You walked to the stable area after Edmund and Glenstorm left. Caspian was still there while Susan and Lucy were sitting atop his horse.

"Would you like another person to join you?" you asked, smiling softly at the sisters.

"But your shoulder is better. You can fight here," Lucy said.

"If your brothers are successful, there won't be any fighting."

Caspian took a step closer to you, his voice low and his hand gripping the reigns. "Their task won't be easy, Y/N. They don't have the safest part of our plan."

"Then I should go, Caspian." Why was everything so tense with him? What happened? "I'll be of more use with the queens than out there watching and waiting."

"Fine. Go with them."

You heard the annoyance in his voice, but you grinned anyway. It took you no time to get a horse saddled. You put your horse behind Susan and Lucy's just as Caspian handed the horn over.

Susan refused it. "You might need to call me again." And then she put the horse into a gallop.

You chuckled and followed, not bothering to look back at your friend. Not that time.

"You might need to call me again?" Lucy's voice was easy to hear through the tunnel.

"Shut up."

"Might I suggest using a better line next time, Your Highness?" you teased as you caught up.

"Not you, too."

"I wouldn't worry too much. I think he likes you anyway." You still weren't sure how you felt about it.

Lucy laughed.

The three of you made it into the forest without trouble, but it couldn't stay that way for long.

"Some Telmarine soldiers are following us," you announced. One of their horses whinnied. "We need to hurry."

You and Susan pushed the horses hard, but Miraz's soldiers still managed to keep up.

Right about the time you were going to stop and hold off the soldiers, Susan beat you to it. She said something to Lucy and sent her off.

"I'll keep with her!" you shouted as you went by. Susan put an arrow through a soldier, and you were glad to be on her side.

You looked back at the High Queen who was holding her own. A soldier was coming at her, ready to kill but another horse with your prince friend on its back came from nowhere. Then they were out of your sight.

Caspian would be lucky to find a queen like Susan Pevensie.

You shook the somber mood away and urged your horse to catch up to Lucy. Another Telmarine soldier separated you from her. Holding your sword out, you nearly caught up to him. You felt Him before you saw Him.

You lowered your arm and slowed your horse. There was a roar and a golden beast leaped from the woods to take down the Telmarine.

You and Lucy got off the horses and ran up the hill to see a lion bigger than any animal you'd imagined with a mane of gold.

"Aslan!" Lucy exclaimed, running toward Him and wrapping her arms around Him. One of His paws went around her shoulders. "I knew it was you. The whole time, I knew it. But the others wouldn't believe me."

"And why would that stop you from coming to me?"

"I'm sorry. I was too scared to come alone. Why haven't you shown yourself? I thought you'd come roaring in to save us like last time."

Aslan smiled at Lucy. It was the purest and loveliest of smiles. "Things never happen the same way twice."

"I-I had come earlier… everyone who died… could I have stopped that?"

We can never know what would have happened, Lucy. But what will happen is another matter entirely."

"You'll help?"

"Of course, as will you." Aslan turned His large head toward you. "And you, Princess."

You swallowed and curtsied low, something that didn't work as well in trousers.

"You need not bow, Y/N."

You stood up straight. "I-I… You… H-How?"

The lion chuckled. Lucy did, too.

"Aslan," you finally got out. "You're real."

"I always have been. I am glad to see you found the young prince again and our friends from the other world."

"I had a dream. You… I think you asked me to go find Caspian."

"And you did."

"Thank you, Aslan."

"Of course, dear one. You have helped Caspian and the Kings and Queens more than you realize." The lion stood up tall and looked at Lucy. "Now, I think your friends have slept long enough, don't you?" He roared and the entire forest changed. You felt the change deep in your soul, leaving you giddy.

"Let's go where we will be needed," Aslan said to you both.

You started toward your horse, but Aslan stopped you.

"You won't need them. They will find their way back home. Come."

You and Lucy followed Aslan to a river where a new bridge was. There were construction contraptions all around, a place the Telmarines were taking as their own.

"Go stand at the end of the bridge, Lucy." Lucy nodded and walked forward, pulling her dagger out along the way. "Go with her, Y/N." You didn't question Him.

The Telmarine army spilled out from the trees. They halted halfway across the bridge. The man leading them stared at you and Lucy curiously.

Aslan came up beside you and that was what spurred the soldier forward.

"Charge!"

But he didn't get very far.

Aslan roared and the water began to move. The river appeared to be losing water when in actuality, it was forming into a man. You remembered hearing about gods that took the form of natural things. You never thought you'd see one.

The river god looked at Aslan who nodded. He looked back at the Telmarines and dove back into the water only to come back up under the bridge, ripping it up from the ground with the one man on it. The river god opened his mouth and fell onto the soldier, destroying the bridge, the man, and the war.

Telmarines dropped their swords and gave themselves over to the Narnians. You all won. You grinned wildly.

Peter, Edmund, Susan, and Caspian came over to Aslan. All four kneeled before him.

"Rise Kings and Queens of Narnia."

Caspian stayed kneeled. Your smile fell away.

"All of you."

Caspian glanced up at Aslan, briefly catching your eyes. You nodded to encourage him. "I do not think I am ready."

"It's for that very reason I know you are," Aslan smiled.

Bagpipe music started up and several mice brought up a stretcher with Reepicheep on it. They placed him in front of Lucy who was quick with her cordial. Reepicheep breathed and sat up.

He looked at Lucy. "Oh, thank you, Your Majesty." Then he saw Aslan. "Oh! Hail Aslan! It is a great honor to be–" He nearly fell over bowing.

His tail was no longer there to keep him upright. You covered your mouth to keep your sound of pity at bay. Poor Reepicheep.

"I am completely out of countenance. I must crave your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion. Perhaps a drop more?" He looked at Lucy again.

"I don't think it does that."

"You can have a go."

Aslan's chuckle was deep and full of warmth. "It becomes you well, small one."

"All the same, Great King. I regret that I must withdraw for a tail is the honor and glory of a mouse."

"Perhaps you think too much of your honor, friend."

"Well, it's not just the honor. It's also great for balance and climbing and grabbing things."

One of Reepicheep's mouse knights stepped forward with his tail in his paw and his sword out. The other mice followed suit. "May it please you, High Majesty, we will not bear the shame of wearing an honor denied to our chief."

Aslan laughed. "Not for your honor, but for the love of your people."

And the mouse knight's tail grew back in an instant.

Reepicheep perked up. "Oh, thank you, thank you, my liege! I will treasure it always! From this day forward, it will serve as a great reminder of my huge humility."

Aslan chuckled again. The elder Pevensies smiled. Caspian's eyes lit up and one corner of his mouth turned up. You laughed loudest with Lucy.

Aslan turned to the youngest Pevensie. "Now where is this Dear Little Friend you've told me so much about?"

Trumpkin peers up from where he was placing Telmarine weapons. He shuffled closer and kneeled in front of Aslan. The lion roars, making Trumpkin jump back a little.

"Do you see him now?" Lucy grinned at the dwarf.

Another bout of laughter ran through the group.

"Now, let's clean up the river and the battlefield," Aslan said. "We will celebrate our brothers and sisters lost in this war."

Before Aslan walked away from you, you reached out to touch His shoulder. The muscle didn't even twitch. He looked at you with soft eyes.

"Yes, dear one?"

"Can I… Can I ask you something?"

"Of course. Why don't we take a walk before helping our friends?"

You nodded and let the lion lead you again. You didn't see Caspian staring after you.

Edmund looked at the prince with a smile. "Worried?"

Caspian shook his head. "Curious. Why does she need to speak to Aslan in private?"

"Would you rather she speak to you?"

"I don't know."

Edmund clapped Caspian on the shoulder. "Maybe you should talk to her. She was upset you walked away with my sisters without acknowledging her. Ask her about it. She's sorry for what she did, too."

"Y/N told you?" Caspian sighed and kicked a rock. "You can't… spread that around."

"I would never." Edmund picked up a sword and tossed it in the pile. "Talk to her. Fix whatever is wrong. Maybe tell her she's pretty."

"What?"

Edmund smirked. "You heard me."

"I don't–"

"But she is. It's okay to admit that. She might like hearing it, too." Edmund grinned and walked away, going over to some satyrs picking up debris.

With Aslan, you were silent for a while to gather your thoughts. He seemed to understand and patiently waited for you to speak.

"I… I dreamed about this… everything that happened today. Your voice brought me here. But I've felt things these last few days before they happened. I knew Miraz was coming on this day… Is that normal?"

"We are all given gifts to help others."

"Why did this… perception only start now? Why not when I was younger?"

"There's a reason for everything. It's up to you to find it."

You nodded. "Was it to help Caspian? Am I supposed to help him when he's king?"

"I can't say. You are needed in Anvard. There's unrest. This war has stirred up fears in your people."

"But… what if I don't want to go back there? Not yet?"

Aslan smiled. "The time will come when you won't have to be. Be patient, Y/N."

You chuckled a little and brushed some of your hair out of your face. "Can I be honest with you, Aslan?"

"Of course."

"Talking to you didn't really help… yet it did."

"I can't give you all the answers you want. You have to find them on your own."

"I understand. Thank you. I hope I did what you wanted. I feel like I was more of an ornament than a fighter."

"Your presence helped in ways you will understand in time." Aslan started walking back. "And right now, we are needed to put this land back together."

You had a feeling Aslan would keep answers to Himself. You weren't upset so much as confused. But you were ready to trust Aslan. Even if that meant going back to Anvard and leaving Caspian again. Even if it was the one thing you didn't want to do.