The Once and Future

storyspinnerbah

Summary: The End of the World is not the end of the adventure.

I'm BACK! Did you miss me? (crickets chirping) Tough room. Well, this story is complete, but it has to be re-edited. However here's the first chap. Hope you like!

Caspian has a last name in this one! (couldn't find a canon last name)

Part 1

End of the Narnian World

NY (Narnian Year) 2306

Waiting to be exiled from the place you thought of as home was sheer torture.

That was Lucy Pevensie's thought as she looked at the aquatic wall that separated Aslan's Country from the End of the Narnian world, the furthest east a person could sail.

She knew that the noble lion, the True King of the country she loved, was kind. But he was not a tame lion by any means, and he could be very fierce and firm when needed. And she rather thought sending two of the four Pevensie regents and their cousin back to their home country of England would take some of both.

Lucy knew she and her brother Edmund were approaching the age her older brother and sister had been when they had seen Narnia for the last time. But, unlike the other three, she wasn't as eager to end her times and adventures in this place she loved so. She just KNEW that the journey couldn't end for them yet.

She looked back at the four males with her…well, three human males and a lion… and found them all looking at her. She blushed. Brilliant, Lucy, become the center of attention when you're about to cry!

Aslan smiled his leonine smile at her. "Dear one, you seem troubled. Are you not ready for your journey to end?"

Lucy winced. "Well…"

Aslan laughed. "I do understand, my child. What if I told you that you are still needed here? You and your family."

Lucy's heart lightened. She didn't have to go just yet? Oh yeah, she liked to hear that!

Edmund looked at Aslan, puzzled. "I thought for sure…"

"So did I," Eustace Scrubb, her cousin and the second of the human males standing there, added.

The third male also spoke. "I guess I thought it unanimous."

Caspian Atencourt the Tenth, current King of Narnia, and one of the secret reasons Lucy wanted to stay. She wasn't sure why; after all, she and the young sovereign were merely great friends. She just knew of all the people and things she would miss, he would top her list.

Well, maybe not SO unclear, she thought, as Caspian smiled. He WAS a great friend, and a good King from all accounts. The fact that she thought he was gorgeous, with chocolate brown hair that fell to his shoulders, and dark chocolate eyes that looked almost black in the right light, was going to be HER little secret. After all, she knew she didn't stand a chance with the handsome 21 year old man. Not with someone like Lilandlil around. That star made Susan, her beautiful older sister, look a little plain.

Lucy was the type of woman people called pretty and perky. At 16, she was petite, with hair the color of mahogany falling in waves and curls to the middle of her back, and eyes the color of bluebonnets. Her features were gamine, with freckles across nose and cheeks. Her personality more than made up for her self-perceived "lack of beauty", for she was one of those people who makes the world more beautiful just by being in it. And she had learned to value what she was rather than what she wasn't. Aslan had let her learn that lesson all too recently.

She had learned that she was valued for more substantial things than looks, and THAT mattered. (It didn't stop the fleeting, "I want to be beautiful," thoughts, but it had clarified things. She wanted to be beautiful to that special SOMEONE.)

As Aslan started to speak, Lucy jerked her mind back to the Great Lion.

"Well, until recently, the plan WAS to return you three to your world, with Lucy and Edmund to have had their last adventure here. But things I have discovered have changed that plan. However, I will not force any of you to stay if you wish to return home. Each of you may make the choice to stay or go."

Edmund looked at his younger sister and cousin. He knew Lucy wanted to stay, and Eustace looked like he would love to see more of Narnia than just the Sea. They looked back at him, eyes pleading with him.

He spoke. "Well, why not?"

Lucy sighed in relief. She had been planning to stay, regardless, but knew that the journey ahead would be more enjoyable with family.

Caspian had been silent up to this point. Now he spoke. "So where are we headed now?"

Aslan told them simply, "The beginning. Where YOU started the Voyage from."

Caspian and Lucy spoke as one. "Cair Paravel?"

Aslan smiled again. "Don't think of it as turning back. Just think of it a turning around."

Eustace laughed. "Like a lap in a pool."

"Exactly," the Lion King said.

"So, back to the Dawn Treader?" Lucy asked eagerly.

Aslan smiled at her. "Yes, but first, a word in your ear."

Lucy paled. "Oh."

She walked away from her friend and family with the giant lion. They spoke for what seemed like both forever and just a moment. Though the other three strained to hear the conversation, the words seemed to magically disappear after they reached the intended's ear. Edmund knew how THAT felt, after his OWN private conversation with Aslan.

They saw the frown on her face, her cocking her head to one side as Aslan made some point.

And what they DIDN'T miss was Lucy's smile and cry of joy as she hugged the Lion. He laughed as she pushed him over with the hug and he hugged her with a paw, and the three men laughed themselves, though Eustace's was a little shocked.

"She's always done that to him," Edmund explained to his cousin. "He doesn't seem to mind—and to scold her for her natural exuberance would be like snuffing out a candle. He loves her best as she is."

'As we all do,' Caspian thought. The thought unnerved him a little; Love LUCY? Then he let his panicked mind accept that he meant as a friend and the little sister type she had always been. For our dear King was not ready to accept the feelings coming from his heart.

Not yet.

When Aslan pushed himself back to all four paws and the two of them made their way back to the crowd, she had tears of joy in her eyes, and Aslan looked fondly on them all.

The three were curious, but all Aslan would say was, "It's not your time to hear. Lucy, wait until it is, please."

Lucy curtsied. "I'll know when, won't I?"

"That is correct." He turned to the others. "There is something that must be done before Lucy can explain what was just discussed. Please don't press her on it, for I am holding her to her word. She will tell you when she can. Just know that for you, the journey is not over when you may think it is."

The three males looked puzzled, the female weighed down but stronger than before.

They all looked toward the little boat.

Aslan looked at them all. "Make your choices wisely, dear ones. Narnia's future could rise and fall on those choices, but most importantly, your happiness could rise and fall on them as well."

As always, the lion's words were cryptic, and meant only ultimate good for those who heard them.

"Now, it's time to return to the ship."

Lucy and the others hugged their leonine companion, and did as instructed.

CoN CoN CoN

As the four rowed back to the Dawn Treader, helped along by Aslan's breath, there was no conversation, for their thoughts were muddled.

What had Aslan MEANT when he said 'Narnia's future could rise and fall on the choices they made'?

Why were they headed back to Narnia's castle?

And what had Aslan revealed to Lucy that had her so thoughtful and quiet?

Only Aslan and Lucy knew the answer to most of those questions. And neither of them were talking.

Not currently.

CoN CoN CoN

When the adventurers were safely back on board, and the order to turn West had been given, Lucy settled back into the cabin reserved for the King. Her thoughts had been settled by Aslan's earlier words, but she didn't want to think too deeply into what they meant. All she knew is something in her had settled at them, something that had needed to for her own sake, for her peace of mind. And for that she was glad.

A knock at the door derailed her train of thought. She checked to see that the cabin was tidy, then called out, "Come in."

It was little Gail and her mother. The woman looked very happy to have been reunited with her family, and Gail with her mummy.

Lucy felt a pang of regret. She would miss the little girl's affection and admiration, but she knew where Gail rightfully belonged, and was happy for the reunion.

"Queen Lucy this is my mum, Helene. Mummy, Lucy took good care of me."

Lucy blushed slightly, holding out her hand to shake. The other woman simply ignored it, and wrapped the young Queen in a hug. Lucy made an oomph sound, and hugged her back.

"Thank you so much for taking care of my girl, Your Majesty! It means so much to me!"

When Lucy was released from the hug, she smiled. "Call me Lucy. And it was my pleasure. Gail is such a sweet child that it was no trouble."

"But still. You have our family's eternal gratitude."

Lucy laughed, then teased Gail, "Well it sure was nice having another girl on the ship. Especially one shorter."

"Oh come on. You're certainly not the shortest crew member. I think the fauns are shorter," Gail teased back.

"Gail!" Helene scolded.

Lucy just laughed. "It's okay, ma'am. I've encouraged it. I enjoy lively conversation, and most of the men on board are too intimidated to give me a good word-fight."

"That's because most of them are intimidated by YOU, Lucy," came an amused voice from the doorway. Caspian leaned against the doorjamb, laughter in his dark eyes.

Lucy smirked. "Well, they need to get over it. I'm not THAT scary."

Caspian snorted.

Helene and Gail laughed. Helene spoke. "We must be going. Your Majesties, thank you again for rescuing us."

"Oh, it was most definitely our pleasure," Caspian spoke for them both. "Besides, it was a GROUP effort."

"Yep," Lucy agreed. "It was." The mother and daughter made their way out of the small cabin, Caspian leaving the door to let them by.

Lucy, thinking all three were gone, spoke quietly to herself. "That was a close one."

"Why?"

She froze. Blast it, Caspian was back! And he'd heard her!

"Well…" She bit her lip nervously. Then plunged on. "I thought you were going to ask what Aslan said, and I didn't want to tell you that I couldn't tell you yet."

She looked up at the silence. Caspian was looking at her in an unusual way, something there she hadn't seen before. Then it was gone.

"Didn't realize I was so transparent," he said thoughtfully.

Lucy sighed inwardly in relief. Whew, fielded THAT one!

She grinned cheekily at him.

"Only on days that end in 'y'."

He looked playfully indignant. "Why, you scamp!"

She shrugged. "Hey, if the crown fits…"

He lunged for her, grabbing and tickling the young Queen until she couldn't breathe, she in turn finding his ticklish spots, their laughter filling the small cabin.

Just then, a voice was heard from the door. "Well, obviously YOU two are having a high ole time," Edmund called playfully.

The two in question stopped, surprised to have been caught, but not embarrassed by it. "Your sister is withholding vital information," Caspian informed the young King. "I was attempting to torture it out of her."

Lucy reached up and ruffled his hair. Both Pevensies laughed at Caspian's expression. "Well, obviously, you're not doing a great job at it," Edmund joked.

"I'll have to try harder next time," Caspian mock-threatened. Lucy pretended to cower, running to hide behind her brother. "Save me!" She cried playfully.

The three regents laughed, spirits high. "Come on," Edmund spoke, after the mirth died down. "Time for dinner."

CoN CoN CoN

After a delicious meal, Lucy was stuffed to the top of her head. She was also restless; though she was happy, she couldn't settle to any one task for long. She was lucky that she had nothing to do today chore-wise, for she feared her handiwork if she applied her hand to anything in this mood. She wandered from her cabin to the top deck, greeting the (lot of) people she met along the way. She finally found one spare space she could call her own and stood at the railing, her back to the deck, her blue eyes looking skyward. Her hair, down for once, was whipping in the light westerly breeze, which was making her shirt and pants billow as well. She laughed as the wind spirits teased her gently as they danced by her.

"A long time since I heard you laugh like that," came the voice behind her.

She looked to see Edmund standing there, smiling a wistful smile. He approached the railing, leaning on it as Lucy did. He spoke again, his voice only audible to the two of them. "But then, it's been a long time since you were that carefree."

Lucy smiled softly, leaning her head on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "The spirits were playing wind-games…and you're right, it HAS been a long time since I could take the time to be carefree. Since our reign, probably. Oh, there have been days of freedom, but in general it's been work and care. But I am not the only one, I think, who is feeling carefree today."

Edmund smiled as his sister's way with words…and observational skills. "Yeah, you're right. Knowing we're here a while longer…Narnia always makes whatever we face feel more real, less burdensome than it is back home. Lu," he said suddenly, feeling the need to ask, "Do you WANT to go home?"

Unseen (and unheard), another pair of ears pricked at the question, unsure why they would find their happiness hanging on that answer.

Lucy's head came up to look at her brother. "If you mean to the house, to the school, to ENGLAND… No. If you mean to our family, my friends there… that's a trickier question. My ideal situation would be to have everyone in one world, that way I could be with them all. But right now, tonight, as much as I love you and Peter and Su and Mum and Dad, and even the Scrubbs, all I can feel is the happiness that NARNIA brings me."

"And Caspian?" Edmund said knowingly. Two breaths choked, one audibly, one as quietly as possible.

But Lucy, for once, didn't dissemble when the name of their best friend came up. "Yes, he makes me happy, Edmund. Not the happy YOU'RE thinking, gutter-brain," she scoffed, when Edmund smirked. "He's a friend. One I can rely on. That's rare and priceless, in ANY world."

"Not more?" Edmund didn't know why he was pushing his most stubborn sister in this matter. It could blow up in his face. But something in him compelled him to ask these probing queries. Almost as if it were TIME for that question to be asked.

"There's things that have to happen for that possibility to occur, Ed. First off, he AND I would have to have those feelings for each other. I see him as…"

Lucy didn't get a chance to finish that sentence, for the watchman announced, "Land Ho!" as Ramandu's island came into view.

Caspian (for he was indeed the eavesdropper) and Edmund both wondered for the rest of the night what Lucy would have said to finish that sentence.

To tell you the truth, so did Lucy.

End Part 1