♘

         IN THE FOREST, the three Daughters of Eve rode on Destrier as fast as they could. Behind them, Dorothy could hear other horses neighing and turned her head, her eyes widening when she saw Telmarine soldiers following after them.

"They've seen us!" she exclaimed, catching her sisters' attention.

Susan urged Destrier to speed up and as they got deeper into the forest, Susan hopped off Destrier. She then grabbed the reigns and handed them off to Lucy.

"Take the reins," Susan says to Lucy.

"What are you doing?" Lucy questioned her worriedly.

"I'm sorry, girls," Susan apologized, looking between her younger sisters. "But it looks like you two will be going alone after all."

Before either could speak, Susan slapped the rear end of Destrier and he rode off with the younger Queens. However, Lucy made the horse stop and she and Dorothy both looked back at Susan with worry. Susan looked back at them, holding up her bow and arrows and she nodded for her sisters to go.

After a few more seconds, Lucy made Destrier go and Dorothy clutched onto her sister's waist as he rode faster. Dorothy looked behind her, seeing a Telmarine soldier following after them. Lucy urged Destrier to go faster and the sisters looked their other side, seeing a flash of gold racing through the forest.

A large golden lion jumped in front of Destrier and let out a roar. The horse stood on his hind legs in fright, causing the two Queens to fall off of Destrier before he rode off. Dorothy and Lucy looked at the large lion as he glared down at them before jumping over to the Telmarine soldier, knocking him off the horse.

Lucy stood up before helping Dorothy, who quickly rushed up the small hill, gazing at the golden lion. He turned his head to the two younger Pevensie sisters, smiling at them. Dorothy smiled back widely, knowing who it was.

"Aslan!" she exclaimed and quickly, she rushed over to the large golden lion, tackling him into a hug. He chuckled softly as Lucy joined them. Dorothy pulled back and smiled up at Aslan. "I knew it was you. The whole time, I knew it! But the others didn't believe me. Besides Lucy, of course."

"And why would that stop you from coming to me?" Aslan questioned her softly.

Her smile faded as she thought for a second. "I'm sorry. I was too scared too scared to come alone," she replied softly, and Lucy grabbed her hand, squeezing it for comfort before she looked up at Aslan.

"Why wouldn't you show yourself?" Lucy questioned him quietly. "Why couldn't you come roaring in and save us like last time?"

Aslan gave her a soft smile. "Things never happen the same way twice, dear one."

Dorothy looked up at Aslan, looking guilty. "If I'd have come earlier, would everyone who died. . . could I have stopped that?" she questioned softly.

"We could never know what would have happened, Dorothy," Aslan replied softly. "But what will happen is another matter entirely."

"You mean you'll help?" Lucy asked with a smile.

"Of course. As will you and your sister."

"Oh, I wish I was braver," Dorothy admitted.

"If you were any braver, you would be a lioness," Aslan merely chuckled as he stood up. "Now, I think your friends have slept long enough, don't you?"

As Aslan stood up, he let out another roar and the trees woke up instantly.

♘

Dorothy and Lucy walked side by side towards the bridge as the Telmarine soldiers stopped on the other side. Both were smirking proudly as they took out their daggers. Behind the Telmarines were the rest of their siblings, Caspian, and the Narnians. Aslan then appeared, stepping beside the youngest queen.

The leader of the Telmarines, Lord Sopespian, looked behind them before looking back at Aslan, Lucy, and Dorothy. "Charge!"

The soldiers let out a battle cry before charging at the lion and two Daughters of Eve. However, as Aslan roared, they came to a halt in the middle of the bridge. The water started to rise and they all looked to see a huge wave coming towards them, forming into the River God.

Dorothy watched in amazement as the River God took out all of the Telmarines and drowned them. Most soldiers were already jumping into the water. The River God took out the bridge before looking towards Aslan, who nodded in appreciation. He then dispersed back into the river.

The remaining Telmarine soldiers climbed out of the river and onto the river bank, handing their weapons to the Narnians. Dorothy and Lucy both put their daggers back into their holders as their siblings and Caspian walked up to them, kneeling before Aslan.

"Rise, Kings and Queens of Narnia," Aslan demanded them softly and Edmund, Susan, and Peter all rose from the ground while Caspian was still kneeling. "All of you."

Caspian looked up at the Great King and glanced back down. "I do not think I am ready," he admitted softly.

"It's for that very reason that I know you are,"  Aslan explained to the Telmarine Prince.

After a few seconds, Prince Caspian rose to his face, sending a soft smile towards Aslan. The sound of bagpipes caught their attention and looked down seeing several mice carrying Reepicheep on a stretcher. Lucy rushed over quickly, taking out her healing cordial and giving Reepicheep a drop. Everyone waited silently before Reepicheep suddenly gasped, waking up, and sat up on the stretcher.

"Oh! Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you,"  Reepicheep thanked Lucy with a smile. His friends helped him stand up and his eyes widened when he noticed Aslan. "Hail, Aslan! It is a great honor to be in. . ." He trailed off when he started to fall as he began to bow and noticed his tail was missing. "I'm completely out of countenance. I must crave your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion." He looked up at Lucy with hopefulness. "Uh. . . Perhaps a drop more?"

Lucy only gave him a sympathetic look as she shook her head. "I don't think it does that."

"You could have a go."

Aslan lets out a small laugh. "It becomes you well, small one."

Reepicheep smiled at him. "All the same, great king, I regret that I must withdraw," he continues, drawing his sword from his sheath, "for a tail is the honor and glory of a mouse."

"Perhaps you think too much of your honor, friend."

"Well, it's not just the honor. It's also great for balance. And climbing. And grabbing things," Reepicheep explained as Dorothy let out a giggle as she and Aslan shared a look. The other mice withdrew their swords as well and they stood beside Reepicheep.

"May it please Your High Majesty, we will not bear the shame of wearing an honor denied to our chief," One of Reepicheep's friends says, holding his tail up along with the other mice.

"Not for the sake of your dignity, but for the love of your people."

Aslan then made Reepicheep's tail grow back and Reepicheep gasped in surprise, grabbing his tail.

"Look!" he exclaimed, causing Dorothy and Lucy to laugh at his excitement. "Thank you, my liege. I will treasure it always. From this day forward it will serve as a great reminder of my huge humility."

Aslan laughed wholeheartedly before looking up at Dorothy and Lucy. "Now, where is this dear little friend you've told me so much about?" he questioned the two sisters.

Dorothy shared a glance with Lucy before turning their heads towards Trumpkin, who looked up when he was mentioned. Nervously, the D.L.F. slowly walked towards Aslan and bowed. Aslan let out another roar, causing the Trumpkin to shake with fear.

"Do you see him now?" Dorothy smirked, petting Aslan's fur softly as her siblings and Caspian all laughed.