The Lion is an Angel
Disclaimer: Do not own Chronicles of Narnia
Chapter 6: Twas the night before…Christmas?
Henry POV
A fox stood in front of us with a glint in his black eyes. There was something fascinating and intimidating about the fox by the way he stood. I think about those short stories Agnes reads to me from Aesop. How the fox stole a piece of cheese from the crow. Being sneaky by flattering the crow to sing and such.
Lucy huddled close to Peter along with Susan. Agnes placed an arm in front of me to stand behind her. What is going on? It's just a simple fox. Then again, you don't actually know who is with Aslan and who is with the White Witch. Mr. Tumnus served the white witch but betray her including the wolf….but is the fox part of her team or not? Mr. Beaver marched over to the fox that stood over a boulder between two trees.
"Take one more step and I'll-"Beaver threatened.
"Relax," fox chuckled, jumping off and landing on his feet approaching us. "I'm one of the good guys."
"Yeah well, you look awful lot like one of the bad guys..." Beaver protested under his wife's hold.
"An unfortunate family resemblance," fox sighed. "But we can argue breeding later. Right now we've got to move."
The next second we heard a wolf howl inside the tunnel while the barrel started to jiggle. We all gasped for how fast they reached us and worried. Wolves are fast itching so it would be impossible to outrun them. Also there is no other place we could hide. We all look at fox.
"What have you got in mind?" Peter asked desperately.
Fox looked up with a deviant smile. I looked up as well to see the trees. I gulped since I wasn't a very good tree climber with these braces. Luckily Peter, Susan, and Agnes helped me climbed up the tree branch. It took a moment, but all of us climbed up the tree including the beavers except for Fox. I held onto Lucy hand as we watch the barrel shoot out with countless wolves storming around the small meadow sniffing around, snarling, and growling too. They started surrounding fox trapping him in a circle.
"Greetings, gents," Fox said. "Lost something have we?"
"Don't patronize me! I know where your allegiances lies." one wolf barked. "We're looking for some humans."
Fox laughs, "Humans? Here in Narnia? That's a valuable bit of information, don't you think?"
Another wolf snarled biting Fox into his mouth causing him to gasp. Lucy gasped as well, but Peter covers her mouth. Also Mrs. Beaver stopping her husband from jumping in.
"You reward is your life," the alpha wolf snarled. "It's not much, but still. Where are the fugitives?"
The small meadow fell into deep silences filled with growls and whimpers. Fox looked around not giving eye contact to anyone. However the wolf that held him in its mouth bit harder causing another painful yelp. He took a deep breath, "North. They went north." After that they tossed him to the ground.
"Smell them out." The alpha said as he and his pack stormed out the meadow.
.o0o.
Peter and Beaver made a small fire while Mrs. Beaver tended to Fox's wounds. Susan sat next to Lucy and Agnes while I sat next to Peter. The small fire made things a bit better after the scary moment a half hour ago…maybe. It had everybody on edge though Fox assure the Secret Police and Captain Maugrim. He began explaining about some of Aslan men go to help Mr. Tumnus escape.
"They were helping Tumnus. The witch got here before I did." He then groaned.
"Are you all right?" Lucy asked.
"Well, I wish I could say their bark was worse than their bite." He teased, only to yelp after Mrs. Beaver plucked a tooth out of him.
"Stop squirming," Mrs. Beaver scolded. "You're worse than Beaver on bath day."
"Worst day of the year," Beaver chuckled with a shudder.
All of us chuckled though felt sorry for Fox. He is actually part of the good guys. Since he risked his fur for us and still talking. Fox snorted standing up with a slight shake, "Thank you for your kindness, but that's all the cure I have time for."
"You're leaving?" I asked.
"It has been a pleasure, my lord, and honor to see you my queens and kings… and lady, but time is short and Aslan himself has asked me to gather more troops."
The beavers gasped. "You've seen Aslan?"
"What's he like?" Mrs. Beaver asked.
"Like everything we've ever heard," Fox answered proudly. "You'll be glad for him to be by your side in the battle against the Witch."
"But we're not planning on fighting any witch," Susan said.
"But surely King Peter, the prophecy!" Fox proclaimed.
"We can't go to war without you." Beaver added.
Peter sat there arms crossed. So much has been thrown at us the last few days that it's hard to take in. The Pevensie being the future monarchs. Like in all fairy tales including war, a king leads his army to battle. He looked at Susan debating who gave him a look. He sighed, "We just want our brother back."
A hint of disappointed clouded Fox's eyes. But he quickly covered it and headed off to get more troops. For the rest of us we continue on foot through the dark forest getting ahead start. All of us were getting tired but Beaver continues to hurry us. Peter picked Lucy up and said if he tells us to hurry one more time; he'll turn him into a fluffy hat. I chuckled tiredly as Agnes smiled picked me up the best we could.
Later Mrs. Beaver suggested we stop for the night. Beaver was going to protest till seeing us humans exhausted. It is past bedtime for all of us. Never been up this late unless it was an air raid. He sighed leading the way to a burrow under an oak tree. We all sat down, feeling a bit warm than outside where it's freezing while snowing.
"This use to be an old place for beavers in bad times and it is a great secret," Mr. Beaver said. "I know it isn't much of a place. We must get a few hours' sleep."
Mrs. Beaver sat down, "There, if only we had some pillows."
"At least it is dry," Agnes said.
"I wish the floors were smoother," Lucy said.
"It'll be hard to sleep," I added curling close to my sister.
"Ahh, I have just the thing," Mrs. Beaver said pulling out a flask.
We all took a sip from the flask. A nice warm liquid going down to my tummy in an instant. A few minutes later we were all yawing that we got in a comfortable position falling asleep or something in a dose. My head was on Agnes lap as she combed her fingers through my hair, something mum would do.
"Are you not tired, Agnes?" Mrs. Beaver asked.
"Yes, though I want to ask something?" Agnes quietly said.
"Do not be afraid to ask." Beaver replied.
"When you spoke the prophecy… you said two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve…but there are six of us…and Fox called Henry and me Lord and Lady?" Agnes asked quietly.
A noise of scratching fur could be heard, "I ask me self the same question."
"Maybe Aslan may know," Mrs. Beaver assured. "Rest now; it's a long way to the stone table."
Agnes sighed till her breathing even out falling asleep.
.o0o.
The next morning, Mr. Beaver woke us up after the sound of galloping overhead. We all became nervous in how the witch could have found us. Beaver got up waddling the way to investigate the noise. Although the thoughts of the white witch made everything worse! After a moment of silences, Beaver popped out of nowhere with an excited face. Except his sudden entrances spooked us.
"Come out! Come out!" Beaver exclaimed. "I hope you've all been good 'because there's someone here to see ya!"
We all crawled out of the burrow to see what has Beavers tail flapping. Above the burrow was a sleigh with eight large reindeer with golden bells dangle around the reins. Standing in front of the sleigh stood a huge man who wore red robes, with a hood and fur lining. He had a long white beard that fell over his chest, also a round stomach. In fact he gave a cheery presence that beats the others back home. Many children at school thought he wasn't real, but here he was. Father Christmas!
"Merry Christmas, sir." Lucy said.
"It certainly is, Lucy, since you have arrived." Father Christmas replied.
"Look, I've put up with a lot since I got here, but this…"Susan started.
"We're not in England anymore, Susan." Agnes interrupted with a chuckle.
"We thought you were the Witch." Peter explained to Father Christmas.
He gave a jolly laugh, "Yes, yes, I'm sorry about that, but in my defense, I have been driving these longer than the Witch."
"I thought there was no Christmas in Narnia." Susan stated.
"No. For a long time, but that you have brought, Your Majesties, is finally starting to weaken the Witch's power." Father Christmas agreed, and then turned around to grab his large sack. "Still, I dare say you could do with these."
"Presents!" Lucy and I cheered.
Father Christmas started with Lucy pulling out a bottle, "The juice of the fire-flower. One drop will cure any injury." Lucy took the bottle, when he showed her a dagger with a gold lion on the handle. "And though I hope you never have to use it…"
"Thank you, sir." Lucy said. "But I think I could be brave enough."
"I'm sure you could." He said with a smile. "But battles are ugly affairs."
Then it was my turn as he pulled out a short sword. It was two feet long with a red sheet while the handle gold with a lion head. Although the green sheath was an engraving of a horse with wings, "Every young man starts with a short sword. When you are older you will get a longer one. But as the same with Lucy, I hope you never use it in this war."
"Thank you, sir." I said holding the sword close.
Father Christmas smiled as he went to get the next gift a bow and arrows. "Susan. Trust in this bow and it will not easily miss."
Susan took her bow then asked. "What happened to 'battles are ugly affairs'?"
"Though you don't seem to have a problem making yourself heard," Father Christmas chuckles as he pulls out a horn carved into a lion's head. "Blow on this and wherever you are, help will come."
"Thanks," Susan whispered.
Then it was Agnes turn. Father Christmas took out another set of bow and arrows, however unlike Susan feathers being red, these ones were green and the bow longer. On the quiver there was a wing horse as well. "Agnes, you hold a lot of dedication to those you want to protect. Know that as long as you are true to yourself the arrows will never run out. But tis you who have to put effort in where it goes unlike Susan's."
"Thank you," Agnes said.
Father Christmas nodded as he pulled out a sword and shield, "Peter. The time to use these may be near at hand."
Peter unsheathed his sword, not realizing Father Christmas looking at all of us. "Thank you, sir."
"These are tools, not toys." He warned. "Bear them well and wisely. Now, I must be off. Winter is almost over, and things pile up when you've been gone a hundred years." He wave to us getting on his sleigh. "Long live Aslan! And Merry Christmas!"
Once he was gone Lucy turned to face Susan, "Told you he was real."
In an instant I laughed along with everybody else.
"He said winter was almost over." Peter announced. "You know what that means?"
"No more ice." Agnes answered.
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Hope you guys enjoy this chapter.
So I put out a clue for you about Henry and Agnes in Father Christmas gifts. Can you figure out why they are in Narnia as well? What does the winged horse mean? If you know the answers leave a review!
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