CHAPTER 11
EDITED 7/16/21
Mary sat alone at the table, a plate of half-finished food before her. She had just finished her short training session with the Narnians outside, though it wasn't very productive because she wasn't allowed to put too much pressure on her ankle. Edmund stayed outside to train longer while she retreated back into the How. Susan and Lucy had joined her for a while, but it mostly consisted of Lucy teasing Susan about Caspian because according to the younger girl, she could see "sparks" between them. Mary understood how embarrassed Susan must have felt as Lucy interrogated her just like she did to Mary back in the woods regarding Edmund. Eventually, Susan excused herself to practice her archery while Lucy ran off to follow her, leaving Mary on her own.
As she ate her food alone, she was actually glad to have time to herself and her thoughts. She didn't have much time to process all the events that had happened from the moment the train station disappeared back home to her arrival in Narnia and finally, up to that very moment as she watched the Narnians passing by, talking about battles and strategies. It was quite overwhelming to realize that she was in another world where she had been in numerous sword fights, met talking animals and mythical creatures, and even helped in invading a castle. Only a week ago, she was just on her way to school with the Pevensie's. Everything felt so unreal. She knew the situation of Narnia at the present wasn't the best, but she could tell that if — when they regained their freedom, it would be back to its beautiful state that the Narnians and Pevensie's raved so much about. She didn't know when she would have to go back to the real world, but she hoped she would be able to spend a good amount of time in Narnia before returning.
"Mary."
Only one person she knew had that accent. Knowing who it already was, she looked up to acknowledge him.
"Hi, Caspian," she greeted kindly.
"Done with training?" he asked, eyeing the sword on the table that she forgot to return in its sheath.
"Sort of. Wasn't able to do much, honestly."
"How's your injury?" he inquired, taking a seat across her.
"Not that bad. Still not allowed to move around much, though."
There was a pause and Mary looked at him curiously. She was quite an observant person and knew that he wasn't there for small talk. He was twiddling with his fingers and his eyes were flitting back and forth at nothing in particular, giving away that he wanted to say something.
"So..." he began again after an awkward silence.
"Yes?"
"Never mind."
Mary leaned back in her seat. "Spit it out, Caspian," she said, much to his surprise. "I'm not daft. What is it you want to say?"
He smiled sheepishly. "How could you tell?"
Mary grinned triumphantly. "I just can. So, what is it?"
"Well, I just wanted to ask... what do you think Queen Susan thinks of me?" he said in a small voice.
Mary moved closer when she couldn't hear him.
"Sorry, what was that?"
"I said, what do you think Susan thinks of me?"
Mary couldn't help but giggle.
"What's so funny?" Caspian asked, slightly panicked.
"Nothing, nothing," Mary reassured quickly. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting that particular question but at the same time, I'm not that surprised."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Can I ask you a question first?" Caspian nodded unsurely. "Do you like Susan?"
Caspian coughed, taken aback by her straightforward question.
"What?"
"I said what I said."
He cleared his throat once more. "Well, yes. She's a lovely lady and very respectable. I think we all like Queen Susan."
Mary breathed out a small laugh at how he tackled the question by going around it instead of answering it directly.
"I meant romantically."
When Caspian's ears turned red, Mary decided he had gone through enough embarrassment and didn't force him to answer. "Never mind. I'll answer your question."
Caspian noticeably sat up straighter and Mary fought the urge to laugh again. It was entertaining to see him so flustered over simply asking about Susan.
"To be honest, she isn't very vocal about this kind of thing," Mary admitted, thinking back to her earlier conversation with Susan and Lucy just before Caspian approached her. "But, when she does mention you, she really speaks highly of you."
Mary didn't add the part of Susan blushing at Lucy's questions about him, not wanting to give the man false hope. After all, Susan had never verbally said she liked him romantically even if Mary and Lucy could see it. It was up to them if they both wanted to act on it, anyway, so it wasn't her place to assume how Susan felt about him.
Fortunately, that was enough for Caspian. He smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
"Thank you, Mary," he said. "You won't tell anybody about this, will you?"
"No, of course not," Mary told him. "Although, I think the glances you and Susan steal of one another tells people enough."
Caspian rubbed a hand over his face, embarrassed once again.
"It was a pleasure talking to you, but I think I will take my leave now to prevent further shame."
He stood up and Mary laughed, "I was only joking."
"I know," he said, a faint smile on his lips as he patted her shoulder. "I have to go see my professor now, though."
"Alright."
"Thanks again, Mary. I'll talk to you soon."
And then he left, leaving Mary to her own thoughts again. That is, until someone else called her name, breaking her train of thought.
"Mary!" said Lucy, dragging out her name.
"Lucy!" Mary mimicked.
"What are you up to?"
"I was just finishing my food while you left to interrogate Susan earlier."
"Oh, sorry for leaving you alone," Lucy said apologetically.
"No, it's fine. Caspian kept me company for a few minutes."
"Caspian?" said Susan. Mary looked over her shoulder to find her walking towards them. "He was here?"
"Yeah," Mary replied as Lucy gave a knowing grin. "He may have asked about you the entire time he was with me, though, but it's alright."
"Oooooo," Lucy teased, nudging her older sister.
"Shove off," she muttered, pretending not to care. "Anyway, Lucy and I were planning on going for a walk since she wouldn't stop bothering me while I tried to practice my archery."
"Hey!" Lucy interjected.
"Care to join us, Mary?"
"Sure," Mary agreed, already getting to her feet.
"Are you only joining us because my idiot of a brother is busy?" Susan asked, surprising Mary at how direct she was being.
"W-What?" Mary stuttered. "What's that supposed to mean? Besides, I don't even know what Edmund is doing right now. For all I know, he could've finished training already and is just relaxing or... something."
Susan and Lucy sent each other looks as Mary rambled on.
"I didn't mention which brother, but that's good to know," Susan chuckled, causing a blush to spread over Mary's cheeks.
"Oh, I —"
"Don't worry, Mary. We're just teasing," Lucy giggled. "Come on, let's have some girl talk. This is one of the rare times Edmund hasn't stolen you from us."
✧ ✧ ✧
The next morning, Mary woke up early and ended up wandering around Aslan's How. It turned out that Edmund was surprisingly up to an early start that day as well and after bumping into Mary, he had asked if he wanted to have breakfast with him and Peter once they finished discussing a few more things with the centaurs regarding their troops.
Mary found herself scanning the drawings on the tunnel of the How on the way to the room where the Stone Table was. She remembered Susan finding it when they first arrived there followed by Caspian leading them to the Stone Table. Mary couldn't relate to how big of an impact that must have been for them. But now that she had time to inspect the carvings and after listening to a more detailed version of what went on in Narnia when the Pevensie's first came there, Mary could now see how important this was. The drawings retold their fulfilment of the prophecy, from their entrance into this world up to them ruling it as kings and queens side by side. Even when they — including Aslan — disappeared, the Narnians continued to hope for their return.
"Show me your enemies!" a gruff voice said from a distance, startling Mary. She turned her head to the source of it, which was all the way down in the tomb, causing a chill to go up her spine. Mild fear began to set inside of her. Had she just imagined that? Who or what lurked at the end of the tunnel? Mary took a few steps backward, planning on getting help to investigate until she hit something — someone's chest.
"Whoa, Mary, what are you doing?"
Two hands gently spun her around and she found herself in front of Edmund.
"Oh, hey," she said distractedly. "I just... heard something odd."
"Oh, you're hearing things now? You must be cra —"
Mary shushed him and pulled him along farther down the passageway.
"Ow —"
"Be quiet."
Edmund made a sound of annoyance but obeyed anyway, standing quietly next to Mary. Soon, someone spoke again, but it was a voice of someone they recognized.
"And you can guarantee Miraz's death?"
"That's Caspian," Edmund said in realization as he and Mary shared looks of worry. He stepped in front of her to listen better and be on guard in case anything happened then motioned for Mary to follow. By then, they were almost at the end of the tunnel and peeked at the scene. There stood Caspian right in the center, a werewolf and hag circling him. While seeing a werewolf and hag was enough to surprise Mary, Nikabrik standing off to the side as well. What were they up to?
"And more," said the hag. "Let the circle be drawn."
"What are they doing?" Mary whispered behind Edmund the hag began to recite incomprehensible words. It sounded like a chant or ritual. "And what's Nikabrik doing there, too?"
"I guess we'll have to find out," Edmund answered, turning his body sideways and tilting his head down low to answer Mary before realizing their faces were inches apart. He faced forward again quickly and unsheathed his sword. Mary did the same even though she wasn't sure what exactly they were going to do next. Just as she was going to take a step forward, a hand appeared before her, telling her to stop. She jumped in surprise before facing the culprit and let out a breath.
"For Pete's sake," she grumbled, looking at Peter who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Pete," Edmund snorted.
"What?" Mary and Peter asked in confusion.
"Don't you get it? She said, 'For Pete's sake.' And Peter was there, and you... oh never mind," Edmund gave up with a sigh.
"Enough chit chat," said Trumpkin, who Mary only noticed now was standing behind Peter. When the four of them heard a sound like ice cracking, they shut up and looked over at the end of the tunnel. Just as they had suspected, there was ice. It was growing from where the hag had stabbed what looked to be a wand into the ground and up to the pillars that stood on each side of the Stone Table. Mary almost gasped when a figure — a pale woman with white hair — formed within the ice.
"Wait," Caspian said in panic. "This isn't what I wanted!"
"One drop of Adam's blood and you free me," the woman in the ice said. "Then I am yours, my king."
"The White Witch," Peter said angrily as he and Trumpkin unsheathed their swords as well. "On three, we jump out and stop them, okay?"
"What?" Mary said, anxious. If that truly was the White Witch and she was as bad as everyone said, she wasn't sure what to expect from her in the next few seconds to come.
"No!" Caspian shouted as the werewolf forcefully grabbed his hand.
"One..."
The hag approached Caspian and took out a dagger, slicing his palm.
"Two..."
Caspian eventually stopped resisting as he looked up at the White With, almost as if he were in a trance.
"Three. Now!"
Peter, Edmund, Trumpkin, and Mary finally ran into the room, all their swords drawn. It took everyone by surprise but they quickly recovered, making their way towards them to fight back.
"Stop!" Peter commanded, but it was no use. The werewolf climbed over the Stone Table and jumped at Edmund. Trumpkin made his way to fight Nikabrik, his own friend. Peter went to the hag first, but she skilfully swung his sword out of his hands. Seeing that Peter was in the most danger at that moment, Mary dived for his sword to help him.
"Peter!" she called out. He momentarily glanced at her and she threw his sword at him at that precise second. He expertly caught it with one hand, but the hag had decided to change targets and strike Mary instead upon noticing the girl. She ran towards her with an ugly cry and Mary hurriedly blocked her with her sword. Lucy had also entered the scene, probably having heard the commotion from outside. She went over to help Trumpkin by attacking Nikabrik. Peter took this opportunity to go to Caspian and get him away from the White Witch.
"Come on..." the White Witch urged Caspian. Peter pushed the man away, the latter stumbling and blinking as if he didn't know what had happened.
"Get away from him!" Peter shouted at the Witch. She fell back a little, retracting her hand.
"Peter, dear," she cooed after composing herself. "I have missed you. Come... just one drop."
Mary caught a glimpse of Peter facing the Witch and had a bad feeling about it. What if he fell into a trance just like Caspian did?
She hurriedly finished the hag off, cutting the creature's side deeply with her sword before kicking her harshly. The hag hit a column with a thud and fell to the floor, knocked out. Mary sprinted towards where Peter and Caspian stood before the Witch.
"Don't touch them!" she ordered, mentally cursing herself for the way her voice wavered ever so slightly. Now that she found herself facing the Witch, she realized how reckless and stupid she was for doing that.
"Ah," the White Witch said in delight, catching Mary off guard. "Must this be the one from the latest prophecy? Hmm?"
Mary attempted to glare at the Witch, but while maintaining eye contact with her, she found that she just couldn't pull away. It was like she was trapped, and to make matters worse, something in Mary told her that she didn't have to look away; that she should just give in.
"You know you can't do this alone," the White Witch continued, her voice strangely alluring. All of a sudden, she groaned, and Mary shook her head, wondering what came over her. She shared a bewildered look with Peter as the wall of ice that held the Witch began to crack little by little until chunks of ice were falling off. Peter quickly turned Mary around to duck. They shielded themselves as the wall of ice shattered into a million pieces, the White Witch's screams merely becoming an echo as she disappeared with the ice. When it became silent again, the only sounds left being their heavy breathing, Mary and Peter turned around to see what had caused it. Behind where the Witch stood moments before was Edmund, his sword positioned in a way that one would stab an enemy, showing that it was all his doing. Lowering his weapon, Edmund locked eyes with his older brother.
"I know, Peter," he said. "You had it sorted."