Author's Notes: Since (when I write this) I haven't been able to connect to the internet and upload the last chapter (even after the "Family Guy" movie and "War of the Worlds" - that was long!), I'm going to write another and upload near the same time, probably.

Since you know a lot about the original children, I think I'm going to provide some background on the others, mainly Juliet, then they'll be one soon mainly with Skye, one mainly with Alden, etc. No I'm not trying to create a Mary-Sue with a "deep, dark" background. Some people have harsh backgrounds, and come on, if you're lucky enough to go to Narnia, it should be no big deal if you've had a bit of trouble in the past. This goes for what happens in any OC's past. x)

Disclaimer: Same

Chapter Nine - Free Will

It was awkward even after they had reached the lake. Oceania and the nymphs were nowhere to be seen.

"You're back!" cried Mrs. Beaver, running up to them as soon as they'd reached the area of torn up tents. "What's happened?"

"Death has happened," Skye said in reply. "Where're the others?"

"The nymphs fled. I reckon Oceania isn't letting them fight against the Ice Queen after that. She's afraid something will happen to her 'poor, little' nymphs. Beaver's in the least damaged of the tents with the others. They're all asleep. Just said they were tired and fell asleep, all randomly. Oddest thing I've seen in a while."

The children followed Mrs. Beaver into the least damaged tent, a purple one, and she was correct. Alden lay on one bed, Peter on one bed, and Tumnus on another. Mr. Beaver sat anxiously on the other one, and his eyes widened as the others came in.

"What's happened?" he asked worriedly.

"She's dead."

Mrs. Beaver looked away. However, Mr. Beaver pushed on. "Rain?" Edmund nodded. "How'd she die?"

Edmund shook his head. "I'd rather not speak of that at the moment, if you please. And her name's not Rain -- It's Sage."

Mr. Beaver got up and stood next to Mrs. Beaver. They held hands and looked at the ground for a moment. Finally, Mrs. Beaver looked up at them all. "Well -- We'll leave you all alone for a while... to finish your business. We'll be just outside, dears." They walked out and Edmund lay on the bed that Mr. Beaver had gotten off of, grasping his wounds.

"Oh!" cried Lucy. She pulled out the vial that Oceania had given her and handed it to Edmund. "I'd almost forgotten about this, Ed. Here you go, then."

Edmund graciously accepted it and took a tiny sip, and his pain was eased.

"Shall we wake up the others?" Susan said, listening to the deep breathing that the sleeping boys and faun were making.

Skye nodded. "I reckon we should. I just hope that... the purple's gone."

Juliet proceeded to shaking Alden.

"Alden, please. Wake up."

The girls held back tears, and at last, Alden coughed and his eyes fluttered open. The girls crowded around him and hugged him, and Edmund and Skye nodded and smiled.

Tumnus was the next to wake up. He twitched his ears and he laughed. Finally, Susan began to shake Peter.

"Peter! Get up, Peter, get up. Wake up!"

He blinked and squinted before finally getting out of bed.

"Peter!" Lucy ran over from Tumnus' bed and gave him the biggest hug out of all the boys she had hugged. Susan hugged him next.

Juliet and Peter glanced at each other for a moment, not sure whether to embrace or stay still. After all, what had happened still floated around in their minds, and they didn't know each other that well, and only Susan knew of what had happened during the first practice. Finally, they shrugged off the odd thoughts and hugged each other tightly, before Skye and Edmund came over to wish him well, Edmund actually hugging him.

Susan smiled in Juliet's direction. She returned the smile gratefully. Both of them were amazingly relieved that Peter was alright.

It's really happening, Peter thought. The battles are really going to happen. In fact... This may have even been the first battle.

Mr. Beaver poked his head in. "'Ello, children... It's evening, and the Mrs. found a bit of food left behind, so we'll have that tonight. Tomorrow around noon we're heading off to Cair Paravel. We've heard that Aslan is waiting for you there."

Susan, Lucy, Edmund, and Peter all glanced around at each other and grinned. Aslan, the old lion, who they'd missed so much... They couldn't wait to see him again.

The night stars shined in the grey-purple sky. The color purple had struck fear in them before, but now it calmed them as they all roamed and rested after dinner. Edmund and Alden had gone off to explore the woods ("And talk about the type of girls they fancy," Lucy had remarked grinning.), Lucy and Mr. Tumnus sat around the fire talking with the beavers, Juliet and Peter were sitting on the rock they'd practiced on next to the lake, and Susan and Skye sat a couple yards away from the rock on the grass beside the lake.

"What a long day," Skye murmured. He tried to keep his eyes off Susan, in fear of blushing when she smiled. Such a pretty girl. Such a cute smile, he thought.

"Very," Susan said, grinning. "Hard to believe the death of someone we didn't really even know, and a 'traitor' at that, has affected us so much."

"Edmund's had the longest day, I can guarantee you," Skye said, looking at the woods where Alden and Edmund had run off too.

"I suppose you're right." Susan looked and him and laughed. "I can't wait to go see Aslan tomorrow."

"Who is Aslan, love?" Skye said curiously raising an eyebrow.

Susan blushed when he'd said "love." She looked at the grass. "A lion, the true King of Narnia, I s'pose. He lead us against the White Witch... sacrificed himself for us... came back to life."

"A lion?"

Susan smirked, but still looked down. "You've seen a faun and talking beavers, and water nymphs and purple eyes. Skye, I'm sure a talking lion is no big deal to you after that."

"Well, that, sure, but... a lion resurrecting?" Skye rolled his eyes jokingly.

"Ah, yes... Resurrection is amazing, no matter what's happened, no matter which creature it's happening to..."

Death was horrible. Death, war, prejudice. She couldn't stand any of them. Those were the reasons she'd found herself at the place with the wardrobe that led to Narnia in the first place.

"You know what I really can't stand? War. I know we're in the middle of one, too. Especially the ones back in, well, our world."

They talked about the war, Susan holding in tears, Skye confessing all his sad thoughts. They didn't care that they weren't best friends. They expressed all the feelings they knew.

Susan moved her eyes from the grass to her hand. Her hand was held in Skye's. She smiled and began to tell Skye about the last time she'd came to Narnia.

Peter and Juliet had also been speaking about wars. Juliet had shed a few tears, and she sat next to Peter, embarrassed about crying in front of him.

"What about your dad?" Peter asked, looking at her, and he felt bad that she's cried. The subject dropped off of war at this.

"Ran off with some woman," she responded sadly, a dreamy far-off look in her eyes. "He was past forty. She was going to turn eighteen. A very forbidden thing... Met her at a pub, too! She was a servant of the owner. Before... Just before he eloped with her, he told me about her. 'I'm no longer in love with your mother,' he said. 'I met a gorgeous woman when I was out with the mates a few weeks ago. She's dear to me so. She is the love of my life.' I cried and cried, for an hour or more, and he left the room, packing his things. I ran to tell my mother who was out at the market nearby, and when we'd returned, he was gone. Alden never seemed to accept it."

"A few weeks?" Peter said nervously.

Juliet nodded, many tears sliding down her cheeks. "Yes. I'm always nervous about that thing, you know. I've a few friends that are already married. And I always talk to them about this thing."

"Already married?"

She nodded again. "Many of my friends are older than me by some years. And some were just married early, it's unbelievable. It's like the fforsaken medieval ages."

Peter looked down. "A few of my friends are speaking of courting some young ladies. I.. Back in the other world I hadn't met someone I really loved that much... Sorry about your father. You were very courteous when I spoke of mine."

Her tears were less now, but he couldn't shake the feeling of feeling bad. He hugged her. "Are you alright?"

She nodded and hugged him back.

"I'm fine... now."

They let go and stared up into the beautiful night sky.

A/N: Corny? x( Anywho. Alden's feelings-chapter is next. Enjoy. :) As you can tell, Juliet is a typical "girl" with her emotions, and next, you'll get to see how Alden is rather a typical "guy." (No, none of this meant to offend anyone xD ) I guess I'd very much like to make the twins two seperate people, not just "the twins." (Woah... Mary Kate and Ashley deja vu! Haha. ) This story is kind of like a SkyexSusan, PeterxJuliet (SuxSk, JxP... not sure), Tumnus-Lucy friend fic, (well unless I write the romance in, but she's a bit young don't you think? Please tell me if you'd like to keep it friend or move it along to romance), and Edmund-Alden friend fic. I know it hasn't started too much but Edmund and Alden are going to be pretty good friends, and you'll see this start in the next chapter.

Chapter 10 is almost finished! (About 3/4 done)