Chapter 8

Kate woke early the next morning to an empty tent. "Susan?" she looked to where Susan should be but it was empty. "Lucy?" Lucy's bed was also empty. "I have to tell the boys..." and as if they heard the two ran into the tent. "Susan...Lucy?" They both looked at Kate. "Where are they?"

"I don't know. I just woke up! I was coming to get you...what's going on?" Edmund looked at Peter. "Do you think it's true?" he asked and Peter left the tent and confused Kate behind. Edmund smiled slightly at her before following his brother out of the tent. Kate changed quickly and followed Edmund. She found him and Orieus outside Aslan's tent, Peter joining them. She caught the end of his sentence "He's gone"

"What's going on?" Kate asked as she approached them. Edmund answered "A tree keeper came to us this morning...Lucy and Susan sent her...Aslan died last night!" Kate looked at Peter and Orieus for some sign that Edmund was joking. They both bowed their heads and Kate looked away wiping the small tears that came to her eyes. Peter was looking at the map of the battlefield in front of him. Edmund spoke.

"You'll have to lead us!" he said clearly. "Peter there's an army out there and it's ready to follow you!"

"I can't" he sighed in scared tone. Kate stepped forward as Edmund spoke again "Aslan believed you could...And so do I!" Those words seemed to kick Peter into reality. Orieus addressed them.

"The witches army is nearing sire...what are your orders?" Kate was now at the table looking over the map. And suddenly Peter was in action. With the help of Orieus and his knowledge of battle and Kate with her knowledge of the area they had planned everything. Peter called a meeting to explain his plans while Kate and Edmund went to practice one last time. They practiced till noon when they went back to get ready, hoping their practice warmed them up and prepared them for the upcoming battle. One they were suited they got on their respective horses and headed to Beruna the battle field. Edmund and Kate were going on the rocks after a small argument with Peter.

"But I'm a knight! I should be in the battle!" Kate protested. Edmund was already being forced to stay on the rock as it was safer in Peter's opinion and not wanting to upset his brother he complied but had suggested Kate stay there too. Peter knew he was worried for her so he decided it was her place.

"Look Kate! You're family now and I protect my family! If the girls were here then they would be there too. Now please, fight from the rocks!" She nodded and agreed. "That's blackmail". Before walking away she said to him "Is this what having you as a brother is going to be like?" he smiled. "I'm afraid so" she smiled before going to tell Edmund she was joining his troop on the rocks. She did, however, miss Edmund mouthing 'Thank you' to Peter before they took off. The journey to Beruna took an hour. They positioned themselves where they should be and waited. Edmund and Kate and Edmund were standing head of the archers on the hill top overlooking the army below. Peter and Orieus were standing on a rock, jutting out from the grass creating a small platform at the head of the army.

A griffin flew over head and landed next to Peter. "They come your Highness, in number and weapons far greater than our own!" Peter tried to hide the fact he was worried. "Number do not win a battle" Orieus stated. "No" Peter agreed "But I bet they help!" From their position on the hill, Edmund and Kate saw the army approach before the others. "Were there that many before?" he asked. All Kate could do was shake her head. "I thought not"

The first to appear was a minotaur, followed by easily a thousand soldiers, mainly dwarfs or minotaurs, or something incredibly big and strong. The Witch appeared in the crowd. She was being pulled by 2 polar bears and was in an old roman style carriage. She no longer wore her ice blue dress but a golden one, the neck of which was cover in, Kate realised with a lump in her throat, was Aslan's mane. Peter looked up at Kate and Edmund once before raising his sword causing the Narnians to cheer. The Minotaur in front of the Witch raised his axe having the same reaction Peter had except once he lowered it the soldiers nearest the front took off towards the Narnians. The Narnians waited for Peter's signal. Peter flicked his sword and a large flock of birds flew over head each carrying a boulder. Once over the Witch's army (W.A) they dropped them but the soldiers had seen them and now were shooting arrows at them. Peter turned to Orieus.

"Are you with me?" he asked as the W.A. drew ever nearer. "To the death" he replied. Peter turned to face the oncoming crowd. Lifting his sword above his head he shouted "FOR NARNIA! AND FOR ASLAN!" and he and Orieus led the troops forward. The seconds seemed to last for minutes for Kate and Edmund, who waited with the others for the moment of impact. And just before it happened the world went silent. The first to meet were the Cheetahs and the snow leopards. And then chaos!

The only way Kate knew where Peter was, was because of his white unicorn. She stood out against the red and black that was the battle in front of her. It raged like that for maybe 10 minutes before the Witch led the rest of her troops in. Edmund knew now was the time. "FIRE!" he yelled and a female centaur shot a flaming arrow into the sky. It exploded and a phoenix appeared. It swooped down and made a wall of fire, staling some of the W.A. until she came quickly dousing it with her wand. Peter turned. "FALL BACK!" He called over the cries "DRIVE THEM TO THE ROCKS!" A horn sounded and Edmund and Kate turned. "That's the signal...come on"

They ran down the mountain and prepared themselves for the approaching battle. The archers lined the rock edge and Edmund raised his sword. When the W.A. approach the area he lowered it and the sky rained down with arrows. Kate spotted Ginnabrick too late and watched as he shot the unicorn Peter was riding. Peter was thrown forward losing his helmet in the process. Orieus followed Edmund and Kate's gaze and saw Peter on the ground. Peter was dazed from the fall and when he looked up the Witch was closing in on him. But then Orieus was jumping over him. "STOP" but it was too late. Orieus took down the Minotaur in front first and made his way to the Witch. Peter watched in horror as he wand connected with him and he was turned to stone before him.

Peter looked around him. Narnians were falling everywhere. And the W.A. had made it to the rock and both Kate and Edmund were not in a frenzy of fights. The Witch took down 2 griffins and turned her attention to Peter. He looked to his brother "EDMUND! THERE'S TOO MANY...GET OUT OF HERE! GET THE GIRLS AND GET THEM HOME" Kate had been fighting a dwarf at this point but still heard Peter's call. She seen Beaver pull Edmund by her. He was about to pull her with him but she jumped down to lower ground to help Peter. Then Edmund noticed the Witch, as did Kate. She ran forward and Edmund ran across the cliff top. He got there before Kate. Coming down he missed and the battled for a few seconds but before Kate could get there a blue light erupted where Edmund stood. Peter and Kate exchanged scared looks and watched as the Witch swung her now broken wand at Edmund. Everything happened in slow motion.

Kate knew what was going to happen and no matter how hard she tried her feet wouldn't move. She watched in horror as the Witch stabbed Edmund. She heard her own cry and Peter's mix together. Then Edmund fell and everything returned to normal. Blind rage and pain shot through Kate and Peter, but he was battling a Minotaur at the time and Kate was closer. She ran at the Witch and engaged in a sword fight that lasted only a few moments. The witch got the upper hand and Kate was knocked off her feet and sent tumbling down the slope, hitting her newly healed head and wrist. She heard Peter call her name but couldn't answer. Kate could still see the fight from where she was and watched as Peter battled the witch with the same pain and anger in his eyes.

Kate stood striking the first enemy near her. She watched Peter from the corner of her eye. Her wrist hurt like crazy everytime she blocked a blow. Then she saw Peter fall but thankfully he got back up. But that one lapse in concentration had cost her and she was blown backwards by an ogre. Before she could catch her a roar sounded around them and her opponent was distracted long enough for her to strike. She looked up and saw Lucy and Susan with Aslan and more soldiers, including Mr. Tumnus. Peter had almost forgotten about the Witch until she stuck him again. The new army raced down the hill to their aid. Kate watched as Peter was knocked in his back, the witch towering over him. And then Aslan was there. He took down the witch with one strike and then it was a blur.

Everything around her blurred and she saw Lucy and Susan run to Peter. Throwing her shield aside she ran to where Edmund last stood and found him clutching his wound, gasping for air. "Edmund...it's me...come on stay with me" she begged tears coming before she could stop them. She hadn't notice Ginnabrick sneak up on them. "NO!" Susan called firing at him. She took him down and the three ran to Edmund and Kate. Peter was a white as a sheet when he saw him. Susan removed his helmet and Lucy took the crystal bottle from her hip. Kate was rubbing Edmunds face with her thumb "Come on Edmund" Lucy put a single drop into his mouth and he was quiet.