Author's Note: these last few chapters don't have many original scenes, just original dialogue with my OC, because I don't want to change the plot of the series until after the events of LWW have happened. As for the second half, I wasn't able to add much original dialogue as that is Aslan's sacrifice. Everything I could think of either took the focus away or changed the trajectory of how things went, neither of which I wanted to do. So it's very similar, but I did add a focus on the girls' emotions/reactions and more details to amplify the horribleness of it all.
So many things were happening. Aslan and Peter, along with various other animals, came rushing towards the direction of the wolf. Lucy was running towards Peter. Susan had just swung up into the lower branches of a nearby tree. And now the wolf was snapping at her dangling legs.
It was a huge creature, larger than any wolf had a right to be, with a horrible face despite its features being like those of a wolf from Earth. Just as all Talking Animals could express emotion that their ordinary counterparts could not, this great beast had hatred in its eyes.
All the other creatures stood back as Peter rushed forward, sword drawn. He slashed at the side of the wolf but it dashed out of reach. But instead of attacking it let out a howl of anger. He used that moment of hesitation to stab the wolf. Once Gabriella realized what was happening, she looked away.
Everything was still for a few moments. Then Susan came down from the tree. Everyone came in closer, some wanting to see the wolf, others to get closer to the camp once more. Susan went straight over to Peter and they held tightly to one another and cried. Lucy rushed up to Gabriella and hugged her.
"Quick! Quick!" shouted the voice of Aslan, breaking the children out of their shakiness. "Centaurs! Eagles! I see another wolf in the thickets. There— behind you. He has just darted away. After him, all of you. He will be going to his mistress. Now is your chance to find the Witch and rescue the second Son of Adam." And with a thunder of hooves and beating of wings a dozen or so of the swiftest creatures disappeared into the gathering darkness.
In front of the rest of them, Aslan bade Peter to clean his sword and knighted him as "Sir Peter Wolfsbane". Afterward, the children gathered around and hugged once more.
After getting ready for dinner they all sat down inside the pavilion. As there was a variety of creatures in attendance, there was a variety of food available. But between the wolf's attack and the knowledge that their brother was being rescued, none of the children had much of an appetite. So instead, they talked.
"You really were serious when you said you didn't wish to be queen." Susan whispered to Gabriella as they sat next each other. It wasn't a question. Gabriella's general attitude since coming to the camp had assured Susan of her intent.
"Of course I was. And still am. Don't you feel the same? I have to get back home and see my family, they'll be worried," she replied.
"Yes, yes I know." Susan seemed conflicted. "The people here need us, but— oh!" She cut herself off. "Until we get my brother back and the White Witch is defeated, I can't think of going anywhere." She paused. "Why did you stay with us? You could have returned home, if you wanted."
"I didn't have a choice, I don't know how to get back on my own. I'd have to go the way you all came. But I am friends with Lucy, and maybe you and Peter too, so I want to stick with you all and help." Gabriella didn't want to leave Narnia forever. She wanted to see her family, make sure they were alright and assure them she'd be fine, and then come back. She felt drawn to this world more so that her own.
Susan nodded. Mrs. Beaver came around to tell the children they needed to get ready for bed. Nobody protested. It had been a long day and the four were tired. One by one they walked outside and then into a nearby tent where there was a temporary washing station set up. Gabriella came out of the pavilion last, trailing behind the other three. As she was passing between tents she heard someone mention her. The others were already disappearing into the tent, but she decided to stop and listen to the voices coming from around the corner of the grand pavilion.
"If only it had been the third Daughter of Eve who was the traitor. Then, we wouldn't need to waste some of our best warriors on a risky rescue party. No, we wouldn't even need to worry about a battle at all. We would already have all four humans at Cair Paravel," came the deep voice of one of the talking dogs.
Gabriella knew the "third Daughter of Eve" was herself.
"That's unfair," replied the faun he was talking with. "You're wishing a girl who has done you no harm to have been imprisoned by the Witch."
She nodded to herself in the dark, happy someone was defending her. Then,
"What you should say is, 'if only there had been three Sons of Adam. Then even if one did bad, we would still have two to make the four.'"
She stormed off not wanting to hear anymore. She was unwanted by some of her classmates at school, and now it seemed that even in this beautiful, magical world she was also unwanted. Well! They'd see why they were wrong one day. And that night, next to the other children, she fell asleep angry.
The next morning as the four sat on their pillows and blankets slowly waking up, Mrs. Beaver came in with good news. Edmund had been rescued and brought into camp late last night, and was at that moment with Aslan. As soon as they had breakfasted the three siblings went out, and there they saw Aslan and Edmund walking together, apart from the rest of the court. When they drew nearer Aslan turned to meet them, bringing Edmund with him.
"Here is your brother," he said, "and— there is no need to talk to him about what is past."
Edmund shook hands with each of the others and said to each of them in turn, "I'm sorry," and everyone said, "That's all right." Everyone wanted very much to say something which would make it clear they were all friends with him again and of course no one could think of anything in the world to say. But before they had time to feel really awkward one of the leopards approached Aslan and said,
"Sire, there is a messenger from the enemy who craves audience."
"Let him approach," answered Aslan.
The leopard went away as Gabriella walked up to the siblings. She had eaten slower than the others to give them a chance to talk with their brother in private. A few moments later all the children saw a dwarf— the Witch's right hand dwarf— approach with the leopard.
"What is your message, Son of Earth?" asked Aslan.
"The Queen of Narnia and Empress of the Lone Islands desires a safe conduct to come and speak with you," said the dwarf, "on a matter which is as much to your advantage as to hers."
"Queen of Narnia, indeed!" said Mr. Beaver, who had joined the group around Aslan. "Of all the cheek-"
"Peace, Beaver," said Aslan. "All names will soon be restored to their proper owners. In the meantime we will not dispute about them. Tell your mistress, Son of Earth, that I grant her safe conduct on condition that she leaves her wand behind her at that great oak."
This was agreed to and two leopards went back with the dwarf to see that the conditions were properly carried out. "But supposing she turns the two leopards into stone?" whispered Lucy to Peter. The same idea had occurred to the leopards themselves; as they walked off their fur was all standing up on their backs and their tails were bristling.
"It'll be all right," whispered Peter in reply. "He wouldn't send them if it weren't."
"The Lone Islands?" Gabriella asked the Beavers, surprised they hadn't mention that province before.
A few minutes later the Witch herself walked onto the top of the hill and came straight across to stand before Aslan. The four children who had not seen her before felt shudders running down their backs at the sight of her inhumanly tall frame. But Gabriella was surprised. While the Witch's face was clearly evil, she was not ugly and covered in warts like witches were supposed to be, in fact, if her lips hadn't been so unnaturally red and her eyes not full of death, she would have been beautiful. All the animals present growled and grumbled at her appearance. Though the sun was shining brightly, everyone now felt cold. The only two people present who seemed to be at their ease were Aslan and the Witch herself. It was the oddest thing to see those two faces— the lively golden face and the dead-white face— so close together.
"You have a traitor there, Aslan," said the Witch, her voice sounding like ice itself. Of course everyone knew that she meant Edmund. But Edmund had got past thinking about himself after all he'd been through this last day and a half, and after the talk he'd had that morning. He just went on looking at Aslan.
"Well," said Aslan. "His offense was not against you.
"Have you forgotten the Deep Magic?" asked the Witch.
"Let us say I have forgotten it," answered Aslan gravely. "Tell us of this Deep Magic."
"Tell you?" said the Witch, her voice growing suddenly shriller. "Tell you what is written on that very Table of Stone which stands beside us? Tell you what is written in letters deep as a spear is long on the firestones on the Secret Hill? Tell you what is engraved on the scepter of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea? You at least know the Magic which the Emperor put into Narnia at the very beginning. You know that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill."
"Oh," said Mr. Beaver. "So that's how you came to imagine yourself a queen— because you were the Emperor's hangman. I see." Nobody was surprised at his sudden bravery for one tended to feel that way around Aslan.
"Peace, Beaver," said Aslan, with a very low growl.
The Witch continued on, insisting her claim was right. Someone— the Bull with the man's head— called out, daring her to take it.
"Fool," said the Witch with a savage smile that was almost a snarl, "do you really think your master can rob me of my rights by mere force? He knows the Deep Magic better than that. He knows that unless I have blood as the Law says, all Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water."
"It is very true," said Aslan, "I do not deny it."
"Oh, Aslan!" whispered Susan in the Lion's ear, "can't we— I mean, you won't, will you? Can't we do something about the Deep Magic? Isn't there something you can work against it?"
"Work against the Emperor's Magic?" said Aslan, turning to her with something like a frown on his face. And nobody ever made that suggestion to him again.
If she hadn't been standing so close to Aslan, Gabriella would have asked those next to her why the Deep Magic's Law worked in such a way.
"Fall back, all of you," said Aslan, "and I will talk to the Witch alone."
They all obeyed and cleared off to the far end of the hill. Lucy said, "Oh, Edmund!" and clung to him as she cried. Just a few feet from them stood Peter with his back to the others, looking out at the distant sea. Susan and Gabriella sat with each other and exchanged worries and reassurances. The Beavers stood nearby while holding each other's paws and bowing their heads. The centaurs stamped uneasily with their hoofs. Many paced. Eventually Lucy's crying stopped. The few whispers died off. Everyone became so perfectly still that they noticed even small sounds like a bumblebee flying past. Hours had gone by and still the talk between the Lion and the Witch went on.
At last they heard Aslan's voice ring out, "You can all come back. I have settled the matter. She has renounced the claim on your brother's blood."
And all over the hill there was a sigh of relief and then a murmur of talk.
The Witch was just leaving with a look of fierce joy on her face when she stopped, turned around, and said, "But how do I know this promise will be kept?"
Aslan released an immense roar; his great mouth opened wider and wider and the roar grew louder and louder until those present with a strong sense of hearing wanted to cover them; and the Witch picked up her skirts and fairly ran for her life.
As soon as the Witch had gone Aslan gravely said, "We must move from this place at once, it will be wanted for other purposes. We shall encamp tonight at the Fords of Beruna."
It will be wanted for other purposes? And what is that? thought Gabriella. None of the children knew what the Stone Table was for, but the White Witch had just translated what the markings on its sides meant. And when a place has the rules of execution written on it, that place must not be a very pleasant. Even though the chill the Witch had brought left with her, Gabriella shivered.
Aslan's face was stern after his talk with the Witch, so nobody felt as if they should ask him what they discussed. After a meal— for though the talk began shortly after breakfast, it had gone on so long it was already after lunchtime— the court was busy packing up their things and taking the pavilion down. With everyone working it was done quickly and at two o'clock they were headed down the northeast side of the hill.
The three girls walked together in the middle of the traveling party. Gabriella filled them in on everything that had happened in Narnia during her month at Beaversdam. Susan and Lucy asked plenty of questions, each wondering how everyday life in Narnia was. Peter and Aslan walked at the back of the group planning the battle which was to happen on the morrow. In the latter part of their journey, Aslan walked with the girls. He did not talk very much and seemed to them to be sad.
It was still afternoon when they came down to a place where the river valley had widened out and the river was broad and shallow. They had arrived at the Fords of Beruna; Aslan gave orders to halt on this side of the water and they proceeded to pitch their camp. He didn't say much to anyone for the rest of the day but continued to walk around with a somber look on his face.
Aslan's mood affected everyone that evening. Peter was feeling uncomfortable with some news Aslan had given him earlier— he would not be there to fight in the battle. Supper that evening was a quiet meal. Everyone felt how different it had been last night or even that morning. It was as if the good times, having just begun, were already drawing to their end. This feeling affected Susan so much that she couldn't fall asleep when she went to bed. She had lain counting sheep for half an hour and tried turning over and arranging the pillows so she could get comfortable. Nothing worked, but soon after she heard Lucy give a long sigh and turn over beside her.
"Can't you get to sleep either?" whispered Susan.
"No," Lucy whispered back. "I thought you were asleep."
Gabriella rolled over on the other side of Lucy. "You're up?"
"Yes," said Lucy. "I say!"
"What?" the other two asked.
"I've a most Horrible feeling— as if something were hanging over us."
"Have you? Because, as a matter of fact, so have I," said Susan.
"Same here," added Gabriella.
"Something about Aslan," said Lucy.
"Something bad is about to happen," Gabriella said.
"Yes, like he's either going to do some dreadful thing, or something dreadful will happen to him," agreed Susan. "There's been something wrong with him all afternoon."
I heard Peter tell Edmund that Aslan wasn't going to be at the battle," Gabriella said.
Susan gasped. "You don't think he could be stealing away and leaving us tonight, do you?" To the girls, it didn't make sense that Aslan would leave without telling them. But Susan's words sent a brief panic over them.
"Where is he now?" asked Lucy. "Is he here in the pavilion?"
And the girls agreed to search for him. Very quietly they groped their way among the other sleepers, searching. When they didn't see the large golden form of Aslan they grabbed their cloaks and crept out of the tent. The moonlight was bright and everything was quite still except for the peaceful noise of The Great River rushing over the stones. Susan suddenly caught Lucy and Gabriella by their arms and said, "Look!"
On the far side of the camping ground, just where the trees began, they saw the Lion slowly walking away from them into the wood. Without a word to each other, they followed him. He led them up the steep slope out of the river valley and then southwest— apparently by the very same route which they had used that afternoon in coming from the Hill of the Stone Table. Lucy tried to motion a question to the others. Why is he going this way? The older two shrugged, but their uneasiness only grew.
He looked somehow different from the Aslan they knew. His tail and head hung low and he walked slowly as if he were very, very tired. Then, when they were crossing a wide-open meadow where there were no shadows for them to hide in, he stopped and looked around. It was no good trying to run away so they came toward him.
When they were closer he said, "Oh, children, children, why are you following me?"
"We couldn't sleep," said Lucy. She felt sure that she needn't say more and that Aslan knew all they had been thinking.
"Please, may we come with you— wherever you're going?" asked Susan.
"Well-" said Aslan, and seemed to be thinking. Then he said, "I should be glad of company tonight. Yes, you may come, if you will promise to stop when I tell you, and after that leave me to go on alone."
The girls agreed and on they went, Lucy on his right, Gabriella behind her, and Susan on his left. But he walked so slowly that they hardly made any progress at all. This worried the girls greatly and they only became more worried when, after a few yards, he stumbled and gave a low moan.
"Aslan! Dear Aslan!" cried Lucy, "what is wrong? Can't you tell us?"
"Are you sick, dear Aslan?" asked Gabriella. It seemed impossible to the girls that the Great Lion could ever get sick or stumble.
"No," said Aslan. "I am sad and lonely. Lay your hands on my mane so that I can feel you are there and let us walk like that."
And so the girls did what they would never have dared to do without his permission, but what they had longed to do ever since they first saw him and buried their hands in the beautiful sea of fur. The four were off again. Twice more he stumbled, twice more the girls gasped in worry and shock. And soon, all too soon, they saw that they were going with him up the slope of the hill on which the Stone Table stood. They went up to the side where there were bushes along the top. And when they reached it Aslan turned and said,
"Oh, children, children. Here you must stop. And whatever happens, do not let yourselves be seen. Farewell."
It will be wanted for other purposes. The girls began to cry,each feeling that the something dreadful that they thought might happen was about to happen. They clung to the Lion and kissed all over his face. Then he turned from them and walked out onto the top of the hill. Lucy, not wanting to leave Aslan alone, pointed to some nearby bushes. All three decided to crouch down in them to see what would happen.
It was lighter near the Stone Table, as the great crowd gathered around it held torches. The moon was also shining down on them and so it was quite easy to see what type of creatures they were. Wolves and Wraiths, Ogres and Orknies, Trolls and Werewolves, Vampires and Ifrits, and many other frightening things that none of the girls knew what to call them.
And right in the middle, standing ominously near the Table, was the White Witch herself.
Maybe the main battle will happen here, and tomorrow we'll deal with the stragglers, Gabriella thought when she saw Aslan walk toward the crowd.
A howl of fear and anger went up from the evil creatures when they saw Aslan approach. Even the Witch looked startled for a moment, but then she sneered and said, "The fool has come! Bind him fast!"
The girls waited for Aslan to spring upon them and rid the land of such vermin. But he didn't move. He didn't even roar. Four ugly, human-looking creatures with beaks instead of mouths and twisted hands approached him first. They were still hesitant, yet they leered.
A quick shout from the Witch gave them some bravery. The creatures made a dart at him and shrieked with triumph when they found that he made no resistance at all. Then others— evil dwarfs and apes— rushed in to help them, and between them, they rolled the huge Lion over on his back and tied all his four paws together, so tightly that it cut into his flesh.
Lucy let out a gasp. Gabriella felt her heart plummet in shock. How this was happening, she couldn't guess. All three knew, as all who had met Aslan knew, that had the Lion wanted it, one of those paws could have been the death of them all. Shouts and cheers of triumph rang out from the Witch's creatures. As if they had done something great. They had only succeeded because Aslan chose to stay still.
Why isn't he doing anything?" Lucy cried.
When they began to drag him towards the Stone Table, the Witch cried out, "Stop! Let him first be shaved."
Another roar of cruel laughter went up from her followers as an ogre with a pair of shears came forward and squatted down by Aslan's head. The children couldn't see what was happening until he stood back. There, lying still, was the face of Aslan looking all small and different without its mane. Lucy started, as if she wanted to go to him, but continued crouching amongst the bushes instead.
The Witch's creatures also saw the difference, but instead of drawing out pity or mercy, it only enflamed their horridness. After they all got out a few insults and jeers the Witch commanded them to muzzle him. As they bound his mouth together, the Lion laid perfectly still. Lucy began to cry again. Gabriella was too full of disbelief to cry. It was obvious to all that Aslan, even now, could have fought back, but instead continued to lay there. This only angered his tormentors. By now even those most afraid had joined in on the cruelty, gathering around him in a great crowd. The girls could no longer see him, and this was for the best. The creatures were hitting, spitting, kicking, and calling him horrible things in languages unknown to those from our world.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the crowd dragged Aslan up onto the Stone Table. Then they tightened the cords some more. The ropes were so deep into Aslan's flesh that blood flowed freely onto the table.
"The cowards! The cowards!" Susan said with a sob. "Are they still afraid of him, even now?"
Lucy had stopped looking. Instead, she wept into her hands. Gabriella was too caught up in the horror to look away. She still had faith that any second now Aslan would strike, even bound up and beaten. Susan held Lucy close to her as she also looked at Aslan. A sudden hush fell upon the crowd.
Aslan was lying in the middle of the Stone Table, tied down so much that it was now hard to see his face and body. The torchlight was brought in closer and the older two girls could see the Witch sharpening her knife. It made such a sickening sound that Susan was sure it would haunt her forever.
At last, the Witch drew near. She stood by Aslan's head, a blight all in white amongst the black night. Her face was working and twitching with hate, but he looked up at the sky, still quiet, neither angry nor afraid, but a little sad. One of the Wraiths began to chant.
The Witch knelt close and spoke in a voice so low only Aslan could hear. After a few moments, she said, loudly enough for everyone, "Understand that you have given me Narnia forever, you have lost your own life, and you have not saved that boy. With this knowledge, despair and die."
Before she lifted the stone knife to strike, Susan and Gabriella looked away.