"No, not Ani…it's not possible…" Jaina mumbled as she and Jacen embraced and buried their faces into each other shoulders, crying that their little brother had vanished and they had been unable to help him.
The Pevensies stood at the bank of the stream, knowing full well what Jaina and Jacen were going through since they went through the same thing when Edmund had been kidnapped by Jadis upon their own arrival in Narnia. They also knew full well that Anakin was in grave danger while in the clutches of Jadis and they would have to act fast to rescue him.
"I think the only choice now is to go rescue Anakin." Susan said.
"Well thanks for stating the obvious." Jacen snapped through his tears.
"Jacen! Don't be rude, she's only trying to help." Jaina said.
"We'll I'm sorry, but our brother is out there in the clutches of an evil witch and we can't do anything about it!" Jacen exclaimed.
Just then the beavers, Mr. Tumnus, Oreius, Aslan, and a few other members of the Narnian army came running into the clearing to see what was going on. One look at Jaina and Jacen's shocked, sad faces and the Pevensies' looks of horror immediately told them something was seriously wrong.
"What has happened here, where is Sir Anakin?" Oreius asked.
Jaina stood up and walked over to Oreius, holding Anakin's stone lightsaber in her hand. She carefully placed it in Oreius's palm, not saying a word. Oreius studied the lightsaber carefully, then showed it to Aslan, the beavers, Mr. Tumnus, and the Narnian soldiers standing right behind them. They look as horrified as the children did when they noticed the stone lightsaber.
"Our worst fears have been realized: the son of Adam is missing in the clutches of the white witch." Aslan said.
"Isn't there anything we can do to help him, Aslan? He's our brother and we need to save him." Jacen said, walking over to stand next to his sister.
"I know, my dear child. But understand that the journey to save your brother will not be an easy one and full of danger. You must think carefully before you do anything to rescue Anakin." Aslan said to the Solos.
"Maybe it's a trap and we shouldn't go after him." Jaina suggested.
"Excuse me? Why wouldn't you go after your brother who is in the clutches of a witch who could kill him at any moment?" Edmund asked.
"Ed! Don't be an insensitive twit!" Peter exclaimed.
"No, it's okay. Remember what we told you about the trap our grandfather set for our Uncle Luke on Cloud City by torturing our parents there?" Jaina said.
"Oh, you're right." Edmund said sheepishly.
"I think the best thing to do is to return to camp and figure out what needs to be done." Mr. Tumnus suggested.
"I must agree with you, faun Tumnus. Come with me, my children, and we will find a way to rescue Sir Anakin." Aslan said.
The group made their way from the stream clearing and back towards the army camp. Jaina and Jacen noticed that the members of the army who did remain in the camp where staring at them as they walked toward Aslan's tent, noticing that Anakin was not with them. Feeling a little uncomfortable, they tightly gripped each other's hands as they arrived at the outside of Aslan's tent.
"Come inside, young ones, and we will think of how we may rescue Anakin from his dire situation." Aslan said to the group.
The Solos, the Pevensies, the beavers, and Mr. Tumnus followed Aslan inside his tent and sat together in a group in the center. Aslan looked at them all with a grim look on his face as he knew the dangerous task they were about to undertake.
"You must understand this first: should any of you decide to undertake this journey you cannot do it alone. It is much too dangerous for just one of you to make the journey to the white witch's lair by yourself." Aslan said.
"I agree, Aslan. But both Jaina and I can't go together, one of us needs to stay behind to help lead the army into battle." Jacen said.
"I'll go then, Jacen. You should stay behind and help lead the army. They really need you." Jaina said.
"But Jaina, who will go with you? Aslan just said it's too dangerous to go there by yourself." Jacen said.
"I will go with Lady Jaina. I can be her guide." Mr. Tumnus said and everyone turned around and stared at him in disbelief.
"Tumnus, my friend, you must be crazy! After all that blasted woman put you through, do you really want to go back there?" Mr. Beaver exclaimed.
"Beaver, I was dragged all around that place when she and her henchmen captured me. I know it like the back of my hand." Mr. Tumnus said.
"Same here, I'll come with you as well." Edmund said.
"It is settled then, Lady Jaina will take King Edmund and Tumnus as her guides." Aslan said.
The group nodded in approval and started to get up to leave the tent. But before they could, they were stopped by a request from Lucy.
"Can I come with you too?" she asked.
"Why, Lu? What would you be able to do to help them?" Peter asked her.
"It never hurts to have one extra person, plus I want to get back at the witch for hurting Edmund and Mr. Tumnus." Lucy said.
"That is a strange reason to go, Lucy. But if it's allright with Aslan, I guess you can join them." Peter said.
"While I do not agree that revenge is always justified, I must agree that there is safety in numbers. Therefore, you may join the three on their journey, Queen Lucy." Aslan said.
"Oh thank you, Aslan!" Lucy exclaimed and bounded out of the tent.
The rest of the group followed her outside, ready to start planning the rescue mission to retrieve Anakin from Jadis's prison in her castle. It would be difficult and dangerous, but they knew it was worth it if the new prophecy was to be fulfilled.