Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Of course they had attacked first! Why would they consider any offer made my us? They were the White Witch's army, for Aslan's sake! How could I have possibly thought anything otherwise? 

We didn't have to know that the village had been attacked because we could see the smoke coming out of there from a long distance. "Faster, Thomas!" He whinnied as he picked up his pace.

On my left, I saw the Narnians making their way to the village. "Please." I was silently praying to Aslan. "Please don't let anyone die."

We reached the village and saw people running around. The Narnians had reached before us and were helping the people. Everyone was devastated – old people and children. The adults were holding clothes in their hands and were trying to calm the children now.

I got off of Thomas and walked towards them. The people saw us and I could see a glimmer of hope in their eyes. Caspian and Glenstorm started talking with each other. "It was the White Witch."

"Is everyone okay?" Caspian asked.

"Surprisingly, they did not kill anyone, Your Majesty. But they have caused a lot of problems. They've burnt their homes and blocked the pathway to the corner well."

I looked at the people sitting on hay and talked to some of them. "Will we get our homes back?" The oldest woman in the village asked me.

"We will do everything in our power to help you. All of you."

The naiads were working on putting the fire out. I helped them by carrying water from a nearby well. After everything was done, I sat down on one of the hay pieces with a child. She was holding a handmade doll in her hand. "Are you really a Princess?" She asked me.

"I am." I nodded.

"Elena is as well." She said as he handed me her doll. "But she lost her castle today."

The doll named Elena was staring at me. "I am so sorry." I told the child.

"Why are you apologising?" Freya asked me.

"I will do everything I can do get Elena her castle back." I told as I hugged Freya with one arm.

"Sophie?" I heard Caspian's voice and I turned around. "We should get back." 

I nodded, trying to control my emotions. "I'll see you soon, Freya." I gave her the doll back. As we walked back to Thomas and Destrier, I felt a hand pull my skirt. I turned around and saw that it was Freya. "Here." She handed me a red-coloured ribbon.

"What is this?" I asked her as I knelt on the ground. 

"For your protection." 

I couldn't help but tear up. All the emotions that I was trying to suppress came to the surface and I dropped my head down. Freya put her arms around my neck and I hugged her.

After we reached the castle, I proposed that we attack Aslan's How. "We cannot do that." Someone said. 

I wasn't really paying attention to who was speaking. All their words were going off the top of my head. "Why not?" 

"After the Second Battle of Beruna, the lands are not as stable as they used to be. We cannot risk anyone's lives."

"The structure of the How is not stable." I think it was the Professor who said it. "I don't know why they decided to set their camp there, but the advantage might have overweighed the odds for them."

"What do you propose we do?" I looked at them for the first time. "Because I will not live in fear of her!" 

"We won't." Trumpkin said, looking at Caspian. "We need to attack them. Either they attack first or we do."

I slammed my hand on the table. "They have already attacked first. It is our turn now. Now is our chance."

"Sophie." Caspian was going to calm me down but there was no chance that I could.

"We need to strike back. We just have to." I was looking at the table. Freya's face wasn't leaving my eyes and holding her ribbon in my hand only reminded me of the stakes.

"We are going to attack." Caspian said next to me and I looked at him. "Prepare the troops."

Trumpkin nodded in response. "Tell everyone in the forest as well." I told. "We are going to need as much as help that we can get." Trumpkin nodded at me as well.

"I'll go down to the armoury and get the weapons ready." The Professor informed.

But all our plans were shattered when Evelyn entered the room looking worried. "Your Majesties." She was sweating.

"Evelyn, are you okay?" I walked to her and held her. She was shaking a little bit.

"Please come down." 

"Goodness, sit down first." I told her and then looked at Caspian. He looked at me as well and we rushed to the ground floor with guards surrounding us for protection.

Nina walked up to us as we climbed down the staircase. "Your Majesties." She looked worried.

"What happened?" Caspian asked her.

"They came inside unannounced. I think they've threatened poor Malcolm." She said as she led us to the front of the castle.

The guards opened the door as we neared it and we saw what the problem was. The enemies – the hag, the wolf and a minotaur were outside with a white flag. The guards stopped us after we reached the foot of the castle steps. 

"What do you want?" Caspian directed the question to the three.

"Her Imperial Majesty, Queen of Narnia-"

"Cut to the chase!" I shouted.  Time was precious and it wasn't us who had it.

The wolf snarled at me and would have come at me if the minotaur hadn't stopped him. The wolf backed away. "Her Majesty is ready to accept your offer." 

I could hear surprised gasps behind me. "Why did you attack the village today then?" Caspian asked them.

"We need to have a little fun ourselves." The hag made fun of us.

"What does she want in return?" I asked. Of course she would want something in return.

"Smart girl." The wolf whispered but I was able to hear it.

"Her Majesty is willing to leave Narnia and its people," The hag looked at me. "If she gets her." 

The guards drew their swords out at the same time that Caspian stood in front of me. "Not a chance." 

"Caspian." I touched his arm.

"You know the terms." The hag said. "Give the girl up or face the consequences." She cackled. "You have until tomorrow morning." 

The three of them turned around to go back the way that they came. "Don't try to follow us." The wolf said before catching up with his companions.