So, I want to address a few things before we start this chapter.

1) I am sorry that I spent way too long writing and publishing this story. I know it has frustrated a lot of my readers, and for that I am incredibly story. Now, as sorry as I am for that, I do need to mention that I don't appreciate being attacked by my readers for taking so long. No, I have not been sitting on my couch for the past year twiddling my thumbs. I graduated from college just last year and had to focus on opening my business, which I just want to say it's doing remarkable well. I work 85 hours a week, not to mention I spend all of my time at home doing finances for my business and taking care of my home. My creative muse has been dead for a while and it has affected me greatly, I assure you. My experience with this story has taught me a lesson for any future stories that I may write and it's that I shouldn't start publishing until I've finished writing. I won't make that mistake again in the future.

2) I don't think this is the end for this story line that I've created. I know for a fact I'm going to publish a short epilogue sometime in the near future, but I also think I'm going to publish a bunch of one shots. These one shots will be of Ashlynn's past experiences as Aslan's light as well as moments between her and Edmund, from the moment they met and onward. I'll post these one shots under this story so that you can always receive alerts whenever they are posted.

3) I really want to apologize for how awful my writing was in the beginning of this story. I've always loved telling stories, but I didn't tune my writing skills until college. I actually started this story my freshman year and my grammar skills improved exponentially over the course of the creation of this story. I may or may not go back and fix things, but either way, it won't affect the story itself. The story line remains the same.

4) This is the longest chapter I've written! I hope you all enjoy it.

I sat up gasping in the grassy meadow. Images, memories flashed across my mind so fast that I felt a horrible headache forming. Aslan was returning all of my memories to me. I grumbled to myself as I stood up and brushed off my pants. I knew I needed these memories if I was going to battle, but at the moment, I really wished he had filtered some of them. Hundreds and hundreds of years worth of memories is a little overwhelming all at one moment, even if I'd experienced that sort of intense upload times before in the past.

My heart began to ache as thoughts of Edmund filled my mind. How much agony did he endure in the year I was gone? Not knowing what had happened to me. Assuming I was dead, only for me to come back and not know who he was.

I shook my head of my thoughts and quickly turned my mind to my current predicament. Since I now knew who I was, I knew that my capabilities could easily sway the impending battle with the Ettinsmoor giants to the favor of Peter and his army. Without me, they would likely fail. But there was also Lucy's request to consider. She wanted me to oversee the flight of the refugees.

I looked across the calming meadow and bent down to pick a white flower. I twirled it in my hand and took a deep breath, closing my eyes and savoring the smell of home. I opened them with renewed determination and made my way out of the clearing.

I whistled for Storm and heard her make her way through the woods to me. She stopped before me and bowed.

"Your Majesty," she greeted in her ethereal voice.

I smiled warmly at her and gestured for her to stand. She did so and I brushed her long dark mane off her forehead and began to quickly braid the wild flowers in her mane. She nuzzled my neck affectionately as I did so.

"We have to go to war, Storm," I told her calmly as I finished.

"I know, my queen."

I sent her an admonishing look. "Enough with the titles."

Storm laughed at me and nudged me with her muzzle. I grinned at her.

"There is something we must do first," I continued.

"What must we do?"

"Contact the nearest dryad community. There are some fleeing refugees that need their guidance."

"I sense one nearby. Shall we go there?"

"Yes," I said as I climbed onto her back.

"And then to battle, Your Majesty?"

"Yes, but first, I'll need my weapons back."

Storm snorted her agreement and took off through the woods.

It didn't take us long to discover the dryad community. They greeted us with excitement and kindness. The king of the community, a brown leafed male from an old oak tree, wanted to throw a celebration for the return of the light.

"We are ecstatic at your return, Your Majesty. Now, true peace will be returned once again to our lands," he said to me.

I smiled at his kindness. "Thank you for your kind words, Master Dryad, but I am afraid the celebration will have to wait. There is a dire matter at our hands that needs immediate attention."

"Speak of it and we shall give you all our help."

"Narnia rides to war with the giants of Ettinsmoor. As you have probably heard, the giants have been attacking villages in the north, killing and pillaging. There are refugees, survivors, in the north that are fleeing to Cair Paravel for safety. I need your help in guiding them."

The king dryad bowed his head before me. "Of course, Your Majesty. We will begin at once." He looked behind him at his subject and lifted his hand. They all bowed respectfully, before floating away with the wind. Thousands and thousands of leaves and petals drifted softly past me, caressing my skin in reverence. I smiled kindly at their show of affection.

"Is there anything else, Your Majesty?" the king dryad asked me.

"I must now acquire weapons. Narnia will need my help at the battle front."

"I think I have that covered, Your Highness," a familiar voice called out from behind the king.

I grinned widely. "Merie!"

Merie floated over to me quickly, hugging me immediately. "I fled to this community when they imprisoned you, m'lady. I tried to send word to the Pevensie's about your unjust imprisonment, but I have yet to receive a reply. I did manage to bring your belongings back with me though. Most of them, at least."

I grinned at the flower dryad. "I can't thank you enough, Merie. You've been so wonderful to me."

She smiled widely at me and gestured for me to follow her. I bowed my head in respect once more the king dryad and he returned the favor and floated away.

My things were decoratively laid out on a stone and flower dais. I noticed my swords immediately and attached them to my back.

"Will you need armor, m'lady?" Merie asked me. "I'm afraid I don't have any of that."

I shook my head and grinned slyly. "No need for that, Merie. I have all the protection I need."

I walked back over to Storm and climbed on her back. "I have an important request of you, Merie."

"Anything, Your Majesty."

"Contact the other dryad communities. Beg them for their assistance in this war. Tell them, the Light begs for their help. Tell them to find me. To ride to war with me."

Merie smiled fondly at me. "Of course, Your Majesty."

I turned Storm around, sending Merie a final grin, and took off into the woods.

We traveled hard and fast for several hours. Sunset was but an hour away and I knew the Narnian army would have little to no chance of battling giants in the dark. I had battled giants before. Not the ones that Narnia was currently at war with, but their ancestors, who were vastly more brutal.

I felt something gently brush across my skin and looked to my right to see pink petals floating through the air alongside me. I grinned at Merie, glancing back to see thousands and thousands of dryads traveling behind me. I turned back forward, a determined grin on my face.

It was dark by the time I heard the sounds of battle. I could hear the roars of the giants and feel the tremors on the ground that Storm was speeding across. I knew before we even reached the top of the hill that whatever was happening below it was not favorable for our people.

The moon was full above us and the light from it was bright enough for us to just barely see around us. When we finally hit the top of the hill and looked down on the battlefield, I could see clearly enough to know that Narnia was losing, and badly. The bodies of Narnian soldiers littered the ground amongst those left standing. What remained of the army was backed against a cliff and the Ettinsmoor giants were closing in on them.

Wind brushed across my back as my army of dryads stopped alongside me all the way along the hillside. They waited for my mark. I reached behind me and grabbed one of my swords, drawing it out quickly in front of me. I pointed it towards the sky, gazing intently at the moon.

"My friend," I whispered. "I need your help. Give me your strength so that I may share the light with those who need it."

I closed my eyes as I felt a warmth spread from my fingers and down my arms. It caressed my face and shoulders, trickling all the way down to my toes. I breathed in deeply, before exhaling and thrusting my sword downwards, casting it towards the valley below me. Light spread like water across the battlefield, drowning the entire land in light.

The sudden brightness caused all of the soldiers below me to shout in either shock or pain, covering their eyes. The giants stumbled backwards, roaring and looking around them wildly.

"Merie, lead a group to gather the wounded. Bring them to this hill. Send another to protect the remaining Narnian soldiers. The rest will help me take down the giants," I said, drawing my other sword.

Merie grinned confidently beside me. "Good luck, Your Highness."

I turned to her with a wide smile. "I don't need luck."

"Let's go, Storm," I commanded, gently nudging her side into a run down the side of the hill.

We flew down the hill, drawing the attention of both armies at the bottom of it. I closed my eyes, commanding the remaining warmth within me to come forward. I felt it flow all around me and opened my eyes. I looked down at the armor of light now covering my body and grinned, looking back up as we approached the giants.

I let out a battle cry, pointing one of my swords at the giants.

"Take out the legs!" I commanded to the dryads around me right before we reached the first giant.

I leapt off of Storm, twirling around and swinging both of my swords into the left ankle of one of the giants. It had to have been thirty feet tall. Its foot was at least eight feet long and four feet wide and when it lifted it up, roaring in agony, I darted quickly to the other leg to avoid getting trampled.

The giant jumped around, still crying out in agony and trying not to fall over. I sliced through its other ankle, causing it to topple over beside me. The impact of the giant hitting the ground caused a tremor that nearly knocked me off of my feet. I stumbled before catching my balance running around towards the head of the giant.

I came to a quick halt as I noticed one of the giant's hands coming quickly down towards me. I leapt out of the way, rolling as I hit the ground and narrowly avoiding being squashed by the massive appendage.

I landed in a crouch after finally coming to a halt and lifted my head to look at the giant, who was now rolling over towards me, a snarl on its face. Its eyes were glued to me as it attempted, once again, to smash me with its hand. I dodged it again, swiftly turning to face the giant and thrusting up my own hand. Blindingly white light shot from my hand straight into the eyes of the giant. The giant roared in pain, rolling away from me and trying to claw out the light that was now clinging to its eyes.

I turned away from the fallen giant and saw that the dryads were effectively taking out giants across the battlefield. I also noticed that there were a great deal of Narnian soldiers still fighting the giants. A flash of blonde hair caught my eye and I saw Peter assisting a group of dryads in taking down a giant.

I ran towards him, leaping onto the foot of the giant he was fighting and stabbing one sword deep into the foot of the giant and throwing the other through the ankle of the other leg. I ripped my sword out of the foot and jumped off of it, running across to the other leg and grabbing my other sword as the giant fell. I leapt out of the way of the falling giant just in time, falling over from the quakes the body created upon impacting the ground.

I pulled myself up and coughed as I inhaled dirt that had lifted into the air when the giant fell. I moved around the body and stood at its feet, looking to where some dryads were finishing it off. I turned back and looked over at Peter, who was breathing heavily and looking at me with an indescribable look on his face.

"Ashlynn?" he asked unsurely.

I half grinned at him, slightly worried at his reaction. I didn't have time to reply as I was suddenly snatched up by a massive hand and carried high above the ground. I cried out in shock, looking down at a horrified looking Peter.

"Ashlynn!" he shouted, backing up as the giant moved towards him.

A huff of putrid breath blew my hair into my face as the giant breathed angrily behind me.

"You kill my brother. I squeeze you," the giant growled out.

I couldn't even scream out in pain as the giant began to squeeze his hand, crushing me slowly. I struggled against his hand for a moment, gasping as my lungs failed to expand.

"ASHLYNN!" I heard a desperate voice cry down below.

I vaguely recognized Edmund as he ran towards the giant slowly crushing me to death. He and Peter started hacking away at the feet of the giant below. I started to see black spots as the giant continued to squeeze. I tried with all my might to bring forth my light, but I couldn't concentrate from the lack of oxygen. I felt myself fading quickly.

The hand clenching around my body eased slightly as an enraged cry tore from the mouth of the giant holding me. I breathed in a desperate breath, using the brief strength to force out as much of the warmth tingling within my blood as possible. The light burned the skin of the hand holding me until it turned to ash, causing the cry of pain to increase in volume, and me to fall from its previous grasp.

My eyes were open as I fell and everything seemed to happen in slow motion. All I could see was the moon framed by billions and billions of small lights. I could almost see past the moon to where the Sun was shining brilliantly. I couldn't tear my eyes from the sight. My heart lurched at the familiarity of it. This was my family.

I don't remember hitting the ground, but I did and the impact created a crater around me. I remember flashes from the moments after the impact, mostly images of my own body thrashing and one of the most blinding lights bursting from my body, shooting out across the battlefield. When I opened my eyes, the only light illuminating the battlefield came from the stars and the moon. My light had burnt out.

I tried to move, crying out in pain as a burning ache shot through my body.

"Ssh, ssh, ssh," a voice said calmly.

A hand was stroking my head. I was trembling violently and I couldn't stop it. I looked over and saw a teary eyed Edmund staring down at me.

"Eddie," I whispered.

A choked laugh burst from his throat as he cast his dark eyes down to the ground before looked back up at me. I attempted to move towards him but another hand pushed against my shoulder. I turned to my left and saw Peter kneeling beside me, his hand planted firmly on my shoulder.

"Don't push yourself," Peter said gently.

"Is she alright?" I heard Susan ask somewhere beyond Peter.

"Did it work?" another female voice asked.

"I think so, Lucy. She's awake at least," Peter replied.

I shuddered out a breath, a whine tearing from my throat as more pain shot through my body.

"The pain will fade shortly, my Light," a deeper and richer voice stated from above me. A sense of familiar calm washed over me and I relaxed against Peter and Edmund's hands.

"Aslan," I muttered, closing my eyes. "What happened?"

I felt him nuzzle against my forehead, the warmth of his breath caressing my cheek. I sighed in contentment, opening my eyes back up to look at the Great Spirit that created me. His visage was upside down, but I could tell he was looking at me with an adoring and proud expression.

"You fell," Edmund responded, pausing to take in a deep breath. "You fell when you destroyed the giant's hand. There was nothing we could do."

"When you hit the ground, I'm not sure what exactly happened," Peter started, looking at Aslan for help. "You hit so hard, the ground caved and there was this explosion."

"The light was so bright," Susan piped in. "I couldn't see anything except white everywhere. But it wasn't painful. It was…"

"Warm," Edmund finished. "It just felt warm. And calming."

He stroked her hair back again and smiled shakily down at her.

"When it faded," he continued, "all of the giants had fallen, but all of our soldiers were still standing."

"My Light shines for all pure and honest souls," Aslan explained. "Those who are evil and malicious at heart will fall when subjected to its presence."

I coughed and looked back at Aslan. "That's never happened before; the light explosion."

Aslan chuckled. "Come child, stand."

I groaned but allowed Peter and Edmund to pull me to my feet. I stumbled slightly, but Edmund wrapped his arms around my shoulders to steady me.

"Easy there, Ash," he mumbled against my neck.

My heart fluttered and I attempted poorly to repress a shiver as he touched me. I looked over at Aslan and saw a knowing grin on his face.

"What was that, Father?" I asked him, pulling slightly away from Edmund. I kept my hand on his arm though as reassurance. I wasn't going anywhere. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the Pevensie's exchanging confused looks.

"When you hit the earth," Aslan began, "you died."

I blinked repeatedly at him before scowling. "Again?"

"What do you mean again?" Edmund sniped behind me. "What is going on, Ashlynn? What haven't you told us?"

I looked over my shoulder at Edmund, a guilty expression on my face.

"There is a lot to explain, my children," Aslan said. "Have patience."

I looked back to Aslan. "What was that explosion?"

"That was your spirit's natural response to dying. It has always happened every time you have fallen?"

"Why am I here then?" I asked curiously, only slightly irritated at having died yet again.

Aslan chuckled deeply, glancing over at Lucy. "Lucy refused to let you go."

I sent Lucy a grateful look. "Thank you, Luce."

She smiled back at me. Her face was red from having cried, as was Susan's. I gave Lucy a questioning look.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her.

"I could ask you the same thing," she replied. "Last I heard, you were imprisoned at Anvard prison."

"What?" Peter demanded angrily, turning on me. "King Lune had you imprisoned? What did you do?"

I glared back at the High King. "Don't make assumptions, King Peter," I sneered. "I was imprisoned after standing up for a man wrongly accused of killing the young prince. They would have killed him had I not done anything."

"The king is grieving over his son, but his rashness would have been his kingdoms downfall had Ashlynn not stepped in and challenged his authority," Aslan said.

I shot Aslan a wry smile. "Even without my memories I still manage to do my job."

Aslan let out a laugh and moved forward to nuzzle me again. I released Edmund's arms and threw my own around my creator. I pulled away from him, keeping my hand in his mane as I turned to face the Pevensie's.

"Come, my children. There is still much to do and even more to explain," Aslan commanded, leading us away from the crater I had created.

"So, you've been alive for centuries?" Edmund asked slowly, looking between Aslan and me as we stood before the kings and queens atop the hill overlooking the battlefield, where the remaining bodies of the giants were being burned by the Narnia army.

"Yes," I replied, giving him a nervous look.

"And you've died before? Like, actually died? Many times?" Susan asked, as though the thought was too much to comprehend.

I smiled sadly at her and nodded.

"So, when we found Storm and there was blood, you had," Edmund started shakily, looking down at the ground to gather his courage and control his emotions. He looked back up at me. "You had actually died?"

I looked over at Aslan before glancing back at Edmund. I gave him a soft look. "Yes. I did."

"What happened?" Peter asked. "Why was there blood?"

"Raiders were attacking a family," I began. "I stepped in to help them. I distracted them long enough for the family to escape. I was shot with an arrow in the stomach. I fell off of Storm and commanded her to run. After that, I woke up in another life on another world."

"But then you died there too, didn't you?" Edmund said. "That's why we found you like we did. Beaten and nearly dead."

I grimaced and nodded my head. "My purpose on that world was to change the life of a man that would someday found a public organization that would fight against crime by partnering with local law enforcement agencies and donating to causes against violence. It would be successful in lowering crime rates and saving many lives. After witnessing the rape and brutal beating to death of a woman, he would be forever changed and determined to make the world right again."

Susan and Lucy gasped at my words and Peter's face hardened as he turned his stare to the ground. Edmund's reaction was the worst. A tormented whine tore from his throat as he stumbled backwards and bent over, putting his hands on his knees and he tried to control his breathing. His eyes were squeezed tight and he was trying desperately to control his sobs. Peter reached back and put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it to offer his brother comfort.

My heart lurched at the sight and I felt a tightening in my throat. My eyes started to water. I moved towards Edmund, but a glance from Aslan halted my steps.

Edmund stood up quickly and turned to Aslan, a furious look in his eye. "How could you allow that to happen to her?" he demanded. "How could you subject her to that type of evil?

"Edmund," Lucy said quietly.

"No," Peter said, shaking his head at Lucy and looking to Aslan. "He's right. How could you create someone whose only purpose is to die over and over again?"

"Because that's my job," I responded, gaining all of the kings and queens attention. "I can handle that type of sacrifice. I was made to."

"It's cruel and unfair and down right sick," Edmund spat out.

I shook my head. "To you, maybe. But like I said, I can handle it. What I do isn't unnecessary. I die so that others don't have to. I experience these things for the betterment of the world. It's not random acts. Every moment I've lived, it's been with a purpose, and the same with every time I've died. I go where I'm needed."

"So what purpose did you have living with us?" Edmund demanded, moving towards Eden. "What purpose did you have making me love you?"

I felt my face softening. "You weren't supposed to love me," I replied. "Just as I wasn't supposed to love you. It wasn't part of the plan. I was supposed guide all of you, help shape you in becoming the amazing rulers you would be. Falling in love wasn't supposed to happen. But it did, and I don't regret it."

"So you lied to us?" Peter said. "Every moment we've spent with you has been a lie."

I shook my head adamantly.

"No, King Peter," Aslan interrupted. "Ashlynn has no memories of who she is when she starts a new life. Every thing she says or does is all truth and comes from within her. There are no lies in light. It is her presence in a place and time that alters the future."

"So, this light that our kingdom has been gossiping about for months, is Ashlynn?" Susan asked. "Ashlynn is your daughter?"

Aslan nodded. "I created her for this purpose. I created her in my image."

A thick silence enveloped all of us, causing me to nervously shift on my feet.

"So what now?" Edmund asked bitterly. "You died, but Lucy saved you. Where would you have gone if she hadn't brought you back? Would I have ever even seen you again?"

"I've always been around, Eddie," I said. "I've been with all of you since you were born. I was there when you were brought into the world. I was there for every important moment in your life. And I'll be there until the very end and you all join me in Aslan's country."

This news seemed to shock the Pevensie's. Peter looked up at me with wide eyes as if recognizing me for the first time. "You were at the station," he said. "I saw you hand the papers to our mother. The ones that told us where to go."

I smiled and nodded my head.

"I don't know where I would be right now if I had died," I said, looking over at Aslan, who glanced back at me.

"You would go wherever you are needed."

"Does that mean that something bad will happen since Ashlynn didn't go?" Lucy asked.

Aslan chuckled. "Ashlynn will always go wherever she is needed. Nothing can stop that, little one."

"So, she's needed here?" Lucy continued, catching eyes with me.

I shrugged with a half grin. "Guess so."

"Come, my daughter. There are many wounded that need your help," Aslan said, gesturing for me to follow him.

I turned to follow him obediently, glancing over my shoulder at Edmund, who refused to look at me. He was staring at the ground, hands clenched and dark curls falling into his eyes. Peter put both hands on his shoulders and muttered something to him. Susan and Lucy moved to him as well. My heart clenched and I worried about my future with the dark king. I turned back to my father and followed him down the hill to where the wounded were waiting for me.

It took many days to clear the battlefield and prepare the troops to travel back to Cair Paravel. By the time we were ready to make the journey, Edmund had still not spoken to me. I would catch him watching me often, but as soon as we caught eyes, he would turn away.

I couldn't stop myself from watching the dark king. He was very determined to get the troops back home, working harder than most at packing up carriages with weapons and tents and moving the wounded into other carriages. I often found myself admiring his strong arms and jaw line, which was more often than not clenched. I was getting frustrated with him ignoring me.

The rest of the Pevensie's had accepted my true identity, more curious about what all I had done than angry at having not known about me from the beginning. Lucy and Susan asked me the most questions about my past; wanting to know how many people I had helped. They never wanted to know about my deaths though. Just the good things I had done and the things I had seen.

Peter would ask me questions too, though more as a king would a subject rather than a friend to friend. It wasn't that he didn't still consider me a friend, but his worries over my well being made him distance himself from my past. No matter how curious he was over what I had been through, to think of me dying hurt him too much to approach the subject closely.

Aslan stayed with us as we prepared for travel. His presence increased the enthusiasm of the soldiers. My presence also seemed to create the same atmosphere. Most Narnian's had heard the legend of the light and were over joyed that it was more than just a legend. I shook more hands in that time than I had in my whole existence. The thought made me smile.

The dryads who had helped in the victory over the giants left before we were finished packing. They needed to return to their villages and let the kingdom know what had happened on the battlefield.

"All of Narnia will rejoice over your return, Your Highness," Merie said to me one evening.

We were standing at the top of the hill, looking over the edge at the troops as they packed up the carriages and prepared to leave. I turned and smiled at her, but didn't reply.

After the fourth day of preparing to leave and attending to the wounded, we were ready for the journey back to Cair Paravel. Over the next few days, our group slowly dwindled as soldiers broke off from the caravan to travel towards their home in a different direction. We reached the castle overlooking the sea after three days of travel and were greeted with shouts of joy and white flowers petals thrown over us.

There were two days of celebration after that. Grand parties and feasts and a ball dedicated to me. I wore an amazing white gown that Mrs. Beaver made for me upon the news of my true identity. Everyone bestowed gifts and love upon me. And as much attention and adoration that I received from the subjects of the kingdom, my heart ached deep inside my chest beside Edmund wouldn't even look at me anymore.

I found myself standing on the balcony outside of the ballroom one evening, staring out over the coast as the sunset. I wasn't sure why I was still at Cair Paravel after the defeat of the giants. I was no longer needed here, or at least, I felt that I was no longer needed. Aslan had left before the celebrations began, leaving with a glance that said he would call me when I was needed elsewhere.

Since then, I had been moving through the days feeling quite lost. I had never had much free time in any world with my memories in tact. I felt almost vulnerable at the thought that everyone in the kingdom knew who I was.

I sighed and leaned against the railing in front of me, peering over into the courtyard below. There were several Narnian citizens moving about, getting ready to close the castle courtyard gates when the sun finally set.

"Not thinking of jumping, are you?" a voice asked behind me.

I jumped in surprise before tensing.

"I've never committed suicide before," I replied tartly, not turning around to face the boy who had been avoiding me for so long.

I heard a sigh behind me and then several footsteps heading in my direction.

"Look, Ashlynn," he started.

I turned around quickly and leveled him with a glare. "I'm not sure I want to hear what you have to say, Edmund."

His face is soft as he watched me, but it doesn't calm down my anger.

"We should be beyond this pettiness by now," I continued. "I'm sorry that I left you. I'm sorry that I've spent the past few months without my memories of you. But I'm not sorry for who I am and for what I do and for what I will have to do sometime in the future."

Edmund shook his head. "I don't want you to be. I'm just…struggling with the thought that I'll keep on losing you forever and I can't do anything about it. Even now that you're here with me, I can't have you. I can't keep you. I can't stand the thought of how much pain you've been through and how much you're always going to be put through. It hurts me. It hurts me more than anything has ever hurt me. More than getting stabbed by the White Witch, more than losing you the first time, more than getting you back only for you not to remember me. This hurts more than anything."

I grabbed his hand as it rested against his thigh, taking a moment to separate his fingers and stare at them. I looked up and caught his eyes, which were soft and loving as he watched me.

I opened my mouth to reply but he cut me off.

"Just stay with me," he begged. "Please. Just stay here. With me."

I looked up at him, torn between my love for him and my duty. I shook my head and looked back at our hands.

"You know I don't have control over this," I said.

"Please," he whispered. "Don't leave me again. I can't take it. Just stay with me." My eyes followed his hand as he pulled my own hand to his heart, which beat rapidly beneath my fingers. "I need you."

I looked back up at him, my eyes watering. I breathed in sharply and nodded my head, exhaling shakily.

"Okay," I said. "I'll stay."

His smile was blinding and I didn't have time to overcome the feeling it stirred inside me before his lips were on mine.

He was very gentle, but insistent as our mouths moved together. He pushed me against the railing, his hips pressing into my and holding me in place, refusing to allow me any space to move. His tongue darted across my bottom lip and I automatically opened for him, allowing him to explore and dominate my mouth. He bit my bottom lip, tearing a whine out of my throat.

He chuckled against my lips, pulling away and looking me in the eye. "I love you, Ashlynn," he whispered.

I smiled back at him, dropping my eyes to his slightly swollen lips, before looking back up at his dark as night eyes. "I love you," I replied, pulling him back in for a kiss and praying that I could stay with this boy forever. I should have known better.

Stay tuned for an Epilogue!