Chapter 1

''Do you get that all down professor?'' Professor Kirk sat across from me. He had long ago stopped writing and instead studied me.

'' Yes I did Anna.'' He leant back in his chair and continued to smoke his pipe.

'' Good. Now I want you to burn it.'' He sat up and placed his hand on the pile of paper that had taken him half the summer to document.

'' Why? After everything, this is your story.''

'' Exactly. I did this for peace of mind professor, nothing more. They must never know, for their own piece of mind.'' He still sat at his desk, but after a moment he picked up the stack of paper and threw it into the fire. '' Thank you.'' He came over to me and placed a loving hand on my shoulder. '' You know you should write the rest of the perspectives.''

He gave an amused chuckle,'' Is that so?''

'' Yes get the others perspectives on it. Especially now that Edmund and Lucy won't be going back.'' I felt a pang of sorrow for them.

He took a puff from his pipe, '' I may just do that. Shall you be staying for much longer?''

'' Just a few days. The holidays are almost over and it takes a day or so by train to get back to London.''

The professor wrinkled his nose,'' Dreadful things trains. I avoid them as much as I can. An accident waiting to happen say.'' I shrugged me shoulders.

'' I think I shall take a walk down by the beach. Care to join me?''

The professor shook his head, ''I think I shall retire for the night. Goodnight you highness.''

I smiled a little and gave him kiss on the cheek, '' Goodnight Lord Digory.'' I watched as he went into his small room in the cottage and then I started to make my way down to the beach. The cottage that the professor had bought after he had sold the house was indeed small. It was comfortable though and it was set right along the beach. It was peaceful and I always took walks along it in the evening. It was then in the dark of night I could almost imagine that I was back in Narnia. Back in the Golden Age. Reality would come crashing back down though as the air did smell as sweet and salty as Cair Paravel air did, and the stars didn't glitter as brightly as they did in Narnia.

I sighed as I watched the waves crash on the shore and felt my heart long for my home just a little more. I both dreaded and longed to go back to Narnia. For I knew it would be my end, but it was my home. I was always and would always be my home. England seemed less tangible to me then Narnia. With its smoggy air and locomotives. Susan saw the new machinery and buildings as a revolution while I saw it as merely destruction. As for my mother, I could never truly be as close to her as I once was. How could I? How could she tell me about falling in love, a first kiss, when I already experienced those thing, and it hurt more than anything to remember them? When she had told me father had died in battle, how could I cry? How I mourn a man I barley remembered. How could I tell her I knew loss, I knew battle, and I knew the feel of blood on the hands. How could I tell her that he was with Aslan now and that he was lucky not to have to live with the guilt and the nightmares. I couldn't.

As for the Pevensies, what could I say to them. That I was going to die in the very near future? That it wasn't their fault. That it was my price to pay for all those years in Narnia. Suffice to say I said nothing. I placed a fake smile on my face and went along as if nothing was wrong. Especially around Edmund. Edmund who was becoming a man, and who I sometimes found watching me from the corner of my eye. I sometimes wondered if given the chance we could fall in love again and be given the chance for a life we were never able to fulfill in Narnia. Always I thought of the what-ifs, but I knew my fate and was resigned to it.

I clutched my head and stumbled as a wave of nausea hit me, '' profe-'' I tried calling out but I was too weak and was forced to my knees. The last image I saw was of the waves crashing before I saw darkness.

'' Your highness?'' I opened my eyes to see a dryad standing before me. '' Your highness?''

I slowly got up and brushed off the grass,'' Where am I?''

'' Cair Paravel, your highness.''

'' Your highness?''

The dryad bowed, '' We must take you to King Caspian.''

'' The tenth.'' She nodded as she took me along the shore and I could see Cair Paravel in the distance.

'' He rebuilt Cair Paravel? How many years has it been?''

The dryad did not stop her hurried pace as she answered,'' It has been many a year since Their Majesties and Lord Eustace were here.'' She walked with me until we reached Cair Paravel,'' I will tell the king that you are here, you may wait in the throne room.'' I stared at the resurrected castle. Every stone, every crack had been restored to perfection. I pushed open the doors and my breathe hitched. The four thrones stood bathed in light. I touched of the thrones with a reverence of the past. When I got to Edmund's throne I bit my lip. What could it hurt? I carefully sat down on the throne and looked over the empty court. I jumped as the doors opened, but I did not get up. Standing in front of me stood and old man, withered by time. On his head stood sat a crown that glowed golden in the light. '' Caspian.'' I whispered. The once young man smiled.

'' It has been many years. ''

'' So it has.'' I went to stand but he waved me to sit down.

'' It suits you.'' He indicated to the throne.

'' Edmund- he used to let me sit in it. During celebrations and the like. I'm assuming you know.''

He gave a sad smile, '' Yes I know. Doctor Cornelius found a letter in the ruins- it explained everything.''

'' I see. Now tell me Caspian what has happened.'' A sadness came over him and he sat down on his throne. '' Many years ago my wife died from a snake bite. My son, Rilain, disappeared soon after. My time is coming to an end your highness and when I die I wish to make sure that when I pass Narnia will have another king to rule. That is why I travel to the east- in the hope to find Aslan again. I can only assume that you are to come with me.

'' No.'' I sighed. ' A witch will come and beguile and innocent ,Aslan help me. '' You will go on your voyage and I shall stay here. I will find your son Caspian, I promise.''

'' I have tried to find him for many years, but there has been no sign-no trace of his whereabouts.''

'' That s why I am here.'' Caspian gave me a tunic and breeches to change into and my sword and compass. while I waved to him from the shore as his boat sailed away, I could not help the dread that had filled me. '' So history repeats itself.'' I whispered.