Disclaimer: All of Narnia belongs to Lewis; Kylain, Darius, Tyrzah, Naomi and Dalren are mine, thanks to Lewis' telling a child to write his own stories to fill in the blanks.

Chapter 2: Escape

For the second time in her life, Kylain faced exile from her home; but this time, there was nothing to hope for—no prophecy to be fulfilled, no promise of deliverance. Birds flocked just off the shore, awaiting their feast that was sure the to be carnage of Cair Paravel. Was this their future? To hide in secret? To live as mere shadows in a Telmarine ruled world and make sure that Narnia did not die out? How far had they fallen? She steeled herself against the hopelessness. She glanced at her niece. Naomi was pregnant and still anywhere from four to six months away from delivering, and Kylain worried about her. They had been through so much stress the past week, not to mention month, that she feared Naomi would go into early labor. And that could put both her and the baby's life in danger. Kylain watched her carefully. The next two and half days passed slowly by as they trudged south along the shore, trailing along Glasswater when the sea spilled into the small stream. As the peaks of the Southern Mountains loomed in the distance, Naomi began to become anxious. It reinforced Kylain's fortitude to be strong for her niece even as her own apprehension about the health and safety of the mother and child increased.

They were maybe another day away from reaching Anvard—Archenland was just over the mountains. They entered the woods with the fanfare of a mournful drizzle, the once fierce storm now spent from its spouts of rage. Under the cover of the trees between the tip of Glasswater and Stormness Gap, the motley group agreed rest before continuing the journey. Despite Kylain's best efforts to calm the expecting mother, Naomi simply could not rest her body or spirit. When she attempted to lie down, she inexplicably had to stand. Yet when she rose to her hooves, weariness would engulf her like an unwanted blanket and she would be forced to lie down. Kylain watched her pace back and forth and she couldn't stifle the sick feeling churning in her stomach. One of Kylain's fears was becoming reality.

"Naomi," Kylain said. "We must make it to the farthest southern edge of the woods before the mountains to put us as far away from the Telmarines as possible." She stroked her niece's hair. "Think you can manage it?"

Silently, like a stoic warrior, her niece strode on. As they reached the southern edge of the wood, Kylain saw Naomi break out in a sweat and knew it was only a matter of hours if that.

"It's getting late," Kylain said. "We'll rest here." She sighed and looked northward. They would probably need a fire, but could they risk one? The woods were rapidly becoming dark and if Cair Paravel was burning, she could not see the glow. It was probably safe to have a small fire.

"Aunt?" Naomi asked with concern in her voice.

Kylain looked at her niece. "It's going to be all right, dear one." She watched her shiver, from the sweat or nerves, Kylain could only guess. She glanced at Dalren as he came up to them. "Naomi, is there any way you think you can make it to Anvard?"

Naomi started shuddering and shook her head as a look of pain mixed with uncertainty and anticipation cross her face.

Kylain took a deep breath. She didn't like the idea of having to stop now with no telling how close the enemy humans were, but her niece's unborn daughter or son was on the way. They had no choice. She looked at Dalren. "Nephew, gather some wood and make a small fire. Make sure to keep it low." As Dalren turned to do his chore, she turned her attention back to her niece who looked at her with tears in her eyes, standing in a puddle, tented pink, that was not there before. Her water had broke. It was only a matter of minutes. "You're doing just fine," she crooned.

"But it's too early," Naomi squeaked.

"Perhaps not." Kylain knew that Naomi was worried. It was technically too early. There was a part of her that was worried. She had aided in countless births, Dalren and Naomi's included. But this would not be like any other. She had never been hounded by an enemy trying to destroy them while she was aiding a mother in birthing. This would be a first.

As minutes went by, Kylain could only speak words of encouragement to her nervous niece and try to calm both of their fears as she searched for a Dryad. Seeing an ancient oak tree, she went to it and leaned her forearm on the trunk, laying her forehead on her arm. "We can't do this alone," she quietly prayed, a little more than a whispering sigh. "We need help." Creaking and groaning sounded from the Tree. Kylain stepped back and she watched the Tree form its upper branches into a roof. Tears blurred her vision. "Thank you."

Naomi couldn't stay still. She'd lie down, get up, rolled with the contractions repeatedly until she finally lay down, within easy reach of a low branch.

"You're doing great, niece," Kylain said. "It won't be much longer. You can do this."

Naomi stifled a grunt. Kylain knew her niece was trying not to attract attention to them.

"You're a valiant Centaur," she encouraged. She saw Dalren circle them, keeping an eye and ear for danger, the other eye and ear to them. "Just take your time. It'll happen when it happens."

"But I'm ready now," Naomi said through gritted teeth.

Kylain couldn't help but chuckle. "That's what your mother said about you."

In a moment of respite, Naomi smiled as she looked at her aunt, then a wave of pain surged through her and she squeezed her eyes shut.

"It's all right," Kylain crooned. "It's all right."

"No, it's not," Naomi hissed through clenched teeth. "Something's wrong. I can feel it."

"Nothing's wrong, dear one."

"Yes, there is. She feels backwards!" Naomi grunted.

As Kylain knelt beside her niece, she said, "She? Tyrzah said it was her grandson." She began to feel her niece's stomach.

"Son, Daughter, I love them no matter what. But they're laying wrong!"

Kylain's face furrowed at what she felt under her hand. A second fear was presenting itself; danger to Naomi and her child. The child was backwards. Oh, Aslan, she pleaded. Please, no. Is all of Narnia going to die in one night? "Dalren," Kylain commanded. She watched her nephew come to them, worry etching his noble features. "Your little one has decided on its own way to get here. Try to help your wife stay calm and keep your ears for anyone coming up." She watched him nod and turn compassionate eyes to Naomi.

My King, Kylain thought. Please let it just be a breach birth. This little one was going to need help coming into this world ... or backing out into it as the case may be. She reached over and placed an encouraging hand on Naomi's shoulder for a couple of breaths, then made ready. She took a deep breath in an effort to calm her already frayed nerves. This was going to be nerve wracking for everyone present. Truly, she was getting too old for this.

Only by the grace of the Lion, the breach birth was only that and the new Centaur seemed to be fine. He lay on the grass with his mother, father and aunt around him. He was beautiful; his coat and mane the color of Tyrzah.

Kylain smiled at the resemblance. "Just like his grandmother," she said.

The husband and wife looked at each other then at Kylain, smiling, accepting the complement with humility.

Kylain placed her hand over the wrist cuff and knew she was never going to be able to give it back ... or at least not in this country. Oh, Tyrzah. It had been three days since they left Cair Paravel. Greet Darius for me. She turned her attention to the newest member of Narnia. Would he ever know Narnia other than the land that all Narnians were forced to flee in order to survive? She watched Dalren move to his wife's side and snuggle up behind her. It had been a strenuous night and after six hours of nervous watching, their son had shown no signs of concern after breaching. Within two hours after birth, he had been up on his feet, looking like a human child sitting on the edge of a broken, long-legged rickety card table, and two hours after that was nursing. After a short playtime – which lasted two hours to Kylain's and Naomi's exhausted dismay – he finally settled up against his mother.

Kylain smiled as she watched the family of three. They would rest the remaining hours and try for Archenland at daybreak. She wished Darius could be next to her. She felt so lonely. But she wasn't. Not really. She had three charges to guard. And she had a new Centaur to teach about Narnia.

As the new family dozed in the dying firelight, Kylain thought of all the things she would teach her grandnephew. Her heart sank slightly. Cair Paravel was no more. All the histories written in books and scrolls in the royal library were gone. She loved history. That would be one of the first things that she would do when they got to Anvard: write the history of Narnia.