I just want to let all of my readers know how much I love you guys! I've had 3000 hits on my story! 3000! I'm sure most other stories have far greater numbers than this, but to me, this is amazing! Your dedication is so wonderful and it fills me with a such a joy that I can't keep myself from updating as often as possible!

So, I've got this whole story line planned out and I pretty much know where I want to go with this story. Don't worry, it still has a loooong way to go. But, in the even longer run, I'm already planning a follow up story. It will be kind of like a prequel to this story. I'll give more information when I can so as not to spoil the rest of this story!

Haha. Sarah (aka: xXrebel-angelXx) just asked if Ashlynn was my name. No, but my sisters name is Ashley. lol. I just made this name up. If any of you have any questions or whatever, ask them and I'll make sure I answer them. :)

I posted up a few pictures on my profile page. Go check them out!

Also, don't forget that the Review of the Month Award for December should be chosen soon! So, get your review in if you want to possibly be the next guest character in the story!

This story is going to be a little slow as well, but don't worry. Edmund will return next chapter. :)

"Wait, so you're telling me that Edmund managed to pour wine all over the first suitor who came for him?" I exclaimed through my tears from my laughter. Lucy nodded her head, an enormous smile on her face.

"Yes. She was a lovely girl too. Very proper and nice. But, something about her irked Edmund. He never told us what it was she said to him, but one moment they are talking quite amiably, and the next she's on the ground with red wine staining her white gown! Edmund still claims she leaned too heavily on the wine table and when she fell down, the bowl came with her. But, Edmund was so rotten before he met Ashlynn."

I wiped the tears from my eyes and smiled over at Lucy. We were sitting on a blanket laid out on the beach. We were wearing the proper bathing suits of the time, which I couldn't help but compare to a typical 1950's one piece. Lucy and I were telling stories back and forth. At the moment, she was intent on telling me every embarrassing story she knew about Edmund.

"How old was he when this happened?" I asked.

"He was about sixteen." Lucy responded. I let out a low whistle.

"That's young for a suitor, isn't it?"

"It's the average age in other countries. Peter would have never accepted any for Edmund at that age. He was just tolerating our neighboring countries customs."

I grinned at her and took a sip of my water. I found myself sighing in worry over the absent monarchs. Lucy seemed to read my thoughts.

"I do wish they are alright." She whispered. I nodded in agreement. "And I hope this blasted situation is over before Christmas. I shall throw a tantrum if you and I have to spend Christmas alone, Ashlynn."

I smiled at the fiery eighteen year old. "I'm sure they're fine, Luce. They'll be back in no time. When was Susan's last letter?"

"Two days ago. Oh, speaking of letters. While you were ill, you received several letters from Princess Rebecca from Archenland. She seemed worried that you weren't responding to her, so I wrote her back and explained your situation. I received a response to my letter just yesterday and Princess Rebecca told me that she was on her way to see you! She probably doesn't know that you are well yet, but it shall be a good surprise for her when she sees you doing better!" Lucy said excitedly.

I smiled and agreed with her, excited to see Princess Becky again. It had been nearly two weeks since I had woken up and my health was vastly improving. I ate every chance I got, hoping to regain my lost weight. I was also running and working out several times a day in hopes of building muscle. Lucy and Merie kept telling me I was going to turn into a boy if I didn't tone it down. I eventually gave into their commands, but not before I regained all my weight back. I was also riding Stormie as often as I could. My constant attention towards her seemed to put her in such excellent moods. Lucy hadn't failed to notice the instant connection between the horse and I.

"I swear you become more and more like Ashlynn everyday." She mumbled to me one afternoon when we were saddling up to ride. I shot her a sly look.

"Edmund and I have had this conversation a thousand times before." I replied.

"Oh yes. I know. Edmund and I are rather close. He tells me a lot." Lucy replied with just as sly a look. Her words suggested something and I turned sharply to her with shock on my face.

"He didn't!" I cried.

Lucy's laughter pealed through the stables. "He did! And I couldn't believe you allowed him to do such a thing to you!"

My face turned beet red and I made a vow to destroy Edmund Pevensie. "It was an accident. He was upset and I didn't know how to stop him."

"You didn't know how to stop him because you didn't want to know how to stop him." Lucy pointed out. I glared at her.

"I'd rather not be discussing this with you. No offense, but you're his sister!"

"Ah! Pish posh!" Lucy shook her hand at me and I laughed at her.

"Lucy, I've been meaning to ask you. How come it's the beginning of December and the weather hasn't changed? I mean, just the other day we were on the beach in our bathing suits." I asked, having wondered about the weather in Narnia for a while.

Lucy gave me a knowing look. "I forget that it isn't warm like this all year outside of Narnia. When the White Witch was in control, Narnia was plunged into a 100 year winter. The land is still scarred from that event, so the only times the weather in Narnia is cold is during the Christmas holidays."

I was slightly taken aback by her answer, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Narnia is such a magical place. The land itself is alive.

I found myself in Edmund's private library one afternoon. It was approaching the fourth week of the monarchs absence. They had been discussing negotiations with the giants of Ettinsmoor for nearly a month. Lucy had just received a letter that morning explaining that they would be returning within the week and that all negotiations were settled and things were well.

The knowledge that Peter, Susan, and Edmund were okay was relieving. I was ready to see them again. While their absence didn't necessarily interrupt any levels of work or entertainment within the castle, as Lucy was most adept at making sure I was busy, it still left me uneasy and anxiously awaiting their return. I didn't want to admit it to myself at the time, but I missed Edmund greatly. Not only because I fancied him, but also because he was a dear friend.

A knock on the library door interrupted my thoughts and I turned to see a messenger faun standing there patiently waiting for me. With a smile, I approached him.

"Yes?" I asked. He dipped his head in greeting.

"Lady Ashlynn, Lucy has sent for you to meet her in the throne room. There are carriages on the horizon. She believes it is Princess Rebecca here to visit you." He informed me kindly. I smiled at him and patted his arm.

"Thank you very much." I then darted out of the library and headed towards the throne room.

I found Lucy sitting in her throne with a smile on her face. We decided to await Becky's arrival at the castle gates and quickly headed towards the entrance.

Princess Becky's carriage wasn't as elaborate as I was expecting. She must have been in a rush to see me well. A faun opened the carriage door for her and Becky came rushing out.

"Queen Lucy." She greeted quickly with a curtsy. Lucy and I exchanged a look, knowing the poor girl wasn't trying to be rude but was anxious to speak with me. Becky turned to me with a stern look.

"Lady Ashlynn, I must say I am very disappointed with you. As my new mentor, I would truly hope that you would try and keep me as informed on your health as possible. You should have wrote me the moment you started feeling ill. I was mortified when I found out you were sick with fever and left as soon as I could." I smiled at her. She kept up her stern facade for only a few moments longer before darting into my arms.

"I was so worried. But I am so glad to see you well." She stated, letting go of me.

"I'm so glad to see you here!" I responded happily.

"We were worried she wasn't going to come out of her fever. She had it so long." Lucy commented. Becky's face filled with horror.

"Oh how awful! What was the initial cause of the fever?"

"Wounds on her fingers that were overlooked." Lucy replied. Becky's stern look returned as her gaze drifted back to me.

"Honestly, Ashlynn, you should mind things such as those." I laughed at her as Lucy and I guided her to the guest room.

"How long do you wish to stay, Princess Rebecca?" Lucy asked.

"Oh please. Do not call me Princess Rebecca, Your Majesty. I do despise that name. Call me Becky or Princess Becky, if you insist on the title."

Lucy smiled at her. "You don't have to use my title either then."

"So, how long are you visiting, Becky?" I asked.

"Well, Father wants to send me away to Terebinthia at the first of the new year. Of course, I must spend Christmas in Archenland, but I was hoping I could stay around three weeks? If that is okay with you Lucy. I was hoping to get in some better education of Narnia than I had during my last brief visit."

"Of course! Three weeks sounds perfect! Peter, Susan, and Edmund should be back next week and they will be so pleased to see you again! And we must have a winter ball before you leave! Oh! I have some planning to do! I'll leave you ladies here. I hope your room is satisfactory, Becky." Lucy exclaimed before running off. Becky and I laughed at the excited girl and entered the guest room.

After I helped Becky unload some of her things, we decided to talk a walk around the grounds.

"Narnian weather baffles me." She stated softly as we exited the castle.

"Tell me about it. I was just speaking to Lucy about this the other day." I responded. Becky smiled at me and we continued walking.

"So, Ashlynn, please tell me about yourself. I feel as though we are best friends and yet I know nothing about you." She said with a small smile. "Did you grow up in Narnia?"

I looked at the ground and thought about what I should say. On the one hand, Becky was a sweet girl and wouldn't judge me. But on the other, we weren't necessarily close enough for her not to run for hills when I told her I wasn't from this world.

"Well, Becky, I'm not exactly from Narnia."

"Well, I assumed you weren't. There weren't really humans living in Narnia before the kings and queens took over. And that had to have happened during your lifetime. There are more humans in Narnia now than there ever has been!"

I smiled at the fifteen year old. "I see someone has been reading up on their history." I commented.

She grinned at me. "I'm taking Father's proposal seriously. I want to do it not only for him, but for myself as well."

I nodded in agreement. "Well, go on. Where are you from?"

"Um, I'm from this city called Orlando, Florida."

"Is that in the Lone Islands?" She asked.

I shook my head. "It's not exactly in this world."

She gave me a confused look. "What?"

"Um, I'm not exactly sure how I got here, to be honest. I was found in a field here in Narnia just a few months ago injured and dying." I paused trying to remember exactly what happened. "Come to think of it, I can't even remember why I was hurt."

Becky gave me a strange look. "You have no memory prior to being found in the field?"

"No, I have many memories. Just, not of this world."

She looked away from me in thought. "What do you remember?" She asked quietly. We had stopped walking at this point. I scrunched up my face in concentration, trying really hard to remember.

"I remember my parents. Not their names, but their faces. I can remember a house on the water. My parents and I would go there during the summer." I was struggling as I tried to recollect my memories prior to Narnia. Why was I having such a difficult time doing so? It was like a faded dream I was trying to explain.

"I had a dog. I can't remember his name though. I remember I loved my car."

"What's a car?" Becky interrupted.

I paused for a second. What was a car? "Um, it was kind of like a carriage. Only, you don't need horses to pull it. It ran on its own. Where I come from, people get around that way."

"That's interesting." She commented, giving me a wary look.

"Do the kings and queens know about all this?" She asked cautiously.

I nodded. "They've known since I got here that I wasn't from this world. They aren't either, you know."

"Really?" She asked, seeming really intrigued. "Where are they from?"

"Some place called 'Spare 'Oom. I read about it in a Narnian history book. I'm not sure it's from the same world I am from. I was in college and took a geography class and we never studied any country or city with that name."

"Strange." Becky commented. We continued walking.

"What about your relationship with the monarchs? How is that you came to be a ward of theirs?" She asked.

"A ward?" I asked, unsure of what she meant.

"Someone in their care. You live in the castle and they provide for you."

I nodded in understanding. "They found me injured and took care of me. And when they found out I wasn't from this world they wanted me to stay near them. I assume it started because they were sure Aslan had a plan for me. I've been here for several months though, and he has yet to show up. Then, we all became friends."

Becky smiled at me. We were quiet for a few moments as we approached the cliff overlooking the beach.

"Do you think I can change, Ashlynn? Truly change." Becky asked me quietly.

"I don't think you should feel you have to." I answered after a pause. Becky looked at me in confusion.

"I think you should learn the boundaries between acting your age and acting your role as princess. There is a medium. You can be both a teenager and a princess, but you can discover the balance between." She nodded and looked away. "I think this trip you are going on is a good idea. You will learn a lot from it, but you shouldn't let that change who you are."

We settled into a comfortable silence. Becky spoke up. "I've never had anyone to truly talk to before, Ashlynn. Thank you."

I shrugged. "It's no problem, really."

Sorry, again, for the slow speed. It will be picking up really soon! Please review and let me know what you think! If you have any suggestions or questions, let me know!