On the Notepad:

1. Thank you for the lovely reviews. They are always an encouragement.

2. Due to the fact that almost no one reads these, and that everyone would like to read the chapter already, I only answer questions in my Author Notes. But you always have my eternal gratitude if you review. Not to mention, I will try my hardest to review your works.

3. Burning Marshmellow: No, I try to avoid "Mary-Sues" if at all possible. That's not to say that I don't enjoy reading them.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of C.S. Lewis's work. I am not doing this for profit or any other reason, than my own enjoyment. Don't sue me because I enjoy it veeeeeeery much.

The Emerald Princess

Chapter One: Of Humans and Hedgehogs

Alyssa squeezed her eyes shut against the light that invaded her senses.

"Moooom…" she moaned. "Shut the curtains, pleeeease. Just five more minutes, I swear and I'll get up."

"Oh, come now, dearie. This is no time to be delirious. We must change your bandages, so be a good girl and sit up for me."

The girl was suddenly wide awake. That was most definitely NOT her mother's voice.

Sitting bolt upright, she saw that she was in a small cot, surrounded by a tent, and many other similar cots of the same appearance. Some held occupants, and she was surprised to see that they were mostly various animals.

"Where am I?" she wondered aloud.

"Narnia, dear, in Roanon's camp."

Alyssa looked, only to find a larger than average Hedgehog moving towards her, carrying a large pile of materials. She stared, wide-eyed.

"Y-y-you didn't just talk, did you?"

The Hedgehog set the materials onto the cot. "Of course I did. You didn't just expect me to be in charge of the Infirmary and be mute, did you?"

The girl gaped and shrank back away from the creature that approached.

"I'm dreaming…this can't be real…I-I'm talking to a Hedgehog!"

"There now, dearie." The Hedgehog waddled over and patted the girl's leg. She jumped.

"There's no need to be afraid of us," the creature soothed. "We're all on your side, Your Majesty."

" 'Your Majesty?' What?" thoroughly confused, the girl felt her head spin.

Gingerly, the Hedgehog crept up onto the bed, and reached for a bandage swathed arm. "I'm Nettlebrush, but everyone around here calls me Netty," she stated as she swiftly unwound the white linen. "It's been 93 long years, here in Narnia, since High King Peter, Queen Susan, King Edmund, and Queen Lucy have left. And since, there hasn't been a human in the land. There is however, a powerful magician who invaded Narnia to the North. He is a horrible, cruel being, and since, has been attempting to overtake the land. Many of us are resisting." she waved a hand to indicate the camp around them. "It was prophesized that a human would return to save us, and rule us once again." As she finished speaking, she turned and smiled kindly at Alyssa, then tightened the bandage, tying off the ends. Quickly, she moved to the other arm, and unwound the linen there.

Netty's brow furrowed as she examined the wounds there. "Some of these…have older scars beneath them," she said and looked to the girl.

Angrily, Alyssa snatched her arm away and stood, pushing the blankets away, to find herself dressed in an old-fashioned, loose night robe.

"I don't believe this!" she cried out. "I'm in a fantasy land, with talking animals, being told that I'm supposed to defeat some evil magician, and rescue the world, then rule it! I'm from the 21st Century for crying out loud! This isn't real! And even if it was, I don't want to be a ruler, I'm not a fighter, and I have to go home!"

With that outburst, she took shaky steps to the doorway of the tent, and pushed the flaps aside. The sight that greeted her left her breathless, and completely stunned.

A multi-colored array of tents swam before her, and the sounds of metal on metal, voices, hooves, and various animal sounds filled her ears. The girl's mouth hung open, as different species of beasts passed her, and then, her heart nearly stopped.

A half-man, half-horse?

She had read about Centaurs in Roman mythology, but seeing one was an entirely new matter. Creatures with a man's torso, but the legs of a goat also walked by, although she had no idea of the name for such a being.

Alyssa hardly noticed that the creatures walking by gave her greetings, or bowed to her before moving on. She sank to her knees, trembling.

"This…it can't be….I don't…believe….how?"

She pinched herself, and yelped.

"Okay, maybe I'm not dreaming…but…oh God….wow…"

Seeing their future Queen go down, many animals instantly rushed to her. Their voices made her dizzy, and she shrank back, unable to comprehend.

"Easy, Your Highness," whispered a voice with a distinctly British accent in her ear.

"All right everyone. Her Majesty is a bit overwhelmed by her first sight of Narnia. Let's give her room to breathe, eh?"

A Red Fox, came into view, clearing a circle around her with several waves of his dark paws. He turned to her.

"Come, milady, let's get you back inside." He gently nudged her, until the girl stood wobbling, and moved at the Fox's insistence back into the tent.

"Oh, Dealix!" exclaimed Netty, as the Fox came through the doorway. She wrung her hands. "Come dearie, let's get you back to bed," she took Alyssa's hand and led the girl to her cot, pushing her down gently on it.

"I'm not tired, though," the girl protested.

"Of course not, dear. But you need to rest anyway." Netty busied herself, smoothing the covers, then moved onto another patient nearby.

Alyssa's green eyes whirled around, trying to take in everything from where she lay. Suddenly, the Fox appeared at her bedside.

"Hello, milady. I am Dealix, at your service."

The girl blushed at his formality. She was surprised that these animals were starting to seem more and more like people to her. Even their facial expressions were similar.

"Please, call me Alyssa. Despite the rumor that I heard, I'm not a Lady." She smiled.

Dealix nodded, his golden-brown eyes taking in the sight of his future Queen. She had short copper hair, layered, with vibrant green eyes. Her body was athletic and muscular, well-suited to be a warrior.

She's already ousted Netty, he mused. A headstrong girl. Not bad.

He grinned.

"I'm glad we found you, Alyssa. I have no doubt that you'll make a great Queen."

"We?" the girl looked puzzled.

"Falin and I found you in the woods. When you feel better, Falin promised to come see you, and then we'll take you to meet Roanon, so you can report to him how you came to be in Narnia."

"Naaarniiiiya," she sounded out the strange word, as Dealix barked a short laugh.

"Who's Roanon, Dealix?" Alyssa asked.

The Fox barked a short laugh and leapt up to the girl's side. He curled up and yawned.

"Roanon is the leader of our camp, and a Captain of the Resistance Movement, at least until Aslan returns."

"Aslan?"
"Aslan, the ruler of the entire land? You can't tell me you've never heard of him!"

"I just came to be here," Alyssa reminded him. Both the Fox and the girl laughed, but the girl yawned and felt exhaustion take over her.

"Rest, Alyssa," the Fox said, making ready to leave. "You're still weak, but tomorrow I'm sure you'll feel better."

"Wait, Dealix." Without thinking, the girl put a hand on his red fur and stroked it. Realizing what she had done, she immediately withdrew, as if she had been burned.

The Fox chuckled. "It's quite alright, Alyssa," he reassured her. "I actually enjoy it."

"Um…Dealix..would you stay with me? Please? I don't want to be alone, right now."

Dealix softened under the girl's touch and curled himself at her side.

"Certainly. Goodnight, Alyssa."

"G'Night, Dealix."

"Oh, and Alyssa?"

"Yeah?"

"Welcome to Narnia."