Disclaimer: I do not own the Chronicles of Narnia. C. S. Lewis does.

Author's Note: I am so sorry I took so long to update but my finals were there. Isabella will be referred to as Lia. Read on!

P.S.: That thing of Isabella screaming that's not there yet.

P. S. S. Read on!

Forward March!

….

Preview

She was close…

She instantly flinched, her hand flying to her neck. Loosening her hold upon her hilt, she sank to the floor in a trance…..He threw his sword at the wolf. It yelped and sank beside the girl, glowering unfocusedly in a distance….. He smirked, letting out a yell of triumph.

….

'No.' Lia crossed her arms, shaking her head. 'No and no!'

She was wearing a forest green dress reaching her knees with black leggings and riding boots. Her dark hair was pulled back in a messy bun. James looked at her disapprovingly, raising his delicate eyebrows.

'Come on, Lia!'

'No.' James sighed. He was clad in a brown tunic in different hues, black leggings and boots. His hair was windswept, standing on top of his head.

'You know I can't argue with her there.' Lorien told him, muttering under his breath. He shook his head, muttering louder, fingering his black tunic. James turned to face him, rolling his wide eyes.

'Honestly it was as if Her Majesty was asking you to wrestle giants.' Peter glanced at Susan, whose beautiful features were smiling in amusement.

'No. This is worse.' Lia stared at him through her emerald eyes, shuddering. 'Dancing….. Argh!'

'Should I call Dane then?'

Lia turned pale glaring at James in a horrified manner.

'NO!'

James raised his eyebrows at Lorien who shrugged. Susan clapped her hands together.

'Very well. Orieus if you'll please…..' She nodded at the serious centaur, motioning for Peter to come forward. Lorien swept in front of her. She turned to him impatiently.

'Would her beautiful Majesty care to dance?' He asked cheekily. Susan fought to keep her temper in check.

'Very well.'

Taking her hand in his, they moved to the center of the ballroom gliding over the marble. Lia muttered dramatically.

'And they lived happily ever after…..'

Peter cleared his throat. Lia turned away, twirling her locks.

'Um…'

'Um?' Lia repeated, closing her eyes.

'Will you dance with me, My Lady?'

She opened her eyes, almost tumbling over.

'Come again? Me dance with you? Are your in your right mind?'

Peter knew his cheeks were red.

'Why do girls make everything difficult?' He thought to himself.

'Fine. Fine.' He muttered walking away. Lia called after him.

'Wait.' Peter turned to her, running a hand through his blond hair. 'I will probably regret this but come on.'

He met Edmund's eyes. He could tell Edmund did not know whether to laugh or not. Lucy's blue eyes were twinkling.

'Great!' Lia muttered. 'Just great!'

She put her soft hand on his shoulder, as he coughed touching her waist. She looked ready to faint. They stood there staring at each other.

'Um….Big Head?'

Peter's jaw dropped open. Edmund let out a guffaw. He was really enjoying himself. Lia leaned closer to him.

'How does one dance gracefully?'

If possible his jaw dropped even further. Lucy's giggles reached his ears.

'Peter….' Susan called from the east of the room. 'Please close your mouth.'

'You don't know how to dance?' he asked Lia. She shook her head.

'Unless if you have to step on each other's toes.'

'No thank you.'

Lia shrugged, looking at him.

'Alright, follow my lead.' He instructed her.

'Why your lead?'

'Because I'm the one who knows how to dance.'

'Oh…' Lia trailed off. 'Oh right.'

Peter rolled his eyes. Behind him Edmund grabbed Lucy's hands pulling her according to the tune. Lucy laughed.

'Ed!'

Slowly they began dancing. After a couple of minutes she relaxed. James looked satisfied, standing beside Lorien and Susan, who was flushed. Orieus continued playing the melody. Lucy shrieked.

'Ed, no!'

Crash! Edmund, Lucy, Lia and Peter crashed to the floor, tripping over each other. Glancing at each other, they rubbed their heads. Lucy smacked Edmund at his head, glaring at him. Susan fought to keep a smile from forming. Laughter rang across the room…..

….

Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain.

Asha screamed. Intense pain coursed through her making her writhe. She screamed again. Hot daggers seemed to rip apart her body. She lay down, coughing and panting, battered from exhaustion and pain. Her hair was sprawled over her head, sticky with blood. She screamed, the sound ringing across the room. It echoed over the high ceilings and tall walls returning back to her ears. She shrieked out. Flames leapt inside her, burning her heart, her soul…..Her screams echoed around tauntingly as she fell against the floor, writhing and screaming.

Pain.

….

Evening had long since fallen, the autumn leaves whipping the mossy ground. Wind blew around causing everything to flutter and dance. The sun had set, twilight had fallen. Lia sat in the balcony of her room, gazing at the endless Narnian lands. The sea breeze floated up, filling her.

'Lia!'

She half turned. Mr. Tumnus was standing in the doorway, his expression worried. He was wearing his red scarf but there was more than his expression. Lia stood up, making her way over to him.

'Mr. Tumnus, is everything alright?'

'A messenger has arrived from Liriope.' Startled, Lia turned to him.

'Will you kindly inform my brothers of this?'

'Yes….yes….' He walked off in the darkness. Lia grabbed a pony, flinging her hair into a high ponytail. She walked through the halls to the throne room. The doors were open yet no noise issued out. She sped up, raising her skirts to keep from falling.

Peter, Susana, Edmund and Lucy were seated on their thrones. There was a troubled aura around them. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong.

A young boy knelt at their feet, his bronze hair wet, and his skin pale.

'Malcolm.' Lia called. 'What are you doing here?'

Malcolm raised himself.

'Lia, Queen Asha…she…' He choked off. Lia's eyes flashed.

'What happened to her? What is it?'

Behind her, she felt Lorien and James enter the room, their expressions alert, tense. Malcolm nodded to them.

'She….she's missing.'

'What?' Lia asked, her voice high with worry. 'How could this happen?'

Lorien put a hand on her shoulder. James walked forwards, taking control.

'Malcolm return at once to Liriope. I trust you have a horse and enough food?' He looked at the boy. Malcolm nodded. 'Mobilize the guard there. Make haste.'

Susan glanced at Peter sitting beside her, her crown tilted, glowing in the light. Peter nodded slightly.

'Your Highnesses?' Susan called. The siblings turned towards the Gentle Queen.

'We have received intelligence that Liriope is under threat of war.'

Lia started.

'Who is the invader?'

Edmund spoke up calmly.

'We do not know, he has not made his identity known.'

Lorien exchanged looks with James.

'Lia, may we talk in private with the Kings and Queens?'

Lia turned to him, her hair flying.

'Private?' she echoed suspiciously. 'I care about Liriope too!'

'Lia please.' James pleaded. 'For once.'

Relenting, Lia stalked out of the throne room, throwing her ponytail back, her skirts flying muttering about boys being stupider than stupid.

'King Peter?' Lorien asked. Peter turned towards the young man. 'We would like to ask a favor of you.'

Lucy spoke up, her cheerful demeanor still alive.

'Prince Lorien we will support Liriope in every way, if you so desire.'

James walked forwards, his sword clanking.

'We do not need your support yet, My Lady.' All eyes drifted towards him. 'We are asking a greater favor.'

Susan said, shifting her feet.

'Yes?'

'We ask you to take care of Lia.' Lorien said. 'She is too trusting and young and….' He trailed off.

'We do not want her to fight yet.' James added. 'Even though she is better than us.'

Susan stood up, her face smiling. Showing true graciousness and hospitality she said.

'Your Highnesses, we shall care for her as a best friend.'

The night darkened concealing its hidden secrets, concealing the future…..

…..

The sun rose, high and mighty over Cair Paravel. Its golden rays illuminated, dancing across the blue and green sea. The red earth of Narnia sparkled under its gaze.

Lia sniffed, hugging Lorien (who incidentally thought that she wanted to strangle him). Lorien patted her shoulder awkwardly glaring at James who was sitting astride his mare. He smiled grimly.

'Sweetness….don't….please….don't…' Lorien groaned patting her head. Lia glared at him. James spoke up.

'Lia, its okay.'

She smacked him. Rubbing his head he glared at his stubborn sister. She smile innocently, dimpling her cheeks.

'Oops?'

James sighed.

'Never mind, Lia.'

Muttering under his head he leaned down to kiss his sister good bye. Lorien hoisted himself upon his horse, winking at Lia.

'Farewell.'

'You are so going to pay when you come back.' Lia grumbled. 'Bye.'

They urged the horses forwards waving back at Lia kicking up clouds of dust. Lucy came up behind her.

'My Lady, will you come inside?'

Lia glanced at her wrinkling her nose.

'You make it sound as if I am sixty years old.'

Lucy laughed.

'Very well then, Lia will you come in?'

'Unless I can sleep in the stables with your horses, sure.' She replied sarcastically. Lucy smiled wryly.

'You are very welcome to.'

Lia looked at her thoughtfully.

'Race you upstairs.'

'GO!' Lucy shouted gathering her skirts. Laughing they pushed past each other.

….

He lifted his dark, snake eyes, tilted at the ends. Smirking he gazed outside his window, where the lunar light lit up the forest.

'I will get you…' He vowed. 'I will.'

To be continued….

…

There you are! Reviews please! Thanks to all who have reviewed! You keep me going guys!

A. L. Potter