I apologize to all my readers for not updating! I have been having major writers block for this story, and really want to get this story done so I can move on with other ideas. Sorry if the chapter sounds forced. Anyway thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter! : )

Betrayal

Peter and Susan stepped into the forest and looked around them. The wood was so still and snowflakes were falling out of the gray sky.

"You were right after all, Lucy!" Peter exclaimed.

"Should we go back? Is tramping about in this forest safe?" Susan asked.

"I think we should go exploring." Edmund said, fidgeting. He was strongly under the enchantment.

"I think Lucy should decide." Peter said, turning to her.

"I'd like you all to meet Mr. Tumnus!" Lucy answered, eagerly, dancing in place.

"Wait! It's too cold to go walking around in shorts and tank tops!" Susan said practically.

"No, but why don't we use these?" Peter asked holding up four leather coats he had found in the dressing room.

"We don't want to steal them!" Susan cried as Peter handed her a fur lined jacket.

"No, but if you think about it, we aren't even taking them out of the store. Just using them. Anyway, we will return them when we are done." Peter reasoned handing Lucy a bright pink leather coat.

Convinced that they were not doing anything wrong, the children put the coats on. They followed Lucy though the trees, towards the streetlamp, and then on to the Faun's den.

"Mr. Tumnus will have a nice warm heater, and he should give us some Starbucks too! Lucy explained.

When they reached Mr. Tumnus' house, Lucy gave a wail, and ran towards the doorway. Peter raced after her, Susan and Edmund close behind. They entered the house and found the place ransacked.

Susan found a sticky note on the door. It read:

The former occupant of these premises, the Faun Tumnus, is under arrest and awaiting trial on a charge of High Treason against her Imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, Chatelaine of Cair Paravel, Empress of the Lone Islands, etc., also of comforting her said Majesty's enemies, harboring spies and fraternizing with Humans. Signed MAUGRIM, Captain of the Secret Police, LONG LIVE THE QUEEN!

Lucy went pale, Edmund looked guilty, and Peter and Susan both looked confused.

"Oh no! Mr. Tumnus was arrested because of me!" Lucy whimpered.

"Oh Lucy! Don't cry." Peter comforted, drawing to embrace her.

Suddenly, they heard a noise outside. They rushed outside and saw a black beaver.

The beaver walked up cautiously and asked, "Are you the Pevensies?"

"How did you know?" Lucy asked.

"Tumnus told me about Lucy. Are you her? Is this yours?" The beaver questioned, holding up the tissue box Lucy gave to Mr. Tumnus.

"I'm Lucy, and I gave that tissue box to Mr. Tumnus." She replied.

"It's not safe to talk here. Come with me." He said, glancing at the trees. Then he turned and scampered off into the forest.

"Should we follow him?" Susan asked twirling her hair in thought.

"Well, if he know the faun, then I think we should trust him." Peter pondered.

"I don't think we should. What if it's a trap?" Edmund tested.

"I think the four of us could stand up to one beaver even if this is a trap. Come on." Peter said, leading the way.

Edmund rolled his eyes and followed. They traveled to Mr. Beaver's house, and Mrs. Beaver was waiting for him.

"Beaver! I've been worried sick! If I find out that you went to the fishing shop I'll…' She shouted as she spotted the Pevensie children. 'Oh, I'd never thought I'd live to see this day! Come in! Come in!"

They all entered the cozy little beaver dam and Mrs. Beaver went straight to the kitchen. A few minutes later they all sat around the table with fish sticks, French fries, and ketchup.

Mr. Beaver started explaining all about Aslan, and what they had to do. No one saw Edmund silently slip out the door.

"You're the ones that Aslan has sent." Mr. Beaver finished.

"What? I don't think you want us to save the country. We're not heroes!" Peter protested.

"I think we should be getting home.' Susan said as she turned to grab the leather jackets. That's when she noticed Edmund was missing. 'Where is Edmund?"

The door was open, and cold air was blowing in. They all got up, to go looking for him. The sun was setting and the daylight was fading as they searched the area. After a while they all went back inside, defeated.

"Where is he?" Lucy asked.

"I'm afraid that he has gone to…Her." Mr. Beaver replied.

"You mean to the White Witch?" Peter said.

"Yes." Mr. Beaver answered.

"Why would he betray us?" Lucy said innocently.

"Has Edmund ever been to Narnia?" Mr. Beaver asked thoughtfully. Susan and Peter cast a questioning look at Lucy.

"Let's see…I met him here…and he asked me how to get back. He never told me what he did before I met him, but he looked awful…like…almost like something about him had changed." She said.

"He's under the spell of the Witch. Quickly we must make for the Stone Table!" Mr. Beaver said urgently.

"What about our brother?" Susan asked franticly.

"My dear…only Aslan can help your brother now. Come on." Mrs. Beaver said gathering up food, and stuffing it in rolling suitcases.

"Mrs. Beaver! We won't be able to take the suitcases with wheels! Grab the backpacks!" Mr. Beaver cried.

"Oh! I just thought rolling our bags would be easier on our backs."

"Yes, but we can't drag them though the snow!" Mr. Beaver said, hastily switching everything into the large backpacks.

They rapidly flew out the door, and traveled towards the Stone Table.



--

Edmund marched towards the White Witch's castle. I should have brought my coat. The soft leather would feel great, and would keep the wind out. Just think brownies…brownies. He thought as he reached Her house.

He walked through the courtyard, and the strange statues scared him. They looked ten times worse because they had little Christmas lights wrapped around their arms and legs. He walked up the iced steps, and stepped over a snowy lump.

Suddenly, he was on his back and a wolf's face was inches from his own. He heart beat franticly, and his mouth went dry.

"State your business." The wolf growled.

"I'm here to see the Queen. I met her in the woods, and she asked me to visit her! I'm human." He replied shaking.

"My apologies, fortunate favorite of the Queen…or else not so fortunate." He snarled, and led the way towards the throne room. Edmund followed shivering from fright and the cold.

"Wait here."

A few moments later the Witch stomped into the room.

"Where is your family?" She asked trying to keep some kindness in her voice.

"Uh…could I have some more brownies?" Edmund said.

"How dare you! Do you think my castle is Candyland? You just interrupted my perm. I'm not going to take that lightly! Where is your family Edmund?" She demanded losing her temper.

"I'm sorry. They're at the Beaver's house. Could I have some more brownies?" Edmund asked again.

"Ginarrbrik! Our guest is hungry." She called.

The fat dwarf pressed a sharp knife against Edmund's back and made him walk towards the dungeon. He was flung into a dark icy cell, and left there. Tears started running down his face. They froze half of the way down.

--

The Pevensies, and the Beavers made their way across the frozen lake.

"I told you we should have brought the rolling suitcases! They would have moved nicely on the ice!" Mrs. Beaver grumbled to her husband.

"Well you could have mentioned that back at the dam! Hurry up children! We haven't got all week!" Mr. Beaver called over his shoulder.

"If he tells us to hurry one more time, I'm going to make him into a nice, new, leather case for my laptop!" Peter whispered to his siblings.

That's when everybody heard the sound of a car engine. Everyone guessed it was the White Witch at once. They flew across the snowy ground.

"Everybody get inside!" Mr. Beaver yelled as he dove into a camouflaged igloo.

The Pevensie children scampered indoors, and held their breath as the car drove up. They heard someone get out, and walk around. Then there was a few moments of silence.

"I'll go see who drove up." Mr. Beaver said and was gone as quick as lightning.

A few moments later they heard a gruff laugh and Mr. Beaver called, "Come out! There is someone here to see you!"

The kids stepped out and to their surprise saw Father Christmas.