Narnia's crisp, cold air swirled around them as Elizabeth and Lucy led Peter and Susan through the snow-laden forest. Peter couldn't shake off his disbelief, eyes wide as he took in the breathtaking landscape that seemed straight out of a fairy tale.

"This... this is incredible," Peter muttered, his voice filled with awe.

As they ventured deeper into this magical realm, Susan's skepticism gradually melted away, replaced by a sense of wonder. "I never imagined anything like this," she admitted, her eyes scanning the towering trees and the soft blanket of snow that covered the ground.

Lucy, skipping ahead, turned back with a wide grin. "See, I told you! Isn't Narnia amazing?"

Elizabeth chuckled softly, her heartwarming at seeing her siblings' reactions. "It's just the beginning," she assured them. "Wait till you meet some of the creatures here."

As they neared their destination, the beauty of Narnia was overshadowed by the sight of Mr. Tumnus's home. The door hung crooked, and the once cozy house now appeared ransacked, its belongings scattered in the snow.

"Oh no," Lucy's voice trembled with fear. "Mr. Tumnus..."

Peter instinctively stepped forward, ready to protect his sisters. He scanned the area for any sign of danger. "What happened here?" he demanded, his voice low and urgent.

Before Elizabeth could respond, a small figure darted from nearby bushes. It was Bodhi, his white fur bristling with distress.

"They took him," He squeaked urgently, his eyes darting between the siblings. "The White Witch's minions—they came looking for the Daughters of Eve and Sons of Adams. They've asked for your whereabouts, but Mr. Tumnus wouldn't say, so they took him!"

Elizabeth's heart sank further at the news, guilt gnawing at her for leaving their friend vulnerable. "We have to find him," she declared, her voice determined. "We can't let them harm him because of us."

Peter nodded firmly, his jaw set with determination. "We're with you, Lizzie. Whatever it takes."

Susan hesitated only briefly before stepping forward, her expression serious. "Count me in too. We can't abandon your friend."

Lucy looked at Mr. Tumnus's belongings worryingly. She looked at her older siblings and nodded, determined to save her dear friend.

Unbeknownst to the siblings, Edmund decided to return and lingered near the wardrobe in the spare room, his siblings' conversation echoing faintly from the hallway. They had left him behind, dismissing his skepticism. He scowled, glancing around to ensure no one was watching, and then slowly pushed open the wardrobe door.

"Just a silly game," He muttered, stepping inside and feeling the familiar, soft fur of the coat brush against his skin. But as he moved deeper, the air grew colder, and he stumbled forward into a snow-covered forest.

He gasped, his breath visible in the chilly air. "Narnia," he whispered in awe, the realization crashing over him. His siblings hadn't been making it up after all. The trees stood tall and majestic, their branches heavy with snow, and the sky above was a crisp, clear blue.

As he wandered further, the crunch of snow under his feet was the only sound he felt thrilled and uneasy. Suddenly, the silence was broken by the distant sound of sleigh bells. He turned, squinting against the brightness, and saw a sleigh approaching, drawn by two reindeer and driven by a tall, stern-looking dwarf. Beside him sat a beautiful woman, her skin pale as snow and her eyes piercing blue. She wore a shimmering white fur coat and a crown of ice on her head.

The sleigh stopped before him, and the woman looked down at Edmund with a commanding yet strangely inviting gaze. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice melodic and cold.

"I-I'm Edmund," he stammered, unable to tear his eyes away from her. "Edmund Pevensie."

The woman's expression softened into a smile. "Edmund Pevensie, how wonderful to meet you. I am the White Witch, the Queen of Narnia."

Edmund's heart raced, and he was captivated by her beauty and presence. "A queen?" he echoed, feeling both nervous and honored.

The White Witch nodded gracefully. "Indeed. And you, Edmund, you must be hungry and cold. Would you like something warm to drink? Perhaps some Turkish delight?"

At the mention of his favorite treat, Edmund's mouth watered. "Yes, please," he replied eagerly.

The Witch clapped her hands, and the dwarf handed him a goblet of warm, spiced drink and a silver box filled with Turkish delight. Edmund bit into the sugary sweet, savoring the taste as warmth spread through his body.

"Now, tell me, Edmund," the Witch continued, her tone gentle and coaxing, "do you have any siblings?"

Edmund nodded, chewing thoughtfully. "Yes, four. Elizabeth, Peter, Susan, and Lucy. They—they've been here before. They met a faun named Tumnus."

The Witch's eyes narrowed slightly, but her smile remained. "Tumnus, you say? How interesting. And where are your siblings now?"

Edmund hesitated, but the allure of the Turkish delight and the Witch's kindness made him lower his guard. "They went to see Tumnus. They said he lives not far from here."

The Witch's smile widened, though there was a glint of something darker in her eyes. "Edmund, how would you like to be a prince? To rule by my side? All you have to do is bring your siblings to me."

A prince? The idea dazzled him, and he imagined himself in fine clothes, respected and influential. "Really? You'd make me a prince?"

"Of course," the Witch purred. "All I ask is that you bring them to my castle. We can all be friends, and I will give you more Turkish delight than you could ever dream of."

Edmund, convinced he had found a true friend, nodded eagerly. "I'll do it. I'll bring them to you."

The Witch's smile grew colder, but Edmund was too entranced to notice. "Excellent, Edmund. Very good. Now, go and find your siblings. I will be waiting."

As the sleigh disappeared into the distance, Edmund felt a mix of excitement and pride. He had made a powerful ally, or so he thought, and couldn't wait to bring his siblings to meet his new friend, unaware of the danger looming over them all.

The White Witch sat on her icy throne, her expression unreadable as her minions gathered before her. The chilling air of her castle seemed to throb with malice as she fixed her piercing gaze on her lead wolf, Maugrim.

"The Daughters of Eve and Sons of Adam are here," she said, echoing through the chamber. "They must not reach Aslan. We will deal with them before they can become a threat."

Maugrim bowed low, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light. "What would you have us do, Your Majesty?"

"The faun, Tumnus, has already been in contact with them," the Witch continued, her tone icy. "Bring him to me. He knows too much. If he resists, make an example of him."

Maugrim growled in agreement, turning to his fellow wolves. "You heard the Queen. Find the faun and bring him here."

As the wolves loped off into the snowy night, the White Witch's cold smile widened. "And remember," she called after them, "no harm must come to the children until I say so."

In his cozy home, Mr. Tumnus was already on edge. The air felt heavy with an impending threat, and his instincts told him something was wrong. He glanced around his humble abode, his thoughts racing. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

Suddenly, he heard the distant howling of wolves. His heart leaped in his chest, knowing he had little time. Hastily, he grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill, scribbling a hurried note:

"Dear Mr. Beaver,

The White Witch knows of the presence of the Daughters of Eve and Sons of Adam. They are in grave danger. You and Bodhi must take Elizabeth and her siblings to Aslan. He will protect them, for Elizabeth is his future Empress.

Your friend, Tumnus."

He rolled the parchment tightly and whistled a familiar tune. A small bird, perched outside his window, fluttered in and landed gracefully on his extended finger.

"Take this to Mr. Beaver," Tumnus whispered urgently. "Fly fast, little friend."

The bird chirped in understanding, clutching the tiny scroll in its beak before taking off into the forest. Tumnus watched it go, his worry deepening.

No sooner had the bird disappeared into the forest than he heard a fierce pounding on his door. The wolves had arrived. Tumnus took a deep breath, his heart pounding, and opened the door to face Maugrim and his pack.

"By order of the White Witch, you are to come with us," Maugrim snarled, his teeth bared menacingly.

Tumnus stood tall, a calm resolve settling over him. "I will not go willingly, Maugrim."

Maugrim's eyes flashed with anger. "Then you leave us no choice."

The wolves lunged, and Tumnus fought bravely but was outnumbered and overpowered. As they dragged him from his home, the faun's thoughts were not of his fate but of Elizabeth and her siblings he had vowed to protect. He prayed that his message would reach Mr. Beaver in time.

In the present time, far away, the bird landed lightly on Mr. Beaver's dam. It pecked gently at the door, and Mrs. Beaver opened it with a start. "Oh, heavens!" she exclaimed, seeing the bird and the scroll it carried.

Mr. Beaver quickly unrolled the parchment, his eyes scanning the message. His expression grew grave. "The future Empress and her siblings are in danger," he told his wife. "We must find them and take them to Aslan immediately."

Mrs. Beaver nodded, her face set with determination. "I'll gather some supplies. We leave at once."

And so, with Tumnus's warning in hand, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver prepared to set out, hoping to reach Elizabeth and her siblings before it was too late.

Elizabeth, Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Bodhi trudged through the snowy woods, their minds heavy with the worry of Mr. Tumnus's capture. The cold air bit at their faces, but they pressed on, determined to find their friend.

Suddenly, they heard a familiar voice calling out to them from behind. "Hey, wait up!"

They all turned to see Edmund hurrying toward them, his face flushed from the cold. Peter's eyes widened in surprise. "Edmund? What are you doing here?"

Edmund came to a stop, panting slightly. "I... I wanted to see for myself. You were all right. Narnia is real."

Lucy ran up to him, her face alight with joy. "Edmund! You believe us now!"

Edmund nodded, feeling a pang of guilt as he saw the relief in his little sister's eyes. "Yes, Lucy. I'm sorry I didn't believe you before. And I'm sorry to you too, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth stepped forward, her expression a mix of surprise and concern. "Edmund, what changed your mind?"

He shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I just... I needed to see it for myself. But I'm here now."

Peter clapped a hand on Edmund's shoulder. "Well, it's good to have you with us. We're going to need all the help we can get."

Bodhi sniffed at Edmund, his tiny nose twitching as if trying to detect any hidden secrets. But Edmund kept his composure, masking any hint of his recent encounter with the White Witch.

"We're trying to find Mr. Tumnus," Susan explained, her voice tinged with worry. "The White Witch's followers have taken him."

Edmund's stomach churned, but he managed to keep his expression neutral. "That's terrible. Do we have any leads?"

Bodhi nodded, his eyes sharp. "We're heading to meet Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. They might know where Tumnus has been taken."

Edmund tried to push away the guilt gnawing at him as they continued their journey. He had to stay focused and find a way to bring his siblings to the Witch without arousing suspicion. He glanced at Elizabeth, who was leading the way with a determined look in her eyes. Her courage and strength were evident, and for a moment, he wondered if he had made the right choice.

The path led them to a small, cozy dam by the river. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver were already outside, about to leave. Their faces broke into relieved smiles when they saw Bodhi, Elizabeth, and her siblings.

"Oh, thank goodness you've come," Mrs. Beaver said, ushering them inside. "We've been expecting you."

Mr. Beaver looked at each of them with a serious expression. "We need to move quickly. The Witch's power is growing, and Aslan's time is near. Elizabeth, you especially must be kept safe."

Elizabeth frowned, confusion and determination mixing in her eyes. "Why me?"

Lucy looked at Mr. Beaver knowingly.

Mr. Beaver exchanged a glance with his wife before answering. "Because, my dear, you are destined for a great role in Narnia. You are the Narnia's Pure Heart. If something were to happen to you, Narnia would be doomed."

The weight of Mr. Beaver's words settled heavily on them all. Edmund felt a pang of jealousy and fear, but he quickly pushed it aside, forcing a smile. "Then we better get going. We have a lot to do."

As they gathered their courage and supplies, the group set off again, determined to rescue Mr. Tumnus and face the challenges ahead. Edmund walked among them, his heart torn between loyalty to his family and the seductive promises of the White Witch. But for now, he would keep his secret, hoping to find a way to protect his siblings while fulfilling his desires.