Chapter Two - The Truth

Adele eventually opened her eyes.

It was early evening, however the sky still seemed too bright for her eyes as she was used to smog from car engines filling the air. She could only lie still, all of her thoughts catching up with her. Once Adele's sight had properly returned, and things did not seem as vivid as they first had, she slowly sat up on the rather comfortable grassy land, unaware of the figure perched next to her.

"That was quite an entrance you made." A voice commented. Adele writhed around, getting a glimpse of blonde hair and blue eyes. A boy, just a bit older than herself. Peter Pevensie. She was in Narnia… or this was all just a very convincing joke.

"I'm sorry…" She started, unsure of what to say or even how to continue the conversation, "I'm just very… confused. I have no clue where I am, or even how I got here."

"I'm afraid I have no idea what to tell you, I'm just as confused as you are – I thought we were the only ones…" Peter trailed off, obviously in thought. Adele frowned slightly, taking in the apple trees and the sound of the ocean that seemingly engulfed the air around them.

"We?" She questioned in confusion, then realising he was referring to Lucy, Edmund and Susan, "Oh yeah, your siblings; Lucy, Edmund and Susan right?"

It was only when he narrowed his eyes, did she recognise her mistake.

"How did you know that?" Peter questioned, his right hand moving to his sword he had clasped onto his belt. Adele had to admit that she was extremely intimidated. What would she do if he thought she was someone conspiring against him? What if he wounded her?!

"Before…" She struggled to come up with an answer that did not make her sound completely insane, "…when I landed, I saw you stood with… three others…" This poor explanation did still not explain how she knew the names of his siblings, "… and I- I've heard stories."

"Stories?" Peter seemed to consider this, as he strolled towards the apple trees, plucking a crimson red fruit from its branch, "But you're from the same place as I, are you not? England?"

"Why, yes…" Adele trailed off once more, watching his movements carefully – he could strike at any moment. She remembered how angered Peter could become, "However, I have heard many stories about you. I have no idea how or why I was sent, but I do understand that there must be a reason. So… can we just leave it there?"

He still eyed her suspiciously, before finally sighing as he moved his hand away from his weapon.

"Why not?" Peter mumbled, "You seem pretty much harmless, and if you're from England as well you must have been sent by Aslan himself…if he still exists."

"Aren't you the… High King?" Adele asked, "Why wouldn't you believe in Aslan if you're, well, here. If he granted you such a title, aren't you supposed to have a little belief in him?" Peter only eyed Adele curiously as she suddenly pulled on her school skirt, smoothing it out, "Gosh, I could do with some better clothes right now." As she pulled her blazer too, she froze, "There's nothing in my blazer." She faintly spoke, "But… I'm sure I had my supplies and my phone…"

"Phone?" Peter questioned, his voice more puzzled than her own, "You mean a telephone? How could that fit into your pockets? How can you even afford one?"

It was then Adele realised that Peter – and his siblings – lived nearly sixty years before she had even been born.

"Well… one thing I forgot to mention – that Kayla and -," Adele paused as she reminded herself that Kayla had gone through… whatever that fall was too. "Wait." she continued sharply, causing Peter to lower the apple he was going to offer her, "Where's Kayla?"

"Who?" Peter frowned. The young girl felt sick with worry.

"My friend. The one who-,"

"Adele!" A familiar voice exclaimed from behind where Adele was lying, but upon hearing it Adele quickly stood up, turning to face the owner of which the voice belonged to.

"Kayla!" Adele hugged her friend tightly as she approached, "I can't tell you how relieved I am to see you! Where were you?!" Kayla smiled at her friend as they pulled out of their hug.

"I'm pleased to have found you too," Kayla started quite seriously, "… I have absolutely no clue why we're here, what our purpose is… however, you needn't have worried- I was only with Lucy and Susan."

"Only?" Adele stated, shocked. Not even an hour ago, they had both believed Narnia to be an entirely fictional world – which it still could be, for all Adele knew – however the fact that they were in Narnia seemed a little bit impossible for the young girl to wrap her head around. She was shocked at how Kayla could act so tranquil about it all, and secretly envied her for it.

"Don't worry, Addie-," Kayla added, sensing her friend's unease about their new dilemma, "I'm sure Aslan knows what he's doing… and if not, we'll figure something out. We'll work out a way to get back home, I promise."

Adele did not like being so pessimistic, however there was a part of her worried about Kayla's promise – about how Adele knew that there were some promises her friend may not be able to keep…

Meanwhile, Kayla eventually woke from her slumber. She instantly remembered what had happened, and the light was quite frankly blinding. She blinked a few times before deciding to sit up leisurely, not actually knowing what awaited her. What did await her… was not what she expected, to say the least.

"Oh, hello! You're finally awake!"

Kayla looked towards the source of the sudden noise to find Lucy Pevensie standing a few feet away from her, seemingly concerned for Kayla's wellbeing, but also cautious for her own. Kayla could not blame her; it is not every day another two people from England literally fall into Narnia, and she felt confused just thinking about it all.

"Susan!" Lucy exclaimed as she rushed towards her older sister as she approached, before she hugged her tightly.

"Gosh, Lu. I have only been gone an hour or so." Susan commented as she glanced down at her younger sister, but hugged her back fondly nonetheless.

The small interaction reminded Kayla of Adele, and she frowned when she realised her smaller friend was nowhere in sight.

"Ahem." The two sisters turned to look at Kayla, who was sitting uncomfortably on the murky ground. Before she continued, Kayla hastily stood up and steadied herself on a nearby tree branch. She felt dizzy, but she always did when she woke up and knew it would eventually fade, "I hate to break you two up and spoil the reunion, but where am I? Where's my friend, Adele?" She asked, her voice calm.

"To answer your questions, you're in a land called Narnia. Your friend is just down that path-," Susan broke off, gesturing to her own left. Kayla glanced to her right, where a narrow path covered in substantial ferns met her view, "- Peter all but flung her over his shoulder." Susan rolled her eyes when she mentioned her brother's antics, "He was going to move you too, but he hasn't returned. I'll bet she's awake."

"We're near the ruins of Cair Paravel," Lucy added with a shake of her head, "If I'd have realised how long we'd been sooner… maybe Mr Tumnus, the Beavers and everyone else who… maybe they would have made it." Susan sighed, sensing her sister's distress.

"Don't blame yourself, Lu. We weren't to know - there was nothing we could've done anyway." The older girl tried comforting her, which Kayla noticed nearly succeeded. Nearly.

"What happened?" Kayla questioned the pair, although she already knew from watching the films several thousand times. She could not exactly state that to Lucy and Susan, could she?

"It's a long story, perhaps for another time." Susan answered gently, "Anyhow, we need to get moving; Peter's not so patient these days, and you need to acquaint with your friend." Susan paused as the trio began their walk, Lucy in front whilst Kayla and Susan walked beside each other behind the younger girl, "What happened to you two anyway? How did you manage to end up here?" Susan added, sensing Kayla's confusion.

"Honestly, I have no idea. One minute we casually tripped," Kayla winced as she remembered that their fall was not so casual to begin with, "The next… we're… well, you know the rest. Your guess is as good as mine." She glanced at the High Queen of Narnia, who did not seem so tall in comparison to Kayla's Five-Foot-Eight height.

"I know what you mean." Susan commented as her gaze lifted to the forest in front of them, "Narnia works in very strange ways sometimes - even I can't understand it." Kayla sensed an underlying bitterness to Susan's tone, but frowned and said no more on the topic.

"The trees used to talk, you know." Lucy spoke up, "It might sound crazy, but it's true."

Kayla peered around at the trees that swayed gracefully in the breeze, they were almost dancing. She remembered Lucy struggling with the fact that Narnia was not the joyful place it used to be at the beginning of the 'Prince Caspian' film, and wanted desperately to cheer her up.

"It doesn't sound crazy to me. After all, I'm here, aren't I?" Kayla paused, debating whether to continue with what she wanted to say. It might have made the two Queens suspicious, but Kayla did not care in the slightest, "After all, Aslan must have brought us all here for a reason."

Without waiting to hear their replies, Kayla hurried ahead down the shallow path, unruffled as sharp branches pricked her legs, creating holes in her required school tights.

Whilst Kayla paced ahead down the path, Susan and Lucy shared a glance.

"How on earth does she know about Aslan?!" Lucy quietly exclaimed to Susan, whom was watching Kayla's retreating figure with a sharp frown.

"I'm not entirely sure…" Susan trailed off, extremely puzzled, "… but I'd be wary around her, Lu. Narnia's changed and I'm not sure Aslan has the same potential he did the last time we were here."

Lucy seemed even more solemn at her older sister's words. She just felt so… helpless this time – more so than she had before – and the young girl was positive that these two girls who seemingly appeared out of thin air were just going to add to Narnia's mystery.

After what seemed like hours but was perhaps only a few minutes, Kayla – oblivious to the hushed conversation that took place behind her – finally heard Adele's voice coming from behind another row of blazing apple trees, a minuscule parting in between two singular trees for the paths to meet.

"Adele!" She exclaimed in relief, rushing towards her friend who stood up faster than Kayla could blink.

For that moment, Kayla forgot all of her fears and doubts. She had found her best friend and together they had made it to Narnia. Kayla felt this sudden resoluteness that they would find a way to leave Narnia together, too.

Nightfall quickly arrived. The atmosphere had been slightly awkward with Adele and Kayla not knowing what to say. The Pevensie siblings still did not fully trust the two young girls, however they felt the need to take them under their wing; who knows what troubles the pair would get into on their own.

Edmund and Trumpkin, the two whom had been late to introduce themselves to Adele and Kayla, had collected more than enough apples for the seven, and Peter – perhaps the most wary of his new company – was quick to set up a campfire for the night. Apparently he had learnt how to do so at school, he boasted. Adele and Kayla had only looked at each other; no boys ever learnt how to make campfires at their school, that was for sure. They were sure that the only fire the majority at their school knew how to make was lighting a candle or Bunsen burner; even they did not fully understand how it all worked.

The majority of the group; Lucy, Susan, Trumpkin and Edmund, had managed to succumb to sleep first. Adele tossed and turned, but she could not make herself comfortable on grass and was a very light sleeper. Eventually, Kayla was the next to close her eyes – she always had been the calmer, more relaxed of the two.

Adele only sighed in tiredness, and sat up as she stared blankly into the burning amber flames of the fire. She could tell that it would die out soon, but the heat was strong enough for now. The young girl leant back further into her blazer; Susan had promised her that she would lend some of her spare clothes to both Adele and Kayla, since all they had was their ripped and now worn out school uniform.

After a few moments, Adele concentrated her thoughts about her home, the warmth and welcoming atmosphere her house granted her with, her parents, her siblings… she also found herself thinking about her school, wondering whether this all was just an extremely vivid dream, or whether it was actually happening. Narnia did seem real enough, but Adele must have hit her head on the school floor – she remembered the ending of the 'Prince Caspian' film, the Pevensie's all returned to where they had started; the train station. Were her parents worried? Was the school worried?

All these thoughts and feelings continuously echoed through her mind. She just could not understand how it was possible to even… be in Narnia.

"You seem troubled… care to explain?" Adele's head shot up as she heard Peter's voice over the crackling fire. She only regarded him for a second; his narrowed eyes, his somewhat concerned expression, his eyes reflecting the flames, before she soon turned away.

"I'm just… confused." She started, unsure of what to reply, "I don't understand how we could be here – it all happened so suddenly."

"That's Narnia for you." At her curious glance, he continued, "Surprises are it's specialty." He commented, humour in his tone. For the first time since she had arrived, Adele managed a small smile.

It quickly became quiet again, the two teenagers unsure of what to say to one another. Peter was definitely different to how Adele had first thought he would be; watching 'Prince Caspian', she had always felt as though Peter had become harsher since the siblings had left Narnia for the first time - it was obvious how much that world meant to him - and perhaps he had, however Adele saw that his character was more than that.

As Adele moved her gaze back to the fire, Peter took a hesitant glance at her. The young man took in her thoughtful frown, her shoulder-length hair, but what really captivated him was her eyes. From the other side of the fire he could still see that they were a rather unfamiliar colour; not exactly hazel, but not a distinguishable blue or green either. It was more than the colour though, it was the contrast of the fierceness as well as the innocence in her eyes. He could clearly tell that there was more to Adele than there seemed.

"I know that you don't exactly trust us…" Adele spoke up, an edge to her tone, "… however, we really do mean you – and your family – no harm. Kayla and I-," She gestured to the sleeping form beside her, "- We know nothing of… well, the harming kind. We haven't been taught how to use weapons, and if you haven't noticed we aren't the most subtle." Peter chuckled a little, as he remembered how abrupt their fall had been, "Heck, we do not even know how to start fires and we're not the best runners." She glanced back at Peter and the two met each other's gaze.

"I get your point." He stated, calmly, "Adele, I know that neither you nor Kayla mean any harm, that much is certain-," Adele blushed in embarrassment, "- however, you must forgive my siblings and I for being slightly cautious… Narnia isn't how it used to be."

"I know. You're… upset, angry, confused… I would be, too if my kingdom had almost perished." Adele commented before she could stop herself. When she realised yet again that she had said too much, she turned away from the blonde boy.

"How do you know?" Peter blatantly questioned, staring at her in curiosity. Adele gulped; she could not exactly tell him she was from the future now, could she? Then again, he was Peter, and he believed in Narnia, they were in Narnia… what harm would it do?

"I don't know what you mean." She stated, her gaze drifting to the dry grass below, now barely visible. Peter scoffed, but not in anger or frustration.

"I think you do." He started, "First of all, you talk about a… mobile telephone, which isn't comprehendible to me. You knew my siblings names before you met them-," Adele mentally added that this information was technically false, "- and you know about… well, seemingly everything. I know you're not from Narnia; you're from England like us, but your uniform is… different to any kind I have seen."

"I'm from further north than Finchley." Adele added, attempting to cover herself. Peter narrowed his eyes as she said his hometown, and Adele only sighed; it seemed like opening her mouth only made things worse. Now, she decided she had no choice other than to tell him.

"The truth?" He asked, "Please?" He added, his tone still tranquil although she could tell he was beyond confused.

"It's… pretty much unbelievable… and a long story too." She shook her head, "I could shorten it, though." Peter only shrugged.

"We have all night." He stated, "Besides, Narnia has waited over a thousand years for us to return… what's a few more hours going to do?" Adele had to admit, he had a point.

"Kayla and I… we were at school, it was only Tuesday…" Adele exhaled, before continuing the story. She had no idea why she felt so anxious all of a sudden, "… we had an art lesson together, which I was looking forward to. At one point, I walked over and into the store cupboard - I have always been afraid of the dark, so I used a stool to keep the door open. Then…"

"Then what?" Peter asked, thoroughly engaged already. He could sense how nervous she was and moved to sit closer to her. It felt rather strange though, attempting to comfort someone he barely knew, however he felt like the two girls were here for a reason.

"… The cupboard doors closed and I was engulfed in darkness. I tried to open the door, and was relieved when Kayla managed to pry it open from the outside. It was one of the worst moments in my life." She paused, "I know, I know – it's a childish fear - but I can't help it." Adele turned her head to look at Peter, whom looked in thought, "We – Kayla and I – then came across a painting of a lion and we... we thought that it looked a lot like Aslan."

"How do you know about Aslan?" Peter abruptly questioned, shocked. "You have obviously never been to Narnia before." Adele regarded him for a moment – much like she had done before. This time, she ignored his question, wanting to explain in her own time.

"I don't know how to explain further…" She trailed off, "…Just that this all has to be some sort of dream. We must have… hit our heads, or something." Adele added, feeling slightly faint as she tried to think about it all logically.

"You're a bit like Susan sometimes, you know? Always thinking too logically." Peter commented. Adele thought he would leave it despite his confusion, but to her dismay he questioned, "Why should it be a dream? What would make you think that any of this is a dream?"

"Because, Peter…" Adele started, hesitating before deciding to just come out with it. It would be like ripping a plaster off, "... Kayla and I do live in England. However, in our world, Narnia doesn't exist – at all. Well, people know about it, but not in the way you think. It's… fictional."

"Fictional?" Peter echoed, tearing his gaze away from her. She frowned.

"You know… it's a series of books – and three films." Adele started, before adding, "The… moving pictures?"

"I know what… films are, and I do read a lot of books." He replied, "So… does this mean that we…" He shook his head, "I don't know what this means."

"Me neither." She agreed, "So that's why this can't be real for me… do you understand?"

"I understand where you're coming from. But this is real, you have to believe it." Peter sighed, "Maybe we'll find answers, somehow."

"I hope so." Adele smiled slightly, acknowledging how at ease she felt talking to Peter. They both gazed at the dying embers of the fire, before Peter spoke up once more.

"Adele… Can I ask you something?" The girl in question only nodded once as she suddenly felt overtired.

"Of course."

"This may sound a bit… insane. However, I've been thinking about it and…" He trailed off, leaving Adele in suspense, "… you're not from our time, are you?"

"What makes you think that?" She asked, although she knew he already understood.

"There's something about you – and Kayla, of course – that just… doesn't seem right. No, no I don't mean that in a negative way. What I meant was… you two seem completely different than anyone I have ever met." He paused, "My family and I are currently within the year 1944 – you may already know that… I-,"

"2017." Adele cut Peter off, knowing that he would figure it out sooner or later, "I'm nearly Seventeen, like you… however, my Seventeen just happens to be Seventy-Three years after yours."

"Oh." Peter said, more surprised than he was before.

"Yeah. We have phones, more cars, more planes and just… overall, a lot of new technology." Adele continued, "There's a lot more equality, which is good. The technology I'm unsure about, but it's useful."

"What about the war?" Peter found himself asking, which also took him by surprise. Usually, he did not trust anyone easily, but he knew that however Adele and Kayla had come to be in Narnia, and why they came to be in Narnia… it could not be for anything bad. At least, that's what he hoped.

"What about it?" Adele quipped, unsure of what to say. Could telling Peter about the war change anything?

"What happens?" He asked, his voice quivering, "Do… do we win? Do all the deaths…" He trailed off, thinking of his Father, "… do all the deaths ever account for anything?" There was so much hope in his voice; Adele could not bring herself to not say anything.

"I don't think I can say much… it might disrupt… something." She was literally gasping for air, but seeing the helpless expression on his usually determined face, she continued, "I can't say much, but… well, neither Kayla or I sound German, do we? Eventually... there is peace between our two countries."

Relief instantly spread across his face, and he clasped her hand within his own. A few moments before, Adele would have definitely recoiled. However… she had no doubt he needed it. Peter had this new determination about him, one that Adele had never seen in the films… she had no idea whether she had made a mistake or not.

"We'll win this, Adele. Whatever is happening in Narnia… we'll overcome it." He briefly glanced at her, the embers of the fire long gone, "We'll reclaim Narnia and get ourselves home safe, I promise."

EDITED: 1st May 2018.

AN: Hope you all enjoy reading chapter two! Thank You to all those who have read the story so far, I really appreciate it! I am currently editing the chapters of this fic, and deleted the other chapters that were in this story as since I am editing, parts of the chapters may have not made any sense. Kind of… a fresh start.