Author's Note: Well, here's Chapter Seven! I'd liked to thank my reviewers, because without them, I wouldn't have the heart to keep updating. I particularly liked writing this chapter. (You'll see why.)To Smiles4Ever: I've decided to take your suggestion, but just tweak it a bit. Why not make him happy? Or angry? Or jealous? Or depressed? You don't know what's coming.
Chapter Seven: A Discovery
Aceline felt like her legs would give out from under her because of the work she was making them do. She had ran across the plain and now she was running towards the river. Suddenly, she grounded to a halt.
In front of her was the melting river. The waterfall was frozen solid while in other parts, it had melted completely. The only part that remained intact was the waterfall and the twenty feet of ice surrounding it.
"We have to cross. Now," Peter said.
"Don't beavers make dams?" Lucy asked.
"I'm not that fast, dear," Mr. Beaver answered.
"Come on!" Peter ordered as he grabbed his youngest sister.
"Would you just think about this for a minute?" Susan asked.
"We don't have a minute," her brother told her angrily.
"I was just trying to be realistic," she answered.
"No, you're trying to be smart. As usual." Aceline grabbed the now hurt Susan and pushed her forward. They climbed down the edge of the cliff. Once down on the river, she realized just how dangerous this was going to be. Some parts of the frozen ice were breaking away. She saw Peter cautiously step on the ice and jump back when the ice sunk down slightly with the added weight.
"Maybe I should go first?" Mr. Beaver suggested.
"Maybe you should," Peter agreed. The beaver walked carefully, slapping some parts of it with his tail.
"You've been sneaking second helpings, haven't you?" his wife asked.
"Well, you never know which meal's going to be your last," he argued. Aceline stepped forward, Peter and Lucy behind her.
"If Mum knew what we were doing," Susan started. Would she just shut up?
"Mum's not here," Peter said. Aceline looked back to see Peter looking at Susan and Lucy looking up. She followed the blonde girl's gaze and saw the last thing she wanted to see: the wolves.
"Oh no!" the younger girl shouted. Aceline turned back around and saw a wolf leap in front of her. She let out a shriek of horror. The wolf gave her a malicious grin.
"Shame I have to kill you. You're actually rather pretty," it said. The girl wrinkled her nose in disgust at the creature's comment. Mr. Beaver appeared in front of her, growling menacingly. The wolf leaped on him, its jaw to his neck.
"Mr. Beaver," she shouted. She saw a flash of silver beside her. She looked around and saw that Peter had drawn his sword. The largest wolf chuckled.
"Put that down, boy. Someone could get hurt," he said.
"Don't listen to him, Peter! Run him through!" Mr. Beaver shouted.
"Oh, come on. This isn't your war. All my Queen wants is for you to take your family and go," the wolf said. Aceline looked at Peter and observed that he looked unsure of what to do.
"Peter, just because a man in a red coat hands you a sword, it doesn't make you a hero!" Susan said. "Just drop it!" The wolf chuckled again.
"Smart girl," he said.
"Don't listen to him, Peter! Narnia needs you! Get him while you still have the chance!" The boy still looked indecisive. Instead, he looked over at her.
"Ah, I should have guessed as much," the wolf's harsh voice said. "You're doing this for the pretty Daughter of Eve." Aceline growled.
"He's doing this for his family!" she shouted at him. She turned back to Peter. "Do what you think is right."
"The only thing he's going to do," Maugrim (as she now remembered) began, "is scr-"
"Peter!" Lucy screamed. They all looked at the waterfall, which was breaking rapidly.
"Hang on to me," he yelled. With one swift motion, he had driven his sword into the ice. Aceline made a mad grab for him, but grabbed Lucy instead. Suddenly, a large wave washed over her and she lost her grip. She sunk below the surface, everything appearing blue. She looked up and saw the beavers guiding a piece of ice towards the shore. She swam up, the icy water making her feel as if she was being pierced by knives. She gasped as her head broke through. The first thing that she was Lucy walking towards her siblings. No one seemed to notice that she wasn't there.
"Your brother's got you well looked after," she heard Mr. Beaver say.
"Where's Aceline?" Lucy asked. The black-haired girl pulled herself onto the ground.
"Over here," she called, getting up. She walked towards them on trembling legs.
"You alright, dear?" Mrs. Beaver asked. She nodded, though she wasn't completely sure. The sisters and the beavers went ahead of them. Peter touched her on the shoulder.
"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine. That was a good idea of driving your sword into the ice," she told him. "The wolves probably were drowned because of your quick thinking." Peter snorted.
"It was more like sheer dumb luck," he said. Aceline laughed. Out of nowhere, Maugrim's words rang in her head. You're doing this for the pretty Daughter of Eve. She glanced at the boy out of the corner of her eye. He couldn't like her, could he? She turned red at the idea. She had never fancied or been fancied by anyone before. No, she told herself, Maugrim was just saying that to spite me. I have to focus more on defeating the Witch.
But what if he wasn't?
--------
"We should be at Aslan's camp by tomorrow. Right now, you need some rest," Mrs. Beaver said. Aceline nodded, getting up and lying as far away from Peter as possible. The boy didn't seem to notice.
"Goodnight, everyone," he said cheerfully. The black-haired girl grinned. If he did fancy me, he would have moved closer to me. She was rather pleased of finding out that he didn't like her. (She was a novice when it came to romance.) But then her sister's words rang in her head. I think that's just his way of dealing with it. She let out a groan.
Maugrim's words had turned everything upside down.
