Chapter Eight~

The wolves seem to laugh at the sight, Peter however looks to Jessie like she's crazy for trying to help him as she merely keeps an eye on the wolves before them. Meanwhile Susan and Lucy cry from up above as Maurgrim says to the two,

"Come on you! We both know you two haven't got it in either of you!" then as one wolf circles around Jessie she snaps back,

"Stay there you!" so that Maurgrim shouts,

"You two may think you're going to be King and Queen—but you're going to die like dogs!" and as Maugrim leaps for Peter another wolf leaps at Jessie making Susan and Lucy scream. Jessie though impales the wolf in the gut as she falls on her side and as she scurries to sit up sees a hand in her line of vision and is surprise to see its Peter.

"Peter, Jessica, clean your swords." Aslan says in a clear firm voice so that they do so on the grass as the two kneel before the Great Lion who says to Peter,

"Rise Sir Peter-Wolves Bane, Knight of Narnia." then to Jessie he says to her,

"And Rise Dame Jessica-Silver Howl, Knight of Narnia." so that both Peter and Jessie exchange glances before the four share in a group hug as Aslan says to them,

"When Oreius returns he shall be bringing back your brother Edmund, until then we shall return to camp and make ready." as he turn back towards the campsite and begins to head for it as Peter says in a worried tone to Jessie,

"You didn't have to do that."

"Yes I did, I didn't want you or Susan or Lucy getting hurt." Jessie replied so that Peter's reply was to put a hand on her shoulder and ask her,

"But what about you?" leaving her with nothing to say as she just smiled a forced one as Susan stepped in to save the moment telling them,

"We should probably get back." so the four returned to the campsite and went to their separate tents to wait until Edmund returned. It wasn't for a long, long while that the girls stepped out to see Peter staring at Edmunds figure atop a hilly outcrop talking to Aslan.

"Edmund!" Lucy said only Jessie stopped her as Edmund and Aslan looked over to see them before they finished their conversation and walked over towards them with Aslan saying,

"What's done is done, there is no need to speak to Edmund about the past." then he walks away with Lucy the first to hug Edmund which he readily returns, then Susan asking how he feels. Jessie sees he has a cut lip and a bruise forming on his head so that when he walks past her she says,

"We were worried about you Edmund." making him stop and to her surprise he said,

"Thanks Jessie." causing her to grin as Peter told him to get some sleep before adding,

"And Edmund, try not to wander off." making a small smile appear on Edmund's face as he disappeared into the boys tent. It's later on that same day around dinner that the children are eating when Lucy makes a comment about Narnia not running out of toast causing Jessie to laugh. Yet Peter only says,

"I'm sure they'll pack something up for the journey back." causing the four others to look at him as Jessie wonders in utter confusion,

"We're going back Peter?" he exhales deeply and runs a hand through his hair before stating as if to make it obvious,

"I promised Mum I'd keep you safe, and I'm sure your great aunt wants you back safe too. But that doesn't mean I can't stay and help." only young Lucy shakes her head saying with determination,

"But they need us, all five of us." yet Peter frowned saying to her in a snap,

"Lucy it's too dangerous, Jessie almost drowned and Edmund was almost killed!" then suddenly Edmund spoke up, saying how he'd seen what the White Witch could do, which is why they had to stay and help them. That they couldn't let these people suffer.

"Edmund's right Peter, my—my father died for the same cause that we're fight for, to free people who can't do it themselves. But we won't be alone because we have Aslan to help us." Jessie said making them all stare at her in shock, for they had never heard of her talk about her family outside of her great aunt. Lucy took hold of Jessie's hand as Susan said,

"Well I suppose that's it then," and standing she caused Peter to ask where she was going as she grabbed her quiver and arrows saying,

"To get in some practice." so that Susan and Lucy go off while Peter, Jessie and Edmund find themselves getting a quick lesson from Oreius how to use a sword before they are assigned horses. Peter is given a rare unicorn, Jessie a black stallion and Edmund a chestnut stallion. As they practice galloping and then switching who 'fights' when Mr. Beaver comes running up saying,

"Peter, Edmund, Jessica!" causing Jessie to roll her eyes as he continues,

"The Witch has demanded a meeting with Aslan, she's on her way here!" causing the children to look at one another before racing back to the campsite to see her arriving being carried by cyclopes as the troops boo and hiss at her name. Jessie hadn't seen her before so to her she was deathly beautiful, with white blond hair and icy blue/hazel eyes wearing a long white gown while she made others do her own work. When the children appear she glances over before stating calmly,

"You have a traitor in your midst Aslan." so that the Great Lion says,

"His offense was not against you." yet she continues saying,

"Have you forgotten the laws upon which Narnia was built?" making Aslan growl out,

"Do not cite the Deep Magic to me Witch, I was there when it was written." that made the White Witches eyebrow rise up as she says,

"Then you'll remember well, that every traitor belongs to me. That boy's blood is my property!" and at that she pointed at Edmund so that Peter and Jessie removed their swords as Peter said,

"Try and take him then!" only she scoffed and said in a sickly sweet voice to Peter while glancing at Jessie,

"You think mere force will deny me my rights….little king? For as Aslan knows that unless I have blood, as the law demands, all Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water," she states in a booming voice to the crowd making everyone murmur and whisper before turning and pointing back at Edmund saying,

"That boy will die on the Stone Table as is tradition. You dare not refuse me!"

"Enough! I shall talk with you alone." Aslan says cutting her off from anymore talk so that she glides over towards his tent and glances at Jessie who keeps her sword visible making a smile appear on her face. Its hours and hours later that the White Witch appears from the tent so that Aslan says boomingly,

"She has renounced her claim on the Son of Adam's blood." making the whole crowd cheer until she has to go and say,

"How do I know your promise will be kept?" yet it seems Aslan has had enough because he roars in her face making her sit into her chair as the crowd continues to cheer as the five children are congratulated—but Jessie and Lucy both share in the sight of Aslan looking disheartened. When the celebration over Edmund being freed of the Stone Table is over and nighttime falls, Jessie can't find sleep so that when she hears footsteps outside the tent she shares with Susan and Lucy, she sits up to see Lucy looking outside—and Aslan's figure walking.

"Susan." the two hiss so that she wakes to see the Great Lion's figure and as Jessie and Lucy go to follow Susan grabs her horn and quiver along with her bow before they start to follow him. It's not long into following him that he says,

"Shouldn't you three be in bed?" so that they step out from hiding and it's Jessie who says,

"We couldn't sleep Aslan."

"Please Aslan, can't we come with you?" Susan asks so that he turns his might head and says softly,

"I would be glad for the company for a little while, thank you." so that they each take a handful of mane before they walked alongside him. Then he paused and said,

"It is time, from here I must go alone."