Chapter 8: Fighting Destiny
Disclaimer: The characters and other things from The Chronicles of Narnia don't belong to me (sadly). Credit goes to those who do.
"Come on. We'll just come back later."
"But it would just take a minute and he'll be all better already!"
He was mildly aware of the voices whispering around him, focusing instead on the wonderful dream he was having of Susan being back. He could practically smell her perfume. He didn't want it to end especially since it diverted his attention from the throbbing pain from his side.
"Come on Lucy!" the first voice repeated, her voice rising above a whisper.
"But Susaaaan!"
Caspian's eyes flew open at the name. It wasn't a dream. She was really right here.
"I guess it's time to take a drop of that cordial?" he said with a lopsided grin on his face.
Susan turned to him and blushed.
"Sorry. I tried to convince her to let you sleep some more. You looked like you were having such a nice dream," she said sheepishly
Lucy ran to him and placed a drop of the liquid on his tongue. Immediately he felt warmth that spread throughout his body, healing every ache and pain. His hand pressed the wound at his side and it was as if it was never there at all.
Susan's face was still creased with worry. "Are you alright now?"
Lucy looked at her sister curiously, tilting her head wondering why she asked that. Susan knew how the cordial worked and should have no reason to be concerned.
Caspian didn't answer and instead slowly sat up and took a number of deep breaths as if making sure that his ribs really wouldn't hurt from the movement.
He stood up and in one move he lifted Susan from the ground and spun her around room as Lucy watched, her childish giggles filling the room.
"Caspian put me down!" Susan exclaimed not really meaning it.
He smiled and gently set her down but still did not let go of his hold on her waist.
"Now that's how I imagined our first meeting would be." Caspian said still smiling.
"You mean you imagined yourself to be injured then magically healed so you could surprise me like that?" Susan said raising her eyebrows at him, a similar smile on her radiant face.
"Wow Su, I didn't know you still had it in you to be funny. I must say it's a nice change from all the moping around." Edmund said biting an apple, walking into the room as if he belonged there. The pair moved apart but absentmindedly held hands together, fingers intertwined.
"Oh Ed, leave them alone!" Lucy said exasperated with her brother. He had such a knack for ruining lovely moments.
"It's good to see you well Caspian." Peter said interrupting the Edmund and Lucy.
The high king moved gave Caspian a quick brotherly hug, maneuvering around the tightly clasped hand of his sister and the king.
"It's good to have you all back." Caspian replied sincerely.
Edmund bit back the side comment he had for that one as Peter silenced him with a look. The high king understood this was Edmund's way of dealing with the threat of Jadis' return but now was simply not the time.
"Uh, I wish we could celebrate your return in a grander fashion," Caspian began uncertainly casting glances at Edmund glaring at Peter. "But the people are still in mourning and we are still at war. I'm afraid the only sensible offer I can make is a simple banquet, perhaps tomorrow evening."
"Don't be silly Caspian! That's just perfect! Oh I'll go tell Trumpkin. I'm sure he'll be excited!" Lucy said leaving the room in search of the DLF.
"An excited Trumpkin? Now that's something I have to see for myself…" Edmund said following Lucy out.
Peter watched the two leave, shaking his head. Sometimes he wondered how it was that the two managed to appear untouched by all the troubles that came their way.
"Lucy is right. We need to give hope to people by letting them know of our return but without drawing unnecessary attention from the witch's camp. It would also be a good opportunity to talk to the Narnians about strategy." Peter said.
The three of them looked at each other solemnly remembering the menace that lurked somewhere in their beautiful kingdom. They almost lost one battle but they will not lose the war.
Caspian's jaw was set, looking every bit the war-hardened hero, as he thought of all his people who died in the first encounter. He could not let their deaths be in vain. He will bring peace to his land. No, they will bring the White Witch down. He will not pretend he can do it alone.
As if understanding what he was thinking, Susan squeezed his hand before letting it go.
"You are well now Caspian but you must rest your mind as well. The cordial can only heal you physically but not the mental stress that comes with being in battle."
She fixed him a look that kept him from arguing and he just nodded to her. He approached her and touched his forehead to hers.
"Good night, my queen."
"Good night, Caspian."
Peter cleared his throat reminding the others that he was still there.
"Right so good night there old chap. Uh, sleep tight." Peter said awkwardly, giving Caspian a light tap on the shoulder at the same time tugging on Susan to usher her out.
They could still hear Caspian's soft laugh at Peter's antics when they shut the door.
"Honestly Susan. Can't you at least remember to keep in mind that there are other people around you? I'd have given anything to have Edmund say something sarcastic right about two minutes ago!" Peter said still shaking his hear in disbelief.
Susan rolled her eyes at her brother, a smile still plastered on her face.
His face softened at the radiant glow on her face. He sighed before continuing, serious this time, "I'm very happy for you. I do hope you make the most of the time you have. Right now you think that being in Narnia is enough but it can't last forever."
At the warning look Susan gave him, he held his hands up, "Wait let me finish. I'm not saying Aslan will send us back or anything. But let's face it—anyone of us can die out there. You know Jadis and what she can do. Aslan allowed us to return but he didn't promise us immortality. Just a reality check, Su."
They were at her chambers at this point. Susan held the doorknob but didn't turn it just yet.
Looking straight at Peter, she wasn't aware that a tear was already making its way down her face.
"I understand perfectly. I meant what I said to Aslan, that I would rather be here even if that meant watching over his grave. But that doesn't mean I'll fight hell and high water to make sure he stays alive…that we all stay alive to see kids running around this place," she said smiling slightly, remembering Edmund's comment about nieces and nephews.
She took a deep breath and continued, "I promise you this Peter, I'll make the most out of this. I won't make your sacrifice to come back a waste."
Tears were flowing freely now and Peter wiped it away with his hand, remaining silent knowing she had to get this off her chest.
"I never said thank you for supporting me, for coming back with me. It wasn't easy on you and I'm sorry."
Peter smiled, "There's no need for that. We're home and that's what counts. Besides, as your big brother I was obligated to find a way to keep you from becoming a fixture on that train."
Susan laughed at that and moved to go in the room.
"Night Peter…"
"Night Su…"
The two were oblivious to the tiny sniffles in the dark corner where Reepicheep's men stood guard over the queen's bedchamber. They took courage from the queen who was unafraid to show her remorse at what others needed to sacrifice for her and how she was willing to stand up for them. If there was any doubt before, it was now gone—they will defend the gentle queen for as long as they can or die trying.
Peter couldn't sleep. He kept walking around surprised he was still familiar with the castle. Granted, Caspian managed to capture almost all the details of the original structure. Well, except for the added feature—the tree from which they passed through. Curiously, it was also in this castle. Well, it could be a different one. He must remember to ask Caspian how he did this.
"Ah, finally the library, maybe something in here will help us understand how to defeat the White Witch." Peter said opening the door to the library.
"Professor Cornelius!" Peter said surprised to find the old man at the library at this late hour.
"Your majesty," replied the professor moving to stand up.
"Please, do not get up. There's no need to be formal. It's just me." Peter said placing a hand on the old man's shoulder gesturing to him to sit back down.
"Is there anything you would need help in finding?" Professor Cornelius asked.
"I was hoping to find something about what happened to the witch between her fall more than a thousand years ago and now. "
"Hmmm, there is no book or documentation per se. The only thing I have is this."
The old man took the paper on the top of the heap beside him and showed it to the high king.
It was a detailed drawing of the witch's staff, down to the inscription on the length of it much like the one on his sword.
Immortal is the power within. Immortal the queen shall remain.
"So long as that exists, so shall Jadis. Even the smallest fragment will tie her to this world to wait for another one to find a way to bring her back. Half of that survived and was stolen just a few weeks back."
"So we destroy it and she'll be gone?" Peter asked looking up at the professor.
"Every last bit. My king you cannot kill something already dead as her heart is but you can vanquish her source of strength. The power inside that staff is her spirit you see. She encased it because she could not bear to do evil with it burning inside her. It always kept her one step short of what she really wanted."
Peter looked up at the professor, in awe that the White Witch wasn't always what she used to be.
"She chose winter because it held still all the colors that shine brightly out of any living creature. She chose it because the chill seeped through layers and made you feel alone because you don't feel anything around you but the endless cold.
That is her greatest weapon—her ability to create that feeling of loneliness."
"Now," the professor said standing up "as an old man, I need my rest and I ask your permission to leave, sire."
Peter nodded silently, still trying to process what the old man was saying.
Seeing the high king so serious, he gave an encouraging smile.
"Your majesty, take courage from the fact that your weapon is exactly the opposite as that of the witch and that is your family. Where Jadis has minions and slaves, you have your siblings, people and Aslan most especially. Aside from the lion's roar, nothing would shock her more than to see the five of you bearing down on her, fighting for Narnia. Good night, your majesty."
Alone again, he stood up and stared outside the window where it was quiet and peaceful. It was in moments like this that he could believe anything—even defeating the White Witch once and for all.
He closed his eyes and sighed. 'Why is it I'm so afraid to fight this war? Why do I feel like we won't make it through this time around?' Peter thought to himself.
Have you forgotten who really defeated the White Witch Peter?
Ever since Lucy said these words to him, they never stopped echoing in his mind. He was afraid to make the same mistake again and lead these people to their death. The images of those left behind when the gates could no longer be held. Their blood would forever be on his hands for he was the one who led them there.
Things never happen the same way twice.
Aslan's words never rang truer in his mind. He will make sure that this one will be different. He will listen, he will fight and he will do everything in his power to give Susan and Caspian the future that destiny tried so hard to take from them.
