Chapter Eight

In the meantime, we must get back to Joy. It had been several hours since the Witch left with Edmund, and Joy had finally stopped crying. Her face felt clammy and cold, and rubbing it with her cold hands in an effort to stay warm did not help her situation. Her stomach felt so hollow that Joy thought it was going to crawl out of her body in search of food, and she didn't blame it. Outside her cell, she could hear the guard snoring loudly. The noise echoed through the nearly empty cell, ringing in Joy's ears and giving her an awful headache. She thought about waking him up so he would stop, when she suddenly got an idea.

Creeping forward, she headed for the grated door of the cell. The chain connected to her shackles barely made a sound as she moved on her hands and knees across the floor and up the steps. Through the door, she could see the guard who was slumped against the wall with the mallet sitting loosely in his right hand. She also saw the keys on an iron ring connected to the belt around the monster's waist, just within arm's reach. Pressing herself against the iron bars, she reached out and her fingers closed around one of the keys.

The sound of claws on ice clattered over her head and Joy froze. The guard grunted and opened his eyes. Joy quickly let go of the key and pulled her hand tight to her chest, but it was too late. "Well, the Daughter of Eve is trying to escape!" said the guard as he got to his feet. Joy scrambled backwards, crawling like a crab down the steps.

"Please let me go!" she cried. "I've done nothing!"

"You trespassed on the Queen's property," said the guard. "You're staying here!" Joy's heart sank, and she couldn't bear to look up at him. Her only hope was that the guard would quickly fall asleep once more so she could try again. She drew her knees tight to her chest again to wait, when the guard shouted "Hey!" She heard a slash of metal and Joy looked up to see the guard's back slam into the grated doors. He groaned loudly and slumped to the floor, and Joy could hear the grates bending against his weight. She plucked up her courage to speak.

"What's going on out there?" asked Joy. Someone, whom Joy could not see very well, dragged the guard's body away from the doors and then a familiar figure appeared in the bent doorway. Joy gasped. "Mr. Fox!" she said.

"Joy!" said the fox, grinning. A faun dressed in armour with a helmet that allowed his horns to peek through on top of his head, appeared through the grate as well. He was holding a sword, the keys and the mallet. He unlocked the door and Mr. Fox trotted towards her. "I'm so glad you're safe," he said. Joy smiled with relief.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Fox?" asked Joy.

"Me and Gregoire," he pointed at the faun with a paw "are here to bring you back to Aslan's Camp."

"Aslan's Camp?" asked Joy, and Mr. Fox. nodded. The faun knelt beside Joy and pounded the mallet against the nails. Once he stopped pounding, Joy asked "How did you know I was here?" Gregoire gently removed the shackles from her ankles.

"We have been watching the castle," said Mr. Fox. "When your sister said that you and Edmund had gone to the Witch's castle, I ran to Aslan's Camp and explained what had happened. He sent us here then to rescue you two." He looked at Gregoire. "Unfortunately, we could not get to Edmund in time but we are here to help you." Excitement warmed Joy to her toes as she took in his words. Aslan sent them to rescue her?! Then a sobering thought crept into her mind.

"Why would the Witch leave me behind?" asked Joy. Gregoire and Mr. Fox looked at each other briefly before the faun spoke for the first time.

"The Witch will want to know why you're here," said the faun in a soft voice "so she would do anything to get the information out of you." Joy swallowed hard when she realized what he was implying.

"But, why?" asked Joy as Gregoire helped her stand up and they moved towards the cell door.

"You're a human," said Mr. Fox, interrupting her. "That's enough reason for the Witch to want to kill you." Gregoire pushed open the cell door and the group ran to the stairs and up the spiraling staircase. They ran down the hallway and came into the Great Hall. Joy looked around sharply for wolves but Mr. Fox assured her that they were gone, looking for her sister and the Kings and Queens. "The wolves have no reason to come back here unless they want to face some kind of punishment for failure," he said. They continued down the main staircase, out the castle door, then across the threshold and into the courtyard. Joy stumbled down the steps, stopping at the horrific sight before her.

Mr. Tumnus stood a few feet away as a stone statue. A fresh blanket of snow covered his head and shoulders, and he stood in such a pitiful position that Joy felt fresh tears rush to her eyes. "No," she whispered. "Not Mr. Tumnus!" She ran towards the statue but Gregoire grabbed her gently by the arm and held her back.

"Come, let's go," he said softly, and Joy allowed him to pull her away and they ran across the courtyard. Outside the gate, a chestnut horse with a white star on his forehead stood saddled and bridled, waiting for them in the snow. "This is Philip," said Gregoire "mount up." Gasping for breath and exhausted from the running and lack of food, Joy put her shaking foot into the stirrup. She tried to remember something from those riding lessons last summer but was unable to climb onto the horse's back.

"You can do it Joy," said a new voice. Joy looked up to see the horse looking at her.

"You are a Talking Horse?" she asked. Philip nodded.

"Yes, now get on," he said patiently. Joy pushed off the ground, and with the help of Gregoire's grip on her elbow, she finally swung into the saddle. Mr. Fox leapt up and sat across Joy's lap.

"Ready," he said before lying down and digging his claws into the leather saddle. Joy barely had a chance to grip the reins before Philip neighed and broke out into a gallop. Gregoire ran alongside them, easily keeping up with the horse's pace. They charged across the snowy valley, away from the castle and into the woods.

"Will you relax on the reins Joy?" asked Philip between breaths. "I know where I'm going." Joy reluctantly let the reins go limp in her hands.

"Sorry Philip," she said. Philip only whinnied in response and Joy proceeded to look around. They were riding down the steep slope she and Edmund had climbed only the night before, and Philip was weaving through the trees with great speed and precision. Gregoire looked up at Joy every so often to make sure she would not fall off, and Mr. Fox kept on sniffing the air as if he was trying to sniff out danger before it reached their little group.

They rode down into the valley, around the foot of some mountains and now found themselves crossing a wide plain with fading footprints to their left. Joy noticed the cold breeze in her face was growing warmer, and the snow seemed to be growing slushier underneath Philip's hooves. "Is this spring?" she asked, looking around as Philip charged into the woods again.

"Yes, with Aslan's return and the Kings and Queens' arrival, the Witch's power is starting to weaken," said Mr. Fox, grinning widely. "It's only a matter of time before the battle." Battle. The fight against the Witch. After everything with the Witch and Edmund, Joy wanted to see her defeated.

"I want to help in the battle Mr. Fox," said Joy "do you think Aslan would let me?" Mr. Fox stared up at her, looking very surprised.

"You, Joy?" exclaimed the fox. "You're only a young girl." Mrs. Badger's fate flashed through her mind. She then thought of the one hundred years of winter and felt angry when she remembered the pain of slamming into the icy wall of the dungeon.

"I'm almost twelve Mr. Fox," said Joy with pride. "And besides, after what I've been through," then, Mr. Fox's ears stood straight up. "What is it?" asked Joy.

"Shush!" he said. Philip slackened his pace and came to a stop in the middle of the dark woods. Snow was falling off branches all around them, and Joy could see green grass peeking through the snow. She could hear the sound of rushing water in the distance so she figured they must be approaching a river, when growls nearby caught her attention. Joy looked off to her left, scared to see if what she heard was right.

Wolves stood in the clearing nearby, Joy thought there must have been about six or seven of them. One shook his fur, like a dog does when it gets wet, and the pack was gathered together like they were talking about something. Suddenly one of the wolves' heads shot up, and Joy could see it sniffing the air. Mr. Fox stood up in her lap and dove out of the saddle. Landing on the ground with all four paws, he looked up at Philip.

"Get the Lady safely to Aslan's Camp!" he ordered. "Take her to Aslan!"

"May Aslan go with you Fox," replied Philip, and Mr. Fox nodded. He briefly looked up at Joy and she suddenly realized what he was about to do.

"No, don't do it," she protested. She couldn't bear to lose her first Narnian friend. But Mr. Fox ran towards the wolves.

"Gents! Over here!" he called. Gregoire ran in the opposite direction, running around the other side of the pack.

"Surrender! In the name of Aslan!" shouted the faun. Beneath her, Philip took off running again and Joy twisted around in the saddle.

"Mr. Fox!" called out Joy. She watched him until the bright orange fox was surrounded by half a dozen grey and black wolves. Gregoire charged at the pack, sword raised, and one of the wolves leapt at his throat! Joy looked away as the faun's body disappeared out of view. Joy didn't know her body had that many tears inside her, but she cried at what Mr. Fox and Gregoire did for her.

Suddenly, Philip plunged downhill. Joy grabbed the saddle horn and struggled to stay on Philip's back. They were galloping down a steep slope, heading towards the rushing river in front of them. Joy panicked. "Philip!" she cried out.

"Hold on!" called back Philip. He thundered across the tree-covered river bank and rode straight into the river!

The group emerged from the forest, with a river on their left and large boulders on their right. As they passed below the boulder, Rebecca heard the sound of a horn from the top and it echoed loud and clear across the valley in front of them. All throughout the valley, crimson and gold striped tents were set up and Narnians of all animals and creatures were moving from tent to tent. Rebecca spotted a very busy blacksmith shop and weapons maker, with a glowing forge set up in the centre of a group of tents. She also spotted racks of spears, dozens of shiny new helmets and breastplates, and beyond these were training areas for practice with the weapons. Even up on the hills surrounding the valley! Leaves brushed her left hand, and Rebecca watched the leaves form into the shape of a woman for a moment, then disperse into individual leaves again.

As they approached the entrance to the camp, Rebecca tucked the compass away into the pocket of her skirt and rested her left hand on the sword hilt at her hip. She was walking on Peter's left, while Susan, Lucy and the Beavers were on Peter's right. They all paused for a moment before entering the camp. "What will we do when we meet Aslan?" asked Rebecca.

"I'm sure the right words will come to you," said Mrs. Beaver. "Now let's get on, there's no point in lingering when we've been looking to get here all day." The Beavers marched forward a few paces and turned back.

"Come on humans!" called Mr. Beaver, and Peter bravely stepped forward.

"Come on everyone," he said, and the others quickly followed. As they walked down the main road leading into the camp, all the Narnians stopped what they were doing and stared at the group. Rebecca looked behind them and saw the Narnians were following them wherever it was they were going. She also noticed the stares and felt the nerves build up in her stomach. She knew what they were thinking: if the prophecy called for two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve, what was a third Daughter of Eve doing here?

"Why are they all staring at us?" asked Susan through her teeth as she smiled as the Narnians. Rebecca listened in, grateful for the distraction.

"Maybe they think you look funny," said Lucy. Peter chuckled and Susan tried not to look offended. Peter then looked over at Rebecca. All her determination of asking Aslan to rescue Joy and make the Pevensies fulfill the prophecy buckled under the scrutinizing gazes of the Narnians, and she gave Peter a nervous smile, but he saw right through her. He grabbed her right hand and gave her fingers a gentle squeeze before letting go as they reached the centre of the camp. Rebecca tried not to overreact but her heart was ready to bounce out of her chest with the giddiness of a school girl.

Aslan's tent stood in the very centre of the camp, under the shadow of a towering hill behind it. In front of the tent, stood a centaur with long black hair and a black horse's body. Rebecca could see he was ready to defend Aslan at the cost of his life, and he regarded Rebecca with suspicion. The group stopped several feet away from the threshold where the tent stood at the top of several steps cut into the rock. With the centaur staring at them, Peter drew his sword and raised it in salute towards the tent.

"We have come to see Aslan," he said. Gasps and murmurs surrounded the children from all sides. Rebecca stared uneasily at the tent and watched the flaps flutter slightly before going still. The centaur looked towards the tent, and slowly bowed. The sound of chinking armour behind them made the children looked back and saw all the Narnians bowing as well. Turning back towards the tent, Rebecca saw a golden paw step through the tent flaps, followed by a lion. But not just any lion, Aslan himself. He was great and powerful, and more beautiful than anything Rebecca had ever seen in her life. Chills rippled down her back as she stared at him, and Rebecca dropped to her knees. The others bowed as well while the Beavers lay prostrate with their paws outstretched in front of them.

"Welcome Peter, Son of Adam. Welcome Susan, Lucy and Rebecca, Daughters of Eve," said Aslan in a deep, rich voice. At the mention of her name, Rebecca raised her head and felt strangely lighter than she did before. "And welcome to you Beavers," said Aslan, and the two Beavers nodded and smiled "you have my thanks. But where is the fourth and the other sister?" At the mention of Joy, Rebecca's smile fell and all the children stood up.

"That's why we're here Sir," said Peter. "We need your help." He sheathed his sword.

"We had a little trouble along the way," said Susan.

"Our brother and her sister," Peter gestured to Rebecca "have been captured by the White Witch."

"Captured?" asked Aslan. "How could this happen?" The children glanced nervously at one another. Rebecca could offer no explanation about Joy's reasoning so she said nothing. Mr. Beaver finally spoke up.

"The Son of Adam betrayed them, Your Majesty," he said. Gasps and murmurs surrounded the children again, only this time they weren't very pleasant sounding. The centaur who had greeted the children by standing guard over Aslan's tent said, "Then he has betrayed us all!" Aslan cut him off with a growl.

"Peace Oreius," said Aslan "I'm sure there's an explanation." He seemed to be staring at Peter.

"It's my fault really," said Peter "I was too hard on him." Rebecca could hear the regret in his voice and felt it in her heart as well. She had been too hard on Joy lately, but she had thought they'd reconciled yesterday before reaching Mr. Tumnus' cave. Had she done something wrong since then to hurt Joy? Rebecca took hold of Peter's hand to comfort him while Susan put her hand on Peter's shoulder and faced Aslan.

"We all were," she admitted to Aslan.

"Sir, he's our brother," said Lucy quietly.

"I know, dear one," said Aslan, looking at Lucy "but that only makes the betrayal all the worse. This may be harder than you think." He rested his heavy gaze on Peter again, then turned to Rebecca, who quickly let go of Peter's hand.

"Sir, what about my sister?" asked Rebecca, summoning her courage. She took a step forward. "I'm certain she did not betray us," at least Rebecca thought she was certain "but can't something be done to rescue her?" Aslan gave her a gentle smile.

"We will do our best, Rebecca," he said. At that moment two leopards appeared on either side of Aslan. "Take the Son of Adam and Daughters of Eve to their tents," said Aslan "then fit them with Narnian clothes." The leopards nodded in response and went to the children. One motioned for Peter to follow him, and the other lead the girls away. Before Rebecca followed the leopard, she looked back and caught one last glimpse of Aslan's golden fur as he disappeared into his tent. She was tempted to pull out the compass and see what it would tell her to do, but there was no point to such thoughts.

The leopard leads the girls to two tents in a quiet section of the camp away from the blacksmiths, which was half-hidden by a rock wall behind them. As Rebecca entered hers, she saw not one but two beds set up inside. No doubt they had been expecting Joy to be with her. Rebecca grew angry with herself and sat down on the bed to her right. Her sister was inside the Witch's castle and Rebecca had spent half the journey here staring at Peter from behind his back and wondering what her purpose in Narnia was. She groaned in frustration and then the leopard poked its head inside. Along with it came a badger holding a silver food tray. Rebecca's mouth watered at the sight.

"You are to come to the wardrobe tent as soon as you've finished eating, Rebecca," said the leopard, and then it left. The badger set the tray down on the washstand and left as well. Rebecca eyed the tray before getting up and eating its contents. The food was so tasty she forced herself to eat slowly, but it did no good for the tray was empty before she knew it. Once she had finished eating, the leopard appeared again and she followed it to the wardrobe tent, where a female centaur named Ember, along with Lucy and Susan, tried on Narnian dresses.

They ranged in every colour, and several sizes. Susan selected a dark green with silver accents on the sleeves and bodice, along with a leather belt for around her hips. Lucy picked a grey dress, with a silver undershirt to be worn under the bodice and extended the sleeves to reach Lucy's wrists. A stitched pattern of vines and flowers could be seen at the edges of the sleeves and the bodice of the dress. But Rebecca picked her favourite: a gown out of a dusty rose colour with gold accents on the sleeves. Tiny golden flowers could be seen at the top of the bodice and along the hem. And best of all, it had a pocket for her compass!

But before the girls could get into their selected gowns, Ember insisted they all have a bath and wash their hair in the pond just behind the tent, and all the girls felt quite grubby indeed the more they looked at their beautiful dresses. One by one, the girls quickly scrubbed out in the pond and returned, and another centaur named Echo would style their hair after getting into their dresses. She took out their bobby pins and asked Susan and Rebecca if they could use these metal picks to make weapons, Rebecca immediately agreed while Susan hesitated. Echo talked with the girls as she brushed and styled their hair. She asked them about their journey there and what their world was like. After several failed attempts to describe a motorcar and the Tube, Echo finished all the girls' hair and handed a small silver mirror out for each girl to take. Rebecca gasped with surprise when the mirror got to her.

A beautiful girl with golden hair stared back at her through the mirror. The hairstyle with the braids and curls made her blue eyes stand out, and Echo laughed. "You humans all reacted the same way," she said. Rebecca looked up dumbstruck from the mirror.

"I just can't believe that's me!" she exclaimed, handing back the mirror.

"Yes," said Lucy "and wait until Peter takes one look at you." Rebecca was certain her blush was as rosy as her dress.

"No, no," said Rebecca, shaking her head. She knew it was no use denying it but she decided to try anyway. "I," then Susan interrupted her.

"Rebecca," she said, "I'm sorry for snapping at you at the river. You were right, after seeing Aslan face to face I realized I shouldn't have doubted him." Rebecca saw the sincerity in her expression and smiled at her.

"It's alright," said Rebecca "and I'm sorry for lecturing you Susan." Susan smiled gratefully.

"All is forgiven," she said. Lucy came up between them and linked their arms through hers.

"Come on, let's go!" said Lucy, and she pulled girls out of the tent.

"Farewell ladies!" called Echo. The girls all giggled and laughed and made their way around to the back of the tent where the pond was. A few towels still hung on the nearby tree branches, along with the girls' weapons which were heaped in a pile at the base of another tree. However, Susan's horn hung from a low-hanging tree branch, for she did not want to get it dirty. Rebecca looked at her reflection in the water and smoothed the front of her dress.

"It's truly the most beautiful dress I have ever owned," she said.

"It's a pity that Peter isn't here to see you," teased Lucy, and Rebecca tried to frown at her but her lips wanted to smile instead. Also, under the shade of the trees there was no point in blaming her red face on the hot sun.

"Okay, you two win this time," said Rebecca, and she gave Lucy and Susan a look. The sisters grinned at each other and broke out laughing. All the girls removed their Narnian shoes, and Lucy and Susan headed for the sandy beach of the pond while Rebecca hung back and sat down at the base of a tree. Leaning back, she closed her eyes and listened. Lucy and Susan were talking about home and their dresses, and then Lucy called Susan boring. Rebecca's eyes flew open, and she had a feeling that's what Joy would call her. She had been boring lately, wrapped up in her friends and her drawings, and too busy to pay much attention to her little sister. She sighed and knew that she owed Joy an apology once Joy got here. Whether it was a rescue team sent by Aslan, or if she had to storm the gates herself. Her sword lay next to her, and as she traced the sword hilt with her fingers, she noticed it was a lion's head with the mouth open and roaring and realized it was Aslan.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Susan and Lucy broke out into a splash fight. Rebecca got to her feet, abandoning the sword at the base of the tree, and joined in. The girls splashed each other again and again, soaking each other through to the skin. They couldn't stop laughing, especially when Rebecca slipped and sat up to her waist in the water. Finally, when their skirts could not take anymore water, the girls slowly climbed out. Rebecca was the last one, wringing out her skirt as she walked. "Could you pass me my towel please Susan?" Susan laughed and reached for her own instead. She pulled it down from the tree branch and screamed.

A wolf! It gnashed its teeth at Susan. Lucy screamed as well as another came out from behind Lucy's towel. Rebecca dropped her wet skirt onto the grass, recognizing both from the waterfall. One of them, the one closest to Susan, was the leader of the pack. "Please don't try to run," he said, walking forward. "We're tired," he started.

"And we prefer to kill you quickly," finished the other wolf. They both growled and got ready to pounce. The girls all looked at Susan's horn, and Rebecca made eye contact with Susan. She jerked her head towards the horn and Susan quickly threw her towel at the wolf, along with Lucy. Rebecca ran up the slope, grabbed the horn and tossed it to Susan. She then threw the last towel at the wolves and pulled Lucy to the furthest tree.

"Come on Lucy!" said Rebecca. She linked her fingers together, making a foothold and helped Lucy climb up into the tree branches. Susan blew the horn, and a strong and sweet sound filled the woods all around them. Help, please come! was all Rebecca could think as she gave Lucy a final boost. The wolves got free of the towels and bounded towards them. Susan dropped the horn, leaving it in the dirt and started climbing the tree alongside Rebecca. Susan had barely made it to the second branch when Rebecca's hand slipped! "Rebecca!" screamed Lucy.

Rebecca landed hard on her left ankle and fell on her side. She twisted herself onto her stomach and looked for her sword and spotted it only a couple feet away. She crawled forward and then a sharp pain broke out in her ankle. "Ow!" she cried out, and after looking over her shoulder, saw one of the wolves was biting her ankle! It pulled her away from her sword and Rebecca screamed in pain.

"Give up human girl!" said the leader, and he trotted into view, blocking her from getting to her sword. "It's over for you, human," and he gnashed his teeth at her.

"Go away," said Rebecca through gritted teeth. "It will be over for you once help comes!" The wolf at her ankle bit harder and Rebecca gasped as painful tears pricked her vison.

"You think you have a reason to be here, but you don't," said the leader, and Rebecca froze at the sound of the words. "You killed Maros," the leader stalked closer "one of the most loyal members of the Secret Police! For that you deserve to die, human!" It growled and got ready to pounce. Rebecca kicked her ankle free and felt the wolf's sharp teeth tear at her flesh. The leader sprung forward! Rebecca wrapped her arms around her face.

"Get back!" shouted Peter. The wolf's claws scratched her arm and she heard a growl. Rebecca gently moved her injured arm and looked up to see the wolves sauntering towards Peter. Rebecca went weak with relief and dropped her head onto the grass.

"Come on!" taunted the leader. The other wolf kept on snapping and snarling, trying to divert Peter's attention. "We've already been through this before. We both know you haven't got it in you!"

"Peter!" called Susan from the tree. "Watch out!" Rebecca brushed the hair out of her face to watch. She tried to sit up but her muscles felt like noodles and both her arm and ankle hurt.

A group of Narnians came rushing across the river connected to the pond, led by Oreius and Aslan. Aslan stopped the second wolf, holding him down underneath his giant paw. Rebecca tried to reach for her sword and Oreius raised his sword towards the wolf leader. "No!" said Aslan. "Stand your weapons. This is Peter's battle." Peter turned back to the wolf, cornering it with his sword.

"You may think you're a King," said the wolf "but you're going to die," it crouched "like a dog!" It sprang forward. Peter took the blow full force, crying out as he did and fell backwards with the wolf's body on top of him.

"Peter!" All the girls screamed. Rebecca pulled herself up slowly, leaning against the tree as Susan and Lucy jumped out of the branches. The two sisters raced across to where Peter lay and pushed the wolf's body off him. Peter sat up, gasping for breath, then looked in the faces of his sisters. Susan and Lucy quickly engulfed him in hugs and Rebecca smiled, relieved that he was alright. Aslan let the other wolf go, and it ran away into the woods barking.

"After him," commanded Aslan "he'll lead you to Edmund." Oreius nodded and led the group of Narnians forward as they ran after the wolf. "Peter," called Aslan, and all the children all looked at him. "Clean your sword."

Peter pulled his sword free from the wolf's body and wiped it clean on the grass. "Now, kneel before me," instructed Aslan. Peter knelt, with his forehead almost touching the sword hilt in front of him. Aslan touched his right shoulder, and then his left. "Rise, Sir Peter Wolf's-Bane, Knight of Narnia." Peter stood up and looked with excitement at his sisters, who smiled proudly back. He sheathed his sword and Rebecca smiled from her place against the tree. She tried to take a step forward, then gasped from the pain in her ankle. "Ow," she gasped, and fell back against the tree. Looking down, she noticed the blood had soaked through the hem of her skirt.

"Rebecca!" Peter ran forward, grabbing her upper arms. Rebecca gasped in pain and pulled away from him. Concern quickly covered his face. "You're hurt," he said, and looked down at his left hand which was now covered in blood. Rebecca winced and tried not to stare at him.

"Rebecca," said Lucy "are you alright?" she asked with concern. Rebecca tried to smile at her but a wave of pain swept over her arm and ankle, and all she could do was bite her lip instead.

"Son of Adam," said Aslan "take Rebecca to the healer's tent."

"But, Aslan?" said Lucy, stepping forward. She pulled the bottle of healing cordial out of its pouch which sat at the foot of a tree nearby. "I could heal her ankle with this," she said.

"Child, you must save that for the great battles and wars which are headed your way even now. But your friend's wound will heal quickly, I will make sure of that." Peter then looped his arm under Rebecca's uninjured arm and told her not to put pressure on the ankle. They slowly made their way around the pond and into the main section of the camp.

"Besides your ankle and your arm, is there anywhere else the wolf bit you?" asked Peter. Rebecca shook her head, trying to keep her injured arm close to her chest.

"He didn't bite my arm," she said, huffing and puffing while she tried to stay off her injured ankle. "He scratched it with his claws." She could see the blood on her sleeve and winced. So much for that beautiful dress she had picked out earlier. Peter then stopped walking.

"Do you need me to carry you?" he asked. Rebecca's face flushed at the idea.

"No, I'll be fine once I sit down," she said, then stumbled into the dirt. Peter instantly scooped her up in his arms and continued walking.

"I think you need help," he said.

"I can walk you know," she retorted. But her blush must have betrayed how she truly felt about the idea for Peter smiled at her.

"Yes, but I think you like it better this way," said Peter in a teasing tone that made her blush grow even more.

"I suppose you are right," she said, feigning surrender "after all, a King's subject should not contradict her ruler." Peter's shoulders fell slightly.

"Rebecca, I don't know about the whole prophecy thing," he said. "I talked to Aslan about it, and he said he would help us find Edmund and Joy, but he also asked me to consider fulfilling the prophecy to make all of Narnia safe."

"What did you say after that?" asked Rebecca.

"Nothing," he said. "After that I heard Susan's horn and took off running. And it's a good thing I got there when I did because," he sighed. "I only wish I had gotten there sooner."

"Peter, it's alright," said Rebecca, looking up at him. "While my wounds do hurt, at least I'm not dead." His grip on her tightened slightly and Rebecca rested her head on his shoulder. "And Peter, you would make an excellent King."

"I, I don't know," he said.

"Defeating the Witch will free Narnia and save Edmund and Joy from her clutches forever!" She stared at him, pain in her ankle forgotten. "I believe in you." He seemed to consider her words then resumed walking, and Rebecca had the feeling he no longer wanted to debate the subject.

At the healer's tent, a female kangaroo named Jamila tended to Rebecca's ankle and arm while Peter washed the blood off his hands outside. She cut the sleeve of Rebecca's dress at the shoulder, exposing her bare arm and smeared a thick, foul-smelling salve over both wounds. She then wrapped them in strips of linen cloth, ensuring no infection would set in. "How soon will it take my ankle to heal?" asked Rebecca as Peter entered the tent again.

"A few days, as long as you don't over exert yourself," said Jamila. "This salve works wonders on flesh wounds. You should be right as rain in a day or so." Jamila then wiped her hands on a clean cloth. "Come back tomorrow and I will change the bandages." Rebecca still did not get up.

"I mean, if the battle happens within the next few days, would I be able," Peter cut her off by clearing his throat and shaking his head. She glared at him, and he evenly stared back. The kangaroo finished and Rebecca thanked her and hobbled to the tent flap. Peter looped his arm around her shoulders again and helped her in the direction of her tent. Before Rebecca could bring up the subject of the battle, Lucy came running up to them.

"Rebecca, you left your sword at the pond," she said, holding them out towards her. "I thought you would want it with you." Rebecca grabbed it and belted it tight around her waist.

"Thank you, Lucy," she said. Lucy smiled at her and Peter and then ran off. Peter resumed helping her, and by now Rebecca was too tired to argue about the battle and couldn't wait to get back to her tent. Then, she saw Aslan walking towards them.

"Rebecca," he said once he reached them and both she and Peter stopped walking. "Your sister Joy has escaped from the Witch's castle." Rebecca let go of Peter and gasped. He still wrapped an arm around her waist so she wouldn't fall over, but Rebecca hardly noticed.

"Is she coming here?" asked Rebecca with nervous anticipation.

"Yes, I sent a party to get your sister out of the Witch's castle. She is here right now," Aslan smiled at her and happy tears filled Rebecca's eyes. She was so relieved and happy that Joy was safe that she wanted to hug the Great Lion himself. But somehow that didn't seem like the right thing to do. She hobbled forward and said, "Thank you Aslan." He seemed to understand what she wished and gave her a gentle smile. He then turned his great head away and looked towards the crowd of Narnians, and Rebecca frantically scanned the crowd for any sign of Joy.