Here's another chapter for making y'all wait so long! Hopefully I'll be able to crank a few more out before I leave for Alaska next week!

"What do you mean Narnia is at war? With who? Since when?" I demanded, forcing myself to stand. I swayed slightly before finding my foothold on the cold stone ground.

"A rider arrived from the north yesterday morning informing us that Narnia rides to Ettinsmoor for war and requested that my father send troops to help with the battles to come."

"Will he send them?"

"Of course. Narnia has been our biggest ally since the creation of Archenland. My father would be a fool to deny King Peter troops."

My mind immediately drifted back to the conversation I had with Susan before I left.

"Ashlynn, things are not right in Narnia at the moment. I think it best that you not return until I ask you to."

"What has Ettinsmoor done to incite King Peter to go to war?" I asked.

"The giants have been raiding the northern-most cities of Narnia for a few months now, but the morning that you departed from Narnia, they slaughtered a peaceful tribe of fauns residing in the north," Becky replied.

I felt sick to my stomach at what she was telling me. Had I fled Narnia in its greatest time of need? I was a good sword fighter, though I had no idea why. I could have proven useful on a battlefield.

"The rider brought a letter for you. He said he was to give to you himself. He seemed very surprised to learn that you were being kept in the dungeons as a traitor to Archenland."

I watched Becky as she pulled a letter from one of the pockets of her dress.

"I wasn't supposed to give you this, but you are my dearest friend, Ashlynn, regardless of what my father has you labeled," she said softly, slipping the letter through the bars of the cell and sliding it towards me. I fell to my knees and quickly grabbed the letter. I nearly tore it open to read what was inside.

I recognized Lucy's script immediately.

My dearest Ashlynn,

I write with great sorrow to inform you that Narnia is to go to war with Ettinsmoor. Ettinsmoor has killed many of our brothers and sisters in the north and we must protect them from future harm. Peter, Edmund, and Susan leave today. I am not to accompany them unless I receive word from Aslan.

I must caution you, Ashlynn, to not return to Narnia until the war has passed. I will send word for you when it is over. As it is, we are sending Narnian refugees south to Archenland to avoid the war. If at all possible, I would like for you to oversee their safety and stay.

I need you to trust me and listen to me Ashlynn.

Your truest,

Lucy

I reread the letter a few times before standing back up. For a moment, I considered listening to Lucy's words. I could stay in Archenland and help oversee the safe passage of Narnian refugees into the country and make sure that they are safe and happy here for the time being. But then I remembered I was an enemy of the country. I was considered a traitor by the king for ridiculous reasons. I would not be allowed to hold such a position. Instead, I would stay in a tiny cell in the dungeons being of no use to anyone. I felt my resolve harden and knew that I had to do something.

"Becky, you must release me. I have to go back. I have to help Narnia," I said.

Becky shook her head. "That's not going to happen, Ash."

I felt desperation fill me and I rushed forward to the bars of my cell, stopping only when the chains upon my legs refused to allow me any further.

"If you were ever my dearest friend you will release me from these chains. Narnia needs me."

"You're just a girl," Becky cried. "You will die if I let you run out of this cell and into a battle with giants."

"Queen Susan and Queen Lucy..." I started.

"They don't count. They've been trained for battle since they first arrived in Narnia. You are just some ignorant girl from another world. You don't know the first thing about war or battles or fighting for something you love. You're too busy running away from the things you don't want to know!"

I stepped back in shock at the way Becky was speaking to me.

"Bexxi..."

"No! Do not 'Bexxi' me. You will stay in this cell until the war is over," she said. I watched her walk away from my cell. She turned to me before she exited the dungeons. "And probably much longer after as well."

She left me alone and I collapsed to the ground from exhaustion not too long afterwards, clutching my letter as though my life depended upon it.

I was at the edge of the meadow, staring at the marble table in the center. I looked behind me into the surrounding woods and saw Storm watching me.

"Go," she said to me.

I jumped in surprise at her rich voice.

"You can speak?" I asked.

"Go," she repeated.

I turned back to the meadow and stepped into it. The grass caressed my calves as I walked towards the marble table. When I reached the table, I laid my hand upon the cool stone and felt a vibration up my arm. I closed my eyes and reveled in the sensation. When I opened my eyes, I looked into the shiny reflection of the marble stone and saw a magnificent lion staring back at me.

You are home.

I shot up from my sleep breathing erratically and found myself staring at the surprised face of a faun. We watched each other for a few moments before he spoke.

"I did not think it was true, what King Lune told me," Mr. Tumnus said to me.

We had never spoken before, but I knew the faun was one of the most trusted advisers to the Pevensie monarchs and I found myself very surprised that they had sent him to discuss negotiations with King Lune about sending in reinforcements for the war.

"That I was in the dungeons?" I asked, laying back down upon the floor. I kept my eyes on the faun.

"That you were marked as a traitor to Archenland," he replied.

"I'm only a traitor because I questioned the kings authority when he decided to put a man to death based on the presumption that his care for the prince was negligent and caused the young princes untimely death. King Lune had absolutely no evidence against the man and was only killing him because he was looking for someone to blame. And if that makes me a traitor, then I am guilty," I snapped back.

Mr. Tumnus nodded his head. "You made the correct decision, m'lady. I am not accusing you of acting traitorously. But I am concerned for your well-being in here."

"I'm fine. They feed me everyday, if that's what you're wondering."

We were quiet for a moment.

"Tumnus," I started, looking towards him.

"Yes?"

"How bad will this war be?"

He was silent for a few seconds.

"It will be harder to attain a victory now that King Lune has decided not to send in troops for the war."

I sat up sharply.

"What?"

"King Lune has agreed to host the Narnian refugees, but he will not be supplying any troops to the war. He says he is still weary from the death of his son and cannot fight himself and he will not send others to fight in his stead."

My head spun from the information.

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I'm afraid not m'lady."

I sighed and put my head in my hands.

"I need to get out of here Tumnus."

"I know, m'lady."

I looked up at him quickly and saw that he was watching me carefully.

"I am leaving tonight for Narnia. I will come for you," he said.

I nodded and watched him leave the dungeons.

"Tonight," I murmured to myself.

I was waiting for him when he came and quickly jumped to my feet as he opened the door to my cell. I swayed for a moment from fatigue as he undid my chains and led me from the dungeons.

"We must be quick and silent," he whispered to me.

I nodded and followed him through the dark courtyard towards the stables.

"Your horse is waiting for you. It would be best that you went ahead of us in case King Lune discovers you are missing and decides to come looking for you."

We came upon Storm and she snorted in pleasure at seeing me. I smiled back at her and climbed on.

"Head to Cair Paravel and wait for us there," he told me.

I nodded and looked forward.

"Go," he whispered.

Storm took off running and I had to cling to her to avoid falling off.

"I'm not very strong," I said to her as we ran.

She snorted in response and kept running, albeit a little more gently.

We kept up a fast pace for hours but it was only when the sun started rising that I realized we were not heading towards the sea; towards Cair Paravel.

"I think you're going in the wrong direction, Storm," I said before attempting to urge her the other way. She ignored me and kept running.

I was too weak to fight her and found myself drifting forwards in my saddle. I laid upon her neck and clung to her.

"I hope you know where you're going," I whispered against her mane.

Before I drifted off to sleep, I could have sworn I heard her reply back in a high, rich voice, "I am taking you home, Your Majesty."

I opened my eyes when I felt our pace slow and then stop completely. We were surrounded by trees and I looked around in confusion.

"Where are we?" I asked aloud.

"The Western Wood, You Majesty," a feminine voice replied.

I startled and looked around for the source of the voice.

"Where are you?"

"Right here," the voice replied and I realized it was coming from the very horse I sat upon.

"Storm?" I questioned, practically leaping from the saddle to look in her face.

Her blue eyes stared back into mine and she nodded her head.

"Aye, Your Majesty."

"Since when can you speak?" I demanded, still watching her with awe.

"My voice came back to me, by Aslan's doing, no doubt," she replied.

I smiled at her. "You have a lovely voice."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Why are you calling me that?"

"Because that is your title."

I gave her an odd look before looking around once more.

"Why did you bring me to the Western Wood?" I asked.

"I brought you home," she replied, nudging me with her nose.

"What?" I asked, watching her curiously.

She pointed her nose in the direction behind me and I turned. A large leafy branch stood before me and I reach out and pushed it aside. I gasped at what I saw: a wide grassy meadow with flowers and vines and a marble table with a stone arch sitting directly in the middle of it.

What did y'all think? Is it too much of a cliffhanger? Hahaha. The mystery of Ashlynn shall be revealed next chapter! Yay!