Chapter 11

Sarah, knowing they are all going to need it, pulled everyone out to the fields to practice. Mara not understanding what was going on pulled Peter over to the unicorn, Flisk, and pushed him up on him.

Mara finally noticed everyone was busy so she walked over to Sarah and asked quietly, "What is going on? Why didn't Aslan stay out here with us?"

"I don't know. But I think that deal He made with the Witch had something to do with it. He looked very sad when he looked away." Sarah said. She looked over at the young rulers then said, "Let's go and help them get it all right. Lucy needs some help with her swords." And so they went to do their work.

Later that night they were both woken up by Lucy and Susan getting their things and walking out the tent. Mara also got up, got her swords and bow and followed, Sarah came a second later. Outside they followed close behind as Susan and Lucy walked off. Sarah looked through the darkness and saw Aslan up ahead.

Five minutes later Aslan stopped and asked, "Shouldn't you all be in bed? Including you Mara and Sarah."

"We couldn't sleep." Lucy said quietly, whilst looking behind at Mara and Sarah.

"Please, Aslan. Couldn't we come with you?" Susan asked.

"I would be glad of the company tonight." Aslan said, biding them to come over and lay their hands in his mane. A little while later Aslan stopped and said, "It is time. From now on, I must go on alone. Thank you Susan. Thank you Lucy. And farewell. Look after them well, my Watchers." Then Aslan walked on.

After Aslan walked away they ran over to some trees and sat to watch. Sarah watched as Aslan was jeered at and then pocked and prodded.

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

"Because he is the sacrifice." Sarah said lowly.

Suddenly they heard the Witch say, "Bind Him." All the creatures went to do it but the Witch called out, "Wait! Let Him first be shaved." Everyone cheered and started taking off His mane with knives and daggers. Once that was done they dragged Him up to the stone table.

The Witch called for silence and said loud enough for them to hear, "Tonight, the Deep magic will be appeased, but tomorrow, we will take Narnia, Forever!" All the cheering started up again and the Witch leaned down and started talking to Aslan, Sarah knowing Susan and Lucy wanted to know whispered it as well, "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." Then she stood up and held the knife above Him and said whilst bringing it down, "In that knowledge... Despair... and DIE!"

Underneath the Witch Aslan growled in pain then closed His eyes and breathed His last breath. The Witch seeing this called out, "The great cat is DEAD!" The whole camp cheered and the Witch called out to her general, "Gather your army and prepare for battle. However short it may be." Her general nodded and roared.

After they all cleared away, the girls walked up the steps to Aslan's body, and Lucy pulled out her cordial to try to make Him alright again. Susan seeing it said He was already gone.

After a few minutes Susan said, "I'm sure he knew what He was doing. But we have to go."

Lucy looked at her and said, "We can't just leave him here."

Susan looked at Sarah and said, "Lucy there's not time. They have to know."

Sarah quietly said, "Think, Lucy. The answer is in your head."

Lucy heard a breeze come through the trees and said, "Send the message through the trees."

They sent the message and back in the camp the wood nymph nearby took the it to the young rulers and then took a message to Lothlorie and Imladra to go up to the stone table. They immediately set off at a fast pace.

Meanwhile over at Aslan's tent, Peter had just came out and said, "She's right. He's gone."

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

Peter looked at Edmund and said, "I can't."

"Aslan believed you could." Edmund waited a second then continued, "And so do I."

Oreius, who was standing beside them, said "What are your orders?"

Peter hearing this looked at the board in front of them and started thinking.

The next day after getting everyone ready they arrived at the battle field. Up in front a griffon had just landed and reported on the numbers of the enemy. Oreius just said that they didn't win wars, but Peter said that he bet they helped.

Coming up behind them Mara said, "She doesn't want prisoners. Be careful."

Oreius looked at her and then glared. Mara had changed her dress to a pair of pants and she now wore a chain mail shirt. Her armour was that of the watchers, black with a red lion on the front. Strapped to her back, was her two swords.

"Women should not be at the front lines." Oreius said.

"Oh, shut up. I fight because I am a watcher and I love my home." Mara said glaring back.

All of a sudden the enemy charged and Peter called down the griffons. After the griffons scattered Peter asked Oreius if he was with him.

Oreius replied, "To the death."

Peter reared and shouted, "FOR NARNIA, AND FOR ASLAN!" Then everyone took off going into an arrow, heading straight for the Witches army.

Back at the stone table, the other girls were all sleeping. When Susan woke she called them both to go. Before they do Sarah takes a knife and cuts all the ropes off Aslan then follows Susan and Lucy. From behind they feel the Earth shake, and then they hear a loud crack.

Lucy looked back and exclaimed, "Susan!"

"What have they done?" Susan asked appalled. The stone table behind them had been cracked in two.

Sarah smiled looking at the arches behind the table, "They have done nothing."

Susan and Lucy looked where Sarah was and saw Aslan standing tall and proud. They both rushed round and called His name before running straight into Him. Aslan chuckled then nodded at Sarah and so Sarah also hugged Aslan.

Susan looked to Aslan and said, "But we saw the Witch, the knife."

Aslan started walking around the table and answered, "If the Witch knew the true meaning of sacrifice, she might have interpreted the Deep Magic a little differently. For she would know that if a willing victim who had committed no treachery died in a traitors stead, the Stone Table would crack and death itself would begin to unwind." All this Sarah also read on the sides of the table.

Susan grimaced and said, "We sent the word that you were dead. Peter and Edmund would have gone to war."

Lucy pulled out her dagger while saying, "We have to help them."

Aslan smiled and said, "We will, Dear One, but not alone. Now, climb on my back. We have a long ways to go and little time to get there. Sarah, on your horse. And you might want to cover your ears. ROAR!" Sarah ran over and covered her horse's ears, then climbed on.