I'll make this quick. First of all, hello there. Sorry about the extremely long wait; life got a bit crazy for a while due to diplomas (sort of like SATs or A-levels) and I was studying like a mad man. But I am back now, and this story is turning out to be nothing like I planned, which is excellent. :) I wrote an extra special long chapter for you guys a little apology gift for taking so long. BTW happy belated Valentine's day :)

Without further or do...

Syrena's hand glided across the top of the long grass, the tips tickling her palm. The sun blazed down on her from its place high in the sky; she felt the warmth seep into the deepest layer of skin. Her white dress floated behind her, light and airy. She was wearing no shoes.

Syrena knew she should not be here. There was fear in her heart for what was coming. She wanted to shut her eyes, but she could not; it was like they were being held open by glue. Her body continued to move forward. In front of her, she saw a shape begin to form, the silhouette slowly becoming clearer and clearer. And for the first time in her life, she saw her mother.

For years, various nobility and townsfolk had told her she looked just like her mother, but Syrena never believed them. Now she saw, they were right. She too had dark hair, and the same pale skin. Even their figures were similar. The most obvious similarity, however, were their eyes. They were the same luminescent silver.

"My daughter," Amaris spoke softly.

Syrena did not know how to respond. But she didn't have to; the dream spoke for her. "Why am I here?"

Amaris did not smile, or frown. Her face remained unchanged. "There is something you must know before you continue down the path you are heading."

"The night I died is the key to everything. I cannot tell you why, or how; that is for you to discover for yourself. Only then will you truly believe it," she said, smiling at the last bit. "I am to blame for your stubbornness. We stars are not known for our ability to forgive or forget; a quality I seem to have passed on to you."

"I wish I had known you, growing up. I wish I had just had that chance, even for a few more years. I wish I could have remembered your face."

Amaris reached her hand out. She brushed it gently across Syrena's cheek, light as a feather. "You are more than I could ever have asked for; I do not deserve a daughter like you." Her hand dropped, and her tone became serious again. "You must go now, for you cannot stay in my world for long. The witch Irena knows the truth behind it all. You must learn how I died, for only you can stop the murder of the King."

Syrena opened her mouth, but Amaris was backing away. She raised her hand. "Hush; go now. It will all make sense in due time."

Edmund was sitting on a chair outside the Great Hall, watching with curious eyes as Syrena paced back and forth in front of the door, her dark blue dress sweeping up every last speck of dust on the floor. She was fiddling with her hands, and whispering words under her breath that Edmund could not hear.

"What is taking them so long?" she asked eventually. Her stride seemed to quicken as she spoke. "They have been in there for almost an hour; a decision must have been made by now." It was late in the evening; the Lords had refused to see them any earlier, stating they had more urgent matters to attend to beforehand. Syrena had not liked this fact.

"Perhaps they are all on the other side of the door, listening with their heads pressed to the wood to your furious tapping on the floor." Edmund received quite the glare, though she did slow down to an almost normal pace.

"It's not funny. Every minute they spend in there is a minute wasted." She glanced up at the door. "Perhaps they have decided we will do nothing."

Edmund stood up and went to stand in front of her. He placed his hands on her arms, holding her still. "They have no reason not to let us go. Caspian is in there advocating for us, they will not go against the King."

As Edmund spoke, the door to the hall opened and Caspian stood before them. "They will see you now." He looked tired, disheveled even. It caused worry in Syrena's mind; the Lords were not going to let them go.

She led the way down the hall towards the Lords. They sat around a semi-circle shaped table, each seating place with a high-backed chair. Behind them there was a grand window, taking up most of the back wall. Even with the window, the room was still slightly darker. There were tall columns, at least two stories high, on either side of the room, holding up the roof which peaked in the middle. It reminded Edmund of the throne room during the Golden Age.

"Lady Syrena, King Edmund of Old," they were greeted by the man in the middle of the table. He looked slightly familiar to Edmund, though he could not place his finger on why.

"Lord Revilian," Syrena replied. Edmund held in a gasp; three of the Lords they had rescued were seated before them. Edmund was now able to glance at each of the faces and recognize who was who. Mavramorn and Argoz were on Revilian's either side, their gazes tired and uninterested.

"King Caspian has come to us about the task he has given you to see the king of Archenland," Revilian began. Edmund glanced sideways at Syrena; she was glaring back at him with the same intensity he gave her. He had a feeling the two of them did not much like one another. "I, for one, do not think this a wise decision for a many reasons. One, you are a woman, and a journey such as this is best left to men who understand the rules of politics."

Edmund could feel Syrena's hatred burn off of her. He stepped slightly closer to her. "I believe I am well versed in the rules of politics, my Lord. I have been given a front row seat to how fickle politics are for the last month."

Murmurs broke out among the Lords. Behind them, Caspian drew in a quick breath. Revilian was the only one who seemed unabashed. He simply smiled, though Edmund felt poison beneath it. "If it is the wish of the council for you and King Edmund to travel, then it will be done. King Caspian and Lord Ettinsmoor-" he said, glancing sideways at a man, perhaps in his mid to late fifties, who was grinning at the young pair standing in front of him,"-both support your going."

"You will leave at dawn."

Syrena could feel her legs shaking slightly beneath her, whether out of delight the Lords agreed, or fear that they would be leaving so soon. But it was for the best. "Thank you, my Lords," she said, bowing to them. Edmund repeated the farewell, and both left the room together. Caspian shut the door behind them.

Edmund walked Syrena to her room, both whispering to each other. They agreed to pack quickly, and Syrena would bring her bag to Edmund's room when she was done.

Edmund packed quickly, taking only the very little he knew he'd need. Caspian had come out after them a few minutes later, saying they would be able to grab food for the journey in the morning. The lords agreed to send no less than seven men along with them, though they preferred the standard twelve that normally would go along, but Caspian convinced them that only seven were needed, for they were in no danger whilst among the Archenlanders.

A soft tap on his door signaled Syrena's arrival; she did not wait for him to answer the door, but came in quietly, shutting the door behind her. Edmund stood quickly. She was still in her gown from earlier, and had a leather sack in her arms. She had packed light, Edmund thought, remembering the trunks Susan would bring with them when they'd travel. Her hair seemed messier than usual; Edmund guessed she had rushed around her room, packing as quickly as possible.

"I did not know what I would need," she said as she came in. She dropped the bag on the floor and sunk immediately into a chair across from the fire, her shoulders slouched. Edmund wanted to laugh.

Instead, valuing his life above his amusement, he grabbed a map from the desk and came towards her. Sitting on the ground, he rolled it out. "Come here," he said, and he grabbed her hand and pulled her down beside him. "I was thinking we could go along the old trade routes; they are hardly used any more, according to Caspian. It would help keep us undetected."

Syrena sighed heavily. She was tired, more exhausted than she had been in a long time. Her dream the night before had woke her up early in the morning, and she had been unable to fall back asleep. She had not told Edmund about the dream, nor did she plan to. She had told him that she hadn't dreamt of her mother since they left Aslan's island, which was true. She did not want to worry him now with this. "I think that is an excellent idea."

Edmund did laugh aloud this time. "Perhaps I will make the plan, and you should sleep."

Syrena turned to him. "I am not tired," she stated matter-of-factly. Edmund smiled. She leaned into him quickly, planting a hard kiss on his mouth. Her arms were around his neck, pulling him closer. Edmund grinned against her mouth.

"We really should sleep," he said. She sighed again, nodding her head.

Syrena lay her head down in his lap, looking up at him. "I think you are right." He began to play with her hair, running his hand along the dark curls. She soon drifted, his tender touch lulling her into a dreamless sleep.

Hope you all enjoyed. Review and let me know what you think!