The cave that the badger lead them to was not the shelter Kato had been expecting, the protection from the wind was welcome enough. He was surprised to see, however, that the cave was already inhabited. Sitting near a small fire that was burning feebly was a fox, its tail curled around it for warmth. This time, Kato wasn't even surprised when it spoke.

About time, Gera – well I'll be damned." The fox had only just looked up and noticed the three children who had entered the cave.

"Humans? Here in Narnia?"

"Yes," replied the badger.

"Impossible...unless – does this mean - ?"

"I believe it does and it is our job to help them."

"Of course! Praise Aslan for this glorious day!"

Kato was now thoroughly confused. "I'm sorry, we don't understand. What is Narnia? Who is Aslan?" Kato enjoyed how the mysterious name rolled off his tongue.

"They do not know anything?" hissed the fox.

"Of course not," the badger reprimanded him. "My name is Geraline. This is my friend, Jeb."

"Please to meet you," said Pierre. "My name is Pierre; this is my sister Marie and my cousin, Kato."

"Yes, yes," said Kato impatiently, "could we please know what's going on? Only half an hour ago we ended up in this forest. We were in the forest at the back of our home and then suddenly we were here. It's summer there."

"It's been winter here for almost ten years now."

"Ten years?" said Marie, her eyes going wide. "How?"

"Please, take a seat. It's quite a long story."

The three children got comfortable around the fire. Geraline looked to Jeb, who in a low, quite voice, began telling the story.

"The land you are in now is called Narnia. We were once a peaceful land, inhabited by Talking Beasts, centaurs, fauns –"

"I'm sorry; did you just say centaur and fauns?"

Jeb gave him a cold look.

"Sorry, this is all new to us. Continue."

"That all changed when the Witch came. She said she was human but it was lie. Never-the-less, she seized control of the Narnia. She now calls herself the Queen of Narnia and Empress of the Lone Islands, but we all refer to her as the White Witch."

Even the name sent shudders down the spines of the three children.

"There are stories that a great Lion, called Aslan would come and save us but it has been many a year since anyone has seen head or tail of him."

"Who is he?" Marie asked.

"He is a lion, the Lion. He is the real King of Narnia and the son of the Emperor-Over-The-Sea. It is said that when Aslan shakes his mane, we will have spring again. As I said, though, we Narnians have almost given up hope of his return. However, there is another prophecy that we believe. In the great castle by the sea, Cair Paravel, there are four thrones. The prophecy goes as such: 'When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone sit at Cair Paravel in the throne, evil will be over and done.'"

Pierre was confused. "Adam's flesh?"

"Humans. You four – wait! Geraline, there are only three!"

Geraline's eyes widened. But when I first saw them there were four them. The girl with the dark hair, where is she?"

"My sister, Elana, she – she ran away."

The fox and badger gasped in unison. "What happened?"

"We had a fight and – please, you must understand something. We are not here to fulfil a prophecy or defeat a Witch. We just got lost and we want to go home. Won't you help us find my sister so that we can?"

"We can't do anything until the storm dies down."

"Well then let us rest."

"Could you tell us a story?" Marie asked Jeb shyly.

"It would be a pleasure, little one. Though I warn, my subject of expertise is none to warming. I shall tell the tale of the White Witch."

Marie snuggled up to Kato, who placed his hand around her and Pierre. By this point he was extremely worried about Elana. Now that he knew what dangers were out there, he felt sure that something terrible would happen to his little sister. She claimed she could take care of herself, but she was just thirteen after all. And now, to add to everything, these strange talking animals were talking about a prophecy they believed would now be fulfilled. Kato had no intention of taking his place in any throne, especially not one currently being held by a tyrannous witch.

"No-one knows where she came from. Some say she has been here since time began, when Aslan created Narnia and gave it to King Frank and Queen Helen. It is said that upon arriving here she ate the forbidden fruit that gave her eternal youth. After that she spent many years scheming and gathering her power until she emerged as the royal family was crumbling to seize control. She based her claim to the throne on the fact she believed herself to be human, but we Narnian's all know the truth. She is really half giantess and all evil."

Beside him, Kato could feel Marie still shivering and he knew this time it wasn't from the cold. He too was chilled to the bone by the story.

"Please, Mr Fox – Jeb," he said quietly, "couldn't you tell us a happier story?"

"Oh the poor dears, you've been frightening them," Geraline gushed.

Jeb did not look offended. "As you wish, my king."

"My name is Kato."

"Of course. Before the Long Winter began, every spring the Narnians would gather for a celebration of new life and freedom. There would be dances and music as the fauns and the wood nymphs performed traditional dancers that anyone was welcome to join. The music..."

Kato let the warm words wash over him and felt his heart lift slightly. Truly this was a beautiful place when it was not trapped in winter.

Pierre's eyes were shining brightly as Jeb described the centaurs.

Marie listened, enraptured whenever the fox spoke of the water and tree nymphs and the graceful way in which they moved.

Kato simply lost himself in the entire story.

Much later, when everyone was slowly falling asleep, Kato sat wide awake and listened to the wind howling outside the cave. He could not rest knowing that Elana was out there somewhere in that terrible storm. A chill travelled down his spine when he wondered whether she would live out the night.

"Kato?" a small voice whispered.

"Marie? You should get some rest."

"Oh, I'm too excited to sleep."

"Rest is good for you Marie. We may have to walk quite a distance tomorrow to find Elana."

"Oh, right. I hope she is fine."

"So do I, Marie. So do I."

The little girl with the head of golden hair lay down on the hearth beside Kato.

"What do you think I shall dream about?" she asked sleepily.

"I do not know. Maybe you'll dream about the Narnian dances and all the strange folk who live here."

"Mm," agreed Marie, her eyes now closed. "I really want to dream of the Lion."

"The Lion?"

"You know – Aslan. The great Lion." And with that the little girl succumbed to sleep, a smile upon her pale face.

Kato knew he should sleep too and his eyes felt heavy. But he had to stay up. What if Elana called his name and he was sleeping? He had to be alert.

He had to stay awake.

He had to....

Jadis paced a room in her icy palace. This was the first time she had felt confused in years. Over the last decade or so there had been very little reason for worry. Narnia was hers and there was no way anyone could take it from her.

Now, though, there was the matter of the girl.

Jadis's mind instantly conjured up a picture of the four thrones at Cair Paravel. That truly was the only thing that plagued her, that ancient prophecy. But this was only one child, not four. Unless there were others.

Jadis made up her mind. One child was still a threat to her kingdom. A threat that would have to be dealt with swiftly.

The child must die.

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