Chapter 14: Across the Melting River
I gulped as the six of us looked down. Peter was right about the ice, it was melting fast. He yelled, "We need to cross, now!"
I stared at him, mouth ajar. I couldn't swim…
Lucy turned to Beaver, "Don't beavers make dams?" he told her he wasn't fast enough. I groaned and peter ushered everyone down. My feet stayed planted in the ground.
"Wait! Will you just think about this for a minute," Susan called out.
I nodded feverishly. But Peter told her we didn't have a minute. Su was just being realistic…more like smart…as usual. Too bad I couldn't help but agree with her this time. I panicked as the howls of the wolves got closer. Susan took off while I stayed put. No way was I going down there! When Susan noticed I wasn't following her, she turned to me.
"Maggie, come on," I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. Susan ran to me and pulled my arm but I didn't budge. "Margaret Lyra Hanks…"
"I…I," I whispered. "I can't swim…"
Susan's eyes widened in shock, "Why didn't you say something?"
"It wasn't important at the time."
My friend took my hand and told me not to let go. I nodded and let her take me down to the melting ice river. I groaned as we slowly made our way down. Drowning was not on my agenda. I squealed as the ice cracked loudly. Peter took the first step out and, guess what? The ice cracked…no surprise there.
"Wait, maybe I should go first," Beaver told him. Pete agreed. Beaver slowly trekked across, patting the ice with his feet and tail.
"You've been sneaking second helpings, haven't you," Mrs. Beaver accused.
"Well, ya never know which meal's your last." More ice cracked as Peter and Lucy followed.
"Okay, don't let go," Susan whispered to me as we stepped on the ice. My heart raced faster than a locomotive. Lucy shrieked as the ice split a bit besides her. I clutched Susan's hand tighter. "If mum knew what we were doing…"
"Mum's not here," Peter barked. I looked up to see furry creatures running across the ledge. Lucy cried out. Peter told us to run and my legs turned to stone. Susan practically dragged me. But the wolves were faster than us. Beaver snarled at the ones in front of us. I looked behind us too, they were there. We were trapped. Die by wolves or die by drowning…
Mrs. Beaver shouted as Beaver was pinned down by one of the Witch's wolves. Peter drew his sword and pointed at the leader.
"Put that down, boy, someone could get hurt," Maugrim told him, advancing on us. Beaver thrashed from under the wolf. He yelled at Peter to kill Maugrim. Kill him? Okay, sure why not. He kills him, we all die anyway. "Four humans? Huh, I under the impression we were after three. Leave now while you can and your brother leaves with you…but the girl stays."
Peter kept his sword at arm's length. Susan told her brother to stop. She said we should listen to him.
"Don' listen to 'im! Kill him! Kill him now," Beaver shouted.
Maugrim chuckled as he pushed us back, "Ah, come on. This isn't your war. All my queen wants is for you to take your family, the girl, and go."
Susan shouted at Peter again. This time she told him he was no hero, to drop his sword. I clasped my new necklace in my hand and hoped we would come out of this alright.
"Gut him while you still have a chance," Beaver cried out. I shut my eyes. All this yelling, it made me want to blow up. My brain couldn't take all of these crazy emotions.
"What's it gonna be, Son of Adam? I won't wait forever. And neither will the river," Maugrim continued to taunt Peter.
"Peter," Lucy screamed in horror. A gigantic chunk of ice was falling off of the frozen waterfall.
"Hold on to me," he told us. Before my mind could register what was just said, Peter drove his sword into the ice causing it to crack. The ice from the fall fell into the water and emitted a colossal wave. I lunged for Peter's waist, Lucy's coat, anything! It was too late. The wave swept me away and I was dragged under into the icy depths.