It seems I'm failing horribly at writing long enough chapters! haha I will try to make this one as long as I possibly can :P Thanks, as always, to those of you who reviewed. :) I love you all! Guess what? we get to learn more about Zooey today! woot. Oh, the wonders of Aslan. haha

When he was finished speaking, Aslan looked down at me while the rest of the camp went about their business once more. I still hadn't released Peter's hand - I couldn't bring myself to do it! I was still sort of freaking out...

"Come inside, Zooey Parker," He commanded, "And we shall speak in private." Without waiting to see if I would follow him, he turned and went into the tent out of which, I assumed, he had emerged.

I felt Peter loosen his hold on my hand, obviously wanting to release me so that I could go and speak with the Great Lion. Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to allow him to let me go. My grip tightened at the first sign of losing contact and I looked over at him, frightened. "Come with me?!" I begged. The idea of being completely alone with Aslan, alone to hear my fate, was terrifying! How could I defend myself? Aslan, obviously, already trusted and respected Peter. Maybe, if I had a future King of Narnia on my side, Aslan's judgement might not be too harsh. Alone, I had no one to vouch for me and for my sanity. Everything would ride on me making a good impression - I've always been really bad with first impressions. All over the place - awkward, fidgety...With the added stress of possible impending doom, I was completely screwed! "Please?"

Peter obviously took pity on me and he spoke like he was speaking to a child, "Zooey, I don't think that's what he meant. He wants to speak with you. Alone. It'll be alright." He gave me a reassuring smile, "We'll wait right here, I promise."

I looked past him at Lucy and Susan to see what they thought. Lucy simply nodded her head, agreeing to Peter's promise. Susan, I knew, would be waiting only to hear what Aslan's verdict was. I gulped, slowly and reluctantly letting him go.

"Shouldn't keep him waiting." Peter muttered.

He was right - that would probably only make the situation worse. I felt like I would fall over without someone there to keep me up. I had to focus on breathing properly in order to control my racing heart. I couldn't even force a smile, so, I simply nodded my head once at them to show my understanding before I turned on my heel and faced the entrance to the tent. The only thing that stood between me and a very large and potentially dangerous lion was a thin piece of draping fabric. It wasn't too comforting.

"Deep breath." I whispered under my breath, quiet enough that the others wouldn't hear me talking to myself. I obeyed my own command and inhaled deeply before stepping forward on shaky legs and pushing aside the flaps on the tent.

The inside was surprisingly spacious, although that could have been due to the fact that there was no bed to take up space. There were only large cushions on the floor and a large table set right smack in the middle of the space. Aslan was waiting on one of the cushions, his tail curling and swaying back and forth behind him. His face held a welcoming smile and he said nothing of how I had kept him waiting. "Sit, Daughter of Eve."

I looked around for a nearby cushion - preferably once that wasn't too close to Aslan - and plopped down unceremoniously once I found one. As soon as I was seated, however, I wondered if maybe I should have bowed or something. Worried that I may have made my first mistake, I looked up sheepishly and apologized.

"You're forgiven." He chuckled deeply before his large face turned serious. "Now, tell me how you have come to be here."

'Here.' I completely over thought his wording and got confused as to whether he meant here, as in, his camp or here, as in, Narnia. Not wanting to make a fool of myself - again - by having to ask him which one, I decided to just start from the beginning and tell him everything. "W-well, I was watching TV with my Mom and then she went to go to sleep, so, I was by myself, then the house got really cold and the floors started freezing - " I didn't notice how his expression darkened at this, " - so, I kind of got freaked out and I tried to get upstairs, but when I got closer to the stairs, the ice...t-the ice sort of...built up around me and I fell back - though my wall! - and I landed here. Then, I met the Peve- I mean, the Kings and Queens, and we went to Lucy's friend Tumnus' house where there was this letter - "

"That's good enough, Zooey." He interrupted.

"Oh. Sorry."

He sighed, "I had hoped you weren't her."

"You know, the Beavers said something similar." I pointed out.

"Did they?" He acknowledged my comment politely before continuing his thought, "I knew your mother."

"My mother?!"

He nodded his head, "Yes. She came to me many, many years ago - when the White Witch's reign had only just begun - to ask for my help. She had run away, you see. She was a slave the Witch had gathered in her travellings, before she'd had the time or power to recruit Narnian followers. Your mother had lost faith and was among the first to join the Witch's cause. She came to me after you were created - before you were born, of course. How you were made - how that witch -" He spat the word as if it were a poison, " - could create life, I do not understand...but, faithful the the Witch, your mother agreed to carry you and raise you until you were old enough to survive your task, but as you grew within her, she grew to love you, care about you and, knowing what you were destined to become, she left, seeking me out. I agreed to help her only for the sake of my people. I sent her to the world you know as home - the same world that the Kings and Queens hail from. It was difficult, but I managed to find a way to send you into a different place in time so that, should the Witch seek you out, she would not be able to find you." Again, he sighed, closing his eyes, "It appears I underestimated her."

I couldn't digest this. My mother...had lived in Narnia? "I think I'm going to be sick." I warned him. Thankfully, I didn't throw up.

I wasn't something Mom had wanted, I wasn't even conceived by love. I was created. Like some test-tube child or a lab rat. An experiment - not a person! I was something bred for a horrific purpose. Tearfully, I raised my eyes to his - which were filled with pity - and I knew in that moment that Aslan did not blame me for what I was. He did not loath me as others did...because he knew my story.

"I know better than most that you can't judge someone without knowing their full story."

I swallowed past the lump in my throat - I wanted all the answers now. There was no use in stopping here and allowing my emotions to cloud my judgement. I needed to know everything. "And...you said something about what I was 'destined to become'. What..." I had to stop, take a few deep breaths with my eyes closed in order to keep my voice level and my tears at bay, "What is that, exactly?"

"Everything does not have to revealed at once, young one. It is a lot to accept, and you will need time."

"I want to know," my voice broke, "Please."

"She told me that death itself would course through your veins should she ever hand you over to the White Witch."

"W-what does that m-mean?" I pressed, my teeth clenched together in a futile effort not to cry.

"It means that she must never know you are here." He didn't answer my question the way I'd wanted him to, but I said nothing. "I will find a way to get you home again, Zooey Parker, you have my word - but I will need time. For the sake of my people, you will not remain in Narnia while the Witch still roams free. As soon as I find away, you will leave without question. Do you understand?" His voice had hardened as he spoke to me of his plans.

I was sobbing now, staring down into my lap. How could I go home? How could I face my mother? I understood, though, and I nodded my head to show this. "I'm sorry." I bawled, looking up at him briefly.

His expression softened and I could see regret in his dark eyes, "As am I, young one."

His kindness only made it worse. Up until now, all I had wanted was to be home. Now, home wasn't what I'd thought it was. I didn't want to leave, yet I knew I couldn't stay as long as that Witch lived. I was inconsolable.

I heard movement as he rose, "Take all the time you need." He said as he passed me. "You will stay with me while you are here. I will have Oreius and his men build a bed for you." I heard a 'swish' as he passed through the flaps to exit the tent, and then I was alone.

Moaning in pain, I let my head fall into my hands and I cried and cried until I had lost the energy to cry and then I simply sat, motionless, staring straight ahead at the walls of the tent. Even if Aslan found a way to get me home, who's to say the Witch wouldn't be able to find me and pull me back? I was trapped inside my head, trapped by my emotions and my loathsome hate toward my cowardly mother. How could she agree to something so...sick? To agree to raise a child, knowing that they were born purely for the purpose of killing! God, and now that I knew the people that I was meant - no, born - to kill, that thought was even more disturbing. Such amazing, brave, friendly people...I felt my stomach heave and I shot up, running out of the tent before I could throw up inside.

"Zooey?!"

It was a good thing I hadn't eaten in a while. I mostly just dry heaved, gasping. I felt a hand on my back.

"Is she alright?" I heard Susan ask, sounding genuinely concerned.

I closed my eyes, staying bent over the ground while I caught my breath. I tucked my hair behind my ears.

"What happened?" I heard Peter ask me, his voice quiet. It was so unfair - there was no reason for them to have to pay for something my stupid mother had done. I didn't want to hurt Susan or Lucy...or Peter - he'd been so good to me. I let him help me stand straight once more. He kept his hand on my back - worried that I might collapse or throw up again, probably. Unbelievably, when I looked up at him, I felt my eyes well up with tears yet again and I threw my arms around him. I must have taken him by surprise, because it took a moment before he wrapped his arms around me, "Hey...It's alright." He sounded sort of uncomfortable, but I really didn't care. I needed a friend, and he was the closest thing I had to a true, good friend in Narnia. Lucy - little Lucy, she really was an incredible little girl - stepped forward and rubbed my back soothingly while I cried on Peter's shoulder.

"There, there..." She cooed.

After a few moments, I started to calm down a bit. I sniffled, releasing Peter and stepping back. Usually, I would have been ashamed or embarassed, but not this time. I felt sort of...numb. My eyes were sore and I felt like I couldn't speak - I didn't really want to speak. I was withdrawing into myself.

"Are you alright?" Peter asked.

I shrugged, giving him a half nod. Of course, it was a lie. But I didn't want to talk about anything just yet.

"That's good..." He muttered. I think he understood what I was feeling as he, too, had been in a similar position where there had been issues that he hadn't wanted to discuss. I'd never pushed him, and I was grateful when he didn't push me. "Well, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you smell like...well, like you've just been ill."

I gave a short snicker at his attempt at lightening the mood, grinning at him despite my horrible depression. I was really starting to like Peter Pevensie.

"Lucy and I were just going to go down to the stream nearby to wash up - Oreius brought us a change of clothes. You're welcome to join us." She smiled invitingly and I blinked at her, momentarily stunned by how friendly she was being. She shifted her weight, obviously feeling uncomfortable with how long I was taking to reply.

"S-Sure." My voice sounded rough from all the crying and I cleared my throat.

"Wonderful!" Lucy ran over to the pile of clothing, gathering the garments into her arms, "I picked out a dress for you while we were waiting! I hope you like it." She grabbed my hand and began pulling me after Susan, who was already heading for the stream, clearly eager to clean up a bit.

I smiled sadly at Peter as we passed him, slowing for a moment, "Thanks, Pete." I muttered, knowing he would understand what, exactly, I was thanking him for.

He smiled, "You're welcome."

Now that I'd said my thanks, I let Lucy pull me through the trees. I wasn't really paying much attention to where I was going - I was still sort of in depressed trance mode - so, it was a good thing that Lucy was leading the way. I didn't admire the beauty of the forest or the flowers on the trees as I had before. To be completely honest, if Susan and Lucy decided to just leave me at the stream when they were finished, I probably wouldn't even have known how to get back. I was a bit like a zombie.

We stopped at the water's edge and Lucy handed me one of the garments she was carrying. I accepted it with a quiet 'thank you' and a small smile.

"You'll feel better after you bathe." She assured me, "I always do."

I watched her go off to find Susan before I sighed, pulling off my damp pajamas. I hung my clothes over a nearby treebranch, wanting to allow them to dry off, before wading out into the water. I was surprised by how warm it was - only an hour or so earlier it had been winter in Narnia. I cleaned off all the dirt and grime that had built up during our journey, washing my hair as best as I could without shampoo, before pulling myself out once again. Usually, I would have taken my time with it - would have gone for a swim or something and just enjoyed the water. I wasn't really in much of a swimming mood, though. I picked up the change of clothes Lucy had picked out for me and quickly put them on, feeling odd standing naked in the middle of the forest. Once I was fully clothed, I took the opportunity to examine the dress Lucy had chosen. It was fairly plain, but beautiful all the same - made out of a light-weight, deep blue fabric with hints and touches of grey stitching and lacing up the back. I smiled - it really was a great choice.

After grabbing my clothes off the branch, I made my way down the stream in the direction that Lucy had gone. When I heard their voices, I stopped, not wanting to intrude on anything, "Lucy, Susan - are you decent?" I called.

Lucy giggled, "Yes!"

Smiling to myself, I continued on until I spotted them sitting on the bank. Susan was wringing the excess water out of her long, dark hair while Lucy was exploring the small shore. I paused, tugging at my skirt uncertainly before I approached where Susan was sitting on a protruding rock with her feet dangling in the water. "Can I sit with you?"

She smiled up at me before scooting over to make room for me to sit beside her, "Of course."

"Thanks..." I tucked my skirt under me, pulling it up over my knees so that I, too, could dangle my feet in the water as she was.

"How are you feeling?"

I thought for a moment about my answer. I was feeling much more relaxed, much more in control of my emotions. I didn't feel like crying or anything like that. I felt serene, mellow...maybe a little tired, mentally and emotionally. "Better, actually." I assured her with a smile.

"That's good to hear." She hesitated and I chuckled - I knew her well enough now to know that she desperately wanted to ask about what had transpired between Aslan and I. Talking about it with someone would surely help me to cope and, when she finally got the courage to ask about it, I was ready to answer as best as I could. "Would you mind if I asked what Aslan said?"

"He told me I could stay...but only until he found a way to get me home." I glanced over at her and saw her eyebrows furrowed as she pondered how to word her questions. "Look, Susan, I want to talk about it. Really, I do - I just...I just need to be prompted, I guess. I wouldn't know where to begin - so, really, by asking me about it, you'll be helping me to deal with all of this. So, whatever you want to know, just ask. I promise I won't be offended." I looked away, preparing myself mentally for her questions. I hoped that I was ready for what might be said. Mostly, I really hoped that I didn't cry, again.

"Alright." She began, "Are you...are you dangerous?"

"Apparently." I chuckled darkly, "But...it's sort of complicated. I'm not dangerous unless the White Witch gets her hands on me - but I have the potential to be dangerous."

I could see a slight relief on her face and, before she could even ask her next question, the rest of the story poured out of me. Like I needed that outlet. I needed someone else to tell me that this wasn't my fault. I needed to get everything out, as if saying the words would take the weight off of my chest. I wanted someone to share my burden - to help me carry it. Most of all, though, I think I wanted to lay everything out for her. Now that I knew my horrible truth, I wanted to hear Susan's judgement...

Because I knew she wouldn't sugarcoat anything to spare my feelings. Even though I was closer with Peter, I didn't need kindness. I needed honesty. After I'd told her everything Aslan had told me, I waited in silence, watching Lucy explore. I wished I was able to enjoy Narnia the way she did...it really was a beautiful place.

"I'm sorry, Zooey." Susan said, placing a hand on my shoulder. I could hear shame in her voice, "I've been unfair to you -"

I frowned, "No, you haven't..."

"I have." She argued, and I didn't bother to dispute. "You're not a killer! I see that now - surely, you must see it, too!" I knew she'd heard the self doubt in my voice as I'd told her my story. Susan was much too smart to miss it.

"Of course I do, but-"

"But nothing!" She was beaming over at me. She took both my hands in hers, turning to face me, "She can do to you what she will - breed you for whatever purpose she chooses - but she can not control your thoughts - your morals. Oh, Zooey, don't you see?! You will always possess free will - thank goodness, I'd worried that maybe she would be able to control you somehow...This is wonderful!"

"W-Wonderful?"

She shifted, growing frustrated with my refusal to see her point, "Honestly, come on! Whatever power she may give you, so be it. Let her give it to you. But only you can choose how to use that power."

eh. I really like the first half up until she went to the stream with Lucy and Susan.
then it just went kind of bleh for me. haha
hopefully it's alright for you guys.

review and let me know!