Hello dear readers! I hope you are all well. Here is another update to this story. There are three more chapters to go!

Disclaimer-I do not own Narnia or any characters that live officially in that world.

Chapter 39: Change Begins
August 17, 1942; Monday

The train ride back to Finchley flew by as Lucy and Edmund managed to catch the train that detoured to Goosey Station instead of taking the more direct train home. I also managed to get Maggie on the train with us after I rode over two days prior to convince her. It was easy once I mentioned that Peter was going to be on.

During our trip, Lucky, Edmund, Peter, and I filled Maggie in on Narnia. At first she looked at us disbelievingly, however it was a natural reaction to information such as that. But as we told her more and more about Narnia, the light of belief, wonder, and amazement dawned on her face. She asked us a number of questions—from fashion to architecture to ruling to the Narnians to Aslan Himself. It was almost like answering Bremton or Mezinda's rapid-fire questions after they learned to talk.

"So all those stories you and Susan told us?" Maggie asked as the train pulled into Finchley's station.

"All true," I answered as I followed the Pevensies out of the compartment after retrieving my valise.

Maggie kept close behind me as we all headed for a door. "Does anyone else know?"

"Apart from those who've been there," I started while deliberately out Narnia's name. "Only Emma and Eamon know. I plan on telling the rest of the girls when school starts."

We all braced ourselves as the train stopped. "Why wait? Why not tell them before we go back?"

I smiled at my friend. "Because they all won't be back until next week, and by that time we all will be in 'get-ready-for-school' panic mode."

She smiled back at me. "True."

"Do you know if Susan is back yet?" I asked the Pevensies after we disembarked.

Lucy piped up before her brothers. "Su returned home a few days ago. She called us after she finished unpacking."

"Shall we get together on Wednesday at our house then?" the Just suggested.

Peter, Lucy, and I nodded in agreement. "See you then!" we said to each other as we parted ways—the Pevensies went one direction, and Maggie and I went the other.

"You are coming with me to the Pevensie's house on Wednesday, by the way," I told my friend as we walked through town.

"Oh?" Maggie said. "Do you think I would be welcomed?"

I rolled my eyes. "Of course you'll be welcomed! Besides, you've only met the Magnificent, Just, and Valiant—you still need to meet the Gentle."

"But you've introduced me to Susan already," Maggie protested.

"Ah, but don't you remember the differences in Susan's behaviour when she told her stories and when she wasn't?" I questioned.

Maggie was silent as she thought back to the past school year. After a minute or so, she nodded. "She seemed more reserved and closed off when she wasn't giving a story, or if she wasn't around you or Lucy."

"The Susan you see in those instances you mentioned is Queen Susan the Gentle."

"I like that Susan better," my friend commented. Then she tilted her head to the side. "Why doesn't she act like the Gentle more often?"

The smile that was on my face fell into a sorrowful expression. "She was going through a tough time last year. Susan was really homesick, and knowing that she was never going to return didn't help her," I explained.

"Ooh. You're sure I won't make her uncomfortable?" she asked doubtfully.

"I'm sure. And once she knows you know about Narnia, she will most likely be more open. Besides, Peter also needs her approval in courting you," I said with a smile.

Maggie's eyes grew wide. "You know?"

"Why yes!" I said with a laugh. "It took the combined effort of myself, Edmund, Lucy, and their cousin Eustace to convince Peter to ask you."

Maggie's expression relaxed. "I should've figured."

We laughed together. I cut my laugh off when I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. We were being followed. Or more precisely, I was being followed. I could feel the stalker's eyes upon my back. I sent up a quick prayer to the Lord, to Mary, and to my Guardian Angel for protection. Maggie noticed my behaviour change and looked worriedly at me.

When she spoke to me, concern laced her voice. "What is it?"

"I'm being followed," I answered quietly.

Her eyes widened in fright. "What are you going to do?" she asked shakily.

A sudden calm came over me as my fighting instincts came back to me, and as I felt a large, guarding presence to my left. "I'm going to continue walking home. I have my dagger with me if I need it."

My friend's eyes grew even further, only this time in surprise. "You have a dagger?"

I smiled brightly. "A Christmas present from Eamon."

We stopped at the corner where Maggie and I were to part ways. "Do you want me to walk you home?" she asked.

My smile turned to one of gratefulness. "I appreciate your offer, Maggie, but you do not have to. Eamon is at home for the afternoon, and my house is only a little ways down."

"But you'll be alone," she argued.

I smiled knowingly. "I am not alone."

A look of understanding spread across her features, and she nodded. "I'll call you when I get home, Belle."

"Alright, Maggie. And thank you."

My friend hugged me and smiled warily when we parted. "You're welcome."

We went our separate ways, and I walked quickly to my house. My stalker kept his distance—and it was most certainly a male. As soon as I was in the house, I felt the large guardian presence leave me. I sent a thank you up to the Lord as I shut the door behind me and locked it. After waiting a moment, I heard nothing from Eamon, as he was probably napping. I moved swiftly to my room and peered out my curtains to get a look at my pursuer. Within a minute I was rewarded.

"Jason!" I mentally yelled. "He would try and stalk me."

After I silently fumed, I asked the Lord to forgive my reaction and to give me the grace to deal with him properly. After I sent up my prayer, I exited my room to find Eamon. He wasn't on the sofa, so I checked his room. Once my eyes landed on my brother, a small smile spread across my lips. He looked so angelic—almost like a young boy. His relaxed face held none of the worry lines that had made their appearances over the course of the war. Though I was sure Eamon needed his sleep from all the factory work, but I also knew he wanted to know when I was home. Before I got my chance to greet him, the phone rang.

I quickly moved to the kitchen after softly shutting Eamon's door, and I picked up the receiver.

"Annabelle?" came Maggie's voice.

"Hello, Maggie. I got home safe," I told her.

"Did you figure out who was following you?" she asked.

"I did…it's Jason," I answered.

"Oh no. Didn't he try something at the beginning of the school year last year?"

"Yes. And your suitor stepped in to defend me."

"He is the type to do that," she said dreamily. "Do you know if Jason is still outside?"

"I do not, but I would not be surprised. I need to wake Eamon to let him know," I told her.

"Okay. Good luck, Belle."

"Thanks, Maggie."

I quickly hung up and made my way back to Eamon's room. Slowly, I perched myself on my brother's bed, and I gently shook his shoulder. Groggily, my brother woke up. "Hey there, Eamon."

"Hey, Belle," he responded with a yawn. I moved so he could stretch properly. "Sorry I wasn't at the station to pick you up."

I smiled softly. "That's alright, though I did encounter a problem on the way home."

That woke him up. "What happened?" he demanded.

"When Maggie and I neared the corner, I felt that someone was following me. I didn't get a look at him until I got into the house," I paused to look directly into my brother's eyes. "It was Jason."

Eamon's eyes went cold. Just as he was going to say something, there was a knock on the door—I could only guess who it was. Before Eamon could dart towards the front of the house, I got in his way. I put my hands up before he started to argue. Easily, I moved my dagger from being hidden at the small of my back to the belt around my skirt.

"I will answer the door, Eamon. You can stay in the background. Jason needs to see that I will not tolerate any of his shenanigans, and I can defend myself," I told him.

Grudgingly, my brother nodded. I went to the door to answer, though first I waited for a pause in the knocking.

"Why Jason, I haven't seen you in a nice long while," I said sweetly when I opened the door enough for him to see my face.

Said person leaned against the door frame. "It has been too long, eh Belle?"

"Now, I didn't say that," I countered.

The teenager looked at how I positioned the door. "You're not gonna let me in?" he asked me in a seductive manner.

I narrowed my eyes and shifted my position into a more defensive stance. "Now why would I do that?" I asked innocently. "Especially after you followed me home?"

Jason raised an eyebrow. "You noticed me?"

"No, I felt your presence through instinct."

"Instinct?" he asked curiously. "What instinct do you have besides that of 'run-and-hide'?" Jason asked as he began forcing the door open.

I felt myself going into my duel state of mind. A tight smile made its way across my lips, and I could feel Aslan giving me strength. "The instinct of a warrior," I answered.

Right after I answered, I kneed him in the stomach. Jason instantly crumpled. I stayed my rage. While I wanted nothing more than to beat him to a pulp, I would not attack him again unless he attacked me. Eamon came right to my side after I took out Jason. From his knees, the teenager looked up at me, but before I caught his gaze, he found my dagger.

"Don't doubt I know how to use it, Jason," I told him with a steely edge in my voice.

He finally shifted his gaze to meet my eyes. He looked like he might try and rush me. Taking this in, I got into the proper position to defend myself. He saw this and stopped. Instead he rose slowly to his feet and backed away.

"Y-you have a g-good day, A-annabelle," he stammered as he backed off before he ran for home.

Eamon put a hand on my shoulder. I glanced back at him with the slightest of smiles.

"I don't think you're going to have any more trouble with him, Swan," my brother said wistfully.

I sighed. "I only wish it didn't take violence to get through to him that he can't take advantage of me."

My brother wrapped me in a hug from behind. "Pray for him."

I nodded.

-x-x-x-x-x-
August 19, 1942; Wednesday

"Susan! Edmund!" I called to my fellow king and queen.

"Swan! Maggie!" the Just called back.

I hugged both Pevensies in greeting. Maggie hung back and kept with the less physical greetings.

The Gentle turned to greet my friend and Peter's suitor. "I have been told that you know about our beloved country. As one of the former leaders of Narnia, I welcome you into our family."

Maggie blushed. "Thank you, Susan."

The Gentle smiled warmly, and Edmund and I shared wide grins.

"Speaking of leaders," I said to break the awkward silence. "Where are Peter and Lu?"

"They're in the back setting up a target and a picnic," Ed answered. "You brought your dagger, yes?"

I nodded. "I don't go anywhere without it."

The Just gestured towards the backyard. "Follow me."

Maggie walked next to Ed, and I walked with Susan. Now that the queen wasn't attending the new guest, she was very subdued and looked slightly uncomfortable. I frowned in confusion to the unusual behaviour of my queen and friend.

"Are you alright, Susan?" I quietly asked her.

The Gentle gave an exhausted smile. "My mission takes a lot out of me, Swanwhite."

I nodded, accepting her explanation though I knew it was lacking. "If you ever need to talk, my queen," I offered. "I am here for you."

Susan's tired smile grew in the slightest. "Thank you."

I then put a mock-serious face on. "Now, shall we go practice our dagger throwing skills only to have Lucy show us up?"

That got the queen to laugh—objective complete. "Yes, we shall."

We reached the backyard in time to see the Valiant throw a kitchen knife and hit the target dead centre. Susan and I shared a smile, Peter and Edmund applauded, and Maggie stared wide-eyed at the young looking queen.

"Oh, I was meaning to ask you—actually the four of us have been wondering," Susan started.

My smile grew. "Were you wondering if I pushed ahead in my grade level like the rest of you?"

The Gentle nodded, and I noticed I also had the Magnificent, the Just, the Valiant, and Maggie's attention.

"I did."

Well? I hope you enjoyed it! Thank you to Ewcom for betaing. And thank you to all who constantly review-I appreciate it.

Don't forget to go check out Narnia Fan Fiction dot com! Great hub for fantastic Narnia stories, and forums where you can talk with Narnia fans and fan fic authors.

Aslan's Blessings,

~Fierce Queen