Tumnus blessed his lucky stars that no one had seen him with Lucy. He had no idea that they had, indeed, been seen. The girl in the shadows had seen everything. She returned to the castle of ice with this knowledge hidden away in her mind. What should she do? The prophecy was coming true! Jadis would find out eventually, and then there would be hell to pay for anyone she could get her hands on.

Kloi (Chloe) hurried across the snow and ice to the great gates of the Witch's castle. The ogre on guard bowed with a growl. It was the only sound he could make after Jadis had his tongue cut out for failing to inform her of some trivial nonsense. Kloi ignored him, and swept through the gates as though she owned them.

Maugrim greeted her at the door that led from the courtyard into the main hall.

"Princess. The Queen commanded me to inform you that your presence is required. You are to go to her the moment you return."

Kloi inclined her head ever so slightly, acknowledgement of his words.

"Very well. You may go."

He bowed before her, and padded out of sight. Kloi turned sharply and gracefully mounted the steep stairs that would take her to the throne room. Jadis would know that she had returned, and would be waiting there. Her slender figure seemed to float up the icy staircase; the mist of frozen air that clung to the floors of the castle obscured her feet.

Kloi floated into the throne room, just as the Queen had taught her. Poise and grace at all times, dignity – knowledge that she was above everyone and everything else. The only equal she had was the Queen herself.

"Ah, my darling." Jadis purred.

"You sent for me, mother?"

"You've been working so hard recently, I rarely see you anymore!" She cooed, leaving her throne and reaching a hand toward her daughter.

Kloi mounted the steps of the dais, and placed her slender white hand in her mother's hand.

"It is my honor and delight to serve you, mother. That my service takes me away from you, pains me – but I would rather the pain of our separation if it means I know that your throne is forever secure." She replied smoothly, putting on her sweetest, most sincere face.

"That is right, my lovely child." She gently kissed Kloi's forehead. "Now then – do you have a report for me?"

Kloi inclined her head – shaking the head was not ladylike – and said quietly, "No, mother. I found nothing. There were no footprints in the snow – the Western Woods are undisturbed. I did not even see the footprints of the faun in residence. It would appear that Tumnus has been holed up since the last snowfall."

The Queen touched her chin thoughtfully. "Tumnus is under orders to report any activity to us, is he not?"

"Indeed, mother."

"Is he loyal to us?"

"I do not know, mother. Not all of the Narnians are loyal, but it can be difficult to tell which ones. However, loyalty makes little difference, does it not? As long as they are motivated by fear, there is no need for loyalty. Tumnus is afraid; I have made sure of that. He knows that should he so much as think a treasonous thought, he will find himself a statue in your glorious collection."

Jadis smiled, her vanity pleased by her daughter's flattering words.

"You seek to fatten me with flattery?" She asked, her pleasure showing in her eyes.

"I should never flatter you, mother. To flatter is to lie – and how could I lie to you?" Kloi said sweetly, aware that she was doing exactly what she just said she would never do.

Jadis cooed again. "My darling, what on earth would your mother do without you?"

Kloi smiled. "I am sure you would do just as well without me, mother. You need nothing and no one – for you are far and away the most beautiful, most powerful, person in the universe. No one can stand against you. If it pleases you, mother, may I retire? I am quite tired. I should hate to be less than my best this afternoon. If I am to mind the castle without your guiding presence while you ride about your lands… I wish to do my very best, mother. I do not wish to disappoint you."

Jadis smiled indulgently. "I think it so sweet that you place such importance on my opinion."

Kloi widened her eyes innocently. "Why, mother! How could I not? I desire to make you proud more than any other thing."

Jadis smiled again, clearly pleased again. "Of course you may retire, my dear. Have a good sleep."

Kloi smiled and kissed her mother's cheek carefully. "Thank you, mother."

She backed carefully away from the dais, and dipped in a shallow curtsey. Then she glided from the room.

That afternoon, her mother returned positively crowing.

"My darling Kloi! The prophecy shall be flouted!"

"Why mother, what do you mean?" Kloi was worried, but she carefully concealed it behind a mask of excited curiosity.

"There's been a new development. You say the woods were undisturbed early this morning?"

"Why, yes. Not a footprint did I see."

Jadis nodded slowly. "Then she must have come after that."

Kloi waited, knowing that her mother would explain when she was ready.

"I met a human child, a son of Adam, while in the woods. He – fool – told me that his sister had come here before him, and he followed her. Evidently she has been here before, who knows how long ago that may have been. There are four of them, darling. And the boy – well. He is going to bring them all to me!" Jadis crowed.

"Why, mother! How wonderful! With the prophecy flouted, there will be no threat at all to your rule! Neither a real threat, nor an imagined one!"

Jadis frowned suddenly. "The faun, Tumnus. He has betrayed us. The boy said that his sister met a faun named Tumnus while she was in our lands previously. Yet we have received no report!"

Kloi frowned fiercely. "The traitorous little vermin! He must be punished." Her heart sank at the words she was saying, but she could say nothing else.

"Precisely my thoughts. Bring him here, my darling. Have him thrown in the dungeon, have his little goat legs broken. We shall have another statue in our collection – but first I wish him to know pain. Great pain."

Kloi curtseyed. "It shall be done, mother, just as you desire."

Jadis nodded sharply. "Go then."

"I go." She responded, slipped from the room.

"Maugrim!" She shouted, allowing ice to slip into her voice. It helped curb her impatience at having to associate with the creatures under her mother's employ to be sharp and harsh with them. Fortunately, her mother thought nothing of it. The servants were beneath them both, after all, and should be treated accordingly.

The wolf appeared quickly. "Princess." He bowed.

"Select ten of your best wolves. We set off for Lantern Waste at once."

"Yes, Princess." He replied, and scurried out of sight.

Kloi sighed and quickly made her way to her own room to prepare herself. There was no way to get Tumnus out of this fix without blowing her cover, and so she would take more men than necessary so that (a) her mother would think she was zealous for her job, and (b) none of the Narnians would try to rescue Tumnus and end up in trouble themselves. Better that one die than that twenty die trying to save him.

She stared at herself in the mirror, and, for just a moment, allowed the magic that changed her appearance to slip away. Her reflection stared back at her. Long black hair framed a pale face from which gazed strikingly green eyes. This was who she really was, she thought.

I am not what you think I am, Witch. One day you will see. Until then… I must seem to be what you want me to be.

Kloi renewed the magic that kept her appearance the way her mother wanted it. Now the eyes that stared back at her were an icy blue, the hair a pale blond, and the face almost snow white. She glanced down at her outfit.

A beautiful corset-top and soft pants that allowed her to move freely. White, from head to toe. Kloi hated it. She lived in a white world. Everything was snow and ice. And she couldn't even wear color, because her mother hated it. Color meant life, and Jadis was death. For a moment Kloi imagined a world filled with color, like she had seen once before, looking through the eyes of her brother.

Vibrant color would be everywhere, and she would wear them all. Few things were white, and those that were… They were tasteful, complimentary to the other colors swirled around them.

Kloi shook herself. There was no use fantasizing about something like that. It would never be, unless the prophecy was fulfilled. There would be time enough for fantasy when the war was won. It was coming, Kloi knew. She had known for months, ever since Aslan first returned to Narnia. Hiding his return from her mother had taken some doing, but she had managed it and was proud of herself for doing so.

Turning, Kloi started for the door, gathering her weapons as she went. She had a job to do.

Tumnus came quietly, aware that if he resisted, his punishment would only be worse. With a heavy heart, Kloi ordered the wolves to destroy the place. She nailed a proclamation to the doorpost; it explained his 'grievous crimes' and was signed by the Princess herself.

In the castle, Kloi handed the faun over to the jailer. The disgusting ogre would finish carrying out her mother's orders. Kloi was glad that at least she was spared hearing his screams as his bones were broken. She wasn't sure she could have borne it, and she might have thrown caution to the winds to save him.

But no. She couldn't do that. The boy – the one from the prophecy. He was caught in her mother's web, and Kloi must be here to help free him.

She did not go out again that day. She stayed in her room, only coming out for dinner. When her mother asked, Kloi told her that she was practicing her magic. She hadn't used that excuse for a while. Jadis bought it, and allowed her to spend almost the entire day in her room.

Kloi did practice her magic some – after all, she did try not to lie. Often it was unpreventable, but she tried to minimize her untruths as much as possible.

In the privacy of her room, Kloi gently touched the crystal that hung from a cord about her neck. It looked like it was made of blue ice. While she had magical powers in and of herself, since she was born of a magical being, the crystal was what allowed her to control them. It was the same for her mother, who could do no magic without her wand. They had magical abilities, but in order to use those abilities they needed something to help them channel and focus the powers they had. Without those tools, their powers would just go wild. If they tried to use magic without their special tool, their powers would spiral out of control. Sometimes their powers would even go wild when they experienced strong emotions, joy, anger, sadness, and fear – also when they experienced pain.

Kloi's powers were slightly different than her mother's – in fact, her powers were the same as her brother's. She could create illusions that would fool even the best. She could teleport, and communicate telepathically. She could create cold, ice, and snow. She could change her appearance, and the appearances of others – that was part of illusion, really. She could fight like anything, and she was a gifted liar. The last two weren't necessarily magical powers, but the fact that she could instantly tell when someone was lying was definitely a magical power. Most of these powers were unknown to her mother. Kloi had hidden them for years. All her mother knew about were her 'cold powers' as Kloi called them to herself, her powers with temperature, ice, and snow.

The next day, Kloi went about her business as she normally would. In fact, the next several days proceeded exactly the same way. It was on the third day, after the sun had set, that something finally changed.

Maugrim came into the room where Jadis and Kloi often sat and read in the evening. Well, Kloi read: Jadis signed official documents and execution orders.

"Your majesties."

Jadis glanced up, only then taking notice of the presence of her chief of police.

"What is it, Maugrim?" She demanded, none too pleasantly.

"The son of Adam has come." He responded respectfully.

Jadis raised an eyebrow. "He came alone?"

"Yes, your majesty."

The Witch frowned. "I see." She stood, and gestured for her daughter to follow her. Maugrim followed as well, since he hadn't been dismissed.

They entered the throne room in time to see the boy sit down on the Witch's throne. He looked around him with excitement. Kloi guessed that her mother had told him that if he brought his siblings to her, she would make him a prince or something. He must be imagining what it would be like to rule from this throne.

Jadis stepped forward, her hand touching the throne right beside the boy's head. "Like it?"

He jerked, and leapt up. "Y-yes. Your majesty."

Jadis gave him a cold look. "I thought you might." She sat down, and contemplated him silently for a long moment before speaking again. "Tell me, are your sisters deaf?"

The boy looked confused and like he might laugh. "No."

"And your brother, is he… unintelligent?"

"Well I think so." The boy started. "But Mum says – "

"Then how DARE you come ALONE?!" She shouted, standing up.

The boy backed up, suddenly afraid. "I tried – "

"Edmund I asked so little of you – "

"They just don't listen to me!" He protested.

"And you couldn't even do that!"

"But I did bring them halfway!" He cried hopefully.

Jadis stilled, silent.

"They're in the little house on the dam, with the beavers." He supplied eagerly.

The Witch barely moved, simply tapping a finger against her wand. "Well. I guess you're not a total loss then, are you."

She turned back towards her throne.

"Um, I was wondering – c-could I have some more Turkish delight, now?"

Jadis glanced back at him, and then turned to Kloi. "Our guest is hungry." The look in her eyes was enough to let Kloi know what to do.

She stepped forward and drew the dagger on her hip. "This way – for your num-nums." She said coldly, putting the knife to his back.

As they were about to leave the room, Kloi paused. Her mother was speaking, and Kloi had to know what her plans were.

"Maugrim?"

The wolf paced up beside the throne with a growl. Jadis leaned down toward him slightly. "You know what to do."

Maugrim growled again, then threw his head back and howled. Six or so of his wolves appeared from various doorways, and all were growling. He led them out of the room at a run. Fierce growls, barks, and snarls marked their progress through the castle.

Kloi hurried shoved the boy – his name must be Edmund, since that's what Jadis called him – out of the room and toward the dungeons. When she locked him in his cell, she cast him a scathing glance.

"Try not to get yourself in more trouble, hm?"

He glared at her, and she sighed and decided to ignore him for the moment. She went over to the cell beside him.

"Hey." She said softly.

Tumnus looked up and smiled thinly. She had been visiting him as often as she could, using her magic to help soothe his pain, and bringing him food. He knew, by this time, about her double life.

"Hello, Kloi." He replied.

"How are you doing?"

He snorted. "About as well as can be expected."

Kloi sighed. "I'm so sorry. I wish there was something I could do…"

"You've done so much already. You can't risk yourself for my sake – Narnia needs you too much. She'll catch on sooner or later, if you're not careful."

She gave him a wry smile. "When am I not careful?" Then she took some bread out of her pocket. "Here. It's not much – "

"Thank you, Kloi." He smiled gratefully.

"You have a new friend – who has a nose for trouble. Your friend Lucy's brother, I believe. Keep him company, would you? I have to try and beat Maugrim to his family, and I'm fast running out of time."

Tumnus's eyes widened. "Lucy – is she alright?"

"I don't know. I hope so. We need all four of them for the prophecy to be fulfilled, and Narnia freed." She paused suddenly, regretfully. "Tumnus…"

"I will not live long enough to see Narnia liberated." He responded, sadly. "I know that her patience wears thin."

Kloi felt a sheen of tears in her eyes. "Be strong, my friend. Death is not the end, only a new beginning." She whispered hoarsely.

He raised his eyes to hers suddenly. "Today?"

She nodded dumbly.

His head drooped and his shoulders slumped.

"I'm so sorry, Tumnus! I wish there was something I could do!"

"No, you must not try to help me. You have to get the humans to Aslan. There is no other way."

She sighed again. "I know."

Tumnus managed a shaky smile. "I'll be alright."

"I have to go. Time is running out." She turned away from Tumnus's cell, and glanced at Edmund again. "Do not breathe a word of this to my mother. If you want your family to live, I have to be able to help them. And I cannot do that if she kills me for betraying her. Understand?"

He stared at her. "She said she didn't have any children…"

Kloi sighed. "She lied. It's what she does best. Don't feel too terrible for falling for her tricks – she has many enchantments that make it hard to resist. Yet, at the same time, you should have come to your senses long before this. Now I have to try and pick up the pieces that you've dropped. I'm Kloi, by the way. Jadis's daughter by birth, but not by heart. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go."

She allowed herself to fade out of that dimension, and teleported to the beaver's dam. She could hear the wolves coming through the forest, and loud voices inside the dam.

"What is she doing?!" That was a human's voice. It must be Edmund's brother.

"Oh, you'll be thanking me later. It's a long journey, and Beaver gets pretty cranky when he's hungry."

Kloi slipped inside the dam without anyone noticing and latched the door behind her so that no one else could come in. Why on earth hadn't they done that already? Inside, Mrs. Beaver was scuttling around packing a number of small bundles with food and the like. The older of the two girls was helping.

"Do you think we'll need jam?" She asked.

"Only if the Witch serves toast." Kloi replied coolly, announcing her presence.

While the humans looked terrified, the beavers were clearly relieved.

"Princess Kloi!"

"Drop the title, please. I'm no more Princess than my mother is Queen. Now, if you want to get out of here alive, I suggest you get moving. Edmund is in the castle, and I'll do what I can for him. I came to warn you, but evidently you've already guessed that you're in danger. I have to get out of here quickly, before the wolves get here. And I can't leave my scent. Edmund will need me, if he wants to get out alive. Say hi to Orieus for me, should you happen to see him."

Mrs. Beaver nodded.

Kloi turned to go, then paused and glanced at the humans. "I will do everything I can for your brother."

Then she was gone, back to her mother's icy fortress.