I do not own any characters associated with The Chronicles of Narnia.
Susan sat in the parlor of her family home. Although she was surrounded by fellow mourners she felt completely alone. Her family was gone. Parents, brothers, little sister. Gone. Even the strange Professor they had stayed with during the Blitz had died during the horrific train accident. She could hear others in the room talking quietly. Saying how at peace and happy they had looked. Peaceful? Happy? They were dead. Couldn't anyone understand that? She hadn't felt this bad since she had been told she couldn't go back to... No! That had been a silly, childhood game. Her siblings had insisted on pretending it had all been real. Even Peter. It was why they had lost the closeness they once had.
One of Susan's friends came over and put her hand on her shoulder. " Sue, we're cutting out. Not really our type of thing. Give us a ring when you feel up to going out." Susan sat stunned as her 'friends ' left. She had grown distant from her family to spend time with those people and they couldn't give her any support in her hour of need.
Walking over to the fireplace she took down a small picture of her and her siblings. They looked so happy together. Edmund had stopped being so priggish that summer. They had been closer than ever before because of that silly game.
At times Susan had felt a unimaginable sense of loss over it ending, but one had to grow up. Childish things belonged in childhood. The last time Edmund and Lucy had claimed to have gone to Narnia, Sue felt a small thrill at the name, they and Peter said they must look for Aslan, shiver, in this world and started going to church regularly with their mum and dad.
Susan had started going to cafes and wearing makeup and silk stockings. Her new friends had seemed so sophisticated and wordly. Dance halls and cinemas had held much more appeal than incense and hymns. The admiration had also been heady she admitted. Being told she was beautiful and charming and so imaginative. Her ability to come up with party themes had held no equal.
What she wouldn't give to maybe go with them to a church service now. She did have to admit they had all seemed so happy. Replacing the picture she went to talk with others in the room expressing her gratitude for their presence.
That evening after everyone had left Sue walked around her empty family home. No laughter, no joking, no minor disagreements easily solved. Just silence. As she got ready for bed for just a moment she saw another image superimposed over her own in the mirror. A happier version of herself wearing a light dwarf crafted crown and a lovely gown sitting on one of four thrones.
She blinked rapidly in surprise and the image disappeared. Crawling between her sheets Susan didn't believe she would get much sleep , but as she settled in a warm, heavenly scented breath of air seemed to brush over her. Drifting off into dreams she felt herself flying over the most beautiful countryside she had ever seen. Coming upon what she recognized as a version of The Western Wild she landed and through, what appeared to her to be a shimmering transparent wall she saw her family. She saw many others that filled her heart with joy. Mr. Tummnus, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver even the naiads and dryads they had once danced with. Eagerly she tried to join them , but could not cross the barrier. She saw a huge , golden lion turn to watch her. Her heart leaped with both fear and anticipation.
"You may not enter.," his rich golden voice rolled over her. Sadness filled her heart."At least not yet."
Jerking her head up at this she tried to speak, but found she couldn't.
" Look for me in your world former Queen Susan. You have forgotten the old ways and seek only pleasure. Seek me out so that you may one day join us."
With a jolt Susan found herself once again in bed,but while she still felt grief for her family she now also felt a sense of hope.
I'm not sure if I will write more of this. It feels somewhat complete, but if any interest is shown I might try more chapters.
