Hey everyone. I hope your week is well. Glad the story is going good so far. Let's get legalities cleared up.

Disclaimer: I don't own any aspects or characters referenced in the story.

and now that that's cleared up, let's proceed.

Chapter 7

Prophecies and Betrayals

Humpty Dumpty sat at the dinner table. The fish and chips tasted delicious. As did the butter, potatoes, and something called a marmalade roll that seemed somewhat similar to a cinnamon roll. The dinner was as delicious as ever at the Beaver dam, with many compliments passing to Mrs. Beaver. Humpty could see his friends enjoying the food as well.

Yet Humpty noticed that even though everyone was enjoying the food, there was a slight twinge in all their eyes. A twinge of longing. Humpty couldn't really blame them. Mr. Tumnus was on his mind as well, alongside a curiosity of what the Beavers were going to say.

As everyone started to wrap up their food and thank the Beavers for the delicious meal, Lucy asked the question on human's minds. "Please, Mr. Beaver, what's happened to Mr. Tumnus?"

"Ah, yes. A very, very bad business, that one." Mr. Beaver replied, taking a deep breath. "There wasn't much any of us could do. Last we saw, based on the tracks, the secret police was 'escorting' Mr. Tumnus up north. And we all know what that means."

"But we don't," Susan replied.

"I'm afraid it means they were taking him to her house," Mr. Beaver said.

"And that's not good at all," Perrito added.

"But what'll happen to him?" Lucy asked concerned.

"Well, you can't exactly say for sure," Mr. Beaver replied. "But there's not many taken in there that come out again. Full of statues, they say. And the statues are those who've disobeyed her orders. Those who've been-" Mr. Beaver shuddered, a tear in his eyes "turned to stone."

Humpty saw the shock and horror on the Pevensies' faces. He shuddered himself, remembering just how terrible the secret police were.

"But there must be something we can do? The faun saved my sister's life. We need to do something," Peter said.

"I agree. Something must be done," Puss added.

"I'm afraid there's not much any of you can do," Mrs. Beaver said. "The Witch's House is guarded tight. There's no secret ways in or out of her place. It's either the front gate in full view of her guards or nothing at all."

"But I'm sure an opportunity will come," Perrito added, noticing Lucy forming a dejected expression.

"I would say something bigger than an opportunity has presented itself," Mr. Beaver said. "Mrs. Beaver said there's not much you can do, but there is someone else who can do a lot. It's been confirmed that Aslan's on the move."

Humpty noticed the expressions on the Pevensies changing. Frowns turned into small smiles, which grew into large ones. Furrowed brows relaxed. Even Humpty's friends, who had heard this before, had joyful and excited expressions. If it was anything like the feeling Humpty had now, which reminded him of what he had felt when he and Puss became brothers, he couldn't really blame them.

Edmund stood up. Humpty noticed that his expression had not become joyful. If anything, there was a look of uncomfortableness in his eyes. "Who's Aslan?"

Mr. Beaver then told the Pevensies what Humpty and the others had heard after Tumnus' arrest. Humpty didn't pay attention until Mr. Beaver mentioned an additional detail that hadn't been shared before. "And Aslan is at the Stone Table, waiting for us to come to him."

"He's waiting for us?" Susan asked.

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver looked at each other. Humpty had a feeling this was the moment. The moment when they would get answers. "Well, to understand that, you have to understand one other piece of Narnian poetry," Mr. Beaver said. It's another old rhyme told around here. In secret, mind:

When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone

Sits at Cair Paravel in throne,

The evil time will be over and done.

Silence met the room as Mr. Beaver finished up. "And what does that mean?" Perrito asked.

"Well, it has to do with a prophecy spoken of in Narnia time out of mind." Mrs. Beaver explained. "Down at Cair Paravel, the castle by the sea, there are four thrones. And the prophecy states that when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve sit on those thrones, it will be the end of the White Witch."

"She'll go into retirement?" Perrito asked.

Puss turned to Perrito. "Not exactly, my friend. I'll tell you later."

Perrito nodded, though his eyes widened and his mouth formed an 'oh' as he realized the full implications of the Beavers' words.

"So you can imagine why we had to be cautious. To everyone," Mr. Beaver said, looking at the Pevensies, Puss, Kitty, Perrito, and Humpty, an apologetic look in his eyes. "If the Witch had found out about you four, or that all of you were visiting Narnia, all of our lives would be in danger."

Humpty sat back in his chair. So that was the big secret. The four humans were to defeat the White Witch and sit on the thrones of Cair Paravel. It didn't take Humpty long to deduce that that would mean the Pevensies would succeed the Witch as monarchs of Narnia. The fact that they were children didn't bother Humpty. He had developed a gliding machine when he was a young lad. Anyone could make a difference, no matter their age or height.

Peter and Susan looked at each other, eyes wide and whispering frantically. Peter turned back to the others. "Thank you for the hospitality, but I'm afraid you might have made a mistake."

"We're not heroes. We're from Finchley," Susan said.

"But what about Mr. Tumnus?" Lucy asked.

"It's out of our hands. I'm sorry, but I don't think we should get involved in this," Peter said.

A creak sounded beside Humpty. He turned to see Puss standing up. "Sometimes, our paths are determined without our consent," Puss said. "I've been where you are. It's a known fact that cats have nine lives. However, a few years ago, I found myself down to my last life.

"I was so surprised about this revelation that I decided to play it safe. I thought the rest of my life would be focused on making sure I didn't lose it. I also worked on searching for a way to restore my other lives. As I started my search, however, I was thrust into an adventure, staring death in the face. Several times, I thought I would lose my life. But in the end, I realized something. I was so concerned about losing my last life that I was missing the fun and adventure of this life. In the end, I realized chasing immortality wasn't the way to live.

"This revelation led to another one. If I had stayed home, playing it safe and rejecting the path fate had given me, I would never have gained new friends and reunited with old ones. I would never have had new experiences. Fate might sometimes lead you down paths outside your comfort zone. But that doesn't mean we should close ourselves off to it."

Susan and Peter looked at each other. Humpty saw the hesitancy and fear in the older Pevensies' eyes. That was the same fear Humpty had felt during several of his heists and invention testing. The fear that caused people to doubt and left them in dangerous stress if they weren't careful. It was a hard fear to overcome.

Peter finally spoke. "I think it's time for us to head home. Don't you agree, Ed?"

Silence met the room. Lucy looked around. "Come to think of it, where is Edmund?"

Humpty peered around the room. To his surprise and shock, Edmund was nowhere to be seen. Soon, everyone except Mrs. Beaver, who stayed to clean up dishes, went outside, shouting for Edmund. Only the wind met them.

"Where could he have gone?" Susan asked.

"Has Edmund ever been to Narnia before?" Mr. Beaver asked.

"What?" Peter asked.

"Just answer the question, please. Has Edmund ever been to Narnia before?" Mr. Beaver repeated.

"Well, yes," Lucy replied.

"Did he say where he went, or who he talked with?" Mr. Beaver asked.

"Come to think of it, no," Lucy said.

"What's that got to do with anything?" Susan asked.

"I've found tracks," Perrito shouted.

Everyone turned to see a pair of tracks heading north. Humpty saw that the tracks led straight to two hills in the distance. Humpty gulped. Surely Edmund hadn't…? How could he…?

"Come on, we don't have a moment to lose," Kitty said.

As they followed the tracks, Humpty berated himself. He should have kept an eye on Edmund. He should have seen this coming. The hesitancy, the discomfort upon hearing about Aslan, the generally distrusting and unpleasant looks Edmund had given to everyone. All of it led to one conclusion. How could Humpty have missed this?

The shame was temporarily forgotten when they reached a clearing past the two hills. A long, frozen lake stretched out beyond the trees. In the middle of the lake was a large castle, sitting on top of a small island. The castle was made entirely of ice, much to Humpty's amazement. Several towers rose above the shining walls, casting dark shadows onto the lake. It gave the whole place a rather dark look. And walking into the open gates was a small human. It was Edmund.

"What's he doing?" Peter asked.

Mr. Beaver looked down. "He's chosen his side."

The eyes of the Pevensies, Puss, and Perrito grew wide in shock and fear as they reached the same conclusion Humpty had. Edmund had met the White Witch and agreed to betray them all. His own family! How could he do such a despicable deed? Then Humpty remembered how easily he had betrayed his own brother and shame washed over him again.

Peter started to move forward. Puss grabbed him. "Don't! Now's not the time."

"But we can't let him go." Peter replied.

"He's our brother," Lucy added.

"Who knows what'll happen to him?" Susan finished.

"She'll keep him alive. He's the bait to draw you all in. You go out there, it'll all be over, and Edmund's fate will be the same as yours," Puss replied.

Humpty nodded his head. "He's right. It's a classic hostage-trap maneuver. I've heard about that kind of thing before." Seeing Puss and Kitty looking at him, he added, "not that I've done it myself, of course. Heard about it from others."

Everyone looked to the Witch's house, in time to see Edmund going in. The fear of being able to do nothing was apparent on everyone's faces as the gates closed.

"There really is nothing that can be done?" Perrito asked the Beavers, concern all over his face.

"Nothing that we can do. Only Aslan can help Edmund now," Mr. Beaver said.

"Then take us to him," Peter said.

Perrito's eyes went wide. "We need to go now."

"Yes, to save Edmund." Puss replied.

"Not just Edmund," Perrito said. "If he goes and talks to the Witch, he'll tell her that we're all with the Beavers. She'll send her forces to the dam."

"And if we don't move soon, we'll be caught either out here or at the dam," Kitty finished, coming to the same conclusion.

Everyone grew silent at that statement. "We need to get Mrs. Beaver and get out of here," Mr. Beaver said.

"Then what are we waiting for?! Move!" Puss shouted.

With that, everyone ran down the hill. Stealth was the last thing on anyone's mind. The snow crunched loudly under running feet. Puss didn't even stop to take off his boots. Humpty only hoped they could make it and get everyone out of the dam before the White Witch found them.

Well, that's another chapter down. We will have to see how Puss and the others fare from here. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story so far. As always, please rate and review.