Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing associated with The Chronicles of Narnia (which really bums me out). Only original characters are mine.

AN: Yup, back from vacation! Here's an update for everyone, as promised. Thanks so much for reading, and please don't forget to review!

Chapter 6: When Fiction Becomes Reality:

As I entered my suite, I saw that Fang had already taken up residence in front of the fireplace, which had a great roaring fire in it. When he saw me enter, he raised his head and gave me a wolf 'smile' and motioned towards a spot on the large carpet beside him.

"I'm glad you're back," he said as I knelt beside him on the soft carpeting. "I've got a ferocious itch in the middle of my back, and my fur is all matted and tangled from our time in the forest. The servants here are content to feed and bathe me, but wouldn't brush out my fur! They left a brush there for you to use, and left me here with both an itch and fur that looks like it came from a sheep!"

Laughing, I fetched the brush from a table nearby and began brushing out his fur. "You've become quite spoiled in your short time here," I teased him as I worked. "Warm fires, fresh food you didn't have to hunt for, and now you have me brushing your fur like a maid does her lady's hair!"

His laughter joined mine. "Aye, you're right," Fang admitted. "But it is nice having a place I can call home, and someone caring for me as a friend and companion. I have you to help me as a pack mate would, and I will help you in every way possible in return. We will make a good pack."

"Absolutely," I agreed. "Just don't let Roan hear you call us a pack. I think we're more of a type of family, though a rather strange one!"

As Fang chuckled in amusement, I grew serious as I realized something. "Fang, while the Professor and I work throughout the day, I'm going to have to find a way to let the others in the castle know that you belong here, because you're with me. I hope you won't mind a length of string around your neck, or some other kind of marking so that no one wrongly throws you out while I'm not looking."

Fang seemed to consider it closely as I finished the last of his fur and began scratching him on the back. "Hmm, a length of woven material will probably suit, as long as you remove it each night. I do not wish to sleep with such a device on my neck."

"Agreed," I said, giving him one last scratch. "I'll find a loose bit of cloth or string to put on you –at least until the servants are familiar with you." I looked out the window at the darkness. "Now, however, it's time for sleep."

The clothes from the Lily the Faun's shop had arrived, and sat in stacks on the chest that stood at the food of my bed. As I was too tired to put them away now, I decided to leave them where they were and just go straight to bed.

To my complete surprise, a pale white nightgown lay at the foot of my bed, ready for me to wear. There was a note on it with my name, and when I unfolded the parchment, I smiled. It was from Lily, and it said that since I had ordered so many things from her, she had included two nightgowns for no extra charge. I had no doubt it was with the intention of having me as a repeat customer, but it was a good ploy, nonetheless, and I respected her for it.

I told Fang to not peek while I changed, and after I had put aside my clothes from today, I slipped into the bed and sighed.

'Oh, gosh, I will never take a bed for granted again!' I thought as I began to instantly sink into the mattress.

With my wolf friend dozing before the fireplace, I was soon asleep, feeling perfectly content for the first time in ages.

"I did not tell you this before, Ali, but I am glad to have met a human who accepts Talking Beasts without hesitation," Fang told me over breakfast the following day. "Many Telmarines are still a bit fearful of us, but you seem to have no difficulty with animals speaking as humans do."

I shrugged and poured myself another cup of tea to have with my sausages, bacon, fresh fruit, and toast. "I've always thought that talking animals would be interesting to meet and associate with," I told him, pouring cream and sugar into the cup. "I'm happy to have met you and Roan, and count myself lucky to have you both as friends and allies."

Looking at my friend, I asked, "Is your breakfast to your liking? I have some extra bread, if you want a bit."

He accepted my offer, and we proceeded through out meals, though I had to wince as I saw him tear through a raw leg of lamb right in front of me. Luckily, the palace servants had spread out a large, thick square of canvas for Fang to eat on, so that he wouldn't spoil the carpet with the bits of food he might drop during his meals. I certainly wouldn't want to be the one scrubbing the carpet or floor after Fang was done eating!

Taking a sip of tea, I sighed with bliss. It was vanilla, and mixed with the cream and sugar, was sweet and soothing –a good beginning to the day, and a taste that went well with my breakfast.

Fang finished tearing the meat off of the lamb leg long before I finished my meal, and was beginning to gnaw on the bone as I swallowed one last piece of sausage. Before heading down to the library, I graciously offered him my leftover bacon and sausage, which he accepted.

"When you're finished, feel free to come join me downstairs," I said, brushing off my breeches to get rid any crumbs or food that may have fallen on me.

My outfit this morning was a long tunic of deep green, with a long-sleeved brown shirt beneath it, and brown breeches paired with a set of brown leather boots. The clothes had all come from Lily, but the boots had been from that kind Faun, Jesson, I'd met outside the city. I had a feeling that there would be more shoes to follow, because I could not wear boots like these beneath a dress!

'Well, I suppose I could, but that would just look odd. No doubt the Professor will have me going to the local cobbler for several suitable pairs of shoes to go with my new wardrobe!'

Well, that would be another time, and right now I had more important things to worry about, like being late to work on my very first day!

I left Fang lounging before the fire, and carefully made my way down the short flight of stairs to the floor which held the library and the Professor's rooms. His door was still closed, so I guessed that he was busy sleeping. Not wanting to be bored, I decided to take a closer look at my new work area.

The library door was always open, in case someone (most likely the King) decided they wanted to take a look at the texts within. By my guess, though, not many people here cared to read, or were likely able to in the first place. Illiteracy was something that might or might not be common here in Narnia, but even those who were literate might not want to read the contents that made up the Professor's library, which, if my memory of Lewis's work was correct, was made up of Narnia's Golden Age. I couldn't imagine that many Telmarines wanted to read books about the time of High King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just, or Queen Lucy the Valiant.

I, however, couldn't wait to get my hands on a text about the old Kings and Queens. Lucy had always been a favorite of mine, and I very much wanted to see if history matched up with Lewis's work.

Quietly slipping into the library, I was relieved that the sun was high enough to shine through one of the windows, illuminating the room enough so that I didn't need candles. The fire had been lit recently, because there was a small flame flickering amongst newly laid, large logs in the fireplace. The air glittered with dust particles, so I dared to go and open a nearby window just a crack, to let in some fresh air and clear out the floating dust.

Looking around, I tried to make sense of what the Professor was attempting to do with the library, but decided that it might be best to let him explain whatever "system" he was trying to put into place. Instead, I skimmed through a few of the books already lying on a large, picnic-type table in the middle of the room, and began flipping through a large tome that was titled "Narnia's Golden Age and Its Rulers."

Flipping through the book, I realized that this was going to be full of fantastically done illustrations, much like the books that monks used to create back in the 16th Century back home. Each picture had been done by hand, and must have taken months to do. Considering how much effort had gone into this single text, and how old this must be, I felt like I was touching a priceless book from the Vatican, or the Library of Congress.

At the first image that I encountered, I couldn't help but gasp. It was of High King Peter, both in his youth as a boy, and as an adult! The ones that followed were of his siblings, and I had to marvel at the portraits. They weren't lifelike, of course, since photography was far from being invented, but the images were beautifully done, and all of them showed realistic expressions on their faces. I could even see a few flaws, namely a mark on Edmund's cheek, possibly from a battle he'd fought in –or it could have been a streak of dirt that the artist refused to 'leave out' of the text.

The portraits of them all as children didn't really looked like the actors in the movie, but they didn't resemble the ones in the BBC version, either. Actually, they were a cross between both depictions, as well as a touch from Lewis's books, and all were very attractive and rather tall as adults, but each had something that made them stand out from the others.

Peter was obviously the serious older brother, which I could see from the solemn look in his blue eyes. Susan had a softness to her eyes and face that matched her description as being 'the Gentle,' and Edmund had a teasing glint in his caramel-brown eyes that belied the serious look on his face.

Lucy, however, had a bit of all of her siblings in her expression. Her face was stubborn, like Peter's, but full of kindness and compassion, like Susan's. There was also a bit of quirky humor in her eyes and mouth, as well as a noble tilt to her chin that said she would fight to the end for what was right.

"Ah, I see you found one of my most prized possessions!"

I squeaked and nearly fell over in surprise, causing Professor Cornelius to chuckle. "Forgive me, my dear," he apologized, "I did not mean to frighten you. However, I am not surprised to find you pouring over one of my favorite books on the old Kings and Queens."

I flushed and stepped away from the table. "I've just always been fascinated by the legends of that age in Narnia," I explained, watching him approach and lean over the book to close it.

He chuckled again and set the book aside. "Yes, they are quite interesting to read about. You may look at this, as well as any other books or scrolls you like when you are not working, however. Right now, you may help me stack, sort, and shelve these in the correct order."

I nodded. "Did you want them done by author, year created, the years they're topics are about, or alphabetically by title and then author?" I asked, eager to begin. "Or did you have another system in mind?"

Professor Cornelius looked surprised at my eagerness, as well as my knowledge of cataloguing texts. "Well, Ali, I think we shall have to discuss that," he said, smiling. "I had something in mind, and I believe you will either approve of it, or help me form a new means of organizing my beloved library."

In the end, we managed to forge together a system that promised a beautifully organized library, and began working on it immediately.

At first, I thought that we would have to start from scratch, but luckily, the Professor said that wasn't necessary. Some things would have to come down, of course, but mostly it was reshuffling things, moving things from one side of a shelf to another, and putting books or scrolls in different locations than they had been in before.

In no time, I was dusty, sweaty, and having the time of my life. If I hadn't been much of a bookworm in the first place, this would have been a nightmare; but as it was, being up to my neck in books was heaven for me.

By the time lunch rolled around, we were both more than ready for a meal. The servants brought a delicious meal of beef stew, bread and melted butter, and cool water flavored with mint. Fang, who had quickly been accepted by the castle servants as a friend of mine, joined us for his own bowl of stew, and promptly curled up on the floor before the fire, eager for a nap. Taking a cue from my wolf friend, Professor Cornelius declared that he, too, would have a brief rest, and told me that I was free to do whatever I wished for the next hour or two.

"You may read anything in the library, or go rest in your rooms," he said, yawning as he headed to his rooms. "When I return, we shall get back to work."

Left alone in the library with a drowsing wolf, I was at a loss as to what to do next. I wanted to go back to that large book about the Pevensie children, but decided that I would rather try and make a dent in the piles of scrolls that needed to be put away. Rolled up sheets of paper were much lighter, so I thought I would save the heavy stuff for later.

I didn't get very far before I heard some kind of scampering noise from the open doorway. It closely resembled the sound a mouse made through a wall, and I immediately feared for the well-being of the books. Then I remembered where I was, and that I shouldn't judge a mouse before I met it.

Fang, however, was another story. The minute he heard the pitter-patter of tiny clawed feet, he woke from his nap and leaped to his feet, growling. From where I stood behind the large central table, I could only see the top of Fang's head, and nothing else. I opened my mouth to ask what he had scented, but didn't get the chance.

Before I could utter a single sound, the scampering sound halted just inside the doorway. Fang's ears instantly went flat as he began to growl, and I could swear I heard what sounded like a small knife or sword being drawn.

"If death is your wish, then you have chosen the right opponent," declared a noble voice from below the edge of the table. "You will meet your end at the point of my blade."

"Uh, oh," I muttered before rushing around the table. I had a guess as to who the newcomer was, and if I was right, it would be a very bad idea to let Fang pick a fight with him.

Of course, I was right. On the floor was a Mouse, with a radiant red feather in his left ear decoration, and a rapier in his right front paw. So far as I knew, there was only one Mouse in all of Narnia who would face a wolf like this one was: Reepicheep.

Even though I wanted to introduce myself and tell him it was an honor to meet him, I first had to prevent him and Fang from killing each other. So, rushing around the table, I called out, "Alright, that's quite enough! Everyone just step back and take a nice, calming breath before this gets bloody!"

The two looked at me in surprise and just a little resentment, but both reluctantly backed away from each other. Smiling, I went over and gave Fang a comforting pet on the head while kneeling before Reepicheep, who had yet to put away his sword.

"I am most honored to meet you, noble Mouse," I greeted the Mouse. "Your skill in battle is legendary, sir. And I am pleased to have you in this library."

The embodiment of courtesy, Reepicheep quickly sheathed his rapier and bowed. "My lady," he greeted me, his voice suddenly turning warm and welcoming. "I had heard the King's former tutor had employed an assistant, and came to inspect the person myself. Would you be the fortunate one I'm looking for?"

"I am, good sir," I replied, inclining my head in a small bow as I rose to my full height. "I hope I meet with your expectations?"

Reepicheep chuckled. "I'm afraid I had none to speak of," he said, twitching his long tail. "But I am pleased that you are of good manners, and apparently are unafraid of hard work."

I smiled. "Alas, I'm afraid that it is my love of books that encourages my hard work," I admitted. "I'm addicted to the written word, and being here amongst so many books, scrolls, and papers is rather like working in a dream."

"An honest answer from an honest lady," he replied, saluting me with a forepaw. "It has been an honor to meet you, my lady."

"Oh, please, you may call me Ali," I said, "or Miss Ali, if you are more inclined to be formal. I'm afraid I am no lady."

He actually looked horrified at the idea of calling me by my first name, so I decided to try and spare his chivalrous nature. "And I would like it if you called me Ali," I hurriedly said, with a smile. "It is what my friends call me, and I would like us to be friends."

That certainly seemed to do it, because Reep calmed down almost instantly. "I would like that as well. If it is your wish, then, I will call you Ali."

"And for that, I thank you," I replied, trying not to laugh. "Is there something you would like from the shelves? A book or a scroll?"

"No, no," he said, waving aside my questions. "I merely wanted to meet the newest addition to the palace. I hope you will not mind my visiting here often, when I am able to keep you company."

The idea of hanging out with the Reepicheep was exhilarating. I'd always loved this Mouse, and was more than excited at being able to call him a friend. So I told him so. "I would be more than happy to receive you here, if you wish, or join you for tea elsewhere."

Reepicheep smiled broadly and bowed. "And I would be more than happy to do so. Perhaps in a few days time, we will meet again. Good day, Miss Ali."

Then he was gone, leaving me laughing as I stood there in the library. Beside me, Fang whuffed at me through his nose. "You should have let me fight him. It would have been an excellent one."

I chuckled and bent to scratch him along the ears. "I'm sure it would have been, but I don't think the Professor would appreciate you two destroying his library in the process."

Fang gave a noise that was either a growl or a groan. "I suppose you are right," he muttered. "Still, to go against the Mouse Chief would be a great challenge."

Still muttering under his breath, he flopped in front of the fire to finish his nap, and I went back to shuffling through the mess the Professor and I had created. Fang might be grumpy from Reepicheep's visit, but I was more than thrilled.

'Perhaps now things will start getting interesting,' I pondered, shelving a scroll with a smile.

AN: Sorry, no Caspian yet, but we're getting closer to his appearance, I swear! Thanks for reading, and please review?