Hey, Y'all! I know that I haven't updated in forever. Super busy. Being a senior both sucks and is awesome at the same time. But anyway, hope you like this chapter!
(Third Person P.O.V)
He sat there.
Cold and numb.
Heavy unforgiving shackles around his ankles.
Edmund had lost track of time in that tiny ice cell, waiting for the queen to come and release him, for her to realize that there has been a mistake. His only company was the little plate beside him which held a piece of bread and a cup of water. he picked up the bread and took a small bite, only to choke on how stale it was. He then picked up his cup, only to throw it down in annoyance because it had turned into solid ice. Ed scrunched himself up into a ball to try and make himself warm.
"If..." said a voice from the next cell over. Edmund turned to look at the cold, weak faun. "If you're not going to eat that...?" his voice trailed off in a plume of breath. Ed crawled over to him, and he went to meet him. Not without pain, however. "I'd get up," he said. "But I can't use my legs." They met at an opening where Ed handed him the bread. The creature took it and tried to eat the hard food. The boy noticed that his legs were shackled and that he wore a red scarf.
"Mr. Tumnus." Ed realized.
"What's left of him." replied the faun. A moment of silence passed before he spoke again. "You're Lucy Pevensie's brother, aren't you?"
"I'm Edmund," he confirmed, burying his head in his knees because of the guilt he felt by betraying his little sister.
"Is she alright?" Mr. Tumnus asked. "Is she safe?"
Ed brought his head up to speak clearly. "I don't know," he said honestly. Suddenly, a loud clank came from the opening of the dungeon door. It was the queen. Edmund and Mr. Tumnus scooted away from each other fervently, just in case Jadis had a rule against prisoners talking to each other.
"My police tore that dam apart," she said, walking towards where Edmund was shackled. "Your little family are nowhere to be found." Ed was truly confused now. Where could they possibly have gone? He racked his brain in search of answers. A clue, perhaps. That soon turned to fear as the queen yanked him up to eye level by the collar of his shirt. "Where did they go?" Queen Jadis commanded.
"I don't know!" Ed answered.
"Then you're of no further use to me," said the queen calmly as she dropped him and made ready her wand. Suddenly, Ed remembered something.
"Wait!" he shouted. "The Beavers said something about Aslan!"
"Aslan?" the queen replied, lowering her wand and looking shocked. "Where?" Just as he was about to say something...
"He's a stranger, Your Majesty!" Mr. Tumnus interrupted. "He can't be expected to know anything." Ginnabrik, who had followed the queen, shoved him back with a spear harshly.
"I said," repeated the queen. "Where is Aslan?"
"I don't know," he said again. "I left before they said anything. I wanted to see you!" he exclaimed hoping to get just a morsel of affection. The monarch was silent. Just then, something else occurred to Edmund. "But they did say something about a girl. A princess. I think her name was..." It came to him at last. "Diamond! So wherever she is, Aslan is?" The queen's face was even more shocked this time. Her eyes were wide and her mouth dropped.
"Diamond?" she repeated. Then, she lowered her voice to a whisper. "My daughter is alive."
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty?" Edmund asked, hoping to confirm what he thought he heard. But Queen Jadis obviously didn't know he said anything more as she continued to mutter.
"But how?" she asked herself. Then her voice and expression changed to one of pure anger. "Reynas! Guard!" she called and an ogre stepped foot into the room. he addressed and bowed to her. "Release the faun," she ordered. The ogre went to Mr. Tumnus and broke his shackles off. The poor creature howled in pain as he was broken free and then dragged before the queen. "Do you know why you're here?" Queen Jadis asked.
"Because I believe in a free Narnia. One ruled by the true queen!" he bravely decreed. However, the queen ignored him.
"You're here because he turned you in for sweets," she said, pointed her wand at Edmund, who shamefully hung his head again, not wanting to see the look of hurt in Lucy's friends' eyes. "Take him upstairs and ready my sleigh," she ordered further. "Edmund misses his family." Just as she turned to walk away, she cast one final look at the boy.
"And I have a daughter to reunite with."
Soon afterward, Edmund was brought to the main courtyard by Ginnabrik. He looked at all the stone creatures, wishing he could free them all. But then a new one caught his eye. It was Mr. Tumnus, a final face of agony permanently etched onto his face. He just stared until the queen spoke.
"When you're ready Son of Adam."
The sleigh was driven out of the palace in full force. Instead of Edmund sitting next to the queen, he was now reduced to grovel at her feet. He wished more than anything that he could take back this horrible decision that he made. And he prayed that somehow, he could know for certain that Aslan would save him.
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(Peter's P.O.V)
We stood on the rocky outcropping of a cliff looking out over the frozen horizon. "Aslan and Princess Diamond's camp is at The Stone Table," Beaver explained. "That's just beyond the frozen river."
"River?" I repeated, unsure of how to cross that without a boat.
"Oh, it's been frozen solid for nearly 20 years," Mrs. Beaver assured. "There's nothing to worry about, dear," I returned her smile, knowing she was right.
"But it's so far," Lucy said. I knew she'd been complaining about her feet hurting already.
"It's the world, dear," Mrs. Beaver said again. "Did you expect it to be small?"
"Smaller," Susan chimed in, casting a rueful look at me like this was all my fault somehow. I watched her walk by me and looked out at the landscape, thinking about how I was still supposed to do this.
We managed to clamber down the rock face and onto the frozen river, where we found that it was in fact solid enough to hold all of us at once. The trek was rather slow and of course, Beaver telling us to hurry all the time didn't help, either.
"Come on, humans," he said. Again. "While we're still young here.
"If he tells us to hurry one more time, I'm gonna turn him into a big, fluffy hat," I said, picking up Lucy and finally getting a smile out of Susan.
"Hurry up!" Beaver shouted. Great Scot, he couldn't give us a break.
"He is getting a little bossy," Lucy agreed.
'No!" Mrs. Bever exclaimed. "It's her!" We all glanced behind us and sure enough, sleigh bells could be heard.
"RUN!" I shouted, putting Lucy down as we all ran across the frozen body of water. The sleigh never gave up the pursuit as we all dashed as fast as we could over the ice, legs pumping and lungs crying out for oxygen. Finally, we made it over and into a small patch of wood, where Beaver found a small underground cave and ushered us in, where we all crowded together and tried to hold our breath. The bells stopped We heard footsteps. Snow came down over the mouth of the cave as we watched a shadow stand and look around before moving away.
Then...silence.
"Maybe she's gone," Lucy whispered.
"I'll go." I volunteered.
"No," Beaver protested. "You're no good to Narnia dead." He scrambled up and out of the cave and a few more tense seconds passed with no sound. "COme here!" Beaver exclaimed, suddenly dropping over the mouth of the cave. "I hope you've all been good because there's someone here to see ya!" Wondering who that could be, we all quickly exited the cave and came face to face with a bearded man, who laughed happily when he saw us. I had to admit, I was excited too. There was only one person this could be.
"Merry Christmas, sir," Lucy said, smiling wider than I'd ever seen her smile before.
"It certainly is, Lucy. Since you have arrived." Father Christmas, for that was who he was, replied.
"Look," Susan tried to say. "I've seen a lot since we got here, but this..."
"We thought you were the Witch," I interrupted, stepping forward.
"Yes, sorry about that," Father Christmas said. "But in my defense, I've been driving one of these longer than the Witch." He gestured towards his sleigh.
"I thought there was no Christmas in Narnia," Susan said. At least she finally recognized that she was here and not still insisting that she was dreaming.
"Not for a long time," answered Father Christmas. "But the hope that you have all brought, Your Majesties, is finally starting to weaken the Witch's power." We all smiled, even Susan. "Still," he continued. "I daresay you could so with these." He lifted out a sack and dropped it on the snow with a hearty chuckle.
"Presents!" Lucy exclaimed, stepping forward. The man lifted out a cordial filled with an amber liquid wrapped in a red leather casing and gave it to my little sister.
"The juice of the fireflower," he explained. "One drop will cure any injury. And though I hope you never have to use it..." he held out a dagger towards her, equally as fancy as the medicine.
"Thank you, sir," said Lucy graciously. "I think I can be brave enough."
"I'm sure you could. Battles are ugly affairs." Lucy stepped back as Father Christmas took out a mahogany bow and a quiver full of arrows. "Susan," he called and my other sister stepped forward. "Trust in this bow and it will not easily miss."
"What happened to 'battles are ugly affairs'?" she asked. The jaunty man chuckled again before holding out a horn in the shape of a fish. "Though you don't seem to have a problem making yourself heard, blow on this and help will come wherever you are."
"Thanks," Susan whispered with a smile. She stepped back as my name was finally called. He pulled two objects from his bag.
"The time to use these may be near at hand." I grasped the metal shield and unsheathed the sword, marveling at the gleaming metal. It felt right in my hand.
"Thank you, sir," I said. However, he wasn't done with me yet. As my sisters showed the Beavers what they had received, Father Christmas pulled me aside.
"Peter, my boy," he said, producing a small black box from the folds of his cloak. "Give this to your fiancée, the princess. After all, what good is a formal and proper engagement without a ring?" I opened the box.
"Wow." That was all I could say. The band had intricate vine detailing that was outlined in aquamarine colored gems. At the top was a huge and magnificent princess cut (how fitting ;]) diamond. It was beautiful. Thanking him again, I placed the box in my pocket.
"These are tools," Father Christmas said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Not toys. Bear them well and wisely." I sheathed my new sword, appreciating the satisfying metallic sound that it made. "Now I must be off," he sighed. "Winter is almost over and things can pile up when you've been gone for nearly 20 years." He threw is sack back in the sleigh and turned to us one last time. "Long live Aslan and all hail the Queen!" he declared. "And Merry Christmas!" With that and a crack of his whip, he was gone. We all shouted our goodbyes, and I even promised that we'd see him next year, which I hoped that we did.
"Told you he was real," Lucy shot a cheeky smile at Susan
"He said winter was almost over," I said, grimly. "You know what that means." My sisters looked at me.
"No more ice."
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(Diamond's P.O.V)
Aslan had called me back to our tent again. After another day of battle training and planning, I wondered what for. "You called for me, Aslan?" I asked, opening the tent flap to see him standing there with an elegant looking middle-aged woman. She had brown hair that was pulled back in a tighr bun, brown skin and eyes, and just a few wrinkles, ones that held wisdom. She wore a light orange taffeta gown that wasn't too fancy. A simple yet fancy tiger lilly brooch decorated the front and the white lace collar on her dress looked like flower petals. It made my simole silver dress and half up hairstyle feel out of place.
"Ah, there you are, Diamond," Aslan greeted. "I'd like to introduce you to the Duchess Edelina." I dropped into a curtsy before her. "She is one of our noble allies from Brenn," Aslan continued. 'And she will help you learn to become a proper princess."
"Proper princess?" I repeated, standing back up. "Whatever do I need to learn how to do that for?" I asked.
"So you are seen in the eyes of the people as a suitable queen, my dear. And as a suitable wife when you meet your future husband." Duchess Edelina replied in a dignified and refined voice. I blushed at the mention of Peter.
"Exactly," Aslan agreed. "I trust that you will work hard, Diamond. As hard as you have been training this army."
"Yes, Aslan," I said. "I shall do what you have asked me to the best of my ability."
"Good," he smiled, walking out of the tent. "I know you'll make me proud, Diamond." Aslan walked out and I turned to the Duchess.
"When do we start, My Lady?" I asked.
"Right now." she replied with a smile.
"With what?"
"Something simple," she replied, holding a book out to me. "Place this on your head and walk." With puzzlement, I took off my crown, earning a fluttering of wings from the butterflies, and placed the volume on my head and began to walk around the tent. I managed only a few steps before it slipped and fell.
"Sorry," I said sheepishly.
"Oh, that's alright, my dear." Duchess Edelina said with a smile. "Let's try again." So I placed the book back on my head. "There," she said. "Now straighten your shoulders and keep your chin up. Glide across the room with grace and authority. Be a queen that command's respect and conveys elegance." Nodding, I began to move, following her advice. I found it easier to move this time, and the book stayed on my head. "Good, Your Highness," praised the Duchess. I moved around the tent a few more times. Each time another book was added, and I soon made my way up to 5 of them. "Well, I believe you have mastered posture, dear." said Duchess Edelina again.
"So what's next?" I asked curiously.
"There are several more lessons to learn, Your Grace. Protocol, diction, language, etiquette, style, and dancing are just a few."
"Hmmm..." I hummed, tapping my chin. "May we begin with etiquette, Your Ladyship?" I asked.
"Of course, Your Highness," she replied. "We'll start that off with dinner manners."
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"And one, two, three. One, two three. One, two, three. Good, Princess." I continued the waltz I was learning with my "partner", a life-sized man I had conjured out of snow. I couldn't help but wonder if this is what Peter looked like. That thought didn't last long as I stepped on the man's foot when he tried to spin me into a dip, crushing the fine powder and taking half of his leg along with it. He couldn't speak or feel anything, though.
"Sorry," I apologized to Duchess Edelina, while fixing the man's leg in a swirl of magic. "I just can't seem to get the final few steps."
"Quite alright, my dear," the Duchess replied with a sigh. It was not an impatient one, but one of a more tired nature. I myself was getting tired, too. We had been at this for hours, and it showed as I failed to contain a yawn. Looking at Edelina, she smiled. "I think that's enough for today, Your Highness. It appears that we both need rest."
"Yes, quite so." I agreed, swirling my fingertips around again to make the man of snow disappear. "Shall we continue tomorrow?" I asked, for I was actually having fun.
"Of course. Whenever you wish. You have done very well today, Princess."
"Thank you, My Lady." I curtsied to her.
"I bid thee goodnight, Your Grace." Duchess Edelina curtsied back to me and made her way out of the tent. Through the flap I could see that it was dark. Aslan still wasn't back from helping the army further prepare for the battle ahead. Maybe he was taking a long time on purpose. I decided to wait for him. I sat on a pile of pillows on the ground and waited. However, my body had other ideas. I felt sleep take me as my body fell to the side into a warm, comforting blackness.
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(Back to Third Person P.O.V)
Aslan entered the tent and shook out his mane. He had been busy all day with the army and was looking forward to a good rest. He yawned and walked over to his sleeping spot under Diamond's hammock only to be startled when he discovered the princess already there, sleeping like a log. Aslan knew that she must have waited for him and fell asleep. He smiled and chuckled lightly to himself. Grabbing a blanket in between his teeth he gently covered the girl with it. Finally, he lay down in front of her, positioning his paw so that she could use it as a pillow.
"Goodnight, my precious child," Aslan said. And with that, he fell asleep, too, happy that for now, everything was safe.
So there it is guys! I know this took a while, but you know how busy life can get. I hope you enjoyed this and if you did, please don't be afraid to fave, follow, and of course review. They just make my day. So long for now!
XOXO- Blue
