Show Yourself

08

MIRAZ' CASTLE

Miraz was crowned king while his army marched outside.

EXT. ASLAN'S HOW

When they arrived back at the How, Lucy came out to greet them and asked, "What happened?"

Peter glared at Caspian. "Ask him."

"Peter," Susan warned.

"Me?" Caspian scoffed. "You could have called it off. There was still time."

"No there wasn't, thanks to you," Peter retorted. "If you'd kept to the plan, those soldiers might be alive right now."

"And, if you'd just stayed here like I suggested, they definitely would be!"

"You called us, remember?"

"My first mistake."

Peter pursed his lips. "No. Your first mistake was thinking you could lead these people."

"Hey! I am not the one who abandoned Narnia."

"You invaded Narnia. You have no more right to it than Miraz does! You, him, your father... Narnia's better off without the lot of you!"

Caspian let out a shout and they each drew their swords.

"Stop it!" Edmund and Cara cried.

Cara pushed Caspian away while glaring between them as Glenstorm set down an injured Trumpkin. Lucy used her healing cordial to heal him and Trumpkin awoke. "What are you all standing around for? The Telmarines will be here soon enough."

Lucy smiled at Trumpkin as he turned to her. "Thank you, my dear little friend."

Caspian and Cara walked away and went to look at the carvings of the Pevensies at Aslan's How.

Nikabrik walked up and said, "Are you so glad of that magic horn now, boy, girl? The kings and queens have failed us. Your army is half dead. And those that aren't will be soon enough."

"What do you want? Congratulations?" Caspian retorted.

"You want your uncle's blood. So do we. You want his throne. We can get it for you."

Nikabrik walked away. Caspian hesitated, then followed. Cara followed, only because of her concern for her brother. They entered the Stone Table room.

Nikabrik continued. "You tried one ancient power. It failed. But there is power greater still. One that kept even Aslan at bay for near a hundred years."

They heard something. Caspian drew his sword and stepped forward, keeping Cara behind him. A cloaked figure stepped out of the shadows and started slowly walking towards Caspian and Cara.

"Who's there?" Caspian and Cara asked.

"I am hunger, I am thirst," the werewolf said. "I can fast a hundred years and not die. I can lie a hundred nights on the ice and not freeze. I can drink a river of blood and not burst. Show... me... your enemies." The werewolf threw off his hood and the hag approached.

"And you can guarantee Miraz' death?" Caspian questioned.

"And more," the hag replied.

Caspian put away his sword, and looked back at Nikabrik who nodded.

"Let the circle be drawn," the hag stated.

The hag began saying strange words. The werewolf drew a circle on the ground around Caspian and Cara. The hag pulled out the White Witch's wand and stuck it into the ground. Ice grew up, covering the image of Aslan. Within the ice wall, the White Witch appeared.

"Wait... this isn't what I wanted!" Caspian cried.

"One drop of Adam's or Eve's blood and you free me. Then I am yours, my king," the White Witch said.

"No!"

The werewolf grabbed Cara's hand and the hag cut it. The White Witch stuck her hand out of the ice and smiled. Cara looked at the Witch, then seemed to stop resisting. Caspian was held back, preventing him from helping his sister.

"Stop!" Peter yelled.

Peter, Trumpkin and Edmund ran into the room and drew their swords. A werewolf crawled over the Stone Table and attacked. Trumpkin and Nikabrik started fighting. The hag knocked the sword out of Peter's hand. Edmund swung at the werewolf and it howled. Nikabrik stood over Trumpkin, and Lucy came up and put her dagger to Nikabrik's throat. Her arm was twisted around and she screamed in pain and fell. Peter stood and began fighting the hag. Edmund ran off, turned back, and hit the werewolf. Nikabrik looked at Lucy in hesitation and was stabbed in the back by Trumpkin. The White Witch kept reaching towards Cara.

"Come on..." the Witch pleaded.

Peter pushed Cara into her brother and pointed his sword at the Witch. "Get away from him!"

She fell back slightly and smiled. "Peter dear... I have missed you. Come, just one drop."

The Witch reached towards him and said, "You know you can't do this alone."

Peter hesitated and lowered his sword a tad. She suddenly groaned, and the ice wall shattered revealing Edmund with his sword drawn. "I know. You had it sorted."

He walked away and Caspian, Cara and Peter looked at the carving of Aslan. They turned to see Susan who walked out.

Cara ran after Edmund and said, "Thank you."

Edmund shook his head. "You don't have to do that. I know how tempting she can be."

"Did she tempt you?"

He nodded and looked down shamefully. "I betrayed my siblings for her. But Aslan saved me. He'll save us too when he feels it is right. Is your hand all right?"

She looked at it and nodded. "I think it will be, though it hurts."

Edmund found cloth and wrapped it up. "Pressure will help stop the bleeding."

"Thank- Oh, I'm sorry."

Edmund smiled. "You're welcome, Cara."

The two fell into a comfortably awkward silence as they processed what had just happened and what might occur next.