Ok here's another one. I'm not really in a writing mood tonight but I had this section planned in my mind so I had write it down before I forgot! :D

"Natani, wake up!" Lucy's voice cut through my dreams and I woke with a snort. My blurry vision and my groggy senses made me just want to go right back to sleep, but I forced my eyes wide and sat up.

"Ugh, what is it, Lucy?" I mumbled, arching my back to pop it.

"Peter and Edmund told me to come get you," Lucy replied, throwing a dress at me from across the room. "Come on, get dressed. We're meeting in the library."

I groaned and pulled the light yellow dress over my head. I had actually gotten use to the feel of wearing a dress and I was starting to like them. Lucy laced my back up and I slipped into my shoes. After I did my toiletries, we walked down to the library. Peter, Susan, a faun (that's what those goaty things were!) and a centaur were gathered around a table, looking at a map. Little figurines were placed around the map.

"Ah, good, you're here!" Peter welcomed me into the room by kissing my hand like a gallant knight. "Natani, I don't believe you've met Mr. Tumnus?"

The faun smiled at me and I decided I liked him at once! He bowed his head in greeting.

"And Larius?"

The centaur, his horse half pure white and his human half a rich, creamed coffee color. I thought he was rather intimidating but his face showed kindness. We bowed/curtsied to one another and Peter pulled out a chair for me.

I glanced over at Edmund. He was the only one who wasn't scanning over this map on the table. He sat a little off to the side, listening intently but not imputing anything. I gave him a smile and he returned it. Well, at least he wasn't mad or anything. I assumed he was just thinking very deeply.

I was asked to tell everyone in the room everything I knew about the approaching invasion. There wasn't much to tell because I only knew a little information, but Peter insisted that every little detail may be important.

"Thank you, Natani," Susan said to me when I had retold everything I knew three times over. "Lucy, has Natani had breakfast? No? Well, show her to the dining room! Goodness, Lucy, get this poor girl some food!"

Later that afternoon, the council from the library came into the sitting room where Lucy and I were discussing the Snow Dance that the dwarves and fauns had every winter. It was fascinating! But we stopped talking and looked up at them, waiting to hear what had been decided.

"Messengers have been dispatched to all corners of Narnia, calling soldiers to arms," Peter announced, looking something like…excited? "They should be gathered within the week. We shall meet this threat face to face. We have also sent a message to Archenland to be on their guard as this army will have to cross it order to reach Narnia. Perhaps they will even join with us."

"What can we do until then, Peter?" Lucy asked, looking worried.

"Lucy, I need you to help Susan train archers," Peter said, "I know we don't have much time to train, but surely there are some up and coming archers who know at least the basics."

Lucy nodded, accepting the responsibility.

"Peter, what about me?" I asked, "I want to fight!"

"No way," Edmund interjected before Peter could reply, "No. You're not fighting."

I glared at Edmund.

"Did I ask you?"

"Watch how you speak to a King of Narnia," Larius's tone was dead serious and I blushed meekly.

"It's Narnian culture for the women to stay behind unless we are in desperate need. Susan will be staying too." Peter seemed to think this answer satisfactory.

"But I am not a Narnian woman!" I protested, "I am a Moor. A warrior from birth! I am not afraid of battle and I have fought my share of them! Look, I nearly killed your precious king last time." I winked at Edmund when I said this, to let him know I meant nothing by it.

"That's true," Susan muttered, seeming not to want to get involved but not being able to stay quiet.

Peter looked at me for a long time. Evaluating I guess. Finally, he sighed heavily.

"I don't deny it," he said, "You are a great warrior, lady though you may be. I respect that your people do things different and if you feel compelled to fight in the battle, it is your choice."

Edmund made a funny noise in the back of his throat and walked out of the room quickly. What was THAT about?

The others went back to discussing battle plans and I slipped out of the room quietly. I found Edmund just outside the door.

"Are you mad?" I asked him.

"No, not mad," he replied, "Just…I don't know if you should fight."

I opened my mouth to argue but he raised a hand to silence me.

"Now wait and listen," he said loudly, "It's not that I don't think you're able, but I just…don't like to see it. And…our swords are different than you're use to."

I cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Peter wants me to teach you how to fight Narnian style," he went on.

I grinned widely. That sounded like something worthwhile!

"Well then what are we waiting for?" I asked, tugging on his arm, "We don't have a lot of time! Can we go now?"

He looked at me funny. Yeah, I guess I was a little eager. But it had been so long since I had a good fight and I knew Edmund was an excellent opponent! I wanted to feel a blade in my hand again.

"Sure," he replied, pulling out of my grip. We walked to the courtyard and two fauns came out behind us, bearing two sword wrapped in purple linen. I was handed one and I realized Edmund was right, Narnian swords were heavier and bulkier than my peoples' short swords.

"This is bulky," I muttered, looking at the sword. It was pretty big…but it was beautiful! I grinned at the lion carved in the hilt.

Edmund laughed.

"Yeah I suppose it is," he said, "Could be because it's mine."

"Oh, sorry!" I immediately handed the sword to Edmund and he gave me the other one. Ah, yes, it was much smaller and lighter. I realized now why he had muscles. You HAD to in order to even lift that darn sword!

"Now," Edmund's tone got serious and he went into a fighting stance immediately, "Let's get to it."

I smiled and went down into my stance. This felt very familiar…we had done this not too long ago in the woods. I hoped this time would end differently.

With a yell, I ran at him and twisted as I made a downward slash at his shoulder. He dodged it easily and disarmed me with a flick of his blade. I looked at him in shock.

"Wha?"

"Hold you sword right," Edmund said simply. He demonstrated by gripping his hilt firmly and showing me.

I took up the grip and we flew at eachother again. Slashing, thrusting, dodging, kicking, elbowing, pushing…it was absolutely wearying! Edmund lunged at me and I barely managed to block it before it jabbed me in the stomach. I sucked in a pained breath but didn't let it show. I struck back and the force of my blow made him stagger back a bit. He shook his head and delivered a sweeping kick to my legs. I fell flat on my back, the wind knocked out of me.

"Dead." he claimed, pointing his sword to my chest.

"Not dead yet," I said evilly. I aimed a kick at his thigh and felt the connection a second later. With a hiss of pain, he was on his knees next to me, looking shocked.

After that, our battle got even fiercer. I was almost scared he would misjudge and slice me to pieces at a few points. His eyes were blazing and his whole expression was deadly. I was getting tired and I knew he was too, his hair was sticking to his forehead with sweat but other than that, he seemed completely well.

I finally felt my arm go limp like a noodle and Edmund seized the opportunity to wrap his arm around my neck and press his blade to my back.

"Dead."

We were so close together that this statement tickled the skin of my neck and I could feel his accelerated heartbeat on my shoulders. I felt the rest of my body threatening to go noodle limp…but for different reasons entirely. Oh, gosh girl, get a hold of yourself!

Edmund seemed to realize our close proximity and he suddenly let go and stepped back. A blush creeped up his neck and into his cheeks, making me giggle.

"I…I, uh, guess I win that round," he stated, trying to take the awkward edge off.

"Eh, I'll let you have it, I guess," I said with a shrug. But no matter how nonchalant I tried to be, I couldn't keep the butterflies that were forming in my stomach down. No. No chance in the world I would let myself fall for the Just King. He was a friend and that was all I would allow him to be.

Hmmmm…budding romance perhaps?

Well it's 3:30 A.M. now and I need to get some sleep. You know…6 hours would be nice. More than I usually get! :D

Let me know what you think, readers! Feel free to tell me if there's anything specific you want to see! I'll try to accommodate while maintaining my original story.