AN: I know how much you all love how fast I update. I love it too. Having recently graduated from college, I'm still in the process of looking for a job. Darn this bad economy! So I've had a lot of time to write, seeing as how I'm not too busy with school or work. HOWEVER... as of yesterday afternoon, that all changed and I got a job! So... my updates won't be as quick. Which is why I've given you three new chapters to read!

Chapter 8

The next week flew by for Georgie as she became better acquainted with the kings and queens and her new home in Narnia.

It wasn't long after their first meeting that Susan and Lucy had bounded into Georgie's bed chamber and spent the entire night talking and laughing with her. It reminded Georgie of the first few days of school each year when she and her dorm mates, returning from summer break, would stay up all night catching up with each other, gossiping about the girls who had gotten bad haircuts over the summer and discussing how horrid the new French teacher looked (someone who seemed to only get worse each year in Georgie's opinion). Susan had promised her that they would find suitable clothes for her, as the dozen or so dresses in Georgie's room were "horribly out of fashion," according to her. Lucy filled her in on castle gossip, telling her of who was a dreadful bore and who to see when she wanted a late night snack and other such silly things that only a 15 year old would think of. They both answered questions she had about Narnia and themselves, as well as explaining why they all referred to her as "Lady Georgiana," something that had been confusing Georgie since she had met King Caspian.

Lucy answered her question, shrugging, "Everyone at the castle, save for us, is Lord or Lady Something-or-Other. You're here at the castle, so you're Lady Georgiana."

"But who decides to call someone Lord or Lady? If you don't know the person to already have a title, who makes that decision to give them one?" she asked, wondering if she should correct them in their thinking that she was a Lady. At home, only certain people were given such titles, although she couldn't remember exactly how they received those titles there either.

Susan and Lucy both laughed at her question before Lucy answered "Why we do of course! We are in charge here, remember?" She winked at Georgie, causing her to burst into giggles. She then recalled Lucy speaking to her at dinner. "You don't call me Lady though," she stated, hoping she did not sound indignant.

Lucy shrugged again, smiling warmly at Georgie. "Well we're friends."

During their late night chat, Susan had discovered that Georgie was an accomplished archer and had invited her to practice with her. Georgie was glad to have an activity she dearly loved in common with the queen and gladly accepted her invitation.

"Be careful," Edmund had teased. "Susan's known for being one of the best archers in Narnia and she works hard to hold on to that title. Try not to knock her down too many pegs." Susan had slapped his arm gently before the three of them had laughed over Edmund's joke. Susan and Georgie's practices usually turned into competitions, each girl trying to out perform the other by pointing out near impossible targets for each other to hit. By the third day, Edmund pronounced them equally matched and that, no matter how hard they tried, neither would top the other.

Peter and Lucy took it upon themselves to introduce Georgie to the members of the court and the Council advisors. By the end of the week Georgie's head was swimming with the names of the people and various creatures she had met. When she mentioned this to Lucy, the girl laughed and said, "Don't worry about it. You'll learn them all eventually. We've been working on getting everyone's name straight for years now." She grinned mischievously and added, "We also never make introductions alone. That way, if one of us cannot remember a name, the other surely must know it!"

As promised, Edmund showed her the enormous library Cair Paravel boasted. Georgie's jaw had dropped when she stepped into the massive room; books lined the walls on floor to ceiling shelves. Edmund chuckled at her reaction and pulled her towards his favorite sections, telling her which books he found interesting and which books to skip over. He pointed out sections containing the histories of almost every subject in Narnia and its surrounding countries, as well as sections filled with books on Narnia's former kings and queens.

"I suspect you'll find a couple on me in that section," Edmund had said jokingly.

Nearly every afternoon she found herself in the library, curled up on a large plush chair next to a window, pouring through text after text on the various subjects related to Narnia and its impressive history. Reading about Narnia brought up dozens of questions, causing her to dash to the nearest king or queen to ask him or her to explain certain events of the past.

Each of the kings and queens had easily accepted Georgie into their small circle, finding her curiosity with her new life and theirs' amusing. They enjoyed her company and the refreshing change having a new face brought. Georgie found a comfort with her new friends that came naturally, one she had never quite experienced before.

It was late one night when Georgie found herself laying in bed, a large smile on her face. This has been one of the best times of my life, she thought, reminiscing over the events of the week. I love my new friends and how they've made me feel so welcome and wanted here. Why, I've hardly even thought of home over the past few days!

This realization caused her chest to tighten, but the pain was not uncomfortable as it had been. Before, the pain felt splitting, as though her heart was being ripped into several smaller pieces. She would grasp at her chest hoping that somehow that would ease the pain, but finding no relief. This current, new pain, if it could be called pain at all, felt like a squeeze, familiar to someone holding your hand and gently squeezing. The pain of losing her parents was still there, but had eased for her since she arrived in Narnia. She knew that her parents, like she, were in another land, and hoped that they were learning to enjoy their new lives without her, as she was learning to enjoy hers without them. With this new understanding, the tightening in her chest began to loosen and her eyelids grew heavy. It was soon after that she fell asleep.

"Georgie," came a voice, no louder than a whisper. Georgie's eyes flew open. She climbed out of bed and walked to the door leading to her bed chamber's balcony. Pushing the door open, she stepped out into the warm night air. "Come!" came the voice again, still soft. She stepped out onto the balcony and walked to its edge, peering over the side. There was nothing there below her. She glanced up at the moonless night sky, hoping to see where the voice had come from, but finding it as empty as the ground below.

"Wake!" cried the voice.

Georgie's eyes shot open and she sat up straight, gasping as her heart raced from the dream. Her skin felt clammy in a cold sweat. Forcing herself to calm down, she pushed back her covers and turned so her feet dangled over the side of the bed, her hands grasping the sheets on either side of her. Feeling wide awake, she stood and slid her feet into her slippers, grabbing the wrapper that had been tossed onto a nearby chair. She slipped it over her nightgown and tightened the belt as she made her way to the balcony door. I must be crazy to want to go out there, she thought as she grasped the handle of the door. Shaking her head slightly, she pushed the door open and walked out onto the spacious balcony shivering as the cool night air hit her skin. Her balcony overlooked one of the castle's many gardens, the one below being one of Cair Paravel's renowned apple orchards, which Georgie had found herself in many times, enjoying the sweet smell the trees seemed to give off. She stood against the side of the balcony, leaning her arms against its stone railing. Looking up into the sky, she saw that it was a moonless night, just as it had been in her dream. That's funny. What an odd coincidence, she thought. I wonder... She glanced down into the garden, expecting it to be dark as well, as it had been in her dream.

What she saw there astonished her. It was a great lion, larger than any one she had ever seen. The lion seemed to give off a light, illuminating the darkness below. Its head turned and looked up at Georgie; she noticed his eyes seemed to smile as he looked at her. She felt as though she should be afraid that there was a lion in such close proximity to her, and that maybe she should alert the guards, but something about the lion told her not to be afraid. A wave of calmness overcame her as she stared at the lion, its mouth opening and saying, "Do not be afraid. Come to me. We have much to say." Georgie nodded and turned back to her room and rushed to get to the garden.

Georgie ran into the garden, her wrapper flapping behind her. She stopped several yards from the Lion, hesitant to approach it any further for fear that it had tricked her into coming to it to be its midnight snack.

"Come closer," said the Lion, shaking its mane as though it was disappointed she had not trusted it to keep her safe. Georgie walked closer, slowly, as the Lion watched her. A deep chuckle came from it, causing Georgie to cock her head and look at the Lion in confusion and disbelief. Should lions chuckle like that? Actually, should lions even talk? Georgie wondered, still unsure of who this Lion was.

"You have known me, as I have known you. Although you may not have known that you have known me, for I sometimes am known by another name," the Lion said, sensing her question. "You have come here in great sadness, but having let your sadness go tonight, you will be embraced by the happiness and hope that Narnia can offer you. You can accomplish great things if you allow yourself to accept these two gifts."

Georgie stepped closer to the Lion, her arm reaching out towards it. The Lion leaned towards her, allowing her hand to run through his thick golden mane. Upon touching it Georgie was filled with a strange, comforting warmth and a realization of who was standing in front of. "I believe you have a question for me?" the lion chuckled again.

"Are you-are you Aslan?" she asked timidly.

"Yes, daughter." Georgie dropped quickly to her knees, bowing her head before the great Lion. "Rise, you have no need to bow before me!" the Lion commanded, his deep voice shaking Georgie slightly.

She rose slowly and asked, "Why, Aslan?"

"Because daughter," he began, his voice lowering. "You will save the kings and queens of Narnia."