Disclaimer: I do not own, please don't sue me, etc. etc.

Summery: see previous chapters

Thank you to DarkSpyroIke for pointing out the Chan/Charn mistake.

Chapter Four

Most find such creatures terrifying, but it is the Lion's eyes that draw me in. I cannot tell how I know, but in that instant, I know that I have found Aslan.

I. Do. Not. Believe. This.

Now I know that someone up there hates me.

What did I do in a previous life to deserve this?

I finally find that wretched being indirectly responsible for my Sorcha's death, and the circumstances make it impossible to kill him at this point in time. Oh, I know that the wretch directly responsible acted of his own accord, and Aslan probably had know knowledge, but the advisor is long out of reach, and my fury is great enough that I will take revenge where I can.

If I could, I would either destroy this lion with a spell of some sort or rip him apart with my bare hands. However, it is just my luck that the aforementioned lion is practically glowing with raw power. So, no killing just yet. My suicidal tendecies passed when my obsession with revenge took over. I am realistic enough to know that despite my own power, I cannot go up against the Lion and hope to win.

There is a time and a place for everything, but it is neither now or here. Frustration wells up deep within me. If my memory serves me correct, it should not be too long until the spell brings animals and green life into this emptiness and begins to carve the landscape.

Perhaps going apart for a while and blasting several large and fairly inoffensive objects into powder will help relieve some stress. Maybe some yelling too.

I utter a terrible scream of rage and run out of sight.

So much for dignity.

Oh, how my Sorcha would be laughing at this.

She always laughed when I resorted to anger and breaking things in order to let off steam.

Flashback -

A priceless vase shatters against the wall.

I look around for something else to throw, still turning the air blue with curses and swear words.
My sister has just done something absolutely unforgivable and I will not tolerate it.

How dare she!

That presumptuous brat has decided that she now has adequate time to deal with raising a child and therefore I have no reason for Sorcha to remain in my care.

She says it as though she is doing me a favour by taking away an unwanted burden. What had she expected when she saddled me with that fool of a husband so many years ago? If Sorcha had been an unwanted burden, she would have had a 'fatal accident' long before now!
I stop swearing and start plotting how to kill my sister without being too suspicious.

Sorcha is standing well away from the line of fire, reading the Queen's message and looking highly amused. She hears my ideas for inconspicuous assassination and bursts out laughing.
I send a mild glare in her direction. I can never stay angry with my Sorcha.

"Would you care to tell me what you find so very amusing?" my tone is somewhat snappish.
Sorcha makes an effort to control herself. It is several minutes before she can speak without giggling.
"She has left it a bit late, has she not?" My Sorcha is wearing her most devious smirk. "Listen to this: 'It is therefore Our command that the Countess Sorcha be delivered back into Our custody by the last day of the Festival of the Moon, in order that We may take up our duties in regards to her well-being and future.' Yada, yada, yada. I believe that Her Imperial Majesty has forgotten that I come of age on the first day of the Festival. If I remember aright, my coming of age means that I am no longer under anyone's guardianship so the Queen will have no legal claim upon me."

She smiles up at me, hope and love shining in her green eyes. "If the Imperial Princess Jadis should choose to offer me housing until such a time as I am given the opportunity to find my own residence then, well, it is none of her business, is it?"

It is my turn to laugh. "Oh, my child, never change. I must admit, life around you is never boring."

She raises a delicate eyebrow. "The Queen is up to her tricks, I have suitors flocking around me like bees to a flower, Brand and I have started walking out together and the courting season starts in a few weeks. Boring has long since fled the city. Wherever did your mind go?"

I smile at her, choosing to ignore the comment about walking out withsomeone."Doubtless to the same place wheresoever 'Boring' chose to visit. Do you wish to tell the Queen, or will I?"

- End Flashback -

I return in time to see Aslan giving the Children directions to a garden in which there is a tree in which there is a fruit that will give protection to the land of Narnia.

A priceless vase shatters against the wall.I look around for something else to throw, still turning the air blue with curses and swear words.My sister has just done something absolutely unforgivable and I will not tolerate it.How dare she!That presumptuous brat has decided that she now has adequate time to deal with raising a child and therefore I have no reason for Sorcha to remain in my care.She says it as though she is doing me a favour by taking away an unwanted burden.I stop swearing and start plotting how to kill my sister without being too suspicious.

Narnia? Who came up with that ridiculous name? I have heard my fair share of foolish names, but this really takes the biscuit. And Protection? The last time I heard someone mention 'giving protection to our land', it was my sister discussing how to decrease the surplus population.

Flashback -

We are holding Court and one of the dignitaries is starting his speech on the expanding population. Gods Above, how do they manage to go on for such a long time. If this continues I shall scream in the very near future. The only reason I am here is to give my official blessing and to announce Brand and Sorcha's betrothal.

For once, Sorcha seems as bored as I am and is beginning to show it.
"………Protection is necessary if we wish to prevent future complications."
I can hear the soon-to-be couple whispering together. Outrageous sexual innudos seem to be the order of the day.

"Protection is always necessary to prevent complications. I can't believe he only discovered that now!"
"I wonder if anyone bothered to tell him about the Birds and the Bees. I mean, if he only found out now…"
"He is the Queen's current favourite, perhaps we should ask her."

I nearly fall off my chair. What the……? Oh, honestly. I nearly choke on my laughter at the idea.

- End Flashback -

Sorcha never failed to make a person laugh but, again, this is not the time. I am not going to laugh, I am not going to laugh… Oh what the hell, everyone is too busy cheering to hear me if I keep the volume down.

I follow the children and their flying horse. Years of caring for an energetic girl and making sure she is never alone for any significant length of time once she has matured have a tendency to build up one's strength, endurance, speed and ability to remain un-noticed. They must stop for the night. My magics can sustain me much longer than a single day, and I have my own ways for speed.

I reach the Garden before they do. The Golden Gates refuse to let me in so I resort to climbing the wall.
There is a poem on the gates advising otherwise but if the gate refuses to let me pass then I don't have a whole lot of choice, do I. The poetry itself is pathetic, too. Listen to this.

Come in by the golden gates or not at all.
Take of my fruit for others or forbear.
For those who steal or those who climb my wall,
Will find their heart's desire and find despair.

Like I said, the gates are being stubborn. What others, all whom I care for are long dead! Why are the fruits there if not to be eaten? What do you mean 'steal'? I don't see any other signs of life around here. As for the last part, my heart's desire is to see Aslan suffer as I did. Despair? I fell into despair when my Sorcha was killed and I very much doubt that it could get any worse.

I eat one of the fruits, finishing just before that dreadful boy comes in and takes another of the fruits for Aslan.

I try to talk him out of it. It never hurts to take precautions, after all. I do not fully know what that blasted lion is capable of, but if he never gets that supposed 'protection' in the first place, it just makes my goals that much easier.

The boy refuses. I suppose mentioning his dying mother may not have been the smartest thing to do.

I follow them back to where Aslan is waiting. He tells the boy to throw the apple neat the river. The new magic still alive in Narnia causes it to grow into a tree in a matter of minutes.

Aslan tells the assembled creatures that I "will not dare to come within one hundred leagues of that tree."

I am within hearing range. Somehow I believe that that qualifies as within a hundred-league radius.

Never mind. Let fools make fools of themselves then sit back and enjoy the show.

I will let them enjoy their delusions until I deem the time correct.

It will not do for Aslan to find me here, now, and think of some other way to keep me out. I will depart a way and work out some likely ideas to orchestrate Aslan's downfall.

Farewell, Narnia and Aslan. You should have happy lives.

Until next we meet.

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A/N – Another Chapter up. Dances around happily
Thank you to everyone that reviewed.