Chapter Thirty-Six: A Look Into The Past VI

The waves picked them up and almost threw them off the chunk of ice. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver moved quickly, diving into the water, holding paws as they were swept along. They were much more prepared for the frigidness of the water, the Pevensies were not.

The second the water cascaded onto Peter; his breath was ripped from his throat. He gasped, thankful that the mouthful of air that came in was when his head broke the water once more. He sputtered, shaking hair from his face then glanced to the sides, more than glad to see Susan and Lucy still clutching to the side of his coat. He reached out, tightening his grasp around Lucy, the other hand holding tightly onto his sword.

Finally, the flow of water petered out and their chunk of ice moved closer to the edges of the river. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver poked their heads above water, propelling themselves forward with little strokes of their arms and legs.

"Come on my darling, let's push them to shore!" Mr. Beaver said.

"Yes, yes, of course!" Mrs. Beaver agreed.

The two moved behind the chunk of ice, grabbing onto it with their small paws and rapidly kicked in time along with large slaps of their tails. The slaps against the water sounded like cracking ice, making Peter glance behind him at what once was the wall of ice behind them. He swallowed hard, facing forward once more, then back.

They had been swept further downstream than he'd thought. He could no longer see the mouth of the river, couldn't see how much of it stretched further as it twisted and turned in the bends further than the eye could see.

Finally, the Beavers pushed them to shore and climbed out, shaking themselves to get rid of the droplets on their fur. Susan quickly clambered out of the water after them. Peter turned to go, still gasping. He was about to reach for Lucy, telling her they were safe, and they should go, but found the words stuck in his throat. He still held onto her, he was sure of it, but in actuality he held a firm grasp on the lump that was her coat.

With no Lucy inside.

Peter blinked once, twice. Stared at the coat in disbelief, bringing it up closer to his face. As if she would appear among the folds, popping out with a giggle and a bright smile to say "Peek-A-Boo!" or "Gotcha!" Which was more like Lucy. She had a penchant for hide and seek, finding it to be one of her most favorite games. Ironic as to it being what brought them to Narnia in the first place.

You can pop out now, Lu…

Peter's eyes scanned the water. Then dropped back to the coach once more. A lump formed in his throat as he hugged the waterlogged, heavy coat to his chest. He slowly turned to face Susan, who had already turned back to see what the holdup was.

Her eyes met his then instantly dropped to the coat. It was a split second before she was on him, screeching at him. "What have you done?!" and he knew it wasn't a question of just losing Lucy in the water like that. Wasn't just born of the worry over their sister. But to demand answers to questions that he wasn't sure he even had an answer for.

What have you done? (Where's Lucy)

What have you done? (You were supposed to be protecting her! Protecting us!)

What have you done? (How could you bring us here to a place like this? Keep us here when you don't know what you're doing?)

What have you done? (How did you think you protect us like dad could? Do you understand the importance of a role like that?)

What have you done? (You'll never be like our father!)

And then she was screaming again. "Lucy! LUCY!" while Peter stood at the side of the river, lower lip trembling not just from the cold but from fear. Where the water falling down his cheeks were salty and warm. Where his heart thudded against his chest so hard it felt that he would collapse.

Then, finally, a small voice asked, "Has anyone seen my coat?" and he whipped around, the weight of his shield spinning almost knocked him off his feet, to see Lucy trudging up the side of the river, pulling at her clothes and shivering, still with that giggle smile on her face. They nearly died, he thought she'd died and she was still there with a bright smile. As if it were all an adventure, and nothing would happen.

"Don't you worry, dear," Mr. Beaver said as she approached, "your brother's got you well looked after."

Peter glanced at Susan, who looked away. The same thought crossed both their minds, "Does he?" Still, they didn't dare say it aloud, the relief of seeing Lucy was enough to almost make Peter collapse to his knees. He reached out and pulled Lucy tight to him, guise of wrapping her coat around him, but also for proof that it was real, that she was real, that she was safe.

Lucy pressed her forehead against his chest then tilted her head to look up at him. Her smile wasn't as wide now, but still warm, reassuring Lucy. He could see, clear in her eyes, that she didn't blame him for how she slipped out of the coat. It made sense, it was big, heavy, poorly fit, all waterlogged and the rush of the river—maybe it was alive—had grabbed her and she slipped out of the coat.

Maybe it's what kept her safe, Peter mused as he smiled back at her. If she'd been trapped in the water with such a waterlogged coat… He shook his head, wiping the thought from his mind.

Lucy then lowered her chin, her eyebrows furrowing. "Where's Brielle?" she asked, her hair stuck to her cheek as she whipped her head around. "She was just with us."

Susan whipped around. She leaned left and right before calling for their comrade, "Brielle!" Her voice echoed but faded out over the sound of the roaring gurgling water. "Brielle!"

Peter hurried back to the edge of the water, straining to see around the twisting and turning further down. He cupped his hands around his mouth. "BRIELLE!" he shouted. He didn't hear an echo this time. He turned back to the others. "She must've been swept downstream," he said. "Like Lucy."

"We have to go find her," Susan said.

"I'm sure she'll be al right," Mr. Beaver said impatiently. "We have to keep going."

Susan pressed her lips together. "But we must go looking for her!"

"I thought you must go find your brother."

"She's okay." Lucy's voice was quiet. So quiet that, almost, the others didn't hear her. But when it was clear she had their attention, she repeated herself. "Brielle's okay. I can tell."

"How?" Peter demanded.

She shrugged an almost modest shrug, but the big smile on her face showed she was still smug over everything she'd been correct about so far. So, it made sense she was correct about this as well. The Beavers must've agreed, or else had become as enamored with her as Tumnus and other Talking Creatures had and felt no need to question those that were supposed to save their country.

"I just know," Lucy replied. "I can feel it."

Mr. Beaver took that as his cue to shake himself off once more, then stepped towards the forest. "And I can feel our lead slipping away while we're standing here! Come on!" He waved a small paw and set off. "If the little one says Brielle's all right, then she's alright. Let's keep moving."

"I don't think you'll be needing those coats anymore," Mrs. Beaver added, turning their attention further up and further in to the woods, where tree branches were starting to bloom with their seeds. Where each step further into the snow revealed grass and dirty beneath them. "The snow's melting."

So, they kept going. The further they moved into the woods; the warmer things became. So much so that they shed themselves of their coats and left them hanging on nearby branches. The branches took the coats and folded into the trees, letting Peter, Susan, and Lucy know they would protect their coverings with their lives.

They walked and walked until the air around them grew so warm their clothes dried out. So that the air around them felt like a perfectly warm England Spring. And still, they walked until, just over a ridge, they saw a camp below, could see movement below in the camp.

"Oh, we're nearly there," Mrs. Beaver said, clasping her husband's hand in hers.

Peter nodded. "Come on," he said, and they started walking down the hill. With each step, things turned warmer. Finally, they came close enough that, on top of a hill, they saw and heard a Centaur blowing a horn in a majestic tune, announcing their arrival. They walked further into the camp among murmurings and whispers, their footsteps barely audible over the sound of weapons being forged and sharpened, jaguars growls of disbelief, boars, and even wolves that stood among the group staring in awe as they walked by.

Peter glanced over each face they passed, suddenly feeling self-conscious, but enthralled all the same. So many creatures he'd been taught not to believe in, others that shouldn't be living in those climates, all were alive and staring at them. He tightened his grasp on his sword, a small piece of comfort as they continued walking. The beasts fell in behind them; centaurs, bears, badgers, jaguars, wolves, boars, all starting to smile more as the seconds passed.

"Why are they staring at us?" Susan murmured under her breath. Clearly thinking that the funny looking creatures were the ones who were out of the ordinary.

"Maybe they think you look funny," Lucy said, clearly noticing the uncomfortable judgment in Susans' tone. Susan glanced sharply at her but found herself smiling when she saw the teasing smile on Lucy's face, the shining glint in her eye.

Even Peter found himself smiling at the joke but also smiling under the palpable excitement and wonder surrounding them. He looked as Mr. Beaver chided his wife who fussed with her fur, reminding her that she looked lovely, as they continued towards the only tent guarded at the end of the camp.

Something big was happening.

He only realized what it was seconds before they came to a stop. The flap to the tent opened and there he was. Among the sound of the centaurs and warriors dropping to a respectful knee, was Aslan the lion. First, he was a paw stepping out the tent, then two, then legs, then a mane, then his whole golden body was out in the open.

And the majestic line looked at them with the softest, calmest, golden eyes that any of them had ever seen. Peter's knees knocked gently, then he, Susan, and Lucy all dropped to their knees as well. Peter bowed his head, taking in the warm energy that surrounded him upon seeing Aslan, upon being before him. He understood what Aslan meant to the others; intuitively knew it wasn't for them to move until they were spoken to.

And in short order, they were.

"Welcome Peter, son of Adam." Aslan's grumbling voice was low and warm like honey being spilled. "Welcome Susan and Lucy, daughters of Eve. And welcome to you, Beavers, you have my thanks." Peter lifted his chin, the smile fading from his face when Aslan asked the next question. "But where is the fourth?"

"That's why we're here, sir." He swallowed hard at the lump that formed in his throat. His fingers trembled along the hilt of his blade, nervous at the admission he then made, "We need your help."

"We had a little trouble along the way," Susan agreed.

"Our brother's been captured by the White Witch." Pete's voice was resigned. He was barely able to look Aslan in the eye before, he was too majestic, could barely down it then out of shame.

"Captured?" The word repeated on Aslan's tongue was calm. Too calm. Nevertheless, his eyes showed a flicker of fire. If he were a parent, he would've shaken his head in a low, almost scolding manner. Somehow, his tone of voice did just that. "How could this have happened?"

"He…betrayed them, your majesty," Mr. Beaver admitted.

Peter closed his eyes tightly as the words left the beaver. The words finally sinking into his head, heart, and soul. Betrayal. They were betrayed. All because of him. It was his fault. Everything was his fault.

What have you done? (How could you treat him like that?)

"Then he has betrayed us all!" the closest centaur, the guard of Aslan's tent declared.

Those words, that time, pierced Peter with as much sting as a bow and arrow would have done. Stung him more than his own thoughts, as they were the same. He betrayed Edmund. Edmund, in turn, felt that he had no choice but to betray them. And because of that, he'd betrayed them all. All of Narnia.

Aslan immediately turned on him, scolding him. "Peace, Oreius!" The centaur immediately lowered his head. Aslan soothed the Pevensies, "I'm sure there's an explanation."

"It's my fault, really," Peter admitted. Finally, he opened his eyes. Not just to Aslan but to his admission. Spoke to what'd been churning inside him. "I was too hard on him."

Susan reached up and placed her hand on Peter's arm. She rubbed a soothing circle on it the same way their mother would when they were sick or needed comfort of any level. It reminded him of the days when he was still young enough to crawl into his other's arms when he was ailing in any way. Where she would place a hand to his head and gently rub a circle on him, gently stroke his forehead and bring her fingers through the whisps of his hair.

It was their jobs; Peter had to take over as the father figure with their father away at war, Susan had to do the same as a mother figure while their mother was away at work to keep the house running while their father was gone. Then they'd been sent to the countryside when things had gotten too dangerous…

"We all were," Susan said.

"Sir, he's our brother," Lucy said quietly.

Aslan's eyes turned even kinder at Lucy. "I know, dear one. But that only makes the betrayal all the worse. This may be harder than you think."

Brielle and Maugrim, and the secret police hadn't gone far before Maugrim stopped still. Vardan and the other wolf, whom Brielle found to be known as Furiren, did the same, their heads tilting back, nostrils silently flaring as they sniffed and smelled the air.

"She's coming," Vardan said. He turned to Maugrim with a snarl. "I hope you're ready for this."

Maugrim merely looked back at him.

They heard the voices before they came into focus. A dwarf, a giant woman, and a younger boy who Brielle surmised to be Edmund. "It's so warm out," the dwarf said, taking off his overcoat. His voice was tinged with awe, looking at the droplets of melting snow that came off the branches and littered the ground.

Jadis slowly turned to the dwarf and coldly looked down upon him. The dwarf seemed to freeze under her gaze. She looked steadily at him as he looked around, then, finally turned his sight back to the witch. He jumped, a twitchy jump, when he saw she was looking at him, and brought his coat back up his arms.

"Um…I'm going to see to the sleigh…" he said before toddling off.

The witch nodded and turned back to the river before them. Beside her, Edmund smirked just lightly at the plight. Brielle studied him during the exchange. Yes, that was certainly the younger child, finding a sense of pleasure—maybe more amusement—at someone else who received the same sort of treatment he did. But his smile faded after a second.

Seeing the group, Vardan hurried forward. "Your majesty," he said as he approached. Furiren followed.

Brielle moved to step forward, but Maurgim made a low growling sound, pushing her back. He continued to do so, taking step after second towards her, making Brielle move back into the bushes. "You must stay here," he said. "If Jadis finds you…" he shook his head. "Don't make a sound." In a few bounding leaps he was with Vardan and Furiren, standing in front of the White Witch and her prisoner.

Jadis's upper lip curled when she found the secret police in front of her. "Well?" she demanded. "Where are they?" Before they could respond, she pulled out her wand, pointing it directly at the group. "How dare you show your faces to me without what I've asked you for!"

"Your majesty—" Vardan started.

Maugrim growled at him, then snapped at his flank. He stepped forward, taking the lead. "Your majesty, we were swept away by the river. The ice broke and there was a wave…" He lowered his head. "It's a miracle we survived."

Jadis bared her teeth. "You're proving to be useless to me," she said slowly, words dripping with ice. "I've had more use from my boy here…" she reached out and gently stroked her fingers down Edmund's cheek. Edmund flinched and started to pull away, then stopped, allowing it to happen. Even from where she was hiding, Brielle could see the discomfort that came to his face. "Where are the other humans headed?"

Edmund pressed his lips together.

Still stroking Edmund's cheek, Jadis turned her attention back to the wolves. "Don't come back to me until you've found something of use to find those humans. I want them all, dead or alive. You know the penalty!" She waved her wand at a butterfly that fluttered around her, instantly turning it to stone. It crashed to the ground with a heavy thunk. "Go!"

At that, Maugrim, Vardan, and Furiren took off. Brielle swallowed hard, watching her familiar leave her behind. She started to move further back into the woods, bust kept her eyes on Edmund when Jadis turned her attention back to him. She continued to stroke his cheek, moving her fingers down to his neck then up to his hair.

She twirled a bit of his hair around her fingers, then ensnarled her bony fingers into Edmund's hair, making him cry out in pain. She clamped her hand into a fist, shaking her hand from the effort, and ripped his head backwards. "WHERE ARE THEY?!" She roared into his ear.

Brielle was up and out of the bushes before she could stop herself. Screaming, "Leave him alone!" at the top of her lung, she picked up a rock and heaved it at Jadis. The White Witch simply waved her hand, the rock stopped in midair then spun, becoming encased in ice until it was a good-sized snowball, and shot it back towards her. Brielle ducked aside and flung up her hand, the snowball rocketed towards Jadis.

Jadis's eyebrows rose. She deftly tilted her head, and the snowball crashed into a tree behind her. "I knew the wolves were lying to me about something," she mused as Brielle stood before her. "You were with the humans…but you were never part of the prophecy." She loosened her grip on Edmund's hair. "I wonder why Aslan brought you here." She tucked her wand away and curled her fingers, motioning for Brielle to get closer. "Though from what you've just shown me, I'm sure you'll be more of my interest…where are the other humans you were traveling with?"

Brielle looked at her defiantly. Then looked at the butterfly then at Edmund, who still trembled by Jadis's side. He gaped at her; she could see the hope in his eyes as she went closer. Hope that she knew where his brother and sisters were, hope that she wouldn't rat them out. Brielle clenched her hands into fists and the wind picked up around them once more, this time, the area started to grow dark.

Jadis growled, tightened her grasp on Edmund's hair once more, this time using her finger hand to dig her nail into his neck.

"Stop!" Brielle cried. Peter, Susan, and Lucy would never forgive her if she'd found Edmund and allowed him to be tortured. It was clear what she wanted. The most valuable thing anyone could have on their opponents. Information. "The Beavers said something about the Stone Table," Brielle said. "Aslan has an army there… It's where we were headed."

"An army?"

With pursed lips, Jadis rolled the information around her head for a moment. Then she stood up straight, allowing Edmund to right himself as well. She dropped her grasp, and he let out a sigh of relief, only able to get two breaths in before Jadis whipped around and slapped Edmund full across the face. He cried out, dropping to the ground, lip immediately splitting, a cut form on his cheek. He gasped and looked back at Jadis, watery eyes leaking tears down his cheeks.

"Think about who's side your on, Edmund," Jadis whispered. "Mine…or theirs…" She then turned her attention to Brielle. "And you." She gave the barest of smiles. "You remind me of me," she mused. Then her face turned ice cold. "But with the stench of human."

She lifted her hand and, all at once, the last bits of snow that covered the ground shot up and encased Brielle's and Edmund's hands behind their backs in icy locks. The chill immediately went to Brielle's bones and despite the warmth around them, she started to shiver.

"Come."

Jadis led Brielle and Edmund to her sled and nudged them on. She then turned to Ginarrbrik and said, "When we get there, go on ahead and gather the faithful," she declared. "If it's a war Aslan wants, it's one he'll get."

Ginarrbrik nodded then sent the sleigh back to their encampment. Brielle and Edmund were quiet as they bumped along the path to Jadis's camp. When she was sure they wouldn't be overheard, Brielle leaned into Edmund's side and said, "Don't worry, we're going to get out of here."

Edmund, despondently shook his head. "There's no way," he whispered back. "She won't let us go until she gets to the others. My brother…my sisters…" he lowered his head.

"Peter, Susan, and Lucy are doing everything they can to find you," Brielle whispered back. "They're not going to give up, and neither are we." She then added, "I'm Brielle, by the way."

Edmund didn't respond.

They arrived back at Jadis's camp by nightfall. Or what Brielle thought to be nightfall. Whether that much time had passed or Jadis resided in a place in Narnia that was untouched by the sun, she wasn't sure. They were taken by minotaurs and tied to trees; gags tied around their mouths for good measure.

And for the next three days they were tied there; taken one at a time by the guards to go to the bathroom and be given food, but Jadis continued to leave them there. All around them Brielle and Edmund watched as weapons were fashioned and sharpened among Jadis's orders. Also, at that time, the Secret Police came and went. Each night of those three days, when everything in the camp was still, two things happened.

The first was that Maugrim came to visit her. He would drape himself over her legs, twisting his tail to keep herself and Edmund warm. He'd rest his head on his paws and keep watch over the camp along with Furiren and Vardan. By the third day, when her gag was released, Brielle asked him why he continued to work for Jadis, despite everything.

"When your options are a horrible, painful death encased in ice…or a horrible painful death due to the corrupt power of another…you don't have any options," Maugrim replied. "I don't have much faith in the queen, hardly any at all. But I've seen my mate, my family destroyed simply with a flick of her wand. I had nothing left. Not even a choice."

The second thing that happened over those three nights were the blooming of Moonflowers, Evening Primrose, and Angel Trumpets.

A/N: And another update! This one took a bit longer than I expected for it to come out, but I had to re-read a few things to make sure it made sense. Between uploading this chapter and uploading the next one I'm going to go back and edit some of my previous chapters to make some more things make sense/fix any spelling and grammar mistakes. Or things that I started initially and then changed by the time that I got to it in fic.

If there's anything big that has changed that you'd need to go back and read, I'll put it in the next author's note. As it is, I hope you enjoyed this look back on LWW again. Next chapter is coming soon!

Cheers,

-Riles