Thanks princess emma of narnia, Noel Ardnek, and DragonRider2000 for your reviews!
Yay! Some action! Haha.
Sarah Brightman's "Eden" is with scenes 7-…
Courage or the Fool?
It took what seemed like hours for the crowd to dissipate; however, when it finally did, the girls slowly emerged from their hiding place and mournfully approached the body of the Great Lion. Even though they had only known Him for a sparingly short time, they already knew Him to be a caring, gentle, self-sacrificing Leader. Tears flooded down their faces as they sat on the Table beside Him, though Lucy suddenly seemed to have an epiphany and reached for her cordial.
"It's too late," Susan objected, staying her sibling's hand. "He's gone. I'm sure He knew what He was doing." For a few moments following, they bent over the Lion's body to shed the threatening tears…until they were interrupted by a peculiar squeaking noise. Susan jumped back in horror as she realized there were mice all over Aslan. "Get away!" she cried. "Get away, all of you!"
"No…look," Lucy countered softly, bringing the older girl to realize that the rodents were actually chewing through the cruel bindings. With a mutual understanding, they assisted by pulling the ropes from His muzzle.
We have to tell the others."
"We can't just leave Him here!" Lucy argued, pulling at Su's heartstrings.
"Lucy, there's no time. They need to know."
Suddenly, the younger girl's eyes lit up with an idea as she whispered,
"…the trees."
"How long have you been fencing, anyway?"
"I took lessons twice a week for two years."
The boy laughed, pleased.
"We should spar, tomorrow." Margie only nodded in response, picking at the moss in the same spot she had almost killed herself about an hour before. Edmund knit his eyebrows together in concern. "What's wrong?"
She sighed sadly prior to answering.
"I just…I feel so stupid trying to pull off something like that. Thanks for stopping me."
"You would have stopped yourself when the gun didn't go off."
Her thin lips became even thinner with doubt.
"I'm not so sure."
"Well, I am," the boy snapped shortly. "You're just going to have to trust me."
Before Margaret could insist on her misgivings, the floating leaves of the nearby ancient oak tree formed into what appeared to be an old man.
"Forgive the intrusion, my prince…my lady, but I have brought grave news from the princesses. Aslan has been slain by the White Witch on the Stone Table."
Ed's jaw dropped, even as the despairing figure of the dryad was dispersed by the breeze; however, his companion, while troubled, merely said,
"So, He actually went through with it and left us leaderless."
"You knew and didn't tell anyone?" the boy replied, distressed.
"Kate made me promise."
"Kate…wh…but…" Such stuttering was all he could manage until they resolved to bring the bad news back to the still-slumbering camp a good mile off.
"What do you think this 'help' is that Aslan needs you for?" Peter inquired, still sitting beside the creek across from Kathryn.
The girl shrugged in her new, mysterious way, got up, skipped over to a nearby bush, and returned with a generous bunch of darkly colored berries, which she gladly shared.
"I don't know. Maybe we'll be representatives to other lands or simply messengers…or we'll somehow keep Narnia together when He's…"
She abruptly cut off, obviously holding something back.
"What…when He's…what?"
"I come with tidings of grave news," a soft voice said. Peter shot to his feet, sword pointed defensively, before realizing that it was the spirit of the cherry tree. The dryad held her 'hands' up soothingly. "Fear not, my prince. I come with a message from your sisters."
"Aslan is dead," Kate broke in as she stared into the water, attracting the attentions of both Peter and the dryad.
"I am afraid so."
Seeing that the 'prince's' attention was no longer on her, the tree spirit disappeared.
"You knew?" he growled, suddenly a little…angry, to say the least, still standing with his sword. He didn't wait for a response from the still downwards-focused Kathryn. "That's how He stopped the Witch from taking Ed and Daisy, isn't it? Why didn't you tell me? We could have…"
"…what?" she interrupted, her voice shaking. Through his frustration, Peter hadn't noticed, though, as she turned her face to look at him, he saw that there were tears silently streaming down her face. "We could have what? We could have gone charging to the Stone Table and single-handedly slaughtered the army that was probably there celebrating their victory, could we? Or, better yet, we could have tied Him in His tent and told the Witch He was busy!" With a wrath that made Peter's anger look pitiful, the girl stood so he wasn't towering over her. "I could have gone screaming that the sky was falling or gone to Him begging. I could have done a lot of things, King Peter!" Her normally soft, soothing voice had taken on a husky quality and grated on his ears. "I could have tried to stop Him…but it was His choice, not mine or yours! I think He has…had a little more experience than any of us." She took a breath to compose herself, straightening her skirt and wiping away the tears. "Now, shall we continue yelling or go figure out what our next move should be?"
As Peter emerged from Aslan's tent and moved toward the table where the map was spread, he scowled at Kathryn, who bit her lip uncertainly. Was it really wise for her to open up to him about Aslan's 'tests'? So far the only reactions she had received were confused inquiries, fuming outbursts, and, most recently, cold glares. He wouldn't even speak to her; that left a strange, sinking feeling in her stomach she had never felt before…peculiar… What made her ever so slightly miffed was that Daisy had apparently also come out with her knowledge to Edmund; instead of grudging glances like his brother, the younger boy kept smiling at Margaret and occasionally giving her arm an encouraging squeeze in passing.
"It's true; He's gone," Peter stated, shooting another freezing glance over his shoulder at the dark-haired girl.
"Then, you'll have to lead us," Ed stated, leaning on the table. "There's a whole army out there waiting to follow you."
"I can't."
"Aslan believed you could…and so do I."
In the moment of silence following, Kathryn hesitantly approached their new leader and put a trembling hand on his shoulder. His scowling eyes softened when he looked into her hopeful ones.
"As do I," she whispered.
As Peter placed a hand over the girl's and began studying the map, Oreius said,
"The Witch's armies are nearing, Sire. What are your orders?"
The main Army of Aslan was positioned at the edge of a massive field, with Peter, Kathryn, and Oreius on a small rise at the front (Peter on a unicorn and Kate on a great white mare), while the archers were on the cliff behind them, with Edmund and Daisy in the front.
Kate, who was wearing her compliment of knives, sword, and armguards, plus a well-fitting, shin-length, big-sleeved midnight blue dress and a black, hard leather corset vest, reached her gloved hand to soothingly scratch her gallant steed on the neck.
"Why aren't you with the archers?" Peter growled from beside her.
The grey and brown falcon sitting on the horn of Kate's saddle gave a slight croak which could have been a laugh. The lady shrugged her shoulders during her reply.
"I don't have a bow."
"You could have gotten one easily. Besides, you're hardly dressed for battle. A bit of leather won't protect you from an enemy's steel."
She pointedly looked at his enveloping and, frankly, awkward metal encasement.
"This just feels right. Aslan will protect me."
"Aslan's dead," he stated bitterly. Kate locked eyes with the falcon, wondering if it would be all right to share the information Aida had just given an hour prior: that Aslan wouldn't be dead for long. "What's with the bird?" Peter added, obviously wanting to switch subjects.
"She wanted to come along."
"Uh-huh…remind me again why you're down here…?"
"The sooner I get into the battle, the sooner I'll come out."
He grunted at the clear incorrectness of the statement, but dropped it as a gryphon landed a few feet away, reporting,
"They come, Your Highness, in numbers and weapons far greater than our own."
"Numbers do not win a battle," Oreius resolved stonily.
"No," Peter replied, "…but I bet they help." His worry was amplified by the appearance of the Witch's army. Even Kathryn's confidence flickered significantly with the sight of the frightening number. She wasn't ready for a battle…or even for this world! It didn't matter anymore that she felt a part of it; she was officially scared.
The slaughter had already begun with the shooting down of most of the rock-dropping flyers and bird-form Aida was visibly cringing at her fellows' difficulty when the boy spoke again. Arrows flew over their heads from their archers.
"Still sure Aslan will protect you?"
She looked at him, wetting her lips, realizing that she had been holding the reigns with a death grip and staring with ever-widening eyes at the opponents. Quickly looking away from his piercing eyes upon getting that strange flutter in her stomach, she said through barred teeth,
"I don't have much of a choice now, do I? If I'm supposed to help you as King, I might as well get in some practice, now."
Peter only shook his head before looking to the centaur.
"Are you with me?"
"To the death," was the reply.
Kate shook her head in turn. Why was everyone so obsessed with death? She was jerked from her thoughts at the sound of singing metal as her companions drew their swords. With relative naturalness, she copied their movement, praying for the strength to follow through with this fool fight, and waited for the start.
"For Narnia…and for Aslan!"
…and the charge began.
Eventually, during the race, the V-shaped charge straightened into a line, the leading centaurs pointed their spears forward, and the Cats plunged in front.
Seconds seemed like hours; however, it all flashed forward as the masses collided. Aida had long flown from her perch, Kate had lost sight of Peter, and nothing seemed to exist except the smell of blood and sweat, the sounds of the metal, the charging, and the dying, and the feeling of her inexperienced blade slipping through steel and flesh. The only thought was of survival; nothing else mattered…or could matter. It was only block, parry, stab, slice…and count those whose lives she stole. The madness seemed to engulf her as she fell from her horse avoiding a spear.
Lucy reluctantly opened her eyes to discover in the morning light that Aslan's death hadn't just been a terrible dream and stiffly sat up as Susan rose and came around to face the younger girl, saying,
"We should go."
"I'm so cold," was the weak response. Susan helped her down from the Table and led her away with an arm over her shoulders. Before they went down the steps of the rock platform, Lucy looked back one last time at the still form of the Great Cat.
An involuntary squeak of surprise escaped her, however, as an abrupt quake tossed them to their knees, accompanied by an ominous cracking sound. When they looked back, they were met by a shock: the Stone Table was split in two and Aslan was simply…gone!
"Susan!" she cried.
"What have they done?" the older sibling whispered.
Both girls held their breath and, in fact, Lucy had shivers running up and down her spine when a bright yellow appeared between the far stone pillars, as did something else.
"Aslan!" both children exclaimed, running around the broken rock to meet and embrace the laughing Lion.
"But we saw the knife…the Witch!" Susan disbelievingly said, backing away slightly to face Aslan. There wasn't even any evidence of the shaved mane.
"If the Witch knew the true meaning of sacrifice," He replied kindly, looking at the carvings in the rock, "she might have interpreted the Deep Magic differently: that when a willing victim who has committed no treachery is killed in a traitor's stead, the Stone Table will crack and even death itself will turn backwards."
"We sent the word that you were dead. Peter and Edmund would have gone to war."
Lucy drew her knife, saying,
"We have to help them."
"We will," He said, "but not alone. Now, climb on my back. We have a long ways to go and little time to get there…and you might want to cover your ears."
The sisters barely had time to comply before He let out a blasting roar, which was probably heard for miles.
When the flame arrow failed to slow the Witch and Peter gave the signal to fall back, Mr. Beaver exclaimed,
"That's the signal! Come on!"
With a hasty glance at a grimly grinning Margie, Ed trotted with his archers to the rocks and waited for the Witch's army to fall into their trap. Sure enough, both forces soon came squeezing into the small area, giving him the opportunity to have his troops efficiently fire upon the enemy.
Again, he glanced at Daisy, this time with a cringe. Unfortunately, he hadn't been able to talk her out of her choice of attire. It looked, honestly, very worthy with the two swords, bow and arrows, armguards, and greaves, but then he took into account the sleeveless, brown leather top, rawhide boots, and heavy rawhide trousers. What girls would do for style…
With an evil glint in her eyes, she suddenly charged down the hill to join the remainder of their army. Aida, who had arrived with them soon after the beginning of the battle, stiffened for a moment before also running off…in the opposite direction.
"Margie…Aida!" he cried, exasperated. "Where are you going?"
The odd woman turned back for a split second, replying with her husky voice,
"There's something I have to do."
"What could you possibly…"
The words were lost as he caught sight of Peter falling from his steed; then, he saw him cry out in protest as Oreius and a Rhinoceros charged at the oncoming followers of the Witch in his defense. While all other Narnians fled, they plowed through the foe's overwhelming numbers, killing their general in the process. He watched in horror as Oreius fell upon Jadis herself and was almost instantly turned to stone by her wand, while the brave Rhino fell to other weapons.
As Edmund quickly scanned his surroundings, he caught sight of Kate and instantly ran over to the nearby rise, lower than the one he had been occupying. The girl stood perfectly still as she stared at the oncoming forces.
"Kate, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"
Though there were a few cuts visible through the girl's dress, she vaguely shook her head, as if in a trance, and whispered,
"I dreamt this would happen. They're all dying and I can't stop it."
At that, Ed loudly clapped his hands together right in front of her nose, instantly grabbing her full attention.
"Snap out of it, Kate! Peter needs us. Pull yourself together and help or you might as well join the Witch."
That definitely worked. With a sudden stubborn glare, Kathryn flicked her idle sword to point directly at his nose before stalking back down the hill. Unfortunately, his pep talk didn't have quite the desired effect. She was walking right towards the oncoming army.
With a gasp, Lucy suddenly ran through the maze of chilled statues to stop in front of one in particular. The figure's face was the very embodiment of horror. Just as Susan put a comforting arm around her little sister's shoulders, Aslan approached and breathed in the faun's face. Within but a few seconds, the stone became skin and hair and the thawed creature fell forward against the girls, who graciously put him back on his feet…hooves.
"Susan," Lucy laughed, "this is…"
"Mr. Tumnus!" she finished happily, joining the younger sibling in embracing the friend. Aslan was nearly finished reawakening the surrounding Narnians and turning from thawing a giant…well, Giant…when He turned back towards the main gate, saying,
"I see you were successful."
Susan gaped upon seeing Aida as she approached them with her gray garb utterly dyed with crimson evidence of a fight she had recently left. The Fox who had saved the Pevensies from the pursuing Wolves before was walking alongside her.
"Lucky for Mr. Fox," the battle-worn woman began with a contrasting grin, "Jadis only turned him to stone rather than actually killing him. I flew as fast as I could, Majesty, when I heard you roar. If not for this creature's uncanny size, I could have flown him back here and saved at least a quarter of an hour."
"It was well-worth the delay. I don't know how long it will take my fur to settle after you tried clawing it off in your hurry," Mr. Fox growled back to her before bowing to Aslan and the girls. Susan didn't quite understand the whole flying and clawing scenario, but she was completely baffled when Aida's touch de-stoned a Lioness close at hand. The resurrected creature, upon seeing the battle-maiden, cried out in fright and instantly fled; its savior sadly watched the departure.
"Come," Aslan said with a mix of solemnity and lightheartedness, "let's search the castle. Others may still be trapped inside and Peter will need all the help he can get."
Though Lucy and Tumnus eagerly followed, Susan stayed behind visually facing off the hawkish lady.
"Your Majesty," Aida noted, barely nodding her head in acknowledgement and never taking her eyes from the future Queen's.
"Why did that Cat run?" The question was perhaps a little blunt, but with Aida's such peculiar talk, behavior, and knowledge, answers were lacking so far.
She sighed and broke eye contact, touching a squirrel which had been missed near a small boulder; instead of fleeing, it skittered up her arm and around her neck, produced tickled giggles, prior to jumping off and scampering after the other Animals.
"I was the one who captured her for the Witch." Susan took a step back with apprehension. "I was among Aslan's first creations…the last of the first, to be more specific. He granted me many unusual gifts and gave me the duty of watching for Jadis' return after He drove her away. He told me that He would never leave me…that I would always have His help. I'm afraid that I took it a bit literally. Though He allowed me to live in His Country for nearly eight hundred years…" Susan coughed at the prospect. "...He restored me to this land some time before the Witch's return, allowing me to advise the last kings in preparation."
"When the Witch came, Aslan did not. He didn't help as He had promised…or, rather, as I thought He had promised. Civil war broke out in Narnia as dark creatures came to Jadis' aid and our defenses fell. After years of trying and failing to retake Narnia without any help whatsoever, I grew to hate Aslan for His 'betrayal' and offered my loyalty to Jadis. When Kate discovered me only so many days ago, I had finally realized my mistakes. Getting away from Jadis had some…unfortunate repercussions. She hunted me. That chain that was around my foot when Kathryn discovered my plight kept me trapped in that tree in my avian form. I should be dead of starvation."
"I'm sorry."
Aida rejected the sympathy.
"I have chosen my penance."
Now in the middle of the fighting, Daisy cut fiercely at the attackers with her knives. At some point, she worked her way near the boys, who were in a similarly desperate position. It was strange, though, how she felt so comfortable with the bloody conflict. It was like she was built for fighting. Her stick-like figure weaved easily in and away from potentially threatening strokes and her long arms allowed a farther reach.
"Ed, there are too many of them! Go! Get out of here! Get the girls and get them home!" Peter's voice rang through the crowd and Margaret caught sight of him further up the hill, surrounded by attackers.
While Ed was apparently pulled away by Beaver, the girl eyes rested on a figure the near the older brother. He and Kate were apparently arguing through mayhem, exchanging glances of equal ferocity; nonetheless, they kept fighting side by side and the quarrel seemed to cease.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" Distracted by the voice, Margaret's attention slipped just long enough for the creep she was fighting to land a punch on her jaw before she stabbed him. That commotion in turn left her barely any time to avoid being decapitated by the Witch, who had just spoken previously. "Now, now, my pet…why so hasty?" she mocked laughingly as the teenager bent her knees in preparation for another attack. The painfully obvious existence of the wand in the woman's left hand somehow slipped her mind, especially since Jadis didn't momentarily seem inclined to use it.
"You killed Aslan!"
Daisy attacked with short swords flying and was easily pushed back. The Witch was playing with her! The thought was enraging!
"He volunteered…and I couldn't exactly have turned down such an offer."
"You may have killed Him, but that won't stop us from defeating you."
"Such a silly little girl! Perhaps I'll keep you as my lapdog."
"I'd first be rock if I sat at your feet."
The smile disappeared.
"Very well."
Again, to her frustration, Daisy was caught off-guard with Jadis' flurry of strikes. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the battlefield with growing despair over their struggle…and…she remembered this exact picture from a dream.
Panicked, she hurled her dagger straight at the Witch and fled, sheathing her other sword and producing her bow to clear a path out of the madness…as irrational as that was.
The majority of the fighters littered the ground, filling the air with a potent smell of blood in combination with the sweat of the living. With frantic motions, she stabbed an attacking hag in the eye with an arrow before fitting it to her bow.
Suddenly, the weapon was knocked out of her hand, followed by the rest of her being knocked to the ground. A terrifying sight stood over her, ready to finish the victim.
"This could have been avoided," the Witch stated with fake regret. "You receive what you deserve."
Jadis lifted her wand to strike and Daisy lifted her arm in vain to ward off the inevitable…but a body collided with the enemy, delaying death…sweet, quick death.
Soon, she realized that her rescuer was actually Edmund. While he had instantly destroyed the wand, he was taking quite the beating to what could only end as a disastrous outcome; it happened.
"Edmund!"
The joined voices of Daisy, Peter, and Kate cried out as the younger boy was stabbed. Peter fought harder than ever to reach the Witch, who casually strolled to confront him, Kate was held up by a flood of enemies, and Daisy crawled to Edmund…at least, until she was forced to defend the gasping boy from overwhelming forces. She was blind to everything, including Peter's climactic battle with the Witch and Kate's single desperate cry of his name as she vaguely sensed him being knocked down…everything but her need to protect Edmund. It was a strange feeling, wanting to protect someone, even if your life depended on it. She had never even felt that way about her younger cousin; yet, there it was: the need to protect someone with her life.
"Impossible!"
The Witch's single word of disbelief drew everyone's attention to the figure on the cliff. The cry of 'Aslan' emerged from more than one pair of lips, which included Margaret's.
The Lion, with a ferocious roar, leapt from the rock, toppling the Witch while a flood of Narnians swarmed the enemy, allowing enough of a breather for Daisy to gaze upon the Creature she had thought to be dead. Beyond Aslan and His final adieu to the Witch, she saw Peter still lying on the ground, stunned by the Lion's appearance. A split second later, Kathryn materialized on the scene, ripping away the sword which Jadis had stabbed into the ground to pin him down. When the younger girl ripped away part of her sleeve to wrap his arm, which was apparently sliced from sword, all her attention was focused on the young man beside her.
"It is finished," He said.
But a moment later, all of the Pevensies and Bentens were huddled around a prone Edmund (after Susan shot the evil little dwarf) and Lucy instantly used her healing cordial. At first, it seemed as though they had been too late; however, the boy quickly came back to life, instantly met by his family and friends. After embracing his brother, Peter laughingly scolded,
"When are you going to learn to do as you're told?"
Then, Lucy got an idea and ran off with her cordial. Daisy laughed with relief.
As he stood with his family, Peter noticed a pinching force on his arm and realized that Kate was still death-gripping his sleeve, despite the smile she wore. When he gently removed her small hand, the tension disappeared. Though she had seemed to have only eyes for him a moment previously as he had been staring disbelievingly at Aslan's presence, her focus all turned to Margaret, who returned the tackling hug.
Long, action-filled, with a touch of sweetness at the end. Haha. Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading and please review!