CHAPTER 01

Death was supposed to be cold and empty. Yet why did this feel so.. light and warm? She shifted slightly, hesitating to wake up from this comforting slumber, or was it even sleep? A lingering thought crept in: was she even alive? Numbness enveloped her. She should have been feeling the sharp pain coursing through her body, but strangely she felt nothing instead.

And yet..the warmth that covered her body and the cloudy haze clinging on to her eyelids like the shadow of a gentle light, demanded her attention.

Aline felt her eyelids stir before they opened, to find herself lying in quite a cozy bed. She paused, her breath catching for a moment as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings- then she remembered the strange dream of an even stranger land and a mysterious lady clad in a flowing green gown look at her with a smirk on her lips. But it was just a dream; Aline shook her head to clear her thoughts up, tensing at the sudden onset of muffled voices growing clearer by the minute.

"The Kings and Queens should be informed," a husky voice asserted.

"I already have, Mr. Tumnus," another responded.

"Another Daughter of Eve... What could this mean?" inquired a third voice.

"We can't be certain. Perhaps she's a Telmarine who's strayed far from home?" this one trailed off uncertainly.

"Me thinks she does not! Her features do not particularly seem.. Telmarine to me."

"Oh well, there is only one way to find out, let's wait until she is awake! I forbid any of you disturb a sleeping injured girl!"

It took Aline a moment to realise that they were talking about her. "Well," she called out annoyance seeping into her tone, "if you're talking about me, at least do it in front of me."

There was a sudden silence, and then someone said, "Its awake!" Its awake? Aline thought vaguely sliding off the bed. A sudden wave of nausea hit her as her feet touched the ground. She steadied herself gritting through it, taking in the surroundings.

She seemed to be in a circular room which looked like it had been meticulously chiseled out of stone throughout. A fireplace crackled casting the room in a warm orange din.

Gently touching her knuckles to her head, she did not feel anything- no pain. Strange, she thought. Everything around her seemed so very.. strange. Perhaps she was in heaven? Except she did nothing to deserve the luxury of heaven.. in fact it was the opposite.

Her rational mind argued that this might be some kind of a weird hallucination induced by her head injury. Perhaps the impact of the flower vase had caused this? Maybe she was bleeding out and this was only a near death experience, she recalled reading about it in some book or the other.

Amid her contemplation of her bizarre fate, someone – or rather, something – entered the room: a beaver, inquiring about her well-being, nonetheless! For a moment, Aline found herself rendered speechless, unsure whether to react with fear, laughter, or sheer disbelief. She opted for the latter.

"This is a dream," the girl decidedly confirmed.

The beaver looked confused, "What do you mean, human?" it asked.

"You're a beaver, and you're talking. You're a talking beaver!"

"Of course I talk, do not dare mistake us for one of those unintelligible dumb animals." the beaver said in a voice that conveyed it was clearly annoyed at the implication of being an unintelligible dumb animal.

"Erm, yes right, okay whatever and this most certainly is not a dream and I am going to simply sprout out wings and fly right away now." sarcasm dripped off her tone.

The beaver simply smiled, or at least it seemed to, given its beaver-like features. "This is not a dream, Daughter of Eve," it asserted, as if this should clarify everything. "It is real. And well, I think the Kings and Queens would explain the situation better than I ever could."

"Alright, alright." she said, taking in a deep breath to calm herself- or least tried to. "Alright, I want to go home, now." she decided.

But instead she was only met with a sad look on Mr. Beavers face. "You can't, dearie." he said. "You're in Narnia, now. If He has brought you here, there must be some reason. You have to stay with us, least until the monarchs arrive."

"So you're telling me to stay in a place I've never been before, with a talking beaver waiting for some goddamn royalty to come whisk me away. Oh, and hell, look at me talking to a beaver. I sure am losing my head."

Just then, in trotted a man, at least that's what Aline thought, until she saw beneath his waist. "You're a... faun?" she blurted her jaw hanging open in disbelief. This was just getting weirder and weirder.

"That I am. Mr. Tumnus at your service young lady," he replied beaming, holding out his hand, she just glancing at it confused . "Well, aren't you supposed to shake hands? Thats what humans do, am I right?"

She took his extended hand tentatively before cautiously shaking it, much to the faun's delightful chagrin as he exchanged a knowing glance with the beaver. It was furry and he had a surprisingly strong grip.

"Alright, well, while I appreciate everything you've done, thank you so much. Really. I think it's time for me to leave," she announced, testing her legs as she stood up. Surprisingly, they seemed to work perfectly fine. "I wouldn't want you impose."

If only she could find a way to wake up, she thought. But then again, did she even want to? Wake up to what? To her own chaotic world?

She took his extended hand tentatively shaking it much to the faun's delightful chagrin, giving an I-told-you-so look at the beaver who only rolled his eyes.

"Okay, um while I really appreciate this and thank you so much for everything. Really. I think it's about time I take my leave." she said, testing her feet as she stood up. Well, they seemed to work fine at least!

If only she could find a way to wake up, she thought. But then, she wasn't even sure whether she wanted to. Wake up to what? Back to her own insane world?

Before Aline could move a step forward, in walked a boy, and Aline's jaw still not recovered from the previous surprise dropped down even further. He was dressed in armor as if he'd just stepped right off a medieval film set. The beaver, and the faun both bowed their heads, saying something that sounded like "My, king." Aline almost stumbled as she saw him. His brown eyes, and dark hair falling into his eyes. He moved with surprising ease for someone who's body was encased in protective metal. Off handedly Aline wanted to ask him how at all he managed to move in that damn thing, but something about him put her off. He seemed shrewd and cold. She cringed warily.

"Mrs. Beaver " he said not in the least acknowledging her, "I believe you called about something that required.. handling."

"Why, yes! You're majesty, here she is.. the-" Mrs. Beaver's voice considerably lowered as she reached almost on her top toes beckoning the boy to lower his ears, "Daughter of Eve!"

Aline could stand this no longer, "Well, am right here, and I don't think I'm going nowhere with some boy playing dress up of all!"

She was tired and irritated and angry, not to mention her stomach rumbled, and she just wanted to know what was going on.

The boy in front of her faked offense, his gaze resting on her for the first time since he'd walked in, as quite alarmed himself chimed in, "My lady, I don't think you are aware of the fact that you're speaking to a King of Narnia." His chess puffed at that.

Aline rolled her eyes, such a pompous twat! She immediately disliked him. "My sincerest apologies that I do not recognize someone I've never met in a mad land I'm sure is in my head, your Majesty. You see, you don't really seem to give off that.. vibe you know." she said.

"Vibe? What vibe?" Edmund asked, amusement in his voice.

"A Kingly vibe, you could say."

"Offending a King could be considered an offense. One you could be sentenced for."

"You're too pompous!" Aline rolled her eyes. "Especially for some method actor in some weird set. Look I don't know how you're doing all of.. this," she gestured vaguely to the Beaver and the Faun, "or how I got here, but I need you to point me to the nearest bus route and I'll be off home."

"Well, firstly that for good reason. Most say that's my most endearing trait. And believe me, you shall come to see it soon."

Aline just stared at the guy, confused.

"Pompous," he clarified, "you called me pompous." he smirked.

She was hating him more and more by the minute.

He simply turned around casually toward the Beaver, "Thank you, Mr. Beaver, Mr. Tumnus. I'll take over from here." he said as if he dealt with delusional teenage girls on a daily basis.

"Woah! Hold on there!" Aline interjected, "Like I said, I'm going nowhere with him!"

"Unfortunately, you have no other choice but me, sweetheart. You should consider yourself lucky, ladies all over Narnia, would swoon for an opportunity to be in my presence much less ride with me."

Aline rolled her eyes, and at that he allowed himself a smile. "Well then, I'm sorry to disappoint you." she said, "but frankly, I'd walk all the way cross country to New York than ride anywhere with you and I definitely am not some swooning.. lady of Narnia."

The young King held back a sigh, "Alright then, have it as you may," he said with a shrug, turning around to make his way back to his horse.

She made no move, stunned. A part of her was some what disappointed that he just gave up. Why couldn't the men least in her hallucinations put up some kind of an effort? But more importantly, why did she feel like she had to go with him, for wherever he was going to take her to felt like the place she had to be.

'Go,' urged the deep rumble of a voice somewhere from within her. Her eyes widened with shock as the same sent a shiver down her spine.

"Wait," Aline called, making him abruptly stop in his tracks. "Alright then, suppose I decide to go with you, where exactly are we going?" she asked.

"I'll tell you that after you've supposed to decide to come." his cocky reply came back.

Aline rolled her eyes. "Answer me first, and I'll suppose to decide to come if I like what I hear."

He sighed, almost in defeat. "Alright," he turned to face her once more as his eyes seemed to glide over her, "You're in Narnia, and we would be making our way through the Eastern Woods to Cair Paravel, where my siblings and I reside. Now are you going to come or do I have to knock you out, and tie you in a sack all the way? Trust me, I can assure you that wouldn't be a smooth journey." he added.

And somehow she could say that he wasn't kidding, though she scoffed outwardly, "I'd really love to see you try."

Before he could respond, a shrill voice shrieked. "Edmund Pevensie! Is that how I taught you to speak before a lady?" She turned around, and wasn't half surprised to see an angry looking beaver. This one, must be a female, she thought judging by the voice.

"Um, no offense, but you take behavioral lessons from a beaver?" she asked. He just rolled his eyes at her with a frown.

"She's no lady!" he replied, but Mrs. Beaver just glared at him, until he finally gave in, "Fine, I apologize for my brashness. Now, would you please permit me the pleasure of escorting you to safety, my fair lady?" he asked with mock politeness, and for some reason she couldn't stop the giggles that forced its way through her.

"So is this where I swoon right into your arms?" she managed through the laughter.

"See?" he said glaring. "she's no lady!"

"Edmund," Mrs. Beaver said, not unkindly, and Aline thought his name seemed strange, like old, but then what did not seem strange in this place? "Don't be rude," she chided, "Remember how you lot were when you first came here?"

Something hardened in his face his voice now cold, "Yes I do. I remember it all." Mrs. Beaver looked shocked. "King Edmund, I didnt mean to-" He cut her off mid-sentence as he, turned to Aline this time for some reason not meeting her eyes "Have you ridden a horse before?" he asked, to which she simply shook her head, indicating that she did. The sudden coldness to his voice after the almost playful banter they'd had shook her. Something about him said she'd hate to be on his wrong side. Besides, she'd taken riding classes since she was a kid anyways.

"Fine, then you'll be riding with me." he said a finalty in his tone, that said there was no use arguing.

As much as she hated the fact of riding a horse, riding with him seemed so much worse. Something about his attitude reminded her of her brother a little too much. Even his gait, though his face was more angular, deepset cheekbones and a jawline with sparse stubble that she under any other circumstance would've found to be immensely attractive and those clear brown eyes were nothing like any she'd seen before. But before she could lose herself further in thought-

"No." she said instead.

"What?" he turns to her almost confused.

"I mean, I'm not going anywhere with you or anyone until you tell me what shit I've landed myself into this time."

"Look here, Miss. Whatever-Your-Bloody-Name-Is -"

"Aline," she said her teeth grit, "My name is Aline Frank."

"Aline," Mrs. Beaver called not unkindly, "We're only trying to help you, if He has brought you here, there must be some purpose, just like our Kings and-"

"Who is he now?" she demanded, "No, wait! I don't really want to know. I'll find my way out of here, by myself."

And before Mrs. Beaver or King Edmund could say something, Aline pushed her way out breaking into a run. She thought she heard someone call her name but she spared it no mind. For now, she just wanted to disappear.

Edmund watched as the strange girl with green eyes and peculiar clothes disappeared into the dense woods almost in a daze and as if on cue- "King Edmund," Mrs. Beaver gasped. "You have to stop her. It isn't safe out there!" He tried not to flinch. Edmund Pevensie definitely hated it, when she called him that, 'King' As if he even deserved the title. He'd told her on countless occasions to call him, just Edmund, which she does, thankfully or it would be very embarrassing if she called him, 'My King' or 'Your Majesty' when she was telling him off like she just did.

"I think she made it clear, that she wants nothing to do with us." he said. This girl, Aline, he didnt know what her appearance meant. What with the stirring of the Giants and Wild Magic, set loose in places. The Narnians would not be pleased by the sudden appearance of a mysterious girl, either. That too, a Daughter of Eve.

A cold feeling crept up his spine, but all the same he said, "I think I'll go get her, before any beasts of the woods do." he said nodding towards the beaver.

It wasn't hard following her tracks, especially when Lora his Leopard Shield was up in front hot on her scent. Though Edmund thought her brave or rather foolish, to go running this far out into the woods all alone.

Lora came to an abrupt stop. "What's the matter, Lora?" he asked.

"Seems like I've lost her scent, your Majesty," the leopard replied.

"What do you mean, lost her scent?" the King asked.

"Its like, she just..disappeared, but not, I can feel her somewhere near."

Edmund looked at the trees surrounding them, for the first time noticing the difference. The trees in front of them were different, from the trees behind. They didn't move, even though there was a calm breeze, and looked sickly with its leaves turning yellow and drooped. It almost seemed like he was standing on an invisible boundary line, separating the two places.

The King felt a knot of panic settle itself in his chest, as he realised what it was. "Wild Magic," Lora hissed, "Whatever it is thats causing these, its getting stronger."

"We have to get to her," he said.

"My King, its too dangerous, we have no idea of whats lurking in there."

Edmund simply replied, "I have to, Lora. We have no idea who she is, but I have a feeling she's important." Then turning back to the regiment of soldiers, that Peter insisted go with him, he said, "Wait here until I come back." Though they weren't too happy about leaving their King unguarded, none argued. Much more afraid of disobeying a word of the Just.

Edmund dismounted, taking a step towards the thickening forest. Without glancing back, knowing that Lora had followed him through, by the touch of her feline feet rustling the leaves on the forest floor.

He wondered what became of the dryads that inhabited these trees. Placing his hand on its truck, he could feel no pulsating beat that indicated the life force of the creature tied to its tree.

It wasnt too long, before they found her crouched on the forest floor. At first he felt his heart lurch, was she wounded? But as he drew closer he saw that wasn't the case, much to the King's relief. She seemed to have stumbled down on probably some roots.

The King almost sighed but the relief was short lived. For from behind the girl, Edmund could sense a flicker of movement. And as if to prove his point, Lora growled, a soft warning growl in the back of her throat.

Then out of nowhere charged something big and burly. To his horror he realised what it was, a Minotaur. It charged straight towards Aline, who had no idea of the giant beast charging towards her.

Edmund had just a moment to decide, but before he could react someone else sprang into action. Lora sprang out, in a single jump, bounding over her, the startled girl looked up in surprise to see a leopard flying over her.

As Edmund watched, the big beast swatted Lora aside as if she were a fly, and charged towards Aline. The girl scurried behind, a startled scream leaving her lips as the beast neared.

Edmund charged, his sword drawn out, but the Minotaur didn't notice him, its eyes dead set on its target instead. Just as the Minotaur closed around her, Edmund's sword, pierced its thick hide, and it roared. A terrible sound that shook the woods, he couldn't help but wonder the trees didn't fall.

But that was the least of his concern, for now, the Minotaur turned to face him instead. However, the young King, did not feel any fear. In fact a smirk curled up his lips. This was what he was trained to do after all.

He swerved to the left, as it charged. The beast was big and strong, but that very fact was also its undoing. It couldn't turn or change direction as easily as him. Though the young King knew this couldn't go on forever.

This time he timed his move perfectly, as he sidestepped he thrust his sword forward, wounding the Minotaur in its side, just as a very angry looking recovered Lora landed on the surprised monster's back, raking her sharp claws through its hide, and so the Minotaur fell. A deafening roar the final of its goodbye.

Edmund felt a wave of anger, as he saw her, still on the floor her legs hugged to her chest. Not only did she endanger herself, but Lora almost got herself killed.

He cast her a distasteful look, which she didn't catch as he walked over to Lora who looked fine except for the limp in her leg, and instead insisted he go check on Aline.

While he neared her even as he felt it the anger evaporated replaced by something akin to understanding and perhaps even a little pity. Her legs hugged to her chest, she looked so scared and frail. He knew how it was to be pulled into a strange land and see things you've always believed as myths, come to life.

"Please, tell me," she begged, a crack in her voice "that this is a dream. And I'm going to wake up somehow." While he didn't say anything, she just continued, "No, this isnt a dream. All this stuff- it's too real to be a dream. This maybe, no IS a hallucination. Half human, half bull..." she trailed on, "What are those things called, Minotaurs? Exist only in mythology, none of this is real, or maybe.." she laughed, "maybe I'm dead and this is my hell."

Edmund stood up awkwardly, he wasnt good at comforting hysterical girls - that was Susans department- and this one, he knew was in the very verge of tears.

He put his hand awkwardly on her shoulder, she flinched away, and he drew back, "I know what you're going through, it was the same for us when we came. I know it's hard to believe, but I can assure you, it is all real. Its hard at first, but you'll get used to it."

"You mean, you came here from erm- where I come from? and what do you mean by 'us'?"

"Yeah, me and my siblings, we-"

"My siblings and I" she corrected asif on instinct much to his annoyance.

"Alright, my siblings and I, and yeah, we are- were from London."

"Were from London?" she asked.

"You are quite nosy arent you?" he said, and before she could say quip back he said, "We'd better get moving unless you fancy spending the night in the forest."

"Very tempting, but no thank you."

And so they rode, it was a long journey and it wasn't long before Aline's eyes began to close and she found herself leaning back into his chest. She wanted to stop herself, stay awake, and have the least to do with him. But even before she finished that train of thought, sleep overtook her senses.

She didn't feel it when his arm rested on her waist while he shifted to hold her close to him or when they reached the castle nor the others he'd called his siblings waiting. She slept soundly even as the strange boy in medieval costume carried her upstairs placing her to rest on the bed in the middle of a room fit for a Queen.

She stirred not as he untangled her hand from his or when he pulled up the covers for her nor did she hear him whisper, "Who are you?" as he tucked a stray strand of her jet black hair behind her ear.

Maybe it was because she was tired, but she slept soundly during the night.


The same however could not be said for the Just King. He only kept tossing and turning, half wishing that sleep never came, for with sleep came the nightmares.

But, too tired after the days events, that not long after he felt his eyes grow heavy and he didn't even try to resist. Sleep was inevitable. He fell asleep.

It was her again, Jadis. Her wand, sinking into his flesh. Her last taunting laugh, as he lay in a pool of his own blood, more and more Narnians, falling around him.

Jadis whispered, "All because of you, my little traitor, I would never have seen such great victory if not for you." Its just a dream, just a dream.. he kept telling himself, willing himself to wake up but he just couldn't.

Edmund said nothing, only the mantra of it's just a dream, repeating on a loop in his head. There were times he'd swore out at the Witch, attempt to rise through the pain as real as it once happened and plunge his sword into her heart, but he'd never gotten to that.

"It's still not too late, my little traitor. Renounce it all and you would have to share no more. You could rule by my side, just like you always wanted."

"No," he said, looking the Witch in the eye. "No."

Jadis flashed her deadly smile, "Then so be it!" she said, and he saw her raise her wand once more, closing his eyes relieved that it was finally over.

But alas! for the young King, it was not so, for he was pulled into yet another web, his mind had woven.

This time it wasn't any of the usual nightmares. He found himself crouching over sombody. With a start he realised that, the 'somebody' was her, Aline, and worse, she was lying in a pool of blood, her blood, he realised. All he could do was hold her, as life slowly bled out of the shell of her body.

Her lips were moving softly, as if whispering a final prayer, only it wasnt. Instead she kept repeating the words, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry' over and over again. Why should she say sorry when it was all his fault? he thought.

His fault? he thought vaguely a feeling of guilt settling in his chest. What had he done this time?

Her breathing gradually slower down, as his dream self yelled "No!" hugging her lifeless body.

With a start, the Just King sat up, wide awake, his heart beating like crazy. It's just a dream, just a dream, not real..he kept saying to himself, but it did nothing to reduce his erratic heartbeat.

It was only because he'd just met her for the first time and by some miracle the new girl managed to make enough of an impression for his brain to incorporate her into his dreams, he reasoned. But for some reason, somehow this seemed different, real even, like it was more of a vision than a nightmare, and he felt this sudden urge to go check on her. Edmund chided himself at the very thought.. Dont be silly, its just a dream, nothing else.

All the same, the Just King did not go back to sleep again. Nothing could clear up the mind like a midnight ride.


Author's Note: If you're here from the previous version of A Place in this World, do let me know your favourite part of it and I shall let you know if you'll see it here again or not ;)