AN: In case anyone was wondering, no this is NOT the last chapter.

Edmund tried not to laugh when he saw who was performing the wedding ceremony. It was the dwarf he'd hit on the head the day he'd warned Peter of the witch's plans. Sure enough, there was a large lump on his head in roughly the shape of a sword hilt. Both Edmund and Lucy had a very clear view of him -as well as Jadis and Peter- now because they weren't standing with the servants. Because Lucy had the fine coats and capes made for the witch's dwarfs to wear at the ceremony so that she could mend them, they were able to slip them on thus covering their faces, shove the real dwarfs in the closet (after Susan took the dress and cloak out of course), and take their place on the dais beside the wolves.

Lucy tried not to let her fear of the wolves show and was very glad that she had remembered to make the hood seven inches longer than they'd told her to. There was no chance of anyone seeing her for who she really was under it.

Edmund had a harder time than her, but not because he was afraid of the wolves. He had to keep bending his knees to make himself appear shorter whenever the White Witch looked his way. He didn't want her to identify him as the bizarrely tall kitchen dwarf. His legs were simply killing him after only the first three minutes of this. Thankfully, Jadis didn't look his way as often as she might have, being too focused on her guests and Peter.

Watching all this from under the dark hood of her cloak, Susan found herself surprisingly jealous of the witch even though she knew what was going to happen. Jadis did look beautiful. Her long hair was half-up half-down and her eyes shone brightly with excitement (evil excitement but excitement all the same). The gown fit her perfectly, not even being -as most gowns for a seven foot lady might be- too short at the bottom. Even though she knew Peter didn't love and wouldn't marry Jadis, Susan felt horrible seeing them standing side by side like that.

The only thing that made Susan feel happy again was when she heard one of the guests whisper, "She's too tall for him."

Susan smiled at that. It was true. Peter looked handsome and Jadis looked stunning, but standing together they did look quite ridiculous. Unless Jadis got down on her knees, they wouldn't even be eye to eye if they happened to look at each other!

Just as the dwarf opened his mouth to speak, Peter held up his hand. "Wait."

"Wait?" Jadis echoed, looking exasperated. Here she was on the brink of getting all of Narnia in her hands by marrying its king and he wanted to wait? Wait for what? For her to kick him in the shins (which is what she really felt like doing at the moment)?

"Jadis, greatest queen of Narnia," Peter said, reminding himself that he mustn't give himself away by laughing, no matter how absurd the things he had to say were. "It is upon this of all days that you should be known as the most powerful lady that ever was."

The guests applauded.

J

adis liked that. Usually when someone talked about her like that she would hit them and tell them not to waste her time with flattery but maybe just this once -it was a special day after all- she could hear her admirer out. Now that she was going to have all of Narnia in her hands for ever, she had all the time she needed.

"There is nothing great or small that you cannot do," Peter went on. "Is that not the truth?"

Everyone looked at Jadis for her answer. "It is truth."

"I know it is," Peter lied, trying to look at her as though he was actually fond of her. It was extremely difficult and he only managed a sort of half smile by imagining that it was Susan standing in front of him. "Which is why you are the only one fit to marry me and rule Narnia by my side."

One of the guests noticed that person in the hooded cloak wasn't clapping with everyone else and elbowed her. Susan let out a grunt and clapped briefly and dismally.

"Which is why, I ask of you great Jadis, a moment of proof," Peter said, forcing his smile to widen by reminding himself that he would soon be rid of this horrible witch.

"Proof?" Jadis blinked in surprise. What did he mean by that?

"We all know there is nothing you can't do," Peter explained. "So I ask for you, as the bride, to perform a simple task. If you succeed, we will all have proof of your ability and power. Everyone will. No one will ever dare to question you again. Made a vow, if you please, that to the one who can do this task shall the claim to me be given. To that one only I shall marry." He paused for a moment and then added, "Though I know it will be you."

Jadis wanted to refuse. She wanted to tell him to hush up and let them go on with the wedding. But she could see clear as day that everyone's curiosity was now peaked thanks to his stupid little speech. If she refused to grant his request they might wonder if it was because she was afraid to do whatever it was he asked of her. If there really was something she could not do. Perhaps if she could give a real reason not to -one that was not fear- they would be satisfied.

"We haven't time for any great task," Jadis declared. "We're in the middle of a wedding!"

"Oh, this is not a great task at all," Peter assured her in a flattering tone. "It's very simple. I promise. Do make the vow and prove yourself to all of your subjects."

Well when he puts it that way... Jadis thought she might as well get it over with. "Very well, I shall make the vow and prove myself the true queen of Narnia."

"Very good," Peter said, snapping his fingers at a nearby servant. "Bring out a wash basin."

"Wash basin?" Jadis herself was starting to feel a little curious now. What was he thinking of?

Once the basin along with soap and water were brought out, Peter lifted one of the folds of his wedding cape and pulled out a white night shirt he'd kept hidden under there. He unfolded it and held it up for everyone to see.

"This shirt has a stain on it," Peter told them, motioning to the waxy drops. "Any proper wife ought to be able to get it out. Jadis will prove herself by getting it clean for me."

I'm the queen, thought Jadis angrily, as she took the shirt from Peter, I should never have to wash anything; especially in front of my subjects!

No one seemed to know how to react and all looked to the dwarf performing the ceremony. He mouthed, "Clap, you idiots, clap."

They all applauded again. Even Susan, who was now getting a delightful tingle of excitement up and down her spine. Jadis would never be able to get the shirt clean.

Jadis dipped the shirt into the water and scrubbed. Nothing. The stubborn wax wouldn't come off. She tried harder. Nothing. She tried harder still scrubbing at it until her white hands turned a reddish colour. She even tried ways only a witch can try. All that did was make the stains bigger. She wanted to scream and hurl the shirt at her groom's head.

"What's wrong, my bride?" Peter asked pretend-innocently. "Haven't you gotten it clean yet?"

"Shut up," Jadis barked, demanding that someone get her some more soap.

After twenty minutes, Peter went over to the basin and said, "Let's see how it's coming."

Jadis didn't want to lift it, knowing perfectly well the stains weren't gone, but everyone's eyes were on her.

Mortified, she lifted it up.

Everyone gasped when they saw the stains worse than before, clear as day. The witch had not cleaned them away. No, could not clean them away!

Peter shook his head in disgust. "And you call yourself the queen of Narnia."

The guests started whispering to each other. What was wrong with Jadis? Why had this happened? Why had she let it happen? Was she really as powerful as she claimed to be? Maybe they shouldn't fear her at all. Why, she couldn't even wash a simple night-shirt!

Lashing out in anger, Jadis slapped Peter across the face so hard that he fell to the ground. "Don't you dare speak to me like that!"

Lucy let out a cry, but it was muffled by her hood and by the sound of everyone else's gasping. Jadis had not only been put to shame in public but also had just struck the groom across the face.

Edmund winced when his brother was slapped. Poor Peter. That looked like it really hurt.

Susan was horrified. That hadn't been part of the plan. No one had expected Jadis to do that. Of course she would be angry. She shuddered to think how much more angry the witch would be when she proved that she could wash it. It was frightening, but it had to be risked. If not, Peter wouldn't be completely saved. Jadis had given up her claim to him only in favor of one who could do something she could not. If Susan didn't prove herself to be that one, Peter would be quite possibly in more danger than ever before.

Peter stood up, rubbing his flaming cheek. Bravely he turned to the crowd and said, "See? See how your queen is? She is only one of words and force. Where is her true power?"

Jadis prepared to hit him again but then heard the murmuring guests. She mustn't let them think that Peter was telling the truth. "He's a liar!" she exclaimed, holding up the stained shirt for them all to see. "This is not normal. There's magic in this. I tell you, no one can wash it clean!"

"Let someone try," Peter suggested, trying to forget about his stinging cheek for a moment. He pointed to one of the guests. She was one of the bad dryads who was on the witch's side (thus the reason she had been invited). "You. Come up here and try."

The dryad looked somewhere between flattered and frightened. On the one hand she was thrilled that she had just been picked out of the crowd to wash the shirt and perhaps win herself a king. But what if Jadis had spoken the truth and was angry? What if she really was as powerful as she claimed to be?

Shaking with fear she said, "Please sire, I do not want to."

Peter had expected this. "Fine then, be a coward." He turned his attention back to all of the guests. "Who will be brave enough to try to wash the shirt? If any of you are willing, let that one come forward."

Still covered by the hooded cloak, Susan took a few steps forward, coming closer and closer to the dais.

"Ah, finally a brave face," Peter announced proudly.

"I see no face," Jadis retorted bitterly.

"It does not matter," Peter shrugged. "I think I once knew what it was like to have to hide my face. Let the lass -if that is what you are- come to the basin. If you are something different, still come and try."

Susan took her hands out from under the cloak and took the night-shirt from a scowling Jadis. Then she took it to the basin, dipped it in the water, and scrubbed. In only four minutes, Susan pulled out the shirt. Clean as could be. Sparking white without so much as a trace of the former stains.

There was a collective gasp followed by a very loud applause. Even those who had wanted Jadis for queen were clapping for her. The servants who had been watching from the kitchen doorway were delighted and clapped even louder than the guests.

"I'm yours." Peter's smile was genuine this time.

"Who are you?" Jadis demanded, her cheeks flushed with rage.

Susan lifted her hood, revealing her face. She smiled and took a step closer to Peter.

"You!" Jadis hissed, her eyes flashing with dangerous amounts of anger.

Next, Edmund came forward and took off his dwarf-hood, turning to address everyone watching them. "We have now seen for ourselves the true bride of the high king. This is Lady Susan Pevensie of the land of Spare Oom."

After a moment's hesitation, the crowd broke into delighted cheers -with the exception of some of the White Witch's guests. Not that it mattered, because the happy cries of the servants were more than loud enough to fill in for them.

Furious, Jadis grabbed hold of her wand and lifted it towards Susan. Seeing what was about to happen, Edmund pulled something long and sharp out from under the dwarf-cape. It was the sword from the display stand that he'd swiped the day he'd found and warned Peter. Quick as he could possibly manage, he slammed the sword down on the witch's wand, slicing it in half. It made a shattering sound like that of a crystal bowl when it falls from a high countertop to a tile floor below.

Jadis looked down at the broken wand in her hand and then back at Edmund. "I should have killed you when you first came to me as a toddler." With those words, she stabbed him in the stomach with the broken wand.

"Edmund!" Lucy, Susan, and Peter screamed at the same time.

He gulped, gaping at the witch for a moment before falling to the ground with his eyes closed.

Breathing became very hard. He made raspy breaths hoping to at least get some air, but none of it seemed of any real use.

Looking away from his injured brother with tears in his eyes, Peter shouted. "To arms, Narnia!"

At the sound of his voice the servants realized that he was on their side after all and charged forward.

Soon there was a full pitched battle. Shoving, stabbing, pushing, swords clanking back and forth. The centaurs came in to join the fight. Some didn't have swords and introduced a lot of kicking to the battle.

Jadis would have stood a chance at winning if she had only her wand and the loyalty of all of the guests she'd invited. She'd lost a fair share of them and it seemed as though her side might have had to give into the Narnians.

Unwilling to admit, defeat, She shoved two hapless fauns and took their swords. She charged at Peter with them. He was of no use to her now that she'd lost her claim to him. She would teach him and that stupid little girl to plot against her.

Peter didn't have a sword at the moment and would have been killed if Susan hadn't screamed, "Peter, watch out!"

He ducked and the witch missed him by a hair. Jadis grunted and tried again.

He jumped out of the way just in time to avoid injury, or worse. Under the cloak, Susan wore a belt over her dress which still had Peter's sword attached to it. She ran as quickly as she could over to Peter and shouted, "Peter! Catch!" She threw the sword to him.

He leapt up and caught it by the hilt, swinging it at Jadis. The stroke would have sliced her head clean off if she had been a little slower.

Meanwhile, Lucy fought off two of the witch's dwarfs who were crowding around Edmund for spoil, thinking that once he was dead, they could take his fine clothing and also his sword.

Much as she hated it, she had to use her dagger on one of them. She now understood why her mother had hoped she would never have to use it. It felt horrible to have to harm another living thing. Oh how awful it was! When at last she was with her hurt brother, she took out her cordial, opened the diamond bottle, and let a drop fall into his gasping mouth.

He relaxed and stopped gasping. She wondered if it meant he was dead or if it meant he was healing. Please don't be dead, Edmund. Finally, there was a light cough. Then another one. His chest started moving again and Lucy felt relief running through her. She helped her brother to his feet.

Seeing Edmund standing completely healed beside Lucy, Peter suddenly felt much stronger. It had been hard to fight with the thought of his dying brother on his mind. Now he fought with all his might. They could still win. And then freedom, true freedom. Once they won this battle, it would all be over. No more trouble in Narnia, no more being a white bear, no more having to act cruel, no more any of it!

Susan also began fighting much harder. She used the bow and arrows -like the horse ridding it was something that came natural to her- to shoot at the witch's guests who still followed her. After a while, though, she grew very wearily. Peter and Jadis were still going at it back and forth with their swords so fast that you didn't see swords but blurry silver lines that looked wavy like a game of jump-rope. It couldn't go on like this for ever. Peter might get hurt.

Suddenly, a new idea came to Susan. She thought of Aslan. He couldn't free Peter from the witch because of the claim which was why he sent them on his breath to rescue the high king on their own. But now Jadis had renounced it. There was nothing except the battle itself holding Peter and the others captive. Remembering her ivory horn, Susan reached under the cloak, next to where the sword had been. She pulled out the little white horn, put it to her lips, and blew. A rich deep sound echoed off the walls of the castle, and, as if the world was coming to an end, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked around as though completely stunned, searching for the source of the sound.

Just then, there was a crash and a large Lion came leaping through the window. He jumped onto the dais and let out a roar.

"Aslan!" Lucy exclaimed happily.

The roar echoed even louder than the horn had and everyone was even more dazed than before. Then, Aslan sprung out at Jadis, pinning her to the ground under this terrible paws. She gave him a look of utter disbelief. How could this be happening to her? No one saw what happened next, not even the most horribly brave could stand to actually watch, but they knew that Aslan killed her.

Aslan walked away from the witch's dead body and spoke to Peter: "It is finished. The curse has ended."

At once all of those who were on the witch's side suddenly burst into nothing or else gave themselves up.

"No more curse..." Peter shook his head, a smile beginning to creep up onto his face. "I can't believe it!"

Susan came over to him and he threw his arms around her exclaiming, "It's over, I'm free!" He pulled Lucy and Edmund into the hug too. "We're all free!"

"At last!" Lucy cried happily as the four of them continued to cling to each other, overcome with joy.

"Three cheers for the daughter of Eve!" the servants cried out.

Susan pulled away from the huddle and shook her head at them. "Aslan's the one who killed her. Go cheer for him."

"But you saved the high king!" they exclaimed. "You got him away from the witch. You broke the curse!"

"But I didn't!" Susan huffed, feeling rather frustrated. "I betrayed him, remember?"

"Child," Aslan said kindly, resting his soft velvet-like nose on her forehead for a moment. "You have broken the curse. By righting the wrong." He motioned over to Peter. "I think he'd agree with me."

Peter came over and put his arm around Susan's shoulders. "Come on," he said, giving her a light kiss on the forehead. "Let's go home."

AN: Well? feedback?

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