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TIREDNESS WASHED OVER Eliza as her eyes fluttered open. She sat up slowly, rubbing at her eyes and taking in the fact she wasn't in a bed but in fact snuggled into a ginormous fur coat, circling a fire that looked like it would soon be extinguished. Her face felt numb due to the harsh coldness of Narnia and there was no light apart from the soft glow of the sun which was soon going to be rising in the distance. Susan, Lucy and the badgers all seemed to be sound asleep, while Peter sat on a frozen wooden log, his hand grasped around a wooden stick in attempt to look threatening.

"Did you even sleep?" Eliza queried, standing up and approaching her older brother who flinched in fright upon hearing her voice.

"No," Peter sighed, under his eyes were massive black bags that made his answer obvious, "Well- I don't know... maybe I got an hour or two."

Eliza nodded and sat down beside him, as the two looked out over the distance. "If you want to sleep I can 'keep watch' for a while?" The girl suggested, wrapping her coat around her tightly, trying to evade hypothermia.

Peter yawned, while shaking his head, "No-no I couldn't." The boy mumbled, rubbing his hands together to create some source of heat, "I-I can't leave you on guard- I'm the eldest for crying out loud."

Eliza rolled her eyes and turned to Peter, "Go," she instructed, pointing towards where she'd just arisen from, "Sleep."

The boy stood up shakily, handing Eliza his stick, "For protection," he whispered tiredly, stumbling off muttering incoherent words. The girl sat in silence as her mind wandered to her missing brother.

You never really realise how much you miss someone until they're not there anymore. She missed talking to Edmund, she missed laughing and joking quietly with him, she missed him. Eliza huffed slightly, her breath turning into fog. She would give her siblings until the sun rose, then she'd wake them so they could start their long trek to Aslans camp.

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A LONG HOUR AND a half passed, the sun had risen significantly and all around Eliza, the white snow reflected the light. The girl was freezing to say the least, every ten minutes she would be forced to get up and jog in the spot trying to get her circulation working, but now it was time for her to awaken her siblings and the Beavers in order to continue their hike.

The girl crouched beside Susan, shaking her shoulder gently, doing the same to Lucy and Peter. The beavers had awoken to the sound of the Pevensies moving and talking, and at last, the six began their journey.

"Now, Aslan's camp is near the Stone Table just across the frozen river." Mr Beaver explained, pointing far into the distance, making Eliza grumble at how far their journey was going to be.

"River?" Peter questioned, as they all stood on a stone arch overlooking the snowy land.

"Oh, the river's been frozen solid for a hundred years." Mrs Beaver reassured them, with a warm grin and nod.

Eliza turned to the talking creatures, " It's so far!" She exclaimed, her eyebrows raised. Her feet were already killing her from the amount of walking they'd done already.

"It's the world, dear. Did you expect it to be small?" Mrs Beaver chuckled, patting the girls arm.

"Smaller." Susan answered, obviously as equally disgruntled as her younger sister. Never the less, the six walked on, trying to find a safe way down the arch to reach the vast lake.

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ELIZA KEPT A STEADY pace as they trekked across the humongous frozen lake.The only thing in sight was the vast emptiness of soft white ground and their footprints in the fresh snow.

"Come on, humans! While we're still young." Mr Beaver encouraged the Pevensies as Susan and Lucy lagged behind making Peter stop and bend down to give Lucy a piggy back ride.

"If he tells us to hurry one more time, I'm gonna turn him into a big, fluffy hat." Peter threatened lowly to his sisters, obviously getting quite irritated by the Beavers words.

"Hurry up! Come on!" Mr Beaver repeated, making Peter scowl even more. Eliza chuckled, trying to power through the ache spreading though her body from exhaustion and lack of energy.

"He is getting a little bossy!" Lucy added, quietly, playing with a small strand of Peters hair, suddenly the Beavers turned around in fear at the sound of a sleigh approaching them.

"No! Behind you! It's her!" Mrs Beaver yelled while continuing to run. Lucy jumped off Peters back and the Pevensies ran after the Beavers. Eliza picked up her coat, trying to stop herself from tripping over its hem as her feet pounded against the icy floor.

"Run! Run!" Mr Beaver shouted back to the siblings, as they all pushed themselves forward.

"Run!" Peter echoed as the children and beavers fled across the lake and into the woods as the sound of galloping increased from behind them.

"Hurry!" Peter urged, making Eliza pick up the pace as they sprinted into the forest on the other end of the lake.

"It's not like I'm going to slow down!" Eliza snapped back, her feet pounding hard against the snow.

"Inside!" Mr Beaver cries out, pointing to a hidden crevice under a rock, "Dive! Dive!"

"Quick! Quick, quick, quick!" Mrs Beaver added hurriedly, as the Pevensies dove down into a little cave and froze, watching the shadow on the mound of snow in front of them.  Eliza's heart pounded rapidly, while Peter clutched his sister's close, trying to keep Lucy quiet. Snow dropped down as someone moved about over them and walked away.

"Maybe she's gone." Lucy whimpered, not letting go of Peters arm.

"I suppose I'll go look." Peter said, beginning to stand only to be stop by the beavers.

"No!" The Beaver yelled, preparing himself to climb out instead, "You're worth nothing to Narnia dead!"

"Well, neither are you, Beaver." Mrs Beaver replied tearfully as her husband took her paws in his.

"Thanks sweetheart!" He mumbled before he scrambled up top, while the others waited nervously.

"W-What's that? What's..." Eliza spoke up, only to be shushed loudly by Peter. Mr Beaver suddenly popped his head down, making Lucy shriek in fright.

"Come out! Come out! I hope you've all been good 'cause there's someone here to see ya!" The Beaver grinned excitedly. The others looked at each other curiously before emerging from the cave. Eliza stood up slowly her eyes falling on- Father Christmas, in all his glory, his sleigh stationed behind him. The man laughed happily as Lucy stepped towards him.

"Merry Christmas, sir." Lucy grinned widely at the man, while Eliza blinked and pinched herself trying to figure out if this were some sort of twisted dream.

"It certainly is, Lucy, since you have arrived." The elderly man responded, while Eliza scanned the elderly mans face which was a deep rosy red from the cold.

"Look, I've put up with a lot since I got here, but this..." Susan frowned in exasperation turning to the eldest Pevensie for support.

"We thought you were the Witch." Peter interrupted, completely ignoring Susan's last statement.

Father Christmas nodded in understanding, "Yes, yes, I'm sorry about that, but in my defense, I have been driving one of these longer than the Witch." He defended himself, slipping off his gloves.

Eliza scrunched her eyebrows in thought, "I thought there was no Christmas in Narnia?" She spoke up, trying to piece everything together.

"No. Not for a long time. But the hope that you have brought, Your Majesties, is finally starting to weaken the Witch's power." Father Christmas began, "Still, I dare say you could do with these." The man reached into his sleigh and pulled out a huge brown sack.

Lucys eyes widened, "Presents!" She yelled excitedly, as she ran up to him.

The man bent down to the littlest Pevensie and held out a small container filled with a purple-ish cordial. "The juice of the fire-flower. One drop will cure any injury." Father Christmas presented the girl, "And though I
hope you never have to use it..." he held out little dagger for her to take.

"Thank you, sir, but I think I could be brave enough." Lucy frowned, taking the dagger precariously.

I'm sure you could." Father Christmas nodded before moving his gaze to Eliza, "You will soon learn that you are braver than you know."

The man handed her a silver sword in its scabbard, it's red leather hilt, peaking out the top. The girl stepped forward and shakily took the sword. It felt light in her hands as she drew it from its sheath, the silver metal glinting in the sun. Words were inscribed on the metal, and Eliza traces her fingers over it in wonder.

"Don't let anyone discourage and say  that you are anything other than a brave," Father Christmas whispered, out of ear shot of her siblings and the beavers.

"Thank you." Eliza smiled gratefully, placing the sword back in its scabbard. What did he mean by his last words?

The girl had stepped back as Susan was entrusted with a bow and a quiver full of arrows. "Trust in this bow and it will not easily miss." The man said tilting his head slightly.

"What happened to 'battles are ugly affairs'?" Susan asked, echoing Father Christmas' previous words.

"Though you don't seem to have a problem making yourself heard," the man continued, presenting her with an ivory horn, "Blow on this horn and wherever you are, help will come." Susan thanked the man and at last Father Christmas turned to Peter.

Peter stepped forwards and Father Christmas presented him a bright silver shield and a sword in its scabbard. Peter drew the sword out, mimicking Eliza's previous moves.

"Peter. The time to use these may be near at hand." The man warned, looking between him and Eliza.

"Thank you, sir." Peter nodded respectfully, as he sheathed his sword.

"These are tools, not toys. Bear them well and wisely." Father Christmas advised, "Now, I must be off. Winter is almost over, and things do pile up when you've been gone a hundred years. Long live Aslan! " he climbed back into his sleigh, "And Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" The Pevensies yelled in unisono, waving goodbye to the man in the sleigh. While Mrs. Beaver and Mr Beaver laughed whole heartedly.

"Told you he was real." Lucy turned smugly to Eliza, who stuck out her tongue at her youngest sister.

"He said winter was almost over." Peter started, "You know what that means...No more ice."

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