Hello peoples! Here's...

Chapter 4

I can't explain what I feel when I look into the eyes of Aslan. It's like a warm, fuzzy feeling of pure love just washing over you. The feeling of your Dad's arms around you. Of your Mom's kisses. Of your favorite stuffed animal brushing against your cheek. There's just love, love, love until you're absolutely covered in it with no end in sight.

I can't explain what I see when I peer into His golden-green orbs. Swirls and whirlwinds of the most beautiful colors. Flashes of worlds unknown. Universes filled to the brim with knowledge. The secrets of life. Everything humans ever wanted to know.

I can't explain what I hear. Birds chirping, the most melodic symphony, the sweetest rock ballad. The richest and best of all sounds flows into my ears in a wonderful, swelling beauty until I'm practically drowning and I don't even care.

I want to get down on the ground, fall to my knees and worship. Because I already know I'm looking at God.

Can you believe I wanted to trample Him with the horse a few seconds ago?

But He turns away before I can make a fool of myself, and I wonder if Edmund felt what I did. I'd ask, but Aslan's already speaking to him: "Son of Adam."

"S-Sir?"

"Get off your mount and come with me. We have a lot to talk about."

Edmund gulps, his eyes jumping to me for a split second, and I give what I hope is an encouraging smile. I guess it was good enough, because he shoots me a tiny grin before hopping down from his monstrosity of a mount and following the Lion across the hills.

It's just heading into early dawn, and I'm kind of glad, because I've a feeling we'd be like celebrities if everyone were awake to see us arrive. Maybe I can catch a little bit of a snooze before I'm needed for... well, whatever it is I've been brought here for.

Which reminds me. "Tarrodour?"

"You may call me Tarry, Daughter of Eve."

I smile. "And you may call me, Zaylie. I was just wondering, um... where exactly are we?"

He looks at me, eyes disbelieving, as if I just suggested we take down all the tents and go camping on Pluto. "You mean you don't know?"

"Would I have asked if I knew?" I try to keep the embarrassed venom out of my voice, but apparently, I don't do a very good job.

Tarry bows his head a little. "My apologies, Zaylie. It's just that... well, how could you be here and not know?"

"Well, I was in my bedroom reading a book."

"And?" He prompts, leaning forward as if expecting some great tale.

"And nothing. That's it. I was reading a book one second, and there was a huge whirlwind like a tornado the next. Then I was in the White Witch's camp being accused of magic and association with the Lion."

He stares at me for a few seconds and, in the awkward silence, the horse below me shifts. "Um, Daughter of Eve?"

"Yes?"

"Could you get off, please?"

"Oh. Oh. Of course." I'm so embarrassed that, even through my dark brown skin, I'm sure my cheeks are glaring red. "Um... Tarry? Could you, uh, help me get down?"

I swear goat-face is smirking at me, but I'm too humiliated to address it. "Of course, Zaylie." But at least he manages to help me off without an incident. The beautiful, yellow-white horse shakes herself and gives me a short nod. "It was an honor to carry you." She dips her head again in something of a horsey bow, and then gallops away.

Tarry is still smirking when I turn back to him. "Don't say a word."

"Of course not, Zaylie." But he's still grinning like my brother does every time I trip over my own two feet. "Would you like me to explain more about Narnia now?"

"Yes, please," I say, trying - and failing - to sound dignified.

"Very well, then." He nods. "Narnia is a world."

"A world?"

"Yes." Tarry sweeps his arms around, turning in a circle and gesturing to everything around us. "All the way up to those mountains, all the way down to those valleys. Everything you see is Narnia."

Whoa. "So I've wandered into another world?"

The faun looks at me with a strange expression. "Another world, Daughter of Eve."

"Zaylie," I remind him.

"Sorry, Zaylie."

I nod once, acknowledging the apology, though I'm not exactly paying attention to him. Really, I feel like breaking into that Aladdin song. A whole new world! A dazzling place I never knew!

I guess Edmund was more than right when he said he thought we were in another realm.

"Zaylie?" Tarry's voice calls me back to the present.

"Hmm?"

"What did you mean by 'another world?'"

For a second, I wonder if I should tell him. Then I shrug, figuring he'll find out sooner or later. "The one me and the Kings and Queens are from. It's much different from this one." I sweep my eyes around, taking in the tents, the wide array of wild animals, and beings that look like they sprung right out of my favorite fantasy book. "This looks like a cross between some fairy tale and the Middle Ages," I murmur, half to myself.

Tarry looks at me with that confused expression again. "I suppose those are things from... your world?"

"Well, yeah. Fairy tales, they're kind of like ancient stories with fairies and fantastical creatures." I'm not sure how to tell him that he doesn't exist except in books and crazy people's heads on Earth - so I don't. "And the Middle Ages are back before modern times."

He nods slowly, as if trying to grasp the concept. "Well, that's interesting. Is Narnia anything like your world?"

"Not much," I reply. "Except you do have mountains and grass and trees and animals - except ours don't talk - and people."

"No talking animals!" A very large beaver with a voice like a British cabbie approaches, frowning. "You've no talking animals on this other world?"

I shake my head. "None that I've ever met."

"You poor, deprived child." Another beaver comes up beside the first, her voice kind and caring, like my mother. "To live your life with only the non-speaking ones. What can your world have come to?" She shakes her head and tsks like I've missed out on the best part of childhood.

"Well, to be fair, we don't exactly have very many people," Tarry points out.

"You don't?"

"No." He shakes his head. "You, the Kings and Queens... and the White Witch." He grimaces at the last name. "You're the only ones."

"Who is the White Witch exactly?"

The beavers and the faun exchange frightened glances. "She's not someone you'll ever want to meet," Momma-Beaver says.

I shrug. "Unfortunately, I've already met her. What do you think I was tied up for?"

The two beavers stare at me, surprise clear in their wide eyes and slack jaws. "You met up with the Witch?" Cabbie-Beaver asks, his eyes bugging so wide I wonder how they don't pop out.

"Well, yes."

"And you're alive to tell the story?" Cabbie looks as if he'd like to pinch me to see if I'm real.

"Clearly," I say, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. "Why? Does she normally kill people?"

Tarry nods mournfully. "Any humans and anyone who helps them. My cousin Tumnus... he helped Queen Lucy escape the Witch and now, well, he's disappeared." Tarry shakes his head. "Most think he's dead.

I start to open my mouth, then clamp it shut, no idea what to say. What do you say to someone who's cousin probably died a terrible, torturous death to end oppression?

Clearing his throat, Tarry blinks away tears and forces a smile. "Would you like to hear more about Narnia?"

I nod quickly - too quickly probably. "Sure."

"Our land was created centuries ago by the great Lion you just saw, Aslan. He is our Lord and the Creator of everything, Him and His father, The Emperor Beyond The Sea.

"They've been gone a long time, though, and the White Witch took over-"

"Wait," I interrupt, "didn't they leave someone to lead in their stead? And why'd they go in the first place?" Seems to me any good rulers would stick around to make sure their people were protected.

Tarry sighs. "No, and we do not know. But we do know that everything they do is for a reason. And we have to trust that reason. The good news is," he goes on, and the smile leaps back on his face, "that winter is ending. After all this time, winter is finally ending." He gestures towards the flowers blooming and the snow melting off the trees. "And spring is finally returning. As will the rule of Aslan and the rightful Kings and Queens."

"But you'll have to fight the Witch for it first?"

He nods. "Yes. But we will succeed."

I don't want to burst his bubble or anything but... "How can you be sure?"

He smiles at me, and it's the warm, strong smile of someone so utterly confident and sure, it's like you can feel yourself growing sure the way they are. "It's like I told you. We must trust the Lion."

And strangely enough, I think I'm already beginning to.

The sun is all the way up by the time Edmund and Aslan return. The boy looks over at me, smiling a little, so I grin back. Though there's a funny look in his eyes, he seems okay, so I assume the Lion hasn't been too hard on poor Edmund. I'm glad. Even though I haven't known him very long, and I do know he's made some mistakes, I think the kid could really use a break.

A little ways away, one of the tents bursts open, and someone calls my new friend's name. We all turn towards the tall, blonde boy standing in the entrance of a tent, holding back a little girl with ginger-brown hair and a teenager with long locks as dark as Edmund's. I'd guess those are the famous Pevensies, future rulers of Narnia.

The four of them stare at each other for several seconds, perhaps locked in some sort of mind-to-mind conversation I've heard some siblings can have. But when Aslan nods, and Edmund approaches them, they all break out of their trance, smile, and envelop their brother in sweet hugs.

Smiling, I turn away to give them some privacy, hoping I can finally take a nap or something - only to find the Lord of all Narnia staring straight at me. "Daughter of Eve," He says quietly.

My exhaustion disappears and my breath catches, but I reply without a waver in my voice. "Yes?"

"Come with me." The Lion turns, heading back to the hill He and Edmund just came from. "We have much to discuss as well."

I follow Him silently, wondering what we could possibly have to talk about. But if He's the God of this realm, I suppose He could probably tell me what in the world I'm doing in Narnia.

As I catch up with Him, matching the Lion's loping stride, He says, "You're wondering what your purpose is, young one."

Whoa. That was so not a question. It's like He read my mind. "Um... yeah."

"That I cannot tell you."

"You can't?" I didn't mean for it to come out so surprised. It's just that, after He read my mind and all, I was kinda figuring, heck, He must be able to do anything.

But the Lion only chuckles. "It is not that I don't know, only that it is your path. And your path, you must find yourself."

"Oh," I say. That's... really helpful.

Except that it's not.

"But you will not be on your own." His eyes find mine again, but I don't feel the overwhelming emotions quite so strong this time. "And there is one thing I will tell you."

"Yes?"

"You are here to assist the Pevensies."

I look back at the group of siblings. The blonde one has a sword tucked in a scabbard, and, though he looks young, I get the feeling he can use it pretty good. The older girl is wearing a quiver of arrows on her back and a bow slung over her shoulder; anyone who walks around like that this early in the morning has gotta know what they're doing. Only the youngest don't look like threats, but I'm sure the older two are perfectly able to impart their wisdom to their younger brother and sister.

And then there's me. Little old Zaylie Aralynn. "They need me?"

He nods. "Yes. Each of the Pevensies is vital to the prophecy. But you, too, are necessary to the defeat of the White Witch. Believe it or not, you have already begun to help them."

"How?" The word just blurts out of my mouth. Running over the past couple hours in my mind, I can't think of anything I've done that's all that great.

"Did you not encourage Edmund while he sat bound, beaten, and utterly discouraged, held captive by the White Witch?"

"Well, yeah, but-"

"Never underestimate the power of words, young one. Sometimes, they are even more powerful than a sword or a spear."

I think about that for a moment. "So... my job is to encourage them so much they can't possibly fail?"

He chuckles, a deep, golden sound. "You shall find your way, Zaylie Hepburn. I have no doubt of it." Then He winks and strides away, leaving me standing there at the top of a grassy knoll for all to see, understanding my purpose no better than I did ten minutes ago.

"Zaylie!" I turn to the sound of Edmund's voice, and wave back when he waves me down. "Come here!"

I walk over to the Pevensies, and, with a grin that splits his busted lip, Edmund introduces us. "This is Peter," he gestures toward the tall, blonde boy, "Susan," The bow-and-arrow girl, "and Lucy," the smallest one, who can't be more than eight or nine.

I smile. "Nice to meet you all."

Lucy practically jumps me, she's in such a hurry to give me a hug. "Thank you for taking care of Edmund."

I grin, patting her back. I'm already being recognized by the future Kings and Queens of Narnia. Sweet. "Oh, I didn't do much, really."

"Nonsense," Susan says, a warm smile on her face. "You're one of the people responsible for bringing him back alive. Thank you."

If my skin was lighter, I would once again be blushing. "Oh, well... you're uh... you're welcome."

Peter shoots us a grin. "Hungry, you two?"

Edmund and I both nod vigorously. The Witch doesn't exactly have a hot prisoner treatment policy.

"Then come on. We were just about to eat breakfast."

And so, I troop off with the future Kings and Queens of Narnia, not quite sure what I've gotten myself into. But, now that I'm safe and about to get some food in my stomach, I'm not sure I care.

So as pennance for the last short chapter, here's a relatively long one. Hope you liked, thanks for reading, and please review!