The Triumph of the Witch

           AssoonastheWitchhadgoneAslansaid,"Wemustmovefromthisplaceatonce,itwillbewantedforotherpurposes.WeshallencamptonightattheFordsofBeruna.

           Ofcourseeveryonewasdyingtoaskhimhowhehadarrangedmatterswiththewitch;buthisfacewassternandeveryone’searswerestillringingwiththesoundofhisroarandsonobodydared.

           Afterameal,whichwastakenintheopenaironthehill-top(forthesunhadgotstrongbynowanddriedthegrass),theywerebusyforawhiletakingthepaviliondownandpackingthingsup.Beforetwoo’clocktheywereonthemarchandsetoffinanortheasterlydirection,walkingataneasypacefortheyhadnotfartogo.

           DuringthefirstpartofthejourneyAslanexplainedtoPeterhisplanofcampaign."Assoonasshehasfinishedherbusinessintheseparts,"hesaid,"theWitchandhercrewwillalmostcertainlyfallbacktoherHouseandprepareforasiege.Youmayormaynotbeabletocutheroffandpreventherfromreachingit."Hethenwentontooutlinetwoplansofbattle-oneforfightingtheWitchandherpeopleinthewoodandanotherforassaultinghercastle.AndallthetimehewasadvisingPeterhowtoconducttheoperations,sayingthingslike,"YoumustputyourCentaursinsuchandsuchaplace"or"Youmustpostscoutstoseethatshedoesn’tdoso-and-so,"tillatlastPetersaid,

           "Butyouwillbethereyourself,Aslan."

           "Icangiveyounopromiseofthat,"answeredtheLion.AndhecontinuedgivingPeterhisinstructions.