Author's Note: ….yes, I'm alive. And so sorry for being so late! I've slammed into the horrible Writer's Block wall more times than I can count for this chapter, but I finally did it! So I'll stop yacking and let you read! :D

Chapter 10

"A-Aslan?" I managed to squeak.

The golden lion laughed. "I am, Daughter of Eve."

"But…where am I?" I looked around, the pink face I'd seen before swirling, her body made of…pink flowers. The figure changed, and it seemed like I was looking into a pink, ever-moving mirror.

"You are in my camp at the Stone Table." I raised my head and looked around at the numerous red and gold tents I was surrounded by.

"But…why am I here? You were waiting for me?"

"Indeed, dear one. It has been a long time since a Kirke has come to Narnia."

"But…I'm not really—"

"Digory has accepted you as his own, my dear. As you are kin in his eyes, you are in mine."

I smiled a little, looking at the Lion with gratitude. "Thank you."

"Come with me," Aslan said after a while. "There is another purpose to you being here." I got to my feet, following the huge Lion as close as I dared. Something about him made me cautious…but comforted all at once. He led me to a high hill in his camp; a hill where you could see in every direction for miles.

"Look to the West, Daughter of Eve," Aslan said softly. "What do you see?"

Making sure my directions were right, I looked west. "Trees…a forest," I replied.

Aslan nodded, looking at the vastness before us. "The forest, Isabelle, shelters many things. It protects countless creatures in its borders—it has since Narnia began. But it, too, needs someone to protect it."

The Lion turned his gaze to me. "I told you I had been expecting you because you have an important task ahead of you. As long as you are here in Narnia, Isabelle, Daughter of Eve, you shall be the protector of this place."

I stared at him for a long time, just trying to process what he said. "M-me? But…I'm not anyone. I'm from London. I'm a nobody."

Aslan chuckled warmly. "It does not matter where you are from, only what is in your heart. Draw your sword."

Slowly, I did, kneeling down and gripping my sword with both hands. I had to brace myself as one of his massive paws touched one of my shoulders then the other.

Then he spoke. "Rise, Lady Isabelle, Guardian of the Western Wood."

I got back to my feet, looking at the Lion in awe for a moment, not really knowing what to say. My eyes strayed to the right, and I saw a familiar set of figures.

"Oh, Aslan!" I exclaimed. "There they come! Peter, Susan, Lucy, and the Beavers, I mean."

If lions can smile, Aslan did a pretty good job of it. "They shall be wanting to see us. Come, Isabelle."

X

Thanking the centaur women that fixed my hair, I managed to steal a glance at myself in a small mirror that was in the tent.

They had put me in a red dress that flowed down to my ankles, and leather sandals that fit perfectly. My sword was strapped around my waist, my bow and arrows on my back. My hair had two small braids on both sides of my head, connecting in the back. The rest of my hair was down, hitting almost to my elbow. It had grown some since I last looked at my reflection.

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear just before Aslan walked into the tent.

"Are they here?" I asked quietly.

"Almost," he replied. He smiled as I fiddled with my hair nervously. "Do not worry, dear one. They will come soon."

Almost as if they heard him, I recognized a voice outside.

"We have come to see Aslan," Peter said, his voice trying to sound confident, but it slightly shook.

Aslan nodded to me, and the tent rustled with a breeze as I squared my shoulders and slowly walked out.

I watched the Pevensies' and the Beavers' faces slowly melt in relief and confusion.

"Isabelle?" Peter mouthed. I smiled and nodded in return, standing to the side as I caught a glimpse of Aslan's massive paw before I kneeled.

Peter planted his sword in the ground and grasped it with his hands as he knelt, Susan and Lucy following suit.

"Welcome Peter, Son of Adam." This made them slowly rise. "Welcome Susan and Lucy, Daughters of Eve. And welcome to you, too, Beavers. You have my thanks." The Beavers smiled. "But where is the fifth?"

Fifth? There's four of them…oh, yeah, we're the only humans here.

"Well, that's why we're here," Peter explained.

"We had a little trouble along the way," Susan put in.

"He was captured by the White Witch," I replied to the Great Lion as I stood.

He looked shocked. "Captured? How could this happen?" he asked. Now even I didn't want to say anything, so there was a very long silence.

"He…betrayed them, Your Majesty," Mr. Beaver confessed. Shock-waves rippled through the crowd.

"Then he has betrayed us all!" a centaur exclaimed.

"Peace, Oreius!" Aslan reproached. The crowd silenced. "I'm sure there's an explanation."

"It was my fault, sir," Peter spoke up. He had a deep look of pain and regret in his eyes. "I was too hard on him," he said bitterly.

Susan placed a hand on his shoulder. "We all were." She gave Peter a look of reassurance.

"Sir, he's our brother," Lucy put in helplessly.

"I know, dear one," Aslan replied gently, "but that only makes the betrayal all the worse. This may be harder than you think."