A/N: There is Latin in this chapter, please be aware that I don't know the language and so used a translator app so if you happen to have studied the language please don't be offended. This is true of all languages that I happen to use.
Chapter Eight: Battle Lines
In the two days following our rescue, I spent a lot of time training with actual weapons instead of the imaginary/stick weapons I had used before coming to Narnia. It seemed that Santa Clause had been by and dropped of weapons that were suited for me since there wasn't time for them to be forged. Due to my speed and agility, the weapons I was gifted were suited to this skill set. Seven daggers, five knives and two Katanas.
The hilt of each weapon was made of a rich rowan wood and engraved on them was two intertwined flowers: the gladiolus and Heather Lavender. The Gladiolus flower symbolizes strength of character, faithfulness and honour. It also signifies remembrance. The heather lavender symbolizes admiration, solitude and beauty, and the white heather specifically symbolizes protection and indicates that wishes will come true. The use of Rowan wood for the hilts also held meaning because it stood for protection, vitality, healing, magic and the strength to turn away negativity. The tree spirit who had explained this to me since my knowledge of woods and flowers didn't extend beyond identifying them, was impressed with what these weapons meant about my character.
Along the blade of the daggers was carved the words 'Ne cede malis' which translated to 'Yield not to misfortunes'. I took these words to mean that I should remain strong when faced with adversity as I had been doing for most of my life. I didn't give up, and I didn't give in. I stood strong against everything that tried to break me. Along the knives were the words 'Fac et Spera' which translated to 'By virtue and vows', which I took to mean that I would stand by my vows, by my word and by my morals. And along the Katanas was the words 'Nec Sprno, nec timeo' which meant that 'I neither despise, nor fear'. I didn't fight my enemies with these blades because I hated them, nor because I feared them. I fought my enemies with these blades in order to defend the innocent and to protect that which my morals demanded I stood for.
The Katanas themselves were smaller than they would be when I became an adult, Aslan told me that they would grow with me, so that they would remain completely fitted to my grip and fighting style.
Sometimes I would practise my forms and grip on my own, using the same techniques I had learnt from my research. Other times, I would spar against a faun or a centaur (the two most skilled combatants in regards to weapons), and whenever Edmund wasn't sparing with his brother, I would be his sparring partner.
However, our routine was broken on the second day by the arrival of the White Queen. She was sat on a throne carried by four Boggles and had a guard of several fierce creatures including the Minotaur which looked a little relieved to see me alive and unharmed. I wondered what leverage the White Witch held over the Minotaur and his people to force them to fight for her since it was clear that they were not willingly part of her army.
Even as my mind wondered with possibilities, I stepped closer to Edmund and placed a comforting hand on his arm as they watched the White Queen stand to address Aslan who had emerged from his tent to speak with her.
"You have a traitor in your midst, Aslan." The White Witch accused, pointing her finger at Edmund with a smirk. There was a gasp from the watchers who weren't aware of why Edmund was delayed while Peter joined me in front of his brother.
"His offence was not against you." Aslan responded calmly, not looking away from the White Witch.
"Have you forgotten the Deep Magic?" she demanded.
A warning rumble came from Aslan. "Do not cite the Deep Magic to me, Witch. I was there when it was written."
"Then you will know that the boy belongs to me." She turned from Aslan to the gathered group of Narnians. "That boy," she pointed to Edmund who could only be seen through me and Peter due to my short height, "will die on the Stone Table."
Peter went to draw his sword, but I grasped his wrist. We couldn't afford a fight now since the White Witch had entered their Camp under diplomacy – it was old rules they shouldn't breach. "Come and take him then." Peter challenged despite not drawing his sword.
"You think that a simple threat will deny me my right, little king? Aslan knows that if I do not have blood as the law demands, all of Narnia will be overturned, and perish, in fire and water." The White Witch said mockingly.
"Enough, I shall talk with you alone." Aslan interfered.
Once they had both disappeared into the tent, I led Edmund (and by consequence his siblings) over to a blanket that the Beaver Couple had set out for us.
"What do you think is happening in there?" Lucy asked worriedly once they were seated.
"Aslan won't let her take Edmund. But whatever he decides to do, we must have faith that it is for the best." I told her.
"How can you be so sure that he won't let her take me? The White Witch is right, I am a traitor." Edmund said, looking down at his hands – unable to look at his siblings despite the fact that they had all forgiven him.
"You were manipulated by her. And when you realised what she was, you did what you could to make sure you survived. You even tried to protect Mr Tumnus and the Fox. A traitor is someone who willingly and knowingly betrays his people and his cause. When you gave the White Witch the location of your siblings, you didn't know that they would be in any danger. How could you know when you didn't have the information? That makes you an innocent Edmund, and the Magic won't demand your life in return." This last part was said with far more confidence than I had intended. It was like my entire being knew the words to be true even if what information of magic I had was limited and I had no idea what the laws were.
"Harry's right." Peter agreed. "You have nothing to worry about."
The group fell into silence as they waited for the Witch and Aslan to emerge from the tent. It was the White Witch who came out first, bringing silence from the camp with her.
"The Witch has denounced her claim on Edmund." Aslan announced as she walked to her chair. The Narnians broke out into cheers while Lucy launched herself at Edmund for a relieved hug.
"How will I know your promise will be kept?" the White Witch questioned loudly, silencing the cheers of the Narnians.
I frowned thoughtfully at the question – what had Aslan promised in return for Edmund's safety?
Aslan roared loudly, causing the White Witch to fall onto her throne. She left to the laughter of the Narnians but I never took my eyes off Aslan who sighed and turned to walk into his tent like he had a large weight on his shoulders.
I spent the rest of that day training, and making sure the light weight leather pieces of armour that was being made for me fit. When night fell, I remained outside of the tent I was meant to be sharing with Edmund and Peter. I had yet to actually sleep inside of it since I wasn't comfortable sleeping so closely to others. Instead, I slept under a blanket under the light of the stars.
It was because of these sleeping arrangements that I was alerted to Aslan exiting his tent. I silently got up and walked at his side as we walked towards the forest. I noticed that Susan and Lucy were trying to follow silently, and I'm sure that Aslan noticed them as well, but we didn't draw attention to them.
"Will you return?" I asked quietly so that the girls couldn't hear.
"I'm never truly gone." Aslan answered softly, his voice rumbling gently in a comforting way.
"Edmund is an innocent, and you're taking his place."
We stopped walking in the shade of the trees and I reached out to gently run my fingers through Aslan mane. I hadn't really talked to him during my time at the camp, but his presence was so comforting and I felt so safe around him. I don't know where my realisation had come from, just like I didn't know where my belief in magic had come from, but I knew that I was right. Aslan was sacrificing his life so that Edmund would live, and so as to give the army a chance to prepare for the Witches army.
"The White Witch will ride to war tomorrow once dawn has broken." Aslan warned instead of answering my question.
"I heard her army; they out number us. We can fight, but I don't think we can win without help." I told him quietly.
"Have faith." Aslan answered.
"Will you let them accompany you?" I questioned softly.
"I think, my walk will be nicer with company." Aslan answered.
I nodded, reaching forward to hug Aslan tightly for a moment. "Thank you." I whispered softly into his ear before pulling away and walking back to the camp.
I heard him call the girls forward, questioning why they weren't in bed. I didn't turn around, instead I took up my place outside the tent and fell into meditation, going through the last of my happy memories in the hope that it would help me get through the battle the next morning because Peter and Edmund were going to need all the help they could get. I had decided to ignore the remaining black clouds for the time being, if the death of my grandparents had affected me in such a way, I didn't want to know what memory those clouds had until I was in a more stable and safer environment and had the time to go through the memory and accept whatever I had seen.