Chapter Four

A grunt was heard, soon followed by the clash of swords. Peter was breathing heavily, it had only been a few days since Haelyn agreed to teach him swordsmanship, but in that time he had learned a lot. And she was currently testing him out.

He fought as hard as he could, he could tell that Haelyn was fighting seriously. She knocked his sword out of his hands and he stumbled and fell. She pointed her sword at his throat, anger flaring in her eyes. She shook her head in disgust before taking a few steps away.

"What?" He asked, getting up to follow her, knowing that she was angry with him.

"This isn't a game, Peter!" She practically yelled, turning to face him. She was breathing heavily, "Your acting and fighting as though this whole war isn't even real!"

"No, I'm not!" He said indignantly.

"Yes, you are," She said shaking her head. "You don't understand…the outcome of this battle will determine the fate of all who live in Narnia." She paused, "But I wouldn't expect you to understand that."

"What's that supposed to mean!" Peter yelled, anger rising.

"Oh, look around Peter!" She said, "This is all I have ever known. Narnia is the only home I have…had…" she added quietly. She looked up at Peter, trying to keep her face emotionless. "You have family here Peter, you have family in Eng-land. More than just your parents there. You have friends and allies…I don't, I don't have anyone Peter!" She could tell that tears were about to fall…she couldn't let Peter see her weak. "We're done for tonight. Just go get some rest."

She turned moving to collect some of the arrows they had been practicing with when she heard Peter whisper, "You have me…"

She shook her head sadly, "Yes, well, for how much longer?" She asked facing him, "You fight like that, you're going to die. Jadis won't go easy on you, she won't give you time to collect your thoughts…she won't give you time to fight back…believe me, I know. You've had your fun, but this is life or death, for more than just you and your family…"

"What do you mean?" Peter asked, a feeling of dread building in his stomach.

"Peter did you give any thought at all to what would happen to the creatures fighting in the war if we loose?" Seeing Peter's look, she knew he didn't. "We loose and Jadis will not stop till she tracks down and finds every one who defied her. She'll beat, torture, and kill anyone who has any information, anyone who gets in her way, anyone related to them. She'll kill their children, their sisters, their brothers, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins…everyone, just to get to them."

"She…she couldn't…" Peter said.

"She can and she will, if we loose." Haelyn said, dead serious. "That's why you need to focus, you need to know what is at stake if you loose."

Peter gulped, "Great…" he muttered, "I feel so much less stressed now knowing I'm going to be killed…" His sentence trailed as the Haelyn's dagger was once again embedded into the tree behind him.

"Don't even go there Peter!" she shouted. "You're under Aslan's protection! If she would go after anyone it would be…" She stopped suddenly…she couldn't tell Peter about her magic, it would ruin everything. If Jadis knew that she was here and not back in her cell…there would be hell to pay. And any and all chances of winning the battle would be non-existent.

"Who?" Peter asked.

"No one…just go." She said, voice hard. Peter refused to move, "Peter leave. Now!"

"Not until you tell me what's going on." He said, stepping towards her.

"GO!" she shouted, anger taking hold. She flung out her arm, sending Peter flying through the air by an invisible force. He landed with an Oomph, on the soft ground. He looked up, by Haelyn had disappeared. He shook his head, and headed back to the camp.

Haelyn watched him walk off from her position perched in a large oak tree. She shook her head, disappointed in herself. A small, sad smile made it's way onto her face. Her powers were growing.