A/N: Finaaallly! :DD I'm SOOO SORRY I've kept you all waiting! I've been writing as much as I can with what free time I have. Which isn't much, band takes up my whole life, and when I'm not at rehearsal I'm doing homework :P I won't have as much time to post because competition season has started and we've been going to competitions literally every weekend and will be until Thanksgiving break. I really hope you guys haven't lost interest, for those of you who've been reading since the beginning. And I hope you new readers don't lose interest as it goes on. Enjoy!

P.S. For those of you who don't remember, Astrid's 'other self' made an appearance in "Chapter 2: There is No Us" it's sort of an entity/being Astrid keeps inside herself. I don't want to say too much, so I'll leave at this: they can communicate at will, just choose not to. Until now..

Chapter 8: Having another Half is Annoying

'What do you think you are doing?' cried the beast in Astrid's head.

'Why do you care all of a sudden?' she countered.

'You're going around acting like a human, but that doesn't mean you should grow feelings for one of them.'

'Oh shut up, I can do whatever I want. It's different here.'

Her other self growled, 'Yes, it is different. This body is as strong as we were in our world, just imagine how much stronger we'll be when you finally let go of this! And besides, think of what will happen when you release us from this body. Do you think the boy will still have feelings for you? What about the other humans, and the dwarf? You've been lying to them since we came to their world, and now this one too! They won't trust us anymore. If we really do end up stronger than we already are, what will you do if you accidentally hurt one of them? What if you hurt the boy, Edmund? You need to think about these things!'

There was silence between the two. '…You're right. But I'll be careful, I promise.' Astrid quietly said.

'Promises aren't good enough, girl. You have to protect these humans, that is what the nekko said. That's why he gave you Saiga. It seems you're just going to be their bodyguard.'

Astrid's anger rose, but diminished when she realized the truth of the beast's words. 'If what you say is all true, then I'd rather go off on my own so I don't worry about hurting my friends, be it now or later on. I know Aslan wants me to protect them, but I can't do it without being scared of what I could possibly do.' 'The giant nekko knows what we are. He knows what we can do, and he thinks we'll be able to do our job. Have faith in Aslan, even if he is a nekko.' Astrid bit back a growl, 'Just because Aslan is a nekko doesn't mean you can take a jab at him like that .I know the Nekko-Youkai didn't get along with our own clan, but we're not in the Sengoku Jidai anymore. We're in Narnia now, a world created by a lion. We must accept everyone here, be they human, cat, horse, or dog if they are going to accept us.'

'That's exactly it though..Will they?' Astrid sighed as the beast retreated. As annoying, manipulative, and greedy as the creature could be, she knew it was right, and she had trust in Aslan and herself to keep her friends safe, be it from danger or from herself.

The group continued to march along, Astrid wasn't really sure where, but she had heard Trumpkin say something about a place called Beruna. After what felt like an hour, she heard shouting in the distance. No one else could hear it, but Astrid was immediately on her guard. She could also hear horses among the voices, and she smelled freshly chopped wood.

There were many trees blocking her vision, but she could just make out something blue-gray, with rocks on either side. 'It's a river, I think. But it's still, shouldn't it be running?' As they slowly got closer, Astrid felt her stomach tighten with nerves, and not the good kind. Her muscles slowly became more and more tense, until she almost froze on the spot. When there was a tap on her shoulder, Astrid whirled around, trying her best not to reach for Saiga. When she saw it was Peter, Astrid quickly righter herself with a sigh of relief.

He gave her a confused look and slowly said, "Are you alright? You're acting a bit odd, like you're on edge." "I'm fine, Peter. My stomach just feels a bit funny."

"Is it because of a certain boy with black hair who's name starts with 'E'?" he smirked.

Astrid laughed a bit and shook her head in denial. "No, it has nothing to do with Edmund. Why do you mention him?"

Peter smirked again and lightly chuckled, "He's been staring at you since we were at the gorge."

"He..he has? Astrid showed no sign of what she was thinking, acting indifferent to the news.

"Well, not exactly staring. He's been ogling you for a minute or so, barely missing running into trees, then going back to looking at you."

"Hmm..well I didn't notice at all." Astrid looked away in thought. Peter patter her shoulder and said, "Sure you didn't." his voice filled with sarcasm.

As he walked on ahead of her the beast growled, 'Already the boy is growing feelings for you. Do not lead him on.' Astrid huffed, Well how will I be leading him on if I really do feel the same?'

In a surprisingly gentle tone, the beast said, 'If you don't want to hurt him, you should stop this before it gets bad.'

'How do you know it'll get bad? How does anyone know?'

Still in a soothing tone, the beast replied, 'I don't. I am merely being cautious. For both your sake and his.' It retreated with a soft murmur, 'I'll be watching and communicating with you a lot more from now on.'

Astrid looked over towards Edmund. He seemed normal enough; he was walking behind Lucy and talking with Trumpkin. He looked around the forest and Astrid was quick to avert her eyes when he looked at her. She glanced over to see that he was still looking at her.

The two had a small staring contest until Astrid made a face at him, which made him burst out laughing. Trumpkin gave her a look but just chuckled when she made the same face at him. Astrid giggled and walked to catch up with Susan."How've you been since we got here?" she quietly asked the pretty girl.

Susan sighed, "I've been alright. Wearing these clothes and having my bow and arrow make me feel at home again. I'm happier walking around a forest in a Narnia that's changed than I was in England. Yet some part of me can't help but wonder if this time we'll be able to stay here, forever instead of getting sent back. I'm not treated like Queen Susan the Gentle in England, and I've gotten used to it, accepted it, and tried to move on. But it's hard, like I have to put on a mask, become a new person. I'm sorry if I'm not making any sense, this has gotten me a bit out of sorts."

Astrid smiled and said, "No, I understand what you mean. Why don't you act like the queen you are in England? Why pretend?"

Susan murmured, "I really don't know. I tried for a time, I really did, but all it did was make my peers think I'm weird and my teachers wonder about my attitude change. I didn't like it, so I stopped."

Astrid frowned in thought. 'She's used to being treated like a regular girl, instead of the queen she really is. I would never forget who I am. I'll act differently if need be, but I wouldn't forget my birthright and royal status.'

"Hmm..I think, that as long as you don't forget who you really are, you can pretend. Just don't lose sight of yourself."

"Susan gave her a confused look, "But how do I not forget? How can I remember?"

"Look at your brothers and sister. They'll make you remember who you are. All you have to do is look at them and you'll see the greatness of Narnia in them, showing no matter what."

Susan smiled as Astrid put her arm around her shoulder, and did the same with Astrid. The two girls walked on in comfortable silence.

Not long after, Astrid could make out what the shouts she had heard earlier were about. The people in the distance were trying to build a bridge. She could also see the numerous felled trees in the area they were working in. She looked around and could tell that everyone else had finally heard the noise too.

Peter and Edmund silently drew their swords, Trumpkin and Susan their bows. They slowly crept nearer, until they found a place where they could hide without being seen. No one could really see what was going on, they were hiding behind a pile of logs. Astrid could hear every little thing that was being said, but it was hard to concentrate with others yelling, horses neighing, and Edmund breathing in what he supposed was a silent way. Because it was hard to concentrate on every conversation, Astrid caught bits and pieces of who she assumed were in charge were saying.

She picked up key phrases or words like "Prince Caspian", "Ghosts in the night", "Lord Miraz", and "Old Narnia", but soon after that it seemed the conversation had ended. Slowly they crept away from their hiding spot and back into the forest. Lucy was the first to start asking questions. "Were they the Telmarines you were talking about earlier? What were they trying to build?" Everyone looked at Trumpkin expectantly. He told them who Prince Caspian was, and that he had run away when his uncle, Lord Miraz tried to kill him.

Caspian fled the castle he lived in and found the Old Narnians, who he thought to be extinct. He wants to take his crown back and restore the land to its rightful owners. Miraz had men hunting down Caspian, trying to capture him. "Which is why they're trying to build a bridge?" questioned Astrid, and she was right.

Everyone decided that they needed to find Caspian as soon as possible, and help him beat Lord Miraz so the Narnians could have their land back and live without fear. Once they started walking, the group fell into silence. It went on that way for a while, until they heard a yelp, followed by a thud and a groan of pain. They turned around to see Lucy had disappeared.

Soon everyone started laughing as they realized she had tripped and was hidden by the tall undergrowth of the forest. Astrid went to pull Lucy up from the ground. "Are you ok?" she asked with a chuckle. Lucy sat up with a look of exhilaration on her face, "Oh, yes I'm fine. Funny wasn't it?" she asked with a huge smile. Astrid laughed and said, "Hilarious, Lucy."

After picking up Lucy and setting her on her feet-on the other side of Saiga, even though the sword couldn't been seen it could still be felt-the group went back on their way. After madly wandering around the forest, they were able to find a way down the gorge and settled down in a clearing to rest for the night.

Once the group was fed and warmed by the fire they had made, everyone lay down to get some sleep. Peter and Trumpkin had been the first to fall asleep, much to everyone's expectations. Astrid lay between Susan and Edmund, listening to their quiet voices.

Soon Astrid turned to the dark-haired Pevensie and asked, "Edmund, will you finish telling me the story about your first time here?"

"But you already know what happens."

She glanced at him, "So? I want to know what happened with that mad woman you met."

Edmund sighed and said, "Alright, fine. I'll tell you the rest but mind you, I don't know much of what the others did after I left them at Beaver's Dam."

He looked at her, and Astrid nodded her head and gave him a small smile. Edmund continued the story, telling her what his time with the White Witch had been like, how he was rescued and forgiven by Aslan, the battle he participated in, and being stabbed in the stomach by the Witch when he broke her wand.

Astrid had turned towards him and put her hand on his shoulder again when it got too hard for him to keep talking. When Edmund finally finished the story, everyone else was already asleep and the fire had gone nearly all the way out. They lied in silence for a few minutes before Astrid took and deep breath and said, "Wow, that's amazing.. I'm sorry you had to go through such horrible treatment."

Edmund turned onto his side so he was facing her and said, "It's ok, I was a downright git then, I deserved it."

Astrid replied, "It doesn't matter how terrible you were before, no one deserves to go through that."

Edmund sighed and didn't respond. Astrid continued, "But it made you a much better person. I can see now why you do so many good things for your brother and sisters."

The youngest Pevensie boy sighed again, but this time spoke. "I suppose you're right. I'm still trying to make it up to them, even though I've already spent a lifetime doing it."

Astrid grinned a bit and said, "So long as you don't spend two lifetimes doing it. At some point you're going to have to live for yourself, free of the guilt."

"Yeah.. You're right."

"Glad you see it my way. Now, go to sleep, it's late."

"Yes, mum." Astrid laughed softly at his sarcastic tone and said, "Goodnight Edmund."

"Goodnight Astrid. Sweet dreams. And.. Thanks."

She smiled and thanked the stars that the fire had gone out completely a few minutes ago, for the darkness hid the blush that had risen when his hand found hers. She hadn't realized she'd kept her hand on his shoulder until he gently squeezed her own. Astrid squeezed his hand back and with that, they both fell asleep, facing each other with their fingers intertwined and smiles on their faces.

A/N: Pleease tell me what you guys think! Again, I'm terribly sorry for the over-due update. I really hope you all still like it! I'll try to update faster if I can, but no guarantees, real life often gets in the way.