#yes there are castles in the four reaches of narnia AND there’s cair paravel ( the main seat )

[2usan]

considering the fact that it’s a three day (almost four) journey from cair paravel to the western wood, they we’re definitely staying at edmund’s castle (lantern’s hall) in the woods during the hunt for the stag

[knightofameris]

surprising changes — prince caspian

Request: Hi ! Could you please do a Caspian imagine when lucy, Edmund and eustace arrive in narnia and y/n is married to Caspian or something ?? Thanks xx

Setting: When Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace arrives on the Dawn Treader Contains: Nothing bad really. I’ll be going by the movie. Word Count: 1596

I really didn’t know how to end it, so I’m really sorry. Also, I might write a little prequel to when Caspian and Reader’s relationship starts. Stay tuned!

Edit: Sorry guys, I was reading through this and I realized a lot of grammar and spelling mistakes. They should be fixed but if not, please do tell me lol. I try reading them by myself but sometimes I don’t catch them until a little while after I post it. Thanks!

Enjoy!

[reposting from my old 2016 blog]

The waves hit the shore of Narnia repeatedly. It was early in the morning and the sun was barely rising. If you looked out into the ocean from the coastline, you could see the alluring waves just calling out to you, to sail into the endless sea. The salty fragrant of the ocean was somehow rejuvenating. That was the power of the Narnian ocean. Of course, Narnia was just magical in itself.

But today was the day the Narnia is to be left behind and Caspian the Tenth would travel out into the Great Eastern Ocean that was filled with the unknown. It had been three years since the Kings and Queens of old had aided him in the Narnian Revolution. Three years since (Y/n) had decided to stay in Narnia instead of going back to England. Besides, Narnia was her home and Aslan told her her duties lied here in Narnia now. In those three years, Caspian helped bring Narnia back up to where it used to be in the Golden Age. And in the three years, Caspian and (Y/n) had courted then got married.

(Y/n) was now known, once again, as the Queen of Narnia. She had ruled before with the Pevensies in the Golden age as (Y/n) the Daring so it was nothing new. Except for the fact that she’s now married to Caspian. It was strange because Caspian and her hadn’t gotten along very well until after the Second Battle of Beruna. And Caspian and Susan had a sort of thing between the two. But it wasn’t until the battle against the Calormens in the Great Desert that Caspian realized he had fallen for the Queen. But that’s a different story to tell.

“Caspian, you must let me go with you!” (Y/n) pleaded. Caspian was gathering a few personal things to bring with him onto the Dawn Treader, the first ship to be built in almost a thousand years. He grabbed Peter’s old sword, Edmund’s torch, Lucy’s healing cordial and dagger, and Susan’s bow and arrows. Caspian turned around to face his wife.

“I can’t, you have to stay here in Narnia to rule while I’m away.” Caspian explained then walked out of the castle towards the ship. (Y/n) following close behind.

“Well, we can just ask Trumpkin to look after Narnia in the meantime, can’t we?” (Y/n) suggested. Caspian sighed.

“We could but the ocean is a dangerous place. It’s filled with the unknown. I don’t want you to get hurt.” (Y/n) grabbed Caspians arm and the two stopped walking.

“Caspian, I’m not known as (Y/n) the daring for nothing.” Slowly she was winning. “Besides, I’ve sailed that ocean long before you were even born. I know Narnia and I know the Great Eastern Ocean. I’m not going just because I want to, I want to go so that I can protect you.”

“Protect me? I don’t need protecting.” Caspian scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“Caspian so help me I’m going with you whether you like it or not.” (Y/n) scolded. Caspian huffed and finally gave in.

“Fine.” (Y/n) grinned and hugged Caspian.

She let go of him and looked up into his eyes. “Great! I already have everything set on board! I also already spoke to the Narnians and Trumpkin about everything.”

“What?! You mean you-”

“Yup, I knew you were going to give in.” Caspian sighed then hugged her once more.

“What am I going to do with you,” Caspian asked jokingly. (Y/n) laughed and rested her head against his chest.

“Love me?”

“Always.”

***

The Dawn Treader was sailing across the vast ocean and Cair Paravel was gone from sight. The winds were in their favor and they had left faster than expected. (Y/n) already had her favorite spot picked out which was in the figure head of the dragon. Reepicheep accompanied her in there.

Reepicheep was humming a tune when (Y/n) had asked him what it was he was humming.

“Ah, my majesty. It’s a tune that the dryads sang to me when I was a mere pinkie.” Reepicheep replied.

“It sounds beautiful, how do the lyrics go?” (Y/n) was intrigued.

“Well, I’m not that great of a singer but…”

“Where the sky and water meet~

Where the waves grow ever sweet,

Doubt not, Reepicheep,” Reepicheep seemed to dance a bit when he sang and (Y/n) giggled when he jumped on her shoulder then on top of the figured head and hung down from it. “ To find all you seek, there is the utter east.”

“Ah, Reepicheep, that was beau-” (Y/n) got distracted when she saw in the corner of her eye in the deep waters of the ocean something rather peculiar. “Hey, Reep.”

“Yes your majesty?” He looked where she was looking into the ocean.

“Get Caspian and another crewmate, we got three people overboard.” With that being said, (Y/n) dove into the water.

“Eustace swim!”  

“What’s going on?”

“Eustace come on! Keep swimming.”

Two more series of splashes came in and by that time, (Y/n) had reached Lucy.

“Hey, Lu! Don’t worry I gotchu.” (Y/n) held Lucy as the two of them trod the water.

“(Y/n)!” Lucy was absolutely ecstatic when she saw her longtime friend once more. They both started to swim towards the ship but before they did Lucy called out to Edmund. “Edmund, it’s (Y/n)!”

“Caspian?” Edmund was extremely surprised to see Caspian right next to him in the water. “Are we in Narnia?”

“Yes, you’re in Narnia.” Caspian answered.

“I don’t want to go! I want to go back to England! I’m going back to England!” Eustace cried as he struggled against the other crewmate.

“Is that Eustace?” (Y/n) asked Lucy. They finally made it to the portside of the ship and they were about to get pulled up and out of the water.

“Yes, it is…” Lucy answered. (Y/n) had met Eustace once before back when they were all much younger. (Y/n) was about 4 years older than him then but now she’s 7 years older. Guess how Eustace reacted?

“Well, that’s unfortunate.”

“(Y/n)!”

***

After Eustace had passed out from the minotaur, and how he reacted to recognize and see (Y/n) once more and much older than before, they all went into the Captain’s Cabin.

“It’s been great seeing all of you guys again,” (Y/n) had her arms wrapped around Edmund and Lucy. “You guys don’t look as different as before, how long has it been?”

“About a year,” Edmund replied grinning. “How about with you?”

“Three years,” Caspian answered.

“Well, it explains why you look so grown up, (Y/n).” Lucy smiled at her.

“But of course, time here doesn’t run with the time back on Earth afterall.”

Lucy saw an image of Aslan engraved on one of the walls and she smiled. The warm feeling came through her again like it had before when she had heard his name and when she met him for the first time.

“Aslan…” Then something caught Lucy’s eye. “Susan’s bow and arrows!”

(Y/n) went to go grab something out of the cabinet as Edmund stared at a picture of him and his siblings.

“Hey Lu,” Lucy turned around towards (Y/n)’s voice and she saw her dagger and healing cordial. “IT’s about time you got this back I suppose.”

“Is that Peter’s sword?” Edmund asked when he saw Caspian holding it out towards him.

“I looked after it, as promised.” Edmund walked over towards Caspian and was about to take it but then decided not to.

“No, no. It’s yours,” Edmund took a step back. “Peter gave it to you.”

“Hmm, well. I saved this for you though,” Caspian turned around and went into a different cabinet and grabbed his torch. He tossed it over towards Edmund and he caught it.

“Thanks!” Edmund was actually pretty grateful for it. He looked down into the torch and tried turning it in. Though, it blinded him. “Gah!”

(Y/n) laughed, “You’re such an idiot, Ed.” Edmund smiled sheepishly.

***

(Y/n), Caspian, Lucy, Edmund, and Lord Drinian stood around the table with a map of Narnia and the surrounding countries along with the Great Eastern Ocean.

“Since you left,” Caspian pointed towards the Lands of the North, “the Giants of the North surrendered unconditionally.” He moved his hand towards the Great Desert.

(Y/n) interrupted and four heads looked at her, “It was surprising to see how they had surrendered. I’ll tell you the story later. Oh, and then we fought the Calormen armies in the Great Desert! That’ll be an amazing story to tell, too!” (Y/n) sighed contently from the memories of the battles she had fought alongside Caspian. She looked over at him and smiled.

“Right, and now there’s peace across all of Narnia,” Caspian continued smiling while still looking over at her.

“Really? Peace?” Edmund asked while eyeing Caspian and (Y/n). He was a bit suspicious that something was going on between the two.

“Yup! In just three years.” (Y/n) answered.

“And have you found yourself a queen in those three years, Caspian? Or a king, (Y/n)?” Lucy asked the two. (Y/n) and Caspian looked at each other and the grabbed each other’s hands.

“You all know her as (Y/n) the Daring. Now you can know her also as my wife,” Caspian grinned.

“I knew it!” Edmund shouted. Everyone stared at him like he was a mad man.

[narniagiftexchange]

                              THE WINTER NARNIAN GIFT EXCHANGE.

                    for: @lukejulies from @teenagedpevensies.

my best friend, my sibling.           

for @lukejulies from @teenagedpevensies

“Why your Majesty it’s such an honor to run into you here,” Lucy curtsied deeply, giggling.

“Oh yes your Majesty, simply divine, what have you done with your hair?” Edmund bowed, keeping a serious expression fixed to his face.

“Brushed it, for once, your Majesty, and I must say where has your famous body odor gone this evening?”

“You mean you aren’t accessorizing with leaves and dirt anymore? Fascinating. You’re quite the trend setter, your Majesty, and if you must know my dearest sister I’ve taken the liberty of bathing today.”

“First time all week! Daring of you.”

“I thought so, yes.”

“Oh your Majesties! What an honor to run into you!” A noble from Archenland walked out into the hall. She was lady something or other, Edmund couldn’t quite remember which made him a little guilty. A little. To be fair, there were a lot of nobles here, and he was only twelve and had many many kingly duties. Like hiding out from the celebration with his little sister because if either of them went into the ballroom, they’d have to meet approximately 80 guests and then be expected to remember all of them. Very serious business, hiding from festivities.

Cair Paravel had finally gotten all fixed up, so they were hosting a huge celebration. It had taken about a year and a half to finish repairs and cleaning and furnishing, and it was good that the work was over and good to celebrate! But being in a room full of stuffy adults wasn’t Lucy or Edmund’s idea of a celebration. It wasn’t the first gathering the kings and queens had hosted since being crowned, but dear god it WAS the largest by a lot. Edmund had snuck out of the great hall and found Lucy sitting by the door making flower crowns, also having escaped from the chaos.

“Yes, good to see you again, madam,” Edmund said politely.

“Oh, your Majesty! Where did you get those divine flowers?” The lady motioned to the crown Lucy had placed haphazardly on her head.

Lucy and her quickly got into a lovely conversation about the flowers until the lady went to go find the gardens for herself. Lucy sent her off with a flower crown of her own and a brilliant smile.

“How do you do that?” Edmund asked.

“Do what, Ed?”

“Make friends with- well with everyone?”

“It’s not everyone, Tumnus’s nephew still hates me.”

“Impossible.” Edmund dismissed the statement with a wave. “Everyone likes you.”

“I’m just nice, I guess.”

“Well, I’m nice!”

“No, you’re polite, Ed. It’s different.” She took a seat next to one of the heavy wood doors.

“Is it really that different?” He sat next to her.

“Maybe. Or maybe I’m just cuter and sweeter and funnier than you and everyone thinks I’m an angel. It comes with being the youngest.”

Edmund shoved her, she laughed, the door opened, and Mr. Beaver stepped out.

“There you are! You can’t just disappear like that, Susan thinks you’ve been kidnapped. Or assassinated.”

“Oh Mr. Beaver, don’t make us go back in,” Lucy begged. “It’s lasted hours already, and I’m so tired.”

“Who said anything about going back in? Scoot over, I think I can hide away for ten minutes. It’s every creature for themselves at these things. The others can hold their own.”

The summer air in Narnia was heavy and warm, like the mantle of some great beast had been draped over them while they sat in front of a roaring fire. On days when there were no responsibilities to attend to, the teenaged kings and queens would often ride down to the river and swim there for hours, until their whole bodies shivered with the ice of the water. Susan and Edmund started the game of climbing the trees that trailed branches over the water and jumping in, and Peter and Lucy turned it into a competition to see who could make the biggest splash.

Sometimes the river turned their toes to prunes, or they began to fear catching a cold, and then they’d run around the forest, befriending squirrels and tree nymphs, climbing trees and rocks, and dancing and singing in clearings.

“Race you to the top of this tree,” Edmund shouted to Lucy, as she raced to catch up with him.

“No fair! We all know you’re the best at climbing!”

“Sounds like an excuse!” He was the best at climbing and demonstrated this with his graceful ascent into the tree’s lower branches.

“Edmund!”

“Better hurry up then if you want to win!”

Lucy reached the base of the tree, huffing and puffing, with a twig caught on the hem of her dress and dirt caking her bare feet. She jumped up to reach the lowest branch, caught hold of it, and promptly lost her hold. Edmund was seated on one of the middle branches of the tree by this point, watching with amusement.

“You’re the worst!” She called up, but she was grinning.

“Yes, but the best climber.”

“You have to race me later on foot, to make it up to me.”

“Actually Lucy, I don’t have to do anything.”

She caught hold of the branch and pulled herself up.

“One down!” He started climbing again, “only about twenty to go!”

She huffed in response.

They were quiet for a minute, both focusing on not losing their grip as they climbed higher and higher. Narnian trees, even the ones not inhabited by dryads, are particularly lovely. They are exactly the right height, always. They touch the sky or are as short as Peter and either way it’s right. They feel genuine; they make you think, this is a tree that knows, a tree that thinks, and feels. This tree has seen so much and is so beautiful, and being near it feels like being young. Each leaf is its own kind of beautiful, a tiny art piece. And each branch is strong and healthy, and holding onto it feels safe. Or maybe the trees back in England are like this, too. Neither Lucy nor Edmund could quite remember.

“I think I’ve gotten as high as the tree will hold me” Edmund called down after a bit.

“What do you-” Lucy stopped to catch her breath after heaving herself onto a particularly difficult branch, “what do you see Ed?”

“The forest, what do you think?”

“Oh whatever,” Lucy scowled up at him.

“Well, the trees all look plenty green up here. Like a sea of its own. The sky is lovely, it must be about noon, the sun looks to be straight up from here. The clouds look particularly alive today. Oh, is that-?” Edmund carefully stood, clinging tightly to the trunk of the tree, craning his neck to see something closer.

“What is it?”

“It’s a birds nest! Lucy get up here!”

“I’ve been trying! Don’t touch the eggs!”

“I’m not going to touch them, I’m not stupid.”

It was a phoenix nest, the eggs were red and looked hot to the touch. Lucy finally got to the top branch, Edmund giving her a little help by calling directions on where to put her feet for the last few branches, and the siblings stood on the branch together, overlooking the forest.

“We should name them,” Lucy said reverently, studying the three eggs.

“They have parents, you know.”

“Sure, but these can be special names that only we know. Then when they hatch, we’ll see phoenixes flying around and say to ourselves, I wonder if that’s little-” Lucy looked at him expectantly.

“Bartholomew?” He laughed at her scowl.

“You’re the worst. Pick a serious name,” she demanded.

“We should be climbing down, Susan and Peter are probably ready to head home about now.”

“Right.”

“Lucy?”

She didn’t meet his eyes, looked down at her hands instead as she picked at her fingernails. “It’s a bad night.”

It was late; most of the castle was asleep. Edmund hadn’t been, he was finishing the last chapter of the book he’d been reading. And clearly, since she was here, Lucy wasn’t sleeping either.

“Come on in.”

They sat on the floor, beside the mural on Edmund’s wall. They’d painted it for him when he turned 13. It turned out Mr. Tumnus had quite the artistic talent. Trees, tall and strong, the sun shining through the leaves. They’d all helped, and Susan said her favorite part was Lucy’s little squirrel she’d painted in the top left corner.

“What’s bugging you?” Edmund asked her, solemnly.

“Well not- Not bugging me so much as it’s just…” she paused. “No, I guess it is bugging me. We love it here, right?”

“Right.” They’d been over this conversation before, the two of them, and they’d both talked to Peter about it, and Susan, and many times all four of them had spoken about it in tearful tones.

“There’s no place I’d rather be, and it’s home, and we’ve been here for five years, and I’ve never truly really wanted to leave but. Do you ever think about it?”

“The professor’s house?”

“No, bigger.”

“Where our parents are.”

Neither acknowledged that they hadn’t said its name. Neither admitted that they no longer remembered.

“Do you remember what dad was like?” Lucy asked. She looked just as small as she had been, that very first day when they’d found Tumnus’s house empty.

“Brave. Funny. He told us stories.”

“I remember those. Do you remember what mom was like?”

“Worried.”

“And?”

“Kind. She loved us. She used to sing us lullabies.”

“I don’t remember the lullabies anymore.”

“I do. One of them at least. Do you remember anything?”

“A little. Nothing solid. It feels like that place was a dream. Like we were always meant to belong to here instead.”

“We do. We belong there too, but we do belong here.”

They were quiet for a moment.

“Do you think they miss us?” Lucy asked.

“Of course they do.” Edmund sighed. He laced his fingers together, remembering being a very small boy and holding his father’s hand to cross the street.

“Do we miss them?”

“You’re here, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything else you want to talk about?”

“No, not really.”

“Well, you can stay as long as you’d like.” After a minute, he picked up his book again, and Lucy sat quietly, staring off into the middle distance.

“Edmund?”

“Yeah, Lu?”

“Will you sing one of mom’s lullabies for me?”

Edmund hated singing. ”Sure.”

She scooted over to sit next to him, and he hugged her.

“Um, the only one I really remember is this,” he cleared his throat and began to sing, resting his chin on Lucy’s head. “Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye, four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. When the pie was opened the birds began to sing— Wasn’t that a dainty dish to set before the king?”

He sang that song, and remembered another so he sang that one too, and another, and another. When he finally looked down at Lucy, he noticed that she’d been crying.

“I don’t remember any of them,” she said softly.

“I’m sorry, Lucy.” He felt close to tears himself.

She was quiet for a long time, sniffling.

“Do you need to talk any more?” He asked gently.

“No. I think I’m going to go back to bed.”

“Probably a good plan.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

When she left he set to work writing down as many songs as he could remember. He wanted them to always have them.

It’d taken teamwork and dedication and a week of trying but Lucy and Edmund had finally figured out how to scale the pillars of the throne room to perch in the rafters. And they were taking full advantage of it.

“Lucy! Edmund!!” Peter called from somewhere a few hallways away.

“Should we go see what he’s after?” Lucy asked, munching on a scone.

“Of course not, he either wants us to do some chore or other, or he found out about the scones.” They were Peter’s scones, he’d baked them yesterday.

“Maybe we shouldn’t have stolen them?”

“Hey, he bakes a whole batch every week and never finishes them before they go stale. We’re helping.”

“Fair enough.”

“Plus he’s being a jerk.”

“That too.”

Peter had been training all week for a tournament with some important noble. It was supposed to just be a friendly match, but Peter treated it like he did any of his other kingly duties, far too seriously. He was tired from training and tired from still keeping up with all his other work, and he’d been far more snappish than he normally was. This was agreed to be, by the two younger Pevensies, completely justified payback for the way he’d been behaving all week. Plus, his scones were delicious.

“LUCY! EDMUND!”

Peter was in the throne room now, stomping around. Magnificent though he was, and extremely kind most days, their brother acted like a toddler when he lost his temper over something petty. Lucy and Edmund exchanged looks. When Peter was below the rafter they were situated on, Edmund drew something from his pocket. Making a shushing gesture toward Lucy, he daintily dropped the acorn in his hand onto their brothers regal head. Both of them gathered themselves, hiding any trailing sleeves and dangling legs from Peter’s line of sight as he looked up. Lucy muffled giggles into her elbow, and Edmund hid his smile behind his hand. The door to the throne room opened and shut. Peeking over the side of the rafter and verifying that Peter wasn’t there anymore, they allowed themselves to burst out into laughter.

“Glad you find it so funny, now what HAVE you done with my armor?”

And there was Peter, leaning by the door. It had been a ruse.

“Armor? Why brother dear, I haven’t the slightest notion of what you’re talking about,” Lucy said sweetly.

“Get down here.”

“Come up and get us,” Lucy challenged, and there it was. Peter was hiding a grin, and soon trying and failing to climb the pillars of the throne room while they alternatively cheered him on and said he would never catch them, and his missing armor was completely forgotten in their laughter.

A good thing too because the smiley face they’d painted on the armor was still in the process of drying.

“I don’t know, Lu, doesn’t it seem a little. Well, risky?” Peter asked, moving a pawn.

“And how is it risky? It’s just a stag.”

“Yes, a magical stag. One that no one knows much about. I don’t think we should risk it.” Susan said, scribbling away on the paper that rested on the arm of her chair. She was writing a letter to someone, had been writing letters almost constantly for months, and no amount of pestering from Lucy or sleuthing from Edmund or curious looks from Peter had gotten answers as to who it was.

“Risk what? A few days away from the palace? Tumnus and the beavers and Oreius are perfectly capable of looking after things, they always have been before, and there’s nothing too pressing going on! Catching the stag could be big!” Lucy kicked her feet against the legs of her throne as she always did when she was excited. She was already dressed in her riding outfit as if she expected to go out and hunt right then.

“I think we should listen to Lucy,” Edmund spoke up from his game of chess with Peter, one that he was about to win by the looks of it.

“And why is that?” Susan sighed, casting an irritated look at her little brother.

“Because she’s never been wrong before,” he answered easily. “Well, other than thinking Tumnus is a good cook.”

“Is this still about finding Narnia?” Susan asked crossly.

“It’s always about finding Narnia. Lucy found our home, Susan, and we didn’t believe her, and she was right. That has to count for something.”

“I’d nearly forgotten about that,” Peter said thoughtfully.

“Me too,” Lucy said, a soft look crossing her face as she looked out the window at the people outside. Their home.

“Well just because she’s been right in the past doesn’t mean she’s always right,” Susan said, but her scowl had softened considerably. She smiled at Lucy. “No offence Lucy.”

“Still, she’s right about this. And who knows, we haven’t gone hunting well… hardly ever, it could be fun,” Edmund moved a piece on the board. “Checkmate! What does that bring our score to, Pete?”

“You’ve won nearly every game for the past year. I’m pretty sure our score is ‘I am solidly losing’” Peter looked at Susan. “What do you think?”

She sighed, fingers playing with the ends of her dark hair. “Fine. Let’s go hunt the white stag. Why not?” Her eyes glittered. She was excited about this even if she didn’t say so.

Lucy shouted with joy, stood right up and did a jig on the spot. “You won’t be sorry! Edmund! What should we ask it for when we catch it?”

“Well, we have to catch it first! I’m going to go to the library to research it.”

“I’ll come with!” Lucy looked out the window again, to the sea, to the people on the shore. She was glad that they were there. She looked at her siblings, the furrow in Susan’s brow as she thought of what to write next, the twinkle in Edmund’s eye as he headed off towards the library, the grin Peter donned as he tried to read over Susan’s shoulder. Yes, it was good that they were there. Very good.

[typewritingyip]

Returning to the Right Life

Narnian Preference

A/N: This is a continuation for “A Life Worth Waiting For” with my named reader Maude! Once again thank you to the CairParavelNetwork for having these fun challenges every month!

Warnings: Minor Angst, Fluff, and possible character death? mentions of gore?

Word Count: 4,171

Cair Paravel had not been this quiet in nearly fifteen years, since before the five thrones had the children of Adam and Eve sat upon them. Sliding along the polished floors I go up to General Otmin, trying not to panic.

“General-”

He smiles kindly, fixing the crown on my head since it had fallen askew.

“My queen, you looked panicked, are you alright?”

I take a deep breath, trying to maintain my composure, be like Peter in the situations of worry.

“May we talk a moment in private General?”

Now he frowned, like I already had been, I wasn’t the one that would usually go to the general when something had gone wrong. Only if something horrific had happened.  

“Yes, my queen. This way, please.”  

We had down a hall together where we talk in hushed tones, my own worry breaking through my usual composure to the point where I was on the verge of tears. As much as I liked to seem strong in front of the crowd or even in front of the General, just to seem like the others, I was always the odd one out. No matter what we all made it seem like, they all were the crowns of the four directions and I got what was left. The General set up the search party of over a hundred Narnian soldiers, at which I promptly joined to give them the exact locations of where the other four disappeared. Leaving my crown on my throne, feeling unworthy of it.  

For the next week we scoured through those woods, being gentle and asking the trees to part during the search. Though I was kept away, everyone unsure whether it was the four royals on a new journey or some danger that would take away the children of Adam and Eve. I stayed under the stars every night, too scared to enter the woods or return to Cair Paravel. Yet when the crowns were found, I stood there and stared at the forests as the trees moved back to their places. As their crowns weighed heavily in my arms. Wherever they were, I knew we wouldn’t be able to get to them. My heart sank in my chest, aching as the last trees settled again and the wastes looked the same as it had when they all ran into those trees just days before.

Later that night, when I finally returned to Cair Paravel after several long hours of walking. Still holding the crowns as if they were life lines to the people I cared about so much. It was dark and quiet in the castle; the other residents having retired to their beds for the night. I slowly made my way into the royal treasure room and put each crown in the corresponding chest that belonged to them. I broke down in sobs on the floor, wanting nothing more for them to return home or for me to be with them on this next great adventure they thought was so important.  

The castle was quiet, no one spoke that next morning as preparations for that afternoon were made. I remained in my bedchamber for most of the morning, not touching any of the food brought to me and soaking in a hot bath full of soft flowers, trying to wish away my new found problems. Even after getting decorated in ornate clothes everyone remained silent.  

There wasn’t even the sound of a drawn breath as I walked toward the thrones that afternoon. The sun shining and reflecting through the glass roof, making Cair Paravel sparkle in its beauty. My hands shook while holding several symbols of royalty for Narnia, my own sword resting around my hips as I walked. The ruffle of the skirts and shuffle of shoes were the only noise around the hall other than the occasional sniffle. Slowing to a stop at foot of Peter’s throne, the one in the middle for the High King of Narnia. From behind me someone nudges me forward gently, stepping forward again I stand at the pedestal of that throne, it always seemed bigger from a distance. Turning slowly to face the crowd, straightening my back to look stronger than I felt.  

“My fellow Narnian’s, big and small, I stand before you today not as one of your queens but as your friend. Your friend feeling this intense pain and sorrow that you all do, that we all feel, not only did we lose four of our leaders, our closest friends, but people we all called family.”

My voice breaks slightly on the word family, I had spent the last week searching in the rain, through the trees and mud. Turning over every stone to find them even it didn’t seem to make sense.  

“Whatever they are doing, wherever they went, what may have happened to them, know they are just on their next royal adventure, likely like the one that brought the five of us to all of you those many years ago. In time, they will return for this is their home. Narnia is their land and home as much as it is any of ours. I will stand with you all as I stood with them as an equal, as a member of this family, as a Narnian.”

We had known we were not like them, being the children of Adam and Eve, but that made us no more important or powerful than the people that filled the hall of Cair Paravel. My mouth was very dry, slowly I kneel down for Mr. Tumnus. I knew he was heartbroken but was so thankful he was doing this for not only me but for Narnia. The crown I had worn for the past fifteen years was gently removed from my head. The silver filigree I had grown into was exchanged for a regal gold, engraved with flowers and a lion's head. Mr. Tumnus offers a hand and I take it gently, letting him help me up. Slowly rising, I look out at them all, the Narnian’s I swore to protect and be one of the queens for.  

My new title fell onto my deaf ears, trapped in my own mind as the reality of this whole day began to settle in. In an instant, when everyone began to make noise, I lowered myself to Peter’s throne for the first time ever. The Narnian’s went quiet as for the first time in weeks one of their kings or queens sat on the thrones of Cair Paravel. For a moment ever person in that hall fell silent, the pain and loss washed over us all. Sitting up straight unlike how I would have sat upon my own throne, I clear my throat and gesture in front of me as the High King would, as Peter always had. Slowly groups of them began to get in a line with their questions.  

Sighing slowly, I put on a smile, glancing toward the Beavers as my nerves began to rise. Both of them nodded reassuringly, calming my nerves a faction as I look back to the Narnian’s that stood before me. In that moment, I finally understood how all the others had felt or at least knew I would come to. The stress Peter felt every day, he was the High King and was the one everyone expects to know all. The way Susan would worry of the questions that would be asked and the notes she would take when something she wouldn’t have thought of was brought up by a Narnian. Even Edmund’s cool composure of how he’d speak up when there wouldn’t be a good answer, even if it was the right one. How Lucy would keep all of us collected and working together, to know and understand we served the people along with ourselves as a family.  

Then there was myself, how I had thought I knew the whole picture from top to bottom, studied every aspect of what it meant to be a royal, till now I wasn’t even close and didn’t know if I ever would be. All of those responsibilities now fell upon my shoulders. Bowing my head gently, reaching up to prevent the new crown from tumbling off the first question rang through the hall,

“Your highness, what are your plans for Narnia now that the others are gone?”

It was the question I knew would come but was petrified to face, gulping slightly, steepling my hands,

“I will do what the people need of me, like the five of us always have. Like I will continue to do.”

The crowd seemed to collectively sigh of relief, smiling a bit I gain confidence as the questions flow, answering what I could, giving supplies to people needed them, and sending guards for patrols in areas that the Telmarines seemed to be poking at. Their so-called King seemed to think it was all his land and would often cause trouble in Narnia.  

It wasn’t long after that the Telmarines declared war, not only against the royals of Cair Paravel but Narnia as whole. Changing from the long regal gowns that would be worn in the throne room to the more battle secure dresses that would be worn under armor.  

Too many battles were waged, to many lives lost in the name of Narnia. I felt like a terrible leader, leading my people into slaughter but the Telmarines were horrific when it came to battle. They wanted the Narnian’s extinct because they were unable to understand who and what we are. For years we fought before attempting to come to a peace, signing a treaty upon the battle field for the holiday, all our troops were tired and wanted to be home with their families and out of the cold. They didn’t even wait the day before they attacked. Burning down Cair Paravel as I fled into the night.  

That was the day everything changed, both in my own life and for the entirely of Narnia.  

The return to living life in England was difficult, my mother insisting I stay in the country side, sending money when she could. The war in England was bad but she’d never understand the way one fights in a war, how they watch their friends die on the blades of the enemy. In my short life, which in her eyes had only been eight years, but for me it was twenty-eight years. Even as time went on and the memories I had of Narnia began to fade, some things would always plague my nightmares.  

Being a child with the memories of three wars, things always kept you up at night.  

I studied with the professor after the Pevensies’ left, even when we had to move into a much smaller place, to the cottage in Cottage Grove; the two of us found that entirely to funny. After all I had no other place to go, the past year had been hard on the five of us. My mind was always on Narnia, everything from the first days that which seemed so clear now to my last hours which seemed to fade when I didn’t think about them for more than a few hours.  

No longer feeling like the strong adult Queen of Narnia that fought in the war for the Narnian’s. Not the battle-ready warrior but the mildly out of practice one. It all felt off, wrong in some ways but there would be days that it didn’t feel so strange to be myself.  

When I woke up that morning, it felt like any other day in the country side. The sun poked through the clouds for a moment before it started to drizzle. Starting out in the garden to weed the veggies and water the plants, we might get quite a bit of rain but it never soaked into the garden, the water always running down the hillside off the edge of the property.  

After that I went into the cottage for lessons, being in the sun room while the rain starts to pour down. Practicing maths first since it was what I struggled with the most. Tapping the eraser of my pencil against the table to a rhythm, music playing from the radio in the kitchen mixed with the rain, bringing me to be extreamly distracted. Remembering days upon thrones where the rain would patter against the glass ceiling.

“Have I lost you Maude?”

I jump slightly and look up, breaking the end of my pencil as I turn it to the paper again.

“Sorry sir, the rain...”

He smiles a bit and ruffles my hair gently, already a mess from the wet. He gently closed the textbook that rested upon the table I worked at.

“Let’s take a break, have a snack and get our brains back in order, yes?”  

Nodding, I quickly get up and grab hold of my notebook, rushing out of the sun room. Returning to my bedroom, closing the door firmly and falling to the floor. Opening to a bare page and starting to draw the image stuck within my head, the thing distracting me. Cair Paravel in all its shining glory, the rain falling on the glass ceiling and reflecting upon the marble flooring.

Something felt off, nothing felt right. My thoughts of Narnia would fill my mind often but never like this, never to the point of distracting me. Pushing myself up, going to my window I push it open and stare out, the leaves from the nearby willow tree blowing in the storm. Flying everywhere I felt a tug of something, pushing myself up onto the seat, all I could do was stare as the rain and leaves flew past my face.  

It felt like magic, feeling this painful tug and quickly hopping out the window, thinking I’d land in mud, not sand.  

Falling onto all fours, I got a very unpleasant mouth full of sand. Spluttering and sitting up, it takes my eyes a second to adjust to the sunny coastal area I now found myself in. Looking around, my heart feeling lighter than it had in a year. Smiling brightly, pushing myself to my feet I take off towards the water. Stumbling as I attempt to remove my socks, having not been wearing shoes in the cottage. Pulling off the sweater wrapped around me, dropping it right before hitting the waves. Kicking up the water, spinning in several circles before falling back into the waves to let them sweep over me.  

Happily getting soaked from head to toe, but in that moment, I truly didn’t care. After the longest year of my life, I was finally home. Sitting up and brushing the hair out of my face, looking around in mild confusion. I wasn’t quite sure what part of Narnia I was in, it didn’t look entirely familiar but the oceans were never my favorite place to spend a warm summer day.  

Then in an instant, none of that mattered as four people came running my way, in English school uniforms. Screaming with laughter I start kicking water at them, shoving Edmund into the waves and hugging Lucy tightly. It had been far too long since I’d seen my family, we’d written when we all could but this was different. We were all in Narnia, for the first time in a year and for the first time in six that I’d gotten to see them there.  

Standing in the waves, hugging the others it was such a relief to be here together. Finally, back home together for the first time in such a long time. We continued to splash around in the waves for a while longer, enjoying the warm sun England hadn’t seen in months and the land we hadn’t seen in a year.  

Slowly we all make our way out of the waves and gather our stuff, picking up my socks and slightly damp sweater, laughing happily as Edmund shoves me a bit.  

“Hello.”

I look at him then smile a little shyly, sitting down and pulling on my socks.

“Hello Maude... it’s been a while.”

Laughing a bit, I take his hand when he offers it pulling myself back up from the sand. Looking around, finally speaking my mind.

“Where do you think we are?”

Peter laughs and gestures around,

“Well, where do you think?”

Rolling my eyes, pulling on my sweater,

“I meant where in Narnia, my High King.”

I bow and Lucy quickly follows my lead, both of us bursting into laughter. Edmund looked around, then up the cliff side, frowning.

“She’s right, I don’t remember their being any ruins in Narnia.”

We all look the same general direction as him and stare in shock, what seemed to be large ruins of some cliff side thing were crumbling above us. There was no wait it could be Cair Pravel, this looked like ages of over growth. My mouth felt dry, knowing what I knew it was and knowing there couldn’t be any actual way that was it were very different things.  

Slowly heading down the beach together, I slip my hand into Edmunds. Each in turn adjusting their clothes and pulling on bags, tying sweaters around waists and leaving jackets hanging off branches.  

Heading up an old worn footpath, it felt warm, good to be back in Narnia but bad because the feeling was off now that we were heading up to these ruins. Something just didn’t feel right. Pulling Ed to a stop, I wait for the others to get a little ahead before speaking.

“Edmund, I need to tell you something.”

He frowns a bit and keeps the walking pace slow,

“What’s the matter?”

Sighing, I look at my feet, kicking at a rock,

“There’s so much I have to tell you about our last time in Narnia, after the four of you left through Spare ‘Oom.”

“You’ve been back?”

Shaking my head quickly I sigh and stare at the sky,

“No, of course not. But I haven’t been truthful, I didn’t follow you four back through the wardrobe. I stayed in Narnia for another five years after we all thought you disappeared.”

He quickly pulls his hand away, looking around.

“Do the others know?”

I shake my head again,

“Of course not. You and Lucy would be the first people I tell... and I’ve now told you first.”

He continues to stare, still walking up the hill towards the ruins.

“What happened after we all left?”

He sounded concerned and slightly afraid,  

“Another war... for Narnia and I don’t know how it ended. The night I went through the wardrobe-”

I go to speak but find the memories just after there anymore and shake my head,

“I’m not sure what happened... But whatever it was, I doubt it was good.”

He sighs slowly, brushing his hands through his hair, biting the corner of his lip.

“The others can’t know about this. It would destroy them, for now, we keep this between ourselves till we find the Narnian’s”

He sounded so much like his old self, his older self, being the level headed one what knew doing the right thing wasn’t always the best thing. Nodding slowly, I put my hands into the pockets of my sweater.

Getting to a steeper part of the hill, struggling over the roots and tall grass, apple trees surround us. I quickly use Edmund as a step stool to grab one before continuing up.

“Does anyone still have their sandwiches?”

“Well, I left mine in my bag and I left my bag, in the train station, and then I left the train station in England.”

We all laugh a bit at that, brushing out hands through the grass and leaves around us, just all happy to be back in Narnia.  

Then we came up to the ruins, rather vast, at which we all promptly began to explore.

Walking around and munching on the crisp red apple, I brush my hand over the ancient stone, frowning and feeling sad. Whatever this place had been, it must have been beautiful. Still unable to truly think this could be Cair Paravel. We all spread out to look around, admiring the ruins and the trees among the walls, although it was sad it had become very beautiful in a way. I start up a set of broken stone stairs to get a better view of it all.  

“Wonder who lived here.”

From all our vantage points we glanced towards Lucy, having feelings at the same time. Susan picking up something shiny from the ground, frowning at it before looking around.

“I think we did.”

I glance towards Edmund and head over towards Susan,

“Hey, that’s mine. From my chess set.”

“Which chess set?”

“I didn’t exactly have a solid gold chess set in Finchley, did I?”

Lucy looks around before running off, muttering to herself and I quickly follow. My heart pounding in my chest as we all follow. Coming up to a large stone slab we slow, seeing pedestals on top of it and parts of what had been beautiful stone thrones. Lucy starts to position us in front of the very thrones we had sat in, pointing at broken pieces of architecture.

“Imagine walls. And columns, there. And a glass roof.”

We all stood there, looking at the remains of-

“Cair Paravel...”

My throat felt tight, like this was somehow my fault. Though, in a way it was. Not following my own heart when it came to the war, when it came to the Narnian’s, whatever made me leave, should have made me stay. We all walked away from the thrones and went towards where the old treasury was, if it was still there that’s where all our weapons would be.  

Continuing to examine the damage only further broke our hearts, knowing our home had been taken from us in some way, and it had been a very long time since we had last been in Narnia, even if it had only really been a year.  

“Catapults.”

I glance over, my heart beginning to race again as images flash through my head.

“What?”

“This didn’t just happen, Cair Paravel was attacked.”

I look at them before going to the nearby stone wall and start to clear it up, helping Edmund and Peter push it aside so we could get down to the royal treasury, if it was all still there. Getting down to the wood door, it crumbles and falls when trying to be opened. Peter and Edmund share a moment while trying to make a torch only for Edmund to pull a real torch out of his bag, sharing a weak smile we all head inside and down the stairs.  

“I can’t believe it, it’s all still here.”

Brushing my hand against the wall, it all looked so familiar so much the same, but with crumbling walls and pillars. Hurrying down the steps I go to my own chest and open it, staring inside I tear up and pull out a dress, the one I wore when I'd been recrowned. Shifting many things aside I pull my sword from the back of the chest, smiling softly.  

“I was so tall.”

“Well, you were older than.”

“As opposed to hundreds of years later, when you’re younger.”

We all were trying on or holding things from our adulthood, I very gently slip the golden crown upon my head, it resting slightly askew being a little big now.  

“What is it?”

Lucy was staring at Susan.

“My horn, I must have left it on the saddle the day we went back.”

I pause, thinking hard back to that day and remembering how we very meticulously put everyone’s things down here that first morning, but not remembering Susan’s horn being among the items. I glance at Edmund and he seemed entirely confused by the crown resting upon my brow. I turn and slide it back into the chest, grabbing my sword and setting it aside along with my shield and some old armor from when I was much younger.  

Peter went to his chest and pulled the sword, staring at the engraving, at the spoken words that led us to rule this land and the lands around it.  

“When Aslan bares his teeth, winter meets it’s death.”

“And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”

Lucy and I glanced at each other, repeating the words.

“Everyone we knew, Mr. Tumnus and the beavers... their all gone.”

Everyone shares a look before Peter speaks up,

“I think it’s about time we find out what’s going on.”

I look down before stepping forward, looking to Edmund before around.

“But first, I have to tell you the secret I’ve been keeping and please try not to be too mad... I know it was wrong to hide it from all of you so I'm sorry but... I’m sure you’ll understand.”

Taking a deep breath, I start to speak.

[valeptraglia]

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Battle of Calormen

Chapter 10: "More questions than answers"

I hurriedly walked through the dark halls of the castle. Lately the weather made Cair Paravel seem like a gloomy place. The sun was setting, or so I supposed as there was no sign of it in the sky, not even patches of light coming through the clouds. Just dark mantles of condensed water glided over the narnian sky. It looked like spring had turn into a storm season.

The humidity was unbearable. The floor was sticky, the walls were sticky, I was sticky. Barely livable and because of the breeze coming from the windows of the castle.

I kept walking down the halls, occasionally tripping over my long cape, I have clumsy feet. Allyri was meant to pick me up on the kitchen's back door I was invited to participate on full moon spring harvest. It was actually an herbs harvest, we were picking up herbs on the night of the first moon of the season, and I'd heard that the herbs harvested on this particular night are magical.

I think it's supposed to mean that the herbs that we collect tonight have a more concentrated essence, they will be great to use as a base in medicinal concoctions. I believe it's because we will be collecting the ones that survived the winter, therefore the strongest ones. Allyri laughed when I voiced this conclusion.

Allyri, the centaur. Who lives near a castle in a land inhabited by talking animals, humans and what I used to believe that were only mythical creatures, like Allyri, the centaur, or Bavra, the faun, or the minotaurs, or the giants, or the dwarves, dancing trees, and the list can go on and on. Did I mention that I stumbled on this land when I crossed the street going for groceries with my brother in London? A year ago?

Maybe they were magical herbs after all.

I heard hushed voices coming down the corridor and as I turned the corner I saw the emitters of the voices. Susan and Edmund. Susan was talking heatedly, I couldn´t see her face, her back was turned on me, but I could see her moving her hand frantically and I could see Edmund's astonished face.

I didn't want to interrupt what seemed a very important conversation, so I hide in the darkness of the corridor, just behind a tapestry. I hide to be found like I was eavesdropping the conversation between two monarchs. Great idea. Yep.

But although my mind kept telling me it was a very silly thing what I was doing, that I just had to keep on walking down the hall, do a little courtesy and continue on walking to the kitchen where I was being expected, my body decided otherwise. And it was often that my body decided for me let me tell you. And it didn't have extraordinary ideas as its clumsiness had attempted against my life on several occasions.

"We are not supposed to be here Edmund. We weren't coming back. This was over" Susan's anxious voice came to my ears.

Don't. Anne, don't eavesdrop, this conversation was not meant for your ears. Don't.

"But aren't you happy to be back? We are in Narnia" asked Edmund with incredulity.

I contained my breath, afraid that it would be heard in the silent corridor.

"Ask yourself this same question once this is over and you are back in your Cambridge room preparing for exams, pretending everything is normal when two days before you were a king" Susan sounded very distress . "Edmund, can't you see? This won't last, soon this will all disappear as if nothing ever happened. And at what cost? This is a war Ed, anything could go wrong, a poor shooting and someone could die".

This last sentence rumbled in my brain. A shiver went down my spine. She had just voiced what I had tried to bury in the depths of my mind a while ago.

"How can you go back from an experience so splendid as it is Narnia to England and being no one?" she questioned intently.

I poked my head, just a little from behind the tapestry. Susan's back now looked so small to me. So vulnerable and I guess Edmund saw her that way too as he held his sister in his arms in a tight embrace. I watched his face. A dim light illuminated it. His gestures were severe, but for a moment his shut his eyes tightly and the show sorrow. Just for a split second.

I hide behind the tapestry again. I was right. This moment wasn't meant for me to see or hear. I kept my eyes closed and my back glued to cold but pleasant stone wall. The rustle of their robes signaled me when they passed my tapestry in a silent walk and as I stepped on the corridor they turned the corner arm in arm, unaware of my presence.

A thunder outside made me jump, I was still standing in the dark corridor. I decided to reflect on what I have just heard when I came back. Now I had to get to Allyri.

Soon I arrived to the busy kitchen where a not very pleased centaur greets me.

"You are late" she states.

"I'm sorry Allyri" I apologized smiling hesitantly up at her.

Allyri was a beautiful female centaur. She stand tall in her brown horse legs, long upper human torso, she had a swarthy, earthy complexion and green piercing eyes which were now looking down at me, burning a hole in my face.

"You live here, how can you be late?" she asked me.

"Well-" but before I could answer, probably with a very bad lie, unless I wanted to confess that I was too busy eavesdropping a conversation between the king and queen of old, Hazel, the badger, my dear and savior friend interrupted what would be a dreadful stammer.

"Anne! Do you have your cape? Yes yes, you do" she was asking and answering herself checking me up and down with a motherly eye if I may presume. She was such a nice badger, she worked at the kitchens of the castle.

Allyri watched the exchange with a disapproval face, slight shaking her head while rolling her eyes. It always amused me to see her or the other creatures make such trivial expressions.

"Alright, let's go" she said pushing me out the door before Hazel could stuffed some food on my pouch.

Warm breeze hit my face as we walked through the garden.

"We have quite a long walk ahead of us Anne" Allyri said when we reached the long dry grasses that surrounded Cair Paravel, the trees that gave way to the forest just a few meters away.

Her long legs made it easy to walk for on the grass but I struggled hard to follow her long strides. My skirt and cape tangled in my legs, the effort was making me sweat a lot under my clothes. It reminded me of two days ago, this same situation, except for the wind and that a young king had to grab me by the waist when I fell face to the ground. I had the feeling that Allyri would only laugh if I fell.

"Where are we going?" I asked trying not to sound too agitated.

"Dancing Lawn" she simply answered.

I tried to put together what I recalled a map of Narnia looked like. It was far. I looked up at the sky. Lightnings were dancing on it.

"Yeah, we might not make it there before it starts to rain" Allyri commented looking at the sky too. "Here, grab my hand and mount on my back" she offered me her hand.

I looked at her in surprise. I have done that. A horse, yes, but mounting a centaur seemed like such a disrespectful thing to do.

"It's proper if I asked you to" she reassured me sensing my discomfort.

Hesitantly I reached for her hand and she pulled me into her back. I embraced her hips and she galloped out. She quickly reached the tree line and I hold on tight as she galloped rapidly in the woods.

She was such a beautiful and noble creature and everything that surrounded her and her people was just magical. I had already grown to love Narnia. Its kind inhabitants, majestic landscapes, culture, everything.

I sometimes thought of home, back in England, but the memories were fuzzy now, I could not remember very well. I was forgetting the meaning of things back at home, some names, the sounds of a busy street, smells, and family too. But I don't exactly feel sad. Narnia fulfilled all my needs. I felt complete here.

But then again, Susan's words made my fears resurface. We are at war here. Anything could happen and I couldn't nor wouldn't afford that. My mind went to Bill, my not so little brother who, since we arrived in Narnia, had developed such a strong character, but his gentle nature was what had me worried.

I was afraid that in a desperate attempt to help he would grab onto something that's bigger than him and that he will go down with it. He is my brother and it's hard for me to see him as a soldier. We suffered war back at home, we lost uncles, friends, and our dad lost part of him in that hell. I am not willing to lose my brother here. We are going back home together. I would make sure of it.

And this leads me to another big question, when are we going back home?

From what I've learnt in my time here the Pevensies spent fifteen years the first time they got here. Fifteen years, and that was over a thousand years ago, and they went back home to their own ages and then they came back, and then back to England, and then Lucy and Edmund came in a third time and got back to England, and now they are all here again. Back and forth through thousands of years, yet the oldest of them is twenty four.

How crazy is this? Funny thing time.

I understand that our arrival here has a purpose. But a year later I still don't know what that is, I was hoping to meet Aslan, The Great Lion, I hoped he would tell us what are we supposed to do here, because fighting a war and dying in it does not sound like a logical purpose to get us out from home. There has to be something else.

So, since we arrived I pushed myself to learn everything I could, maybe it will help me find an answer. I was lucky enough that the centaurs took me in and taught me their beliefs, it's an honor for me. And this made me welcome to the community of creatures that live here in Narnia. Beautiful souls they are.

And if we are here to fulfill a purpose, why did the Pevensies came too? Apparently they don't know either.

In my search for answers I find myself with more questions than responses.

"We are almost there" called back Allyri interrupting my unstoppable train of thought.

I looked around it was very dark now, night time, only trees surrounded us.

Soon we started hearing noises, voices talking actually. And as I dismounted Allyri in the Dancing Lawn where the other centaurs were gathering a deafening thunder rumbled across the night sky.

[banditthewriter]

Make Your Choice [Caspian X] 2

I’m happy to see that you all seem as interested in this story as I am. Hopefully that continues! Here is part two!

Tags are at the bottom. Let me know if you would like to be added to one of my tag lists!

Enjoy!

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*****

Cair Paravel was a beautiful place. You had never been to the palace, had barely ventured away from the lands your family owned. Guards, human and Narnian alike, came out to help unload the carriage. Amell offered his hand to you, helping you out of the carriage with a slight flourish. You couldn't help notice how much straighter he stood in front of the royal household. One guard, a faun, gave you a wide smile as you were led past him. Living in Narnia most of your life had given you chance to see and meet so many different kinds of people and creatures, but to be at the heart of it was something else. The diversity of the castle guard and the people that worked inside the palace was something to be envied. "My lord," called a smaller human man as he ran up, waving a hand at your uncle, "the king had an issue which required his presence. He regrets he is not able to meet you and your niece in person but he promises to return in time for dinner if the two of you will join him." Your uncle's obvious displeasure at the king not being present was washed away by the invite to dinner. He smiled at you before he wholeheartedly accepted the invitation. The two of you were led through the hallways of Cair Paravel. Some of the hallways were open to the elements, some ended abruptly in dark corners. The palace was a maze if ever you had seen one. "Do you stay in the palace as well uncle?" Amell shot you a look and shook his head as the two of you and the guards that carried your belongings up a flight of stairs. "I have my own lodgings towards the town like most of the other advisers," he said as he pretended to dust off his sleeve. The two of you were led onto the second floor. Down one side were a series of doors and the other a railing that looked out over the courtyard. At the fifth door, the guard in the lead pulled a key from a pouch and unlocked the door, pushing it open with a bow. The suite was large and beautiful, a four poster bed in the middle of one wall, a dresser and a desk on the other side. The wardrobe was larger than you expected and very ornate. Everything in the room looked fit for a palace and for a moment you wondered what you were doing there. On your best day you were the daughter of a wealthy lady who had retired to a simple country life after the death of her husband. The wealth and titles were still there and still afforded a certain amount of power and respect, but you hadn't grown up in a place like this. "A servant will come to take you to the dining hall for dinner," the guard said as he handed you the key he had used to get into the suite. As he directed the others to place your belongings down and then shooed them from the room, Amell looked you over and then gestured at the trunk of your clothes. "Would you like to change into something more..." He let the question hang in the air and you gave a timid nod. With a raised eyebrow he turned to leave the room but stopped at your door. "I will see you for dinner with the king," he said before he slipped out of the room. A moment later two women came in, shutting the door behind them. They introduced themselves as your lady servants, Nevae and Glea. They helped you unpack some of your dresses until they found one they thought would would look perfect for a first meeting with the king. "What do you think about the king?" you asked the question as the women started to undress you. "I'm here to possibly marry the man. Surely I can ask questions about him?" The younger of the two, Glea, smiled and leaned in conspiratorially. "The king is a kind man who is also one of the most handsome I've ever seen," she said with a wink. The other woman, Nevae, swatted at the younger woman's arm. "We don't speak out of turn, my lady," Nevae said cautiously. "The king is kind and just. It is good to be under the rule of such a man." Glea gave you another wink before she helped you step into the dark blue gown the three of you had decided on. It hugged your frame and was one of your most elegant gowns. Next the ladies did your hair, making sure you looked the part of a lady. Nevae stepped out into the hallway to see if it was time for dinner and Glea helped you slide your feet into some slippers. "The other ladies will be jealous beyond measure that you will have a dinner with the king before they are even here. It will make it easier for you to win his heart." You sighed as you checked your image in the mirror. "What if I don't want his heart?" Glea looked at you in confusion and you sighed once more. "This was not my decision you know. I wasn't even aware that I had been promised to anyone, much less the king of all Narnia." "And what if you fall in love with him?" You looked back at your reflection and tried out a polite smile. "I guess we shall see." ------ Uncle Amell was sitting and waiting for your arrival, and he wasn't alone. There were three seats set up at the head of the table, leaving one empty for yourself. The man next to him resembled the drawings you had seen of the king before. He was listening intently to your uncle's story when his eyes met yours. He immediately stood up, his chair scraping a bit as he did so. Your uncle was a bit slower, but he too stood. They both gave you a bit of a bow so you returned with a curtsy, keeping your eyes on the two of them. "Please," the king said, moving to pull out the empty chair for you, "join us Lady Y/N." You smiled and made your way to the other side of the table, sliding into the chair easily. Once you were seated, the king returned to his own seat. Your uncle waited until you were both seated before he sat down as well. "I hope you are finding the rooms to your liking," the king said as he looked at you expectantly. You could tell he was uncomfortable so that put you at ease. "Oh yes," you offered with a smile. "The room, the whole palace, they are so beautiful. Thank you for asking your highness." "Please, it's just Caspian. Anything else and I fear my head will grow too big for my crown." His ability to tease himself made you relax a bit more. Slowly but surely you were getting comfortable. The first course included the two of you telling a little about yourselves. The main course involved you asking questions about life in the palace and Caspian's travels. As the last course was served, you found yourself laughing with Caspian as if you had known him for your whole life. You'd almost forgotten that your uncle was there but Caspian did not. He made sure to include your uncle in the conversation. You could tell why so many people liked Caspian. He was good with people and not bad to look at either. When he laughed, his dark brown eyes crinkled in the corner. His hair hung around his face as he talked, using his hands to gesture around as he did. There was something about him that just made you want to listen to what he had to say. Was it him being a king? Yes, that might have something to do with it. After the meal, Caspian slid his chair back a bit and looked around the room. "Would you like a tour of the grounds?" At your timid nod, he glanced at your uncle and offered a smile. "I know that protocol dictates a chaperone to protect the Lady Y/N's honor and reputation, but there is no shortage of eyes in the palace. Do you think it would be too bold of me to ask for some privacy?" It was the first time you had seen your uncle look anything other than bored. He looked almost ecstatic. "Of course my king. I trust you with my niece completely." After your uncle excused himself for the evening, you turned to face Caspian. He offered his arm as he gestured towards the doors that led into the back garden. "Shall we?" With a smile, you linked your arm with his and let him lead you into the garden. He pointed out things here and there, gesturing as he did. You noticed that he often talked with his hands; you wondered if it was a nervous tick or if that was just how he was. Somewhere around the mid-level as Caspian showed you the library, he slowed to a stop and turned to face you. "I have a confession to make," he said as he released your arm and took a step back. "A marriage, arranged or otherwise, was not something that I had planned for this part of my rule. I thought that I had plenty of time to meet someone, to fall in love." You gave him a brief nod to show that you were listening and he turned away from a moment. "My council were the ones that informed me of the three women I have to choose from. They informed me that at this tumultuous time in Narnia's history, a little stability would go a long way." He turned back to face you and sighed, rubbing a hand across his face as he gave you a rueful smile. "I'm afraid that this entire plan is doomed for failure." "I'm not at all indifferent to your plight," you offered with a smile and a shrug. "I was just told a few days ago that I had been promised to a Telmarine prince when I was a baby and now that that prince was a king, the promise was being held up to standards. Marriage was the last thing on my mind until I was told of this as well." You carefully reached out until you gently pressed your fingers against his hand. "Perhaps we should both keep our minds open. This is for Narnia." The reminder was enough. He smiled and gave you a nod, covering your hand with his. With a gesture towards the rest of the room, he linked his arm through yours once more. "Let's continue our tour."

X

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[19mrs-barnes17]

Partners in Crime

Summary: Katerina was at a wedding when suddenly, she was no longer in the world she knew.

Part: 1/?

Pairing: Caspian x OC

Warnings: none?

Word count: 2,500

A/N: Hola! Just got inspired to write about Caspian b/c I love him and love Ben Barnes. As always, let me know if you want a series and if so whether you would like to be tagged. Enjoy!

Katerina didn’t mean to get lost. In fact, she had only walked out the back door of her Aunt’s house a few moments ago, into what she thought was the backyard. She was momentarily blinded by the light, however, the only issue was… this was nowhere near close to being a backyard. This, was in fact, a cave. A cave which led out to a beach. She was not as panicked as one would think they would be if they had teleported, but she was a tad worried how this had occurred.

The warm sand filled between her toes as she removed her flats, walking out into sunlight. She was meant to be at a wedding, her navy blue dress with a gold belt to be made fun of by her younger cousin. She rarely wore a dress and the first time in a year that she did, this happens. There was no explanation that she could fabricate that would suffice as she continued down the beach, her dress flowed in the wind behind her.

Soon she reached a pathway up to the top of the cliffside where ruins lay, likely untouched for years. Where was she? What happened here? Her head swarmed with thoughts as she noticed something moving between the trees. Placing her flats back on, Katerina moved toward the dense forest. She felt as if she had been walking for ages, yet, she still had not a clue as to where she was.

“Hello?” Her hands pushed aside branches, the noise of footsteps growing fainter by the second. “Hello?! Excuse me, but where am I?!”

“You are in Narnia, my lady.” Her heart felt as though it left her body, a small squeal of surprise escaping her lips.

“Oh my. You startled me.” She held a hand over her chest as she attempted to catch her breath, failing miserably the moment she looked at the creature who spoke to her. “You- you’re a badger. And you talk? Oh, I am dreaming for sure.”

“I’m afraid not milady. You are most certainly awake. I apologize for startling you.” The badger stood on its hind legs, staring up at her with a twitching nose.

“Then I’m dead? There is no way this is possible. It has to be a dream.” Katerina crouched down peering at the creature with a look of pure panic in her eyes.

“Hmmm. Follow me. I think I know where we can find you some answers.” If it weren’t for the fact that she was desperate, she may have passed the offer. However, she was indeed very desperate for answers.

****

A castle. Katerina Viktoria Rosenfield of Chicago was standing in a castle. Not only that, but a castle in a mythical land that did not exist. She was afraid that she was losing her mind. Perhaps she had hit her head. Or maybe she fainted.

She wrestled with different theories as she awaited the presence of soon to be crowned king, she had been waiting a while. The badge sat on a nearby ottoman pouring two cups of tea into cups that looked rather fancy. She had a hard time believing anything.

“Ah, Trufflehunter! I am told you found a woman wandering the woods over by the ruins of Cair Paravel.” His accent threw you off, as did the rest of him. When you heard you were meeting a prince, you certainly did not expect what you got. He seemed so young to become king.

“Yes your highness. She seemed dazed and confused. I thought that perhaps one of the kings or queens of old could help her.” The dark haired prince nodded, eyes trailing over to where I sat eyeing him wearily.

“I am Prince Caspian. What is your name?” She stared into his dark brown eyes, mouth slightly agape as she struggled to pull herself back into focus.

“My… I’m… Katerina....” She almost felt angry with herself for acting so entranced, but something about the man felt as though she had seen him before. He felt eerily familiar to her. She couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that she knew those eyes.

Caspian appeared as though he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, a similar look of recollection flickering in his eyes. Trufflehunter cleared his throat. Katerina cast her gaze to the stone floor beneath her flats, her finger tugging at her a layer of her ruffled dress.

“Come, I shall take you to them. You may join us for dinner Katerina.” Her eyes flicked up to see his hand extended toward her.

“Are you sure I am not dreaming?” Trufflehunter chuckled lightly as he nodded his head.

“Do not worry my dear, you are safe here.” She smiled gently down at the little badger as he walked alongside her and Caspian. Her hand was in the crook of the princes elbow, wondering where she had seen him before while being escorted through the halls.

“Ah, Caspian. You’ve decided to join after all. We’d thought you’d gotten lost on the way here.” A blonde young man sat at a long table smiling brightly at the prince until he notice Katerina at his side. “And who is this?”

“This is Katerina. She was found wandering the woods a few hours ago by Trufflehunter. He seems to believe that you can help her.” All four of the kings and queens stared curiously at her making her wish she could disappear. She felt scrutinized under their gazes.

“Go on dear. Ask them. They don’t bite, I promise.”

“Uhm. Where exactly am I? I get that we’re in ‘Narnia’, but where exactly is that? Europe?” The four seemed to go pale at the mentioned of the continent, eyes widening significantly.

“Where… where are you from?” The elder queen’s eyes narrowed as if she were studying Katerina.

“Chicago.”

“She’s one of us!” The little queen whispered excitedly to her older sister who shushed her.

“What do you mean one of you? Of course I’m one of you, I am human after all.”

There was a long silence as Caspian glance over at you before helping you to a seat, you mind racing with questions. Every set of eyes in the room was on you, and you felt more out of place than you’ve ever felt before.

“This isn’t our world. There is no England, no Chicago, none of it. You’re in Narnia now. I know it’s a lot to process, but you’re here for a reason.”

****

Caspian escorted Katerina to a guest room, ensuring she was comfortable and that she had all she needed. He was apprehensive to leave, something made him want to stay and help calm her.

She felt that familiarity once more. There was something inside her begging for her to look behind a tapestry on the opposite wall. Shaking her head, Katerina turned to the clothing on the bed taking the nightgown and replacing her dress with it.

A nagging sensation kept her waking constantly throughout the night, screaming for her to peek behind the tapestry. The was twitch of her arm before she found herself in front of the decoration, her hand pulled it back as she peered behind. A tunnel, dark and seemingly endless lie on the other side.

She scoured her room for a lamp, noticing a candle by the door glowing faintly. There would not be much time, and yet, she did not care. A need deep within her desired to enter the tunnel and she was not entirely on board with it. This, was exactly how people in horror movies died.

There were an endless amount of twist and turns but that tug in her somehow knew which way she was meant to go. She was terrified of this feeling, terrified and intrigued. What was she being magnetized to? Why? How did she know? Her mind had not had a moment of rest since she arrived and it was beginning to drain her.

She wound up behind what appeared to be a tapestry and prayed it was not the same one she had entered through. Carefully, Katerina pushed the tapestry forward and peered around it as she held out the candle illuminating a new room. Her eyes flowed about the room taking in all that lie before her.

A figure shifted in the darkness, a groan escaping their lips. She noticed the bed move and panicked, pulling back the candle and hiding behind the tapestry. Her hand blocked the light of the flickering flame, but it was not enough. The figure had woken and pulled back the tapestry.

“Caspian?” “Katerina?”

Caspian glanced curiously at her, and she immediately felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She tore her gaze away, feeling embarrassed that she had just poked into his room while he was sleeping.

“What are you doing in the tunnels? How do you even know about them?” He was rubbing his face with his free hand as he held up the tapestry.

“I-I… I’m not exactly sure.” The candle blew out as she sighed. Caspian chuckled tiredly, moving to relight the flame. “This is gonna sound crazy.”

“I think I can handle a little crazy. Come, sit.” He took the candle and led her over to his desk, setting the candle upon it and moving out the chair for her. “Go ahead.’

“Ever since I saw you, I’ve….  had this feeling as if I know you. As if I had met you before. And when I was in that room, I-I somehow knew there was a tunnel. Not only that but I felt as though I was being led somewhere. Here.”

“Why here?”

“I don’t know. It felt as though I had done it all before, every step felt familiar. But that’s impossible.” Caspian nods, his mind clearing working to find an explanation but coming up at a loss.

“Perhaps, we shall find an answer at a more reasonable hour. Come, let us get you back to your room.” He pauses, “But… you lead.” before he lifts up the tapestry.

Though she cannot see his face as they travel, Katerina can just feel his astonishment as she walks without asking for help once. It was as if she had memorized the tunnel before even setting foot in it.

“This is incredible. Those tunnels are known to very few, especially now.” She couldn’t help but be amazed herself. How? It was her constant question here.

****

“You’ve never been to Narnia before?” The Susan was stumped, the puzzle of Katerina intriguing her more and more with every new development. She shook her head and Susan was back to silently tossing ideas about her mind. Caspian sat next to the queen, across the table, eyes never leaving Katerina.

“And Caspian, you don’t recognize her?” He shook his head, but, there was something he was not sharing. Katerina met his gaze, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.  His gaze was unwavering.

“But you feel like you recognize Caspian?”

“Yes.”

Susan did her best to think but ultimately decided to do her thinking on her own in the library instead. She left Katerina alone with Caspian.

“What weren’t you saying in front of her?” Katerina wasted no time in confronting the prince, tired of this mystery.

“When… Well, when I first saw you I felt something like you described early this morning. The feeling that I had seen you before, only… perhaps younger.”

“What make you say younger?”

“It was like you were saying, only the eyes triggered something. Like a memory.” Katerina took a few steps back.

“I didn’t get a flashback or anything. What did you see.” Caspian tensed a bit.

“Someone I have seen in years. She went missing over 5 years ago, no one has heard from her since.” Katerina suddenly felt very faint, leaning against the stone wall for support.

“That’s… No. It’s not possible.” Her heart felt as though it had rapidly increased, breathing becoming more and more difficult.

“Katerina?! Breathe, please. Kat!” She gasped, eyes widening as a memory flooded her senses.

    ~~

“Kat! C’mon Kat! We’re almost there.”

Katerina found herself in the tunnels again, only this time there was a little boy running ahead of her occasionally smiling over his shoulder at her. He cheered her on as they sped through turn after turn, slowing once they reached their destination.

No one could be seen on the other side of the tapestry, and the hunt for sweets began. Katerina searched high and low with the boy, hitting the jackpot with a basket of pastries. The little boy snagged the basket and bolted into the tunnel when he heard footsteps and Katerina was quick to follow. They snacked on the sweets in a room that looked nearly identical to Caspian’s.

Soon grumbling could be heard on the other side of the door and, what Kat could only guess to be young Caspian was shoving her back into the tunnel. She could hear the lecturing and argument between Caspian and the adult.

“But Uncle Miraz!”

“No. That’s the end of it. You are never to disobey again, for a king-”

“Must adhere to the rules, not just the people. I know uncle.”

When his uncle had gone, Caspian entered the tunnel with a grumpy expression glued to his face. Kat giggled at his pout and he stuck out his tongue.

“I hate his lectures. He always catches me.”

“Then why be bad?”

“Because its fun. Because you have to when you have a partner in crime.”

“You don’t have to commit crime to have a partner in crime. It just means we’re partners, we work together. Always having each other’s backs.”

“Oh.”

“I gotta go. My mom probably wants me home.”

“Aw, we barely got to play two days this time.”

“It’s okay I’ll be back.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

    ~~

“Kat.” His brow furrowed. “You called me Kat.”

“I don’t know where that came from.”

The two sat upon the floor, not even two inches from one another looking rather perplexed. Katerina slowly caught her breath, calming herself.

“Partners in crime.” Caspian glanced curiously at her, as if he were remembering the phrase himself. “You were my imaginary friend as a kid.”

“I’m not imaginary.”

“Well I can see that. But, as a kid… my parents always insisted you weren’t real. I was the only one who could see the castle and the boy. I always chalked it up to a big imagination.”

“You were the little girl would appear for a few days and then disappear for weeks. You were Kat, my only friend.”

“Wow. This… is amazing. I thought I would never see you again because you weren’t real.”

“I thought the same. My uncle never believed me, always claiming that there never was a little girl roaming the castle and that I needed to grow up.”

She couldn’t restrain herself as she reached out and pulled Caspian in for a hug. Tears brimmed her eyes as she spoke.

“I’ve missed you partner.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

[narniasecretsanta]

@amatsumikaboshi secret santa for @rosesnvines

I’m not sure if this is to your taste, but I hope you like it!

When they first returned, it was the death of a miracle.

“Wait, we have to go back, I—” Lucy was the first to speak, the first to get up and turn back towards the ancient wardrobe that stood among other antiquities in their great aunt’s attic. “Mrs. Beaver, she said that she—”

Lucy stumbled over her own two feet as she got up, not used to the small body she hadn’t felt in fifteen years. Her short hair fell over her shoulders and in front of her face freely, and she desperately brushed it away, hoping it would stay draped behind her as it did when she was queen.

When she was queen.

Susan stared at her sister, taking in her tiny stature, short hair, and rounded baby face. She then looked at her two brothers. She saw what she thought were mere memories of them, the children she had known years prior to their rule in Narnia.

“Ed.”

Edmund gazed down at his hands with furrowed brows. He didn’t seem to hear his brother and was only shaken out of his stupor with a vigorous nudge from Peter. “Ed!”

The third Pevensie shut his eyes, scared to look over at his brother now more than ever. What had happened? One moment, he had just been riding through the forest with his siblings, and the next, he was back in his great aunt’s attic from fifteen years earlier. He didn’t want to acknowledge the situation. Perhaps if he kept his eyes shut, he’d open them to see that it had just been a silly dream. He’d be back at Cair Paravel, as Edmund the Just, King of Narnia, ruling alongside his brother and sisters.

Peter was the only one who had tried to reach out to his siblings. When Edmund didn’t seem to respond to his calling, he tried Susan and Lucy next. Yet Susan only continued to stare after their sister, and Lucy continued to deny the fact that she couldn’t find a way through the back of the wardrobe.

They all wished and wished, but it never went away. Even when Edmund and Peter finally got themselves to their feet to look for an opening in the wardrobe, even when Susan sat holding and comforting Lucy as she broke down in tears, they were back fifteen years in their lives.

“My goodness, children, what are you doing up here?”

After their aunt had found them sitting together among the unsettled dust and artifacts, they were sent downstairs to mingle with their relatives. It was the usual family reunion: adults observing niceties, kids sent to play amongst themselves but ending up on their tablets and phones, the occasional squabbles here and there that just added to the tension that had built up from previous reunions.

People knew the Pevensies. They knew them, would say hello to them, but would never stick around for a conversation to unfold. They knew the Pevensies loved to gossip and debate more than anything, even with people they barely knew, but with fellow Pevensies, all sorts of hell would break out. It was like tossing a piece of meat between two starving dogs. Things would never get physical though, no. They were far too civilized in this day and age for that. It would always start with little remarks here and there, bits and pieces all fueled by jealousy and needs for rivalry within the family. Then there would be more observations, more comments on more unnecessary topics, and full altercations of words would break out.

And all the while, the children would sit by on their little gadgets and wonder when they would be able to go home.

The four Pevensie siblings mentioned earlier never liked the family reunions, just like the rest of their relatives. After all, it was never something that anyone in the family except their great aunt Millie desired, but when great aunt Millie wanted something, she was going to get it. And this particular reunion was just about up there on the list of the worst family reunions ever.

After all, just moments before, they were fifteen years older, and they were kings and queens of a kingdom that was every single bit of the life they had wanted to live.

“Mum, Dad, when can we go home?”

The second time they returned, the acceptance of reality was quicker than the first. But that didn’t help ease the heartache that came with. Because this time, Peter and Susan knew. They wouldn’t be returning to their kingdom anytime soon.

Fate wasn’t as merciful to them as before, for their train pulled in just moments after, and they were left scrambling for their backpacks. All four of them made it onto the car, and as they mulled over what had happened, they found themselves forcing smiles and cheery greetings as familiar faces of classmates and former neighbors came and gone. They knew to not make a scene since the last time they did, their father had reprimanded them for burying themselves in useless media instead of focusing on their studies.

But the dams broke, and once they were home from school, they locked themselves in the boys’ room and sat together on the floor just as they had done before. Susan had her head on her older brother’s shoulder, and Lucy was doing the same with Edmund, and while the boys would most likely deny their tears, the girls would say different.

Lucy cried for her dear little friends; who knew if she would be able to see them again at all? By the next time she returned to Narnia, anytime from a year to a millennium could have passed, and she would be thrust into a strange yet somewhat familiar world with strange yet somewhat familiar people. And what would she do without Peter and Susan? How would she and Edmund be able to help Narnia without them?

Edmund cried for their loss at the castle raid, for foolishly leading Narnian troops alongside his brother in a reckless attempt at showing that they were kings and that their rightful places as Sons of Adam would not be taken from them. Still, here they were, back in their world and timeline, back where the stars were drowned out by man-made travesties, acrid stenches constantly filled the air, and people had their lives glued to digital worlds. The throne of Narnia now belonged to a different Son of Adam.

Susan sobbed herself dry while clutching her brother’s shoulder to cry on. Yes, she was sad about leaving Narnia for good, she was sad about not being able to see Aslan anymore, but more than anything else, she repeated between her hiccups, “I liked him, I really did.”

Peter wept, but he hid his tears because he was the oldest, and he knew he had to comfort his sister. He was no longer reigning as Peter the Magnificent, Lord of Cair Paravel, but he was still Peter Pevensie, the eldest of four siblings, and he knew he still had a duty to them. So he tried to selflessly cast aside his own feelings and be the older brother he knew they needed him to be. He held Susan tight, murmured some comforting words, and stroked her head. He tried, and although he didn’t think so, it was enough.

And the three younger Pevensies knew that out of the four of them, Peter, who had tried his hardest in proving himself as a man and as a king, was hurting the most.

This time, it was their father who discovered them, and he wasn’t pleased when he did so.

“What is this?”

The Pevensie children never had a moment in their lives when they thought of their father as a benevolent figure. He was a very stern man: always had creases between his brows and never seemed to smile no matter what happened. This was all very understandable. As a military man, he had been on three tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and each time, he returned more and more like a commander than a father. He made sure that both his boys were in tip-top condition, both physically and mentally, and his daughters were no exception. He had made it clear to them that every day after returning from school, they were to do their exercises and come straight in to start their studies.

But here they were, inexplicably crying amongst themselves like they had done a year ago at that dreadful reunion.

He barked orders, snapped at them, threatened to ground them for the rest of the month, but they just stared back with teary eyes and looks that weren’t unlike the ones he saw in the eyes of grieving soldiers.

Meanwhile, the children knew they were in trouble. Their father had accused them of getting lost in their wild and untamed imaginations the first time, and they knew that their tears were not going to be tolerated in his presence. But they couldn’t get over their grief as immediately as their father would have liked them to. So while Lucy, Edmund, and Susan tried their best in holding back their sniffles, Peter took the role of eldest brother once more.

“Dad, I can explain. It’s just that—”

A swift movement of their father’s arm cut him off, and years of conditioning made all four of them flinch and shut their eyes. But what came next was far different from what they expected.

Their father simply waved away Peter’s effort at making an excuse; perhaps this one instance of seeing his children cry made the father side of him surface for just a moment, or he was all too used to seeing the looks of grief in people’s eyes. Whatever the reason, Lieutenant Pevensie left his children alone to shed tears in peace but not without a small directive.

“Make sure to keep up with your studies. And Peter, Susan, your mother and I have something to discuss with you at dinner.”

The third and final time was so unlike the other times for several reasons.

One: Peter and Susan were enroute to America and hadn’t come with them.

Two: their cousin Eustace Scrubb became the first non-Pevensie to come to Narnia with them.

And three: they were strangely at peace with the result.

As the water drained out of Eustace’s room, leaving them and everything around them strangely perfectly dry, they sat silently for a long while, taking in all that happened. There were no tears this time, no grief, no regrets. They understood the purpose of their moments in Narnia, and they would make sure to remember their lessons for the rest of their lives.

“I’m sorry.”

Eustace was the first to speak, and his nasty little temperament from before they left was replaced with a softness that surprised everyone who saw him later. He felt guilty about being the only one who could return to Narnia now, and after seeing what the magical world was made of, he could see how anyone would want to spend the rest of their days talking about their adventures in that land. If he were to be truthful, he was scared of returning without his cousins, but he would address that later.

Edmund only nodded slightly and smiled reassuringly at his cousin. Yes, he had wanted to prove himself as High King in the absence of Peter, but he didn’t let bitterness overtake him. He now realized and accepted that he wasn’t entitled to the land of Narnia. It belonged to him and his siblings as much as it did to Caspian and Eustace. There would be many more Sons of Adam after him.

Lucy shook her head and held Eustace’s hand. She was glad he had been able to experience Narnia just as she and her siblings had, and she was excited that he would be returning as well. She then sent text after text to both Peter and Susan about their latest escapade despite knowing that they were on a plane above the Atlantic at that moment.

And they sat in silence for a few moments longer before they were called downstairs for dinner.

They spoke of Narnia fondly for the few months that followed until Edmund and Lucy’s departure for America. Every chance they got to the three of them, they would sit together and recount the events of their expedition on the Dawn Treader: the islands, the mist, the final fight. They would laugh and cry, tease and embarrass, and they would share memories that no one else in the world could share with them.

When it came time for the two Pevensies to join the rest of their family across the ocean, Eustace wept, because he knew that he would miss them with all his heart. And he did, just like how all Narnians missed them when he returned.

Thus, the Golden Age of Narnia ended, Telmarines and Narnians made peace, and the Dawn Treader sailed its last voyage. The Kings and Queens of old continued living out their lives in their world and never saw another glimpse of their beloved Narnia—at least, not until the very last battle.

[ohboywonder]

Suddenly There - A Narnia Fanfiction

Chapter Three: Making Friends

Words: 2419 | AO3

Warnings: slight swearing

Content: Suddenly Joyce stumbles into Narnia. Meeting the four Pevensies, she gets taken in and care of. A tension builds up between her and Edmund, although Joyce is clueless that he himself is a King, too. Peter though seems interested in her too and just as Lucy and Susan found out that there’s no way back to England, an attack puts Joyce to the test and she has to proof that Asland picked out the right person to bring back peace to Narnia.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 -  Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - ....

The kitchen turned out to be huge and run by, as Lucy said “the best chefs in Narnia.” The men working there all wore aprons and prepared a delicious smelling lunch for Narnian royalty. Plus one. “I can’t believe it… I still can’t believe it.”, I said after I pinched myself hard enough to make my eyes water.

“Oh, you will after you tasted this.”, she picked a bun from a tablet one of the many men with curly hair who were working in the kitchen. He had a nice face and a big nose, but between his curls I could see something… pointy?

“No no no, Queen Lucy, these will be needed for lunch. You know they are High King Peter’s favourites!”, the man said and a stomp could be heard, a sound a horse did when it stepped on stone.

“Ah, don’t be so hard, Immanuel. We have a guest here and she needs to try these.”, Lucy said and handed me the bun. Although it smelled delicious I didn’t dare to taste it, yet. I needed to know.

“Uhm, Lucy, are… are these men…?”

“Fauns! Yes, they work here in the kitchen, some play in the orchestra of the castle and some of them take care of the horses. But the centaurs are better with the horses. I guess they somehow have a special bond, both of them having four hooves.” She shrugged and looked at the bun I was now clenching in my hand. “You are supposed to taste it, not crush it!”, she exhorted me and I looked down at the bun.

“Oh, uhm, yes.” Fauns and centaurs had put my off my stride for a second, but since I was in a mystical land where you could enter through a forest and fall into an ocean, where women wore old-fashioned dresses like princesses and where men were around on horses much more than I was used to, I could accept mystical creatures as well.

I looked back at the faun, who was kneading another dough, reading the tiny portions who would later, after the baking, turn into delicious buns. Now that I concentrated more, I could see the horns on the top of his head. He smiled at me and then bowed his head for Lucy before taking off with the baking tray towards the oven. Wait a second…

“Did he just call you Queen Lucy?”, I asked, my eyes widened and I looked at her in disbelief. She was around my age, twenty one, twenty two? And she was a Queen? What that what she meant with royalty?

“Uhm… yes. Queen Lucy the Valiant. At your service.”, she smiled and stretched out her hand to me. “Susan’s title is quite nice, too. She’s the Gentle. And High King Peter, I bet he told you already. He likes his title a lot. Especially if you add the Magnificent to it. He’ll love you if you do, I promise. That’s what I always use when I need something from him.”

That was too much. Not really listening to what she was saying anymore, I lost focus and I could hear my blood roaring in my ears. The bun fell out of my hand, but before it could land on the floor, a mouse of the size of a small dog had caught it, handing it back to Lucy. She looked at me and I could see that she was worried, so I tried a shy smile.

Lucy nodded. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to all of this. I know, it’s a lot to take in.” I took a deep breath and nodded, straightening my back again, as Lucy handed me the bun back.

“When was the last time you had one of these?”, she asked, leaning against a cupboard, examining me closely.

“Before the war.”, I answered and could hear how my voice trembled. “I thought so.”, Lucy said and laid a hand on my shoulder. “There is no war in Narnia. Not anymore. It’s fine.” She squeezed my shoulder and I was grateful for it. The idea of being somewhere where war didn’t tear apart the earth, families and countries was nice to imagine. Maybe, too nice.

“But it confuses me that the war is not over yet. We’ve been here for ten years now. And it is still going on?” I furrowed my brows and looked at her. This confused me.

“When did you leave England?”, I asked and she told me, which made me gasp. “That’s… that was only three months ago? I… shit.”, I said but then remembered who I was with, but as I nervously looked up, Lucy smiled at me. It was a thin one, not needing much to be swiped away from her face again. I looked at her, worry rising in my chest.

“I think… time simply moves faster here in Narnia. I mean…” She seemed lost for words. The thought that the war in the world she was from still wasn’t over seemed to scare her more than she was willing to admit. A quick smile, clearing her throat and then she took me by my hands. “Come on. You can eat the bun on the way to the dining hall”

I did. And I nearly died. It was so delicious I felt like buns were the only thing I would ever want to eat – until I die. But as we entered the dining hall, my feet seemed to be unable to move. The table was loaded with food and my eyes scanned everything. Turkey, ham, bread, more buns, grapes, cheese, apples, and fruits I’ve never seen before covered the golden plates. Pete, Edmund, and Lucy’s sister Susan were already there.

“Finally, there you-”, but Pete, it was amusing to call him that without him knowing, didn’t finish this sentence. He half stood up, but now was sinking back into his chair, apparently unable to take his eyes off us. Of… me? He looked at me like he hadn’t seen me cleary before and again I felt intimidated. This man, this King, was really something and I had no idea where to put him exactly. I stubbornly raised my chin a little, readying myself for whatever might come my way next.

He still looked at me, then at Lucy and finally gestured towards the table. Edmund examined me closely, but he chose not to say anything. And Susan smiled. Her beauty was astonishing. I was seated opposite of her and I bet I made a hundred mistakes while having lunch with the royalty of Narnia because I was so distracted. She was graceful, her smile seemed gentle but her remarks during the conversation showed how wise she was, that she was definitely more intelligent than I was and her whole behaviour emitted queen-ess through and through.

Edmund, who I supposed not being royalty since Lucy didn’t introduced him to me that way, was quiet. While Lucy was telling the others what I had told her previously, about the war and home, he sat there, his forehead wrinkled, silently listening, and turning to Peter, whispering to him. Ed nodded and then both of their gazes fell on me. I shifted on my seat and took a deep breath before taking another bun from the table. Those really were delicious.

“So, Joyce, what do you suggest we do?”, a voice said and I was ripped out of my thoughts back into reality. Well. Back into Narnia. Susan, Lucy, Edmund and Peter, who was the one who addressed me, were all looking at me.

“About what, Your Majesty?”, I asked, this time remembering my manners. Peter smirked for a second, but then cleared his throat and looked stern again.

“About you being here. You’re from the real world. I suppose you wish to go back?”, he said and the sudden realisation hit me. While I was here, dining on a table from golden plates with the royalty of another country, my mother was still back at home. In a war torn country, in a shack in the woods, waiting for me to come back, fearing for me, worrying. The bun fell out of my hands and on the plate in front of me. I took some seconds to gather myself before I swallowed hard. The lump in my throat didn’t seem to go away, so I looked up at Peter and shrugged.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I don’t know… I… want to go back, but I don’t know how and if this is possible.” And that was the truth. How would I go back to Swinley Forest? Just jump around the ocean for a while until I would fall into the forest? How did I get here? Why was I even here? What on earth could have brought me here?

A hand took mine and I looked up. Lucy was smiling softly at me and as she said: “I think you should get some rest, all this must be really exciting for you.”

I could have hugged her. Even though being a Queen, she still was a really nice person and obviously had noticed how much all this had gotten to me and how I needed some time to process everything. A few minutes later Lucy guided me through another hall in the west wing. My room was uncomfortably far away from hers and my face must have given it away, because Lucy held me back before you could enter my room. “It’ll be fine. If you need me, ask the guard.”

“Wait, what? A guard?”, I asked and my voice was shockingly high.

“There are guards on the doors, simply for safety. They know the Cair Paravell very well and if you need me or something else, they’ll know where to find it.” Although her smile was very reassuring I still wasn’t quite convinced by this approach. But what kind of person would I be if I requested another room, if I declined her nice offer to have me in the castle or if I acted rude after she and the others hand been so hospitable.

“This is really nice, thank you so much Lucy.” I actually only wanted to softly push her hand but as I reached out she pulled me in a hug. “It’s all right. I’ll be here and pick you up for breakfast tomorrow morning. Now rest, Joyce.”

As her dress had disappeared behind the next corner, I opened the door and entered my room. It was a lot smaller than Lucy’s room, but also featured a beautifully carved canopied bed. Candles were lit in every place imaginable, next to the bed, on the table - even behind the door. The room was held in white, the furniture was made from ash-tree and there was a large painting of the sea right above the bed. Unfortunately, it could not be seen from my window, but instead I could watch the sun set into a forest, wilder and bigger than any forest I’d seen in England. Maybe even more impressive than Swinley Forest. This thought hurt me. Shaking my head and taking deep breaths wasn’t helping, that’s why I closed the curtains and threw myself on the bed.

Everything I had seen today, everything that’s happened and now I was in another country, another century maybe where time passed quicker than in my reality. I tried to avoid the word “world”, because imagining not being on planet earth anymore was even more frightening.

While thoughts like this kept on spinning in my head I overheard the silent knock on the door. My sobs were louder than this shy approach and obviously the one who had knocked decided to leave again.

In the middle of the night I awoke, bathed in sweat. The blouse I had worn with my skirt when I arrived, which I was wearing as a nightgown now, was wet and so were the sheets. Obviously, I have had a vivid dream. But even scarier was the fact that the door was open. A young man in chainmail with a lance in his hand stood in the door, as if he’d pushed it open just a second ago. He looked around the room before his gaze settled back on me. I pulled my sheets closer to me, hiding my breast behind it, although the red fabric covered it neatly.

“I-I am so sorry.”, the young man stammered and loosened his grip on the door handle. “I heard you screaming and I thought you were being attacked, that’s why I…” He paused again and shook his head, regaining posture. “I am sorry for having disturbed you.” His voice sounded pleasant and he was tall with broad shoulders. Most of my candles were out, but the candle holder behind the door threw a flickering light on his face. He had dark blonde hair and a strong jawline. His hair hung in his eyes and got curly at the tips. Nervously, he scratched his chin.

“No, it’s all right. You thought you needed to protect me. This is… gallant, to say the least.”, I answered and nodded, as to convince not only him but myself as well. “Well…”, I said after a while in which no one had said a word.

“Oh right”, he said and bowed forward a bit. “I will let you sleep now. I hope your night will be pleasant. I will take care of you.”, he said, still bowed forward before he stood up straight and turned on his heels.

“Wait!”, I called out. “What’s your name?”, I asked, because, to be honest, I needed to know. This man was standing outside my door, protecting my life with his and even though I just slept uneasy he’d decided to check in on me. Knowing his name was the least I could do.

He turned back to face me and from what the candle holder showed me, he looked confused. “My name is Phileas.”

“I’m Joyce, it’s nice… to meet you. Thank you. For standing outside that door.”

“It’s an honour, Lady Joyce.”, he said and a smile rushed over his face. He looked pretty when he smiled.

“Technically speaking I am not a Lady. I’m just… Joyce.”, my reply sounded lame, but he nodded.

“Then, just Joyce, goodnight and may your dreams be soothing.” With these words, he reached for the handle, pulled the door close and – I can only assume – put himself back in position right before my door.

[forevercaroline]

Dawn treader

I uploaded this story on my main blog, I realized I never uploaded it on here I also edited a little more than the first time I posted it. Xxx Prince Caspian stood on the balcony with Aslan and the Kings and Queens of old after they beat his uncle. " Susan and Peter's time here is over.” Caspian's heart broke hearing that he had fallen in love with Queen Susan. He glances over at Susan who is looking at him with the same heartbroken expression. "I wish we had more time." " Me too." Caspian wipes some of her tears. She walks over to her siblings but she turns around halfway and passionately kisses him. He pulls her into a tight embrace " I will never forget you."   "You will always be my queen." Susan nor Caspian don't want to let go of each other knowing this is the last time they will see each other again. When they finally do let go of each other there holding hands until she has to go over to her siblings. Xxx Aslan has been watching the queen and prince. " Susan come here."   Susan still wiping some of her tears goes over to the lion " Yes" " You have a choice you could live here forever but never allowed to go back to your world and nobody would remember you there or go through the portal and live your own life." Susan looks over at Caspian then at her siblings " But you said I could never come back why are you letting me stay?" Aslan saw how they looked at each other before the ceremony and now when he said she could stay both the queen and the prince looked hopeful. " You have grown into a beautiful woman your time here in Narnia but you found something truly magical true love and you can never break true love." Susan looks at Caspian again he smiles at her then at her siblings her older brother is clearly uncomfortable because he still sees her as the little girl he always had to protect and she's now found love. " I want to stay with Caspian." Lucy and Edmund run over to her and hug her " We're going to miss you." Peter hugs her " I love you" Susan hugs all her siblings " I love you too." Peter walks over to Caspian, Susan gets a little nervous her brother and Caspian didn't get off on the right foot and have been butting heads since they met. " Take care of her." Caspian looks at the high king " With my life." Susan says goodbye to her siblings and stands next to Caspian who puts an arm around her waist. Xxx Three years later: " I got you." Lucy looks at the guy who is helping her in the seas. She knows him but he looks different from the last time she saw him, he now has a beard and his hair is slightly longer." Caspian." "Lucy." Caspian gets both Lucy and Edmund on the Dawn Treader all three royals have towels around them. " What are you doing here?" Lucy is looking around for her older sister " You or Susan called." Caspian hugging Edmund " Neither of us called you this time." " Where is Susan?" Caspian smiles thinking of Susan " She is in our quarters once your all dry you can see her." Lucy and Edmund are excited to see their older sister. Xxx Caspian enters his quarter that he shares with Susan his clothes are still damp. " What happened?" Susan wasn't on deck because she was checking on their almost three year old son Rilian. Caspian changing out of his wet clothes." There were people in the water and some of the crew and I jumped into save them and brought them aboard." Susan leans up and kisses him. " And that is one of the reasons you are the best King of Narnia." " I have a surprise for you." Susan picks Rilian up " What is it?" Caspian kisses his sons head " Stay here." Xxx " What do you think daddy is planning?" Caspian opens the double doors and Lucy and Edmund enter behind him. Lucy runs over to her older sister. " Susan!" Caspian takes Rilian so Susan can use both arms hugging her siblings. " How are you here?" " I don't know, there was a picture of this ship then the water started coming out of the painting and filled the room then we were in the ocean and Caspian was bringing us aboard." Susan hugs both of her younger siblings again when Lucy notices Rilian. " I have a nephew what's his name?" Susan smiles over at her Caspian and their son." Let me fill you in an everything that's been going on for the last three years." Xxx Three years ago: Caspian wanted to do something special for his queen she gave up her life in her world to be with him. He had the remaining telmarines and with the help of some of the narnians they rebuilt Cair Paravel just like it was 1300 years ago. Caspian brought Susan to the castle once it was all done. He has his hands over her eyes so she can't see. " Caspian where are you taking me?" Caspian walked her up to the four thrones and turned her around so she could see the room. Susan's looks around astonished the last time she had seen her castle it was in ruins. " You rebuilt Cair Paravel." Caspian is nervous about this last part he has it all planned and is a king but that doesn't mean he still doesn't get nervous especially around Susan. " Yes the telmarine castle has a lot of bad memories this castle is so full of light and hope I thought after we get married we could raise our family here." Susan is taken a back by his confession " You want to marry me and have children." " I've wanted to marry you since I first laid eyes on you. You took my breath away and you continue to everyday." Caspian gets on one knee in front of her. "Queen Susan the gentle will you marry me?" Susan smiles a huge smile down at the telmarine King " Of course I will marry you my king." Caspian kisses her passionately and picks her and swings her around in his arms Susan puts her arms around his neck. Caspian and Susan marry in front of all of Narnia with Aslan marrying them. Xxx A year after the wedding Susan's discovers that she's pregnant. She begins freaking out she has only heard of one pregnancy in Narnia and that was Caspian's aunt but she can't ask his aunt because she went through the portal with her son. Caspian walks into their room and his wife is pacing back and forth in front of their bed. " Sweetheart what's wrong?" " I'm pregnant." Caspian gets a huge smile on his face. " That's amazing. Why are you acting like this though?" Susan turns away from him and begins pacing again. " How are we going to raise a baby and unify Narnia, Does Narnia have a hospital and doctors, Are they prepared for a baby?" Caspian pulls her into his chest. " We will raise this baby and unify Narnia, We and Narnia will prepare for this baby I will find the best men and woman for the job of doctors and find a hospital for you." Nine months later after twenty hours of labor Susan gives birth to a beautiful healthy baby boy they name him Rilian. Xxx Last week Caspian is in their room packing making sure he has everything for his voyage on the Dawn Treader Susan is helping him get ready. While Rilian is on the floor playing with his toys. Caspian had asked Susan if she wanted to go with him she said no they have Rilian and he probably doesn't want to be on a ship for months at a time. Rilian is playing with a miniature Dawn Treader and a miniature Aslan when his dad kneels next to him " Alright Rilian I will see you real soon ok I love you." Rilian puts his toys down and looks up at his father. " Can I come too?" Caspian looks up at Susan who gets on the floor next to her boys. " Rilian daddy's going to be gone awhile and once your on the ship you can't get off until you reach land again." " Please can I go I want to go on the ship." Caspian looks at his sons pleading face then at his wife he wants them on the ship with him. " By the time I was almost three I had been on a couple ships besides Trumpkin and Reepicheep and the rest of the crew love Rilian." Susan looks at her sons pleading face and at Caspian. " If you promise to be on your best behavior and do everything your told I'll think about it." Rilian jumps up and hugs his parents. " Yeah I get to go on a big ship." Both his parents laugh. Xxx Present: Lucy is happy for her older sister she can definitely see the love between Caspian and Susan. Lucy and Edmund look at their nephew playing with his little dawn treader and little Aslan figure. Susan bends down next to her son. " Rilian do you remember me telling you stories about the just King Edmund and the valiant Queen Lucy?" Rilian nods still playing with his toys. " Not only were they Kings and Queens of Narnia but they are also your aunt and uncle." Lucy and Edmund bends down next to Rilian " Hi I'm your aunt Lucy" "Uncle Edmund." Xxx Later Everyone is on deck when their cousin Eustace who passed out when they got on board seeing all the narnians. Comes up from the crews sleeping area. Eustace believes this is all a dream or he is being held hostage. " When we get back to England I'm tell the national guard that you kidnapped me and held me hostage you are all going to be arrested." Eustace goes to walk away and bumps into Caspian who is amused by him. "Kidnapped, we saved you." "If you want to swim back to England good luck the only way to get back to England is threw a portal and there is only one person who can open a portal and he is not on this ship." Eustace looks at Susan who is his cousin but he doesn't know her Susan had joined the others on board while Rilian is playing with Trumpkin. " Who are you? Where are we?" Caspian laughs at the kid " I am King Caspian this is Queen Susan you already know king Edmund and queen Lucy and you are aboard the Dawn Treader." " This just keeps getting more and more ridiculous, Edmund and Lucy are not royalty their orphans. Their own parents didn't even want them neither did their brother. You can't be king and queen because there's already a queen of England." You can do a lot in Narnia but do not ever disrespect a royal as soon as the words came out of Eustace mouth all the crews swords were pointing at him waiting for Caspian to say if they can kill him. Eustace gets scared and backs up but he can't go anywhere because he is in a circle of swords. Susan defends her siblings " Eustace you don't remember me but Lucy and Edmund are my younger siblings. Peter, Lucy, Edmund, and myself were kings and queens of this place during the golden times. Our last time here I was given a choose I could stay or leave, I choose to stay making me not exist in your world. Also a still ruling Queen along side my King. Lucy and Edmund are not orphans our parents left because we were still in school and they wanted us to finish before taking us with them." " Swords down." Edmund looks over at his older sister and now brother in law. " If there's been peace in Narnia why are we here." Both Susan and Caspian looks at her younger siblings " We have been wondering that too." Lucy the eternal optimist. " Maybe we were sent here to meet Rilian and hear all about your wedding." Susan smiles at her younger sister. " Maybe but we usually arrived when a war was here but there's peace has been for three years." Xxx Later Rilian has joined them on deck and everyone is watching Caspian and Edmund dual Rilian is cheering for his dad. Caspian won the duel and Rilian ran into his arms. Caspian picks him up and brings him to the second level so Rilian can be taught to steer the boat. While Susan is talking with Lucy and Edmund. Eustace is next to them still not believing this place exists or that Susan is related to him. " So how is Peter?" Lucy answers her " He's in America with our parents after we went threw the portal we all missed you and still do. Peter was invited to America. He didn't want to go at first he already lost you he didn't want to loose me and Edmund too. After Edmund promised him that he wouldn't let me fall in love with any princes Peter left he writes all the time." Susan looks up at her King and little prince at the wheel. " You didn't loose me I fell in love and it was my decision to stay I don't regret it. I miss you guys everyday and when we had Rilian we made sure to tell him stories about all three of you guys I couldn't be happy in our world knowing my heart was here with Caspian." Lucy sees how both husband and wife smile at each other she wants someone to look at her like Caspian looks at her sister with unconditional love in his eyes. Xxx "Land ho" calls one of the crew members. They all look and see land it's been a two days since they saw land. Edmund takes control. " Get the boats ready let's explore." The crew, Caspian and Susan look at each other. " Edmund on this ship Caspian and myself are in charge." Edmund looks at his sister disappointed he thought that this time he would be in charge because Peter's not here. Caspian and two groups are getting in the boats Rilian runs over to join his dad. " Can I go daddy?" Caspian looks down at his son while Susan had come over she is staying behind to take care of Rilian. " You would be a lot more useful than Eustace but I need you to stay here with your mom." "Next time." Rilian looks sad and nods as he lays his head on his moms shoulder. Xxx They get to land Caspian, Lucy, Edmund look around they tell Eustace to stand guard. The rest of the crew sets out to find food. Caspian, Lucy and Edmund go into an empty building they see a book with names crossed out. Just then guys start coming down from the ceiling they put up a good fight until they hear a girl scream and it turns out to be Eustace with a dagger to his throat. The head guy orders Caspian and Edmund to chained and Lucy to be taken away. " I am your King." Xxx Edmund awoke to the sound of Caspian kicking the cell doors. " Susan is going to kill me when she finds out her sister was sold as a slave." " She is and so am if that happens we need to save Lucy." They find an elderly man who knew Caspian's father he is one of the missing lords. They both look out the window and see people on a boat go into this green mist and disappear. A guard approaching the cell they're in gets knocked out. A hooded figure is standing there lifts up its hood and is revealed to be Susan. " It's a good thing you kept my horn after all." Caspian smirks at her " My Queen" Susan smiles " My King." Edmund is happy there getting out of this cell " I'm happy your in love but really guys we need to go save Lucy." Susan unlocked both guys shackles, Caspian puts his arm around her shoulders. " Where is Rilian?" Susan looking for anymore guards " He fell asleep after you left Trumpkin is watching him." Xxx Rilian had fallen asleep right after his dad had left. When they first got to the ship and looked around Rilian stated in a very prince like fashion he wanted to sleep on a cot with the crew. Susan thought that it might be a little unsafe to leave her almost three year old son on a cot in the crews sleeping area. She loves their crew but Rilian is her baby so after Rilian picked out a cot they moved it closer to her and Caspian's quarters. Trumpkin and Reepicheep love Rilian they even babysit him. When Caspian wants to take Susan horse back riding, when the two want to be alone or have a meeting with the lords. Xxx They get outside and Lucy is up for bid Susan under her cloak. " I will take her." Reepicheep and the other narnians reveal themselves. " For Narnia." They all fight and the guy that knocked the guys out and put Lucy up for bidding is trying to get away when an arrow pins his shirt to the wall. " Your not going anywhere put him in the cells." They're all heading to the boats when a guy runs up to them. The second in command stops him the guy tells them that his wife was taken this morning and he needs to find her. Caspian looks at Susan he knows he would do the same thing if she was taken and vice versa " Come along." The lord they found in the cell gave Caspian an old rusted sword. Xxx They find another island and as promised Rilian came along they were sleeping on the island that night. Rilian is curled up between his parents is the first to wake up in the morning. He sees giant footprints he wakes his parents and they see the foot prints too. " Where's aunt Lucy?" They all look around and Lucy isn't there. " We need to find her." As they're walking spears come flying at them out of nowhere Caspian protects his family. Caspian gets flipped on his back Susan runs over to him while carrying Rillian. " What are you?" " We are big scary beasts who have the body of tigers" " And the head of another tiger." Xxx Lucy was taken to a mansion and told to reverse the curse making them invisible, She finds the spell book. After a couple tries she finally finds the invisible spell and recites it. An elderly guy in the corner appears. Xxx As they are fighting theses invisible creatures start to become visible they're dwarfs but they have one giant foot. " Are you going to sit on you with your big stomachs" " Tickle us with your toes." Rilian laughs in to his moms shoulder at the creatures. Edmund points a sword at the chief who had fallen on the ground " Where's my sister?" They all look at where the chief pointed and watch as a huge mansion appears out of nowhere.  " Mommy look." Lucy and an elderly man come up to them the one foot dwarfs hop away scared. Everyone follows the elderly man into the mansion and he told them that green mist was taking people away and to stop it you have to go to evil Island but to get there you have find the blue stars and reunite the seven swords at Aslan's table on Ramandu island. Xxx Two weeks later: There have been really bad storms everyday. Rilian is getting restless of not being allowed to go on the main deck. Everyone is being affected differently by this weird green mist. Lucy imagined a world where she was the prettiest girl ever but everything comes with a consequence and that consequence was she didn't exist and nobody knew what Narnia was. Edmund imagined the witch queen telling him that he could be her king. Xxx "Sweetheart wake up." Caspian is shaking his wife awake. Susan looks up at him startled and starts crying. Caspian puts his arms around her. " What did you imagine?" Susan buries her head in his chest. " It was awful I went back to England and then went to America with Peter and I was miserable. It all seemed so real." Caspian kisses the top of her head. " It wasn't real it was the mist getting into your mind." The next night Caspian is tossing and turning in bed," Caspian wake up it's not real." " It felt so real. What if we can't find the blue star what if we end up like the other lords lost?" Caspian puts his head on Susan's lap while she runs her hands threw his hair. "We will find the blue star and the other lords. We can beat this mist now what did you imagine?" He looks up at her and kisses one of her hands running threw his hair. " My father telling me I have failed him, I'm a terrible King, telling me I should of never fallen in love with you or had Rilian." Susan bends down and kisses him. " Your father would be so proud of everything you have done. Your an amazing King, husband and father, Rilian will be the best prince Narnia has seen since his father. You did the impossible you revolted against your own people and brought not only the magic back but also peace to all of Narnia." Xxx One morning it was clear enough to go on the main deck. They were relieved that the storm was over they were running out of food. They find land the crew looks for food while Caspian, Susan, Rilian, Edmund and Lucy go down into a cave. Rilian is walking around when he sees something shiny. " Mommy, daddy look a gold man.” They look in the water and see a gold man and a sword. Edmund pulls off a branch and stuck it in the water to try to get the sword and the branch turns gold. Edmund stuck his sword in and got the other sword both swords were still silver. Edmund grabs a shell and puts it in the water and it turns gold. " Lucy you know what this means we could be rich we wouldn't have to live with Eustace anymore." Susan is holding her son so he doesn't run over to the water and turn gold. " Edmund you know you can't take anything out of Narnia." "Says who." Caspian steps forward " I do as King of Narnia." Edmund ignores him too and draws his sword. " King I was King before you not only was I a better king I didn't doubt myself constantly. Susan regrets choosing you over us." Caspian draws his sword too. " You've been waiting a long time to say that haven't you." Susan hands Rilian to Lucy and gets in between the guys who still have their swords pointed at each other. " Alright clearly the green mist is still messing with your minds. Edmund I don't regret choosing Caspian over you guys. Caspian I love you and I'm not going anywhere." Xxx They get back to the main land and Eustace is not there. " Where's Eustace?" " He went off." Edmund sighs " I'll go look for him." Caspian turns towards him " I'll go with you." " I can find him on my own." Susan kisses her sons head " I'll go with you so you don't try to kill each other again." They find Eustace's burnt red shoe and his burnt clothes near a skeleton. Xxx Lucy and Rilian were on the second deck when they heard a loud roar. " Aunt Lucy what was that?" Lucy looks down at her nephew " I don't know come with me."   Lucy took Rilian inside and hid him in Caspian and Susan's room. " Stay here until I come get you." Lucy goes back out and a dragon is circling the boat Drinian looks at the crew. " Fire." They all shoot arrows at the dragon and Reepicheep sticks his sword in the dragon hand and it flies back to the island. Xxx Caspian and Susan are walking ahead of Edmund when they hear wings flapping they look back and see a dragon coming towards them Caspian protects Susan. " Edmund." Edmund gets picked by the dragon. Who flies over to a volcano and written in lava it says I am Eustace. Eustace is trying to get a bracelet off his wrist while the others watch him. " Everybody knows dragons treasure is enchanted well everyone from here does." Susan looks back at her husband. " Caspian shut up." Xxx The next morning Rilian was running around the deck when something caught his eye. " Mommy look." Susan was helping clean up. " Daddy look." Caspian is talking to a crew member. Rilian takes both his parents hands and drags them over to the side of the boat. " Look." Rilian points to the sky both Caspian and Susan smile down at their son and Caspian picked him up and they both kisses him. " You found the blue star good job."   Xxx They all get to land and split up into two groups Reepicheep and his men and Caspian Susan, Rilian, Lucy and Edmund. They come across a table full of food and at the end of the table are guys who have turned to statues and have moss growing over them like they're part of the landscape. The crew goes for the food first. " Wait." They put all the swords they have collected on the table in a circle and a blue light appears in front of them as this beautiful woman. Edmund is stunned and Caspian is surprised. The blue fairy is staring at Caspian with fascination. Susan entangles her and Caspian's fingers and clears her throat. "Excuse me he's married and Edmund close your mouth." The woman gestures towards the table " The food is yours enjoy." The crew digs into the food. While the woman explains to them that the last sword is on the evil isłand and that soon all the evilness on the island will seep to all corners of Narnia. Xxx They get back on the ship and head for the evil island. It's home to people's worst nightmares. Rilian is in his parents cabin and was told don't come out under any circumstances. They are all getting ready for battle. Caspian put on his armor Susan tightened it for him he kisses his wife and leans his forehead against hers " I love you." Susan has her bow and arrow strapped to her back Caspian helped her buckle it she was having problems she caresses his bearded face. " I love you too." Xxx They get on deck and everyone has their armor on and are ready for battle. Caspian makes a speech about how they can't let the mist in and they have to fight for the lost souls everyone cheers and is ready to have him and Susan lead them into this battle. They sail right into the middle of the island they are surrounded by black clouds and green mist. There are hallucinations of people appearing to them out of the green mist Susan's mother appears next to her telling her that she was always their least favorite child and they're glad they can't remember her. Susan shakes her head trying not to listen to the voice. Caspian looks over at her and sees the green mist around her he grabs her hand and squeezes giving her support. Susan looks down at their hands then up at her husband and smiles she fights the mist and wins the mist moves on. Then they hear yelling from the island standing on a rock is a old guy pointing a sword at them yelling at them to go away. They get him on board and the guy goes crazy pointing his sword at anyone that comes near him. Susan tried to calm him down but he pointed his sword at her and was about to attack her. Caspian gets in front of her protectively.  " I am your King you do not attack your Queen stand down my lord." They get the sword away from the lord and told Drinian to turn the boat around. The lord is shouting don't think. "Uh oh." " What did you just think?" Edmund looks guilty " I was trying to get the white witch to go away." The boat rocks, Caspian with one hand grabs Susan's waist and with the other hand grabs rope trying to keep them steady. Once the rocking stops they all run over to the side of the boat and see something big, slimy and spiky coming towards them. " What is that?" "It went under the boat." Both Caspian and Susan look at each other. " Rilian." Xxx Susan went to make sure there son was ok. " Rilian are you ok." When the boat rocked Rilian rolled into the side of the bed " Yeah what was that?" Susan kneels in front of her son. " We don't know just promise me you will not come out until me or daddy comes to get you." Rilian hugs his mom " I promise mommy." Susan squeezes him and kisses him " I love you" Rilian kisses his mom " I love you too mommy." Xxx Susan goes back on board and everyone has a spear and the thing they didn't know what it is turns out it was a huge sea serpent. The lord is going hysterical telling everyone it's to late we're going to die. Susan gets him to stop yelling and tells him to go downstairs to the crews quarters. As he's walking to the entrance he throws his sword they need at Eustace who is still a dragon flying around the serpent breathing fire with Reepicheep on his back. Eustace lets out a roar and flies away. Lucy caught Reepicheep as he was falling out of the sky. Xxx Caspian has half the crew ready with spears to throw at the serpent and Susan has the other half ready with arrows. " On our command...fire." The crew throws their spears and arrows at the serpent who already got Into a fight with Eustace, who burned his face off. Susan released her arrow and it flew straight into the serpents eye. The serpent went down with a big splash. Xxx The lord came back on the deck and got to the wheel to steer the ship. Caspian is making sure Susan is ok see him. " Some one stop him." Drinian knocks him unconscious and tells half the crew to get to there rowing positions. There's another rock to the boat "He's still alive." The serpent comes out of the water face heeled he wraps his body around the boat and tries to attack Susan. Caspian gets in front of her protectively. " I think you made him mad go find Rilian I will take care of him." Susan looks at Caspian's serious face. " Both Rilian and myself need you so we do this together."     Caspian and Susan go up to the the wheel. Xxx Edmund goes into the dragon on the head of the ship's mouth with his flashlight and taunts the serpent. While Edmund has the serpent distracted. Caspian rammed the boat that still has the serpent wrapped around it into some rocks. The serpent makes a noise and releases his hold on the boat. The Serpent gets back up and it's body is cut wide open and there are legs coming out. Lucy slices off a couple legs and they disappear Caspian looks down at the crew. " Ready the harpoons." The crew gets ready and everyone throws a harpoon at the serpent. The serpent starts eating the mass of the ship. They bring the serpent closer to the ship. Edmund is being taunted by the mist of the white witch. As they try to hold the serpent down. Edmund is trying to fight the mist as everyone is yelling at him to drive his sword through the serpent. Edmund is to distracted by the white witch telling him she will make him king. Caspian takes out his sword and sticks it through the roof of the serpents mouth. Xxx Eustace landed on an island and Aslan comes walking closer to him and roars Eustace is lifted into the air and feels his dragon body being peeled away and he goes back to his human form. He sees the last sword they need and run to puts it with the others he has to fight some mist too but he overpowers the mist. The swords start glowing blue when the last one is near then when he places the sword on the table a blue light shots up into the sky. Xxx Caspian pulls his wife in for a hug they did it they defeated the serpent and found all the swords to get rid of this evil. " We're safe are you hurt?" " I'm fine are you hurt?" Caspian shakes his head no. Susan let's out a breath of fresh air they survived the serpent attack Caspian kisses her. "I love you" " I love you too." Xxx Susan goes to go check on Rilian who is on the bed curled up behind the pillows. Susan sits down on the bed and moves the pillows. " Rilian it's safe now." Rilian crawls over to her and sits in her lap. " What was that?" Susan kisses his head " A sea serpent was attacking the boat but don't worry we took care of it." Rilian nods " Can I come out now?" Susan smiles down at him " Yes you can come out now." Xxx Rilian runs out on to the deck and sees the destruction of the ship after the sea serpent battle and runs up to his dad. " I want to be just like you when I grow up." Caspian was picking up some wood that had fallen he looks up at his son and picks him up. " Why do you want to be just like me?" Rillian getting excited talking with his dad. " You fight sea serpents and go on adventures and captain big ships and are a king." " One day you will be king too and have adventures and captain ships." Rilian smiles up at him " Really?" Caspian smiles down at him " Yes but for now your a prince do you want to help clean the ship with us." Rillian nods and runs off to go help. Caspian laughs at his sons enthusiasm. Xxx The dark clouds and green mist are dissolving and the sun is shining. Caspian looks out on to the water and sees boats full of people. They bring them on board and the guy and his daughter reunite with his wife. They also found Eustace in the water and pull him up too. " Daddy look land." Caspian and Susan come over to their son and see an island. " Rilian you found Aslan's country." Xxx Caspian, Susan, Rilian, Lucy, Edmund, Eustace, and Reepicheep board a boat and rowed into Aslan's country through the lilies on the water. Rilian sticks his little hand out of the boat to touch the flowers. Susan pulls one of the lilies out of the water. They get to the island and see a wall of water moving upward and Aslan walking towards them. " Kings and Queens of Narnia you have traveled far your journey is over." Everyone bows in the company of the lion Lucy loves Aslan. " Is this your country?" " My country is just beyond here." Caspian had always want to find Aslan's country to see if his dad was there. " Is my father there?" " You can only find that out yourself but know if you continue you can never come back." Susan squeezes Caspian's hand. " I know how much finding out if your father is here means to you go." Caspian looks at the water wall then at Susan then over at Rilian who is petting Aslan. "No like you said on the boat you and Rilian need me. We will find out together." Susan kisses his cheek. " I'm glad your staying." " You, Rilian and Narnia are enough if I went through I wouldn't be honoring my father. " Xxx Reepicheep takes off his sword and lays it in front of Aslan and asks him if he can go to his country and that he had dreamed about what it looks like his whole life Aslan allows him passage. Reepicheep looks up at Caspian and Susan. " Your majesties." Caspian and Susan nod " Go you deserve it." " Well I don't know." Susan smiles and bends down Reepicheep walks on to her hands. " Nobody deserves this more. You are an amazing solider, friend and babysitter." Everyone says goodbye to Reepicheep he even lets Lucy hug him. It's hard saying goodbye to Rilian he's been with him since Rilian was born. "Be good to your parents do everything your told and grow up to be the best prince you can be." Rilian nods " I'm going to miss you." Reepicheep looks up at him " I'm going to miss you too but we will see each other again." Reepicheep lets Rilian hug him. He gets in a rat size boat and goes up the water wall into Aslan's country. Xxx "Now Lucy, Edmund and Eustace you time in Narnia has come to an end." Lucy looks over at her sister and nephew. " Will we be able to come back to see Susan, Rilian and Caspian?" " I don't know little one but know that everyone in Narnia has a counterpart in your world. Even if you don't see us we will always be there." Lucy hugs the lion and he puts his head on her shoulder. Lucy hugs her sister and her family, " I'm going to miss you so much." Susan squeezes her siblings tight. " We are all going to miss you so much." After the goodbyes Aslan roars and a hole in the water wall appears. They walk through and end up back in England. Xxx Caspian pulls his wife in for a hug to console her. Aslan roars again and they all transport to Ramandu island. All the swords are together and the lords are awake. After the feast they get back on the ship. Caspian is at the wheel with Susan and Rilian next to him. " Ready to go home my Queen?" Susan smiles over at him. " There's no place I would rather be then with you and Rilian in our castle."

[narnianandproud]

Peasant Girl - Edmund x Reader

You were walking around the village nearby Cair Paravel. You held a basket filled with bread and fruit and other foods. You couldn’t help but gaze up up at the magnificent castle. A small smile appeared on you face. You wondered if the Pevensie sibling were there currently. That automatically brought another question to you mind. What was Edmund doing? You blushed softly at the mere thought of Edmund, it’d always been like that.

You had been friends with the Pevensies since they were very small. When they were sent away during the war, so were you. You came to Narnia with the Pevensies too. You fought against the White Witch alongside Edmund.

Now you were just an everyday villager. Aslan had only made The Pevensies rulers in Cair Paravel. After all there were only four rulers to rule Narnia. You were just extra.

But you were recognized as a war hero. You weren’t very well known though. But sometimes a soldier you fought with would tell their wife about you. Then that wife would tell their sister. Then that sister would tell there husband. Then that husband would tell their friend. Then that friend would recognize you in the streets of town.

The Pevensies would invite you to hang out with them in the castle very often. Edmund was the one who invited you the most you noticed. But you often ran into Edmund in the streets of the village. He’d tease you endlessly about being a commoner. You didn’t mind very much though. You were just glad to see Edmund whenever it happened.

Today was one of those days. You saw Edmund walking around town. He was dressed in fancy clothes as if to rub it in to the townsfolk’s faces that he was royalty and they were not. Edmund walked tall and proud, like a peacock.

Edmund saw you in the sea of people and his lips curled into a small smirk. He walked towards you, gently pushing through the people he passed. When he reached you his smirk had grown.

“Hello peasant girl.” Edmund said. You frowned.

“Don’t call me that.” You said. Edmund’s smirk remained.

“Have respect for your king!” Edmund exclaimed in a very joking tone.

“Have respect for your fellow soldier.” You responded in an equally joking tone. There hadn’t been very many battles since the Pevensies started to rule, but when there was one you were sure to be part of it. The playful bantering went on for a minute or two. Then a sudden gleam appeared in Edmund’s eyes.

“Although you’re a peasant girl… You look very lovely in that dress.” Edmund said, a smirk present on his face. You felt your cheeks burn red. Edmund cupped your face in one of his hands.

“E-Edmund…?” You stuttered sheepishly.

“Your highness.” Edmund corrected you. Edmund’s face grew nearer to yours. His chocalatey brown eyes stared into your (e/c) ones. The bangs of Edmund’s dark brown hair brushed against your forehead.

“E-Edmund! What are y-you doing?!” You exclaimed. His lips were now mere centimeters away from yours. Edmund smirked.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” Edmund asked mockingly. “Trying to kiss you.” He added. Your cheeks burned hotter.

“Wh-What!?” You exclaimed. You felt Edmund’s other hand on your waist, pulling you closer.

“Do you object?” Edmund said raising one eyebrow, still smirking. You knew you wanted him. Even if you didn’t, you don’t have the heart or confidence to reject the kiss.

“N-No…” You stammered.

“That’s what I thought.” Edmund said. Immediately afterwards he pressed his lips against yours. You felt a warm fuzzy feeling run through your body. You shyly kissed back.

You could feel the eyes of the villagers staring at you and Edmund. Normally when people kiss in public they would mostly ignore it. But it was hard to when the king is kissing a village girl.

When Edmund pulled away he smirked. He stroked your cheek softly and held you close. You blushed, but didn’t reject his romantic advances.

“So. Was there something you wanted to ask me?” You asked with a knowing smiled on your face. Edmund chuckled and nodded.

“Will you allow me to court you?” Edmund asked with a warm smile on him face. You nodded. You buried your face in the fabric of Edmund’s fancy tunic, embroidered in colorful threads.

“Yes.” You answered with a smile. Although your voice was slightly muffled. Edmund grinned and held you even closer. He planted a kiss on the top of your head. You smiled softly.

“Let’s go back to Cair Paravel.” Edmund said. You nodded. You and Edmund walked back to Cair Paravel. Edmund told the other Pevensies about what happened. Lucy squealed. Susan just smiled at Edmund. And Peter was very proud of Edmund, giving him a pat on the back.

But you and Edmund were the happiest of the five of you. As all of you sat at table, decorated with gold paint talking about it more. Lucy demanded more detail. Edmund and you granted her wish, telling the story in a bit more detail. You and Edmund held hands under the table the entire time.

[highqueen]

Giantslayer (pt. 2) [Edmund Pevensie]

Summary: When you enter Narnia, your only companions are a Gentle Giant and a ginger cat. After hearing about four human Kings and Queens of Narnia, you decide to pay them a visit. You never expected for them to take a strong liking to you, especially a certain dark-haired king. Requested by @abbeylou7

Word Count: 2,914

Note: This is part two of Giantslayer. Read part one here. Please let me know what you think of it!

Warnings: A little angst. Definitely a happy ending.

One month later. Narnia.

You hold the sword in the air, admiring the way light reflects off the blade. It is much lighter than the one you normally use and you can see how Edmund can move so quickly with this weapon.

Trick sits next to you, licking a paw until he hears the voice of a certain king and springs to his feet, gives you a look, and walks away.

“Has anyone seen my sword?!” Edmund calls, stopping all movement on the training grounds.

“Oops,” you whisper before sliding the King’s sword back into its sheath and putting the sheath to the side.

You watch as the king approaches you and catches sight of the sword—his sword—next to you.

Edmund narrows his eyes before picking his sword up. He unsheathes it, checking it for any damages before turning to you. “Did you steal my sword?”

“Who? Me? I never–” you look to the side and raise your hands in surrender.

Sighing, Edmund sheathes his sword. “What do you want it for?”

You are surprised that he doesn’t yell at you. Then again, after living in the castle for about a month, your relationship with him has changed. You are sparring partners now, after the first fight where you surprised him by beating him. The two of you are basically on equal footing in terms of sword fighting ability; you loose one fight, then win the next. In fact, you have heard some people calling the two of you the best sword wielders in Narnia (aside from Peter.) They call the two of you “the Just King and the Giantslayer.”

Realizing that Edmund is still waiting for your answer, you say, “I want to see how it felt compared to my sword. It’s a lot lighter, and I bet it’s easier to move around with it.”

Edmund eyes you carefully, looking from his sword to you, then to the broadsword on your side. “If you’re interested, why don’t I teach you how to use my sword?”

“Really?!”

“Of course.”

“When can we start?”

Edmund smiles and unsheathes his sword. “Grab one like mine from the armory and we can start now.”

Two years later. Narnia.

“Ed?”

The king raises his head from a books and looks at you. “Yes?”

“Rowanweaver says he’ll be visiting soon. You remember the giant that brought me here, don’t you?”

Rowanweaver left Narnia a few weeks after you had settled into the castle. Though he was sad to leave you, the weather was getting too warm for him, and you had assured him that you were happy in Cair Paravel. Trick stayed in Narnia though, and probably is wandering in the castle chasing mice—the non-talking ones, of course.

Edmund nods, smirking. “You think I can forget someone so much taller than me? Especially if he is the one who brought my girlfriend to Narnia?”

You turn your head so Edmund won’t see your red cheeks. Though the two of you had been dating—courting, as the Narnians call it—for five months now, it still makes you feel warm and happy whenever you hear Edmund calling you his girlfriend.

“How long can he stay?”

“For as long as he wants. As long as he doesn’t miss the engagement party.”

Puzzled, you turn to look at Edmund. “The engagement party? But Susan didn’t accept the last prince’s offer.”

Edmund waves his hand, dismissing the thought. “He’s too dumb for her.”

“Ed!”

“What? It’s true. He can’t get it through his head that women can fight.”

You realize that the conversation is going off topic and turn back to the main question. “So who’s engagement party can Rowanweaver not miss?”

“Ours.”

Your eyes grow wide as Edmund stands up from his desk, opening a drawer and taking out a small box. He kneels before you, opening the black box in his hands.

“When you came into our castle a year ago, I never imagined that I would fall in love with you. You were—and still are headstrong, passionate, and stubborn, yet caring and protective. I fell in love with you probably right after our first spar. You were the first person to defeat me in years. As we got closer and I got to learn more about you, it felt like we had met before, though we’ve never seen each other back in England.

I am, and always will be in love with you. Will you accept this ring and spend forever with me?”

Tears of joy gather at the corners of your eyes and your vision is blurry as you gaze down at Edmund and the beautifully crafted ring resting on a small cushion.

“Oh, Edmund. I love you so much.” You stroke his face as you say, “I would love to spend eternity with you.”

Edmund smiles and takes the ring out of the box. His rough hands are gentle as he slides the ring onto your left hand.

After he does so, you throw your arms around him, basking in the warmth of him.

“We’ll be together forever now, won’t we?” you ask softly, the weight of the ring unfamiliar yet comforting.

“Of course, my dear fiancé.”

Eight years later. Narnia.

“I can take care of myself!” you shout, fists clenched and a few centimeters away from Edmund.

Edmund groans and runs a hand through his hair. “I know you can. And I’m not saying you can’t take care of yourself, but there’s more than just you to think of.”

“Just because I’m four months pregnant doesn’t mean I can’t ride!”

“It’s dangerous! To both yourself and our child!” Edmund’s voice is raised too, he can’t help but yell as you continue to ignore his protests to protect both you and your child.

His yelling is the breaking point for you. Tears start to stream down your face and you sob, words nearly unrecognizable as you say, “Fine. You want me to stay here, while you and your siblings go hunt the White Stag? Fine.”

And with that, you run out the room, leaving behind an upset yet relieved Edmund.

He didn’t mean to make you cry, but at least he knew you would be safe.

One day later. Narnia.

You hurry down the halls, making your way to the entrance of the castle. Though you are still angry at your husband, you can’t imagine why he is back already. Isn’t the hunt supposed to last for days?

But as you step onto the cobblestone of the entrance, Edmund is not there. None of the Kings and Queens are. You only see Edmund’s horse, Philip, with a few centaurs and fauns standing around him.

Rushing up to Philip, you ask, “What happened? Where’s Edmund?”

Your questions are met with silence.

“Phillip. Tell me where he is!”

The talking horse bows his head. His voice is quiet and thick with grief as he says, “They’re gone.”

Something heavy seems to hit your stomach, and you lose the ability to breathe, you’re drowning, drowning and with Edmund gone, there’s nothing—no one there to save you.

And though there are tears in your eyes, you suppress them, choosing instead to turn your back on them without a word, turning and walking to the armory.

You push open the doors and find your sword quickly, a thin layer of dust on it. Edmund had insisted you stop sparring with him a few weeks after finding out you were pregnant.

But now that he wasn’t here, you would be taking up the sword again.

You return to Philip, walking purposefully. The creatures around you notice that your eyes seem empty, devoid of the love and kindness Edmund married you for.

You mount Philip and a centaur makes a noise of protest.

“My lady, what are you doing? You are the Queen of Narnia now.”

“I am no queen. I am a grieving woman who will do anything to get her husband back.” You check the satchel—Edmund’s satchel—attached to Philip’s saddle. It has plenty of food in it, enough to last you for days. “Take me to the White Stag, Philip.”

The centaur protests again. “But last we heard, the White Stag is heading to the Wild Lands of the North! It’s not safe for you, not with giants and other creatures there!”

A smile spreads across your face, but it only causes shivers to travel through the Narnians around you. “Have you forgotten who I am? I am Giantslayer. And no giant will harm me.”

You press the heels of your boots into Philip’s side and he gallops away, for he, too, wants to get his King back.

Five days later. Wild Lands of the North.

The White Stag seems to be taunting you. Staying far enough ahead so you can’’t reach it, but not so far that you lose sight of it.

You keep on going.

Philip is tired, you are tired, but the two of ride on, barely stopping for food and sleep, until the forest turns colder and most of the scenery is covered in snow.

When the trees get dense and Philip can go no further, you dismount him.

“I’ll be back,” you promise.

On foot, you continue to chase the Stag, who still doesn’t run away. It seems to be guiding you towards something, and your heart beats faster. You try but fail to squash the hope that the White Stag is guiding you to Edmund, that he’ll run out of the trees in a few seconds.

He’ll pick you up and swing you around, asking if you are all right and if your baby is fine.

You take another step forwards, and are so close to the deer that you can nearly touch it, but then–

You’re falling.

The wind rushes past your ears, loud and piercing. A scream rips out of your throat, and for a second, you feel that this is familiar. That thought quickly disappears from your head though, as you see green grass rising up towards you quickly.

Your eyes squeeze shut and you brace yourself for the bone-shattering pain, but it never arrives.

Opening your eyes, you find yourself lying on a grassy hill, with the blue sky above you. You slowly get to your feet and gasp.

You feel lighter, unbalanced a little, like something’s missing.

Your child.

Your stomach is flatter than it has been for weeks. And as you reach for your sword, to face this new, unknown world, it is not there.

It is then that you let your tears fall. Shoulders shaking, you fall back onto your knees and bury your face in your hands.

You lost your home and have no clue where you are now.

You lost your sword, the only way to defend yourself.

You lost your child—you can’t imagine how your baby can just disappear like that.

You lost your husband. Your confidant, the person you love, the person you thought you could spend forever with.

“What about our forever, Edmund?” you ask through your cries.

So much is gone from your life. You lost one thing after another thanks to the White Stag. Catch it and it grants you one wish? More like chase it and lose everything you have.

As you kneel on that hill, sobbing in anguish, you hear a familiar voice, but one that you have not heard in years.

“What are you doing here, dear? Oh… don’t cry,” your mother says, bending down to hug you, to try to comfort you.

“If you really don’t want to go abroad, father and I can find another place for you. And you’ll have a say in it, all right?”

Her words only make you cry harder. She doesn’t understand your pain. She doesn’t know what you are crying about is so much worse than a school. “Y-you don’t get it,” you cry.

Your tears continue to flow.

Salty drops land on the grass, flowing through the cracks in your fingers.

And you can not stop.

Why should you stop, when you have lost everything you had?

One year later. Earth.

You let go of your suitcase, feeling slight satisfaction at the loud ‘thump’ it creates.

“So?” The older boy speaks, crossing his arms and tapping his foot. “Aren’t you going to apologize?”

Scoffing, you take off your sweater and place it on the side. “You want me to apologize?! You’re the one who bumped into me!”

The two boys next to Foottapper step closer to you, blocking any chance of escaping. But you don’t want to run away. You’re ready to fight.

“We don’t normally hit girls…” Foottapper scans you up and down. “But we’ll make an exception for someone like you.”

The other boys—you dubbed them Snottboy and Oilyhair—hesitates at your grin. But Foottapper barks an order, and the two of them step forwards and Snottboy tries to take a swing at you.

You easily see it coming. Ducking under his arm, you kick his legs out from under him.

Snottboy groans, but stays down.

Adrenaline flows through you and you face Oilyhair, ignoring the chants of gathering spectators around you.

Oilyhair swings, you duck, you swing and your fist connects with his gut.

He bends over, gasping for breath, but recovers and manages to grab onto your uniform’s tie. He tugs on the green and yellow tie, slightly choking you.

You try to punch him but Foottapper catches your arm and holds it behind your back.

He leans forwards and puts his mouth right next to your ear, making you gag at the disgusting smell. “Ready to apologize?”

As you open your mouth to declare that you will never apologize, Foottapper’s grip on your arm suddenly loosens.

“Hey, what the heck are you–” Foottapper starts to say.

“Isn’t it rude to team up on a girl? I’m just here to level the playing field.”

Your back is to the mysterious ally, but the tone of his voice and the way he pronounces his words makes you stiffen in Oilyhair’s hold.

But you have no time to dwell on it as Oilyhair’s grip tightens on your tie. You choke but quickly knock your head forwards, aiming for his nose.

The disgusting crunch tells you that you hit your target.

Once his grip loosens, you punch him in the jaw before ramming an elbow into his gut.

Oilyhair doubles over in pain, and you are about to kick him one more time when soldiers arrive, blowing their whistles.

You back away from the bullies and go over to your luggage, putting on your sweater and trying to fix your hair that the bullies messed up.

“Here, let me help.”

Gentle hands help to put stray strands of hair back into place. As the person who helped you in the fight fixes your hair, he says, “You should be more careful. There won’t always be someone there to help you.”

“Girls can fight too,” you respond, though you know he knows that.

He laughs before wrapping his arms around you. You sink into his hug, feeling the reassuring warmth of his chest against your back.

“I know that very well. And though I am young, I have a wife who can fight very well. Many people she knows calls her Giantslayer.”

Grinning, you look at Edmund and take his head between your hands. “I missed you so, so much, Ed.”

“Oh, shut up and let me kiss you.”

He pulls you close to him, one hand resting on your waist and the other at the back of your neck. His lips meet yours and you feel passion, love, and joy as the two of you kiss, lips moving against each other to make up for the year you have spent apart.

The two of you finally pull away, breathless and panting.

You pick up your suitcase and take Edmund’s hand as he picks up his suitcase.

“C’mon, let me take you to the rest of them.”

Edmund leads you to the bench where Peter, Susan, and Lucy are sitting.

“Look at what I picked up,” Edmund teases, gesturing to you.

You swat at his arm but quickly turn your attention to Edmund’s siblings.

“Hello, Your Majesties,” you joke, pulling your uniform skirt out as you curtsy.

Peter, Susan, and Lucy gape at you, until Lucy finally jumps up and nearly throws herself at you. Laughing, you hug her until she gasps and pulls herself away from you.

“Ouch!” she shouts.

“What happened, Lu?” Peter asks.

“I was pinched!”

You glance around, wondering who pinched Lucy. “It wasn’t m– ow!” Something pinches you too, on your arm.

“Hey, stop it!”

“I’m not touching you!”

“What’s doing it?!”

“It feels… sort of like magic,” Lucy says.

The rest of you grow quiet and you feel the pull of the magic, tugging at each of you.

“Everyone, hold hands!” Peter shouts, grabbing onto Edmund’s hand, who in turns holds on tightly to you.

The train passes the five of you and when it pulls away, you see a beautiful beach with clear water before you.

Eyes wide, you turn to Edmund. “We’re in Narnia.”

Edmund smiles and swiftly kisses you before saying, “Yes, I believe we are.”

You laugh before kicking off your shoes and running into the waves. “We’re back, Ed, we’re back!”

He takes off his own shoes before following you into the ocean. Catching up to you, he hugs you tightly.

“It looks like we’ll be able to have our forever after all.”

[narniagiftexchange]

                                   THE SUMMER NARNIAN GIFT EXCHANGE.

                                   for @luxaofhesperides by @awkwardbookishgay.

LOVE APPEARS AT THE STRANGEST TIMES. or when Caspian realizes he loves the members of the Pevensie family.

“Do you want to head down to the sea with us?” Peter’s voice interrupts Caspian’s analysis of battle plans, comparing and critiquing and trying to learn every strategy by heart. He looks up from his maps, eyebrows furrowed.

“Why? What are you doing?”

“Splashing around, making sandcastles, you know, seaside stuff.”

Caspian stares at him. “Why?”

“For fun. That’s what kids do- have fun.”

“I’m not a kid; I’m about to be crowned king. I don’t have time for fun!”

“I already am a king. We’re all rulers, but for better or worse, we’re kids too. And a little bit of joy is going to make you a better ruler than studying all those old papers.”

“Oh, and you’re the expert on that?”

“Actually, yes, I am!” Peter pauses and collects himself. “Listen, I’m handing you an olive branch. It’s just an afternoon at the sea. You’ve earned a little time off. You’re allowed to take it.”

Caspian eyes him suspiciously for a moment and sighs. He gathers his papers into a pile and stands. “Olive branch accepted.”

“I’ve got to get the girls. We’ll meet you down at the beach in ten minutes or so.”

Caspian makes his way to the beach, feet slipping through the sand. When he arrives, only Edmund is there, sitting in his drawers before a tower of sand.

“Is this what Peter called a sand castle?”

Edmund does not look up. “It’s going to be one. I’m glad you decided to come. Maybe with you working on his castle Peter might finally scrape a win.”

“Are the castles some type of siege practice?”

“Oh, no. That’d be a mess. We just try to make the best castle. Lucy judges and she can be a bit hard to predict. I figured I’d get a head start on the competition.”

“Which would be?”

“Pete and Su. We agreed if Peter could convince you to come, we’d build in pairs. And I’m afraid you’re on his team.”

Caspian sits down a few yards from Edmund. “Should we have a moat?”

Ed smiles. “You’re going to be good at this.”

The sound of giggles announces the arrival of the rest of the Pevensie siblings, who tumble through the sand in their underthings.

“You came!” Lucy calls, hair braided in a delicate crown.

Caspian smiles. “Your brother’s rather persuasive.”

“He’s High King for a reason,” Susan says.

“Don’t forget that he’s magnificent.” Lucy says, her voice a gruff parody of Peter’s.

“Not too magnificent at sand castles,” says Edmund.

Peter rubs his knuckles into Edmund’s scalp. “We’re going to win this time, just you wait.” He plops down next to Caspian and inspects the beginnings of a generous moat. “You make a promising start. But there’s no way Lucy will vote for us if we don’t have some towers.” Peter buries his hands in the sand and sets to work.

The sun is low in the northern sky when sand construction finally grinds to a halt. Peter waves to Lucy, who swims in from the surf.

“What have you built for me today?” she asks.

She starts her inspection at Edmund and Susan’s castle. Edmund says, “It’s equipped with high walls to keep out invaders and its place on a high sand dune gives it a clear defensive advantage.”

Caspian clears his throat as Lucy hums and approaches the second castle. “Now while our castle is by no means lacking in defense, our key concern was with its accessibility to Narnians of any form.”

“That’s why the moat enters the castle,” Peter adds, “Merpeople and nereids are welcomed here.”

Lucy turns to Susan and Edmund. “And how accessible is your castle?”

They exchange grimaces. “We didn’t really-“ Susan says, but Lucy interrupts her.

“Caspian and Peter win. Caspian, would you like to do the honors?”

Caspian turns to Peter. “What are the honors?”

“We get to demolish their castle.” He grins. “Kick the big tower first.”

Caspian smiles and takes a running start at the sandy pillars. His foot sends the largest one shattering into flecks. Peter follows after him, jumping into the mess, sending sand flying into the air. The whole fortress is gone in less than a minute, with more than a few groans from Edmund and Susan.

Peter sits up, sand in his hair and a massive smile on his face. “And now, my fellow monarchs, it is time for war!”

Caspian’s confusion doesn’t make it past his lips before he is doused in seawater. He turns to see an evilly grinning Susan, standing in the surf, hands cupped. “Time for revenge,” she cries, and splashes him again. He squawks, then crouches down into the tide and splashes her right back.

Caspian is splashed again from the side, and turns to see a smirking Peter.

“Treason!” he yells, “And from my own castle!” He runs and tackles Peter, pulling them both into the water.

The battle turns from warriors with sides to all out chaos as the sun slips below the horizon. Perhaps these children are monarchs, but ruling can wait until the morning.

————————

Caspian finally finds Susan in the stable, brushing a dapple-coated mare. He stands in the doorway for a moment, just watching the gentle queen. All at once, she seems heartbroken and content and achingly lonely. She’s captivating, an impressionist painting in the soft summer light.

“You’re leaving, aren’t you?” Caspian says, a transgression against the quiet.

Susan nods, not looking up from her horse’s mane. She sniffs, but says nothing. The silence stretches on again.

“You’re not coming back.”

Susan shakes her head. “This is it for me,” she whispers. “Narnia doesn’t want me anymore.”

Caspian takes a step back. “Of course we want you, you’re our queen.”

She runs her fingers through her hair. “I used to be. I live in England now, and it’s time I got used to it.”

“Won’t you give me a chance to say goodbye?”

“You can say your goodbyes in the morning. I’m taking one last ride.”

“Let me come with you.”

She finally looks up at him. “You’re some kind of idealist, aren’t you?”

“Is that a bad thing to be?”

She looks at the straw floor as if carrying words she doesn’t know how to release. “Meet me at the western gate. I’ll be waiting.” She climbs onto her horse and gallops past Caspian and out of the stable.

He watches her go for a moment before hustling to his horse’s stable and saddling up. In a few minutes, he rides out of the stable and towards Susan’s silhouette, sharp against the slowly darkening sky. He slows as he reaches her, but she spurs her horse into a gallop, leaving Caspian rushing to catch up.

He pulls up beside her well into the apple orchard, her hair flying out behind her, short in comparison to the last time she rode through these trees. “Are you trying to kill my horse?”

She smiles at him, a little bittersweet. “I’m no gentle queen tonight. Do try to keep up.” And again she pushes her horse faster, kicking up a cloud of dust as she plunges deeper into the woods.

Caspian chuckles and tears after her, winding between the trunks until he is utterly lost, following but never catching the far off queen. Her laughter carries on the wind, and she truly sounds gleeful. They ride between trees and through creeks, past cliffs and over stones.

Narnia is coming alive once more. A tree bends to rustle Caspian’s hair. A gust of petals waves to Susan, giggling in the warm breeze. Animals chatter in the distance. For this never ending moment, it is the golden age again. War and persecution and pain are gone. It is just Susan and Caspian and the horses and the woods and there is no past or future to be afraid of. Wind is rushing through their hair and the last rays of the sun are shining upon them and they are free.

And then the moment ends, as all moments must. Susan slows and Caspian pulls up beside her. She laughs again, but the reality has reached her eyes. She smiles. “Goodbye, Caspian. So much of my joy in being back in Narnia has been meeting you. You’ll be a good king.”

Caspian opens his mouth, but no words seem fit for the feeling in his chest. He just smiles and grasps her hand.

She wipes away a tear. Her voice breaks when she speaks again. “Now don’t remember me crying. We can both remember riding through the woods and just be happy. I want to be a happy memory.”

“You will be. For me and all of Narnia.”

She squeezes his hand and takes off again, back towards Cair Paravel. He will follow her, in a moment. But for now, he will revel in the sight of the last ride of Narnia’s gentle queen.

————————

“Do your stars have stories?” Edmund asks, as he and Caspian lie on the sun bleached deck of the Dawn Treader.

“Of course. They each have their own lives and such, just like us.”

Edmund makes a face. “Of course. I forget stars are alive in Narnia.”

Caspian rolls over to look at him. “Are all England’s stars dead?”

Edmund shakes his head. “More like never alive. They’re just great balls of fire.”

Caspian laughs. “That’s ridiculous.”

He shrugs. “It’s true. The sun’s a fireball too.”

“You live in such a fantastic world.”

Edmund scoffs. “I’m sure you wouldn’t think that if you lived there. Most of it’s just people like Eustace.”

Caspian cackles. “It can’t be all bad. Your stars have stories, don’t they? What kind of stories does fire have?”

“People make up stories about them; they’ve been doing it forever. They connected the dots to make pictures in the sky. Then they turned the pictures into stories of gods and heroes.”

“So you live in a world of storytellers?”

Edmund chuckles. “I guess. It’s really not as elegant as all that. Rather silly, honestly.”

“I think it’s wonderful. I think your whole world with your flaming stars and your storytellers is wonderful. I should feel lucky to be in it.”

Edmund smiles softly. “I think you should try, seafarer. Be the storyteller of the Narnian sky. What do you see?”

They both gaze into the darkness, studying the dots of light. Caspian’s eyes flit across the inky canvas, searching for a pattern. Eventually, Edmund gives up on the sky and studies instead Caspian’s face, lit gently by the waning moon. His gentle admiration is interrupted as Caspian gasps.

“See those four? Up in the north, there?” Edmund follows his finger to a small semicircle of glowing pinpricks in the northeast corner of the sky. “They look like a smile. That’s a picture, right?”

Edmund grins and nods. “It sure is. So what’s the story behind the smile?”

Caspian hums. “I think it’s a king’s smile. An old king, a good one too. Oh! It’s the smile of the first king of Narnia, Frank.”

“Not a very kingly name, is it?”

“It’s history- I’m not making it up.”

“Isn’t that the point? To make it up?”

“Fine. You try it if you’re such an expert.”

Edmund scoffs and surveys the stars. “Those five, there. They look like a mermaid, diving into the sea.”

“They look like a cane.”

“It’s called creative license, Caspian. It’s a mermaid.”

“So, what’s her story?”

“Hmm. I say she fell in love with a Minotaur, and they yearned for each other more than anything, but racial grudges from the war against Jadis drove the two apart. Their friends and families would never let them be together. One night, they arranged to run away and live in solitude. The Minotaur carried the mermaid far away, but they were met by the archers of Telmar, who were taught to kill Narnians on sight. The Minotaur was shot, and in his dying moment, tossed the mermaid back into the water. The stars show her as she escapes, free to do anything but be with her beloved.”

They lie there for a moment, silent but for the lapping of waves at the boat. Caspian sighs.

“Tell a happier story.”

“Was that one not good enough?”

“I just don’t see why, when I’m on a ship I love, adrift on the endless water, with someone I care about, I should be sad. Tell me something happy.”

Edmund smiles. “Anything for you.” He scans the stars until he finds six stars forming two parallel lines. He points up at them. “Those ones up there. They’re two boys, laying side by side.”

Caspian looks at him. His eyes glitter in the soft light. His hair fades into the night, but his pale skin glows under the moon. “Tell me about them.”

“They’re from two different worlds, these boys. Each one a traveler, ruling a people he does not truly belong to. They are kings, these boys, though they seem far too young to occupy that title. They are young, barely out of childhood, though one carries more years than his frame suggests. And they’re setting out on an adventure, looking for the end of the world, as if it isn’t always too close for comfort. They’ve got battles to win and lands to explore, but right now none of that matters. Right now, they’re just lying on the deck of a beautiful ship flying through the sky, and they’re gazing down at the world below them. They’re staring at their reflections in the ocean. And they’re looking for a connection with each other that they don’t quite understand. But they want to. At least, one of them does.” Edmund takes a breath, only now realizing how long it has been since his last. He stares pointedly at the sky, avoiding Caspian’s gaze.

He nestled his head on Edmund’s shoulder and entwines their fingers. “They both want to understand. I want to understand, Ed. Whatever we have, it’s important to me.”

Edmund finally looks at him and braids his fingers into his hair. “It’s important to me too.”

They lie there like that, close enough to feel each other’s breath, until the stars fade away into the morning.

————————

Caspian’s fitful sleep ends abruptly when Lucy shakes him awake. He looks up at her, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, and his gaze is met with a glowing smile.

“Come on, get up!”

He glances around the dark cabin, sleeping men fast asleep in every hammock. “It’s the middle of the night, Lu. What do you want?”

“The hippocampi are dancing!”

“The what?”

“Hippocampi! Every new moon, there’s a hippocampus ball! Oh, I haven’t seen one since I sailed to the lone islands as a young queen. Come on, you’ve got to see it.”

Curiosity overpowers Caspian’s exhaustion and he swings out of his hammock. Lucy nearly pulls him off of his footing as she yanks him up to the deck. Under the moonless sky, only the faint stars shine on the gentle ocean. A lilting tune filters through the night. Caspian almost recognizes it, like something he had heard through glass.

As Lucy leads him to the starboard bulwark, another light hits her face from below. Caspian looks down, into the waves, to see a hundred dancing horses, hind legs replaced by twirling fins. Their seaweed manes glow, braided with coral and glossy shells, light dancing off their iridescent scales. Their powerful tails carry them through a spiraling dance, lines of hippocampi forming patterns and circles and flowers, appearing and disappearing to the melody Caspian almost remembers.

He doesn’t know how long he leans over the bulwark, barely breathing, watching the mesmerizing waltz. As if realizing something one had always known, he realizes Lucy is laughing.  

“Look at the greenish one at the end. This must be his first ball.  Can’t you see how excited he is?”

Caspian follows her finger to the smallest of the hippocampi. His tail waves in double time, energy jittering through his front legs. Joy oozes from his turquoise scales, an infectious joy that sets Caspian to laughing too. He looks up at Lucy, simultaneously such a strong queen and such a young girl. He reaches out and ruffles her damp golden hair, like the servant boys had done with their sisters.

Lucy looks at him and scrunches up her nose, poking fun at him. “What do you say we have our own new moon ball?”

Caspian smiles and bows exaggeratedly, stretching out a hand. “May I have this dance, my most dignified and royal queen?”

Lucy curtsies, knees most of the way to the floor. “Of course, oh noble seafarer and friend of the royal court.”

Caspian is about to object when she grabs his hand and his waist, guiding him in a classic Narnian waltz around the deck. Her movements are quick and exaggerated, swinging him about like a rag doll. She cackles as he stumbles through the dance, unused to following. Caspian trips over himself and steps on Lucy’s bare foot.

She crosses her arms. “Ow! You know, such an attack on the queen could well be considered treason. I think you’ll have to be punished.” She reaches out and yanks a chunk of Caspian’s hair.

Caspian makes a pained, indignant noise. “You little bastard!”

“I thought that was Eustace!”

“Him too,” Caspian laughs, and lunges at Lucy. She shrieks and runs from him towards the bow, feet slapping on the wet wood. He chases after her, calloused hands outstretched to grab the slippery little girl. Lucy’s laughter, loud and high, echoes across the ocean, Caspian’s lower notes harmonizing. She scrambles up towards the crow’s nest, feet just outside of his reach, her nimble limbs giving her the advantage, when Edmund’s voice joins the din.

“Are you trying to wake the whole ship?” he hisses, exhaustion and malice mingling in his tone.

Lucy giggles from her place in the rigging and whispers, “Sorry, Ed.”

“What are you two doing in the middle of the damn night?”

“We were watching the hippocampus ball. And then Lucy decided to be a pest.”

Lucy makes an offended noise and is about the speak when Edmund cuts her off.  “The hippocampi are out?” His eyes are lit up with excitement.

Lucy nods, and a smile stretches across her face. She climbs into the crow’s nest and pats the wood on either side of her. “Come on, watch with us. Get up here, both of you.”

Ed glances back into the cabin before following Caspian up through the rigging and sitting next to Lucy. She grabs both their hands as they stare down at the dancing creatures below them.

“Thanks for waking me,” Caspian says.

Edmund nods in agreement.

“That’s what friends are for,” she says, and they watch the hippocampus ball until dawn rises on their gently dozing forms.

————————

Eustace sits in his once hiding place, now writing nook on the ship deck. He scratches at his skin, half expecting scales in his distracted state. He writes a few words, scratches them out, and starts the cycle over again.

“What bold opinions are you writing today?” Caspian calls over his shoulder, hands busy peeling potatoes.

Eustace huffs. “I’m writing very little of use, and no strong opinions. If I could only get my thoughts on Aslan together, I do believe I would make better progress.”

“You’re thinking too hard. Come over and help me. Let the thoughts rest for a minute.”

Eustace glances up from his journal, skeptical of Caspian’s suggestion. “I’ve never peeled potatoes before.”

Caspian stands and walks towards Eustace, extending one hand to help him up and another offering a knife. “Excellent time to start, then.”

Eustace hesitates before grabbing both offerings and heading towards Caspian’s buckets of potatoes. They sit down across from each other, and Caspian tosses him an unpeeled spud. Eustace fumbles and drops it in his lap. Caspian laughs.

“Come on, Eustace. Time to learn to pull your weight as a human, too. Dragonhood is a thing of the past.”

Eustace sighs and picks up a knife, clumsily scratching off the deep brown peel. “I wish I knew if being human again is a good thing.”

“I thought you couldn’t wait to lose the scales.”

“But having lost them, I realize I was rather a better dragon than person.”

“I think you’re shaping up to be a fine person. And besides, you can’t have been that bad. Come now, tell me of your life in England.”

“I would prefer not to lose what friendliness between us I have gained. Suffice to say, I was horrid. I was horrid in England and have been horrid in Narnia.”

Caspian flicks a bit of potato peel from his knife. “As we all have been. I spent my youth worshiping a man who took joy in oppressing my new people. We all have mistakes to atone for.”

“But is atonement enough to make up for being such a rotten egg before? Will it ever be?”

Caspian shrugs and gazes at his feet. “I thought we were peeling potatoes to give all these complicated thoughts a rest.”

Eustace grimaces and returns to his peeling with renewed vigor. They stew in the uncomfortable silence, bogged down by their respective thoughts.

A familiar tune floats across the deck, and Eustace looks up to watch Reepicheep scamper across the bulwark, humming about the utter east. He smiles, his fondness for the mouse not diminished by his lost scales, when a sharp pain surges through his palm.

He looks down to see blood dripping from a slit in his palm, inflicted in his distraction. He hisses in pain, clamping down on his hand. Caspian looks up and sees the blood. He grimaces.

“Oh, dear, that’s blood. You’re bleeding.”

“Thank you for stating the obvious.”

Caspian glares at him, but gets up and ushers him below decks. He brings Eustace to a small closet, from which he gathers a long strip of gauze.

Eustace holds out his hand and Caspian begins wrapping it with the cloth. The cabin is silent, and it weighs on Eustace’s chest.

“I’m sorry,” he says, when he can bear the quiet no longer. “I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you.”

Caspian smiles at him. “I’m sorry too.” He hums in thought. “I think you’re an alright sort of person. Even if having a dragon was pretty swell.”

Eustace laughs. “I think I should have torched you when I had the chance.”

“There’s the bastard I know. There’s no sense in changing too fast.”

Caspian threw his arm around the shorter boy’s shoulders, a show of affection Eustace was rather unaccustomed to, and dragged him back to the deck with a grin

[readbookywooks]

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER DINNER

"AND now," said Lucy, "do please tell us what's happened to Mr Tumnus." "Ah, that's bad," said Mr Beaver, shaking his head. "That's a very, very bad business. There's no doubt he was taken off by the police. I got that from a bird who saw it done." "But where's he been taken to?" asked Lucy. "Well, they were heading northwards when they were last seen and we all know what that means." "No, we don't," said Susan. Mr Beaver shook his head in a very gloomy fashion. "I'm afraid it means they were taking him to her House," he said. "But what'll they do to him, Mr Beaver?" gasped Lucy. "Well," said Mr Beaver, "you can't exactly say for sure. But there's not many taken in there that ever comes out again. Statues. All full of statues they say it is - in the courtyard and up the stairs and in the hall. People she's turned" - (he paused and shuddered) "turned into stone." "But, Mr Beaver," said Lucy, "can't we - I mean we must do something to save him. It's too dreadful and it's all on my account." "I don't doubt you'd save him if you could, dearie," said Mrs Beaver, "but you've no chance of getting into that House against her will and ever coming out alive." "Couldn't we have some stratagem?" said Peter. "I mean couldn't we dress up as something, or pretend to be - oh, pedlars or anything - or watch till she was gone out - or - oh, hang it all, there must be some way. This Faun saved my sister at his own risk, Mr Beaver. We can't just leave him to be - to be - to have that done to him." "It's no good, Son of Adam," said Mr Beaver, "no good your trying, of all people. But now that Aslan is on the move-" "Oh, yes! Tell us about Aslan!" said several voices at once; for once again that strange feeling - like the first signs of spring, like good news, had come over them. "Who is Aslan?" asked Susan. "Aslan?" said Mr Beaver. "Why, don't you know? He's the King. He's the Lord of the whole wood, but not often here, you understand. Never in my time or my father's time. But the word has reached us that he has come back. He is in Narnia at this moment. He'll settle the White Queen all right. It is he, not you, that will save Mr Tumnus." "She won't turn him into stone too?" said Edmund. "Lord love you, Son of Adam, what a simple thing to say!" answered Mr Beaver with a great laugh. "Turn him into stone? If she can stand on her two feet and look him in the face it'll be the most she can do and more than I expect of her. No, no. He'll put all to rights as it says in an old rhyme in these parts: Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more, When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again. You'll understand when you see him." "But shall we see him?" asked Susan. "Why, Daughter of Eve, that's what I brought you here for. I'm to lead you where you shall meet him," said Mr Beaver. "Is-is he a man?" asked Lucy. "Aslan a man!" said Mr Beaver sternly. "Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don't you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion - the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh!" said Susan, "I'd thought he was a man. Is he - quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion." "That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs Beaver; "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly." "Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you." "I'm longing to see him," said Peter, "even if I do feel frightened when it comes to the point." "That's right, Son of Adam," said Mr Beaver, bringing his paw down on the table with a crash that made all the cups and saucers rattle. "And so you shall. Word has been sent that you are to meet him, tomorrow if you can, at the Stone Table.' "Where's that?" said Lucy. "I'll show you," said Mr Beaver. "It's down the river, a good step from here. I'll take you to it!" "But meanwhile what about poor Mr Tumnus?" said Lucy. "The quickest way you can help him is by going to meet Aslan," said Mr Beaver, "once he's with us, then we can begin doing things. Not that we don't need you too. For that's another of the old rhymes: When Adam's flesh and Adam's bone Sits at Cair Paravel in throne, The evil time will be over and done. So things must be drawing near their end now he's come and you've come. We've heard of Aslan coming into these parts before - long ago, nobody can say when. But there's never been any of your race here before." "That's what I don't understand, Mr Beaver," said Peter, "I mean isn't the Witch herself human?" "She'd like us to believe it," said Mr Beaver, "and it's on that that she bases her claim to be Queen. But she's no Daughter of Eve. She comes of your father Adam's" - (here Mr Beaver bowed) "your father Adam's first wife, her they called Lilith. And she was one of the Jinn. That's what she comes from on one side. And on the other she comes of the giants. No, no, there isn't a drop of real human blood in the Witch." "That's why she's bad all through, Mr Beaver," said Mrs Beaver. "True enough, Mrs Beaver," replied he, "there may be two views about humans (meaning no offence to the present company). But there's no two views about things that look like humans and aren't." "I've known good Dwarfs," said Mrs Beaver. "So've I, now you come to speak of it," said her husband, "but precious few, and they were the ones least like men. But in general, take my advice, when you meet anything that's going to be human and isn't yet, or used to be human once and isn't now, or ought to be human and isn't, you keep your eyes on it and feel for your hatchet. And that's why the Witch is always on the lookout for any humans in Narnia. She's been watching for you this many a year, and if she knew there were four of you she'd be more dangerous still." "What's that to do with it?" asked Peter. "Because of another prophecy," said Mr Beaver. "Down at Cair Paravel - that's the castle on the sea coast down at the mouth of this river which ought to be the capital of the whole country if all was as it should be - down at Cair Paravel there are four thrones and it's a saying in Narnia time out of mind that when two Sons of Adam and two Daughters of Eve sit in those four thrones, then it will be the end not only of the White Witch's reign but of her life, and that is why we had to be so cautious as we came along, for if she knew about you four, your lives wouldn't be worth a shake of my whiskers!" All the children had been attending so hard to what Mr Beaver was telling them that they had noticed nothing else for a long time. Then during the moment of silence that followed his last remark, Lucy suddenly said: "I say-where's Edmund?" There was a dreadful pause, and then everyone began asking "Who saw him last? How long has he been missing? Is he outside? and then all rushed to the door and looked out. The snow was falling thickly and steadily, the green ice of the pool had vanished under a thick white blanket, and from where the little house stood in the centre of the dam you could hardly see either bank. Out they went, plunging well over their ankles into the soft new snow, and went round the house in every direction. "Edmund! Edmund!" they called till they were hoarse. But the silently falling snow seemed to muffle their voices and there was not even an echo in answer. "How perfectly dreadful!" said Susan as they at last came back in despair. "Oh, how I wish we'd never come." "What on earth are we to do, Mr Beaver?" said Peter. "Do?" said Mr Beaver, who was already putting on his snow-boots, "do? We must be off at once. We haven't a moment to spare!" "We'd better divide into four search parties," said Peter, "and all go in different directions. Whoever finds him must come back here at once and-" "Search parties, Son of Adam?" said Mr Beaver; "what for?" "Why, to look for Edmund, of course!" "There's no point in looking for him," said Mr Beaver. "What do you mean?" said Susan. "He can't be far away yet. And we've got to find him. What do you mean when you say there's no use looking for him?" "The reason there's no use looking," said Mr Beaver, "is that we know already where he's gone!" Everyone stared in amazement. "Don't you understand?" said Mr Beaver. "He's gone to her, to the White Witch. He has betrayed us all." "Oh, surely-oh, really!" said Susan, "he can't have done that." "Can't he?" said Mr Beaver, looking very hard at the three children, and everything they wanted to say died on their lips, for each felt suddenly quite certain inside that this was exactly what Edmund had done. "But will he know the way?" said Peter. "Has he been in this country before?" asked Mr Beaver. "Has he ever been here alone?" "Yes," said Lucy, almost in a whisper. "I'm afraid he has." "And did he tell you what he'd done or who he'd met?" "Well, no, he didn't," said Lucy. "Then mark my words," said Mr Beaver, "he has already met the White Witch and joined her side, and been told where she lives. I didn't like to mention it before (he being your brother and all) but the moment I set eyes on that brother of yours I said to myself `Treacherous'. He had the look of one who has been with the Witch and eaten her food. You can always tell them if you've lived long in Narnia; something about their eyes." "All the same," said Peter in a rather choking sort of voice, "we'll still have to go and look for him. He is our brother after all, even if he is rather a little beast. And he's only a kid." "Go to the Witch's House?" said Mrs Beaver. "Don't you see that the only chance of saving either him or yourselves is to keep away from her?" "How do you mean?" said Lucy. "Why, all she wants is to get all four of you (she's thinking all the time of those four thrones at Cair Paravel). Once you were all four inside her House her job would be done - and there'd be four new statues in her collection before you'd had time to speak. But she'll keep him alive as long as he's the only one she's got, because she'll want to use him as a decoy; as bait to catch the rest of you with." "Oh, can no one help us?" wailed Lucy. "Only Aslan," said Mr Beaver, "we must go on and meet him. That's our only chance now." "It seems to me, my dears," said Mrs Beaver, "that it is very important to know just when he slipped away. How much he can tell her depends on how much he heard. For instance, had we started talking of Aslan before he left? If not, then we may do very well, for she won't know that Aslan has come to Narnia, or that we are meeting him, and will be quite off her guard as far as that is concerned." "I don't remember his being here when we were talking about Aslan - " began Peter, but Lucy interrupted him. "Oh yes, he was," she said miserably; "don't you remember, it was he who asked whether the Witch couldn't turn Aslan into stone too?" "So he did, by Jove," said Peter; "just the sort of thing he would say, too!" "Worse and worse," said Mr Beaver, "and the next thing is this. Was he still here when I told you that the place for meeting Aslan was the Stone Table?" And of course no one knew the answer to this question. "Because, if he was," continued Mr Beaver, "then she'll simply sledge down in that direction and get between us and the Stone Table and catch us on our way down. In fact we shall be cut off from Aslan. " "But that isn't what she'll do first," said Mrs Beaver, "not if I know her. The moment that Edmund tells her that we're all here she'll set out to catch us this very night, and if he's been gone about half an hour, she'll be here in about another twenty minutes." "You're right, Mrs Beaver," said her husband, "we must all get away from here. There's not a moment to lose."

[valeptraglia]

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Battle of Calormen

Chapter 9: "Metanoia"

- metanoia -

[meh-ta-noy-ah] ● Greek

(n.) the journey of changing one's mind, heart, self, or way of life; spiritual conversion.

It is early in the morning, maybe too early, light is barely coming in through the courtains but birds are chirping in the trees nearby my window. It had rain all night making it difficult for me to sleep. And soon my brain decided it was enough sleep for me today so I couldn't stay I bed any longer.

Getting up from the bed I reached for the curtains covering the view of the window and pulled them aside. My stomach twisted. The sky was still cloudy, you could tell it was morning only because of the few rays of clarity that slipped through the clouds here and there.

It is not an obsession the one I have with the weather, it wasn't a metaphor either. I knew there was a reason for this cloudy Narnia. Something was moving in the shadows, acting from the dark. I could feel it in my guts. This was bad news.

I sighed and turned heading for the sideboard. I sat in front of the mirror and looked at my reflection. A ghostly face stared back at me in the mirror. The white nightgown made me look paler. Even the blue of my eyes seemed colorless, off.

With resignation I grabbed the brush, it was therapeutic for me, brushing my hair. It gave me time to put my ideas in order, to clear my mind. And I definitely need that at this moment.

I took a deep breath and exhaling I started brushing the ends of my hair. The humidity was unbearable and it made my hair terribly frizzy and fluffy as the brush combed it. I tried to relax and stopped thinking about meaningless things. I closed my eyes and slowly the important things flooded my mind.

Last evening I had a very needed, although I didn't want to admit it, talk with Edmund. I told him. I confessed how I felt. It's not that I'm not happy to be back in Narnia, because to be fair I haven't felt this hopeful in quite a long time, but how long will it last? At this point I don't know if I want it to last a long time or if I want to find a door to take me back to England in the next corner. What we lose by returning home will be relative to the time we spend here. And I am not willing to lose anything or anyone for an adventure that I'll have to forget when it's over. I don't think my siblings see it this way.

I told Ed how I felt back at home. Empty. Pursuing a life that I built for myself in an attempt to fit in in our world, I get carried away, I am aware of it, and I let it happen. I want it to happen. I want to lose myself in that meaningless world. I don't want to feel, I don't want to remember what I had and what it has been taken away from me when we left Narnia.

Thinking of home someone came into my mind for the first time we arrived. Robert. He asked me to marry him and I answered that first he had to meet the family and then I would answer him. Of course I was going to say yes. I am twenty-three after all I should be married by now, and I've had enough suitors, but none of them seemed, well, right. I think that's the only part of the world that I've created around me that I want it to be real. After all I'll be spending the rest of my life with the man.

Robert is a good man. He cares about m e and his family, has a good job, he is a lawyer, and is eager to start his own family. He is a gentleman and handsome enough. My parents will like them. My siblings? I don't think so. They'll be polite, of course, but I know they won't like him.

And I? Well, I guess I did expressed myself as "I was going to say yes". I don't love him and it won't be fair for him or for me. Suddenly I don't want to go back home. I feel anxious.

I struggled with a few knots in my hair and then continue with my thoughts.

My brothers and sister, they mean everything to me even if I don't show it. I worry about them and not just here, back at home too. Beautiful and childlike Lucy, nineteen and in nurse school, this makes me smile, she is nothing like me, she is such a sweet young lady, so caring for the rest, her life will be filled with joy that coming from the ones she helps.

Edmund. I meant what I said yesterday, he is becoming a great man, long ago he overcomed his monsters. I am so proud of him. I remember the afternoon tea we had when I last visited him and Peter in Cambridge with our parents, when I saw him crossing the street covering his head with his college bag, his bright smile when he saw us. It made me nostalgic.

And Peter. My big brother, or may I say the professor? A philosophy professor, that one I didn't see coming. Although he did teach us a lot, he took his role as the oldest brother seriously, almost like a job, and now he made of it his profession. Peter is a mess, he is all over the place, wherever he is in books will be find scattered all around him, he will engage in conversation with anyone and try to deconstruct everything they say. He traveled a lot around the world last year and has amazing stories for anyone willing to hear him.

I will always be their greatest admirer.

It is time for me to quit this falsehood and go back to what's important.

I combed my hair in a low bun and changed. I took one last glance at the mirror. "You got this". And I left the room towards the thrones room.

Today the company is leaving north, to the dwarves to retrieve weapons for this unstoppable war that's heading towards us. I am afraid this mission is a failure, not because I doubt the dwarves ability to forge iron, or because I doubt the company's abilities to carry the weapons safely back to Cair Paravel. It's because there's still a traitor walking around the castle, around us as if nothing, unpunished.

The mystery of the war prisoner's death hasn't been solved yet. Bavra, the faun, was the only one punished, and in my opinion he was punished because of a lack of evidence in favor of him, I highly doubt that faun had anything to do with the prisoner's death.

The bodies of the fallen in battle that day had been inspected in search of similar wounds but none of them coincided. This was a major problem, the possibility of having a traitor in the castle could bring an endless list of awfulness.

As I imagined, Erasmus, Peter and Edmund were already in a meeting with Diácano as I entered the room. The four of them turn quickly and in surprise when the doors open to let me in.

"Good morning gentlemen" I greeted them with a cheeky smile "Last minute detail arrangements?"

"Susan! Dear, good morning!" Erasmus saluted me with open arms, a charming man he was.

Diácano smiled politely and bowed when I reached the table, a gesture that I returned.

"Hey Su, good morning" greeted me passing his arm over my shoulders.

"Hi sis" said Edmund on his left "as a matter of fact, yes, we are arranging some details" he seemed quite satisfied.

"Any novelty?" I wonder curiously.

The four of them looked at each other and Erasmus nodded his head. Alright I am all ears, there is something here.

"We sent a few runners ahead of the company a few days ago, we received some news this early morning, they already got to dwarves and are guarding the road, and everything is looking fine" Edmund explained.

I knew they wouldn't take any risks "You kept this in silence, you didn't tell me!" I accused them faking hurt. These were very encouraging news.

"Out of the four of us you are the first to know, I should tell Calantha to avoid inconveniences" Erasmus said with a sheepish smile.

"Oh and Lucy" added Peter.

"No one else knows?" I asked.

"Nope. I think this will turn out alright. This mission has to succeed Diácano" Peter said almost like praying to the centaur on his right.

"We won't fail, your Majesty" he reassured in a deep voice.

(End of Susan's POV)

[readbookywooks]

THE HUNTING OF THE WHITE STAG

THE battle was all over a few minutes after their arrival. Most of the enemy had been killed in the first charge of Aslan and his - companions; and when those who were still living saw that the Witch was dead they either gave themselves up or took to flight. The next thing that Lucy knew was that Peter and Aslan were shaking hands. It was strange to her to see Peter looking as he looked now - his face was so pale and stern and he seemed so much older. "It was all Edmund's doing, Aslan," Peter was saying. "We'd have been beaten if it hadn't been for him. The Witch was turning our troops into stone right and left. But nothing would stop him. He fought his way through three ogres to where she was just turning one of your leopards into a statue. And when he reached her he had sense to bring his sword smashing down on her wand instead of trying to go for her directly and simply getting made a statue himself for his pains. That was the mistake all the rest were making. Once her wand was broken we began to have some chance - if we hadn't lost so many already. He was terribly wounded. We must go and see him." They found Edmund in charge of Mrs Beaver a little way back from the fighting line. He was covered with blood, his mouth was open, and his face a nasty green colour. "Quick, Lucy," said Aslan. And then, almost for the first time, Lucy remembered the precious cordial that had been given her for a Christmas present. Her hands trembled so much that she could hardly undo the stopper, but she managed it in the end and poured a few drops into her brother's mouth. "There are other people wounded," said Aslan while she was still looking eagerly into Edmund's pale face and wondering if the cordial would have any result. "Yes, I know," said Lucy crossly. "Wait a minute." "Daughter of Eve," said Aslan in a graver voice, "others also are at the point of death. Must more people die for Edmund?" "I'm sorry, Aslan," said Lucy, getting up and going with him. And for the next half-hour they were busy - she attending to the wounded while he restored those who had been turned into stone. When at last she was free to come back to Edmund she found him standing on his feet and not only healed of his wounds but looking better than she had seen him look - oh, for ages; in fact ever since his first term at that horrid school which was where he had begun to go wrong. He had become his real old self again and could look you in the face. And there on the field of battle Aslan made him a knight. "Does he know," whispered Lucy to Susan, "what Aslan did for him? Does he know what the arrangement with the Witch really was?" "Hush! No. Of course not," said Susan. "Oughtn't he to be told?" said Lucy. "Oh, surely not," said Susan. "It would be too awful for him. Think how you'd feel if you were he." "All the same I think he ought to know," said Lucy. But at that moment they were interrupted. That night they slept where they were. How Aslan provided food for them all I don't know; but somehow or other they found themselves all sitting down on the grass to a fine high tea at about eight o'clock. Next day they began marching eastward down the side of the great river. And the next day after that, at about teatime, they actually reached the mouth. The castle of Cair Paravel on its little hill towered up above them; before them were the sands, with rocks and little pools of salt water, and seaweed, and the smell of the sea and long miles of bluish-green waves breaking for ever and ever on the beach. And oh, the cry of the sea-gulls! Have you heard it? Can you remember? That evening after tea the four children all managed to get down to the beach again and get their shoes and stockings off and feel the sand between their toes. But next day was more solemn. For then, in the Great Hall of Cair Paravel - that wonderful hall with the ivory roof and the west wall hung with peacock's feathers and the eastern door which looks towards the sea, in the presence of all their friends and to the sound of trumpets, Aslan solemnly crowned them and led them to the four thrones amid deafening shouts of, "Long Live King Peter! Long Live Queen Susan! Long Live King Edmund! Long Live Queen Lucy!" "Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen. Bear it well, Sons of Adam! Bear it well, Daughters of Eve!" said Aslan. And through the eastern door, which was wide open, came the voices of the mermen and the mermaids swimming close to the shore and singing in honour of their new Kings and Queens. So the children sat on their thrones and sceptres were put into their hands and they gave rewards and honours to all their friends, to Tumnus the Faun, and to the Beavers, and Giant Rumblebuffin, to the leopards, and the good centaurs, and the good dwarfs, and to the lion. And that night there was a great feast in Cair Paravel, and revelry and dancing, and gold flashed and wine flowed, and answering to the music inside, but stranger, sweeter, and more piercing, came the music of the sea people. But amidst all these rejoicings Aslan himself quietly slipped away. And when the Kings and Queens noticed that he wasn't there they said nothing about it. For Mr Beaver had warned them, "He'll be coming and going," he had said. "One day you'll see him and another you won't. He doesn't like being tied down and of course he has other countries to attend to. It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. He's wild,' you know. Not like a tame lion." And now, as you see, this story is nearly (but not quite) at an end. These two Kings and two Queens governed Narnia well, and long and happy was their reign. At first much of their time was spent in seeking out the remnants of the White Witch's army and destroying them, and indeed for a long time there would be news of evil things lurking in the wilder parts of the forest - a haunting here and a killing there, a glimpse of a werewolf one month and a rumour of a hag the next. But in the end all that foul brood was stamped out. And they made good laws and kept the peace and saved good trees from being unnecessarily cut down, and liberated young dwarfs and young satyrs from being sent to school, and generally stopped busybodies and interferers and encouraged ordinary people who wanted to live and let live. And they drove back the fierce giants (quite a different sort from Giant Rumblebuffin) on the north of Narnia when these ventured across the frontier. And they entered into friendship and alliance with countries beyond the sea and paid them visits of state and received visits of state from them. And they themselves grew and changed as the years passed over them. And Peter became a tall and deep-chested man and a great warrior, and he was called King Peter the Magnificent. And Susan grew into a tall and gracious woman with black hair that fell almost to her feet and the kings of the countries beyond the sea began to send ambassadors asking for her hand in marriage. And she was called Susan the Gentle. Edmund was a graver and quieter man than Peter, and great in council and judgement. He was called King Edmund the Just. But as for Lucy, she was always gay and golden-haired, and all princes in those parts desired her to be their Queen, and her own people called her Queen Lucy the Valiant. So they lived in great joy and if ever they remembered their life in this world it was only as one remembers a dream. And one year it fell out that Tumnus (who was a middle-aged Faun by now and beginning to be stout) came down river and brought them news that the White Stag had once more appeared in his parts - the White Stag who would give you wishes if you caught him. So these two Kings and two Queens with the principal members of their court, rode a-hunting with horns and hounds in the Western Woods to follow the White Stag. And they had not hunted long before they had a sight of him. And he led them a great pace over rough and smooth and through thick and thin, till the horses of all the courtiers were tired out and these four were still following. And they saw the stag enter into a thicket where their horses could not follow. Then said King Peter (for they talked in quite a different style now, having been Kings and Queens for so long), "Fair Consorts, let us now alight from our horses and follow this beast into the thicket; for in all my days I never hunted a nobler quarry." "Sir," said the others, "even so let us do." So they alighted and tied their horses to trees and went on into the thick wood on foot. And as soon as they had entered it Queen Susan said, "Fair friends, here is a great marvel, for I seem to see a tree of iron." "Madam," said,King Edmund, "if you look well upon it you shall see it is a pillar of iron with a lantern set on the top thereof." "By the Lion's Mane, a strange device," said King Peter, "to set a lantern here where the trees cluster so thick about it and so high above it that if it were lit it should give light to no man!" "Sir," said Queen Lucy. "By likelihood when this post and this lamp were set here there were smaller trees in the place, or fewer, or none. For this is a young wood and the iron post is old." And they stood looking upon it. Then said King Edmund, "I know not how it is, but this lamp on the post worketh upon me strangely. It runs in my mind that I have seen the like before; as it were in a dream, or in the dream of a dream." "Sir," answered they all, "it is even so with us also." "And more," said Queen Lucy, "for it will not go out of my mind that if we pass this post and lantern either we shall find strange adventures or else some great change of our fortunes." "Madam," said King Edmund, "the like foreboding stirreth in my heart also." "And in mine, fair brother," said King Peter. "And in mine too," said Queen Susan. "Wherefore by my counsel we shall lightly return to our horses and follow this White Stag no further." "Madam," said King Peter, "therein I pray thee to have me excused. For never since we four were Kings and Queens in Narnia have we set our hands to any high matter, as battles, quests, feats of arms, acts of justice, and the like, and then given over; but always what we have taken in hand, the same we have achieved." "Sister," said Queen Lucy, "my royal brother speaks rightly. And it seems to me we should be shamed if for any fearing or foreboding we turned back from following so noble a beast as now we have in chase." "And so say I," said King Edmund. "And I have such desire to find the signification of this thing that I would not by my good will turn back for the richest jewel in all Narnia and all the islands." "Then in the name of Aslan," said Queen Susan, "if ye will all have it so, let us go on and take the adventure that shall fall to us." So these Kings and Queens entered the thicket, and before they had gone a score of paces they all remembered that the thing they had seen was called a lamppost, and before they had gone twenty more they noticed that they were. making their way not through branches but through coats. And next moment they all came tumbling out of a wardrobe door into the empty room, and They were no longer Kings and Queens in their hunting array but just Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy in their old clothes. It was the same day and the same hour of the day on which they had all gone into the wardrobe to hide. Mrs Macready and the visitors were still talking in the passage; but luckily they never came into the empty room and so the children weren't caught. And that would have been the very end of the story if it hadn't been that they felt they really must explain to the Professor why four of the coats out of his wardrobe were missing. And the Professor, who was a very remarkable man, didn't tell them not to be silly or not to tell lies, but believed the whole story. "No," he said, "I don't think it will be any good trying to go back through the wardrobe door to get the coats. You won't get into Narnia again by that route. Nor would the coats be much use by now if you did! Eh? What's that? Yes, of course you'll get back to Narnia again some day. Once a King in Narnia, always a King in Narnia. But don't go trying to use the same route twice. Indeed, don't try to get there at all. It'll happen when you're not looking for it. And don't talk too much about it even among yourselves. And don't mention it to anyone else unless you find that they've had adventures of the same sort themselves. What's that? How will you know? Oh, you'll know all right. Odd things they say - even their looks - will let the secret out. Keep your eyes open. Bless me, what do they teach them at these schools?" And that is the very end of the adventure of the wardrobe. But if the Professor was right it was only the beginning of the adventures of Narnia.