Welcome back, you lot! Thanks for continuing reading this fanfic. It really does mean a lot to me.
Remember to reivew or PM me ideas for Henri's name for being queen (like Lucy has Lucy the Valiant, etc.)! It would really help. (:
Please enjoy this next chapter! I think it just may be the longest yet.
Sing Out! (:
SW
Disclaimer: I do not claim copyrights to any of the Chronicles of Narnia books, written by C. S. Lewis, including characters, dialogue, events, and places.
Chapter 9: The Escape
Peter's POV
Lucy cries herself to sleep which makes me feel even worse. I should have tried harder to save Henri. Now she's gone and possibly dead.
If Edmund wasn't so thick, we wouldn't be hiding from the Witch's secret police. He really agravates me sometimes. I don't mean to be so bossy and rude, but his bad mood rubs off on me.
That morning, I am woken by the sound of sobbing. Lucy again.
"Lucy," Susan whispers groggily, "Lucy, shhh...you must keep quiet."
"Well that's pointless now, isn't it? All of us are awake," grumps Mr. Beaver.
"Oh, Beaver, I told you to eat something before bed! You're so cranky when you're hungry," scolds Mrs. Beaver.
"How about we get out of this cramped cave before we argue?" I suggest. Everyone agrees and crawl out one at a time.
Last night after the Fox saved us from the Witch's wolves, Mr. Beaver took us to this little cave so we might rest before journeying to the Stone Table.
Mrs. Beaver sets out a small breakfast.
"Do you think we'll reach Aslan by tonight?" asks Lucy curiously.
"We might," says Mr. Beaver. "It depends on how fast you humans can move."
Susan and I chuckle. Lucy gives a small smile. She still hasn't gotten over Henri being taken. I suppose it's partly my fault. I didn't have my full strength and didn't fight as I could have. Henri isn't a traitor. I guess she just didn't want to get hurt. But, of course, it's all Ed's doing that we're even in this mess.
"The wolves will be off track for a bit, but they are very intelligent and will soon notice that they're going in the wrong direction," Mrs. Beaver says.
"What about Henri?" Lucy wonders. "Is it Aslan that must save her, too?"
"It's just like we discussed last night, Lu," I say. "And you're right, only Aslan will be able to do any good with her."
"I wouldn't worry too much, Lu. Henri is tough. She'll make it out alright," Susan encourages. I build off her comment.
"Besides, she has taken Edmund down before. She won't let that scheming Witch get to her."
Lucy grins.
On a much more cheerful note, we pack up and start our journey to the Stone Table.
I know Aslan will be there waiting for us. I hope he's everything I've imagined him to be. Noble. Strong. Protective. Kind and caring. A wise lion. The Great Lion.
*LINE BREAK*
Henri's POV
Edmund and I have lived through the night. I assume that's a good sign. He's still a grump, but not as cheeky as before. We've laid our differences aside and are concentrating on one key factor for our survival: escaping.
"Henri," Ed whispers nervously, "Henri, I hear footsteps!"
"The plan, remember the plan," I tell him quickly. He nods.
"Good luck."
"You too."
The ogre and dwarf appear. They say nothing until they are standing over me and Edmund.
"Her Majesty has requested the Daughter of Eve be brought up first," sneers the dwarf, "then the Son of Adam is to be loaded onto the sledge for transportation."
Oh, for transportation? Really? I thought he would be moved onto the sled for eating toast. Um, duh, for transportation you stupid dwarf!
The ogre releases me first, his sledgehammer breaking the shackles like they are made of ice. I spring into action. I punch the dwarf in the face, knocking him out with one good swing of my fist. I bend over to retrieve the curved knife that hangs at his belt. A pair of large, slimy greenish-gray hands grabs me. That foul ogre has me!
"Let go of me! Let go!" I screech. He starts to trudge slowly towards the stairs. "Help! Help!"
Suddenly, the ogre jerks violently and slides to the floor, loosening his grasp on me. I turn to see Edmund standing in his shackles with the ogre's sledgehammber at his side.
"Now I really want a bath," I say, breaking Ed's shackles. I pick up the dwarf's knife and tuck it into my pocket. "Come on!"
We burst through the doors at the top of the stairs and sprint through the Witch's house, constantly alert for her or any wolves. I struggle running, but end up in sort of a fast limp. I can keep up with Edmund so I'm not complaining.
We make our way to the courtyard, rounding slick corners and avoiding prowling wolves. If those courtyard doors are locked, I will NOT be a happy escapee!
We race into the courtyard, expecting the Witch to be waiting there for us. We skid to a stop in surprise.
"Where is she?" whispers Edmund hoarsely. I elbow him sharply in the ribs.
"Shut it! Let's just keep going! The doors are open!"
I feel a tug at the back of my neck and I'm jerked backwards along with Edmund.
"Now just where do you think YOU are going?" a voice hisses in my ear. I realize it's the White Witch. I struggle for a moment and see that her hand is clenched around my coat collar, not my shirt.
An idea pops into my head. It's not the best, and very risky, but it'll have to do. I'm sorry, Ed.
"Away from you," I spit at the Witch. I slip my arms out of my coat and take off towards the open doors.
"Run, Henri! RUN! DON'T STOP!" Edmund shouts after me.
I'm out of the courtyard. I look at the looming forest in front of me and deicide that I must head South, straight through the trees in the direction of the Stone Table. To Aslan.
I hear the Witch ordering someone after me. A wolf howls. The barks and howling get closer and closer behind me as I sprint through the forest, past the beaver's dam and more.
I pant heavily. It's a good thing I'm a runner!
Then a wolf gets dreadfully close to biting my good ankle. I want to go faster, but my wound restricts it. I trample on as quickly as I can, my flee instinct really starting to kick in.
I make a horrid decision to look behind me. Four wolves are on my tail. I gasp, choking on air, then trip clumsily over a tree root.
I brandish my knife at the wolves.
"Keep away!" I bark with all the power and confidence I can muster.
The alpha wolf just laughs.
"Do not make jokes now, Daugter of Eve," it snarls. "The Queen has ordered your death and we intend to carry out her instructions."
"I said keep away," I say through gritted teeth. The wolves chuckle again.
"Prepare to die," growls the alpha wolf. It bares its teeth, ready for the kill. I grip the knife tightly, reading to fight until the end.
Then a whizzing sound echoes through the gloomy air. An arrow sprouts from the alpha wolf's side. More arrows come from behind me, not one getting close to my body. I scoot off to the side and lean against a tree. Rocks join the arrows in attacking the wolves that yelp and bark at impact.
"Stand your ground!" yells the alpha wolf in desperation.
"Ready, aim...FIRE!" I hear a squeaky voice command. A hailstorm of tree nuts comes pouring down on the wolves. The wolves shriek and flip-flop over each other trying to get away. I almost laugh at them comically running away from walnuts falling from the trees.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
"They've gone mad!"
"Too many nuts!"
The wolves hurry back in the direction of the Witch's ice palace.
My rescuers make themselves known. Squirrels bound lightly to the ground from the tree branches above. A Fox, two Badgers, a Rabbit, a Dog, a Bear Cub, a Tiger, and a red-bearded dwarf walk to where the Squirrels sit. I stand.
"Thank you ever so much!" I thank them gratefully.
You are very welcome. It was a great honor serving you, Your Majesty," the first Badger replies as it kneels. The other creatures follow suit.
'Your Majesty?' I am not a queen...yet. Not until the White Witch is defeated and Aslan has put everything in Narnia right again. These animals could be in real trouble if the Witch knew they were addressing me as a queen!
"Um, th-that's not really n-necessary," I stammer. The Badger stands.
"But it is," it counters kindly. "The prophecy."
My eyebrows rise as I remember the verse.
"When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone sits at Cair Paravel in throne, the evil time will be over and done," I mutter to myself.
"Already, winter has started to fade," says the dwarf.
"How do you think we collected all those nuts?" squeaks the smallest Squirrel.
"Quiet, Autumn!" an older Squirrel shushes, elbowing the smaller one harshly. "This is a Queen of Narnia!"
"Forgive me, Your Majesty." Autumn gives me a little bow.
"There's no need for an apology," I giggle.
"You are very kind, my Queen," says the older Squirrel.
The Bear Cub gasps.
"Oh, Your Majesty! Your ankle!"
I look down at my wound. It is still covered in dry blood and is oozing more blood. I grimace.
"Oh, yes, about that..." I say. I lean against a tree trunk, my vision starting to spin a bit. I had forgotten all about it until it was mentioned!
"The secret police?" guesses the Dog grimly. I nod.
"Let us help, if you please," the Rabbit offers.
"Rustkin is very skilled," the Bear Cub comments.
"He knows a lot about blood!" one of the Squirrels chimes in.
"He'll fix you up in a jiffy!" another Squirrel says.
"That would be lovely," I agree.
"Come," the dwarf gestures, "our homes are this way. I can take a look at it there."
The Animals and the dwarf (who I presume is Rustkin) lead me to a miniscule clearing in the middle of the woods. There are tiny Squirrel houses and various other homes belonging to the other animals. The two Badgers and Rustkin tend to my ankle in their underground house (with all the others insisting on seeing me down the hole and staying to talk).
I then learn most of their names.
The two Badgers are called Snufflefinder (a he-Badger) and Furclimber (a she-Badger) and the dwarf is Rustkin. The Tiger's name is Moonbeam, the Fox is simply Fox, the Bear Cub is Buzzy, the Rabbit is Ivoryfoot, the Dog is named Charles, and the Squirrels are named Autumn, Ash, Scamper, Scurry, Olive, Willow, Walnut, Sycamore, and Cinder.
"Were you on your way to the Stone Table, Your Majesty?" Furclimber inquires as she puts the kettle on for tea.
"Yes. I am on my way to meet Aslan and the other King and Queens there," I reply.
"Just one king?" says Snufflefinder doubtfully. I nod gravely.
"The other is...in trouble," I explain.
"Trouble? Does this involve her?" asks Ivoryfoot, his voice fading away at the mention of the Witch. I nod.
"Unfortunately."
The Squirrels all squeak.
"What happened?" wonders Willow.
"Is the other King dead?" Scamper questions.
"No, silly! He can't be dead or spring wouldn't be starting to bloom!" Scurry argues with his brother.
"Did he get captured by...the icy person?" asks Cinder.
"Did he disobey is mum?" Olive raises her hand as if in class.
"Don't raise your hand, Olive! We're not in tree-school anymore," Walnut remarks.
"I liked tree-school," Cinder harumphs.
Their cheerful banter makes me smile.
"No, he...well, I'd rather not discuss it," I say.
"Did you escape?" Autumn says. "Were you in her dungeon?"
"I was and I did escape," I confirm. "I somehow got away, but only because of you lot. If you hadn't come to my rescue, I would be very, very dead."
"What about the King?" Moonbeam probes. "Is he still in the dungeon?"
"I-I'm not sure," I say unconfidently.
This is the first time in my life that I'm actually worried about Edmund. I never thought I'd ever think this, but I really do hope that he's all right and not stuck in the dungeon again.
The feeling of guilt washes over me like a tidal wave. I left him behind. That was wrong of me.
"Are you okay, Your Majesty?" Charles the Dog asks. I shake myself out of my own world. All are staring at me quite concerned.
"Y-yes, I'm fine," I say. Then there's the sound of sledge bells. Oh, gosh... "It's Her."
"What is it, Your Majesty?" says Fox.
"It's Her," I repeat. The Squirrels hop around in a panic and Ivoryfoot joins them soon after he realizes what I've just said.
"Hide! Hide!" Rustkin hisses at us all. The Squirrels all hide in little nooks and cranies around the house and Fox, Charles, and Ivoryfoot all scurry into closets. I stay sitting on the bed, my ankle still elevated.
Rustkin finishes wrapping my wound and gives my leg a comforting pat.
"I will go check to see if she's up there," he says. I shake my head.
"No, I'll go," I refuse his offer. "It's me she wants."
"And that is exactly why I will go," Moonbeam cuts in. She bounds up the small staircase before anyone rejects.
All is quiet for a minute or two. We all have the same question poking at our minds: is Moonbeam dead?
Then we hear padded foot-I mean, paw-steps on the stairs. Her head pops in around the corner.
"It's not Her," she tells us. "Someone who is vastly different and has something to give us all."
Everyone comes out of hiding and we all exit the cozy underground house.
The snow has melted even more since we've been down there.
Standing by a lovely brown and red sleigh is the jolly old man himself. Father Christmas.
"Merry Christmas," he laughs. I am in complete shock.
"Merry Christmas," I respond. The Squirrels and Ivoryfoot are in a flurry at the sight of Father Christmas's bag of presents.
"Your Majesty, even now your presence is weakening the Witch's power. Your arrival, as well as the other Kings and Queens, has once again allowed me access to Narnia. Thank you for that," says Father Christmas merrily. "I was blocked from this world for many years and now I can continue my business here."
"Do we get presents?" asks Autumn timidly.
"Of course, young one, of course!" he booms, patting the Squirrel gently on the head.
And out of his sack he pulls a lovely Christmas dinner and Christmas decorations. Snufflefinder and Furclimber bring out a long table and the others get out their own chairs. I laugh at the sight of them setting up their party.
I glance up to notice that the trees are beginning to blossom beneath the melting frost and ice. It is not as cold as it was before.
Father Christmas turns to me.
"And to you, Your Majesty," says Father Christmas. "I have something that is not at all an ordinary present."
He leads me to his sledge where he reaches into a different pocket in his bag. In his hand is a sword and shield bearing a scarlet lion with a silver backround.
My eyes widen as he offers them to me.
"Are you sure these are mine?" I say. Father Christmas chuckles.
"How could they not be?" he says. "You are very capable of learning this skill. But you must remember that these are not toys. They are tools that may come in handy soon."
"There's going to be a war isn't there? That's why Aslan wants us to meet him at the Stone Table. He has an army there," I realize.
"Yes," Father Christmas confirms. "And I do hope you travel there safely."
I look past him to see more weapons in the pocket. There is a sheath of arrows with the initials SP on the front. SP...Susan Pevensie!
"Sir, are the others still traveling?" I ask excitedly.
"Why yes, they are. Would you like me to tell them that you're alive and well?" says Father Christmas.
I grin slyly. "No, thank you sir. I would very much enjoy scaring them out of their wits when they see me arrive at the Stone Table."
"That will be good for them, eh?" The jolly old fellow winks.
"Thank you ever so much, sir!" I say.
"It was no problem," he says merrily. The he turns to all of us here.
"I must be off!" he announces. "I have many more presents to deliver and the other Kings and Queens to visit!"
"Goodbye!"
"See you next Christmas!"
"Have a good year!"
"Thank you!"
"Happy Christmas!" calls out Father Christmas. Then he jumps onto his sleigh and drives off.
I turn to Rustkin.
"Rustkin, which way to the Stone Table?"
"Your Majesty, you will not be traveling alone," he replies. "Moonbeam, Snufflefinder, and I were planning on joining Aslan's army and still need to get there. We will accompany you there."
"That'd be fantastic," I smile.
"No one knows the underground like me!" Snufflefinder pipes up. "There are many tunnels that snake its way over to the Stone Table. They are faster than traveling above land. We should reach there by the end of the night, Your Majesty. Maybe even faster than that!"
"Then shall we leave?" says Moonbeam.
"Yep," I say. "I'm ready to give Lucy, Peter, and Susan a jolly good heart attack by showing up. Let's go."
Now I know I keep saying this, but I really won't be posting for a while. School is starting up for me again and I really need to focus on my homework and such. Thank you for following the story this long!
Remember to help me out with Henri's queen name!
Sing Out! (:
SW