I am so sorry. Please forgive me for the excruciatingly long wait. I absolutely hate it when authors take forever to update, and so I know how all of you feel right now. I just want to say that I have found myself so over worked and stressed because of school that continuing this story was nearly impossible. I'm not giving up on this story, don't worry. I love this story and I already have the ending planned out. I regret to inform you that I can no longer keep up the Reviewer of the Month award, because I'm already having so much difficulty keeping up with writing the story that I don't have enough time to keep inventing new characters. Maybe over summer break, when I will have plenty of time to start the prequel, I'll continue with the ROM. As of now, I really appreciate all of your patience. I'm trying really hard to balance everything at the moment.

I also want to apologize for the length of this chapter. The next will, hopefully, be longer. Also, the end of the story is approaching. Everything will be revealed within the next four-five chapters. :) Hopefully, it won't take too much longer for me to reveal everything.

I love you all so much. Thank you, again, for your continued support!

Stormie was a black oddity against the newly whitened landscape of the pastures outside Cair Paravel. Overnight, a thick blanket of snow had descended upon the grounds, leaving everything cold and beautiful. I had awoken to the white world and, upon seeing Stormie running in the pasture, had decided to visit her.

I chased the black horse through the snow, laughing gaily. She snorted and white puffs of air emitted from her nostrils. I stopped running and flexed my numb toes within my shoes, trying to draw feeling back into them.

"Are you not cold at all, Stormie?" I asked as I reached out and stroked her nose. She nodded her head as though she understood what I had said and I laughed at her. I continued to pet Storm for a while before she knelt beside me, as though offering for me to climb on her back. I did so, and we trotted across the snowy grounds of Cair Paravel.

Bexxi was leaving that day, and I was sad to see her go. She was off on an adventure to learn her duties as a princess, and I hated to admit it, but I was jealous. I had some small hope within me that I could join her on her journey, but I knew she needed to do it alone. She wouldn't learn as much with me in the way.

Still, I hated to see my friend go. I had grown accustomed to her presence in the three weeks she had stayed at the Cair, and I knew I was going to miss her dearly.

I remembered how she had snuck into my room the previous night, after I had finally returned from the party with Edmund, and had demanded to know what was going on between the king and I. I ended up telling her everything; from the Ashlynn situation to the intense attraction I felt towards the dark king. She had squealed incessantly when I had explained all the kisses we had shared, and then had admitted with a dark blush that she had a crush on the High King. I had, of course, known all along, and promptly told her so, to which she responded with a gasp and a playful slap. Who didn't have a crush on Peter?

Bexxi had tearfully admitted to me that she was going to miss me and miss being in Narnia. I had consoled her for the better part of an hour before forcing her to get some rest. She had a few days of traveling ahead of her.

I sighed and dismounted Stormie.

"See you later, girl." I patted the black horse on the neck and headed back towards the castle. Stormie followed me most of the way before trotting back to the stables. I smiled at the loyalty of the horse.

I entered the castle and was met with the fast paced bustling of the workers preparing for the Christmas holidays. Decorations were being draped around the castle, and preparations were being made for the Christmas banquet and the arrival of Santa. I had balked at Lucy when she had explained to me that there was, indeed, a Father Christmas and he visited the castle every Christmas morning. There was always a big celebration at his arrival and most of the castle's subjects would gather in the throne room to welcome him.

Thinking about Christmas made me cringe. My birthday was on Christmas, which meant I was turning twenty. The reminder of my birthday brought on the realization that this would be my first birthday spent without my parents. My heart fell slightly at the realization, and I determined that it was going to be a terrible day. Bexxi was leaving, and I was feeling home sick.

I trudged back to my room, attempting to avoid getting in the way of the merry workers who found enjoyment in preparing for the holiday. I threw myself on my bed and stared across my room at the guitar leaning against the wall in a corner. It was my favorite possession, and it had nearly killed me. It was strange to think that a few splits on my fingertips had put me in a fever-induced coma. Of course, I had allowed the injuries to become infected by not getting them checked out. Still, as I thought about it, I didn't regret choosing to comfort Edmund over getting my injuries fixed. I'm sure the time I spent with him was much more enjoyable than the time I would have spent getting my fingers patched up.

As my thoughts drifted to Edmund, I couldn't help but think about his confession the night before. He claimed he loved me, but I still wasn't thoroughly convinced that he knew the difference between his Ashlynn and me. He thought we were the same person, but I knew we were not. Susan had once told me that Aslan worked in mysterious ways, but it all the time I had spent in Narnia, I had yet to see hide or tail of the majestic lion. If I were Ashlynn, wouldn't I have known by then? Wouldn't I have received a sign that told me I was Ashlynn and I had been to Narnia before? I mean, sure I fought like her, and spoke like her, and had a strange connection with her horse, but those things didn't give enough evidence to support Edmund's claim that I was his Ashlynn.

But, what if I was his Ashlynn? What if Aslan did have a plan for me after all? What if there were a reason that I couldn't remember that I was her? Or that my hair and eyes were different?

I huffed angrily at my thoughts, trying to banish them from my head. I jumped from my bed and snatched up the stringed instrument from across the room. I sat back down on the bed and started to gently pull at the strings. I didn't stress my fingers too hard, but I put enough effort into playing that I felt my stress melt off my shoulders. It's harder to think when you're playing music, and my goal was to not think, if only for a moment.

My playing was interrupted by a knock on my door. I lifted my head as Susan walked into my room and smiled softly at me.

"Princess Becky is preparing to leave within the hour." She informed me. She looked nice, as she always did. She was wearing a green cotton gown, and her hair was down in soft waves. I wondered if she knew how beautiful she was.

I nodded in acknowledgment of her statement.

"You're playing again?" I nodded again. "Pete and Ed said you were brilliant."

I smiled. "It's one of my passions."

"Right next to a dark haired king?" She inquired with a cheekier smirk.

I tried to hide my smile, but found I couldn't. "You could say that."

"Bexxi wanted me to tell you, and I quote, 'To get your sorry behind to her room before she leaves or she will never speak to you again.'"

I laughed. She would. "She thinks I'm not going to say goodbye."

"Are you?"

I sighed. I hated goodbyes.

I stood up and rested my guitar back against the wall. I walked around Susan, who was still in the doorway, and headed towards Bexxi's room. I heard Susan's soft footsteps following close behind.

Bexxi's door was open, and there was a faun in her room helping her pack.

"I want these gowns in this case. Susan gave me those, so they can't get wrinkled! My parchment needs to go in the smaller bag so it won't get crinkled and my quills need to be in a separate case than the parchment or they will bleed all over it." She ordered as she bustled around the room. I stopped in the doorway and smiled at the hectic girl. She noticed me standing and paused in her hustling.

"Well, are you going to stand there like a useless stone or are you going to help me pack?" She demanded. I smiled at her and hurried into the room to help her. Susan joined us as well.

We spent a good hour and a half scouring the room, looking for her belongings, before we were finished packing them. When we were done, the faun that had been helping us pack as well started taking Bexxi's items out to the carriage that was waiting at the front doors of the castle.

I turned to Bexxi and could see the tears in her eyes.

"I will see you two at the front gate." Susan left the room quickly.

"I'm scared." Bexxi blurted out as soon as Susan was out of the room.

"Don't be." I tried to comfort her. "You'll do wonderful, Bexxi. And think of all the amazing things you will see and do." She looked skeptical, so I continued. "To be honest, I'm sort of jealous I can't come with you."

She grinned past her tears. "Really? Why?"

"Because you are going to travel around a part of the world and learn things you wouldn't be able to learn if you were being taught at home. You're going to get to experience things that are going to change your life forever. I'm very jealous."

She wiped her face with a handkerchief and calmed down. "I suppose you're right."

I smiled and ushered her from the room. "I'm always right. Now, let's get you on the way. It's a two day trip to Archenland by carriage. You'll arrive home Christmas Eve."

"Isn't your birthday on Christmas?" She asked curiously. I shushed her and pulled her along.

"Be quiet, would you? If the whole castle hears the I'll never get any peace, which is really all I want for my birthday."

She laughed at me. "Only you would want to keep your birthday a secret, Ashlynn."

I playfully rolled my eyes. "You would too if your birthday fell on such a big holiday. There's enough chaos as is with all the plans and such for Christmas, you can't imagine how it gets when you throw a birthday into the mix."

"That does make sense." She agreed. The rest of our walk was silent. When we finally reached the the front castle doors, Bexxi started sniffling again.

"Come on, none of that." I instructed, stopping her from exiting with tears on her face. "There isn't time for tears for such menial situations, Bex. We'll see each other again, and when we do, it'll be as though nothing has changed. Except, of course, for the fact that you will have many amazing stories from your adventures to tell me about." She choked on her tears and I pulled her in and hugged her tight. I held her for a few more moments until she gathered herself. Her face was slightly red from crying, but she marched through the doors and across the courtyard as though there were nothing amiss.

Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy were standing outside the gates near Bexxi's carriage talking amongst themselves and Bexxi's security team. They all paused when they saw us approaching.

"Thank you very much, Your Highness's, for allowing me the pleasure of staying in your country and castle. My time was very enjoyable." Bexxi said in her "princess" voice as she curtsied before them all.

"It was our pleasure to accommodate you, Princess." Peter replied while placing a kiss to her hand. Bexxi's face was still red as Edmund followed Peter's gesture and Lucy and Susan curtsied towards her. The political courtesies between the five amused me, and I stood back as they finished their polite goodbyes. They were friends, but they still had obligations to act formal because of their statuses.

When they were finished, Bexxi turned to me and grasped my hand, pulling me along past the four monarchs. I walked her to her carriage and gave her another hug.

"You'll do fabulous, Bex." I encouraged as she pulled away. A beautiful smiled graced her face.

"I will because of you." She replied. "I'll write to you every week."

I grinned at her. "I'll be expecting my letters."

Her gaze drifted back over to the monarchs one last time before she placed a kiss on my cheek.

"Thank you so much, Ash." She smiled brightly at me one last time before climbing into her carriage. I took a few steps back and watched as the carriage drove away.

I was only standing by myself a few moments before I felt a warm and heavy hand on my shoulder. I looked up with a small smile on my face and was met with a loving look from Edmund. I blushed and turned my gaze back to Bexxi's retreating carriage. I felt more weight on my shoulder as Edmund leaned over to place a kiss on my temple. I shivered as his nose tickled the side of my face as he leaned lower to place a kiss on the side of my neck.

I closed my eyes as his breath fanned across my neck and sent pleasant tingles down to my toes. He moved away slightly, leaving his hand on my shoulder. It didn't stay there. His hand made a quiet and sensual journey down my back. It was slow, and I could feel the heat of his hand through my dress. His hand stopped dropping as it hit the curve of my lower back, and he dragged his hand slowly away.

I looked up at him through my lashes and saw the dark look in his eyes. He turned away from me and walked back towards the castle.

His touch and his eyes held the promise of something more. And I found myself yearning for that something more as though my life depended on it.

Please don't hate me! And please review! Next chapter may be slightly smutty! ;)