Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Clinging to Hope

Chapter Five

Susan listened with growing unease as the Beavers explained how all of Narnia was expecting them to be their heroes. This was wrong. They couldn't save this place, why would they want to? This land had already caused her baby brother so much pain. How could they expect her family to risk their lives after that? She looked at her siblings to gage their reactions, and she sat up with as a thrill of fear shot through her.

"Where's Edmund?"

Peter looked frantically around him. His terror-filled blue eyes met hers. They rushed outside in a panic, calling for Edmund.

"There's no use for that," Beaver said. "He's gone to the White Witch. You can always tell the ones who have been touched by her."

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Peter said harshly. Susan placed a hand on his arm to calm him. He took a deep breath and then continued. "Edmund has already suffered by her hands, why would he go to her?"

"If he didn't go to her out of misguided loyalty, then he went to her out of fear, most likely for you."

"We have to go after him!" Peter exclaimed.

"No, by now he's made it to her house. She wants all four of ya! Right now we have to go!"

"But—"

"No buts. Aslan is the only hope your brother has now."

OoooOoooOoooO

"I have news for you, Son of Adam," the cold voice of the White Witch cut through the dungeons. "My wolves were able to follow your tracks to the Beavers' Dam."

Horror filled Edmund to the brim. No, she was not supposed to be able to find his siblings. His coming here was supposed to keep them safe!

"They tore that dam apart and couldn't find them! Where have they gone?" the Witch demanded and Edmund breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't found them. They were still safe. "Well?"

"I—I don't kn-know!" he stuttered, praying she believed him.

"I think you do, Son of Adam! Now what do I have to do to get your to admit it? Would you like to receive the same treatment as before?"

"You can do whatever you want to me, but I will not let you get your hands on my brother and sisters!" he said boldly.

"No," she said shrewdly. "You don't care what happens to you. If you did, you wouldn't be here. So what to do?" Her gaze shifted to Tumnus. "But what about him? Would you let the punishment for your silence fall on him?"

Edmund's fear-filled eyes met the faun's. "Don't do it—" Tumnus's voice was cut off by a swift kick to his stomach by one of the Witch's lackeys.

"Well?" the Witch asked.

Edmund looked at Tumnus, the faun who had risked everything to save his little sister's life. The faun who had forgiven him when he confessed to giving him up to the White Witch. He would not wish what he had gone through on anyone, but this faun most certainly didn't deserve it. He knew what he had to do. He just prayed his siblings could reach Aslan before the Witch found them.

"They are going to the Stone Table to meet Aslan," he said resignedly.