A young, female lioness lay watching the scene unfold before her. The young Prince looked extremely uncomfortable around the Narnians. It didn't help at all that they were all shouting at him and trying to kill him.

'Father, I hope you know what you are doing, bringing the high King and his family back to Narnia in such times as these.' The Lioness thought, then stood, walking into the clearing next to the young Prince Caspian, her presance alone throwning the Narnians to stunned silence.

"My Lady," The mouse Reepicheep Bowed low. Everyone followed, even Caspian dropped to his knees and lowered his chin to his chest. The Lioness held a laugh, but couldn't resist flicking the future king in the face with her tail.

"Arise, noble warriors of Narnia." Caspian stayed kneeling. "You as well, Caspian. A future King of Narnia need not bow to me. In fact, It should be I who bows to you." The Lion lowered her head, nose to her massive paws, though they were half the size of her father's. "I am Ashlana, Daughter of the Great Lion, Protector of the Kings and Queens of Old, and the Holder of the wand."

"What wand?" The Dwarf Nikabrik got a look in his eyes that Ashlana didn't like. She had heard that he'd rejoin the White Witch one of the Pevinsies had almost died to defeat.

"The wand you will not get your hands on, Dwarf." The growl the Lion released was quiet, but threatening. "Caspian, I must go to The Valient. Narnians, Hear the boy out. He is our Savior, and my father has put trust in him." They all bowed again, as she walked gracefully out of the clearing and away from the circle, a soft smile on her muzzle when she heard the silence behind her as Caspian Began his speech.

Queen Lucy the Valient awoke in the early morning. She heard soft, familiar growling behind her. She stood and looked around at her sleeping siblings and Trumpkin. She heard the growling and began to search for her Lion friend.

A giggling Dryad flew past her in the breeze. Lucy smiled and followed. The trees created an arched gateway, and Lucy walked through.

"Lucy," She heard Aslans Strong, but gentle voice calling her. Then she saw him, standing on a small hill.

"Aslan!" She ran to him, and hugged him tightly. "You've grown!"

"Every year you grow, so shall I."

"Why haven't you come to us? Or sent help?"

"I have sent help, Dear one." Aslan shook his great mane, and Lucy looked in the same direction. She saw a girl in a Narnian battle dress leaning against a tree. She smiled at the Young queen and bowed.

"Ashlana, My queen." She said, straightening back up, and Pushing her red hair out of her face. Then she morphed into a Lioness. "Nothing happens the same thing twice."

"Aslan! She's-"

"Yes, Dear One, my daughter. She'll be there when you awake. So do not be shocked." A twig snapped and Lucy awoke from her dream, Staring into Ashlana's amber eyes. They flashed to Susan's sleeping form, before the Lioness rose and dashed into the trees.

"Susan! Susan wake up!" She shook Susan lightly.

"Certainly Lu, Whatever you like," Susan turend away, falling back to sleep. Lucy got up and Followed Ashlana's path. She followed it up to a rock, and She heard a growl.

"Aslan?" A hand quickly closed over Lucy's mouth and she gasped before she saw that it was Peter. He placed his finger to his lips in the universal sign of Shush, and pointed. Lucy followed his direction and saw a minotaur walking passed. Peter made Lucy stay, and walked stealthily towards the minotaur, preparing to attack.

Then out of nowhere a boy about his age came out of the trees. Lucy watched as they fought. Then she noticed the Narnians all around.

"Stop!" She shouted. Ashlana jumped up next to her from the tree she was in and roared loudly, Peter letting the rock he was about to smash his attackers head in with.

"Caspian, Stay that blade." Ashlana took a defensive pose in front of the oldest Pevinsie. Caspian Dropped to his knees again.

"Prince Caspian?" Peter recognised the Lioness in front of him from the Narnian books he's once read, and lay a hand on her head as thanks.

Caspian rose and glared at Peter's total disregard for the royalty of Ashlana.

"Yes. And you are?" He asked, not very kindly. Ashlana rolled her eyes, and lay at their feet boardly.

"Peter!" Susan ran out of the forest with Edmund and Trumpkin on her heels. Caspian Looked down at the sword in his hands and Noticed it to be that of-

"High King Peter?"

"I believe you called?"

"Yes, but I thought you would be older."

"We can come back in a few years if you'd like?" Peter began to leave and Ashlana stood as well, throwing both boys a look.

"No! No that's alright. You just aren't what I expected." He eyes Susan. Ashlana snorted, and walked to Lucy's side, curling her tail around the young queens legs.

"Neither are you," Edmund stated, glancing at Lucy protectively for a second. Ashlana looked up at Lucy.

"I think you should Change, Ashlana." Lucy said.

"I think you may be right, My Queen." Ashlana said this as she morphed into her human form, She bowed to Peter, then to the rest. "Your Majesties." Peter bowed as well, Confusing his siblings, Except Lucy. They bowed anyways, figuring Pete had a good reason.

"Lady Ashlana." Caspian waited for the Lion-girl to look at him.

"Yes, Caspian?"

"We are going to the How, now."

"Lead the way. I shall walk with Lucy." She nodded at him.

Lucy grabbed Ashlana's hand and they talked about what had happened in Narnia the past 1300 years.

"Trumpkin thinks Aslan has abandoned Narnia." Lucy mumbled.

"Hmm. All the dwarfs seem to have that in their heads, nowadays." She stared at Nikabrik. "They believe in me only because I walk the land. They don't realize just because you don't always see my father doesn't mean he's not there. Let's go to the front," Ashlana picked Lucy up and placed her on her back, before running. Lucy giggled as she saw the Narnians that had been ahead of them(And there were quite a few) passed in blurs of colors.

"Ash!" Lucy squealed, and the Lion Girl stopped beside her three siblings. She let Lucy down, and stood next to Caspian. The centaurs held their swords in salute to the Pevensies. They walked like true Kings and Queens, into the How. Caspian followed the pace Ashlana set behind them. Ashlana felt the power, and instantly walked further in when the Pevensies stopped. The stope table. The place of her birth. That is what the How was protecting. She walked slowly, running her fingers over the paintings on the walls, as Caspian showed them to the table.

"He must know what he's doing," Lucy said, Running her fingers over the table.

Peter looked over at the golden carving of Aslan, before looking at the Lioness who was staring up at the picture as well, a distant look on her face.

"I think it's up to us now." Peter announced, breaking Ashlana's trance. She blinked at him, not amused, but not denying that they were. She didn't know. She really didn't know. She just hoped that Lucy was right and Peter was wrong.