CHAPTER 4

Peter, Susan and Lucy had just escaped from the wolves and were now barrelling the hole.

"I can see why Kate's sister didn't survive!" he whispered to Susan who had a worried look on her face. "Whoa!" Lucy had fallen over some sort of rock but when she looked at her feet she realised they were animals...stone animals! Beaver went over to one of the larger ones, Mrs. Beaver following. When the Pevensies looked closer they saw it was a badger. All over the clearing, stone animals littered the snow.

"What happened here?" Peter asked. But a sound behind them made them turn.

"This is what becomes of those who cross the white Witch!" a fox said as he jumped down in front of them. Beaver got angry. "Take one more step traitor and I'll chew you to splinters!" The fox seemed amused. Peter had stepped in front of both girls blocking them from harm.

"Relax...I'm one of the good guys" the fox said although Beaver wasn't convinced. "Yea...well you look an awful lot like one on the bad ones!" The fox was growing impatient.

"An un fortunate family resemblance...look we can argue breeding later...right now we've got to move..." The sound of wolves coming closer made Peter trust the fox enough not to get them killed. "What did you have in mind...?" The fox smiled.

"Climbing anyone?" he nodded towards the tree. Peter understood and hoisted Susan up first. She then dragged Lucy up beside her and kept on climbing, Peter and the Beavers not far behind.

The fox waited patiently for the wolves to enter. When they did, they surrounded him. "Greetings gents...Lost something have we?" he asked calmly. Morgrim growled.

"Don't patronise me!" he snarled. "I know where your allegiance lies...we're looking for some humans..."

The fox laughed "Humans...here in Narnia...now that's some valuable information don't you think?" Another angry snarl ripped through the air as one of the wolves caught the fox in his teeth almost causing Lucy to scream but Peter stopped her.

"You're reward is your life..." Morgrim laughed "It's not much...But still! Where are the fugitives?" Peter and Susan exchanged scared looks. It only took one sentence and they would all be dead! And Peter didn't think the Fox could hold out much longer.

"North...they ran North..." he said sadly. Morgrim believed him and took off with the others. The fox was thrown to the side as they left. Peter made sure they had left before getting down from the tree and running to the fox. "Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine!" he whispered trying to get up. Peter helped Susan and Lucy from the tree. Lucy went over with Mrs. Beaver to check him. "Thank you!" she whispered.

"Well technically I didn't lie. You were up north..." she giggled and Peter and Beaver went to gather wood. Once the fire was started Mrs beaver started cleaning him up.

"Are you sure you're alright?"Lucy asked, He chuckled. "I wish I could say their bark was worse than their bite but OW!" Mrs. Beaver had pulled on a very sore part. She scolded him for moving.

"Thank you for your kindness...but I'm afraid that's all the cure I have time for..."

"You're leaving?" Lucy asked.

"It has been a pleasure my queen and an honour but time is short...and Aslan himself has asked me to gather more troops..." The Beavers let out a small squeal.

"You've seen Aslan?...Oh what's he like?" they asked.

"Like everything we've ever heard...You'll be glad to have him by your side during the Battle with the White Witch..." Susan decided to quench that thought now.

"But we're not planning on fighting any witch" The fox looked around at Peter.

"But...King Peter! The prophecy..."

"We can't go to war without ya!" Beaver cut in. Peter was torn. These people obviously thought he was their King and he wanted to help but "We just want our brother back!" he said sadly. "And Kate" whispered Mrs. Beaver.

.

So the next morning the 3 Pevensies and the Beavers set off at sun up. The made it to a mountain top when Beaver spoke. "Ok...Aslan's camp is near the stone table...just across the frozen river..." he said pointing to what seemed like a universe away.

"It's so far!" Peter said. "It's the world dear! Did you expect it to be small?" but Susan answered "Smaller!" and they continued on. They got half way across the plain when they heard a noise behind them. Peter was carrying Lucy as she was getting tired. But then Beaver shouted.

"HURRY UP...COME ON" He yelled. "

"QUICK BEHIND YOU IT'S HER!" Yelled Mrs. Beaver and Lucy jumped from Peters back and ran with her siblings. The sound of sleigh bells was growing closer all the time. After what seemed like a lifetime of running, they finally made it to the edge of the woods. They stumbled a few times before finding a small cave. The sound of the bells stopped and there was an eerie silence. After a few moments Peter spoke. "I suppose I'll go look..."

"NO!" beaver shouted in a whisper. "You're worth nothing to Narnia dead!" Beaver instead left and again there was silence until he suddenly popped his head into the cave again, causing Lucy to scream. "Come here come here....I hope you've all been good cause there's someone here to see ya!" Peter led the way out of the small cave and when he looked up he saw a large man dressed in red, with a large smile and white beard on his face. He chuckled when he saw their stunned expressions.

"We thought you were the witch" Peter said. He apologised but Susan spoke "I thought there was no Christmas in Narnia?"

"No...Not for a long time" he said sadly but he smiled "but the hope that you've brought your Majesties...has finally started to weaken the witches power...still I dare say you could do with these..." he smiled and lifted the a large bag from his sleigh. Lucy got very excited. He started with her.

"The juice of the Fireflower..." he said handing her a small crystal bottle "One drop will cure any injury...Now I hope you never have to use this!" he said handing her a small dagger. It looked just like the one Beaver gave Kate. Lucy stepped back and Susan was called forward.

He handed her a bow and arrow in a holder "Trust this bow...it will not easily miss...and though you don't have a problem making yourself heard..." He handed her a Ivory horn, with a lion's head engraved into the mouth of it "Blow on this...and where ever you are...Help will come..." She said thanks and Peter came forward.

"The time to use these may be near at hand..." He said handing Peter a sword and Shield both engraved with the Lion symbol. "Thank you Sir!" he said as he un sheeted the sword.

"Remember these are tools...Not toys! Bare them well...Well I must be off...winter is almost over and things tend to pile up when you've been gone a 100 years..." he said putting the large bag of presents onto the sleigh again. "Long live Aslan...and Merry Christmas!" and he was gone.

Then Peter realised something "He said Winter's almost over..." He turned to look at them "You know what that means...No more ice!" and the other realised what he meant and Beaver led the way to the river. By the time they got there the ice had already started melting.

"We need to cross...NOW!" Peter said dragging Lucy to the edge. Susan was unsure but Peter pushed on and she followed. They got t the edge of the river and Peter went to step on the ice but it cracked.

"Maybe I should go first...!" Beaver offered. "Maybe you should..." Peter agreed. They walked steadily and slowly across the ice when suddenly some fell from above. Lucy looked up. "OH NO" They were being surrounded by wolves. "RUN" Peter yelled and the almost made it to the other side when Morgrim jumped out. Another wolf caught Beaver. "Peter!" Lucy called, obviously scared. Peter reached for the sword and pulled it out. Morgrim laughed.

"Put that down boy! Someone could get hurt...Leave now while you can...and your brother leaves with you..."

"Stop Peter maybe we should listen to him..." Susan said but Peter never lowered his sword. Morgrim chuckled "Smart girl" but Beaver had other ideas. "Don't listen to him...Kill him..."

"Silence..." Morgrim growled at Beaver "Or you'll never see the girl again either..."

"Kate" Mrs. Beaver whispered. Morgrim advance on them, pushing them towards the edge. "Aw come on...this isn't you're war...all my queen wants is for you to take your family and go..."

"Look! Just because some man in a red coat gives you a red sword it doesn't make you a hero!" Susan yelled "Just drop it!" but he refused.

"What's it gonna be son of Adam...I won't wait forever and neither will the river..." Lucy looked up at the frozen waterfall and noticed it was starting to crack. "PETER!" drawing his attention to the new problem facing them. Peter looked around helplessly. "Hold on to me..." he said as he lifted the sword over his head and drove it into the ice. The next few seconds lasted hours and eventually the water broke through, causing the ice to fall and that caused a huge wave of water to throw the Pevensies, the Beavers and the wolves into the now rushing stream.

Water clouded Peters vision but he could feel both girls holding onto him for dear life. His lungs were bursting for air and thankfully his hand broke the surface and then air. Both girls gasped when their heads came over the surface but Peter felt Lucy slipping. Trying to keep his own balance and hold Lucy proved difficult. The Beavers were steering them to the far shore. One they got off Susan noticed Lucy was missing.

"LUCY" she screamed at the rushing water. "LUCY" Peter stood in fear that he had failed yet another sibling. "Has anyone seen my coat?" came a voice and there was Lucy. Peter wrapped it around her and they made their way into the forest that looked a lot greener than anything they had seen so far.