Chapter Text
April woke terrified and screaming, it was just a dream, right? But no, the nightmare had really happened. That awful day in the grove of trees kept coming back in flashes. The cold, the lifeless trees, the feeling that the sprit inside of her had been choking, the thought that the trees could dying, Peter begging her not to go into the grove again, and then his leaving her. She shuddered, it was all too horrible to be real!
They would be here soon. They had promised to come back at the end of the summer. They wanted to solve the mystery before they all journeyed to school. School! She had been accepted into the prestigious Sadler's Well School of Ballet. But where the thought should have evoked excitement, it only brought terror. She had tried to forget that day after her orientation when someone had tried to drug her. Who knew what would have happened had Peter not been there with her? What was she going to find at school? More danger and another nightmare in London?
She remembered clinging to him on the train station platform. After all that had happened that day, how could she let him go? She didn't care who saw them, or what they said. He kept telling her that he was sorry for having to leave. She knew in her head that he had to go. Professor Kirke was expecting him so he could study for his examinations, but she also knew that her heart was breaking. She felt like he was breaking his promise to protect her, however irrational that may have been, it still hurt. She knew they needed answers and that Professor Kirke might have them. He finally jumped on the train at the last second and she collapsed on the platform. The last she saw of his face was through the window looking stricken as the train rolled away.
Dearest April,
I had to write to you on the train. How could I have left you like that? What kind of a beast am I that I would let my sense of duty and responsibility come before taking care of you? To be honest, I wasn't sure how else I could help you, other than to go and get the answers we so desperately need. But, I see now that you just needed my presence, my comfort. I am sorry that I was not able to be what you needed. I knew that would happen sooner or later and it is painful. I must post this now at this first station we stop at so you will receive it as soon as possible.
With all of my love,
Peter
The letter helped some. She knew he cared, and she was glad he kept his commitments. However, she was terrified and didn't know how to talk about it. Her parents assumed that Peter had hurt her. How could she tell them that an unspeakable evil had been unleashed in her sacred spot? Were the trees even still alive? She couldn't bear the thought of it.
Two days after Peter left, a knock sounded at the door. She opened it and there he was. He rushed in and took her in his arms. Was he really there? She had to be dreaming! But, then he was kissing her, so this must be real. She pulled back. He was watching closely for her reaction. She hugged him tight and sighed.
He said, “I couldn’t stand not knowing if you were okay. It was driving me batty. I couldn’t eat or sleep. The Professor practically kicked me out. I think he also wanted to do some research without me around. I am only here for the day, but at least we have that.”
They heard a noise and turned. It was her father. He was off work for the day and had heard Peter’s statement. He gave Peter a searching look through narrowed eyes.
“Peter, come with me!”
Mr. Treed led Peter to the stable that was behind their small cottage. He and April's father had gotten off to a rocky start, but the relationship had improved with time. It appeared they were taking a few steps backwards with the intimidating look he was getting now.
With his heart in his throat Peter started to say, “Sir, I….”
A hand in the air stopped him in mid-sentence, then fists clenched at his sides, Mr. Treed said, “My little girl has been miserable since you left her. She is not eating and has nightmares constantly. She won’t tell us what is going on. I feel like she is protecting you for some reason. Did you hurt my daughter? ”
Peter sighed, “I wish it were that simple, sir. You could punch me and I could try to make it all better. What happened was…Narnian in nature. Are you sure you want me to continue?”
April's father knew about Narnia because of her family's history. But, Peter knew he wished he didn't. In fact Mr. Treed had declared it a forbidden subject in his home. Mr. Treed rolled his eyes, “I should have known. I don’t think I want to know. What I want to know is April is going to be okay?”
“I am working on that sir. What happened scared all of us. I am hoping to get some answers soon.”
“All right, just so we are clear, nothing happened between the two of you?” Mr. Treed said suspiciously.
Peter looked him in the eye, “Other than my sense of duty and commitment getting in the way of her well-being, no. I had to leave to honor my commitment, but I wish I had stayed to at least make sure she was all right.”
~~Section Break~~
They spent the day together walking in the woods. They found a clearing with some rocks and sat down.
“Peter, do you believe the theory we came up with?”
They both thought back to that day in the grove…
Immediately after April had fainted, Peter, picking her up, had yelled for them all to run out of the grove. They did, with that awful laughter echoing in their ears. Once far enough away, Peter sank to the ground with April and she started to come to. He held her and looked at Edmund and Lucy. They were as shaken as he was. Lucy sank to her knees.
“What was that?!” exclaimed Edmund.
Peter shook his head, “It wasn’t like that before, how did the White Witch get into the grove? It was her, right?”
The others nodded. Then Peter looked at his hand.
“My hand! When we were here before, I pricked my hand on the thorns, and it bled onto the barrier that we think separates this world from another. A drop of blood was all the witch needed when they were going to resurrect her before. Could that have brought at least part of her here?”
It was Edmund’s turn to sink to the ground. They sat in stunned silence remembering that time in the chamber when they had run in while Caspian was being tempted to bring back the White Witch.
“That must have been it,” Lucy said, “But why here in our world, and what do we do about it?”
April sat up and said weakly, “We have always thought the grove was a place where the walls between the two worlds were thin. We had always assumed the thorny brush was to keep us from going in. What if it were placed there to keep something or someone out of our world?”
Edmund said, "Well, her spirit or essence, whatever it is seems to be contained in the grove. At least, she didn't follow us out here. I wonder... if Lucy and I get back to Narnia this summer, maybe we can check there for answers."
Peter responded to April's question about the theory, “I have been taking extensively to Professor Kirke. He has had dealings with the White Witch in our world before. As far as to get her out, I...we...are still working on that. You haven’t been back to the grove have you?”
“Oh, no!” April responded, “Although I want to see how the trees are faring, especially Grandmother Tree, I did promise you I would stay away. And I will.”
The grove was a special place full of a rich history. Her family was descended from a dryad that Aslan granted humanity to at the end of the Telmarine war in Narnia. The dryad and her new husband had passed through the portal into the real world and her family had been passing down the dryad traditions as well as a special book that Chronicled the Pevensie's reign during the Golden Age of Narnia for generations.
“Good girl,” he said, sighing in relief. He gathered her close. “When I saw you collapse on the platform, I almost jumped off the train. I am sorry I didn’t stay to be sure you were all right. Do you forgive me?”
“Yes, Peter. But I am not sure what to do or how to make it right. I am also really worried about the fall. We will be separated, at different schools. This has just shown me that you can’t protect me all the time.”
Peter huffed in frustration, “I wish I could be…one day...for now, just try to eat, try to sleep, and work the jobs you have secured. Try to take your mind off things."
He thought for a moment more, "Remember, I scraped my hand a couple of months before we discovered the witch. The trees do seem to be alive, just sunk deeply into themselves. I have to believe they will be okay.”
~~Section Break~~
Peter wouldn’t let April come with him to the station this time. He bade her goodbye whispering, “I’ll try to come back again. I am only two hours away. Don’t fret my love, it will all be okay. Trust me, but trust Aslan more!”
April turned from his leaving to her mother. It was time to tell her what had happened. Her mother listened in horror, then asked to see Grandmother’s journal. Her Grandmother was the one who taught April about the Narnian legends and encouraged her dancing spirit. She had passed away the year before and left a journal for April. In it she and Peter had discovered her family's history. She flipped to the recipes in the back and showed it to April. A light lit in April’s eyes for the first time in days. It might work, she would write to the others.
The idea was a good one, but not enough to chase the nightmares away. Night after night she woke screaming. She couldn’t help it, they just wouldn’t stop. The lack of sleep was taking its toll on all of them.
~~Section Break~~
She had just finished with a tour group and was passing the train station on her way home. Was that Peter? No, it couldn’t be, there was still a month left in the summer. She did that all the time as strangers passed through town. She saw a glimpse of him that was really someone else. Then a voice that sounded like home spoke in her ear.
“Excuse me, miss, but could you direct me to the Treed residence?”
She spun around, it was him! She jumped in his arms asking ten questions at once. He laughed and spun her around. On the way to her home he explained. The Professor told him to take a break, he was to stay through the night and return tomorrow. Peter really thought the Professor wanted rid of him for a bit. Eccentric he was.
She was over the moon with joy. She had missed him so much. He looked pale. He laughed at that and said it was because he was studying inside all day. Even though he was pale, he was so handsome. Tall and broad, his blue eyes sparkled with the joy of being near her and his slight dimples showed when he smiled. He was saying how beautiful she looked. She laughed, knowing she had lost weight and had dark circles under her eyes. She remarked they had better find a way to see each other more often or they were going to forget what each other looked like. He stopped in the middle of the road and looked into her eyes.
“I could never forget what you look like, I see you every time I close my eyes. In my mind, my dreams…”
At the mention of dreams her face fell, “Dreams...Peter, I am haunted by nightmares. I can’t get away from them.”
He took her hand, “I know, that is the main reason I am here. Your father wrote and asked me to come. He thought maybe your seeing me would help.”
~~Section Break~~
They entered the house. It was cool and quiet. She remembered that her mum and Elisa were at a neighbors and wouldn’t be back until dinner. Her father was at work. She would have to get dinner on the table, but Peter could help her.
She sat on the couch, still in disbelief that he was actually here. He sat next to her and turned her to look at him.
“I can’t believe,” he said kissing her, “that I have been able to stay away this long.”
She was in ecstasy. She had craved Peter's kiss and touch. They had pledged to help each other in their endeavor to stay pure. But, feeling so connected to him and knowing they were meant for each other made it so difficult when they found themselves alone.
Pulling her close he kept kissing her. His hands moved to her waist and she leaned against him reveling in his nearness, his scent, his strength and the sensations he always made her feel. She was wearing a shirtwaist and he slipped his hands under the blouse. The touch was electrifying. He pulled her closer, almost onto his lap and moved his hands up her back. His hands felt wonderful and took her mind and body to a place they had never been before. She felt the change in him as well, desire turning into need. She sighed into his kiss which he deepened instantly. It had been so long since they had been alone, she didn’t want him to stop. But, when his hands began to move toward her front, warning bells went off.
She pulled back and whispered his name. He opened his eyes and looked into hers. There was such desire there, she could almost touch it. He sat back and ran his hands through his hair and sighed, giving her a slight smile.
She said softly, “I’ve missed you so much, and hungered for your touch and kiss, but…”
He nodded, “I did ask you to help me stop, didn’t I?”
“Yes,” she smiled, “but know that I didn’t really want you to.”
When his eyes lit with another flame, she stood up before he could kiss her again. She pulled his hand, urging him off the couch and said, “Want to help me make dinner?”
~~Section Break~~
(A/N: In this section, April describes her nightmares to Peter. I wanted to give a warning, they could have some triggers in them. This is the only place in the story where these dreams are described.)
It was fun working with him in the kitchen. They flirted with each other shamelessly and he stole a kiss or two when she would brush past him in the small space. Surprisingly he was good at cooking, but then she had yet to be able to find something that he wasn’t good at.
Her family was happy to see him. Peter had always been more than kind to them. April was quiet during dinner. She knew the real reason he was there and they would have to talk about it soon. She wished she didn’t remember the nightmares, but she did. And, he was going to want to know every single detail.
Her mom chased them out of the kitchen not allowing April to help clean up. They went to the back of the gardens and sat on a bench under the arbor. The sweet smell of honeysuckle wafted around them, it was starting to get dusk. This was her favorite time of the day, when the light faded into twilight. He squeezed her hand. She signed in resignation.
“I guess I have to tell you about the dreams, right?”
They had always been able to talk with each other about everything. And, he had often made her share her thoughts with him even when they had been painful and she only wanted to run and hide from her emotions. She was glad he was a leader in their relationship. Circumstances would have separated them long before had he not been.
He nodded, turning to her with his full attention. She began to talk, haltingly at first.
"There are two of them. The first takes place the grove. We are in there, you and I. You fight with your sword against the witch and she knocks you down. Roots come up from the ground and bind you to where you cannot move. She grabs your sword taunting the 'mighty king and son of Adam' who has fallen. It just takes one drop of your blood to set her free, but she wants more. She takes your sword and slowly cuts your arms, and your neck. I am screaming and she tires of the noise. A sapling spouts up from the ground and the branches bind my hands and legs. She approaches me with the sword that is dripping with your blood. She puts the point on my chest and says that I'm next. Of course, I wake up screaming every time." she shuddered.
His face was white, and full of horror. What made the dream so frightening, was that it might possibly happen. He took a deep breath, almost afraid to ask what the second one was.
"The second dream takes place in London on the Royal Opera House stage. I am dancing in a performance and you are my partner. Our song ends and we run off the stage. You pull me into the curtains and kiss me. It is wonderful until it starts to feel different. I look and you have turned into the man from the reception that gave me the alcohol. He is kissing me hard and it hurts. The harder I struggle to get away the closer he holds me, telling me all the things he is going to do to me. He starts to rip my costume off, I can hear myself screaming. There are people all around us, but no one hears and no one comes to help. Then I wake up."
Peter stood up horrified, and started pacing. She knew hearing the dreams would be hard for him. He felt so protective of her. He said it was because she had helped him so much when he was struggling with being back in the real world after his two adventures in Narnia. She thought it was probably just in his nature.
"She is in our heads you know," he stated, bringing her thoughts back to the present.
"Who, the White Witch?" she asked.
"She has to be. We could hear the laugh in our minds, and now your worst fears are plaguing you. Fears have been plaguing me too."
"What are yours?" she asked.
"That I won't get to you in time. That I will lose you forever. That she will somehow kill the spirit inside of you and you will wither away," he said, his voice breaking.
"Would you have rather I not told you about the dreams?" she asked.
He took her hand, "Yes and no. You needed to share them, and I need to know what is happening in that pretty head of yours. I just wish I could help you with them."
"Maybe you have, perhaps your theory of sharing dreams with someone out loud will make them go away."
"If I could just be with you, to hold you, maybe I could chase them away for you."
She laughed, thinking of the night he had slept next to her when she had a different nightmare, "I like that idea too, but I don't think we have that option here."
Peter thought for a moment, "Maybe your dream has the key on how to defeat the witch! What if it does take another drop of blood to cause her to materialize? Right now, we only have her essence to fight. If we could turn her into flesh and blood, we might be able to kill her."
He started to get excited, "I could send for our swords from London. Maybe with both Edmund and I..."
April broke in, "But, Peter, didn't you say only Aslan was able to defeat her before?"
Peter sighed a little disheartened, "Yes, and Professor Kirke told me that Jadis has eaten from the tree of protection so she is immortal. Well, at least we have some ideas to work with."