~

    I had lost track of the minutes we spent sitting in the freezing dungeon. Everything around was made of ice and snow, and though we wore fur coats Edmund and I were very obviously shivering.

    The dwarf had left us here hours ago, and in that time we had refused to speak to one another.

    I couldn't believe Edmund had sold out his own family.

    I resisted a sigh as my stomach growled in hunger. Mrs. Beavers stew seemed eternities away. I hoped she and the others were safe.

    Across from me Edmund shifted so that he was facing my way, but his eyes stayed glued to the floor. His grey coat seemed to be eating him alive, swallowing him whole.

    I wondered what would happen to us. Would the Witch kill us? Or keep us locked up down here forever? The thought of never being warm again was enough to send me spiraling.

    "Do you want it?"I looked up at the sound of Edmunds voice to see him holding out a stale piece of bread.

I glared, "No."

He sighed and took a bite of the bread, only to cough it up unwillingly. He threw the bread back down on the plate and picket up the silver goblet, drinking hungrily, only to stop and realize that the water was fully frozen.

"Your friends hospitality could use some work," I stated as he threw down the cup with frustration clear upon his face.

"I didn't mean for this to happen," He scowled.

Before I could retort a new voice said, "If you're not going to eat it-" I turned to see another cell right next to ours. There was a wide window allowing us to see the other prisoner, and to my absolute shock, it was a goat- or a man. A man-goat.

A faun.

His upper half was human with auburn hair and a beard to match, but his legs were that of an animal, covered in fur with hooves and everything. He wore a red scarf around his neck as he weakly crawled across the icy floor to reach the window.

I wondered how long he had been here for. Would I soon be begging for stale burnt bread? Would I soon be half dead, frozen and hopeless?

Edmund picked the bread back up and hesitantly gave it to the faun. "I'd get up but- my legs," The man stated looking down at his chained up animal legs.

"Mr. Tumnus?" Edmund questioned. I recognized the name as Lucy's friend, it seemed as though the witch had successfully jailed him.

"Whats left of him," The man let out a dry laugh while observing us.

"You're Lucy Pevensie's brother?" Mr. Tumnus questioned, looking fully at Edmund.

"I'm Edmund," The dark haired boy said.

"Yes you have the same nose. And you, I don't recognize you," His attention was now on me.

"I'm Charlotte, Charlotte Plummer." I introduced.

Tumnus nodded in greeting before facing Edmund once more, "Is your sister alright? Is she safe?"

Edmund opened his mouth then closed it guiltily. "I don't know."

A sudden clanging sound followed by footsteps sent the three of us leaping back to our original positions.

The witch entered the dungeon, and she looked furious. After unlocking our cell she lifted Edmund by the collar, "My police tore that dam apart, your little family is nowhere to be found," At those words a giant wave of relief washed through me, they got away.

"Where are they?" The witch barked throwing Edmund back to the ground.

"I don't know!" Edmund stuttered fearfully. The witch turned her cold gaze to me expectantly, "We left before they said anything." I said a bit more calmly. It was a lie, but she didn't need to know that.

"Then your both of no further use to me." The witch growled, raising her wand.

This was it. We were done for. Despite my annoyance with the boy I couldn't help but crawl closer to Edmund as the witch prepared to strike.

"Wait!" Edmund cried. "The beaver said something about Aslan!"

I couldn't find it in myself to be annoyed with Edmund for giving away our secrets again. All I could think about was how death had been mere inches away. And it could still strike at any second.

The reality of the situation was setting in, and I was terrified.

The witch dropped her wand in curiosity, "Aslan, where?"

Before Edmund got the chance to speak again Tumnus interjected, "He's a stranger here, your majesty. He can't be expected to know anything." The witches dwarf struck Tumnus across the face, silencing him.

"I said, where is Aslan?" The witch ordered raising her wand once more.

"I don't know- I just wanted to see you!" Edmund explained frightfully.

"Release the faun." The witch ordered. The guard burst the cell door open and cut off Tumnus's chain, before harshly dragging him out to the witch.

"Do you know why you're here faun?" The witch addressed the creature with disgust.

Tumnus met her gaze with brave eyes, "Because I believe in a free Narnia."

The witch laughed, "You're here because he sold you in for sweeties."

Tumnus looked at Edmund with wide eyes, shaking his head in disbelief. All Edmund could do was look away in guilt.

"Take him upstairs, and ready my sleigh. Edmund and Charlotte miss the others." The witch ordered, before giving one last glare and leaving them in the cell, with nothing but guilt and fear.

The guard roughly dragged Tumnus up the stairs, the latter giving cries of pain and protest as they went. I stood from the ground and shook the bars hopelessly, watching the faun disappear up the stairs.

"I didn't mean to," Edmund sniffed, curling into a ball against the wall.

I slumped down against the opposite wall, not having anything to say to that. "We need to get out of here."

Edmund wiped his eyes, "How?"

"I don't know." I sighed. "I'll think of something."

We both were silent for a while, Edmund thinking of his mistakes, me wishing I had stayed at the dam.

"I'm really sorry," Edmund said eventually. "I didn't know- I thought she was nice."

And though I could possibly loose my life thanks to him, I felt sorry for the dark haired boy who despised me.

I shifted so I was lying down, facing the ceiling, "She manipulated you."

I wanted to say more, to say that everything would be alright. To say that this wasn't his fault.

But it was.

And we didn't know what would happen. I wouldn't lie to him, but I wouldn't hold a grudge, after all it wasn't his fault his peanut sized brain was only digging us into a deeper grave by the minute.

~

A/N:

Thanks for reading, leave a review and let me know what you think so far. In the upcoming chapters is there anything your hoping to see?

Q&A:

Winter or Summer?