Dark Witch

Disclaimer: I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia.

A/N: This chapter has been updated.

Chapter 13: Make Peace from the Past

Eirlys's POV

Two days I spent in recovery in my chambers. I never left my room unless it was to get food, but most of the time, a Narnian would come in with a tray. My injuries and extreme use of magic exhausted me to a point all I ever do was sleep. There were times in my recovery did Lucy and Susan came in. Lucy primarily focuses on my injury while Susan apologized for Peter's action.

By the third day, I was out in the halls. Walking through the hall of remembrance. Gazing at the murals of the Golden Age. I stared at the painting of Mr. Tumnus, remembering him as a tutor for a short time under Jadis' reign. His knowledge of the warm spring and summer. His imprisonment when Edmund turned him in. And when he was turned to stone. It would be sixteen years later after that; did I see him again. We address the past long ago, as I asked for his forgiveness for not standing up against Jadis. I expected him to yell and any insults, however, he forgave me. Tumnus knew I was a victim of abuse, being control by a tyrant. Therefore, Tumnus was the mediator between King Corin and me, securing the alliance and truce. There was a time he tried to write a book about me…sadly it was never published. Not because of people's interest…but severe trauma.

Walking down the hall, seeing the murals of the past, Lucy and Susan riding on Aslan in freeing the stone Narnians. The coronation for the Pevensies until reaching my mural. It was of me, in a grey grown, a diadem on my head, while Stone Castle in the back. I thought back when the title of the Stone Queen came from. Not because I turned people to stone but creating a fortress from the mountain in one try. Surrounding myself in stone to remember to not become stone-hearted. Or the fact, I knew how to turn people to stone. A title was given by King Peter. Thinking back, I received many titles that are just crippling. The one that seemed right was Rebel Queen.

"I never got a chance to see Stone Castle."

Turning my head, I saw Peter. He appeared exhausted as his injury on his eyebrow seemed to heal.

"It wasn't elegant as Cair Paravel," I said. "Or intimidating as Jadis's Castle."

Peter nodded as he looked at the mural. Silence engrossed between us. The only sound you could hear was the forge working on weapons and the sound of hooves clattering on stone.

"You are lucky," I said.

"For what?" he asked,

"To have a family," I answered. "Siblings who love you and will stand by your side. No doubt your parents truly love you."

"Sadly, I failed them," he sighed.

I looked at him to explain.

He turned his head, looking at his family mural. "Back home, my father gave me the responsibility to take care of our family. I honored his wishes. Made sure Susan and Lucy were safe and keeping Ed out of trouble. But I failed them, not because of their safety but their trust. They trusted me because of my strength, but a moment of weakness destroyed me."

"And what weakness is that?" I asked.

"My anger and pride," he answered. "I was a king and took advantage of it. When I returned to London, I was no longer a King, just a boy. Now we are back, and I am lost. Wanting to redeem myself to Narnia, to me."

I sighed, resting my hand on his shoulder. "It is not Narnia; you have to redeem. You held a legacy that has been passed down through generations."

"Then who?"

"When one is lost, Aslan and yourself are who you seek," I said. "He is forgiveness, he loves, and he is hope."

"Can he ever forgive me?" Peter asked.

"He always has, and always will," I answered. "But can you forgive yourself?"

Peter sighed.

"Your reign ended long ago. And so will mine," I murmured.

He turned around and faced me.

"Only a Son of Adam or a Daughter of Eve can rule Narnia," I explained.

"Wait, you were never officially been crowned?" he asked, surprised.

"I'm Queen of the Western Wild. Aslan appointed me to that area. But he never crowned me as he did for you. I never wore a crown. A diadem, yes, but never a crown." I chuckled then sighed. "When the Telmarines took over, the Narnians asked me to be their queen. I felt more like a regent than an actual queen. For I knew only a Son of Adam or a Daughter of Eve can rule Narnia."

"So, Stone Queen?"

"Something you made up," I replied, raising a brow. "Heart made of stone."

Peter sighed, shaking his head. "I guess I blew a chance of peace between us back in the day."

"Indeed. After a decade, the Dark Narnians finally settled down. No ill intent when the truth came about Jadis. They were nothing but pawns. A leader is about the people, not power or land."

Peter nodded. We stared at the murals lost in the memories of the past. The fifteen years of the Golden Age. How I prevented the Dark Narnians from attacking. Only the rebels caused trouble. Those who were still loyal to Jadis caused havoc on both our lands.

"Do you think Caspian can be the one?" he asked.

"He has seen both sides of the same coin," I answered. "He had made his promise and shall keep it."

Peter nodded.

I stared at our two murals. Two kingdoms, one chosen by Aslan by divine right and the other as regent. Both influential leaders who faced it all. But their dynasty has come to an end. The Golden Age and the Dark Ages must be let go. An era of rebirth is at a rise. Fresh eyes and leadership in this new age of both Narnian and humans.

.o0o.

The following days, we prepare our weapons and supplies. Observing those pounding away in the forge. Sewing leather into armor. Tending to the wounds, and most importantly, training. Walking to one of the training halls to see Lucy trying to encourage Caspian for dagger training. As the two compare differences of sneak attacks. Let alone seeing the amuse smiled Caspian, seeing a little girl training him when she was a young woman trap in a small body.

Lucy made a point not to mess with her when she threw her dagger onto a target getting a bullseye. The Telmarine was mystified, not expecting a short blade can be used as a projectile. So, Lucy taught him the art of knife throwing.

Susan was helping the archers train, alongside with the brothers on swordsmanship. Everyone was training. Others were going through preparation for an upcoming battle. In a week or so, the snow will melt near Telmar to the border of the Shuddering Woods. Delaying the build of the bridge. The last I saw it during the passing, it was half done. I observe them all, Cornelius came over.

"My friend," I greeted.

"Eirlys," he replied.

"I see you have talked to Caspian that changed his spirit," I noted.

The half-dwarf nodded, "He felt so much guilt in what happened during the raid."

"Were we wrong to hold secrets from him?" I asked.

"We were not wrong, for we knew one day he has to know the truth," Cornelius assured, then sighed. "But time was not on our side. Everything we had told him…everything we didn't …it was only because we believe in him. Caspian has a chance to become the noblest contradiction in history. The Telmarine who saved Narnia."

"His father would have been that," I sighed. "Saved him from the burden of war."

"That may be so, but raising him, he is just like his father. Though, with his mother's mercy." Cornelius asked.

I nodded.

"How long do you have?" he asked.

I sighed, taking my glove off, showing him my condition. He took my hand, the blackness scorched skin. Then I showed him my other hand as the dark veins showed, pulsing under my skin. It was not a curse. But what is left of my magic trying to pump through to provide life?

"You have used to much magic," He noted. "Anymore more extreme magic and spells …"

"I shall cease to exist," I sighed. "Magic is fading faster. Ever since the nymphs returned to nature, along with the dryad and Naiads and deities vanish…it won't be long."

"Have you told the others?"

"King Edmund has his suspicions," I said, covering my hands. "This war is more important than I. I vow to my dying breath that the Narnians have a home."

Cornelius nodded, accepting that I have welcomed death. Either it is death on a battlefield or in my sleep with a crown on Caspian's head. The Narnians come first. I just can no longer do foreign magic or deep magic. Any more, and I will die on the spot.

Suddenly there was a pulse-like feeling. I gasped, falling onto my knees, feeling the earth shake. Something was not right. Why is everything spinning, yet everyone acted like they were on even ground. Cornelius knelt down, calling for help.

"Breathe, deep breaths, Eirlys," Cornelius murmured as he rubbed my back.

I took deep breaths, grasping the earth for stability. I felt my head was being crushed. The blood rushing in my veins. Gloved nails digging deep into the soil. When Caspian and Lucy saw this, they rushed over.

"What's wrong?" Lucy asked.

"Is she injured?" Caspian asked.

Before Cornelius could answer, I cover my eyes and bellow a shriek. Visions were clouding my head, flashes of what has happened, and what has begun. The snow melting. Visions of Miraz sitting on the throne with a Telmarine crown. The bridge becoming complete, as thousands of men in arms, wielding their shields of a compass, and horses dragging catapults siege through the Shuddering Woods. The tree's being cut down to make way for these weapons of mass destruction.

Once air filled my lungs, I looked at them.

"They are coming," I whispered.

.o0o.

I sent the intelligent birds to get spy from Telmar to the bridge. The snow melted on the fifth day the spell was cast. The following day Miraz was crown kings as the remaining lords who have false claims in parts of Narnia. The Telmarines praising their king. Two days later, the bridge was completed. And now the armies are marching.

All night, I showed the Pevensies and Caspian my vision. At high noon the next day, we saw them marching onto the field. Caspian explained they won't attack right away. The Telmarines know the code of battle. This was an intimidation tactic. So, before they arrived, Glenstorm and I showed the Pevensies and Caspian the underground tunnels that supported the field. They noticed how the pillars were carved, sturdy on top to support the earth, but a weak point on the bottom.

"One strong hit, and the pillars will crumble," I explained.

"Creating a sinkhole," Edmund finished.

"How long have you planned this?" Caspian asked.

"We built these during the time of the Telmarine invasion," I said. "Your ancestors were trackers, so our generals consider making this trap."

I lead the way to the escape holes, as they looked up to see a platform up on the ceiling with rope. Pull this down, shall create a ramp for escape or a battle attack. Either way, the sinkhole was a trap where archers can focus on the target.

"Where on earth did you learn this tactic?" Peter asked.

"I learned a few tricks from my enemies," I answered with a wink. "Haven't forgotten that griffin air raid."

Peter's eyes widen as he rubbed his neck.

"But this is a one chance solution," I informed them. "The timing needs to be right. Not too soon, and not too late. If it comes to this, I can sync our minds together to calculate the use of the trap. But we would need our strongest Narnians to knock down the pillars."

"We will use it as a last resort," Peter agreed.

"There is more to the plan," Glenstorm added.

"Let's go to the Stone Table to discuss this," Susan agreed. "The last thing we need is a sudden cave in."

We all nodded, making way to the Stone Table. During the walk, the Pevensies held a conversation between themselves. It was a serious talk, one I haven't seen. But their tone was a hush that no one could hear. So, when we arrive at the Stone Table with our generals, did they explain their plan. Saying Lucy would be leaving to search for Aslan. Everyone was shocked to hear this. Even though Lucy is a strong woman trapped in a little girl's body, the enemy was outside.

"Cakes and kettledrums. That's your next big plan?" Trumpkin asked. "Sending a little girl into the darkest parts of the forest? Alone!"

"It's our only chance," Peter explained.

"And she won't be alone," Susan assured.

Trumpkin walked over to Lucy, worry written in his blue eyes, "Haven't enough of us died already?"

"Nikabrik was my friend too. But he lost hope," Trufflehunter soothed his friend. "Queen Lucy hasn't. And neither have I."

"The winds are warm," I said. "Warmer than it should be, in the direction where is blizzard once was. Only Aslan can do that."

Reepicheep drew his sword, calmly saying, "For Aslan."

"For Aslan," Bulgy Bear said.

Trumpkin sighed, "Then I'm going with you."

Lucy places her hand on his shoulder, "No. We need you here."

"We have to hold them off until Lucy and Susan get back," Peter reminded. "Eirlys, can you cast another spell to hold them off?"

I shook my head, "The blizzard took too much energy."

"I understand," Peter said.

"If I may…" Caspian finally spoke from his corner. He looked at Cornelius, who nodded and let the prince talk. He stood up, walking over to the table. "Miraz may be a tyrant and a murderer…but as king, he is subject to the traditions…and expectations of his people. There is one, in particular, that may buy us some time."

"And what is that?" Peter asked.

"A duel of kings," Caspian said.

"Aye, I remember that," I said. "The last king of Narnia challenged Caspa to duel."

"And how did that go?" Edmund asked.

"From what I heard, Caspa took defeat not so well and continue his invasion," I said. "So be careful with Miraz…he did not take Parley. Therefore, he may not take traditions so seriously."

"It is something we would have to risk," Peter said.

We all nodded.

So, it was settled. Peter will challenge Miraz to a single battle. A battle to the death between kings, the winner shall receive all and decides the fate of the losing swordsman and his army. If Miraz keeps true and Peter wins, then there shall be no bloodshed. But knowing of Mirza's history, there is a chance he shall betray his honor and start a battle. Which we will take the underground tunnels to our advantage. However, only one player can end this battle.

Aslan.

Only if Lucy and Susan can find him.

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