"Ruth," Lucy said gently but loudly, shaking my arm. "We are here."

I woke up with a start and climbed off of Aslan. Susan grabbed my arm when I swayed a bit, but I soon steadied myself, adrenaline giving me strength. I peered over at the battlefield, searching desperately for the bright red of Narnian armor.

My heart caught in my throat when I saw the White Witch approaching an armor-clad figure with golden hair. Yanking my sword from its sheath and telling the girls I would see them later, I dashed across the rocks, running up the steep slope of one, landing on another with a jarring yet solid thump.

"Peter!" I screamed as I got closer. "Look out!"

He spun around, searching for the source of the voice, but was soon engaged by a nasty opponent. Edmund saw me first, a relieved grin spreading across his face. "Ruth!" I made frantic gestures to silence him.

"Ruth?" Peter exclaimed in confusion, spinning around again. "Edmund, you're seeing things."

"No, it's really her!" Edmund answered. NO, I wanted to scream.

I panicked as the White Witch's face contorted. My heart pounded wildly as she turned to face me. I raised my sword, never once stopping my blistering sprint towards her. She pointed her wand at me. Time seemed to slow as a turquoise blast shot towards me. I attempted to dodge it, but I felt an icy pinprick of pain lodge in my left shoulder and spread throughout my entire body. My last thought before plunging into blackness was of the Pevensies, my precious, precious friends.

🦁

EDMUND POV:

I watched in horror as Ruth slowly turned to stone. Peter dealt his opponent a final blow and turned to face me. A new rage overtaking me, I jumped at the Witch. For a few seconds, we stared at each other testily. She lunged her wand at me, but I sidestepped it and brought my sword down upon it. A blast of blue and green and shattered pieces came forth. Her eyes flashing with anger, the Witch spun my shield arm around, twisting it painfully. I couldn't fight back. She stabbed my belly. Her eyes, once flashing with anger, smoldered with hatred as I collapsed on the ground.

The pain was unlike anything I had known. It was cold... so cold. It was as if I had fallen on an icicle. But this pain... this pain was worse. It was not purely physical. The new hole in me was merely a manifestation of the hole in me gnawed by despair. Fear. Guilt. Tumnus and now Ruth were turned to stone... because of me. The Witch hunted my siblings and the Beavers... because of me. Aslan died... because of me. Me. Me. Me.

The world began to tilt and spin. Yet I clung to my thoughts. Me. That's all that mattered to me. What I needed. What I wanted. How I could benefit from something. And if I couldn't benefit, how I could make everyone else around me feel just as slighted. Maybe Peter was right. No: Peter was right. I was selfish.

I thought back to all of the times I would deliberately get on Peter's nerves when I was bored. All of the times I would yank on Susan's hair because I thought it was pretty and didn't care when she screamed. Above all, I remembered every time I manipulated and took advantage of Lucy. I was always bigger and stronger and smarter. And yet she looked up to me, innocent and sweet little girl she was.

As the pain in my abdomen intensified, so did the darkness I felt. It started in my head, as I recalled all of the bad things I had done, and spread to my chest. Like a heavy blanket of sorrow, it settled on top of me and made me long for death. Not quite yet, though. I wanted to apologize, one last time.

Just as soon as I had that thought, the pain became so intense I had to gasp for breath. My hand began to twitch, and I began to panic. This was it. It had to be. At least I was getting what I deserved. My family would be better off without me.

I looked to the side. Ruth. She had risked her life to save mine. Why? What made her do it? I hated myself. Why would she risk her life to save one as worthless as mine? I had been nothing but awful to her, but she still cared about me. I hoped she would be okay... maybe Aslan could help her...

I closed my eyes as I felt my heartbeat slow. I thought of Mum and Dad... my siblings... my home... anything would be better than dying in a faraway land.

I faintly heard footsteps. My helmet came off. A glass vial touched my lips. The world faded to black.

But only for a moment. I coughed, the pain vanishing. Peter scooped me up as tears fills my eyes. Lucy and Susan soon joined in.

"Wait!" I gasped. Everyone pulled away, frightened. "Ruth!"

"Where is she?!" Peter looked around wildly. "She's alive?!"

"Yes!" Susan exclaimed. "Somewhere..."

"There..." I said, choking back a sob. Everyone's eyes followed mine.

"No," Peter gasped. "No no no..." Tears filled his eyes and he dropped his head.

"Ruth!" Lucy screamed, tears streaming down her face.

"Don't cry, Aslan can help," Susan said. She rose to her feet. "Aslan! Aslan!"

The great lion came over immediately. "What's the matter?" When no one could speak, he followed our gazes. "Oh... come with me."

We all walked over to where she stood, frozen. Aslan breathed on her gently, and the color returned to her grey, lifeless form. We all waited anxiously.

🦁

RUTH'S POV:

I felt warmth trickle through my body slowly, similar to tea warming you from the inside out on a cold day. Blackness gave way to bright daylight, and I shut my eyes tightly as the world shifted and I lost my balance. I collapsed, but strong arms caught me. I blinked against the glare, and looked up into deep blue eyes, brimmed with concern.

"Peter?" I mumbled.

"Ruth? You're okay!" He pulled me close to him and hugged me tightly. I hugged back with what little strength I had. I felt three other bodies hug me.

"Yeah," I said weakly. "I'm okay." And in that moment, I believed it.

🦁

PETER'S POV:

The "okay" feeling didn't last long, I realized. Her hug went limp, and when I looked at her bruised and bloodied face, I saw tears slipping out from behind her closed eyelids.

"I hate feeling this weak," she said softly.

"Weak?" I huffed a laugh in disbelief. "Ruth, think about everything you've been through the past few days." I ran one arm behind her shoulder blades, the other beneath her knees, and scooped her up. "You know what? I have something that might make you feel better. Just rest now. I'll take you back to camp." She obediently rested her head against my chest.

"In the meantime," Aslan said gently, "Lucy, I think there are several here who would benefit from your vial."

Her eyes lit up, and she ran off to the nearest Narnian soldier. "Susan, can you stay with her and make sure she comes back safely?" Aslan said. "The boys can help take care of Ruth."

Susan cast me an apologetic look, but obeyed. Aslan looked at Ruth, Edmund, and me solemnly. I gazed down into the face of the girl I held in my arms, and observed how pale and pained her face was. Aslan breathed on her gently, and her face relaxed slightly. She inhaled deeply, coughed a couple times, and her body completely relaxed in my arms.

"She has seen a lot," he remarked sorrowfully. "You can see it in her eyes. Hopefully her dreams will be kind to her."

I nodded. Edmund sniffed loudly, and I noticed for the first time his tears. "This is all my fault," he sobbed. He spun on his heel and ran in the direction of camp, wiping his eyes. I looked at Aslan curiously.

"Let him go," he advised. "Ruth will talk to him when she wakes up. Perhaps it would be best if we followed slowly and got her into a real bed and her wounds tended to."

"Alright." We walked in silence for a few moments, but curiosity overcame it. "How did you find her?"

"She was in the Witch's castle. I figured she would be there, especially after talking to Edmund."

"So you knew she wasn't dead?"

Ruth stirred slightly in my arms as I spoke and mumbled something softly.

"I hoped not. But she was up and walking around when we arrived. Peter... she may not want to talk about what happened."

"I understand..." I said. I wanted nothing more than to help the girl sleeping in my arms, even if that meant being curious forever. We walked in silence the rest of the way to camp, and I immediately took Ruth to my hammock and laid her in it. I grabbed some blankets and tucked them around her, frowning at the armor. That had to be uncomfortable for her. And if she was too deeply asleep to be uncomfortable now, she would be later.

My sisters came rushing in then. Lucy smiled and showed me her cordial.

"Great idea!" I whispered. I leaned over to Ruth. "Lucy's going to give you a drop from her healing cordial."

"I don't think she can hear y-"

"No," she said, eyes still closed. "Save it for people who need it more."

"You need it," Susan said. "You can't see your face."

"I will be alright soon. Save it, Lu. Please?"

Lucy slowly put the cap on it. I looked at Ruth, completely bewildered. "How are you feeling? Are you sure you're alright?" The only answer was the slight rise and fall of her chest. I turned to the girls. "Guess we need some bandages."

"How about you fetch those while Lucy and I get this heavy armor off of her?"

I nodded. "I was just about to ask if you would."

"Oh, and Peter?" Lucy asked as I started to walk out.

"Hm?"

"Where's Ed?"

"He... is around here somewhere. Don't worry, Aslan won't let him run off."

"Um. Alright."

Feeling a familiar flash of worry for my brother, I set off in search of some first aid supplies.