I have no interesting stories to tell as of right now about my life so we're jumping right in!

Oh wait, go listen to "The Popcorn Song" on youtube! It makes me grin for some reason.

Thanks for the reviews everyone! It's great to get feedback!

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This day dawned like any other, the sunshine washed over my face from the window and the song of birds reached my ears as the fog of sleep lifted from my mind. Little did I know that this day would be anything but normal.

I began to listen more carefully and realized I was not only hearing birds but also clinks of metal, raised voices, hoofs on stone and assorted other out of place sounds. Well…out of place in Cair Paravel maybe, but not foreign to my ears. The sounds of an army preparing to move out.

I jumped out of bed and got dressed as quickly as possible. He wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, would he?

I had just thrown on my shoes and was about to rush out the door when it opened before I could get to it, I ran smack into Edmund and made him stumble back a bit.

"Whoa there," he laughed, steadying us both with a hand to the wall behind him, "What's your hurry?"

"I…I thought maybe you were leaving without a goodbye," I replied sheepishly.

"Natani," Edmund sighed in exasperation, "Why would I not come tell you goodbye, you crazy woman?"

"I don't know," I whispered, "I think I may have commitment issues…"

"Don't say that," Edmund tilted my face up and I realised my little quip had been taken seriously. I gave him a reassuring smile and pulled him into a hug which was hard to do around all his armour. "I was actually just coming up to tell you goodbye."

I don't know why, but I felt tears begin to leak out of my eyes and I was angry at myself for it. He needed to see me be strong as he left for this battle! I wiped them away and gave him a proud smile.

We began to walk toward the stairs to make our way to the courtyard and our talk got lighter as we discussed things much less frightening than battles and death. But nothing took my mind off of it completely, not even when I found we had reached the courtyard and Edmund was kissing me goodbye. My mind couldn't seem to wrap around the fact that I was being left behind from a battle for the first time in my life.

"Be careful, Edmund," I whispered as he pulled himself up on Philip's back, looking more like a King than ever. He smiled down at me and then began to trot off toward the front of the mass of soldiers where Peter was already waiting on a lovely black Horse. I watched as they began to move out and felt like something else needed to be said.

"KICK SOME EXTRA BUTT FOR ME!" I called after Edmund and Philip. They both looked back and Edmund's smiled could be seen even from where I was halfway back down the line.

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I sighed when the last hoof beat, clink and dust cloud had finally disappeared. My shoulders slumped as they had been begging to do for so long but I had done it, I had remained strong. But now he was gone and I could be weak if I wanted to. I sunk down onto the stone of the courtyard and began sobbing into my hands.

"Oh, Natani," Lucy comforted me, "I'm sure Edmund will be alright! He's a very smart and careful fighter."

I managed a little laugh. She didn't realize I was crying more out of being left behind than sending him off to fight. I WAS worried, not going to lie, but I was mad at myself for sinking below my former warrior status. No man use to be able to make feel like my place was off the field of battle.

"I'll be alright, Lucy," I assured her, standing up and brushing off the back of my dress. "I just need to be alone for a little bit to gather my thoughts."

We walked back into the castle and parted ways outside the throne room. Lucy had to attend to some business dealing with a village not too far from the castle so she would be riding out soon. Even Lucy was doing more than I was.

But I had told Edmund I would stay here and stay here I would unless Aslan himself told me otherwise.

I closed the door to my bedroom and plopped back on my bed with a sigh. A lovely breeze was blowing in from my window and it seemed to be blowing more than it should because the leaves outside on the trees were barely moving at all. Then that smell filled my senses and I knew I was no longer alone in this room.

I sat up with a smile. There he was, that majestic and beautiful Lion, staring at me with blazing gold eyes.

"Aslan!" I whispered excitedly, standing up and then bowing before him.

"Arise, Daughter," Aslan's voice made my ears tingle, a sensation I never felt before. "Why do you sit here in this room?"

"I'm just trying to accept my place, Aslan," I replied with a sigh, looking around the room. My old armour was propped in one corner, my crossbow and dagger at the base of the pile. Aslan looked over at it too, a knowing look in his eyes.

"That is exactly why asked, and I will ask you again," Aslan's eyes locked on mine, "Why do you sit here in this room."

"I…I have a feeling you're trying to tell me something important," I stuttered, trying not to sound rude, but getting slightly annoyed.

"Why do you think I have led you to this place and time?" the Lion asked, his mane fluttering in a breeze that I didn't feel. It seemed to emanate from him.

"To warn the Narnians about the invasion," I said with a shrug, "But what I am to do now is not known to me. But you know, don't you, Aslan?"

"I do, child," Aslan nodded his great head, "And I shall show you now."

He reached out a paw and I never knew how he did it, but my armour appeared between them and he laid it at my feet. I picked up my leather leggings gingerly and looked with shock at the Lion in front of me.

"I…I'm meant to fight?" I asked, it sounded all too good to be true.

"Tell me, Daughter," Aslan's eyes were calculating, "What do you think of King Edmund the Just?"

I was surprised and I gaped for a moment before carefully giving my answer.

"Oh, Aslan, you know how I feel better than I do myself," I said, knowing that this was the truth, "But if you must hear it from my lips I will say I feel like he is a part of me, like we have known each other since before we were born, like I am complete when he is around. Aslan, I love him."

The Lion's eyes glowed and his lip curled in a Lion's smile.

"It is well that you feel this way," he said with a happy tone in his rumbling voice, "For this very reason is why I led you here. Your place is at Edmund's side and that place shall be yours for as long as you both choose."

"But, Edmund has left for the battle and forbidden me to follow," I replied doubtfully.

"Was there ever a Horse born who could outrun me?" Aslan laughed and it was like music to my ears. "Come, Daughter, put on your armour! Narnia will need you very soon."

I threw my armour on quickly and thoroughly and slung my crossbow and quiver of arrows on my back.

"I'm ready, Aslan!" I said, the thrill of what was to come was rising in my veins.

"Not quite, Natani," Aslan nodded behind me at the bed.

When I turned to see what he was motioning at I nearly cried out. On the bed lay a sword. Not just any sword, a sword that looked like it was made from purest gold. It shone beautifully and the hilt was the neck and head of a lion whose mouth was open in a blood-chilling roar and emeralds were set in it as eyes. I slowly pulled it out of its sheath and saw that there were carvings on it. A NOBLE SACRIFICE IS NEVER IN VAIN was what they read.

"Thank you, Aslan," I whispered, but when I looked up he was gone. I was alone in a dark forest and I saw the glow of many fires not too far from my position. I snuck carefully toward them and managed to get a good look. It was the Narnian army! My heart leapt for joy and I pulled my helmet low on my head and covered my face with a cloth that was much like a turban wrap for the Calormene. Hoping no one would notice my appearance or recognize me in any way, I stepped into the clearing and took a seat next to a Greyhound who was chewing on what looked like a rabbit.

"Are you afraid?" the Dog asked me, his big brown eyes looking up at me, "This will be the first battle I ever fought in."

I smiled at the Greyhound. I had chosen a great place to sit.

"No, good Dog, I'm not afraid," I replied honestly, "I was born for battle."

The Dog looked incredulous and he looked around quickly before whispering: "You're a girl!"

I nodded.

"Yes, I am. But you mustn't reveal me for I was sent by the Lion, Aslan, himself."

"You've met Aslan?" the Dog was wonderstruck, "Is he everything they say he is?"

"Everything and more," I said, meaning it with all my heart.

"I am called Kahli," the Greyhound stated, licking his teeth to get a piece of the rabbit out of them.

"Call me Tani," I said, not actually lying because many people had called me Tani back in the moorlands.

"Tani," the Dog spoke the word slowly, "Like the color of Aslan's mane!"

"Only spelled slightly different," I laughed, happy to have found the one individual in this army who wouldn't have revealed me right then and there. Happy to have found a friend. "Kahli, listen to me. I know the battle seems frightening now, but it will be over soon and Narnia will be at peace. Fight as if Aslan himself were standing at your side and you will be stronger than ever."

Kahli looked at me and wagged his tail.

"I am not afraid if Aslan is on my side," he said with a doggy grin, "If you are sent by him than that alone is a sign he is watching over us."

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The morning dawned bright and clear and we marched purposely toward the clearing where my former queen's army would be preparing to head out. Our scouts had told us that they were camped there to organize weapons and positions and we would have an advantage if we attack this morning before they could get on the move through the forest.

So we marched. And it wasn't long before the forest opened up to a wide open expanse of land and all hell broke loose.

Without a moment's hesitation, the Narnian charge was sounded. There was no pep talk, no wise words, no second's thought, they just ran, full force, toward the mass of soldiers on the other side who now shaking in their armour at the sight of the Narnian's emerging from the forest.

I heard the blood pumping in my ears and I raised my voice to add to the noise of the tumultuous mass around me. I heard Kahli barking at my side as we ran toward our fates, not fear, no doubt, no turning back.

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CLIFFHANGER! Sorry 'bout it ;)

I'll get working on the next chapter right away because I already have it in my mind!

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