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Chapter 8

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I think I'm an addict.

I can't stop coming back to the computer and writing. Ahhh!

Today was my first day back at school, it was very hectic. I'm happy with most of my teachers and locker though, so that's alright. I'm dreading AP English though, I'll probably be dying soon. Nice knowing you.

Gosh, I love being melodramatic. Sarcastically of course. Wink.

Now enjoy:

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Suddenly, something clicked in my brain.

"Wait! Trufflehunter, when you spoke of Vicern... Did you call him King Vicern?" I gasped, butterflies in my stomach. Could it be what I thought it was?

Trufflehunter nodded, "Indeed. He married Queen Susan a few years after your death. Some stories call him 'Lord' but mostly he is known as 'King'."

I grabbed Duke's arm and beamed up at him. "They married! How marvelous... But bloody hell, it took them years? Damn Vi, what were you so scared of?"

Duke chuckled, "You're happy."

"I can just see it... They would marry in the forest, maybe even in the Elvin city, Susan always liked it. Oh Aslan, she would've looked breathtaking in that white dress... Vicern handsome in his best tunic. I can just see it, she would walk up to him, with Peter giving her away. He'd give her a kiss on the forehead and maybe shake Vicern's hand, or perhaps a hug. Oh, they would just be so happy... They deserved one another."

Taking my hand, Duke sniggered. "Do you know how corny you sound?"

I raised my chin haughtily, "I prefer to call it romantic."

He simply shook his head, but his grip tightened affectionately.

Prince Caspian walked on my other side and he watched our hands curiously, "My lady, may I ask you a personal question?"

"Yes." I had a feeling what he was going to ask.

"Are you two in courtship?"

"No." We both stated, not hastily or nervously, just calmly.

I suppose Caspian must have caught something in Duke's expression that warned him not to ask anymore questions, because the Prince wisely changed the topic. "Tell me, what happened after... after you... um died?"

I was grateful that everyone carefully avoided stating the blatant truth, but I had healed from the experience myself. It was nice to know that they did not wish to hurt my feelings, the kind nature of Narnians remained. But to hear the words didn't bother me anymore, it was just a tragedy in the past- I was alive. So no harm done. Amused, I bravely said the words everyone had feared to speak. "When Peter stabbed me, my body went numb. I could feel my fire, my soul, begin to pull away from my body. It was like I was drifting away and I didn't hurt anymore... Then, I found myself in a peaceful world of nothing. I know that does not make much sense, but it a tranquil world of just empty space, nothing to disrupt the silent peace. A voice began to speak to me, it was Aslan, and he told me that it was time for me to go home..."

"Is that what happened to the Kings and Queens?" Caspian asked.

I shrugged, "I do not know. They do come from my world, but they are in the past."

Here, Duke added, "They are in the year 1940, well now it should be 1941 if it's been a year for them too... Kayla and I come from 2008. Almost 70 years in their future."

Caspian seemed to think for a few moments, then spoke. "They say that Lucy was just a mere child when she came to Narnia, and if seventy years were to pass, could she not still be alive in your time? She would be old, but is there not the chance that she still lives?"

I stiffened as we walked. "I-I have never considered the possibility."

Oh my god. What if Peter was alive? He would be an elderly man- would he have married? Did he have children? Hold old were they? Did they have children of their own? They would around my age... Oh my. That was very gross to even think.

"Holy crap," Duke said. "I never thought about that."

"I've upset you." Caspian frowned. "Forgive me, I did not mean to."

I waved his words away, doing my best to appear unaffected. "No, sorry, your words simply startled me... Say Caspian, when your tutor told you that the horn had magical abilities, what were they?"

Caspian went along with the change of subject smoothly, "The horn is said to call back the Kings and Queens of old."

It took me a moment to absorb this. "You called them back?"

"Yes."

"And yet I heard the call..."

He nodded, catching on to my train of thought. "I do not know what this means. I believe that there are two possibilities. One, you have come in the place of the Kings and Queens. Or..."

"We have all come." I finished, strangely keeping my sanity. The mere thought of Duke meeting Peter... And Edmund... Damn it! I couldn't even imagine. Would my dignity go down the drain? Would Peter and Ed see me as nothing more than a whore? A year and already I find myself having affections for another man. Not love, of course not love, but feelings. Even if I wasn't sure if those feelings were entirely romantic or platonic.

Duke remained quiet, his face unreadable. But there was no sign of his usual, boyish grin. He must have realized too that a confrontation may be inevitable.

"Caspian," I began. "What do you think about your people invading Narnia?"

The Prince sighed, "Must we argue my lady?"

I winked, "Only if you give me the wrong answer."

He realized that I was joking, and relaxed. He smiled, "Then I will not speak."

"Okay." I said contently. Clearly the invasion was a touchy subject for him and if I was going to help the Prince... Then it would be best if we remained on good terms.

We had been walking for an hour now, I had absolutely no idea what forest we were in, but I did not bother to ask the Narnians or Caspian. They had already spoken of places throughout the kingdom whose names I did not recognize. It was clear, that over 1300 years, names had been changed.

"Do women normally dress like that?" Caspian blurted out, he turned a fiery red as soon as the words were out of his mouth.

Duke sniggered "Man, let me guess. You think her dress is that of a prostitute right?"

I slapped his arm. "A what?!"

The men ignored me.

Caspian nodded. "It is not fitting for a woman of her status."

"Then let me tell you something buddy, Kayla's dress is considered beautiful and tasteful." He had a defensive edge to his tone. "We were at a dance, or I think you'd call it ball, whatever, the point is that the women get dressed up. But it's more like a throwing on a dress and trying to show as much leg as they can." Duke smiled down at me. "This one actually has class."

I felt heat rush up to my cheeks.

Caspian grinned, "I think I would like to attend one of these celebrations."

"I bet you would." I mumbled. Perverted Prince!

"Damn Kayla, you must've been walking around like one of those medieval princesses." Duke whistled. "No wonder you always wore jeans and t-shirts when you came back. You were just trying to cover up your skin."

Before I could answer, Caspian made my blush deepen. "Why do you have a false crown?"

"Oh!" I pulled away from Duke's grasp and threw my hands to my head. Hastily, I yanked the Prom Queen crown and brought in front of my eyes. "Huh, I think it's aluminum with paint."

"What is this al-" The Prince struggled even with the begging of the word.

"A fake silver, cheap too." I cut him off. "I hadn't planned on winning you know, no one even hinted that they were going to vote for me so I had no idea! I swear!"

"Win what?"

"You're confusing him." Duke noted.

"Shut up Duke." I muttered. It was hard, it was like my first time in Narnia all over again. I had to explain every little detail, because Narnians didn't understand concepts and happenings in my world. After being in the modern world though, I'd gotten used to having everyone automatically understand what I was talking about.

Thankfully, Duke answered for me. It was crazy how well he was coping- I had taken many days to come to terms that I wasn't in America anymore. Let alone in the same world! I had cried a lot too and felt like I was going insane! But it sort of made sense- Duke had been told of Narnia before. He was familiar with the abrupt transportation into one world from another. He knew that animals could speak, he hadn't stared at Trufflehunter, and had been told about centaurs, dwarves, and other creatures. He was prepared for this.

Speaking of dwarves, Nikabrik had been listening in. After listening to Duke's explanation about Prom Queen, he snorted. "So you're telling me human, that your people announce a Queen for one night? And that you vote to decide who wins?!"

"Yes."

"You choose your royalty?" Nikabrik's lip curled up in disgust.

"Yes." I snapped. "It's for fun, we do not have royalty to rule over our country. Your Kings and Queens of the Golden Age do, but Duke and I come from another land than them-"

"Duke?" The centaur seemed confused. "If you do not have royalty, then why is you have nobles? What is your name Duke?"

"Duke."

"Yes, but what are you Duke of?"

"What?" My friend looked puzzled.

"What is the name of the land you own? Duke of what?"

I groaned. This was getting confusing.

"There are no dukes in our country." I stated, doing my best to keep frustration out of my voice. "My friend's name is actually Duke, it is not title, it stands alone. It is no different to Trufflehunter or Reepicheep, Duke does not own any land."

"I see..." The centaur clearly did not.

They all had the sense to ask nothing more about our world.

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We all sat on the ground, in the middle of the clearing, waiting for the gathering to commence. It had been several hours and still, Trufflehunter said that there were more Narnians coming. So, we were forced to wait. The Narnians who lived nearby were the first to arrive and they pointed, whispered, and stared at us.

Caspian and Duke was staring right back at them, just as curious. I simply looked up the sky, watching as the sunlight began to die away. I had much time to think about my complicated, horrible life. This is what I had realized:

If I had heard the call, a call meant for the Kings and Queens only, then it was obvious that they had heard it too. Somehow the magic had stretched to my ears in addition. The Pevensie siblings were most likely somewhere in Narnia, and if not here, then they were coming... If I had been put here, they would too. I couldn't see Aslan keeping them away from their country, not when their help was necessary.

They would never reject the call, they were good people.

They would find me somehow, reunited at last. I had no idea how Peter would react to me, but I was confident that Edmund, Susan, and Lucy would most likely embrace me without hesitation. I could only pray that Peter did not shun me, I hoped he knew that I did not hate him.

But what would he do with Duke?

Better yet, what would I do with Duke?

I cared for him, something that I did not deny in the slightest, but I was not in love with him. In fact, I had not even given him my heart. It didn't pick up speed every time he walked into the room, smiled at me, or even kissed me. The only man to ever have that effect on me was Peter.

Oh dear Aslan, I was still as madly in love with Peter as I had been the moment he plunged his sword through me.

It was then that I realized that I would never be able to give Duke my heart. It wasn't even mine to give.

My life was far too complicated to be healthy.

"Princess?"

I jumped, the voice startling me from my thinking. Turning my head, I saw Caspian and Duke giving me strange looks. "Yeah? Erm, I mean yes?" I had indeed become a slang-using teenager.

"Would you tell me of your magic?"

"What would you like to know?" I asked, somewhat flattered that he even was interested. Most humans, such as those in Archenland, had been terrified to even to look in my eyes. They feared that if they did, they'd be burned alive or turned into stone. Ignorant people.

Caspian flashed me a handsome grin, it was just like Duke's. "Everything."

"Its actually quite simple really," I laughed, "So don't be disappointed. My magic is not permanent, it will leave me at times. It only comes in time of need-"

"When you had to fight the White Witch." Caspian put in. I couldn't help but begin to like his accent, it was so exotic.

"Right," I nodded in confirmation. "She trained me, being the only other witch in existence, and hoped that I would choose her side. I think that she had this notion in her head that I'd be grateful to her for teaching me, but she... she hurt me often. I hated her and chose to fight her. I'm not sure if her magic works the same way as mine, we are opposite forces after all, but my magic is very simple. The best way I could describe it to you is saying that I have a candle inside of me."

Caspian and Duke raised an eyebrow at this.

Wow, they grinned the same way, and now this? Strange...

I shook my head, trying not to be distracted. "There is a flame inside of me, deep in my chest, always burning. My blood, my life is it's oil... It's power source. Which is why I could feel it blow out when I was killed." Both boys flinched. What the hell? Were they twins or something?

"So with this flame, I always have magic at the ready. Emotions, especially anger, will feed it and it will grow. It warms me up and comes out, I use my wand to direct it... Allowing me to control it and use it as a weapon."

"Where is your wand?" Duke inquired.

I shrugged, "My guess is Cair Paravel, hidden in the royal treasury. Its location is secret, only a few knew where."

"Stilden the Great White Warrior is famous for keeping your wand safe from the traitor Mar-" Caspian began.

My anger flashed, "Don't you dare speak that demon's name!"

"Oh shit!" Duke threw himself away from me, thumping into an equally alarmed Caspian. "Kayla! Chill out!"

Their eyes were fixated on my hands. I looked down and gasped when I saw my hands enveloped in balls of fire, but my skin did not burn, in fact it felt nice... Warm... Like Peter holding my hands.

At this thought, I felt my spirits deflate, and with it the flames. When my hands were normal again, Duke gingerly reached out me. I flinched slightly when his fingers brushed against my cheek. "Kayla, are you alright?"

"S-Sorry." I mumbled, unable to meet his eyes.

He snorted, "You didn't burn me, there's nothing to sorry for."

"I could've burned you." I snapped then growled in frustration. "This is why I need my bloody wand! Without it, I have hardly any control!"

"You're pretty level headed," Duke winked. "You survived years of me and with it pigheadedness, flirts, and pick-up lines. I'm pretty sure you can handle anything."

"Flirts?" Caspian leaned in closer. "I thought you two were not courting-"

"We're not!" We both shouted at him.

He closed his mouth and held his peace.

Duke mumbled something under his breath. "But-I-wish-we-were."

I pretended not to hear and put on my best smile, which probably looked very strained. "Do you have anyone special Prince?"

To my surprise, he shook his head. "No Princess, I have not found love just yet."

"A shame." I lamented.

Caspian hesitated, giving Duke a wary look. "Your love for Peter is legendary, the most powerful story of all Narnian tales I have ever learned... It was the first story my tutor ever told me."

My eyes widened, "Y-You jest surely..."

Almost sadly, he smiled at me. "I do not, it is probably the most famous myth about the Golden Age that my people know of. A story of true love with a Princess making the ultimate sacrifice for the High King... It almost sounds like a fairy-tale."

"Except there was no happy ending." I quietly said.

Caspian stared at me for a long time, as if thinking. I ignored him and looked at Duke out of the corner of my eye. I frowned when his jaw was tight and locked, a murderous gleam in his eyes.

Oh yes, my life was much too complicated.