Disclaimer: I am not C.S. Lewis and nothing in the Narnian world belongs to me.
Somehow, Edmund was waking up. Something burned inside of him. His outsides felt like they were melting. He felt like he was on fire! Shouldn't he be dead? He had been hit by the witch's wand. But somehow, he was alive, and in so much pain. He coughed and spluttered. His eyes blinked open, and he squinted out at the world. The first thing he saw was Airies, the girl from the professor's house, the girl who was actually from Narnia. She had her hands on his cheeks and she was laughing. "I did it!" she was shouting. But what did she do? Did she save him? She must have.
"Airies?" He fell forward, and she caught him, still laughing, pleased with herself. She clutched onto his arms in a vice-like grip, but he could hardly feel it. He still felt like he was burning. But what did that matter? He was alive. Airies had found him.
"My family?" he coughed out.
"They're fine. They're safe, and on their way to Aslan!" She pulled him into a hug. "What happened? Did she hit you?" she asked, lightly touching his cheek. He winced. She had hit him, slapped him in his face. He had nearly forgotten. Right before he jumped in front of the fox. Right before she killed him.
"She was chasing after my family. She lied. I don't know why I believed her. She told me I could rule by her side, and I wanted that so badly. But then I found out the truth, and I didn't want that. And she found the fox who hid them, and she tried to turn him to stone. But I got in the way. How… how did you… how am I?" He could not even get his words out, but Airies shook her head, understanding. "It doesn't matter. You're safe, Ed, and out of the witches clutches. Can you walk? We're going to meet your family."
She slipped her hand into his. It felt warm and soft in his own. Then she led the way. They had to go around the waterfall, which took longer but that was alright. Edmund needed to take it slow. He asked her how she had found him, and about his family.
"I left as soon as we figured out where you were. I staked the place out until morning, and then I followed you. I couldn't keep up with the sleigh, it was too quick, and I was too late. By the time I got there you were already…" Her hands started shaking and Edmund squeezed the one he was holding. "It doesn't matter now, I guess. Your family is on their way to Beruna. Aslan is waiting there for all of you. They got a good head start on the witch. They'll make it." She said this last bit more to herself than to Edmund. She was worried. Without her there, and with only the beavers to protect them, were they going to be alright?
They made their way through the forest, and all around them the trees were starting to bloom and the grass was sprouting up from the ground. Narnia was coming back to life. Airies could not help but be overjoyed. It was summer when she had left, and soon she would see a Narnian summer again. She even thought that they might see some more talking animals along the way, what with warmer weather coming.
They stopped for a rest by a little stream. Edmund was still weak, understandably. Airies knew they would need to take it slow. She leaned down by the water and dipped her hand into the cool wetness. That's when she heard it: a whisper among the trees. What was that Lucy had said the other day? Some of the trees were on the white witch's side. She took a deep breath and stood up slowly. She looked all around her and then pulled Edmund to his feet. "We need to go," she mouthed the words. His eyes widened but he nodded. Airies put an arm under his shoulders and all but dragged him. If the trees were able to let Jadis know that Edmund was still alive… They had to hurry, but Edmund was pale in the face. He needed rest, but they could not afford to rest here. Airies pulled him along, just hoping to get out from under the tree cover quickly and find a shelter for the night.
Then she heard a new sound: footsteps on her right. She did not have a weapon, that was her first thought. Her second thought was that it did not really sound like footsteps but hoof beats. The witch's sleigh? She made her decision. If it was the witch, she would not be going down without a fight. She put Edmund underneath a tree and told him to wait there, and then she moved out in front of him. Flames erupted from her palms and she waited, ready to attack. The steps were right in front of her, behind some bushes.
What jumped out from the bushes was not the witch, however, but a centaur. Airies breathed a sigh of relief and let the fire dim away. The centaur had his hands up in surrender in front of him. "I am a friend," he said, his voice deep but gentle. Airies took a step forward, slowly and still a little unsurely. "What is your name?" she asked him. "My name is Rayon. I come on behalf of your brother." The centaur said this last bit to Edmund, who had gotten up and moved to stand behind Airies.
Edmund blinked at him. "Peter sent you?"
"He is most worried, my liege," Rayon told him, and Airies turned around just in time to see the ghost of a smile play across Edmund's lips.
"I have come to lead you both to Beruna. I am your guide."
Airies graciously accepted, knowing that she did need the help to get them both there safely. She informed him of Edmund's status, and Rayon let the boy ride on his back. He would need his strength in the coming days, the centaur had agreed. As they walked, Rayon filled her in on what had been going on in Narnia since she had been gone. All that he told her fueled her hate fire for Jadis even more. But the good news was that Aslan was ready to take her head on. With the arrival of the two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve, Narnia had a new found hope. And so did Airies.
When night fell, and they were safely out of the trees, Rayon suggested they stop to make camp for the night. Edmund needed it. While he rested by the fire Rayon handed Airies a bow and arrow. "You know how to use one?" he asked. Airies smirked and nodded as she took it from him. They walked off a bit to find some food for themselves.
"How is the boy?" Rayon asked quietly.
"Quiet. He'll be okay though. Edmund is strong, stronger than I would have been, I'm sure."
"But he went with her, m'lady. You would not have," he argued, and Airies glared at him.
"I know her. I know what she is. I have always known what she is. Edmund is new to Narnia. He did not know. It is not his fault. You know her too, Rayon. I'm sure you know the kind of things she is capable of, and she is not above manipulating a young, troubled boy. Do not be a fool. It's not in your nature."
She raised the bow and arrow and pointed it at his head. The centaur's eyes widened, but then she pointed it just above his head and shot it into the air. A loud thud behind him alerted him that she had gotten their dinner. Airies went and picked up the bird, then turned to walk away. She paused, and nodded over her shoulder for Rayon to follow, and then she gave him a smile, letting him know that she was not angry with him. The centaur followed with a flick of his tail.
"We brought back dinner," Airies announced, but stopped dead in her tracks when she got back to their camp fire. Edmund was fast asleep. Airies smiled and dropped the pheasant on the ground before she made her way over to him. Softly she crouched down next to him and brushed the hair back off his eyes. He looked so peaceful as he slept, and if anyone deserved a little peace it was him.
She turned around and smiled at Rayon. "We shall save him some," he suggested, and Airies whole heartedly agree. She did not know about the centaur, but she was starving. When was the last time she had even eaten? They roasted the pheasant and ate together in pleasant silence until Airies decided to break it.
"I'm glad you found us, Rayon," she whispered, and he looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to say more. "I feel so much closer to Narnia when I have at least one other Narnian with me. It was a breath of fresh air when the beavers found us. When I had to leave them to go after Ed, I felt so… lost. It's been a long time that I've been away. This place almost doesn't feel real to me. But then you found us, and it was a breath of fresh air again. It feels more real, with you here," she said earnestly, and Rayon grinned at her. "Thank you, m'lady, happy to be of service."
Soon after that they fell asleep, and as soon as the dawn rose they were up and off to Beruna.
"How much further?" Edmund questioned. He was walking by the centaur's side today, feeling better than he had yesterday after his night of full sleep.
Rayon laughed. "Not much, your highness. We are straight on the path. If we stay true to our course, we shall be there before high noon."
Just then, something came whizzing out of the air heading straight towards Edmund. Before either of them knew what was happening, Rayon jumped in front of Edmund and then collapsed to the ground. An arrow stuck out of his chest. Edmund stood frozen to the spot, staring at the centaur. Airies leapt into action. In a flash, she had her own arrow set into her bow, pulled back the string, and with a loud twang the arrow connected right into their attacker's heart: it was a dwarf, one of the witch's.
Airies spun around, looking to see if anyone else was coming. But it did not seem like there were any more of the witch's minions around. They were alone. Edmund still stood frozen in place. He could not move. Rayon was on the ground, panting quickly and clutching at the arrow. Airies dropped to her knees and grabbed his hands. "Rayon, just breathe. Breathe. Breathe, Rayon. Look at me. Look only at me and breathe." Tears leaked out of her eyes and landed on his face, but he blinked them away and they mixed with his own. He took a few deep breaths, staring only at her. "That's it, Rayon, that's it." She breathed with him, and then Edmund dropped to the ground. His face was white, and he was biting his lip, but he covered Airies' and Rayon's hands in his own and breathed with them.
"My lady," the centaur whispered, and then he took his last breath.
Airies choked out a sob and leaned her head against his chest. Edmund reached up and closed Rayon's eyes gently with two of his fingers. He rested a hand on Airies' head but she swatted it off and lifted her head up. With fierce determination, she pulled the arrow out of his chest and chucked it away from them. Tears ran down her cheeks and she tried to catch her breath, but the sobs did not stop. How could this have happened? That arrow was heading for Edmund, not for Rayon. The witch knew. She knew that Edmund was alive. She tried to have him killed. But instead Rayon was killed. He sacrificed himself. He did not deserve this. He was good. Airies whimpered. Her blood rushed to her ears. She felt like she was in a tunnel, she could not hear much except her own blood pumping.
It was Edmund's voice that broke through the sound. "We need to go." His voice was strangely calm, and Airies responded to that. She looked at him with a blank face. "We'll send someone for him. Or we'll come back ourselves once this is over. But we need to go. Lucy said it was the trees. They know. She knows, and she will send more soldiers after us." He stepped over to her slowly, his hands up in a peace offering. Once he got to her he grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "We need to go," he repeated.
When she started moving with him, Edmund paused and looked back at Rayon. He walked over to him, bent down and grabbed his sword. Edmund raised it into the air, looked at it from all angles and nodded. It was a fine sword indeed. Edmund was sure it had seen many battles, but it did not even look a day old. It was still shiny and new. He sheathed it and hung it by his hip, then took Airies' hand again and led her forward. He patted his sword lightly, knowing that he would cherish this forever. This centaur had protected him, and now he would do his best to protect Narnia. He realized now that this place deserved better, and he would be better.