CHAPTER 6

"Come on Sarah...I want you to meet someone..." Kate called as she pulled her sister through the snow.

"Kate...I'm not sure about this..."Sara said looking at the castle. She sensed an edge to the atmosphere but she could not let her sister go alone. They made it to the gates and Kate led the way in. For a 10 year old girl she was as brave as they came and this is why Sara was with her. She wasn't sure where she was. One minute they were by the sea playing and Kate ran off. She came back a minute later shouting that she had been gone for hours. She pulled Sara into the cave and suddenly she was in a forest. Now she was in an Ice Palace.

"She should be around here" they were in a courtyard filled with statues of various creatures that Sara couldn't recognise. Her scared feeling didn't ease it infact got worse. Then a woman stepped into the courtyard. She was tall, icy pale skin and black eyes. "That's her!" Kate whispered. The queen stepped forward.

"Where are your brothers?" she asked quietly. Sara looked at Kate who looked confused. She had the feeling in the pit of her stomach that the wrong answer could mean bad things so Sara answered. "They are still in the woods...we'll get them..." Sara pulled Kate along with her. They got to the gate before Kate spoke "We don't have any brothers..."

"She Kate...I have a really bad feeling...Trust me! We have to get back, is it this way?" she pointed to her left and Kate nodded. They got to the cliff they had entered through but it was sealed. Kate started to panic but Sara pulled her along. They walked for maybe 10 minutes when a howl rang out across the sky. Sara started running as did Kate and they could feel the wolves gaining on them. Sara knew what she had to do.

""RUN KATE...GO RUN!"she screamed at her little sister. She looked back in horror as a pack of wolves closed the gap. They would reach them in seconds.

"NO! NOT WITHOUT YOU!" Kate screamed at her sister. Sara tried to smiled at her, but the fear was in her eyes. "KATE TRUST ME! JUST GO...PLEASE...GO..."She shoved her slightly to push her forward and then she turned to face the wolves. Kate ran without looking back. She just ran, tears spilling for her sister and the knowing they would never see each other again. Then a haunting scream filled the air and Kate stopped. "Sara"

.

Kate woke panting for air. "Stupid nightmare!" she whispered to herself. She removed her hand from her face and felt where she was laying. It was a soft comfortable bed. She looked up. She was in a red tent, sunlight coming through little cracks in the ceiling. She was also wearing new clothes. She looked around and noticed she was alone. "Edmund?" she whispered. No reply. She sat up quickly, regretting it as the pain in her head caused her to become dizzy. She lay down as the tent opened.

"Oh thank Aslan you're alright!" Mrs Beaver said coming over to her. Kate smiled at seeing her. She had missed her. "It's great to see you too...Where am I?"

"Oh we're near the stone table...This is Aslan's camp. How are you feeling?" Kate shrugged.

"I've been worse" She sat up, slowly this time. "Where's Edmund? Is he alright?" Mrs. Beaver smiled. "He's with his siblings having breakfast...Which I think is exactly what you need too!"

Kate smiled "Please!" She put on the brown sandals at the foot of her bed and followed Mrs. Beaver out of the tent. The sunshine blinded her for a moment, her headache not completely gone but she got over it quickly. Some of the soldiers around smiled at her as she passed. Beaver was talking to some soldiers when they approached. "Kate!" He came over and she hugged him. "Are you alright?" she nodded but again her head hurt. "Just hungry"

"Oh right...well the Kings and Queens are eating over there, why don't you join them...I know king Edmunds been worried about you" she blushed slightly and gave a small nod, walking in the direction Beaver had said. As she approached she heard Lucy "Narnia's not going to run out of toast Ed!" Then she rounded the corner.

"Um hi!" she said embarrassed. Edmund jumped up to her. "Your awake! At last...How's your head?" she sensed the worry in his voice and the 3 pairs of eyes looking at them.

"Sore...but I'll live...just hungry" Edmund led her to the table. Susan gave a small cough and Edmund was pulled back from his worry for Kate. "Oh sorry...Kate this is Susan, Lucy..." he said pointing to the respective sister. The first thing that struck Kate was how beautiful Susan was, ivory skin with brown eyes and long brown, like Kate use to have. "And that's Peter!" he said pointing to the tall boy near the cliff wall. He was handsome, with blonde hair and blue eyes, well built. He smiled slightly when his name was mentioned.

"And you must be Kate..."Susan said smiling extending her hand. Kate took it. She started eating silently. "This toast is amazing!" Edmund said causing the girls to laugh slightly.

"Make sure to pack some up for the journey back!" Peter said causing them all to look at him.

"We're going home?" Susan asked. "You are! I promised mum I'd keep you three safe..." he said joining the group. "But it doesn't mean I can't stay behind and help"

"But they need us...all four of us!" she said but looking quickly at Kate said "And you too"

"Lucy it's too dangerous, you almost drowned, Ed was almost killed!" But then Edmund spoke.

"Which is why we have to stay?" Kate looked at him. He was shaking slightly, as was she at the thought of Edmund almost dying, although not sure why"

"I, We've," he said looking at Kate "we've seen what the White witch can do...and I've helped her do it!" he hung his head and Kate caught his hand "And we can't leave these people behind to suffer for it!" Peter smiled at his brother with pride but before they could continue Orieus approached them. "Kate! Aslan would like a word, when you're ready" she nodded , giving Edmunds hand a squeeze before standing and following Orieus to the largest tent.

"Come in dear one!" a gentle loving voice came, she stepped in and her breath caught. He was the most amazing thing she had seen in all her years in Narnia.

"You wished to see me Aslan?" she said. He smiled and calmness washed over them. "Yes! I wanted to make sure you were alright. That was quite an ordeal you went through."

"I had Edmund..." but stopped blushing furiously. Aslan gave a small chuckle. "You care for him, as he does you, as I'm sure you're aware..." Kate smiled slightly. "Is your head still sore?" She shrugged and Aslan blew a breath on her and her headache was gone and all her fear with it.

"From now on, you shall be Lady Kate and the first lady of the Narnian knighthood..."

"But I" Aslan stopped her. "I know you don't see it yet, but you will someday child...someday. Now you may rejoin the others. I believe they are on the training grounds...a knight needs to practice" Kate nodded and left the tent. Orieus bowed slightly to her as she past having heard her conversation. "I guess you'll be needing one of these!" he reached to the table behind him. He turned back holding a lion emblazed shield and a sword. He handed them to her and she took them in shaking hands. She shouldered the shield and tied the sword belt around her waist. She pulled the sword from the cover and looked at it.

"Thank you" she whispered and Orieus smiled. "Would you like to accompany me to the training field, I am teaching the young Kings how to use one of those" she smiled and nodded walking with him to field where Peter and Edmund were watching Susan and Lucy practice with their bows and dagger. "There you are!" Edmund smiled when she approached. The girls joined their brothers.

"What did Aslan want?" Lucy asked. Kate blushed "He wanted to make sure I was ok..." she didn't want to mention the whole knight thing but Orieus had other ideas.

"She is now Lady Kate, first lady knight of Narnia" he said causing her to blush but the other smiled. "A knight! That's great!" Lucy said. She reminded Kate so much of herself when she was that age, full of excitement and joy, oblivious to the trouble around them. Edmund was presented with his sword and their training began and it was hard.

By lunch Kate, Peter and Edmund were exhausted, although Kate was not as bad as the boys. Susan and she were becoming great friends, reminding Kate how much like Sara she was with her motherly tone. She was thankful that none of them had brought up the topic of her sister, but Edmund kept shooting her small glances. The girls went back to the training field while Kate and the boys went to get their horses. Peter got a beautiful white unicorn. Edmund was given a strong brown horse that was very fast and Kate was given a golden horse with a black mane. She was in love. They race to the training grounds, Edmund winning. Kate watched the two of them sword fight, trotting over to where the girls were.

"They're like big kids!" Kate said both girls nodding in agreement. "Peter's just happy to have him back" Susan said. Beaver suddenly ran onto the grounds. "PETER! EDMUND" I stirred my house their way the girls following.

"The witch has demanded a meeting with Aslan" No one could miss the scared look that passed between Kate and Edmund. "Susan, get on my horse, Lucy on Edmunds" Peter said as both girls jumped on their brother's horses and the three took off down the hill. They jumped off and saw her walk in their direction.