We sat in silence, afraid to even make so much as a whisper. I looked up at Peter as he looked at me, then we both looked at our combined hands. Then we both looked at each other again. We both knew what each other was thinking. If that was in fact the White Witch, then we were all done for. Peter put his arm around me, then grabbed my other hand. He held both my hands firmly, but not too tightly. I looked at him as he weakly smiled at me. We listened for any more hints. We were dying to know . . . whether or not if it was our end. Suddenly we heard footsteps coming towards us again. I gripped Peter's hand a littler tighter as he pulled me closer to him. Suddenly Mr. Beaver poked his head into the cave. He was upside down.

"Come out! Come out!" He said as I jumped and Lucy shrieked, "I hope you've all been good 'cause there's someone here to see you!" Mr. Beaver said disappearing out of the cave.

Mrs. Beaver crawled out followed by Susan and Lucy. Peter Looked at me and smiled with relief. He crawled out while still holding my hand, and then he helped me up. I turned around and saw Susan and Lucy smiling at us.

"What?" Peter said looking at me. Then he looked at our hands again. He slightly grinned. "Oh."

Peter helped me up the hill and there in front of us was a jolly old man in a red suit. He began to chuckle as soon as we realized who he was.

"Merry Christmas, Sir." Lucy said stepping forward.

"It certainly is, Lucy, since you have arrived." Father Christmas said.

"W-we thought you were the Witch . . ." Peter said, then he looked at me, "Well . . . the White Witch rather."

"Yes, yes. I'm sorry about that, but in my defense, I have been driving one of these longer that the White Witch." He said patting his sleigh.

"I thought there was no Christmas in Narnia." Susan said.

"No. Not in a long time, but the hope . . . and warmth. ." He said looking at me, "that you have brought you majesties is finally starting to weaken the Witch's power. Still, I dare say, you could do with these."

He turned to his sleigh and brought out a huge red bag.

"Presents!" Lucy cried excitedly as she went up to him.

He brought out of the bag, a little red bottle in a red holder.

"The juice of the Fire-Flower. One drop will cure any injury." He said as she took it, "And though I hope you never have to use it . . . "He said handing her a small dagger.

"Thank you, but I think I could be brave enough." Lucy said.

"I'm sure you could, but battles are ugly affairs." He said.

The he went back to the bag and pulled out a red horn.

"Rachel . . . . though you don't see to have a problem with making yourself heard, blow on this wherever you are, help will come."

I took it into my hands. On the side of it, there was a carved "R" and "L". They were my initials. Father Christmas reached into the bag and pulled out a sword, it was long and light.

"Now . . . this sword is flame proof. And if danger is near, it will ignite it's self as a warning."

"Thank you." I said stepping back by Peter.

Father Christmas went back into his bag and brought out a bow and arrows.

"Susan . . . . Trust in this bow and it will not easily miss."

"What happened to "battles are ugly affairs"?" She asked.

He only chuckled as he went back to the bag and pulled out a quiver and gave it to Susan.

"Peter . . . . the time to use these may be near at hand."

Peter stepped forward and took the large sword and shield. Peter slowly unsheathed his sword and looked at it. T hand designs down the middle of it, and it was shiny.

"Thank you, Sir." He said proudly as he put the sword back into is holder.

"Now, these are tools, not toys. Bear them wisely. Now . . . I must be off. Winter is almost over and things do pile up when you've been gone a hundred years." He said chuckling as he put his bag back onto his sleigh, "Long live Aslan! And Merry Christmas!" he said as he grabbed the reigns of his reindeer. He whipped his reigns and took off.

"Merry Christmas!" I cried as Peter yelled "see you next year".

"I told you he was real." Lucy said turning to Susan. I smiled.

"He said winter was almost over . . ." Peter said, but then his eyes got big, "You know what that means . . . No more ice!"