Disclaimer: Again, some of the characters/places are not mine.

She quickly dropped the coin and stepped away slowly from it. She looked around to see if there was an outside force causing the coin to act strangely but she could see nothing. She felt strangely lethargic and weak. She knew that she should be more alarmed, but her head wasn¹t quite connected with her body anymore. Her heart was hammering and her sleek brown haunches were suddenly shining with sweat. The wood started to twist before her eyes and blackness crept into the sides of her vision. She stumbled and tried to run, but her legs collapsed underneath her. Her tan skin flushed with hot prickles and she shivered. With the world spinning underneath her, the blackness crept entirely into her eyes and she felt no more...

Singing interrupted Kaleigh's sleep and she woke up. Stirring, Kaleigh sat up slowly and put a hand to her pounding forehead. She could feel nothing and see nothing, only blackness. She didn't have the hot prickles or the sweating and her heart was calm, almost not beating. Dazed and confused, she called out. Her voice was swallowed up in the darkness that settled around her like a thick velvety blanket. She turned and twisted looking for a source of light or where she was. She couldn¹t see anything but absolute blackness. Kaleigh started to panic. What if I don¹t get out of this alive! she thought, what will happen to my parents! My friends! What is going on! Am I dead? Will I die?
"Hush, little one! There is no need to shout." Kaleigh turned desperately, looking for the source of the voice. Her thoughts raced wildly and still her eyes saw nothing. What is going on here!? Who is that!? Are they going to kill me? she thought. The voice sighed and moved toward her left.

"I suppose this was not the best place to bring you, but I need somewhere safe. I suppose I'll risk going to a place where you can talk and look around you. Is there anything that would help you to calm down? I am not going to hurt you and my intention was not to scare you."
Kaleigh choked and spluttered and her voice came rushing into her throat. "Hmmm...Let's see...Maybe a LIGHT!" she yelled. Her voice seemed harsh and sarcasm dripped off every word. Her fear was past and she felt angry. "AND MAYBE A THOROUGH EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE! I DON'T APPRECIATE BEING JERKED AROUND AND TAKEN PLACES WHERE I DON¹T WANT TO GO!" her voice grew soft again and her fear rushed back and swept over her like a tidal wave. "Don't hurt me, I haven't done anything. I'm only a centaur girl from Narnia and I just want to go home." Her hands trembled and her eyes filled with tears. She tried to be brave but knew that it was like trying to stop the sun from shining.

The voice sighed again, this time not of impatience but of gentleness, and a small pinprick of light began to grow. A soft warm glow surrounded Kaleigh. As she looked around she could see a stone archway and a courtyard around her. Many dark windows stared at her and seemed to look into the very depths of the universe. In the center of the room was a small golden bell with an equally small golden mallet beside it. A large table was set with elaborate decorations and gold plates. A feast for the highest royalty sat waiting to be devoured. The most impressive though, was the figures seated around the table. High proud faces stared at Kaleigh as she started to walk the length of the table. Rich satin garments flamed with bright colors and strange decorative designs. Fabulous embroideries of animals and flowers and strange languages laced the edges of the gorgeous outfits. Beautiful women and equally charming men seemed to be frozen in mid conversation. Kaleigh had just reached the end of the table when the voice spoke again, this time behind her.
She spun with a wild fear in her eyes, her legs quivering and ready to run. "Now little she-centaur, don't be afraid. I'm sure that you have heard of me, and know who I am by now. I have a need to talk to you and you must listen for the sake of everyone." Turning, she saw a huge golden lion standing at the last place at the table. His shaggy mane spread out around his head had made a golden halo that caught the few stray beams of light and reflected them back at Kaleigh. The sight took her breath away. Golden brown eyes looked solemnly out from small black lashes.

"Aslan..." Kaleigh breathed. Of course she had heard of him countless times. He was only the most talked about person in Narnia! It was common to hear his name spoken on the street dozens of times. However, he had not shown up for many years. His fame was now shrouded in the shrewd guesses of the Narnia people of when he would return. Kaleigh stared wide-eyed at Aslan. "Is it really you Master Aslan?" Kaleigh spoke humbly.

"Yes, it is I. I have not seen you since you were little Kaleigh. My how you have grown!" Aslan rumbled happily.

"When I was little? You knew me then?" Kaleigh asked.

"Oh yes. I have watched you since you were born. You have a very special job to do for your people and your country Kaleigh. You are very special indeed!" replied Aslan

"Me? How can I be important to you!? You have everyone else to watch and talk with! Why not choose someone more royal or powerful or brave?" Kaleigh said back with sincere tone to her voice.

"Ah Kaleigh, do not do that." he chided gently. "It dishonors me and you if you talk that way. I created you and it is not honoring to say that I created something that is not important to me. It dishonors you because you need to think better of yourself. You are more royal and powerful than many others and you have no limit of bravery, you need not worry about that."

"Aslan, I don¹t understand. I am definitely not royal, I am just a regular centaur girl! And I have no power! I don't rule over anything or have a say in what goes on around me!" Kaleigh protested.

"All will be explained in due time." Aslan said. "Now, if you would stop interrupting me," he said with a humorous look in his eyes, "We can get on with the explaining! Ask one question first that interests you the most and we can start there."
Kaleigh could think of only one question that was bothering her.
"Okay, where are we?" she said.

"We are in an ancient land called Charn. It was destroyed many years ago by a powerful witch. Actually, it was the same witch that plagued your parents and their generation with the Endless Winter and the one that issued in the new age of King Peter and Edmund and Queen Susan and Lucy. Most people thought that Charn had been destroyed completely and that no one could ever journey there again. The spell on the people you see here has kept it alive. You see, they are not allowed to die until someone awakens them and they are probably doomed to sit here forever. Just now the life of Charn is flickering like a burned out candle. Barely making it, but still burning."
Kaleigh stared at Aslan. So many thoughts whirled in her head and she had a hard time keeping all of these experiences straight. She choked out another question. "Okay, what about me being royal then? And about me needing to listen for the sake of my race and country and all that?"

Aslan sighed and shook his mane. Golden lights glanced off of the dark stone arches and he looked into her eyes.
"To answer that I am afraid we must go deep into what once was, and start from there. I will try and explain it all to you..."

Winthrop: Hey! Well, I'm sorry that this story was a little shorter than last time, but I had a small bout of writer's block. The next one will be longer. Read and Review! I need some ideas.