Second-to-last chapter, right here! *tear* This journey has been spectacular! Thank you so much for reading!
BOOKCHOMPER101! Hey, please note that I did in fact get your review, and would love to respond, but your private messaging has been disabled. So everyone else can ignore this, as this is my response:
Hey, that's actually a really interesting plot twist I honestly didn't think of! I'll have to think on that now. This chapter kinda gives the Tarik issue away, just a bit, but there's another chapter coming up. We'll see. As for your question, on how many chapters you write, there are quite a few variables involved with this decision. For example, The Royal Removal started as a story that was only supposed to be a few chapters long, so I posted each individual chapter-however, it got a bit out of control, and looking back it would have probably been better if I had at least planned a plot. If you know and are confident with your story, write a few chapters, 3 or 4, and see how it goes. If for some reason you don't like the way it's going, want to change it, etc, you can do so. As you write, you'll find your own style of writing-personally, I've started writing most (if not all) of a story prior to posting, simply because I don't want to find my story is no longer fun to write or there's a scene I can change to make the entire thing much better. Everyone has their own style, but I hope this helps you at least start finding yours! If you want more help, go ahead and ask (though it may be a good idea to enable private messaging first!)
Finding: Trust~Chapter 10: Tumnus
We were heading toward the Stone Table. Emotions were running high, everyone yelling and hurrying deeper into the trees. I couldn't believe this was happening. Edmund had told me what he had done, and all these people he had betrayed were rushing to his rescue! It was surreal.
"Tumnus!" a voice growled.
I turned to see Aslan sitting, golden eyes studying me. "Your Majesty?"
Aslan sat, silently starring at me, then padded up to me. We continued walking, following the Narnians. "Tumnus, you still have doubts."
"It's not that I don't want to trust Edmund... I just... I don't know if I can."
"What makes you say this?"
"Well, I can't remember anything, and he openly admitted to betraying Narnia."
"Yes?"
"I mean, I suppose his honesty is better than trying to hide his crimes from me—then I would know for sure something was wrong. But I still don't understand how everyone here can trust him as if nothing bad happened."
Aslan gaze followed the Narnians on their way to the battle. "Unfortunately, your memory loss does not allow you to remember the good Edmund has done. And what has been done to him."
"What has—OH!"
The image struck me just as suddenly as it had before. I was forced to stop walking and grabbed Aslan's golden mane for support.
I didn't want to see this, but I couldn't leave. I could practically hear his screams echoing off the iced walls, see the Minotaur or giant towering over him, ready to strike again.
I sank to the floor and cradled my head in my hands. No one could survive that much blood loss.
I didn't like the human much, but I would never, ever wish this upon anyone! Tears started falling down my face, my vision blurring as I fell to the cold ground.
Soft footsteps padded down the stairs behind me. I turned to see a majestic lion slowly making his way toward me. Aslan didn't say anything and I finally broke the silence.
"He's dead, isn't he?" I whispered.
Aslan said nothing for several seconds. "I can only tell you your own story."
"How can I find out, then?"
"Come with me. Join the fight against the Witch."
I nodded, standing. "Lead me to the battle."
"I thought he was dead, there was so much blood. There was a battle..." I frowned, deep in thought. "Against the Witch."
Another memory flashed before my eyes.
Susan stepped back and began searching. "Where's Edmund?"
Peter looked at his sister, eyes wide, and led the way. I followed at a distance. I didn't want to intrude, but I needed to know if he really was alive.
"Edmund!" Susan yelled, drawing back her bow and shooting a dwarf about to give her brother a killing blow. She ran to the figure sprawled on the ground, one small hand grabbing fistful's of grass like it was the only thing keeping him alive. Peter and Lucy joined her, and they formed a tight ring around the shuddering figure.
From where I stood near a large boulder, I couldn't see anything but the back of Peter's head, Lucy's face, and Susan with something cradled in her lap. She pulled a helmet of and I saw a head of raven black hair spill out…
Edmund! He's alive!
With trembling hands, Lucy opened a vial of some sort and let a drop fall into the boy's mouth. He went from gasping fore each breath and jerking slightly in Susan's arms to perfectly still.
Susan and Peter looked at each other. Though I could only see Susan's face, I knew Peter's was a mirror image of her own: terrified, distressed, and… guilty?
Lucy, who had been crying the while time, began shaking as her tears softly racked her whole body.
Come on Edmund! I found myself silently urging him to open his eyes. Your family needs you! Narnia needs you! You owe us all so much!
"Yes, there was. Lucy's healing cordial revived Edmund, and the battle was won. The Witch is gone. However, her followers are intent on keeping the prophecy from becoming fulfilled."
"We still need two Sons of Adam..." the realization hit me like a rock.
"Indeed."
"I never should have left him."
"You followed orders. Now we must live with the choices we've made. Help fight against Jadis's influence once more, Tumnus."
I looked around. The Narnians were gone. "We should get going!"
"Wait," Aslan said. "Follow me."
Within minutes we reached the Stone Table, cracked in two. A Minotaur stood holding Edmund. They were standing by the Stone Table, waiting as a hag climbed up so that she stood on one part of the Table. The Minotaur slowly laid Edmund down next to the hag, who had pulled out a small dagger.
"Tresa," the Minotaur growled.
"What is it, Tarik?"
"This feels... wrong," Tarik sniffed the air.
"Wrong? In just a few seconds we will have won! If only Her Majesty could be here to see this, to be the one to do this."
Alsan growled next to me. Tarik looked around, wary and confused.
"Something is here."
"Well, go find out what and kill it."
Tarik waited at the Table, and his answer shocked me. "No."
Tresa looked up from the dagger she was sharpening. "Excuse me?" she asked, voice dangerously low.
"I said no. I will not do this."
"If you do not, I will kill you both."
"This traitor has managed to earn the respect of all the Narnians, and they are now killing Her Majesty's followers despite the fact that he has betrayed them. There is something bigger here. I refuse to stand in the way of... of whatever is protecting this Son of Adam."
Tresa muttered several words under her breath and the Minotaur was flung into a tree. He didn't move.
Aslan roared. He ran toward the hag and pounced, knocking her from her position on the Stone Table. I hurried to Edmund, untied his arms, and helped him sit up. He was gasping for breath, unable to speak. When Aslan had finished, he came over to us and breathed on Edmund. Edmund closed his eyes in relief, taking in as much life-giving air as possible.
"Is the Minotaur dead?" Edmund finally asked, eyes still closed.
"No," Aslan replied, surprising me.
"What if he wakes up?"
"He won't do anything," Edmund said.
"How are you so certain?"
"Aslan..."
Aslan nodded, eyes twinkling at the Son of Adam, still resting and gathering strength. "Edmund seems to have quite an impact on people."
"What are you talking about?"
"Just... some conversations Tarik and I had together."
Edmund spoke of the Minotaur as if they were friends on a first name basis. "What about the Minotaur?" I asked.
Aslan gazed at the Fell Creature thoughtfully.
"Leave him," Edmund said. "He deserves a second chance."
Aslan smiled as best a Lion can. He nudged Edmund's neck with his warm cheek. "Wise decision, Son of Adam."
I wasn't so sure I agreed, but if Aslan said it was wise I would trust him.
"Let's go find the others."