Author's Note: I hope you enjoy this chapter! I put in a little twist. Please write reviews; they are very much appreciated!!

Part Twenty Five: The Black Witch

He couldn't believe that she had left. She hadn't told anyone, she had just left them all to worry. She had left them with nothing, only guesses and whisperings. Caspian didn't understand why Eve had done that. He had sent out scouts to search for her the very night he had found out she was missing. Gaia had not voiced what Eve's intentions were, claiming that she knew no more than Caspian. Though Caspian longed to believe that Eve was safe and that she knew what she was doing, he felt strongly that something was terribly wrong.

"Why would she be going after the gold bell?" Caspian had asked Gaia over and over. "I thought it was only a myth. The bell wasn't even in the same universe; it was in a world long ago destroyed."

"The stars have told me no more. The fact that Eve has gone in search of the bell was only a guess of mine. She was inquiring after it only a few days ago. At the time I suspected nothing, but I see now that she had some purpose in mind. We can only hope that she knows what she's doing."

Caspian had mulled over the prophecy so many times that he now could recite it word for word. Come from the world of King Peter the Great, She will come to undo Narnia's fate, Once She will lose her way, And once She will be thought to betray, In the end only She will decide, If it is Good or Evil that will abide… The word "betray" worried Caspian. Would Eve really betray him or did that refer to someone else? It was with great difficulty that Caspian had to push aside his thoughts of Eve and focus on the upcoming battle. The enemy's army would be arriving in two days, and Caspian had hardly spared a thought for it recently.

"…then we'll send the griffins from the back to give us some relief if the battle is getting rough. We'll sport the archers behind the first two rows and place the crossbows along the sides. We'll place the reserves along the east and west side. The cavalry will charge when, and only when, there's a break in the frontlines. You will take your reserves through the center as soon as the wild cats and bears move out." Caspian spoke his instructions to Ouranos, his second in command, swiftly, going into detail about when to make a move and what to do if the enemies did something unexpected. "It's important to remember that we don't know what we're up against. We can't let the wild men fool us with their lack of intelligence and formation. We must be prepared for anything and everything and expect the worse. We must understand that there may be an enemy out there powerful enough to destroy our whole army."

Ouranos nodded. "We will prepare for the worst, but I do not think it will come to that. It would take a very strong army indeed to stop us."

"Yes," Caspian replied. "That is true."

"What about Eve?" Trufflehunter spoke up.

Caspian's eyes moved to the badger. "I do not know what has become of her. We must hope that she knows what she's doing."

"The scouts have not sighted her?" the badger inquired.

"No." It pained Caspian to think that Eve could be in danger and that he could do nothing to prevent this. "There has been no sign of her anywhere." He looked away, off into the distance, half hoping that Eve would come riding up on the white horse she had taken. He sighed and looked back down at his battle plans. "Now all we can do is wait…" he said quietly. For the battle and for Eve to return...or not return…

. . .

Eve lost track of time as her captors rode through the night. She had no idea where they were going other than north. She guessed that they were taking her to Ettinsmoor, straight into the hands of the enemy. But why? she asked herself for the hundredth time. What is it that they want from me? She thought briefly of the bell, but she had been attacked on her second day in Narnia, before she even knew about the bell. My ring… Eve thought back and remembered the words of the attacker, "Unless you're willing to give up the girl." "What does she have to do with this?" "Everything." The enemy wanted the ring. It possessed some power that he desired; but they didn't need Eve to get it. Then why didn't they kill me before? Why drag me along? Eve shivered. The night had grown very cold, and she had only a light cloak for protection. Murky grey clouds infested the sky above, standing out like ghosts against the black sky. A bird called out, shattering the silence. Why didn't I tell anyone where I was going? No one can help me… Eve tried not to panic as realization hit her. She really was trapped unless she found some way of escaping.

Suddenly her horse's pace slowed as the captors leading it came to a stop. Eve could just make out a length of low mountains in the distance. "…will come when ready. Have patience," one of the captors was saying to the others.

"…no good…thieving…" the second captor muttered under his breath.

Eve got the impression that they were not under someone else's command by choice. She waited quietly until a tall figure dressed in black robes stepped suddenly out of nowhere. "Ah, good, you have the girl," said the voice. Eve peered curiously into the distance, surprised and alarmed to find that the figure who spoke was not a man but a woman. "Untie her hands; she'll ride with me," the tall woman commanded. With a few mutterings, one of the men roughly untied Eve's hands and pulled her off the horse. "I did not say hurt her," the woman said sharply. "And when I ask you to do something, you don't mutter about how much you don't want to do it. Bad things happen to people who disobey my orders." Eve felt a sudden sense of extreme fear at the woman's words. She longed to warn the men that they were in danger, but the men just cowered, muttering apologies. "I don't give second chances to those who don't deserve it," the woman said and with a flick of her hand the man who had untied Eve shrunk until he was a small rabbit. Eve gasped in astonishment, but the woman seemed unperturbed. "You two, get a move on!" she yelled. The other two mounted the black horses and took off into the darkness without a backward glance. "Now then," the woman picked up the rabbit, "shall we?" She motioned to a large black carriage pulled by four black horses. Eve hadn't seen it before since it blended in with the night. Knowing better than to go against the woman's orders, Eve climbed into the carriage without a second thought.

The woman got in after her and flicked her fingers at the reins. They flew up and the horses broke into a graceful canter. "Now then Eve, I do hope those fools of men have not hurt you." The change in tone caught Eve off guard. It was suddenly honey smooth and warm. How does she know my name? "And I hope I haven't scared you with a bit of sorcery." Her eyes looked genuinely concerned, and Eve felt an inexplicable comfort wash over her.

"No, I'm alright," she managed to say. "H-how did you know my name?"

The woman's black eyes didn't blink. "I know many things." She smiled and asked, "Are you hungry, Daughter of Eve?"

"Yes… I'm sorry, I don't know-"

"Jaira," the woman introduced. "The Black Witch, some call me. But black doesn't always refer to evil. White refers to good and just look at the White Witch."

"The White Witch?" Eve was instantly on guard. Did this woman have anything to do with the deceased witch?

"Yes, dear. Surely you've heard of her?"

"Yes."

"Now, let me get you some food." She took a small silver container out of her black cloak and dripped something into her hand. Instantly there was a platter of steaming hot bread and soup. "Here you are," the witch said sweetly. Eve took the platter cautiously. "Don't look so worried; it's not poisoned." The witch seemed to know what she was thinking.

"Then who exactly are you? I mean-?" Eve struggled for words; afraid the witch would take them the wrong way and turn her into a rabbit.

"I am the Queen of Ettinsmoor and lands beyond. Cair Paravel is rightfully mine, as well as Narnia, but let's not discuss politics, it's all very confusing." The Queen smiled sweetly, but Eve leaned away, suddenly afraid. "I am Jaira, sister to Jadis, the White Witch," the Queen added with a smile.