AN. Okay, I stayed up extra late to update this (mainly cos I'm hoping I will get a snow day and a lie in tomorrow) so please be so kind as to review! Thank you! In this chapter there may finally be some meetings...

By the way, sorry for any mistyped names in earlier chapters such as saying Pevesie rather than Pevensie. Stupid me! And also the shoddy grammar in King's and Queen's of Narnia. I know that's horribly wrong and I apologise but I don't care enough to go back and change it.

Oooh, also, I created a picture to go with my story. It has Kolfinna, Sharp and Barney in. Its not great but click on my profile page at the bottom to see it! :) I would put a link here but it doesn't work!

Edmund had been sent out by his brother in search of firewood. They had struggled to light the small fire for their shelter with damp sticks and now they had it going Peter didn't want it going out. Therefore he'd stayed with the fire and Edmund had been the one to go out in the freezing cold snow in search of any dry fuel. Unfortunately, luck didn't seem to be with him as he had found nothing, everything was just caked in snow.

Pulling his cloak tighter around him, the youth shivered and bent his head against the relentless blizzard. What he wouldn't give to be back at Cair Paravel in his warm bed, draped with several blankets. Still, they had a mission to fulfil and he couldn't give up now. Hopefully they would find this boy soon and then they could get back home.

Snow crunched beneath his leather boots as he tramped through the forest and his feet sunk down in the powdery white carpet. Suddenly he was having flashbacks to the time he'd run away from his siblings to join the White Witch and had neglected to take his coat. However, these memories were knocked clean from his head as he collided with something very large and very solid. Somehow, Edmund managed to maintain his balance as he wind milled his arms frantically. Whatever he had crashed into moved violently and a pair of enormous black wings obscured his entire vision as they flapped, startled. Then someone screamed.

Lurching forward, dodging the giant, winged monster, the boy searched for where the noise had come from. It had sounded like a human – a human girl. His brain urged him to help. Edmund began to draw his sword just as his foot caught on something lying in the snow and he tumbled over, earning himself a mouthful of slush. Spitting out the powder, the adolescent scrambled to his feet and stared through the flurry of snow at what he had tripped over. It was a girl. She was dressed in the most ridiculous ensemble for such weather. She didn't even have shoes on! Her bare feet looked positively blue. Only a thin, cotton nightdress protected her from the cold and even that was ripped, muddied and bloodied. No wonder she seemed to have passed out.

Stunned by the human's appearance, Edmund took a moment to react to the ruckus around him but then he registered the wild whinny behind him and ducked out of the way to avoid the flailing hooves which were about to crush his skull. Rolling in the snow, the young king gaped in astonishment at the massive ebony horse that reared in front of him – its eyes mad and its wings spread wide. Somewhere to his left a dog was barking crazily. Swiftly, the boy finally managed to remove his sword from its sheath and he held it in front of him protectively. The winged-beast paused in its attack, eyeing him warily.

"Stay back," Edmund ordered, trying to force authority in his voice.

"I think you should be the one to stay back." A smooth voice stated from behind him and Edmund whipped round to face the speaker. At first he could not see them but then he caught sight of the unmistakable, russet outline of a fox. It watched him: half amused, half hostile. Amber eyes shone like bright lamps in the blizzard. Obviously it was a Talking Beast. Maybe he knew the horse and could reason with him.

"I mean you no harm," the young king declared, lowering his sword – just slightly.

"Well, as long as you stay away from the girl, we will do you no harm either." The fox smiled at him, rows of sharp white teeth visible between his curled lips.

"I-but…I didn't want to hurt her, I wanted to help. She looks awfully ill. I mean, she has barely any clothes on and she's collapsed."

"That was your fault; you scared her half to death." This voice was different, deeper. With surprise, Edmund realised it came from the winged-horse.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, but really, I think she may have hypothermia. Please let me at least take her to my camp where there is a fire and warmth." He wasn't quite sure why he was so desperate to help this complete stranger: maybe his chivalrous, gentlemanly nature was coming through. Besides, he was certain that if he didn't help her she would die. Therefore he needed to persuade the animals his idea was the best thing for her.

"How do we know we can trust you?" The burnt-orange fox asked. "There are some nasty pieces of work in this forest at the moment."

"I know," Edmund replied, "I met some of them just earlier. But please, you have to trust me." With his earnest brown eyes, the young man tried to sway them.

Edmund wasn't like Peter, he didn't like going round reciting his title to anyone who would listen. He preferred to keep quiet about his royal status until it was absolutely necessary. It was better making friends that way; then he knew they were genuine and not just gold diggers. Most likely things would be easier should he tell them he was King of Narnia but that wasn't the point. He wanted to earn their respect and trust. That what made him Just – he always made things fair, not using titles to his advantage.

The charcoal-black beast and his russet companion eyed him for a second before nodding mutely. He realised they must understand the gravity of the situation and that he was the girl's only chance of survival. Hurrying forward, the youth scooped the lifeless, cold form into his body. Her skin was icy to the touch and he worried that he was too late.

Hattie was vaguely aware that she was moving as the earth was bumping around beneath her. It was strange and somewhat disconcerting. However, despite the shifting surface beneath her, she felt warmer and comfier than she had done in days. She was conscious of the fact she seemed to be cocooned in several thick blankets which served to keep all her body heat in so the air around her was toasty. Also, the snow seemed to have stopped for she could no longer feel cold blobs landing on her head and face. Maybe she was dead. That seemed a likely conclusion. After what she'd suffered at the hands of nature it wouldn't be a surprise that her body and mind had just shut down and gone to sleep forever. Well, there was only one way to find out. Hattie cracked open her eyes, blinking in the sudden light.

All she could see was the sky – crisp and blue - slightly blotted out by some overhanging trees and then, to the left of her vision she spotted a chin. This chin was strong and angular and was attached to the face of a young man. His features also looked sharp; dark brown eyes set into a slightly freckled face. Feathery black hair crowned his head. It was then that Hattie realised that she was lying on the lap of a complete stranger (who for all she knew could have kidnapped her like her brother) and she was balanced very precariously on the back of a horse. With a small yelp of fear, the girl jerked from her position and almost toppled off the creature's chestnut back. Fortunately, a pair of strong hands grabbed her and hauled her back up. The horse came to an abrupt halt at the tug of the reins.

"W-what? Where am I? Who are you? Where are Barney and Sharp…and Kolfinna?" Hattie was aware she was gabbling but, to be honest, her mind wasn't working fantastically. It was still hazy from the effects of extreme cold and being unconscious.

"Calm down," the youth soothed, his eyes full of reassurance. Hattie wasn't convinced. With more swiftness and agility than she thought she was capable of she slithered off the animal's back – albeit landing slightly awkwardly on the ground – and backed away. "Hey, its okay, I'm not going to hurt you." The boy also climbed, much more elegantly, down from his mount.

Hattie dropped the blankets shrouding her around her feet as she stumbled further backwards. She didn't care. For all she knew this boy was one of the men who had taken her little brother. Perhaps he was taking her as well. She needed to escape. Looking frantically around, the girl hedged her bets and ran for the nearest opening in the trees. Unfortunately, her weakened legs gave out on her and she fell to the ground. Immediately, the adolescent was by her side, offering her a hand. She brushed him away.

"Are you alright?" he asked, concerned. "You shouldn't really be walking around. You should be recovering. Come, put the blankets back on or you'll get worse again." Bending down, he retrieved the fallen covers. Much to her surprise, Hattie stayed still as he wrapped them round her already shivering shoulders. There was something oddly trustworthy about him that her body had picked up on but her mind hadn't.

"Recovering from what?"

"Hypothermia, silly," he chuckled, shaking his head incredulously; "I don't think I've met many girls walking around in a forest in a blizzard dressed only in their nightgown. I mean, you didn't even have shoes on, or at least slippers." Hattie flushed.

"Well, I wasn't exactly planning on being here in the first place! It's not my fault I came unprepared, it wasn't by choice!" she retorted, indignantly. There was some kind of relief filling her heart as she realised that this boy, whoever he was, was actually human and not a talking animal or a mythical beast. She had decided now that he seemed friendly enough – maybe he was just trying to help, by the sounds of things he'd saved her life. For that, she supposed she was grateful.

"What happened?" The young man looked extremely curious.

"I was in my house at night and then bam, I was here, in this dratted forest. As I said, I didn't have much choice." Hattie neglected to mention her brother, just in case.

"Wow." He looked positively stunned before muttering, "So the Professor was right, we weren't the only ones."

"Sorry, what?" Hattie strained to hear but gave up, instead asking: "What is your name anyway?"

"Edmund! Where are you? We've been waiting ages…"

Another young man, tremendously handsome, sat astride a magnificent white stallion, burst into their midst. When he caught sight of the two of them, he stopped, surprised. Then his face broke into a smile.

"I'm glad to see you're feeling better, madam. Has my brother been causing you any bother?"