Prologue - Patient Training



My eyes flashed as I concentrated on the birch tree in front of me. the branches started to shake, but there was no other movement. I dropped my hand and sighed. "again" Aslan boomed from behind me "but-" I protested "again, dear one" I didn't really want to be training as the centaurs had said the merpeople were visiting today, but I didn't dare argue with Aslan. I roll my eyes and resume my gaze with the birch tree. Determined to finish early, I put all my effort into it. The muscles in my hand tightened and I sharpened my stare. The branch began to grow and sprout new branches. It reached the stage where small green leaves appeared before I cropped my hand and fell to the ground with exhaustion. "very good" Aslan said, padding towards me. I clamber onto his back, nuzzling into the fur."Aslan" "yes dear one?" "When do I get a proper wand?" I ask "you have a wand," he says as we make our way back to the camp "no I don't," I whine "I have a stick. Mummy's wand was pretty" Aslan sighed "yes, it was. But you can't get a wand-like your mother's until you're very much older" "as old as you?" I ask, sitting up. Aslan chuckled "no. when you're 16" "but that's aggesss away" I flop down again "10 years is not ages" Aslan replied "it feels like ages" I mutter. In the distance, I can hear screaming. I sat up, worried "what was that?" A centaur, Orius galloped towards us, breathless "it's the white witch sir" Aslan suddenly tensed, his voice concerned "get Y/N to safety, go!" "come, Y/N". I slide onto Orius's back "Alsan I'm scared" "fear not, dear one. you shall be safe and we will see each other again" I lean over and wrap my arms around his neck . "goodbye Aslan." "goodbye Y/N. may your light bring great hope to Narnia." Orius galloped off, leaving Aslan in the camp. I watched him get smaller and smaller as we sped deeper into the forest. Almost out of nowhere I felt a hand around my mouth. I tried to hold on to Orius but it was no use. I was pulled off his back. I bit the hand covering my mouth and it fell away. I screamed as loud as my lungs would let me before I was cut short with a gag and thrown over someone's shoulders like a sack of potatoes. I kicked and punched as hard as I could, but they made no difference. I was thrown onto a sleigh and a cold hand snatched my wand away. I curled up on the hard wooden floor and closed my eyes. It's all a bad dream, I'll wake up and Aslan will be here. I'll wake up.....

I'll wake up...