Chapter 4: He's Pulling Up in the Driveway and You Don't Make a Sound

I rubbed my hands over my arms as I tried to stop myself from shaking. My breath came out in a white fog as my teeth chattered. It felt like every inch of my body was frozen. No matter how fast I rubbed my arms over my arms I couldn't generate any heat. I heard a creaking sound and looked up so see the White Witch walking into my cell. I glanced over as she walked towards me and I tried to scramble out of her reach but the shackles on my ankles stopped me. She grabbed me by my collar and I was easily lifted off of the ground.

"Where did they go?" She asked calmly, her warm breath coming out like a fog in the air.

"I don't know!" I replied. She threw me back down and I landed on the ice hard.

"Then you are no further use to me," she announced before she pulled back her staff. I braced myself, waiting to get stabbed by the sharp end.

"Wait!" I cried out, stopping her. "The beaver said something about Aslan.

"Aslan?" She repeated. "Where?"

"I…" I struggled to form words but my teeth were chattering too much for me to be able to say anything.

"He's a stranger to our land, you can't expect him to know anything," Mr. Tumnus spoke up. I flinched when I heard him getting hit in the face by the White Witch's servant.

"I said…" the White Witch said as she turned to me, coldness seeping into her voice. "Where is Aslan?"

I glanced over at Mr. Tumnus before replying. "I…I don't know," I admitted as I looked up at the White Witch. "I left before they said anything." I knew that this wasn't what she wanted to hear, but I couldn't let her hit Mr. Tumnus again. "I…I wanted to see you," I added.

"Guard!" She yelled so suddenly that it caused me to jump in fright.

"Your majesty," the guard said in a deep voice as he walked into the cell.

"Release the faun," she ordered as she looked at me. I smile a little as I looked over at him, thinking that he was going to be released. But there was a look in his eye that made my smile faded as fast as it came as he was grabbed and dragged out of the cell. "Do you know why you're here, faun?" She demanded as he slowly looked up at her.

"Because I believe…in a free Narnia," he responded.

"You're here," she said harshly, "because he," she pointed her staff at me, "turned you in. For sweets." Mr. Tumnus looked at me, and I couldn't look him in the eye for betraying him, so I lowered my head. "Take him upstairs," the White Witch ordered. I watched, trembling, as the guard carried Mr. Tumnus away. His gaze burned into my memory as he was dragged off. "And ready my sleigh," she added before looking at me. "Edmund misses his family." She gave me one last look before leaving the cell with her servant.

I wrapped my arms around my knees and brought them to my chest and I rested my forehead on my arms as I willed myself not to cry.

I felt a hand on my collar again and I was jerked onto my feet. I didn't hear the White Witch return so her grabbing me startled me. My cheeks felt frozen because of the tears that had dried on them.

"Why're you crying?" She demanded as she looked at me. Her cold gray eyes made it hard for me not to look away. Before I could respond she threw me back down onto the ice. I heard a lout metallic clank and looked down to see that my ankles were free. I was pulled to my feet roughly and I almost stumbled but I caught my balance. "Come here," she ordered once I turned to face her.

I walked towards her slowly, not knowing what she was going to do. She clamped a hand down on my shoulder and her cold fingers bit into my shoulder bone. "They weren't there when the wolves attacked, they had to have known the wolves were coming. What do they know?"

"Nothing!" I gasped as she started squeezing her hand and I shut my eyes from the pain. "They don't know anything. It was a mere coincidence!"

"Liar!" She hissed before backslapping me across the face. I stumbled but stayed on my feet as I held my stinging face. "Turn around!" She barked as she tapped the top of her staff with her fingers. I just stared at her, trembling. "Don't make me repeat myself!"

"Yes ma'am," I muttered as I slowly turned around. I could hear her moving but I didn't know what she was doing. I heard a loud snap and it felt like fire exploded on my back. I cried out in pain and fell onto my knees as tears started to fall.

"On your feet!" She yelled, her voice echoing through the chamber. I shakily got to my feet, knowing not to turn around and look at her.

I heard the snap and once again felt the fire on my back. I squeezed my eyes shut as I bit my lip to keep from crying out loud at the pain. The pain worsened with each loud snap until I didn't think I was able to keep in the scream that was trying to force it's way up my throat.

I felt a shove from behind and I landed forward on the ice, gasping, to try and control my breathing as I heard her walking away. "We'll leave in a few minutes," was all she said before she closed the door to the cell, it's slam echoing through the large chamber.

I slowly lay down so my stomach was resting against the ice. Then, eyes still closed, I rolled onto my back. I let out a hiss of pain as I struggled to get my breath back. It was robbed from me when the pain set it. I held my breath and counted to ten slowly, before I let it out. I did this numerous times until I couldn't feel the pain.

I could hear her coming back but I didn't say anything, I didn't do anything. She got closer and closer and I concentrated on my breathing. 'In. Out. In Out.'

"Edmund," she said calmly, in a tone that was unlike her. "Come with me, it is time to leave." I stayed there, I didn't want to move. It hurt too much to move. "Edmund!"

I knew that she meant for me to get up right then and there. I slowly rolled over and forced myself onto my feet. Once I was on my feet she grabbed my shoulder again and pushed me out of the cell.

"Wh…where are we going?" I asked as I stumbled out of the chamber.

"We're going to find your brother and sisters…as you promised me," she said as she squeezed my shoulder again. "And you better hope they don't get away this time."

If you didn't get it, this is a flashback chapter. I will randomly insert flashbacks into this story, so stay on your toes.