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[It was a long walk to Caer Glaem. Fortunately, Susan was close enough that that the road to it was fairly safe. She would feel better about this whole thing if her brothers and sister were here, or if she had her bow, or even her horn. Instead she was wearing her school clothes, and they were none too clean at this point. Still, Susan was hoping for a better explanation, and from what the friendly fairies and townspeople had to say the castle was the place to get it.

She was hungry. Fruit trees and handouts didn't do much in the way of assuaging hunger when one was walking all day. She hoped there would at least be food in the castle; it was looming large in her vision now and she hoped to get there within the end of the day. It was a good thing, too. She'd bathed in a stream that morning, but--

"Lawkamercyme!" cried a high pitched voice, and Susan turned her head just in time to see a small, green-tinted fairy fall into a faint. A dark shadow globbed its way towards the fairy, Susan was sure it had foul intent. Dark shadows with gleam of teeth almost always did. She wished for her bow more than ever, but didn't hesitate to pick up a large stone at her feet. She was frightened - how did one fight a shadow? Oh, she hated to fight - but she wasn't about to just stand there and watch. She shouted, "You! There! Get away from that fairy!"

The shadow did not seem much impressed. And so Susan threw the stone with impressive aim, clipping the beast right in the mouth. It hissed and abandoned the fairy, heading towards her instead. She bent to pick up another rock.]

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[For a long moment, the locket shows a beautiful face with a furrowed brow, staring intently at its own reflection. Susan has never seen anything like this before. She is at the castle now, clean and clothed and fed, so her image doesn't look quite as dire as it had earlier that day, and her dark hair is swept back neatly in a braid.] Ah - so it does work! At least, I assume it does, and this is a message going out all over the lockets and not just some sort of fancy mirror.

[In either case, she's beginning to feel a little self-conscious. She reaches for easily remembered dignity.] I don't mean to intrude, but I have heard that this is something which happens often. And I wonder, is there anyone from England here? [She misses her family; two weeks of walking among strangers in a strange land was more than enough alone time for now, thanks.] Or even [marked hesitation] Narnia?

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[A girl of the same age as Susan draws her bow not far away. She has been out with her horses, not realizing how late it had gotten and how far out she had been. It doesn't take long to see the shadows change their direction towards the girl. At this distance only a how will help, but she picks up her pace and tries to keep the creatures off the girl. When she's close enough, she screams the name of the beasts, looking to keep it at bay. Meera has the horse speed up, galloping toward the other girl. If they are on horseback at least it will give them some chance.

Slowing just enough to the other girl can get on, the horse trots beside her as Meera extends a hand.] Get on before more find us.

[Her periphery vision serves her well and Susan can see the girl on the horse approaching. It serves her particularly well, because she can see the shadow-creature flinch when the other girl shouts out its name.

And Susan is tempted, so tempted, to just take the girl's hand and ride away. But... the fairy. She hadn't drawn the thing's attention just so the fairy could be eaten anyway. Experimentally she cried:]

Lawkameryme!

[With satisfaction, she saw the shadow shrink more.]

Keep shouting it! [She took off in a sprint toward the fairy - she was good at running.] I'll be right back!

[And then she saved her breath for speed.]

[She isn't sure what the girl is doing until Meera watches her dart toward the fairy that's laid out on the ground. Turning back to the shadow creature, she angles herself between it and Susan and the fairy.]

Lawkameryme! [She continues to shout, giving the other girl more time.]

[Susan at least manages a fast sprint. The fairy is not that far away and the shadow creature is shrinking fast. She scoops up the fair and turns around, running back toward the horse. Some awkward shuffling and she manages to extend a hand up, ready to grab hold and mount behind the other girl.]

[With the fairy in the girl's arms, she gets the horse to move back before she extends her own arm to the girl. She tries to give some leverage. At least she's had some experience getting on a horse before. Once the other girl is situated on Meera's horse, she kicks it forward a few times to get the beast to start running toward the castle.]

I'm Meera, [She calls.] Guess I'm glad I made it back later than I thought.

[Meera may very well sense just how well Susan rides - it's all in the thighs, and even in the awkward seat behind she balances well. All thanks to this is due to her teacher - you don't forget learning to ride from a talking horse.]

I'm Susan. [She glances back behind them to confirm that the creature may very well be following them but it was moving sluggishly.] Thanks for the offer of the hand up. Nothing seemed to slow that thing down!

[She tries to get the horse to move faster; it takes less upon horseback and even lesser upon a horse being chased.]

I am glad I could help. How did you get caught out here so late with no companion?

[A fair question. Susan has felt her self singularly unprepared for this adventure, and she could only wish her siblings had followed her. She hadn't even her bow or proper shoes for the journey.]

Better to say I haven't yet been in. I followed the fairy's cries for help and stepped through to a forest by a river. It was some ways southwest from here. I've been walking through the forest toward the castle for days.

Your story sounds familiar. I had walked through the mountains, but was fortunate that my liege lord was at the castle. He had sent some men for me. [Not that she couldn't handle herself, but arriving in a foreign land needs all the help one can get. And that is what a liege lord is supposed to do.]

We should be there soon.

[Susan takes a moment to process that. Several questions immediately spring to mind but what seems most important at the moment -]

You mean to say - there are people from your world here as well?

For some people-- yes. I was lucky that there people here from my world that I trust, but not all are so fortunate. When you get to the castle, you can try contacted them through the locket around your neck.

[Now that seemed a bit much. Talking to people through a bit of jewelry?]

How would you do a thing like that?

There is a looking piece inside, much like a mirror to the person holding it. You can speak to everyone here or just our court or find a specific person. It's quite useful. Easier than crows.

Like a telephone. [They had one of those in their London home. When their father had been home.] That certainly does sound useful. Thank you.

A tele--? [She looks back for half a second, conveying that Meera doesn't know what she means. It's not like anything they have back home. Not even the ravens can beat this.]

It is easy to communicate, yes. If any are here from your home it would be best to find them this way.

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