Chapter Ten
Joy woke up early the next morning and felt extremely hungry. She sat up in bed and looked around the dark tent. Rebecca lay in the bed across from her, fast asleep. Joy quickly slipped out from under the soft blanket and peeked out the tent flap. She could see the sun was up and based on its position she guessed it must have been about eight o'clock in the morning. A passing badger waved to her when they spotted her.
"Good morning!" called the badger. "Are you the Daughter of Eve named Joy?" Joy nodded. "Now that you're awake, your sister can take you over to the wardrobe tent for some Narnian clothes and then head over to the human dining table for breakfast." The badger waved again as she walked away, and Joy waved back, feeling strangely excited. She spun around on her heel and closed the flap. Placing herself beside her sister's bed, she said "Good morning!" in the most cheerful voice she could muster. Rebecca groaned and turned away from her, pressing the pillow into her ear.
"Not yet," she mumbled into the blanket. "Wake me up in an hour," she said. Joy yanked on the pillow but Rebecca clung to it, refusing to give it up.
"Rebecca, get up!" said Joy, letting go of the pillow. "You need to take me over to the wardrobe tent so they can fit me into some Narnian clothes." Rebecca refused to budge, and Joy got an idea. "Also, I think I heard a Narnian outside say it was almost time for breakfast." Joy heard a long sigh of defeat and then Rebecca's golden hair emerged from the blanket. Joy smiled as her older sister reluctantly pulled the blanket away from her shoulders and pulled herself up.
"The only reason I'm up is for food," said Rebecca defensively, and Joy laughed. Rebecca tried to smooth down her bed hair but after seeing it was no use, she quickly led Joy to the wardrobe tent.
Once inside, Joy met a centaur named Ember who let her pick out a Narnian dress. Joy struggled with this, forcing Rebecca to limp after her and drag her to the one Ember had originally offered Lucy yesterday. It was dark blue, with silver piping across the front in a swirling pattern that extended out along the collar all the way to the top of Joy's shoulders. The sleeve ended at her wrists on a diagonal angle, with a silver design stitched at the cuffs. The skirt fell to the grass beneath her feet and Ember gave her Narnian shoes to wear, something that looked a little like sandals. Rebecca also had to pick a new dress so hers could be scrubbed and selected a dark red dress which gave her golden hair red highlights in the sunshine.
Before she could put it on however, Ember insisted she have a bath in the pond behind the tent and scrub away the dirt and river water before putting on the new dress. After the scrub, Ember helped Joy pull the silky dress over her head and another centaur named Echo then styled Joy's hair. This took some time considering that it hadn't been brushed for two days, and Joy did her best not to jerk her head away every time the centaur hit a snag. Echo still managed to brush it smooth and then twisted two thick pieces of hair around to the back of her head and then joined them together with twine and silver thread. She handed the Joy the same silver mirror she handed Rebecca yesterday, and Joy's jaw dropped at the girl who stared back.
If there had been no scratches or bruises, Joy wouldn't have even known it was her. Her short blonde bob was finally styled for once, and the blue of her dress made her eyes look even bluer. "That's me?!" she gasped. Echo patted her shoulder and took the mirror away. Joy stood up and walked to Rebecca, who was grinning proudly at her.
"Now we both look like real Narnians," she said and Joy grinned at her. "I knew there was a pretty girl in there somewhere," said Rebecca, looking her over with a thoughtful expression "she was just too busy causing trouble for me to find her." Joy quickly frowned.
"Oh, Rebecca," she said with annoyance and then the two left the tent. As they walked to their dining table, Rebecca told Joy what had happened after she had left the Beavers; the harrowing escape from the wolves, meeting Father Christmas and the gift of her sword, the slaying of the wolf and crossing the river which nearly drowned Lucy, arriving at Aslan's Camp and lastly the attack from the wolves which led to Peter becoming a knight. Joy chose to say nothing but stared down at her dress as it swished and swayed while she walked.
The human dining table, as the Narnians called it, was a low table surrounded by cushions and blankets for the children to sit upon. As the two girls approached it, Joy noticed that three children were sitting around it. But one was not whom she expected and she stopped in her tracks. "Edmund?" Her exclamation made all the Pevensies stop eating and they looked at the approaching sisters. The last one to look up was Edmund, and Joy gasped at what she saw.
He looked awful. Joy could see bruises on the right side of his face, as if he had been slapped. He had a cut beside his left eyebrow which was scabbing, and there was also a scab on his lip like it had been split. Evidently things must have gotten worse for him after she saw him by the waterfall yesterday. He looked up at Joy with a guilty expression and all her anger slowly melted away. Rebecca gave her a tug on her sleeve, pulling Joy out of her thoughts, and she continued slowly forward and sat down beside Susan. "Good morning," she said to the others, and took a bite of toast.
Fresh butter melted on her tongue and Joy sighed with pleasure, her eyes rolling back in her head. When she opened them again, everyone around the table was staring at her. "Sorry," she said with her mouth full, and then reached for another piece. Edmund gave her a slight smile before grabbing a piece for himself. Besides toast, the children also had hard-boiled eggs in dainty stone egg cups, one for each of the children, along with sausages, fresh fruit, jam, tea; Joy couldn't remember having a feast this delicious. The children ate until they were full, which seemed to take a long time in Edmund's case.
"Narnia's not going to run out of toast Ed," said Lucy after Edmund's third piece.
"I hope not," said Joy, having just finished her third as well.
"I guess we'd better pack some up for the journey back," came Peter's voice, and the children all looked up to see him leaning against a rock and holding a large cup in his hand. Joy wondered where he had been, and then assumed he must have just returned from a meeting with Aslan.
"We're going home?" asked Susan.
"You are," said Peter. He stepped away from the rock and sat down between Edmund and Rebecca. Susan glared at him, seemingly annoyed. Noticing her glare, Peter said "I promised Mum I'd keep you three safe, but that doesn't mean I can't stay behind and help." Rebecca nodded reluctantly and looked at Joy. Joy shook her head at her, she wasn't about to leave and let Rebecca do all the fighting by herself.
"But they need us," said Lucy, looking around the group "all four of us." For the prophecy, thought Joy. She looked at Rebecca and saw she was thinking the same thing.
"She's right," said Rebecca, turning to Peter. Ignoring her, Peter looked over at Lucy.
"Lucy, its too dangerous," he said. "You almost drowned, Edmund was almost killed!" Joy stared at Edmund with shock, what had the Witch done to him? Edmund met her gaze for a moment and then looked down at the table again.
"Which is why we have to stay," he said quietly, and all the children looked at him. "I've seen what the White Witch can do, and I've helped her do it." He looked around at the others with determination. "And we can't leave these people behind to suffer for it." Peter looked at Edmund, amazement and pride in his expression, and Joy had to admit she felt the same way. What a change from the Edmund who had argued with her in the Witch's dungeon. Then again, she had changed too. Lucy gently took Edmund's hand which he had placed on the tabletop and gave him a smile. Rebecca and Susan looked at each other and nodded.
"Well I suppose that's it then," said Susan. She stood up and walked over to the nearest tent. The others watched her, curious as to what she meant.
"Where are you going?" asked Peter. Susan picked up a quiver of arrows and a bow and swung an ivory horn over her shoulder with a long, woven strap.
"To get in some practice," she said coyly, and started walking away. Lucy got up and followed her.
"See you later Ed," she said, and ran off after her sister. Peter stood up quickly and told Edmund he would take him to Oreius for a sword and shield. He then helped Rebecca to her feet and shook his head at her bandaged ankle. Edmund stuffed one more piece of toast in his mouth and stood quickly.
"I'll be along once I ask Jamila to change the bandages and then take Joy to Ember," said Rebecca, hobbling over to where Joy was still seated. "Come on Joy."
"Wait," said Joy, remembering what Aslan asked of her. "I want to talk to Edmund for a second." Edmund's face fell and Joy saw that he suddenly looked nervous. Peter looked from her to Edmund and nodded.
"I'll be waiting by the healer's tent Ed," he said. He grabbed Rebecca's uninjured arm and the two walked slowly away, leaving Joy and Edmund by the table. Joy slowly stood up, trying to summon the strength and wisdom Aslan gave her yesterday, and looked at Edmund.
"Edmund," she started to say but he interrupted her.
"I'm sorry about everything that happened," said Edmund with a low voice. Joy stared at him with surprise and felt slightly annoyed that he had apologized first. Then, with a sudden chill she remembered the last thing she said to him and winced as the memory came back to her.
"Look," she said, but Edmund interrupted her again.
"Joy, before you start scolding me," he said, "please accept my apology. I'm sorry for forcing you to come to the Witch's castle, and all the trouble I caused afterwards" He looked at her with such a sincere expression that Joy was a little taken back with surprised. He really had changed. But he must have taken her silence as anger for he let out a sigh of defeat. "I understand if you won't forgive me," he said.
"No," said Joy in a firm tone. "I forgive you Edmund," she said, for now she was able to speak, and he cracked a small smile "and I'm sorry too," said Joy "for scolding you like a kitchen girl and for what I called you in the dungeon." Edmund sighed defeatedly.
"Well, you were right about my being a traitor," said Edmund "but Aslan said all is forgiven."
"And if Aslan can forgive you, I can certainly forgive you too," said Joy, and she held out her hand, hoping he would take it. He quickly grabbed it, and they shook hands. "Friends, Ed?" asked Joy.
Edmund's smile slowly grew until she worried the scab on his lip would split wide open. "Friends," he said.
"Now come on," said Joy, and she let go of his hand "let's go find Peter and Rebecca." She started running off in the direction Peter and Rebecca walked off. "Race you!" she said, and Edmund quickly picked up his heels and caught up to her.
The two raced through camp, dodging centaurs and fauns with their arms loaded with weaponry was unfortunately hard for Joy, and Edmund won the race by spotting Rebecca and Peter first, who were standing outside another crimson and gold striped tent. Joy reached the group last.
"What have you two been up to?" asked Rebecca, sounding a little like Mum. Joy remembered it was because she cared about her and decided not to snap at her.
"We had a race," she said, "and Edmund won." Edmund smiled proudly, and Joy sighed.
"Come on Ed," said Peter, letting go of Rebecca's arm. "Let's go find Oreius." He gave Rebecca a smile and then walked away with Edmund, who looked back and gave Joy a wave. Joy waved and was startled when Rebecca gently fingered the scratches on her face.
"Come on," she said, "Jamila will give you something to keep that from getting anymore infected," and she led Joy inside the tent.
Clay jars sat on shelves which lined the two of the tent's walls. On another shelf were stacks of folded cloth, the kind used to tear and make bandages. A single chair sat in the middle of the room, looking very out of place. But even more out of place was the kangaroo who was hopping towards them. "Hello Rebecca, time to change the dressings?" asked the kangaroo. Beside her, Rebecca nodded and pushed Joy forward.
"Yes Jamila," said Rebecca "but I was also wondering if you could see to the scratches on my sister's face? I'm worried they might have become infected." Jamila hopped forward and took Joy's face in her paws. After a moment's study, the kangaroo nodded.
"Good thing you brought her in today," and she hopped away towards one of the shelves covered in clay jars. "Another day and she could have faced a serious infection." Rebecca gestured for her to sit in the chair and Joy anxiously wove her fingers together in her lap. Jamila hopped over to her and dipped a clean rag into a bucket of water.
"Now hold still, this may hurt," she said. Joy winced as the rough cloth rubbed against her scratches but refused to cry. Once the wounds were considered clean, Jamila lifted the lid off the jar she took down from the shelf and smeared some clear-coloured, sticky cream across her cheek. "There, this will prevent any further infection." She washed her paws in a separate bucket of water. "And, it should heal with no trace of a scar," she added. A stinging pain broke out in her cheek and Joy merely nodded, unable to speak from the pain.
"Thank you, Jamila," said Rebecca, limping forward. Joy stood up, still speechless, and Rebecca took her seat in the chair. "Now, should we change the bandages from yesterday?" Jamila nodded and hopped back to the shelf. Rebecca turned around and her eyes connected with Joy's. "Would you mind waiting outside?" Joy frowned, she wanted to see Rebecca's injuries but something in Rebecca's expression made Joy do as she asked.
She stepped outside the flap and stood waiting, doing her best to fight the itch which had taken over for the stinging in her cheek. About ten minutes later, Rebecca emerged from the tent, walking rather stiffly but she did not need help as she walked past Joy. "Come on Joy, let's go find Ember," she said in a tight voice, and Joy ran after her.
"Don't you need help Rebecca?" asked Joy. Rebecca shook her head.
"No, Jamila wrapped my ankle very tight so I should be able to walk on it," she said, and Joy felt a rush of concern for her sister. "This way I can fight in the battle."
"But, shouldn't you take care of your ankle above fighting in the battle?" asked Joy.
"No, Narnia comes first," said Rebecca determinedly "and I won't miss out on fighting for Narnia's freedom because of one of the Witch's wolves." Joy reluctantly nodded and continued walking beside her, but every so often she saw Rebecca bite her lip in pain.
The sisters reached the great forge where Ember was polishing a centaur's helmet. "Ember!" called out Rebecca in greeting. Ember quickly put down the cloth and helmet and stood up on all four legs.
"Hello Rebecca, Joy," said Ember, her long flaxen hair and tail blowing in the breeze. "What can I do for you?"
"Ember, would you be able to find a bow and quiver for Joy?" asked Rebecca. "That is her weapon of choice." Joy grabbed Rebecca's left arm, turning her attention away from the centaur.
"What do you mean 'weapon of choice?'" asked Joy. "What if I want a sword like yours?" Rebecca shook her head and Ember smiled at the sister's dispute.
"No, you are going to be an archer," said Rebecca, leaving no room in her tone for arguing. "Mum would already disapprove of my sword but she would be shocked if I let you go into the battle wielding one as well! No," she shook her head "being an archer is much safer." Joy sighed.
"You treat me like I am a small child," she grumbled.
"Joy," the weight in Rebecca's tone made Joy look up from the ground "I already lost you once. I'm not about to lose you again." The seriousness in her expression made Joy remember that going into battle was a very scary thing, and she thought of their dad of fighting in Germany. After giving that some thought, Joy slowly nodded.
"As long as I can help Narnia," said Joy, and Rebecca smiled. "And I'm sure I can have fun with the bow and arrows too."
"Don't worry," said Rebecca, laughing "if you don't have fun at first, I'm sure you'll find a way." With that, Ember led the girls to an old dwarf named Rikbaar. Ember explained Rebecca's request to him, and then he stood up and slowly walked to the vast stores of bows and quivers behind him. He asked that Joy follow him, and so she did. Rikbaar would pull out a bow, hold it up against Joy and decide whether it was too big or too small. He did the same thing with quivers, until finally Joy got a bow with a dark blue and burgundy spiral pattern along the handle and a burgundy quiver filled with white-feathered arrows.
"You can run along now to your training, Rebecca," said Ember "I will teach your sister up at the archery range."
"Thank you, Ember," said Rebecca, and she quickly headed off to find Oreius and the boys.
"Come along now Joy," said Ember, and she started walking towards the path leading up the large hill which was behind Rikbaar's tent. Joy hung back, feeling slightly lost and confused, and watched the other Narnians mill about her. A troop of Red Dwarves ran past her and up the path where Ember was walking, and one or two of them smiled at Joy. She stared down at the weapons in her hands, and then back up at the hill. With a little sigh, she followed the centaur.
Rebecca caught up to Peter, Edmund and Oreius faster than she had planned. She took a few seconds to catch her breath, tighten the knot of the bandage around her ankle, and straightened. "I'm here!" she said. All three stared at her as if she had grown two heads. Peter quickly turned to Oreius.
"Oreius, would you work with Edmund for a few minutes?" he asked. "I'll be right with you," and he quickly walked over and grabbed Rebecca's uninjured arm. "What are you doing?" he hoarsely whispered.
"I'm here to train," said Rebecca stubbornly. "I want to fight for Narnia just as much as you do." Peter sighed with frustration.
"Rebecca, it's not a good idea for you to fight," said Peter "especially now that you're injured!" Rebecca quickly drew her sword, tripped Peter, knocked him flat on his back and aimed the sword at his chest.
"And, you're dead!" she said with a smirk. Peter huffed and climbed to his feet.
"Alright," he said, "I'll let you train since you so desperately want to try and get yourself killed." He gave her a glare and walked over to Oreius and Edmund. "She's joining us today," he said. Oreius looked at Rebecca with the usual annoyance while Edmund gave Rebecca a smile. Oreius showed them the basic sword fighting techniques, which was a review for Peter and Rebecca who had been given a lesson yesterday. Oreius paired Peter with Rebecca so he could work with Edmund, and Rebecca could tell Oreius did not want to teach her. She figured it was because there was no prophecy connected to her but thought it best to say nothing.
She and Peter sparred back and forth, and she could tell he was taking it easy on her. As she disarmed him for a second time, she asked "Why are you fighting me like a girl?" Peter said nothing. He then resumed the starting position across from her.
"Let's go again," he said.
"Peter," she lowered her sword arm and resisted the temptation to rub the healing wound under the sleeve "aren't you tired of being beaten by a girl?" she asked, trying a different tactic.
"Oh!" Peter raised his eyebrows with surprise. "Have you forgotten Miss Anderson that I have beaten you four times and you have only beaten me twice?"
"Three times," Rebecca raised her sword again "you forgot to count the one before we started practicing." She lifted her chin. "Stop taking it easy on me because I'm a girl! And that I'm injured." Peter sighed defeatedly and nodded like he was considering the idea. He then lunged forward. Rebecca quickly side-stepped and struck down. The flat caught Peter in the arm and he spun around again.
"Fine! I'll show you," he said. He took a swipe at her and she ducked, missing the blade by inches. "This is how they would treat you if you were on the battlefield," said Peter, and Rebecca relished the challenge. Their blades clashed together. Every strike he made she met with resistance. The blades flashed in the sunlight.
"Maybe you should have done this in the first place," taunted Rebecca. She took a jab at him with her sword but he stepped to the left, away from her blade. "Then I could really prepare for battle!" They both lunged and their blades twisted and locked over their heads.
"Rebecca, I don't want you to fight in the battle." The gravity in his tone made Rebecca snap out of her concentration.
"Why!" she exclaimed. Rebecca lowered her blade and stepped back. "Peter, I want to fight."
"Well, I don't want you to get hurt," he said. "It's bad enough that Edmund is going to fight and Susan and Joy will be in the archers, but I don't want you to ride into the charge." He shook his head. "Even though Aslan won't give me a straight answer about that," he mumbled. Frustrated, Rebecca lunged again. Peter spun around and struck her on the back with the flat of his blade. She wheeled around to face him, ignoring the ache coming from her ankle.
"Peter, I am going to fight," she said through gritted teeth. "I have wanted to fight for Narnia ever since I heard of the White Witch!" Peter struck his blade down towards her and she caught it with her own. "And even though you will be King, I am not about to listen to you on this point." The blades clashed repeatedly, and Peter and Rebecca kept on circling, getting a feel for the other's defense.
"Give up Rebecca!" Both were getting tired; this was the longest fight they had fought yet.
"Not likely," grunted Rebecca and she parried again with her blade. Peter then twirled his blade around hers so it went flying! Rebecca raised her arms in defense but Peter wasn't done. He grabbed her arm, twisted it behind her back and held her tightly against his chest. He raised the blade and rested the edge lightly against her throat.
"You're dead," he said with a soft voice, but Rebecca barely heard it over the roar of her pulse in her ears. She quickly stepped away and picked up her blade, and saw Peter looking at her with a seemingly disappointed expression, and she got the feeling she had done something wrong. "Good match," said Peter finally, and Rebecca smiled weakly. What if she had stayed with him one second longer? What would have happened?
"Are you two finished practicing?" asked Oreius, and Peter spun away from Rebecca and faced him. Rebecca was certain her face was on fire and dropped her head.
"Yes Sir," said Peter. "What's next?" Edmund came up beside him and slid his sword back into its sheath. Rebecca noticed the hilt was shaped like a lamppost and wondered what it meant.
"Come then," said Oreius "I will get you horses and we will work on riding and sword fighting." He led the three down the hill and towards the stables, where Philip, the horse Rebecca learned that had brought Joy back from the Witch's castle, a unicorn and another Talking horse named Flamewing who had two red patches on either side of her body that looked like wings and a red mane and tail to contrast her cream-coloured body, awaited them. Oreius gave Edmund Philip, Peter the unicorn and Rebecca got Flamewing. He showed the three how to fight and stay on the horse's back at the same time. "The trick is," he said, "to grip the horse's body between your knees as you fight, as tight as you can." He worked with each of the children, but Rebecca noticed he seemed to be focusing more on Peter and Edmund again. She figured it was probably because they would be Kings of Narnia, and he probably also thought she wouldn't be fighting in the battle. She couldn't wait to prove him wrong.
A little while later, Oreius asked her "Rebecca, why don't you ride over to the archery range and check on your sister?" Rebecca looked behind her and up the grassy slope.
"But, what about the lesson?" she asked.
"I sure the High King will fill you in on what you missed," said Oreius, and Rebecca's cheeks flamed at the words, but after all the arguing with Peter about fighting in battle, she did as she was asked. Besides, Oreius was a great warrior and she wasn't about to challenge him so she could stay. She rode away from the practice grounds and over to the archery range. As she rode, her thoughts quickly returned to Peter and the look on his face when she had stepped away from him. She quickly forced the thoughts from her mind and rode forward. She was here to fight for Narnia, at least that was her personal cause, and she did not want to overthink one little misstep and blow it out of proportion. Still the thought lingered, what if? And that thought warmed her all the way down to her toes.
Meanwhile, Ember had taken Joy to a field where a row of targets had been set up. Susan and Lucy were already there, and Susan was about to fire when Ember cantered over and corrected the girl's posture. "Posture is everything in archery," she said, and then went about teaching Joy a few targets away. She showed Joy how to plant her feet firmly, take aim with both eyes open and how tight to pull the bowstring when you are about to fire. Joy soaked up the knowledge quickly and soon went from missing the target by a mile to hitting the blue ring on the inside on the target. Ember left soon after Joy hit her first bullseye, telling her she was the fastest learner she had taught yet. She then said something about getting drink but left in the opposite direction and headed towards the practice grounds. Joy briefly wondered what she was going after and then focused on the target again.
After emptying her quiver and collecting all the arrows, she walked over to Susan and Lucy to practice closer to them. Not only that but she had missed Lucy terribly and wanted to catch up with what had happened. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Susan drew back the bowstring, took careful aim, and fired. It hit the line between the white and blue rings, not exactly a bullseye which was the red circle on the target. Lucy gasped excitedly which Susan studied the target. Lucy then drew her dagger and threw.
A bullseye. Lucy and Susan started laughing, and Joy joined in. Once the laughter had subsided, Lucy asked "Joy, how exactly did you escape from the Witch's castle?" Joy quickly retold the tale, not wanting to think about Mr. Fox again.
"Aslan sent Mr. Fox, a faun named Gregoire and a horse named Philip to the castle to rescue me." Joy took an arrow from her quiver, determined to keep her hands busy. She raised the bow and took aim but didn't fire the arrow. "Then Mr. Fox and Gregoire gave themselves up and were captured by wolves as we made our escape." Lucy and Susan gasped with horror, and Joy shuddered at the memory. "It was awful. Then Philip and I swam across the river, well I was pulled across by a naiad and we made our way here."
"Joy, I've been meaning to ask, why did you," Susan started to ask but quickly stopped herself, like she had said something she wasn't supposed to. Joy looked at her, feeling rather curious, but Susan didn't yield and they resumed their practice. An approaching horse caught their attention and all three girls looked to their left. It was Rebecca, riding a beautiful horse that Joy had never seen before.
"Do you mind if I watch?" asked Rebecca as she dismounted. "I've been told to leave the training area."
"Why?" asked Susan.
"I believe its because Oreius doesn't think I should fight in the battle," said Rebecca. "Apparently so does Peter," she added quietly. She stepped into the cool shade underneath the small, open-air pavilion which was set up just off to Susan's left.
"Well," added a new voice "you are distracting the High King, and Oreius wants him to focus on fighting for his country."
"My thoughts exactly," said Rebecca while Joy, Lucy and Susan stared wide-eyed at the horse. The girls quickly gathered underneath the pavilion and Lucy stroked the horse's nose.
"You're a Talking Horse too?" asked Joy.
"Yes! My name is Flamewing," the mare walked over to the pavilion and nuzzled Rebecca's shoulder "and you are now my human." Rebecca smiled and patted the horse's neck.
"Have you seen Philip?" asked Joy as she sat down on some cushions.
"Yes, he's constantly talking about the loyal Lady Joy whom he helped rescue and how she remains true to her friends," the horse went solemn "like Mr. Fox." Joy sighed sadly.
"I can't help but feel like its my fault," said Joy, and Rebecca gently grabbed her hand.
"But" said the horse with a smile "if I know Fox, he will find a way to escape the Witch and come here no matter what." Lucy smiled at her, and Joy all of a sudden remembered Mr. Tumnus! She could never tell Lucy he was now a stone statue; it would break her heart.
"Thank you Flamewing," said Joy with a grateful smile. The thundering of approaching horses made all the girls leap up and rush out of the pavilion. Peter and Edmund came tearing over the hill, swords drawn while riding charging horses. One of the steeds, to Joy's delight, was Philip and the other was a creamy unicorn!
"Come on Ed," said Peter "sword point up, like Oreius showed up!"
"On guard!" said Edmund, raising his sword.
"Now, drop!" shouted Peter. The two finished their fight and turned the horses around to face the girls.
"Peter! Edmund!" shouted Mr. Beaver as he dashed across the lawn towards them, and Philip reared! Joy gasped.
"Woah, horsey!" cried Edmund. Philip dropped all fours back onto the grass.
"My name is Philip," he said in a matter-of-fact tone. Lucy and Joy broke out laughing and Edmund made a face at Joy before turning his attention back to Philip.
"Sorry," he said to the horse.
"The Witch," said Mr. Beaver "has demanded a meeting with Aslan." The colour drained from Joy's face and she quickly looked around at the others. All the laughter and happiness had faded from their expressions, replaced by anger and fear. "She's on her way here!" added Mr. Beaver, and all the children scrambled. Peter, Edmund and Rebecca took the horses and unicorn back to the stables. Susan showed Joy how to strap the quiver around her chest and over her shoulder, so she would always be able to carry the weapons with her. The three with the horses all came rushing back to the archery range and then they started down the hill towards the centre of the camp.
Even as she was rushing down the path, Joy could see a figure dressed in white making her way through the Narnians and felt her blood run cold. The White Witch was here. Even the weather seemed to know it for the air had suddenly grown chilly and dark clouds blocked out the warm sunshine. The group reached a spot near Aslan's tent at the edge of the crowd and stood with their hearts beating wildly as they came face to face with the White Witch.