Well, here goes last chapter. It's sad, but most things have to take an end.

Please, like I said in the last chapter I posted, if you've had a beautiful and fantastic day, don't make me ruin it with this chapter.

CH. 16 The Battle of Beruna

I stared over the head to the horse who had said that he was willing to carry me through the battle. He was named something that absurd like 'Yawron', but I didn't tell him I thought it was weird.

After Peter, Edmund and Oreius had decided where they should meet the Witch's army, Peter had asked me if I wanted to join him and Oreius. It had surprised me, most because he earlier didn't want to take me with, but also that he asked me. Why hadn't he asked any of the others? Edmund, perhaps? They were much better than me.

I smiled as I remembered the conversation where he had convinced me that I was the right to be by his side through the battle.

Suddenly a screech pierced the air and I glanced up at the gryphon who came towards us. Peter had send him to find out how close and hug the army we had to fight, was.

The gryphon landed on my right side and I looked at him.

"They come, you highness", he said to Peter, "in numbers and weapons far greater than our own."

"Numbers do not win a battle", Oreius said from Peter's other side, but I thought that was just as much to convince himself, as to convince the rest of us.

"No", Peter agreed, "but I bet they help."

Right then there was nothing I wished more than to pull Peter into an embrace. He was pale and looked cold, but I didn't get much time to think about it, 'cause right then the ground under us began to tremble, and still far away we could hear the army approach. Then, over the hill on the other side of the field, one single black minotaur appeared. He roared and lifted his axe over his head. The rest of the army came up behind him and continued until he stood in the middle.

The White Witch stood next to the minotaur, in a chariot pulled by two polar bears. I swallowed and would most of all just vanish. If that had happened before Dad went to the war or before we evacuated – though we then probably wouldn't have found Narnia at all, then I would never had been there, between Peter and the gryphon, staring at an army much bigger than our own.

That was the first time I thought about the idea that I could die. I pushed it as far away as possible, but it was hard.

Beside me Peter turned to look up at the cliff behind us where Edmund stood with the archers. When he had turned back, his eyes met mine. I guessed he could see the fear in my eyes, 'cause suddenly all fear disappeared from his face and it was filled by a warm smile.

"We'll get through this. We'll return to London with Susan, Lucy and Edmund, and maybe... maybe we'll get a life there... together."

I smiled by when he said the last. I hadn't thought that our relationship could become something more, something bigger, something like a family.

"We'll get through this", I replied and his smile grew wider in some seconds, and when he turned to look at the army, his smile disappeared. He removed his sword from its sheath and lifted it. Behind us horns were blown and the sound of battle cry, shouting and shaking of weapons rose behind us.

For a second I thought about Susan and Lucy who were watching over Aslan. My hand moved to the sword I had got from the blacksmith that morning, and in some seconds my thoughts also went to the white wooden staff on my back. If anyone tried to harm Peter or Edmund, they would get to taste some pure magic.

From the other side of the field, the black minotaur, Otmin I thought he was named, gave the signal to the army to attack. The army moved forward with a speed I hadn't imaginated. The ground shook under us as they approached, and suddenly I remembered the time in the bomb-cellar back in Finchley.

Peter held his arms around me and Susan, while Mrs. Pevensie held Edmund and Lucy.

"Shhh", the oldest of the boys whispered. "It's going to be okay. We're safe down here."

I swallowed. On the battlefield there was no place to hide like that. The time of hiding had passed. Now it was our turn to try to make some peace in the world, or at least in that world.

Beside me Peter waited as the Witch's army moved closer. We both knew that he had to wait until the exactly right time if the first plan should work. He swept his sword through the air, and the gryphons on the cliff behind Edmund, took flight with rocks clenched in their feet. The gryphon next to me rose to join them, or lead them, I wasn't sure.

The first rock dropped, and a bunch of minotaurs flew into the air. Many were injured or killed, but then the dwarves began to shoot arrows at the gryphons, while harpies attacked them in midair. The gryphons turned in retreat, and those who were remaining of the Witch's first wave of soldiers continued. I wondered if they cared about the death around them.

Again Peter's eyes met mine. "I'm with you. No one will be allowed to touch you as long as I have something I should have said", I told him. Peter nodded and turned to Oreius.

"Are you with me?"

"To the death", the centaur replied.

Peter thrust the sword in his hand into the air, bellowing: "FOR NARNIA AND FOR ASLAN!"

I unsheathed my own sword. I didn't like it, but I had to spear the magic until later if I by accident would meet the White Witch.

Peter's unicorn reared up, and once it was back on all fours, it galloped forward and began the Battle of Beruna. I took a last deep breath before I made Yawron follow. I and Oreius were close up to Peter.

The rest of the army followed right behind, and in the shape of an arrow we charged toward the opposite army. The centaurs in the front lines lowered their spears and pointed them at the army we soon would collide with. The cheetahs were the fastest, and in top speed they passed all of us.

For a moment everything became silent and the world slowed down around me. I could hear nothing but my own heartbeat which filled my ears. Then the cheetahs collided with the snow tigers and the sounds around me washed over me like a wave.

A minotaur appeared at my right side, and I swung my sword at him. He was the first of a dozen who fell. The stink of blood and death filled the air. I hated what I was doing. Why hadn't I just stayed in the camp, just like Peter wanted?

Something in the shape of a firing bird flew in front of my and made a stripe of fire over the field, right in front of the Witch's army.

Under me, Yawron stopped and stared at the flames.

"Look, Lady Catharina! It worked!" he exclaimed. I didn't answer, 'cause I was to busy looking after Peter. When I finally locate him, I made Yawron hurry over to him.

"Peter, I have a bad feeling", I told him as I came up at his side. He nodded, just as an circle of blue – what shall I call it? - magical, ice made the fire run out.

In some seconds I stared at the White Witch who came towards us in her chariot pulled by the two polar bears.

"Plan B?" I asked Peter with sarcasm.

"I think so", he replied. "PULL BACK TO THE ROCKS!"

The army turned as the message passed every faun, centaur and talking animal. Together with Peter and Oreius, I and Yawron made our way in between the rocks where we had placed archers. There we would have a possibility to take the army once and for all.

I stopped Yawron and turned to look for Peter. He was the last who came into the cleft.

The archers on each side of the cleft send their arrows down at the army who followed right behind Peter with the White Witch like one of the first.

Up at the cliffs I could see that many of the archers had to fight against dwarves who had climbed up. One of the dwarves took up a bow and shot an arrow. It hit the white unicorn Peter was riding. He fell off it and slammed into the ground.

Before I could do anything, a rhinoceros began its way toward the army approaching Peter. Oreius passed me and followed the grey animal. I saw Peter who got to his feet and shouted that they should stop, but they didn't.

I watched in horror as the rhinoceros fell to the ground, and then Oreius who jumped over it. He was attacked by a minotaur, but managed to kill it. Then he charged toward the Witch.

"Oreius! No!" I shouted, but he didn't hear me. The Witch turned him into stone and pushed him to the ground where he ended up laying.

My attention moved back to Peter who was attacked by not less than three minotaurs and a dwarf at the same time. "Let's go and save the King", I said to Yawron who had been watching the same occurrence as I.

I lifted the sword as Yawron galloped toward the minotaurs who stood around Peter. On the way I spotted a spear which would be in my reach. I took it and drew it through one of the three minotaurs. Then I killed the second while Peter took the last. When the dwarf saw me, he began to run, but didn't reach far before Peter killed him.

Peter didn't get much time to thank me, because a snow tiger had decided to attack Yawron. I let out a scream of surprise and anger as I was pushed off. I got to my feet and swung the sword at the tiger. It roared and hit me with its paw. I didn't feel the blood which began to stream down my face.

"Catty!" I heard Peter shout as the tiger fell dead to the ground. "Take Edmund, find the girls and go home!"

"I can get Edmund out of here, but then I'm coming back!" I replied as I killed another enemy. "Yawron, you're hurt! Get out of here and find a healer!"

To my surprise the horse bowed his head before he darted away. I moved closer to Peter.

"Catty, please!" he pleaded and turned to me. He had lost his helmet, and his hair was in a terrible mess. Somehow it suited him.

"No, you said I could go with you, and you're not dead yet! I promised to leave if you died", I reminded him. After some seconds he nodded.

"Fine, then. Take Edmund away from here, and then go and die if you want so." Before he could go and attack another enemy, I yanked his head down to mine and gave him a quick kiss. Then I turned and ran toward Edmund.

"Come on!" I shouted to him and pulled him away from the battle. "I have to get you away before I continue!"

"If you're going to stay, then I will too!" I argued and tried to get free from me. Mr. Beaver appeared on the other side of him, just as we spotted the Witch.

She left a trail of statues behind her as she made her way toward Peter. She was right under the cliff we were standing on.

"He isn't me King yet", Edmund shouted as he ran to the edge of the cliff and jumped.

"No!" I cried and ran after him. I stopped and stared at him as he met the Witch.

She turned to him with a smile on her face. Edmund lifted his sword, but instead of attack her, he let it fall at her wand which then was divided in two pieces. I felt the magic which was released, and I knew what she was going to do.

I jumped off the cliff and pushed Edmund away just as I took the staff I still had on my back. I felt the end of the wand go through the armour and into my stomack. I gasped. The pain was worse than anything I had ever imagined.

My eyes met hers and I lifted the staff. "Your dead", I whispered as I released the magic inside me. Through the light I saw the Witch be blown away. I saw our enemies fall to the ground because they couldn't fight any more. I saw Peter scream my name, and then I saw Aslan who appeared with a new army. Lucy and Susan appeared on each side of the great lion.

We had won.

I fell to the ground. The staff fell out of my trembling hands. I knew I was dying. In some moments all I could see was the blue sky above me, and then I heard steps coming toward me. I wondered if I was back in the Pevensies garden when I first got injured.

I saw Edmunds worried face over me, and then Peter followed by Susan and Lucy.

The youngest of the girls took up the small bottle she got from Father Christmas. The bottle with the fireflower-juice.

She let a drop fall into my half open mouth. It was warm, and the second it touched my tongue my body also felt warm. In some seconds I thought I would be able to live a happy ending with Peter, but then my body told me something else.

I had used too much magic. More than my body was prepared for. I coughed and whispered: "I thought it was me who was going to save you."

It was first then I saw the tears in their eyes. They smiled. "Once it had to change", Susan replied a smiled and felt tired.

"Thank you for everything", I whispered. The smiles they had on their faces disappeared.

"What are you talking about?" Peter asked with wide eyes. I turned to meet his blue eyes. Those eyes I loved so dearly.

"Peter, I used too much magic. To kill the Witch was right beyond my power. That's the only reason why I'm not dead yet, but this is the end." I coughed again. Then, with heavy arms I took up one of the two golden necklaces Father Christmas gave me. I took Peter's hand and put the necklace in it. "This was meant for you."

Tears ran down his cheeks as he closed his hand around the necklace. "I can accept this", he said, "but I won't see you die!"

I smiled a small smile. "Then look away." I sighed heavily. "There's nothing you can do to stop the death. Just remember that I love you, and that we'll meet again, maybe sooner than you think. As long as you wear that necklace not even death can separate us." I swallowed it hurt to see him like that. "Please, there is one last thing I would ask for", I then whispered. "Save my things, included the staff, until I return."

After I said this, I closed my eyes.

"No... Catty... Catty, please!" Peter pulled me into a hug and held me close. I could feel his tears on my face. "Please, don't leave me here. I can't live without you!"

I felt myself drifting away. "Fare... well", was the last I said to him before everything around me became white and cloudy.

I sat up. Again I stood in the Hall of Destinies. Aslan stood in front of me, but he was not alone.

A man with silvery hair and violet eyes stood beside him. He smiled at me.

"Dad!" I exclaimed. He laughed.

"My little princess." I ran toward him and threw myself into his arms. For a second we stood like that, but then he stepped back and stared at me. "You have grown so much since the last time I saw you."

I smiled, and then I suddenly remembered Peter. I turned to Aslan who stood beside Dad.

"Aslan, what's going to happen to Peter and the rest of his siblings?" I asked in a concerned tone.

"They will become Kings and Queens of Narnia", the lion replied.

"Yes, but will I meet them again?" He chuckled.

"Of course you will. Your and Peter's destinies are already bound together so tight that not even death can separate you for long."

Then he turned and went toward the four windows I remembered. The only different was, now there were only three widows.

"As my daughter, you are free to choose how and when you and the King shall meet again", Dad told me. "Before you choose, I want you to know that I'm really proud of you. You're a true Star." He gently stroke my hair behind my ear, just as he used to when I was younger. In some seconds I closed my eyes, but then I opened them when he exclaimed: "Your ears!"

I stared at him, and then I touched my ears. They were pointy at the end. "I'm... an elf", I muttered in disbelief. Dad turned to Aslan.

"What do this mean?"

"Just that she is half elf, half human", the lion replied with a smile. I couldn't help but grin. Then my eyes moved to the three windows. I had already decided which one to choose.

"Well, then", I said with a smile. "We'll meet again soon, I presume."

I went through the window where I could see something that reminded me of Finchley.

As I closed my eyes, my hand touched the golden heart on the necklace.

"I love you, Peter."

Story finished.

If you didn't like the end – I'm sure you didn't – then read Authors Note which I've added.