It's not my "epic masterpiece" (thinking of the movie trailer) or yours, or that person's. Everything belongs to Lewis. I'm not worthy for the credit.

The girl shook her head violently, stepping up beside her brother. Slipping a hand into his she murmured, "No brother, we got this."

He beamed down at her. Still after two years of dealing with these types of mishaps with their subjects – some more peculiar than others – it still made a sense of pride and awe well up inside Edmund. He loved watching his little sister interact with their people, the way she made them smile and feel at ease, the way they instantly trusted her her fierce and loving heart. It took him a little longer to gain their trust, but in the end, the people knew he was go for the job. His actions towards Narnia's rebuilding process seem to cancel out his very first mistake. They grew to love and respect him as much as his siblings. It made him grow as well, stronger in mind and heart and body, faster logically and physically, braver to confront the future and the past and fix their problems before they deepened.

Kneeling down, the Lucy offered her free hand in greeting. "Hello Friends!" she cried.

"You. Took. Our. Goodies."

"Do you know how long it took us to find all those? How much hiding we had to do from mama? How-"

"They're the bestest ones in the wood! Why would you do that! It's not fair! Those were ours. We found them. We-"

The three young squirrels continued to prattle on, as if no one was listening. Edmund bit his lip, trying not to laugh at their giddiness. It was worse than his own' sister!

"- Only gave them away to people who deserve them. You don't deserve them. We don't know you."

That did it for one of the foxes.

He growled, stepping up protectively beside Lucy.

"You dare say that the Lady doesn't deserve a handful of nuts? Well you don't deserve to live, vermin!"

"Peace, Friend." Edmund said. Always the peacemaker. "He's young, he may not know who we are." Turning to the cluster of Squirrels, he asked Nelson, the quietest of the lot. "Is your mother here, Master Squirrel?"

Shaking his head out of his trance, the creature stammered. "Y-yes, sir. Would you like me to fetch her?"

"That won't be necessary, my friend." Edmund smiled, fishing into his pockets for a few golden coins. "We're just passing by. And we're sorry again for taking you goodies. Here's for your troubles."

Nelson's mouth dropped open as he was given the coins. "Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome," the girl replied kindly. "What's your name?"

"Nelson, miss."

"Nice too meet you. And you?" She turned too the other two squirrels, who were staring at their brother.

"Twittertwig? Moonstick? Is everything okay?" Nelson muttered, nudging his brother in the side.

"Oh, oh! I'm sorry. My name is Twittertwig and this is Moonstick." Twittertwig smiled. Looking over at Nelson's questioning face, his smile faltered. "I was just curious too see those shiny things. Whenever mama has them she doesn't let my brothers or I play with them. She says they're too important and that they should be only be made to good use."

Edmund laughed. "You're mother is correct."

"What do you use them for anyways?" Moonstick wondered out loud.

"Silly squirrel," Lucy teased. "You use them to buy things, of course! Let your mum take you into the village and you can buy yourselves a treat."

"More goodies!" Moonstick cried.

Twittertwig's face darkened. "Mama won't let us go to the village. She says that bad things are over there."

Looking at each other, the monarchs' faces changed from playful to concerned. Their guards formed a tighter ring around the group. Suddenly, the Tiger stepped up beside Edmund.

"Another approaches, Your Majesty."

"Thank you, Darkar."

The circle was broken as another small figure walked into the ring. She too, was a Squirrel, with similar features as her sons. Seeing the two humans, she curtsied quickly and smiled.

"'Tis an honour, Your Majesties! What brings you so far from Cair Paravel?"

"This whole land is ours, my dear Friend. We travel it as we please."

"Well of course, I should've known. I apologize." Mama squirrel blushed and ducked her head. Lucy crawled up before the Mother Squirrel and gently tipped her chin. Very softly, she spoke.

"What my brother and I would like to know right now, friend, is the reason for your reluctance to go into town. Your son here says something bad is there, is this true?"

Mama Squirrel looked into the face of her young Queen. From the stories she'd heard about them from her friends and neighbours, the youngest two were named Edmund and Lucy. She guessed those were the two with her now. Lucy looked concerned, her face soft and full of fierce curiousness. Like most other creatures, mama Squirrel immediately trusted in the young Lady's passion. But then she remembered it, them, that place.

Tears formed in the mother's eyes at the thought of her memories. She shook her head violently. Queen Lucy quickly removed her hand, but remained where she sat. Her brother slowly made his way beside her.

"Speak, when you're ready." He commanded her in his gentlest voice. "I haven't heard any complaints from this part of the wood, but I felt something different in the area as we were making our way through. If you'll please tell us what you know, friend, Narnia will be in you debt." He looked at her shaking form solemnly. "I personally, will be in your debt."

She continued to shake her head, as tears streamed down her face. "I-I'm s-sorry, N-no, no, the-ey the-ey will wi-"

Queen Lucy placed a finger to her lips. "Hush now," Then she, ever so gently, stroked the mother's fur. Mama Squirrel stiffened momentarily, then leaned into the comforting touch.

King Edmund looked up at his men and called out.

"Mr. Tummus, Irliris, Damin,"

The faun, a Centaur and a fox stepped forward.

"Please escort young Twittertwig and his brothers away from this area. Make sure they have proper care for the evening."

Nodding their acknowledgment, the three bowed and turned towards the now frightened Squirrels.

"Come now," Damin, the Centaur commanded. "Let your Mother speak in peace."

The little ones' eyes bulged out of their tiny heads.

"Mama?" They asked. "Where are they taking us? Mama? Are you coming?"

Not breaking her gaze with mama Squirrel, Queen Lucy firmly said.

"Your Mother will remain with us until we know what is going on. Please, my dear friends, go with them somewhere safe until we move on."

Hearing the Queen's emotions spoken in her tone, the three Squirrels let the soldiers take them away. Edmund looked down at Mama Squirrel again.

"We really would like to know, friend."

After a few minutes, Queen Lucy was able to get Mama Squirrel to calm down. Some food (not the nuts from the secret hiding place, of course) was passed around and camp was set up. They stayed in a small clearing in the woods, where the Squirrels' tree rested near by. There only problem now was, other lurking Narnians.

"Do you smell anyone else, Cimoa?" King Edmund asked the hound.

Cimoa, who was one of the quietest of the hounds (who was still chatty) at the Cair, shook her head.

"No, Sire. The area seems deserted."

Strange. King Edmund thought. From what he knew of his more Rodent Good Beasts was that an area like the one they were in, would've been a good home for them.

"Good," he said. "I don't think whatever will be said tonight is something others should here."

"And your judgment is always right, my King." Fordunus, the remaining Centaur in the party cut in. "May I interrupt, Your Majesty?"

"Yes, Fordunus. Thank you, Cimoa, you may go join company."

With a nod of his head, the hound bounded off, yelping excitedly all the way. King Edmund turned to the Centaur. "Yes, Captain?"

"The Squirrel will not speak for the Queen, Sire. She kindly asks for you to join her."

"Thank you, let us go to her now."

I'm just going to now say that I'm dedicating this chapter and the next (if I write it tomorrow - well today, since it's passed midnight) to the two students from my school who died fighting overseas.

Review, s'il-vous-plait? Por favor?