Chapter Eight

Peter sat beside the bed in the back of the infirmary, holding the scarred hand of its occupant. Haelyn had been there for a few days now and still had yet to awaken…and Peter was frightened. To find someone that you care a lot about only to have them taken from you, it's a scary thing.

Edmund and Tumnus had been in regularly to check on her, she had save both of them. Susan brought Lucy to visit at least once a day; the poor child was frightened of Haelyn's appearance. To see someone so disfigured by scars is quite unnerving.

"What happened to you?" Peter whispered to Haelyn, running a hand over her scared arm.

"Jadis." Said a voice from behind him.

Peter turned his head to see Aslan standing at the edge of Haelyn's bed. "Aslan!" he said, moving to stand, when the lion shook his head. Peter sat back down; resuming his watch over the girl, there was silence.

After a while Aslan spoke, "She has been through much in her life as you can see." Peter nodded. "You asked what happened to her, did you not?" Again Peter nodded, afraid of what he would be told. "Her mother was Jadis' sister, she was a good woman who wanted to keep Narnia in spring so that there would be no hard ships. Jadis wanted winter, it offered her more control. They eventually fought over this, and Jadis killed her…right in front of Haelyn. With Lamna gone, she would have power over all of Narnia…until Haelyn came of age. So Jadis made sure that Haelyn would know just how powerful winter could be…and just how cold she could be. Jadis thought that she'd be able to make Haelyn hate spring and summer by making her hate heat…so she burned her. When that didn't work, she decided the only way to control Haelyn was through force and fear. She beat her, Peter."

Aslan paused. "Jadis would let her sneak out only to sic the wolves on her, to make her afraid of the outside world."

"How did she survive all that?" Peter whispered, not realizing that she had said it out loud.

Aslan smiled sadly, "I believe there were some dreams about a young man with golden hair who protected her…" Peter straightened up slightly; she had dreams about him too? "Yes Peter, she had a connection with you. It was how she was able to withstand all that Jadis did."

Peter looked down at Haelyn as Aslan quietly left them alone, unnoticed by Peter. "Please Lyn," he whispered, "Don't die." He raised her scarred hand and placed a kiss on it. He moved to put it back down when he noticed her eyes flutter open.

"Hello…" she whispered, smiling.

Peter smiled as well.

I

I

I

Peter sat on his throne; he had just been coroneted as King Peter the Magnificent. He should be happy, joining in the festivities like his siblings were…even Edmund was up and about. But he couldn't, he just kept thinking about Haelyn.

She left.

He wanted her to come to the ceremony…he wanted her there so he could spend time with her instead of sneaking off to see her.

She refused.

Even Edmund had tried to get her to stay after finding out just what an Avris, a guardian angel, was.

She declined.

She had said something about how it wouldn't be good for his image as a king to be seen with her. She was the niece of the White Witch…she could do bad magic…she was ugly.

He had tried to tell her that she wasn't ugly, at least not to him…

She wouldn't listen.

So she left.

And Peter was alone, sitting glumly on the throne watching all the people celebrating around him. He sighed; this was going to be a long day…

Aslan walked along the beaches just out side of Cair Paravel making his way to the forest. He had just reached the edge when he saw a figure standing behind a tree, staring at the Castle.

He smiled as an idea struck him. "Haelyn, aren't you supposed to be at the celebration?" he asked, walking over to her.

"Aslan, you know the answer to that." She said turning away and leaning on the tree. "No one wants me there."

"Peter does," he said, "That should be reason enough."

"Peter may, but no one else."

"Should that matter?" he asked.

"It shouldn't, but it does." She pulled down her cloak hood, and looked at herself in the stream next to her. "It shouldn't bother me, but it does."

Aslan smiled, stepping over to her right. He let out a small gush of air, blowing her hair slightly.

Haelyn watched in amazement as her burns and scars disappeared, fading from her skin as if it had never been there. She turned to look gratefully at Aslan. He smiled and she hugged his neck.

"Thank You Aslan." She muttered.

"You are Welcome." He replied continuing on his journey through the forest as Haelyn disappeared…

She was pacing, she shouldn't have come back. She should just leave…she should have just left Peter alone…

She crossed her arms; she was wearing a dress like Susan's old one only black with a green trim and bellowing sleeves.

She stopped her pacing when a voice drifted over to her, "Lyn?"

It was Peter, she turned slowly…he was only a few feet away from her. "Hello Peter." She said fully facing him.

His eyes widened as he noticed her burns were gone. He stepped closer to her, running his hand across her cheek, "Aslan?" he asked. She nodded. "You look beautiful."

She smiled as he led her over to the party, giving her hand a squeeze, as she grew nervous.

Not many took notice of her, too caught up in the festivities, but those who did nodded their heads in respect for her.

She smiled as she and Peter danced and celebrated.

It lasted for hours, but she hadn't noticed until Peter led her out side for fresh air and the sky was dark with twilight.

Peter smiled at her, one which she truly returned as he leaned in and gave her a kiss…

Haelyn pulled away, "This isn't a distraction, is it?" she asked.

"Not at all," he replied leaning in to finish what he started.

A few feet away two furry creatures witnessed this act of love. Mrs. Beaver leaned her head on the shoulder of her husband, letting out a content sigh.

The End!