was quite aware that I now held the rapt attention of all three Pevensies, and the Beavers.
"The Witch's followers attacked our camp, and they wolves found us in the woods. He bit me when I tried to fight." I explained, and Lucy cringed.
"Is that what he meant by 'long time no bite'?" Peter asked quietly. I shrugged.
"I suppose. Not sure, though, he's awfully cryptic." I heard Susan let out a laugh, and I smiled; glad to have lightened the subject.
By the time we reached Aslan's camp, we were completely dry, and the grass was green, with no sign of the snow that had covered it for years. As we approached the camp, I saw one of the centaurs stand upon a rock, blowing on his horn to signal our arrival. As I glanced around at the vast expanse of tents, and budding trees and green grass, Peter spoke up.
"You live here?" I nodded.
"Yes, though when I left it was still winter. I had no idea it was this beautiful." Peter nodded, smiling. As I led the Pevensies further into the camp, the Narnians gathered, watching in awe as the King and Queens made their way through the camp. Excited chatter started, and soon the Pevensies had acquired an entourage of smiling Narnians.
"Why are they all staring at us?" asked Susan through a forced smile.
"Maybe they think you look funny," joked Lucy, and she and Peter laughed, though Susan didn't seem amused.
"Don't worry," I assured her. "They're just excited to see you. They've been waiting for a while." As we approached Aslan's tent, the crowd began to part, until the Pevensies, the Beavers, and I stood alone. I smiled at Oreius, who stood solemnly outside the tent, though he smiled slightly when he saw me. It was quiet for a moment, and Peter glanced at me, before I nodded. He stepped forward.
"We have come to see Aslan," he said, and Oreius turned to the opening of the tent, before him and all the other Narnians, bowed. I joined them, kneeling on the grass, waiting for the Great Lion. The Pevensies remained standing, and the tent flap rippled, before Aslan stepped out into the camp, coming to a stop before the Pevensies, who then knelt beside me.
"Welcome, Peter, Son of Adam," the lion's rich voice washed over us.
"Welcome, Susan and Lucy, Daughters of Eve. Welcome, Beavers, and welcome home, Evelyn, you have my thanks, but where is the fourth?" I swallowed, my heart sinking at the mention of Edmund. The Pevensies stood, and I followed, along with the rest of the Narnians.
"That's why we're here, Sir," explained Peter. "We need your help."
"We had a little trouble along the way," Susan added.
"Our brother's been captured by the White Witch," Peter said softly.
"Captured?" inquired Aslan. "How could this happen?" None of the Pevensies spoke up, and I swallowed, but Mr. Beaver spoke before I did.
"He…betrayed them, your Majesty." A collective protest rose from the Narnians, and I sighed.
"Then he has betrayed us all!" Oreius growled.
"Peace, Oreius," Aslan said calmly. "I'm sure there's an explanation." The lion looked expectantly at the Pevensies. They were silent for a moment, before Peter spoke up.
"It's my fault, really," he said quietly. "I was too hard on him." He looked down sadly, and Susan reached out, resting her hand comfortingly on her brother's shoulder.
"We all were," she said, turning to Aslan.
"Sir, he's our brother," Lucy piped up, looking pleadingly at the lion.
"I know, dear one," Aslan agreed. "But that only makes the betrayal all the worse. This may be harder than you think," He told the Pevensies. They nodded solemnly, and Aslan turned to me. "Thank you for your bravery, Evelyn," he said. "I have no doubt you faced many trials on your journey, and for that, I award you," he gestured for me to draw my sword, and I did, my heart pounding. He nodded, and I knelt on the ground, the sword before me. I felt his large paw rest on my shoulder, and I bit back tears.
"But I failed," I whispered. "I didn't bring the King back safely."
"No," agreed Aslan. "But you did not fail, only succeeded to do what could be done." He lifted his paw, and spoke to the surrounding crowd of Narnians. "To the Kings and Queens of Narnia, I give you Evelyn, The Defender, Knight of Narnia." The crowd cheered, and I stood shakily. Aslan spoke quietly. "Sometimes you will fail, but it is what you do afterwards that is most telling, and therefore the most important." He nodded at me, and I nodded back, a lone tear tracing its way down my cheek.
"Thank you," I whispered. He turned to the Pevensies.
"Come, Evelyn will show you where you will stay," He walked past us, stopping to whisper something to Peter alone, and I turned away, not wishing to intrude. Susan and Lucy smiled at me.
"You're a knight now?" Lucy asked, and I laughed in disbelief.
"Yes, I suppose so." Susan smiled at me, and I turned, seeing Peter catch up with us, and Aslan begin speaking to the Beavers as the crowd of Narnians dispersed. "There are tents set up for you," I explained, approaching one. "This one is yours, Peter, and…Edmund's." I gestured to the red and gold tent. Peter gently pushed aside the flap, and we walked inside. It was furnished with two hammocks filled with blankets and pillows, a table, chairs, and a wardrobe. "There are clothes in the wardrobe," I said. "And a tub with water behind that curtain for a bath." I pointed to the corner of the room. Peter nodded, and I left the tent with Susan and Lucy. "This is yours," I said, walking to the next tent. It was furnished much the same, and I gestured to their wardrobe. "There are dresses in there, they're longer than what you're used to, but—" Both girls ran to the closet immediately, smiling widely as they pulled out lovely dresses in a variety of colors. I laughed lightly. "There's tubs and water behind the curtain, if you want to bathe," I said, and Susan nodded, before pulling Lucy away from the dresses.
"Thank you," she said, and I nodded, stepping out of the tent. Turning, I was met with the doorway to my own tent, and I smiled widely, stepping inside. I stood for a moment, looking around. Never had I seen the sunshine float through the gold patterned cloth, or heard the birds sing from the trees outside. I sighed contentedly, walking over to my bed, where I set down my pack, and my cloak, and my weapons, before moving behind my own curtain to bathe. The water was warm for once, and I was glad to finally clean up after nearly a week of traveling. I washed my long hair, and scrubbed myself pink before drying off and choosing some fresh clothes from my trunk. I quickly pulled on a pair of brown trousers and a deep red tunic, over which I buckled my belt, before sliding on my worn boots and tying my damp hair back in a braid. Feeling refreshed, I took the few things that were left in my pack, returning them to their proper spots, before stashing my cloak and my empty bag in my trunk. As I closed the lid, I heard a gasp behind me, and I turned, seeing Aja standing in the doorway.
"Aja!" I cried, and she smiled, pulling me into a crushing hug. I laughed.
"Oh, you're a knight now!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe it! Well, of course I can believe it, but it seems like just yesterday that you could hardly even hold a sword!" I snorted.
"Yes, well, I had a great teacher," I said pointedly, and she beamed.
"Yes, yes, I know, of course!" I rolled my eyes, before turning as I heard the tent flap open. For a moment, I didn't recognize the person standing before me, until she smiled.
"Arden?" I stepped forward. "You—you look…" I fought to find the words. Her dark skin had a healthy glow, and her once dull eyes were now vibrant, a lovely pigmented green. Her hair was no longer short and gray, it fell down her back in thick, green waves, and her dress seemed to fit a little better.
"Evelyn!" She said, and enveloped me in a hug. I smiled.
"Arden, your tree! Is it…" She pulled back, laughing.
"It's fine! You brought the Kings and Queens, and with you, you brought spring. You saved me, Knight." She winked, and I laughed.
"Oh, I'm just glad you're alright." I turned to Aja. "I'm glad you're both alright. I take it nothing happened while I was gone? The Witch's followers haven't paid a visit, have they?" Aja shook her head.
"All was well, and is getting better," she said, smiling. I nodded, before taking up my sword and dagger, and buckling them to my belt.
"I'd better go find the Pevensies," I said.
"Pevensies?" asked Aja.
"The King and Queens," I elaborated. Arden nodded.
"I saw Aslan talking with the King up on the hill," she said. I nodded.
"Well, I won't disturb them, but I still need to find the Queens," I opened the tent flap, basking in the sunlight. "It's good to be back," I said, and they smiled. "I'll see you both later," I said, before beginning my walk around the camp to find Susan and Lucy. I asked around, but no one had seen them, until a small dryad said she had seen them by the stream that ran just next to the camp, yet was fairly secluded. I thanked her, and started to make my way towards the stream when a horn sounded, crisp and clear. I didn't recognize it, but it sent shivers down my spine, and I gasped, suddenly realizing what it was. "Susan," I whispered. The queen was in danger.
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