Disclaimer: I own nothing, I am merely borrowing C.S. Lewis' awesome characters. I only own Karina and her crazy teenaged thoughts. Thanks for so many reviews (I'm swimming in them) I'm really excited about this story, it's the first that I've actually updated consistantly. If you bunnies keep it up then maybe I'll have a sequel, Lord knows I've got a thousand one-shots clogging up my Word Processor.
My dark angel
She gave me diamonds for eyes
She walked by
Now I'm hypnotised
By this dream
That just won't stop
And I feel
Like I've always been lost in this dream
The rumours of heaven
Only speed the truth on Earth
My dark angel
Shine your light on my curse
You are the other that I have to find
Blue Rodeo
They had been fighting for hours, their iron wills not budging. Lucy was asleep against Susan who was desperately fighting a battle of her own sheer boredom. Edmund had gone inside the How, as he felt like his skin was roasting and Karina barely kept her eyes open. She was amazed they weren't tired. The thrill had gone after the first half an hour and now it was just annoyance that kept her awake. How was she supposed to sleep when one of them could die at the drop of a hat? She leaned back on her elbows, "Maybe if I close my eyes for a few seconds…."
She was running down a narrow path somewhere in the forest. It was near dark and she could hear night creatures begin to stir. It sent shivers down her spine. Karina was alone in the woods. She reached for her sabers, praying that she wouldn't have to use them. Someone was approaching and Karina looked around fearfully. Out of the darkness emerged two figures hooded and cloaked in black garments. There was an inhuman swagger to them that made Karina very wary of them.
"Who are you?" she called to them. One lifted its head; it was a huge wolf-like creature with large fangs and shallow yellow eyes.
"We are here to help, Daughter of Eve." It snarled. The other removed the hood, Karina sneered. It was somewhat birdlike in appearance but she had no idea what it was. "Follow us." It beckoned her down the path into a cave. Karina, although against her better judgment, followed, her hands never leaving the sabers. They led her deep into the belly of the cave, which was lined with carvings of ancient battles. They stopped abruptly at a large opening into the inner sanctum of the
cave. "This is where we leave you, Daughter of Eve." the wolf howled. Karina mustered a smile, "Thanks?"
She slowly walked into the chamber, alert and ready for danger. Upon raised steps stood a woman clothed in pure white and baby blue. Her white blonde hair was coiffed and teased into a basket like accessory and her beady black eyes focused on Karina with heated intensity.
"I sense the yearning in your heart, Guardian of Narnia." The woman said. Karina looked puzzled, "Say what?"
The woman smiled, but it was not friendly, "I can give you what you seek."
"And what do I seek?" Karina asked. The woman chuckled, "Love, acceptance, a home. All of these I will gift you."
Karina squinted her eyes, "What's the catch?"
"No catch, just all your desires fulfilled."
Now Karina was a very smart girl. Earning straight A's since kindergarten, but she wasn't very street smart. Sure, she was Detroit street smart but that was an entirely different subject. Karina nodded, "Okay, I want all that stuff."
The woman's eyes blinked and Karina was instantly reminded of a pit viper, "You must do one thing before I can bestow these gifts upon you."
Karina knew there was a 'but'. There was always a huge gigantic 'but' in the way of everything, "What?" she said irritably. The woman closed her eyes, "Retrieve my scepter."
"Crazybitchsaywhat?"
"Find my staff and bring it to the woods, tonight. And then I will give you what you so desire."
"How will I find it?" Karina asked, already confused. The woman smirked and pointed to Karina's palm, "A map will appear when you least expect it, Guardian of Narnia."
Karina turned to go but the woman's voice stopped her, "You mustn't let anyone get in your way. They will only interfere with your plans."
"Who are you?" Karina breathed, feeling her body shake and convulse. The woman smiled as her face contorted, "The White Witch, the true ruler of Narnia."
"Oh my God! Peter, I think she's having a seizure!" Susan yelled. She had jolted from the doldrums in time to see Karina shaking rather violently on the ground. Peter and Caspian both dropped their weapons and were rushing over to them. Susan held Karina's shoulders up so she wouldn't swallow her tongue.
Peter felt his breathing go shallow when he heard Susan call for him. He had been in wars, duels, ambushes even but he'd never felt so scared in his life when he saw Karina's body shake. Her usually calm eyes were only dark pinpricks and her skin was pale. It made Peter feel like he was going to be ill. But as soon as it began it ended. Karina closed her eyes, letting the deep magic flow though her to bring her out of the dream. Both Peter and Caspian sighed with relief when she opened her eyes. They were frantic with fear, "What's everyone staring at?"
Susan helped her to her feet, "Are you alright?"
Karina let herself lean against Peter's strong shoulders, "Yeah, I just had a really wild dream." She remembered the dream so vividly and she glanced at her palm. Everything was pretty normal; it was just her dirty old hand, nothing special. But something in the back of her head nagged her.
"You should rest." Caspian said, his eyes dark with worry. Karina sighed, "I'm fine." She took a step forward but regretted it. Her legs were still weak and she stumbled like a drunk towards the How.
Later that night when everyone was sleeping Karina lay awake once again. She was staring at her palm, which had become very itchy in the last couple of hours. Was it all really just a dream? Or could the White Witch really help her? Karina had no idea; all she wanted was for everyone to be happy, including herself. Below her, as she was sleeping on the stone table, Susan and Lucy slept peacefully. On the other side of the room Edmund lay sprawled out along with Reepicheep and Trufflehunter; propped up against the table, sword resting against his shoulder, was Caspian. Peter was nowhere to be found and Karina missed his presence. She thought about what Aslan had said about Guardians being able to imprint themselves onto people. She wondered if she could do this. Just then, her hand felt a searing pain shoot up it and Karina fought the urge to cry out. It burned like hell,
like a thousand wasps had stung her. She looked at her hand, it was incredibly red and…
"Impossible." She whispered. Along her palm was a small map. It was greatly detailed, showing the How and surrounding areas. Within the forest was a large X over a particular cave. Now she knew what the White Witch meant. Quickly, afraid the map would fade; Karina quietly gathered her sword and sabers. She slipped out of the How with ease, past the guards and into the forest. The wood was darker and more sinister at night, especially when unaccompanied. Karina stared at her hand, her small flashlight in the other guiding her way. The cave should have been another few feet from where she was. Finally she found it; the mouth of the cave reminded her of the Cave of Wonders from Aladdin. The bushes rusted and Karina stiffened, drawing her blade, even though she had no idea how to handle it.
"Karina?" someone said sleepily. Karina sheathed her blade as Peter appeared, looking very tired. She remembered what the White Witch said about not letting anyone get in her way. But she still had to be polite,
"Hello Peter." She said, putting on a fake smile.
Peter's blue eyes were half lidded and she knew he was very sleepy. Maybe if she brushed him off he'd retreat to wherever he was before.
"What are you doing out here? Alone." Peter asked. He didn't like the idea of Karina wandering around without a proper escort, which usually meant him. Karina shrugged, "I just wanted to take a walk."
Peter let a smile grace his perfect features, "Mind if I walk with you?"
Karina really didn't want to hurt Peter's feelings, even though he was so good a hurting her own. She didn't want to push him away but what she was doing was for his own benefit. "Sure." She answered; she didn't have the heart to tell him off. Peter nodded and the two walked away from the cave. He noticed Karina was being very distant and was covering one of her hands but Peter was too tired to note the strange ways of women. When they reached the tree line Peter stopped,
"Why don't you talk to me anymore?" he said, his voice full of hurt.
Karina waited a moment before answering, "I talk to you."
"You know what I mean."
Karina winced, "I just don't want to get attached to anyone, that's all."
"You're quite attached to Caspian." Peter grumbled. Karina felt as if I light had been shined down upon them. This wasn't about her feelings, this was about competition.
"Why do you care so much if he's nice to me?" she shot back with venom. Peter narrowed his eyes at the thought of the Telmarine Prince, "I just don't think he has your best interest at heart."
Karina looked at her watch. It was two in the morning and the sun rose at five. She had to find that scepter and Peter wasn't helping. "And you do?"
Peter shifted from foot to foot, "Yes, I do."
Karina wasn't really listening. She was trying to remember what Aslan had said about imprinting. There was something about telekinesis and souls entwining together… what was that other part? Blood. The blood pact, that's what was missing. The blood of those desired had to mix with her own. God, this Guardian stuff was getting hard. She wanted to test it out on Peter, whom she doubted would give her any of his blood.
"Peter, listen…" Karina really didn't know what to say. She just wanted to give him the slip, not push him away for good.
"No I get it." Peter snapped, stalking away. Karina watched him go longingly. Why was she so mysterious? She didn't mean to be but it was in her nature. When she saw he was out of sight she wandered back into the forest, their conflict still a fresh wound in her mind. She found the cave easily and cautiously went inside. It was dark and dank and Karina was glad she brought her flashlight with her. She shined it down the narrow steps leading to God-knows where deep in the belly of the beastly cave. She almost tripped a few times and cursed she was so clumsy. The cave opened up into a large sanctum filled with ice sculptures. Karina gazed in wonder at wolves, polar bears, tigers, and other fearsome beasts that were in suspended animation in their icy prison. Near the front of the ice tomb she saw a large case made from glass. She approached it apprehensively and upon seeing what was inside felt her insides turn to jelly.
The White Witch's scepter.
Karina breathed deeply as she read the ancient runes carved around the case upon white stone.
"Only a Son of Adam or Daughter of Eve can remove this scepter from its resting place."
Karina cracked her knuckles, "Alright, doesn't sound too hard."
She drew her glass blade she struck the case. It shattered into a million pieces and Karina shielded her eyes from the icy bits. The scepter was surprisingly light as she tucked into her belt and ran out of the cave. It had started to drizzle and Karina wasted no time in getting out of the rain. Before she made it out of the trees the two hooded creatures appeared again. The rain seemed to stop over them, as they were not wet.
"Hail oh great Guardian of Narnia." The bird said, although it was mockingly so. Karina presented the staff, "Here, now grant my wish."
It took the staff, murmuring in a strange language to the wolf, then it turned to Karina, "Patience. For the Queen to grant your wish she must have a drop of Adam's blood."
"That's it! I want my wish now!" Karina yelled as thunder clapped in the sky. She was cold, dirty, and wet; all she really wished for was to be inside. The wolf staggered forward, bowing, "Bring your Prince to the stone table at midnight tomorrow. Only one drop of his blood and your dreams will come true."
The two stalked into the forest, the darkness enveloping them instantly. Karina stood in the rain, "Oh, Aslan, what have I done?"
Authors Note: Ohhh, yeah big twist! I just expanded on something that totally bugged me in the movie. Didn't Edmund smash the Witch's scepter? I'm just saying, that's what I saw. And how did Hate and Thrist (the two evil baddies) get it in the first place? Just evaluating on how they got it. I love torturing Peter, he's just so cute when he's angry. Don't worry Caspian lovers rejoice, he's more in the next chapter. It might be like a day before I get it up cuz I have to think of something. Thanx for contributing to my meaningless poll. I should have it within a day or two. Maybe right now if I don't have to go to work (Taco Bell)
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