We had taken the boat and had set it on the river and began traveling down it. Peter was rowing and I sat up front with Lucy and the dwarf who we found was called Trumpkin.

The further we went the Deep Magic connection didn't get much stronger, it heightened a little but hardly at all. The trees that surrounded us were the same as the ones at the ruins of Cair Paravel, asleep, cold, empty.

"There so still," remarked Lucy as she also gazed up at the trees. Trumpkin looked back at us with a look of confusion, "they're trees. What'd you expect?" I wrapped my arm around Lucy, she leaned her head on my shoulder as we both thought back to our lives in Narnia. "They used to dance," I explained to him, sadly.

Trumpkin then began to explain about the happenings here in Narnia. "Wasn't long after you left that the Telmarines invaded. Those that survived retreated to the woods." At hearing this, I glanced back at Edmund, the woods were his section of Narnia. Trumpkin continued, "And the trees... they retreated so deep inside themselves that they haven't been heard from since."

Lucy leaned back against me and gazed up at me questioningly, "I don't understand. How could Aslan have let this happen." Trumpkin glanced over at us, "Aslan? Thought he abandoned us when you did." We all stopped to look at him, even Peter glanced over his shoulder at him, setting down the boats oars for a moment. When Peter had turned back around and was rowing us down the river again he said, "we didn't mean to leave, you know."

"I don't think it really matters," I said. They all looked to me in shock, even Trumpkin. "Dawnie?" asked Ed. "Think about it, this would have happened eventually, we wouldn't have been able to hold it off forever. The only difference would be that we wouldn't be able to be here now to put things right. If we had stayed for all we know, things could have ended with the Telmarines taking over and remaining like that forever," I fell quiet once I had finished my short speech. I sighed and said, "but it doesn't matter now, whats done is done."

Trumpkin nodded and looked ahead of the boat, "she's right, I guess. It makes no difference now, does it?" Peter then spoke up in a firm voice, "Get us to the Narnians... And it will."

We continued on down the river until we reached land again. Trumpkin jumped from the front of the boat as we all scrambled out and he grabbed the rope and went to anchor it in among the stones and sand. While we were hawling the boat onto land, I noticed Lucy wandering off a little.

We didn't really pay much attention to it until we heard Lucy's voice call out, "Hello, there!" I glanced over my shoulder and letting go of the rope I jogged closer to Lucy and stopped when I noticed it was a large black bear she was greeting. I couldn't help but notice that the magical aura around it was quite different to other Narnians, it was closer to animals from back in England.

The bear noticed her when she called out and groaned as it stood up on its two hind legs. "Its all right," said Lucy, "we're friends." The bear returned to being on all four paws. It also continued to growl and groan loudly.

It seemed Trumpkin was only now noticing the bear as he froze and shock and warned, "don't move, your Majesty!" Lucy spun around to look at him, a look of confusion clear on her face. My mouth opened in shock as the bear began to race towards Lucy. I grabbed my staff from it's place on my back and I shot a pressure spell that should have knocked him back but it missed as my hands were shaking nervously and I couldn't help but wonder if this was a Narnian.

Lucy turned back around to look at the bear and her face fell when she saw it stampiding towards her. She spun back around and began to race back over to us

Susan readied her bow and yelled, "Stay away from her!"The bear just kept coming! Lucy tripped and the bear got closer and was almost on top of her. "Shoot, Susan! Shoot!" cried Edmund. He and Peter both had their swords drawn as they ran forward. Lucy screamed as the bear was about to slash at her but out of nowhere an arrow shot into him, sending it to the ground and away from Lucy. We all spun to see Trumpkin with a bow in hand.

"Why wouldn't he stop?" asked Susan. "I suspect he was hungry," said Trumpkin as he passed her and approached the bear.

Peter, Edmund and I, all rushed to help Lucy and make sure she wasn't harmed. We reached her seconds later and Peter pulled her up onto her feet and she nervously clung onto him, still slightly in shock from the bear. Trumpkin had gone over to the bear and began circling it and prodding it with the tip of his bow.

"Thanks," said Lucy from her place with Peter. I stepped up behind her placing my hands on her shoulder. She released one of her hands from Peter's tunic and placed it over one of mine. Trumpkin glanced up at her for a moment before turning back to the bear.

"He was wild," remarked Edmund in surprise, it was quite hard to believe how an animal could behave that way here in Narnia. Peter turned to look at Edmund as he said, "I don't think he could talk at all."

Trumpkin then stated, "Get treated like a dumb animal long enough, thats what you become." His voice was cold and sad with past anger slightly evident. I frowned at this, what had these Telmarines done to my home!

Trumpkin the pulled out his knife and kneeled down next to the bear, "You may find Narnia a more savage place then you remember." He then began to dig into the bear with the blade.

We had been walking for what felt like hours. We were going through some rocky passages that I didn't really recognize when Susan exclaimed, "I don't remember this."

Peter then smartly commented, "Thats the problem with girls, can't carry a map in their heads." I reluctantly kept my mouth shut. I knew Narnia better then even Peter and I didn't recognize where we are, I guess its not a surprise the land has changed in about 1,300 years.

Lucy then said, "thats because our heads have something in them." Susan and I laughed at her and Susan asked, "how much time have you been spending with Dawn, Lu?" Lucy shrugged and sent me a wide smile. I winked back at her with a playful smirk which caused her to laugh.

Susan turned her head to look at us as we kept walking, "I wish he had just listened to the D.L.F. In the first place." Edmund who had climbed up onto a row of rocks beside us asked, "D.L.F.?" Lucy smirked as she and Susan kept walking and I stayed back with Ed and Trumpkin. "Dear Little Friend," said Lucy.

I chuckled as I looked at Trumpkin with Edmund. Trumpkin stared ahead, "oh thats not at all patronising, is it?"

We caught up to Peter who was now standing on top of a large rock survaying our surroundings. "I'm not lost," he muttered to himself, yet we still heard him. "No," said Trumpkin, "your just going the wrong way." I leaned over to whisper in Ed's ear, "wouldn't be the first time!" We both laughed quietly, getting confused looks from the others.

Peter turned to face Trumpkin and snapped, "You said, you last saw Caspian at the Shuttering Woods and the quickest way there is to cross the River Rush." Okay, Peter was right there. Trumpkin sighed and said, "But unless I'm mistaken there is no crossing in these parts." Maybe Peter was right, but over time Narnia would change and the crossing must have crumbled away and disappeared long ago. I would trust Trumpkin to know more that Peter at this moment as Pete hadn't been hear for over a 1,000 years and things do change with time.

"That Explains it then," said Peter coldly, "your mistaken."

We finally reached the river rush but when we reached the spot where we remember the crossing to be, there was none.

The area looked a lot the same except I couldn't help but notice that the river looked a bit further down now. "You see, over time, water erodes the earth's soil, carving deeper-" Peter cut across her, "oh, shut up!" I nodded, "Thank you, I have fallen asleep listening to that geography nonsence enough in school and I don't have to fall asleep listening to it now but if you do continue I gladly will!" Susan sent me a hard glare. Lucy and I were just as smart as her, if not smarter, we just didn't spowt random annoying facts every few minutes to prove it.

I stood on the other side of Lucy who stood next to Peter. I glanced back at Edmund as he asked Trumpkin, polietly, "Is there a way down?" Trumpkin replied sarcastically, "yeah, falling." Lucy, Peter and Susan also turned to face him as he Peter said, "well, we weren't lost."

"Theres a ford near Buruna," stated Trumpkin, "how do you feel about swimming?" Susan then began towards Trumpkin and the way back, "rather that then walking."

The others began to follow except for Lucy and I who turned back to gaze over at the other side of the River.

To our surprise and joy, there stood a large and noble, golden lion. The Great Lion. He smiled at us and nodded his head. "Aslan?" wondered Lucy aloud. I stayed quiet and pushed my mind barriers forward, this was something I didn't do often as it weaken me, especially back in England where there was little magic in the atmosphere.

"Greetings, my Little Lioness, whether your siblings decide to follow you and Lucy's idea on following me, you must come this way, it is your path if it is theirs or not."

I nodded in understanding. "Its Aslan! Its Aslan over there!" cried Lucy pointing towards where she had seen him and turned back to face the others. As soon as she looked away Aslan hid from sight. I understood what he was doing. Our siblings were being tested to see if they still trusted Aslan or atleast trusted us.

Lucy looked back as did the others but when they turned he was gone, "Don't you see, he's right..." But Lucy trailed off when she realised she could no longer see him, "...there."

"Do you see him now?" asked Trumpkin. We all turned to look at him. "I'm not crazy," stated Lucy. "Dawn saw him too! He was there. He wanted us to follow him," she continued. "I did see him, Lucy's right we should follow." Peter turned to look at Lucy, "I'm sure there are any number of lions in this wood. Just like that bear." I scoffed, "we can tell the difference between Aslan and a normal lion, Peter." Lucy glared up at Peter, "see its not just me, I know Aslan when I see him."

"Look," came Trumpkin's voice, "I'm not about to jump off a cliff after someone who doesn't exist." I shuck my head in disbelief, "doesn't exist my ass," I muttered quietly to myself.

"The last time I didn't believe Lucy, I ended up looking pretty stupid. And if Dawn says she saw him, I believe her," said Edmund, kindly.

Peter turned back to look at where we had seen Aslan, "why wouldn't I have seen him?" Lucy gazed up at him, "maybe you weren't looking." Peter shuck his head and sighed, "I'm sorry, Lu." They then began to all walk away. Lucy looked sollumly back over to where Aslan had originally stood before turning back to face Edmund and I. Placing a hand on Edmund's shoulder, I gestured with my head for him to go on ahead. Lucy went with him while I straggled behind.

I made sure none of them were looking before I took my staff from its strap and aimed it towards where the crossing used to be. A large current of water rose from the river below and formed a bridge. I froze it and knowing it would only last a couple of seconds I gave myself a boost of speed using my magic. Freezing natural water wasn't any easy thing as it was against nature's rules and Mother Nature would quickly take effect, I had learned this quickly when I first started training with elements and plant life.

I glanced back once I was safetly across the river, the ice bridge quickly returning to its natural state, and realised my brothers and sisters still hadn't noticed my absence. I didn't mind, that kind of made things easier as I began to make my way to where I had seen Aslan disappear.

After several minutes of searching I finally came to stop infront of a large hill. I went around the other side to find it was hollow, sort of like the one we had used to hide from the witch all those years ago which turned out to be Father Christmas. Sitting there in the shade was a large Lion.

He spotted me and smiled. "You did as I asked, my Little Lioness. I am pleased." I went to sit infront of Aslan, making myself comfortable on the grass, "will my family be okay?" He smiled and nodded, "of course. They will join you at the Narnian camp soon." It was getting dark now.

"Why did I need to come earlier?" I asked. "Caspian has just arrived at the Narnian camp, they do not trust him and a council will be held. You must go to it and listen, at the end make yourself known but at first stay hidden or disguised. Caspian will need you on his journey," Aslan explained. "How much longer will it take for my family to arrive?" I asked. He fell silent for a moment, "Atleast a day or more, they're desicion to travel a different route will cost them time, but it may work in your favour."

I didn't understand the strange twinkle in his eye and the small smirk on his face. "Your magical strength will return soon, and your connection to the Deep Magic will aswell, I know you are worried about it," he exlaimed. I blushed a little and nodded, "thanks, it just doesn't feel right. I know somethings wrong but the Deep Magic is telling me there isn't." Aslan nodded in understanding, "maybe it is meant to be this way, we shall see how things play out." I thought for a moment, "Aslan, what happened here, I know the Telmarines invaded but why weren't they stopped, why didn't you help." Aslan sighed sadly, "It was out of my hands, you will learn more with time. But now you must go."

He got up onto his large paws and I also rose to my feet. I wrapped my arms tightly around his large, mane covered neck. He laughed as he was almost thrown off balance by my attack. When I took a step back I smiled, "see you soon, Aslan." Aslan gave a nod and replied, "very soon, my Little Lioness." With that he turned and jumped up onto the hill and galloped off into the darkness of the night.

As it got darker and I walked further I began to hear shouting from close by. I pulled the hood of my red cloak up over my head and climbed into a nearby tree and began to make my way closer to the sounds.

I came to stop right above the Dancing Lawn, where they were having the council. A young man in his late teens or early twenties stood in the middle. From what I could see he was handsome and was vaguely famailiar. No one saw me as it was too dark. There was a large circle of Narnians surrounding him.

The branch I sat in hung right above them but not to high, I could easily jump from here to the ground if I wished. The shouting got louder as Narnians threw insults his way.

"Kill Him!" yelled one Centaur. "Telmarine!" called a fawn. "Liar!" yelled another. I was horrified, this wasn't how I believed my people were and it wasn't what I had wanted in the slightest. The sound of someone yelling, "murderer," was heard over the crowd.

Then a voice called out causing everyone, including me and Caspian, to look in its direction. It was a dwarf with a black beard and hair and black clothes. "All this horn proves is that they've stolen yet another thing from us!" I could already tell that this dwarf was going to be a problem.

The Prince took a step in his direction, "I didn't steal anything." I smiled at his confident, gentle tone. His voice had a slight accent to it and I liked it. I liked it alot. Then a minotaur called out to the crowd, "Didn't steal anything? Shall we make a list of things the Telmarines have stolen from us?" I shuck my head. Yes, he may be one of the Telmarines, but he was trying to help.

"Our Homes!" cried a female centaur.

"Our Land!"

"Our Freedom!" called a fawn.

"Our Lives!"

"You Stole Narnia!"

Caspian looked around at all of them surrounding him, not noticing me watching him with pity and pride and admiration. Even with all the insults and comments being thrown his way he stood strong. Not many could do that.

"You would hold me accountable for the all the crimes of my people?" he asked them. The dark dwarf from before spoke up, "Accountable..." He jumped down from where he was standing and walked towards him, "and punishable."

"Ha!" cried a new voice, I turned to see a very cute looking mouse with a sword in hand, "thats rich coming from you dwarf. Or have you forgotten that it was your people who fought alongside the White Witch!" I rolled my eyes, "thanks for reminding me," I muttered. Though I had learned over the years after the battle the dwarves weren't all bad, Trumpkin proved that.

"And I'd gladly do it again, if it would rid us of these barbarions," stated the dark Dwarf threateningly as he flicked away the mouse's sword. I glared at the dwarf from my seat on the large branch, that witch was never ever setting foot in my kingdom again.

Then a wise looking Badger stepped forward, "then it is lucky it is not in your power to bring her back!" All eyes turned to the badger and I beamed down at him, finally a sane Narnian. "Or are you suggesting we ask this boy to go against Aslan now?" asked the Badger. This caused up-roar in the Narnians.

The Badger continued, "some of you may have forgotten, but we badgers remember well, that Narnia was never right except when a Son of Adam was King." My smile widened at this. It was good to see that we weren't completely disregarded by our people.

The dark Dwarf then yelled out in frustration throwing his arms around, "he's a Telmarine! Why would we want him as our King?" The Narnians all yelled out in agreement, this caused me to scowl again.

"Because I can help you," called Caspian as he gazed around at them all. Someone yelled that it was a trick but another said that they should hear him out and I was pleased at this, more and more of them were being convinced. "Beyond these woods," continued Caspian as silence fell once more, "I'm a Prince." He spun slowly on the spot to stare around at everyone to show he was not afraid. "The Telmarine throne is rightfully mine! Help me claim it and I can bring peace between us."

It was only now that I noticed that he held Susan's horn in his hand. Then a tall and noble looking Centaur with long dark hair strode forward. "It is true," he said, his voice heard by all around, "the time is ripe." I could see he held the hilt of a sword in his hand as it was sheathed at his side. "I watch the skies," explained the Centaur, "for it is mine to watch," he then looked to the Badger, "as it is yours to remember, Badger."

He then addressed everyone again, "Tarva, the Lord of Victory, and Alambil, the Lady of Peace have come together in the high heavens." He then directed his gaze to Caspian, "And now here, a Son of Adam has come forth... to offer us back our freedom."

At that moment a squirrel in a branch just below and to the left of me spoke up, "Is this possible? Do you really think there could be peace?" I just hoped no one saw me. I almost slipped and I was certain the Centaur had noticed something as his eyes darted in my direction. "Do you, I mean, really?" finished the squirrel. The Centaur looked away from me and I let out a large breath that I hadn't known I was holding.

I looked back to the squirrel and grinned, nearly all squirrels were just as over energized and I had always found it amusing, I was glad to find that not all things have changed.

"Two days ago..." began Caspian, "I didn't believe in the existence of talking animals... or dwarves... or Centaurs... or even magic." I smirked at that bit. Very few had magical abilities, possibly one or two per generation. "Yet here you are," continued Caspian as he gazed around at them in awe, "In strengths and numbers that we Telmarines could never have imagined." Caspian then held up Susan's horn to eye level at the side of his head, "Whether this horn is magic or not," I couldn't help but mutter, "oh its magic all right."

"It brought us together," stated Caspian, "And together, we have a chance to take back what is ours." The Centaur stepped towards Caspian and said slowly, "If you will lead us, then my sons and I..." All the centaurs reached for their swords the drew them and held them towards him, "offer you our swords." My face lit up at this proclomation. All the other Narnians in the crowd drew their weapons and held them towards Caspian as a sign that they would fight for him.

Then the mouse from earlier flipped his sword around expertly as he said, "And we offer you our lives, unreservedly."He then gave a deep bow to Caspian as his ears grazed against the ground. The Badger then stepped towards Caspian and said, "Miraz's army will not be far behind us, sire." My eyebrows scrunched together, "who the hell is Miraz?" I asked myself. I guess he was the leader of the Telmarines.

Caspian sighed and said, "If we are to be ready for them, we need to hurry to find soldiers and weapons." He then looked directly at the lead Centaur and said, "I'm sure they will be here soon."

I sighed trying to keep my nerves in check as I knew it was time for my entrance. It had fallen quiet and slightly shaking I brought my hands up and began to slowly and loudly clap grabbing everyone in the clearings attention. Many staggered back a step at realising someone was watching from above, others drew their weapons as they did not recognise me. A fawn realised an arrow at me but just in time held up a hand and my eyes flashed their familiar gold and the arrow froze in mid air and then spun and headed right back towards the fawn but stopped about an inch from between his eyes before falling to the ground.

"And I offer my magic."

Everyone was frozen in their places. I lept from the tree and landed on one knee, my cloak covering me completely and hidding my identity. I'm sure some would recognise me from pictures or stories. I sighed dramatically, "but seriously, thats the greeting I get? I thought you would all be happy to see me. Not shoot me with an arrow!"

All were sharing confused glances, many seemed surprised at my high pitched feminine tone. The Centaur stepped closer to me cautiously, "And why would we be pleased to see you?" I shrugged and replied, "Aslan sent me." There was up-roar once again, some saying I was liar, others saying that Aslan didn't even exist.

I gave another dramatic sigh, "what would your Kings and Queens of old, think if they saw you now?" The dark Dwarf stepped threateningly towards me, "our kings and queens left over a 1,000 years ago! They left us to the mercy of these barbarions!" There were cries of agreement. I shuck my head, "do you really believe that they ment to leave? They didn't know this would happen!"

A fawn took a step forward and said angrily, "Who are you to think you know of our Kings and our Queens?!" I placed my hands on either side of my hood and pulled it back with a flurish.

"I know everything there is to know of your Kings and Queens. For, I am High Queen Dawn, the Enchanting, of the Golden Age."