Chapter 10: The Traitor
Leia sat on her bed, so very still as she clenched her fists so tightly, her knuckles turned white with the tension. Pain, that was so much more intense that the one she had just experience erupted from the depths of her heart. Memories of seeing her father, mother and childhood friend's heads rolled off their necks stayed in her mind, clear as the day she had seen them a hundred years ago.
She remembered how she stood up and unsheathed her swords.
She remembered as she ran out and attacked the White Witch to the best of her abilities.
She remembered how the pain in her chest, the exact pain she was feeling now, fueled her with adrenaline as hatred flooded her mind with only one objective, to avenge her kinsmen.
She remembered the Witch's look of surprise before she held up her own sword and wand and defended herself.
She remembered the Witch's strength as the four weapons clashed on impact.
She remembered the Witch's skills with the blade.
She remembered the chanting of the Witch's army. "Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!"
Even the best swordswoman in her generation was out of the White Witch's league.
She remembered it took the Witch less than a hundred strokes to skillfully flip the sword on her right hand away before she thrust her wand, the end that was cracked, deep inside her.
She remembered the searing pain from her chest as the White Witch pulled her wand out mercilessly and held up the bloody end, reviewing it while glancing at herself with a look of mild shock, as though surprised at how she could still be alive.
Then, she remembered the Witch's smile as she sauntered over to her, touched her wound with her wand and whispered softly into her ear.
She could remember her words, the words that condemned her to a life without hope.
Leia closed her eyes, her fingers absent-mindedly touching her wound feeling the remnants of her battle wound underneath the soft, thin Narnian dress, a round scar. As if to emphasize on its presence, the scar flared and cold, icy pain came to life inside her body; her chest was suddenly overcame by a mixture of sharp agony and glacial chills, a sensation that she was all too familiar with, especially so ever since Edmund's rescue.
She took in a shuddering breath and gripped the sheets on her bed, praying with all her might that this yet another bout of fresh pain will subside on its own soon. As swiftly as it came, the pain subsided, and as Leia released the breath she was holding, she saw cold mist from her mouth.
A smile of resignation touched her lips as she combed her messily strewn hair into a neat ponytail and readied herself with her weapons belt. Before she left her tent to join the Penvesies in training, she touched her scar again, remembering her conversation with Aslan moments earlier.
Hope?
Nothing more, than luxury.
Despite Leia's absence, the siblings went on their respective trainings, with the sisters accompanied by Susan's archery instructor and both brothers went on practicing horse-riding while battling.
It was one thing to be battling while standing, when balance was never an issue. It was, however, a different matter all together to be riding a horse and handling swords at the same time.
Over the past few days, Peter and Edmund had undergone grueling horse riding sessions (not to mention, endured days of backaches) under the instructions of Oreius and Trouma, and today, both centaurs had finally came to an agreement that both young kings are well-trained enough to venture out into the large clearing behind the fenced training ground with their designated rides.
Elated with their achievements by their mentors, the Penvensies brothers raced to the stables where the stableboy led them to their well-groomed stallions.
Or rather, a stallion and a unicorn.
"Come on, Edmund! Sword point up, like how Oreius showed us!" Peter called as he galloped ahead with his white unicorn, Shadowlight. As he exchanged a few strokes with his brother, through the corner of his eyes, he caught sight of a familiar flash of red atop a magnificent black stallion. His heart skipped a beat at Leia's arrival before he turned to concentrate on the sword practice at hand.
The sound of unsheathing caught Peter's attention as he turned back again, taken aback at Leia moving towards him with one of her twin swords held in her hand in an attack stance. The cheeky grin and sharp flashes in those rose eyes was all that was needed for Peter to accept her challenge to a sword fight.
"Edmund, move," Peter ordered and maneuvered Shadowlight to face Leia. As Edmund backed away obligingly, Peter and Leia raised their swords at each other, he watched his brother eagerly, hoping to pick up on some tips to Peter's proficiency with the blade.
The couple's swords clashed merrily with each skillful stroke and turn, and Edmund's slowly gaze shifted from his brother to their swords and finally, to the petite figure atop the ebony black stallion. His young gaze traced from her long fiery ponytail, rendered a brilliant copper gold by the rays of the afternoon sun, to her profile and ending on the brilliant grin on her lips.
It wasn't long before Edmund's mind started wandering from his lessons, to the color of fireworks and the bright yellow star that used to sit atop their Christmas trees.
On the other hand, Peter was having the time of his life sparring with Leia, and more importantly seeing the wide smile across her face, especially after the events of the previous night. The memory of her tears had been engraved into his heart, her sadness cutting him so deeply that it was unlikely he could ever forget in his lifetime.
If sparring with her makes her smile this much, Peter felt he wouldn't mind sparring with her everyday, just as long as he could see that dazzling grin on her face.
"Peter, Edmund!"
The sound of Mr Beaver's voice and loud horse neighing cut short Peter's train of thoughts and his swords fighting match with Leia. Edmund's horse had suddenly raised its front hooves at the sudden appearance of the beaver, and his younger brother was struggling to stay on the agitated horse.
"Edmund!" Peter immediately sheathed his sword and pulled his unicorn towards Edmund with Leia following closely behind him.
"Woah, horsie!" Edmund cried, his heart leaping to his mouth at the sudden jerk. To his surprise, the brown horse stabilized itself and turned his head back giving Edmund a stern look that was oddly reminiscent to his brother.
"My name is Phillip."
"Sorry." Edmund wasn't exactly sure, but he had the feeling he was just chastised by a horse.
A talking horse, no less.
Peter sighed in relief and looked towards Mr Beaver in anticipation to his news. What came from the little creature's mouth was shocking, to say the least.
"It's the White Witch! She's demanded a hearing with Aslan! She's coming here!"
Alarm colored both Penvesies' eyes, while Leia merely took the news with a passive face. In the blink of an eye, her cheekiness and the cheerful sparkles in her eyes all but disappeared. She sheathed her sword again and expertly maneuvered her stallion out of the training field and back to the main encampment. Peter and Edmund followed closely behind her, with Peter particularly anxious about Leia's subtle change in mood.
The four siblings met up at the head of the camp, where not long ago, they had first met Aslan. Thousands and thousands of Narnians had gathered along their tents, watching with mixed emotions as the White Witch's procession went past. Leia stood near Peter, who was watching her quietly from the corner of his eyes, her fiery red hair contrasted by her pale skin and ebony-dyed dress making her all the more outstanding in the crowd populated by Narnians.
"Jadis, the Queen of Narnia!" A high-pitched voice called amidst sneering, as the White Witch was carried into sight. "Empress of the Lone Islands!" As her procession neared the siblings, Peter shivered as the spring temperature dropped rapidly before stabilizing at a temperature of a cool autumn breeze. Leia shifted from her initial position behind Peter to in front of him. Almost immediately, Peter could feel the air around him grew warmer.
The queen's procession carried her scrutinizing green eyes past the siblings. Peter saw her cast a look of contempt, first at Edmund before her bright green eyes swept past Leia.
There was no mistake in that look. The ice queen had recognized the last of the Ruben elves.
What Peter couldn't understand was the mysterious pleasure in the ice queen's olive eyes.
Leia held the queen's gaze, her chin held up high and her eyes glaringly unafraid. A smile of displeasure touched her lips as the White Witch walked past, her thick winter dress trailing behind her.
"You have a traitor in your midst," the White Witch addressed the lion, almost gleefully, as she shifted her gaze towards Aslan. "Aslan."
Peter could feel Leia shifting her position, closer towards Edmund.
"His offense was not against you."
"Have you forgotten the laws upon which Narnia was built?" The White Witch asked, smugly.
"Do not cite the Deep Magic with me, Witch," Aslan snapped, his deep timbre voice ending with a lion's growl as the question had angered him. "I was there when it was written."
Unfazed by Aslan's reply, the White Witch continued, the satisfaction in her smug face deepening. ""Then you will remember well that every traitor belongs to me." She looked at Edmund, very much like a predator looking at her prey. "His blood is my property."
Edmund swallowed fearfully, his hands trembled from her look.
Peter unsheathed his sword and held it defensively before his brother, his anger towards the witch for whatever she had done to his baby brother and to Leia overriding all other rational thoughts. "Try and take him then."
The queen scoffed. "Do you really think mere force will deny me my right?"
He looked uncertain at the White Witch's question, but nevertheless, continued holding his sword up. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Leia's hand atop Edmund's shaking hands.
"Aslan knows that unless I have blood, as the law demands," The White Witch turned and her voice rose, carrying to all who stood in the clearing. "All of Narnia will be overturned and perish in water and fire."
"That boy," She lifted a finger at Edmund and glared at him. "Will die on the stone table, as is tradition. You dare not refuse me."
The crowd erupted into mild murmurs. Aslan took a sweeping glance of the camp before addressing his army again.
"Enough." Aslan looked at the White Witch. "I shall talk with you alone."
Before he turned to his tent, Peter saw Aslan look gravely at Leia and Leia returning with a look as solemn as his. Her gaze followed the lion and the ice queen's back before sitting down onto the grass floor. The rest of the Narnians and the Penvesies followed her lead and all sat down, maintaining a solemn silence.
Peter sat down between Leia and Edmund, watching both of his dear ones quietly, but carefully. As time passed, the tension in the air thickened and out of the corner of his eyes, Peter noticed Leia's eyes never left the tent, her face was stern and her eyes narrowed, as though squinting to look at an object in the far distance. It wasn't long before her brows tightened and her breath grew deeper, longer. He shifted his position subtly, positioning his arm near her back and waist.
It was a long while before Leia relaxed again; the tightness between her brows remained and a look of resignation and sadness touched her face. Sensing Peter's concern, she looked into the young man's eyes, before turning her lips into a small smile.
Somehow, Peter felt the smile was nothing more than a mask.
The two opposing powers of Narnia walked out from Aslan's tent not much later. As the camp clambered to their feet, the lion looked at Edmund and then at Leia, before turning his head towards the Narnians.
"She has renounced her claim on the Son of Adam's blood."
Cheers and applause erupted from the Narnians, while the Penvesies huddled closer to hug their brother.
"How do I know if your promise will be kept?" The White Witch asked from atop her seat.
In reply, Aslan roared, mildly enraged by the insulting tone of the ice queen. The White Witch was taken aback and sat down instinctively, fearfully, in face of a very primitive but also effective show of strength from the lion. Her face turned paler in embarrassment as the Narnians around her burst into chuckles.
The procession left, with loud sneers and louder cheers in its wake. As the Narnians cheered at the sudden turn of events, Peter stepped away from Leia to pat his brother on the back, truly delighted that the imminent death on his sibling was over.
Aslan's gaze turned to the siblings before resting on Leia, and his large eyes widened in alarm as he saw the elf.
"Leia," he called, alerting Peter and the Penvesies to the elf. Peter turned, just in time to see Leia doubled over, a hand pressing tightly on her chest, her breathing now deep and laboured.
"Leia!" The Penvesies were alarmed to see their friend in pain and gathered around her. The cheers from the Narnians subsided as the commotion eclipsed the cheery mood.
"Put her atop of me." Aslan ordered quietly, just as Oreius moved towards the group, his large body obscuring Leia's frame from the onlookers.
Just as Peter was about to lift Leia onto Aslan, she started coughing violently into her free hand. Peter held Leia tightly while Susan patted the elf's back, her gentle eyes thick with concern. Lucy and Edmund watched on anxiously at the sudden turn of events.
Aslan and Oreius exchanged a worried look. At that moment, a dark red liquid trickled from between Leia's fingers. Amidst shocked gasp and exclamations, Leia pulled her palm away to reveal a burst of redness had pooled in her palm. A layer of frost quickly formed around the blood in her hands, before the liquid froze into ice rubies right before their eyes.
There was complete silence as everyone who witnessed this was much too shocked to make any sound, or even breathe for that matter.
Leia lifted her head wearily to look into the lion's deep amber ones. She managed a sad smile at Aslan, before her eyes shut, collapsing completely into Peter's hold.
Author's Note:
The story is moving into its climax now, but also, this chapter marks the last of my reserves. =X Coming the new year, updates would be slower as I prepare another few other projects for a competition in my country. Hence, I apologize in advance. =P
In other news… Today is New Year's Eve of 2010! Before I head out of home to celebrate the end of this decade, here's a final update for the year, as a festive treat to all my readers & reviewers! Thank you for supporting this little project of mine and may everyone enjoy the last of 2010!
Disclaimer: I only own Leia.
Cheers!
Rainremember