Chapter 12 ||The White Witch||
“Cery, we’re here. Wake up.” She heard her brother’s voice and felt a soft patting on her arms. She hummed questioningly.
“We’re nearing Aslan’s How.” He said.
‘Aslan? Oh yes, Aslan’s How. How did I forget everything?’ she thought as she lifted her head up from resting on Caspian’s back, taking the view in. She rubbed her eyes and yawned. She pulled her cloak tightly around her to cover herself from the cold.
“Morning already? Wait, are we in the woods?” she asked with widened eyes.
“Yes, did you sleep any better?.”
“Caspian! Why didn’t you wake me some moments before? I wanted to examine the woods clearly!” she complained.
“At least, I woke you now. I didn’t want to interrupt your sleep. But look, we are not yet there, you have five more minutes to enjoy the view.” He said. They were ridding rather slow pace.
“Oh, good.” She turned back and there was no one, ‘We are the last ones, maybe.’ She thought. She straightened herself and looked ahead. That’s when she saw the Narnians clearly. Centaurs, Fauns, Dwarves, a Minotaur. King Peter, Professor Cornelius, Queen Susan on a Centaur’s back...wait! Oh yes, King Edmund was on a Griffin.
“We’re still the last.” She muttered.
“I thought it’s better to ride in low speed with you on my back, asleep.” Caspian said.
“Aww that’s so sweet of you, brother.” She hugged him, “You’re pretty tired, I can sense it.”
“Yeah, I am.” Caspian winced, stretching his shoulders. “Shall we catch up to the others, now?”
“Why not? Yeah, let’s.” she said. They catch up with the others, she got a warm smile from Susan who looked back and caught Cerlesta’s gaze.
The whole party was silent and all looked gloomy. Cerlesta frowned at the midnight memory; the buzz sounds of arrows, the cries of the Narnian’s, the gate shut close upon a Minotaur….all those things that she witnessed was the most strangest thing in her life.
She was pulled back from all these thoughts as soon as an open field’s view caught her emerald eyes. By each steps of Destrier, the sight became clearer and clearer and finally came out of the woods to this spacious field.
“Is this it?” she asked amazed.
“Yes, you like it?”
“Not really, I LOVE IT!” she breathed.
Soon she heard a horn blast, “What’s that?” she asked.
“What? The sound? That’s a horn blast to let the Narnians in the How know of our return.” He said before inhaling deeply.
“I think I know how you feel, I feel it too, thinking that those innocent ones had to sacrifice their lives in our home, fighting for us.” She said.
“Yeah, but it’s very different for me.”
“Why?”
“It’s just… uh, never mind.” He said.
Cerlesta bit her lips, it made her eyes wet hearing her brother sounded hurt and sad. Her eyes darted to the sky, hearing a loud Eagle cry. She saw a Griffin flying ahead and landing after circling with Edmund on his back. Soon they reached up to where he stood.
Caspian dismounted and helped his sister to dismount. She cleared her cloak and slipped her small hand to Caspian’s strong ones. They walked to the Professor to help him.
Cerlesta felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Queen Susan behind her.
“Finally, we met again.” Susan smiled.
“Yes, it’s a pleasure to see you again, your majesty.” Said Cerlesta, smiling.
“Please, call me Susan. I’d love if you call me that. And nice to meet you again, Princess Cerlesta.” Susan said.
“Please call me Cerlesta or Cery. That’s how friends call me.” Cerlesta said.
“Got it,” Susan smiled and turned to Caspian, “I’ll take care of her.”
“Thank you,” he smiled back (‘Now, I haven’t seen him smiling at girls like that.’ Thought Cerlesta smirking,) and turned to his sister, “I’ll see you.”
She nodded. He walked up to Peter and with him, walked to inside of the How. She and Susan walked right behind them. Susan had her one arm around Cerlesta’s shoulders to which she was feeling very honored and grateful.
Professor was behind them with Nikabrik and Reepicheep. Others were behind them. Ahead, out of How, Narnians were waiting.
Soon she saw a girl younger than her, running from inside and stopping right next to a.. Badger? She recognized the girl, ‘Queen Lucy.’
Lucy noticed Cerlesta and smiled but soon her smile melted into a frown as she gazed at her brother who was walking towards her to the How, hanging his head down and fully in seriousness written all over his face. This was the opposite thing from what she expected.
“What happened?” she asked as he neared.
“Ask him.” he said to her, motioning his head to Caspian. Cerlesta froze, her eyes grew wider,
“Peter.” Susan stopped walking and called her brother in a warning tone.
“Me?” Caspian stopped and asked in disbelief, “You could’ve called it off. There was still time.” His voice changed.
Peter turned to him, “No, there wasn’t, thanks to you. If you’ve kept to the plan, those might be alive right now.” His voice filled with emotions.
“And if you’d just stayed here liked I suggested, they definitely would be!” Caspian spat angrily raising his voice, clenching his fist.
Cerlesta gulped, ‘What’s going on?’ her mind dazed. Susan held her closer. Peter seemed to be a bit surprised at Caspian’s outburst reaction, he wasn’t expecting this.
“You called us, remember?” Peter asked.
“My first mistake.” Caspian said.
‘No he didn’t really mean it.’ Cerlesta assured herself.
“No,” Peter shook his head and turned to walk, “You first mistake was thinking, you could lead these people.”
“HEY!!” Caspian called him raising his voice and Peter turned surprised once again. Cerlesta’s heart skipped a beat; she have never seen this part of her brother or have he been any angry like this. “I am not the one who abandoned Narnia.” Caspian said, grunting through his teeth in pure rage.
Peter’s anger rose, he said pointing his finger at Caspian, “You invaded Narnia.” Then his voiced raised, “You have no more (Caspian ignored his yelling and walked past him, pulling him aside) right to lead it than Miraz does. You, him, your father…(Here Caspian stopped froze, his blood boiled in him at the mention of his father; so did his sister.)….. Narnia is better off without a lot of you!” Peter yelled in rage.
Caspian let out a cry of frustration and anger and unsheathed his sword, pointing it towards Peter as Peter too did it in time, in a challenging way.
“Stop it!” Cerlesta heard a little familiar male voice shout from behind her along with some hoof-step sounds.
She turned, (so did Caspian and Peter) and saw Edmund. She saw a Centaur (It was Glenstorm) with a dwarf in his arms and Edmund helped him to lay him down. Peter and Caspian lowered their swords as they saw this.
Lucy gasped and ran towards the dwarf, Trufflehunter came behind her. That’s when Cerlesta noticed, it was the same dwarf whom she met at the woods with the Pevensies.
Lucy came and sat beside Trumpkin, taking a small bottle out from its carrier from her waist. Susan let go of her arm from Cerlesta’s and knelt beside him too.
Cerlesta looked at her brother. He was watching Lucy; he caught her gaze but looked away, unable to meet her eyes feeling sorry for making her witness his unfamiliar and unknown part.
With one more glance at Lucy, he turned to the How and made his way in, sheathing back his sword. She saw a dwarf among them, who is Nikabrik, following him inside.
She sighed and knelt beside Susan. She watched Lucy carefully pouring a drop of that liquid from the bottle to Trumpkin’s mouth. She watched curiously what’s going to happen and suddenly (soon) Trumpkin choked and slowly opened his eyes.
Every looked relieved but Cerlesta was both relieved and surprised. ‘Why, that’s the cordial Father Christmas gave her! How did I forget that?’ she thought.
“What are you all standing around for? Telmarines will be here soon enough.” Trumpkin said. Lucy smiled and began to get up as Susan, Edmund and Cerlesta did.
“Thank you…” began Trumpkin to Lucy, “My dear little friend.” Lucy’s smile bloomed, she got up and joined her brother and sister.
Edmund helped Trumpkin to get up, he glanced at Cerlesta, who caught his glance and smiled, he smiled back. She walked to Susan.
Lucy smiled widely at her, “It’s so great to see you again! Welcome!” she said.
“Really a pleasure! Thank you!” said Cerlesta smiling.
“Come in,” said Susan and led her inside.
It was the first time Cerlesta ever entered or even has seen a cave. She looked all around her in awe; there were Narnians here and there. They were soon accompanied by the Narnians who were standing outside.
“Never seen a place like this, huh?” Peter asked smiling slightly.
“No, I haven’t.” she shook her head.
“Great to see you again, King Peter.”
“I was going to say that to you,” he chuckled, “Great to see you too, Princess. And please, call me Peter.” He said.
“Are you sure about –”
“Of course we are sure. And I’m saying in advance, you don’t have to call me any ‘majesty stuff’ nonsense too. Call me Lucy.” Lucy said.
“That goes with me too!”
Cerlesta heard a male voice saying from her back as she was about to say something to Lucy. Edmund was walking to them,
“What a pleasure to see you again, Princess Cerlesta.” He said.
“The pleasure is all mine, your… um. Honestly, I can’t call you by names, you know? You’re the legendary Kings and Queens!” she said.
“But you can –” Susan began.
“Yes! If you see us as your friends.” Said Lucy.
Cerlesta gave her a ‘Friends? Seriously? You’ve got to be kidding me’ look.
“And for your satisfaction, I hope this works. You can show your respect to us by doing what we are asking you to do. Call us by our names.” Edmund said.
“Alright, fine. I’ll call your name but only if you’ll call me my name. Deal?” she said to them.
“Deal.” Said Edmund.
She smiled, she felt shy to talk with those four heroes of old times.
“You must be tired, let’s get you to some rest. –” started Susan.
“Yes, thanks. But I need to see Caspian, do you know by any chance where he’ll be?” she asked.
She couldn’t rest knowing something is bothering her brother very much. And the argument with Peter…. something was wrong.
“Um..I have no clue. Maybe..at the top platform? Or at the Stone Table?” Edmund shrugged, looking at Peter.
“The Stone Table?” Cerlesta exclaimed.
“Yes, this way through the tunnel.” Lucy said pointing towards the tunnel.
“Thank you.” Peter sighed,
“Cerlesta look,” He called her. Her heart squealed with joy as he called her by name but she managed not to show the smile out, seeing his furrowed brows.
He continued, “I didn’t mean it, you know, about what I said to your brother. I was just…uh, never mind.”
For a moment, Cerlesta thought she didn’t heard him clearly but shooed away that thought and came to realize she isn’t mistaken. She was just surprised at his apology because he is a King, the High King!
“Uh….oh th-that’s.. fine. Caspian too really didn’t meant about what he said. Trust me, I know every bit of him, he’s not like that actually. He’s been bothered by something. He told me so, but not the reason yet. I need to see if he’s okay.” She confessed.
Susan and Peter exchanged glances, they guessed what the reason is.
“Yes, he is.” Peter sighed. Soon they were accompanied by Trumpkin.
Cerlesta noticed him and smiled, “So nice to see you again Mr…. what’s your name, kind dwarf?” she asked.
“I’m called Trumpkin, your highness.” He answered, “And… nice to see you again. Where’s your brother?” he asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Come,” Peter motioned her to follow him.
She did, accompanied by Edmund and Trumpkin.
“We’ll be around.” Susan called out with Lucy as they disappeared into the tunnel.
As they were walking, Cerlesta noticed the paintings on the wall.
“What are those?” she asked.
Edmund stopped beside her, “Just a painting of the so-called legendary Kings and Queens.” He smirked.
“Those are about you? Wow.” She breathed.
“Maybe we can check it later, the high king really in a hurry, see, he disappeared.” Said Edmund sarcastically.
She chuckled, “Oh I see. Then the paintings should wait.” She said.
A moment of silence….
Until Cerlesta called, “Edmund?” butterflies formed in her stomach as she called him by name.
“Yes?”
“Is this creepy coldness regular inside here? With these fire torches on walls and no air holes?” she asked.
“No, it isn’t… but how?”
“Any opening there, ahead us? The coldness is coming from there.” She said.
“No, only the entrance we came through and other openings are up like balconies.” He said.
“Aren’t you feeling the coldness?” she asked.
“Listen,” said Edmund, making the others stop.
“What are those noises?” asked Trumpkin.
“Animal growls?” asked Edmund in disbelief.
Peter wasted no time and ran forth and they followed. Cerlesta was the last one to follow. Peter turned to left closely followed by Edmund and Trumpkin.
“Stop!” she heard Peter’s commanding voice, followed by the sound of swords unsheathing. She felt more coldness as she reached to the turn and gasped in shock at the sight. She gulped in fear and didn’t dare to climb the steps down to there.
There, straight ahead of her she saw a bluish ice wall, wide and tall and a lady’s figure seemed like in it/or on the other side, with stretched living hand down towards through the ice wall to…. CASPIAN??
Peter, Edmund and Trumpkin were on their fight with two horrible creatures and THAT BLACK DWARF WHO FOLLOWED CASPIAN IN!? Nikabrik.
She could hardly take notice of anything, even her brother as she heard footsteps behind her, running. She turned back and saw Lucy.
“What’s –” Lucy started and gasped at the same time, “The White Witch!” she breathed in shock and ran forth.
“WHAT? LUCY, WAIT!!” she called out but Lucy made her way down already.
She grabbed her crossbow and climbed the steps down. Suddenly Lucy’s cry caught her ears from her left and saw Nikabrik pinning her right arm backwards and pulling her to ground.
“Lucy!” she shouted and aimed her bow at him, who now was ready to kill her with her own dagger, which he took from her.
Her eyes then got Peter on floor by the hag, Edmund who fell down by the werewolf, and her brother who was standing before the ice wall of Jadis the white witch with outstretched arm towards her to reach hers. He was like standing under her spell, not at all bothering what’s happening behind him.
She was a bit confused for a moment, ‘Whom to help?’.
Then she took her aim and fired at Nikabrik. But just before her arrow hit him, Trupkin stabbed him from behind. He also got Cerlesta’s arrow. As he fell down, Cerlesta ran to Lucy.
Her eyes caught Caspian nearing Jadis, “NO!! CASPIAN!!” she shouted and began to run to him.
“No!” Lucy grabbed her arm, stopping her.
She was about to struggle from Lucy’s grip, but stopped herself from doing it when she saw Peter running towards him. Peter reached to Caspian and pushed him aside, pointing his sword gravely at the witch.
Caspian lost his balance and fell to the ground, out of the enchanted circle that the hag drew on the ground.
Now Peter was standing in Caspian’s place, in the circle.
Seeing her brother hitting the ground, Cerlesta’s heart stammered inside. She ran to him and threw herself at his side. As Caspian felt her touch, he glanced at her, he felt himself disenchanted. Cerlesta sighed in relief as she found him alright.
“Peter dear. I’ve missed you.”
Their heads snapped towards Jadis in the ice wall. Her voice sounded, sweet. Jadis held out her hand to Peter.
A shiver shot down through her spine as she heard Jadis’ voice. She gulped and helped her brother to his feet. Caspian pushed his sister behind him, just in case to secure her.
Jadis wasn’t looking at their direction nor she wanted Caspian anymore. Her gazed was firmly fixed on Peter.
“Come, just one drop.” She said, putting her hand towards Peter. His face was very serious.
“You know you can do this alone.” She continued wickedly tempting him.
Peter’s expression changed.
Jadis patiently waited for his response. She was apparently smirking victoriously inside her, her tempting words almost conquered him.
Cerlesta clenched onto her brother’s mail shirt, going pale on skin. She began to sweat up even it was cold and her heart raced even more when she saw Peter lowering his sword.
Because she knew, it was a sign of surrendering. It was an unbelievable sight, she couldn’t believe the King Peter who once fought and helped to defeat this Sorceress almost 1300 years ago is now surrendering to her?
As they watched, suddenly a blade came to sight, piercing from back through Jadis’ ice wall, cracking it. Cerlesta let out a sudden gasp.
Everyone watched in awe and shock, not knowing what’s happening.
Jadis looked down at her belly part where the blade pierced through. She gasped in disbelief and began breathing heavily and noisily. Then with her loud screech and a heavy loud bang, the ice broke down, exploding and shuttering into huge pieces to ground, nothing was in its position left.
Caspian and Cerlesta stepped back covering their faces while Peter bend down shielding himself.
Cerlesta peeked from her brother’s back and saw Edmund standing in the place where the wall was, with his sword held up high in the air, firmly in position. He slowly released from that position, his eyes landed on his brother as he got up to his feet.
Caspian walked forth and stood near to Peter. All eyes’ were on Edmund. But Edmunds eyes were fixed on his big brother
“I know, you had it sorted.” He said and walked off.
Peter’s and Caspian’s eyes landed on the carving of Aslan on the wall. Peter swallowed hardly and turned back and saw Susan standing on the other side of the stone table. She caught his gaze and motioned her head towards the tunnel, for him to follow.
Then her eyes caught Caspian’s stare but she turned back, hurrying to the tunnel, ignoring. Caspian slowly took back his gaze from her and looked at Peter, in front of him. Peter looked back at him and took a deep breath before following his sister.
Trumpkin followed behind, leaving Lucy, Edmund, Caspian and Cerlesta behind.
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GUYYYS..... WHAT?!! 1K READS?!! THIS IS SO UNBELIEVABLE!!
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It's called, Another Chronicles of Narnia: A Great Destiny.
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