I was nearly sixteen when everything in my life changed. Dad had sent Mum and I away from home, it was too dangerous with the war. I didn't understand why. Home was safe enough. Neither of my sisters were home. Elizabeth, or Eliza as we called her, has been married for ten years. She's fifteen years older than I am. Her children are eight, five, and three. Meredith was nineteen years older than me and she got married when I was three. I don't even remember it. Her children are twelve, nine, and five.

It was twenty four days before my birthday when my bedroom door became a red piece of fabric. I brushed it aside to see a clearing. I glanced behind me to see a tent. There were tents everywhere, in red and gold. A plethora of unusual creatures surrounded me. Most of them looked mythical, I was sure I spotted a centaur and faun. That's not even possible, so I quickly dismissed the thought.

The flap on the biggest tent opened and out walked two boys. The first was clearly older, but not more than a year older than me. The younger was maybe twelve. They were complete opposites, the eldest had blond hair, but their behavior indicated that they were close cousins or even brothers. Two girls followed, clearly related to the boys. The elder was about fourteen with hair as dark and curly as my own. The younger girl would surely grow to look like the older, for they were clearly sisters. Following the four children was a large lion.

The lion seemed to be the only one to see me and he approached within seconds.

"My dear, it's lovely to see you. I am Aslan," it said in a clearly male voice. The older of the boys, the blonde, spoke next.

"I'm Peter Pevensie." I decided to introduce myself after Peter.

"I'm Kassia. Kassia Kirke." I responded. The older girl introduced herself as Susan and her sister as Lucy. Peter was their eldest brother and Edmund their youngest. Lucy was clearly the youngest of them all at about nine.

"Is she human, Peter?" Susan asked, surprise coloring her voice.

"She is. Come with me, child." I was uncertain about what to do, so I glanced at Peter. For some reason, his affirming nod comforted me. I followed Aslan to the tent they had just exited.

"You must be wondering what is going on?" He asked me.

"Just a bit. Okay, quite a bit, actually."

"I'll let the Pevensie children explain what is happening, but we are in the middle of a war."

"But I just left a war!"

"I know, Kassia, but nothing can be done about it now. The Pevensie children, along with you, will become rulers of Narnia. Narnia is where we are. You will all become the Kings and Queens of Narnia. Of course, this is all if we survive the war. I will instruct Peter to train you to fight. We are going to battle in the morning."

After Aslan's big speech, I was a bit shocked, for obvious reasons. I was going to be a queen? And fight in a war? And what is Narnia?

"Why don't we go talk to Peter now? You can absorb everything later and I'll have the children instruct you on what's occurring later." I nodded numbly and followed Aslan to where the Pevensies still stood.

"Peter, I am asking you to teach Kassia to fight. She will be beside you every step of the battle. I want her on the horse to your left every single second of the battle."

"But she's a girl! No offense, but I don't want you getting hurt." He spoke the last part to me. I was slightly offended. Who was he to tell me whether or not I could fight?

"That's why I'm asking you to teach her." Peter agreed and I followed him to his tent. He reached in his bag and pulled out a separate pouch.

"Father Christmas came earlier, when it was still winter. He gave me this and told me I'd know who to give it to." He handed me the pouch and I opened it to find a sword and scabbard. I pulled the silver blade out with an audible noise. The silver handle was decorated with pretty leaves, each one inlaid with a tiny blue stone. It was almost the color of my dark blue eyes. I wasn't entire sure what they were, maybe sapphires.

"It is beautiful." I whispered. "Thank you, Peter." I leaned over to kiss his cheek, blushing slightly as I did so.

"You are most welcome." He responded. "Now, let's go start learning."

"Uh, Peter?" I said. He turned back. I indicated his clothing with one hand and mine with the other. I was still wearing the dress I had been wearing when I entered this strange place.

"Oh, right, sorry, Kay. I'll go find Susan and see if she has anything for you to wear."

"Peter?" I asked again. He turned back for the second time. "Why did you call me Kay?"

"It's a nickname. I figured most people would call you Kass or Kassie, so I went for a more unusual one."

"I like it. I'll let you go now." He held his hand out for me this time. I grabbed it and he pulled me up off the chair that I had sat down on. I followed him to Susan's tent, not dropping his hand.

"Hey, Su, are you in there?" Peter yelled to his sister. "Kassia needs clothing." The brunette came out, a small smile on her face.

"You will want to ask Aslan if you need to fight. I only have dresses, sorry. You'll most likely want breeches or leggings." It took another few minutes to find Aslan and get the needed clothing, but soon Peter and I were ready to start.

It took me hours to even properly hold the sword and I still wasn't very good. They decided to teach me how to use a dagger as well, just in case. By about one o'clock, I was deemed good enough to fight by the generals. I went to the tent that I was to stay in and put on the nightgown Susan gave me. She was over a year younger than me, but I was small for my age. I actually wouldn't be growing any taller. I slowly drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

It was Peter that awoke me. He had unshed tears in his eyes.

"A dryad just gave us a message from Susan and Lucy. Aslan's dead. I'm going to have to lead the army." I wrapped my arm around his waist as we cried. I'd only known Aslan for a short time, but I had the feeling that nobody knew him too well. He was just one of those impressionable people who you will never forget.

"Well, Peter, we'd best get up. We have quite a bit to do today." I said a short time later. He nodded and we separated. After quickly dressing, we met outside to discuss our strategy. Susan and Lucy were still missing, but safe.

It was almost two in the afternoon when we rode to the battle site. I was to Peter's left, as per Aslan's instructions. With a cheer of, 'For Narnia! And for Aslan!' Peter and I rode off toward the oncoming army. The battle was gruesome and both sides lost many. Peter and I were on foot, having lost our horses, or, in Peter's case, unicorn.

We watched as Edmund fell, a silent scream on both of our lips. Without him, we would have lost. He broke the witch's wand. Peter took on the witch and I fought anyone who tried to interfere. There weren't many. I was paying attention as Lucy and Susan arrived with reinforcements from the witch's castle. I went to help Peter when the witch had him down on the ground, but Aslan got there first. I didn't understand how he was alive, not until Susan explained it later.

We ran to find Edmund, only to see the dwarf over him with a weapon. Peter grasped my hand for comfort, for both of us, as Susan took aim. She killed the dwarf with a single shot, saving Edmund. We raced over there and Lucy quickly healed him with her cordial. I stayed away as the family was reunited, only to be dragged back in by Lucy.

I was sandwiched in between Lucy and Peter as we celebrated both our win and the fact that Edmund was still alive. With a sudden realization, Lucy ran off to save all of the injured people on our side. She even healed some of them on the other side, which would make them feel indebted to her.

"I'm not going to be like her," Peter whispered in my ear. "Will you stop me if I become a tyrant?"

"Yes, Peter, I'll stop you. I won't let you become like her."