She's beautiful. Sorry, he's beautiful. I stare at my dwarf henchman who is dressed in a dress identical to mine with a wig to match. I'm feeling proud of myself for the plan, being able to successfully create a dress and wig out of ice, and of course just looking at him makes me giggle.
"Okay. Let's go over the plan once more. You will stand on the box attached to the chariot. The dress should be long enough to hide the box. You just need to pretend to be me for a while. Everyone has a heads up and will be doing their best to protect you. But I just want to let you know that there is a chance of something going wrong. I probably just jinxed that-"
"What does 'jinx' mean, m'lady?"
"Oh nothing. Forget it." I don't want to scare him too much. I know in the book the Ice Queen dies, but there's a chance that because it's not actually me he won't die, right? He'd probably die anyway to be honest. At least now he gives me a chance to stop the fighting before too many others die. But then again I know I'm just trying to convince myself this is the right course of action but I honestly don't know. Both ways many people will die. But they're just story characters. Fiction. Not real. But giving my doppelganger a good luck (not goodbye) hug makes him feel all too real. I could be wrong.
"My Ice Queen. It is an honor to assist you. No matter the cost."
"Oh shut up. Don't be ridiculous. Your life is just as precious as mine. I have no right to take it away from you. I think we should call this off."
"No. This is my life's purpose. It makes me happy. If you die then I shall die as well." I stare at him. Geez, this is one dedicated servant. I grab some snow and using my awesome snow powers instantly craft an elegant necklace that is thin as silk, yet sturdy as diamonds, and place it around his neck. A little snowflake hangs off it.
"To complete the look." I say. Even though I have never worn or wear any such jewelry. Honestly I don't know why I did it, it just felt right.
I turn away before things get too real and mentally prepare myself. I pull my hood over my head so hopefully no one will recognize me. I head in the opposite direction from the battle field. I'm going north a bit then turning west (at least I think, I'm not sure they have directions in Narnia). If I can circle around the back of the camp then I'll be able to sneak in and find Susan and the youngest child. I think her name starts with an L. Lily? Louisa? Close enough.
I sliver through the labyrinth of tents searching for the one that looks occupied. I'm starting to get nervous until I hear voices. I freeze, thinking it's a guard or something, but I realize the voices are both female. Bingo.
As I'm about to enter the tent I see a shadow that looks suspiciously like it has a mane and a tail. Could it be? No. I'm probably just hallucinating. I forget about it and enter the tent.
"Who are you?" A little girl with big round eyes stares up at me curiously.
"Lucy! That's the Ice Queen, get away from her!" A second girl says, who I hadn't noticed before.
"Lucy. That was her name." I feel so much better now that I remember that. "Oh right. I have to talk to you two. Please don't leave, or scream, or try to run away. I promise I won't hurt you. Look." I take out my wand. I see the older girl tense up. Then I set it down and she just looks confused. "See? I won't hurt you."
"What trickery is this, Ice Queen?"
"Nothing! I just want to talk to you. Please. Just listen." She glares at me a little, but says nothing. I take a breath. I can do this.
"Look, I just don't understand why we're fighting. I don't want to hurt anyone. We just want an equal say in the government of Narnia."
"What?"
"I-I'm trying to say…Who gave Aslan the right to govern anyway? A prophecy? I just don't understand. He treats those who were born evil or mean looking like they're less than others. That's racist and I won't stand for it. Cause they're not actually evil. They're misunderstood and if you gave them a chance they can be just as good as anyone else. That's all we want. And I don't think we have to fight for this. I think we can just talk this out. If you just give us a chance. Do you get what I'm saying?"
"Um…I think. Maybe. But what can we do?"
"It's easy. We stop fighting, you can rule, but you must promise to give my people the same legal rights as everyone else. Treat them equally."
"Yes. I suppose…"
"Really? It's a yes?" That was so easy! I hope nothing goes wrong with this too easy solution. I'm sure nothing will happen.
"Yes." I hold out my hand and we shake and a smile blossoms on my face. The excitement makes me jump up and down. It worked! I hear a roar and a tearing noise and I freeze suddenly. That's not good. Okay. I should have seen this coming. I grab the wand and turn and shoot out a spray of ice. I hit Aslan head on and he roars in agony. It vibrates through my body.
"It's been great talking to you. Please don't forget your promise." I run out leaving Susan and Leia, no Lindsey, or, whatever. The little sister. I run out leaving them huddling in horror at the scene unfolding in front of them.
I burst out and make a beeline to the woods. I don't know how Aslan found me (probably his magical scent tracking powers or something), hopefully the woods can provide me some cover from him. I make it and I see no sign of Aslan. My chest is already burning and each breath I take feeds the fire in my lungs. I continue on, fighting off my wheezes. I should work out more.
I race through the woods. Branches tear at my face, tracing scarlet stripes of blood on my cheeks. I think I just heard a twig snap behind me. Doesn't matter, just keep running. Just keep running. Just keep…My face falls hard on ground. Dirt fills my mouth. I spit it out and in a daze pick my head up. I just have to keep going. Why though? Uhh. I'm so tired. I think I'll just lay here instead. The ground cushions my face as I put my head back down.
Then there's a terrible pain in my side as something kicks me and then lands on my back. It knocks the small amount of breath that was left in my lungs, out of them. I start making dying fish sounds. A noise comes from on top of me.
"Uhh. Whaa?"
I pound my fist to show my need for air. "Get- o-off me." The weight is lifted and fresh air comes rushing into my lungs. I spin around and stare up at the sky as I take deep breaths. Then I sit up and say, "Hey, what's the big idea?" The 'thing' that tripped over me was a person. This person sees me and his eyes widen.
"There you are. I've been looking all over for you! I was so worried. I-I thought-" He jumps on me again and squeezes his arms around me, knocking the air out of me lungs (again).
"Can't –breath, ack." He lets go. It seems he's regained his composure. Now he sits waiting for my response. "N-nemo?"
He rolls his eyes. "Well, duh. Took you long enough. By the way, why were you laying on the ground?"
"I'm running from Aslan. Long story. And thanks for tripping over me, by the way."
"Wait, why are you running from Aslan?" It's my turn to roll my eyes.
"Well, apparently Aslan is a prejudice, narrow-minded, power hungry militant, who thinks that certain creatures are evil by birth and don't deserve the same rights as others. So I tried to convince him otherwise, but I guess he's too egotistical to believe that he could be wrong."
"What?"
"I know. I mean, I would never have expected this from Aslan either. It's as much a shock to me as it is to you."
"No. I mean how could you be so ridiculous as to challenge Aslan? I told you to lay low. Do you have a death wish? This is why the Editors keep finding you. If you don't stop this you're going to end up dead! Why couldn't you just listen to me?!"
I stare at him for a moment in disbelief.
"Excuse me? Were you expecting me to just sit by while others were being oppressed? Because it puts me in danger? Well that's ridiculous because my life is just as meaningful as theirs."
"They're story characters. Fiction. Not real." His tone is so acerbic.
"They seem real to me. And when did you become so demanding?"
"When I was searching for you because I thought the Editors had gotten you! And I was worried and desperate and the whole time you were sitting here playing revolutionary?"
"Yes! I was. And maybe you couldn't find me because you abandoned me when the Editors showed up?"
"I did not abandon you, I was leading the Editors away."
"That's not what it looked like to me."
"Uhh! It doesn't matter. Either way you won't be able to get out of here without my help." He crosses his arms and a smug satisfied look comes on his face that I just want to slap off.
"Oh really? Cause I was doing fine without you. I got out of Gossip Girl on my own, and I was doing fine until you showed up."
"Oh really? Well then I guess you'll do fine without me from now on then?"
"I bet you I can. It's not that hard. You barely even helped me in the first place."
"Are you kidding me? What do you think I was doing this whole time? Fine. Fine! You want to go on your own, go ahead!"
"Fine."
"Fine!"
"FINE!"
"F-"
"Oh my god, stop it! You are so cliché." I yell out at him, but he's disappeared into the forest. I stomp off into the opposite direction. I take my anger out on any poor sticks and rocks in my way. I kick a rock and it goes flying and bounces off a tree and hits me in the shin.
"Owww." I pick up the stupid rock and am about to fling it as far as I can, but as I look up I meet eyes with none other than Aslan.
"Hehe. Hi." I give him a little wave. He roars at me, blowing my hair out of my face.
"Breath mints, dude." He doesn't appreciate my joke, so I take off running. Unfortunately, Aslan has the same idea and pursues me. My stupid dress decides to start tripping me. I try to shoot some ice spikes back at him, but my aim is completely awful. To be fair, it's very hard to aim well while running away from a mad lion.
I have to get out of here, now. But how? I really don't want to push my luck on falling again. How does Nemo do it? I try to remember every time he jumped. What did they all have in common? I realize that I've never actually seen him do it, every time he's just walked through a door…Oh. Okay. I think I can do that.
I picture a door in front of me, and as I run forward I reach out my hand and pretend to turn the imaginary doorknob, I step through it, step on my dress and fall face first onto the ground. That's the second time today. I lift my head up, but my heart sinks. I'm still in the woods in Narnia. Not good. I look up and see Aslan running full force at me. I squeeze my eyes shut because I'm not brave enough to look death in the face. I hear a roar, and a scream (probably mine). I sit there a moment, eyes shut, quaking in fear. Am I not dead? I open one eye. My jaw drops.
Susan stands between me and Aslan, with her bow pointed straight at him. Aslan stares at her, seeming angry that she interfered. My mind races as I try to figure out what to do.
"Do not move another foot, or I will shoot." Susan says. I'm shocked, I honestly didn't think she had it in her.
"You do not have it in you." I guess Aslan thought the same thing. Susan doesn't answer, only draws her bow back tighter.
"I will not let you kill her. I agree that there must be peace, but not this way. If we do this then we are no better than her." Excuse me? I bite my tongue.
"She cannot be trusted."
"How do you know if you don't give her a chance?" It's Aslan's turn to be silent. I take the opportunity of tense silence to stand up. Aslan tenses up, ready to pounce, but then relaxes. "Very well. But when she betrays us I will not be to blame." I think now is an excellent time to speak up.
"I would just like to point out that I just really want to get out of here. And it's not me I want you to spare, it's my people. I just want you to lead them and treat them as your equals." Susan nods her head.
"I shall make sure of it."
"Thanks you. And thanks for, well, saving me." I don't usually have to thank other people. It feels strange, not bad, just unfamiliar. "I better get going now before I cause more trouble. You wouldn't happen to have a door I could use anywhere, would you?"
After a lot of walking we arrive at the lamppost. It's still snowy here. Maybe it's the Ice Queen growing on me, but I find it very peaceful. I turn to Susan.
"You will look out for my people right?"
"As if they were my children."
"Thanks. Would you mind doing me one more little favor?"
"Of course. Anything at all."
"Would you mind just checking up on a friend of mine? He'd probably be dressed like me, but he's not me. You'll know what I mean when you see him."
"I will."
"Thanks. Again. And if it helps, I think you'll make a great leader." She smiles meekly at her shoes. I give her a last wave goodbye, and wander into the mass of trees. As I walk through them, they get closer together until they are squeezing me. They don't scratch me though, they are soft, like velvet. My hands reach forward, and brush against wood. I locate a doorknob. I take a deep breath, imagine myself opening a portal to another world (I don't even know if it works like that but oh well) and I turn it. My feet step through and land softly. I look down and see carpet. I look up and see flowers enveloping the room. One has a note and it says, to Miss Christine Daae. It worked! I didn't think it would, but it did. Take that Nemo. Now I just have to keep this up and I should be home in no time at all.