The two boys continued on through many winding tunnels for hours. They didn't know where they were, or where they were going. Many times Edmund pointed this out, but Peter only ignored him and said that they were bound to run into an exit at some point, although he even had his doubts about the matter.
After what seemed like an eternity, Edmund suddenly stopped. "Shh. Did you hear that?"
Peter halted. "Hear what?"
"Eh? Who's there?" A raspy voice said from the darkness ahead. Peter heard the flutter of some wings rubbing together. Even in the darkness Peter could feel Edmund's eyes glaring at him, as if to say, "Don't give away your identity and tell you know we can trust this creature." Peter understood, and considered the best way to divulge his next sentence without giving too much away.
"We are travelers from Narnia."
"Narnia, oh? What brings you down here?" He croaked.
"We were split up from our hunting party in a landslide two days ago. We were trapped in a cave, and then we found our way down here."
"We are trying to find the nearest exit route. You wouldn't happen to know of any, would you?" Edmund put in.
They noticed the creatures gleaming eyes first, and then heard a small cackle. "exit route? Yes, yes, I know an exit. But first," he stepped aside and gestured his hand to the right. "Come. You will need food for your journey, will you not?"
The mere mention of food make the boys mouth water. The magical water had tided them over for a while, but it had been days since they had eaten a true meal. So, against Edmund's better judgment, they accepted the invitation, and they followed the creature down several long hallways before stopping at a peculiar looking door. The creature turned the handle and led them inside. "My queen, they have arrived."
Peter's eyes widened at the site that beheld him. For standing before him was what appeared to be a tall, slender woman, with dark raven hair falling down to her knees. She wore a crimson and black dress that framed her figure, showcasing all of her gentle curves.
"My lady, the two travelers." The creature stepped aside, presenting the two kings of Narnia before his mistress.
The woman now turned around to face them. Her pale face was nearly as white as the snow that had covered Narnia in the hundred year winter, and bespoke a false innocence. Her full lips were a deep shade of blood red, and parted slightly upon seeing the two men. Her long gown twisted around her feet as she turned.
"Travelers of the over-world, welcome."
Peter and Edmund remain silent, partly because they didn't know quite how to respond, but mostly because they were awestruck by the woman's great beauty. Only Edmund sensed something evil behind her alluring eyes.
"You look weary from your journey. Come, and I will show you a place where you can rest your body and mind."
"Thank you," said Peter, taking a step forward. Edmund grabbed his shoulder, and whispered, "Peter, wait. We don't know who she is. We shouldn't—"
"Is there a problem, sons of Adam?" The lady glanced back with the innocent eyes of a kitten.
"No," Peter responded, almost too quickly. Had he been in any other place, he would have come to his senses quickly, and heeded his brothers wise counsel. However, this place was thick with a deep magic that clouded Peters mind and made him forget everything else, except for the great beauty of the woman standing before him. Edmunds mind however, was instantly drawn back to memories of the White Witch, and everything in him told him not to proceed. But he knew that unfortunately Peter would not listen.
But these doubts of Edmund soon slowly began to fade away,as the magic started working on him as well. The woman led them down a long, narrow hallway that rounded to the left. After what seemed like a lifetime, they arrived at an exquisitely large room. The walls met in a dome shape at the ceiling, and were lined with gold and precious gems of all kinds. There was a red mist that seemed to fog over the place.
"Please, take a seat, Sons of Adam."
She gestured to a large settee near the corner.
At this point, the magic had clouded both the boys' minds so that nearly all their sound judgment had faded, especially for Peter. Edmund however, was still trying to fight it.
For Peter, it was harder to resist, as he had never experienced this type of magic before as Edmund had.
The woman gracefully glided across the room as the boys took a seat. The inviting aroma of food filled up the cave.
"My guard tells me that you two are from the land called Narnia, in the above-world."
A dead silence continued to fill the room. It seemed harder to speak now then Peter remembered. The woman sauntered over to him and came behind. Peter could feel her hand lightly brush against his shoulder. Heat flooded through his body at her touch.
The woman's black dress glinted in the firelight every time she moved. The magic Peter had felt back in the cave had increased dramatically, to the point where he couldn't even remember how long they'd been in here.
Was it days? Weeks? Years? He shook his head, knowing that he was forgetting something important, but he suddenly felt too weak to resist it anymore. Beside him, Edmund sat stiff and upright, unmoving. Shadows flickered across his face as his gaze rested on the fireplace.
The Lady crept behind Peter, and rested her hand on his shoulder. "Son of Adam, you look troubled. Whatever could be plaguing your mind so?"
Peter closed his eyes, a small part of him still trying to resist her magic. But she continued, proceeding to sit down right in front of him.
"Who are you?" She said, in a cold voice that demanded he answer this time. Peter's eyes locked with hers, and he found it impossible to look away. Her eyes were as dead as the blackest night, and soulless, but somehow hypnotizing.
Whether it was by choice, or by some magic that was beyond his control, Peter heard himself answering, "I am High King Peter, of Narnia, Lord of Cair Paravel, and Emperor of the Lone Islands."
A tiny smirk danced across the lady's face, as if she had expected that answer. "And this, pray tell, is your brother, is it not?"
"Yes." Peter was so heavy in the enchantment that his mind had gone beyond all rational thinking.
"I see." She stood, intent on fulfilling her plan. "I have heard much about the High King of Narnia. His reign is good, and his name is known from Lantern Waste, all the way to the end of the Eastern Sea. But how is it, my king, to be burdened down by these three other monarchs? For even though they may be kin, I have no doubt that thou would make a magnificent king in and of thyself alone."
Peter pondered her words. Why shouldn't he alone be the ruler? He was certainly capable. He didn't need any interference from anyone. She continued, stroking his face once.
"After all, was it not you alone who defeated the White Witch in battle? You alone who rescued the people of Narnia? What did your siblings ever do for you except cause trouble and betray you?" She purred.
Gazing into her eyes still, Peter spoke. "You're right. It was me, ME! I alone saved my kingdom, I alone should be their ruler! I—"
At that moment, a deafening roar echoed through the cave room, causing Peter to come to his senses. Edmund stood immediately as the fire went out, pulling Peter up with him. They frantically looked around, eyes darting in all directions. But what they saw struck terror in their hearts, for at the exact moment the lion had roared, the witch shrieked and fell back off her chair and onto the ground. Even in the darkness of the cave, the two kings saw her, writhing in pain on the ground.
"Oh….ohhh…." She moaned, as if in great discomfort. They saw her, twisting and turning, as if she had suddenly lost consciousness. She shrieked again, this time louder.
As the boys watched, they couldn't fathom what was going on, for what followed all happened in a blur.
The witch continued to shriek and moan, but as she did so, her screams and wails became louder and louder, as she contorted into unnatural positions. She twisted, spiraling her body. But as Peter watched, her arms grew in size and became wings, and her head became long and narrow. Her legs turned into a monstrous tail, and her dress seemed to become one with her skin, for she was now black and scaly all over.
It was hard to see in the dark room, but Peter could make out the scene, for above him a good ways stared down two beady, gleaming, red eyes. Smoke spiraled out of the creature's nostrils, as it completed it's final details of transformation.
"Peter!" Edmund yelled, drawing his sword.
Peter had no time to think, as instinct took over. Reaching for his sword, he swung it out of his belt just in time before the great beast lunged forward at him, snapping in the air. Peter dove to the side, shoving Edmund into the corner as he did so.
"Run! Get out!" He shouted as his sword clanked against the great beasts iron scales.
Edmund stood. "No, not without you!" He circled the dragon to the other side, trying to remain unseen.
The next few seconds happened so fast, as Peter and Edmund fought with everything in them to destroy the creature before them. But their swords were no match for dragon fire.
The beast drew in a breath, again, spewing out molten fire in all directions. Peter just managed to dive aside to avoid being burned. He had to hit him in just the right spot, or there would be no chance of survival for them. If the dragon unleashed one more round of fire, that would be the end, for most of the cave was in flames now and thick smoke stung the boy's eyes.
From across the cave Peter heard Edmund's voice shout, "Under the right leg, Peter!" Clash. "The right leg!"
Before he knew what he was doing, Peter dove underneath the chest of the massive demon, and plunged his sword right into the heart of his foe. A terrifying scream echoed through the caves, as the great beast raised it's front legs and fell down on it's side with a deafening thud before it could release the fire that had been just in it's throat. Peter watched as the flames in it's chest seemed to sink back into it's throat and disappear.
Just at that moment as Peter lay panting on the ground, the strangest sight in the world met his eyes. For where the great dragon had fell just a few seconds ago, a red fog resided, seeming to eat away the carcass of the beast, starting at the tail all the way to the head until there was nothing remaining but a crimson cloud. All the flames in the room were too dissolved, and the smoke gone.
Edmund slid himself down from where he had been standing on a ledge, and rushed over to his brother. "Peter?" He asked as he gathered him in his arms to help him up. Peter brushed himself off, the bloody gash on his upper arm and neck seeming rather unnoticeable compared to the miraculous events that were taking place around him. For even as the two boys stood, even stranger things were happening still.