As the sun rose above the treetops, setting its luminescent waves over the now-busy streets of Hogwood, a pair of perplexed dark-haired children stumbled out of the Watchers' Tent.

"What was that last night?" the boy asked groggily, scratching his head with his hand.

The girl who stood beside him shook her head. Her tired demeanour was scrunched up in a thoughtful expression. "I don't know, Ed." She said. "All I can remember is some screaming…and then a funny smell."

Ed nodded. "Same here Lu. I think…I think…"

"It was magic?" his sister asked, her face turned upwards.

"Yes."

"But the bad kind," she confirmed.

"Yes."

"So that's why we can't remember what happened!" she murmured into his ear.

He nodded gravely, grabbing her hand and quickening his pace. They had just descended the hill. All around them, Animals and Beasts and Creatures were all working. Similar to their encounter with the townspeople the at the time over their arrival, everyone was on edge. Heads were turned downwards, tears were in the eyes of the mothers, and fathers were clutching their children close. A few younger kids were running around, screaming or crying, laughing or shaking. In one corner, a Dryad, human eyes puffy, was leaning against the wood-frame of the entrance to a shop.

Sadness overtook the two children as they watched the on-goings of their people. Was this really how they had to live? Forgetting their last few minutes with their loved ones? Why was no one ever told of this? Lucy tried to keep her mouth shut and her eyes straightforward, but they locked with the Dryad leaning against the door-frame.

"Ed?" she whispered, pointing at the Dryad. "What do you reckon is wrong with her?"

Her brother peeked at the Dryad from the corner of his eye. "Same as the rest of them, I suppose. Don't you see?"

Vigorously, Lucy nodded her head. "Should we at least go talk to her? She looks alone and scared."

Edmund hated the see these people suffering. He didn't want to interfere either, unwilling to cause any more trouble to these people – unless it was with his sword in his hand and several more at his back. There was no sense in interacting with people that they necessarily didn't have to speak to. Was there? They didn't know any more than he did. Edmund didn't know what to do. He was lost, he didn't know if they should start to get Peter involved.

But how could he, the High King over all Kings, not get noticed, in this small, tired little town?

With Peter's attitude, Susan's sensibility, and the four of them together, they'd bound to be caught.

And then, those people would come again, in the middle of the night.

And then, off with their heads!

Time was all they needed at the moment, Edmund thought. If they gained time, they gained knowledge and then they'd be able to send for them. As much as Edmund hated to think it, and as much as he knew his older siblings would hate him for thinking it, he knew he had to try and fit in.

But fitting in wasn't always to easiest task for him.

On the other hand, it was the opposite for Lucy.

She was already letting go of her brother's hand. Eagerness, stupidity and love washed over her. A sort of bounce jostled in her step, as she made her way slowly to the shaking Dryad.

"Hello there," Lucy called out, waving her hand maniacally.

The Dryad jumped, looking in the direction of her voice. She saw the young girl skipping towards her. She wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Hello," she rasped, straightening her wildly combed locks of leaves and pulling them out of her face.

Lucy reached the Dryad, extending a hand in greeting. "I'm Louise."

The older of the two nodded, extending her nimbly limb of hand. "Josiah."

Smiling, Lucy shook her hand firmly. She then looked over to where Ed stood, a few meters away, looking at a pottery display. "Hey. Ed!" she called jubilantly (even though she was not so jubilant at the moment) "Come meet my new friend!"

Edmund sighed. He had already predicted this coming. Grudgingly, he shuffled his way over to them.

"Josiah, this is my brother, Ed."

At the word 'brother', the Dryad broke down. Tears streamed down her face, as sobs racked her body. Her crown of leaves and flowers fell off her head, and Edmund caught it expertly in her grasp.

Lucy, who had all the intention in the world to know the reason for Josiah's sobs, held firmly to the older woman's hand tightly. "What happened, Josiah?" she whispered.

The Dryad shook her head, more leaves falling over the heads of the children. "It's…it's…"

Edmund coughed awkwardly. "Lady Josiah, why don't we find somewhere too have some breakfast? We can all speak then."

The Dryad nodded, staring down at the little girl in front of her. "Lead the way, Ed." Lucy said, still holding Josiah's hand.

They walked in silence for a few moments, Josiah still crying softly, while Lucy and Edmund looked for a decently safe place to dine. The first restaurant they had looked into, was filled with boisterous laughter and singing Minotaurs ("Singing Minotaurs? My, this is a strange place!" Lucy had exclaimed later that evening). The second restaurant was closed, a sign on the window saying they wouldn't be open until the rise of the coming week.

The last one, Lucy thought, was perfect. Rich, red carpeting layered the floor of the room, matching the colour of the crimson cushions on the floor, and the heavy curtains on the windows. In one corner, was a tall, wide, wooden bar, candles dotting its surface. In the center, was Lucy's favourite part – a Golden Lion stood, roaring silently in his majestic, marvellous manner, stood on a pedestal behind it. Every

"Perfect," she murmured to Edmund. "Let's go here."

They walked in, to see the place vacant of patrons. A Faun waiter, bare-chested, with a bow-tie across his throat, came trotting up to them.

"Good to see ya!" he called, shaking all of their hands joyfully. "Good to see ya! Ronson's been waitin' for some customers all morn! Come, sit down."

They were led to a pile of cushions in the corner, but Lucy shook her head.

"No, sir." She said. "May we please go over there?"

She pointed to the side of Aslan's statue, which face a blank wall.

"Of course you may! Just don't touch it, that statue there cost Ronson a fortune!"

Edmund raised his eyebrows, as he sat himself down, his back close to the statue.

After they ordered, the Faun quickly trotted away, animatedly chattering to himself about strange Dwarfs and sappy Dryads. Both Pevensies turned to face Josiah, who had gained some colour into her dark, but blank face.

"Now talk," Lucy smiled. "I want to know all about you." In her heart, she knew that there was something about Josiah that could help them in their quest.

Josiah opened her mouth, ready to speak.

Err..Dryads can have families, can't they? According the way plants are made though, I'm not too sure. But that defeats the purpose.

Whoo, so sorry I haven't updated recently. I have exams in three days (scary, isn't it, how time flies?) Anyways, I hope you like this very short, to-the-point chapter. I spent as much time I could steal away from studying on it! And yes, it's more of a rant, and a filler, and I'm in need of going off track at the moment. I had to have that Alice quote, just…I just did, okay? I'm sorry!