~

"Edmund. EDMUND!" Adeline shouted as they raced up a snowy hill. She cupped her hands and cried out his name again, praying he would hear her and come back. Lucy trailed behind the older girl and Adeline gripped her hand and pulled her along. 

Peter, Susan, and Mr. Beaver were running ahead of them and Adeline struggled to catch up. The weight of her brown fur coat and the little girl holding onto her slowed her down.

"Peter!" cried out Lucy. Her older brother turned and backtracked to grasp Lucy's other hand and together Adeline and Peter helped Lucy up the steep hill.

"Hurry!" Peter cried out. They passed a line of trees and stopped in their tracks. The terrain ahead was barren and a blinding white. The only thing there was an enormous castle made completely of ice. It should have blended in with the scenery except there was a dull light shining out of it, indicating inhabitants. The front gates looked small from where she was standing but Adeline was certain that if she was standing right in front of it, they would tower over her. A small dot caught her eye as it walked through the doors, the icy pillars slamming shut behind it. Panic flared up in Adeline and she gripped Lucy's hand even tighter. That was Edmund she had seen walk into the God-forsaken place.

"EDMUND!" Lucy screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Shh!" Mr. Beaver cried, "They'll hear ya."

In front of her Peter's shoulders straightened and he made for the castle. 

"No!" Mr. Beaver grabbed onto the edge of Peter's coat and pulled him to a halt.

"Get off me!" Peter shouted, struggling out of Mr. Beaver's grip

He waved his paws around, trying to explain, "You're playing into her hands!"

Beside her, Susan stood to her brother's defense, "We can't just let him go."

"He's our brother." Lucy's small voice cried desperately, Adeline pulled Lucy closer to her and set an arm around her shoulders. She never had any siblings and couldn't imagine the pain the others were going through, but charging in blindly wasn't the answer to their problems either.

"He is the bait." Mr. Beaver explained, "The witch wants all five of ya."

"Why?" Adeline asked, the crack in her voice betraying her mask of confidence.

"To stop the prophecy from coming true." He continued, "To kill ya!"

A small noise came out of Adeline as her throat dried up. What had they gotten into? This was never supposed to happen. She looked up trying to catch to seek guidance from Peter, who looked like he was about to scream, but all she got was a reflection of her own emotions.

"This is all your fault." Susan stalked up to Peter, resentment in her tone.

"Susan!" Adeline shouted, appalled at the once reserved girl.

"My fault?!" Peter shouted.

"None of this would have happened if you had just listened to me in the first place!"

Peter let out a dark laugh, "Oh, so you knew this would happen."

"I didn't know what would happen." Susan said, "Which is why we should have left while we still could!"

"STOP IT!" Lucy's cry rang out over the others. She slipped out of Adeline's arms and to her sibling's sides.

"This isn't going to help Edmund," she said.

"She's right." Adeline walked up beside Lucy, and for the first time since she had admitted the truth about herself back at the Beavers dam, Peter looked her in the eye. "Fighting will get us nowhere."

Mr. Beaver, who had been silent as the children argued, spoke up, "Only Aslan can help your brother now."

"Then take us to him," Peter's distraught voice spoke for them all.

~

The way back down seemed to take longer than it should have, but this time they were being careful as they tried not so slip or hurt themselves going downhill. Lucy stuck by Adeline's side, and the girls were sandwiched between Mr. Beaver and Susan, who were taking the lead, and Peter who made sure no one was left behind. 

A small sniffle escaped Lucy, who was clutching tightly to Adeline's hands as she helped the little girl down.

Once safely down, Adeline placed a hand to her cheek and wiped away a stray tear, "Don't cry Lu, we'll get him back." She bit her tongue before she could almost say 'I promise.' Promises weren't a guarantee and Adeline didn't know if this time she could keep one.

The little girl nodded and they resumed their trek. However, for a split second when Adeline straightened up, she caught Peter's eye. There was a regret reflecting off of those sky blue irises that almost broke Adeline's heart. She opened her mouth but decided against saying anything. He had to apologize for what he had said and how he had ignored her, she had nothing to say sorry for. 

Echoing howls broke through her thoughts and their party froze. Adeline held her breath as she could hear snarls and barks from where they had left.

"It's the witch's henchmen." Mr. Beaver shouted, "Run!" 

Every one ran. Adeline pulled Lucy along with her as they hopped over boulders and fallen branches. The light from the beaver's dam appeared in the distance just as a long howl grew closer. Mr. Beaver rushed and slammed open the door and Adeline along with the rest of the children ran in.

"Hurry mother," he cried, "They're after us!"

"Oh, right then." Mrs. Beaver said, pawing jams into a bag.

"What's she doing?" Peter cried, standing there. Adeline shut the door behind her and set a chair in front of it, making sure the handle wouldn't budge.

"Well you'll be thanking me later," Mrs. Beaver opened a cupboard and grabbed more food, it's a long journey, and Beaver gets pretty cranky when he's hungry.

Susan rushed to her side to help gather whatever supplies they needed. Adeline grabbed a cloth bag which was sitting next to their counter and stuffed in wool blankets which were piled next to the fireplace. She had a feeling they wouldn't be coming back and they had to be prepared.

"I'm cranky now!" Mr. Beaver shouted.

"Peter!" Adeline caught his attention, "Quickly, lock the windows." The blond, who had just been standing there baffled, snapped to attention and ran to the windows, clicking the locks in. Adeline didn't want to be surprised by the wolves just yet and the locked windows and door would hold them off just enough for her and the others to getaway. She secured the bag and swung the singular strap over her head and across her torso.

"Do you think we need jam?" Susan asked, still gathering the food.

"Only if the witch serves toast!" Peter sassed back. Loud barks interrupted their argument, Adeline's heart raced faster as the wolves began to scratch and paw at the windows. The only small comfort was that she was proud of herself for thinking about locking the entryways.

That relief disappeared as dust and sticks fell from the walls and her heart dropped when she realized the wolves were digging their way through.

"We need to leave, now!" Adeline commanded. She took Lucy's hand, whose shaking features indicated she was scared out her wits.

"Through here." Mr. Beaver opened a small door, which Adeline hadn't noticed before. It was a dirt tunnel and pitch-black until Mr. Beaver grabbed lit a torch and ran in. Then she saw the vastness and how it stretched for what seemed forever.

"Let's go!" he shouted. Susan and Mrs. Beaver jumped in, using a rope to get down. Peter went next and helped Lucy first then Adeline. Their bodies brushed closely as she jumped down and Adeline tried to hide her blush, remembering they were in a dangerous situation.

Peter grabbed the torch from Mr. Beaver as he led the way. Adeline took Lucy and they fell behind to the back of the group, the little girl struggling to keep up with the older ones. 

"Badger and me dug this." Mr. Beaver explained, "Comes right up near his place."

"You told me it lead to your mums!" Mrs. Beaver shouted, appalled.

A sudden tug stopped Adeline in her tracks and she grabbed onto the wall to not fall over. Lucy had tripped and was laying on the ground. Adeline scrambled to pick her up but froze when she heard nearing barks.

"They're in the tunnel." Lucy gasped. 

"Quick, this way!" Mr. Beaver shouted.

Adeline picked Lucy up and they ran as quickly as they could through the narrow space, keeping closely to Susan and Peter ahead of them.

Adeline almost crashed into Peter when they all came to a halt. A dirt wall stood in their path and a trail of bloodthirsty wolves were getting closer. 

Adeline shouted, "Where to now?!"

"You should have brought a map!" a panicked Mrs. Beaver scolded.

"There wasn't room next to the jam." Mr. Beaver jumped up into a tunnel which was slightly hidden and Adeline hadn't spotted at the end of the group.

They all followed quickly behind and came through the exit. The sharp air hit Adeline's face first before the bright moonlight did. She ushered Lucy ahead of her and made sure Susan had gotten her out before climbing out herself. Peter and Mr. Beaver rolled some nearby barrels to blockade the entrance, which hardly seemed secure. 

"Adeline!" Mr. Beaver shouted. "We need your help to close the entrance."

"What can I do?" She pushed up the sleeves of her fur coat.

Mr. Beaver pointed to a clump of boulders that were piled on top of the hole where they had emerged, "Use your magic to move those boulders onto the entrance."

Adeline faltered, "What- I can't!" She had been evading using her magic this entire time and it was even worse now that the other children were here. 

"Yes, you can!" Mr. Beaver cried, "It'll slow them down."

"But-"

"Hurry!" Lucy shouted. 

Adeline shook her head, clearing it, and willed herself to do it for the sake of the others. With a sharp intake of breath, she concentrated on the boulders. Blue whisps entangled them and Adeline could feel a strong power awakening in her. She held a hand out and flicked her wrist, the boulders tumbled down onto the entranceway. They would slow the wolves down but wouldn't stop them yet.

"Agh!" Lucy's high voice cried. Adeline turned with her hand still in the air, fearing the wolves had managed to somehow find them but lowered them when she saw that Lucy had just tripped over some stone statues. 

With a closer look, Adeline gasped. The entire lawn was covered in stone statues of different small creatures. She spotted squirrels and rabbits and what looked like mice had been what Lucy had tripped over.

Mr. Beaver slowly approached a statue of a badger, resting his paw against its face. Mrs. Beaver whispered comforting words to him as Adeline pulled her sleeves back down and helped Lucy up, keeping close to the little girl. Peter came up behind her and held her arm gently. She couldn't help but lean towards him ever so slightly and scolded her heart for its weakness.

His voice trembled, "What happened here?"

"This is what becomes of those who cross the witch." A voice spoke. Adeline nearly jumped out of her shoes, fearing it was a wolf. But, in closer inspection, she realized that the creature was smaller and much redder, a fox.

Mr. Beaver marched up to him, "You take one more step, traitor, and I'll chew you to splinters." he threatened.

The fox laughed, "Relax, I'm one of the good guys."

"Well, you look an awful lot like one of the bad ones."

The fox rolled his black eyes, "An unfortunate family resemblance."

Adeline put an arm around Lucy's shoulders and held her closely, she couldn't trust this fox, she didn't know him. Susan shifted closer to Adeline and Peter, stood in front of them, holding an arm out in case anything should happen.

"We can argue breeding later," the fox's tone urged, "right now we've got to move. Those boulders won't hold them back for long."

Loud barks emerged from the barricaded tunnel behind them, the hairs on Adeline's neck rose at the sound and the fear of being bitten with large sharp teeth.

"What did you have in mind?" Peter demanded.

The fox ran up to a tree, which towered over the entire lawn with its thick trunk and branches and gestures up with its head. Adeline understood immediately, "Get up there?"

"Yes," the fox said, "and hurry, you don't have much time."

Peter was the first to begin climbing, helping Lucy first and the beavers. Adeline had climbed many trees before and it wouldn't have been a problem if her coat would stop snagging on every twig. Susan was the last one up and she carefully sat beside Lucy and the beavers. The two oldest and biggest ones of the group took their own branch and shuffled together, the howls and barks of the wolves growing louder.

The boulders which had been blocking the tunnel suddenly fell, as a pack of wolves burst out, surrounding the fox.

"Greetings gents," he took on a playful tone, "Lost something have we?" 

The pack leader's voice was rough and deep, and upon hearing it she immediately grabbed onto Peter's hand and squeezing for dear life.

"Don't patronize me! I know where your allegiance lies." The wolves were circling the fox, "We're looking for some humans."

The fox laughed, "Humans, here in Narnia? Now that's a valuable bit of information don't you think?"

A wolf suddenly jumped forward and caught the fox by the neck with his teeth, emitting a loud bark. Adeline gasped before Peter's hand slapped over her mouth and he whispered, 'Shh' in her ear. Adeline was still clutching his other hand and he squeezed it which kept her alert.

"Your reward is your life," the pack leader threatened. "It's not much, but still. Where are the fugitives?"

This was it, Adeline thought, he was going to hand them over to the Witch and they would be dead by morning. She closed her eyes, fearing the worse, and calculating how many wolves she could take out with her magic before she was killed.

"North. They went north. "The fox gasped.

Adeline let out a breath, the heat hitting Peter's palm which was still over her mouth.

"Smell them out."

With a howl, the wolves ran out of the clearing, leaving the fox half dead on the ground.

Adeline was the first one down from the tree and she quickly ran to his side, carefully checking his wound.

"Thank you," she whispered gratefully.

Adeline had never seen a fox smile before now, "Of course, your majesty."

~

A roaring fire was now going in the clearing where only an hour before had been packed with wolves. Adeline sat sandwiched in between Lucy and Peter, all three sharing a blanket she had taken from her bag. The fox's wounds were being taken care of by Mrs. Beaver who was dabbing away the blood and adding what seemed like ointment.

"They were helping Tumnus, the witch got here before I did." the fox explained the tragic fates of the people on the lawn. 

Adeline took out a knife and a slice of cheese from Mrs. Beaver's bag, cutting and giving slices to the other children. 

The fox gave a loud grunt as Mrs. Beaver dabbed away more blood.

"Are you alright?" Lucy asked quietly.

The tried to make light of the situation, "Well, I wish I could say their bark was worse than their bite."

The fox let out another cry as Mrs. Beaver dabbed on his wound. 

"Oh stop squirming!" she scolded, "You're worse than Beaver on bath day."

"Worst day of the year." Mr. Beaver whispered to the children, some of the tension that Adeline was holding fizzled out with a giggle.

The fox stood up, wobbling as he caught his balance, "Thank you for your kindness. But I'm afraid that's all the cure I have time for."

"You're leaving?" Lucy asked.

The fox bowed, "It has been a pleasure, my Queen, and an honor. The time is short and Aslan himself has asked me to gather more troops."

There it was again. Adeline's magic stirred at the name of Aslan. The familiarity of the name struck the same chord in her as it had done earlier that evening when she first heard it. Unconsciously Adeline reached up and fiddled with her necklace, a strange longing feeling growing inside her.

Mrs. Beaver gasped as Mr. Beaver said, "You've seen Aslan?"

"What's he like?

The fox chuckled, "Like everything we've ever heard. You'll be glad to have him on your side in the battle against the witch."

Adeline's stomach dropped to her feet. Getting caught up in a battle was not what she was expecting to do with her life and the fear made her throat dry up. Peter beside her had gone completely still and was staring at the snow like it was the most interesting subject in the world.

"But we're not planning on fighting any witch," Susan spoke Adeline's thoughts out loud.

The fox turned to Peter who was rubbing his hands together nervously and to Adeline who was still clutching the pendant around her neck, "But surely King Peter, Queen Adeline, the prophecy?"

Peter and Adeline glanced at each other and Adeline was sure he could see the worry and fear in her eyes just like how she could see his. 

"We just want our brother back." Peter addressed the fox.

Adeline's voice cracked, "We're children. What can we do against a witch?"

"More than you can imagine." The fox said before bowing and limping away into the woods.

"Alright children," Mr. Beaver said, "It'll be too risky to head back to our dam so we'll have to bundle up and stay here for the night."

Adeline reached for her bag of blankets and was about to pull one out before stopping. She looked up at Peter who was heading off near the treeline and shook herself before handing the bag to Susan and catching up to him.

"Peter," she called out. He turned and his eyes widened as he froze. This was the first time they were alone together since she had revealed she had powers.

"Please let me just say what I have to say before you speak." Adeline's nails bit into her skin where her fists were balled up. "I know that you feel as if I've betrayed you somehow but I'm sticking to what I said earlier about my powers and how if I had told you while we were still in England you would have thought me mad. I don't regret hiding them from you and I don't mind if you stay mad at me." She in fact did mind, but she kept that to herself. "The important thing is that we stay strong for the others and that we get Edmund back and get home safely. So please let's get along."

The blond just stared at her silently and Adeline feared she had just made everything worse. Suddenly he rushed forward and engulfed her in a hug, catching her off guard. It took her a moment to realize what was going on before she returned it, breathing a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry." Peter whispered in her ear, "You were right and I was just acting like a git."

He pulled back from her and took her hands into his, a blush rising to Adeline's cheeks, "We will get Edmund back and I'll make sure that we all get home safely, I promise. Friends?" He asked, his blue eyes wide.

Adeline smiled softly, and gave his hands a squeeze, "Friends."

~

Hey I know it's been a while. A lot