I own only Rhianna and Darkmoon... yada yada, you know the drill. I love Aslan though! It was really fun to write about him.
And, for the sake of story progression, I skipped the events between the Beavers' Hovel and arriving at Aslan's Camp, covering them only briefly. I had to write the attack on the hovel in detail because it's the first major development of both Rhianna, and the Pevensie's growing friendship with her... so, if you really want the intervening chapters, let me know and I'll try to write them up and put them in later. :)
Chapter Six: The Great Lion
After several days of long travel, Peter was more than glad to have at last reached their destination. He had had to deal with a huge amount of stress since his arrival in Narnia and the wolves had been only a small part of it. They had fled in terror from reindeer – though they turned out to be those of Father Christmas, rather than the Witch's – plunged into an icy river to escape the Witch and Maugrim, and nearly lost Lucy in the process.
So, when they lined up in front of the great gold-and-red pavilion, Peter could not refrain from breathing a sigh of relief. He cast a sidelong glance down the line at Susan, Lucy, and Rhianna, who were standing with him, eagerly awaiting Aslan's appearance. Aslan. The very name sent a pleasant tingle up Peter's spine. Over the course of the last few days – when they weren't running for their lives – Rhianna, Darkmoon, and the Beavers had spoken of him often, and always with deep reverence and affection. He had also learned a great deal about Narnia and about his companions. Except one. He glanced down the line at Rhianna again. He knew almost nothing about her, except that she had been orphaned ten years ago, that she was wanted by the Witch, and she had always had Darkmoon as a traveling companion. Other than that, she was a mystery. The natural abilities he'd discovered about her – the ability to see in the dark, walk on top of snow, speak to trees, and sing nymphs and flowers out of hiding – went unexplained, only adding to the mystique that surrounded her.
The flap of the pavilion rustled and parted, drawing Peter's attention back to the front. A magnificent, tawny lion stepped out and faced them. He was huge, at least twice the size of any normal lion, and his large golden eyes penetrated Peter to his very core. Instinctively, Peter bowed, drawing his sword and placing it respectfully in front of him. The rest of the assemblage followed suit. Aslan's eyes tracked across those in front of him and his eyes softened. "Rhianna, my child," he rumbled. She looked up. "Rise," he told her, then, spreading his gaze to the rest of the gathering, he said, "all of you." His eyes went back to Rhianna. "My daughter," he almost purred. Peter's eyes widened as she took this as an invitation to approach him. When she stood directly in front of the great lion, he nosed against her chest, prompting her to wrap her arms around his neck and entwine her fingers in his mane. As she breathed in his heavy, musky scent, he nodded to Darkmoon. "Thank you for watching over her." The mare scuffed a hoof modestly and looked at the ground. Now, the great lion turned his attention back to Peter, Susan, and Lucy. "Welcome Peter, Son of Adam," he rumbled, "Welcome Susan, and Lucy, Daughters of Eve. I understand that your brother, Edmund, is a prisoner of the Witch, Jadis. Rest assured," he continued, noticing the question forming on Lucy's lips, "All will be done to rescue him. In the meantime, I have a feast prepared to celebrate your safe arrival. Ladies," he turned to address several female centaurs, fauns, and animals, "take Susan, Lucy, and Rhianna and care for them. Peter, come with me, we will talk."
For a moment, Peter was terrified to be alone with the great lion, and cast a beseeching glance at Rhianna, hoping she would interfere, but she only smiled and allowed a sleek tigress to nudge her away.
Author's Note: Okay, so I borrowed a few elf-like traits from Tolkien, but it's more out of my deep affection for them than just needing an idea. Don't worry, in the coming chapters, Rhianna will explain a lot about who she is and where she came from. For now, it's just kind of fun to keep my readers in the dark :)