Chapter Seven is here! This battle scene was so hard to write, mainly because I tried to get it over two thousand words.

BATTLE DRESS ON PROFILE! DRESS SHE WEARS TO CORONATION IS ON PROFILE!

I don't own Narnia or Sound the Bugle by Bryan Adams. I only own Joanna, her parents, Adrina and Ludwik.

Chapter Seven: Some Things are Worth Dying for

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There's a voice that calls

Remember who you are

If you lose yourself

Your courage soon will follow

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My eyes were glued on the scene before me, unblinking. Peter lead the army on his unicorn, Oreius following close behind. The cheetahs from our side ran ahead taking the lead, much like the white tigers on the Witch's. It seemed that everything slowed as the cats attacked each other. The centaurs and fauns were close behind and the armies collided. I scanned the crowd for the Witch and I saw that she had taken residence on a small hill, and she was wearing Aslan's mane! I glanced down at Mr. Beaver I bit my lip. "Is she wearing…?"

"Yeah."

"I thought so." I kept an eye on Peter, making sure he was safe. I was almost pulling my hair out in frustration. "This is unbearable. I can't just stand here and let them die. I have to do something." Edmund grasped onto my wrist and his eyes said it all, 'Not right now. Wait.' I silently nodded and turned back to watch the battle. I was nibbling on my lip when I heard a familiar roar. "Did you hear that?" Mr. Beaver and Edmund looked at me in confusion.

"Hear what?" I sighed at Mr. Beaver's question.

"Nothing just thought I heard something." The Witch was slowly making her way to Peter on her chariot, which was being hauled by two polar bears.

"Fire!" Adrina nodded and took aim with a flaming arrow and let it fly. As it flew through the air it burst into a Phoenix. It let out a squawking cry as he dove and created line of fire between the two armies. It seemed to hold them off and we let out cries of relief, until the White Witch used her wand to put out the flames.

"Damn it. Let's get ready for Plan B." I heard a horn blowing, the signal.

"That's the signal. Come on!" I stopped at the rock above Edmund, with three archers beside me. Peter and the army were slowly drawing them to the rocks. Once the Witch's army came within firing distance my sword shot up in unison with Edmund's.

"Kill as many as you can." The archers smiled and took aim once more. I watched as Peter's unicorn was hit with an arrow and Peter flew to the ground. He seemed dazed as Oreius and the rhino ran past him.

"Stop!" They didn't listen. Once the rhino was down Oreius went straight for the Witch. The Witch's general attacked him. It seemed that the Minotaur had the upper hand, but he was taken down with two swords in the back. That's when Oreius pulled out an even bigger sword.

"You have got to be kidding me." He missed the Witch by an inch and that was all she needed. He fought bravely but was no match for her wand which turned him to stone instantly. I ran down the rocks and straight into battle. I parried and blocked, but didn't kill. They were Narnians after all.

"This isn't training Jo! They are trying to kill us! Fight back!" My eyes hardened as Peter said these words. He was right. I swung my swords with renewed force at the hag attacking me. Without mercy I decapitated her and the hem of my dress began to be soaked with blood. I was on autopilot. I didn't even realize what I was fighting, and how many I was killing until my swords clanged with Edmund's. I was panting with exertion as we stared into each other's eyes. I leaned back and stabbed the werewolf that was coming up behind him.

"You should be more careful. Not paying attention could get you killed." I dashed away, ready to fight the dwarf that just killed one our own. He nodded and began the deadly dance with a Minotaur.

"Edmund! There's too many! Get out of here! Get the girls and get them home!" I rolled my eyes and dodged an attack from the dwarf. I was only distracted for a moment, but it was enough for the dwarf to knock one of my swords from my hands. It landed a few feet away, casually lying on the ground. I darted to it and swung it around my head and it imbedded it in the dwarf's chest. I pulled it out, paying no mind to the blood on it and went to fight off a Minotaur that was gaining the upper hand on a centaur.

"Come on! We have to get out of here!" I shook my head and kept running, hoping to get to my destination before another life was taken.

"No way in hell! I told Mr. Beaver that I would fight and I won't back out of my promise!" Edmund nodded as Mr. Beaver began pulling him away. I made it to my target and I swung at the Minotaur. He was fast though. To escape his axe I slid into my splits, crossing my swords to make an X, blocking the axe. I pulled into the kneeling position and whipped my back leg out to knock the Minotaur of his feet and as he fell the centaur stabbed him. The hem of my dress was caked in blood, as was my sleeves. I turned around, just in time for a dwarf to slash my cheek, a small cut, but it bled profusely. He was an easy opponent; all I had to do was keep on my toes. I smiled as he fell, yet another body to add to the growing list of the dead.

I was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield once I got over my nerves. I was using my two swords with ease as I cut down many creatures. It seemed I was locked in a dangerous dance with many partners. My maroon dress swished as I blocked, and turned; thrusting my sword into the flesh of the Witch's minions. Each thrust I made I let out more of my anger. I glanced to my left as I heard Edmund yell. I stopped my dance to watch in fascination as a blue glow was released as he broke the White Witch's wand. The Witch swung her sword at Edmund, but he blocked it. While he was distracted she plunged her broken wand into his abdomen.

"EDMUND!" I was frozen in shock, but Peter wasn't. He immediately ran towards the Witch, blinded by fury. I swung at the nearest enemy. I was going to take revenge; it didn't matter if it was the White Witch herself or her followers. The dance began again, but this time it was even more deadly because it didn't matter to me if I died; as long as I took many enemies with me.

I let out a cry as I slashed mercilessly at the enemy. They took away my best friend and they were trying to take away Narnia. I couldn't let that happen.

Remember who you are, My Child. You are not a ruthless killer. I stopped short. Aslan? I quickly slashed at my opponent and took off towards Edmund. I fell to my knees by his side and my eyes filled up with tears.

"Edmund? Why did you do that?"

He tried to grin, but it came out as a grimace. His hand reached for mine as he said, "Some things are worth dying for remember." His voice was weak and cracked as he said the words.

"Those are my rules. No one's supposed to follow them except me." He shrugged then grimaced in pain. "I have to go. I will get revenge for you." With that I laid a light kiss on his forehead and wiped the tears from my eyes. I couldn't lose myself in grief or my courage would follow soon and I wouldn't be able to fight. My right sword swung and the loud clang of metal hitting metal resounded in my ears. I looked up at my giant opponent. Literally. "Oh crap." I didn't break eye contact as I swung my left sword forward, slicing his legs, drenching my dress in even more blood. Even if I was crazy enough to believe I could take the giant, I ran. Thankfully I saw a werewolf and a hag teaming up against Adrina. I slashed the hag's back, making her scream as she whirled on me.

"Thank you, Joanna." I nodded; concentrating on the hag who was trying to distract me.

"Go Adrina! Protect the others, I can handle these two." She looked hesitant, but nodded when I yelled, "Go!" The two enemies circled around me, trying to find a weak spot. I gasped as the werewolf let out a low growl deep in his throat and pounced. He was knocked out of the way by a furious Ludwik. His tunic was tore and stained with blood and grass. He snarled at the werewolf and I tuned into the hag who was preparing to stab me in the back with her dagger. My eyebrows raised, she really thought that she could defend herself against two swords with just a dagger? I easily chopped her hand off, wincing at the sound. My sword was poised to run her through when she smiled wickedly. Before she could say anything I swung my sword at her neck and knocked her head from her shoulders.

My head whipped around when I heard Aslan's roar. The smile lit up my face as the words slipped out of my mouth, "We're back in the game." I was even happier when I saw the reinforcements that Aslan brought. I fought with renewed strength, but stopped when Peter cried out in pain. I watched as the White Witch was about to finish him, when Aslan came roaring to the rescue. It was done, the White Witch was dead. My feet carried me to Peter and I hugged him.

"Peter! Jo!" I turned and was almost knocked on my backside with the force of Lucy's impact. I sent her off to her brother and gave Susan a quick hug.

"Where's Edmund?"I lifted my bloody skirt and sprinted to where Edmund fell. There was a dwarf who was about to chop into Edmund when Susan released one of her arrows that killed the dwarf in an instant. Edmund was gasping for breath and was trying to grasp onto something. My tears were let loose with renewed vigor as Susan took off his helmet and set his head in her lap. A drop of liquid from Lucy's cordial fell into his mouth and his breathing slowed to a stop. I let out a sob of anguish as more tears fell, turning my eyes and cheeks an angry red. This is why you made rule twenty. Shut up! I don't care, my best friend is dead!

I laid a hand on Peter's armor clad shoulder, not finding words of comfort. I once again wiped my eyes with my hand when I heard coughing. I knew I shouldn't get my hopes up as I bit my lip, praying. When his eyes flickered open I couldn't help the grin and tears that appeared on my face. Peter pulled his brother into a hug as he held the tears in. "When are you gonna learn to do as you're told?" I smiled as the children shared a hug. In that moment everything was right, everything was perfect.

"Jo?" My eyes met Edmund's and I pulled him into a hug. We embraced for a moment, but I pulled back and punched his arm.

"That was using my own rules against me." I hit him again, harder. "That was for almost dying." I pulled his cheek to my lips, kissing it gently. "That was for surviving." He grinned and pulled me into another hug, in which the others joined in. Aslan walked up, breathing life into a soldier. It seemed to give Lucy an idea, because she ran off, cordial in hand. I fixed Edmund with a glare. "Don't ever worry me like that again!"

"I'll try not to. " That's good enough, not wonderful, but satisfactory; for now.

"I'm gonna try to find Ludwik, have to see how he's faring after his battle with a werewolf." I struggled to keep my stomach from churning as I saw all the bodies. They had been someone's son, daughter, lover, father, mother, they were real. Someone was never going to see their loved one again. That someone would grieve, because of us. Because of me. I had killed in cold blood; I knew what I was doing when I took their lives.

"My Lady, are you alright?" I dropped to my knees as Ludwik came limping to my arms, his right front paw injured.

"Oh! I am so happy you're okay. Well not okay, because you're bleeding, but you're alive." I buried my face in his fur and cried all the tears I could. "Edmund almost died and I couldn't say the words. He almost died not knowing how I felt about him. I killed so many people Ludwik." He nuzzled my neck in comfort.

"My Lady, I have nothing to say about your situation about Edmund, but I can tell you that the people you killed deserved what they got. You were only trying to protect your friends, your home. There is no reason for you to be upset about killing, they were not innocent." I sniffled and raised my head from his fur.

"We should get your paw looked at. It seems painful." I went to pick him up, but he darted away. "I just wanted to carry you so you wouldn't have to walk." He rolled his eyes and continued to limp along, grumbling about me. I stuck my tongue out at him as Lucy came into view. "Lucy! Ludwik needs some of your fire-flower juice." She dropped a small amount on his tongue and smiled when he stood on his paw.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." She waved it off as she jogged away looking for more injured soldiers.

"Now, how did you kill that werewolf?" Ludwik chuckled deeply as he sat.

"In all honesty, I fought him to the cliff side and pushed him off." I cackled; it was just so simple. I spied Aslan out of the corner of my eye; I needed to talk to him.

"Excuse me, Ludwik. I need to speak with Aslan." He nodded and bounded off to do who knows what. I stood on Aslan's right side, neither of us speaking for a number of seconds. "Aslan, if we go home, where would I go?"

"You would return with the Pevensies. Your mother sent you to them, and you will never return to your time." I nodded, feeling only a little sad. I belonged here, with the Pevensies, in Narnia.

"Why did Ludwik call me Warrior when we met?"

"It was written that the Heart and Soul that would arrive with the Kings and Queens would be a great Warrior, determined to come out of a battle victorious."

"So the name just kind of stuck?"

"Yes, My Child." He smiled at me; well what I assumed was a smile. He had a very human look to him in that moment. I had the urge to hug him, but held back.

"Thank you."

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The trip to Cair Paravel was long and weary, but once we arrived I couldn't be happier. Cair Paravel reminded me of the castles you read about in fairy tales. It was made of a white stone that glistened in the sun. The one thing that I loved about it was that it was in walking distance to the beach. That was where I found myself the day before my friends' coronation. I held the hem of my dress in my hand, so that it would not get wet, as I walked through the waves that were gently lapping at my ankles. I was lost in my memories. Tomorrow my friends would become rulers, but where would that leave me?

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The next morning I was woken up around mid morning and immediately thrown into the bathroom. I sighed as I eased into the warm bath that had been readied for me. I scrubbed my skin, getting off every invisible speck of dirt and blood, rubbing until my skin was a deep pink. The shampoo I used had a tint of coconut in it, making me relax and smile. All too soon the bath came to an end and I was ushered into my bedroom, where a beautiful gown was waiting for me. It had a black body that was tightened at the waist by a white sash. The trumpet sleeves were white with thin black ribbon wrapping around the upper arm.

"Oh no. I can't…" My protesting was silenced by the glare of the servant helping me dress. I sighed and slipped it on, and resigned myself to play dress up. The girl adjusted the dress to her liking then gently, as to not mess up the dress, shoved me into the seat by the vanity. She fussed with it awhile before choosing to have my hair in a half up half down style. She made my makeup simple, black eyeliner and a light pink lipstick. I slipped my shoes on as I ran down the hallway towards the Throne Room. I slid to the empty spot next to Ludwik just as the doors opened, revealing my friends and Aslan. They must have been nervous, but they never showed it. Each stood in front of their throne, smiling.

"To the glistening Eastern Sea, I give you Queen Lucy the Valiant." Mr. Tumnus took the small silver crown from the pillow Mrs. Beaver was holding and placed it on Lucy's dark curls.

"To the great Western Wood, King Edmund the Just." Mr. Tumnus placed a silver crown on his head. Edmund stood and grinned at me.

"To the radiant Southern Sun, Queen Susan, the Gentle." A feminine golden crown, much like Lucy's was place upon her head.

"And to the clear Northern Sky, I give you King Peter, the Magnificent." On his golden hair sat an equally golden crown. Once they sat in their thrones Aslan continued. "Once a King or Queen of Narnia, always a King or Queen. May your wisdom grace us until the stars rain down from the heavens."

Long live King Peter! Long live King Edmund! Long live Queen Susan! Long live Queen Lucy!" The whole crowd yelled. Soon afterward a party was held. I stood off to the side taking everything in.

"You wore black to the coronation." I turned my head upward to see Edmund.

"Of course I did. I'm in mourning for the loss of my sanity." His brow furrowed in confusion. "I am going to go crazy having to put up with you and your brother's ego boosts you will get from being Kings." He shot me a mock hurt look and held out his hand. It was my turn for confusion. His eyes danced merrily to the dance floor. "No." Instead of listening he grabbed my hand and dragged me to the floor. "What part of the word no don't you understand?" I wasn't angry, only amused.

He smirked as he positioned one of his hands on my waist. "All of it."

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So be strong tonight, remember who you are,
Yea you're a soldier now, fighting in a battle,
To be free once more, yea that's worth fighting for

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There we go! Almost over!

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