Chapter Nine: Lead us, Peter!

Later that night, Lucy tried to get to sleep, but tossed and turned restlessly. Suddenly, she saw a shadow walk past her tent.

"Susan!" she cried, trying to wake her sister.

Susan woke and at jumped out of bed as soon as she saw the shadow.

"Su? Lu? What's going on?" asked a groggy Nellie. Sophie sat up, waking to hear them talking.

Susan shushed her and motioned for them to follow her. They all left the tent and started looking for the source of the shadow. They finally saw Aslan leaving the camp. They decided to follow him. They kept following him, keeping behind the trees, until, they heard, "Aren't you suppose to be in bed?"

Nellie came out from behind a bush. "We couldn't sleep."

"Please, Aslan." said Lucy. "Couldn't we come with you?"

He looked at the four of them. "I would be glad of the company for a while."

They walked with him for a while, until he said, "It is time. From now on, I must go on alone. Thank you Susan and Lucy. Thank you Nellie and Sophie. And farewell."

They watched him until he disappeared. Susan looked around, and headed for a spot in the trees. They followed her, and saw Aslan walking up steps that were surrounded by the Witch's army. They started to jeer at him. They continued to watch in horrified silence until Aslan fell.

"Why doesn't he fight back?" asked a scared Lucy.

Nellie shrugged sadly at her.

"Bind him." Jadis ordered her soldiers. "Wait. First let him be shaved."

More jeers and catcalls were heard from her soldiers as Ginarrbrik cut some of his mane of and others came until it was gone.

"Bring him to me!" she ordered. "Tonight, the Deep magic will be appeased!" her troops roared. "But tomorrow, we will take Narnia, Forever!" She bet down to Aslan. "You know, Aslan, I'm a little disappointed in you. Did you really think that by giving your life you would save the Human boy? Ha. You are giving up your life, and saving no one. So much for love. In that knowledge... Despair... and DIE!"

She plunged in the knife and Aslan's eyes grew wide and then slowly closed.

Sophie and Lucy gasped and burst into tears while Susan and Nellie cried silently, pulling them into an embrace.

"The great cat… is DEAD!" the witch screamed. Her army cheered loudly. She looked up at Otmin.

"General, gather your army and prepare for battle." She looked down at Aslan's dead body. "However short it may be."

Otmin let out a huge roar and her troops roared with happiness.

The girls walked up to the Stone Table and leaned on Aslan. Lucy got an idea and she started to unscrew her cordial.

"It's too late, Lu. He's gone." said Susan gently.

"I'm sure he knew what he was doing." said Nellie, in an attempt to soothe the younger girl.

After a while of sitting with Aslan, Susan finally spoke. "We have to go."

Sophie gasped. Lucy shook her head. "We can't just leave him here.

Susan looked at her. "Lucy, there's not time! We have to tell the others."

Nellie stood. "I'll go! Sophie, stay here with Su and Lu. I need you safe. I'll go and fight."

"But, Nell, please! I want to help!" pleaded Sophie.

"No, Soph! Please. I need you safe."

Sophie took her hand. "Be safe… cousin."

Nellie slightly smiled. "And you, my dear little cousin."

Susan and Lucy hugged her, wishing her luck and to tell their brothers they loved them.

"I wish we could send word ahead to get there faster." said Nellie.

Lucy looked up. "The Trees!"

"Dryads!" exclaimed Sophie.

Back at Aslan's camp, in the boys' tent, Peter and Edmund slept. The Dryad blew in and one of her petals brushed Peter's face, waking him. He woke with a start and grabbed his sword, waking up Edmund.

"Be still, my princes." she said grimly to them. "I come with grave news from your sisters and friends…"

Nellie ran down into the camp. She ran to the center where Aslan's tent was and she saw Peter.

"Peter!" she cried to him.

He turned to face her, his face relieved. He hugged her as she reached him. "Nellie! You're alright!"

"I'm fine!" she said, pulling back from his embrace. "Did the Dryad get to you?"

He looked into her eyes. "Yes. I'm going to check."

As he walked away to the tent, she called, "Peter, wait!"

Peter walked out of the tent a second later.

"I was trying to tell you! We saw it, Peter!" she said a tear fell down her face. Peter put an arm around her shoulders.

"She's right, he's gone."

"Then you'll have to lead us." said Edmund. "Peter, there's a whole army out there waiting to follow you."

Peter looked skeptically at him and then looked at Nellie. "I can't."

"Aslan believed you could." Ed said to him. "And so do I."

"As do I, Peter!" said Nellie, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Lead us, Peter!"

Oreius looked at them. "The Witch's army is nearing, Sire. What are your orders?"

Peter looked down at map.

As the troops prepared for the battle, Nellie was also preparing. She was in her tent, with her mail on and was strapping her sword to her side when Peter came in, fully dressed, minus his helmet, and his head mail was off his head.

"Hey, Peter." she said, trying to be cheerful.

"Nellie." he said, his voice serious. "I don't want you to fight."

She dropped the arrows she had been holding on her bed in surprise. "What? Why?"

"Because! I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

"Lost me? Peter, I don't plan on dieing. I plan on getting revenge on the witch."

He shook his head, "Please, Nell. Don't fight."

"Peter." she said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, but I have to. Please understand."

Peter sighed and took her hand. "Fine. But I don't like it."

He turned to leave, but she stopped him by grabbing his hands. "Peter, I feel like there is a deeper meaning for you not wanting me to fight."

"Why do you think that?" he challenged.

"I can see it in your eyes."

He rolled his eyes. "I just don't want to see you hurt, Nell. I really care about you."

"I'll be fine, Peter. And I'll kick your butt if you're not careful."

Peter laughed and kissed her on the cheek. He started to walk away, but she said. "You missed."

He turned around. "What did you say?"

"I said, you missed." She said, stepping closer to him and put her arms around his neck.

Peter smiled and leaned down, closing the space between them, and their lips met. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling he closer.

They pulled apart, and Peter rested his forehead on hers.

"What's the reason you don't want me to fight?" she asked teasingly as she ran her hands through his hair.

He wrapped his arms tighter around her waist. "Because… I love you, Nellie."

She smiled and kissed him again. "As I love you, Peter Pevensie."

He held her, not wanting to let go.

"Peter." she said, pulling out of the embrace. "They need you."

Peter kissed the top of her head. "I know, my love. Let's go."

Nellie put her quiver on her back, slipped her hand into Peter's and they walked out of the tent.

Yay, they kissed!!!!!

It's February Break and you know what that means: More time to update!

Please review!

XOXO Jenny