The Wolf and His Boy

Teaser: AU. A wolf defies the Witch and frees Edmund. As the two travel through Narnia, Edmund discovers humans are not the only denizens of Earth to find Narnia. Narnia/Balto crossover

Chapter Five: King of the Wood

Balto tilted his head. They were getting close. "Not far now. Everyone keep quiet."

Nods came from behind him. Balto was about to step forward with a sound came from ahead of them. What the… "It's a horn," Edmund called. The sound rose, almost pleading for help.

"Edmund get these packs off of us!" Balto ordered, trying not to dance. Edmund fumbled for the straps and soon the packs fell away. Balto twisted 'round and added, "Up a tree young man. We'll come back for you."

The four sled dogs leapt forward, racing for the horn. Abruptly the woods fell away and they saw two girls up a tree. Two wolves, one of them Maugrim, leapt, trying to get at the girls. Balto snarled and lunged. He struck Maugrim from the side, sending the wolf tumbling. Nikki, Kaltag, and Star rounded on the other wolf, barking madly.

Maugrim gained his feet and whirled. "You! How dare you!" The wolf snarled. "Traitor!"

"No," Balto retorted, standing between Maugrim and the females, his team driving the other wolf back. "You found me near the lamp post and assumed I was one of yours but I wasn't. I was never in that Witch's service."

Maugrim growled. "Traitor to your own kind then. No wolf fights besides a dog."

Balto snarled. How dare this wolf treat his friends that way? He pinned his ears back. "Get lost, Maugrim. You can't get to the humans now." The other dogs, standing with Balto now, barked their agreement.

Maugrim was about to advance when another human arrived, pulling out his sword and yelling, "Get back!" Maugrim immediately turned his attention to the male, growling and starting to circle the boy. Others arrived but a golden lion ordered them back, allowing the boy to fight Maugrim.

"We've been through this before Son of Adam. We both know you don't have the guts to do it."

The other wolf paced, trying to get behind the boy. Balto growled and ordered, "Get him." Nikki, Kaltag, and Star jumped the wolf, forcing it down and away from the fight as Balto watched to make sure that the human would be alright.

Maugrim chuckled, a low, ugly sound. "You may be a king. But you're going to die like a dog!" The wolf sprang at the human and impaled himself on the sword. It startled the dogs so much that the other wolf was able to escape.

"Peter!" the girls cried, leaping down from the tree and scrambling toward their brother.

The golden lion turned to the half-man, half-horse beside him. "Follow him. He'll lead you to Edmund."

"No need," Balto called, before any of the animals could obey the great lion. He shrank back as the human-horse brandished a sword in his direction. Nikki, Kaltag, and Star leapt between their leader and the creature, barking angrily.

"Peace," the lion ordered. He stepped forward, studying Balto. "Welcome, he-wolf. Have you news of Edmund?"

Balto walked forward, nervous. "I'm a wolf-dog, sir." He bowed his head before the lion and added, "I freed a human boy from the White Witch about a day ago. My team and I left him safely hidden when we heard the horn."

Behind Balto the other dogs nodded eagerly. The lion looked down at the wolf-dog. "Very well. Bring Edmund to me." He turned to the others. "I will speak to the Son of Adam alone. But first," he turned to the small family watching earnestly. "Peter, clean your sword."

The lad obeyed and knelt before the lion. The lion placed a paw on the boy's shoulder and commanded, "Rise, Sir Peter Wolfsbane. Knight of Narnia." The girls cheered, the animals called congratulations and Balto's team set up a howl of approval.

While Edmund was speaking to the lion, Aslan, Balto was introduced to the rest of the Penevesie family. They were nervous at first but Balto's team spoke up for him, introducing the wolf-dog to the Beavers first.

"Will wonders never cease. Your friends have been rather anxious about you," Mrs. Beaver told Balto.

"And I about them," Balto admitted. "But I didn't want Maugrim to find out about them."

Mr. Beaver nodded his approval. "Smart, very well done. Bringing anyone to the attention of that black-hearted devil would have been a very nasty bit of business. And I presume that you are the one who's been ferreting about, spoiling the Witch's prized Secret Police?"

"Yes sir."

"That is the most courageous, the most valiant, the most daring…"

"That's cool!" Star burst out. Kaltag thumped him.

"Kaltag," Balto said in warning. He tried to keep Kaltag from hitting Star as often as possible. He surveyed his team. "You did well. I wish I'd been there to help, but it looks like you guys did just fine without me."

The three dogs beamed, though Nikki remarked, "Still, it's not the same without yous dere, Boss."

Balto flushed and was saved when Lucy piped up with, "How'd you get to be sled dogs in Narnia?"

The four looked at her. "Well actually," Kaltag began.

"We're not from Narnia," Balto said quietly.

The three children stared at them. Balto looked up at them. "We're from Nome, Alaska."

The rest of the day was interesting for the Nome residents (though Star preferred the word 'terrifying'). A Talking Bulldog took it upon himself to school all four in the art of war. Their harnesses were stowed in their tent and the four were put through their paces by the older dog. None of them had even seen most of the creatures said to compose the Witch's army, let alone learned how to fight them. Much like the Penevesie children, the sled dogs were thrust into a world on the edge of war. They were expected to fight and the Bulldog dealt with their fear by driving them hard, forcing them to concentrate on their lessons instead of the fear.

That night, the Alaskan dogs sat with their mentor and the Narnian dogs, hearing the tales of old. Balto was treated with a bit of suspicion at first but the old Bulldog, Logan, spoke for the wolf-dog, telling the other dogs that he only wished they had learned as quickly as Balto. Nikki, Kaltag, and Star made it clear that anyone who wanted to fight Balto would have to go through them first. So all of the sled dogs heard the history and the legends of Narnia and they noticed that Aslan was oft mentioned by the other dogs. Though the surroundings were different, it reminded all four of the evenings spent in the boiler room back in Nome, listening to the news and hearing the gossip from around town.

The next day was much the same in the morning. Logan kept drilling them, telling them that the drills were meant to keep them from freezing in battle. "Battle," he told them, "is a mess. You scare know which way to look and it seems that you are right in the middle and every blade you glimpse has your name on it. The drills keep you moving, even when your mind don't want to work. You catch up soon enough but the drills have kept many a soldier alive in the heat o' battle."

At midday Balto's ears pricked up and he turned to look toward the road leading into camp. "What is it Balto?" Star asked.

"I'm not sure, but someone's coming."

Kaltag pricked his own ears and frowned. "They aren't being quiet about it either."

Logan growled. "The Witch. She comes to parley."

Balto turned toward the bulldog. "Surely she's not going to just surrender now."

"That's what bothers me, lad," Logan replied. "She is not one to give up without a lickin' good fight."

The five dogs made their way to the gathering. Narnians jeered at the Witch, angry at her herald who walked before her calling, "Make way for Jadis, the Queen of Narnia and Empress of the Lone Islands."

Balto snorted. By good fortune, their group had ended up near the Penevesie children and he looked up at Edmund. "Don't worry about her kid."

Edmund looked down at Balto, eyes wide. "She's horrid. I can't just ignore that."

Nikki spoke up. "No, but yous don't have to be afraid of her. She don't look like she could handle Aslan."

Kaltag nodded in agreement and Star yipped to show approval. All four children smiled at their canine friends. The group turned back to the Witch. She had risen from her transport and now she swept forward, unconcerned about the hostile Narnians at her back. She gave Edmund a sly smile and Edmund's family and friends glared back at her.

"You have a traitor in your midst, Aslan."

Aslan did not even look at Edmund. "His offense was not against you."

She smiled, a razor thin predator's smile. "Have you forgotten the laws upon which Narnia was built?"

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

"Then you remember well that every traitor belongs to me. His blood is my property."

Balto snarled, his team growling in agreement. Peter's sword leapt clear of its sheath as Peter retorted, "Try and take him then."

The Witch was unfazed. "Do you think mere force will deny me my right, little king?" She turned to speak to the whole camp. "Aslan knows that unless I have blood, as the law demands, all of Narnia will be overturned and perish in fire and water. That boy," she turned and pointed at Edmund, "will die on the Stone Table, as is tradition. You dare not refuse me."

"Enough," Aslan commanded. He focused on the Witch. "I shall talk with you alone." He turned and led the Witch into his private tent. After a moment the crowd settled to wait. As soon as Edmund sat, four snouts found their way into his lap. The sled dogs offered what comfort and support they could. Even with the direness of the situation, the four children managed to smile at the dogs' loyalty.

The crowd rose as the flaps of the tent opened. Jadis exited, giving no sign of what had passed. Aslan followed her out, head lowered. As the Witch walked to her transport Aslan announced, "She has renounced her claim on the Son of Adam's blood."

The crowd cheered and Edmund was hugged by his siblings. Balto and his team lifted a short howl of joy. The Witch ignored the cheering as she turned back and demanded, "How do I know your promise will be kept?"

Aslan roared, sending the crowd into a louder celebration. The Witch departed, sparing one look back at Aslan. Balto followed her gaze and tensed as he saw the Lion's head lower. What promise was that? the wolf-dog wondered.

A/N: Things are coming to a fevered pitch. What will happen at the battle of Beruna? Will Balto and his team ever get home? Will they survive? Next chapter: The Stone Table Please Read and Review