Author's Note: Hey guys! Marie here, and I'm soooooooooo sorry it's been so long! Blame Lindsey. (Hey!) Just kidding! Anyways, here's the next chapter!

Chapter 9

As we arrived at the waterfall, the ice was already cracking, the frigid water oozing out in places. It wasn't looking too grand for us, but there was no other way.

Peter took Lucy's hand. "We need to cross. Now!"

"Don't beavers make dams?" Lucy asked.

Mr. Beaver held his paws in the air. "I'm not that fast, dear!" We all started edging downwards when Susan spoke up.

"Stop, Peter, maybe we should think about this for a minute!"

"We don't have a minute!" I snapped, kind of harshly. "Open your eyes!"

Susan blanched a little. "I was just trying to be realistic."

"No, you were trying to be smart," Peter threw in. "As usual!"

When we made it down, Peter tried to take a step, but the ice almost tipped, making him step back to keep his balance.

Mr. Beaver raised a paw. "Maybe I should go first."

Peter nodded. "Maybe you should." Mr. Beaver nodded in return, then he slowly inched out, using his tail to smooth the ice as he continued his dance across the thawing river.

"You've been sneaking second helpings, haven't you?" Mrs. Beaver asked as he was about ten feet away from the rest of us.

"Well, you never know which meal's gonna be your last," he replied, almost sheepishly. "Especially with your cooking," he muttered, then he continued on, encouraging us to follow him.

"Oh no!" Lucy cried as we had begun to inch out, my foot almost tipping more ice over.

Wolves. Buuugger! We ran a few steps then were cut off by more wolves. When we turned to go the other way, we were cut off as well. As Maugrim came forward, Peter pointed his sword at him.

"Put it away, boy!" Maugrim barked. "Someone could get hurt."

"Most likely you," I replied, an arrow on the string as I stood beside Peter. Do I have any idea what I'm doing? Well, no, but I had to try to back him up.

Maugrim paced around us. "Leave now, while you can, and your brother leaves with you."

"Stop! Peter, maybe we should listen to him!" Susan cried. I stared at Susan. Are you INSANE?

Maugrim snickered. "Smart girl." He continued walking around us. I noticed that Peter kept moving his gaze from Maugrim to another form. As I followed his gaze one time, I noticed one of the wolves had Mr. Beaver! I almost shot him then and there, but I kept my shot pointed at Maugrim. I knew if anyone need and arrow in his chest, it was him.

Maugrim sneered, "What's it going to be, Son of Adam? I won't wait forever, and neither will the river!"

The river… The ice on the waterfall was cracking, some of it falling down next to us.

"Peter!" Lucy cried.

"Just because some man in a red coat gives you a sword, it doesn't make you a hero!" Susan shouted to Peter. "Just drop it!"

Susan. Shut. Up.

"No, Peter!" Mr. Beaver cried, still squirming in the jaws of the other wolf. "Narnia needs you!"

"Come on, Peter. You can do this," I whispered.

I saw his eyes light up in resolve. "Hold on to me!" he shouted. As quick as I could, I swung my bow and arrow back in my quiver as Peter drove his sword deep into the ice. Pretty good timing, too, for as Lucy, Susan, and I gathered around Peter, the ice broke, sending a cold water wave down on us. I heard Lucy's scream, and I had a few seconds to suck in some air as we went under.

I clung to Peter's sword and I think his shoulder or dear life as we finally broke the surface, all of us gasping either in shock, for air, or both. The Beavers swam around our little block of ice playfully, and there were no wolves in sight. Lucy laughed as Mr. Beaver splashed around us, and I felt myself slipping away.

Which, eventually, I did.

The current was amazingly swift, and I found it hard to fight against being swept further and further away from my friends. I kept my eyes squeezed shut, trying to block out the water as I tried to kick and claw towards the block of ice as it bumped on the shore, their shouts of my name becoming fainter and fainter. I began to wonder if I'd ever see any of them-Peter, Lucy, Susan, the Beavers, Edmund…oh, poor Edmund. I hadn't thought of him recently. I wonder if he'll be alright. I hope so…even if I am not…

I felt a large something grab my shoulder, and I gasped for oxygen as I was hauled on land. I coughed and gasped, grabbing for air. Finally, I allowed myself to open my eyes.

A small pink face swirled in front of my, along with a large, golden face with a halo.

"Hello, dear one," the golden face said, eventually clearing up. "I've been waiting for you."

A.N.: Finally deviating from the movie. Yay! Sorry if it was short in comparison to the wait…review?