Narnia:
When Children Cry
Part III
DISCLAIMER: How many times do I have to say it! I DON'T OWN NARNIA.
Note from Me, Author: I've erased In Narnia (which was a pretty good book. If you liked it, I'm sorry. If you didn't like it, I'm even sorrier. If you didn't read it... well, you missed out). HOWEVER! I do have it set up in a joint account with IridescentEpiphany (the pen name is now Iridescent Earth and Swords) and you're welcome to read it if you wish. (Trust me, you wish. It's WICKED-SWEET!...Wow. Who says 'Wicked-sweet' anymore?)
Anyway, this chapter is not the end of the story. Bear with me, here, and please don't stop reading. I've been losing some of my readers lately, and it's making me sad. Yes, my chappies have been declining in length and content, but I apologise. My parents are restraining me from the Internet (ex: one hour online a week is excessive. Not just a lot, but excessive. My parents have absolutely no vocabulary, now where did they get that word?)
Enjoy, if you may, and REVIEW please?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Dying
Jadis tossed the bottle to the earth, feeling the power rush through her, through every vein and breath. Oh, the power!
'NO!' screamed Lucy from Tumnus' arms, staggering forward to do something, anything... but she could do nothing.
'Lucy, stand back!' Tumnus stumbled up and grabbed her shoulder.
'Tumnus, don't you see what you've done!' shrieked Lucy.
The Empress paid no attention to them, but looked up to the sun in bliss, crying out for the world to hear, for the earth to tremble at, for the sun to waver, 'I am invincible!'
Above the loud rushing of the Great River, Lucy heard the words with fear and knowledge. And Tumnus, quavering behind her, had strength left for only four words:
'What have I done?'
Her hawk ears picked up the whisper in an instant. 'You, Tumnus,' she hissed, striding forward with dooming steps, 'you shall pay for your betrayal! Yes, you shall die!' Her feet left burning, evil marks upon the grass as she strode to him, lifted her sword to meet his flesh —
At once, she screamed in agony, collapsing in a heap, rubbing her face and arms manically. All over her body, the skin had boiled into a red, blistering coat of rawness that made her voice ripped into a shattering cry. In a moment, she looked fleetingly at the faun before her, and he at her.
The eyes... thought he. The eyes... all black...
And she burst into flame.
In the whole of an instant, the tongues of fire stretched to mammoth lengths. Tumnus could see what would happen seconds before it did, and tried to prevent it. 'Stand back, Lucy!' he yelled, but she would not. He leapt before her, shielding her from the heat as the heat licked his skin cruelly, the fire in front of him dancing demonically. The outburst died, shrinking back into the form that it came from, leaving Tumnus' skin boiling.
As Jadis shrieked in a voice that would shatter the fire growing on her, she threw herself into the Great River and lost herself to its depths.
Not a soul witnessed it.
Tumnus fell backward onto the earth, letting everything die with him – letting the fire, the Empress, the earth, the River die with him...
All except Lucy.
This time, he'd given up his life for the right reason.