Hello readers! So sorry for this gap in the updates, life got busy and I shamefully neglected my writing. I know this is a re-post of Chapter Five, but please read it again! I went very hardcore with original material, only to take a lot out so as to keep with the original feel of the story. But some of it remains, and I hope you enjoy it. I will do my best to keep up with faithful updates again, and I especially thank "Treehugger00" for their patience with me. See you at the next chapter!
Chapter Five
Back inside the Beaver's dam, Rebecca hadn't realized that Joy had left the room. She was still wrapped up in the feeling that came over her when Mr. Beaver said Aslan's name. The best way she could describe it was to say someone had wrapped a warm blanket around her shoulders and given her a sense of adventure all at the same time. And when Mr. Beaver said Aslan was waiting for them at the Stone Table, Rebecca wanted to jump to her feet and say, "Let's go!" But when she looked around at the others, it was clear they did not feel the same way.
"He's waiting for us?!" asked Lucy, seated beside her.
"You're blooming joking!" said Mr. Beaver exasperatedly. He turned to Mrs. Beaver. "They don't even know about the prophecy!"
"Well, then!" said Mrs. Beaver and she gestured to the children.
"What prophecy?" asked Rebecca. Was there a reason they were all here in Narnia, which had been foretold in Narnia's history?
"Look," said Mr. Beaver "Aslan's return, Tumnus' arrest and the secret police," Mr. Beaver paused "its all happening because of you!" He pointed at the group. Rebecca frowned at the beaver.
"You're blaming us," said Susan indignantly.
"No! Not blaming," said Mrs. Beaver "thanking you."
"There's a prophecy," said Mr. Beaver "When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone, sits at Cair Paravel in throne, the evil time will be over and done."
"You know that doesn't really rhyme," said Susan. Mr. Beaver grumbled under his breath.
"You're kind of missing the point!" said Mr. Beaver.
"What does it mean?" asked Rebecca, resting her forearms on the table. She figured that Cair Paravel was a palace or castle and the "evil time" must be referring to the White Witch's reign, but the wording sounded odd to her. Mrs. Beaver placed a calming hand on Mr. Beaver's shoulder and spoke.
"It has long been foretold that two Sons of Adam" she pointed at Peter, "and two Daughters of Eve" she pointed at Susan and Lucy "will defeat the White Witch and restore peace to Narnia." The Beavers smiled at the children. So that was what Joy had meant by Lucy being a Queen, but why were there only two Queens?
"What about my sister and I?" asked Rebecca. Mr. Beaver looked at her and shrugged, not like he did not care but like he did not know. Rebecca took little comfort in that though.
"I have no idea," he said, "the prophecy does not call for two more Daughters of Eve."
"Then why are Joy and I here in Narnia?" persisted Rebecca.
"We don't know," said Mrs. Beaver "all we have ever been told is two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve which has been said in Narnia time out of mind." Rebecca felt strangely disappointed, like she had no purpose and could do nothing in this beautiful country.
"And you think we're the ones for this prophecy?" asked Peter, and Rebecca turned her attention to the tablecloth before her. Mr. Beaver stood up.
"Well, you'd better be cause Aslan's already figured out your army!" said the beaver.
"Our army?!" exclaimed Lucy. She looked past Rebecca to Peter and Susan. Rebecca could not say where it came from, but she had a feeling that fighting the Witch may be the only way to free Narnia.
"Mum sent us away so we wouldn't get caught up in a war," said Susan to Peter, who looked back at Mr. Beaver.
"I think you've made a mistake," said Peter "we're not heroes!"
"We're from Finchley," said Susan. The Beavers' looked at each other, confused.
"Being from Finchley doesn't really matter in a situation like this," said Rebecca as she stood up. "Why can't we fight for Narnia and Aslan and fulfill the prophecy?" None of the Pevensies said a word but Susan shook her head and stood up.
"Thank you for your hospitality," said Susan to the Beavers "but we really have to go."
"No," said Rebecca firmly, but it didn't do any good. Peter stood up as well, agreeing with Susan.
"You can't just leave!" protested Mr. Beaver. Rebecca turned around, expecting to see Joy standing nearby or sitting by the fireplace.
"He's right," said Lucy, who was still seated "we have to help Mr. Tumnus."
"Where's Joy?" asked Rebecca, and the Pevensies all looked at her. Peter and Susan turned around and were surprised to see no Edmund sitting on the stairs.
"Ed?" asked Peter. He looked towards the kitchen. No Edmund.
"Joy?" asked Rebecca as she looked around the dam again. Still no sign of Joy.
"Let's check outside," said Peter, and he, Susan and Rebecca ran out the door leading to the outside while Lucy and Mrs. Beaver ran up the stairs to check the loft.
"Edmund!" called Peter.
"Edmund!" called Susan.
"Joy!" called Rebecca. No one responded, only their voices bounced off the snow and got lost in the chilly wind. They all quickly noticed the snowy footprints, and how they led off towards the two mountains in the distance. "Hold on, that's what Edmund had been staring at earlier today," said Rebecca.
"Why would Edmund go off and not tell anyone where he went?" asked Susan. Rebecca defeatedly shrugged.
"And it looks like Joy went with him," she said.
"I'm gonna kill him," said Peter angrily. Rebecca didn't want to admit it, but she felt the same way. How dare Edmund talk Joy into leaving the dam and climbing a strange mountain as night was falling in a strange world? Guilt gnawed at Rebecca's stomach as she tried to think of when Joy had left, was it in the last few minutes? Or had she left a while ago and Rebecca had not noticed? Had Joy even taken her coat? She rushed back towards the door to check the coat rack, when it opened, and Mr. Beaver stood in the doorway.
"You may not have to kill him," he said. Rebecca glanced nervously at him, his tone was so solemn it scared her. "Has Edmund ever been in Narnia before?" asked Mr. Beaver to Peter and Susan.
"Yes, I'm afraid he has Mr. Beaver," said Lucy, who had appeared behind him.
"And, your sister?" asked Mr. Beaver, looking up at Rebecca. She slowly nodded, not sure what the question meant.
"What are you saying Mr. Beaver?" she asked him, and Mr. Beaver gave her and Peter a grave look.
"I'm afraid your brother and sister sneaked off to see the White Witch," he said, and Rebecca shook her head.
"No, not Joy. She hated the Witch!" And Edmund, Rebecca silently added.
"She's gone girl!" Mr. Beaver gestured to the footprints. "Do you see her here?" Rebecca knew Joy wasn't there, but she could not figure it out. Joy was against the Witch, she would not run off to see her, especially with Edmund. Rebecca looked anxiously from Lucy to Peter, who looked equally worried.
"I didn't want to say it before since he is your brother and all," said Mr. Beaver to Peter and Susan "but the moment I saw him, I knew he had met the Witch and eaten some of her food. Something about the eyes," he said. Rebecca had to admit that something had been off about Edmund since last night. "He must have convinced your sister to go with him," finished Mr. Beaver, looking up at Rebecca again.
"But," Rebecca hesitated "why would he do that?" she asked. The Pevensies all looked confused and none of them said a word. Finally, Peter spoke up.
"We need to catch them before they end up in the Witch's house," he said.
"You're right Son of Adam," said Mr. Beaver and waddled to the side of the doorway. Rebecca instantly ran past him and reached the coat rack at the same time as Lucy. To her dismay, she noticed Joy's coat was still hanging on the rack and felt another rush of anger towards Edmund. The children all bundled up in their coats and headed outside again.
"Is that the direction of the Witch's house?" asked Rebecca, pointing at the footprints.
"Yes, come on!" said Mr. Beaver. He bounded forward and led the children up the slope.
"Edmund?" asked Joy breathlessly. "Are you sure you know where you're going?"
"It's right here, the two hills," said Edmund, walking through the snow beside her.
"Mountains," huffed Joy, but Edmund didn't hear her. They were slogging up a steep, tree-covered slope, and Edmund decided to stop so they could catch their breath. Joy immediately stopped, winded and tired. When she looked over at him, she noticed Edmund was looking down the slope behind them. "Do you want to turn back?" she asked. Edmund hesitated, then shook his head.
"No," he said, then continued walking forward. Joy was briefly tempted to turn back for a third time, not even Turkish Delight would stop her from doing so, when Edmund called down to her from the top of the slope. "It's right here!" he said, and she slowly trudged up to where he stood.
A large snowy valley spread out before the children. Across from them, rising against the blackness of the two mountains behind it, stood the Witch's house. It was more like a castle than a house, with narrow pointy towers, a thick outer wall and a massive gate which were all made entirely out of ice. Joy's jaw dropped at the sight. She couldn't make up her mind on whether the castle looked beautiful or terrible. Or maybe it was a combination of both.
"Wow," said Edmund, grinning as he stepped out of the trees.
"Edmund are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Joy, but he didn't hear her. He was too busy rushing across the snow towards the castle. Joy slogged after him, trying to step in his footprints to make the going a little easier for her frozen feet. But he was running across the snow and she quickly gave up the idea and ran after him. She caught up to him by the time he reached the gates.
They towered over the children's heads and were made of a pale blue ice which seemed to be glowing from within. Joy's brave face, and her hunger for Turkish Delight, faded away as she stared up at them. No guards could be seen from the top of the wall, but Joy still felt like she was being watched. Edmund marched up to the gates and they slowly opened on their own accord. "I wonder if the Witch was expecting us," whispered Joy fearfully.
"She's a Queen Joy," said Edmund shortly. He walked through the open gates.
"Edmund!" The shout came from the woods behind them. Joy turned sharply around and saw five figures standing at the edge of the trees: Peter, Susan, Mr. Beaver, Rebecca and Lucy. Joy looked back at the gates, which were starting to close.
"Edmund, I'm not sure about this." She pointed to the others. "I think we should," Edmund grabbed her hand, cutting off her words. She heard someone shouting her name, it sounded like Rebecca.
"Come on!" said Edmund, and he pulled her through the gates right as they closed, blocking Joy's view of their siblings outside. Looking past him, Joy gasped, and he turned around. They were standing in the most peculiar courtyard.
Rebecca and the others ran out of the woods and spotted two figures, black against the blue ice, and knew at once it was Edmund and Joy. "Are we too late?" whispered Rebecca, looking over at Mr. Beaver. He solemnly looked up at Peter instead.
"Edmund!" shouted Lucy.
"Joy!" shouted Rebecca.
"Shush, they'll hear ya!" said Mr. Beaver. Peter and Rebecca ran forward. "No!" shouted Mr. Beaver behind them. Rebecca looked back and saw Mr. Beaver holding Peter's hand between his paws.
"Get off me!" Peter shook the beaver free and Rebecca stopped running.
"You're playing into her hands!" said the beaver frantically. Rebecca pushed forward, determined to stop Joy from entering the gate. "Stop her before she gives us away!" shouted Mr. Beaver. Footsteps pounded in the snow behind her before a hand grabbed her arm and spun her around, throwing Rebecca off balance. Peter grabbed her shoulders.
"Stop, Rebecca!" he shouted. Rebecca tried to break free and stepped on his foot. Peter winced with pain but refused to let go.
"Let me go," said Rebecca through her teeth.
"There's no point," said Peter. Once she stopped struggling, he let go of her shoulders. Rebecca stared at the castle to her left, studying at the icy towers and walls. What had Edmund said to change Joy's mind about the Witch? Rebecca felt a rush of tears and looked away from the castle. "Let's go back," he said. He and Rebecca quickly stumbled back to the others.
"We can't just let him go," said Susan as the two reached the group.
"He's our brother!" exclaimed Lucy.
"And my sister," said Rebecca as she forced the tears back.
"He's the bait, don't you see?" said Mr. Beaver. "The Witch wants all four of you!" Not her and Joy. Rebecca felt slightly relieved, but that still did not mean Joy was safe.
"Why?" asked Peter. Rebecca forced herself to look back at the castle and saw Joy look in their direction.
"It's to stop the prophecy from coming true," Mr. Beaver looked around at the Pevensies "to kill you!" Realization hung over everyone's shoulders, and they watched helplessly as the gates closed on Edmund and Joy. Rebecca's first thought was Mum's words to her on the platform before they left for Professor Kirke's house. She had told Rebecca to look after Joy and keep her out of trouble.
"Mum, I'm sorry," whispered Rebecca. Amid her thoughts of failure, Rebecca suddenly remembered Aslan. If they headed to the Stone Table, maybe Aslan would help them by storming the castle to free their siblings and Mr. Tumnus, and then they could make the prophecy come true. She quickly turned and looked at the others.
"Let's go to Aslan's Camp," she said. Lucy nodded but Susan ignored her and glared at Peter instead.
"This is all your fault," she said angrily. Peter spun around, looking angry. Rebecca glared at Susan as well.
"My fault?!" asked Peter indignantly.
"None of this would have happened if you had just listened to me in the first place!" shouted Susan. Rebecca rolled her eyes.
"Oh, so you knew this would happen," argued Peter.
"I didn't know what would happen," said Susan defensively "which is why we should have left when we still could!"
"Stop it!" shouted Lucy. They all looked at Lucy. "This isn't going to help Edmund," she looked at Rebecca "or Joy."
"She's right," said Mr. Beaver "Only Aslan can help your brother now." Rebecca opened her mouth to remind the beaver, but then he said, "And your sister." Rebecca nodded, and looked at Peter.
"Let's go," she said. Looking resigned, Peter's shoulders slumped.
"Alright, take us to him," he said to Mr. Beaver. All the children took one last look at the castle before heading back into the woods.
Edmund let go of Joy's hand, wiped it on his shirt, and walked forward. Joy was frozen with fear, tempted to run out of the gates and catch up with the others. But as she looked up at the gates, the enormity of them caught up to her and she slowly followed Edmund.
Across the courtyard, dotted in no kind of order, were dozens and dozens of stone statues, no doubt made by the Witch's wand. The two were startled by the huge stone giant which towered over their heads and had icicles hanging from his fingertips. There were stone fauns, centaurs, and varying sorts of animals. Joy noticed some statues which looked like women, some seemed to be made of stone leaves and others had the appearance of water. Some of the statues carried weapons and wore armour and seemed to be in the middle of attacking or fighting, while others cowered like they were waiting for a savage blow that never came.
Joy was turning away from an angry-looking stone rabbit when she spotted Edmund drawing on a stone lioness' face. "What are you doing?!" she whisper-yelled. She weaved through the statues towards him.
"It's alright, it's stone," said Edmund when Joy reached him, and he smiled at his workmanship: a curly mustache and a pair of round spectacles.
"But what happens when it comes back to life?" asked Joy, and Edmund huffed.
"It's not coming back to life, it's been turned to stone," he said, and dropped his drawing pencil before continuing to walk across the courtyard. Joy shivered and followed him.
Edmund walked to the threshold of the castle, where up some steps lay a stone wolf which was covered with a fresh blanket of snow. At least Joy thought it was stone, but as she grew closer, she noticed its nostrils were twitching. "Edmund," she tried to warn him, but it was too late. He stepped over the wolf, and it sprang to life! Joy screamed and took off running for the gates.
"Joy!" shouted Edmund behind her, and Joy heard something panting and running after her. She looked over her shoulder and saw a different wolf chasing her. Panic set in and she ran with all her might. She reached the gates and pounded her fists against the ice.
"Let me out!" she shouted. Then, something grabbed the back of her sweater and pulled her back. Joy heard the sweater rip and she fell backwards onto the snow-covered floor of the courtyard. She barely had a chance to draw a shallow breath before the wolf jumped on top of her!
"Let me go, please!" she wheezed, for the wolf was very heavy.
"How dare you enter the Queen's house without permission!" said the wolf, who accented his words with a growl.
"I only came with him," Joy pulled out her arm which had been crushed against her chest and pointed at Edmund, "I assumed he had permission," she said.
"You just wait Daughter of Eve," said the wolf.
"No" whispered Joy as she tried to push the wolf off her, but the wolf never budged. It growled with its muzzle inches from her face and Joy gave up. She bit her lips and turned her head to watch Edmund with the other wolf. Time seemed to drag on, and still the wolf did not let her get up. Finally, the first wolf climbed off Edmund and looked in Joy's direction.
"Bring the Daughter of Eve," it said, then started pushing Edmund towards the open doorway with his nose. Joy's wolf, whom she had nicknamed "Crusher" in her mind, climbed off her and Joy slowly and shakily got to her feet. The wolf prodded her forward with his wet, black nose and Joy crossed the courtyard again. She climbed up the steps and stood beside Edmund.
"Come in fortunate favourites of the Queen," said Edmund's wolf. It started walking away. "Or else, not so fortunate." A growl behind them moved the children forward, and Joy looked over her shoulder to see Crusher following them.
The wolf led them into a large open room where an icy staircase stretched up to the second level of the castle. Not slackening its pace, he climbed up the steps and Joy struggled to keep up with him and Edmund on her shaky legs. They reached the top and turned to the left where a great set of ice doors stood open, beckoning to them. Joy would have stopped to admire them, but the wolf went on ahead and they entered a large rectangular room, which Joy thought must be the Great Hall.
Pillars of ice lined the hall, with little sets of steps leading off to other hallways and doors which could be seen between them. At the end of the hall and on top of the dais sat a great throne which was carved out of ice with jagged points stretching towards the ceiling. Joy could see a black design carved into the ice and a soft-looking, white fur robe resting over the seat. The wolf stopped at the bottom of the steps. "Wait here," it said, then it walked away. Crusher followed it, with a sneer directed at the children that gave them a glimpse of his sharp teeth. The two wolves walked around a pillar, up some steps and then disappeared behind the throne.
One they were out of sight, Joy turned to Edmund. "Edmund, now is our chance. Let's get out of here!" He glared at her like she was crazy.
"No," he said, and looked quickly about the room. He started climbing up the steps towards the throne.
"Edmund!" gasped Joy. A soft growl behind her made Joy turn around, but she saw no wolves and looked back just in time to see Edmund sit down on the icy throne. A wicked grin broke out upon his face, and Joy grew nervous.
A tall, beautiful woman suddenly appeared from behind the throne. She was wearing a dress made of some thick material with a white fur collar which went up to her throat, and she had an icicle crown on her head. She also carried a scepter made of ice, and Joy realized with horror it was the wand and this woman was the White Witch. Standing to the left of the Witch was a dwarf with a long grey beard, a red woolen cap, pointy shoes and was wearing a thick coat with fur lining. Joy raised her hand to get Edmund's attention, but one look from the Witch made Joy drop her hand down to her side again. The Witch came up beside the throne and rested her hand at the top of one of the points, right above Edmund's head.
"Like it?" she asked with a cold voice. Edmund jumped to his feet, suddenly fearful.
"Yes," he stammered "Your Majesty." The Witch circled around in front of him, staring into his face.
"I thought you might," she said. She sat down on the throne and switched her wand from her right to her left. "Tell me Edmund," she pointed at Joy with the wand "which sister is this?"
"Oh, Joy is not my sister," said Edmund "she is my friend." Joy wanted to ask when she and Edmund had become friends over the last couple of days, but with the Witch staring at her she decided to say nothing.
"Oh, I see" said the Witch, looking incredibly calm. "Then are your sisters deaf?"
"No," said Edmund uncertainly.
"And your brother," said the Witch "is he" she paused like she was searching for the right word "unintelligent?"
"Well I think so," said Edmund, and Joy rolled her eyes. "But Mum said," the Witch surged to her feet, cutting off Edmund's words.
"Then how dare you come alone!" she shouted. She advanced forward and Edmund started backing down the steps towards Joy.
"I tried!" he protested.
"Edmund, I asked so little of you," said the Witch and her eyes grew narrow.
"They just don't listen to me," whimpered Edmund, reaching the bottom of the steps.
"Couldn't even do that," said the Witch, her tone menacing.
"Well, I did bring them halfway," said Edmund "they're at the little house at the dam with the Beavers." The Witch stopped, and Joy watched her fingers twitch against the skirt of her dress.
"And you," came the Witch's voice, and Joy looked up into her face, knees shaking. "Do you have any siblings in Narnia?" asked the Witch.
"Yes, Your Majesty," said Joy "my sister." The Witch turned and looked at the dwarf who was still standing on top of the dais. He shrugged and the Witch looked back at Joy.
"Well," said the Witch "I suppose you're not a total loss then," she looked pointedly at Edmund "are you?" The Witch walked up the steps towards the throne again.
"I, I was wondering," said Edmund, following her up the steps "could I have some Turkish Delight now?" The Witch looked from Edmund to the dwarf.
"Our guests are hungry," she said, then sat down on the throne. The dwarf nodded and positioned himself beside Edmund.
"Come up here Daughter of Eve," Joy heard the mockery in his tone but did as he said. Once she reached the top, the dwarf pointed down the hallway leading off the dais in front of them. "This way," he said, "for your num-nums." He drew two knives out of his belt, pressed the edges of the blades into their backs and marched them forward.
"Your Majesty?!" Joy called over her shoulder. The blade pressed deeper into her back and she gasped with pain.
"Don't bother the Queen," said the dwarf in a jeering tone.
"Maugrim? Maros?" said the Witch behind them. The dwarf stopped the children at the edge of the dais and allowed them to watch. The wolves who had met the children on the steps outside appeared to the right of the Witch's throne. "You know what to do," she said in a low voice. Edmund's wolf took a deep breath, raised its head and howled.
The sound raised the hair on the back of Joy's neck, and the sight that followed nearly stopped her heart with fear. Wolves, appearing here and there throughout the hall. She and Edmund had walked by them when they approached the dais earlier, not realizing they were there! The wolves were growling and laughing, and Joy realized what they were going to do.
"No!" she shouted. The dwarf raised the knife around her shoulder to her throat, silencing her. The wolves charged! The sound of claws scraping on ice filled the hall as they ran out the door and down the stairs, Maugrim and Maros at the back of the pack. Chuckling to himself, the dwarf brought the knife around to Joy's back again and pushed the children forward once the wolves were out of sight.
He opened the door at the end of the hall and forced them to walk down a spiraling staircase. Joy tried to ease the sharp edge in her back by walking faster than the dwarf, but the dwarf would always match her pace. At the bottom of the stairs, the children saw a maze of short hallways, all with iron grates acting as double doors. They were in the dungeon.
The dwarf pushed the children towards one cell which had a cold, blue light outside the door. Beneath the light stood a large monster with a huge mouth. "Put these two in with the other traitor," said the dwarf before walking away. The monster unlocked the door with a key on a metal ring which was attached to the rope belt around his waist, and the doors creaked as they slowly swung open. It then grabbed two pair of shackles which were hanging on a hook driven into the icy wall and picked up a large mallet resting against the wall.
"Get in there," said the monster in a deep, raspy voice. When neither of the children moved, it forcefully pushed the children inside, making them stumble down the steps and fall onto the icy floor. Using the mallet and some nails, he fastened the shackles around the children's ankles and then attached them to two heavy chains which disappeared into the icy floor.
Once he finished, the dwarf returned and gave each of the children a crust of bread on a tin plate and a mug of water. "Here's your Turkish Delight, Prince," jeered the dwarf. He stepped closer to Edmund. "Her Majesty thought you'd like the company," he nodded to Joy who scowled and moved away from Edmund as far as the chain would allow her. The dwarf laughed again and left the cell. Joy heard the key twist in the lock and the footsteps fade away. She finally dared to speak.
"Edmund," she whispered, "what do you think the Witch will do with us?"
"How should I know?" said Edmund and he curled up his knees tight to his chest and refused to look up. Feeling a rush of anger, Joy quickly turned her body around to face him.
"I never should have listened to you. Turkish Delight indeed!" Her stomach growled. "How could you think the Witch was a nice person?"
"I don't know what happened," said Edmund. He had a such lost expression on his face that Joy pitied him for a moment. Then she remembered how Edmund pulled her through the gates when she had wanted to go back and join the others, and angry tears blurred her vision.
"Once we get out of this, I never want to speak to you again!" said Joy, and she curled up against the cold wall and tried to sleep. Edmund didn't say another word.