As Caspian made his way out of the badger's home, he heard the faint rustling of leaves and an exchange of whispers between nearby bushes in the thicket. He moved in the direction of the sound as the whispers continued.

"Reepicheep, be quiet. He's too close. Do you want to be captured again by a Telmarine soldier?"

"No Telmarine soldier's going to get us so long as I'm here."

"Yeah, who would ever be afraid of someone like you? Oh, no…shhh."

"You go back to the center and warn the others. I'll hold him off." After the voices stopped, the rustling of leaves underfoot grew louder and a furry brown object shot out of the thicket, knocking Caspian over.

"Any last words?"

"You are a…mouse."

"Honestly, I was hoping for something a little more creative. Pick up your sword. I will not fight an unarmed man."

"Reepicheep, stop it. He's not a soldier," a voice yelled from the bushes.

"Really, then why does he have a sword," the mouse fired back.

"He might need the protection because in case you haven't noticed, Narnians aren't as well-tempered as they used to be."

"Well then what is he? He certainly isn't one of us," the mouse argued defiantly. The voices materialized into a young woman with dark hair and skin the color of Caspian's own. Caspian stared, mouth agape, as she stepped out of the thicket. Her glowing skin, her beautiful dark hair that blew in the wind, and her vaguely familiar accent. The only time he had ever heard of someone this beautiful was when Professor Cornelius had described Queen Susan of Old Narnia. Queen Susan's beauty had had no equal and suitors had flocked to Cair Paravel to romance her, in hopes of winning her heart. Professor Cornelius had said that she had smooth porcelain-like skin, beautiful dark hair, and a foreign accent. Caspian knew that Queen Susan had left Narnia nearly one thousand years before now, but he wondered how this one girl could look so much like the Queen of Old Narnia.

"Well, neither am I," the young woman shot back, picking up the mouse and scolding him, "and there are more soldiers on the way. I saw them near the bridge that the king is building. Here, let me help you."

As she offered her hand to help him up, he asked her, "Are you a Telmarine? You said that you weren't one of his people. Who are his people?"

She looked up into his eyes quickly nearly dropping his hand, stunned by his question, "No, I'm not a Telmarine."

"Oh, sorry. It's just you look like one. I mean your hair and skin are the same color as mine," he apologized.

"Looking like and being something are two completely different things."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Lauren. I've been governing, well, watching over what is left of Old Narnia. Who are you?" she explained quietly.

"I am Prince Caspian," he replied proudly.

"The tenth?" she questioned suddenly.

"Yes. Why?" he answered, very confused.

"Well, there's a prophecy about the tenth branch of a family tree. Do you want me to tell you?"

He nodded as he said, "Yes, I want to hear it."

"All right. Here goes:

The tenth branch of a foreigner's family tree

The one to set Narnia free

The regent who sits upon the throne

The tyrant who steals with heart of stone

The Great Lion returns to awaken times Old

Kings and Queens shall return and tales be retold"

"And you think he's the one, Lauren," Reepicheep added sarcastically.

"Yeah, I think he is," she responded, smiling at Caspian, "Just think, Reepicheep, he could be the one to let all of us out of hiding."

"Wait, why do you have to hide? I mean, you could blend in as a Telmarine in the castle."

"I did something some time ago that forbids me from living there," she averted her eyes from his as tears gathered in her eyes, "Look; I don't want to talk about it right now. Besides, we have to move. The soldiers are coming to find you and anyone else in the forest." She grabbed his hand and began running down the trail, Reepicheep trailing behind them.

"Where are we going?" he asked breathlessly, still confused about why she couldn't live in the castle.

"To the center of the forest, where the Narnians are," she described in breathless anticipation.