queen of narnia

[charning]

Jadis is enraged. Aslan, back! Confirmed by the deputy of her own Maugrim, who died on the sword of the very child she thought she'd caught! Maugrim, dead. She paces. She comes too close to Winter for her liking on one of her passes through her throne room and rather than turn an instant before she means to she backhands him out of her way into the nearest wall. She paces and fumes and roars.

Finally she spins on her toe to face Winter, who may still be on the floor in his careless way but has surely recovered from the blow by now. "You," she says, "must go to the lion, and tell him that I desire safe conduct to treat with him on a matter of as much importance to him as to me. Go peacefully, I do not mind if you alarm the pitiful creatures who side with him but do not harm them while I seek parley. Do you understand, my Winter?" She bends to crook her first two fingers under his chin to turn his head up for frigid eye contact, inspecting him, thinking furious thoughts to which he's only an accessory. "I think the lion may be unnerved to see you. We will see."

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[jackfrostbite]

There is a brief fountain of ice-black blood, freezing everything it touches, in the second before the wound ices over. The hand still attached to the sword turns to clear ice; a new one grows in its place, also made of lifeless glassy ice at first, but darkening slowly into the same colour as the rest of Winter.

He giggles the whole time.

[neverbeatme]

Okay, not as permanent as she'd been hoping, but still a serviceable distraction.

While he's laughing and admiring his new hand, James puts her sword through his heart. And hopes it'll take.

[jackfrostbite]

Where the blade emerges from his back, it ices over almost immediately; the whole sword becomes bone-chillingly cold, although the hilt remains clear of ice.

It's the only thing that does.

The ice spreads rapidly over his clothing and skin, until he is completely encased, frozen mid-laugh. He'd fall over, if his boots weren't iced to the ground.

[neverbeatme]

She lets go with a hiss and looks around, hoping most sincerely that she won't have to fight anything else while her magic sword is otherwise occupied.

[deepest_magic]

The Witch's army is in the process of being thoroughly routed, and Bella, attended by her unicorn, is briskly bringing good Narnian soldiers back from the brink of death - barely pausing to close the eyes of those found too far gone. Nothing seems about to attack James herself; the braver of the dark creatures are going after Aslan, who swats them aside like so many flies, roaring.

Soon everything is still except for the battlefield medic, who no longer requires her unicorn.

"James," says Bella through her staff, "you okay? Do you need some cordial? It lasts, it turns out."

[neverbeatme]

"I'm - I don't know," she says, a little breathlessly. "I'm okay, I think. I got Winter but I'm not sure he's actually dead."

[deepest_magic]

"We'd better ask Aslan about him. I've got a few more creatures to fix -"

[alicornucopia]

Aslan is already padding over to where James is standing with Winter.

"You have a captive, it seems," he observes.

[neverbeatme]

"If that's what you'd call him," she says. "I'd kind of like my sword back, in case I need it again, but I'm not sure I could get it out of him even if I tried. Or what would happen afterward."

[alicornucopia]

"I think it could be got out," says Aslan. "As for what would happen - that would be for the lost Son of Adam to decide."

[neverbeatme]

"So, not dead," she concludes. "Okay."

[alicornucopia]

"No, it would be difficult indeed to kill this one. If you will stand back I will retrieve your sword," says Aslan.

[neverbeatme]

"Thanks," she says, stepping back - and collecting Winter's fallen weapons along the way. His sword still has an icy hand wrapped around the hilt, but the ice is beginning to melt.

[alicornucopia]

And Aslan wraps his paw around the sword and pulls.

[jackfrostbite]

The ice cracks - breaks - the sword comes free.

Winter thaws.

[deepest_magic]

Bella, having restored every living thing on the battlefield for their side, approaches.

[alicornucopia]

Aslan returns James's sword to her.

[neverbeatme]

James accepts it with a murmur of thanks, never taking her eyes off Winter.

[jackfrostbite]

...Who, after a brief wincing glance at Aslan, sinks to the ground and buries his face in his hands and sobs.

[neverbeatme]

She studies him thoughtfully.

"I really don't understand him," she says at last. "I wish I did."

[deepest_magic]

"I don't either," murmurs Bella.

[neverbeatme]

"I'm not surprised."

Hesitantly, sword at the ready, she steps forward.

[jackfrostbite]

He flinches from the sound of her approach.

[neverbeatme]

"...I don't suppose you'd like to tell us what we should do with you?" she tries.

[jackfrostbite]

Winter rubs his eyes and looks up. His eyelashes are frosted with tears.

His eyes find James - he shivers. Bella - he flinches. Aslan - he cringes away, tearing up all over again.