Chapter 8

Word Count: 2,917

"Jadis… Jadis!" Ginarrbrik called out after his queen. Jadis ignored the dwarf, striding forward in her heels as a cyclops carried her on a large and fluffy chair. He lowered the chair to the ground so that the witch could gracefully step out and address Aslan.

"You have a traitor in your midst, Aslan." Jadis announced, trying to hide the fear in her voice. Luna glared and placed her hand on her sword, followed by Edmund and Peter. Aslan's army gasped at her statement.

"His offence was not against you." Aslan replied calmly.

"Have you forgotten the Deep Magic?" The White Witch asked snidely.

"Do not cite the Deep Magic to me, Witch," Aslan snarled, "I was there when it was made."

"Then you will know that the boy belongs to me," Jadis concluded, "That boy-" She pointed at Edmund, "Will die on the Stone Table."

"Come and take him then." Peter brandished his sword, blocking the witch's view of Edmund.

"You think that a simple threat will deny me my right, little king?" Jadis cackled, "Aslan knows that if I do not have blood as the law demands, all of Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water."

"Enough," Aslan growled, "I shall talk with you alone." The two figures disappeared into Aslan's tent, not emerging until hours later.

"The Witch has denounced her claim on Edmund." Aslan announced, earning cheers from the Narnians.

"How will I know your promise will be kept?" The White Witch sneered. Aslan let out a roar, knocking the witch to the ground. She scowled as the Narnians laughed, and she left with her henchmen. Aslan sighed and returned to his tent, almost unnoticed by all.

"Aslan?" Luna whispered from outside his tent.

"Come in, child." Aslan answered from inside. Luna obeyed, wrapping the cloak around her. Oreius had given her the navy cloak to keep her warm that night, and she hadn't let go of it since.

"I suppose you know what happens tonight." Aslan sighed, earning a nod from Luna.

"But, you'll be okay, won't you?" She chewed her lip nervously, "I mean, Lucy has her cordial…"

"Don't worry about me," Aslan insisted, "Now, come, I suppose you'll want to be there." Luna nodded again, and Aslan gestured for her to climb onto his back. She held onto his mane as he padded through the grass. As they passed Susan and Lucy's tent, Luna stared, wondering if they too would join Aslan.

"Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Aslan chuckled, turning around so that he and Luna could see Susan and Lucy.

"We couldn't sleep." Lucy whined.

"Please, Aslan," Susan pleaded, "Couldn't we come with you?"

"I would be glad of the company tonight." Susan and Lucy walked alongside Aslan and Luna until they were near the Stone Table.

"It is time," Aslan told them, allowing Luna to slide off his back and join her sisters, "From now on, I must go on alone. Thank you, Susan, Luna, Lucy. And, farewell." He walked over to the table where Jadis and her army stood, the sisters hiding behind a cluster of rocks, getting a good view from their hiding spot. They watched as Jadis's army lifted their torches in the air, jeering and screeching. Aslan climbed the stairs, flanked by the disgusting creatures that had betrayed Narnia. He ignored their cries, pushing through the mass of creatures until he reached the table. Lucy looked to Susan, who stared at the scene ahead of them.

"Don't worry, Lucy," Luna whispered, "Aslan will be okay." Lucy nodded, still unsure, and watched the golden lion with wide eyes. Jadis emerged, stepping onto the table to face Aslan. Her hair was pulled back, and she had shed her white garments for a dark dress and cape that covered one arm, fur and feathers decorating the shoulder. Her hands gripped a dagger, dark metal with a pointed gold hilt. She kept her regal posture as she looked down on the lion.

"Behold…" She smirked, "The great lion." Aslan stood still as the crowd jeered and laughed. The Pevensie sisters looked in disgust and disbelief upon the scene. Aslan growled in warning as an armoured minotaur jabbed at him with some kind of sharpened rod. The crowd cheered, and Jadis nodded at the minotaur. He raised the rod and hit Aslan, knocking the lion to the stone ground. The crowd grew louder at his fall.

"Oh, look, little kitty," Ginarrbrik mocked, "Do you want some milk?" Aslan lay there, chest heaving with each breath.

"Why doesn't he fight back?" Lucy asked. Susan only looked to Aslan, unsure of the answer. Luna too, was unsure.

"Bind him." Jadis ordered. The creatures surrounded Aslan and bound him with thick ropes, even tying his muzzle shut with a coarse cloth. "Wait-" Jadis called, "Let him first be shaved." The creatures jeered and shouted, sadistic grins on their faces.

"She wants to humiliate him." Luna whispered in realization. "She wants to prove she's more powerful than Aslan, and he'll let her, just to spare Edmund." Lucy and Susan looked at her, realizing she was right. Ginarrbrik took his dagger and cut off a chunk of Aslan's mane, holding it up for the crowd to cheer over. The creatures used their blades to cut off the lion's fur, throwing it every which way.

"Bring him to me." Jadis ordered. The minotaur dragged the cat by his binds, tying him to the table. Jadis quieted her subjects. She stood over Aslan, wolves howling, and vulture like creatures pounding their staffs on the ground rhythmically.

"You know, Aslan," Jadis leaned in, only allowing the lion to hear her, "I'm a little disappointed in you. Did you honestly think by all this you could save the human traitor?" Aslan looked up at her. "You are giving me your life, and saving no one. Hah, so much for love."

"Tonight the Deep Magic will be appeased!" Jadis shouted for all her minions to hear, "But, tomorrow, we will take Narnia forever!" The noise grew with every word she said. The rhythm grew faster, "In that knowledge, despair," Jadis raised her dagger in the air. Luna grabbed onto her sisters and held them close, "And DIE!" The witch plunged the dagger into Aslan's heart. Lucy gasped as Aslan met her eyes, the light from his own leaving. His eyelids shut, and the sisters began to cry, embracing each other as the tears fell.

"The great cat is DEAD!" Jadis cried, closing her eyes as the cheers grew louder. "General," She looked to the minotaur, "Prepare your troops for battle," The creature growled, calling his troops to arms, "However short it may be." The sisters waited until the witch and her allies had left before returning to Aslan. All three of them cried and leaned on the lion, who had long since passed. Lucy gasped and pulled out her cordial.

"It's too late, he's gone," Susan told her through tears, "I'm sure he knew what he was doing."

"We have to go." Luna added.

"We can't just leave him here." Lucy wept.

"There's not time," Susan argued, "We have to tell the others." Luna nodded in agreement, and the three sisters disappeared back into the dark of the night.

"Fear not, my princes," A dryad spoke, entering the boys' tent with a solemn expression, "I come with tidings of grave nights…"

"It is true," Peter sighed, pushing through the tent curtains, "He's gone."

"Then you'll have to lead us," Edmund placed a hand on his brother's arm, "There's a whole army out there waiting for you."

"I… can't." Peter looked to the ground, defeated.

"Aslan believed you could," Edmund started, "And so do we." On the other side of Peter, Luna smiled, placing her hand on her eldest brother's shoulder.

"What are your orders?" Oreius stood tall, awaiting Peter's instructions. Peter unfurled a map in front of them, revealing the battlefield.

"They come, your Highness, in numbers and weapons far greater than our own." A golden winged gryphon informed the eldest Pevensie.

"Numbers do not win a battle." Oreius interjected.

"No, but I bet they help." Peter murmured. He looked out across the battlefield from atop his mount. Beneath all the chainmail and armor he was but a boy. He took a deep breath, a determined expression washing over his face, and brandished his sword. Behind them, a centaur blew the battle horn, causing Aslan's army to erupt in confident cheers. Creatures clad in red and gold readied themselves for the battle ahead.

"I take no interest in prisoners," Jadis told her army, a permanent scowl etched on her face, "Kill them all." The minotaur roared, ordering the army to advance. They ran down towards Aslan's army as their queen sat perched in a carriage led by two polar bears, a spiked gold helmet resting on her head.

From his seat on the pure white unicorn, Peter pointed his sword towards the witch. Edmund and Luna drew their swords, standing side by side. They were ahead of the archers, ready to charge. Edmund wore full chainmail armor, his tunic bearing Aslan's crest. Luna wore no helmet, only an armoured breastplate and chainmail and leather leggings. Both wore determined looks, ready to fight for Narnia.

Peter used his sword to signal, waving it forward. The sky filled with gryphons, all fighting for Aslan. Below them, Jadis's army stopped to stare up at the flying creatures. In their talons, each gryphon held a stone. They dropped the rocks on the battlefield below, taking out a good amount of the White Witch's army. Her archers fired, shooting down some of the gryphons. Luna clenched her sword with her right hand until her knuckles grew white. The remaining gryphons retreated, clearing the airspace.

"Are you with me?" Peter turned to Oreius.

"To the death." The loyal Narnian replied. Peter raised his sword to the sky.

"FOR NARNIA!" He cried, "AND FOR ASLAN!" His unicorn reared up before charging, closely followed by the rest of Aslan's army. Edmund and Luna watched above, still on the mountain top alongside the archers. Luna chewed her bottom lip, feeling the need to be down there with her eldest brother, fighting on the front lines.

"Aslan, please, grant me this." She murmured, her brother not hearing. A pure black stallion charged, stopping right behind the redhead. Her eyes widened as she took in the creature. The stallion whinied, letting her know he wouldn't wait. Luna grinned, hopping onto the stallion's back with an ease she didn't know she had.

"Luna?" Edmund looked to her in confusion.

"See you on the battlefield, brother." She saluted with a laugh, nudging the stallion with her ankle. He complied, taking off towards the cliff's edge. Luna trusted the creature, just as she trusted Aslan and his ways. Behind her she could hear the cries of her brother, which quickly faded as the stallion unfurled massive black wings.

"Holy shit…" Luna looked at him in awe, "You're a pegasus!" She whooped as the horse whinnied, quieting down as they reached the battlefield. The pegasus swooped down, landing among the sea of enemy soldiers. He had managed to take a handful down with him, both from the landing and knocking them over with his wings. Beside her, the cheetahs attacked Jadis's white tigers. Peter lowered his helmet, ready to fight. Time seemed to slow down as Aslan's army met Jadis's. And then it was as if time had sped up, soldiers ploughing through the enemy troops. Luna swung her sword, knocking two dwarves off their feet. Her pegasus did what he could, kicking the enemies behind them and using his wings to throw them a good distance. Blood was shed, and both sides began to dwindle in numbers.

Jadis charged, her eyes set on the eldest Pevensie brother. The archers fired, as ordered by Edmund, launching rounds of flaming arrows that congregated and formed a majestic phoenix. The bird called out before diving down, creating a line of fire that separated Jadis and her army from Peter and his. Aslan's army cheered in victory, striking down the remaining enemies on their side of the fire. Peter raised his helmet, blue eyes narrowing at the evil woman who was led by two bears. She pointed her wand, banishing the fire with some sort of ice magic. Aslan's army stopped and stared at her before returning to battle.

"Fall back!" Peter ordered. Luna whipped her head around, looking to her brother in shock. "Drive them to the rocks!" He cried before putting his helmet back. Luna smiled. That was more like it. The archers fired onto the enemy troops as Aslan's army weaved through the boulders along the mountainside. One of Jadis's dwarfs fired his own bow, catching Peter's mount in the leg. The unicorn tumbled down, followed by Peter.

"Peter!" Luna cried, turning the pegasus around to face her fallen brother. He stared ahead, watching the White Witch draw nearer.

"Stop!" Peter cried as his troops advanced towards her. The rhino rammed through the troops, Oreius taking over as it fell. He fought the minotaur as he ran, stabbing both his swords in the creature's back before drawing a third. He screamed his battle cry as he knocked away every obstacle between himself and the witch. He lept and swung at the witch, who dodged. Oreius took another swing before being stabbed with her wand. The centaur turned to stone.

"No!" Luna cried, charging forward on her pegasus. As the passed Peter, Luna grabbed him and threw him on the pegasus before jumping off. "Go, Peter!" She cried, immediately swinging her sword to avoid death from the enemy soldiers that had surrounded them.

"Edmund!" Peter cried, after watching the witch kill two gryphons, "There's too many!" Edmund turned, Luna running over and striking down a minotaur that had come up behind him. "Get out of here! Get the girls, and get them home!" Peter ordered before turning back to the fight. Luna whistled, calling the pegasus to her. He dropped Peter to the ground before returning to the redhead.

"Do as he says." Luna pushed the pegasus towards Edmund. The stallion scooped him up, along with Mr. Beaver, and headed the opposite direction of the battle. Luna quickly joined Peter, fighting so that they were back to back. The two fought valiantly, striking down enemies with precision and strength. Behind her, Luna could see Edmund charging towards them on the pegasus.

"Edmund?" She stabbed the minotaur she'd been fighting and looked to her brother. He jumped, swinging at Jadis and missing. She swung her wand in retaliation, but Edmund's reflexes kicked in, and he sliced her wand in half, a green-blue light shooting out of the now broken weapon. Peter turned to look at Edmund. Before either could react, the witch used her sword to stab the boy. Edmund fell to the ground as Peter screamed his name.

Luna was furious, clenching her fists as the anger and sadness welled up inside her. She had been keeping quiet, bottling her emotions, and she was about to explode. The witch just stabbed her brother, and he could be dead. She would pay. Luna screamed, the noise drawing attention from soldiers - enemy and friendly alike - and she seemed to glow a blue color, her eyes turning aqua and glowing all the same. The same glowing energy that surrounded the girl shot ahead, hitting the witch and knocking her over. At the same time, Peter charged, eyes filled with tears as he aimed for the witch. Jadis got up and knocked him down. They fought with equal skill, stopping only when Aslan growled. Above them, Susan, Lucy, Tumnus, and the archers gathered and cheered.

Using his distraction, Jadis swung at Peter, catching him off guard. He fell to the ground, and she stabbed him in the shoulder. Peter cried out in pain, gaining Luna's attention. Jadis raised her sword again, ready to strike.

"No!" Luna cried, throwing her sword at the witch. Luna felt like time was back in slow motion. She watched as the sword started to veer off course. "No…" She whispered, using her hands to direct the weapon the right way. Tendrils of blue light left her hands and wrapped around the sword, sending in straight on target. The light engulfed the sword, and when it disappeared, the sword was a spear. Time sped up again, and the spear pierced through the White Witch's heart. Aslan ran over, retrieving the weapon and leaning over the dead witch. Beside Peter, Luna slumped to the ground. The battle had taken all the energy from her. Peter held his sister, watching as Jadis's body disappeared. Around him, everyone was a blur, until only he, his sister, and Aslan were left.

"It is finished." Aslan declared. He walked away as Lucy and Susan ran up to their brother and sister.

"Where's Edmund?" Susan cried. Luna weakly pointed to her twin brother who was coughing up blood and attempting to stand. Ginarrbrik hobbled over to the young boy, raising his weapon over Edmund.

"Edmund!" Susan cried, drawing her bow and firing. The arrow hit its target, killing the dwarf. Edmund coughed and gasped as his siblings surrounded him. Lucy quickly retrieved her cordial, pouring a drop onto Edmund's lips. He stilled before gasping and sitting up.

"When are you ever going to do as you're told?" Peter shook his head. The Pevensies chuckled and embraced.