Now we must get back to Edmund. When he had been made to walk far further than he had ever known that anybody could walk， the Witch at last halted in a dark valley all overshadowed with fir trees and yew trees. Edmund simply sank down and lay on his face doing nothing at all and not even caring what was going to happen next provided they would let him lie still. He was too tired even to notice how hungry and thirsty he was. The Witch and the dwarf were talking close beside him in low tones.
“No，” said the dwarf， “it is no use now， O Queen. They must have reached the Stone Table by now.”
“Perhaps the Wolf will smell us out and bring us news，” said the Witch.
“It cannot be good news if he does，” said the dwarf.
“Four thrones in Cair Paravel，” said the Witch. “How ifonly three were filled？ That would not fulfil the prophecy.” “What difference would that make now that He is here？”
said the dwarf. He did not dare， even now， to mention the name of Aslan to his mistress.
“He may not stay long. And then.we would fall upon the three at Cair.”
“Yet it might be better，” said the dwarf， “to keep this one”
（here he kicked Edmund） “for bargaining with.”
