Tranquility

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Chronicles of Narnia related, but I do own Natalie and Orecar

Finchley, England, 1948...

It had been three years since the second world war ended, eight since their first trip to Narnia, two since their last. Eighteen year old Edmund tossed and turned in bed, groaning in his sleep as a nightmare wracked his mind. "No... I won't... I won't give in..." he muttered. This was not the first time he had dreams like this, dreams of the horrors of battle, deaths of people he grew to care about under his command, the evil he fought, but most nightmares were usually about one thing... his betrayal of his family. The white witch made him feel useless and weak, and the dream version of her was no better. Edmund found himself unable to move or speak, even as his dream self betrayed his family over and over for the most foolish reasons.

Oh he was aware that he had just been an angry child, but that didn't mean he didn't know right from wrong. And so, even though he did not outwardly show it, the guilt that built within him tore him up and manifested itself in nightmares.

Peace, my champion...

Edmund stilled, feeling a calming, warm sensation overtake him. It flowed into him in waves, wrapping him in a cocoon of bliss, the nightmare banished.

It is time, my son, wake up...

Wake up!

"What?" Edmund gasped, shooting up and clutching his head as dizziness flooded his senses. "Oh..." he groaned. He blinked the stars away and looked around. He was safe, he was in his room, and it was still dark out. "It is time?" he questioned aloud, unsure of what that meant. And then, a light-bulb lit in his head. "It's TIME!" He threw his covers off of him and tried to make as little noise as he could as he made his way to his sister's room. It was still late at night, his parents were snoring away as he crept down the hall, passed their door and to Lucy's room. He carefully opened her door and slipped inside. "Lucy!" Edmund whispered, gently shaking his sister's arm.

"Mmh?" Lucy frowned in her sleep and tried to roll over to get more comfortable.

'And she says I sleep like a rock!' Edmund rolled his eyes and took both her shoulders, shaking her just a little rougher. "Lucy!" he hissed.

"Huh?" Lucy's eyes blinked open and she looked up at her brother in confusion. "What are you doing?" she asked him with a frown.

"Lucy, it's time!" He grinned at her.

"Time?" She yawned. "Time for what? Time to sleep? I agree... go back to bed, Ed," Lucy sighed.

"No! Time! You know..." Edmund trailed off and gave her a pointed look.

"Time..." The dots connected. A gasp. "Oh! TIME!" she finally understood.

"Shh!" Edmund covered her mouth with his hand. "Want to wake up mum and dad?" he raised an eyebrow. She was still just as excitable as she was when she was eight.

"Sorry..." was her mumbled apology.

"Come on then, get dressed," he told her and slipped out of her room.

Lucy, much like Edmund had done, threw her covers off and bounced out of bed, cringing slightly when the wood boards under her feet creaked a little. She could just imagine her brother rolling his eyes at her "clumsiness" and began to get dressed. She was just about to leave her room when she heard on a odd noise behind her. She spun around and stared in surprise as an acorn rolled across the room and under her bed. "What on Earth?" she thought out loud and decided to follow it. Getting down on her knees, she peered under her bed, but it was too dark to see... she did however feel a cool breeze coming from under the bed. She smiled in excitement and began to crawl. It was a bit of an effort, since her bed wasn't exactly the tallest. The longer it took her to crawl under the bed, the more excited she became. Her bed was definitely not this long!

Dust flew into her face and she shook her head, coughing a bit. Wait- it wasn't dust, it was dirt! Suddenly a bright light shone before her. She crawled faster and soon found herself emerging out into a wooded area. She was not near any ruins that she could see in the darkness and there was definitely no light post, so she was unsure where in Narnia she was, but it was Narnia nonetheless! She turned, hoping to see the hole to go get her brother and was relieved when it was still there. She crawled back and found herself back in her room moments later. She stood and brushed the dirt from her skirt and glanced down at her bed. She wondered idly how difficult it would be for Edmund, he had grown quite a bit, it might not be so easy to crawl through that tunnel as it was for her.

Making her way silently down the hall, she knocked as softly as she could on his door. Hearing a grunt from the other side, she opened just on time to find him lacing his boots. "Edmund," she began. "I found the doorway to Narnia!" she whispered excitedly.

"Where?" he grinned.

"Under my bed!" she beamed.

Edmund raised an eyebrow and smirked in amusement. "It's no wonder, your room is so messy most days you can hide entire worlds!" he teased.

"It is not!" she laughed.

"Shshsh!" Edmund hushed her, though he could not hide his own laughter any better, escaping him even as he tried to keep them silent. A sound from their parents' room alerted them, cutting off their amusement. They stayed silent for a moment, listening to see if they had been caught, but besides a sharp break in their father's snore, their parents were still asleep. They breathed a sigh of relief and grinned at each other. "Come on, let's go," Edmund led her out and they silently closed her room door. Lucy smiled and gestured him to follow as he hesitated by the door. Edmund eyed the darkness of under her bed warily but shrugged, feeling no reason not to trust his little sister, and crawled in after her.

In no time at all, Edmund emerged from under the bed and through a hole in the ground. "Lucy?" he called, not seeing her near the hole.

"Over here!" Lucy called from a bit within the trees. Edmund made his way through and found her standing in a clearing, looking at something on the ground.

"What is it?" Edmund asked, walking closer. His eyes widened when he saw what she was looking at.

"It's a girl!" Lucy stated the obvious, keeling down next to her and trying to feel for a pulse. "She's alive," she smiled up at her brother.

"Is she Telmarine? Calormen? Can you see any markings on her clothes?" Edmund asked, glancing around and listening for anyone that might be nearby.

"It's too dark," Lucy replied, shaking her head. She moved closer for a better look and was about to try to turn her over when a loud snap was heard within the forest. She jumped, startled and stood, looking around. "What was that?" she asked, worry in her voice. Lucy's eyes widened at the rather loud rustle behind them and crept closer to her brother.

"Stay behind me," Edmund told her, pushing her further back behind him and glaring into the wood. Another twig snapped and Edmund wished he had his brother sword with him. How was he supposed to defend his sister if he himself was defenseless? His hand-to-hand combat skills weren't all that impressive if he were fighting something much bigger than he!

"More strangers?" A voice said.

"Show yourself!" Edmund demanded. Another sharp noise from in front of them alerted them that whoever this person was, he was very large.

"Calm yourself, young one," the voice said. Edmund and Lucy relaxed slightly when a centaur emerged from the woods. "Who might you two be?" he asked.

"I am Kind Edmund, this is my sister Queen Lucy," Edmund told him. The centaur studied them a moment before recognition filtered through his eyes and his back straightened.

"King and Queen of old! Forgive me, your majesties, I did not recognize you! It is truly an honor," the centaur bowed. "I am Orecar, a scout for King Caspian's army. He has been awaiting your arrival," Orecar told them.

Edmund frowned in confusion. Caspian? Alive still? It had been two years for them! Didn't that mean it had been much longer for Narnia? "How could he know of our return?" Edmund asked instead.

"King Caspian told us to expect you. We were not expecting you to take so long, however," Orecar told them. He eyed the girl laying behind them. "Is she not the other Queen?" he asked, gesturing to the girl.

"Oh!" Edmund spun around. "I completely forgot about her!" Edmund said, blushing in embarrassment. He walked over to her and bent down. He gently nudged her a bit, to see if she woke up, but to no avail. "Hmm," he frowned, wondering what was wrong with her. "No, she's not our sister... we don't really know who she is," he told him, standing back up. When the girl made no move to wake, he lifted her off the ground carefully.

"What happened to her, do you know?" Lucy asked, looking over to the unconscious girl worriedly.

"Forgive me, my Lady, but I discovered her in the woods just recently, a few minutes before you arrived. She was simply standing and looking about. I believe my sudden presence scared her and she collapsed," Orecar answered.

"Oh, wow, I see! So no one was with her?" Lucy questioned.

"No, my Lady, she was alone," he told her. "I waiting to see if she had anyone with her, but no one else but highnesses came by," he added. "Please, we must go to King Caspian's castle at once, these parts are not as safe as I'm sure you're used to. Will you be taking her?"

"Yes, we won't leave a poor girl all alone in apparently dangerous woods, right Edmund?" Lucy raised a challenging eyebrow.

"Of course," Edmund responded, rolling his eyes. Did his sister really think so low of him as to leave a solitary girl out of in the open where dangerous wild beasts and rebels lurked? What kind of a man would do that?

"Very well. Come, you may ride on my back," the centaur told them, settling down on his knees so it would be easier for them.

"Won't we be too heavy?" Lucy asked, watching her brother walk over with the stranger in his arms.

"Not at all, my Lady, have faith in my strength," Orecar smiled. Orecar helped them climb on his back and in no time, they were off. The ride was bit bumpy through the uneven terrain, dodging bushes, trees, fallen logs, vines, and holes, but even though it seemed like the whole night, they made it to the impressive castle in only a few hours. The woman in Edmund's arms did not stir.

"Are you sure she isn't dead?" Edmund asked his sister quietly. He glanced down at the woman but he could not see her through the darkness still. He looked up to try and find the moon, but could not. 'New moon...' he thought with an inaudible sigh. He hated not knowing things. Who was this girl? Was she from Archenland? Was she part of Caspian's village? He was sure she wasn't Narnian, since most of them were mythic beings and talking animals.

"I'm sure," Lucy answered.

After a few moments more, Orecar slowed to a stop, just before the village gate before the mighty castle. "This is where I leave you, your majesties," Orecar said, stopping near the entrance.

"Thank you very much, Orecar," Lucy grinned up at their new centaur friend as they got off his back.

"It was my pleasure to assist you, my Lady, my Lord," Orecar bowed to them, then galloped away. "We will meet again! I'm sure of it!" he called to them as he rode off. Edmund and Lucy watched him got for a moment before turning to the castle and walking over to the guards.

"Halt! Who goes- King Edmund! Queen Lucy!" The guard that spoke gawked at them before he was elbowed by his companion. The two of them bowed to the sovereigns.

"Forgive him, your majesties, we have heard much about you from our Lord and were told to let you in as soon as you made it here," the other guard told them. "Open the gate!" he called to another guard posted atop the tower with the lever to the gate. The gate screeched and groaned as it rolled up, revealing the long bridge that led to mighty doors to the castle. "Please, come with me," he bowed and gestured they follow him. Edmund felt strange walking down the path to the castle so freely like this. The last time he was here, he was helping break in to kill the previous Lord of the castle! "Alert the King, his esteemed guests are here!" the guard leading them told one of the servants as soon as they entered the castle. The servant rushed out. "Forgive me, your majesties, but I must return to my post, am I free to go?" he asked them.

"Of course, and thank you," Edmund smiled at the older man, who bowed once more to them before jogging back out. It was only a moments wait before they heard loud footsteps coming from down the hall. They turned to the opening door to see a half-asleep but very happy looking Caspian grinning at them.

"Lucy! Edmund!" he cried joyously, then rushed to them.

"Caspian!" Lucy squealed and ran over to him. Caspian caught her with a laugh, spinning her around.

"Let me look at you, how long has it been?" Caspian asked as his eyes widened when he got a better look at her.

"It's been a while," Lucy laughed. Caspian set her down and smiled playfully at her.

"I dare say, you have grown to be just as pleasing to the eye as your fair sister," Caspian grinned. Lucy swept a strand of hair behind her ear and blushed, looking away in embarrassment.

"Th-Thanks..." Lucy said softly.

Edmund rolled his eyes. "I see you haven't changed any!"

Caspian turned to the voice and grinned once more. "But you certainly have! Look at you! You've grown so much too! You're nearly my height now," Caspian laughed.

"This is probably it for me though," Edmund smiled. "I doubt I'll grow any more," he added with a shrug.

"Maybe so, but yet, maybe not, how old are you again?"

"Eighteen?"

"Truly? You were much younger the last time we met, how is this possible?" Caspian asked with wide eyes.

"It has been two years for us, I'm not sure when Aslan decided to do this, but I suppose he does work in mysterious ways," Edmund shrugged.

"Strange, that sounds familiar," Lucy frowned thoughtfully.

"At any rate, though you are no longer a boy, you are still young enough, perhaps you will grow still," Caspian clapped his friend on the shoulder.

"Doesn't matter to me really, I'm tall enough," Edmund shrugged. At six feet tall, Edmund was sure he needn't grow no longer, he was already taller than most men his age.

"And who is this in your arms? She's a pretty thing," Caspian smirked teasingly at his young friend. "She doesn't look like anyone I've ever seen in Narnia," he commented.

Edmund shook his head, wondering if Caspian thought every girl he saw was pretty. He looked down and blinked in surprise. She was pretty! And by the looks of her clothes, Caspian was right again, she was definitely not from Narnia. One thing he noticed was the watch on her wrist and the cross necklace, so he knew she was from his and Lucy's world, but the clothes were just strange... a woman wearing pants? Bizarre! "...We don't know who she is, we found her when we arrived. I... think she comes from our world too,"

"Really?!" Lucy asked excitedly.

"I think so?" Edmund answered. "This watch looks a bit strange, as do her clothes, and this necklace isn't something I've ever seen in Narnia, so yes, I believe so," he nodded.

"I guess we'll know when she wakes up then," Caspian nodded.

"Why do you suppose we're here this time?" Lucy asked.

Caspian scratched the very short trimmed beard on his chin thoughtfully. "I'm not sure..."

"Well whatever the case, it's certainly good to be here!" Edmund smiled.

"Perhaps it would be better if-" Caspian cut himself off with a yawn, "-we caught up and discovered who our friend here is, in the morning," he sighed tiredly.

"We're sorry we woke you up so late," Edmund apologized.

"No no! It's alright! I'd rather have been woken up to greet you, than discovered you arrived sometime in the night," Caspian waved off the apology. "Come, let's take our friend here to the infirmary," Caspian led them out and brought them to the ward. "I believe my medical staff is asleep at the moment, but I will leave a note telling them who she is and to keep an eye on her when they come in in the morning," he went over to one of the desks against the wall and took a piece of parchment and the quill and ink. After scribbling a note, he turned to see Edmund gently place the girl on one of the cots in the room.

"If either of you don't mind, I'd like to spend the night here on the extra bed there, so when she wakes up she won't be so frightened," Lucy said.

"As you wish," Caspian nodded. "Come, Edmund, I'll show you to the guest wing," he lead his friend out. Lucy sat on her cot and looked over at the stranger.

"Who are you?" she asked quietly to herself as she studied the woman. She looked older than she was, closer to Edmund's or Susan's age. Lucy shook her head, deciding trying to figure out who she was like that without actually speaking to her was silly. 'If she's from our world... and she just got here when we did... this can't be coincidence, can it?' she thought. She sighed and gave up. She leaned back in her bed, kicking her shoes off, and felt herself fall asleep, even as she tried to remain awake. Tomorrow, if the stranger woke up, they would find out what was going on.

TBC...

End A/N: This is about the length of an average chapter that I'll be doing, though don't expect every chapter to be this length, it all depends on what material I have to work with. Please give me some input, okay?