Chapter Seven
Haelyn hid behind one of the many trees surrounding the Great Stone Table. She couldn't believe that Jadis was really going through with this, killing Aslan in Edmund's place…what was she stupid? Didn't she remember the deeper magic? Haelyn laughed to herself, Jadis would be in for quite a surprise. She glanced over in the distance watching Lucy and Susan's reaction to what was happening, they of course had no idea that it was all for show. They turned away unable to watch Aslan die, Haelyn did not. She had seen a worse death occur than that of the beloved lion. Nothing is as bad as seeing your mother die…
She shook her head, clearing it of those thoughts. The ceremony was over, the evil troops had dispersed, and Lucy along with her sister were making their way over to Aslan. She found herself being sad that the lion had to experience death, but she knew he'd be back. So she watched as Lucy and Susan mourned him, trying to figure out how to get a message back to the camp about Aslan's death.
They decided to use the trees… "What kind of an idea was that?" Haelyn asked herself, "What kind of paranoid fool believed that the trees could talk?" She shook her head, if they honestly believed that the trees could carry their message, and then they would all be doomed.
She stood from her crouched position and disappeared, reappearing next to a cherry blossom tree just out side Aslan's camp, one she knew to be he home of a Dryad. She summoned her out and delivered the message from the Daughters of Eve, ordering it to be given to Peter…and so it was…
Peter had been trying to sleep since the sun went down, but he couldn't. He was so used to staying up to train with Lyn that it felt weird to be trying to sleep. He had gone to see her but she had declined, saying that the battle was tomorrow, he should get some rest. He had tried to get her to train with him, suddenly feeling nervous that he would fail in the battle. But Lyn had just told him that he would do fine, she had seen him training Edmund, glad that he decided to keep his siblings with him. "After all," she had said, "There's strength in numbers, every little bit helps." She had told him Susan wasn't doing too bad, and had wondered where in Narnia Lucy had gotten her skills with the dagger…obviously not from her brother she jested.
Peter smiled slightly at the memory, when a rustling caught his ear. He turned over to see flower petals floating together in the shape of a person.
"Fear not my Princes," The Dryad said, "I bring grave news from your sisters…"
Peter walked into the forest, he had just discovered that Aslan was no where to be seen…it was true…Aslan was gone…
He didn't really know what possessed him to go to the forest, he should be back at the camp preparing the troops…but he couldn't. Something was drawing him into the forest; he knew what it was…he wanted to see Haelyn.
Over the past two weeks he had gotten closer to her, recalling many instances from his childhood where he had felt the same. She had helped him and accepted him, trusted him, more than any other person in Narnia. She had done all she could to make sure that he didn't die…that no one else would die due to the Witch. He knew that he could…die tomorrow, so he at least wanted to see her one more time…
But she wasn't there. He looked but could find her nowhere. He stood there for a few moments longer till a horn blew in the distance. He had to leave; it was his duty to lead the troops now…
A cloaked figure stood in the branches of a maple tree watching as the saddened prince walked away. She looked up to the sky, green eyes glinting with determination. Haelyn jumped from the tree, she would not let Peter fight her battle, she would not let him die…the Witch was hers…
Peter hit the ground hard as he fell from the battle unicorn he had been riding. He pushed himself up as he saw the rest of Jadis' army on the move right for him. Suddenly two blurs rushed past him, "STOP!" He called, trying to get Oreius and a rhino to cease their attack knowing what would happen.
He was right, the rhino fell and Oreius was turned to stone. Peter turned just in time to stop an attack from behind, he saw Edmund fighting as well. "Ed! There are too many of them! Get out of here, get the girls and go home!" He called as he stabbed one opponent, moving on to the next, completely unaware of the Witch slowly making her way to him.
Edmund noticed, he ran at her, jumping in her was as he moved to strike her wand. He had a bit of difficulty as he finally succeeded in breaking her wand…but then he was stabbed. He fell to the ground as the Witch pulled her sword from his stomach.
"EDMUND!" He heard Peter call before the sound of his heart beating in his ears blocked out the sounds of battle.
He glanced over to see Peter charge the witch till a shadow crept across his vision. He turned his head to the other side to see the cloaked figure from the dungeons leaning over him. Her hands were held just above his wound, a soft golden glow coming from them sending a soothing sensation through his body.
"Are…are you an avris?" he asked, mimicking the same question that Mr. Tumnus had asked.
Though he couldn't see it, he could tell she was smiling. "If you want."
She stood as soon as the wound was healed. Edmund sat up watching as she rushed over to where Peter was fighting. She threw her arms apart, separating the fighting duo and running at the Witch sword drawn.
Peter sat up from where he had been thrown to see Haelyn fighting with Jadis. "Haelyn!" he called, getting up to help…not noticing the odd look he received from Edmund.
He was running to her when he ran into an invisible wall. The area around the fighting women glowed with a swirling yellow light showing a dome around them before dieing down once again.
Peter tried to get through once again, but was unable to. A roar resounded from behind him, he turned to see Aslan on a rock, he was stunned, especially when reinforcements ran onto the field followed by his sisters. He turned back to see the women still fighting.
Haelyn had managed to knock Jadis' sword from her hand, leaving it each with one sword. They both reached out with a hand, clutching at air and throwing it away. The remaining swords went flying from their hands.
"She can do magic?" Peter asked himself.
The woman faced off, Haelyn's cloak still intact. Haelyn brought her hands together out towards the witch, red light shooting out from it and hitting Jadis' own black light.
It was a battle of magic, even Peter could see that. Two witches were locked in a battle of strength. Haelyn was breathing heavy, Peter could see through the cloak her back heaving up and down.
Haelyn gave one last push with her magic, red light connecting with Jadis' sending the witch flying into a wall of the invisible dome.
She rolled over onto her back, Haelyn's sword held to her chest…and smiled.
"Now, who's been a bad girl lately. Freeing my animals, helping my enemies…hmmm?" she asked, a small trickle of blood running from the corner of her mouth.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Haelyn said simply, pushing the tip of her sword more to her throat.
"You won't kill me…you can't," the witch said smirking. "You won't kill your auntie will you?"
Peter's mouth dropped open in shock, Jadis was Haelyn's aunt? How could someone like his Lyn be related to that witch?
Haelyn scowled, pressing her sword down on her aunt's throat. "You killed my mother…you are no aunt of mine." And with that…she stabbed the witch right through the heart.
She stepped back, sinking to the ground as the dome dissipated. She was breathing heavily and had started to fall to the side as Peter ran over to her, catching her before she hit the ground.
Her hood fell from her head, revealing the many scars that marred her face. Peter gasped as the cloak fell from the side of her, revealing the burns and scars running down her arms and legs. But all thoughts of the disappeared when he noticed the stab wound she must have received when he had turned to look at Aslan's approach.
"Oh my…" Peter heard a voice say behind him. He turned to see a shocked faun standing behind him, it must be Mr. Tumnus. "Is she alright?" He asked, unable to believe that his avris was hurt.
"She will be." Peter said, picking her up and carrying her to the infirmary…
A/N – soooo…next chappy will probably be the last one. Haelyn's recovery and the coronation of the Pevensies.
