Let Go Brother
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The battle was not going well; it was never supposed to go well because they were all fighting on hope. Hope that somehow the fact that they were fighting for what was good and true in this world could allow them to succeed. Hope that despite their small numbers and lesser strength, their sheer will to defeat the White Witch would lead them to victory. But as Peter was beginning to realize that was not the realistic outcome, something told him that somehow Edmund had known all along that they would fall to the White Witch. The way Edmund would look at her with such fear, the way Edmund could never speak her name without struggling with his words. Edmund knew what Jadis could do, and only now in battle was Peter finally able to realize the horrors that she was capable of committing. Without flinching she was able to turn every Narnian soldier into a permanent stone statue, forever frozen in fear of her. Peter had been forced to watch his own general Oreius fall to her, because he was protecting Peter.
"Are you with me?"
"To the death."
Peter now realized Oreius' sacrifice would be for nothing, they were losing more and more ground and their numbers were dwindling at an enormous rate. Peter looked for Edmund on the battle field. Oreius had died protecting him, and now it was Peter's turn to die protecting what was important to him. Peter ran dodging and deflecting his enemies in search for his brother, who he hoped was alright. Peter's eyes finally managed out Edmund's form fighting in the distance. Edmund slashed an ogre's legs out from beneath it rendering it immobile. Peter could not help but be impressed by his younger brother who fought with such bravery despite being so young. Brave or not, Peter needed Edmund to leave the battle and find Susan and Lucy. Just as Peter was to inform Edmund of his next order he was attacked. Peter couldn't fall yet; first he needed to know Edmund would be safe with their sisters.
"Edmund!" Peter yelled. Edmund turned to see Peter in trouble and was about to go to his aid, but was cut off. "There's too many! Get out of here! Get the girls and get them home!"
"You heard him! Let's go!" Mr. Beaver yelled.
At that Mr. Beaver began tugging at Edmund's arm trying to lead him away as Edmund was about to go help his brother. Mr. Beaver began leading Edmund to higher ground to escape the battle, but he couldn't take his eyes away from Peter fighting alone below. Edmund wanted to keep fighting, even if Peter thought it was useless now. Edmund finally freed himself from Mr. Beaver and turned around desperately trying to locate his brother. Instead of finding Peter he found Jadis, walking directly toward his older brother.
"I listened Peter; you asked that if I ever did one thing for you it would be to stay with the archers until I had to fight. Well I listened to that one thing you asked of me, now I'm free to choose," Edmund thought as he pulled his sword from its sheath.
"Peter said 'get out of here'?" Mr. Beaver questioned.
"Peter's not king yet!" Edmund said as he ran forward into battle, toward the White Witch.
Edmund raced past every opponent, keeping his focus directly on Jadis. If she reached Peter, everything would be lost. Edmund no longer cared about his own life, but Peter's life was still very dear to him. Edmund could never live with himself knowing Peter died because of his actions. Edmund continued to run along the rocks until he finally caught up with Jadis and leaped off with his sword in the air, bringing it down swiftly, keeping his eyes in his target: Jadis' wand. Edmund knew he would never be able to take down the White Witch herself, but he had a shot if he could disarm her of her magic. It would give Peter a chance, and that's all that mattered.
The White Witch barely managed to pull it away from the blow of Edmund's sword when she turned around and thrust her wand forward to make Edmund a stone statue forever. Edmund dodged out of the way and brought his sword down upon it, causing it to shatter into shards of what looked like glass and a brilliant blue light emerged.
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Peter took down enemy after enemy not knowing how much longer he could hold out. He only wanted to hold out long enough for Edmund to get a safe distance away. He was unsure of how long that would take, but knew he would do his best to last in battle for as long as possible. Edmund needed to find Susan and Lucy and return home safely. As Peter continued fighting a beautiful blue glow caught the corner of his eye. As he swung his body around he just managed to watch as his younger brother, whom he had thought was safe, get run through by what was left of the White Witch's wand.
Edmund was supposed to be gone, far away from the battle, somewhere safe. But Peter could not deny what he had just seen.
"Edmund!" Peter screamed.
Edmund fell to the ground with a loud thud as Jadis cast away her now useless wand, which had served its final purpose: killing the son of Adam that had been a thorn in her side for far too long.
Peter ran toward Jadis without hesitation, quickly disposing of any enemy that came near him. His focus was Jadis and that was all he cared about it. Jadis pulled a sword out of a fallen soldier and walked toward Peter, completely unafraid. Peter was full of hate and revenge, which would make him clumsy and Jadis knew this. Peter finally reached her and began swinging his sword wildly, all of which she easily deflected. Jadis easily forced Peter to the ground, mocking him by holding her stance and simply waiting for him to be ready to come at her again. Peter stood and began his attack again, but still without form. Jadis was tiring of this and drove both her swords toward Peter's neck in a scissor like fashion, ready to finish it with a quick slice to the neck. But Peter managed to duck and throw his neck back, just barely managing to keep his head.
Finally Peter began to find his form, remembering the techniques Oreius had shown him only a few days before. Peter deflect blow after blow, parrying with the White Witch until something caught his attention. Peter and the White Witch turned at the sound of the Great Lion roaring out over the entire battlefield.
"Impossible…" Jadis said in awe.
Hope was restored as he witnessed a miracle, hundreds upon thousands of Narnian reinforcements followed behind Aslan, which included Susan and Lucy. Before Peter could even begin to feel relieved the White Witch attacked him with a new vigour. The sight of the Great Lion put a severe fear in Jadis, and she knew the other son of Adam must be disposed of quickly. There was no longer room left for error, and Jadis finally managed to slice Peter's legs out from under him. Instead of allowing Peter time to rise to his feet like before, she pinned him to the ground by stabbing her sword into his arm. Peter let out a cry of pain but the White Witch had no heart for pity. She brought her other sword down upon him which Peter managed to deflect with his shield, but Jadis easily cast his shield away.
As Peter looked up, watching as the White Which swung her sword around and poised it for her finishing blow, he was not thinking of himself. All he could think of was Edmund, and how he would be seeing him again very soon. He had been a fool, all this time hating Edmund for what he had done. Now it was too late, and soon he'd be dead along with Edmund and he would never have a chance to make things right.
Peter bravely looked directly into the eyes of the White Witch. If he was going to die, he wouldn't let her see him die afraid. But suddenly just before she was about to strike he saw her look up in sheer terror, and suddenly she was gone. Peter pulled the White Witch's sword from his arm and quickly stood, with Narnian reinforcements running past him. Peter finally saw what had scared the White Witch so much. She was pinned to the ground with the Great Lion on top of her. Jadis, the White Witch who had ruled for 100 years, was now gone and no longer a threat to Narnia.
Aslan turned and approached Peter, simply saying "It is finished."
Before Peter could thank Aslan for saving his life, he heard his name being shouted in the distance. Peter turned around and saw Susan and Lucy racing toward him. Peter opened his arms to Lucy who ran into wrapping her arms around his waist in a hug. But Susan didn't embrace him; she had a concerned look on her face.
"Where's Edmund?" Susan asked, afraid of what the answer may be.
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It was silent, and disturbingly still for a battlefield.
"The battle must be over..." Edmund thought to himself as he lay dying on the now empty battlefield. "I hope Peter's okay... If I have to die, I want to die knowing he's alright, and that Narnia is safe."
Edmund heard his name being called but he couldn't tell from who or what direction it had come from. All he was focused on was gasping for air and trying to ignore the pain in his abdomen. Suddenly he felt freer as his helmet was removed, and he also felt warmer as something hit his lips. Edmund felt the warmth surge up throughout his whole body. He was suddenly able to breathe more freely.
"Peter..." Edmund finally opened his eyes and saw what he had been hoping for. "Peter's safe... and Susan and Lucy."
As Edmund looked upon Peter he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time: hope. Peter's eyes were red with worry, and tears that were just managing to be held back. Edmund had never seen Peter like this before, so full of anxiety and fear. It gave Edmund hope, hope that perhaps Peter had now finally forgiven him.
Peter pulled Edmund from the ground into a fierce hug, holding and squeezing his little brother close to his chest. Peter buried his face into the crook of Edmund's neck and finally let his tears fall. It was the first time in a long time that Edmund let anyone hug him, and he did so willingly. Edmund closed his eyes, taking in what he thought he wouldn't live to experience. Edmund dared to hope that this meant Peter had indeed forgiven him.
Peter finally pulled away and looked at Edmund. Edmund suddenly became afraid that it was just a moment of weakness for Peter, and that any minute Peter would simply get up and walk away and that would be the end of it. But then Peter smiled.
"When are you gonna learn to do as you're told?" Peter managed to choke out between tears.
For the first time, since his father had gone off to war, Edmund gave a true sincere smile. In that simple sentence he knew Peter had forgiven him. Edmund felt his sisters hug him from behind and Peter enveloped them all in a hug, and Edmund felt more at peace than he had in ages.
Edmund looked up and saw Aslan, the Great Lion back from the dead, before him. Edmund knew he would never be able to repay Aslan for what he had done for him, but he also knew that the lion never expected anything in return. As long as Edmund learned from what he had done and repented, that was enough.
