Author's Note: I own nothing.
The next three days had all five of us doing a basic routine. For me, it starts with family breakfast in the morning followed by exercise (to not loose muscle) with Edmund and Peter. Then, Ed goes off with Meliaus and Oreius comes to help Peter and I. Depending on how much we spar, we either relax a bit in the fields before going to sleep, or have a family supper. Lucy and Susan normally do target practice, though it's mostly Susan with her bow and Lucy watching.
Today, though, Oreius is showing Ed, Peter and I how to ride a horse while holding our swords and/or fighting with them. The horse that I'm riding is jet black, called Phantom. After getting on our horses and running a bit, it isn't hard to add our swords in the mix. "Keep the reins in one hand, the sword in the other and keep the point up, so as to not harm the horse. Now, ride!"
I kick my horse with my heels and we tear off into the fields. The wind is whipping me in the face and flinging my hair behind me. Riding makes me feel so free. I let out a carefree laugh.
Coming over one of the hills, I can see the shooting range set up with Susan facing the targets. Each one has an arrow in the bulls eye, except for one that has a dagger in it. "Come on, Ed! Sword point up!" Peter yells from behind me, causing the girls to turn to look at them. They're clashing swords only slightly, probably because they're still getting use to riding.
Edmund yells, "En garde." Ed's sword work is coming along pretty well and isn't as bad as I thought it'd be. But Peter's holding back to help him learn. "Peter! Edmund!" a voice calls out, one that I haven't heard in a few days.
I pull the reins to turn my horse. Running up to us, on his little legs through the tall grass, is Beaver. His appearance must've freaked out Ed's horse a bit because he whinnies and bucks up on his back legs. "Whoa, Horsie!" he yells as the horse lands back on all fours. "My name, is Phillip." The horse-Phillip-says matter of factly.
Edmund's face turns a light shade of red, "Oh, sorry."
"Ha. His Majesty should know not to think every animal can't talk," Phantom says. "I'll be sure to tell him," I reply.
Beaver reaches us with a look of distress on him. "The Witch has demanded a meeting with Aslan. She's on her way here."
Oh dear Aslan.
~Line Break~Long Live Aslan~Line Break~Long Live Aslan~Line Break~Long Live Aslan
Rushing back to the tents, we come to find nearly everyone making a long aisle up the path that leads to Aslan's tent. There's a small dwarf in the front of the procession yelling, "Jadis, the Queen of Narnia, Empress of the Lone Islands!" The person herself comes in from around the corner atop of a portable throne being carried by minatours.
She looks nothing like I imagined her to be. To be honest, when everyone said witch, I was thinking green skin and boils not…this. She's…well she's human. She's wearing a long light blue dress that rests just off her shoulders. Her hair is a dirty blonde, but looks so pale at the same time. Her skin is a snow white that brings out her ice blue eyes that are boring into my identical ones.
The crowd is booing her, telling her to go home while Aslan, who has emerged from his tent, is giving a low growl. She's still staring at me as the minatours set her throne down on the floor and stands. Even walking forward, her eyes never leave mine. Only when they ghost over Edmund's face do her features harden and she looks away, towards Aslan.
She stops a small ways away from him, "You have a traitor in your midst, Aslan." Her voice is calm and controlled; diplomatic.
"His offense was not against you." He nearly growls out.
"Have you forgotten the laws upon which Narnia was built?"
"Do not cite the Deep Magic to me, Witch. I was there when it was written." This time he does growl it out, but the Witch doesn't even flinch. And the Deep Magic thing came up again. From what Aslan has told us, I can imagine that if she's the one bringing it up, then it can't be good.
"Then you'll remember well that every traitor belongs to me. His blood is my property." Those are fighting words, ones that Peter is more than likely to jump on.
When he tenses next to me, I confirm my suspicion. I grab his hand to stop him from doing something stupid, "Then take him!" I yell, "I dare you." The Witch's head snaps toward me, and she stares, again, at me wide-eyed. Why does she keep staring? It's downright creepy.
"Aslan knows well that, unless I have blood as the law demands," she turns to face the crowd, "all of Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water. That boy," she points at Edmund, "will die on the Stone Table…as is tradition. You dare not refuse me." She finishes up by staring intently at Aslan.
"Enough. I shall talk with you alone." He turns and goes into his tent, obviously wanting the Witch to follow. After a moment's hesitation, she follows suit, making sure to look as regal as she can in the process. Well that's all well and dandy, but what the hell are we supposed to do in the mean time?
~Line Break~Long Live Aslan~Line Break~Long Live Aslan~Line Break~Long Live Aslan
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. We've been sitting here doing nothing for who knows how long. A lot of the others followed our example and sat down too, while others are leaning on weapons or shifting from foot to foot uncomfortably. "Isabelle." Aslan's voice scares me. I look up and see just his head sticking out of the tent. "Please join us."
With that, he retreats back inside. Why am I being called? If anyone, it should be Edmund. Regardless, I stand from my spot, while Peter gives me an encouraging smile which immediately relaxes me. I can feel everyone's stare burning into my back and am glad to be rid of them when I enter the tent.
Aslan and the Witch are standing there waiting for me. The tension in the small area is evident and seems to rise when I enter, "Belle, there are some things we need to discuss." Aslan starts.
"But-Edmund-"
"Edmund's case has already been dealt with. You have been called in for a different reason that has come to light. She will not agree to our decision on Edmund unless I allow her to speak to you." He turns his head to the Witch as if to hand the conversation to her. What could she say to me?
"To be put plainly, you possess powers which no one else does. No one except myself." She says. "I am offering to train you, help you in that aspect, in exchange for your allegiance to me and my army." Is she nuts? Does she think that I'll just switch sides and leave everybody that I've grown close to behind to fight for a side that I think is wrong? And powers. What is she talking about? I don't have any powers.
"What powers are you talking about?" I ask.
Aslan answers, "That cannot be said at this time."
The Witch moves closer to me and I have to resist the urge to step back. She leans into me and whispers so softly that I don't think Aslan can hear. "If you join me, I'll teach you things you could only ever imagine. You would be immensely powerful. Everyone would be below you. You could save them, you know. I would spare the lives of your loved ones if you came to me." Her eyes are boring into mine; memorizing. Like she will really do what she said she can. I could save so many people.
No. No, she's trying to tempt me. She's lying, about everything. I'm better than this. She can't trick me. This is probably how she got Edmund to come to her; by tempting him with something he wanted. Just think of family; Lucy, Susan, Edmund and Peter. If I go to her side, they'll die for sure. And if not, I would be the one to die. I back away, "No. Don't touch me. Stay the hell away from me. I'm staying. The next time you see me, it'll be on the battlefield; fighting with Aslan."
I just-I have to get away. I can't be in this tent anymore. I storm out of there. Outside, everyone looks up from whatever they were doing and stares at me. I don't say anything as I run away from them. I'm really starting to appreciate the running we've been doing every day because leaving as fast as I can helps alleviate some of my anger. Anger at myself.
I don't stop running until I'm out in the fields and behind some of the boulders. Angry tears come out of my eyes as I process everything. Why would Aslan let her tempt me like that? He could always refuse her and force her to leave. But maybe he knew that I wouldn't take her offer and that it would be a fruitless effort on her part. I start pacing back and forth, frustration at the forefront of my mind. She almost had me.
"Belle." My head snaps to the bearer of the voice, one that I know by heart. He's looking at me in concern, taking in my appearance. "Peter, please. Just-" I don't get to finish as my mouth is now pressed against his shoulder as he hugs me. I return the hug easily as I try to calm down. "Edmund's been spared and the Witch left."
I know he's trying to calm me down by giving me good news, but it's not working. I nearly just sold my family off; just like Edmund. Only this time, I don't think there would be a chance for redemption. I'm probably really freaking him out, but he just keeps holding me, whispering that everything is going to be ok.
Finally, when my tears run dry, and my breathing returns to normal, he pulls back slightly and looks at me. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah…yeah, I'm okay."
"I'd really like to know what happened, but as I was leaving to find you, Aslan asked me to get you to his tent as soon as you've calmed down." Of course. He probably wants to explain or something or the other. It's not like I can refuse an order from him though.
"Alright. Let's go. I promise to tell you after we're done." He gives me a small smile in affirmation and grabs my hand.
The walk back is quiet. Susan, Lucy, and Edmund are waiting by Aslan's tent but off to the side. I split from Peter and head yet again into Aslan's tent. This time, though, he is lying down with his head resting on his paws. When I come in, he brings his head up and looks at me with his golden eyes. "Isabelle. Please come in and have a seat."
He watches me as I come forward and sit in front of him, Indian style. "You are well aware of the rule Jadis puts over all of Narnia. You have also seen the direct damage she has done to Edmund. She would agree to our deal on Edmund if I allowed her to talk to you. I am aware of her power to enchant those to do what she wishes. But I also know that you are stronger than her. Your heart is pure; it would not be so easily tainted by her power, no matter how immense."
He had this much faith in me. He knew that I wouldn't take the offer. Even when I didn't know that myself. Even when I almost did take it. I can't really blame him. I guess by being part of this exchange, I was able to help Edmund. "Alright, I guess. But…what was she talking about. When she said that I had some sort of power?"
"That, I cannot tell you. You must figure out what you can on your own before I can give away any information. But the answer may be closer than you might think."
Great. Now I'm going to have to really think about it. But if its power, if I figure out what it is before we go to battle, maybe it can help. But it won't be any help, though, if I don't know how to use it. And Jadis said she was the only one who could teach her.
Aslan chuckling brings me out of my thinking, "You worry too much, dear one. You are now aware that you possess a power and are on a new journey to find your answer. Now go to Peter. Before he runs a hole in the ground."
I nod and stand up, ready to leave, but another look at Aslan stops me. "Aslan...Are you…how did you persuade the Witch to release her hold on Edmund?"
He gives me a smile but it looks slightly forced. "Do not worry. Everything is going to be fine." His answer is vague and doesn't even answer my question, but I let it slide. This is Aslan; he wouldn't do anything that wasn't for the good of everyone else.
Back outside, just as Aslan said, Peter is pacing back and forth across the grass, leaving it flat. The others are watching him pace from their spot on the ground. As soon as I come into view, his head snaps to me and he stops his nervous habit. "Belle, is everything okay? What happened? What did Aslan tell you?" His words tumble out in a fast rush that I have to take a second to figure out what he said while the others come over.
"I'm alright, Aslan just wanted to explain to me in better detail why I was called in before."
"Which was what, exactly?" I internally groan. Leave it to Susan to ask just the right question. I didn't really want to tell the others, but I also don't want to lie to them. I guess I have to tell them the truth. Sighing, I say, "Why don't we set the table for supper-I'll tell you then." This is going to be a hard supper.