Alyssa was worried. She knew what was happening to Caspian right now, but she couldn't get away from Susan, who was practically yelling in her ear that Caspian was fine. "Screw you," said Alyssa as Susan was about to drag her back outside.
She could still hear Susan shouting at her; she tuned her out. Her footsteps echoed on the floor beneath her as she ran quickly. She tried not to think of what would happen if she didn't make it in time.
But I will, she thought. I know how the story goes, after all!
Could she be so sure?
Shaking her head, Alyssa picked up her pace. She was almost to the Stone Table room. In a moment, she would be saving Caspian…
Her mind suddenly cleared. Right now, nothing mattered except for the White Witch inside the tall mountain of ice.
The White Witch smiled. "Alyssa, dear… It's been a while, hasn't it?" She held out her hand, beckoning towards Alyssa. "Come now…just one drop."
Alyssa pulled out her sword, still entranced by the White Witch. She made to cut a vein in her wrist so the White Witch could have all the blood of hers that she wanted…
"ALYSSA! CASPIAN!" cried a voice. Its owner knocked Alyssa down, and Alyssa truly saw her surroundings for the first time.
There was a Wer-wolf and a Hag standing on either side of Caspian. The White Witch was still inside the ice, but she looked angry and frustrated. Mallory, who had knocked Alyssa over, shot an arrow at the Wer-wolf, who dodged it. Logan was slicing her. (He must have gotten that arrow out of his side, Alyssa thought.) Lucy was charging, dagger drawn, towards a Black Dwarf that Alyssa had never spoken to but knew the name of: Nikabrik. Lucy had him pinned, her dagger at his neck.
The Wer-wolf suddenly pinned Mallory to the ground. He licked his chops and tried to bite her.
Alyssa reacted quickly. She stood up with her sword in hand and slammed her sword into the small of the Wer-wolf's back.
He jerked and collapsed, limp and unmoving. Worried that he would crush Mallory, Alyssa used all of her weight to push him off of her. Alyssa then noticed that there was an arrow sticking out of his heart. Smiling, Mallory got up, unharmed. She and Alyssa high-fived.
They heard a scream of pain; Logan had killed the Hag. He walked over to them, running a hand through his hair.
Lucy, however, had just been overpowered by Nikabrik. He was about to stab her when he randomly collapsed and went limp; standing behind his body was Trumpkin.
"Well, we did it," said Mallory as Alyssa sighed of relief.
"Um, guys, I don't think—"
"Logan, I love you, but shut up."
"But—"
"Relax!"
"Mallory, behind you, it's Caspian!"
Mallory and Alyssa flipped around. Caspian was about to touch the White Witch's hand.
"NO!" screamed Alyssa, running toward him. "DON'T DO IT, CASPIAN!"
As soon as she had reached him, she flung her arms around his torso. "Please," she whispered. "Don't do this, Caspian…because I—"
The ice suddenly began to crack. The White Witch looked around wildly before spotting a sword sticking through the middle. She screamed as the ice broke off, and she disappeared. There stood Logan, shaking. "She sounded like a real bitch," he said.
Caspian jumped, startled to have Alyssa's arms around him. She pulled away, looking away from him. "Y-you saved me," he said.
She shrugged. "Yeah." Alyssa then ran out of the room, past Susan, who was glaring at Caspian. She left too.
"Well…this is awkward," said Mallory. "I'll go look for Alyssa." And then she was off.
She caught up with Maddie and Darby. "I think we all need to talk," said Mallory. "We need to discuss what the hell's going on."
The other two agreed immediately and set off to go get Alyssa. They found her rather quickly, outside on one of the ledges of the How.
"I feel...weird," said Alyssa, drawing her knees in closer to her body.
Mallory sat on Alyssa's right. "We all do. We were obviously brought back for a reason, right?"
"Wait...are you two remembering from when we were here before?" asked Maddie. "I do too!"
"And me!" interjected Darby.
"Why do you suppose we didn't remember before?" asked Mallory.
"I dunno," said Alyssa, "but haven't you noticed that things are changing?"
"So?" asked Darby.
"So," said Maddie, "that means that because we're here, this story could turn out differently."
"Oh, come on, you two-"
"They have a point, Darby," said Mallory. "Look-Lucy didn't get attacked by that bear, we've barely talked to Nikabrik, we haven't even met Trufflehunter, and just now Peter and Edmund didn't come to help Caspian."
Darby was silent for a while before saying, "Okay. Things are changing...because of us?"
Alyssa nodded. "Yeah."
"Then we need to leave."
No one spoke. No one wanted to leave Narnia.
"Do you think the war will still be in our favor?" asked Alyssa in a whisper. "Or will we...will we..."
"...die?" finished Maddie. "I doubt even Aslan knows."
They all grew silent, not knowing what to say. All of a sudden, however, all of their eyes darted to the approaching figures...if you could call that many Telmarine soldiers merely 'figures.' They all moved as a unit, led by Miraz himself.
"This is bad," said Alyssa. "Look how many of them there are!"
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," said Darby. "C'mon, we better gather everybody."
As soon as they had, Peter turned to Caspian. "Look, I know we don't see eye-to-eye, but now would be a great time to forgive and forget."
Caspian nodded. "I agree...but how are we to stop Miraz?"
"The customs of your people," whispered Alyssa. She spoke up. "He's bound to the traditions of your people, Caspian!"
"You're right!" said Caspian, smiling at Alyssa. "There is a certain one that may buy us some time."
After Caspian explained the single combat, it was decided that Peter would duel. Darby held a strange expression on her face.
Edmund and Maddie, flanked by a Troll and a Badger, made their way across the field to Miraz's men. Maddie held her head up high as they barged into Miraz's camp. As soon as they met with Miraz and his council, Maddie pulled out the proclamation and began to read: " 'I, High King Peter the Magnificent, Lord of Cair Paravenl, and Emperor of the Lone Islands, do challenge you, Miraz, to single comabt. The fight will be to the death. The winner takes all.' "
Miraz turned to Edmund. "Now, tell me, Prince-"
"King."
"I'm sorry?"
"It's King Edmund," said Maddie, intervening. "Peter's the High King... I know, it's confusing." Before Miraz could open his mouth, Maddie said, "Now don't you dare refuse to fight a swordsman half your age."
"I didn't say, girl," snarled Miraz, "that I refused...I accept the challenge."
