9
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ELIZA RAN TO THE EDGE of the cliff and looked down the banks of the river which was breaking into chunks of ice that floated away on the fast current. A frozen waterfall loomed on their left. Peter seemed to be assessing the situation, and holding Lucy's hand, the boy began to make his way down the bank, making Susan grab his arm in fear.
"We need to cross, now!" Peter yelled in frustration, while Eliza merely stared in horror at the cracking ice.
"Don't beavers make dams?" Eliza questioned in panic, looking down to the two beavers.
The beavers chuckled nervously, "I'm not that fast, dear." Mr Beaver replied while Peter yelled for them to get a move on.
"Wait! Will you just think about this for a minute?" Susan exclaimed, her eyes wide with terror.
"We don't have a minute." Peter shot back, clutching Lucy's hand tighter, making the girl gasp as she steadily climbed down the rocks.
"I'm just trying to be realistic." Susan defended herself, crossing her arms, the fear plastering her face.
"No, you're trying to be smart." Peter sneered, "As usual." The boy started to climb down the cliff face, soon followed by Eliza and the beavers, but Susan looked like she might stay but the howling of the wolves in the distance changed her mind and sent shivers down Eliza's back.
After a long climb down the cliff, they'd finally reached the bank of the river. Peter precariously placed a foot on the ice and water spurted up from underneath it.
"Wait. Maybe I should go first." Mr Beaver suggested, stepping forward and putting his hands up to stop them.
"Maybe you should." The older boy gulped, a sudden sense of fear washing over him. Mr Beaver stepped onto the ice and tested it out with his feet and tail, trying to find the strongest passage for them to take across.
"You've been sneaking second helpings, haven't you?" Mrs Beaver accused, pointing her finger at her husband.
"Well, you never know which meal's gonna be your last. Especially with your cooking." Mr Beaver laughed, The children began to follow Mr Beaver carefully across the ice. Eliza kept her eyes on her feet as she tried to tread as lightly as possible.
"If Mum knew what we were doing..." Susan mumbled in disgust, as pools of water from the melting ice filled their shoes.
"Mum's not here." Eliza snapped, keeping her attention on the cracking ice below them. The girl heard Lucy cry out and point to to top of the frozen waterfall where wolves ran across the other side of the river.
"Run!" Peter yelled, as the Pevensies threw every single worry about the ice breaking, out the window, sprinting across the sheet-like surface. The wolves leaped in front of them, making the six stop in their tracks, they all whipped around to retreat, only to face more wolves. Mr Beaver lunged forward trying to threaten one but was pounced on and pinned to the ground.
"No!" Mrs Beaver whimpered, reaching a hand out towards her struggling husband. Eliza's hand automatically went to the hilt of her sword that was strapped to her back.
"Peter!" Lucy shouted, trying to get him to do something. Peter glanced at Eliza and gave her a curt nod, Eliza drew her sword as Peter drew his. The two tried to look menacing as their swords pointed towards the wolf in front of them.
"Put them down." The wolf snarled, "Someone could get hurt."
"Don't worry about me! Run him through!" Mr Beaver encouraged, only to be shushed by another Wolf clamping his jaws tighter around the beavers neck.
"Leave now while you can, and your brother goes with you." Maugrim warned, making Eliza falter slightly.
"Stop, Peter, Eliza! Maybe we should listen to him!" Susan cried, trying to get the two to lower their swords.
"Smart girl." Maugrim smirked, tilting his head, awaiting the siblings response.
"Don't listen to him! Kill him! Kill him now!" Mr Beaver commanded,
"Oh, come on. This isn't your war. All my Queen wants is for you to take your family and go." Maugrim continued, making Peter hesitate and look towards Eliza who shook her head slightly.
"Look, just because some man in a red coat hands you two a sword, doesn't make you heroes! Just drop it!" Susan pleaded, as Eliza refused to meet her gaze.
"No, Peter! Narnia needs ya! Gut him while you still have a chance!" Mr Beaver shouted, before being completely cut off by the wolves.
"What's it gonna be, Son of Adam and Daughter of Eve? I won't wait forever. And neither will the river." Maugrim finished,
Peter!" Lucy warmed, looking up with a horrified expression. The waterfall was starting to crack and collapse, getting ready to fully burst.
"Hold onto me!" Peter ordered, stabbing his sword into the ice as Eliza sheathed hers and grabbed onto Peters jacket. The waterfall plunged down on them and swept them away.
The cold water fully immersed the siblings and Eliza's body get like it was in shock. She could barely feel her limbs as the icy water pierced through her clothing as she struggled to breath.
The block of ice soon resurfaced and Eliza panted still clutching onto her older brother as The beavers propelled the chunk of ice to shore. Eliza clambered off the ice block, coughing up all the water she'd swallowed. The girl slowly sat up trying to regain energy when Peter stood up only holding Lucy's coat in his hand, but no Lucy.
"What have you done?" Susan exclaimed in horror, "Lucy! Lucy!". Eliza scrambled to her feet, her eyes scanning the cold waters, trying to find their little sister in its depths.
"Has anyone seen my coat?" Everyone whipped their heads to the side and saw a soaking wet, shivering Lucy, approaching them.
"Don't you worry, dear. Your brother's got you well looked after." Mr Beaver reassured, "And I don't think you'll be needing those coats anymore."
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BLOSSOMS BLOOMED on the trees as it got significantly warmer. The siblings had ditched their wet jackets on a tree as the woods slowly changed from winter into spring. Eliza walked alongside her siblings in her brothers clothes as all of them wore their somehow dry, shirts and no socks.
The sound of a horn echoed through the valleys as the four Pevensies approached a camp full of tents. They entered the camp and quite like clockwork Centaurs, Bears, Fauns all stopped what they are doing as the children passed through.
Susan looked uncomfortable, "Why are they all staring at us?" She fake smiled, while Eliza offered nods to every warrior she passed. The girl turned her head to look behind her and noticed that the crowds they'd passed were now following them.
"Maybe they think you look funny." Eliza suggested earning a scowl from Susan. Mr Beaver seemed to be reassuring Mrs Beaver, taking her hand in his. The six stopped in front of a rather- official looking tent, where a centaur stood guard. Peter pulled out his sword and held it on front of him pointing to the sky.
"We have come to see Aslan." The boy told the centaur steadily, while the remaining three Pevensies stood silently.
The Tent flapped in the breeze and suddenly everyone around them knelt, "Peter, should we be kneeling?" Eliza mumbled to her brother that she stood beside. As if like magic, a majestic lion appeared from the tents flaps. The girl didn't even have to presume that this was Aslan- it was fairly obvious. The children were quick to their knees, as the lion walked closer.
"Welcome, Peter, Son of Adam. Welcome, Susan, Eliza and Lucy, Daughters of Eve." The lion greeted, "And welcome to you, Beavers. You have my thanks. But where is the fifth?"
Peter looked rather uncomfortable as he shifted, "That's why we're here, sir." He began, "We need your help."
"We had a little trouble along the way." Susan interjected,
"Our brother's been captured by the White Witch." Eliza told Aslan solemnly, her head bowed in shame as images of her brother resurfaced.
"Captured? How could this happen?" The lion asked in disbelief, looking down at the kids.
"He betrayed them, Your Majesty." Mr Beaver informed Aslan, as a chorus of audible gasps ran through the camp.
"Then he has betrayed us all!" The centaur exclaimed, raising his sword, earning cheers of agreement from the Narnians.
"Peace, Oreius. I'm sure there's an explanation." Aslan said calmly, shaking his mane at the creature.
"It's my fault, really. I was too hard on him." Peter frowned in sorrow.
"We all were." Susan added, as Eliza refused to look up. She felt guilty that she'd let him leave with even knowing it.
"Sir, he's our brother." Lucy spoke up, her voice shaking slightly, making her tiny voice sound even more fragile.
"I know, dear one." Aslan replied, his voice softening, "But that only makes the betrayal all the worse. This may be harder than you think ."
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