I came to in a dimly-lit room. My head throbbed, my legs throbbed, my wrists throbbed... I was aching. I couldn't help but moan.

"Oh thank goodness, you're awake," a loud voice said. "I need your help."

My eyes struggled to focus. "Wha...?"

The redheaded girl I had seen in the forest appeared in my tunneled vision. I lurched in fear so violently I fell out of bed.

"Hey, it's alright," she said, laying a gentle hand on my arm, "I won't hurt you. I'm sorry I shot you. I had to make sure you didn't see where we were going. I've lived here in complete secrecy for four years. I can't have anyone knowing where it is."

My brain struggled to comprehend her words. I propped myself up on one elbow.

"Habashmajapo..." I stammered, my head still feeling stuffed with cotton. I took a deep breath and tried again. "So... you need my help?"

"Yes, most definitely. You said you ran away, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. We need to talk, for sure. But can you please help me up?"

"Yeah, sure. I'm sorry about the tranquilizer. It usually isn't so severe, but you're human, so I guess I'm lucky you didn't die."

I laughed. "I guess." I paused when she helped me to my feet. "You... you don't hate me for being human? It seems everyone else does."

"Oh, no, I know you're a good human. You're not Targuea."

"Who is that? The mention of her name is why I had to run away."

"She was a horrible human that somehow found her way to our world. Something about creating magic rings. I don't know. She got here and tried to take over by burning down our capital. As you can see, we have a lot of wood. It burned super easily, and destroyed a lot of our city. It..." She paused sadly. "It killed a lot of our people, too. My future husband was among them."

"Oh, I'm so sorry..."

"It's okay. I have my son now, who looks just like him. He has filled the hole left by the loss of my beloved Kolli. Even though he's the reason my father exiled me. When he found out I was pregnant after my not-yet-husband died... gosh, he was so embarrassed he sent me away, where no one would ever see me. So no one would ever know. Anyway, there's my life story. What's yours?"

"Oh, where to begin..." I told the girl of my time in Narnia and then my time so far in Emeraldia. When I mentioned Aslan's comment about Tariro, her eyes grew wide.

"He mentioned me? What did the king say?"

My jaw dropped, but I continued. I was talking to a lost princess. "Something about how it wasn't safe for you in the city."

"Pfft, he's been saying that for five years now. I mean, I do love my life here, but I worry for Roarke. He's growing up so fast. He deserves city life, with other boys and girls. I cannot provide that here. That's what I need your help with. Giving him the life he deserves in the city."

"How can I help?"

"I have no idea."

I laughed. "We're going to be good friends. I wing things, too."

"Yeah, I can tell." 

I looked down at my hands. "Oh, thank you for changing those. The bandages the guard gave me were itchy."

"Of course. Those are bad, but they're healing."

"Awesome."

"Oh no, that's Roarke's favorite-"

"Awesome!" A little boy's voice chirped. "Awesome awesome awesome!"

"...word." She laughed. "Here, come meet him."

I entered his bedroom smiling. "Hi!" he said, waving enthusiastically. This little boy was as outgoing and friendly as his mother.

"Hi, Roarke," I said. "I'm Ruth."

"Awesome!" 

"Awesome!" I repeated.

"Did you have a good nap?" his mother asked, taking him out from his sheets.

"It was awesome!"

I laughed. "My goodness, it really is his favorite word."

Tariro rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it."

"Why are your ears round and not pointy?" he asked, lunging for me. I held him in my arms and let him poke them curiously.

"I'm a human!" I explained excitedly.

"Awesome!"

"She's had a lot of adventures," his mother explained. "She defeated an evil witch with the help of a lion! And she fought in a battle and got turned to stone! And now she's here to help us! Right, Ruth?"

"Yes," I said, beaming. "Yes I am!"

Tariro's eyes grew wide. "Sh. I hear something." She handed me a dart. "You look like you have good aim. Anyone lays a finger on Roarke, knock the man out. Hide. I'll be back."

The jovial mood vanished instantly. I felt the familiar flush of fear of being hunted. I took the little boy and hid under his bed, yanking the sheets down to obscure us further.

"Where's Mama going?" he asked fearfully.

"She'll be back soon," I said, stroking his back with one hand and clutching the dart with the other. "Here, hide behind me."

We waited in tense silence. 

Bang! Bang! Bang! 

Knocks on the door.

"We know you're in there, Tariro!"

More knocking. 

A sword was unsheathed. 

The house shook with a crash.

A scream filled the house.

"No, don't hurt me, please! I've never hurt anyone!" Tariro cried. 

Roarke began to whimper. I clamped my hand over his mouth.

"Sh... sh... no sound..." I pleaded.

"Where's the baby?" a harsh male voice demanded.

"They died. I miscarried, having no midwife." She began to sob convincingly. "Please leave me alone."

The intruder gave no reply. 

I twiddled with the dart in my hand. If he came in, I had one shot...

"I don't believe you," he said after a while. "You have the wild-eyed look of a lying mother."

"Yeah," a second voice sneered.

My heart caught in my throat. There were two of them. And I had one dart. And no weapon. 

Oh, Aslan, help me, what do I do...

Heavy footsteps filled the house. It sounded like an entire army had entered. I scanned the room quickly for weapons.

A sword was hung on the wall across the room. I assumed it belonged to Kolli. I longed for it... to defend Roarke... but it was too far. And I couldn't leave him behind. He would make noise. It would be too...

Loud. He would be too loud. He would probably squirm, if not just walk out from under the bed entirely. Even now, he squirmed under my hand, pressed over his mouth. 

I heard the footsteps draw closer. They had arrived at the closed door.

If he saw his mom, he would surely cry out.

Especially if she had a knife to her throat.

Especially if they had already hurt her.

I made my decision. 

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

I stuck the tranquilizer into his exposed foot, removing the dart quickly. It might not be effective anymore, but the bad guys wouldn't know that. It would be a decent threat. 

I made sure to completely cover Roarke's unconscious body.

I lunged across the room and grabbed the sword, catching the men completely off guard. Tariro was able to wrench free from the chokehold one of the men had trapped her and grab the knives strapped to her legs. 

It was a vicious fight. Adrenaline coursed through my veins. I had to watch four things at once: the movements of the men, Tariro's back, my own back, and the space underneath the crib. 

The sword was big and awkward in my hands, and I felt cramped in the small room.

But somehow - by the grace of Aslan - we were able to kill the four men that had tried to kill us.

I breathed heavily when I had delivered the final fatal stroke, sinking to the ground in a wave of dizziness. The putrid stench of blood overwhelmed me, and I would have fainted if Tariro hadn't shaken me.

"Where is my son?" she shrieked. I pointed under the bed, explaining myself as best I could.

"I... I didn't want him to cry... when he saw you... and get himself killed... so I... tranquilized him... a little..."

Her eyes grew wide. She dove under the bed, and pressed her ear to his chest. 

"What... what's wrong?" I asked.

"That was the strongest dose of tranquilizer I had!" she yelled, livid with rage. "I didn't tell you to tranquilize my baby!"

I felt the blood drain from my face as I jumped to my feet. I looked at the boy's pale and trembling body.

"What have I done..." I moaned. "Tariro, we need to go find a healer." I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder. I secured my beanie on my head. "We need to go to the capital."

Her eyes were wide, and she gulped. "Run."

🦁

"Aslan! Aslan! Aslan!" I cried, as we raced towards the city. I was ahead of Tariro, but not by much. It's truly amazing what mothers are capable of when their children are in danger. "Help, somebody, please!"

"Ruth!" I stopped immediately. Aslan dashed down the street, his hooves loud against the cobblestone. "What's the matter?"

"It's Roarke... Tariro's baby... I... it's my fault," I gasped, tears streaming down my face. "He's dying. Aslan, we need a healer."

"I know where to go."

Tariro caught up then, heaving for fresh air. 

"Here, give me Roarke," I said. She glared at me. "S...so you can get on Aslan without dropping him," I explained. She reluctantly handed him over and climbed on Aslan's bare back with surprising agility. I placed her son in her waiting arms. I whispered my plan into Aslan's ear. He nodded... well, he nodded as well as horses can nod.

"What will you do, Ruth?" she asked breathlessly.

I stared into her eyes. "The right thing," I answered. "Go find your healer. I'll be back soon."

Aslan galloped away towards the heart of the town. I stood in the middle of the vacant street in silence, guilt crushing me. I took a deep breath, knowing what I had to do. I wiped my tears with the back of my newly-bandaged hands and ran towards the castle on shaky legs that somehow just kept running.

I burst through the castle doors and rushed to the throne room. As expected, the king sat there still, poring over a thick book. 

"Your Majesty," I said, my voice suddenly small. He didn't look up. I cleared my throat and said it again louder. "Your Majesty."

He looked up and scowled. "What do you want?" he hissed. "I thought you ran away."

"Your grandson is dying."

He blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Your Majesty, your grandson is dying. I ran away and found shelter with your daughter, Tariro. Some of your palace guards followed me, and nearly killed her. I... I didn't want your grandson to see the death of his mother, so I tranquilized him. I didn't realize it was a strong dosage, and unless a healer can be found, he will die."

I waited in fear for his response.

His face was angry at first... then sad... then angry again... then the anger melted away and left him expressionless. 

He looked down. Then looked up at me with pain in his eyes.

"Take me to him."

🦁

As promised, Aslan waited outside.

"We found a healer across town," he said. "Follow me." 

We all hurried through the streets, weaving through alleyways and ducking under laundry lines. 

The king drew much attention, which he ignored. He was focused on one thing: seeing his grandson.

"Here it is," Aslan said. "Go ahead."

I tentatively opened the door. "Tariro?"

She came running, dragging me inside. "Come in, come in, she said he'll be okay, he-" She looked down immediately. She had seen her father.

"He... will be okay?" the king asked hopefully.

Tariro nodded. "You've come to see him?"

"I brought him... to see his grandson," I said softly. "And... and his daughter."

We held a long gaze. "Thank you," she said finally. I could tell she meant it. "He's back here."

The king and I followed her back to a small bedroom. A frail old woman sat by his side. There was a steaming pot next to the boy's face, and the room smelled strongly of peppermint.

"Roarke, Mama's here," Tariro cooed. "And Ruth. And... and Grandpa." She planted a kiss on his forehead, tears slipping down her cheeks. Roarke stirred, and his eyes fluttered open.

"Mama?" he asked.

Tariro scooped him up, showering him in kisses. "Oh, Roarke, you're okay!"

"Awesome!" he chirped.

I giggled, tears bubbling up and coursing down my cheeks. 

"I'm sorry, Tariro," I murmured. "I'm so, so, so sorry..."

"Hey, don't be," she said. "I would have done the same thing, honestly. We wing things, remember?"

I smiled halfheartedly. "Yeah, yeah we do."

"No harm done. All is forgiven. I'm sorry I got so mad at you."

"I would have done the same."

We laughed, then both suddenly became aware of the king next to us. 

"Would you like to hold him, Father?" she asked tentatively. He nodded. "This is Roarke."

The boy stared at his grandfather's face. "Grandpa?"

"Yes, Roarke," he said, vainly trying not to weep. "I'm your grandpa."

"Awesome!"

"Tariro, I..." The king, once so cold and composed, was absolutely overcome with emotion. "I'm so sorry for... for everything... and I... I'll be better, I swear, I..."

"It's okay, Father," Tariro said, kissing his cheek. "I'm sorry for all of the shame I caused."

I slowly took Roarke out of his grandpa's hands so the king and Tariro could hug.

"You are welcome back in our home," the king said. "Your little sister has surely missed you."

Tariro looked at me excitedly, tears welling up anew. "Oh Father... that's all I've wanted. The life of a city boy for my son."

"Awesome!" Roarke cheered.

We all chuckled.

"Yes, awesome," the king said, affectionately rustling the boy's dark curls and taking him back into his own arms.

"Thank you, Ruth," Tariro said, crushing me in a hug.

"I didn't do anything," I said humbly, reddening. "I... I almost killed your son."

"No. You did the right thing. And now my son will have the life he deserves and my family is back together. Thank you."

"You're welcome," I replied, beaming.