My dear Reviewers,

As of Wednesday, School begins again.

Chapters will not only be MUCH harder to post because of the time spent at school and time spent completing homework, but I am limited to computer time during the weekdays. (I share my computer with other students).

I will NOT leave this story incomplete. I will finish it eventually. Posts may come weekly (on Saturdays and Sundays I have plenty of time to write) but maybe only once a week. Maybe even two weeks will pass before I can post.

Things will be very whirlwind-ish over the next week, maybe even month, but I will keep writing.

His love to all,

Pip

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Chapter 36, the Truth about Leyli

We rode hard the rest of the night and into the next day. We ate little (if Leyli hadn't insisted we would not have stopped at all,) and after a bit, we arrived at the river.

"We have to cross!" exclaimed Edmund, dismounting and pacing back and forth, staring at the opposite shoreline like a mad animal. "Its, its just on the other side! I know it is!"

"Hold up, Ed," I said, "We'll find some way to cross. Don't worry."

"The water is very turbulent," offered Miss Obvious.

"Thank-you," snapped Edmund.

"You can't cross alone!" said Leyli, sounding triumphant.

"Alright, Leyli," Edmund whirled and crossed him arms. "What do YOU propose we do?"

Oh, Ed, you just HAD to ask, didn't you?

"Well!" Leyli laughed. "I--"

"never thought you'd ask," I finished, trying to be as annoying as much as possible.

"Why, you just finished my sentence!" exclaimed Leyli. "That…that's a sign, you know."

"I didn't mean it like that," I growled.

"Oh," she shrugged like it meant nothing to her really. "As I was SAYING," she glared at me. "Let me lead your horses across. I'm a naiad, you know, and I am very accustomed to water. They'll be perfectly calm."

"Isn't a little cold for you?" I asked, just trying to be sensible.

"That's nice of you to be concerned," said Leyli, smiling. "But it will be just perfect for me. I love cold water."

I hadn't been concerned. I was trying to be sensible!

"Right," I said, "Let's do it."

Edmund mounted his horse, and Leyli took a hold of each of the bridles, spoke something in a strange language to the horses, and led them right into the water. The horses didn't shake their heads, toss their feet, or anything frisky that most do when in water.

Leyli led them till she was completely underwater, and horses were swimming. Leyli walked along as if she were on land. I'll admit it, it WAS pretty amazing. Only because I'd never seen that before.

Soon, we were on the opposite shore, with our feet only a bit wet. Leyli was soaked to the skin, but looking every bit as happy.

"Is that what you were looking for?" Leyli said, pointing on the shore.

"Oh," said Edmund quickly, as if someone had punched his stomach. He leaped from his horse and ran forward, kneeling down before a lonesome—and very sad looking—stone fox.

I dismounted and knelt beside him. "This IS the one we ran into."

Edmund reach out and pet it's stone head, taking shallow breaths.

Suddenly, a deep voice spoke from behind us. "Is there something I can do?"

Edmund and I both whirled around. Only Leyli stood behind us.

"Did you say something?" I asked.

"Well, yes," said the same, deep voice. "Who else?"

"What happened to your voice?" Edmund asked, his eyes wide.

"My voice?" Leyli said confusedly. "oh, oh, that! You mean you don't know?"

"No!" we both exclaimed.

"Oh," laughed Leyli. This time, her laugh resembled nothing like a giggle. It was a deep, womanly laugh, that was short and…well, deep!

"Well," Leyli said, sounding queenly and grown up. "I'll try my best to explain. You see, us naiads, we live in wells, you know."

"Yes…" Edmund said.

"I haven't been in a well for ever so long," said Leyli, "I've been living near the palace. But water is what keeps me…well, normal."

"Define normal," I said, truly perplexed.

"Um…" Leyli sounded so old! "Let's see…normal is like this. My voice is much deeper, and I am much smarter, and more thoughtful. We're all like that."

"I'm not following," Edmund said truthfully.

"You may have noticed that while I'm on land," Leyli continued, playing with her dress, which was blue. It had been green moments before. "I giggle a lot. And…I'm flirty. And I seem a little dim-witted. That's what happens to me when I've been on land for so long."

"Oh!" we both said. Edmund and I glanced at each other and burst out laughing.

"This is the real me!" said Leyli, smiling, her eyes sparkling. "Being in the water for a moment or two gets me back to normal."

"Like Dad having his coffee in the morning," Edmund said.

"Coffee?" asked Leyli. "What's coffee?"

"It's like…" Edmund raised his hands in helplessness.

"Coffee for humans," I said, helping Ed out. "Is like water for naiads. But…well, not really, it's a little different--"

"Say no more," Leyli waved her hand. "Or I'll need another dip. I suppose I was very annoying when I was dehydrated, wasn't I?"

"To put it lightly," Edmund said.

"That is embarrassing," Leyli said, shaking her head at herself. "I can't remember very well what I do when I am so low on water. I should never have gone so long without a dip in the river or a dunk in my well-home."

"Well," Edmund blinked. "There certainly is a difference!"

Leyli's sunshiny-coloured hair was fading into a dark, chocolate brown. And her eyes turned gray.

"Good Lord!" I exclaimed.

"Is my hair back?" asked Leyli.

"I suppose…it must be."

"Finally!" Leyli stood. "I think I'm through changing. Go on and do what you need to do. I won't be such a hindrance any more, goodness knows I'll never make the mistake of going so long without water again."

"We certainly hope so," I said, standing.

"Now what?" Edmund said hopelessly. "Our naiad has gone and turned herself into a grownup—that's good news. But what can we do about the fox?"

"Well, let's ask Aslan," I said.

Edmund clasped his hand behind his back and bowed his head. "Aslan, we need your help." He said simply. "Please bring the stone animals back to life."

"Yes, please," I added.

"Look," whispered Leyli.

A white bird, no bigger than a dove, came flying from the sky. It flew in an arch over the clearing, than alighted on the back of the stone fox.

Within a blink of an eye, the bird was gone. It didn't fly away. It simply disappeared.

And the fox's ear twitched. A bright orange colour began at the tip of its nose, than spread down and over its shoulders. It's legs wiggled with life. His tail burst into life, its white tip swinging back lazily. White and black spread over its muzzle and paws. It's eyes blinked.

The fox gasped, shook itself, and stared up at Edmund.

"Your majesty," he said hoarsely, bowing. "I knew you would return for me."

"How…how could I forget you?" Edmund dropped to his knees again and hugged the fox.

"Why sire," the fox wiggled a little. "All is forgiven, all is forgiven. Is the Witch…?"

"Dead," answered Edmund, a smile spreading across his face. "We're in a free Narnia, now, Mr. Fox. Your free to return to your family."

"Thank-you, sire," the fox bowed again. He smiled at me. "Thank-you, SIRES. Thank-you a thousand times! Long live Aslan!" with that, he bounded away into the bushes.

"Whew," I said. "That was amazing."

"Who was the white bird, do you think?" Edmund asked.

"Oh…I think I know." I winked.

Edmund smiled. "Do you think it will come back and help the Christmas party in the woods?"

"I'm sure He will," I said. "Come on, Leyli. We've got one more stop to make before we head home."

"Do you mind if I ride with you?" Leyli asked shyly. "Please?" she remembered to add.

"Why, of course, since you asked so nicely," I said, smiling. "I think I can handle this new Leyli."

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As we all know, the white bird was Aslan. Lol. And I ain't makin' that up either—just check out Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Aslan appears in that book as a Lion, a Lamb, a Sail, and a White Bird--maybe even more.

Yay! The Fox is rescued! He'll come and visit the rulers of Narnia later.

And isn't Leyli nice now? She won't be bothering Peter much. It's something ALL naiads need to remember to do—if you don't live in your well, you have to remember to dunk yourself once in a while. You don't want to get dehydrated and act like Leyli did—it's most annoying. Lol.

This is my last day of vacation. Remember, it may be my last posting till next weekend--depending on how busy I am and how much homework my teacher will hand out.

(PS) for those of you who like Phantom of the Opera; me and my friends have this inside joke that my teacher, Mr. D, is secretly the Phantom himself. He has a DEEP VOICE and yells ALL the time. We even made up an opera...it goes something like this...

"Do you want a detention?"

"Of course not!"

"I'm going to give you a detention!"

"Of course not!"

--sing that to the tune of "Notes" from POTO.

Anyways, I thought that might make some of you laugh. It's something to entertain you during this new school year--find which of your teacher is MOST like characters from musicals or operas. the result is halarious.

To an amazing summer!

the Pippin!