They continued on their journey to meet Aslan, and they found that as they continued walking, it was getting warmer and warmer. Before long, they were all dried off, and they were able to take off their coats, leaving them near one of the trees. Hopefully, the Professor wouldn't notice the absence of five fur coats in his wardrobe.
Elaine lifted up her face to the sun. "I forgot how much I really loved warm weather," she remarked.
"Me too," Peter laughed. "Especially when you've just been in an ice river!"
It wasn't much longer before Aslan's camp was in sight. A horn sounded that seemed to announce their arrival.
"I can't believe we finally made it," Elaine said as she walked next to Peter. "It feels like we've been walking for ages."
"I wanted to thank you for your help back there," Peter told her. "Before the waterfall crashed on us."
"Of course. I told you that I would be here to help you. I wanted to keep good on my words."
The four of them began walking through the camp and immediately began attracting the eyes of everyone. Lucy gasped as she saw fauns, centaurs, a cheetah, and other creatures preparing for battle.
Elaine started feeling extremely self-conscious. She knew everyone was looking at the Pevensies because they were the people destined to save them all. But she could see everyone's eyes boring into her, wondering why an additional female was with them.
Suddenly, she felt Peter's hand take her own, apparently sensing her uneasiness. She looked at him and he gave her an encouraging smile.
"Why are they all staring at us?" Susan asked.
"Maybe they think you look funny," Lucy joked.
Peter laughed, but Susan didn't look amused. They reached the end of the camp where a large tent sat, guarded by another centaur. By this time, the whole camp was behind them, anxiously waiting to see what would happen.
Peter took out his sword and held it up. "We have come to see Aslan."
There were light gasps behind them at his request. The centaur looked towards the tent. At the sound of movement, they turned to find the entire camp bowing down.
The tent opened, and Elaine gasped in awe and wonder as Aslan, The Great Lion, stepped out. She was overwhelmed in his presence and couldn't find words that properly explained how she felt.
Peter, Elaine, Susan, and Lucy got down on one knee and bowed down to the true King of Narnia.
"Welcome Peter, Son of Adam," he said gently. "Welcome Susan, Lucy, and Elaine, Daughters of Eve. And welcome to you, Beavers. You have my thanks. But where is the fourth sibling?"
Peter slowly stood up and the others joined him. "That's why we're here, sir. We need your help."
"We had a little trouble along the way," Susan said.
"Our brother's been captured by the White Witch."
"Captured?" Aslan asked. "How could this happen?"
"He betrayed them, Your Majesty," Mr. Beaver explained.
"Then he has betrayed us all!" the centaur growled.
"Peace, Oreius," Aslan said quickly. "I'm sure there's an explanation."
Peter looked up at Aslan guiltily. "It's my fault, really. I was too hard on him."
Susan put her hand on his shoulder sympathetically. "We all were."
"Sir, he's our brother," Lucy said quietly.
"I know, dear one," Aslan told her. "But that only makes the betrayal all the worse. This may be harder than you think."
The group was all given Narnian clothing to change into in order to better fit their surroundings. Susan and Lucy decided to go by the river, but Elaine went to go talk to Peter. She soon found him on a hill looking out across the water at a majestic castle in the distance.
"Deep in thought again I see," she said as she walked up to stand next to him.
Peter turned to look at her and felt his throat squeeze tight. Elaine was wearing a blue dress that reached to her feet. The skirt had pieces of light blue fabric hanging down to match the portion of the sleeves in between her elbows and her shoulders. Her hair was braided in several places while the rest hung in perfect curls down her back. She was wearing a silver intricate headband on top of her head that tied everything together. She looked absolutely gorgeous. Prettier than he had ever seen her.
"I know you're under a lot of stress," she said, ignoring his pause and not noticing how he was looking at her. "I understand. I'm more confused than ever since Father Christmas gave me gifts. I thought I wasn't supposed to be here, but now I don't know. If I'm meant to be here, why are there only four humans in the prophecy?"
"I don't know," Peter finally said. "I don't know about any of this. Yesterday, I was just the eldest sibling looking out for everyone else. Now, I'm a king who's meant to save an entire country. I mean, I'm only fifteen! I'm not ready for all of this!"
"Lucy's only nine, and she's destined to be queen."
"That's different. Lucy isn't expected to lead these people into battle. They're expecting to follow me."
"Peter, I know that this is all scary for you. I don't blame you for being afraid. But I also have no doubt that you are more than capable of leading this army in the battle against the Witch. I've seen how protective you are of those you care about, and that is your greatest strength."
"I don't know, Elaine. This may all be too much."
The two of them looked off in the distance at the castle.
"That is Cair Paravel, the castle of the four thrones," Aslan said as he came up behind them. "In one of which you will sit, Peter, as High King." When he saw the doubtful look on Peter's face, he asked, "You doubt the prophecy?"
"No. That's just it. Aslan, I'm not what you all think I am."
"Peter Pevensie, formerly of Finchley." Peter looked at him with confusion, surprised he knew where he was from. "Beaver also mentioned you planned on turning him into a hat."
Peter and Elaine laughed, and Aslan joined in with them.
"Peter, there is a Deep Magic more powerful than any of us that rules over all of Narnia. It defines right from wrong and governs all our destinies. Yours and mine."
"But I couldn't even protect my own family!"
"You've brought them safely this far."
"Not all of them."
Elaine put her hand on Peter's shoulder to comfort him. She knew he was worried about Edmund and still felt guilty for everything that was happening to his younger brother.
"Peter, I will do what I can to help your brother. But I need you to consider what I ask of you. I too want my family safe."
The sound of a horn cut off all of their conversation.
"Susan!" Peter yelled as he dashed off.
Elaine sprinted after him as fast as she could, but she quickly found that her dress slowed her down more than she would've liked.
By the time she finally caught up with him, she saw Susan and Lucy in a tree trying to escape from two wolves. Peter pulled out his sword and aimed it at Maugrim, the one he and Elaine had confronted at the river.
"Come on," Maugrim growled. "We've already been through this before. We both know you haven't got it in you!"
"Peter! Watch out!" Susan cried.
"Be careful!" Elaine called to him. She silently berated herself for leaving her staff back in her tent.
Suddenly, Aslan growled and placed his giant paw on the other wolf, forbidding him from attacking Peter. Oreius and some other Narnians drew their swords to help, but Aslan stopped them.
"No! Stay your weapons. This is Peter's battle."
Peter looked at Maugrim with fury and concentration in his eyes.
"You may think you're a king, but you're going to die…like a dog!"
Maugrim lunged for him as all of the girls screamed his name. Susan and Lucy came down from the tree and Elaine joined them over where Peter was. They shoved Maugrim off him, and were incredibly thankful to see that Peter's sword had killed Maugrim before he had the chance to hurt Peter.
The three girls tightly hugged him. Aslan took his paw off the other wolf who yelped and ran off as soon as he was free.
"After him," Aslan commanded. "He'll lead you to Edmund."
Oreius nodded and took off after the wolf with the other Narnians following him.
"Peter, clean your sword."
Peter slowly stood up and went over to the water to clean Maugrim's blood off his sword. Once his sword was like new, he knelt down before Aslan. Aslan placed his paw on Peter's shoulder.
"Rise, Sir Peter Wolf's-Bane, Knight of Narnia."
Elaine met Peter's eyes and sent him a small nod, silently telling him that she believed in him, even if he didn't believe in himself.
As the Pevensies left to return to camp, Elaine lingered behind. Aslan noticed and approached her.
"Forgive me, Aslan," Elaine said with her head down. "I have interfered with your plan."
"My dear child, just because you are not included in the prophecy does not mean that you do not have a purpose in Narnia."
"I don't understand."
"You have helped the Pevensies greatly on their journey here. Especially Peter. There are reasons for why you are here that may not be clear yet."
"But…the prophecy…"
"The prophecy only reveals a portion of the future. Your prophecy is merely unwritten."
Elaine looked at him and thought about what he was saying to her. The way he spoke made her begin to question all of her fears and doubts. She was still confused about why she was here, but at least she knew now that her presence was not going to get in the way of the Pevensies' destinies.
