Disclaimer: I don't own it. Neither do I own Into the West.

Chapter 5

Rhiann gasped as she watched the series of arrows fly over their heads.

"Did they see us?" She whispered frantically. Junior said nothing and she took that to mean silence.

"There's no one there." A rough male voice sounded through their haze of fear. "There's probably a frightened deer running through the forest now. Heck, I hate this country!"

"Let's go." Their footsteps receded into the distance.

"That was close." Jared sighed, slumping against the log. "What do you reckon they wanted, Junior?"

Silence.

"Junior?"

It was only then that Rhiann noticed the arrow sticking through the Faun's heart.

"Jared …"

"Junior, what's wrong?"

"Jared!"

She showed him the arrow and he turned white.

"He's … dead?" Jared murmured, staring at the Faun. "But … he can't be."

Rhiann looked away.

"We must bury him." She said, her voice wavering. Jared nodded.

"Yes… we must."

He seemed to collect himself and withdraw slightly. Rhiann looked at him and placed one hand on his shoulder. Somehow, the barriers she had built up since leaving the cave melted away and she was left with the girl she was – dreamy and vulnerable.

Jared had dug a hole and placed Junior in it. Now, he stood on the lip of the gaping hole, as though unsure as to what to do.

"Lay down your weary head." Rhiann started solemnly, reciting from a story her mother had once told her. "Night is falling, you've come to journey's end. Sleep now, and dream of the ones who came before you. They are calling from across the distant shore."

Jared let out a small sigh and began to shovel the dirt back into the grave.

"The ships have come to carry you home." Rhiann continued. "Sleep now – we shall soon follow."

Jared smoothed the top of the grave over.

"Let's go." He said brusquely, turning away. Rhiann nodded, and followed.

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Jared didn't seem very inclined to talk, and Rhiann supposed she could hardly blame him. But after what seemed like two hours walking slightly behind him in complete silence, she decided it had gone far enough.

"You two were really good friends, weren't you?" She said quietly. Jared looked up at her with a slightly surprised expression – as though he had forgotten that she was there.

"Yes… no." He answered musingly. "He took me in when I was a child. He was like my father."

Rhiann nodded, thinking at once of her own mother. Jared glanced sideways at her.

"You wouldn't understand." He said condescendingly. Rhiann looked away, visibly hurt. She didn't know how to respond – her mother had never snared her way with barbed insults or sarcasm before. So, in response, she lifted her chin and continued treading her way through the dry earth.

Jared looked at Rhiann, her long braid moving from side to side as she walked. He had seen the hurt look on her face – how could he not? – and revelled in it. Better she should grow to hate him than for her to be bound to him by friendship. He overtook her and strode briskly in front of her, leading the way to the Beaver's Dam. There he could get rid of her once and for all.

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"Beaver!" Jared called, ducking around the side of the dam. "Beaver, are you there?"

A brown furry shape dropped into view.

"You don't need to be so noisy." Beaver complained. "I'm not supposed to be a talking animal, remember?"

Jared grinned.

"Sorry." He said. But he didn't sound it.

"Well, well, well … what have we here?" The beaver walked around Rhiann to inspect her. Rhiann stood, one hand to her mouth, unmoving. Coral had told her about Talking Beasts, but it was one thing to hear about them, and another to meet one.

"It's nice to meet you." She said politely, extending her hand. Beaver made no move to take it, opting instead, to plod around her on its flat feet. Jared smothered a chuckle.

"Hm … I don't have the Dogs' noses, who is she, Jared? Or better yet, Daughter of Eve, who are you?"

"I'm … Rhiann." Rhiann replied shakily, glancing at Jared. He gave a small imperceptible nod. "I'm the daughter of High King Peter and Coral … and I come to reclaim Narnia for the true Narnians."

Her words had a startling effect on the two. Beaver's jaw dropped and Jared stiffened.

"Can this be?" Beaver whispered, looking at Jared, who shrugged in reply.

"I didn't know." He said quietly. "You didn't tell me."

"You didn't really invite confidence." Rhiann replied dryly, but with the barest hint of a grin. Jared looked at her inscrutably, then nodded.

"Your Highness…" Beaver held out his hand … er…paw. "I pledge loyalty to you."

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Rhiann sat in the darkness, looking up at the stars above her head. Behind her, the quiet festivities went on. The Calormens were far too afraid to venture out at night and for now they were safe. She glanced back over at the vague shape of Beaver's dam in the distance. The kind animal had invited all the Talking Beasts to rally around and offer their support to her.

Out of the darkness, a shape materialised and sat down beside her.

"Hello Jared." She acknowledged him.

"Bit overwhelming, isn't it." He said, skipping the formalities.

"Yes." Rhiann admitted. "I've never seen another human soul in my life before – apart from my mother – let alone animals, and now they're all crowding around me and I'm expected to rescue them. I knew that was what I had set out to do … but … it just seems so much more real now."

Jared was silent, for a moment.

"I was going to leave." He said suddenly, causing Rhiann to jerk towards him.

"Oh." She said quietly.

"Not yet. But I will eventually." Jared stood up suddenly. "Thank you for being our hero." He said in a voice that was as cold as the night. "Your Highness." He turned to go.

"Please call me Rhiann." Her voice floated out to him through the darkness.

A/N: Hello all! It's been a while, and I apologise for it. I will definitely be continuing this story, I think, but I will go back to revise the last chapter. Thank you to all my reviewers and I would go write review replies, but I'm going away tomorrow and I need to pack. Details are on my profile.

Cheers,

Sardine