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Authoress's Note: Heeeeere's Alex! Please review!

The Return

Chapter 2. Meeting New Friend's

In the past week I had done nothing but go downhill. I was weak, in fact I was barely able to make the walk to school, and then back home after the day was done. As soon as I would finish my homework I would sleep, and typically through supper. In fact the only meal I ate on most occasions was lunch, and even that was a simple sandwich. And it didn't help the fact that Tiffany, A.K.A. helium girl liked to verbally torture me every day. Oh how I wished Edmund were here! Or Aslan... or Lucy, or Susan, or Peter. Either one of them would do right now! But specifically Edmund. To feel his arms around me, and his lips against mine.

I started from the school, hoping and praying that Tiffany might have given up on me, but partway down the steps I heard her call my name. I turned around. "Dear Diary, I just had the strangest time..." she started.

"Oh no." I whispered, knowing exactly what she was quoting.

"I know it wasn't a dream, no it was too real. Now, let's skip ahead shall we. But the person I miss the most out of them all is my dear husband Edmund." she said. I could feel the tears stinging behind my eyes. "Interesting entry you have here." she said closing the diary. I could hear people snickering by now. I looked up and saw Harry who looked shocked.

"Give me that!" I yelled lunging at Tiffany.

She moved and I fell. I ended up rolling down the steps, but nobody came to my aid. That didn't help me any, I was already weak as is and I gripped my stomach.

"Oh no." I whispered again, this time for a different reason.

"Somebody has an overactive imagination." Tiffany said. This only made everyone laugh harder.

"Aslan, save me please. Get me out of here!" I pleaded in my head, but nothing came of it.

I stood up and snatched my diary in my back-pack. I slung it over my shoulder and suddenly felt sereing pain in my stomach. I fell to my knee's, letting out a cry of pain. Tiffany backed up, looking shocked.

With whatever energy I had left, I scrambeled to my feet and ran home. I slammed the door shut, not bothering to take off my coat. Once I got to my room, I took my coat and backpack off. I threw my closet door open and crawled in. I knew there wasn't much chance of getting to Narnia, but at least no one could hear me and I could wallow in self-pity. I curled up and started crying.

"My my, what's wrong?" I heard someone ask.

I looked up and found I was looking at a humble, kind looking badger.

I swiped at my cheeks. "Pardon?" I asked.

"You crying, whatever could be wrong that is making you weap so fiercly?" the badger asked.

I looked down. "It's a long story." I said shaking my head.

"I have time." the badger said with a smile. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Trufflehunter! What in Aslan's name are you doing?!" a black dwarf asked walking up. A red dwarf wasn't too far behind him.

"This poor girl was crying. I had to see what was wrong." the badger, whom I now knew as Trufflehunter, replied.

"Eh she's Telmarine most likely. Just leave her to die." the black dwarf replied.

"I am not a Telmarine!" I exclaimed, making all three of them look at me "I am a Narnian!"

All three of them went wide-eyed. "Call it that if you like, girl, but this land will be known as Telmar before long!" the black dwarf snapped.

"Aslan would never let that happen!" I said glarring at him.

"Oh, and when have you seen Aslan?" the dwarf sneered.

"Many times actually!" I replied.

"My dear, might I ask your name?" the badger asked.

"Queen Alex of Narnia." I replied holding my head high.

"Beards and bedsticks." the red dwarf swore.

I looked over at him, but feeling the same sudden pain in my stomach, I gripped it, let out a cry of pain, and fell to my knees. I felt the badger come over to me.

"What's wrong my queen?" he asked.

At least he believed me, though it seemed the dwarves were having trouble believing me. "My stomach. I fear for my child." I replied, closing my eyes tight.

"Your child?" Trufflehunter asked.

"I... I'm pregnant." I replied, bursting into tears.

I saw the red dwarf walk up to me. I always liked red dwarves more. They weren't good tempered, but they had better tempers than the black ones. And most black ones I had seen had been on the witch's side, the remnants we had seemed to destroy. Apparently not all of them.

"And if you are Queen Alex, that would mean you are the wife of King Edmund. This is his child?" the red dwarf asked. Two down, one to go. I began crying harder at the mention of Edmund's name. I nodded my head unable to speak.

"Well, where is he?" the black dwarf asked.

"I.. I don't know. And if I did, I doubt I'd be here." I replied, already disliking the dwarf. There was something about him I didn't not like one bit. He seemed untrustworthy.

"Well come my queen, your so thin. But nothing a few weeks in our home will fix." the badger said. He and the dwarf helped me stand.

"Your going to trust her?!" the black dwarf shrieked.

"She is trustworthy Nikabrik. Now stop disrespecting our queen. Or do I have to sit on your head?" Trufflehunter snapped.

I heard the red dwarf snort.

"Is that possible?" I whispered to him.

"He's done it before." he replied. I chuckled and the red dwarf smiled.

"Oh, what's your name?" I asked.

"Trumpkin, m'lady." he replied with a slight incline of his head.

"Please, just call me Alex." I said with a smile.

Trufflehunter and Nikabrik were still going at it, and soon Trufflehunter walked over to him, pushed him down, and literally sat on his head! I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

"Told you." Trumpkin whispered.

This made me giggle. I couldn't help it. It was too funny. While they were still fueding, Trumpkin led me inside their home. It was small but cozy. He walked into the kitchen and brought me back a piece of bread.

"This is all we have until supper. You missed lunch, I'm sorry to say." he said.

"Oh this is fine." I said "Thank you." But then curiousity overcame me. "How long has it been since we left?" I asked.

He looked up at me. "It's been over a thousand years since you and the other four left." he replied.

I looked down. "And now..." from what I had pieced together, Narnia was a wreck. The Golden Age was over and gone, by many years obviously. I sighed. "I wish we hadn't left." I said shaking my head.

"It was not your fault, your majesty. If Aslan made you leave, then you had to leave." he replied.

I smiled. I sighed and started dozing off. Before long I had fallen asleep.

When I woke up the smell of stew came to me. I opened my eyes and looked around the little cottage I was in.

"Ah, your awake. Come eat." I heard Trufflehunter say.

"What, we're feeding it now?" Nikabrik sneered.

"She is a person." Trumpkin said, defending me.

"Hmm, all the worse then." Nikabrik said.

Trumpkin growled at him.

I gave him a thankful smile and sat down at the small table. Trufflehunter brought a bowl over to me and I beathed deep when I smelled the stew. I sighed and began eating.

"Thank you, that was delicious." I said, once finished.

Trufflehunter smiled. "It was no problem at all your majesty." he said with a slight bow of his head.

"Please, call me Alex." I said.

He nodded slightly but went back to cleaning. "If you would't mind, I'd like to help." I said.

"Oh no your ma... Alex." he said stopping when I gave him a look "You need to rest. If you are with child, and your stomach is hurting, you need all the rest you can get."

"If your sure." I said. Trumpkin nodded for him.

"Eh, I say put her to work and when she's done lock her out." Nikabrik said.

"Oh shut up." Trumpkin snapped. I looked between them. "Rest your... Alex." Trumpkin said. I smiled and he nodded towards a little bed. "We made that for you while you were asleep." he said.

I smiled and went over to it. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was asleep, my arm safely around my stomach. But something told me that my new friends, well Trufflehunter and Trumpkin anyway, would not let danger befall me while I slept.

A few weeks later and Trufflehunter and Trumpkin were allowing me to help around the cabin. It made me feel better about staying there.

One night while I was helping Trufflehunter with the dishes we heard a thud from outside. I very nearly dropped one of the dishes, and Trufflehunter did, and it fell to the ground with a shattering sound. All four of us rushed to the door. We saw a young man on the ground, and he looked hurt. And when I looked not to far from him I saw Susan's horn. I gasped and froze.

"You take care of him!" Trumpkin said, pulling his sword and rushing towards a bunch of men on horseback. I tried to go after him but Trufflehunter held me back. I tried to shrug him off.

"Your child." he said simply making me hold back.

A few seconds later I heard the familiar sound of Susan's horn and looked towards the boy. Before I could stop him, Nikabrik had wacked him over the head.

I gasped and walked over, pulling him from the now unconcious boy. "Nikabrik! How could you?!" I scolded.

"Don't you dare touch me like that!" he exclaimed.

I shoved him to the side and knelt down beside the boy. I patted his cheeks, and shook him, but he wouldn't wake up. "Oh look what you did!" I exclaimed.

"Come, we must get him inside, it looks as though his head is bleeding pretty badly." Trufflehunter said.

"Oh, nevermind that, he could be dead before we got him inside. Bring me some bandages, water and a rag." I said. Trufflehunter nodded and ran inside.

"Since when do you have the authority to talk to him like that!" Nikabrik snapped.

"I only asked!" I snapped back.

"You ordered!" Nikarbrik yelled.

"It's either that or this boy will die!" I exclaimed.

"Oh shut up Nikabrik, I don't mind. She is my queen, and therfore I shall serve her to my death!" Trufflehunter said walking back with what I had asked.

"Hmm, she may ask you to do so much, yet." Nikabrik mumbled.

"I would never do such a thing!" I snapped. I started wiping the boy's wound, and once it was clean, I bandaged his head. "That is most likely all I can do. Now it is only to see if he will wake." I said. Trufflehunter nodded. "I suppose I'll have to carry him inside." I said.

"But Alex, he is so much bigger than you." Trufflehunter said.

"If I can carry Peter, I can carry him." I said.

"When have you ever carried High King Peter?" Trufflehunter asked.

I snorted. "Once again long story. I'll tell you while we get inside." I said. He smiled wide. He had come to love my story's of the Golden Age. Trumpkin did too, but we now found the Telmarines had taken him.

"Well, it was a slow day, and Susan was in Calormene, and for once it wasn't about a suitor so she had gone alone. Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and I went out ot the beach. Instead of going the typical way, Ed and I vs. Pete and Lu, we went Pete and I vs Ed and Lu. The first game we played was male had to carry female down the beach, and female had to carry male back up the beach. So therefor I had to carry Peter." I said.

"Did you win?" Trufflehunter asked.

"Yes, barely, but yes." I replied.

He smiled. "I'm glad." he said.

"Yeah, Peter and I were too. And our prize... starting the splashing contest!" I said with a laugh.

"And who won that?" he asked with a chuckle.

"No one really. We were each drenched." I replied.

He chuckled again. I sighed and put my hand on my stomach as I had started to do, even though there wasn't even the slightest bulge. By the time the story was over, we had the boy settled in and Trufflehunter and I took turns during the night watching him, to make sure he didn't turn worse and get a fever, even though I figured he would.

Sure enough, soon after Trufflehunter had gone to bed, I was taking first shift, I noticed beads of sweat on the boy's forehead. I sighed and grabbed a rag ringing it in cold water. I placed it over his forehead and leaned back in my chair. I went back to my book, but I closed it soon after turning to memories. I could remember doing things like this for both Peter and Edmund after battle. Except then I would have Susan and Lucy's help. Every now and again I would rewet the rag.

Not but a few hours later his fever broke. It confused me, but I didn't question it. If the fever broke so quickly, he should be awake within a few hours. I had promised to wake Trufflehunter up for his shift, but found I had over drawn it and it was already dawn. He was going to sit on my head! I jumped up and walked over to him. I shook him gently and he woke up immediately.

He looked out the window and gave me a despairing look. "Alex, you said you'd wake me up." he said scolding lightly.

"I know, and I'm sorry. But he got a fever and I was having to change out cold rags, and it reminded me so much of Peter and Edmund I guess I just forgot to wake you up." I said.

He sighed. "It's fine, but get some sleep. I'll let you sleep through breakfast" he said.

"Thank you." I said, gratefully walking over to my bed, suddenly exhausted. And once again as soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell asleep.

That night as I was helping Truffle hunter with the soup, I heard a crash and the sound of metal hitting metal. I ran into the room and found the boy was awake and fighting with Nikabrik with the fire tools. I growled and ran over to Nikabrik, grabbing him by he collar. "You don't even want me to sit on your head." I warned.

I had started using Trufflehunter's warning. I hadn't had to use it yet, unlike Trufflehunter. Nikabrik grunted and sat down.

"Look what you did. That was a prefectly good batch of soup." Trufflehunter said.

I smiled. He brought a new bowl and sat it on the table and looked up at the boy. The boy was glancing between us warrily.

"Well, aren't you going to eat?" I asked.

"Who are you?" he asked looking at me.

"Alex." I replied "And who are you?"

"I am Prince Caspian." he replied holding his head higher.

"Hmm, another one." Nikabrik mumbled.

"Another what?" I asked.

"Another looney, wounded, makes Trufflehunter feel guilty for you, royal title, fake." Nikabrik replied.

"I'd like to see you say that when I have a sword or bow in my hand." I growled. He raised an eyebrow. "I'm not like Susan who is gentle." I said.

"What on earth is going on?" Caspian asked.

"See, now he's confused. You should have just let me kill him." Nikabrik said.

"And kill an innocent life? I don't think so." I said glarring at him.

"You would have been doing what my uncle wanted." Caspian said.

I looked over him and when I did felt so sorry for him. He seemed so sad. "Oh, that can't be true." I said walking over to him.

"He wants me dead so he can have my throne." he said.

I looked over at Trufflehunter who was now on the other side of him with a paw on his shoulder. "You will get your throne back. I'm sure Queen Alex would be willing to help. And you may or may not have the Narnians on your side." he said.

"Queen?" Caspian asked. I looked down.

"That's what Nikabrik meant. I am Queen Alex." I replied.

"The Narnian queen of old. The one that married into the throne. Married to King Edmund, was it?" he asked.

"Yes, and yes." I replied.

"So you would have alot of stories?" he asked, eyes lighting up.

I chuckled. "Yes, many more than any story teller has or any book could hold." I replied.

"The after-math's of battles?" he asked.

"Yes." I replied.

"The love storie's, and suitor's of the other monarchs?" he asked.

"Yes, but those are more private and will be kept that way." I replied.

He nodded. "Understood."

"But before I tell you any, eat. You probably haven't eaten in a while." I said.

He nodded and sat down at the table, Nikabrik glarring at him. I thumped Nikabrik on the back of the head as I walked by.

"Oh yes, very queenly." he mumbled.

"I'm still 15 after all." I replied walking back in the kitchen.

"And it shows!" he called after me.

I rolled my eyes and started washing the dishes.

A moment later my stomach got that familiar pain. I dropped the dish I was drying, and my knees buckled. I felt the porcelain cut my leg, but that was nothing compared to pai in my stomach. My vision went blurry, and the pain was more intense than usual. It didn't take long for Trufflehunter to get to me, but by then I was longer able to hold myself up, and was nearly concious.

"Alex, Alex, wake up, stay with me." I heard Trufflehunter say. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I wasn't successful. I heard him call Caspian in the room, and soon I felt him picking me up, and just before I slipped into unconciousness, I felt I was being layed down, and a blanket layed over me, but then I knew no more.